ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (37 page)

Queen Celeste opened her eyes and turned. She had heard the doors creak and footsteps within her chambers. Someone stood watching from a dark corner by the wall.

‘Are you finally here to kill me?’ she asked.

‘You’re not worth killing.’ Akasha walked out of the darkness towards the wall facing her bed.

‘I would also wish I wasn’t worth your visits but it seems you have no better way to spend your nights than to plague mine.’

‘Where is he, Rahmona?’

‘Was he in your nightmares again?’ she said, sitting up.

‘You know well enough what my anger is like. Where is the Anundr?’

‘The last time I saw him was when you put a dagger in him and he jumped into the river.’ Her voice trembled as she said, ‘I’ll never forget it.’

‘We never found his body and now he haunts me.’ said Akasha, his eyes on the wall.

‘So that’s why you’re keeping me alive,’ she said, ‘because you believe he’ll come for me.’

‘I’ve been taught to never belittle love even though I scorn it. If he’s been hiding in the city all this time for you then I don’t doubt he will come.’

‘I betrayed him,’ she said, ‘I’m the last person he’ll ever want to save. What I did was unforgivable, and look where it has gotten me; prisoner in my own room to an usurper of a city in chaos.’

Akasha turned back and grabbed her bed post and said, ‘This city belongs to me but it was taken from me. It is only just that I claim what is mine.’

‘If it’s truly yours you wouldn’t have to block the gates with corpses neither would you have to put a spell over the castle. You would walk free.’

‘Sometimes you must make sacrifices to win that freedom.’

‘Must the sacrifices involve the lives of the people—
your
people? I heard you put a spell over the city, which means most of the people are shut out from their farms. So the ones who aren’t dying from the plague will die of starvation.’

‘I don’t care if they eat one another. This isn’t about them.’

‘So speaks a king. No, it’s not about them, it’s about your greed.’

‘No! It’s about what I deserve. All I’ve ever wanted is in my grasp and it feels like…’

‘Dust, doesn’t it?’ she said. ‘Like sand in your mouth.’

Akasha said, ‘Do you want to know why I keep coming here? It is easier to be around your hatred. I understand it—I feel whole with it. All my life, I have filled myself with loathing, consumed my mind with desire. Now I have everything and I feel nothing.’

‘Except the fear of when they break through your spell.’

‘If they do, everyone in the city will die. Our lives are now tied to the spell.’

‘The Canyran spell.’ She gasped. ‘You’re a mad man.’

‘No, I’m a man who will go through dangerous lengths to keep what he wants.’ Akasha said, and left the room.

‘Amse, how could you do this to me?’ Kalani shouted at his empty cell and hit her bars.

‘You coward! You left me here.’ she said, pacing. ‘It’s all your fault.’

She knew he wasn’t there but in her mind she could see him lying down. She picked up the small loaf of bread Maris had brought while she slept.

‘You tell me to eat my food. Take it. I don’t need it.’ she said, throwing it into his cell.

She picked the bowl of water. ‘You can have the water as well.’ She poured it out of her cell. ‘Maybe you’re a god now. You can have it as an offering.’

She looked at his talisman and raised it to throw it out. She couldn’t but threw it on the floor.

‘I don’t want the story anymore.’ she said and dropped down on the hay. She couldn’t control her tears but she was quick to clean her face. She stroked the ivory tooth.  It was her mother’s. It was Amse’s. But it was just an object of pain. Natalia was only a story to her. Kalani hated her but needed her. Without Natalia, she couldn’t survive the silence of the prison yet they both added to each other’s pain. Kalani wore the talisman. She wasn’t going to die like Amse. She would rather kill herself. She laughed. She could imagine what Amse would say.
But he wasn’t there to stop her, was he?

The army reached the hills of Baid before dusk and set up camp. Natalia moved away from the camp and looked below. A fog covered the valley, concealing everything beneath. She looked ahead to the twin hill. Their enemies had already set up camp.

‘The army of Helmford approaches.’              someone shouted. Natalia turned and ran in the direction an increasing crowd of soldiers stood waiting. She pushed her way to the front and stood by her father’s side. She saw the banner of the golden bull with men riding forward. When she noticed the number of the men, she held her breath and looked at her father. His smile had straightened.

King Hametis asked the question on their minds, ‘Why are they so few?’

‘The others should be behind.’ Meldric said, scanning the terrain.

Alcon galloped ahead of the oncoming men and got down from his horse in front of them.

‘My lords.’ he said, bowing. Natalia noticed he had grown a fuller beard. He was broader than she remembered and more handsome but his dark eyes hadn’t changed nor had his stern expression.

‘My lady.’ he said, bowing to her.

‘Where are the other men?’ her father asked, his eyes still searching the terrain.

‘My lord, I have bad news. The city has been sealed off with a spell. No one can get in or out.’

‘It is Akasha’s deed, is it not?’ Meldric said, veins protruding from his forehead.

‘Meldric, I warned you he would be a problem.’ Natalia heard the queen say. She turned to see her stroking her father’s arm.

‘How did you get out?’ he asked Alcon.

‘We were never in the city. I and my men were out on the borders when we heard the earth tremble. We rushed back to the city to find it closed in like there was a cage around it. We stayed at the gates and tried to find ways to break it but couldn’t. That was when we got the message from Arngeirr and from you, my lord. I gathered all the soldiers in the villages and rode here.’

‘How did you know we were here?’ Natalia asked.

‘I sent a bird.’ Meldric answered and said to Alcon, ‘How many men?’

‘Four hundred, my lord.’

‘What is four hundred against thousands?’ Lethman said.

‘It seems, Meldric,’ said Hametis, ‘even you cannot control your city.’

‘If I was there this wouldn’t have happened.’ said Meldric. ‘But I’m here at your bidding.’

‘But you cannot fight shorthanded.’

‘My lord,’ said a soldier, approaching them, ‘I have news.’

‘Speak.’ said Hametis.

‘King Calon has joined Behan’s army.’

There was a stir in the camp. All the royals were talking at the same time.

‘With Calon, they are seventy-five thousand men strong. We’re only thirty thousand and four miserable hundred. How will we fight them?’ said Javel.

‘How would we win?’ Lethman asked.

Hametis spoke, silencing the crowd. ‘We mustn’t lose sight of why we’re here. We will fight and be victorious. Nothing is going to change it.’

However, Natalia knew something had changed amongst them. She saw the way the soldiers whispered. Their courage had been displaced by fear. Tension was high and she knew something was bound to happen that night.

‘What can I do?’ she whispered to the talisman on her neck which was hidden under her robe. A thought flashed in her mind, which was the maddest she had ever had.

‘No!’ she said.

You didn’t save him for nothing
, the voice said. It was like a death sentence but she knew she would do it. She would do anything. She now realized why the voice had made her save Viggo. It had known what was to come.

                                                                      ***

Natalia paced in her tent, waiting. She heard the chatter of men outside and the sharpening of swords but she was waiting to hear the silence. The silence came deep into the night mixed with gusts of wind.
It was time
. She covered herself with a black hood, picked up her sword and left her tent. She crept through the camp, hiding behind tents to avoid the soldiers on patrol. She got to the edge where some of the horses were tied to wooden poles and untied one.

‘Whose there?’

She turned around and saw Ishkhan stomping towards her with a sack slung behind him. He was the last person she expected to meet since they had been avoiding each other for two days.

‘What are you doing here?’ he asked.

‘Did you follow me?’

‘Don’t exceed your worth.’ he said, moving closer. His eyes were cold like the last time they were together. He brushed her aside and he checked the horses. He picked up the rope of the one she had untied.

‘Where are you going by this time?’

‘It doesn’t concern you.’

‘I will raise the dead itself if you don’t answer me.’

Natalia quickly said, ‘What are you doing here if you’re not following me?”

‘I was with my father, now I’m on my way to the borders.’

‘Which means you’re on guard.’ she said. ‘How can a prince be on guard?’

‘That shouldn’t concern you.’ He grabbed her arm.

‘Ishkhan, let go of me.’

He covered her mouth and said, ‘Shhh.’

She heard voices of men and footsteps behind the stables.

‘Whose there?’ one of them shouted.

‘It’s Prince Ishkhan.’ he said.

‘My lord.’

‘Anything on the borders?’

‘No, my lord. Nothing is amiss.’

‘Excellent. Be on your way.’

They walked past and he removed his hand from her mouth. She pushed him away.

‘You have no sense of gratitude.’

‘Let me go.’ she said as she struggled to wrench her wrist free from his grasp.

‘You’re not going until I know where.’

She sighed. There was no escaping him. She told him everything about her plan. He was silent and unreadable as she spoke. When she finished, she held her breath, waiting for his reaction.

‘It’s dangerous.’ he said. ‘If you’re not caught by the soldiers, he could betray you.’

‘My mind is set on it.’

‘Then I’ll go with you.’

She blew out air from her mouth in frustration. With him, she couldn’t control anything.

‘Ishkhan, no.’

‘I can help us leave here without being seen and I know the way through the path or do you wish to go through the valley?’

‘No.’ she said in resignation.

‘Excellent, let’s make ready the horses.’

He helped her find her way through the camp and they rode through narrow plains and slopes. They were silent on their journey until they reached their destination, the twin hill of Baid. They got off the horses and hid behind a boulder.

‘Be careful.’ Ishkhan said, scanning the area.

‘I will, Orion.’ she said with a smile.  He looked at her in surprise and smiled back.

‘Don’t get caught.’ she said, walking down to the camp.

‘Natalia.’ 

She turned back.

‘The Turbarnians believe the sun and gold represent their king and prince. His tent will be lined with gold and must face the east.’

‘How do you know?’ she asked.

‘You don’t have much time. Go now.’

She nodded and walked stealthily past the tents, avoiding the soldiers. Her heart raced.

‘Help me.’ she whispered.

Keep going
.

She edged to the east till she sighted two tents just as Ishkhan had described. One was larger than the other but both had two guards at the entrance. She studied the tents. She needed to find a way through without raising alarm. She hid behind a tent as soldiers marched past. When she looked back, she saw King Garmar and Seraphin approaching. Seraphin was in a white dress covered in a red cloak that marched the color of her hair.  She looked in Natalia’s direction but the latter drew her face away just in time, taking deep measured breaths. She glanced back, catching them walk into the bigger tent with King Calon following. It seemed like there was going to be a meeting. She had to act fast. She crossed to the other side and inched behind the smaller tent. She drew out a dagger from the scabbard by her side and dug it into the side of the tent. She drew it down slowly, so there wouldn’t be noise. Before the guard could check, she was already in the tent.

                                                                      ***

Viggo stood as his man servant arranged his gambeson. He heard his servant fall with a groan. He reached for his sword but the sword on his neck stilled him.

‘Don’t play with your life. Turn around.’

He did and saw Princess Natalia lower her black hood while keeping her sword on his neck. Her eyes dared him to touch his sword.

‘What are you doing here?’ he asked.

‘You made a promise to me and I came for you to fulfill it.’

He felt guilt surge within him. ‘There’s nothing I can do.’ he said. ‘I cannot go against my father and my people. Ask of me anything else, I beg you, but I cannot fulfill this one.’

‘What other promise can you make to me when my people are dead? You owe me your life and I don’t require anything else.’

‘I’ll be dead if I go against my father.’

‘You’re already dead.’ she said, moving away from him. His eyes caught something red in her hand. She dangled it for him to see. It was his essence stone which had been around his neck. Fear shot through him.

‘Natalia—’

‘People say it is a difficult thing to kill a Turbarnian. I never understood why until I saw you in the prison healed after a mortal blow. I couldn’t comprehend it, then I remembered what my tutor had said when I was shown the history of Calderon. Every kingdom worships or fears something. For Helmford, it is Machish and Sheroth; for Arngeirr, it is gold and all gods; for Naphdael, it is magic and Ida; but for Turbarnia, it is Ida but not in the way we know her. You worship the essence; blood, water and even cats. When a prince is born, a tiger is born and a stone is made from their blood to unite them. So when the prince is wounded, he can be cured. But what happens when the stone is destroyed? The person who was wounded….’she dangled it over a lit candle.

He moved closer. ‘Natalia, please—’

‘Don’t come closer.’ she said, brandishing her sword, ‘So what happens if I mix my blood with it, my anger, my pain—’

‘Please. It’s not to be played with.’

‘So is your promise.’ she said.

‘My lord.’ a soldier walked in. He glanced at the two of them and turned to run. Viggo threw a knife at him, hitting his back. He fell.

‘It seems you’ve made your choice.’ Natalia said, lowering her sword. They heard commotion outside.

‘There’s a spy about.’ people were shouting. Natalia gasped and looked at him. He was surprised to see the fear in her eyes.

‘Come with me.’ he said and opened the slit she had made.

‘How can I trust you?’ she asked.

‘That’s what I said before you saved my life.’ he said, going through the opening. ‘Cover yourself.’

He led her out of the camp. The soldiers were in a state of confusion with troops marching in different directions. Viggo guided her through the camp without being noticed. When they got to the edge, they stumbled on a group of Turbarnian soldiers. One of them recognized him.

‘My lord, you shouldn’t be here. There’s a spy about.’

‘Who is this?’ one of them pointed at Natalia.

‘The king’s messenger.’ Viggo said. ‘Let us pass.’

The first man said to the youngest looking, ‘Run to the king and tell him we’ve found the spy.’

Viggo drew his sword and slashed the first soldier’s head. Natalia drew out her sword and killed the messenger.

‘We’ve found the spy.’ shouted one of the men before his throat was slashed. One of the men escaped, shouting.

‘Hurry,’ said Viggo, ‘we have to go.’

‘But the man I was with—’

‘They must have found him already. Where are your horses?’

‘At the rocks over there.’ she said, pointing ahead.

‘We can’t get there.’ He grabbed her arm and ran down the slope leading to the valley.

A soldier rode towards them with a ready sword. They ducked his first strike. Viggo rose and threw his sword at him. It struck the soldier’s back, throwing him onto the floor. The horse stopped a little way off.

‘We’ve found a horse.’ said Viggo and he helped her on it. More soldiers rode towards them.

‘Come with me.’ she said, extending her hand to him.

‘I can’t…my people—’

‘Are the same that would demand your death when they learn of this. If you take my hand, I promise you’ll gain more than you’ve lost, far beyond the gold.’

He took her hand and climbed behind her. She hit the reins and galloped into the valley.