The Fallen God

by Gary Mark Lee

  High in her stronghold tower Ishea stared out the window and down on the camp of the Outlanders, from her vantage point she could see the tent of the King and saw him as he left the side of his mate. She wore a simple dress of Rimar hide and her braided hair hung over her strong shoulders. There were some small red marks on her bronzed skin, the remains of the battle she had with her former mate, but the Norgonie also possessed the power to heal quickly and in a few more days there would be nothing to show she had ever fought at all.

  She took a small sip of aged Po from a silver cup in her hand, and then she turned to look at her son who was sitting uneasy in a chair and staring at the many severed heads that his mother had taken in combat. He also bore healing wounds that he had received from the Nomad King but she knew his heart would never recover from his defeat.

  Ral continued to stare at the grisly trophies and although he knew that they were long dead and their souls wandered in the Afterlife their vacate eyes seemed to mock him and in his ears he could hear laughter. He wore his armor and still had his Kagar in his hand and as he continued to stare at the rotting skulls he gripped his weapon tightly, he sat like a Sagar cat about to strike grinding his teeth together in a silent rage, and then at last he spoke.

  “Why did you stop me from killing him?” he asked coldly.

  The Queen slowly walked to her bed, “the challenge was done, there was no need for further bloodshed”.

  Ral sprang to his feet, “he was still alive, the challenge was not finished!” he screamed.

  Ishea put her cup on a small wooden table near her bed, “you had lost, the battle was over”.

  “The battle was NOT over!” the young warrior shouted, “I swore that I would kill him and you kept me from fulfilling that oath---why?”

  His mother did not speak but as Ral looked into her eyes he saw the answer to his question, my mother has forgiven him. And as he looked further into those two glowing pools of green he understood why she no longer bore hatred in her heart, she has lain with him, she held him in her arms!

  His world began to crash in around him, all that he understood as truth became a lie, all that he worshiped became false, all his dreams of glory now turned into a nightmare of deception, My mother has betrayed me, she is now my enemy! He turned from her and without another word he left his mother side and her love.

  Ishea watched him go from her room, she wanted to call out to him to tell him that he was still her son but she could not, so she stood there for a moment more then went to her bed and laid down upon it. She reached under the soft Hagar skin feeling for the shell that Arn had given her so long ago, she remembered that it now lay in the clear waters near the flowers of death. It was then that she began to cry for she knew that she would never travel to the Western Sea, she would never hunt leviathans with Arn at her side, and she would never know love again.

  Andra had driven out the Touchtenders and began to dress herself in her armor once again and although she was weak she did not want to spend another minute being waited on hand and foot. It was not easy ridding herself of the dedicated healers but after trying politeness she resorted to her command voice that had scared many a new recruit when she was a soldier of the Selcarie. So using that and also throwing a half-empty bowl of Hagar soup at them they quickly ran from the tent.

  She drew on her woven undergarments and Rimar hide walking boots, the boots had thick soles and an iron heel and toe and heavy straps to keep them tight to the foot. She did not attach her long spurs for she knew she would not be riding this day. Next she covered herself with finely wrought chain mail that fitted her strong body like a metal glove; over this she pulled her leg protectors and chest plate, then her spiked arm coverings and lastly her helmet. And then she began searching about for her daggers and her ax but they were no were to be found, she looked everywhere for them but she finally gave up and began to move to the entrance of her tent.

  But as about to lift the flap she heard a scuffling sound that grew into shouts of pain mixed with steel on steel and before she could react there was a flash of sunlight and a face staring at hers. She caught only a glimpse before something was pulled over her head and strong hands seized her, she struggled for a moment then everything became black.

  Ral carried Andra from her tent with one strong arm holding her over his shoulder and the other striking out left and right with his spear. He had already killed three warriors of the Almadra and he would kill many more as he made his escape, but strong as he was he would have been stopped if not for the twenty Norgonie that stood beside him and helped him take the mate of the Nomad King. Now the air filled with the screams of the dying and the din of battle as the Forest-dwellers cut their way through the camp of the Outlanders.

  The Nomads had not been expecting an attack such as this, they had placed most of their warriors around the tents of the Elders and the Grana wagons and the rest spread out to keep watch over the Fortress walls and building. But they had made a mistake in doing this for the small force of Norgonie struck swiftly and before the signal horns could blow they took the Off-World girl and now quickly made their way to the main gate.

  Arn was halfway to his tent when he heard the sound of the horns and without asking why he suddenly knew that the life of his mate was in danger.

  They have taken her, he thought, and then he ran as fast as he could.

  The Fortress was in chaos, all around came the screams of Elders and the crying of the young, there were shouts from both sides to kill the other and warriors picked up there weapons and join ranks to face their enemy. And from the top of the Holy shrine the great gong sounded calling the Norgonie to battle.

  When the King returned to his tent he found it surrounded by dead warriors and Nomads eager to fight and at the head of those brave men and woman stood Kuno.

  “Where have they taken her?” the King shouted above the noise.

  The big Captain pointed to his left, “towards the main gate”.

  “Gather twenty of our best men and follow me”, then Arn ran to where the Nomad had pointed with several angry warriors by his side.

  The Queen heard the sound of the Gong and rose from her bed; she quickly donned her armor and took up her Kagar then ran to stand with her people. When she got to the bottom of the stairs an agitated warrior confronted her.

  “Ral has taken the Kings mate,” he said breathing hard.

  For a moment Ishea said nothing then she turned to the messenger, “gather our forces but do not attack”.

  The warrior nodded his head in understanding then ran off to carry out his Queens commands, then with several strong men at her side she headed for the camp of the Outlanders.

  Ral and his men had planned their escape well, they had Rowgors waiting weighted down heavily with supplies and weapons, and being the son of their Queen the guards did not question him when he ordered them to open the gates. Now with his prize bound and gagged behind his saddle he shouted to his trusted warriors to follow him through the portal and into the dense forest beyond.

  It was only a short time later when Arn and Ishea met, for a moment the two forces faced each other with their weapons held high, it would only take one misstep from either of them and the Fortress would be bathed in blood.

  It was the King who spoke first, “out of my way Norgonie or I will cut you down!”

  The Queen was quick to respond, “If you do your people will never leave here alive”.

  The tension raised as the two forces gripped weapons and growled under their breath, it was Kuno who spoke next, “if you want war then we are here!”

  It was easy to see that in a moment or two more the destruction would begin.

  It was then that a calming voice was heard.

  “War is not the answer to this”, it said and when Arn turned he saw his brother Anais standing near him with Kela at his side. He wore a simple green robe and his demeanor was calm, seeing the man without weapons and standing with a Handmaiden cooled the killing fever in t
he warrior’s hearts. “Moonbud was taken by Ral; it was his doing and not the will of the Queen”. Then he turned his blind eyes to face Ishea, “it was your warrior who took the woman, he is your responsibility”.

  Anais also heard the signal horns and the shouts of battle and for a reason he did not understand he came out of his tent and made his way to where he now stood. Kela called out to him to return to the safety of their quarters but when he did not respond she followed him all the while praying to Isarie that they would both live through the day. Now they stood together and waited for the two leaders to speak, it was the King who spoke first.

  “My brother speaks the truth,” he said as he lowered his ax, “war is not the answer for we will all die and Ral will go free”.

  Hearing his words the Norgonie Queen put down her Kagar, “then what is the answer?”

  The blind man took a few steps forward and stood between the two factions, “take twenty of your best warriors and mount them on Rowgors”, he said to the Queen, and then he turned to his brother, “and you do the same. Then go and bring back the girl to her people, in return I will be the hostage of the Norgonie and if you do not return I will be the first to feel the executioner’s blade”.

  There was a short pause as the two sides mulled over his words.

  “The Almadra will agree”, the King said, the turned to the anguish warriors around him, “put down your weapons”. But some of them did not and to those he turned his angry gaze, “it is your King who commands this!” and hearing his words and the look in his eyes they did as they were told.

  Ishea could hear her warriors whispering that now was the time to strike so she turned and called out in a voice that all could hear, “we will not fight!” she shouted looking back at Anais, “we will do as you ask, twenty from each side will go, but if my son dies so will you!”

  The blind man said nothing but nodded his head and seeing that his brother was risking his life for his mate the King came near him and spoke in a soft voice, “I will return”, he said then he moved quickly to find the woman he loved.

  Anais listened to his brother go, and then he remembered what the King had said to him, they were the first words his brother had spoken to him in a very long time.

  He hoped they would not be his last.

  Chapter 29.

  The Undying God.

  Isarie fought her father Arm-Ra for control of the heavens, the war raged throughout the cosmos and many worlds were crushed under their feet. They used the stars as burning weapons and blinding flames filled the sky. The sound of their war cries echoed in the vast cavern of time and space and all creatures hid from their fury. At last Isarie struck a blow that wounded her father so gravely that he lay down and closed his eyes, and the Goddess wept for she knew that someday her time would also come and another God would take her place.

  Ancient Nomad story.

  Valen once more watched as the Iron God healed itself.

  The metal servants emerged from their master’s body and once again began the task of healing it’s wounds, they worked by day and by night always moving, never stopping to rest or eat or sleep. They removed the broken and crushed pieces and replaced them with scavenged sections from the fallen Lightship; they even employed the remains of the Earthshaker in their design. The great skull of the titanic beast was cleaned of all flesh and then mounted on the front of the great machine and there it would strike fear into the hearts of all that saw it.

  Some of the flesh of the animal was taken into the Gods body; there it would be rendered down to its basic substances and used as organic nourishment for the Orb and its supporting mechanisms. The larger robotic machines gathered up what little Eul there was and after repairing the great holding section they filled it with the burning rock, and the Caladone warrior watched as they drained small pools of water to quench the thirst of their master.

  Now from a safe distance Valen nodded his head, “the monster eats and drinks and heals”, he said to his Whiptail, “even Gods must fill their bellies”.

  The young warrior had done the same for himself and his mount for he was lucky enough to kill a small Rimar and together they feasted and watched the healing of the Iron God.

  “Soon the creature will be strong again and when he does he will continue his journey”, the Whiptail gave no response to these words and continued to nibble on the carcass of the Tundra beast. The Caladon warrior took a small sip from his water flask then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand; he looked at the great steel monster and raised his war-ax. “You may be able to heal yourself, but so can I and I will never stop following you even if you travel to the ends of the earth!”

  The twin suns were directly overhead when the monster began to move once more. Again there was a great roaring sound and a blast of hot steam, the great wheels began to turn and Atos was on the move.

  Inside the chamber of the Orb the Darkman heard the report from the Taskrobot.

  “All systems repaired, locomotion is again at maximum levels and fuel reserves are adequate”, it stood near the main console and the other sub-controllers, its tentacles attached to the machines and interfacing with them, “waiting orders”, it said.

  At that moment the Orb was being supplied with organic nutrients and there was a pause at its great bulk fluctuated inside its transparent sphere. When it had consumed it’s needed requirement it spoke.

  “Continue heading to the south, locomotion at level two”.

  “At once”, replied the Taskrobot, then it relayed that command to the consoles, Power, Weapons, Navigation all responded the same way.

  “Understood” they said in unison.

  The repaired machine gave out with a shutter and once again continued to the South

  When his enemy started to move Valen mounted his Whiptail and dug in his spurs, the young warrior shouted out a war cry of the Caladons then raced after the fleeing God.

  He continued to follow it all that day and all that night, never stopping, never giving up the chase and when the night moons rose he did not look up at them but kept his vision fixed on the Iron God. And when the morning suns rose over the horizon he saw that he was nearing the land of the Talsonar.

  He could not see the beacon yet but he knew that a day or two more and he would be able to look upon the great pyramid of the city dwellers. Now he pulled up on the reins of his mount and stopped near a small pool of clear water, The Whiptail lowered its horned head and began drinking deeply, the young warrior lifted his water flask and did the same, then when he had slacked his thirst he spoke.

  “The fallen God journeys towards the great city” he said “but why would he do such a thing?” it was something that Valen could not understand for surely the God needed nothing from the half-souls and even if it did he had nothing to trade. He realized that the monster was not going to the city of the Talsonar for trade; he was going there for war! And knowing this made him smile, “Ashra-Doom could not destroy you but he was a creature of the Outlands, the Talsonar live in a stone mountain and their weapons are many”. Then something else entered his mind for he realized that his tribe would be traveling near the great pyramid as the made their way towards the pass of Moke, he knew this because it was their regular route this time of the cycle.

  If they should meet Atos what would become of them? Another Outcast of his tribe might have turned away and left his tribe to their fate but Valen was not that kind. He also understood just what would happen if theirs and the path of the Iron God should cross.

  They would attack and try to defend their lands, and remembering the pain in his mind he also understood that their efforts would be futile.

  The young warrior had two quests, one to avenge the slaughter of his kin and keep his tribe from suffering the same fate, so he dug in his long spurs once again and raced out over the Outlands and towards the city of the Talsonar.

  “Fuel consumption is at acceptable levels but hydrogen oxygen intake is falling”, the Taskrobot reported, “we mus
t obtain more or locomotion will cease”.

  The engines that drove the great machine needed more water to generate steam, but the consumption of the liquid was far greater than the burning of Eul, so the steel monster had to stop frequently to refill its water tanks before it could continue onward. But being the time of the cycle when rain was abundant there were many small lakes and pools in the Outlands to replenish the needs of the God. But it would take time for the pumps to do their work and it needed to do so now.

  “Find water and refill”, the Orb said.

  The Taskrobot thought it was a bit odd that its master should use the human term “water” instead of a more precise terminology, but it did not want to question the wording of his commands and proceeded to relay that order to navigation.

  “Scan for H2O replenishment capabilities and coordinate heading to intercept”.

  “Understood” replied the console, and there was a slight jolt as the great machine turned to a new heading to comply with the orders of the Orb.

  The Darkman sat near the Taskrobot but he was unable to move because his two metal legs had been removed to enhance them with even more powerful dive motors. Now the Cybernetic human waited impatiently and stared down at his missing limbs and although he could see that he no longer had legs of flesh and bone he still felt the urge to scratch an itch on his left foot. But when he reached down he found nothing but a small spotter robot working on a connecting conduit, annoyed he tried to lift his leg and crush the tiny metal creature but he could not. So with an awkward movement he reached down and took up the shiny creature in his steel hand, then after looking at it for a moment he closed his fist and the Spotter was no more. It was a silly useless thing to do but it pleased the half-human and it made him laugh, and when he did the Orb spoke to him.