Andra’s mind was deep in dreaming and that vision was one that she had many times before, she was in the home where she grew up and surrounded by all the things that a young girl cherished most, a warm bed, a loving mother and caring brother and a life waiting to be lived, the smell of fresh baked bread filled the air as she stood looking out her window at the rolling green hills and the endless blue sky.
Is there a better life than this? she thought, then she heard her mother calling to her and suddenly she was in their kitchen and watching her mother fill her plate with favorite food then place it on the worn wooden table.
“Eat it all” her mother said, “You will need it in battle”.
Those words were strange to hear for her life was one of an innocent farm girl and her world was at peace with itself, it was only later that war entered her lifecycle and she was trained to fight, how could her mother know of her future life?
“Mother” she said, “Do you know what is to come?”
Her mother smiled, “I know many things, I know when the sun will rise and when the winter ill come, I know the sound of the meadow-birds and I know who you really are”.
“But I am me mother, who else can I be?
Her mother smiled, “Silly girl, you can be many things, but there is only one real you”.
Andra sat down and began eating her morning meal, it tasted like all the other morning meals she had eaten, but then it occurred to her that every morning she ate the very same food, cooked field wheat and honey cakes, but it was her favorite fare when the sun rose in the sky so why wouldn’t she like it? The girl ate a few bites then remembered what her mother had said.
“Mother, you said there was only one real me, what did you mean by that?”
Her mother began cleaning the brass cooking pots as she spoke, “You have many dreams in you, all of them are real or unreal as you see fit”.
This made Andra laugh, “Dreams are just dreams they can’t be real”.
Her mother turned and looked into her eyes, That, is where you are wrong, dreams are as real as you make them” she laughed then her eyes narrowed and a cold look filled them, “And you will follow orders!”
The face began to change, softly at first, just a bit around the eyes, a flicker of modification that would not have been noticed by anyone other than a loving daughter.
“Your eyes mother” the girl said, “They changed”.
“We all change” Niana replied, “Some more than others”.
The morning light in the small kitchen began to dim, the table melted away like honey wax, the smell of warm food gave way to an antiseptic stench and the oil of machinery and wire. The woman who was her mother buckled and flattened into a black mist, then from that mist another image came forward, a tall man in a starched military uniform, short cropped hair and cool eyes, it was her old drill instructor, Sargent Reynolds, “The enemy is all around” he said with a stern face, “Do your duty”.
“Yes sir” she heard herself say then she watched as the flesh melted away revealing a metal skull with hollow eyes and a voice that was cold and unfeeling.
“They are your enemy” it said.
Andra woke with a start and looked around the darkened tent, how she got there she didn’t know but beside her lay Arn, her mate and knowing he was there ended her fear and she laid her head beside his but she did not sleep for her dream words kept calling to her.
“Do your duty” it said, “do your duty”.
The merriment of the great dome gave way to the light of day and those that had drunk deep of Po and Dral were unsteady on their feet and their head spun like a Dot-fly in a wind storm.
The morning sky was clear and the day moons looked down on their mother and whispered of the stars and dreams that were meant only for the Gods.
Osh’s head was reeling but not from Po or Dral, his mind was filled with excitement at the prospect of recording the culture of the Akuna and learning all he could about their beliefs and values, his only regret was that he was unable to transfer his wisdom directly into a memory bank of a Trollacian computer using the Mind-say technique application. But there were no such computers on the planet and if there were they would not function because of the electromagnetic dampening waves, until then he would have to store everything in his magnificent brain and on his hundreds of Rimar hide scrolls.
“I am almost out of ink” the old man said as he lifted the silver storage cup and noticed its meager contents, “How will I continue with my findings without writing?”
“The sand will give you what you need” Alune replied as she handed her companion a bowl of hot morning soup.
“The sand?” Osh was very skeptical of her words, “How is that possible?” she is a good cook and her knowledge of healing is superb but she knows very little of recording.
“First eat your soup then I will show you”.
Osh shook his large head, “The sand cannot give ink, you are mistaken”.
Alune sat down beside her companion and began eating a small loaf of freshly baked Kasha bread, “You think you are a wise man because you have traveled the stars and you see me as a silly old woman, yet if it was not for me you would have died, Isarie has given me knowledge to keep you alive, for what purpose I do not know but she is all knowing and the future will speak to me”.
Osh spooned some warm soup into his mouth and swallowed, “It is true that you did save my life and for that I am grateful”, how can I tell her that her Goddess is a genetically altered virus that has mutated into a conscious lifeform?
The Touchtender’s face smiled at hearing kind words, “You are wise I will grant you that but even the wisest of men need to listen now and then”.
“Then tell me of the Akuna” Osh said between spoonful’s of delicious broth.
Alune put a small amount of fish sauce on her bread, “Very well, the Akuna are our kin but not followers of the Goddess, they sin whenever and wherever they can, they are people of the sea and must return there or die for the water gives them life”.
“I see” the old man said, “Do they also hibernate in caves when the Burning time comes?”
“Yes, but their caves are by the sea and water is their bed, Dietas the Goddess of the sea gives them renewal and supplies them with what they need”.
Clearly, they are an aquatic species and must remain by the sea to survive, Osh thought as he swallowed more of Alune’s freshly cooked nutriments, “Do they reproduce using the female womb principle or a more efficient variation such as gyno-separation and encasement?” for a moment the Callaxion had forgotten who he was talking to and looking up from his serving bowl he saw a stern look on his companion’s face, “I am sorry if I have said too much, please forgive me”.
The old woman put the last of her bread down and cleaned her fingers with a cloth, “Not at all, you wish to know more about the Akuna and I agreed to speak of them”, there was a pause as the old woman made sure her hands where well cleaned then she placed them in her lap and held her head high, “The Akuna are creatures of the flesh and when one sins they all do, it is called Trilling”.
“Trilling?” the old man asked, “What does that mean?”
Alune looked a bit flushed but did not turn away, she cleared her throat and spoke, “Thrilling is their word for, well, fulfillment during mating, the people of the sea have a power that can capture the body and the mind so you must be careful least you lose yourself”. From the look on Osh’s face the Touchtender knew that he did not understand her words, “I’m sure there is a word for it with your people”. Again, the old man just looked at her, then the answer sprung into her mind like a leaping Rockrunner, “You have not mated, have you?”
Osh put down his bowl at hearing her invasive question, “Well you see, on my world we do not, well that is to say that we don’t, as you have put it, well---mate”.
Alune face went through many changes in a matter of seconds, surprise, questioning, doubt and at last sympathy for she was raised as a Cup-sharer and her h
eart felt for all living things, “If you do not mate how do you reproduce?”
This question was easier for Osh to answer for his brain was genetically enhanced and once remembered it never forgot, “We regenerate by taking a genetically selected sample of material, and inclosing it in a nutritional surroundings where it is nurtured until hatching and then the fetus is transferred to an incubation facility where it undergo’s more scrutiny until it is…” the old man stopped speaking for he could see his words were not gaining any favor with his companion, “Well there is more to tell but I think I have said enough”.
For a time, the Touchtender did not speak but from the look in her eyes you could see that many thoughts were running through her head, he is a wise man that is certain but he has not been loved by a woman and that is sad, at last the silence was broken by the female, “Your mind is a great one and filled with wisdom but there are things that are beyond wisdom that you will need to learn”. “Then teach me” Osh replied.
The Touchtender reached inside her simple robe at the neck and took out a small silver container set with small holes, “This is a Togar a talisman that all Nomads must wear who do not wish to be tainted by the sins of the Akuna” the old woman opened the delicately fashioned locket, “Inside are herbs and spices that counteract the power of the Sea People”.
“And what power is that?” asked the Callaxion.
“The Akuna can emit a fragrance from their bodies that clouds the mind and warms the body so that you are helpless and think only of the flesh”.
Osh shook his large head, “I have been in contact with the Akuna and felt no such feelings”.
Alune hung her head and did not look into the eyes of her companion, “That is because the females do not think you are a suitable male for coupling”.
Despite his training to put aside personal feelings and concentrate on the task before him the Callaxion’s face showed definite signs of disappointment and seeing this the Touchtender added to her statement, “They are wrong, I think you are a most suitable male in all respects”. He is a good man, wise and kind.
Osh understood all too well that he was not the young man he once was and that soon the cycles would catch up to him but until that time he would conduct himself as he always had, “Thank you for your kind words but it is no secret that my genetic qualities are only useful if you require a recorder or programmer and nothing more”.
Alune was a Cup-sharer, a Healer, one who put others above herself that is why Horcon the God of destiny chose her to be a Touchtender and seeing a person in need compelled her into action so she moved to where her companion stood and kissed him gently on the cheek.
“Any woman of the Outlands would be proud to have you share her tent”.
Nothing more was said and as Osh gathered his carry pack and Alune dressed herself in a fine robe and a necklace of shells that her second mate had given her, and when all was ready they set off for the water. As they walked Osh continued to feel the lips of his companion on his cheek and although he was too proud to say so he wished for more.
When Osh and Alune were gone and all was quite around the Karrack a strange figure emerged from the wagon, she was covered from head to toe in a heavy winter robe and no part of her skin showed, there was no one around to see her for the wagon of the Callaxion and the Touchtender were given a wide berth by the Nomads for they knew that the creature called Niana dwelled there. The girl climbed slowly out of the back and placed her feet upon the ground and after a few moments she began walking towards the sea.
Egmar did not sleep that night for there were questions that she could not answer; she simply sat on the edge of her sleeping mattress and stared at the silent metallic head across the chamber.
How can it be so? She thought it fell into the sea, perhaps it was a dream? But looking down at her feet she saw that her walking shoes were caked with sand and if that were so she must have walked along the shore. Yet what was left of the head of her son was looking back at her and if it had fallen into the water how could it return? And what of her sister, did she not speak with her; did they not hold each other? Questions, many questions.
“Holy Mother?” a voice said and turning Egmar saw a young Handmaiden standing at her chambers entrance.
“Yes my child, what is it?” she replied.
“It is time Holy Mother”, the young girl said.
“Time, what time is that?”
“The ceremony of the sea, it is time for you to be dressed” the Handmaiden spoke.
I had forgotten the Holy Mother thought then she stood up, “Yes it is time”.
And hearing her words the Handmaiden open the curtain and gestured with her hand and she was joined by three other servants of Isarie and they began to dress their Holy Mother in the proper garments required for the ritual, a light robe of blue cloth embroidered in silver with creatures of the sea, a necklace of magnificent polished shells and a headdress of Arrowtail feathers, then when all was ready they stood back and let the speaker of the Gods see herself in a reflecting plate. As Egmar stared at the aged face looking back at her she turned her head to gaze at the metal head once more then she walked from her chamber followed by her Handmaidens.
Kalgar-Rune had assembled his warriors and made sure that each man and woman had spent the morning in prayer and that all thoughts of the Akuna and their sinful ways were driven from their minds, but as he walked up and down the rows of dark armored guardians his mind was full of doubts. These riders of the sea are not the chosen of the Goddess, he knew very well if he had said these words out loud it would have been blasphemy for the Book of Isarie clearly states that ALL Nomads are her chosen people and even if the Akuna did not travel the Outlands they were considered her children, but they sin and how could the Goddess forgive them for that? This was something that the old warrior would not have thought about in his younger days for back then he would have said it was so and never troubled his mind further, but now he was old and old men often question their young beliefs. Then another blast from the signal horns ended his ponderings and he stood at attention as the Holy Mother emerged from her tent.
Looking at her seemed to calm his mind and as his warriors surrounded her his heart felt more content, I will not let anything harm her, she is precious to me. Another call from the horns and the procession began to move towards the water and the air was filled with the chanting of the Handmaidens.
“Water of life we come to you.
Giver of life we sing to you.
Beneath your waves life will hide.
Rise up to us so that we may ride.”
It was an ancient song whose meaning would soon be known.
Andra’s felt that her stomach was going to rise up and betray her as she stood with her mate surrounded by the tribe of the Almadra, the Po and Dral that she had drunk the night before seemed to be fighting each other and neither one was willing to call off the battle, but despite her discomfort she stood tall and concentrated on the ritual ahead. They like all the Almadra were dressed in their light armor consisting of a Rimar hide breastplate and leggings, knee high boots and armbands, they still covered their head with the horned helmet that all Outlanders wore and of course their golden Journey nails hung from their thick necks. Some also wore wonderful necklaces of colored sea shells that they had traded for or were given by the Akuna and a few lucky ones possessed the great prize of a deep - water shell, these shells were as big as a man’s hand and were symbols of great affection, Arn had given one to his first mate Ishea, Queen of the Norgonie and she cherished it all her life. Around the Nomads waists were wide belts that carried the Twin-dragons, the long knives that all Outlanders kept near them, these would be used in battle and as a last resort to being captured by an enemy for death was far better than dishonor, and no Nomad would walk in the sunlight without their Tooth, the heavy war axe that made the Chosen of Isarie masters of their world.
Arn was not affected by the previous night’s feasting for a Nomads body w
as not like other humans, it was made to repair itself quickly and be ready for battle at any time but although his body was rested his mind was not for he also had strange dreams the night before.
He was standing in full armor and holding his Tooth in a barren place surrounded by voices he could not understand, there was no sky and no ground to stand on, it was an empty place between worlds and beyond memory.
“Is there anyone there?” he heard his voice say, but there was only silence and nothing more so again he spoke, “If you are a friend come forth and we shall talk, but if you are an enemy stand before me and we will fight!”
From the emptiness, a figure moved towards him, he lifted his ax and braced his feet for a Nomads is a warrior before a friend, “who comes?” he shouted, “are you a demon from the pit or are you a God fallen from the sky?” The figure did not speak and Arn made ready to strike when suddenly the phantom spoke to him.
“I am neither friend nor enemy, I am dead”.
The mist before his eyes cleared and he saw a tall man with a face much like his standing before him, on the man’s right cheek were three tattooed marks, the sign of a King of the Outlands, he was well muscled and bore the same armor as he did with a helmet baring the horns of a Leader.
“Who are you?” Arn said still holding his ax and watching for any sign of an attack.
The image looked at him and turned his head to one side, “Do you not know me brother? Look close and tell me what you see”, and as the King looked at him the face changed into one of horror, disfigured and ruined, and the eyes glowed with an inner evil, it was a face he had seen before, it was Atos, God of war and the brother he never knew, “I am not your enemy” the creature said, “She is!” and as the King lifted his ax the face changed once more and before him stood his mate and the woman he loved, the weapon fell and a scream filled his mind, then he woke.
It was a dream the King told himself as he stood beside Moonbud, it was a demon dream and nothing else. It all seemed so real and the image of his brother would not let go of his mind.
The great inlet that held the massive domes of the Akuna was calm, for the towering walls of rock that surrounded it were an impregnable barrier against storms and massive waves that sometimes rose up on the Western Sea. Although they were still vulnerable to the fluctuating tides due to the many moons that pulled at their mother the Sea People had learned to use it to their advantage. They constructed holding pools that filled with fresh fish when the water was high and allowed them to harvest that succulent bounty when the tide subsided, the rising and falling currents also powered the machinery that were used to lower and lift the domes as needed thus leaving the Akuna to enjoy their lives in comfort.
Now those very same people stood beside the water, they were scantily dressed with just enough cloth to cover their endowments but their long arms and legs were circled with colorful shells and smoothly rubbed bottom stones, and each one had a magnificent ornament around their necks that would have been worth a fortune to any Outlander. The women painted their slim bodies in the red juice from palm berries while the men used the blue stain from the hearts of Jaw-snappers, a deadly fast swimming fish that consumed everything in its path and was sometimes called Strikers for they were drawn to the scent of blood.
The ceremony itself was performed in a great circle of cut and polished stones each as tall as a dozen men and each embedded with markings and symbols that had lost all their meaning over the ages. At the center of the ring of stones was a fountain made in the shape of a large strange looking fish that must have been connected to some sort of pressure chamber for the water spewed up endlessly and cascaded over smaller statues of forgotten Gods, then flowed along a man-made causeway to the sea were a great many Emor waded and ate tender water plants.
As the long procession of the Holy Mother grew near, the Akuna lifted palm branches in respect to their brethren and filled the air with a strange high-pitched whistling, at the same time the Nomads held their ax’s high and blew their signal horns. The Elders of both tribes bowed their heads in remembrance of other times when they were young and strong and life was calling to them.
Along with the Elders and young of the tribe there were many Frail-legs, the men and women who had grown very old and sat by themselves and listened to the murmurings of the sky, Star-singers they were sometimes called for only they could hear the song of eternity and only they could understand its meaning.
At the back of the gathering and keeping a close watch on the surroundings was Kuno the Captain of the Spikebacks, he also had drunk deep of the wines from the night before but his stout body had grown use to the effects of fire brew and his head felt as fresh as a mountain flower, that is to say he did not enjoy himself for he had found a very willing Akuna female to spend the night with and she never asked about his past or if she was going to be part of his future.
The Thungodra moved to the circle of stones and made a pathway for their Holy Mother to walk; Egmar was carried to the place on a litter held high by tall female warriors surrounded by her Handmaidens who wore flimsy coverings over their slim bodies that were stained blue. When the litter was placed on the ground the speaker of the Gods moved to the fountain and began to speak.
“Aratis-nargo-tromalaca Dietas, we bring offerings to the great Dietas for she is the guardian of the waters and the rain”, and taking a golden vessel from one of her Handmaidens she began to pour its contents into the water, “Take this offering and give us your many gifts”.
And from a vantage point Osh watched with fascination as the ritual played out before his eyes, “Egmar is offering a gift of water to the deity hoping that it will influence the future” the old man said and he began writing on one of his many scrolls, “There are many similarities between this ritual and the customs of the Balgarnoca”.
Beside him Alune just shook her head, “You should be feeling instead of writing”.
Andra was experiencing only one thing, sick, but she held her head high and tried not to show her true feelings, stand your ground, it will all be over soon”.
Then as the vessel emptied the Holy Mother froze like a statue as did all the other Nomads and Akuna for it was the very same affliction that had seized them before, only Andra and Osh were not affected. Andra thought her mind was playing tricks on her or perhaps her eyes were talking to her stomach and what she was seeing was only the outcome of that meeting, something had happened she thought, and slowly she moved forward and turned to look at her mate, but it was clear to see that Arn did not see her, she lifted her hand and waved it before his eyes but he showed no sign of recognition, “Look at me!” she called out but again there was nothing so she reached out and touched his arm, it was warm so she knew he was not dead but his eyes still showed no life. “I am here, look at me, do you know who I am?” but the King remained silent and in desperation Andra swung her free hand and struck him on his wide chest, still nothing, it won’t last long, it’s like it was before and she waited hoping that the effect would vanish like it had done before but after a few moments with nothing changing she knew it was something more.
The sky began to change in color, what was once blue with wisps of white clouds now became a red canopy where streaks of orange lightening flashed, the wind also began to rise up turning the waves from gentle caresses of the sand into hammers pounding the water’s edge.
In desperation Andra began shaking her mate, “wake up!” she cried over and over but he stood like a rock and his eyes did not move.
Osh also was in a panic for his companion was not responding to his questions, “can you hear me? Do you understand my words?” but there was no sign of understanding in the eyes of the Handmaiden, and not knowing what else to do he put his then arms around her and hoped that the power that controlled her would end.
Andra did not know what to do as the wind continued to rise and the crackle of lightening fill the air, she stood looking into her lover’s eyes, “What can I do? what ca
n I do?” then she heard footsteps and turning she saw a line of figures slowly moving towards the water, they moved like the dead, not speaking as they marched in a long line with their heads high.
“Frail-legs” Andra said in a low voice and indeed they were the old and the weak that made their way to the water’s edge but when they reached the sand and their feet touched the water they continued to walk! The water rose up to their waists but they continued forward, higher and higher but still they did not turn back.
“STOP!” the girl cried out but her words fell on deaf ears and seeing they were not about to heed her words she ran to the column and grabbed the closest elder a woman with hair the color of Trofar milk, “stop, you’re going to die if you keep walking” but the woman did not hear her and with a strength that should not have been hers she pulled away and continued into the water. Andra tried over and over again to stop the suicidal behavior but each time she failed and as the churning water engulfed the last of the Frail-legs she fell upon the sand and cried.
“Why is this happening?” she said in a sobbing voice, “What can I do?”
Then she felt a soft hand on her shoulder and leaping to her feet she turned thinking it was an enemy come to kill her but instead she saw a figure clad in a heavy robe that covered her face.
“Do not fear” the figure said and she pulled back the hood enough to show her features.
“You?” Andra said as she recognized the face of her daughter but it was not the one she remembered for it was older now and changed.
“Do not fear” Niana said again, “It must be as it is” and turning the strange girl held up her arms and began to sing, it was not a song that could be sung by a Nomad or any creature known to a scholar of the Outer Rim for it had no words and the vocal range was well beyond the ability of even the Uronki who were known for being the greatest chorales of all. The sound was both sweet and terrifying, hard as rock and soft as an Arrow-tail feather. Andra’s ears had never heard such a melodious song, she stood unmoving and her heart longed to hear more for it seemed to answer all the questions of her mind and connect her with everything around her, then the song ended and Niana walked into the water and vanished beneath the waves. Moonbud stood looking out to sea and after a moment or two all memory of her daughter entering the water and her singing vanished from her mind, the winds began to subside and the lightening that broke the atmosphere vanished and once again the sky turned blue and it was if nothing had happened at all, Andra looked back to the line of Nomads and saw them moving.
Egmar put down the golden vessel and lifting her arms she spoke in a loud voice “Thank you Dietas, your waters bring the gift of life!”
And hearing her words the Nomads and Akuna repeated her words.
“Thank you Dietas, your waters bring the gift of life!”
Nomads The Risen God Page 26
