The Secret of the Golden Gods Omnibus Edition

by Pedro Urvi

  “What reason’s that?”

  “The Gods make sure they don’t.”

  Sensing her hostility, he decided not to press the subject, at least for the moment. “You’re right. I apologize for being so direct, it’s none of my business… But you have to understand that I’m desperate to find my sister Kyra.”

  Liriana intervened. “We asked Albana to lead us here, to somewhere which would give us access to the Eternal City, and she’s done it. We don’t ask anything more of her, and she owes us nothing as she’s already done her job. We’re very grateful.”

  Albana nodded and went on: “The last building, the round one a little further back, is one of the artifacts of the Gods.”

  “Artifacts?” Liriana asked, staring with narrowed eyes at the round building with its black marble walls.

  “That building is a gate.”

  When he heard this Ikai tensed, and his eyes were fixed on Albana’s. This was something he needed to understand.

  “I don’t know how it works, but somehow, used together with the power of the monolith, it might transport people… in both directions. I know that because I’ve seen it. But I don’t know where it leads. Maybe to the Eternal City, maybe not.”

  “It might be our means of entry,” Ikai said hopefully.

  “Do you know how to activate it?” Liriana asked.

  Albana shrugged and shook her head. “There’s an Enforcer of the Gods who operates it and guards it. He’s different from all the others, he looks more like a priest than a warrior. He’s the only one I’ve seen activate it. Not even the Eyes can.”

  “As I see it,” Liriana said, “we have two options: the slave ships or the artifact.”

  Albana was silent, watching the port area.

  Ikai was lost in thought.

  “The artifact isn’t used very often. I don’t know why.”

  “That’s strange, they could use it to transport materials and slaves instead of using ships,” Liriana suggested.

  “Yes, but they don’t. There must be a reason… a very good one.”

  “Interesting…” said Ikai, wondering what that very good reason might be.

  Night came, and the last rays of light faded. This was the crucial step, and he knew it. If they failed now, everything would be lost. They would either capture him or kill him and he would never reach Kyra. He looked at the two women before him and took a deep breath. Before taking the final step he needed to resolve several unknown questions. He could not go into the wolf’s den without having the information he needed.

  “I have to go. I must rescue my sister.”

  Albana winked at him. “You do know it’s madness, don’t you? You’ll never get in. And if by sheer miracle you do, you won’t come back alive, still less with your sister. Believe me, I know what I’m talking about.”

  “Even so, I’m going. I don’t care how impossible it might seem or how little chance I may have. I have to rescue her. If I die, so be it.”

  Albana shook her head. “Nobody comes back alive. You’ll die, or even worse, they’ll send you to forced labor until you rot.”

  “You managed to get away and you’re here with us,” he said, trying to get some more information out of the enigmatic brunette.

  “I’m an exception, a very rare exception,” she said. She half-closed her eyes. Then she smiled, with a bitter smile born out of suffering.

  “I’m coming too,” Liriana said firmly.

  He turned to her uneasily. “Why, Liriana? What reason do you have? Your own friend says it’s madness. The chances of coming back alive are practically nil. Think it over. You have so much to live for. Your cause…”

  Liriana folded her arms. “You have your reasons, I have mine.”

  “But what are you going to do there? Tell me that, at least.”

  “I’m sorry, Ikai, I can’t. The less you know, the better for both of us.”

  There was a tense silence. A tension born of distrust grew until it was almost palpable. The three exchanged wary looks, and none of them spoke. The cool of the night brushed their skin, and Ikai shivered. He looked over his shoulder at the lights of the port of the Gods. He weighed up his options and came to a decision.

  “I’ll try at dawn. It’s now or never. If we wait one more day, the Hunters will catch up with us.” He could read a warning in their eyes. “I’ll take the first watch if that’s okay with you.”

  Albana and Liriana nodded silently. He sat on a fallen tree a little away from the two girls, and the night went by as he watched the three ships left in the port, illuminated by the dancing light of several torches. He could make out half a dozen Executors and one Eye-of-the-Gods beside one of the ships. A long line of slaves was carefully carrying huge amphorae and loading them on the ship. I wonder what’s in them, and how many men will have died to get hold of it and bring it to the Gods. He sighed. I must work out a way to get to the Gods’ dwelling. I won’t allow anything else to interfere with my thoughts. He relaxed within himself, placed his trust in his analytical mind and began to think of possible strategies, along with the complications of the situation and the most likely results. By dawn I’ll have a plan.

  The hours went by slowly. A sound behind him startled him. He turned quickly with his bow at the ready.

  “Relax, it’s me, Albana. It’s my turn now.”

  Ikai swore to himself; she was upon him. She had managed to come up to him and almost touch him without his realizing it. If she had wanted to kill him, she would probably have succeeded. The woman had a lethal skill…

  “You could have announced yourself…”

  Albana smiled in that typical way of hers. “That wouldn’t have been like me.”

  “This isn’t the time for humor,” he said, and began to move away.

  “You’re going to do it, aren’t you?”

  He nodded. “I’ve already planned it.”

  Albana came closer to him and whispered: “Listen to me carefully and remember my words, you’ll find them useful. The Eternal City is divided into five rings, five individual rings which float on a calm sea, joined by long bridges. Each ring is the home of a House, each House is a Power. If you want to get to your sister you must find out two things: which House she’s in, and the destination that House has assigned to her. Avoid the Enforcers of the Gods at all times, but most of all you must avoid the Gods themselves, because their Power is limitless. Yes, Ikai, they’re real, they exist, and their Power is insane. They’ll kill you as easily as you squash an ant. For them we’re nothing but that, ants whose function is to work in their service, produce till they die. Understand this if you don’t understand anything else: if you so much as meet the Eyes-of–the-Gods you’ll die instantly… wrapped in flames, frozen alive or struck by lightning. Do you understand, Ikai? Do you understand what I’m trying to warn you about?”

  Ikai looked at her almond-shaped black eyes and nodded heavily.

  “I know your stubborn heart won’t allow you to turn around and go back, but even if you reach the city, it’ll be impossible for you to rescue your sister. I’m not telling you this to hurt you, I want you to understand that it’s a city of all-powerful Gods, and their ruthless servants watch and control every corner, because that’s their function in life.”

  Ikai sighed. “It’s also a city of slaves.”

  Albana’s eyes flashed. “True. There are thousands of them there.”

  “I’m grateful to you, Albana. Your advice will be very useful to me.”

  “Our paths keep crossing, even though our destinies have nothing to do with each other,” Albana said with a smile. She shrugged. “It must be a curse.”

  “What will you do tomorrow?”

  “I’ll go on my way, because I have a long way to go yet before I get what I want.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “If you survive, I might tell you,” she replied, and tilted her head with a grimace.

  Ikai could not help smiling.

  “Re
st, I’ll watch now.”

  He nodded, started to go away and stopped.

  “Thank you again.”

  Albana looked at him and winked.

  With the words of the brunette dancing around in his mind, he came to where Liriana was sleeping.

  She heard him and opened her eyes. “Is it my turn yet?”

  He crouched down beside her.

  “No, sleep easy, Albana’s watching now,” he said in a whisper.

  When Liriana gazed at him, her look seemed strange. It was charged with deep sorrow and emotion.

  “Everything’s all right,” he said, trying to soothe her. “Sleep.”

  He was about to turn and lie down beside an oak tree when Liriana’s hand held him back.

  “Would you mind lying here… beside me?”

  Caught by surprise, he hesitated.

  “It’s a cold, lonely night,” she said. Her sea-colored eyes were dull. “Death could easily find us tomorrow. I don’t want to spend my last night… alone…”

  Immediately he understood her feeling of utter loneliness. He felt it too.

  “Of course.”

  He lay down beside her and looked up at the moon over their heads. Liriana covered his body with the blanket. He wanted to calm her, and stroked her hair. It had grown somewhat, but it was still very short. He felt strange being so close to her, but it was an extremely pleasant feeling. He was more and more delighted by her closeness. The critical situation they were facing was taking its toll on their spirits, he knew that, he felt it. Anxiety and fear clutched at his chest like an iron claw, but Liriana’s warmth helped him to breathe, and her company made his spirits rise in a way he did not understand but was grateful for.

  Liriana put her arm across his chest, and a stream of emotions ran through his body and mind, sensations he had not felt in a long time. She looked into his eyes, and that spellbinding turquoise swallowed him in its immensity, intensifying even more the emotions he was feeling. She gave him a faint smile. An intense passion awoke in him, a feeling he hastened to hold back. Liriana stroked his cheek and clung to him. At the touch of the girl’s body he felt his own burn as if it were in flames. He could not stop looking at her, as though hypnotized, lost in those eyes, beautiful as the sea.

  Liriana kissed him. It was a long, deep, passionate kiss.

  Ikai let himself go and caught fire in her arms.

  He was shaken awake. He opened his eyes and saw Albana crouching beside him with her hand on his shoulder.

  “It’s time,” she said, and gestured at the dark sky. “It’ll be dawn in an hour.”

  He stood up.

  “Last night you stretched out your watch quite a bit…” she said, and winked at him roguishly.

  He went red, but decided to ignore the comment and motioned her to let it be. He looked for Liriana but could not see her.

  “She’s gone.”

  “Without me? She can’t have. But why?”

  Albana shrugged. “She only said she didn’t want to put you in danger as well. She has her mission and she’s going to take her chances. If they catch her… she’ll die, because that’s what her ideals call on her to do. I don’t agree…” She shook her hair to one side. “But I admit it’s admirable. I’ve always liked her for that.”

  Ikai nodded.

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’ll follow my destiny. I must get to my sister, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

  “In that case I’ll tell you what I told her: make sure the Enforcers of the Gods don’t see you at the port, because they’ll kill you at once. No slave is allowed to be here, outside. It’s a capital offense, and you pay for it with your death. They’ll cut your head off, that’s what the Gods have decreed. I’ve seen it…”

  “I understand…”

  Albana sighed deeply. “One last thing: if by some miracle you manage to reach the Eternal City, be careful with that.” She pointed at his Ring. “They can track you down through that damn thing.”

  Ikai looked at the Ring on his forearm and nodded.

  “Thank you for all your warnings.”

  Albana looked at him almost tenderly, something very untypical of her.

  “May the depth of the Sea guide your head, and its eternal magnificence your soul,” she said. For the first time Ikai knew the feeling was sincere.

  “Thanks, the same to you,” he replied with the ghost of a bow. “May Mother Sea fill your days and Father Moon guide your nights.”

  Albana returned his slight bow.

  “Don’t linger here. The Hunters will arrive shortly after dawn.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll be gone by then.”

  He nodded, got his things ready and with a light step disappeared into the night.

  The darkness which surrounded him was his ally. He had left behind all his weapons except his throwing dagger, and also got rid of his traveling satchel. He would not be needing them. He crawled like a snake without being seen until he had the dock in sight. He narrowed his eyes and took a careful look. The four buildings were in shadows and heavily guarded, with three Executors at each door and several on patrol at the back. I can clear those with a bit of luck, but not the ones at the entrance. On the pier another three Executors guarded the access to the three vast ships, which were anchored in a peaceful sleep like giant wooden demigods.

  Everything was quiet, so that a silence which threatened his plans covered the cove. He watched the buildings, then the ships. He inhaled deeply. I commend myself to you, eternal Oxatsi, our wise Mother Sea. Watch over this son of your people. He set off, moving his body with as much stealth as was humanly possible, using his Hunter’s training to make himself into the prey which must avoid capture. He hid behind a clump of bushes and watched the Executors doing their rounds. He calculated and waited. The patrol finished their round and turned back, then began in the opposite direction.

  Now! He crawled to the foot of the great pier. He had not been detected. He looked up towards the buildings and thought he saw movement on one of the roofs. Hell! He threw himself to one side and hid himself under the pier. He waited for a tense moment, fearing the alarm signal. But it did not come. He breathed out heavily. By a hair’s breadth! He could not wait any longer: light would come shortly and he would be found out. He got into the water without any noise and calculated the distance to the furthest ship, the one they had been loading with amphorae. Too far; he would not manage to make it without coming out to breathe, and if he came up to breathe he would be discovered. I have no choice. He breathed three times to fill his lungs, each time inhaling more air. He exhaled until he was completely empty. He breathed in one last time, filling his lungs till he thought he would burst, and slipped into the water.

  It was cold, dark… and salty! He swam underwater with quiet but powerful strokes, propelling his body as far as possible each time, desperately trying to gain distance. On his left he could see the submerged part of the great ship’s hull. He stayed calm and went on. When he had come three quarters of the way, the air in his lungs began to run out. He felt the pain of it, more and more urgently, more and more anxiously, but he could not put his head above water, the Executors would see him. A little more, just a little more. Oxatsi, give me strength, don’t leave me now.

  The agony became insufferable He was going to drown. And at that moment he saw it: the great chain of links attached to the anchor. He propelled himself forward with one last desperate whip of his feet and reached it. He emerged just far enough to push his nose out of the water and breathe, hiding behind the huge links. He breathed deeply, panting and stayed close to the chain, closing his eyes to avoid being seen. He listened apprehensively.

  Nothing.

  He risked a glance. He could see the three Executors standing on the pier in front of him. But the distance between them seemed to be enough to mean they would not detect his presence. He let out a muffled sigh, but he had still not made it. There was one last movement, extremely dangerous,
and he had to measure it exactly or else he would be a dead man. Dawn was just breaking, night was fading and the light of the great sun was beginning to peek above the horizon, as if it were leaving Mother Sea’s bosom. He tensed his muscles and made himself ready. He would only have one chance.

  Dawn finally arrived. He filled his lungs, put his head under water and held on to the chain with both hands and feet. He opened his eyes under the salty water and waited. The air began to fail him, but he waited.

  Not yet, a little longer.

  And the doors of the buildings opened. New Executors came out to change guard. Those on the bridge and beside the three ships began to withdraw.

  Now!

  Ikai took his arms out of the water, reached for the chain and pulled his body upwards. With all his strength and the swiftness of despair he climbed up the chain as if he were being chased by hungry lions. In the blink of an eye he was aboard the ship. He crawled along the deck, panting and aching from the effort. The new Enforcers would arrive in an instant; he had to be quick. Without looking back he dropped into the hold. He struck his shoulder and hip hard when he hit the bottom. He muffled a cry and with a grimace of pain on his face, managed to get to his feet and ran to hide at the back.

  Steps came from the deck; the Executors were taking up their positions.

  Ikai breathed out silently. I did it! Only just, but I managed it!

  He risked a glance outside through the hawsehole of the anchor. What he saw left him both surprised and proud. A long line of slaves was boarding the next ship. Liriana, dressed in the clothes of a slave was boarding at that moment. Then he remembered the shadow on the roof. Not a guard after all, it was Liriana… risky, very risky, but she managed to get in among the slaves without being discovered.

  Ikai smiled and shook his head: Very clever.

  22

  Kyra stared at the great avenue with its crowds of people. The magnificent causeway was flanked by more than a hundred huge statues of gallant warriors and fierce lions. But these were no regular passers-by but Gods who strolled unworried, revealing their golden splendor, surrounded by their retinues. They ruled over that cosmos, lords and masters of every pore of the timeless Eternal City. Kyra walked with head bent alongside two other maids of the House of Eret, closely following Lord Adamis and his Champion Rotec. Behind them, walking in silence, were an Eye-of-the-Gods and four Custodians. Kyra watched everything out of the corner of her eye, trying to fit together the pieces of this unusual universe with its extravagant exuberance.