ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (4 page)

From the door of the castle, she dropped a petal on her every step. She could feel the burn of the gravel on her bare feet but no girl was allowed to wear shoes for the ceremony. She walked with four guards by her side till she reached the gate. She looked at her basket, a portion was gone. She stepped out and followed the train of girls going down to the temple. Some guards stood around patrolling and examining their baskets. A girl in front finished her petals and they tore her dress and sent her back. She ran back crying. Natalia’s heart skipped. She looked at her petals and carry on.  Those girls who fell on the road were sent back. Natalia chose to brace the pain of the stones and continue. When they reached the temple, those who still have flowers left were sent back. Natalia dropped her final petal in front of the gate. The guards looked into her basket and let her in. She stood in the front roll with some other girls. A crowd of people were gathered to watch the ceremony. She saw Ishkhan standing by her father close by the steps. Akasha stood on the top of the stairs with her mother, both in white and with solemn expressions on their faces.

Her mother addressed them, ‘Welcome daughters of Sheroth. The goddess has smiled upon you. Tonight, after this ceremony, you shall no longer be girls but women.’

The rahais passed a cup to the girls to take a drink of the wine. It was sweet and helped ease the tension. Natalia took a large gulp of it. Her mother came down with a bronze bowl in her hand and she sprinkled red mixture on the girls. Her mother came to her, smiled and sprinkled on her. When this was done, the girls danced around a fire. Natalia could feel her feet throbbing but the joy and relief of passing made her dance to her heart’s desire.

That night, after the festivities, she lay on the grass in the field and stared at the stars.

‘What are you thinking about?’ Ishkhan asked, sitting by her.

‘My favorite story. Have I ever told you about Atlas?’

‘The titan who carried the heavens on his shoulders.’

‘Yes, whenever I look up I wonder what would happen if he dropped it.’

‘I guess we would all die.’

‘What’s your favorite story? Machish?’

‘Goodness, no. I prefer Orion.’

‘Ahhh…the huntsman.’ She burst into laughter.

‘What’s so funny?’

‘It suits you. Orion.’

‘I think it would be funny naming you Atlas though.’

She laughed and looked into his eyes. She couldn’t see what color anymore but she could see glint in them and how they focused on her. At that moment, she knew exactly what she wanted and she was ready.

‘Orion.’

‘Yes, Atlas.’

‘I have a second wish.’

‘Yes?’

‘Kiss me.’

He stroked her face and said, ‘Close your eyes.’

She closed them and waited. She heard him move closer to her. She parted her lips and moved her face forward, then she felt a kiss on her ear.

She opened her eyes. ‘That’s not what I asked for—’

He covered her lips with his mouth and she closed her eyes and moved her lips in response to his.

The next day, Ishkhan took Natalia to their favorite place. It was a tall mahogany tree that stood at the top of a hill overlooking the city. They sat on a branch and watched the sunrise, silently enjoying the moment.

Ishkhan said, ‘Atlas.’

‘Yes, Orion.’ she replied with a mischievous glint in her eyes as she made to grab a lock of his hair.

He caught her hand just in time and said, ‘I shall be leaving for Arngeirr tomorrow.’

‘Why tomorrow? You can stay longer.’

‘I’ve stayed long enough. My father has sent for me.’

‘But I need you here.’ she said, sulking.

He stroked her cheek. ‘I promise to return, and I’ll give you something precious to me to prove it.’ He removed a chain from his neck. It had a medallion with an eagle engraved on both sides.

‘When my mother gave this to me,’ he said, ‘she told me that I’m like an eagle that flies against the wind. Remember me with this, and remember I vowed to return and be yours forever.’ He put the medallion in her hand.

She looked at it and said, ‘Do you know you made Arnlaugr, the eagle vow? They say it cannot be broken.’

‘I don’t want it to.’ he said and kissed her. She held him tight and rested her head on his shoulder. She didn’t want that moment with him to end.

The day she watched him leave was the saddest day she could remember. She refused to leave her room to bid him farewell. He tried to see her but Amira didn’t allow him into her chambers. They always made no secret of their hatred for each other.

Outside the castle, he said his goodbyes to her parents. He threw one last glance at her window. She was hiding behind the curtains but she knew he knew she was there. Watching him get on his horse, she had a change of heart. She dashed out of her room and ran out of the castle with Amira at heels, begging her to remember her position. Ishkhan and his soldiers were already at the gate.

‘Ishkhan.’ she shouted as she raced down to him.

Her mother wanted to call her to order but Meldric stopped her, saying, ‘Let her be,’

Ishkhan jumped down his horse and embraced her. Her voice choked with sobs. ‘How could you leave without saying goodbye?’

‘You didn’t want to see me.’

‘That isn’t true. If you cannot stay, let me go with you.’

He looked into her eyes and brushed her hair from her face. ‘You know well enough you cannot. I believe you still have things to do here.’

Outraged, she hit his chest. ‘Why are you talking like this?’

He held her arms before she broke away from him. He waited for her to calm down, then he said, ‘I don’t know. I just feel something is coming and we must prepare for it.’

‘You speak in riddles.’

He grinned, brightening his blue eyes. ‘Even to me I sound like a mad man.’

He planted a kiss between her eyes and climbed on his horse. She pressed something in his palm and said, ‘This is special to me. Bring it back.’

He looked at it, then at her. ‘I will.’ He rode off with his men behind him. She watched till they were out of sight and remained there, hoping he might change his mind, till her father put his arm around her and led her back into the castle.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months but there was no news from Ishkhan. Every day, she examined the medallion as if it had special news from him to relay but all she felt was its cold reminder of what she once had. The truth dawned on her after several weeks of watching. She knew he wouldn’t return. Often, she would throw the medallion on the floor vowing never to look at it again, but she would later pick it up and clean it with her kisses and tears. Amira thought she had gone mad but her parents knew that her malady was a broken heart.

Against Akasha’s wishes, Meldric allowed Natalia continue her weapons training with Alcon, the greatest swordsman in the kingdom. He was a soldier in General Daril’s regiment. It was said that the general was the hardest man in the army and he only picked the best to work with him. During training, he would send many corpses and young men close to death back to their parents. That earned him the name The Scorpion, because though he was small for a soldier, death followed him wherever he went. It was rumored that he had never left any of his opponents standing no matter their size. Alcon was the youngest and one of the few men that had impressed him. When the king had asked him for a trainer for his daughter, Alcon was the first name in the general’s mind. Natalia had loathed the young soldier at first. He was unreadable and stiff-necked, oblivious of his good looks and incapable of a smile, but he was passionate about fighting. He was tough on her and made her train long and hard till she bled. She had wanted to give up many times. Amira would nurse her wounds as she wept and swore never to go back again. But by morning, Natalia would return to the training ground and Alcon would be there taunting her that her eyes were red from crying--that she was a girl and needed to give up since it was only part of a woman’s nature. Natalia would look into his eyes, anger surging within her, her sword in hand, and her body poised to strike. She knew he was testing her and that if she failed, she would never be seen as anything more than a lady in the eyes of her father and everyone else, and Akasha would be proven right. There was more at stake for her than just learning to fight, it was about winning their respect. The loathing gave way to an understanding, and then a mutual respect. She soon became as good as he was.

Akasha still taught her in the temple but he noticed she grew more defiant of his authority. He still doubted her destiny but soon he would realize how dangerous she would be.

‘Is that how it ends? I thought this was going to be a love story with a happy ending.’ said Fanndis as she poked the dying embers with a stick.

Amse shook his head and said, ‘No, it’s only the beginning. It’s a tale of--’

‘I care no longer for tales.’ Kalani said, sniffing, and rose. ‘This was a waste of my night.’

‘You don’t yet understand the importance of this tale.’ said Amse, rising as well.

‘Have you already forgotten what we’ve lost? Our home and your son are gone but I’m the only one with the heart to mourn them.’

Amse stared at her while she glared back with her arms folded and tears welling up in her eyes. Fanndis watched them but said nothing from fear of being at the receiving end of Amse’s quick wrath, but at that moment, Kalani didn’t care. She wanted him to react—she needed him to. Maybe if he shouted or hit her it would help ease the choking grip in her chest. However, he didn’t act as expected. He sat down and rubbed his eyes as he said, ‘So you call me, your guardian, heartless?’ It sounded more like a reflection than a question.

Kalani said, ‘I don’t know what to think. I wonder where all your men were when that army attacked. We were defenseless before them—and Letion—you were the last one to see him before he died and I know you disapproved of your son wanting to be with me. What do you expect me to think or say?’

‘To talk better than you’re talking now!’

‘It’s enough.’ Mara said. Her voice was firm but heavy with constrained emotion. They turned in her direction. She stood in front of Amse’s tent in her usual white
toub
, a garment made of linen that was long enough to be wrapped around her as a robe and draped over her head as a veil. Despite the trinket-beaded tassels at the ends of her robe, no one had heard her approach. She said, ‘Dawn draws nearer. You need strength for another day.’

Kalani stormed off to the tent she shared with Fanndis. The latter joined her soon after. When they were snuggled in their beds, she said, ‘Kalani.’

‘Yes, Fanndis.’

‘You know you were wrong to treat Amse like that.’

‘Good night, Fanndis.’

Fanndis kept quiet and drifted off to sleep. Kalani lay awake, muffling her gasps with the sheets as her tears wet the bed.
She couldn’t believe Letion was gone
. Her fond memories felt like a curse. All she had was the present, was the people, was Amse.
Amse
. She wept harder. She knew she had hurt him. Her conscience and her feelings wrestled for control in her mind. Her thoughts and emotions quieted down when she heard voices in the tent next to hers. It belonged to Amse and Mara. Kalani moved to the wall of her tent to hear them better.

‘Why did you start the tale?’ said Mara.

‘She needs to hear it.’ said Amse. ‘Ignorance would kill her faster than the truth.’

An unfamiliar voice said, ‘Who are you to choose the time to tell her?’

‘I’m the one her mother entrusted her to. Her mother would have wanted it.’

‘And what do you think the Faran would say?’ said the voice.

‘I don’t care anymore. It is beyond them.’

‘Nothing is beyond them.’ said Mara. ‘Are you willing to sacrifice your life?’

‘Yes, I am.’

There was a long silence. The voice spoke again, ‘Remember, what is started must be finished.’

Kalani was confused, unable to make sense of what they had said. The story seemed to have far more meaning and importance for Amse to be willing to risk his life for it. Her conscience took over her emotions and her heart thawed towards him. Her interest in the tale grew.
She had to finish it. But what was its connection to her?
While she tried to piece the story together, she fell asleep.

There is an old saying that when thoughts become dreams and dreams thoughts, a man walks half asleep. This was the case with Kalani as they journeyed through the windy hills of Haskell. The night had been short for her. She had woken up with a start, gasping for air. It occupied her mind as she walked, while she tried to keep the heat and dust away from her thoughts.

‘I had the most unusual dream last night.’ she said to Fanndis, who walked beside her. Fanndis had one hand on her blue veil and the other on a mule’s noose. She always tried to protect her pale complexion from the sunlight. Kalani looked at her own skin that reminded her of roasted coffee beans that had stayed too long on the hot sand. She always wondered why she looked so different from Amse’s desert-colored people and yet so different from Fanndis. She remembered she had asked Amse but he had avoided answering the question—he always did. He never answered questions about her background and her parents.

Fanndis said, ‘So did I. What did you dream about?’

‘Of Amse’s story. It felt so real—like I was there—and I also dreamt of Letion long before this.’ Her voice broke as she stifled a sob. ‘He was laughing about something. I tried to warn him but he didn’t hear me and he turned and ran into the village, then I saw the men on horses riding past me and the village was on fire again.’ She shook her head and wiped her tears, saying, ‘What of yours? What did you dream about?’

Fanndis blushed and looked down. ‘Nothing.’

‘Tell me.’

‘It’s only about a man. He’s frequently in my dreams but he’s a stranger to me.’

Kalani could feel she was hiding something. Fanndis had picked an interest in the mule just to avoid looking at her. ‘What did he do?’ she asked.

‘He married me.’ Fanndis said under her breath.

Kalani understood why Fanndis had hesitated and she stopped asking questions. She felt angry with her though she knew she didn’t say it to hurt her or to remind her that Letion was gone.

They camped on the hill that night and as the servants made the tents, Kalani wandered away from the camp, craving solitude. She heard eerie cries from below. She knelt down to peer into the darkness but saw nothing.

‘Stop listening to their cries.’

She jolted, turning to see Taharqa standing a few feet away from her. He was the tallest and darkest amongst Amse’s men and the most soft-spoken. He was Amse’s favorite amongst his servants. 

‘Why?’ she asked.

‘They are the Berians, demons who haunt the bottom of this hill. They come out at night and imitate the voices of men. When you join them to sing or answer their call, they take your soul. That is the only way for them to leave here.’

Kalani rose and dusted her palms and clothes. ‘Then we must return to the others.’ she said.

She heard something whizz past her ear and she lost her footing and fell. She dug her fingers into the cliff while her body dangled at the other side.

‘
Robbers
.’ Taharqa shouted and reached out to take her hand. Kalani saw a figure moving towards him.

‘Look behind you!’

He did and took out his blade just in time to stop a knife slashing his head. He kicked the man to the floor and the man hit her hands. She lost her grip and rolled down screaming. She caught a branch just before she hit the ground. She looked below her and saw smoke just a few feet below, rising towards her. She saw several yellowish eyes in the smoke staring at her. She looked around to see how she could escape.

‘Kalani!’ she heard Amse call.

She wanted to answer but she remembered what Taharqa had said.
No, she couldn’t answer.
She dug her feet into the sand and pulled herself up, plodding up as fast as she could. She felt a pull on her leg. She tripped.

‘No.’ she shouted and got up again. She heard Mara singing. It made her weak and she opened her mouth to sing but she clapped her hands over it and she fell on her knees. She looked below her and the smoke reached her and rose higher to cover her.

‘Kalani. Kalani!’

‘No!’

‘Look up.’

She saw Amse standing with his hand outstretched.

‘Give me your hand.’

She stretched it and he pulled her up and walked fast up the hill. They collapsed on the floor and she felt her senses and strength returning. She looked around her and saw Mara covering one of their men’s wounds. She saw Fanndis kneeling beside her with tears in her eyes.

‘Why are you crying?’

She shook her head. ‘I thought they took you as well.’

Kalani got up and looked around her. Some of the men lay unmoving on the floor, while a majority gathered them to the other side of the camp. Kalani moved in that direction but Amse stood in her way.

‘How many of us are left?’ she asked.

‘Enough.’ he replied. She looked around her to see fallen tents and missing camels.

‘They took some supplies as well.’ he said.

‘Do we have enough?’ she asked.

‘They didn’t take our supper at least.’ he said and walked away to help the men with the bodies. They performed the funeral rites and set the bodies aflame to prevent the demons from repossessing them. Kalani watched with tears, remembering the events of only two nights before.

When they finished, the maids dished soup out under Mara’s supervision. Kalani ate her portion around the camp fire. Amse’s mother, Eirene, sat opposite her rocking herself. Kalani had never heard the matriarch utter a word in her life. It was rumored that she had cut off her tongue while another version stated that she had sworn an oath to remain silent till the fulfillment of a prophecy. Kalani wasn’t sure if any was true but she felt almost certain that it was her voice she had heard the night before. The intensity of the old woman’s stare also reinforced her belief. She forced herself to concentrate on her food. However, it validated the magnitude of the story to her.

As the night wore on, sleep led almost everyone to their beds while four guards patrolled the camp at each end. Only Kalani and Amse remained at the fireplace. She watched as he rubbed his fingers on his talisman and chanted with his eyes closed.

‘What are you waiting for?’ he asked.

‘Thank you for saving me.’

‘It was nothing. Now you must go to bed.’

‘No,’ she said, ‘sleep must wait till your tale is finished.’

‘It cannot be finished tonight and you’ve already said you wouldn’t hear it.’

‘Amse, forgive my words. They were thoughtless and cruel.’

‘I’ll forgive you if you let me continue without interruptions and you don’t rush me.’ he said, opening his eyes.

‘I accept your terms but Fanndis is asleep. Should I wake her?’

‘Let her sleep. If this tale gets to the wrong ears it will be catastrophic.’

‘But Fanndis is trustworthy.’

Amse smiled. ‘You know little of the world,’ he said, ‘but I’ll open your eyes to see.’