by Pedro Urvi
“There are two more mines in this County. I’m going to free them.”
“May Oxatsi protect you!”
“You too, my friend,” Ikai said. “You have a week. In a week’s time, bring your men to the meeting-point.”
“Only a week? I could recruit more men if I had more time.”
“If we give them time, they’ll get ready and it’ll be too late. Time’s our enemy.”
“All right. One week.”
“And one thing more. It’s important.”
Mitas nodded.
“You must spread the rumor that you’re going to attack the County capital.”
“But I don’t understand. You just told me not to go near ‒”
“Don’t. But we must make the Guard, the Proxies, and the Enforcers believe that we’re going to attack the County capitals. It’s the logical move, what Sesmok expects us to do. He’ll have to defend six counties at the same time, and it’ll be very hard for him. Even with the Guard and the Enforcers to back him up.”
“But we won’t do it…”
“No, you must make them believe we’re going to. On the seventh day they must be convinced we’re going to attack the County capitals.”
“But instead of attacking, I’m to lead my men to the meeting-point.”
“Exactly.”
“What about Rutus, Camptos and the other leaders?”
“You all have the same order. We’ll all follow the same plan.”
“I get it now.”
“Remember, in a week’s time I’ll be waiting for you.”
“I’ll be there, I won’t let you down.”
They embraced.
Ikai said his farewells to Mitas and his men as they left.
In a week. In just a week the fate of the Senoca will be decided. Freedom or death.
Chapter 32
Kyra hurled her dagger with a whiplash movement of her right arm. The sharp steel buried itself up to the hilt in the Guard soldier’s neck. The man fell to one side, dead, and his spear never managed to pierce Camptos, whom he had on his back on the ground.
“Than… thanks…” he stammered. “I thought my time had come.”
Kyra offered him her hand to help him up. “Not if I can avoid it,”
“I’m just a farmer, I’m no match for a soldier of the Guard.”
“You’re much more than a farmer. You’re the leader of the Sixth County, my county, and as long as you’re with me I’ll do everything I can to make sure you survive. We need you.”
Camptos acknowledged this with a grateful gesture.
The houses of the lower, easternmost part of the city were burning. Black smoke rose to the sky. In front of Kyra and Camptos the soldiers of the Guard had secured the main square and were resisting. The freed slaves had just taken the four main entrances to the city and were securing them. Through them were thronging several thousand farmers armed with axes, hammers, hoes, forks and any other utensil that might be used as a weapon. It was as though a hungry horde had taken over the city. The cries were deafening. Thousands of souls were shouting for freedom, for justice, even as they were run through by spear or sword.
Camptos turned to Kyra: “And we need you. You’re one of the Heroes. You shouldn’t take such risks.”
Kyra shrugged. “That’s the way I am. I’ll be where the action is.”
“The city’s ours,” he said.
Watching it all, Kyra scratched her head. Something was not right. The Guard was forcing back the waves of slaves, forming a barrier which would soon fall under the weight of sheer numbers.
“Yes…”
“And just in time,” Camptos went on. “We need to leave at once, to get to the meeting-place. The week’s up. Your brother will be waiting for us.”
“I told you not to worry, that we’d make it.”
“Forgive me, I didn’t mean to doubt you. It’s just that Ikai gave specific orders not to attack the county capitals…”
“And what did I tell you?”
“That we’d be able to conquer it.”
“And what have we done?”
“We conquered it.”
“Well, there you are.”
“But Ikai’s plan… the timing…”
“Now we’ll have ten thousand more slaves from this city and the villages around.”
“That’s true, yes.”
“The whole Sixth County’s ours. How many men do you think will follow us?”
“With those who’re joining us in the capital, I calculate about twenty thousand men.”
She winked at him, full of pride. “None of the other leaders will have assembled even half, including my brother. You’ll see.”
“But we’re way behind time. We’ve wasted two days taking the city. We won’t get there in time, and Ikai is waiting… the plan…”
“Don’t worry, we’ll follow the plan, just as soon as we finish here.”
Camptos sighed and shook his head. “So, what now?”
“Now let me have a friendly chat with those soldiers of the Regent. Then we’ll regroup and go meet my brother.”
“Do you think it’s wise?”
“There’s something that doesn’t smell right.”
“All the more reason not to run unnecessary risks.”
“I brought you here, didn’t I? Don’t doubt me now.”
“All right. Shall I call the ceasefire?”
“Go ahead.”
Camptos looked for two of his helpers and gave the order. Several horns echoed through the city. The rebel peasants, carried away by the euphoria of the moment, found it hard to digest the order to stop. Camptos’s men, who knew the signal, told the others, although it took a while to reach the front lines who were facing the soldiers of the Guard. At last they all ceased their attack. The soldiers, not understanding what was going on, retreated and tightened their lines. They had no way of escape, and they knew it. They were completely surrounded by rebels, on all four corners of the main square. Kyra made her way through them, Camptos by her side. Behind them were their most trusted men. Kyra stopped three steps from the line of spears and shields, as if they did not worry her in the least.
“Who’s in charge?” she asked in a firm voice.
The rebels fell silent, as if Mother Oxatsi herself were speaking.
There was a moment of doubt among the soldiers. Finally, an officer spoke from the center of the enemy lines.
“Me. Captain Sistos.”
He stood up straight and Kyra had a clear view of him. He was a veteran officer, with a weathered face and small black eyes.
“Captain, my name is Kyra. You might have heard of me. I’m one of the seven Heroes. But that’s not important. The important thing is that I’m in charge of this revolt in the Sixth County. As you see, I’ve been quite successful, don’t you think?”
The Captain did not know what to say. “Sesmok will make you pay for this dearly. You’ll pay in blood and suffering.”
“Hmm, but, you see, I have other plans for Sesmok. I’m going to hang him from one of the balconies of his palace so that everybody can see him die.”
“This revolt is insane. It won’t succeed. You’ll be crushed like cockroaches.”
She shrugged. “Well, it was insane to come out into the open, too, and yet here we are. But you see, I have a question for you. I want you to think carefully before you answer, because your life and that of your men is at stake.”
“I’ll consider it.”
“Well then,” Kyra said. With her finger she counted the first line of soldiers, then the lines further back. “I can count three rows, a hundred men each. That makes twelve hundred, which is odd. When we attacked the first farms and villages seven days ago, all the soldiers of the Guard were summoned to regroup here. I was told that if we attacked the city we should have found four times that number. What a surprise, eh? And not just that: the Proxies and Enforcers have disappeared. Now isn’t that strange…?”
“I don
’t know… what you mean…”
“Oh, I think you do. You know very well. Where are they?”
The Captain did not reply. All of a sudden he drew his sword and raised it. “Die, you bitch!”
From three high, hidden positions three arrows flew in search of Kyra’s heart: one from the East, another from the West and the last from the North, cutting the wind with a murderous whistle.
Adamis’s message in her mind was instantaneous: Protect yourself!
Kyra, with Adamis’s disc in her left hand, closed her eyes, like a prisoner sentenced to death awaiting the impact that will kill him. But she gave an order: Shield. There came a golden flash, and a moment before the arrows found their target a translucent sphere surrounded her. The arrows hit the shield but failed to pierce it, falling to the ground as if by magic.
Cries of pure astonishment filled the square. In the eyes of the rebels, who could not see the protecting shield around her entire body, she had stopped the arrows with her mind.
She turned to address her people, who were watching her spellbound.
“What you’ve just seen is the Power of the Gods. Only this time it’s been used against them. But don’t be afraid. We, the Heroes of the Senoca, can do this. We’re going to use it to lead you to victory.”
“It’s not possible!” the Captain swore.
Kyra turned to him. “Is that all you’ve got for me?”
“You ought to be dead!”
“I’m Kyra, Hero of the Senoca! I’ve faced men, Enforcers and Gods. And nothing has stopped me. Nor will it!” She turned her back on the soldiers as if they were nothing, and spoke to the rebels.
“Today, united, we free the Sixth County. Today we achieve that longed-for freedom. Follow me, and tomorrow not only this one, but all Six Counties, will be free. I promise I’ll kill Sesmok. I promise I’ll drive out the Enforcers. I promise you we’ll be free. The Senoca will return to the Sea. Follow me and we’ll achieve this!”
Among the thousands of rebels one word, one name began to be heard with growing strength:
“Kyra!”
“Kyra! Kyra! Kyra!” Thousands of throats cried her name in unison.
She pointed at the soldiers without even a glance at them and gave the order: “Forward! For freedom!”
The rebels hurled themselves at the soldiers like a pack of wild animals.
Camptos leaned closer towards Kyra. “He hasn’t told us where they are.”
“Don’t worry. I thought they might be hiding, waiting for us, that it was a trap.”
“It was. A trap to kill you.”
“Exactly. To kill me.” Kyra thought for a long moment. When she spoke at last, her expression was worried. “This tells me two very important things.”
Camptos glanced at her, confused.
“One: we have a spy among our people.”
The man nodded. “I agree. They were expecting you. And the second?”
“I have to warn my brother. His plan isn’t going to work.”
“We won’t get there in time. We’re too far behind schedule.”
“He’s heading into a trap. Let’s get a move on!”
Chapter 33
Ikai gazed at the immense plain which stretched at his feet. All was silent; the early evening breeze ruffled his hair, and for a moment he relaxed. Soon it would be dark. He gazed at the winding blue line of the Hibai River as it crossed the open space from east to west. It seemed to want to reach the sun before it disappeared beneath the horizon: an eternal dream it would never achieve. Just like our dream of freedom. No sooner had he thought this than he regretted it. I mustn’t doubt. I can’t weaken. I must stand firm. We’ll make it. I must keep faith that we’ll find freedom. He was not easily discouraged, but this day was proving particularly difficult. Only the First County had reported back, and the sun was about to set.
And what about the others? Will they come? Will they have been successful? Could they be dead? His plan was deeply risky, but there was no other option. Attempting to organize an undercover revolution would have been guaranteed to fail. Sesmok was a highly intelligent man. Ikai knew now that he had spies among Gedrel’s men, as with Isaz. He would have found out about it. Sesmok was well aware of his intention to organize a rebellion, and he would send the Hunters.
He shook his head. Organizing the rebellion would take too long, and it could never be done in secret, no matter how hard he tried. And if not Sesmok, it would be the Enforcers who found out about them. The system of control established by the Gods was extremely efficient. Brilliant —he had to admit—: brilliant and ruthless. He had weighed up the situation and come to the conclusion that a secret insurrection would be impossible. Little by little all the leaders would be captured, starting with the Heroes. What had happened to Gedrel was proof enough of that.
He looked out toward the east. Nothing. No trace of them. But they’ll come. Have faith. There was only one viable chance of success: a surprise uprising, without allowing Sesmok and the Enforcers to prepare. It’s the only way. Very risky, all or nothing, but the only way to have a chance of winning. It’s not much, but it’s a possibility, and we’ll cling on to it. Gedrel’s sacrifice and the bloody incident at the capital had given them a unique opportunity. The people, bleeding and outraged, longed to rise. This was the moment for it, before the horror of the oppressive measures ate away at their brave hearts. They would follow now, but not for long. The horror of blood always swallows up the courage in the hearts of men.
He looked westward toward the long line of trees, but there was no sign of them. He began to feel genuinely uneasy. Suppose they haven’t made it? Today’s the seventh day. Today’s when they all have to come with the men they’ve managed to assemble in each County. But night was falling on the green fields and forests behind him and there was no sign of them.
He turned to his men, who were waiting in silence hidden among the beeches. They had freed and assembled close to ten thousand men in the Fourth County.
Mitas came up to him. “They’ll come. I’m sure of it,” he said in an attempt to cheer his spirits.
“I hope so. Otherwise the fallout will be devastating. If we fail, Sesmok will have no mercy. He’ll raze the six counties to the ground in punishment.”
“I’ll tear that poisonous snake’s head off with my own bare hands,” Honus growled.
Suddenly a flash reached Ikai from the East. It was the signal he was waiting for.
At last!
There followed a second flash, then a third. It was the Third County. They had made it.
“They’re reporting at last.” Mitas said.
“Only two counties so far.”
“Three, counting ours,” Karm said, his eyes shining with hope. “Let’s wait. They’ll come.”
Ikai put his hand on his shoulder. “You’ve got a great spirit.”
“I’ve got nothing left except the cause. The Gods robbed me of everything. And whatever I’ve got left I’ll give for freedom. We have to bring Sesmok down.”
“And do away with those shit-faced Enforcers,” Honus barked.
Ikai smiled. They had devotion and courage aplenty. But it would take a lot more than that to topple the established order.
They waited impatiently for hours. Well into the night, two flashes were seen to the West.
“That’s the Second County,” Mitas said.
“Finally,” Karm huffed.
Ikai breathed deeply. “Only Kyra’s missing now. I hope she hasn’t done anything crazy. She should be here by now.”
Nobody said anything. They all knew Kyra and her temperament.
“Honus, go find the Heroes and Leaders and ask them to meet in one hour.”
“Now I’m a messenger? If I’d known, I’d have stayed in the mines.”
“On your way, and stop whining about everything,” Karm said, and gave him a shove.
“Mitas, these forests are huge, leagues and leagues of beeches, oaks and pines. That’s why I chose i
t to hide our men. But it’s no use hiding if we’re seen or heard. Spread the word: no fires, no chatter. We mustn’t be found out.”
“Okay, right away.”
“Karm. The three bridges across the river, further down on the flat land. They need to be watched. Take twenty men and be on the alert. If you see anything strange don’t attack, come and tell me at once.”
“All right. Trust me,” he said, and vanished among the trees.
Ikai greeted everyone as they arrived. Mitas of the Fourth County was by his side. Gant of the First County arrived, and with him Liriana. Ikai cheered up a little, seeing they had made it back and that Liriana was well.
“Hunter,” she greeted him with a wink and a smile.
“Captain,” he said in return.
Costan of the Fifth County followed, with Maruk. They exchanged greetings and embraces. Maruk sat down beside Liriana and kissed her enthusiastically. Then came Rutus of the Third County, accompanied by Idana.
“Everything okay?” Ikai asked her. He had not been at all happy to send her to fight. She was too devoted and good to get embroiled in the brutality of war.
“Everything was fine. Rutus barely needed me. He has great charisma. The men followed him without a moment’s doubt.”
“Well, having a Hero beside me helped, that’s for sure,” the robust woodsman said. “It was a good idea. I wouldn’t have thought of it myself, but there you are.”
Finally Pasmal of the Second County arrived with Albana. She smiled at Ikai, and his heart leapt with joy. An instant later his stomach lurched, and he felt uneasy and relieved at the same time.
She sat down beside him. “Did you miss me?” she whispered in his ear.
The tingling her sensual voice gave Ikai made him forget for a moment where they were and what they were risking. This woman made him lose his senses. He smiled back.
“Very much,” he said affectionately.
They all greeted each other and exchanged tales of what had happened to each group during that intense and dangerous week. The third and fourth counties had not encountered many difficulties and had got a great number of people to follow them in the revolt. But it had been very different in the First and Second counties, where it had been very difficult to convince the people to follow them. Liriana explained that even after freeing villages and herds from the control of the Guard and the Enforcers, they had not succeeded in getting as many followers as they had expected.
