Chapter 30. The Chase
Do not go into the city of the sleeping giants.
There you will find only death and pain.
For that is the home of forgotten Gods and the Outcasts of the heavens.
From the book of Arm-Ra.
The Rogors of the Norgonie were saddled and armored, they carried supplies and weapons. Also an angry Queen, who wished to find her defiant son, and a King, who longed to hold his mate, in his arms once more. Forests of CaltarineArn gave orders to Kuno, to keep his people safe, and at the first sign of treachery, he was to take the tribe out of the Fortress, then burn it to the ground. The Queen also gave out commands, they were to watch the Nomads carefully, and if they harmed just one of her tribe, they should kill them all, and hang their bodies from the walls.
Arn once more wore his heavy armor and his dragon’s teeth. He also took his war-ax, along with several strong Kagars. The Queen also wore armor, her body striped with green and brown. When all was made ready, the gates of the Fortress were opened, and forty strong warriors thundered into the Forests of Caltarine.
Ral’s trail was easy to follow, it led them southward, the Drogs of the hunters, howled and pulled at their leashes, as they smelt the scent on the ground. All that day, they followed the tracks down an ancient stone road, it had not been traveled in a very long time, it led to a pyramid city that no one ever returned from.
It laid in a section of the forest that many believed to be haunted, strange creatures lived there and death hung on the air. The Stone City that lay in the middle of this terrible place, was said, to be the home, of an ancient race of giants. Their strength was beyond measure, and the Gods had bestowed everlasting life upon them. It was also said that creatures, neither human nor animal, inhabited it, and that they lived on the flesh of the living. They worshiped a God, who was long dead. Over time, many brave Norgonie warriors, ventured towards the forgotten city, and into the swamplands to the South. Only one ever returned and he die shortly thereafter. Driven mad, babbling about monsters and demons and things that did could not be described in words. This would not turn Arn from his quest, he would pit his ax, against any giant or demon that dared cross his path.
I will have her back; he thought as he swayed in the saddle; I must have her at my side; for the moment, he forgot the white flowers and the feel of Ishea arms about him. Now all that mattered was finding his mate, and killing the one who took her from him.
Ishea also had strong feelings, hers was not of killing or hatred, she only wished to find her son and know that he was unharmed.
I did this to him; her thoughts tore at her heart; my hate poisoned him, my love will cure his soul.
A half days, hard riding ahead, Ral and his warriors continued onward. He told no one of his plan, because he knew that many of his tribe, would not follow him to the place he wished to go. To the young Norgonie Prince, it was his only hope. Defeated in battle, and knowing that his mother had betrayed him, he wanted to strike back and the only way he knew, was to take the mate of his hated father.
When he finds her gone, he will blame my mother; he thought; and knowing that the King cared for the half-soul more than her, will drive all love from my mother’s heart. To him, it was a perfect plan, if he was killed by the Nomad, his mother would never forgive the Outlander. Knowing that he was the one, who took his mate would cut deep into the heart of his father. Either way he would have his revenge.
Behind him, still bound and gagged, Andra could do nothing, the bindings that held her arms together, were strong and no matter how she struggled, she could not free herself. Realizing that escape was impossible, she decided to conserve her strength until the time was right. She only knew that they were traveling southward, and the suns were rapidly falling. She was sure of one thing, the air smelled of death.
Soon the dense forest around the stone road upon which they traveled, grew even denser. The great trees began to close in until all was obscured by thick vegetation and overgrowth. From the dense greenery, came the wild cries of forest creatures. They were different to the roaring sounds of Sagar cats, or the hooting calls of Limbswingers. These were the screams of things that shunned the light, only coming out in the darkness of night. Then they would hunt and kill, and fill their bellies with the flesh of whatever fell within their grasp. Unclean things that made their homes in foul caverns, and the crumbling remains of fallen temples. They had no names other than death, they lived only to taste the sweet nectar of warm blood.
The twin suns had set, darkness closed in around the King and his warriors. It was not the soft shadow of the night moons and stars overhead, it was a deep vengeful gloom, as if the hand of a demon God, had reached out from beyond the black gulf. Ishea ordered that torches be lit, her hunters did as she commanded, soon even their glow was not enough to follow the tracks.
She pulled up on the reins of her Rowgor. “We cannot go further” she called out “we must find a place of safety”.
Arn acted as if he did not hear her words, and shouted at his men, “leave them and follow me!”
The Queen moved her beast and cut off the King's path, then she spoke to him in a voice only he could hear, “you are acting like a first cycle fool, not a wise leader”.
Arn was about to call her a weak kneed camp follower, but he knew she spoke the truth, so he held his cutting words. “Very well, we shall find a place to rest”, he said calmly, “ but only for a short time”.
Ishea nodded her head in approval, then turned to look into the dark woods around her, a haunted vista of tangled trees and thick foliage. As she looked to her right, she saw a patch of pale moonlight falling on a cluster of rocks, she could make out a cracked dome, and fallen stones. She knew it must be the remains of some kind of structure. So with no other alternatives, she pointed to the opening with her spear, “that way” she said.
With the approval of the Nomad King, she led the way into the closing forest.
Some distance ahead, Ral also ordered his warriors to rest, he had found no stone shelter, or abandoned temple for comfort, he ordered them to seek shelter, in the hollowed out trunk of a gigantic fallen tree. When it had tumbled to the earth, no one could tell, the cycles since then, had eaten away the heart of the wooden giant. It left a cavern like opening that was big enough to hold not only the Norgonie, but their Rowgors as well. Now they sat around small fires, eating from supply packs and drinking inferior Po, but they were still alive, and that was what mattered.
“Eat!” Ral said, as he held out a piece of dried Rimar meat, to his captive.
Andra had been freed of the bonds to her feet, her wrists were still tied together and there was a chain about her neck. It was humiliating for the Selcarie woman, it was the same leash that they used, to restrain the Drogs. She was hungry, but she was not going to give any satisfaction, to the young warrior, “no thanks, I’m not hungry”, she said coldly.
Ral knew she was lying, but he saw no need to press the matter further, so he set the piece of meat on a rock, near the Half-Soul. He took a sip of Po from a metal canteen, when he had slaked his thirst, he held the container out to the woman.
“Drink?” he asked.
The long and unpleasant ride, had parched her throat, so the Off-Worlder took his offer. She took several long gulps of the sour wine, then handed the canteen back to the young warrior. “It’s not very good Po”, she said bluntly.
To this, Ral nodded his head, “yes it's not, but you are not one of the Chosen, so any wine should suit you”; she should be content with whatever I give her.
A small smile crossed the lips of the Selcarie female, “I may not be one of the Chosen, but I have tasted far better wine, and in much better company”.
For a moment, Ral's eyes flashed, he looked like he was about to strike the her. Then he controlled himself; she is baiting you, like a Drog to a Sagar; he thought. “You seem brave for a bed warmer to a false King.”
Now it was Andra’s time to hold her anger, sh
e leaned back against the inside of the tree trunk, and looked the young warrior in the eyes. “I am lieutenant, Andra Oseira, first infantry division, Omega Five. I have fought in the battle of Cotarus Seven, and I planned the destruction of the army of the Talsonar. I am a warrior of the Madrigal and mate to their King. To the Outlanders, I am known as Moonbud the flower that kills, someday I will kill you!”
The young warrior stared into the woman's face for a time, then he smiled at her. “The Moonbud blooms at night, and you have lost your thorns.” He yanked on the end of her chain, pulling her to the ground. She lay there for a moment or two, then lifted herself up. When she looked around, Ral was gone, in his place, she saw two Norgonie warriors, who watched her. With no way of escape, she picked up the piece of Dried Rimar that had been, offered to her before, and put it into her mouth.
She remembered the words of her old training Sargent.“Eat when you can, it may be your last meal”. The taste of Rimar filled her mouth.
She looked up at the night sky, through a small crack in the canopy, she could just make out the small moon that bore her name. I may not have weapons; she thought; but I still have thorns.
To the North the warriors of the Madrigal and Norgonie, were also eating, they kept their weapons close at hand, their eyes constantly watching the darkness beyond the campfire, in the case they were set upon by demons. They ate dried Rimar and cold Kasha bread, the Po was well-aged, the Queen would drink no other. When they were done, the Nomads chewed Grana, they would need its strength in the time ahead. The Norgonie did not eat the green crystal, there were plenty of Troca crawling in the broken stones, to fill their needs.
They made camp in the ruins of an ancient temple, to what God or Gods they could not tell, there were no statues or alter stones. The inscriptions on the walls, were far to worn to read, even if they had not been, their meaning would have been indecipherable. The roof of the structure had collapsed long ago, two of its three walls were crumbling. In the center of the complex stood a twisted mass of metal, in some ways, it resembled the pumping machines of the Norgonie, although this one had no piping, only jagged bits of iron at the top. Still the temple would give them some protection, from creatures that might come out of the darkness.
Arn and Ishea, sat alone as they ate and drank, when they had finished, they listened to the wild cries from the woodland, around them. They gripped their weapons tightly. Through an opening in the forest canopy, the King could see the small bluish moon that bore the name of his mate.
“Moonbud”, he said softly, then looked at the woman, whose face glowed in the light of the fire.
“What did you say?” asked the Queen, the howling from the darkness, had drowned out his words.
The King could see the camouflage markings, and the glowing emerald eyes that had once captured his mind. As he looked at her now, all he could see was the face of the woman he loved. “It was nothing”, he said quickly, then poked at the campfire with the tip of his ax.
They sat there for a time, then the Queen asked, “will you kill your son?”
It was something that Arn did not want to think about, so he asked her a question in return, “why did you not send word to me that you had born a child?”
“Would it have mattered?” she said coldly, “you were far away after the Burning Time, and my mother did not renew, so it was my duty to become Queen. I knew you would not become my consort”.
The King understood her words; she was right, I could not have forsaken my people to sit at her side. Again he poked at the fire with his ax, “you have trained our son well, he is a strong warrior”.
“Like his father”, said the Queen, as she took a sip of her Po.
Arn thought for a moment, “I wanted to tell you something” he said softly. “I want to tell you....”
Suddenly a great roar sounded from the Greenwood, the two monarchs jumped to their feet and braced themselves, for whatever might come. Around them, the warriors of the Madrigal and the Norgonie, stood shoulder to shoulder, all hostilities vanishing in the face of a common danger. Another roar broke the night air, along with the breaking of tree branches, and the sound of giant feet striking the ground.
Arn and Ishea, stood back to back, waiting for an enemy to show, they were not prepared, for what came lumbering out of the darkness. In the light from their fire, they saw something that could only live in nightmares.
It resembled the ape like Galu of the Yug jungles, but this beast, was three times the height of a tall Nomad, its great arms, hung almost to the ground. Its head was huge with a large mouth, filled with long dagger like teeth. Its eyes set above a small nose, were small, and not used to the light. Its upper body, was covered with a thick bony plating and what was not armored, rippled with muscles. There were two large ears either side of its misshapen head, it relied on these to find prey in the darkness.
It stood for a moment looking down on the humans, then with a pounding of its chest, and another ear splitting roar, it bounded over the broken wall and into battle. Any other soldiers of the Outer Rim, would have thrown down their weapons and fled in terror, the warriors of the Madrigal and Norgonie, were bred for combat. Screaming out the war cries of their tribes, they flung themselves at their bestial enemy.
The Norgonie, immediately drew back their arms, and threw their Kagars at the monster, their aim was true. The thick chest plating on the creature, caused their weapons to bounce off harmlessly. When it came close enough for the Nomads to use their axes, they could only cut into the flesh on the legs of the beast. Although it roared in pain, and blood began to flow, it only seemed to enrage the monster further.
Now it struck back with a vengeance, first it seized one of the Nomads in its giant hand. Lifting the Outlander to its mouth, it bit off his head. With another roar, it flung the lifeless body high into the air, to vanish into the darkness.
Arn watched as the monster gripped one of the Norgonie, and again, began to lift the warrior to its slobbering mouth. As it was about to bite the Forest-dweller in two, Ishea threw her spear, it sunk deep into the upper palate of the beast. With another great roar it dropped the warrior, pulling at the shaft protruding from its mouth.
This gave the King time for to act. “You will know when the time is right”, he shouted to the Queen beside him, holding his ax in one hand, he quickly climbed the metal structure, in the center of the broken dome. High above the monster he looked down on Ishea, and waited.
The monster pulled the Kagar from its bloody mouth, then it continued to roar, and strike out at the warriors. They managed to hold the beast at bay, taking up burning branches from their fires, waving them about, and shouting at the great beast.
The Queen took up a firebrand and stood with the others. “Drive it to the King!” she shouted, they heard her words above the roars of the creature and obeyed her command. Working as one, they moved forward, shouting and holding the burning embers in front of them. Like all animals, the giant ape feared fire, beating its huge fists on the ground in rage, it began to move slowly backwards. When it was close enough, Arn leapt from the steel machine, landing on the head of the roaring beast. In an instant, he swung his heavy ax, its thick blade sunk deep into the monster's thick skull. With another ear splitting roar, it lifted its long arms, and tried to grab the human. Before it could, the King pulled his weapon free, and struck again at his enemy. This time he cut across the face of the creature, blinding it and causing a great gush of warm blood, to shower down on the warriors below. Screaming horribly, the monster shook its head violently, sending the King tumbling to the ground, still holding his ax. He was not hurt, and rose quickly to his feet.
“Drive him into the forest!” he shouted, taking one of the burning branches from the ground. With the Queen by his side, he moved forward, jabbing at the blind monster. It tried to strike back, without eyes, it had to rely on its large ears, it was still able to judge, where to pummel with its huge fists.
Ishea saw one of her warriors, die un
der the fist of the beast, and she knew what must be done. Taking up a Kagar, she took careful aim, then threw the spear hard at the monster. Her skill with the weapon was great, and it drove deep into the ape's ear. Losing its hearing, as well as its sight, the monster tried to run for the forest. The fighting madness, was now upon the warriors, and they continued to thrust at their enemy with firebrands. Suddenly, the thick fur of the animal caught fire, with a pained scream, it bounded over the broken wall, then ran headlong into the dense forest. The light from its flaming hide, slowly disappearing into the darkness, until it was gone.
Arn stood there for a moment more, his body splashed with blood and gore, he breathed in the night air, in long deep gasps. Beside him, Ishea did the same, when they were sure that the monster was truly gone, they looked into each others eyes.
“What did you want to tell me?” asked the Queen.
The King shook his head, “not now, I am thirsty”, he said, then turned, and began looking for the barrel of well-aged Pol.
At the first sign of light Andra, was once again bound behind Ral’s saddle. This time, she was allowed to sit upright, rather than uncomfortably on her belly. She still found the situation far from acceptable, and pulled at her bindings as they rode southward.
All that morning, they continued to ride, soon the thick forest, gave way to a more open landscape. It was not one of green fields and waving Kasha-wheat, this was a place of colorless trees and mist shrouded swamp. The Norgonie called it “Boranus Karnor” or Bubbling Death, for the ground was covered in great pools of brackish water that bubbled up until it burst open with a foul smelling gas. There were great trees, their color gray or black, the thick vines that hung from their branches, were covered in webbing, dripping a liquid that could burn flesh. Here and there, could be seen Nightflyers, the reptilian blood drinkers of the darkness, their bodies were misshapen, their flesh was pale and covered in sores.
As the Norgonie warriors moved into this place of nightmares, one of them pulled back on his Rowgor, he called out angrily to Ral. “This is a place of the dead, we should not be here,”
His words caused the other warriors to stop also, when the Prince saw that he no longer commanded his men, he paused too. He turned his Rowgor and looked at the man who had called out, he spoke so that all could hear, “what would you have me do?”
“Turn back and return to the Fortress”, came the answer.
It looked like Ral, was going to think over the man's advice. Then with a lightning fast move, he lifted his spear, flinging it, into the heart of the Norgonie, the man fell from his mount dead. Then without comment, Ral turned about and headed into the forbidden swamp, without any hesitation, his warriors did the same.
Behind them gaining fast, Arn continued to follow the tracks on the ground, he had slept very little, his mind focused on finding his mate, and punishing those who took her. A Nomad needed very little sleep, waking as refreshed, as if they had lain the whole night.
There had been no time to bury the slain warriors, so they piled rocks on their remains promising that their names would be remembered. Gathering up their weapons and supplies, they once more began the chase.
As the King rode, he thought about, what he would do when he found his son. His mind said one thing and his heart spoke another. He has taken anothers mate, for that he should die; he thought; but he is my son, I do not wish him harmed. Back and forth this Mind War raged, until Arn thought he would go mad, so he drove it from his head, and thought only of holding Andra in his arms, once more.
Ishea was also troubled, for she also wished no harm to her offspring, but she was the Queen of the Norgonie, her tribe looked to her to pass judgement, without weakness for those she loved. She knew that if she spared Ral, she would lose the respect of her people. and along with that, her power.
I am a Queen, as was my mother and her mother before her; she told her mind; but I am also a mother and he is my son.
There are many Nomads and Norgonie, who dream of being a leader, they sit by their fires, dreaming of the power and glory that comes with being King or Queen. Few of them, will ever understand, how heavy those crowns are, and how their weight burdens the soul.
The twin suns were once more setting, when Andra saw the forgotten city. At first, she could only see a towering pinnacle, rising above the mist, in shape and size it was the same as the massive beacon of the Talsonar pyramid. Unlike that huge structure, the light at the top did not blink. There was something else that troubled her, it was nothing that she could see, somehow she knew that ahead of her was great danger. So trusting her instincts, she began to pull at her bindings once again.
The Rimar hide that held her, was strong, but her constant working, had managed to loosen a part of it enough, for her to think, she might be able to free herself. She knew that if she did escape, she did not know where go. She was a very long way from the Fortress, without a Rowgor and weapons she, would die in a very short time. She decided to bide her time and wait for a more opportune moment to escape.
A short time later, she saw the forgotten city.
Ral did not stop, and continued towards the massive stone city. Although his warriors grumbled under their breath, the young warrior did not turn from his path.
If they follow me to the forgotten city, they will die; he thought. He also knew that he might die too that did not matter to the young Prince, his mind was fixed on revenge, it would not listen to anything else.
As they drew closer to the lost city, the trail they were following, became narrower, soon the large paving stone, turned to a rocky path, with swamplands on either side. In the foul water, were the remains of many great beasts, their huge bones, jutted out from the slime, if there was any flesh left on them, it was swarming with vermin. Along with smaller predators that made the mist shrouded land their home, were huge Dagger-mouths. The amphibian reptilians, lay motionless in the water, waiting for anything to cross their path. When something did, they would quickly seize it in their great jaws, then drag it underwater, to its doom.
Along with the dangers of the land, there were also airborne terrors. The Forbidden City, was also the place, where giant Screechers dwelt. These flying reptiles, were not unlike those that were used by the Sky Riders, who lived in the high mountains of Kresh. Unlike those creatures, these were much larger and could not be tamed by humans. So as the Norgonie moved through the stinking landscape, they kept an eye on the land and the heavens.
Andra was sure now that she could free herself from her bonds, so she watched for any opportunity to escape. All she saw, was a huge mountain of rock and steel, slowly emerging from the mist. It was an almost perfect duplicate, of the stone city of the Talsonar, this one was broken and crumbling with age. Great portions of the structure were missing, the entire surface was pitted and worn.
No one has lived here in a very long time; she thought, and she was right, for the city had been there, longer than anyone could remember. Now the home of swamp creatures, no Outlander or Norgonie, had dared walk its levels in thousands of cycles. As for being abandoned that was a matter of belief. It was said that giants and monsters, called the place their home and that it was a sanctuary for demons, and a gateway to the pit of Marloon. All that was of no concern to Ral, unwaveringly, he led his warriors across a narrow causeway and headed for the haunted city.
There was very little light left now, the warriors had not lit their torches yet, as they crossed the pathway, the reservoir, around them began to stir. At first, it was just small ripples in the surface of the stale brackish water, it became small waves that continued to grow with each moment. Ral gripped his Kagar tightly and tensed his muscles, behind him, Andra could feel that something was wrong, she made herself ready for whatever might come.
Suddenly there was a great rush of water, several huge Dagger-mouths, burst out of the swamp and attacked the Norgonie column. In an instant, two of the Rowgors, were caught in the powerful jaws of the monsters, then dragged into the dark wat
er. The riders and their mounts, fought back bravely, warriors, thrust at the attackers with their spears, the Rowgors swinging their massive heads, from side to side, trying to impale the reptilians on their tusks. It was no use, with roars and screams, they were pulled under the water. The Norgonie's Drogs, had no chance either, one by one they were devoured by the watery predators.
Ral, raised his Kagar to a Daggermouth that rose up to grab him, and his beast, as the water monster opened its great mouth, the warrior flung his weapon, imbedding it in the mouth of the creature. With a roar and a thrashing of its long tail, it plunged back into its watery home.
“FOLLOW ME!” Ral yelled out, then raced his Rowgor for the safety of the Stone City.
Behind him, Andra held on with all her might, she did not want to go to the haunted city, but also, she did not want, to become the meal of a swamp monster. Choosing the lesser of two evils, she grabbed hold of the saddle, holding on with all her might.
The warriors of the Norgonie, followed their leader across the narrow causeway, all the while shouting and throwing their Kagars, with deadly accuracy. Still two more of the Rowgors, met their end, along with their riders. The speed of the forest creatures, out ran the slower Daggermouths, at last they came to the entrance to the Forbidden City.
The portal to the Stone City, was once sealed by massive iron doors, their hinges had rusted away long ago. Now they lay in the water in front of the entryway, making a bridge of sorts. The warriors thundered over the doors, to enter the dark fortress.
In the pale light from the setting suns, Ral viewed his surroundings. It was a vast cavern of darkness, with broken stones and rubble, from the crumbling ceiling, littering the mosaic floor. Everywhere could be seen more of the webbing that covered the landscape. It was much denser in the great pyramid. There was no sound, except for an occasional beastly howl of some unseen thing. The wind moved through a vast emptiness, there seemed to be something else. Something that could not be seen, or heard, an evil presence that made the hairs on the back of the neck stand up, and send a chill racing up the spine. Ral paid no heed to this, and dismounted from his Rowgor.
“Start a fire, and post sentries”, he called out. He went to pull the Off-World woman down.
Andra did not resist, she let herself be manhandled, until she was standing next to the Norgonie Prince. She kept her hands together and her eyes down, so as not to cause suspicion, and to keep Ral from checking her bindings.
“Stay close to me”, the young warrior said, turning his back to the woman.
That was when Moonbud struck! Pulling her hands free, she hit Ral in the back of the neck. It was an old fighting trick that had served her well in the past. Her blow, was enough to stagger the young warrior, giving her enough time to make her escape. Grabbing the dagger from his belt, she ran into the darkness, as fast as her legs would carry her.
Nomads The Fallen God Page 31
