ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (9 page)

Amira had been behaving suspiciously since Prince Viggo’s arrival. Though she and the princess had drifted apart but the latter could still see the changes in her. She sang, danced and laughed though she had told Natalia several times that she detested such ‘frivolities’. Natalia had ignored her. It didn’t register in her mind as something serious to ponder about. She had been too consumed with avoiding the prince and ignoring the ongoing wedding preparations. Celeste, Akasha and Viggo still argued on when the wedding should take place though the queen remained resolute on it happening no sooner than two weeks, believing the king would have returned by then. Natalia raked her mind on what to do to prevent it from holding but she could think of nothing.

What finally caught Natalia’s attention was when she discovered Amira’s late night movements through the secret passage. She found out one night, a few days after her birthday. She had been gazing out of her window, deep in thought. She caught sight of a figure in the garden, moving to the walls. From the moonlight, she could tell it was Amira. Her golden hair, white dress and dainty walk gave her away. Natalia had a nagging suspicion of the truth but she wanted to see it for herself. She monitored her friend’s movements then followed a few days later, without the other’s knowledge.

They walked deep into the woods. Amira occasionally looked behind her but Natalia was quick to hide. The weather was cold and the journey long. Just when Natalia thought she could go no further, Amira stopped and clicked her tongue. A man came out from behind a tree and she ran to embrace him.

Natalia moved closer, risking being caught, so she could hear their conversation. She gasped. Her suspicions had been correct. It was Viggo. His frame and voice gave him away.

He held Amira’s head in his hands and said, ‘I’ve been waiting for you all night.’

‘Forgive me, dearest.’ she said, stroking his face. ‘I needed to escape when I was sure everyone had retired to bed. I cannot tell you how much it tires me to hide our love.’

‘But you must or I won’t be able to take the throne.’

She pulled away from him. ‘But you don’t need to marry her to take it.’ He held her hand and pulled her back into his embrace.

‘You know I do. The only alternative is war and it costs a lot more than this.’

‘So you’ll be marrying her in seven days?’

‘No. I want the wedding to hold as soon as possible even if its tonight. I don’t want the king back till she’s my wife. The Rahmon has already promised to speak to the queen on my behalf. He’s done well in providing me with the royal seal but he must help me a little more so I don’t fall short on our agreement.’

‘What did you agree on?’ she asked, pulling at his sleeves.

He pulled her away from him and said, ‘I cannot utter it here or it will be doomed. My people believe the elements obey the voice of its royalty. The winds can hear us and--’

‘I won’t betray you,’ she said, ‘I swear on my life. No one can hear us. ‘

He said nothing. She let go of him and said, ‘You don’t love me. If you did, you would tell me.’

He sighed. ‘He wants her dead in exchange for the kingdom.’

‘You’re going to kill her?’ Natalia heard the shock in her voice.

‘Yes.’ he said. ‘You sound so concerned.’

‘I’m not. Believe me, she’s better dead to me than alive.’ Amira giggled and added, ‘She even thinks it was my brother that betrayed her--so blind. I did it gladly.’

‘You sound more excited than I am at the thought.’ he said.

‘Do I? I have more cause to hate her than you do. What would happen to the king and queen after she dies?’

‘The Rahmon said he would take care of it. He has begun with the queen.’

Natalia held herself from crying out. She knew she couldn’t listen to them anymore or she would do something irrational. She crawled out of the bush she had been hiding, accidentally snapping some twigs in her way.

‘Whose there?’ Viggo said. Natalia stayed still and held her breath. He edged towards the bush drawing his sword from its sheath. Amira walked behind him. She said, ‘My love--’

‘Shhh.’ he said. He was above Natalia but bushes screened her from his view. She closed her eyes and prepared herself for the worst. His hand was on the bush when Amira let out a scream. He turned. She had tripped on the root of a tree and had fallen on her back. He rushed to help her.

‘What happened?’ he said.

She was hysterical, ‘I didn’t see it--this doesn’t happen to me…’

Go
, Natalia heard in her head. She crawled out of the bush and crept down a grassy path till she was a safe distance from them. She rose behind a tree and listened. They were now laughing about the incident, forgetting what had caused it in the first place. She trod down the path she had followed. Her mind raced. She felt the ground she stood on had been pulled from under her. It seemed to her that almost everyone wanted her dead, even Amira, the closest person she had to a sister. She covered her mouth to stifle a sob. She contemplated staying to fight or running away. She didn’t want to run because she feared for her mother’s life. She felt trapped.

When she got to her room, it had already been decided for her. There was a lit candle on the table. On her bed was a cloak, a leather bag and a note. The note read:

Dear friend, you must go. You have no time to spare. The bag contains food, water, a map and precious things you will need on your journey. Outside the secret passage, down the dirt road, is a horse tied to a tree. Take it. Do not worry about your mother, I promise to protect her. Also, examine Felman’s medallion with a map. You will find what you need.

From the voice of redemptio
n
.

Natalia sat down and let the paper fall from her hand. She needed to take it all in. He did exist and he was in her head or in the talisman. She took a few moments to calm down, then opened the bag and found everything including Behozi’s medallion and parchment. She drew back, feeling her neck for the key and found it. She opened the box under her bed and saw they weren’t there. The box had been opened without the key but there was no damage to it.

She picked up the map and Behozi’s medallion and examined them under the light. It was then she understood what the medallion was for. She dropped the objects on the bed and slumped down beside them. There she sat and stared into space, her shoulders slouched and her chest heaving up and down. She placed her hand on her talisman and caressed it. It seemed running was the only way but she wasn’t sure who or what to trust neither could she trust herself to do it.

She closed her eyes and said, ‘I can’t do this.’

There was a flapping noise in her room. She opened her eyes and turned to see the Thunderbird on her window sill. She recoiled and stared at it. It had cat-like eyes that glowed in the dark. It cocked its head, almost in a form of disdain at her pain. A sense of shame mixed with fear flooded through her. She grabbed a sword by her bedside.

‘Shoo.’ she said, brandishing her sword, but it remained unmoving. Natalia paused, surprised. She didn’t want to come close to it. She grabbed her goblet of water on her bedside table and threw its contents at it.

‘I said leave!’

Most of the water hit its target but the bird remained still, watching her like a vulture observing its prey.

‘What do you want? I’m not afraid of you.’ she said, holding up her sword. As if oblivious of her presence, the bird picked at its talons. She charged at it. It puffed up its torso, lifting its wings and opening its mouth. A gust of wind blew in, throwing her off her feet. Her sword was thrown to the other side of the room. She tried to rise but the wind from the window was too strong. The bird remained on the window sill, its head raised in arrogance, its feathers unruffled.

‘Stop it.’ she cried. The bird puffed its torso even more, almost doubling in size. She heard a screeching noise in her head, tearing through her ear drums. She covered her ears but the bird had succeeded. Her vision was blurry. The entire room was spinning before her eyes. She lay on the floor and blacked out.

‘Natalia.’ She knew the voice but she also knew it wasn’t possible.

‘Behozi.’ she said and opened her eyes. The room was in order except for the bird that still sat on the window sill.

‘What trick are you playing?’ she said. A light wind blew towards the other side of the room. She heard voices coming from that direction but the bed screened her view. She struggled to get her weight on the bed. The wind had lifted from her direction but she was still shaky. She could hear the voices in her room but she couldn’t see anyone. The wind formed visible shapes, casting shadows on the walls. Two distinct shadows emerged from the mass. They were figures of two people.                                                                                                 

‘What should I look for?’ she heard the smaller shadow say. Natalia remembered that scene in the prison.

Behozi said, ‘You’ll know soon enough. He who sent me has asked me to tell you that the time is now.’

The shadows faded and the wind receded. Natalia ran her hands over face and took deep breaths. She turned to the bird, ‘What am I supposed to do? I can’t just leave.’

The bird turned and flew out of the window. Natalia scrambled to her feet and rushed to the window to see where it had gone. She watched it glide through the sky. She smiled, insight dawning on her.

‘Fly like the wind, you will return.’ she said to herself, knowing that was the bird’s message. She heard it in her head. She took a deep breath and turned to her room. She repacked everything, took her sword, and blew out the candle. She wondered if it was Behozi’s voice she always heard in her dreams. It made sense to her but there was something she felt she was missing.

She headed for her mother’s room but she thought better of it. The queen’s chamber was always guarded. Natalia’s room would have been the same way if she hadn’t insisted against it. The guards on the grounds had been doubled since the murders at Soliham, so she knew she had to be cautious.

She followed the secret passage and walked down the dirt road. She looked around her. Amira hadn’t returned yet and there was no sign of any one. She walked faster. The horse was tied up there as promised. It was a handsome brown steed. She untied it and climbed on it.

‘We head south to Naphdael.’ she said to the horse, rubbing its neck. They rode off into the night.

                                                                      ***

‘She ran away? How could she? She should have stayed and fought.’ said Kalani, slamming her fist on her lap.

Amse stroked his beard and said, ‘I suspect that is what you would have done. But Kalani, you must remember that the sword answered by the sword cannot bring peace, only bloodshed. It is wiser to pick your battles at the right time. So may I continue my tale?’

‘Please do.’

‘Why are you hindering our meditation?’ Akasha asked, as all the rahis turned to see Amira at the doorway panting.

‘Father of Helmford,’ she said, ‘the princess has run away.’

The shock shot through the hall and noise broke amongst them. Akasha had stopped in his tracks on the dais. He composed himself and said, ‘Priests of Machish, this isn’t how you were trained. I am needed, but while I am away, pray for the princess’ safe return.’

The rahis rose from their seats as he left the hall. The Rahmon’s assistant took over. He made incantations in prayer and the rahis joined in unison.

Akasha closed the door behind him and led Amira down the hallway.

‘How are you sure she ran away?’

‘This morning, I went to her room and I found a note addressed to the queen. It said she had run away but she is safe.’

‘Was it in her handwriting?’

‘Yes. I showed it to the queen and she was as pale as death itself.’

‘Why did you not come to me first?’ he said. They had reached his office. He closed the door behind them.

‘I was confused and afraid. The guards are searching for her and messengers have been sent to the king. I fear we might be exposed.’

He held her hand and said, ‘Do not fear. It wasn’t you who lied to the queen. Remain in the palace. It’s the prince who should go into hiding until we find the princess.’

‘My lord, the prince has more cause to be unhappy. His prize horse is missing. We fear the princess took it with her.’

‘Fool. He will have more cause to weep when the king returns. Tell him to come to me. You may go.’

She curtsied and left the room. He sat down on his chair and stroked a black and gold ring on his finger.

‘You cannot escape from me.’ he said, and blew on the ring.

The windows opened and a fog breezed in.

Natalia sat under a tree as she chewed on a chunk of bread and examined the map under the diminishing sunlight. There was a noise behind her. She glanced back but saw nothing. She scrambled to her feet and continued walking.

She had been in the Havern Forest for six nights since she left the castle but she hadn’t slept for two of them. She had wanted to but the voice wouldn’t let her. She had made a costly mistake on the third night of her journey when she entered a cave filled with bats. They weren’t happy with her intrusion and they showed it. She screamed as they flew past her into the open air. She had once been taught that screaming in the Havern Forest was equivalent to attracting one’s death but she had forgotten at that moment. Since that night, Natalia felt she was being watched by someone--or something--and that being had also killed her horse.

The day after her encounter with the bats, she found a place to sleep in a small space enclosed by flower bushes with shimmering white petals. She tied the horse to a tree outside and had gone in. She felt safe there, like she was in another world outside her troubles. She smiled and lay down to sleep. In the middle of the night, she heard his neighing pierce the night’s silence. She heard him shuffling and trying to escape where she had tied him. She wanted to go to him but the voice restrained her. She sat with her head between her legs, rocking herself and listening. He neighed one last time and dropped to the ground. She knew he was dead. She waited till morning to confirm her suspicions. The headless corpse of her horse lay where she had tied him, with a long arrow, sticking out of his side. The earth was wet and reddened with blood. She knelt down and stroked his body, a sense of fury welling up in her heart. Her hands trembled as they got to the arrow. The end of the arrow was wrapped with purple and white feathers. She got up and drew it out of his abdomen. She wiped the blood-stained arrow on the grass and put it in her leather bag. She didn’t know who or what the killer was but she knew she would kill whatever it was with the same arrow when she had the chance. She turned around and examined the white flowers. They had protected her but she didn’t know how. She plucked one of the flowers but it wilted when it left the plant. She sighed and flung it away, then she continued her journey for the next two days on foot.

Darkness fell. Natalia trod faster as she remembered the incident. There was no moon that night, only stars and clouds scattered in the sky. She groped in the dark, trying to find her way. However, the further she went, the denser the forest became. She tripped over tree stumps and pits, making more noise than the creatures in the forest.

Exhausted, she sat under a tree. She rested her back on it and closed her eyes. She knew she shouldn’t—even the voice told her she shouldn’t—but she couldn’t help it. All the noises went quiet. She heard an unfamiliar voice in the night. It was childlike, yet sinister,

‘Dark angel of the Eastern Sea,

Thy beauty shines upon my tree.

It is a hymn, it is a song

Which I have sung for years long.’

The voice was like a whisper and it was making her dizzy. She knew he was close and moving closer. Her hair stood at the ends but she couldn’t stand. She was too tired.

The voice in her head said
Natalia

‘Yes.’ she replied.

Get up
. She didn’t respond. Sleep was clouding her senses. She heard the voice again, this time more commanding,
I said get up
.

She struggled to her feet, finding strength.

Run!
she heard. She ran as fast as she could, falling and getting up. She heard the being following her, jumping from the ground to the trees.

She saw a light afar off. She turned around to look behind her. When she looked forward, she crashed into someone. They toppled to the ground.