Nomads The Risen God

by Gary Mark Lee

Chapter 13.

  The Akuna.

  The Akuna are much like the Nomads but their handsome bodies have adapted to a life at sea, they are tall but not as heavily muscled as the Outlanders, they are quick and very agile, but unlike the Nomads their lives are focused on pleasure rather than warfare and prayer, and from my observations they seem to have little concept of modesty for they take every opportunity to indulge their senses.

  From the writings of Oshismarie Inastro Sistashion.

  The Almadra spent the night on the high plateau looking down on the lush landscape that spread-out below, it was a quiet evening with only the sounds of night-criers and small creatures that made their homes in the emerald vegetation that surrounded them. They posted guards but everyone knew that there was little chance of being attacked for the Akuna were a peaceful tribe and seldom raised their hands to another, but for all their contentment their dreams were filled with strange visions.

  Outlanders understood that the night was the time that the Goddess came to them in dreams and showed them images that were pleasing to them, night-terrors were something that only affected Half-souls and not the Chosen, never the less their dreams were not content, for they saw a face of deformity and malice, a face that filled them not only with terror but drew their souls from their bodies and held them in its cold hand. There was also a sensation that they must follow and obey the apparition no matter what the cost. The grotesque creature did not speak but in their minds, they heard a malicious voice and that voice echoed of vast knowledge and understanding but it was not understanding of love or mercy like the gentle voice of Isarie, it only spoke of death and power and obedience.

  There was one who did not dream that dream for he was a Callaxion and his sleep was undisturbed by images or voices, still if he had risen in the night he would have seen Alune standing over him with a dagger in her hands and nothing in her eyes but hatred, but as she lifted her arm to strike a figure appeared behind her, a slim pale girl who spoke to her.

  “No” Niana said softly, “He is not your enemy”.

  And hearing her soothing words the Touchtender lowered her weapon and it dropped to the wooden floor of the Karrack.

  “Sleep” the girl said.

  And Alune returned to her soft mattress and laying her head down and closing her eyes she was soon asleep once more and no evil dreams plagued her mind.

  Niana moved into the open air of the night and stood looking up at the stars, she lifted her arms to the moons overhead and spoke once more, “Sleep now my children, sleep and be content”.

  And those that were troubled found comfort and saw no more visions of evil.

  The rising suns cast a warm glow on the land below the plateau turning the forest into a blanket of emerald green that flowed downward to a vast ocean of shimmering blue.

  “Is there a better site in the Outer Rim?” Andra asked as she stood outside their tent and stretched her arms, she wore only a thin robe and not the heavy traveling armor that had weighted her down for so long. “I have not seen this rim you speak of” Arn replied as he washed his strong body in a bucket of cold water. “Well I have” Andra said, “Well a great deal of it anyway and I can say that I have never seen such a wonderful site”, she knew that that was a lie for she still remembered the green fields of her Homeworld and the little farm where she grew up, and for a moment the faces of her mother and brother flashed in her mind, I will remember you always.

  The King patted his face dry with a coarse woven cloth and moved to a small three-legged table where a silver plate lay filled with freshly roasted Rimar and a tankard of Po, he took a chunk and put it into his mouth, chewed, swallowed and washed it all down with a large gulp of the sour drink. Andra watched him filling his stomach and put her hand on her hips, “Is that all you think about, eating and drinking, what about all that wonderful view?” and she pointed to the land below. The King waited before speaking for he knew that these were a woman’s word-traps and he must consider his answer carefully or his bed would be empty that night, at last he came up with a proper reply and taking her into his arms he held her tightly, “Seeing you has blinded me to all else”. Andra may have grown up on a farm but she was also a soldier, not only skilled in the art of combat but also trained in the tangled web of romance so hearing such a lie from the man she loved did not send her into a rage, and beside it was much too nice a morning to start a fight, so reaching up she kissed him on the lips.

  What neither of them spoke about was the strange dreams that had come to them in the night, the face that spoke to them and the feeling of terror that tried to inter their souls, to Andra it was just a bad dream but to the King the face reminded him of another one that he had seen in the deep chambers of the Forbidden City.

  Kalgar-Run did not sleep that night for every time he closed his eyes he saw the face of the Holy Mother and an unwanted feeling rose up in his heart. He understood that it was correct to have feelings for the one he had taken an oath to protect but that emotion should have been one that did not evolve taking her into his arms. So rather than sleep he marched round and round the Holy Wagon holding his ax and reciting verses from the Book of Isarie, now with the morning light he saddled his Whiptail and shouted orders to his Thungodra.

  “Let no warrior fall behind or they will feel my fist in their face!”

  But as he tightened the saddle strap he once again remembered the face in his dreams and once again he began to pray for guidance.

  Egmar did sleep but like the others of her tribe she saw the face and heard the voice and waking in the middle of the night she went to the small golden statue of the Goddess in the corner of her chamber and bending her knees she prayed. But even as she spoke the words they seemed distant and empty and calling to her was another voice, a voice that she knew very well for it was her son that spoke to her, but this was not the King or even Seeda nor Agart her lost offspring, this voice was Rahash her forgotten child, the one known as the Darkman, and later Atos the god of war. And this frightened her more than the hideous dream-demon for the head of Rahash sat on a pedestal near where she prayed, the metal skull was all that was left of her spawn, a grim reminder of what jealousy and hatred can do to your soul. She tried to pray once more but the presence of the head disturbed her and moving to the pedestal she placed a cloth over the metallic cranium. “I am sorry my son” she said softly, and then turning away she left the chamber to seek solace elsewhere.

  The path to the lower lands was open and clear and the Almadra moved towards the sea without difficulty, as always, the King rode at the head of the long column with his mate at his side but rather than wearing the heavy armor that protected them if attacked the Nomads wore thin plating over Rimar skin and not the ringed chain mail that they would wear in the Outlands. They still carried their weapons for what was a warrior without their Tooth, and their heads were covered by the ornate horned helmets that added to their already impressive height. The heavy traveling robes of the tribe were also discarded for the air was warm and there was no need for the thick woven garments, instead they covered their bodies in a thin costume of fine thread that had no head covering and was shorter in length, the females adorned themselves in their best jewelry, necklaces of Sagar cat teeth set with gold and silver, medallions of carved sea shells and all manner of finely wroth bracelets and rings. Those that had mates polished their ear rings so that all would know that they were taken and had someone to share their beds with, but the younger females of the tribe took great care in arranging their hair and applying sweet smelling ointments to their strong supple limbs. The Elders of the tribe frowned on such behavior for they had forgotten their youth and did not remember doing the very same thing.

  The Thungodra did not change, they continued to dress in their heavy dark armor for they had taken a vow of chastity and considered the behavior of their brethren a sin and if they caught a glimpse of exposed flesh they turned their heads and offered up a prayer to the Goddess to make them strong against temptati
on. And there was none who prayed harder for Kalgar-Rune had continued to have thoughts that troubled his mind.

  Stop this thinking he told his mind, but his mind did not listen and like all strong men he knew that it was not his fault but rather the power of something outside him, something dark and evil that somehow had entered his mind and found a home there, but just what that evil was he did not know?

  Andra’s mind was clear and content, for all around her was splendor that filled her with longing and desire, “This place is fantastic” she smiled as she spoke and hung her ax from her saddle horn rather than holding it in her hand, “The Akuna must be a wonderful tribe to live in such a wonderful place”. Arn had told her of the sea people and their ways as best he could but he did not go into great detail about their customs or way of life saying only that they were a strong and proud people who knew a great deal about the ocean and the creatures that dwelled there.

  “The Akuna are our brothers and sisters but they do not follow the teaching of Isarie, they worship Dietas the water Goddess”. “Yes, you told me about her, she brings the rain and renews the land”.

  All of that was true but what the King left out was the fact that Dietas was also the Goddess of fertility and desire, and there were some who said that she danced naked in all the green places of the land and her lustful song could be heard on long summer nights. Andra was no stranger to love or desire for she had traveled that road and had her heart broken now and then but that was long ago and now her love belonged only to the man riding beside her and nothing could break that bond, or so she thought.

  Osh’s heart did not control his mind at that moment for he was more interested in the myriad of plant life that now surrounded him.

  “Look! there is a wonderful example of a cortus-calulianus, I haven’t seen that species since I was commissioned to do an inventory of plants on Brogarus minor, and over there is a fine specimen of Hargan-tromas, that plant was thought extinct!”

  Alune had seen her companion excited before for it seemed that every jagged rock or unusual creature held a fascination that she had long ago grown use to, but seeing him scribbling on one of his scrolls made her feel content. “Your hand is better?” she asked as their Karrack moved slowly through the lush vegetation. “Yes, much better” the old man said looking up from his writing. “Then I will be leaving you on your own when we reach the sea” the Touchtender replied. Hearing this caused the Callaxion to stop his lettering and put down his Rimar skin, “Leaving?” he asked. “Of course,” the older woman said, “I am a healer and you are healed, now I must go to another who needs my help”. “But who will cook my meals and drive the wagon and who will I talk too when I need too….” His words trailed off when he realized that he would miss her very much if she went away, but like all men his pride was too great to let him speak the truth.

  Alune had been mated several times and all her men suffered from the same affliction so she understood what his heart was trying to say but his mouth would not speak.

  “Perhaps I could stay a while longer, after all you are weak in the mind and it is my duty to care for those who do not know wisdom”.

  In the past those words would have caused Osh to rise up and speak his mind but looking at the warm eyes of the woman next to him he simply smiled.

  “Yes” he said, “Everyone has wisdom and no one has it all”.

  And settling back the old man and the wise woman continued onward without speaking.