ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (6 page)

‘You’ll know soon enough. He who sent me has asked me to tell you that the time is now.’

‘Oh, so the “who” is still important? It’s the god of the Gudliefyer you were referring to, isn’t it? And you’re ready to risk your life for him?’

‘Yes, but I’m here because of the “what”.’

‘Many call you a fool.’

‘Then why seek knowledge from a fool?’

She fell silent and turned away from him. She sighed and said, ‘I don’t know. I--’

‘Oh, you do know. You came because you see wisdom in my foolishness.’ he said, chuckling.

She turned back to him. He looked relaxed on his bed.

‘You seem so happy when you’re going to be hanged in a few days. I can save you.’

She heard footsteps approaching.

Behozi said, ‘You can’t save me. You can’t even save yourself from what is to come.’ He moved swiftly to her and put something in her hand. He whispered, ‘This will help you in your search for the truth. Don’t worry about me. My destiny is now fulfilled. I will go content.’

Before Natalia could react, Balkazor had the lantern in her face.

‘My lady, you must be your way.’ he said, unlocking the door.

‘Yes.’ she said, moving to the open door.

‘My lady,’ Behozi said, causing her to turn, ‘I did this for you.’

‘What?’

‘I came because of you.’

She stared at him.

‘My lady?’ Balkazor said.

‘Ah yes.’ she said, snapping back to where she was. She threw one last glance at Behozi. He had returned to his bed. She left with Balkazor.

‘I thought he must have broken your neck.’ he said.

Natalia didn’t answer. She remained silent till she was riding from the prison with Alinus and Amira.

‘You’re unusually pensive.’ said Amira to her. ‘It seems the meeting wasn’t as you expected.’

‘Yes, it was different--he was different.’ Natalia said, slowing down to a trot.

‘You mean Balkazor, my lady?’ said Alinus, also slackening his speed. Amira hit him on the head but Natalia smiled and said, ‘Amusing, Alinus. I was referring to Behozi--I mean--Felman. He is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. He’s--’

‘Wonderful?’ said Amira.

‘Insane?’ Alinus said.

‘No, but he’s everything. He sees beyond what we see.’ she said, dropping her voice to a whisper.

They were quiet. Natalia thought about what he had said. She felt she had left with more questions than answers but she knew what she sought could be found in its answers.

‘It’s sad he would die soon.’ Amira said, interrupting her thoughts.

‘He’s not going to die.’ said Natalia.

‘How do you know?’

‘Because we’re going to help him escape.’ she said, galloping ahead of them.

‘We?! Why and how are we going to do that?’ Amira asked as Alinus raced to keep up.

‘My lady, it’s impossible.’ said Alinus.

She grinned and said, ‘That’s for me to decide.’

                                                                      ***

‘Is Behozi who he says he is?’ Kalani asked Amse.

‘Who did he claim to be?’ he said, warming his hands over the fire.

‘He didn’t claim to be anything except maybe a messenger.’

‘Keep that in mind for in this tale it’s those who claim to be insignificant that have the most to say.’

‘Please continue.’

‘Why do you give her hope where there is none?’ said a voice, coming from a dark corner in Behozi’s cell moments after the princess’ departure.

Behozi turned to where the voice had come. ‘Anundi, I welcome you. It’s been over twenty years since we last saw, maybe the same length since you walked the earth as yourself.’

‘It would have been longer if you hadn’t summoned me. I could kill you for the insult.’ A dark-cloaked figure came out from the shadows.

Behozi rose.  ‘You wouldn’t dare. It’s you who has insulted yourself. You’ve been asleep while evil reigned.’

‘I cannot fight it, Behozi.’

‘Because you’ve corrupted your power.’

‘No, I merely didn’t use it.’

‘You lie! Akasha is still alive because of you.’

‘I didn’t have a choice.’

‘You had many but you thought only of yourself.’

‘Then what will I do? I cannot fight him now.’ The voice sounded broken.

‘Then relinquish your power to the girl.’

‘But I’m not dead yet.’

‘Maybe you don’t know it but you are. If you love her and the race of men you were born to protect, help her or she’ll die.’

There was a long silence. The dark figure sighed and said, ‘How is my father?’

‘He lives, ever mourning your memory.’

There were footsteps approaching the cell.

‘I must go.’ said Anundr. ‘Are you sure you don’t need my help?’

‘My path has been chosen. I’ll walk its full length. You must tread on yours.’

The figure disappeared into the darkness it had come. A guard shone his lantern in the cell.

‘Behozi, are you talking to yourself again?’

‘No, my guest just left.’

The guard scanned the cell and found it empty. He burst into fits of laughter and said, ‘Your madness must be getting worse.’

He laughed all the way back to his station.

Anundr was outside. The night was cold—the rains were close. Like a shadow, the figure moved across the prison grounds.

‘Stop! Turn around.’ said a guard. The figure turned to see seven guards with their swords drawn.

‘Who are you? Show yourself.’

Anundr lowered the hood.

‘No, it cannot be.’ said one of them, lowering his sword in shock, ‘You are--’

‘The face of death.’ Anundr said, drawing a sword. ‘Take this message to the palace and the high priest. I’m back from the dead.’

The last things the guards saw before they dropped were the figure’s burning dark eyes.

She had never seen him before. He had his back turned towards her as he looked down the hill top. From the dazzling light of the sun, she noticed how warrior-like he was and how dark his hair was. She feared he might jump. It seemed to have an unusual effect on her. She ran towards him, calling him to stop. He turned around and everywhere went dark.

A voice spoke. It sounded familiar yet strange. ‘Natalia.’

‘Who are you?’ she said, turning in fear. She couldn’t see anything.

‘I am the voice of redemption and vengeance.’

‘What do you want?’

‘To protect you.’

‘Why?’

‘Your life is in danger and you cannot fight alone.’

Natalia felt something thrust in her hand.

‘Take this’ said the voice, ‘and I’ll always be with you.’ The darkness departed but she ran after it, not wanting it to leave. She had felt safe in it.

‘No.’ she said, waking up from her dream. She panted, looking around her. The darkness didn’t help to ease her nerves. Nothing seemed out of place except her open window. She felt something in her hand. She opened it to see a jewel. She dropped it in shock. There was a thunderclap from outside causing her to jump. Rain poured down, some of it getting into her room. She rushed to close the window, getting a little wet in the process. She lit a candle by her bedside and took out a small gold box from her secret hiding place under the floor of her bed. The key was on a chain round her neck. She opened the box and took out the two objects Felman had given her. She examined the first item. It was a large rusty-looking medallion with many engraved bearings like those of a compass. She couldn’t read it. Frustrated, she turned to the second item, which was a piece of parchment with a foreign language scribbled on it. She sighed and turned to the last object, which she had just received. It was diamond-shaped with gold borders and a turquoise heart.  She held it by its ropes and examined it against the light. The turquoise stone gleamed, enthralling her in its luster. Something was in it, she could feel it.
It must be a talisman
, she thought. She hesitated for some moments then wore it around her neck.

She got up and peered through the window. It was still dark and the rain was getting heavier, but she couldn’t waste any more time. The easiest time to leave the castle was when the guards were being changed at the gate. That was when their defense was weakest.

She changed from her night dress into a plain grey dress, pulled on her cloak and left the castle just as the replacements rode in.

‘Natalia, where have you been? We’ve searched everywhere for you.’ said her mother. Her face was wan as she beckoned her daughter to her side. Natalia had returned to meet the castle throng with soldiers. She was escorted to the throne room by three solemn looking men who refused to answer her entreaties. She met Akasha, Alcon and some guards with the queen who sat on her throne with her face in her hands. All eyes turned as Natalia came in, a look of gloom registered in all.

‘What has happened?’ she asked, rushing to her mother’s side.

‘There was an incident in Soliham prison.’ said Alcon.

Natalia’s heart raced. She rose while still holding her mother’s hand.

‘What incident?’ she said.

‘Twelve guards were found dead this morning including the dungeon lord but no prisoner was found missing.’

‘How did it happen? Who did this?’

‘All the witnesses are dead.’ snapped Akasha.

‘But we got there before the last one died.’ said Alcon. ‘He told me that he knew the face but he couldn’t remember who it was. The creature had taken his memory. All he remembered was that it had called itself the voice of redemption and it said it’s coming for the thrones of Helmford.’

Queen Celeste gasped and held her daughter close. Natalia felt faint but she held her composure for her mother’s sake. Akasha grimaced and said to Alcon, ‘You lie.’

‘I do not. Those were his words.’

Akasha moved away from the group, deep in thought. He said, almost to himself, ‘So we’re dealing with an ‘it’ you say? Why does the truth, which lurks ever so enticingly near, always elude us? It raises more questions than answers.’ He turned to see all eyes on him. He said to Alcon, ‘What are you waiting for? Double the guards on Behozi.’

‘Yes, Rahmon.’ he said, giving orders to the men behind him.

Celeste rose and said, ‘Alcon, get guards to protect my daughter. I don’t care for my life but hers.’

Before Natalia could protest, Akasha said, ‘Why should you bother with a girl who moves around at unholy hours of the night like a curse? For all we know, she might have been the murderer.’

‘Rahmon--’

‘The only thing that makes the night unholy is you.’ Natalia said.

Akasha smiled. ‘Then tell everyone where you were.’

‘That doesn’t concern you but if you must know I’ve been in my room all night but I went out—to think.’

‘You had a lot of thinking to do if you needed rain to clear your head.’

‘I don’t have to answer to you.’ she said, moving towards him. His eyes caught the glimmer of the talisman on her neck. He grabbed her arm and pointed to it, ‘Where did you get that?’

‘Let go of me.’ she said, jerking her arm away. ‘Don’t you dare--’

‘Natalia, Rahmon, please it’s enough.’ said the queen, holding her head. A moment of tensed silence passed between them as Akasha glared and Natalia panted like a wounded animal. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders.

‘Mother, do not bother.’ she said. ‘I’ve had enough of this vile man this morning. If you would excuse me.’ She curtsied and left the room.

Akasha sat writing a letter on his desk. The sun was shining outside but little could be told from the dimness of his office. He preferred the coolness and solitude that the darkness brought, so he kept his windows closed at all times. His office was large and there were four stone columns in the room, each with several words engraved on it. Beside each column stood a stone stature of a guard of Machish. All of them held their bronze swords up in the air and out of their mouths protruded three-branched candlesticks, the room’s only sources of light.

The door opened and Alinus walked in. He bowed and said, ‘Father of Helmford, you sent for me.’

‘Alinus, come forward.’ he said, without pausing his work. Alinus complied and stood a respectable distance from him.

Akasha didn’t look up. ‘Did you see someone leave my office just now?’

‘Yes, Father. Pygar, the keeper of knowledge.’

Akasha raised his head, ‘Do you know why he was here?’

‘No.’ Alinus said, keeping his head lowered. The intensity of Akasha’s stare made him feel exposed.

Akasha rose and ambled towards him, ‘He came to inform me that the princess came to him with an ancient parchment. The only person who could have had it is Behozi and the only way she could have gotten to him is at night. However, the foolish girl doesn’t even know her bearings in the day, which means she had some assistance. So I will ask you, Alinus, did you help her get to Soliham?’

‘No, Father of--’

Akasha floored him with his staff and placed it on his neck.

‘I will ask again. This time, answer wisely. Did you help the princess get to Soliham?’