The Secret of the Golden Gods Omnibus Edition

by Pedro Urvi

  “No, I’m a Hunter,” Ikai replied. He kept his voice firm and showed his Ring. Perhaps his position might confuse his captor.

  “A Hunter? And what are you doing here? No slave is allowed in here, neither Hunter nor Regent. These are the domains of the Oppressors. Down here we are the sentinels. This underworld belongs to us. You belong to us, slave.”

  Ikai was silent in the face of the Oppressor’s sinister presence, trying to figure a way out.

  “This quadrant, these dungeons, are forbidden to the slaves. Only the Enforcers of the Gods may set foot in here.”

  Ikai nodded and flexed his legs in anticipation. The situation was desperate. The Oppressor circled around Ikai, dragging his whip on the floor with sinuous movements. “And tell me, slave, what is the punishment for those who disobey the law of the Gods?”

  Ikai followed him with his gaze, very alert. This sentinel was making him very nervous.

  “Death,” he replied dryly.

  The Oppressor stopped. “Exactly, slave, death,” he said, and emphasized the last word with his sinister voice.

  Ikai gathered his courage together and defiantly showed his weapons.

  “How dare you? How dare you draw arms against an Enforcer of the Gods? Are you out of your mind?”

  “I’m not going to let you torture me, like you do the thousands you’ve got locked up in here.”

  “They know what is good for them. No slave has ever beaten an Enforcer of the Gods. We are superior, little man; we are much stronger, more agile and better fighters. You will never beat me, not in a thousand years.”

  “That may be so, but I’ll fight all the same.”

  “Stupid worm. I was going to kill you swiftly, but now you will suffer this affront in blood. Before I cut out your tongue I will make you spit out the reason why you are here and how you managed to get in. Then I will tear off your skin, strip by strip, and when you scream for mercy I will eat your heart while it is still beating.”

  The Oppressor’s arm launched a whiplash. Ikai barely saw it coming. He felt a searing pain in his arm, but did not drop his sword. He glanced at it in a single heartbeat and saw blood. The whip lashed again and Ikai leapt to one side. The leather lash hit the floor, brushing his leg as it passed. He regained his balance and launched a stroke at the sentinel’s neck, but his machete parried it with unbelievable speed. Ikai counterattacked with his dagger, seeking his enemy’s armpit, but the Oppressor blocked it with his arm and delivered a tremendous kick which caught Ikai in the stomach and threw him hard against the monolith. He lost his weapons and was left lying on the floor. His side hurt terribly and he could barely breathe.

  “Stupid slave. You are nothing but a weak dying race. I am going to enjoy gutting you.”

  Ikai tried to stand, but was unable to rise further than his knees. The whip lashed, hard. A terrible pain in the neck caught Ikai by surprise. Now he could no longer breathe. He peered down at his throat and saw the end of the whip firmly coiled around his neck. The Oppressor was pulling hard, strangling him. Desperately he tried to unwind it with his hands, but it was impossible. The Oppressor laughed with fierce disdain. Ikai felt with his hand for his sword while he struggled, but met only the cold floor. With an enormous effort he half-turned his head against the pressure of the whip. He thought his head was about to be torn off. His hand fell short of his sword by a matter of inches. Out of the corner of his eye he sensed a slight movement at the entrance to the tunnel. The hooded figure which had been chasing him loomed out the shadows. All hope of survival was buried under a mountain of despair. Now there were two enemies. He was finished, he was going to die.

  The Oppressor turned his attention from Ikai to the hooded figure.

  “By the Gods! What is happening here?”

  There was a slight hiss, followed by a dull bump.

  “Damned treacherous slaves!” cried the Oppressor. An arrow was buried in his neck.

  Ikai was left gasping.

  The Sentinel shook his arm hard, ignoring the arrow and freeing the end of the whip from Ikai’s neck. The boy fell to one side. As he hit the ground he filled his lungs with the air he had been denied. There came another hiss. The arrow hit the cuirass but failed to pierce it. The hooded figure nocked another arrow, but it was too late. The whip lashed and caught the weapon, and with a powerful tug the hooded figure was disarmed. The Oppressor moved forward like a viper and hit the hooded figure so hard it flew back against the wall behind. The figure hit the rock of the chamber hard and fell to the floor.

  Ikai took advantage of the opportunity. Picking up his weapons from the floor he threw himself on to the Oppressor’s back, but was hit hard by the back of the creature’s arm and was sent rolling to one side. He got to his knees with his weapons at the ready, and the sentinel turned to face him.

  “You will pay dearly. I will eat both your hearts!”

  He took a step towards Ikai, but the hooded figure launched itself at his feet and buried its knife in the back of his left thigh. The Oppressor grunted and kicked away the hooded figure. Ikai raised his right hand. He concentrated, measuring the distance, and waited. The Oppressor turned towards him. With all his strength, Ikai drove his arm forward. The sentinel took a step back. The dagger had caught him in the neck, an inch above the arrow. Ikai watched without being able to breathe, sure he would fall this time; the wounds were lethal, he would not be able to stay on his feet. But he did not fall. He advanced towards Ikai, who stared at him in astonishment. He raised his whip. Ikai rolled on the floor to meet it. The lash exploded in his ears, but this time the tip did not touch him. With a quick, powerful thrust he pierced the sentinel’s right leg. With both legs wounded, he fell to his knees, dropped his weapons and put his hands to his neck. He was drowning in his own blood.

  Ikai stepped back, panting, and watched him die amid spasms. “He didn’t look human… he should have died with the first arrow…” he muttered as he stared at the body. He knelt beside it, intrigued. What was this Oppressor? He tried to take off the unusual helmet. He pulled hard, but could not dislodge it. It seemed to have been shaped over the head itself, without clasps to allow it to be taken off.

  “You won’t be able to, it’s never been done,” a voice said in a barely intelligible grunt behind him.

  Ikai spun around and saw the hooded, dark-clad figure lying against the wall.

  “It’s the same material as the rings and it works like them,” the figure said with a moan as it tried to get up. “It’s impossible to take it off.

  Ikai went hastily across to it and offered it his hand.

  “I don’t need your help, you idiot,” a woman’s voice grunted under the hood.

  Ikai was paralyzed by surprise. “Idiot?” he managed to say at last. “Who are you, and why do you insult me?”

  “Who I am is none of your concern,” she said with a cry of pain, “and you’re an idiot because you almost got both of us killed.”

  “I didn’t ask you to butt in…”

  “Well, if I hadn’t, the Oppressor would’ve killed you and raised the alarm, and I’d have been doomed. I didn’t butt in for your sake, make no mistake about that.”

  Ikai remained firm. “Well, maybe… maybe not. Anyway, thanks for your help.”

  “I don’t want your gratitude, you bloody idiot. When the other guardians find the body it’ll be impossible to get back into this place. They’ll be twice as careful both in the dungeons and outside. I’ve been working for a long time to get into the dungeons without being detected. Every day a little further into this labyrinth of dungeons, always with absolute caution so as not to be detected and be able to return. And you’ve ruined it all in just one night! The work of months!”

  Ikai did not know what to say. “I… I’m sorry…” he mumbled.

  “And with all the risks I’ve taken!”

  The young woman shook her head disdainfully. The hood fell back and her face was revealed to Ikai’s curious eyes. She was young, near his own
age, with almond eyes black as night which shone with intense determination. Her hair was jet black, worn in a ponytail. She was not exactly pretty, not in the classic sense. Her features were pale and sharp, her nose small and pointed, and her lips were definitely provocative. But this young woman radiated unusual fierceness and strength, something which definitely impressed Ikai.

  “Haven’t you ever seen a woman before? Stop glaring at me with those crazy eyes of yours and help me up.”

  Ikai blushed and immediately helped her to her feet. She was not too tall, but her body was sinewy and agile, Ikai guessed she was used to physical effort. He glanced aside at her left arm, trying to find out what symbol she wore on the Ring on her arm. Unfortunately it was hidden by the sleeve of her dark tunic.

  “My name is Ikai…”

  She turned her head and looked at him intensely for a moment. Ikai prepared for another scornful comment.

  “Mine’s Albana,” she replied obligingly, her eyes fixed on Ikai’s. “There’s no time for introductions, Hunter. We’ve got to get out of here.”

  Ikai sighed and nodded. He put his arm around her waist to support her.

  “Can you walk?” he asked her.

  “I think so. My ribs hurt like crazy but I don’t think they’re fractured.”

  “Half your face is bruised and your left eye’s swelling up.”

  “Well, your neck doesn’t look very good either. Give me my bow and let’s get out of here before they discover us. They’ll soon change the guard, and they’ll notice if one of them is missing. If we don’t get out of the Quadrant before they find out and raise the alarm, we’re dead.”

  She looked down at the body of the dead Oppressor. “I would’ve killed him, but good work with that dagger.”

  “In the thousand years our people have lived as slaves, very few have managed to kill one of the Enforcers of the Gods. You can count them on the fingers of one hand.” Ikai said

  “You mean you don’t believe me? I would’ve killed him. You have no idea who I am or what I’m capable of.”

  Ikai was shocked by her comments. Who was she? And most important, what was she doing there? Albana seemed to read his thoughts. She put her finger to her lips.

  “Let’s go,” she said. “No time for questions now.”

  They made their way along the tunnels in search of the way out. Ikai soon realized Albana knew the passages and guard posts like the back of her hand. She pointed out where to go, when to move on and when to wait so as not to coincide with the guards patrolling the dungeons. Ikai tried to keep his sense of direction, but Albana followed a different route from the one he had taken and he was soon completely lost. Finally they reached a dark room where two tunnels ended. At the back a stone staircase led to the surface. Half-way up an Oppressor was on guard, making sure nobody came in or went out. They withdrew from the mouth of the tunnel and hid in the shadows.

  “Wait here,” Albana whispered in his ear, so faintly it was as if she had merely sowed the idea in his mind. She disappeared back into the tunnel. Ikai waited in silence. He had the feeling that any moment the Oppressor would come into the tunnel and find him. Suddenly he heard a jingling sound, as if something metallic had rolled across the floor. It came from his right, from the other tunnel. He listened hard and heard the footsteps of the sentinel coming down the stairs. His stomach lurched. Suppose the guard was coming towards him? He reached for his sword.

  Suddenly Albana appeared behind him, startling him. She passed him, holding her side. She went on to the mouth of the tunnel and stopped for an instant to look inside the room. The guard was not at his post. She beckoned to Ikai, and they both crossed the hall at a run. They reached the outside at last, behind one of the enormous storage buildings.

  “Good trick,” Ikai said.

  “They’re like bloodhounds, if they hear anything they go sniffing. Luckily, they’re not very clever”

  “And now what? How do we leave the Quadrant? There are Executors on the watch out there.”

  Albana grinned roguishly and pointed to the top of the building.

  “That way?”

  “Yes, that way. There are no guards on the roofs, only in the gardens and buildings. The Enforcers of the Gods don’t like heights. Don’t ask me why.”

  Ikai nodded and sighed. Why had he not thought of that way himself?

  “And how do we get up there?” he asked. It was quite a height.

  Albana moved on at a crouch along the wall until they reached the middle.

  “Here,” she said.

  Ikai made out a black rope, and understood. They climbed up to the roof, and Albana guided him from building to building until they reached an elevated water tank very close to the outer wall. From the tank they dropped onto the wall. Ikai found it difficult to jump and keep his balance, but Albana moved like a black cat, even handicapped by her wounds. With a final sigh Ikai slid down to the street, outside the forbidden quarter. He offered his partner in flight a smile of relief at having escaped, and in gratitude for her help. In fact the girl was really intriguing. The mystery which surrounded her, together with her courage and strength, seemed very appealing… Their eyes met. Yes, certainly attractive… he could not help thinking.

  Albana was eying him with amusement. Suddenly she tensed. Her glance pierced Ikai.

  “Sorry, can’t let myself get caught,” she said, and hid her face under her hood.

  Ikai looked at her blankly. Without warning she launched a powerful kick at Ikai’s groin. He doubled up sideways in a sea of pain, and fell to the ground holding his crotch.

  “There’s too much at stake,” Albana said, and ran down the street.

  Behind him Ikai heard running footsteps.

  “Stop! Stop in the name of the Regent’s Guard!” came a commanding voice.

  Ikai twisted his body and saw a dozen soldiers running towards him. He cursed to himself; they must have seen the two of them climbing down the wall.

  Betrayal. She left me to them to save herself. He was filled with pain and fury, but he could not get up.

  12

  When the pain finally left her body and the dizziness receded, Kyra inhaled the cool breeze deeply in an attempt to recover. What on earth had happened? She remembered how the floor had turned into molten silver and swallowed them all. But she was alive! She felt her arms and legs to make sure she was still in one piece.

  She took a cautious look at her surroundings. She was in another building, practically identical to the one which had swallowed them. The unusual floor was once again solid, made of silver, and around it was the same high black marble wall forming a perfect circumference. The runes engraved on it still radiated a faint golden light. But it was not the same temple. Kyra looked up above the wall and could not see the forest which had surrounded them before. Where there had been tops of leafy beeches was now clear sky. Where it had been night scattered with bright stars, now only a few white clouds adorned an immaculate canvas of blue.

  All the same, a threatening shadow loomed over the whole building. Kyra turned in search of the sun and in so doing, saw behind her something which amazed her. A colossal black monolith reared up into the infinite sky, blocking the presence of the sun. It was as black as a bottomless well and devoured the light around it, creating a sense of emptiness, of being surrounded by a translucent aura. Its shape, completely rectangular with its four ridges rising to the sky, was pure perfection. The four sides, polished to a masterly finish, shone with a strange splendor. It was very like the monolith in Osaen, but far larger. Kyra gazed at it in awe. The size of this strange object was unimaginable, so immense the mind had trouble taking it in… A base of white marble supported it, and this alone was taller than the temple itself.

  No, they were definitely not in the same temple, and nor was it the same time. When she realized this, Kyra felt the chill breeze of fear run through her. She shivered. She turned around to find the other girls; the warmth of their company would help her get rid of this
horrible feeling. Yosane and Idana were beside her, pale as snow, unable to utter a word, staring, like her, at the monolith.

  “On your feet, all of you!” a strident voice cried.

  Kyra followed the sound and saw the Eye-of-the-God. In a semi-circle behind him his Executors waited.

  “Swine!” she said to herself, rage burning in her stomach.

  They had also been swallowed; all the same, they did not seem to have suffered the rigor of the passage as the girls had. Narrowing her eyes, she searched among the Enforcers of the Gods until she found the High Priest in his white robe with his head covered by the hood. He’s got something to do with this journey of ours, I’m sure of it. The twelve slaves hastened to get to their feet, some of them showing clear signs of not yet having fully recovered. One of them, pale as snow, threw up and spattered Lian’s foot. The pampered blonde leapt back, cursing and insulting the poor girl. With cries of disgust she ordered Urda to move this peasant away from her. Urda moved forward, then stopped when she saw the girl fall dizzily to her knees.

  The Executors surrounded them, spears ready. The High Priest placed his hands on the dark marble of the wall and the runes flashed. Kyra watched in alarm. When he took his hands away, amid a strange buzzing as though this were some enormous beehive in full swarm, a third of the wall descended and disappeared into the floor. Kyra and Yosane exchanged puzzled glances, tinged with fear.

  They were led outside the temple. As they walked towards the base of the huge monolith Kyra was dumbfounded. Everything around her, wherever she turned her gaze, was blue, absolutely blue. For a moment she thought the sky might have fallen to earth and raised her eyes to check. When she saw it was still there, reigning in splendor with the majestic sun smiling down on her, her heart went faster and she was afraid. So what was that infinite blue mass all around them? She breathed deeply and tried to think. It looked like water, like the lakes in the First County, only much bluer and wider, as if it had no end. An enchanting blue bathed the horizon in the distance.