The Secret of the Golden Gods Omnibus Edition

by Pedro Urvi

  “Not you, Romen. Stay for a moment, please.”

  The young rebel nodded, put his hands behind his back and stood in a waiting stance. Ikai guessed he had had military training, had possibly been a member of the Guard, like Liriana.

  “Guard!” he called. A young man standing by the door with a spear and wooden shield came in with a frightened look.

  “Go find Isaz, tell him to bring me the Heroes. I need to talk to them.”

  The man left immediately. Ikai looked at his mother, who nodded. Idana was watching Romen, who waited in silence.

  It was not long before Isaz came back with Kyra and Urda, who walked into the building looking both surprised and puzzled.

  “Where’s Albana?”

  Isaz shrugged. “No trace of her. You know her: if she doesn’t want to be found…”

  “I know, I know. For once it would be nice if you could all come when I need you.”

  There was a creak in the roof, and a dark figure came in through the skylight at the front of the hall. She let herself down like a spider until she stood before Ikai. Taken by surprise, he put his hand to his sword.

  “I’ve been here all the time. An interesting meeting, for a change,” Albana said with a roguish smile.

  He grunted with relief, and Kyra and Urda smiled at the mysterious brunette as they too let go of their weapons.

  “Can’t you come in through the door and attend the meetings inside the building, like everybody else?” Ikai complained.

  She shook her long hair loose. “And what would be the fun in that? Hi there, girls!”

  “You’ve got to teach me how to do that,” Kyra said to Albana. Her eyes were sparkling.

  She winked back. “Whenever you want,” she said.

  Ikai shook his head.

  Solma had noticed her son’s frustration. “You’d better listen to Ikai, it’s important,” she said.

  “Thank you, Mother. Romen, will you repeat what you just told us, please?”

  Romen nodded and explained the situation to the newcomers.

  “That bastard Sesmok, we should cut his throat!” Kyra exploded.

  Urda nodded.

  “Kyra…” her mother protested.

  “It’s what he deserves, and we all know that,” she said, folding her arms.

  “Gently!” said Idana. “He might deserve it, but we need to understand what’s going on and what risks we’re running.”

  “The Regent is looking for us,” Albana meditated aloud. “The reason for that would seem to be that the Gods want us dead.”

  “The rumors that the rebels are spreading out to the four winds aren’t helping much either,” Ikai said. He looked accusingly at Romen. “Sesmok knows about them. They must have reached him, and soon the Enforcers will know too.”

  Urda cleared her throat. “Let me remind you that they’re rumors of rebellion. He won’t stay put before them. He can’t allow himself to, not only for what they signify but to save his own face before the Eyes. He’ll take reprisals. He’s sure to make use of the Guard and the Hunters.”

  “The message is the right one,” Kyra said. “The people must listen, they must have hope, they must rise and confront this snake. It’s the only way to find freedom.”

  “This is very bad news” Ikai said, sounding worried. “I was hoping everybody would forget about us after what happened, but it’s obvious they haven’t. Far from it.”

  “If the Gods want us dead, we’re in serious trouble,” Albana said.

  “That bastard Asu,” Kyra said. “I bet he has something to do with this.”

  “Very probably, “Albana agreed. “He’ll never forget the insult we caused. No, Asu won’t forget. He’ll want retribution.”

  “Will he use the Regent and the Enforcers?” Ikai asked her.

  She nodded. “Without a doubt. He wouldn’t dirty his own hands by coming to the mainland. We’re too insignificant to make him stoop to that. His minions will deal with us.”

  “Girlai be thanked!” Idana said, looking up at the ceiling.

  “We must be as careful as we can,” Ikai said. His eyes held those of his sister. “Nobody must find this place. If Sesmok or the Enforcers find us, that’ll be the end of us, and of all the refugees. I won’t let that happen. No more transports and expeditions. We’ll keep hidden, until this is over.”

  “We should fight, confront Sesmok and the Enforcers,” Kyra said.

  Urda shook her head. “We don’t have an army, and they do.”

  “We’ll, let’s get hold of one!”

  “I like your spirit, Kyra,” said Albana, “but Urda’s right, they’d crush us. How many Guards and Hunters can you defeat? Not many, I’d say.”

  Idana shivered. “And let’s not forget the Executors and Oppressors.”

  “We wouldn’t have a chance,” Ikai said. “Let’s save this place, these people. That’s what we have to do. If Gedrel wants to start a revolution I wish him the best of luck, but they’re searching for us and I’m not going to make it easy for them to find us. No, we’ll stay here together, safe, hidden, just as we decided. Are you with me?”

  Idana nodded, then Albana. Urda looked at Kyra, who was biting her lip, and after a moment she too nodded. All eyes went to Kyra, who seemed to be going through a fierce internal struggle. Finally she said: “I’m with the rebels, but I’ll keep my part of the deal with you here. When the Shelter and its people no longer need me, when this place is able to survive on its own, I’ll be on my way.”

  “Right, so that’s decided,” Ikai said.

  “And if they find us?” Solma asked. There was worry in her voice.

  “Let’s hope that day never comes,” her son replied.

  Chapter 5

  As she passed by the first training circle, Kyra raised her hand to greet Urda, who was in the center with Isaz.

  “Don’t break any bones!” she shouted. She watched the apprentices and saw fear in their eyes. Poor wretches, she said to herself with a smile.

  Her friend frowned. “Don’t worry,” Urda replied in her usual gruff voice, “it’s too early. I need to warm up my muscles first.”

  Isaz had to hide his merriment. The youngsters were terrified. They were about to fight against one of the Heroes, but not just against any of them, against Urda. She was a head taller and double their girth. Even Isaz with his sinewy arms and strong torso appeared puny beside her. Urda’s mahogany eyes swept over them, and they all bent their heads. Nor did it help that her blonde hair was closely cropped, so that she looked more like a man than a woman. What they could not guess was that Urda could be as kind as she was rough, something Kyra had come to value a lot, and all the more so after all they had been through together. Not that the giant girl was soft inside: far from it, inside she was as tough as she was outside, but she made exceptions with some people. Very few of them. Luckily Kyra was one of those. She found this touching, and they had become close friends. Even so, Kyra was careful not to cross her.

  “Isaz, please watch her. Don’t let her kill anybody by mistake…”

  Isaz covered his mouth to muffle a laugh. Pretending to be serious, he said: “Don’t you worry. I’ll be on the lookout, but I can’t guarantee there won’t be any accidents.”

  This time it was Kyra who had to pretend not to laugh. She liked Isaz; the experienced trapper was intelligent and had a sense of humor. She could understand now why Ikai trusted him to help him with complicated matters, such as weapons and the training of the young ones. At first Ikai had asked Urda to take over the training. It seemed natural, after all she had belonged to the Guard of Urasis, the capital of the Third County, and had been martially trained all her life. She was an excellent soldier. But she had turned down the offer. She had not given any reason, but Kyra sensed it had to do with what had happened in the Eternal City. She was still not over the traumatic experience, and above all the death of her friend Lian. But the previous evening, to everybody’s surprise, she had asked Ikai to let her take
over the training. He had accepted, and Isaz was delighted to have someone with Urda’s experience.

  Kyra breathed in the damp, refreshing air with its forest scents, and a pleasant feeling came over her. Little by little they were beginning to recover, to heal, to get over what had happened… She sighed deeply. If only she could forget… but she could not. The nightmares would not let her. The oppression in her chest did not let her breathe normally either. It stopped her from filling her lungs, and was always with her. Ever since they had escaped from the claws of the Gods, nightmares had pursued her. She could barely sleep, and each night was torture. She spent more time awake than asleep. There were dark circles under her eyes every morning. And she could not shake off the nightmares. They were always very similar; they were fleeing from the Gods, pursued relentlessly by the Enforcers, and at the last moment, when they were just on the point of reaching freedom, they were caught, and Yosane died a painful death in her arms. Most nights it was Yosane who was killed by those heartless creatures, others it was Idana, or Urda, or even Ikai and Solma. The settings and the chases varied from night to night, but the end was always the same: her loved ones died horribly at the hands of the Gods. Kyra’s soul could find no rest, and nighttime had become a torture she tried to avoid without success.

  To her ears came the song of exotic birds, their black plumage streaked with red, flying over the forest to the east. She smiled. At least you’re completely free. She put her hand to her chest, where the intangible weight remained.

  She left the training fields behind and headed towards the river. She wanted to talk to Ikai, and she had been told he was helping with the building of the mill. As if her brother did not already have enough responsibilities and things to do. His will-power, his devotion, were utterly admirable. If he went on like that he would die, not at the hands of the Gods, their Enforcers, or the Regent, but from sheer exhaustion.

  I love this brother of mine with all my heart, even though his ideas are sometimes the opposite of mine. And yes, there are days when I could bite off that head he analyzes everything with instead of letting his heart lead him, and I know he has a generous heart. It might be because we’re siblings, and the truth is I couldn’t have a better brother, however much I insist on denying it.

  With those thoughts, and with the clear murmur of the river in her ears, she reached the building site. Twenty or so men were setting up a giant vertical wheel with troughs, all made of wood, on the side of a half-constructed building of adobe and stone. What on earth are these lunatics doing? The current will drag them downriver! They were pulling on ropes and pulleys, trying to fit the wheel on to a big wooden axle which entered the building through the half-wall which looked on to the river. On the count of three, the dozen men at the ropes pulled with all their might, while another four on the wall fitted the wheel using thick sticks as levers. Ikai was one of them. She held her breath. At the first attempt they failed, nearly losing control. The wheel was on the point of falling, dragging half the men with it.

  It’s going to kill them! It’s too heavy! She ran towards them to help. At the second attempt the wheel rose to the level of the axle and with a tremendous effort the four men managed to fit it on. Kyra reached them as they broke into cheers and applause. They found the strength to do it! It’s unbelievable, but they did it! The great wheel was turning as the troughs filled with the river water, driven by the current. The men laughed and hugged each other, looking on at their success.

  Martin the miller turned to the others:

  “Thank you all for your help! We now have a working water mill! It took hard work and lots of sweat, but it’s something the whole village will benefit from. Now we’ll be able to grind the cereals we harvest, and then later on we’ll be able to drain the great swamps south of the river using the energy of the water. A great achievement, my friends, I really appreciate it. I couldn’t have done it without your help.”

  The cheers rang out again, and Martin was raised to their shoulders like a hero.

  Ikai saw Kyra and waved, she signaled to him to come down to her. Ikai dried his sweat with a dirty, torn cloth. He was wearing an old shirt drenched in sweat and breeches of tanned leather. She found it strange to see him without the armor and clothing of a Hunter.

  “Didn’t you have enough things to do already without taking up building?” was her greeting to her brother when he reached her.

  He shrugged. “And pretty badly, at that! As Urda’s agreed to take over the martial training, some of my load’s been taken off me. Today they were putting the great wheel in place, and I came to lend a hand. I’m no good at building, but I can add a little brute force.” He turned his head in the direction of the group. “Look at them,” he said. “Free, building a future… happy for the first time in a very long time… that’s what I want for this place, for all of us.”

  Kyra watched the joy of those men and understood: they had never had the chance to enjoy very much, if anything. They would remember this day forever because they had created it in freedom by themselves, through their own work and effort.

  “So what’s my little sister doing here?” He watched her with half-closed eyes, tilting his head and studying her face. “You look tired. Are you all right?”

  “Yeah… yeah. Don’t worry, it’s just that I didn’t sleep well.”

  “You’re not resting properly? Why don’t you have a word with Idana? She can prepare some herbal infusion to help you sleep.”

  “You’re right, I will.”

  “You’re telling me I’m right? That’s a first,” he said with a smile.

  Kyra replied with a mocking grimace. “I’m glad you’re in such good humor. That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “About my good humor?”

  “No, empty-head! Not that, but about you being right,” she said with an affectionate shove. “You see… I know I make you angry… I want you to know I don’t do it on purpose, I don’t intend to cross you or upset you…”

  “I know that.” His tone was serious now.

  “It’s just that sometimes we see things so differently and… well, that makes us clash. Not because I want to, it just comes out and I can’t help it, above all with you, more than with anybody else.”

  “How lucky I am!” he said with a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood.

  “You’re my older brother. You have to put up with me.”

  “What else can I do?” he said, rolling his eyes.

  She sighed heavily. “I know I’m impulsive, and that I feel more than I think. They’re not qualities that exactly fill me with pride, I have to admit, but that’s what I’m like. I try to control myself, and you know it, but I don’t always manage to, particularly when I argue with you. But that doesn’t mean I’m against you, or that I don’t approve of what you’re trying to do. On the contrary, I’m very proud of you, of all you’re doing for us, for all these people, and I want you to know it.”

  “Thanks… you leave me speechless… so why are you telling me all this? There’s no need, we’re siblings, we know what we’re like… Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Yes, I do need to. I must say it or else I’ll burst. I want you to know that I’m grateful for what you did… for doing the impossible to rescue me, for going to the end of the world to find me and bring me back.”

  “You really don’t have to… besides, you would’ve done the same for me.”

  “I’d like to think I would, although I really don’t know. And I do have to be grateful. You dropped everything, you faced a thousand and one dangers to rescue me, you risked your life continually, you went to the Eternal City, you fought Hunters, Enforcers and Gods, and you found me. You brought me back home safe and sound. Nobody could wish for a better brother, nobody.” There were tears in her eyes. “And I want you to know I love you, that you’re the best brother in the whole world and that I’ll never, ever forget everything you did, what you go on doing, for me, for Mother, for all of us.
”

  Ikai was speechless, with his mouth hanging open. “Are you sure you’re… all right, Kyra? What’s up? I’ve never seen you like this.”

  She dried her tears on the cuff of her sleeve and blew her nose. “I’ll get over it, don’t worry. I just… I just want you to know… don’t think I’m an ingrate who jumps at your throat at the first sign we’re seeing things differently.” She hugged him tightly and gave him a sisterly kiss on the cheek.

  When she moved away, her eyes moist, he looked at her and smiled. “You must have slept very little these days… I barely recognize you… you’d better run to see Idana. Tell her I want my wild, stubborn sister back, I don’t recognize this one here.”

  Kyra laughed amid her tears. “Don’t worry, you’ll soon have her back, and then you’ll be sorry you asked.”

  “I haven’t the slightest doubt of that,” he replied, smiling from ear to ear. “And now go away. I’m still half dizzy from this unusual display of affection.”

  She began to move away, but he called her back. She turned and saw her brother holding up the pendant with the carved sea-horse he always wore round his neck, the one she had given him for his eighteenth birthday.

  “You’re always with me,” he said, with a wink.

  Kyra brought hers out, the identical one, and held it up for him to see. “And you with me.”

  She headed upriver. It seemed to her that the oppression in her chest had lightened, and she felt she could breathe more easily. She smiled. Yes, I think talking to him was the right thing to do, even though I poured my guts out all over him. I believe it was part of what I needed to do… My poor brother, I bet he won’t get over the shock I’ve given him till winter.

  With the intention of easing her spirit, she followed the river northwards and went into the jungle. At once she was surrounded by flora both vivid and beautiful. The lushness of the landscape was overwhelming. The whole island was a masterpiece of Nature. Kyra made her way through the wild plants, enjoying their exotic scents, until she came to a small wild waterfall. The jet of water seemed to fall from the sky itself with pure, crystal water. Every time she visited this place she was tempted to open her mouth, tilt her head back and let the water fall over her. The cataract broke into a clear lagoon decorated with plants, not unlike water lilies, which she did not recognize. Ever since she had discovered this little paradise, she visited it whenever she could and swam in the surprisingly warm water.