Red World Trilogy

by V. A. Jeffrey

  "He has a daughter?" Injol nodded solemnly.

  "The child was given to the temple of Hetara by her father as an infant. He thought she would be safe there. In better times she would have been. Not with the usurper. No respect for any of the gods. What a blasphemy."

  "What does she plan to do with the girl that she cannot do with someone else?"

  "She is a most valuable, golden sacrifice. The child is young and innocent. Pure."

  "Right." Rhajit's face darkened. "So this man is planning to try and break the girl out of the temple prison?" Injol nodded.

  "But our plan did not say anything about rescuing anyone other than the prophet."

  "I know. Just stick to the original plan. Ochorus will get his girl."

  "This complicates things too much Injol!"

  "They are being held in the same place, according to our source, so why should it matter? If it were your child, would you not want to save her? The girl who serves them their meals is named Yadua. She is our source in the palace. She will find us when it is safe to do so and take us where we need to go. Just stick to saving the prophet and Ochorus will get his girl."

  "An insane plan if I have ever heard of one."

  "Having second thoughts?"

  "No, only being realistic. If this fails, we too will help this woman on her way to becoming one with the queens of heaven." Said Rhajit dryly. Injol barked a short laugh.

  "Not I. I would sooner fall on a sword. At least we tried to do something instead of worrying about our own skins. Unlike the Ainash dogs." Rhajit had a brief flicker of uncertainty. It was an exciting venture and there was intrigue and possible death in it. But far more was at stake now than his hunger for adventure. Most likely they would be killed. Now that his figurative head was in the noose he was not so sure the Ainash were wrong for seeing to their own interests. He did not usually fear death but Nimnet's temples had always given him an unsettled, disquieted feeling. He did not want to die in one but he had the feeling that his life would end in one anyway, before the month was over.

  . . .

  It was grander than anything Rhajit had ever seen in his life, the Red Palace. They made their way beneath the Processional Way with the great stone plaques above and then through the palace gate and its great steps. Red stone lions stood fiercely like guardians protecting the throne inside. They passed silently through the golden and cedar palace doors. Inside, most of the inner court officials were dressed as Egians. The smell of incense and perfume was strong once inside the wide halls. Rhajit tried hard not to look like an uncultured desert rat by staring so much but he could not help himself. Everything was inlaid or overlaid with gold, silver, precious jewels, shined with copper, marble and ivory or cedar. The doors to each of the most important rooms were so heavy they required strong men to open and close them. They were taken to the throne room, before the queen. The throne itself sat high and was guarded on either side by the famed great, red stone lions on either side. The throne was cedar covered in gold and precious gems. It was a grand throne, commissioned by King Khalit right after his victory over Egi. The queen was sitting there, holding her serpent scepter, veiled, head to foot. While most of her court were waiting just outside the throne room, her favorites remained with her. Shishak's name was announced and he was invited in and they followed. Ochorus was with them, along with a slew of other servants from Shishak's employ that Rhajit did not know. Shishak came in before her and she held out the scepter to him and he touched the top of the scepter and bowed low. They bowed also.

  "You have come, Shishak. You alone I see are the most faithful to me of the Ainash. You shall be rewarded if you remain true through my ordeal, which comes soon." Her voice was strangely raspy and sounded a little too deep for a woman.

  "Do not let others and their evil talk trouble you, oh great queen! I shall always be loyal." As Shishak went on and on with his obsequious praise Rhajit wondered what in the world would make a woman whose beauty was famed throughout the land wear something to cover her entire head and body. He tried hard not to stare. None of this seemed to phase Shishak, who had warned Rhajit not to stare too hard at the strangeness of the queen. When Shishak bowed again they all bowed before her again as well. Rhajit imagined they were all chickens pecking and scratching at the ground. Finally, to his relief, they were escorted to the guest apartments. Shishak was brought to his own private room attached to where his retinue would stay. Injol, summoned by Shishak to join him at the queen's table introduced all the men to each other.

  "Men. This is Rhajit. Rhajit, this is Ochorus and Luz. We are all together in this."

  "Injol, you did not say you would be leaving us. We need a man like you with us." Rhajit complained. This plan was not going well. Injol looked helpless.

  "I cannot disobey. I suppose I should have known he would want to parade me in front of the queen but I did not anticipate this. The plan must go on." The others were sorely disappointed too but nothing could be done. Now they were down a powerful arm. Or several in Injol's case. Rhajit nodded curtly and the other two did the same. This change made him, all of them, feel more tense and uncertain.

  They were in the Eastern wing and they had a magnificent view of the eastern palace gardens, and in the distance to the north, the eternal fires. The men gazed silently at the fires for some time.

  "They seem to climb higher and higher every year. Like a wall that keeps rising." Said Rhajit.

  "Thank the gods they are far away. I hope it stays that way." Said Ochorus. He turned to Rhajit.

  "I do not know you but I have heard the name. It is not a common one here."

  "I used to be an arena fighter." Said Rhajit. Recognition dawned on Ochorus's face.

  "Rhajit the Ram." He said slowly. Rhajit nodded. "I thought you had died in the fires!" He said.

  "No. I merely moved away. I needed to be alone, away from the crowds."

  "Well, it is good to have a strong man like you on our side."

  "How will we know what to do now that we are here?" Asked the other man, Luz. They came together at a table and sat down, talking low amongst themselves.

  "A girl named Yadua will come looking for us." Said Ochorus. They heard footsteps clicking along the polished floors outside the door. They quieted until the footsteps receded away.

  Shishak himself dined with the queen and had commanded Injol to join him for the queen wanted to see this giant with his four arms. It was down to three of them. Two men servants came to the room with their meal. They were served a dish of grouse and eggs with a curry spice, gelatin with root vegetables and flat breads, olive oil and scorpion wine. They had been given a warning by Zarhaz not to drink the wine nor to take any water pipes for they needed their wits about them and they followed these instructions. But they ate very little and asked for milk and got that instead. They especially stayed away from drinking any water but Rhajit was thirsty. A colored glass ewer of water stood on the table. He had to fight hard against his desire for it. Ochorus got up and took the ewer and poured the water out over the balcony.

  It was a few hours after their meal had come when Yadua came for them, softly knocking on the door. She was a small, delicate-looking woman with intense dark eyes. She gestured for them to follow her. Ochorus, the unannounced leader now that Injol was away, followed her out. It was quiet in the long halls. She looked around cautiously and then took them to the right. Rhajit silently closed the door and brought up the rear. She was lightening quick, her feet light as feathers. She led them down the dark hall and then to a corner to the left. There was a large panel of a pastoral scene of Gamina in ancient times. Behind this panel was a secret door, a servant's door. She opened it and ushered them in. They followed her fast, quick steps as she took them down, down, down, stopping every now and then or hiding as they heard footsteps of other servants on their own business throughout the palace. The passageway was narrow. At times they had to turn and make their way sideways. Yadua stopped suddenly and fished out a small oil lamp fro
m her apron pocket and she lit it. They descended down a long narrow incline and reached a wall where there was a large crack in the stone. Beyond they could hear the sounds of people working and the smells of foods cooking. The kitchen. They continued straight ahead and the passage way grew darker up ahead. It seemed to drop down into blackness and they continued on more slowly this time as it was difficult to see. It seemed an interminable amount of time but she had finally led them to a place where they could hear the rushing of water below. They were now deep underground, their only light was the lamp she carried. They approached a narrow bridge-like formation. She turned to Ochurus suddenly and motioned to him with a sign that looked like a man and then she pointed to his sword.

  "What is she saying?" Whispered Luz. Rhajit shrugged. Ochorus spoke up.

  "I believe she is saying that we will encounter guards. Naturally. Be ready with your swords." He whispered. They looked to her and she nodded. In the flickering light Rhajit saw beads of sweat pouring off Ochorus's face.

  "We will get her out of here." He said to Ochorus. He didn't answer back.

  The large underground stream made the walk an eerie, unnerving affair. They could hear its gurgling but could not see it and if any fell from the narrow rock isthmus that bridged the palace to the temple it might mean an excruciating end for that one as no one knew how deep or shallow that stream really was. Or what lurked in it.

  They had to step softly and up ahead, finally, they saw light. They were nearing the temple entrance. Yadua took out something from a pouch hidden under her apron as they reached the massive open doorway of the back of the temple. She knelt down and pulled out a small hollow tube and some darts tipped with a dark substance. She gave them a warning look and pointed. Over the crest of the bridge there stood two guards. They expected the place to be thick with guards. They were fortunate. It was not. She placed a poisoned dart into the tube and blew it and a few moments later one of the guards fell. As soon as she had blown the first she placed the second one in and killed the second guard before he could raise an alarm. The men were astonished and pleased with her speed and deftness. Then they ran to the doorway and crept in. Rhajit and the other two men now drew their swords. They could hear many voices chanting. The priestesses were intoning and performing a ritual somewhere in the temple. The air was very cool. Rhajit could feel the heat burning off his skin through sweat. Yadua had brought food in her bag and she took these out and bade them to continue following her. They crept behind her as she slipped across the wide halls and came upon an ugly sight.

  The images of the goddess here was in sharp contrast to her serene look in the public shrines. She was horrifying in red eyes and fangs. So this is what she really looks like to those who are initiated. Rhajit knew there was good reason to be afraid. He felt as if the statue itself were watching him with those blooded eyes. Luz seemed entranced. Yadua hissed at them and waved her hands and shook her head vigorously.

  "Do not look upon her!" Warned Ochorus in a loud whisper. '"Hideous!"

  Rhajit's heart began to quicken. They entered between two more massive columns and there was another doorway down to the right. She stopped and bade them wait in the shadow of the columns. Yadua then took the food and went down to the doors to the left. Rhajit peeked around and he saw two more guards. They watched as Yadua, who was used to coming and going through the temple at meal times, went immediately to the door to the right. She opened a slot in this door and she slid the food in. She then went to a door on the left and did the same thing but then suddenly one of the guards cried out. Immediately he fell and his partner drew his sword ready to attack. Rhajit, Ochorus and Luz came flying down the hall while the guard shouted warnings. They descended upon him and Rhajit, the swiftest of the three, was the first to cut him down. Yadua was breathing heavily. The other guard she felled by stealth had a poisoned dart slipped into his thigh. She grabbed the keys and unlocked the door to the right. In it sat Ilim, looking at them, smiling.

  "Ilim, father! We have come to rescue you!" Said Rhajit. Ilim cocked his head to one side.

  "Rescue me? No. I shall not go." He said calmly. Rhajit stared at the old man and then glanced at his companions in confusion. They looked equally flustered.

  "But why? Come, or we shall all be killed, man! The alarm will sound soon!" He demanded. Sure enough, the chanting voices had ceased. Ilim shook his head and held his hand up.

  "I thank you, my sons, for you have all risked your lives for me, but I must remain here."

  "But why?" cried Rhajit. "She will kill you!"

  "No, she will not. You men, listen to me! The queen's judgment is near and I must see it carried out. She will not kill me, for the work I do is not yet finished. However, there is a small child here that needs your help." He glanced at Ochorus with kind eyes. "A young girl, brought here, like me, to be a sacrifice. Hurry and help her escape. Get the child and leave this place. The queen's uncle is coming up against the city within the month. He will overtake it and there will be no helper for her or for those who have not heeded the warnings. Do not worry for me. Get out and take the girl with you!" Ilim instructed. Perplexed and beginning to panic they ran from the room. Yadua had already retrieved the girl who was crying. Ochorus grabbed her into his arms. He put his hand over her mouth gently.

  "Shh, child! I know you do not know me but I have come to rescue you and the prophet!"

  "This was too easy and I am still confused!" Said Rhajit.

  "Look! By the gods, look men!" Luz exclaimed in horror. A great serpent was slithering down the hall. Yadua blew a poisoned dart which lodged between its slick scales and did nothing to stop it. Its coming was swift, its dark green eyes bright with a secret fire. The snake was of many colors, iridescent scales of green, blue scarlet and black.

  "Do not look it straight in the eyes!" Warned Ilim. Rhajit took command.

  "Ochorus, you get behind us, save your daughter! We will stay in front!" Cried Rhajit. He felt the fear in him turn to energy and rage and he lifted his sword, its point gleaming in the shadows. Rhajit grabbed a sword from a dead guard in his other hand and Luz did the same just as the snake had rounded on them to strike. Its mouth opened so wide it seemed there was nothing but a wall of fangs and forked tongue coming down upon them. Rhajit hurled himself into the air like the winged firebugs of the desert, his blades becoming a deadly whir and slashed at the serpent under its head but this did little to halt its attack. It bore down on Ochorus and the girl. The child screamed and Yadua, frightened, hid herself behind a column. Again Rhajit came after it, this time jumping upon its back with a rough, powerful, stealth noticing nothing but colorful scales; his concentration on the kill. He tried to bury both swords into the serpent's back but its scales were hard as rock. Luz had followed and tried to do the same but he lost his footing. The serpent turned its attention from Ochorus and the girl and came down on Luz. He screamed just in time for Rhajit to remember the softer underbelly of the serpent. His memory of the right way to leap came and he jumped off its back and then flew at the serpent's belly and jammed the swords into the serpent. It made a horrible, otherworldly barking sound, like a great, vicious dog out of nightmare and reared up to devour Rhajit, knocking him down and pinning him under its weight. Blood poured from its gaping wound. Luz came up and stabbed the serpent under its rough hide with both swords, he too, getting to the underbelly.

  "Run to Yadua and stay by her!" Ochorus yelled to the girl and she streaked wildly into Yadua's arms. They could hear shouts from somewhere in the temple. Time was running out. Ochorus drew his sword and barreled into the snake's underside, slitting another large swath open. Blood spurted everywhere. The serpent reared up, screaming an unholy sound and Rhajit was able to get free of it. He picked up his sword and stabbed it again, this time using the other sword as a climbing pick and climbed up its segments, stabbing it along the way while Ochorus slashed at its under belly. The great serpent was weakening as blood poured forth in streams.

  "Let us go! Pe
ople are coming! They know!" Shouted Luz. He was standing by Yadua and the girl. Rhajit tore a scale from its back, his hand bleeding and they both ran but the snake made one more strike, catching Ochorus, its fangs buried deep in his back. He screamed, a high pitched, awful sound which made his daughter wail in panic and horror even louder in response. Guards were fast approaching, hearing the dreadful commotion.

  "Get out of here!" He screamed. "Take her and get out of. . ." The serpent broke his back and his screams abruptly died. Rhajit's mind was a storm of rage and guilt for leaving Ochorus behind. They followed Yadua as she took them out another way. They heard the screeching and raving from a woman down the hall from where they'd come.

  "Stop them!" It was the high priestess. But they had escaped by a hair through a crevice in the rock walls near the stream, wading up to their chests, making their way into one of the cisterns, following along the underground streams and maze of sewers, eventually to the unnamed city.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Demos mostly stayed hidden behind the doors of the house under Senetta's protection. A half-hearted search was made to find whoever was responsible for the fire and the attack but as Master Ulthi had made many dangerous enemies over the years, the search was dropped. No one of note was lost in the fires except Ulthi, whom many agreed had reaped the bitter fruitage he had sown for years.

  A happy turn of events for his former slave.

  For Demos it was all a bad dream. Now he had escaped into another world, a nebulous, mysterious and sensual one that plagued him daily but he succeeded in keeping his mind and hands busy. As he was a servant of Senetta, he was not allowed to touch anyone, formally. Nor was anyone else allowed to command him. Senetta was a wealthy woman and able to purchase and procure through her servants all he needed for his potions. Demos, having soaked in quite a bit of alchemical knowledge over the years, began experimenting on his own with medicinal alchemy, formally known as a discipline of White Alchemy.