"You must go and lead them against the Nossa that rule your city. Most of the soldiers that occupy your city will soon be summoned to join the forces against the Pokwa, and they will leave only a few men behind. You must use this opportunity to take back what was once yours. Once you have reclaimed the Menoli Tree, the city must empty. When this is done, you must meet me at the three stones, where I will bring you back to the Noshota to help defeat the Wicked King’s army."
Stripes falls to one knee and raises his head, "By my claws I pledge to return and fight against Usk-Ka. I will go back to our city and rally what soldiers we can and return in haste. I only hope we have the strength to do what is needed."
The Pokwa stomp their feet and croak a rally cry in response to his oath.
"Good, my friend. Courage is what is needed now. You must all look into your hearts and find your strength, for a battle will soon be at your door, and I cannot promise victory." Mia-Koda walks to Akelou's side and grabs his arm, raising it into the air. "But you will not stand alone as long as friends and loyalty still live. . . there is always hope!" The Pokwa erupt in cheers and resume the celebration.
Mia-Koda embraces all who have come stopping when she sees Argle. She inspects him and stares at his helmet, and an expression of understanding fills her face. "You are the youngest of Black Claw's offspring, are you not?"
"Yes, I have traveled far with Akelou and Leotie, into the darkness and back. My mother has told me of you. She has told me of your power and the good you have done for my family."
Mia-Koda pats Argle on his shoulder, and takes the Moura stone from Akelou to open a door to the realm of the Menoli. "Remember, Stripes, bring everyone that you can, for if we fail, both cities are doomed." Stripes bows to Mia-Koda and walks into the doorway, followed by the Meno and Salali.
"Argle, what are you doing?" asks Akelou before he walks through the door.
"My place is with my people and my sister. I will bring my father's helmet back to the Menoli and return with an army to aid you in battle. We will meet again." Akelou and Argle lock forearms before Argle walks into the doorway and disappears.
Mia-Koda stands before Akelou. "When I was among the Meno and Salali in hiding, I was told Dirty Hands was taken captive. Did you see him alive?"
"Yes, he gave me this from my mother before he left to be reunited with her."
Mia-Koda looks down at the small piece of cloth. "Now, rejoined, your parents celebrate with us from the spirit world. There is no time at this moment for loss and grief. Instead, embrace in the joy of a daughter who has been returned to her family."
The celebration rages in the hall of the Choa, and Tib, Leotie, and Akelou are given full honors. Then Akelou slips away and steps out onto the terrace that overlooks the swamp. He stares into the horizon and thinks about his mother. A hand caresses his neck and startles him. He turns and sees Leotie standing behind him. She looks deep into his eyes and smiles. Akelou gazes at her and her long black hair, and takes her into his arms. A slave to his heart, Akelou holds her tight and locks his lips upon hers. The romantic embrace lasts for moments, but the world stops around the couple for a lifetime. As they release their embrace, they turn and look over the swamps together, holding each other tightly.
---
The doors to the King’s Chambers chamber bursts open.
"Bring me parchment, you idle fools," he coarsely shouts to his advisors. "My son has been slain by forest savages while you sit here and do nothing." He rips the parchment from a cowering advisor's hand and begins to write.
General Ush-Ka,
I send you this parchment as a grieving father whose son was murdered by a treacherous forest savage. I command you to attack the Pokwa city at once, sparing no lives but one. You will find a girl covered in animal skins and carrying two short blades. The scent of my dead son will still be on her. Bring her to me alive, for her soul I will rape from its vessel for eternity. Instruct Captain Ullace to fall back and reinforce you from the outer swamps. You will lead the first attack on the city. Once the city has fallen, Ullace and his men will lead the assault on the Menoli, claiming more slaves for our mines. With these new slaves the shard will be discovered, and with it we will have the power to leave this forsaken land and conquer the Eastern Kings. Do not return to me without the girl, or the last shard you crave so dearly will never be found.
Your Master
The King wraps the parchment and seals it with melted wax. He walks to a cage next to his throne and hands the letter to a canyon raptor. As the King opens its cage, the bird jumps onto his arm and waits for its orders. "Take this to General Ush-Ka with all speed, my servant. Do not stop until his arm you rest on. If you think of seeking your freedom, you dirty savage, or Ush-Ka tells me this letter never reached him, I will have your father boiled alive and your mother ravished before I have her burned. Disobey me, and never again will you take the form of man again."
The bird squawks, takes the letter and exits the chamber through a high window. He sits on his throne and points to his advisors, "Leave me, you wretched cows, and do not disturb me until you have my son's murderer in your grasp. Have every Indian savage expelled from my tower and forced outside our walls. Command the guard that no one sleeps until Ush-Ka has returned." His advisors bow and leave the King alone in his dark chamber.
---
"Akelou, wake up, Akelou," says Leotie pushing against his sleeping body.
"What is it?" Akelou responds while wiping his tired eyes, which are thickly crusted over from the long night of celebrating.
"The Pokwa chief has gathered a council in the hall. He wants us to attend."
"Right, well, give me a moment to gather my things. I will meet you by the stairs."
Leotie moves her head close to Akelou, and her silky hair crosses his face. Her smell fills his throat as she kisses his cracked lips. She leaves the room, walking carefully to avoid the snoring Pokwa warriors that line the floor. Akelou touches his lips and hears the loud sound of someone passing gas in their sleep. He turns to see Tib rolling over and scratching his rear. As he shakes his head, Akelou's mind wanders back to the kiss and the night. Quickly Akelou dresses and kicks Tib in frustration. Leaving the room, he meets Leotie by the winding stairs that lead to the hall of the Pokwa. On their way to the hall, Akelou catches Leotie glancing at him, and when their eyes meet, they both smile and quickly look in the other direction.
Once they come to the door that leads to the hall, two Pokwa guards stop them. The guards, brothers, salute the couple before opening the door. In the hall the king, his court, and high-ranking warriors like Oboe and Mia-Koda have gathered. The princess, dressed in her royal Pokwa garments, sits next to her father. She does not look at all like the naked, starving, and dehydrated prisoner they rescued. Her finely crafted armbands are polished and shine brightly. The princess's loincloth drags behind her, glimmering as she rises from her throne. Over her body there are many painted symbols, and on her head she wears the royal tiara of the Pokwa. The princess approaches Leotie and Akelou, and embraces them in a gentle, aristocratic hug. She kisses Akelou, then Leotie, on the neck and bows.
"I am most grateful to you, my courageous outsiders. The Pokwa will always be your friend and the Choa a home to you."
They both bow, thanking her for her words. The hall fills with the sound of stomping feet and loud croaking, then it quiets and everyone looks up at their king. Mia-Koda motions for Akelou and Leotie to come over and sit beside her.
The Pokwa chief stands and raises his hands. "We come here today, to discuss the inevitable attack of the False King’s army. Our princess and our future have been saved, but the time of celebration is over. By the time the moon is full, Ush-Ka will be inside our borders. His army is large, their blades are long, and their steel is sharp. Ush-Ka is a merciless warrior who will kill everyone in his path if he is able. His men will turn our lands red with the blood of Pokwa. He will come with beasts and savage men who will not stop until our city burn
s. He will hunt down our children and our mates. No one will be safe." The king lowers his head and rubs his tired, worried eyes. "I ask you who represent the Pokwa families to choose. Do we stand and fight to the end, or flee, scatter, and hope to survive?"
The hall erupts in shouting, "Fight!"
"We stand and fight!"
"This is our land. I would rather die than flee."
The king again raises his arms, quieting the hall. "Yes, yes, but simple battle may not save us. This is the last home of the Pokwa; we have no home outside our borders. We have no kin to call for aid-"
"What about the forsaken ones. Long have they dwelled in the shadows, but never have they attacked us. If this is our darkest and most desperate hour, then I say it is time to seek them out once again," says an old Pokwa of the court. The hall becomes silent, and many Pokwa shake their heads, having heard Bacas talk about the dark ones before.
"We do not know if they still survive, or if they do, where to find them. They may try to kill or betray us, for their hearts have become black and their minds wicked," says the King.
"They do survive, I have seen them and I can take you to the bog where you can find their underground dwellings. It is time to find where their loyalties lie. The Pokwa cannot win this fight alone. We must reach out to all our allies and forgive past betrayals and renew old bonds, or the Pokwa may vanish under this growing cloud of darkness," says Bacas.
The King sits back into his throne. He shakes his head and looks at Akelou. His daughter lays her hand on his and caresses his forearm. Theopa looks at her and breathes deeply. "I will honor the decision of the court. If they believe the mud dwellers should be searched out, then I will send the warriors. If there is any Pokwa that believes this is an ill-fated plan, then speak now."
The hall is quiet, and many in the court nervously whisper to each other. The King stands again, "It is settled. Bacas, assemble a search party to find the forsaken ones. Oboe, have the breeding pools emptied and the word spread."
Theopa raises his hands and closes his eyes and prays to the Gods. "Watch over us and may our offspring have a home to return to."
Akelou grabs Leotie's hand, and they step down, place their weapons on the ground, and dance the Enopay war dance. The rest of the hall watches the dance and begins to stop their feet. Croaking and cheers rise from the warriors as they lower their weapons and begin dancing. The king escorts the princess from her throne, lowers his scepter at her feet, and dances.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Un-Ra, shadowed by the Daboon army, crouches below the canyon's edge staring at the moonlit tower of Ogdah. The Daboon are restless, gripping their weapons and waiting for their master. Un-Ra watches the Hornbill transform from beast to man, between two pillars at the base of the stone bridge that leads to the tower's gate. Un-Nabus's eyes glow as he looks back at his army.
"My Daboon, glory is at hand. When the gate falls, storm the tower and slay all in your path. Then, my Daboon, you must climb the tower to the King’s chambers. There you will bear witness to the destruction of a false king, the reclamation of our tower, and the fulfillment of all I have promised."
The Daboon begin to growl and pound the ground in excitement. Un-Ra looks back to his warriors and raises his hammer. The Daboon roar as one, their eyes filling with fury and their mouths drooling with blood lust. Un-Nabus opens his hand, and from his dark mark the Book of Ixkin seeps out and opens. The Daboon flinch as a thunderous crack explodes from the book and a silver streak shoots into the sky. A misty cloud forms, swirling around the tower. The book closes and seeps back into Un-Nabus's mark. Un-Nabus pulls his hood over his head, and the Hornbill ascends into the mist. A deep bellowing echoes, reverberating against the stone.
"Did you hear that?" says an archer looking out from the terrace above the gate.
"Yes, there is evil riding on the wind tonight. Be on your guard, soldier," says the captain of the gate. "Ush-Ka's army should be attacking the Pokwa by now. We are all that is left to defend the tower since the King sent the natives beyond our walls."
"Captain, look," says an archer who points toward the Hornbill that has landed on the stone terrace. Darkness hides the bird, and Un-Nabus emerges from the blackness with his staff in hand. The guards are frozen with fear and they stare at the black sickle on his staff. The captain of the gate yells at his men, "Intruder! Sound the alarm, warn the king!" A soldier pounds a gong that rings throughout the tower. Torches emerge from openings that look down at the gate.
"Attack the intruder! Kill him!" yells the captain again. The archers release their arrows at Un-Nabus. The arrows soar through the mist, and Un-Nabus raises his hand and they are engulfed in darkness. Un-Nabus lowers his hand and grips his staff, gliding across the terrace. The captain watches in horror as his men are quickly butchered by the dark figure.
"Reinforcements! We are being slaughtered," yells the captain. He looks down into the inner courtyard and sees soldiers have started to gather at the gate, and one points behind him. The captain of the wall looks back, but sees only a moving shadow before his head is sliced from its body. It falls, bouncing against the inner wall and landing in the courtyard. Un-Nabus looks down inside the tower and sees the lever that releases the gate. He points his staff downwards, and darkness shoots down the side of the tower to destroy the lever. Chains rattle, whipping furiously as the gate comes crashing down, striking the bridge. The tower's guard has formed a defensive line behind the gate and wait for an attack. A guard is sent into the mist and screams as he runs back from inside the fog. "Beasts, giant beasts are coming!"
The guards gasp and step back watching Un-Ra emerge from the mist soaring through the fog landing on the soldier's back, crushing him with his stone hammer. He raises his hammer and it burns with the blood of the fallen solider. Un-Ra roars and the horde of Daboon charge towards the gate around him.
"Hold your positions! We must defend the gate!" shouts the leader of the guard. He charges, leading his men to defend the tower. Flashes from the men's muzzles light up the courtyard and Un-Nabus watches his Daboon slaughter the men in a chaotic blitz of strength and ferocity. The few remaining men retreat into the tower screaming with fear. Un-Nabus opens his arms, again taking to the skies and flying upward to a window high in the king's chambers.
"My Lord, the tower is under attack by an army of beasts! These beasts are like Ush-Ka himself. Our men are being overrun, and we have no means of reinforcing them," says a soldier that kneels before him.
The King grabs his staff. "Call my guard and tell them to retreat back into my chambers," he yells. "Fools they are if they think a few beasts with stone clubs can take this tower." He returns to his throne, flapping his cape in noble arrogance.
"My Lord, the beasts will be at your door any moment. We should flee the tower. It is lost, my lord," says the king's closest advisor, Memra.
"Memra, go to the door and make sure all the guards make it into my chamber."
Memra rushes to the stairs and starts shuffling in what guards he can. The doors close with a bang, and Memra looks back from the stairs and panics. "Lord, let me pass! There is still time. . . the beasts have not yet made it to the top of the stairs. Help me, Lord, mercy." Memra slams his fists against the door but his screams are ignored. He hears noises coming from the stairs behind him, and he starts to shiver. Trembling, he smells the pungent stench of beasts and the sound of dripping blood. In a frantic, quivering turn, he spins around to see the Daboon. Their dark fur drips with blood, and their grotesque hands tightly grip their weapons. He looks into their eyes and cries out as Un-Ra shoves his way through the Daboon, tossing a mutilated soldier to the ground. Un-Ra slowly approaches Memra and lowers his head toward the cowering man. He roars loudly, showing Memra his long, bloodstained teeth. The Daboon behind him roar in victory, raising their weapons and pounding their arms against the floor. Un-Ra raises his arm, and the Daboon behind him become calm. He looks into Memra's eyes and smiles at the fear he sees. Un-Ra grabs Memr
a and tosses him back to the blood-crazed Daboon behind him. His screams last only moments.
"The dark master wants this door destroyed. NOW BREAK IT DOWN!" he commands. His soldiers ram their weapons and bodies against the door. The guards inside the chamber brace the entrance against the impact of Un-Ra's warriors.
"Stand aside," commands the King, and he raises his staff. A burst of light fills the chambers, and the guard watches the wooden doors slowly turn to stone.
The King begins to laugh. "No number of cursed beasts will be able to destroy that. My subjects, I have saved us from this doom, and now we only have to wait for the return of my armies and they will destroy these devils." The men, exhausted from the fight, begin to cheer and hail their lord, but their cheers soon turn to dread. A cloud rises from the floor, hiding the door in a thick darkness. A deep bellowing echoes loudly, and the men scream, holding their ears looking at their Lord.
"What sorcery is this, Lord?"
"What is upon us, King?"
"Protect the king," yells the last captain, arousing his men from their hysteria. Surrounding the king, they load and point their weapons at the growing darkness.
The black cloud grows, clawing at the walls and climbing the ceiling. Un-Nabus steps out from behind the darkness, and the guard trembles at the sight of his black blade.
"Attack, you fools! Kill him, ATTACK!" yells the King, pointing to the closest guardsmen.
Two men timidly charge Un-Nabus, discharging their rifles and brandishing their bayonets. Un-Nabus dodges the attack and slays the men in one lethal but graceful movement. The men burst into a pool of blood that rains down on the cold lifeless floor. Un-Nabus voice fills the chamber, shaking the walls.
"You trespass in my tower. Lower your weapons and sacrifice yourselves to me, if you do this your deaths will be quick and without pain. Defy me, and suffer my WRATH!"
"I am the lord here and you have no power, demon," the King says, raising his staff. "I shall show you the true power of THE LORD OF THE WORLD!"
The New World (The Last Delar) Page 23
