The Secret of the Golden Gods Omnibus Edition

by Pedro Urvi

  “That won’t happen, my lord, I can guarantee it!”

  “You’d better, High Priest. Because if I fall I’ll drag you down with me, I’ll drag both of you down with me, and your deaths will be long and tortuous.” He jabbed his finger at Torkem and Osvan.

  “My faith in you is beginning to wane,” he added to Torkem. “Let me remind you that if you’re with me it’s for your skills at interrogation and gathering information. But if you fail to get it you cease to be useful to me…”

  “I’m very close to it. My spies will report soon, and we’ll have them. I give you my word.”

  “That had better be the case,” Sesmok said menacingly. He was irked at the lack of results. He had been after the conspirators for months, but could not manage to capture the leaders who were planning to overthrow him, and that infuriated him. If this great lump of fat doesn’t get me what he’s promised, I’ll hang him in the garden by his balls and leave him there until the crows eat him.

  “We’ve captured several rebels at a clandestine meeting on the outskirts of the capital,” Torkem hastened to say. “They were preparing messages for the capitals of the Six Counties.”

  “Messages?”

  “Yes, my lord, instructions to keep the rumor of subversion going among the slaves.”

  “Who were they addressed to?”

  “I believe to the leaders of each County. We don’t have their names yet. But I’m putting the captured rebels under my personal interrogation.” Torkem smiled perversely. “They’ll soon talk. Don’t worry, my lord, they always talk…”

  “Don’t fail me, or I’ll have you castrated and then I’ll give you your private parts to savor.”

  Torkem fell silent and nodded with a heavy bow.

  Sesmok gave a deep sigh. “These fools believe I’m blind and deaf, that I can’t read their covert movements behind me. But I see them. I always have. Nobody conspires against me without my knowing. Stupid fools! I’ll skin them all and hang their guts out to dry in the sun!”

  “And you’d do well, my lord.” Osvan said.

  The Regent stole a thoughtful glance at the leader of the Hunters. He could understand why the rabble referred to him as the Black Bear. He was a tall, well-built man, with black curly hair and a thick beard, but above all he was extremely strong. He had an impressive presence, and his temperament inspired fear. He was capable of pulling off a man’s head in a rage, something which had happened once already.

  “I’ll do more than that, Lord Hunter, a lot more… I’ll make a public example on such a scale that no-one for the next hundred years will even dream of a new rising. I’ll skin and hang every rebel and their families in every square of every village. By the Gods, I’ll do it! Your Hunters, Osvan, will have more work than they could ever have imagined!”

  The Lord Hunter and the High Priest remained silent, gazing at him in surprise. It was not often that Sesmok lost his temper. He was an intelligent man, astute and very subtle. This unbalanced overreaction took them by surprise.

  The double door to the room opened and Svariz, the Chief Commander of the Guard, came in with a firm step. He was a broad-shouldered man with an easy walk. He wore white and silver dress armor and carried two short swords at his waist. He gave Sesmok a curt bow.

  “What’s up?”

  “Four Eyes-of-the-Gods are waiting in the ante-room. They desire an immediate audience.”

  “Bloody Enforcers!” Sesmok clenched his fists.

  “My men are watching the area around the palace. They’ve come without Executors.”

  “What can they want now? Why don’t they leave me in peace!”

  “What shall I tell them, my lord?”

  “Tell them I’ll see them. What else can I say to them? Those square-heads wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

  “As you wish.”

  “Svariz.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Reinforce the palace Guard and personally protect the entrance.”

  “Will do, sir.” The soldier turned, saluted Torkem and Osvan with a nod, bowed to Sesmok and went out.

  “You two, take a seat and listen in silence.”

  The Eyes-of-the-Gods came into the hall with their stiff walk. The four moved like one, as if a single entity were driving them. It would not have surprised Sesmok if the Gods pulled the strings of these puppets of theirs in some way he could never understand. He had to hide the disgust they inspired in him, and swallowed hard. They stopped in front of him, but made no gesture of greeting; they never did. He would have given his right arm to yank off their sinister helmets and see what was underneath.

  The four waited in silence, as if expecting Sesmok to kneel before them. I’ll never kneel before you, you lousy dogs! I’m not just another slave. I’m the Regent of the Senoca! And even though you don’t show me the respect I’m due, I’ll never bow to you, you contemptible servants of a bunch of despotic Gods! His eyes lingered on the front of the nearest Eye’s helmet. The two silver triangles which covered the left and right sides of the face, separated by a thin golden strip, seemed to swallow his own image instead of reflecting it back. Those horrible helmets are just a trick to intimidate the slaves, but not me. I’m a lot smarter than that. I’m not scared by them or their Executors. They’re nothing more than brainless puppets of their Gods. He clenched his jaw.

  A tense silence fell between the four Eyes and Sesmok.

  Bloody creatures out of a nightmare! I’d better put an end to this and not make things any tenser. I can’t stand having them here, and I don’t want to run any unnecessary risks.

  He feigned indifference. “You requested an audience?”

  One of the four Eyes stepped forward. “That is so,” he said in his shrieking voice.

  Something inside Sesmok told him to proceed with extreme caution. It was time to use his brain and not let himself be carried away by his temper.

  “What do the Gods want of their humble servant today?” he said. The servility in his own words almost poisoned him.

  “The Gods, my masters, want to make sure the Regent understands the importance of the special order he was charged with.”

  “The Regent understands the importance of the special order,” Sesmok said, immediately realizing the reason for the visit. They’re here to put pressure on me, the bastards!

  “Seven are the slaves my masters have charged you with capturing.”

  “Yes, the seven who escaped from the Eternal City.” Sesmok nodded heavily, so the Enforcer might see it clearly. “We’re searching for them.” He indicated Torkem and Osvan.

  “How many have been captured?

  Sesmok tensed. “We haven’t been able to capture any of them yet. It’s a difficult task to find seven slaves among a hundred and twenty thousand, more so when the only description we have is that they’re around the age of eighteen and that there are five women and two men.”

  “Then you have not understood the urgency of the special order.”

  “I do understand the urgency, but I need more time. The High Priest’s spies are gathering information and Lord Osvan’s Hunters are tracking outside the Boundary. But it’s a very complex task.”

  “Incompetence is something the Gods will not tolerate. You have been given a task. Carry it out.” The shriek of the Enforcer had become shriller.

  “I shall carry it out, you can assure the Gods of that.”

  “This errand comes directly from my House,” the Enforcer said, indicating his blue sash. “It is an order from the High King of the House of the Fifth Ring.”

  Sesmok’s stomach lurched. The cursed Enforcers had forgotten to mention that particular detail. A detail which came with a death threat. He glanced at his two men of trust and saw they had gone pale. All three of them understood that it was their own necks which were at stake.

  “I wasn’t apprised of that detail. I fully understand the importance and urgency of the errand. You may assure your master that it will be carried out without delay.
I’ll capture the seven and present them to him.”

  “That is what I shall tell my master. Let me remind you, moreover, that this Boundary, that of the Senoca, belongs to my lord and master, and he can do or undo at his will. One order from him and the entire hierarchy and government will be eliminated.” The shriek was now cold, lethal.

  “I… understand…” Sesmok said. The threat had frozen the blood in his veins.

  “Or he might decide, as is his prerogative as the God responsible for this Boundary, to decimate the population, starting with this city.”

  The Regent nodded and was silent. He did not need any more threats. He knew perfectly well what the Gods were capable of, still more one of the five High Kings.

  The Enforcer eyed Sesmok in silence for a moment longer, as if weighing up the effect of his words on the Regent. He finally turned and left, as stiffly as he had come in. The other three followed.

  It took Sesmok a few moments to assimilate what had happened. This was a direct order from Edan himself, the High King of the House of Aru. My life is hanging by a thread here. I’ll be a dead man if I don’t hand those seven over to them. I’ve got to think of some way to find them and capture them.

  “Those accursed Eyes-of-the-Gods! They dare to threaten me! This is a very, very dangerous situation.” He pointed at Torkem and Osvan. “For all of us.”

  “The High King Edan…” stammered Torkem.

  “We have to capture them, and fast.” Osvan’s voice did not tremble, but his tone was less resolute than usual.

  Sesmok was turning the problem over in his mind in search of some way out. “The stupid cretins haven’t been able to give me so much as a hint as to where to look for them.”

  “My Hunters have been searching outside the Boundary, but there’s no trace of them. The problem is, it’s hard to catch a prey without a trail to follow.”

  The door opened again and Svariz came in. The three looked up with interest.

  “Now what?” Sesmok asked bad-temperedly.

  Svariz bowed. “They’re asking for a new audience, my lord.

  “Who’s asking?”

  “The Eyes, my lord.”

  Sesmok was surprised. The Eyes-of-the-Gods lived for efficiency. They did not forget or repeat anything, ever.

  “How strange… I don’t like this at all. Executors?”

  “No, my lord, just one Eye.”

  “One of the four who were here before?” Torkem asked.

  Svariz shrugged. “How could I tell? They all look the same to me.”

  “Bring him in, but escort him and don’t take your eyes off him.”

  “Yes, my lord.” Svariz saluted. “On guard, everyone,” he said to his Guards as he went out.

  In fact the Eye-of-the-Gods who came in looked like the four others, with the same helmet, the same robe, the same gaunt look and ochre color. Svariz was behind him, his hands on his weapons at the ready.

  “Has anything new come up? Something to do with the errand?” Sesmok asked.

  The Eye looked around. “I have a message for the Regent, from my master.”

  Sesmok waved his hands. “You have my absolute attention.”

  “The message is for the Regent only.” He looked around once again.

  This is getting worse. Why does he want to be alone with me? Is it some trick to kill me? Tension was beginning to clutch at his stomach. No, think about it, it makes no sense. If they wanted me dead they’d send Executors. He took a deep breath. To refuse would be dangerous, but he did not relish the idea of being left alone with the Enforcer. I could have Svariz and the Guard kill him. Strike before they strike me. But killing an Enforcer of the Gods would be practically signing my own death sentence. I’ll listen to what he has to say and then act accordingly.

  “All right, everyone leave.”

  Svariz and Osvan waited for a sign from Sesmok, but he gave a slight shake of his head.

  The Enforcer waited until the doors were shut. When he had checked that the two of them were alone, he nodded.

  Sesmok came closer to the Enforcer. “What message does the High King Edan send me?”

  The Eye-of-the-Gods looked around once more, as if expecting to see someone spying. He reached for his blue sash and turned it over. To Sesmok’s surprise, the inside was bright red.

  “My master is not High King Edan.” he said. “I belong to the House of Aureb, not that of Aru.” From his robe he brought out a gauntlet and put it on his hand. Then he took out a crystalline object and placed it over the gauntlet. Sesmok saw it was a disc. Something inside him warned him, and he tensed. The disc gave off a golden flash, and he started. Suddenly the disc rose above the gauntlet and threw a powerful beam of light in front of him. He covered his face with his arm, thinking the beam would pierce him. But it did not. Instead an image formed before his astonished eyes, the image of a figure, blurred at first but soon more definite.

  “What… what’s that?”

  “This is the Power of the Gods,” said the figure in its red robe and bright silver armor, which although it resembled a man was not really one at all… Nor was it an Enforcer. It was something different: slim, golden, stern in its gaze, with fiery eyes… terrifying eyes…

  It was a God!

  On the ground, worm! the Golden ordered, like thunder in his head.

  Sesmok threw himself down, with his forehead touching the floor. He was so scared he almost wet himself. In all his life he had only once seen a God: the day he had been chosen to be Regent. It had been a day of abysmal fear.

  That is better, vermin. Show the respect you owe me.

  His legs were shaking and he did not dare look at the image. He remained on the floor in silence, trying with all his might not to tremble.

  The House of Aru has ordered you to find the seven fugitive slaves.

  “Yes… my lord…” he dared to mumble.

  I want you to carry out that mission, but with one exception.

  “Whatever you wish… my lord…”

  There is one among the seven who is mine by right, and I want her for myself. One who was stolen and whom I must possess. One whose suffering and death I intend to enjoy at length. You will not give her to the House of Aru, you will give her to me.

  “To you?”

  “To his Majesty Asu, Prince Heir of the House of Aureb,” the Eye-of-the-Gods announced.

  To me alone. Do you understand, or do I have to carve it in fire on your forehead?

  “Yes, I understand,” Sesmok hastened to reply. “I will… you have my word.”

  You had better not fail me. I want her for myself, and my wishes must not be denied.

  “I won’t fail you. But what am I going to say to the House of Aru?”

  Your problems with that rival House are none of my business. They will not have the slave. If they get her, I shall tear your guts out.

  “How will I recognize her?” Sesmok asked. He was wondering about his new predicament. If he failed to deliver to the House of Aru, they would kill him. And if he did not deliver to Asu, the latter would kill him instead. I’m in a tight fit, and I’m not going to get out of it easily.

  The Eye spoke. “Her name is Kyra, her hair and eyes are ruby-colored. She is seventeen springs old. With her is her brother Ikai. It has been found that they are from a village in the Sixth County called Issoli.”

  “With this information I’m sure to find her.”

  Do it and do it fast, or my flames will put an end to your insignificant existence.

  Asu snapped his fingers and spoke one word. All around Sesmok a ring of fire took shape.

  “No, by the Seas!” he cried in horror as the flames rose to the ceiling.

  And one more thing. This conversation has never taken place. It has never happened. If you should mention it to anyone I shall roast you on a slow fire like a pig, and while you scream in agony, a moment before you die I shall revive you to roast you again. Understood?

  Sesmok was shaking in the center of th
e ring of fire. “Yes, my lord. This has never taken place.”

  Indeed. And to make sure my wishes are satisfied, I shall send you someone I trust, so that you can hand the girl over to him.

  “How… how will I recognize him?”

  Ha, ha, ha! You will recognize him, you worm, I can assure you of that.

  And with that ruthless laughter echoing in his mind, the image vanished and with it the ring of fire. The Eye-of-the-Gods put the disc away in his robe, took off the gauntlet and left without another word.

  Sesmok was left sprawling on the floor. It took him some time to recover.

  When Torkem, Osvan and Svariz ran into the hall they were stunned to see the Regent trying unsuccessfully to stand up. They helped him to the throne, and he sat down on it, still shaking.

  “What happened?” Osvan asked.

  “I… I can’t tell you.”

  “But are you all right?” Torkem asked.

  “I’m… I mean we’re in really big trouble. And it’s going to be very difficult to get out of it alive.”

  “What needs to be done?” Torkem asked.

  “You follow that Eye. I want him watched. Make sure your spies inform me about every move he makes, and who he meets.”

  “Understood.” He left at a run, surprisingly nimbly considering his girth.

  Osvan glanced at Svariz. “And what about us?” he asked

  “You’re going for a trip into the country, to catch a farmer girl.”

  Chapter 11

  For two weeks Kyra did all she could to carry out Ikai’s instructions. She had moved into Solma’s house, leaving her own: the grateful refugees had built each of the seven heroes a small house as a token of respect and gratitude. Kyra wanted to be with her mother at all times. Every morning she got up before dawn, hardly having managed to rest herself, to look after Solma. She waited hopefully for Idana to appear so that she could ask her about any possible improvement. Unfortunately the answer was the same every day: there was none.