by Drew Wagar
But this is wrong!
Then there was only one girl left.
If I don’t take her they’ll ask why, they’ll know! But I can’t … these woman are of Scallia … my people … my home …
In split second Kiri reached out her hand. She sought the girl’s mind. She felt the girl pull back, shrieking in fear.
Do not fear! I will not harm you, but you must do exactly as I say or you will suffer the same fate as these others …
The girl’s eyes widened in shock, staring into Kiri’s, suspicion and confusion mixing on her expression.
Fall on your knees! Now! Do it!
The girl dropped before her, staring up, quivering with fright.
Let your face go vacant, open your mouth as if your mind has gone …
Kiri continued to stretch out her arm towards the girl, her fingers miming the actions of the other priestesses. She lowered herself down on her knees, moaning, imagining the wonderful flow of power that would have come to her. It was tempting, the feeling was so pleasurable, so addictive … she almost changed her mind there and then. She fought the instinct to seize the girl’s gift, it was there, glowing before her, tantalising, within reach, all she had to do was reach out …
Now, slump to the floor, keep your eyes open but do not move. Lie still! They will carry you away, do not resist, say nothing, do nothing! I will come to you later and help you escape …
Kiri could hear the faint echo in her mind. The girl’s gift was not strong, but she had enough wits about her to ask the question.
Who are you?
I am Kiri. I will see you safely back to Scallia …
My name is Gemma …
There was still fear, but there was gratitude too. The girl slumped to the floor, lifeless like all the others about her.
Kiri heard the sound of heavy breathing in her ear.
‘So good!’
It was a young priestess sitting on her other side. Kiri turned to look at her. Her face was flushed, her lips parted in a lustful smile. Kiri managed to nod. She tried to repress her distaste and revulsion.
‘Nothing like it, is there?’ the girl continued. ‘Sweet joy to take these Scallian wastrels …’
Kiri didn’t answer.
As Kiri had expected, Nerina soon summoned more guards. Each girl was carried out, like a sack thrown over the shoulders. Kiri watched as Gemma was picked up. She remained as limp as the others. Then they were all gone and the doors were closed once more.
I will have to find her later …
‘Now,’ Nerina said. Kiri saw Nerina cast a glance in her direction. ‘To business. We have a guest.’
The priestesses looked at her expectantly.
‘You know of our conquest of Scallia and Drem and you know of the task appointed to us by our first high priestess, Elena,’ Nerina said, striding down through the centre of the hall, before whirling around at the far end. ‘Lacaille warns us that we must not delay. Kiri has received a directive from the Obelisk itself. What must be done?’
The priestesses looked at each other, muttering.
One volunteered. ‘The exiles … they must be destroyed. But they were supposed to be in Nireus …’
Nerina pointed at her. ‘Correct, but we conquered Nireus and the exiles were not there. Lacaille was appeased, but not sated. The flares warned of in the elements will continue to return. If we are not swift, so will the pain! But we found one … we found an exile …’
The priestesses except for Kiri and Rihanna gasped.
‘Didn’t we, Kiri?’ Nerina asked, her gaze falling upon her.
Kiri tried not to flinch, she nodded.
‘Tell us of him,’ Nerina instructed.
Kiri swallowed. Meru’s image formed in her mind, but she was too anxious for any other feelings to well up.
‘He … he came from over the seas,’ Kiri managed to say. ‘From a distant land called Amar. It was there his ancestors had fled from Elena’s wrath long ago …’
‘Elena Drayden was victorious over Kashif Amar, the leader of exiles,’ Nerina said. ‘She overpowered him and his evil people, but they fled and we never knew where they had gone until now. They have named their land after their leader as we have done. They exist, they continue their evil … why they even had a flying machine straight out of the legends!’
More gasps.
‘It was …’ Kiri began.
‘I saw it too,’ Rihanna interrupted, her voice hard. Kiri looked around at her to be greeted with an unfriendly stare. ‘A metal beast that flew through the air …’
‘But this exile escaped,’ Nerina continued. ‘Across the sea in a ship, fleeing back to Amar. We could not pursue … not until now.’
Rihanna glared and then looked down her nose at Kiri before turning away.
Nerina walked back along the hall and seated herself in the centre chair, facing the doors.
‘To complete the task appointed, we must venture across the sea. This is a further test of our resolve, priestesses of Drayden. The lands hereabout are under our dominion, or fearful of our wrath, all respect the tithe once more. But to reach this Amar … we need ships.’
‘And Drayden is landlocked,’ Merrin said, speaking for the first time.
‘Precisely,’ Nerina said. ‘We have no ships, no sailors, but we have an ally that does. An ally that knows of our increasing strength and thus wishes to serve …’
She clapped her hands twice again, the doors to the hall swung back a second time.
A man stood there, dressed in a strange and outlandish fashion. Most surprising was a huge hat like a flat saucer, perched on his head with an enormous wide rim. His clothes were loose fitting, swaths of fine linen swirling about him as he walked forward. His skin was dark, the whites of his eyes contrasting with the flesh of his face.
Like Tasha … did she come from Taloon then? She was my friend, but I never asked …
His pace was quick. He looked neither to the right nor left, but strode straight up to Nerina and then bowed low before her. He was a big man, over twelve hands tall.
‘Well met, emissary of Taloon,’ Nerina said, her posture languid and relaxed. ‘I, Nerina, high priestess of Daine in the land of Drayden, welcome you.’
‘It is an honour much anticipated, high priestess,’ the man replied, with a deep baritone voice. ‘I am Vandare, from the court of King Karquesh of Taloon.’
‘We are pleased to receive you, Vandare of Taloon,’ Nerina replied, still formal. ‘How fares Taloon? Is all at peace within your kingdom?’
‘It is,’ Vandare replied. ‘And we are grateful to the priestesses of Drayden for their role in keeping the security of our borders.’
‘As well you should be,’ Nerina said. ‘A duty we take seriously indeed. The world remains a dangerous place. Taloon has proved itself a trusted ally in the past, we hope that remains the case.’
Vandare paused for a moment before responding. ‘Where Drayden goes, Taloon will follow, high priestess. Never doubt our commitment, or our tithe, to you.’
Nerina got to her feet.
‘Your words are salve to my soul, Vandare,’ she said. ‘We have much need of allies now.’
‘Taloon stands ready to serve, of course.’
‘Rise,’ Nerina said, taking Vandare’s hand. He stood up. The contrast between the pair could not have been more striking. Nerina barely came up to Vandare’s shoulder. He was an older man, so it seemed to Kiri, his dark face lined with age under the strange hat.
‘High priestess,’ he acknowledged.
‘The flares,’ Nerina said, dropping her voice. ‘Have they caused harm?’
Vandare nodded, ‘Fires swept much of our land and many have died. Stone buildings and caves provide the greatest safety. But the flares themselves? We are at a loss …’
‘Lacaille herself,’ Nerina said. ‘She has told us what must be done. This is her wrath, purging the unrighteous from amongst all the peoples. Her punishment has descended upon us all becaus
e we have not heeded her words.’
‘Lacaille?’ Vandare echoed.
‘The goddess,’ Nerina replied, stretching her arms wide. ‘She who directs us all.’
‘Ahhh,’ Vandare replied. ‘Of course. What does she command?’
He doesn’t believe, but he is cautious … and wise.
‘Our ancient texts describe the flares,’ Nerina said. ‘They are a punishment for us being remiss in eradicating evil from our lands. Long ago, we were set a task to destroy that evil, but we failed. That responsibility still lies heavy upon us. We call it the task appointed, we must complete it.’
Kiri swallowed, the remorse in Nerina’s voice was compelling.
That task has been a cornerstone of my life for so long now, the hated exiles … but now? Meru is an exile and he was not as Elena said he was … he said the people of Amar were peaceable. Can they truly be cursed by Lacaille? And yet, Lacaille has spoken to me, told me to carry out the task …
‘What are you obliged to do?’ Vandare asked.
‘There is a race, a race of evil,’ Nerina said. ‘Once they rended the soil of our world, tainted the air and defiled everything about them. Their abode was in the far shadeward, a city called Nireus. Long ago we sought to destroy them and we almost did, but many of them fled before us. Fled across the sea. They became known as the exiles. We knew not where they had gone.’
‘And now you do?’ Vandare queried.
Nerina nodded. ‘Across the sea, a land called Amar.’
Vandare paused once more. ‘We have heard rumours of it. An island far beyond the horizon to the sunright …’
Nerina straightened. ‘They must be destroyed.’
Vandare frowned.
‘Taloon has a fleet of ships,’ Nerina said. ‘Warships. We require them.’
Kiri watched as Vandare assimilated that bit of information.
‘It would be a dangerous voyage, to make war upon an unknown foe at such distance …’
‘We have a duty,’ Nerina said. ‘My people would accompany yours in this quest. We would seek an end to these flares. Our combined might against the evil …’
‘My King would have to make such a decision,’ Vandare said. ‘I am merely an emissary. I will take your request to him immediately.’
Nerina smiled.
‘I will send my own honoured emissary with you,’ she said gesturing towards Kiri. ‘Priestess Kiri will go on behalf of Drayden, our sole representative. She has been anointed by Lacaille’s servant.’
Kiri heard Rihanna stifle a gasp next to her and exchange a look with Merrin. Kiri could sense an intolerable smugness emanating from the older woman.
But Kiri’s thoughts were driven elsewhere. The exiles, the wrath of Lacaille and Elena’s directive buzzed in her mind, but they were thoughts too large for her to deal with at that moment. Two things flickered to the forefront of her mind.
If I go to Amar … Meru and Zoella. I can have them both!
‘Kiri will accompany you back to Taloon,’ Nerina said. ‘She will ensure that my … request … is presented to your King on my behalf with all the necessary detail.’
Vandare looked at Kiri for a moment before bowing to her. ‘Such assistance would be most welcome.’
He didn’t sound at all enthused by the prospect.
‘Your King’s response will set the tone for the ongoing relationship between Drayden and Taloon,’ Nerina said. ‘Long may it continue.’
Vandare bowed before Nerina again.
‘We are your humble servants, high priestess Nerina,’ he said.
Nerina sat down, crossing her legs as she did so.
‘I hope so, Vandare of Taloon. I hope so. Now, you must rest before your voyage back to Taloon. We will speed your way.’
It was clear he was dismissed. Vandare bowed once more and then stood, turned about and strode away, the doors opening for him and then closing again behind him.
There was silence in the hall for a long moment before Nerina turned her attention to Kiri.
‘You will escort him back to Taloon,’ she instructed. ‘You will fly by dach, taking my order to their king. The attack on Amar must commence as soon as they are able.’
Kiri nodded. ‘Yes high priestess. But if the king refuses?’
Nerina’s eyes narrowed. ‘Then Taloon will no longer have need of a king. They have few with the gift in that land. Subduing them should present little problem. If you have need, we are but a dach’s flight away. Once the fleet is ready to depart I will send others to accompany you.’
Kiri hid her excitement and anticipation.
If I am careful I can achieve it all. Amar lies before me. The peace that Charis hoped for might come to pass for all lands, not just ours.
Nerina rose to her feet again and clapped her hands one more time. ‘Dismissed!’
The priestesses began to file out. Next to her, Rihanna got to her feet and stepped away. Kiri could see Merrin was watching them both.
‘Rihanna, wait …’
Rihanna glared at her. ‘No, why should I?’
‘What’s the matter?’
Rihanna’s lip curled into a sneer. ‘Always you have to be the chosen one, don’t you? Always special, always favoured. Seeing visions of Elena’s Obelisk …’
‘But I did, I’m only telling what I saw!’
Rihanna scoffed, shaking her head. ‘And you didn’t even tell me? I thought we were supposed to be friends now?’
‘There wasn’t time. There were only moments before …’
Rihanna shook her head. ‘You lied to me, Kiri. You’re unbelievable. Using everyone for your own advancement. You can’t treat people like that, but it’s the way of the gutter I guess.’
‘Rihanna!’
‘I know what you’re trying to do. You think you can be high priestess. Ha! You’re not that special, one of these stretches you’re going to learn that.’
Rihanna left, leaving Kiri standing amidst the few remaining priestesses. She let tears pool in the corners of her eyes, gritting her teeth. Merrin sniffed with satisfaction and turned to leave. Kiri was left on her own in the hall.
She wiped away the tears and then laughed.
I hope our little show was good enough! Rihanna is a better actress than me. Merrin seems convinced we are at odds once more. Let’s hope that message gets to Nerina.
Kiri’s thoughts drifted back to the words her old mentor had spoken to her long ago. She felt tears well up as she saw Charis’ tender face, heard her soft voice once more.
You have a remarkable gift. You are precious child, not just to me, but to all Drayden. You should have always been here in the Temple. We saved you, it is true. But my fondest hope is, in time, it will be you who saves us.
She gritted her teeth with determination.
‘I will, Charis. I will!’
CHAPTER SIX
Amaris, Capital of Amar
Round 2307, Second pass
Coran and the rest of the crew had been marched within the walls of Amaris and upwards into the city. They were led into the city jail and from there escorted to a large cell.
‘I demand to speak to someone in authority,’ Coran said, eyeing the entrance to the prison.
‘You’ll get your chance,’ the soldier replied. ‘In, now.’
‘I’m a citizen of Amar,’ Coran replied. ‘You can’t do this.’
‘You’re a pirate,’ the soldier replied. ‘And you’re under arrest.’
Coran was shoved forward. Daf and Creg looked ready to start a fight, but Coran shook his head. He raised his hands in submission.
‘All right!’
Coran walked into the cell and the others followed in.
The soldiers bolted and locked a heavy furler wood door behind them and they heard the sound of feet marching away.
Coran looked around the cell, there was nothing within save for a small window at the far side.
‘Lovely accommodation,’ Fitch said. ‘So glad we came back here
to warn the good folk of Amar. Really pleased with the reception, the banquet in our honour … very nice.’
Coran cast a look at him, but didn’t deign to reply.
‘And pirates?’ Mel asked. ‘Why would they say that?’
Coran shook his head. ‘Something’s happened. They must have been hit by the flares, lost some ships. I don’t know. Must be something else going on.’
‘What’s going on,’ Fitch began, ‘is that little snut timekeeper of yours didn’t tell us …’
‘Meru didn’t know what was going to happen,’ Mel replied.
‘Didn’t tell us his daddy was a senator of the snuttin’ city though, did he?’ Fitch retorted. ‘Failed to mention that, didn’t he? Must have slipped his mind! I told you he was lying.’
‘Yeah,’ Coran muttered. ‘He could have told us that.’
‘So he lied to all of you,’ Zoella said, crouching down against the wall of the cell and wrapping her arms about her knees. ‘He lied to me. Is there anyone he’s not lied to?’
‘We always knew he was running from something,’ Mel said. ‘When we found him adrift in the sea …’
‘Told you we should have chucked him back in,’ Fitch said.
‘He’s paid his way since then,’ Coran said. ‘As well you know.’ Coran looked at Zoella. ‘And he rescued you too, remember?’
‘I do,’ Zoella replied, glaring back at him. ‘But that doesn’t excuse this, does it? You sure he was even telling the truth about being shipwrecked?’
‘He was way out in the Straithian Sea,’ Mel said. ‘Adrift, like I said. We found him clinging to the wreckage of his ship, sunk in a storm and about to be eaten by a squidder.’
‘Squidder?’ Ren asked.
‘Something big that lives in the sea,’ Mel replied, waving her arms around. ‘Lots of tentacles.’
‘Could have been lies,’ Zoella said.
‘You don’t deliberately swim out into the sea and put your life at risk,’ Coran said. ‘He was shipwrecked. I knew the captain of his ship and the storms that come up from the sunward are real enough.’
