Brynn grinned. “Does this mean I get a bigger share of the treasure because you’re feeling guilty?”
Phoenix shoved at him. “You can have the whole lot for all I care, kid. Just don’t die on us again, ok?”
“I’ll try not to,” the boy assured him, rubbing his chest. He looked up and noticed Anuket smiling down at him. “Oh, hi. So you’d be Anuket? You brought me back?”
The goddess nodded.
“Thanks. A lot. A big, huge lot,” he said with awkward grace. “But can I ask a question? Why is that thing still standing?” He pointed at the temple, looming behind them.
“Good point,” Phoenix said, eyeing the structure with noticeable distaste. “I think we’d be doing the city a favour if we smashed it with the Hammer. Marcus!”
Glancing around, Jade realised that Marcus was nowhere to be seen. “Where’d he go?”
“I’m here,” the Roman’s deep voice carried from behind a large piece of stone not far away. He stepped backward into the light, his sword raised and ready to thrust. A second person emerged from the shadow, a mere inch from the end of Marcus’ blade. Their nemesis: Feng Zhudai.
The sorcerer stepped out proudly into the grey dawn light, ignoring the sharp edge at his throat. He drew the dark silk of his severe robes about him and sneered down at their astonished faces.
Jade gasped and gripped her staff. Phoenix stood and drew his sword in one smooth move. Even Brynn snatched up a handy rock and held it ready to throw, looking like a barbaric, blood-streaked cave-boy in his loincloth.
Anuket glided to Marcus’ side, her eyes full of frowning wonder. “I know this one,” she said softly. “You are the one who convinced Set to imprison me; whispering sly evils in the ear of a god already insane with the desire for power. That is your way, isn’t it? You manipulate others to grant you power that you do not have yourself.”
Zhudai said nothing. He raised his chin and stared at them scornfully through lowered eyelids. Furious, Jade stepped forward, her staff ready. United, Phoenix, Marcus and Brynn stood with her, facing their archenemy at last.
Marcus spoke, his normally-calm voice harsh with hatred. “My Lady Anuket. I claim his life as my reward.”
Zhudai tucked his hands inside the long sleeves of his black silk robe and looked at him disdainfully. “Stupid child,” he said, his voice heavily accented. He stretched out one hand, long nails curling like claws. “I still hold your father’s life and mind in my hand. If I die now, so does he. Is that what you want?”
“Agricola is no longer my father. He has been twisted by your corruption,” Marcus spat.
Zhudai laughed. “Agricola needed little convincing, boy. He wanted power as much as I. You were simply in our way. He would probably even be grateful if I eliminated his puling brat of a child.” He made a curious twisting gesture of his fingers and muttered a single word.
Jade realised what he was doing and desperately cast a shield spell between the sorcerer and Marcus – but nothing happened. Neither Zhudai’s spell nor her shield spell worked, leaving them both stunned.
Anuket waved her back. “He can do nothing in my presence and nor can you. He is out of his realm; far from his source of power. Here, my power is vastly stronger than his. That is why he had Set imprison me while he worked his will on Priscus. The question is: what do we do with him?”
“Again, my lady, I claim his life as mine,” Marcus growled, raising his sword.
Anuket shook her head sadly. “I cannot take a life, only give it.”
“Then let me take it,” Marcus shot back.
“I’m sorry. I cannot allow it,” she sounded regretful.
Jade stepped in, trying to deflect his anger from Anuket.
“Then can we at least banish him from ever coming to Albion, Sweden, Egypt or India? Make him stay in his own land for now. Stop him from sowing the seeds of chaos around the world.”
The goddess inclined her head. “That would be a fitting punishment, I believe; and well within my power to grant, if only for a short time. It is only just that I imprison him within his own lands in return for his actions against me.”
Zhudai made a hasty, angry motion with his hand, as though trying to cast another spell. Nothing happened. He glared at the goddess. “You will regret this; all of you. When I am imm…..” He stopped himself in mid sentence, seeming to think he’d almost said too much. Snapping his mouth shut he wiped all expression off his face and once more tucked his hands away, ignoring them all.
Anuket sent him a long, measuring look then nodded to the companions. “Stand aside.”
They did, shielding their faces as Anuket and Zhudai disappeared inside a brilliant ball of greenish light. It lasted only a second before it faded and was replaced by the pale wash of dawn.
Zhudai was gone. Anuket now sat on a rock, her glow dimmed, her face older.
Jade rushed forward. “Are you alright? What happened?”
Anuket laid a soft hand on her head and gave a tired smile. “I am fine, child. The sorcerer fought me with everything he had and I am weakened from my long confinement. Once the Nile has risen, I will be restored.”
“And what about Zhudai,” Phoenix interrupted.
“He is now restricted to his own lands. His power outside them was always limited. For now his magic is fed by his followers and they are mostly in his homeland. If you fail in your Quests, though, his power will spread throughout both worlds. For now, he cannot interfere directly. He cannot use the portals, either,” Anuket confirmed. “But be aware that, should he take your amulets, he will be free to move about in both worlds. Even without them, he has much influence and has already set the kingdoms of India on the path to war. There will be many obstacles in your way and, if you reach his own lands, there he will be almost invincible.”
“So what’s new about that?” Brynn said in a quiet aside to Jade.
“Now,” the goddess pushed herself up. “I believe there is one last task for you to perform.”
When they all looked blankly at her, she laughed. “I think Thor would like his hammer back, don’t you?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Phoenix groaned. He had forgotten.
Beside him, Jade tugged on his arm. “We need to make some sort of sacrifice to him and summon him here.”
She fished out the Bag and withdrew a small bunch of grapes leftover from their sketchy midnight snack under the dock. Next she offered the Bag to Marcus, who drew the gloves, belt and hammer from it. Jade laid the grapes on a piece of rock and nodded to him.
Looking quite silly, she called out. “Mighty Thor, accept this sacrifice and come to reclaim what is yours.”
Marcus swung the hammer gently down onto the fruit. It squashed, spurting grape-juice onto his tunic. He laid the hammer and accessories on the makeshift altar next to the sacrifice and they all waited.
Behind them, a shimmering Portal opened in the stone doorway to the Temple of Set. Through it came Thor, driving his goat-drawn chariot. The goats’ small hooves clattered on the stone floor. Stepping down, Thor swaggered over to the group, taking in the scene of chaos and carnage with the swift, approving glance of a professional soldier. His gaze fell on the squashed grapes. A look of disbelief came over his bearded face. He picked up the stem in one huge forefinger and thumb.
“What, you leave a path of destruction across Egypt, kill a templeful of priests to release Anuket but you can’t find something better to sacrifice for me than a pitiful handful of fruit? Honestly,” he shook his shaggy red head. “What are you mortals coming to these days? Sacrifices just aren’t what they used to be.”
Phoenix exchanged rueful glances with Jade and looked over the god’s shoulder at the shining liquid surface glistened in the open doorway. They had walked through that entrance at least four times tonight and neither of them had noticed its distinctive formation of three large slabs of stone. Jade sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Phoenix scrubbed a hand through his long hair and looked up
at the brightening sky. It had been a long night.
Thor took up his hammer with evident glee, wiped the grapejuice off, and began exchanging pleasantries with Anuket.
Phoenix stared at the golden eastern horizon. His hand crept to Blódbál’s hilt and he drew the sword out. It sang softly to him, like a lover, filling his mind with images of death and glory. He reached a decision and strode toward the Norse god. Dropping down onto one knee, he proffered the sword with both hands.
“My lord, Thor, I’m returning Blódbál to you. I.. I can’t control it. I don’t like who I become when I use it – or, rather, when it uses me.” He said it quickly before he could change his mind. He could feel the shocked stares of the others on his back but this was something he had to do. With Blódbál in his hands he was a liability, not an asset.
Thor was silent a moment then burst into hearty laughter. Phoenix looked up at him, stunned. The god shook his red head and chuckled some more at the expression on Phoenix’s face. He wagged a thick finger at the kneeling boy.
“Y’know, it took Hrothgar at least three weeks to say exactly the same thing to me when I first gave him that sword. Well done, lad.”
“What?” Phoenix stood up, feeling silly and confused.
Thor thumped him gently on the shoulder, making his knees buckle. “I’ll say to you what I said to Hrothgar. Blódbál only has power over the weakminded. The very fact that you can give it back means you don’t have to – you do have the ability to control it.”
He must have read the doubt and relief in Phoenix’s face and held up a hand. “Don’t get me wrong, boy. It’s still very dangerous. You’ll need to be self-disciplined and learn to calm your mind to keep control of the bloodlust. Just ignoring what you feel won’t work. You’ll have to let go of any anger you’re carrying around in here,” he poked Phoenix in the region of his heart, leaving a bruise. “It can still take over if you give it a chance or if you want it to; but you’ve just proven that you are in control. You can choose how you react.”
Phoenix glanced over at Jade. She had said something very similar in Memphis and he hadn’t believed her. He looked down at the gleaming sword in his hands, feeling the connection, the power of it. Suddenly he was very glad he didn’t have to give it back. With a grin and a nod at Thor, he resheathed the weapon.
“Now,” Thor said, turning to Anuket and rubbing his hands together in anticipation, “I believe you have a river to flood and I’m just the god to help you with it. Did someone order storms?” With a toothy grin, he swung Mjölnir in an arc, admiring the purple-blue streak it left in the night air. A distant rumble of thunder answered.
Anuket smiled and laid a slender hand on Thor’s broad forearm. “You honour me, my lord.”
“Your chariot awaits,” Thor swept a hand toward it.
As they boarded the chariot, the Thunder-god gathered up the reins and glanced back over his shoulder at his audience.
“Oh, Thrudr says ‘hi’. Or, I should say, Truda.” He grimaced. “My daughter now insists on being called what you lot nicknamed her. By the way,” he nodded at the looming Temple of Set, “you might want to get outside the walls now. I think I need some practice throwing my lightning bolts. Hope old Set won’t be too upset if I accidentally demolish his temple. Don’t worry; I’ll leave the portal standing…accidentally, of course. What do you think, m’dear?” He smiled down at Anuket, who smiled up at him.
“I’m sure he couldn’t be upset by an accident, my lord.”
Thor roared his thunderous laugh again and flicked the reins across the backs of the two goats that drew his chariot. They leapt, pulling the vehicle smoothly up into the night sky.
Watching them in amazement, Phoenix muttered, “What was it you said before about now being a good time to run away?”
“Absolutely.” Jade agreed. As one, the group turned and ran.
From across the open square in front of the Temple, they watched. Far from needing practice, Thor was very precise in his aim. A single lightning bolt shot from the sky, split the highest tower of the Temple and shattered the main building into so much building rubble. Now, what was left burned sullenly as the red sun rose and bathed it in a bloody glow. A huge crowd of cheering observers began an impromptu dance in the square.
Heron spoke quietly in the warm dawn:
“And from the flames and ash of destruction shall emerge a stronger Phoenix. From his sacrifice shall come renewal and new life. He shall release the gift of the Nile once more upon the stricken lands of Egypt and Balance shall be restored.”
“What?” Jade blinked at the old man.
He smiled. “I was quoting from the old Egyptian texts about the Bennu bird – the Phoenix. I thought it sounded appropriate under the circumstances.”
The four companions were silent a few moments, digesting the words. Phoenix nodded slightly, pulling the corners of his mouth down and raising his eyebrows. “Well, whaddya know – I did do that, didn’t I? Or rather, we did.” He threw a companionable arm around Marcus’ and Jade’s shoulders.
“Hey, speaking of lives,” he grinned, “did you check your dagger, Jade? Did Anuket give you back a life?”
Jade snatched it out and examined it by the radiance of sunrise. Phoenix saw there were now six intact, blood-red rubies in the hilt. Anuket had, indeed, restored one of her lost lives. As she turned an astonished expression toward him, Phoenix held up his own knife to show her.
“Two!” He crowed. “She gave me two lives back. I have five lives again. Bring it on! Whoohooo!” Grabbing her hands he did a small dance with her, much to everyone’s amusement. Even Marcus chuckled.
When he settled down, Heron gripped both him and Jade by the arm and sighed. “I suppose you’ll be off now, will you?”
Phoenix shrugged, feeling uncomfortable with the old man’s emotion.
“I’m afraid so,” Jade leaned her head on Heron’s shoulder. “As much as we’d love to stay awhile, we have to continue our quests so we can get home again.”
“I thought as much.” He released them and waved a hand at someone standing in the crowd. A man came over and Heron whispered in his ear. He nodded and vanished into the dawn shadows. “I sent a message home when Marcus and I were out raising a riot and asked my servants to pack up your belongings and bring them all there – just in case.”
Phoenix exchanged surprised looks with Jade. How had the old dude known?
She spoke for them both. “You were really certain Phoenix was the Phoenix, weren’t you? You really believed he’d do it.”
Heron nodded. “I did and he did. You four make a formidable team. If you stay together, you’re certain to succeed in your quests.”
She gave the old inventor a hug. “I’m going to miss you.”
“And I, you, my dear.” He shook hands with the others, smiling broadly. “But I have enough new ideas to keep me busy for awhile, so off you go. That fire has died down enough now. You should be able to get to your doorway.”
The servant returned, leading their horses. They all took their leave of Heron and made their way back into the destroyed courtyard of the Temple of Set. Just as Thor had predicted, the only thing left standing was the outer wall and the Portal. Behind it, the ruins still smouldered, giving off an uncomfortable heat.
Standing before the Portal, Phoenix looked at their little team. They had come a long way together but there was still a long road to travel. Squaring his shoulders, he looked across at Jade. She nodded. He stepped up, placed a hand on the portal and said “India”. In a flash of light, the shimmering surface appeared between the stones. He heaved a quiet sigh of relief. He had been a little worried about Thor’s aim.
Brynn yawned and stretched. He’d picked up an oversized monk’s robe and, in spite of looking ridiculous, insisted on wearing it. Shoving the sleeves up his thin arms, he rubbed his eyes.
“Couldn’t we have stayed just one night for a good sleep? This dying stuff really takes it out of you. Plus I’ve lost all
my weapons and my lockpicks. I feel naked.” He patted his body and look plaintively up at Jade.
“I promise we’ll find some new toys and somewhere to sleep as soon as we get through,” she assured him. She pulled her cloak out of her bags and donned it, flipping up the hood.
“No prison cells, though, ok?” the boy said crossly.
Phoenix laughed. “Brynn, I can’t guarantee anything where we’re going but you can be fairly sure that we will be shoved into at least one more dark prison cell. Possibly even two.”
Still laughing, the four trooped through the Portal, leaving Heron to shake his head in wonder at the sight.
*****
In his cell, Long Baiyu laughed also. He had sensed Brynn’s passing with regret; his restoration with joy; and Phoenix’s triumph over Blódbál with relief. On Zhudai’s banishment, Baiyu laughed until the stones echoed with his exultation.
Now he sobered. Although Zhudai could not, himself, prey on the companions in India, he had many subordinates who would gladly do the job for him. How could the youngsters possibly cope against such odds? They were not yet ready to face everything Zhudai could throw at them. Thus far, it was only luck and circumstance that had prevented him from unleashing his full force upon them. For the moment, his magical skills were limited outside of his native land, so he worked through others to gain what he wanted - power. So far, his desire to control Agricola, Loki, Priscus and the Priests of Set had outweighed his desire to kill the four companions. If Zhudai began to take them seriously before they were truly ready, they would not stand a chance of winning through.
The next quest would be far from easy. Would their new-found sense of camaraderie and closeness survive the trials before them?
A Taste of things to come……..
80AD
The Sudarshana
Jade Lockyer stepped into a grey-lit world of thunderous noise. It wasn’t just noise. It was a shocking, almost solid booming that deafened her and pounded the breath from her body. Her mare took instant exception and reared up with a whinny that was lost in the din. Only luck made Jade clench her hand in time to keep hold of the reins. The horse backed up and danced to one side, tossing her head. Her hooves slipped on the glistening black rock underfoot and she almost fell. Pulling the mare’s head down, Jade laid a hand on the long nose and gripped tightly. She yelled a command word into the animal’s ear and watched for a second to make sure she settled.
The Tekhen of Anuket Page 19
