Red World Trilogy

by V. A. Jeffrey

  He had found a new world of delights too, sensual in another way. He had developed a taste under Senetta's House for Ambrosia, a special, refined cake full of beaten cream and candied tropical fruits and a slightly bitter filling of cactus leaf jelly, a highly refined cake. Also, there was always some delicious grilled red meat or wild pig for evening meal. He did not eat pig flesh but it smelled good just the same. Senetta always made sure he had a good portion of red meat whenever he wanted it and soon his coloring and strength returned to him. There were expensive teas like cinnamon kata flower tea and rose petal tea served with something wonderfully sweet called condensed milk and something else he had never before tasted - chocolate! Little chocolate trifles dusted in cinnamon, cardamom or black pepper. It was also mixed with goat milk or cow's milk in a drink used as a love potion, mixed with spices such as ginger, sage or thyme and sugar. It was mixed with peppers and basted on meats and put in both savory and sweet pies. Chocolate was a new delicacy in the Middle World, from the Zikiluwai Islands, he discovered. He also became accustomed to using balsam oils for his skin, something only wealthy people, priests and priestesses were able to acquire and he noticed that Egian women took meticulous care of their skin, with many different oils for different days of the week in their beauty regimens.

  Demos was given a small room with a wide window for his lab and an attached room for his bedroom with a real bed, with a mattress made of fresh straw and downy feathers and even a head board of satin fabric! There was a steam room and bath house underneath the ground floor of the brothel where he often went to sooth his aching joints and to think. And there were many troubling things to think about. Yilphaeus was alive with talk. The Lord Chieftain had marched on Egium a few weeks ago, slaughtered the queen's officials and supporters living in the palaces and declared himself the rightful king of Egi. And there was a thing that had caught the rapturous attention of everyone in the land. The holy star sword of Ishuye, it was said, had been raised up, had been found, and that this was the secret weapon of power that would gain him victory as king. Demos learned much from Senetta and her people. It was all anyone talked about, on every lip and in every ear.

  But this sounded very wrong for he knew the holy words well. How could this man have the star sword? He was not one of the faithful and he hated the Aishanna-La. God would never permit such a thing to pass to such a man! But many patrons had come to the brothel and behind the doors whispered to their companions that the star sword was indeed real. Demos felt confused, as if the whole world was coming apart and all he could do was watch and be thrown in with the flow of the times. He was and felt, as usual, helpless and impotent.

  Then there were the people who worked here and were now in a small sense, his new family. Demos was still trying to understand what alchemy could create such malformed things in the body and a few of them, like Samje, allowed him to study them and talk with them about what they underwent, those that were inclined, when they had time to spare. He wondered if the Ainash weren't wrong about alchemy, of which he was considered the resident alchemist in Senetta's House, but they welcomed him as one of them - a slave who had escaped the horrors of abuse. His own abuse did not come close to the things he saw. One woman had a mouth on each of her breasts, several had more than one set of breasts, or arms. Some had unusually long limbs that forced them to fold themselves up when not walking. There were conjoined twins who were not conjoined at birth - and then there was Senetta. She was once famous for her exquisite dancing. She no longer danced now as she was very ill and often in great pain. She was from a land east of Zapulia where they worshiped a god who was considered the Lord of the Dance. A black alchemist thought it would be amusing to make her look like him by engineering two extra arms. In her dancing days she used them to great effect with something she called odissi and she'd become the unofficial queen of the city.

  Demos began to wonder in all his thinking if he should travel. His thoughts drew his mind towards Gamina. It seemed it remained a safe haven for so long. Prophecies were spoken of everywhere. The rise of a red king, the rise of the serpent queen. The dark hand of the unnamed one was rising up. He felt he was in the middle of a boiling fiery eye of a storm and would be soon swept up in the fury again. But Gamina, it seemed, remained peaceful, full of light and constant as the sun. He mentioned to his new-found family from time to time about what he knew about the Red King. A few listened but most merely waved it off. It seemed far away to them. The only king that would rise as far as most Egians were concerned was Teraht and he was getting ready to march on Hybron. Even as he thought of these things, though he was a servant - for Senetta disliked the word "slave" - he was spiritually free, in a sense. He might set out on his own. He wondered if Senetta would allow it.

  One day while cleaning some wounds for one of his patients he heard an interesting conversation as two others were lounging in the steam room. His patient sat in a separate tin bath tub but they were all in the conversation.

  "A new woman has arrived in Egium by caravan. A rich noblewoman in a train brimming with gold and silver and precious jewels!"

  "Oh Sapphira stop exaggerating! She does seem eligible, though."

  "Yes, a great lady from Hybron. Galieh from what I hear."

  "She is the widow of a Lord of Galieh who was a dealer in swords, spears and chariots. He died of the flux, the curse of Hybron."

  "I am glad it did not come here. The bloody flux and the Red Death have been plaguing that land for years. They always seem full of the bloody flux."

  "It is their punishment for being soft, lump-headed nits!" Beals of laughter.

  "The only thing simpler and lower than a rock is a Hybronian! No wonder they cannot hold on to their own throne."

  "Well, with all this talk there is a Hybronian among us who tends our syphilitic sores and conditions so tread carefully in how your tongues wag." Said one of the youths there, smiling at Demos. Demos was used to it by now and ignored it. After all he'd grown quite used to epithets of all kinds hurled at Egians back home. He kept his mind on elevated things.

  "That flux made the lady an independent woman. I suppose it was good for something."

  "She will not remain independent for long."

  "I bet she will take up many lovers. Why get married again?"

  "I heard she was one of the Aishanna-La."

  "Really? Strange!" This piqued Demos's attention.

  "How do you know?" He suddenly asked.

  "Well, she healed one of the guardsmen at the gate of Egium. He too had the flux it was said - see, they love to spread their diseased, cursed winds over here - but she healed him. She must have been one of the scions."

  "I do not care much for those Aishanna-La and I hate the Ainash but the scions do help people. I will give them that." Said one of them.

  "I also heard from mistress that she came right at the time when another strange sign had come. There was a star that fell upon the earth and it was seen near the border of Hybron. Between here and that land." Said Sapphira.

  "People hear all sorts of things and you love to exaggerate, Sapphira."

  "But I did! It was not just me either! They saw a star moving, traveling near the ground with a large train of tribesmen. A woman holding it like a lamp with the caravan behind her holding torches. It was a strange sight." Demos was alert. The star scepter? Was it, truly? A mysterious lady scion who healed people here in this foreign? An alien land? He felt excitement well up in him. Perhaps he was here for a reason and perhaps this storm would carry him where he should go. Maybe this stormy chaos wasn't really chaos. Or perhaps he would not just let himself be carried anywhere.

  "What do you think of all this, Demos?" Asked his patient. Demos gazed thoughtfully at him.

  "Many strange things have been happening. Now a war is brewing. Like a wound or a sore that continues to fester if ignored, we ignore signs and portents to our peril. Too many omens crowded together is a message. There is a sickness in both our lands that needs to be tende
d."

  They laughed good-naturedly but they did not pay it much heed. They all looked to more immediate concerns such as freedom from slavery in Egi. A half-formed group from what he'd heard from the residents at the brothel wanted to rise up against the prevailing order.

  Jusawa. There were dark forces in Egi who did not want to see this happen. That word: "jusawa" was a dangerous word for it meant the overturning of the established orders in Egi, seen and unseen. But not all of them laughed. His patient grew pensive while the others gossiped. He remained silent through Demos's careful ministrations.

  In his own mind Demos was resolute. It was high time he connected with someone who understood his culture and what he had known his entire life. Someone who was an alien like him. He hoped this would not be a mistake.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  "And Medella said to those gathered: Hear the word of God that He has spoken to me. 'A son will be born of the lion and the serpent. He shall have the blood of the Reshaim and I will pluck him from the jaws of the enemy; the serpents and wolves and from the stingers of scorpions. I will hide him in swaddling bands and put my knowledge in his inward parts. His enemies shall sharpen their swords for him but I will blunt them. The Light of heaven he will see for I shall reveal it at the proper time and he will become strong and I shall lift up and strengthen his arm. He shall be my avenger of blood upon the wicked and upon my wayward people who do not know me any longer, and he will be given the holy scepter of the star and the star sword shall be called forth again and given to him and he shall rule as my holy son in the world and the seat of the Red Kings will be resurrected anew for him. This will come at the end of the Age of Twilight.' This is the word of Airend-Ur. I have said it, it shall be."

  - Nisra 7:7, Translations of the Holy Aishanna

  They were in a furious dash to get out. Time had run out. Rapheth had come in that night, to the great consternation of both Parso and Zigal but he assured them both that his nocturnal assignations were done. He had even taken some of the books back to the library. When they continued to question him on his whereabouts he finally told them of the play. Zigal was outraged. Parso was not happy but after that Rapheth kept to the house, reading, writing or helping Zigal with chores and helping Parso with his chilyabium. Soon rumors of Teraht's armies marching on Jhis reached Rhuctium and the city was in fear. It was only a matter of time before he would he turn his attention on them. Ephron, Shukala and their families were meeting for a reading with other families when word was received by the elder men that it would be safest for all in the community to leave for Hevan or Gamina. Everyone was in an uproar. When the meeting ended another small migration was in progress.

  Rapheth and his friends once again went up to the roof of the house of one of the elder men in the group that night but they would not enjoy the stars and joke with each other for long. War was on the horizon. While Rapheth and Shukala were trying to ascertain whether or not Teraht's army would attack all the cities or only the capital, Ephron made a sudden, abrupt shout.

  "What is it?" Asked Rapheth.

  "I saw something. Right over the edge of the roof. Over there." He pointed. "It looks, oh. . . strange. Like some animal is climbing the roof."

  "It is probably a monkey. They are becoming popular as pets. Maybe it escaped."

  "But this thing looked. . .there it is!" He rasped in alarm. The others strained to see. The thing appeared suddenly upon the roof where they were sitting and then it drew still. They heard scratching sounds coming up the wall and two others appeared from over the edge of the roof. In the eyes of the milk moons' light they saw them.

  Scorpions.

  But not normal creatures. These had gleaming bodies the color of polished copper and they had the distinct look of what seemed to Rapheth tinkering machines. Cruel machines. They were fashioned as scorpions but were of metal and lacquered shell instead of shell, flesh and blood. The first one, as large as a cat, moved forward slowly. The boys stood up and backed away carefully and the other two scorpions moved toward them. When they stopped the scorpions also became still. The largest scorpion stuck out its long, cruel tail, unfurling it and waved it in the air. The tail wavered in Rapheth's direction and stopped.

  "What are these things?" Shukala whispered. Rapheth felt panic rising in him.

  "As long as we remain still . . ." Rapheth began. The scorpions fanned out across the roof, their stingers stiff in the air, curling and then straightening. The first one made a low, rumbling sound. Its stinger remained fixed in Rapheth's direction.

  "What do we do? We will run out of roof space in a few moments!" Cried Shukala.

  "Shh! Maybe if we do not move or speak loudly they cannot sense us?" Whispered Rapheth.

  "What do you mean. . .sense? I do not understand." Whispered Ephron. The rumbling sound emitted from the large one rose in pitch. This sound made the other two scorpions stop suddenly.

  "Shh." Said Rapheth again. He looked down over the roof. If we try and jump. . .Suddenly the scorpions lunged.

  "Over the roof!" Rapheth yelled and they followed him, leaping from their own roof to the neighbors' roof. The scorpions gave chase. They leaped from roof to roof and finally Rapheth slid down, losing his footing on loose tiles and fell upon the balcony of the house. The other two followed close behind and they burst in upon a woman bathing herself. She screamed.

  "Get out! Get out! Louts! Thieves!"

  "So sorry!" Apologized Rapheth. He raced through the house and downstairs with his friends on his heels. A man was calling.

  "What is that noise?" The husband demanded.

  "Those things are coming!" Shouted Ephron. They all three jumped out of one of the windows of the bottom floor, wrenching a drape away to escape into the street, overturning baskets, tables, bowls and amphoras in their struggle to flee. The man came running out after them with a sword.

  "Aich! What are you doing in here! Come back here!" The man yelled but they were long gone down the street.

  They ran down the street back to Rapheth's house and burst through the door.

  "Mama! Mama!" He screamed. "Mama! Quick! We are under attack!" Zigal came running from her bedroom. It was dark and she struggled to find an oil lamp.

  "Where is the light? We need light!"

  "By God's name!" Shouted Ephron in a near panic.

  "What is it?" Cried Zigal. "What is happening?" Parso was stirring from his bedroom from upstairs. Rapheth tore through the house looking for a lamp. He finally found one and gave it to Zigal who lit it.

  "Candles!" They ran to find the candles and lit them also.

  "Tell me what is going on?" Demanded Zigal. Parso came running down.

  "What has happened?" The boys were breathless. Shukala related what happened.

  "We were on the roof like we always go after eating. But something attacked us up there. Tinkering-like things, I swear it! Metalwork creatures. Fashioned like scorpions!"

  "Metal what?" Zigal and Parso asked in confusion.

  "Metal work! Metal scorpions! He does not lie. Those things tried to attack us. Tried to kill us." Said Ephron in between breaths. They turned to Rapheth. He nodded vigorously, barely able to catch his breath.

  "They look like they were made out of the same materials as the beetle." Said Rapheth to Parso. Zigal frowned, looking from Rapheth to Parso.

  "What beetle?" She asked.

  "Fire in the heavens." Said Parso quietly. "You say that these are the very things that are banned?" Asked Parso. The boys nodded.

  "I have never seen such a thing before. They looked so real!" Said Shukala. Zigal's face changed from confusion to realization and then fear.

  "Tinkering machines. The queen had one of those things. A tinkering bird. She also had other machines. But she never had any that would cause harm."

  "Did she ever tell you where she got them?" Asked Parso.

  "No. She would never say and I did not ask, as it was not my place. But I am sure these things you saw tonight could not hav
e been taken from her apartments after she died."

  "No. These were no birds, madam." Said Ephron.

  "And you say that you have one of these things in the house?" Asked Zigal looking fearfully at Parso.

  "I brought it. I found it - took one from the library." Said Rapheth guiltily. Zigal shot a furious glance at him and slapped him hard across the face.

  "Do you realize you could get us all hanged? Or worse? Why did you not take those things back to the library? What is the matter with you, boy? Of all the things I have tried to teach you!"

  "Wait, Zigal! Do not let your anger blaze until you hear the whole of the matter. When I was in Egi I saw a proliferation of societies, shops and labs spring up around the land. Some would say a rebirth of the old workings and old ways of doing things. A renewal of the old alchemies. They became more bold and open about their works. And not all were interested in making machines that did good things or useful things."

  "I suppose useful or good would be in the eye of the beholder." Said Rapheth, holding his stinging cheek.

  "True enough. Some, long ago, used these machines to do this very thing that I suspect is happening now - to kill others. You say there were more than one?"

  "Yes. There were three."

  "We will have to pack up and leave tonight or tomorrow, Parso." Said Zigal.

  "I am sorry mama. I did not mean to-"

  "Never mind it! We have become too comfortable here. I should have known better than to bring you here. I should have gone to Hevan straight away."

  "But I never would have met my friends."

  "Perhaps you would have. Ephron and Shukala - your families from what I know are planning to move from the city very soon." Struggling to contain her anger Zigal glared at all three of them and then shot a hard look at Parso. She wrapped her house robe around her tightly and went to the hearth to find wine for them all to drink.