"Where am I supposed to go?" I will need the craftiness of Galam'Akmet. She saw the ruins of what looked like a temple on one side and in the distance on the other side the famed, towering white palace. Except it was burnt out, half-formed and eaten away by time. Suddenly she felt a sharp hot wind blowing furiously, nearly knocking her down and then it died down. When she arranged her clothes again the wind had blown out a pathway for her. She was actually standing upon a wide road, paved. The Royal Processional Way. She began walking again and stepped accidentally upon a shoot of blood blade grass which cut her through her sandal. Blood flowed freely from the wound but she did not have time to mend it. A tiny trail of blood followed her as she continued, her wound stinging. Then she thought she heard whispers. Lava-lizards skittered across the path in front of her, moving as quickly as fire bugs.
"Hai!" She called. She heard nothing but her own voice bouncing back into infinite regress. She chuckled out of humor and nervousness. She had once heard that there were trees that lined its streets; great lush, beautiful trees. It was hard to envision them. She heard far behind her the growl of a large beast. It sounded like a horned lizard. They stood as tall as camels and ate flesh, even men, if they could get them. Then there was silence. Far off she heard wails but she could not tell if they were animal or human. Then another arm of the great road was revealed to her on the left. Her foot was sticky with blood and the pain was growing. Though the occasional house still stood, burned out and broken down, it was as if she remained in the middle of the desert. Until she approached a grand structure. It sat as if once built into a wide, tall spire of rock. It had an open doorway, the doors long since disappeared. She walked inside and stood in a great column-like room. There was a stair that reached both up and down. There seemed to be soft light emanating from downstairs beneath the ground level. She went downstairs. On the wall were bas reliefs of script and glyphs too old to decipher. Once she reached the floor she came to a wide pool that nearly encompassed the width of the underground chamber. One symbol she seemed to make out that she saw marked on the top of the main doorway and here in stone on the limestone rim of the pool was a symbol of a flame. She had no idea what it meant. The pool was as still as glass and a luminous light emanated from it. Is it fed by an underground spring or lake? She wondered. She glanced around and felt foolish. There was no one. Curious, she slowly lowered her staff into the waters and disturbed them, stirred them as if she were stirring soup in a cauldron. Suddenly the water changed. She withdrew her staff hurriedly and she saw stars, the heavens, as if displayed in the pool itself. The dark waters glittered as if they were the night sky. Here she saw the constellation of Kesel and also the bright sapphire star, Elitaph: "She who shines brightest." And what sailors called her consort, Ol, the tiny white star that revolved around her. What seemed like great clouds of stars moved until she saw they crowded and grouped together into a spiral that swirled gracefully like the arms of a dancer. So beautiful it was that she was captured by it. From the middle of the pool one star became brighter than the others and it moved forward, as if it were floating upward. It became brighter and glowed with ethereal light which first was white but then she saw many colors within it, colors that seemed like living, luminous beings. It seemed alive. She heard what sounded like heartbeats in her ears.
It was the Starry Scepter. She touched the waters with her hand. The water was cool to touch but it created a hot tingling sensation in her fingers. She withdrew her hand but her fingers were no longer there. The tingling sensation started to burn.
To reach the star you must enter. Once flesh passes through the pool it cannot come back. You must be sent back.
Said a voice in her mind. She heard something coming down the steps behind her uttering guttural growls. She saw its shadow falling across the steps behind her. Her heart beating wildly, she stepped onto the edge and jumped into the pool feeling the surface crash over her with a hard slap, so hard she thought her nose was bleeding. She felt her whole body had been submerged in a womb and her body felt as if it were floating.
She was falling, it seemed for an infinite amount of time and then it was night and she was standing upon the battlement of the tower and the night sky was spread out like a blanket of stars above and below the great city spread out below her as far as her eyes could see. And to her astonishment, in her right hand was the starry scepter. It was made of electrum and fine lapis lazuli and diamond gemstones. A symbol was upon its shaft, a round gemstone of diamond and on each side half moons of lapis lazuli and a large diamond set in the top of its tip and its tip was of a substance like brilliant crystal and it shined like starlight but the light did not blind her or burn her.
Assenna. The mighty city. It was spread out before her but it seemed not terrestrial but unearthly in its beauty, so luminous in starlight and moonlight. Even in the night she could see its glory. She went inside the tower and explored the rooms on the top floor, each room holding its own secrets.
When she came back out she then knew why the Red Kings were not spoken of and she saw the great works of alchemy performed and the knowledge and wisdom it bestowed upon the people of Assenna. She was shocked and full of joy. There were so many great things in store for humanity if only the right king wielded the scepter. But if in the hands of the wrong king. . .but how could that be? She felt impossibly strong, as if she could simply jump from a window and her body would know instantly to fly instead of fall and it delighted her. She ran back to the battlement.
"I want to see it in its glory under the sun!" Without really knowing what it would do, she faced east and she pointed the scepter at the horizon. She felt a powerful wind rush through her and fill her with what felt like the agony of fire. It coursed through her like the flow of molten rock. Thin rays of sun feathered through the horizon in pale shafts which deepened and brightened until the sun itself crowned.
She went down the stairs until she was once again on the great processional way and now in the daylight she saw the dawn of Assenna, of what it was and what it could be come. The main street was not overrun with rock and rubble and choked with hard, blade blood grasses but was now paved with colored stones. In the distance sat the grand white palace with its great lake, surrounded by its famed hanging gardens, far more sumptuous than any imitation of them in Jhis. The streets everywhere were lined with date palms and there were public gardens filled with flowers and fruit trees, statues and fountains. The grand, white-domed temple, a gleaming structure with great, high walls on each side topped with fine pearl and gates of finest gold, like golden glass, which seemed as great as the royal palace. Each structure looked as if it had been newly built and there was an other-worldly beauty to it, as if it were a dream. And it was a vision. There was no decay in Assenna, no darkness, only light and beauty. She heard a noise behind her. She turned and standing close to her was the horned beast that had followed her in. She felt for her sword but she knew it would not be sufficient to deal with this beast. The column itself was now far away, though she had not remembered walking much of a distance.
"You have the Starry Scepter, hidden here for ages. What are you doing with it?" It demanded. It's blood red tongue flicked in and out. Anet stepped back, aghast. Finally, she found her voice.
"I was sent to find it. Who are you and why do you follow me?"
"I have made my home here for many long years. Most men who come here die of thirst, from robbers or from me. I would have eaten you earlier but you escaped me. The scent of your blood led me to what was once the grand library of Assenna. When you entered the pool of deep knowledge, I knew then that you were sent by Him. I have a message."
"What is the message?"
"Of the things you see in this tower, He has told me to tell you do not tell anyone what you have seen in the rooms of the tower library. Of all other things you may speak, but not of the secrets in the tower rooms, for these are not for others to know until the king himself comes. I do not say this of my own accord, but the command was l
aid upon me once you entered the pool."
"Give me a sign that you are not some trickster-slave of the demon queens that now rule Hybron."
"Point the scepter at me and think a thought to destroy me and see if it will kill me. The Starry Scepter is a holy armament from God." She did so and it grew bright, filled with white, glowing light for a moment but the creature remained unharmed and unchanged.
"Do you believe me now?" It asked. She nodded. Now she had all the information and answers she needed. She gathered her courage before the fearsome beast.
"And now I will command you. Do you consent to come with me or will you go your way, beast?"
"I am yours to command, my lady, as I cannot do anything to anyone who holds the scepter. There are a great many other things hidden here. Secrets buried under the sands and will you get to know them?"
"Perhaps. They will be revealed when the right one comes. Let me climb upon your back."
"I wonder that you can hear me and understand my words." It said. Anet shook the scepter in answer. She tied her staff to her waist belt. The beast bowed and lowered itself and with a thrilled feeling she climbed upon its back and they rode out of the city. As they rode away, behind her, Anet saw the vision of Assenna fade into memory and recede into time and as it did, the reality of the ruins faded back in. She laughed in elation when the others saw her upon the beast and began to exclaim and panic, charging with their weapons. So this is what it is like to ride a dragon! She supposed that most of her fantasies she had as a little girl had now come true. The beast was not a real dragon but it was massive and fierce and loved flesh and most people did not encounter it and live to tell about it. It was not as big as the horned beasts she had seen long ago coming from the trading ships in Yallas-By-The-Sea, the ones that ate only vegetation, but it was a fierce, flesh-eating one and now she commanded it. It was dragon enough.
"Have no fear, my friends!" She shouted over the rising din of voices. "He will not harm you!"
"Look! She has it! Is that what I think it is?" Asked one of the young men.
"Indeed it is. It is the holy scepter. I found it and its guardian here." She pointed to the lizard beast. "Do not fear the beast. I command him and he will cut a fierce sight to those who would oppose us. Let us rest here for the remainder of the day." She glanced at the sun. It felt as if she had been in the ruins for at least two days.
"How many days have passed?" She asked.
"Only a few hours, Anet." Said the man.
"Ah. It is truly a place aside from the stream of time, for time passed, it seemed to me quickly, or spread itself in a different manner."
"Perhaps, rather, it is a place out of the dream of time, as my people call such journeys." Said Achin, his voice softly reverent.
"Oh my brother! It felt as if I were there for more than one day and all the things I have seen of the city, in my vision! Oh, it is wondrous!" She said. But then in a sudden, deep fatigue she fell from the beast's back. They all ran to her side. The beast remained silent and aloof. A young man reached his hand out to touch the scepter.
"Do not touch the scepter, boy, lest you be burned alive. It is not for you." Said the beast suddenly and everyone jumped back.
"What has been unleashed upon us from the ruins?" Asked Khaleb in fear, staring at the beast. He put his hand on the hilt of his sword and the other men did the same.
"What. . .what is the matter? What happened? Why am I on the ground?" Asked Anet.
"You. . . must of had a great vision that has wound down your spirit and soul." Said Kela. She looked fearfully at the beast.
"She had a divine vision. Such things take great strength from a man. Let her rest. And put your swords away. I am a guardian of this place, by God's allowance." Said the lizard. It flicked its red tongue again. Anet tried to lift herself up.
"Listen to him. Need water." She said weakly.
"Water," barked Khaleb, "and stop standing around gaping!" One of the young men went to get some water for her.
"I wonder what other strange things we will see in these days?" Asked Rhaja.
"You have seen strange storms and signs and portents and you wonder at me?" Asked the beast. Khaleb glared at the lizard.
"What would a beast know of it? How do you know of signs and portents?" Asked Khaleb.
"I am one of the first creatures, the great ones who could speak with Man. We have not all died out, yet. I know because I see and hear, in this world and the unseen world." Said the beast.
"Truly, this is a time most momentous!" Said Achin. Khaleb laughed.
"Things will become stranger before this is all over. Come! There are other more mundane things we need to worry about. We will rest the day out here but we must not tarry. The army of Teraht will come up against Jhis soon and we do not have much time left."
. . .
The Holy Mountain, like a mystical dream, loomed still and silent, and in the early mornings its summit was bathed in soft mists.
"Ilim had told me once of his vision there. How he was transported to the Holy Mountain and saw a great vision of Assenna in its prime."
"A sacred place. I know of only one other man who was allowed to go there. Before it had ever become a city." Said Khaleb. "The man was named Dushku. One of the first men, one the first shaikhs who listened to the voice of God. He brought the Karigites, then we were called, back to the Red Path, to the old ways. They listened. Mostly. I wonder why the same thing cannot be repeated?"
"Well, there are far more distractions today then in the primitive days. A man can get everything he needs right in the city. He does not have to work and travel for it and seek it like the first tribes did. Things are too easy and it makes people lazy and selfish. That is what the prophet would say. And Instructress Helga." Said Anet.
"One thing that connects us with Him is fire. There are many kinds of fires. God made the lands with fire from the Holy Mountain. He made the stars from the fiery pillars of creation, he drives us through the fire to refine us and make us strong. Speaking of strength, mine is waning. We should be breaking camp soon." Said Khaleb. Anet was reminded of her dreams as a child, the prophetic dreams of fire and blood. At first they were frightening to her but they had only just prepared her for the cruel bloodshed and slaughtering of people in the living world. And the pestilence! The suffering and the grief!
They had been traveling for seven days and were nearing the edge of what was once Rhe. They had all heard the horrors that had happened there and feelings of anger and anguish were rising anew among them.
"They will be avenged. They will be avenged." Anet kept saying. Achin rode next to her, fascinated and afraid by the beast she rode but also wanting to speak about the things troubling his mind.
"The Hybronians killed some of the mountain people at the foot of the Habad, to frighten us and drive us out. There were a few villages there and when they found the star rock and silver mines they slaughtered men, women and children like lambs for a feast day." He said, his face darkening in anger and his voice trembling with pain from the memories.
"You had family there." Anet said softly. He nodded.
"My sister's husband and his family came from there. My sister. . .we could not even bury her according to the rites of our people, and he was like my own brother."
"This must have been after the slaughter at Rhe." Said one of the Karig warriors.
"The only way they have been able to do such things is by taking tribesmen by surprise. We desert people have been too complacent." Said another shaikh.
"We must avenge them now!" Growled Rhaja.
"We are on a holy mission. We cannot do it now. But in time. . .it will not pass on unanswered. Their blood cries out." She said.
"The blood cries out for vengeance." Said Khaleb grimly. They had passed very few villages along the way. It saddened her. Anet had an idea.
"Khaleb, let us break camp here and rest and let us travel at night. The Starry Scepter will be seen all the more brilliantly and th
e point will be made the stronger at night. We will reach Rhe soon. Let us pass by in the night and if we intercept the armies marching from the west let them see us and they will not dare to harm us. For now, this scepter gives me the power to destroy enemies at will." Khaleb consented to this and they broke camp.
Waiting until the sun set, one of the Karig men played his whistle and another an oud. A lament. Anet loved the sound of the oud. She closed her eyes and felt the hot wind blowing through her hair. She afixed her head covering and rocked forward on the soft rug, feeling the muscles in her back stretch. She breathed deeply. Soft footsteps were at her tent and someone came to sit down beside her.
"I brought you some tea." It was Kela.
"Thank you." She took the tea and sipped it, taking in the scent of cinnamon, marigold and silver leaf, exotic and expensive. The Karig were excellent at finding, trading and creating their own blends. They kept these secrets to themselves. It immediately rejuvenated her.
"That beast over there." Kela motioned her head towards the great lava lizard who was disappearing in the waning sun light to look for food. Anet hoped it would be able to find enough to satisfy itself.
"What about it?"
"Are you sure about it?"
"I am. I pointed the scepter at it to destroy it and I could not destroy the creature. It is a guardian of the hidden place of the scepter and the ruins. Although the material things have long been destroyed the place has memory. Memory that can be ill-used by the wrong men or powers."
Red World Trilogy Page 65
