by Pedro Urvi
There is only one which my house desires, said the sinister Lord in the red. The rest do not reach the quality required by my house.
This harvest has provided us with one young girl of red quality, four of orange quality and seven yellow, Adamis explained.
Kyra looked down at her body, hoping the red had turned into another color, but no, it was red, and very intense. She swore to herself. Why me? Of all of them! Just my bloody luck! She lowered her eyelids and studied Yosane, whose body was painted a vivid orange. Next she eyed Idana, who was also orange. What the hell do these colors and qualities mean? What are they talking about? Why are we so different? We’re all about the same age and we come from the same land. What do they want with us, those inhuman pigs? To hell with them! Furious, she looked at the other slaves and noticed that Lian and Urda, like Yosane and Idana, were covered in orange. The rest shone with a sickly yellow.
On the House of Eret, of the First Ring, which I represent, Adamis was saying, his arms spread wide, falls the responsibility in rotation of the Selection this cycle. To each cycle a house: thus our law lays down, and thus must it be. The honor of the gathering and preparation of the Selected, I accept in the name of my House this time. In addition, the House of Eret must guarantee the integrity of the ritual and the absolute purity of the ceremony. Adamis glanced at the two Eyes-of-the-Gods, who began to take notes. I hereby give testimony of the presentation of twelve young women of the East, all selected for the ritual. With a motion of his hand he indicated the prisoners. The Golden watched them with intense almond eyes in different shades, and Kyra’s blood froze.
Have the Lords of the Five Houses had sufficient time for the pre-ritual inspection of the Selected? Adamis went on in his function as master of ceremonies.
The four Lords nodded, coldly ceremonial.
Adamis nodded in return. Let us begin.
The four Lords came to stand beside Adamis, forming a circle in the exact center of the room. They were standing on five perfect silver circles. The five together made up a central, wider one in gold, like five moons around one sun. The symmetry and perfection of the forms caught Kyra’s attention. Surely Yosane would have a theory about that unusual pattern.
Who presents himself in the name of the House of Aru, of the Fifth Ring, to speak in its name and defend its interests? Adamis asked.
I, Lord Saxti, heir to the crown of the House of Aru. The God murmured something unintelligible and showed the palms of his hands. A golden beam ran along his body and the circle under his feet lit up, emitting a strong silver light which shot up to the dome. For an instant the God was bathed in its radiance, then the light blinked and turned gold.
Adamis nodded. Your royal lineage has been verified.
Lord Saxti withdrew his hands and the light stopped.
Do we have your approval, Lord Saxti? Adamis asked.
You do, replied the God-Prince in blue, and made a gesture of acceptance.
The Eyes-of-the-Gods took notes and the Prince fell silent.
Who presents himself in the name of the House of Idnem, of the Fourth Ring, to speak in its name and defend its interests? Adamis repeated.
I, Lord Arrul, brother of the King of the House of Idnem.
As with his predecessor, he passed the test of lineage.
Do we have your approval, Lord Arrul?
You do, answered the God-Lord in brown and ochre.
Adamis nodded. He repeated his question and the test of lineage for the House of Aurez, of the Third Ring. Lord Ezia, second son of the king, came forward.
Do we have the approval of Lord Ezia?
You do, replied the God-Lord in white silk.
Lastly Adamis turned to the God-Lord in red silk and bloody armor.
Kyra could not see the bloodthirsty eyes of the God, but even so her mind recalled them and she shivered.
Do we have the approval of the House of Aureb, of the Second Ring, Lord Asu?
For an instant the Lord remained silent. Tension began to build between Adamis and Asu, a latent tension. The prolonged silence before the reply heightened that tension until it was almost palpable.
You do, Lord Asu said at last with haughty condescension.
Adamis eyed Asu for an instant, something which caught Kyra’s attention. She could swear she witnessed a flash of rage, but in those impassive golden faces it was impossible to make out any emotion. Adamis stared ahead and went on with the ceremony. Lord Asu’s lineage was proved.
Lastly, representing the House of Eret, of the First Ring, he said, raising his head, I hereby present myself, Adamis, son of King Teore and master of ceremonies, for this ritual.
The four Lords acknowledged Adamis with a deep bow.
The Five Royal Houses are here represented today, the ritual is legitimated. Adamis looked at the two Eyes, who nodded. He spread his arms wide. The young women have been prepared for the ritual and inspected by my Lords. I hereby initiate the Ritual of Selection.
The Lords bowed their heads and looked at the golden circle on the floor. Adamis waved his arm and murmured a few words. Before Kyra’s astonished eyes the earth opened. A golden sphere of a big size came out of it, rising gently upwards, until it hovered above the heads of the five Gods. At an order from Adamis the sphere began to rotate on itself, producing a buzzing so high-pitched it nearly perforated her eardrums. Kyra put her hands over her ears to protect them.
Suddenly a silver beam issued from the sphere and began to sweep across the pods one by one. When it reached hers, Kyra stepped back, fearing some harmful effect, but the long beam of light passed through her chest, then her head and went on to the next prisoner without causing her more than a shiver. She followed the movement of the beam with her eyes and watched it examine Yosane and Idana, who reacted as she had herself. When it had finished with the last of the twelve, the light vanished and the sphere stopped spinning, but the horrible buzz continued to trouble her ears.
Adamis placed his hands on the sphere. The moment of the Selection has come, my Lords, he said. The five Gods placed their hands on the sphere. Kyra wondered what they could be doing, and an uneasy feeling came over her. Acid from her stomach rose to her mouth and she had to force it back down.
The sphere bathed the five with its silver light, then finally stopped buzzing. The sphere spun on itself, and the five withdrew their hands. The beam of light focused on Lord Saxti. The God turned around and the light went from him to… Idana! Lord Saxti nodded. The beam focused on another of the twelve prisoners, and the Lord nodded again respectfully. The beam of light vanished.
Kyra understood that the sphere had assigned Idana and the other girl to that God, and what was worse, she herself had not been chosen. Would they be separated? Yes, for sure they would. What would become of Idana? Her eyes turned to her. She seemed resigned; she accepted it. Would she survive? Idana was all kindness and giving, but that would not be much help there, rather the opposite. With a sea of lava in her stomach, Kyra tried to stay calm and avoid jumping to rash conclusions.
The sphere repeated the process with Lord Arrul and Lord Ezia. Three of the girls were assigned to the first, among them Urda. Kyra saw resilience in her eyes. She was not afraid, she would accept her destiny and do her best to survive. Lian was assigned to Lord Ezia, together with three others. Lian had not recovered her natural color; she seemed overwhelmed by what had happened. She was so pale and her eyes were so sunken that she looked as if she would faint at any moment.
Lord Asu was then chosen by the sphere. Kyra breathed deeply. No, no, no, not me, by the Mother Sea, not me! she wished with all her heart. Lord Asu turned and looked at her. Kyra felt as if an arrow were piercing her chest. She clenched her fists hard and tried to calm her nerves. She would not let him see her tremble. Lord Asu smiled with that twisted satyr’s grin. Kyra knew at that instant with absolute certainty that the God wished to possess her, in body and spirit.
The beam turned from Lord Asu towards Kyra. Time seemed to stop while th
e silver light came closer to her. She stopped breathing. Her heart was galloping wildly. The light passed in front of her pod and selected another of the girls beside her. Kyra gasped in relief and felt immensely sorry for the other girl. Then the light moved again, and Kyra feared it would come back to her. But to her astonishment, it selected Yosane! Kyra felt as if she had been stabbed. Her friend was trembling like a fawn in the intense light of the beam. Her eyes were wide with terror.
Not Yosane! She won’t survive! Yosane!
The light vanished.
No! Lord Asu exclaimed with fire in his eyes.
The ritual is sacred, it must not be altered, Adamis reminded him neutrally.
Lord Asu gave Adamis a piercing look. He pointed at Kyra.
I want her! he said. There was clear rage in his voice.
That prerogative is not yours, my Lord. Nor is it of any of the Five Houses. The ceremony must not be altered.
She is mine! he cried furiously.
The balance of powers between the Houses is at stake, Adamis warned him. The penalty for such an effrontery is death, Lord Asu.
Lord Asu glared at the other three Lords, who were watching him carefully. The bodyguards reached for their weapons. Tension began to fill the hall. Nobody moved; the looks in their eyes cut like the sharpest steel.
Finish the ceremony! Lord Asu conceded at last.
The sphere illuminated Adamis in silver, and he turned slowly. The beam of light shot from the God straight to Kyra. The silver light reached her, but instead of feeling anxiety or fear, she felt tremendous relief. She breathed out hard. She had been on the brink of falling into the hands of Lord Asu, and in comparison Adamis seemed a much better option, a thousand times better. The beam of light vanished for good, since Kyra was the last to be Selected. The sphere spun on itself again, descended slowly between the five Lords and disappeared the same way it had come.
Adamis spread his arms wide. The Ritual of Selection has been performed impartially, equitably and in accordance with the law of the Five High Kings. The Lords must accept the selection, as the Sphere of Power has made the choice for each Royal House. Without waiting for a reply he folded his arms and saluted the Lords. Let each House acquire what is its own by right and ritual.
Lord Saxti went to Idana. Good quality, this female. Not excellent, but good. My House is pleased. The other one I was assigned is of low quality, but they will be well employed. We must not underestimate the fruits of the earth. He turned to Adamis. Let them be made ready.
Lord Adamis, when will you have them ready for us to take to our houses? Lord Arrul asked.
They are being purified as we speak. The process will be complete this evening. If you wish, you may enjoy the amenities of my house while you wait.
Thank you, Lord Adamis, but that will not be necessary. I shall send someone from my house for them. The obligations of my position are many, and although I would gladly enjoy your hospitality, unfortunately I must return to my ring to take care of them. But I very much appreciate your invitation.
Adamis nodded and bowed.
If the offer is extended to all Lords, Lord Ezia said, I would gladly accept your generous hospitality until the slaves are ready, Lord Adamis.
Of course, Lord Ezia. You honor me.
Lord Asu stepped forward to stand in front of Adamis.
As host and master of ceremonies for this cycle, I am sure you will see no impediment in an exchange with one of your distinguished guests, he said, spreading his arms wide as his macabre smile came alive.
All eyes turned to the Lord in red at once.
No! Kyra thought. What’s he planning, this twisted pig?
Adamis looked Lord Asu in the eye, but said nothing.
My two selected for yours, he said in a wheedling tone. It is a fair trade, two for one. An orange female and a yellow one for your red one. Will you honor me by granting me this small favor? My House would be indebted to yours…
The three Lords tensed, as if this proposal were in some way dangerous. But Adamis remained calm. It would be a pleasure for me to be able to grant you this wish, Lord Asu, still more so knowing that the powerful house of the Second Ring would be indebted to mine. But I must refuse your proposition, since it would go against the equity of the ritual. This ceremony is sacred for the Five Houses as it guarantees the continuation of the delicate balance of forces between them. Should the Selection be impaired by an exchange, the balance would be broken and would lead to severe repercussions.
It is no more than an exchange, two slaves for one, Lord Asu said in a rasping voice, trying to brush aside the importance of the matter.
You know very well it is more than that. And even if I accepted your proposal, the other Houses would refuse flatly. He glanced at the three other Lords, who nodded at once in confirmation. The law establishes that the result of the Selection is sacred and cannot be altered in any way.
I want her! Lord Asu burst out. She dared to insult me. You must give her to me. No slave may show disrespect to us and not receive her due. The effrontery must be paid with blood. Give her to me, it is my right to apply the punishment. The Lords will not be opposed to her receiving what she deserves. Lord Saxti witnessed the insult.
Adamis turned to Lord Saxti, who nodded in confirmation.
Kyra’s stomach tied itself in a knot.
You wish to punish a slave? Really? Or is it to obtain for yourself the best selection of the ritual?
How dare you! yelled Lord Asu.
Lord Asu’s bodyguard unsheathed his sword. Almost at once Adamis’ bodyguard followed his example and brought out his short swords. An instant later the other three bodyguards did the same. With blinding speed, in the blink of an eye, they moved to stand beside their masters, protecting them with their big bodies.
A protective sphere of pure fire surrounded Lord Asu and his bodyguard. The other Gods also raised their own protective spheres.
Adamis did not flinch. If you shed blood in this sacred chamber, in this, my home, nothing will save you, not even your Lord Father the King. You will be beheaded. That is the law. I recommend that you calm down and think again.
Lord Asu’s eyes shone with the intensity of an erupting volcano. Kyra thought he would kill Adamis there and then. But she was wrong. The God withdrew the barrier of flames and half-closed his eyes in hatred.
You will pay for this, Adamis. I swear, on my house and my honor! he said venomously. Nobody insults me and goes unpunished! Lord or slave! Keep her, but be sure you will pay, very dearly!
Adamis nodded and said nothing more. Slowly he pointed to the door. The Selected will be made ready and delivered to my Lords as soon as possible.
Lord Asu threw one last glance at Kyra, filled with visceral hatred. She received a brutal mental blow. You will remember me, you filthy slave! Kyra’s head hit the metal behind her and a terrible pain ran through her. Lord Asu left without saluting his host, with his bodyguard close behind.
The remaining Lords lowered their protections and after paying their friendly respects to Adamis they left the chamber, followed by their protectors. When the last of them had left, Adamis exchanged a look of relief with his bodyguard.
The next time I will not be able to save you, he said to Kyra. If you wish to survive, slave, you must learn your place.
Kyra wanted to reply, but realized she had lost communication with Adamis, or rather that the God-Lord had cut it off. The two Gods, Lord and Bodyguard, left the chamber.
The room was left in half-darkness. Kyra looked down at her red body, then at Yosane and Idana’s orange ones. She sighed with deep anxiety. They were being separated. They were being taking to different Houses. What for? What did they want to do with them? The more she thought about it —the separation, the Gods, their naked bodies covered in strange colors— the more anxious she felt. She tried to summon up her courage, and for the first time since she could remember she found it impossible.
Fear took hold of her.
&nbs
p; 17
They were rowing in synchrony, and the small boat was moving at a steady pace on the quiet water. Liriana half-turned, and Ikai was met by those turquoise eyes which seemed to melt into the immensity of the river, as if they belonged to it. He found it hard to stop staring at them.
“We can’t be far,” he said, sounding worried.
What with the days of journeying downriver and the fast pace they had kept up, he had estimated that they must be very close. And he was not wrong. Behind some trees to the east, they could see a rocky formation. Over thousands of years the winds, with their eternal caress, had carved what was now the shape of a giant horse which appeared to be drinking from the river. Ikai found himself marveling at this natural sculpture. And in three thousand years, when men and Gods have disappeared from the face of the earth, you’ll still be here, won’t you? he thought uneasily.
Liriana turned around.
“We’re there,” Ikai said, pointing to the great rocky formation.
The young woman nodded, and they headed towards the western shore. He knew that route well, since many poor souls tried to escape downriver in the hope that the Boundary had no effect on the waters of the vast river. Unfortunately they were wrong. Most died by drowning when they hit the barrier of the Gods and fell off their boats. A few reached the shore and were captured by the Hunters, or decapitated in situ by the Executors. The corpses were left floating against the barrier, forming a macabre dam.
Ikai shrugged involuntarily. It was a dreadful image, and one that was engraved with fire on his memory. He had witnessed it too many times. What had always caught his attention was that the boats which the fugitives used for the flight went on downriver, intact. The Boundary only affected men, although animals did not come near it as they could instinctively feel the dangerous barrier and hence ran away from it. The twisted mind of the Gods which had thought of that sinister prison for the Senoca was beyond Ikai’s understanding.
They grounded the boat in a hidden nook, then picked up the two satchels with their supplies, slung their short bows over their shoulders and went into the forest like the outlaws they were now. Night was falling.
