ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (32 page)

The dungeons of Soliham was to Amse a torture itself with screams echoing in the halls and the smell of human dung in the cells they were pushed into.

‘The Rahmon wanted you to have a view of each other.’ the warden said as Kalani was pushed into the cell opposite him. ‘These walls are covered with enchantments so don’t even try escaping.’

The guards loosened their bonds and left. Amse scanned his cell. The floor was matted with hay. He walked to the wall and sat down, resting his back. He watched Kalani paced back and forth in her cell with her hands folded. She glanced at him and he closed his eyes. The darkness was better than seeing her suffer. He clutched his talisman. He needed to calm himself and find solace for her but nothing came. He heard her hit the gates and cry out. He opened his eyes. She stood clinging to the cell bars with her head bent.

‘Amse.’ she said. Her voice was low and broken—but deadly. He could feel the weight of what she was going to say next. Something in her was about to emerge but he wasn’t sure what.

‘Yes.’ he said.

‘What was my mother like?’

He sighed. He wasn’t ready to open those doors in his mind.

She hit the bars and looked at him with reddened eyes. ‘I’m tired of your silence. It’s the reason why we’re here. They’re going to do to us what they did to Behozi, aren’t they?’

He didn’t reply.

‘Aren’t they?!’ She let go of the bars and said, ‘Tell me, does my great god of a father not know I exist or is this all his plan for me?’

Amse said, ‘He doesn’t know about you.’

‘How do you know? Have you ever met him?’

‘No, but it was what your mother told me.’

Kalani’s eyes fell and she sat down by the bars.

‘Nayet.’ she said. ‘I feel strange hearing my mother’s name for the first time from the mouth of enemies.’

‘Forgive me, Kalani.’ he said. ‘I’ve been selfish. Your mother is a part of me that I closed for so long.’ His eyes stung but he continued, ‘Her family came from Western lands of the desert. They were the untouchables.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘A bloodline that belonged to the spirits of their land. They were outcasts and lived at the edge of the village. We didn’t trade nor eat with them. We the children would throw stones at their homes. My first memory of her was on such a day. I had gone into their yard to pull out a plant. That was when I saw her,’ he smiled, ‘a young girl with her hair half-done playing by herself. She turned before I could run but she didn’t scream for her parents. She called my name. I was too surprised to leave so I stayed and talked with her.’

‘What did your mother say?’

‘She didn’t find out until months later but it was too late for her to stop me.’

Kalani rested her head on the bars and said, ‘What was she like?’

‘Her face was round like the moon against her long neck. I liked to tease her about it and she would laugh. Her laughter was like the night drums. Her hair was hardly done. She left it free like a lion’s mane and it suited her. Her skin was as dark as mahogany and she was like the tree itself. People made way when she walked.’

‘You loved her, didn’t you?’ asked Kalani, but it was more like a statement.

‘No,’ he said, ‘I never stopped loving her.’

‘What about Mara?’

‘We have an understanding. In our tradition, that is more important than love.’

Kalani traced her fingers over the bar and said, ‘Did she love you as well?’

‘Yes. We wanted to get married.’

‘What happened?’

‘Amongst her clansmen, marriage wasn’t permitted until they were sixteen when the spirits would have revealed what they would become. It was discovered that she was destined to be the Phyllamora and the Faran sent for her.’

‘Why?’

‘Because as the Phyllamora, she had the power to touch anything and know its essence—its past, present and future. She could go into the world of the spirits and pull out whatever illness there is in a person and the person will recover.’

‘Which means she would be more powerful than the Faran.’

‘Yes, and they knew it. They wanted to share in her power. If she joined them, she would be their seventh eye, making them the first Faran to ever reach the complete seven. They would be the most powerful beings on earth but Nayet didn’t want it. Her parents wanted her to go. It would have given them the respect of the village, but she wanted a life with me. I told her she was being a fool and that I didn’t believe in love….She left and was under their training.’

‘How did she meet Galian?’

‘Years later, I married and she heard. It was that time Galian sent for her. It was with him she chose to end her path.’

‘Then what happened?’

‘She chose not to stay with him but the Faran wouldn’t accept her back. She returned to Seti and to her home but even among the outcasts, she was alone. I and the midwife were the only ones with her when she had you.’ He drew a long shaky breath. ‘It was the same night I became a seer because she passed some of her gifts unto me.’

He didn’t mention that was the day she died nor did he mention that she had begged him to cut her open to save the child.

‘You remind me of her.’ he said instead.

‘No, I don’t.’ she said. ‘I don’t have her gifts nor do I have her courage.’

‘All those will come in time, but you have her kindness.’

Kalani smiled. ‘I wonder why Mara chose to raise me.’

‘Because her heart is bigger than your mouth.’

‘Do you know if she’s safe?’

‘She and the clan are resourceful. They must be safe.’

‘Amse,’ she said, hugging her knees, ‘I’m afraid of what will happen to us.’

‘Don’t be afraid of the things you cannot change, instead fear what you can. Those are things that will be spoken of you in the future.’

‘What future? I see nothing but walls.’

‘Then stop seeing the walls and see what I tell you.’

                                                                                    ***

Prince Meldric walked through the crowded streets hidden under a dark cloak. He kept his head bent and his eyes darting side to side till he turned to an alley. A drunken man sat by the wall and women in colorful revealing robes stood outside a brothel calling and touching the men that passed. Meldric avoided their hands and stopped at the wooden door next to theirs. He pushed it open and walked in. A lantern hung by a carrier and the shelves was littered with odd items from wooden dolls to glass bottles with dead creatures.

‘Greetings, my lord.’

He turned to see a woman behind the sheer curtains at the threshold of another entrance.

He took off his hood. ‘How did you know?’

‘The spirits told me,’ she said, stepping out into the light, ‘and I saw you return with the goddess.’

Meldric took a deep breath when he saw her. The woman’s hair began at the top of her head. The bald front was covered by black markings that extended to her forehead. The parts of her body that weren’t covered with symbols were draped by clothes and rings lined her ears and her nose. Meldric had cringed the first time he met Persis over two years before and he still cringed. He remembered when he asked her why she had so many markings. She had told him it helped her communicate with the spirits.

He looked away from her and strode into the room, closing the door behind him.

‘She may be the daughter of Galian, but she is no goddess.’ he said.

‘The spirits don’t agree.’ she said, strolling towards the lantern. ‘Tonight, three stars turned red. It means they recognize a great power or they predict death.’

‘Her dying is likely.’

She lit three candles with the fire from the lantern. ‘It’s not her death they predict but the coming of Galian.’ She bent to stare at the three lit candles. ‘It’s only a matter of time he finds out she was taken prisoner here, then he’ll burn this city with the flames of his anger.’ The three flames rose up.

‘Then we will kill him.’ Meldric said. Persis laughed, placing her hands on her stomach.

‘You?!’ she said. ‘Kill Galian? Even your temple gods cannot think it.’

‘That’s why I need the star of Galian.’

‘Is that why you’re here?’ she asked, moving towards him.

‘My affliction is getting worse.’

‘Give me your hand.’

He did. She cut the back of his palm with a knife. The hair around the wound stood. Rage shot up inside him.
He wanted to kill her
. He gasped and balled his fists, staggering back.

‘You’re right.’ she said. ‘It’s getting worse.’

He took deep breaths. ‘What about the herbs you gave me?’

‘I fear it’s worsening it. The more the herbs delay it, the more it builds within you. You need to find the star.’ she said as she wrapped the knife in a cloth.

‘But where?’

‘It seems the coming of the goddess could be to your advantage.’

‘She claims not to have even heard of it.’

‘Bring me a lock of her hair and I’ll find out what you need.’

Meldric sighed and covered his head. ‘Then I must be on my way.’

He left the alley slower than he had come.

‘Natalia,’ said Gisilfried as she squeezed a wet cloth in a basin, ‘you’ve been silent on the matter since the day before.’

Natalia sighed and wiped his abdomen. The subject made her tummy turn but she knew they had to discuss it. It was the heat of the day and the smell of lavender oil rose, blocking her nose and making her in need of a sneeze. But she didn’t leave nor did she stop rubbing it into his side because the oil was believed to have healing powers and she felt responsible for his wound which was still open since the fight of the week before. She thought of Viggo whose wounds were gone when she had helped them escape. He and Amira hadn’t been found even though the kingdom had closed its gates and raided homes and inns in search of them.

‘Natalia.’ said Gisilfried, frowning.

            ‘My dearest, it hasn’t left my thoughts since.’

‘So what do you make of it?’

She squeezed the cloth and said, ‘I am torn at the moment.’

‘Does the thought of marrying me so displease you?’

‘No, of course not.’ she said, touching his cheek. He brushed her hand away. His face was like that of a child angry at not getting his way.

‘It–it’s too soon.’ she said. ‘Our fathers are not used to being allies, then we force a marriage on them.’

‘But you know it would seal our families.’ he said.

‘I know but--’

‘Stay. Don’t leave tomorrow.’

She rose. ‘You know I cannot. My father came here because of me and I have made him wait, while
your
father complains that our small army is eating up your food and whoring with your wives. It would be wrong for me to let my father take such an insult.’

‘Which means you don’t want to marry me.’

‘Gisilfried, that isn’t what I’m saying.’

There was a knock on the door. A maid walked in and curtsied. ‘My lady, your father has asked for you in court. He said you must make haste.’

Natalia turned to Gisilfried. ‘We’ll continue when I return.’ She bent to kiss him but he moved his face away. She sighed and followed the woman out.

When they got to the court, the woman stopped outside and Natalia went in. Her father, King Lethman and Priscine stood reading a scroll while a soldier stood before them dressed in black with a red cloak on which was embroidered a golden bear—the symbol of the Council of Kings. Priscine covered her mouth at something in the scroll and held her husband’s arm. Natalia’s heart raced.

‘Father,’ she said, ‘you sent for me.’

‘Yes.’ Meldric turned to her with a grave expression on his face. ‘You’ll be leaving for Helmford tomorrow with the men I can spare.’

‘What happened?’

‘There is going to be a war.’ said Lethman. The scribes and courtiers broke into whispers. Natalia swallowed to take in the news.

The messenger said, ‘King Hametis requests that the kings and their men leave at first light to Arngeirr.’

Meldric turned to General Daril who stood behind his king. ‘Send a bird to Helmford. We need the army.’

Daril bowed and left the court.

‘Father,’ said Natalia, touching his arm, ‘let me go with you.’

‘No, war is no place for a princess.’

‘My lord,’ said the messenger, ‘your daughter is being summoned to Arngeirr.’

‘On whose order?’

‘On the order of Queen Natalia of Vernon.’

Natalia noticed the loss of color on her father’s face and the dropping of his eyelids. She was surprised that the queen wielded so much power to make her father falter in his decision. She had never met the woman she was named after, but there seemed to be a mystery woven around her that made her larger than life. Mortal, yet immortal. It ignited an excitement in Natalia.

She smiled and said, ‘I will go, father.’

‘And I’ll go as well.’

They turned to see Gisilfried plodding towards them. Priscine strode to him, saying, ‘Gisilfried, you’re supposed to be in bed.’

‘Mother, I am going nowhere till you agree to my decision.’

‘If you are my son,’ said Lethman, ‘you will stop talking this foolishness.’

‘I have a right to fight for my people.’

Natalia said, ‘But how can a wounded man defend his city?’

Gisilfried swallowed and said, ‘Do not forget who I was defending when I got wounded.’

She winced at his words. ‘You already regret what you did, don’t you?’ she said, walking towards him.

Gisilfried’s face softened. ‘Forgive me, my love.’

‘No, forgive me.’ she said and scuttled past him.

                                                                      ***

Gisilfried removed the bandage and studied his wound in front of the mirror.
The wound had taken care of the brown mole.
He snorted. Black blood oozed out from the opening. He heard a knock on the door. He hastily replaced the bandage just as the door opened. Natalia walked in with an unreadable expression on her face.

‘You sent for me.’ she said. He heard the coolness in her voice.

He walked towards her. ‘Forgive me. I know I have wronged you.’

‘No,’ she said, folding her hands, ‘you wronged your people.’

He held her waist. ‘I acted that way because I’m ashamed that I cannot defend them.’

‘But you cannot wield a sword in your state.’

‘I can. The wound is healing.’

‘Oh, Gisilfried.’ She shook her head and sat on his bed.

He went on his knees and held her legs. ‘It is my duty.’

She stroked his face and said, ‘You’re a wise prince but sometimes wise people act foolish for people they love. I realize now that this kingdom is your first love and you prize it above all else.’

‘You judge me when you also love your people more than me.’

‘That is untrue.’

‘Then why won’t you marry me?’

She looked away and said, ‘Because I don’t yet know who I am.’

He turned her face to him and said, ‘You are Princess Natalia, daughter of King Meldric of Helmford,’ He noticed her eyes fall. ‘and the love of Prince Gisilfried of Naphdael.’

‘Though not his first love.’ she said. ‘He loves his people more.’

He rose with some effort and sat on the bed beside her.

‘Years ago, my first love was a lord’s daughter. She died from a brief sickness.’ He sighed and said, ‘I felt powerless that I couldn’t save her. I realized that the only fate I could steer was this city’s. If you protect it, it lives; if you don’t, it doesn’t. It was something I could depend on.’

‘What about me?’ she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

‘I wouldn’t know. You’re leaving for the war.’

She turned his face to her. ‘I will come back.’

‘But will you be my wife?’

‘Is that what you want?’

‘Natalia, what do you want?’