"By the might and mercy of Nisrok, by Nimnet, Queen of night. . .save us!" He cried out. Then he fled to the palace temple. The rest of the court, the grandees and their wives and servants and everyone in the palace began praying or fleeing to the altars or toward the temple beneath the palace. But the king had his guards shut the great stone doors and lock them.
Fire! Fire was in the temple, engulfing the great golden and ivory face of Nisrok the crocodile god. It seemed to him that unholy screams drew up from the very ground. He raised his hands up and looked up and a great shadow fell over the walls. Remu turned only to find the ferocious beasts that lurked in the underground streams and chambers, the scorpions and the great crocodiles, had wandered from the black waters beneath the temple. Steam rose up, giving the main temple chamber an eerie, ghostlike appearance. He ran to the image of his god.
"O Nisrok! O great one! Come down over me and deliver me from the fires!" Instantly the great statue cracked and fell over, crushing him beneath its weight just as wreaths of fire engulfed the underground temples.
Jhis burned for three days before the fires withered out. And the fiery beings that stood for three days upon the walls then disappeared.
Chapter Thirty-One
After the destruction of Jhis Rapheth charged the Sons of the Mountain to take charge of Galieh and to clean out the temples of Nimnet and Heros. Achin, one of the younger chieftains, he made one of the chief leaders of this task. He took the rest of his army, nearly thirty thousand men, and marched on through Hybron. Each village and town fell to him and of those there were not caused for fear but jubilation and relief. But as for the cities, he surrounded each one, his sword a flaming fire and his army around him wreathed in fire and they capitulated, each one he approached. In each city he ordered the temples and altars dedicated to Nimnet, Nisrok and Hec torn down and crushed. Many who did not want this new regime fled towards Zapulia or Egi, of which he allowed them to go. But their approach was slow which gave time for the Ainash to act.
Fights broke out in the cities, and the Ainash and their supporters were hunting down schismatics to kill them after hearing of the coming army. In each city the army left its walls were surrounded by fire so that the warriors there could not escape or attack from the rear. Finally they arrived at Rhuctium, where the next largest Ainash temple stood.
"My home," he said while they were encamped around the walls of the city. A tiny tinmak bird came fluttering into the camp. The tribesmen looked at in with suspicion.
"Wait! I know what it is." Said Rapheth. He caught it and pulled the little scroll from its foot cylinder and read it. He looked up, suddenly feeling excited, like a young boy again.
"It is from my mother!"
"What does she say?" Asked one of the shaikhs.
"She says that there is much hand to hand combat in the city. At first the Ainash and their supporters were searching for the schismatics but they are all well hidden now. The tide has turned. Many of the supporters have turned on each other now. It is a blood bath in both Beth-Ayin and Haiga."
"If we attack the city walls they might kill the faithful still left there." Said Parso.
"I do not think we have come all this way for that to happen. Besides, the letter is not finished."
"What else?"
"It says to wait until someone can come to you at night. You know the underground city is vast. It is not closed off down here, yet by me or my brothers. One of the brethren has opened up a way for you and the army to sneak into the city tonight." Said Saujiah.
"It would seem the Ainash have done our work for us." Said Injol.
That night the army, instead of attacking directly went in to the unnamed city. The thrown-up ramshackle villages that used to be there were gone.
"It looks deserted." Whispered Shukala.
"We warned all who lived here that change was coming. Those that did not like the change or knew it would bring death for them left the land. We saw to that." Said Saujiah. Up ahead they saw two figures with lamp lights approaching and one of the messengers with them. It was Zarhaz and one of his friends.
"Injol! It is great to see you again my friend!" Zarhaz's eyes lit up. Injol's laugh was a great bellow.
"I have seen half the world! And I come with the new king. If only my father and mother could see me," he said. Zarhaz came and bowed before him.
"My lord and king. I have something for you."
"First, Zarhaz, let us take care of the business!" Urged Rapheth.
"Of course, my lord." They went up over the rocks, the crags and jagged pathways up towards the upper city. It gave him memories of before, when he and his two friends would scramble and and spend time here. But now his thoughts were not so fond as they were about to wage war once again.
It was night when they came up into the city. The city was on alert looking from without but the army had already slipped in. Rapheth commanded three battalions to stay in the unnamed city. Rhajit and Injol were to take the wall and Rapheth himself would deal with the temple and its priesthood. Rapheth, Shukala and Rhajit knew the streets like the back of their own hands. Rhajit and Injol led their men off and Rapheth and his followed Zarhaz right to the temple. They poured in, overpowering the guards stationed outside. Arrows took care of them before they were able to raise the alarm. As they fell, spears clattering to the ground Rapheth lead the charge right into the temple.
"Do not burn the temple or destroy the library. Only bring out the priests and the scribes here! Parso!" Parso came up. "You know where these men live?"
"Near and around this neighborhood near the temple."
"Drag them out, any in the temple serving here or from their houses. Drag them out and bring them before me, all the Ainash! There are no loyal priests to God here any longer. Let us clean out what is bad in Hybron." The wicked heart of Hybron was now being wiped clean. Rapheth, on going through the temple was in disgust at what he saw. Every idol to every god and goddess under the sun except to the one to whom it was originally dedicated.
"No, wait! What are you doing in here?" Shouted a priest.
"You have made this a place for ridicule and treachery and filth!" Rapheth shouted and took his sword and put him to death right there at the altar. With long hammers they took to breaking all the altars to the rebellious gods down and smashing them while others were dragging out priests and scribes everywhere and putting them to death. The temple prison was opened and many schismatics and others who could not pay the temple tax were released. Far off could be heard the screams and shouts of the fight on the wall. Rapheth and his army tore into the garden bedecked neighborhood of the wealthy priests and scribes, dragging them out and executing them until there was nothing but the wall of the slain; corpses on top of corpses in the roads and the streets. They went to the mayoral and the palaces of the officials, of which most of the land's administrators, the most important and powerful ones, died in Jhis. Of those left, any who tried to fight were put to death.
By morning the city was taken and here Rapheth left some to man the city in his stead as they moved on to Haiga.
"But why Haiga so soon? Should we not move on to Beth-Ayin, my lord?" Asked Injol.
"We must go to Haiga first. I feel that the Egian king will be on our doorstep soon enough now that his son is dead. Haiga is near the western border. I told a man in the last city we took to tell the king by falcon. The king knows by now and he will come here, ready for all out war."
And they went west to Haiga and captured the port city.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The king was at the chariot races when he first heard the news of the burning of Jhis.
"How did they get this far beyond the border?" He shouted to his astrologers.
"We do not know."
"Is that not what I have you men for?" he raged. "And now you tell me my other son is dead?"
"It was their god that made them powerful." Quaked one of the astrologers.
"It was their god!" The king raged.
"Jhis is burning, my Lord Greatness." They bowed low.
"Yes. It burns. And all my achievement in Hybron with it. First, my firstborn dies at the hand of luti filth and now the city with my son Remu installed as vassal king." He studied them for a long time.
"You men," he said, "I had you come up before me and stationed as royal astrologers to prevent such things. And now my sons are dead." Then he raised his hand to command the warriors that had captured and dragged them in before him.
"Take these men out from before me and behead them at the gate." And it was done. The king rose up and went to his inner chamber and called for Lord Erol to come with him.
"This is not a battle between men, Your Greatness. It is a battle between gods."
"Am I not like the gods? Who is this god they worship that such wickedness can be done in his name?"
"A powerful god, no doubt Your Greatness but you have been given bad counsel by the astrologers. Should they have not seen this calamity? Your son Remu would have ruled in greatness in your stead."
"Now that I have only just buried one of my children another has to be buried." The king threw off his turban, his jewels, rings and jeweled arm bands onto a table.
"You have other sons and the young new queen is fertile. There is another thing. Your sword in battle. Now is the time, Your Greatness." The king's face, twisted and discolored in ugly rage suddenly snapped with a memory of recognition.
"My new armor. The skin leather of the beast."
"Yes. Meet them in battle, on their soil, between Egi and Hybron."
"I must find out where this army is situated now. Send my scouting falcons Erol. Send your tinmaks too. Send for my generals. I must get all information I can. This desert king has the power of the gods behind him after all." Lord Erol bowed before leaving.
"And Lord Erol," the king called after him. Erol turned. "I shall install you as my top counselor. Do not fail me the way the others have." Lord Erol smiled slyly, bowed and left.
. . .
When the falcons came in, telling of the desert king and his army's whereabouts the Egian horns of battle blared from city to city. The king called all his men to gather in Egium. Ahead of him he sent his herald out to Hybron and for all of his generals.
And the king went down to a secret chamber temple of his god and prayed and bowed down before Nisrok all that night and made many sacrifices.
"Alone," he said quietly to the priests. They left, reluctantly but did not dare to dispute him. When the altar room was finally empty he raised his eyes.
"Have I not given you all that you have asked? Have I not done all in your name? Why did you not protect my son Remu? And now I ask, beg, that you look to the battle and these many sacrifices!" But this time there was no answer from Nisrok. Afterward, he was decked in his special leather armor, the black leather and iron and bronze armor. His head newly shaved, the armor-bearer put on his headdress. He strapped on his great alchemist sword and the next morning the king came out riding on his black stallion and led his army east.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Month of Zin, 1701 A. T. V.
Zarhaz remained in Rhuctium after the aftermath. The whole land was in a state of flux. Some were in fear.
"Maybe he really will be different than the others. Perhaps this time we will truly have justice, peace and security in the land." They said.
Rapheth himself when he heard that the opposing army was coming his way with all swiftness, seventy-nine thousand strong, in chariots, horses and camels he then got down on his knees that night and prayed with all the camp.
. . .
Furious waves of dust kicked up from the thousands coming on horseback, camel and chariot. It was like a windstorm in the open desert. Horns were blaring on both sides as the armies finally met on the battlefield, near Iyaak Rock, and the scene turned into a furious melee of battle lust.
Injol gave a terrifying roar, brandishing four swords in his hands, two long and curved swords in his upper hands and short sword sin his lower hands. With his shield strapped to his back he swung his right arm in a powerful arc, slashing his nearest opponent who came dashing toward him on horseback. Injol's sword clashed with his opponent's and he struck the Egian, denting his helmet. The Egian warrior was put off balance for a moment and Injol came wheeling his horse back around and with his lower left hand stabbed his opponent in the neck. He slumped over and fell to the ground. Injol turned his mount and bore down upon the next nearest Egian warrior, slashing with his long sword with such a mighty force that the man was immediately dismounted. A tribal warrior on foot finished him off. His horse suddenly reared up and unseated him and an Egian upon his horse rode him down ready to strike. Injol rolled and sprang up, trying to stand. The Egian warrior's sword came down swiftly and slashed his leather armor, tearing a great gash in the middle of his chest. One more slash and there would be mortal injury. Injol's own blade came up, clashing with his with all force and the warriors blade shattered. With a look of horror at his broken blade this gave Injol time to act. He sprang up and made quick work of the stunned warrior. In the sodden dust and debris in the air he could see the effect that Omun and Ugdush's swords were having. A fearful sight.
. . .
The first wave of Egian cavalry came down with dizzying swiftness. Rhajit and Luz fell upon this first wave, screaming in blood lust. They saw a wonderful thing; something Rhajit had not seen in years and Luz not at all - the magnificent leaping of warrior tribesman. Rhajit laughed and met an Egian headlong, swinging and bringing it down first upon the Egian's shield. Their horse circled around and around, swords slashing, thrusting. The Egian warrior thrusted his sword forward, making a wound on his arm. They circled around again and the Egian again came in for an attack. Rhajit's sword blocked his thrust and threw his sword arm up and off balance while Rhajit once again slashed at his opponent. Quick to block, the Egian warrior quickly regained his stance but when he raised his sword up to strike at Rhajit, Rhajit blocked his again this time with such ferociousness that the man's blade shattered like clay. Rhajit then raised his sword upon the warrior and cut him across the face and neck. He kicked his leg up and tried to push his opponent off his horse. He slashed again, his sword coming down upon the Egian warrior's thigh cutting through to the bone. The man fell from his horse, crying out. Rhajit looked to his right and saw Luz fending off one warrior while another was ready to strike from his rear. Rhajit urged his mount toward his friend and rode down the Egian at Luz's rear, striking him down. Luz then felled his opponent after a parry and thrust.
"See them leaping in the air like rams?" Rahjit said. Luz nodded and laughed.
"I have never seen it, only heard about it."
"It is the diet and the good clean desert air that makes them strong!"
"You used to be called Rhajit the Ram!"
"True."
"I do not know if I could ever leap like that but I would fight at your side!" They both raised their swords as several Egian warriors came at them. One, standing in a chariot some feet away took his long spear and hurled it at Rhajit. Rhajit leaped down from his horse. He grabbed his shield from off his back and charged him. The Egian warrior turned his horse and chariot toward him and tried to run him down. Rhajit leaped into to the air nearly effortlessly over the chariot then he sprang into the chariot slashing and thrusting with the warrior until they both fell onto the ground locked in a death struggle. Rhajit was pinned under him and the warrior, heavy and very well muscled was trying his best to squeeze the life out of him. Rhajit, with one hand free, slipped out a steel dagger and jabbed it into the man's leather armor but it did not pierce it all the way. It was, however, forceful enough to make the warrior shift his position and loosen his grip momentarily and when he did Rhajit made a quick upward thrust, stabbing his throat. He rolled the warrior off of him and sprang up and as soon as he did he was met with a fierce cry from another Egian whose sword bore down on him. Rhajit's blocked this blow and they both circle
d each other, slashing and moving back, almost like a dance, each moving in for a thrust. Rhajit kicked dust up into his face and with that extra moment taken from his opponent he felled the Egian.
Luz was parrying with his opponent. The warrior was taller than him and Luz was having a hard go of it. His opponent came down hard and Luz blocked his strike but not before he got a slash to the cheek. He was tiring and his opponent was battling with him and leaping aside just enough, keeping just out of reach to tire him out, refusing to come in for the kill just yet. Luz, thinking fast, feinted a collapse and the warrior suddenly charged him. Luz then swung his sword with all his power, blocking what would have been a death stroke, shattering his opponent's sword. The warrior stared in horror at his broken iron sword and swore in Egian, calling down evil upon him.
"Dak Rullak!" Shouted Luz and he slashed the man's thigh, severing a large artery there and then thrusted his sword in an opening in his armor, running him through. Rhajit found him through the dust-smothered air and pointed to where Rapheth was cutting down Egian warriors, his blade searing like fire.
"Let us join his side!"
. . .
Event though they were greatly outnumbered the steel blades were more than doing their share of work for the desert army. Like the red rams upon the cliffs tribesmen would leap and bound into the battle and their flashing swords frightened their Egian opponents, breaking apart the Egian iron swords like hammers upon clay vessels. But the battle was not finished. Rapheth himself, his sword gleaming had cut a fearsome swath through the Egian army with the sword of Ishuye.
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