It was dawn when the city capitulated. Cardith gazed dispassionately at the hanging bodies impaled upon poles, many of them decayed. Clouds of flies hovered around the corpses. Vultures and other carrion birds flocked and fought overhead, circling round and round the decomposing feast.
"Ruthless to the end. I will give her that." Teraht murmured. Cardith walked beside his chariot, wondering what this new king would be like. Will this man be even worse than his niece? Will he be even-handed? Who could tell? He is not the Red King that the Aishanna-La speak of. He thought bitterly. Even with the sword of fire, even being a strong man, a mighty man of authority and power, he did not seem holy. He had the same cold, malicious aura of all the blood of Seht. Cardith strengthened himself. He'd already made the decision to support this new king. He could not turn aside now. Things were not always obvious or easy to discern. The Lord-Chieftain rode toward the palace and went inside the palace foregate.
"Bring her out to me! Where is the usurper? The one who killed her own son to take the throne? You men," he turned to Cardith and his attendants, "bring her out! Some of my men will go with you." He demanded. Cardith took a large group of his own men and the king's attendants and went into the palace.
The palace was in chaos and disarray.
"Where is the queen?" He demanded to a servant. The man was sweating and pale. Cardith slapped him and shook him.
"Where is she?"
"She is in the temple, sir! The temple!" The man blurted out. Cardith was swift. He did not really know what she meant by ascending but they had no time to lose. Suddenly the ground quaked under them. They had never felt any such thing before. His men looked around in surprise.
"What was that?" Asked Jalon.
"Her! Let us get to the temple and pray we do not find her changed!" They ran to the temple entrance. The doors were closed but unlocked. Cardith led the men down the walkway and down a steep flight of stairs into the vaulted torch-lit halls of Nimnet's temple. He heard loud, crazed chanting.
"Draw your swords. Be ready to kill!" He shouted. They ran towards the main hall to the great altar where Cardith and the warriors were met with a gruesome sight. Taliat was lying upon the altar under the image. Standing around and covered in blood were her priestesses. Around them at their feet were the queen's maidservants. It was the sight of a gross butchery. The queen sat up as if in a daze. Another tremble shook the temple. She turned to look at the intruders and pointed, sticking out a long, forked tongue. Her eyes were an eerie white now with no pupils. His men held back. Her fingernails and toenails looked like terrifying talons instead of fingers and toes. Cardith looked up and said in a silent prayer. Then steeled himself.
"Your time is over!" He shouted and raised his sword. The priestesses turned and looked. They were all naked. They turned on him to protect her. Cardith slew two of them quickly and his men went on the attack. They screamed, not in terror or fright but in rage at this intrusion. But the men took them down swiftly. However they were not as quick to approach the creature who had been the queen. She hissed and spat at Cardith. She rose and stalked around the image of Nimnet, which horrified him. But if he failed to bring her, who knew what the new king would do to him.
"Servant of the unnamed one, I will take you out of Jhis and out of the land! You and yours must be cleaned out!" He lifted his sword and went straight for her. She leapt into the air and on top of him, throwing him off his feet. She howled, a unnerving sound and took a bite out of his cheek, tearing the flesh. The others moved in. She knocked one of them to the ground, ripping at his armor but they eventually overpowered her. She screamed Nimnet's name as if it were a chant but there was no longer any help from Nimnet. Or Elyshe.
"Cover me! Cover me!" She screamed. One of the men took the blood stained veil that was lying by the altar and put it over her head and they dragged her out screaming and fighting. It took seven of them to hold her and drag her from the temple, through the palace and finally to the palace foregate.
"Traitors! Traitors and wicked men all of you! You sought to keep me in the dark, uncle! You and father both! You cannot keep me forever in the dark. I will not go! I will not submit! I am your queen! Traitors!" She screamed. Cardith came striding out, holding the wound in his cheek with his hand. Blood kept streaming. They brought her before Teraht who looked at her as if a reptile might gaze at an insect before devouring it. He pulled the veil from her head and a cry rose from among the crowd present.
"As monstrous on the outside as on the inside." Whispered someone. Teraht stood stunned for a long moment, shocked at what he saw. Then his expression turned to disgust and then he sighed, as if weary.
"But darkness is our way. We are all born from the dark and we go back to it in the end. Why do you fight it?" He asked. But Taliat continued to rave.
"You all have conspired against me, your sovereign queen! You ought to die!" She rasped. Her eyes were white and gleamed dangerously. He gazed at her coldly, his own eyes burning with that same cold fire.
"I see the squalid, insulting, even fanciful gossip about you is not gossip at all. Taliat, we embody the qualities of the serpent in spirit in our family. We do not seek to actually become serpents. Still, a magnificent feat. I wonder if Erol's help could produce such a creature." His face darkened into a deep and hard frown and made a clucking sound with his teeth. "Feasting on venom, I see. A bad trait in this family, always seeking elixirs from the alchemists. We of the House of Seht have always wanted immortality. Yet, it is the fate of all Egians to look to the dead. It is our culture, death and darkness and the night." He looked around.
"Put her to death!" He commanded. She howled, now in fear but more in rage at this and even her uncle pulled back. No one would step forward, for they feared the creature standing before them. Cardith's warriors threw her to the ground and drew back. She ripped at the leg of one, drawing blood. A few archers grabbed their arrows and trained them upon her. Finally, Teraht stepped down from his chariot and again lifted his flaming sword from its sheath and finally, she saw it with her own eyes. The light faded from her eyes as she looked at the sword in fear and then at Teraht. The flames of the red sword gleamed in a reflection in her eyes as he strode toward her.
"We all have our secret powers. This beastly transformation is yours. This, is mine. Look upon it. It is the kingly thing from above, the star sword with flame that never dies. You want immortality, Taliat?" He asked coolly. She said nothing and suddenly seemed herself again, simply a diminutive woman. It was the first time she had ever shown fear. He approached slowly and suddenly grabbed her by her hair.
"Look and live forever then!" And his stroke was swift. The queen was beheaded at the palace foregate and her head was mounted on a pole in front of the palace so that everyone knew that the reign of terror was over.
. . .
Ilim had found himself handed over to his enemies, his former brethren, and so from one prison to another he was headed. The new king had bade them to "handle their own" after he got over his surprise that Ilim was still alive and not dead in some crypt. The entire city was now proclaiming that the Red King had arisen. Silam Tybbl-Awat beat him when he refused to acknowledge Teraht Seht as the Red King.
"I recognize his kingship. He is not the Red King." Ilim remained stalwart.
"You will die for that. We finally have you and will do what the Egian woman did not do - have you publicly executed." He said and Ilim was slammed into a dank prison hole. Ilim remained silent through this trial. He did not know where his son was, or Zigal or Parso or even if Parso had survived his journey to Rhuctium. He did not know what happened to Anet or the faithful. He finally wept tears of relief and sadness. Whatever happened now he had done his duty. Perhaps now he could rest. Forever, this time. He was old. He closed his eyes and thought of Paradise. What it might be like and why it was so far into the future, the reward for all His loyal servants. He prayed silently. My God, give me strength to pass through. Give me courage to pass through. Give me power to
triumph through. Ellah Kaifah. He heard a furious scuffling outside his door. A cry that was cut off harshly and then the door to his cell opened.
"Father Ilim! Come, we do not have much time!" Said a voice.
"And who is it? I do not know you." Ilim peered out at the shadowed figures warily. They had just killed a guard. What would they do to him? His eyes were, once again, becoming accustomed to the dark.
"We are here to rescue you! Come! Before they find out!" Ilim crept out of his cell.
"Zarhaz?" He exclaimed in disbelief.
"It is I."
"Juhi!"
"I fled to the unnamed city below. I had no idea it even existed. One of my men knew of the place. When I was told that you were being transferred from the palace to the Golden Temple, I came back for you. You were right all along, Ilim. The priesthood is rotten to the core. These men here work for me. I have a litter waiting. The whole city is in transition and the temple is not as well guarded as it usually is. Everything has been thrown into confusion but it will not stay that way for long. Let us escape now in the confusion!" Said the old priest. Ilim looked at the giant towering above him in his long black robes and stern face. The giant bowed.
"It is an honor to meet the prophet." Said the man. Ilim was speechless but they disguised him and he left with them into the litter waiting outside. This was an odd bunch gathered together, Zarhaz's men. Beside the giant were a few Hatchet Men and some others.
"Why do you consort with these men?" Ilim asked.
"They are not what they were, formerly. Many things have changed Ilim and we have you to thank for that. These are my trusted men. They are no longer Hatchet Men but men of faith. As for your boy, do not worry for him. He is safe, out of the land."
"What do you mean?"
"An assassination attempt was made by the queen's spies. He and Parso and Zigal escaped. They are long gone last time I heard. I received a message yesterday by falcon from Parso. He would not tell me exactly where they had gone, only that they were leaving for another land, temporarily."
"Oh. Another land. Oh God in the heavens. Things are so confused."
"Some of my men will go to meet them. The time is not yet right for the boy. He must stay in hiding."
"I am greatly relieved to know of his safety."
"We are riding the crest, my brother."
"Indeed. You do not know how glad my heart is at this news!" His prayers, once again in a round about way, were answered.
"And another thing, Ilim. I have the starry scepter. I will show you when we get away from Jhis. The prophetess of Shima gave it to me. I must guard it with my life, but I thought you, of all people, should know of it."
"My daughter. My daughter, Anet. She is safe. God is good. The starry scepter. . ." Ilim said as if in a daze. Things seemed in confusion but all the things that were supposed to happen, happened. Ilim wept, this time in joy.
. . .
And once they had escaped the city above to the one below they went as far as Hevan.
Ilim proceeded to say to them: "Raise up a dirge concerning those killed by the queen!" And this was spread through the land to all the faithful. And he proceeded to chant this dirge, calling it The Lost Blood. Look! Is it not written in the Book of Bitterness?
"The peace and loveliness of better times has disappeared.
How the innocent ones have been devoured!
Just like a maned young lion who tears apart the kid goat,
and the wolves who are sundering the lambs,
this is how my people have suffered.
Do not, you men, tell this thing to the mountains,
and do not you weeping women keep weeping.
Do not cry out and do not mourn anymore
for the kingdoms themselves will get to see it and hear of it
and it will be a thing of humiliation.
You mountains of the Habad do not let dew or rain be upon you,
nor let there be fields of flowering vegetation.
No ripe fruits should you produce,
nor should you call forth the leaping rams
because the people of God have been slain at the foot of the mountains,
they have been slain even in the cities and in the desert.
The blood cries out from the dust
for their very quintessence has gone the way of the grave.
No wrong have they done, no evil have they set their eyes upon
but evil eyes have been set upon them and evil has set up tent in their places.
Like red rams of the desert they lept high to the crags of the mountains,
like streams of clear waters they laid themselves out as refreshment for their brothers!
Oh! Who will avenge them, the ones fallen and devoured?
I am distressed and in grief over you, my brothers,
for generous you were to me, you innocent ones who are gone.
Shall we see you again in Paradise?"
Chapter Forty-Two
They met her quite by accident it seemed, striding on the desert sands with the tribesmen and the Sons of the Mountain, and it seemed a strange sight to him - this woman, lithe and innocent looking, slightly wild, riding upon a camel in the very front as if she herself were a caravan leader while a train of men on camels and asses traveled with her. The caravan had converged on a cropping of towering dragon trees. She held her staff aloft and hailed them. He ignored her at first, thinking it odd but none of his business. Then she called his name.
"Rhajit. I would speak with you."
"Who are you? What do you want?" He asked tersely. She smiled and her face was full of joy which angered him after what they had been through. He held the little girl in his arms who mostly slept or cried. She was asleep for the time being.
"My name is Anet. I am the desert prophetess. Rhajit, you have been chosen by God. Will you accept this destiny?" She asked. He frowned. He and those traveling with him were tired and afraid. She seemed to understand his fears.
"Do not fear. No one can harm you now. Those who sought your blood are dead. The queen is dead. Her uncle entered the city just a few days ago. Hybron now has a new king."
"How do you know all this? And how do you know me?"
"I am a prophetess. It is my business to know things."
"The queen is dead?"
"Yes and now Hybron has another usurping king. I came to you because you are greatly needed, Rhajit. Your skill as a fighter, as a warrior, are needed for the future. The future king, the one who is the real king, has fled but he needs your arm. You have courage and experience to impart to him. But, it is up to you if you will go and be his man, his supporter. We are gathering supporters now. What do you say?" She asked staring at him calmly. She was a naturally beautiful woman, he noted, like the daughters of the Karig tribe he remembered long ago before he left that way of life. No kohl or cerussa or needless step chains and jewels draped everywhere. He was at a crossroads and he felt stunned as if struck with a staff.
"I do not know. I have this child. Her father was killed. What should I do with her?"
"I will take her. The scions of the temple will care for her just as they did for me. I am an orphan myself. She will be well cared for there. Give me the child and I will take her back to Gamina. You, if you will choose this way, go to Yeleb, a city in the westernmost part of Egi. They will be docked there by ship for some days. If you get on your way now you can catch up with him. I have seen this in a dream. As I have seen you. You stand in an undecided position, Rhajit. I have come to help you toward the path of glory. It will be difficult but there is a place made for you if you would take it." Luz spoke up. Yadua looked on at Anet in great wonder.
"Perhaps this destiny really is ours. Things are overturned. I do not know what we can expect in Jhis anymore or anywhere else." Rhajt turned to Yadua. The woman was thin and tired with heavy, dark circles under her eyes. They had all been fleeing nonstop for days, going from place to place. He knew she was fatigued to the point
of complete exhaustion. Anet smiled warmly at her.
"What is your name?" She asked. Rhajit spoke for her.
"Her name is Yadua. She can write and read some but she is mute."
"Yadua, if you have no family or anywhere else to go, there is a place for you as well at the citadel of the scions." Yadua nodded in relief.
"Well, I have nowhere else to go or do as of now. So, perhaps what I need is an adventure. I will go to Yeleb and meet the boy there. From there I do not know where destiny will take me." Anet smiled and gestured to an ancient woman riding in a palanquin atop a camel. He handed the sleeping child to the men standing by her camel and they lifted the child into the palanquin. He bowed slightly to her.
"I think I know of you, young one." Said the old woman imperiously. She looked queenly in her robes, adorned in polished stone and wooden jewels and her turban headdress and mantle. She laughed. One of the men helped Yadua upon one of the camels.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"I am Kela. Daughter of Jirah, brother to your great-grandfather. You are a son of the Karig. Come back to the fold, my son. Do not stay lost in the world to us." She said. Rhajit said nothing but bowed his head slightly again. Anet then gave a signal and rubbed the hair of the camel she rode and one of the tribesmen gave a command and the train began to move on. The little girl awoke and she looked bleary-eyed and forlornly at Rhajit as they moved away. She began to cry softly.
"I feel bad for the child." Said Luz sadly.
"Why? Because she cries? She will be fine. She is in a far better place now. So is Yadua."
Red World Trilogy Page 72
