Red World Trilogy

by V. A. Jeffrey

  Someone else made the decision for her. As they were waiting for the hour of high night they smelled smoke. Several fire bombs came crashing through the windows. The drapes, hangings and veils caught fire and ate at the beams like a hungry beast. Sea fire!

  "Fire! Fire!" shouted one of the guards.

  "We cannot get out! They have the house surrounded!"

  "By the gods! I hope they have not molested the other troupes!"

  "There is no time to worry about them!" Said Demos. She gave him a sorrowful look. Then:

  "Do not panic! Follow my instruction. We go to the basement. There is a way out of the house through there. Into an underground ravine. A natural sewer." Just then a fire ball flew through the window and hit Senetta, catching her clothing on fire. She screamed in agony. Demos snatched up a veil, rent it from the ceiling and tried to blot it out. Ina grabbed a large jug of water and poured it over her. By then the fire had burned and seared through her skin, blackening her arms and chest. She made short bursts of anguished cries. Then she steeled herself.

  "We must go!" The guards grabbed her chair and everyone took their belongings and they hurried downstairs, cramming the sedan chair through the narrow hall as the house began to burn down. Once they reached the basement they went to the far south wall and Demos took up a lantern, lit it and he uncovered the set of mud bricks in the wall that hid the door. He felt for them. They were loosened and he found them and began taking them down. The warriors helped so that the work went quickly and soon they had the opening into the underground ravine. Suffocating smoke began seeping down from the upper floors. They made off into the underground ravine.

  Once they had exited the ravine, their clothes were almost waist deep in toocha and other filth. But they had survived. Demos knew Yilphaeus well by now and could find his way to the old inn. He could see, just barely, the flaming pinpoint of Senetta's house in the Black Quarter. He turned and lead them down the rundown, rat-infested neighborhood to the inn, frantically knocking on the door. Senetta was moaning lightly, her breathing shallow. They went around to the back door.

  "It is I, Demos!" The door opened. It was Mytal the old drunk.

  "Ah! Usually you smell of herbs and things. Now you smell of excrement. Some new potion you've cooked up? But do come in, come in!" He said, looking round.

  "Dak Rullak!" Cried Demos. The look on Demos's face told them this was a desperate matter.

  "I am sorry!" Apologized Mytal.

  "Do not be sorry. Help us!"

  "What has happened Demos? Who is-" Asked Alil. The inn was empty save for Mytal and himself. Alil was not his usual nonchalant self. He had the look of someone visibly shaken. He stared at the woman in the sedan chair. Demos took a robe from one of his bags and wrapped her burned body with it. She was whispering furiously a mantra in her mother tongue, something he had not heard before.

  "It is our Lady Senetta, Alil." Alil was shocked.

  "But-"

  "They burned the house down. The Black Alchemists. It had to be them. King's men do not sneak around and do underhanded business such as that."

  "Great gods! Get her to one of the rooms!" Cried Alil. Senetta was moaning loudly now.

  "No! No." She said, then she began whispering unintelligibly.

  "What do we do? What happened to her?" Asked Alil.

  "She was burned in the fire." She was calling Demos's name now. Demos crouched by her chair and leaned in.

  "Yes, Lady Senetta?"

  "Do not worry for me. I am dying. I go to my resting place before my soul will move on and come back in the world in a place prepared for me again."

  "You cannot leave us now." Said Ina and she began to cry. Senetta's head lolled forward and to the side. Demos cradled Senetta in his arms.

  "Do not cry, Ina. It does not become you, a strong one. Death is not an end all. It is the natural thing for the soul to travel from the jiva to re-adjust itself and return to the world, anew. I go to my resting place, perhaps to see the shining ones before I am sent back again." With those words Senetta died in his arms. Her head sinking down like a soft weight. Ina let out a great bellow.

  "I will not believe she is gone." Said Mytal quietly. Ina became angry, her face wet with tears.

  "Did you not hear her you fool? She is not gone permanently!"

  "We know, Ina. We know." Said Demos gently. He looked up at Alil.

  "This is no place for such a lady as her but we have no other burial grounds. We must bury her here in the inn." They took her body, wrapped in veils and robes to the underground chamber and Alil, with Demos and her warriors dug a shallow grave for her and buried her there with her golden staff. Demos vowed that one day, if he lived through this, he would dig up her bones and give her a proper burial. But there was no time or place to do this now and no time to mourn her passing. After the burial Alil pulled him aside.

  "Demos. They have been here. Luckily I was warned of their coming by Samje. This was weeks ago but the king's men, badly disguised, came in here. Two weeks ago. No one was here, thankfully. Scared me to death. But I fear this group cannot stay long. Spies are everywhere now." He said. "People are being impaled or thrown to the crocodiles. Or worse!"

  "I will trouble you no more as the woman that took me in and her house are both gone. Here," he took out a small ingot of pure silver from one his packs and handed it to Alil. Alil took it gratefully. "I hope this can be a boon to you in the future for all you have done for me and my people, Alil. If you choose to leave, take Mytal with you." Alil smiled.

  "Do not worry. I never forget my friends Demos and you have been a good friend. I shall care for Mytal. I am thinking of leaving in the next few days for Hybron and from there Zapulia. Yallas-By-The-Sea, perhaps.

  "Do not tarry. Say hello to Myter for me, if you ever see him again." Alil finally grinned and laughed.

  "Myter is good at taking care of himself. I have not seen him in many days. I am sure he has fled the land. I would not worry over him."

  "Good. It is done, then." Demos said, slightly relieved, even in his grief for Senetta, for this breath of repose.

  "It is done," said Alil and they embraced for the last time.

  . . .

  It took two weeks for them to make their way to the mountains and they could not rest in Egium any longer for it was too dangerous. King's guards were asking too many questions and the recent burial of the crown prince did not put Egians in the mood for tolerance of strangers. Demos was deeply prayerful with each step and all those with him were supportive and determined. Samje was at his side, to help him as his leg sometimes gave out but they made it, upon donkeys to the mountains. Demos thought seriously of going back to Hybron at this point but the journey there would be too long and he needed rest. His body ached badly from past wounds his old master had inflicted.

  Eventually they found their way to the mountain stronghold, escorted by scouts. The former slaves there were eating and talking around various campfires. The quarry lulled in activity though they were on alert. They allowed Demos and his party in as most knew who he was and he was a hero to quite a few. Demos could finally feel himself relax. It was early night. He sat right on the outskirts of the quarry, a series of man-made caves and a man-made ledge right above the first cave opening. A group of former warriors who had taken up watch in the mountains on the ledge were sharing some roasted lizard. Demos took up a good portion as they offered it to him and one of them, an Icythian offered him some wine. He was given a small corner in the back of the caves and he hid his belongings there and gave his donkey to them. Samje stayed close by him for a few days. The warriors who had traveled with him and Ina had resolved to stay at the stronghold. Finally, after four days of much needed rest Demos made inquiries of Lady Hazad. She was growing on his mind more and more over the trip. One person had seen her. A young woman.

  "She was here weeks ago but she went to the village nearest to the border. To Uephis. Uephis is east of here and then slightly north. If you follow the east
ern foot path through the dragon trees on the other side of the quarry you will arrive there in about three days. Last I saw her she was making her way there." The woman was dressed as a warrior and had the battle hardened body and steely face of an arena fighter. But her face softened when she saw Demos, one of the spiritual heroes of many former slaves. He was weak physically, ungainly in his lameness and was certainly no fighter but his gentle selflessness, resourcefulness and courage in the face of Egian authority had endeared him to many. Especially since he had also been a slave.

  That night Demos went to the ledge atop the entrance to look out upon the sharp mountains and the starry sky. It was then he finally saw his call to home. Elitaph was red. Many in the camp were in confusion and wonderment but Demos knew what it meant. At times he talked of the prophecies and some paid attention back at Senetta's House but most, while not disrespectful to him did not pay him much heed, and this did not bother him. Now it was there for anyone to see. Demos felt his face streaming with tears. All these years when he'd thought that perhaps his god had forgotten him, He had not forgotten. Demos now knew he was on a different path from the one his parents put him on and had become a better man for it. The naive, pampered, easily cowed and easily led scribe at the Golden Temple so many years ago was gone. He was a man of endurance and true faith. He steepled his hands together in prayer.

  "It has finally come. The Red King. Ellah Kaifah." He recalled to mind the words of the man that had come into Ulthi's shop years ago. Parso was his name. His words seemed strange to him then but they were true. He had found his place in the world. He was here for a reason. He thought then of Senetta. He had a different conception of death then she did but he knew that in the far future, after the third dawn she would come back. When the human family was reconciled to the First Pillar of creation and then every man and woman would reach their first inheritance, the one swindled from them by the unnamed one. Perfection.

  Thinking of perfection, his thoughts came back to Kaisha, that beauteous star of perfection upon mortal land. He had to find her. Find her. And ask her the question. From there, depending on her answer he would decide after that what to do once he arrived in Rhuctium. He gazed at the red star for an hour more and then he went to his camp and took out a large bag of gold and the bag of red salt. He gave it to the leaders of the camp. Demos felt a twinge of guilt for he did not like violence. Still, these men were part of his main web of supporters and they had treated him like a brother, had come to rely on him and his information in the past and they needed all the help they could get. They would need the gold and salt as valuable things to buy food and other things. They would do what they would with it. It was out of his hands. Demos was beyond judging people and especially those looking to escape the cruelties they had all endured.

  "Whatever you may need, I have this little bit, given to me by Lady Senetta before she died." This drew bitter condemnations of Egi and the king from those gathered.

  "She was a good woman, a great woman. Egi was not worthy of her!" Said one of the mercenaries.

  "I know. Let her always be remembered as the great one she always was. I have learned being a slave myself that some men want to strip others of dignity because it suits their interests or tastes. Usually ladre is involved but some never allow their dignity to be stripped from them. She was always a queen." Demos said.

  "Let it be said." The men said. They sang songs and Demos drank with them and then told them of his plan to leave for Uephis.

  '"But why? We could use you here. You have a sharp mind. We need that."

  "My part to play is over my brothers. The Red King comes back to Hybron, to my homeland and I want to live under his rule. There is a woman Uephis that I want to see."

  "What woman?" They asked.

  "I think I know who that is." Said one of them slyly.

  "Who?"

  "Lady Hazad who is part of the resistance. She has moved on to Uephis. Lady Hazad had to flee."

  "Well, I cannot fault a man for desiring a beautiful woman. Who of us does not? Will you come back?"

  "I do not know. I am not a warrior. But your fight is in my prayers. I shall stay in Egi until I fond her but," he pointed at the sky. "Look at the red star." They first noticed it.

  "Where did that come from?" Asked the Valierite man. "I have never seen a red star and that one, the great star, too." The others were surprised.

  "The gods must be at war," said another in amazement.

  "No, my brothers. That is a sign in the Holy Aishanna of the end of one era and the beginning of a new one. The true Red King comes again in Hybron."

  "So you will leave us for Hybron?"

  "It is the land of my birth and mother tongue. I want to see the fulfillment with my own eyes. I know that with the coming of the true king all good-hearted people will be safe there. It will be a land where men and women will be free." He expounded the way of the Holy Writings and they listened carefully. He poured his heart out. Never before could he speak so freely of the signs, portents and prophecies.

  "May your god keep your path then, brother." Said the leader. After embracing all of them he went back to his camp and fell into contented sleep, woven of beautiful dream. The next morning he rose early and saw the star, red in the sky again. Rejoicing silently he gathered his things and went his way to Uephis.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  "With this Holy Sword," Ishuye, son of Deruye drew it out and held it high, "I am the zeal and the fury!"

  - Holy Acts 10:10, (or Judges and Warriors)

  Ugdush was a young but gifted swordsmith and jeweler. Few smiths created swords of both high quality and great beauty. Increasingly his name was coming up among the warriors who were also noblemen or high ranking officers in the army of the king. Omun and Ruz with other men had made inquiries of talented smiths in the villages and towns and cities. The more accomplished and prosperous ones were not friendly to such inquiries and shut the doors in their faces. But more lowly blacksmiths and swordsmiths often mentioned Ugdush as the greatest rising talent in the area.

  Ugdush set up shop a few years earlier in Susamon. He and his young wife lived on the outskirts of this city. On her way home from market she'd heard that some men were looking for her husband. Not knowing who they were or what they were about she asked about where these men were staying.

  "At the great dragon tree outside the city," said an old beggar man. Susamon was the only city in the land with no wall but there were great towers in the city that acted as a means for protection for the people. She climbed one of these towers to overlook the great dragon tree as the city was high up in a bluff overlooking lower crags and a sparse wilderness of dragon trees and cactuses. Observing the men for a while she called for one of the tower guardians to send for one of them. Omun then came back into the city with one of these guardians.

  "Who are you? Why do you ask for Ugdush?" She asked.

  "Madam, are you his wife?"

  "You have not answered my question, sir."

  "I am sorry. I am Omun na Uphiah. I am a Gold Alchemist. Specifically, a metallurgist and swordsmith."

  "I do not know your name. You do not look as if you are part of any guild around here."

  "I am not."

  "A man not in a guild? Practicing alchemy? That is unlawful. In some places in Hybron, a death sentence. Why would my husband want to speak with such a man?"

  "He may not want to. I do not know. What I know is this, I was sent to find a man skilled in the metal arts and the craft of sword-making by the Red King." At this the woman drew in a sharp breath.

  "Yes. He has come. Did you not see the great blood mark in the sky? Just a few days ago?" He asked. She nodded slowly.

  "It was at night and also the next morning," she said quietly.

  "He has sent me. If it is not possible to see him I shall be on my way. I have no intention to harm or cause trouble, madam."

  "No, no! Stay. I will take you to him. In fact, you must follow me, you and all you
r company. I am called Betal." He heard excitement rise in her voice and her eyes lit up. She then took the men up with her to their home just outside of Susamon in the middle of a small grove of dragon trees. There was a large well there and she and her maidservant watered their horses and asses and when they arrived into the house she had their feet washed.

  The shop had grown in the region and was still in the process of expanding. It was attached to a nice but modest two story house of strong wood and brick. There was a small garden and courtyard steadily being built up and tended by Betal. Ugdush was in his shop when they'd arrived. Betal came to him and told him that a swordsmith had come to speak with him. Wondering who this was he saw that a herd of horses and asses were stabled on his land in front of the house.

  "A great crowd of men! Who are these men that you have invited, Betal?"

  "This man, Omun has been asking for you. He says that many blacksmiths and swordsmiths mentioned your name as a master of the craft."

  "Yes. Some do say this about me," he stated as-a-matter-of-factly.

  "I have sought you out because I come in the name of the Red King, who seeks men to make strong swords."

  "The Red King?" Ugdush said skeptically.

  "I have my own master secrets in the craft. This is why I seek a man like yourself."

  "You have something to show me?"

  "Most certainly."

  "Well it is late. Let us eat supper first and then we will talk. Are you a guildsman?" Omun was not sure if the truth would help. He glanced at his brother who had urged him to be truthful anyway.