Chapter 34. The Child
Nigor, the First of all Females, was the Mate of Arm-Ra, the First of all Males, for millennia they were content to rule the universe, holding each other in their eternal arms. Then Nigor became sad, for she wished a child, to hold to her breast. Arm-Ra forbid her from creating one, for he was jealous of her love, and did not wish to share it. Nigor tricked him by saying that she wished to create an ocean, so that she could look at it, as they lay together. When he gave her his seed, she took it and fashioned a daughter instead.
She called the girl child, Isarie, whose name means Light of the Heavens.
When Arm-Ra, saw what she had done, he became angry and vowed that he would someday kill the child.
Hearing her Mate say this, Nigor shook her head and said.“You will not, I am a mother now and I will guard her until the end of time.”
Old Norgonie story.
Andra drifted in a world of soft memories, there was no pain and all thoughts of spiders and death, had vanished from her mind. It was the first time in a very long while that she had felt so content, she wished that she could go on dreaming for eternity.
This is a good world; she thought; I can stay here, and there will be no pain; then in the soft darkness of her contentment, an odor filled her nostrils, in an instant she recognized the wonderful fragrance.
Kurlock pie, my mother’s Kurlock pie!
At first, she did not want to open her eyes, she thought that she would see the world she left behind, not the world in which she wished to be. Slowly her eyes opened and she looked around.
In the warm sunlight that filtered in to the small room from an open window, she saw a set of wooden of drawers, painted a sky blue, with a round mirror sitting on top. The plainly fashioned mirror, was cracked in one corner, and the wooden frame that held it, was in need of repair. Beside the mirror, was a small box that seemed out, of place. It was made of very fine silver, and it too, was in need of care, lock was broken. Also in the room was a small chair, and a worn storage chest with a dozen books upon it. Enough to tell Andra, exactly where she was.
My room; she thought; my room when I was a child. She sat up and saw that she was indeed lying on her old bed, wearing her favorite pale yellow dress that her mother had lovingly sewn for her, so long ago. This can’t be true; she told her mind, she rose from the bed. She stood trying to understand how and why, she had returned home. The pleasing smell of warm Kurlock pie, once more filled her head. She heard a familiar voice calling from another room.
“Hurry you lazy girl, or your pie will get cold!”
She knew that voice, for she had grown up with it, Niana my mother! Andra knew full well that her mother was long dead, her world destroyed, so it was surely an illusion.
This is some kind of trick; she assured herself; someone has given me Boda to eat.
She knew of the hallucinatory mushrooms, because Arn had given her some, so she would not be afraid, when they journeyed into the deep caves, during the Burning Time. The Hollow Hills, were a long way from the forest of Caltarine, and even further from the Haunted City, where she knew, she must be.
Someone is doing this to me; she told herself, and because she was a soldier, she instinctively looked around for a weapon. The only thing that she could see, was a well-used hairbrush and the stuffed lap-kitten that she had received for her tenth birthday.
She heard her mother’s voice calling to her again, and this time it was louder.
“What’s the matter with you, are you coming or not?”
Slowly Andra followed the voice, walking from her room towards the well-scrubbed kitchen, where she knew the voice was calling from. As she walked, she kept telling herself that it was surely a dream and she would awake at any moment. Never had a dream seemed so real to her. Every detail was correct, the faded rug on the hallway floor, the oil lamp on the wall, with the cracked wind glass. The sound of meadow birds calling out to each other, it was perfect.
The more she looked around, the more she wished it all to be real.
If this is a dream, let me remain here.
She entered the kitchen, standing at the cooking stove, was a woman of average height, with long braided hair. She wore a simple grass green dress, and she was cutting a large portion of the Kurlock pie that she had just finished baking.
“Mother?” Andra asked softly.
The woman turned and smiled at her daughter with warm eyes, “of course silly girl”, she said with a laugh, “who else would spend so much time baking a pie just for you?” She placed the pastry on a clean dish and handed it to Andra, who looked at it for a moment, then put it down on a table in the center of the room. Her mother frowned at her, then shook her head, “what’s the matter, you’re not hungry?” she asked.
Andra did not hear her words, she put her arms around her mother, hugging her tightly, and her mother hugged her back. After some time had passed, with both of them, just holding each other, Niana let go of her daughter. She looked into her eyes, seeing that they were filled with tears, she spoke to her in a soft voice. “What’s the matter with you my daughter, are you ill?”
Andra said nothing, wiping the tears from her eyes, she smiled at her mother. “No, it’s just that I haven’t seen you in a long time”.
“A long time?” Niana said, with a quizzical look, “ we went to the market square yesterday, don’t you remember?”
Not wanting to tell her that she was dead, Moonbud simply smiled, “yes you’re right”, she said. She sat down at the table, picking up the warm pie, she took a bite. Tasting the sweetness, she forgot about spiders and warriors and all the faces of another world. All that mattered to her now, was her home, her mother and the warm embrace of memories.
Let me stay here forever; she asked; here and now is all I need, she took another bite of contentment, when she had finished, her mother poured her a cup of milk, she drank all of it. Now she sat and watched, as her mother cleaned the dish that she had eaten off, she listened to her singing softly to herself.
Flowers of morning that bring the dawn.
Birds that flutter and frogs that yawn.
Wind of the meadows that blows from the west.
Home is the haven that I love the best.
It was a song that Andra could not remember, hearing her mother singing before. She remembered more of her childhood, and those that loved her, as she did the images of faraway Gorn, were slowly replace by images of her past. War and death, now became summer and life. Smoke and flames vanished, visions of green meadows and cool winters, took their place. Shadowmen, Whiptails, Norgonie, all drifted away, the dream became reality, and reality became a dream.
Let me stay; she pleaded; let me stay forever.
Niana put down her washcloth, she turned to look at her daughter.
“You had almost forgotten hadn’t you?” she asked. Drawing closer, she looked deep into her daughters eyes. “We can never be forgotten, as long as you love us”, she said with a smile. “You are my child and I am your mother that bond can never be broken, now you must go”.
“Go, go where?”
“This place is not your home now”, Niana said, “your home is waiting for you, there, others will hold you, and care for you, and you will care for them”.
Moonbud shook her head, “ I don’t want to go”, tears began to fill her eyes once more, “I want to stay here with you”.
Her mother shook her head, “you must go, you have someone, waiting for you”.
“Arn is strong, he will find another”, Andra replied.
Again her mother shook her head, “no, the King will find you, you must find another”.
“Who?”
Taking her daughter into her arms, she looked deep into her eyes, “all you have to do is remember”.
As she heard those words, Moonbud felt the arms of her mother’s slipping away. No matter how hard she tried to hold her, she suddenly felt herself falling again. The world of her past, became a swirling vortex that drew he
r downward into empty darkness.
Arn and Ishea, moved silently through the dim tunnels of the forgotten city, they did not speak, they knew that danger was ever present, and a whisper could bring instant death. They knew that they were heading downwards, to what end, they did not know. The King vowed that he would find his mate, nothing was going to turn him from fulfilling that task. The Queen would stay by his side, she too had made a promise to the Gods, she knew that even though she could not see the sky, they were still watching her.
They moved carefully in shadowy light, there was still enough Starfall, to keep them from tripping over the broken stone pathway that lay before them. It was not steps that lay under their feet, more a sloping ramp, well worn from the use of ages. The curved walls, had sections, indented with thick glass. At sometime, they must have provided some kind of illumination, but it had long since vanished, along with any other power source. Now all that remained to light the way, was the glow of the clinging moss.
They did not stop to eat, they had no food. As they descended, they found the walls dripped a foul smelling water, and the floor became a slippery quagmire, filled with all kinds of crawling things. Feeling hunger, the King picked a fat Bloodworm off the wall, he ate it without complaint, not wanting to show weakness, the Queen did the same.
“It is not Rimar”, Ishea whispered, “but it is better than nothing”. She smiled, “ I am sure your Half-Soul mate feeds you well”.
Arn did not want to travel down that bumpy path of words, “I did not mate with her for her cooking”, he said, as he began walking.
With no fire to fan with her jealously, Ishea followed him.
They continued down the dripping hallway, as they did, the webbing grew more dense. Every so often, they could hear stirrings in the darkness, they knew that the Wormrow, were following them. They did not know, why they did not attack, perhaps they were too few in number, or maybe, they were waiting for a better place, to launch their offensive. Either way, Arn was grateful for the time. He hoped that soon he would find Moonbud, together they could face whatever came.
He also knew that he had much to atone for: I have betrayed her lov: he told himself: and someday I must pay for my weakness. He knew that first he must find her, and take her back to her people, afterwards, he would ask her for forgiveness, and pray that the Gods would do the same.
They continued downward for what seemed like hours, as they walked, they found even more filthy water, soon they were moving knee deep, through a dark muck, with an odor like rotting flesh. The foul aroma was overpowering, but still they moved forward. Twice, they felt something, move past their legs.Something that raked the skin and caused the flesh to burn, the pain was tolerated, and they continued on.
The tunnel opened up into a large chamber, whose walls were carved in strange patterns, set with massive supporting beams of dark metal. Before them was an entrance with an enormous iron door, the height and width, of two tall Nomads. It was pitted and rusted with age, but still it blocked their passage. Arn ran his hand over the rough metal, then took his ax, with powerful blows, he cut the hinges away from the hatchway. He pushed with all his might, the door tumbled into the dank water.
When the King and Queen, passed through the entrance, they found themselves, in another vast chamber, in size, it was many times greater than the last one. They could now see clearly, for hanging high above, was a glowing crystal the size of a Trofar. It was suspended by heavy chains, and emitted a bright greenish glow that filled the huge room. There were great stone and steel columns, supporting the vaulted ceiling. At one end of the cavern chamber, was a tremendous statue seated on a base of black rock. They could not see the figure clearly, but from its general shape, it seemed a like thing of nightmares, not the proud image of a God.
On another side of the chamber, the stone walls and part of the ceiling, had collapsed. There was a wide crack that must have led into another room. The fallen stones, had formed a primitive causeway of sorts, it rose just above the putrid water, leading from the opening to the statue.
The floor was covered in a layer of stagnant water, its surface teamed with crawling insects, feasting on rotting flesh. The odor that was given off, was overpowering. The Queen raised her hand to her face, fighting against the foul taste in her throat and the urge to vomit, she maintained her dignity.
Arn was the first to enter the great room, Ishea did not hesitate to follow, close by his side. Together they slowly waded through the waist deep mire, making their way towards the strange statue, at the far end of the room. As they moved, the water seemed to waver, as if something large was hiding just below the surface. Knowing that the water was shallow, they did not pay it any attention. Above them hung more webbing, the gossamer strands were pitted with the cocoons of large insects and small animals. They did not see the owners of these morsels, they knew, they were surely hiding, just beyond the crystalline light. As they moved, several large, multi-legged insects, crawled up their bodies. They crushed them with their fists, their mangled bodies, fell into the foul water, to be eaten by others of their kind.
Eventually, they reached the other side of the room, they stood gazing up at the monstrous statue, they could see it was not the image of anything human. It had a great oversized head that must have housed a colossal brain, the face of the thing, had small slanted eyes, and only a slit for a mouth. There was no nose to speak of, just a series of holes, and no sign of any ears. The body was bulbous, it seemed to be more reptilian than anything else. It also had, several arm like extensions, at the end of each tendril, were several finger-like grippers that held strange looking devices. It sat on a platform above the foul water, at the front of the base, were a set of worn steps, leading up to a large flat stone. The darkly colored stone, was finely caved with strange images. The Stone's dark color, was not of the material, from which it had been fashioned. It was what had been washed over it.
Blood!
From the condition of the statue, it must have been very old, hundreds, perhaps thousands of cycles in age. One thing was sure, neither Arn nor Ishea, had ever seen anything like it before.
“Is it a God?” asked the Queen, shaking her head.
“No Outlander, would pray to this”, replied the King, “our Gods are noble and strong, this is not something made by the Chosen”.
Hearing those words, Ishea gave him a hard look, “are you saying that the Norgonie, would worship this, this thing?”
The King returned her glare, “it dwells in your land not ours, this is not, one of the children of Isarie”.
The Queen took a step back from her former mate, and raised her weapon. “Arm-Ra is not the father of this abomination,” she said loudly, forgetting where she was. “Perhaps Isarie has been a bed warmer for demons!”
Hearing his Goddess being called a Sin-Craver, caused the King to raise his weapon also, before they could come to blows, over who’s God was the most virtuous, they heard a sound, they moved quickly behind the statue, where they remained, hidden.
Now from their vantage point, they watched in silence, as a long procession of Wormrow, slowly made their way into the chamber. They moved out of the great crack, across the stone walkway, as they did, they emitted a low humming sound. It was not words, or any kind of language. It seemed to the Nomads that they were offering some kind of prayer or homage, oo what they did not know. They continued to watch the vile little creatures, heading straight for them. As they came closer, the King could see more clearly, why they were coming towards them. Tied hand and foot, and hanging from a long iron rod, was Ral.
He was stripped almost naked, his body was torn and bloody, looking at him, you would have said he was dead. Arn saw his chest slowly rise and fall, so he knew that life still dwelt within.
When Ishea saw her son, helpless and hurt, she did what any mother would do, she rose up, and was about to rush to his side. The strong hand of the King stopped her, before she could tear herself away from his grasp, he whispered to her.
>
“They are many, we are few”.
Hearing the wise words of the Nomad, the Queen cooled her anger, and waited in silence. She gripped her Kagar tightly, fighting, to hold down the rage in her heart.
The strange humming grew nearer, soon the procession of creatures, and their hostage, stopped, just in front of the great statue. They stood there for a moment or two, still uttering the weird humming. One of the Wormrow, who was a bit taller than the rest, uttered something that could not be understood, and the others took the warrior up the worn steps. They placed him face up on the dark stone.
The tall Wormrow, began to speak, again the words were unintelligible, but their meaning was easily understood.
“They're praying.” said the Queen in a whisper.
As the King listened, he knew she was correct, then the meaning of what they said, struck him like a barb from an Arrow tail. “They are going to sacrifice him,” he said. Once more, he had to hold the angry Queen down, as she struggled, he leaned close to her ear. “For what he did, he should die”, he said softly, “but not at the hands of these vermin, wait and watch, then we will strike”.
Ishea would have attacked them right away, to die, defending her offspring. She knew that they would all be slain in the attempt, so she nodded her head in approval. “I will wait”, she whispered, “but not for long”.
They waited and watched, as the tall Wormrow continued speaking. When he was through, he began to chant in a low guttural voice, and clap his clawed hands together. Hearing their leader do so, the rest of his kind, did the same. Soon the sound of bestial chanting and clapping filled the chamber.
“What are they doing?” whispered the Queen.
No sooner had she spoken the question than, the murky water in one corner of the huge hall, began to move, as if something was stirring beneath its lurid surface. Then as the chatting rose in volume, bubbles slowly rose up, from the dark water, and the Wormrow began to clap louder. The once placid surface, began to churn, small waves migrated forward, as something moved towards the demented statue.
Arn could feel the tension rising in his muscles; something is coming; he thought; something that lives in the darkness.
As the vile creatures watched, a great tentacle, rose up slowly, from the stinking slime. It was about the size of a man’s arm, covered in quivering sunken cups, set with rows of teeth. No sooner did that one rise than did another, then another and another. Soon the air in front of the stone steps was filled with waving appendages.
There was nothing in legend, to explain this abomination to the Queen. No dark story to frighten children, no tale of hero and monster, this was something that could only spring from nightmares. One of the wavering tentacles began to move towards her son's body, Ishea knew there was no more waiting. Screaming out a war cry of her people, she sprung into battle, at her side was the King.
The Wormrow, were caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the humans, before they could react, several of them, died beneath the furious onslaught of the Nomads. Arn swung wide with his ax, cutting two of the vile creatures in half with one blow, Ishea quickly impaled three more, with the point of her spear. She broke the jaw of one, who came too close to her swinging foot. After the first shock of being attacked, the little monsters fought back with all their might. They clawed and leaped on the intruders, trying to sink their sharp teeth into their flesh. His armor, prevented the King from being gravely injured, and the Queen's speed was great enough, to do the same for her.
The creature beneath the water, began to move violently now, as the water ran with blood, being a creature that lived on flesh, it started to pull the Wormrow into the water, one by one.
“Save the boy!” Arn screamed out, as he cut the head off the nearest foe. He watched as Ishea, drew her dagger, quickly severing her son's the bonds, then, she slapped Ral hard, across his face.
“Get up!” she shouted, to her amazement her son opened his eyes, “FIGHT OR DIE!” she called out. Hearing her words, brought the warrior out of his torpor, and into the fight. The Queen thrust her knife into his hands, feeling the weapon, Ral turned to face his captors, and the thing that rose up before them.
It had no eyes, only a great maw with row upon row of jutting teeth, it made a weird piping sound, like the blare of a twisted signal horn. Each time one of the Wormrow, was picked up and dropped it into its hungry mouth, the piping grew louder. Now the little demons were trapped, between the humans and the ravenous God that they once worshiped. Seeing that they would die either way, the tall leader screamed a command, and they quickly scurried into the darkness, whence they came.
The warriors were glad to see them go, but still left the matter of the tentacled monster to contend with, still being hungry and with no other food nearby, the watery beast reached out for the humans. As one of the tentacles came within reach, Arn's ax cut it in two, the monster gave out a loud wailing cry, and a greenish fluid that must have been the creatures blood, sprayed over him. That did not turn the grotesque beast away, instead, it moved up the worn steps, in a way that reminded the King of the boneless Shorecreepers of the Western Sea.
The massive body that rose up from the murky slime, pulsated and quivered, as it slithered up the stone steps. It continued to wave its many deadly arms about, reaching out to grasp the warriors, trying to pull them into its crushing mouth. Arn and the others moved backwards, continuing to fight the monster, as they did, the King cut off, two more of the beast's tentacles, but it did not seem to affect it at all. The Queen also used her Kagar, striking at the watery demon, again to no avail, with their backs against the stone statue, they had nowhere to turn.
“Climb!” shouted the King, as he hacked at the flabby hide of the monster, with a last blow, he turned and began moving up the great statue. Ishea, was reluctant to turn her back on an enemy, but seeing no other avenue of escape, she joined her former mate. With Ral beside her, they began to climb as fast as they could.
As they climbed, the blind beast reached out with its many arms, it grasped the stone figure, and tried to haul itself upward. Its massive bulk proved to be its undoing, for the statue began to shake, as its stone base started to crumble. Back and forth the huge sculpture rocked, then suddenly, it began to topple. Arn tried to shout out a warning, but his cry, was drowned out, by a great cracking sound. He held on as the monstrous icon fell forward, onto the demon from the darkness. There was a loud wailing cry from the beast, then its primitive brain, was flattened to pulp under the weight of the titanic statue.
Arn, Ishea and Ral, managed to jump free seconds before, to land hard in the water, they quickly stood up, still holding their weapons, in case the monster was not dead. They watched the tentacles, waving about frantically for a short time, then slowly falling into the water, now stained a sickening green color.
The warriors stood there for a moment or two, then Arn looked at his son, it would have been easy to kill him. He was naked and had only a dagger, to defend himself. One good blow with his ax, and he would have his revenge, but killing a defenseless enemy, was not the way of a Nomad. No matter how many laws he might have broken, the King could not bring himself to judge him now. He simply stared at the young warrior, gripping his weapon tightly.
Ral knew, what burnt in his father's the mind, he prided himself for knowing the thoughts of his enemy. Before his father could speak, he answered the question that he knew was coming.
“She is gone”, he said coldly.
Hearing those words, the King took a step towards his son, raising his weapon, Ishea moved quickly between them. “I have found my son, and he will be punished for breaking the law”, she said softly. “You have not found, what you came for, and we will need his strength”.
Arn's mind told him to strike, but his heart told him that this was his son, and that Andra was still missing. Now it was the King's turn to be wise, “three are stronger than two”, he said as he lowered his ax. “I have saved your life once, and I will spare it again...for
now”. He turned, moving away from the Norgonie warriors.
Ishea, turning to her son, put the tip of her spear against his chest. “I am your Queen and you will obey me”, she said bluntly. “If you do not, then I will judge you harder than any King. Now follow me.”, She turned and followed after Arn.
Ral stood there for a time, he watched his mother, go with the man, he hated most in all the world.
Someday I will kill him; he vowed deep in his heart, but without his help, he knew he would soon die. So with no other choice, he began to follow.
Now a searching King, a grateful Queen and a vengeful son, moved across the stone causeway, through the crack in the chamber wall, leaving behind a fallen God, and a slain demon from the Pit of Marloon.
Falling, falling, falling.
Andra opened her eyes.
At first the Selcarie woman felt like she had been sleeping, her head was filled with images that could have only been dreams. She drifted for a moment, as she tried to remember the images that seemed to be just out of her minds grasp. Try as she might, she could only see fragments of visions, ghosts of things long past, and things present. Voices that she should recognize but did not, then she heard a song floating inside her mind.
Flowers of morning that bring the dawn.
Birds that flutter and frogs that yawn.
Wind of the meadows that blows from the west.
Home is the haven that I love the best.
She called out, “mother?” and rose quickly to her feet, she felt the dagger still in her hand.
A trick; she thought; my home, mother, Kurlock pie, it was all a dream; she knew she was awake now, and that she would not be tricked again. Holding her weapon at the ready, she looked around.
The place where she stood, was unlike anything she had seen before, a vast crystalline cave, filled with immense formations of colorful crystals, and twisted rock. They seemed to glow and pulse with an inner life that made the human female, feel very small. The formations jutted out of the floor at different angles, some rose up so high, they became support columns for the cavernous chamber. The walls of the great room, were also covered in semitransparent minerals, some the size of a finger, others larger than a Trofar.
She looked above and saw that the ceiling vanished into nothingness. She knew that she could not have fallen so far and lived.
I was brought here; she told herself that did not answer the question of how or why. Then she heard sounds, coming from all around her, she braced her feet and gripped the handle of her dagger tightly.
What she saw, made the blood in her veins freeze with terror. All about her, were the caretakers of this crystalline world, the Nomads called them “Lurkers in the Darkness”, most knew them as the Crystal Spiders. The bringers of new life, it was they that rose up from the depths of Gorn, during the Burning Time to renew the tired bodies of the Outlanders.
Legends said that they were immortal and the servants of Isarie, so they were worshiped by the Nomads, their images carved everywhere. The High Priestesses of the different tribes, bore their symbol on sacred statues, sacrifices were made to them. Where they really came from, and why the Chosen did not know.
How many there were throughout the vast chamber, was unknown, they must have numbered in the thousands. Each one a duplicate of each other, all of them connected in their tasks. A scientist of the Outer Rim, might have been able to tell you, how they communicated and why. They might also give you a detailed explanation of their inner workings, and how they were able to renew a body adding many cycles to its life span. They would not be able to tell you, about the wonder of such creatures, and their place in the universe, for only the Gods know those answers.
To Andra, they were her worst nightmare, come true.
As a young girl, she had fallen into a breeding nest of field spiders, she was unhurt of course, because the tiny insects were harmless. She never forgot the feel of their miniature legs, crawling over her body and the feeling of helplessness that came over her. Now, even the sight of a spider, sent a chill up her spine, causing her to react, as if she was facing a battle droid of the Ancary.
Andra looked franticly for way out of this chamber of horrors, no matter which direction she turned, she saw only more of the dreadful creatures. She waited for what she knew was coming, she saw the demons moving towards her, filling the air with a rattling sound.
If I’m going to die; she thought; I’ll go out fighting; she braced herself, muttering a marching song of the Selcarie.
Sing the songs with marching feet.
Hear the sounds of war drums beat.
Live your days and worry not.
Laugh at death and wars well fought.
As she spoke the words, all she was thinking about, was home, her mother and her brother...and her child.
It was then that she remembered.
“My child”, she said softly, “I have a child”.
She did not know why, but she lowered the dagger in her hand, the terror that filled her heart, was replaced by the love of a mother, for her offspring. She stood without fear, the spiders suddenly stopped moving, and they made no sound. Perhaps they would only attack, if a person feared them, or maybe it was because the Burning Time had not yet come. Like all creatures on Gorn, they too were under the will of the Gods, for whatever reason they now sat unmoving.
As Andra watched the spiders, the terror that once filled her mind, was replaced by a voice that she knew all too well.
“You have nothing to fear”, it said softly, “for you have remembered.” When she turned to see who was talking, she saw Simon her brother, standing only a few meters away. He wore the same simple garments that Niana had sewn for him, his eyes were bright and clear. She knew, this could not be her brother, for he was long dead, but the image pleased her, and unlike spiders, she had no fear of ghosts.
“Hello onion head”, she said laughingly, it was a name she often called her brother, to torment him.
“Hello pickle face”, he replied.
Andra laughed harder, even though, it was a name she hoped she would never hear again. She stopped laughing and looked at her bother lovingly, “I’m sorry I did not save you”, she said softly, “I’m sorry you’re dead”.
Simon only laughed again, “I’m not dead”, he said with a chuckle, “I live in your memories”. He began to moving away from her, he beckoned to her with his hand, “follow me”, he said.
Not wanting to be alone, even if it meant going with a ghost, she walked after Simon. They did not speak, the spiders that filled the chamber, paid them no mind, as they moved passed through the crystalline labyrinth. Andra was reminded of the tall stacks of yellow maize that grew on her farm, and how she and Simon, used to play Seek and Find, through the growing fields. She would always win the game, now she was the one following, her brother the one leading the way. Turning this way and that, they came to an opening in the towers of crystal. Without stopping, Simon entered a break in the wall of green stone, and after a moment’s hesitation, Andra followed him.
Inside the circle of stone, was a mass of translucent rock that jutted out of the broken earth. It did not rise more than a meter high, the rock created a small plateau of sorts, the tops of the mineral were flat in structure, forming a crude bed. Lying quietly on that bed, was a child.
The tiny infant, was naked, its skin as white as snow. All about it, were the crystal spiders, it was they who cared for it.
No words were spoken, a mother will always know her child. Seeing the naked baby, laying on the crystals, Andra walked towards it, she let the dagger drop from her hand. The spiders slowly moved away, as the human drew near, then one by one, they vanished into the crystals. Their task was done, now it was time for another to take their place.
As Simon looked on, Andra stood before the child, she reached out and took the tiny infant into her arms, holding it, close to her body. Even though she was wearing armor, she felt the warmth of the baby, and at that moment, she knew more
contentment than she had ever known. It was then, she truly understood the singsong words of her mother.
Flowers of morning that bring the dawn.
Birds that flutter and frogs that yawn.
Wind of the meadows that blows from the west.
Home is the haven that I love the best.
For there is no home without love, and there can be no greater love then a mother for her child.
She stood there with her eyes closed, for what seemed like an eternity, she let her heart fill with love. When she opened them again, Simon was gone, she knew that she would not grieve for him, he would always live inside her.
All else had been forgotten.
She was no longer Moonbud, a strong warrior of the Madrigal. There was no Moric-Kan or Norgonie, no Talsonar or Shadowmen. She forgot riding about her Whiptail, and hunting for Rimar. She had no memory of Osh or Endo or anyone else that had once meant so much to her. It was as if, she had just awakened, from a dark dream. The days of wandering the Outlands of Gorn, and lying beside the man she loved, had never been. All that mattered now, was the child in her arms, and protecting it with every ounce of her strength.
I am a mother now; she thought looking down at the baby in her arms; and I will protect you from all harm.
So Andra sat down and gazed out at the crystal world around her. She saw the towering spirals of glowing rock and listened to the Lurkers in the Darkness, as they scampered towards her. She did not fear, for she understood now that they would not harm her or her child.
Near the place where she sat, was a matted layer of webbing, seeing that her child was naked, she reached out for the gossamer blanket. It was a strange thing to do, she had touched the spinning of the spider before, and it caused her great pain. As her fingers met the covering, they did not burn and taking up the white layering, she placed it over her baby. It was then that she knew truly that the spiders would supply all her needs.
They are my family now; she smiled; this is my home and I will never leave.
Holding the infant close to her breast, she began to rock slowly back and forth, as she did, the child in her arms began to coo softly, like a meadow bird in its nest. Like her mother had done before, she sang her a cradle song, at that moment, she was more content than she had ever been in her life.
Nomads The Fallen God Page 35