ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (38 page)

                                                                      ***

The valley was robed in fog and cold air. Natalia couldn’t see where they were going but she kept riding forward. The wind whistled in her ears as they rode and the hairs on her skin rose.

‘Ride faster.’ Viggo said. She could hear the hooves behind them. The soldiers were gaining ground.

She got to what she suspected was the middle of the valley and stopped. There was no fog there but the fog around them was taking shapes of its own—like faces. She stared into one of the faces and she saw herself transported into someone else’s body, seeing through the person’s eyes. In the trance, she was staring at a tall young man holding out a silk robe.

‘I have a gift for you.’ the young man said.

‘From King Lainan?’ she heard the body say.

‘From me, my lord, as a token of my respect.’

She found her new body turning to wear what was given, then she felt a knife slice through her back.

The stabbed man turned as he stumbled. ‘Why?’

‘I was offered a kingdom to kill you and I also want your gifts.’ said the young man, raising the dagger for his next strike, ‘You are a kind man but you would be more generous in your death.’

‘Natalia, ride!’ Viggo shouted, stirring her out of the trance. They heard a shout from one of the soldiers, then a heavy thud on the floor. Natalia couldn’t move. She heard the screams of the other men around them. A soldier galloped out of the fog with a sword in his hand. Natalia’s eyes were on what was behind him. A ghostly form of a warrior broke out from the fog. The ghost dug his hand into the soldier’s chest and brought out his heart. The man dropped from his horse dead.

Natalia felt a nudge from behind.

‘Ride.’ Viggo shouted. She squeezed the horse’s sides, hit the reins and rode off, leaving the ghost behind, watching them.

Rinosius paced in front of the king’s chambers. The doors opened and two girls in white robes came out. They bowed and hurried past him but Rinosius had recognized them. He sighed. Their fate was sealed.

One of the guards at the door entered the chambers. He came out a moment later and said, ‘The king will see you now.’

Rinosius walked through the open doors and saw Meino bare-chested on the bed with only a white cloth covering his thighs.

‘Rinosius, you meet me well, though late.’ he said, taking his goblet on a table beside him. ‘If you had come earlier, I would have told you to join me—oh, I remember, you take chastity seriously.’

‘My lord, those girls are rahais in training.’

‘You know I like the forbidden fruit.’

‘But, if I may be so bold, you also know what happens at the ceremony of Madiza. If they aren’t pure, it’s either madness or death.’

‘That’s for them to worry about, not me.’ Meino said, rising. ‘So I heard the execution went as planned.’

‘Yes, the ashes will be sprinkled round the city walls tonight.’

‘Excellent, what about the girl?’

‘I’ll start with her tomorrow.’

‘Just do away with her and have her ready for the festival.’

‘Yes, my lord.’

‘So what about my son?’

Rinosius’ heart skipped. ‘My lord?’

‘Have you spoken with the gods?’

‘Yes, they said that three days after the festival he must be sacrificed.’

‘Then make sure it’s done. I want to see his head.’

‘But he’s your first son.’

‘If the gods say they want him dead, who am I to question it? You will kill him.’

‘Yes…my lord.’ Rinosius’ heart sank in his stomach.

‘That would be all, Rahmon.’

Rinosius left in a daze. He needed to find a way or it would be his head after the festival.

                                                                      ***

‘Kalani, wake up.’

She opened her eyes to see Maris crouching over her.

‘You haven’t been eating, have you?’ he said, frowning.

She groaned and held her head. ‘Why did you wake me?’

‘You can’t starve yourself.’

She propped herself into a sitting position and said, ‘I already feel like an animal about to be slaughtered. I don’t see why I should eat like one.’

Maris sighed and shook his head. ‘But you shouldn’t do this to yourself.’

‘Do you know what it feels like to look at your enemies every day, the ones who destroyed your life?’

‘No.’ he replied.

‘Then let me do what I want with myself.’

He lowered his eyes and rose. ‘I must go now.’

She rose as he turned to leave. ‘Wait.’

‘What is it?’ he said without turning.

‘When will they send for me?’

He bent his head and said, ‘Tomorrow.’

She walked to him and held his hand. ‘Maris, I need your help. Promise me you’ll help me.’

He turned to her. ‘Tell me how.’

‘I want you to get me poison.’

‘No,’ he pulled away from her, ‘that’s madness. I can’t.’

‘Please, I don’t want to die like Amse. At least, let me choose. Promise me, or else never come here again.’

‘I promise.’

She smiled and touched his face. ‘Thank you. Get it tonight.’

He nodded and left the cell. She watched him till he was out of sight and she felt the loneliness of the cell again. She grasped the talisman around her neck.

‘Amse, I’ll be with you soon.’

Natalia galloped out of the valley and up the hill without looking back. Remembering what she had seen made her skin crawl. She had heard about the legend of Baid but she had never thought it was real. The tales had said that after the king’s tragic death the fog had begun, some claimed that the king’s witch wife cast a spell, keeping him alive to see the death of his murderer, thus causing the fog. However, no story had said the fog and the king were one.

She stopped at the middle of the hill. Viggo jumped down from the horse and doubled over, trying to catch his breath.

‘It’s true, everything they say about it.’ he said, in between gasps.

She jumped down and said, ‘I know. Did you see the ghost king?’

‘No, I saw a man fall dead without being touched.’

‘You didn’t see him?’

‘All I saw was fog and I heard their screams—and the man—he just fell dead. How can we fight there tomorrow?’

‘But nothing happened to us.’

‘Because we were quick to escape. What about tomorrow?’

‘The Council would know.’ she said, looking down at the fog. She knew the ghost had chosen to keep them alive.
But how come she alone could see him and see through his eyes?
  She fingered her talisman.
Was it because of the star or because she was the Anundr or maybe because she was his descendant?
She couldn’t answer.

‘We need to leave.’ she said and tossed his essence stone to him. He caught it and they climbed back on the horse. They continued up the hill in a trot. Natalia’s heart skipped.
Ishkhan. Did they capture him? He wouldn’t leave her—or would he?
She didn’t know but the thought of his death made her tremble.
No, I must be strong
, she said to herself. She sighed.

‘What is it?’ Viggo asked.

‘I was thinking of my companion. I won’t forgive myself if anything happened to him.’

‘Maybe he escaped and is waiting for you in your camp.’

‘You’re kind but I know you don’t believe it.’

‘It doesn’t matter what I believe.’ he said.

As she rose higher on the hill, she heard movement and voices ahead.
They must know they were gone
. She rode faster and saw soldiers carrying torches and running about.

‘It seems tonight the twin hills have another thing in common.’ said Viggo.

Natalia was silent, taking in the scene before her. She rode into the camp. Soldiers surrounded her with swords. The horse neighed and raised its front hooves. General Daril marched towards them just as she pulled down her hood.

‘My lady.’ he said, doubling his steps. ‘Step back.’ he shouted. ‘It’s the princess.’

‘We’ve been searching for you everywhere.’ he said.

‘What happened?’ she asked him as Viggo jumped down.

The general lost interest in her and pointed at Viggo. ‘You!’ He turned to the soldiers, ‘Seize him.’

‘Wait.’ Natalia said, leaping down. ‘He saved my life at the cost of his own. Please, he’s here to help us.’

‘My lady,’ said Daril, ‘I cannot let this man walk free until your father gives the word.’

              Natalia turned to Viggo. ‘I made a promise to you and I intend to keep it.’ She said to Daril, ‘You may chain him but wherever I go, he goes.’

‘But my lady—’

‘I won’t leave him.’

Daril sighed and nodded at the soldiers who tied Viggo’s hands and pushed him forward.

‘I can walk.’ Viggo said, and walked alongside Natalia and Daril.

‘What happened?’ Natalia asked as they walked into the camp. Daril glanced at Viggo.

‘Don’t worry.’ she said. ‘You can say it while he’s here.’

‘It’s King Hametis.’

‘What happened?’ Natalia braced herself.
He must have found out about Ishkhan
.

The general shook his head and didn’t reply.

‘He’s dead, isn’t he?’ said Viggo.

The general glared at him and said, ‘Your people did this.’

Natalia raised her hand to silence Daril as she turned to Viggo, ‘You knew he was going to die?’

‘Yes, we expected he would be murdered. My father and the other kings knew of the plot.’

‘That’s why they were going into the tent tonight.’

‘Yes, they were waiting for news.’

‘What tent?’ said Daril.

‘I can’t explain.’ she said.

‘Then you’ll explain to your father.’ The general grabbed her arm and pulled her forward.

‘General—’

‘No. You stand here talking to him while your father grieves over you.’ He pulled her towards King Hametis’ tent where a crowd was gathered.

‘Give way.’ he said, pushing to the front. The royals stood on a line with grim expressions. Meldric’s face lit up when he saw her.

‘Natalia.’

‘Father.’ she said, wrenching her hand free from the general. Meldric embraced her.

‘Where have you been? We searched--’ his voice trailed when he saw Viggo, ‘You, son of mire. You did this.’ He approached him.

‘No, father,’ she said, standing between them, ‘he didn’t.’

‘How would you know?’

‘Because I was with him. I brought him here from the twin hill.’

‘What?’ her father said, drawing back.

‘You mean you went into enemy lines just to bring him here?’ said King Javel. She knew his words were not praise.

‘Yes.’ she said. ‘He’s here to help us.’

Lethman snorted. ‘A Turbarnian here to help us against his father.’

‘How would he help us?’ asked King Neab.

‘Why?’ Queen Natalia said, moving forward.

‘Because I gave her my word I would,’ said Viggo, ‘and Turbarnians never break their word.’

Meldric looked at his daughter, then at Viggo and said, ‘Why would you make such an oath to her?’

Natalia walked closer to him. ‘Father, I know what you wish to ask. Yes, I did help him escape.’

She felt a slap across her mouth. She touched her cheek and looked at him. His eyes were red and his chest heaving. He had never hit her before. She felt more shock and heartache than the pain and humiliation. She swallowed and told herself she wouldn’t cry.

‘How could you?’ Meldric asked.

‘I did it because of this--’ she said, raising her hands, ‘this moment. Can you not see they have us where they want us? Suspicious and afraid, like a confused herd without a leader.’ She pointed at Viggo. ‘With him, we can take them by surprise.’

‘I’ll tell you what we can do.’ said Javel. ‘We can cut off his head and send it to them. That would take them by surprise.’

The crowd cheered while Viggo moved back, saying, ‘No, you wouldn’t want to do that.’

‘Or better yet we can leave that matter for Prince Ishkhan to decide.’ said Lethman.

‘Is Ishkhan here?’ Natalia asked, her heart racing.

‘No, we’ve been searching for him as well.’ Lethman replied.

‘That’s because he went with me to get him.’

‘So where is he?’ asked her father.

‘I don’t know.’ she said, ‘I think he was found out.’

‘So what you’re saying is that because of you the prince could either be dead or missing.’ Her father’s eyes were getting redder and the crowd was in an uproar. She took a deep breath, fearing the worst for her life.

Viggo said, ‘Are you saying you went to the camp with Prince Ishkhan?’

‘Yes, and I put his life in danger.’ she said. ‘So what else do you want to say?’

Viggo’s clumped his brows together and said, ‘No, I think he was the one who put you in danger.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘How was the king killed?’ he asked Daril.

‘He was stabbed in the back and beheaded.’

‘Like King Meldric the first.’

‘Are you saying it’s the same person that killed the two kings?’ asked King Neab.

‘No,’ said Viggo, ‘I’m saying Prince Ishkhan promised our Council that he would kill his father the same way tonight and bring them his head as proof.’

‘No.’ Natalia said, moving back.

‘That’s impossible.’ said Lethman.

‘You’re saying Ishkhan killed his father?’ asked Javel.

‘Yes. Natalia you saw the kings meeting. They were waiting for him.’

‘No.’ said Natalia. ‘I don’t believe you.’

‘The boy speaks the truth.’ Janus said, coming out of the king’s tent.

‘Boy!’ Viggo scoffed.

‘But there is no proof.’ said Lethman.

‘There is.’ Janus opened his palm and dangled a ring on a chain. Natalia gasped.

‘I found this on the corpse. I’ve seen the prince wearing something of its likeness. My lady?’ he said as Natalia covered her mouth to stifle a sob.

‘I gave it to him.’ she said.

‘Are you certain this is it?’

‘I’ve never been more certain. It’s my ring. It has the crest of Helmford.’

‘But that doesn’t prove anything except that the princess did it herself.’ said Javel. ‘We all heard her threaten the king. She could have made good on her promise and brought the prince here to confuse us.’

Natalia turned to him, ‘You speak foolishly for a king.’

Javel stormed towards her but Meldric blocked his way and Janus interrupted, ‘It wasn’t her. The guards said Ishkhan was the last person to see him.’

‘So the king must have pulled it from his neck when he was stabbed.’ said Viggo.

‘No, I don’t believe so. There is no cut in the chain. It means the prince must have pulled it off himself and dropped it on the king’s body to let us know he did it.’

‘No, he didn’t do it.’ Natalia shouted. ‘He couldn’t.’ But she knew they were right. She remembered the sack he had carried. Natalia turned and pushed through the crowd.
He couldn’t have betrayed her so. He wouldn’t
. She raised her head up and blinked rapidly but she could not stop the tears from falling.