by Pedro Urvi
“A heavy load for the shoulders of a great man,” High Priest Torkem said to him.
Sesmok waved his arm in a gesture of gratitude. “Yes, a great responsibility falls on me. If I fail to do what the Gods demand, if I oppose their designs, they will descend upon us and annihilate our nation. There will be nobody left alive. Nobody will be safe from their wrath. Of that you can be certain. If I fail in my duty, the genocide of a whole people will be on my shoulders.” He turned to Lord Hunter Osvan. “What figure was given in the last census of our flourishing people taken by the Eyes-of-the-Gods?”
Osvan cleared his throat. “A total of one hundred thousand in the six Counties, sir, plus twenty thousand here in the capital.”
“One hundred and twenty thousand people… neither more nor less… We, the Senoca, the People of the Sea. We prosper because we follow the laws, because we do what is asked of us. In exchange our nation grows, the Gods are benevolent towards us, they give us technology, they’ve given us the smithy, they’ve even taught us the secrets of steel. And let me assure you, they don’t need to, we’re not the center of the universe… there’s a lot you don’t know out there, young Hunter, things which it is not appropriate for you to know.”
This puzzled Ikai. What’s he hinting at? What’s out there? What secrets are they hiding from us?
“Do you understand, young Hunter,” he whispered softly in Ikai’s ear, “that our entire civilization will perish if I fail? As you can see, my responsibility is measureless, almost unbearable.” He gazed up at the lofty vaulting as he walked. “And as if this heavy load weren’t enough already I have to deal with the Eyes-of-the-Gods, the faithful Enforcers of the Gods, who inform their masters of everything that goes on. And let me tell you they are particularly obtuse. They don’t listen to excuses. For them it’s all either yes or no: you do what the Gods order or you don’t. I really believe they have no reasoning of their own, they only do their masters’ will. They make my life impossible, really impossible. That’s why I can’t allow myself so much as a single slip. A slip might lead us to annihilation. And you, Hunter” —he pointed an accusing finger— “are a damned slip, a very dangerous slip.”
Ikai swallowed and tried to stay calm. Lord Hunter Osvan rose to his feet and came over to Ikai in his turn. He was a tall, solidly-built man five fingers taller than Ikai himself. His hair was black and curly and his thick beard the same color. But most of all, he was strong, very strong. They called him the Black Bear. Ikai had heard many stories about him, none of them good. He was as bloodthirsty as the Regent, and enjoyed subjugating the population. He was capable of chopping off a poor man’s head for a mere glance, badly interpreted.
“Not only a slip,” roared Osvan, “a dishonor and a stain which will be extremely difficult to clean before the Eyes. Never before has a Hunter broken the law. You’ve brought dishonor to my house, to your Master, who will have to pay for this effrontery.”
“Master Sejof has nothing to do with this. It’s my doing, mine alone.”
The Lord Hunter reached for his sword. “I would gladly pierce your heart right now, you worm!”
Sesmok held him back. “Steady, I don’t want him to die… yet.”
Ikai knew then with brutal certainty, as if a mallet had hit him in the face, that he was going to die. There was no hope.
“Before that, I want the young Hunter to explain what happened in the forbidden quadrant. Because something did happen, something out of the ordinary…”
Ikai considered his answer and replied neutrally: “I went in to look for my sister.”
“Why did you go in there? Who told you where to look?”
“Nobody,” Ikai lied, his face a mask of impenetrability, “I went there because the Enforcers took her away and they’re said to dwell in that quadrant.”
“By the Holy Gods! He lies with outstanding ease,” said the High Priest Torkem.
Ikai shivered at the accusation, but hid it as best he could. Sesmok laughed: a cavernous, cynical laugh.
“Yes, my dear High Priest, he lies very well for one so young.” He put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Our dear religious leader is a man of exceptional qualities, not only for his pure oratory and his skill at convincing the masses, but because he is able to detect a lie in a man nine times out of ten.”
Ikai glanced aside at the High Priest, who gave him an accusing look.
“What happened inside? And you’d better begin to tell me the truth or else I’ll have you skinned in strips. And believe me, it’s a sight I’ll enjoy.”
Ikai breathed deeply and nodded. “I slipped into the forbidden quadrant. I avoided the Executors on guard and went into the dungeons.”
Osvan and Torkem exchanged a worried look.
“Did you reach the dungeons?” Sesmok asked in surprise.
Ikai nodded.
“And what happened down there?”
“I found some prisoners who told me my sister was no longer there. I left before I was discovered.”
Sesmok grabbed Ikai’s face with his hand and squeezed hard. In his eyes was the unmistakable gleam of rage. “You’re making me lose my patience, and that’s not good news for you at all. Stop lying, or I’ll cut out your guts and make you eat them.” He squeezed Ikai’s face so hard the boy thought he was going to crush it. He bore the furious attack stoically. Sesmok let go of his face and smiled sarcastically. “Very well, if you don’t want to tell me then I can do nothing for your sister… What was her name?”
Ikai straightened. “Kyra, her name is Kyra…” he replied. He knew it was a trap, yet he had no choice but to play along with it.
“Ah, Kyra, nice name. If you want me to help you, you’ll have to help me first. Tell me what really happened and I’ll see what I can do for your sister. And you’d better stop lying. I know something happened. Two Eyes-of-the-Gods demanded an audience with me this morning. They told me about an incident in the dungeons, an extremely serious incident. They’re looking for someone who went into the forbidden quadrant last night. They’ve threatened me… me! Why have they threatened me? Not just because you broke the law by entering their jurisdiction, no, it’s something more. What happened?”
Ikai weighed up his options. If he remained silent they would torture him until he either talked or died, and in his present state he would not last long. If he talked, perhaps he would learn something about Kyra’s whereabouts. The three men watched him expectantly, while the tension grew with every slow moment.
“Nothing else happened. It’s just as I’ve told you, my lord,” Ikai lied. If he talked, Sesmok would kill him, since he would be of no further use. Even if the High Priest gave him information about Kyra, he would not be able to do anything with it if he was dead.
“He’s lying!” Torkem said.
Osvan unsheathed his sword. “The damned rat!” he burst out.
Sesmok smiled. “The boy is smart,” he said cynically. “Unfortunately for you, I’m smarter. I don’t know what’s happened, but something has greatly upset the Enforcers. And I have to suppress this matter before it comes to public notice. It represents a risk I can’t allow myself. The Eyes want your head, but if I give it to them this business will drag me into it. You’re a Hunter in my service and you’ve broken the law of the Gods, and who knows what other sins you may have committed. No, I can’t let this matter smear me, I won’t put myself at risk.”
“He’ll talk with a bit of torture,” Torkem said. “Leave it to me. You know very well my skill at these tasks, my lord… I can guarantee he’ll talk.”
Sesmok gave Ikai a searching look. “All right, you have till dawn. If he hasn’t talked by then, kill him and throw him into the pit. I don’t want him to live, I won’t take any risks.”
Torkem rubbed his hands together. “Very well, my lord, it shall be done.”
Sesmok turned to Ikai. “It’s nothing personal, I hope you understand. It’s for the good of the people.” He gave a sarcastic smile, which pierced Ikai li
ke a poisoned dagger.
Hours later Ikai opened his eyes. He had fallen asleep, overcome by exhaustion, sinking into the depths of a dark abyss. He looked around restlessly. He was in a massive, gloomy hall, lit by two oil lamps. He remembered then that he had been dragged to the flamboyant Temple of the Gods of the capital, not far from the Regent’s palace. He was in one of the great chambers which made up the cellars of the sacred building. He tried to get up, but his feet and hands were strapped to a table.
The door of the room opened with a creak and the High Priest Torkem came in. With him was a man dressed in a purple robe: he was large, and his face was both stern and disagreeable. He looked like an enormous orangutan. Behind them he saw Istas, and with him Captain Liriana and five Escort Guards. When he saw them all Ikai felt fear creeping up his throat, as though a snake were seeking his neck to bite him and inject its poison.
Torkem came to stand by his side and smiled. “As I’m a good-hearted man, I’m going to give you one more chance to confess what really happened. The Regent wants to know what has enraged the Eyes so much, and one way or another you’re going to tell me.”
“Tell them what they wish to know, Ikai,” Istas advised him. “There’s no need for this.”
Ikai’s eyes turned to the Commander of the Guard. “What are your orders, Istas? Tell me they haven’t ordered you to kill me as soon as I talk.”
The Commander remained silent.
“How can you obey their orders? You know the truth about their evil and corruption. They’re no better than the Gods they serve. They don’t care about the people, they don’t care about you or me, they’re only defending their own interests, nothing more. Don’t you see how they live like kings while the people die of hunger? Don’t you see their palaces, their luxuries, the opulence and waste while thousands and thousands suffer? All under the excuse of serving the Gods, of ruling over us for our own good. It’s all a massive lie. They starve us, they take away our loved ones.”
Torkem struck him in the face. “Shut up, you fool!” he shouted. “The Commander of the Guard knows his duty perfectly well. And he’ll carry it out for the wellbeing of his family.” He glowered and pointed accusingly at the officer’s chest.
Istas lowered his eyes and did not say a word.
“This little angel is Orgel,” Torkem said, introducing his torturer with a grin of satisfaction. “Not just big and ugly, but efficient when it comes to gathering information from whoever it may be. Go ahead, delve deep. Let me know when he starts talking.” The High Priest turned to the door. As he passed Istas he whispered in his ear:
“If he doesn’t talk, cut his throat.”
The Commander of the Guard nodded in silence.
Orgel took out his butcher’s knife, slit Ikai’s tunic to expose his chest and smiled with evil glee as he cut along his right pectoral. Ikai grunted with pain and tried to twist free with all his strength, but Orgel crashed his enormous fist into his cheek. He felt as if he had been hit with a club. Orgel laughed and tried to cut him again, but Ikai twisted to one side. He received another tremendous hammer-punch. Dizziness overcame him. He tried not to lose consciousness, since he guessed that if he did he would never recover. Dizzy, with his vision blurred, he threw a glance at Istas begging for help. The Commander of the Guard went on watching the scene impassively. He would not help him. He was afraid. Like everybody else.
Ikai understood that he was lost. He was about to give up when a movement caught his eye. One of the Guards behind Istas had unsheathed his sword. A quick flash of lamplight on the moving steel revealed a deft stroke to the neck of a second Guard. Ikai could not understand the blurred sequence of events he was watching. It made no sense. His mind had to be wrong.
Istas turned and took a step back, unsheathing his sword as he did so. “Treason!” he shouted. The other three Guards drew their weapons. Orgel turned and faced the attack.
Istas pointed with his sword. “Liriana, watch out! Treason!” The Captain stepped forward and with a swift stroke killed another Guard. Istas was dumbfounded. “What? What the hell is this?” he cried in disbelief.
Liriana pointed her sword at him. “I can’t let you kill him, Istas. I need the Hunter.”
“Liriana! Stop! This is crazy!” Istas cried, unable to accept that someone would dare rise against the established regime, against him.
Liriana directed her sword at the two other Guards. She glanced at the one who had first shed blood. “I’m your Captain. Join me and you won’t die here today. Asgos is with me.”
The two Guards stared at her undecidedly.
“Don’t listen to her, she’s crazy! Nobody stands up to the Regent, nobody! This is high treason! You’ll all die and you’ll condemn your families as well with this act. Sesmok will put them to the knife, every one of them! Think about it, by all that’s most sacred!”
The two Guards looked at Liriana, then at Istas. They took their places beside the Commander.
Liriana sighed. “Let it be.”
Istas and the two Guards readied themselves. They flexed their bodies and brought their swords to bear. Facing them Liriana and Asgos stood at the ready, determination and courage reflected in their intense gaze. And all the time Orgel waited at the far end expectantly. A tense silence fell on the chamber. For a second nobody moved. And the next moment, steel flashed.
Liriana lunged like a panther at one of the Guards and with a feint followed by a straight thrust pierced his armor at the groin. Istas swore and launched a stroke at her head, while Asgos and the other Guard joined in a fierce combat. Liriana tried to dodge the stroke with amazing agility, but Istas’ sword cut her in the arm. She counter attacked with a sword-thrust at the Commander’s leg, forcing him to leap to one side to avoid the blow. Asgos took a cut in the shoulder, although he managed to kill his rival with a cut to the neck. But before he could recover, the torturer was on him. Istas was fighting with amazing skill, the result of years of training. Liriana younger but less experienced in swordsmanship, defended herself like a tigress.
Ikai wrenched with all his might at the bonds which held him tight. His dizziness had vanished. He had to get free to help them!
Asgos dodged Orgel’s vicious attack by skipping aside at the last moment, then ran to Ikai.
“Keep still!” he said, and raised his arm. The sword fell in a flash. Ikai closed his eyes and felt the blow on the bonds on his wrist. Asgos struck again and his arm was free.
“Look out!” cried Ikai as he saw Orgel throw himself on Asgos’ back. The Guard turned swiftly and mortally wounded Orgel with a powerful thrust. But the torturer, taking advantage of his momentum, stabbed him in the throat with a tremendous blow from his butcher’s knife. Asgos fell and died amid spasms. Orgel stumbled backwards, stopped and took another knife from his belt. With the eyes of one possessed, he came towards Ikai to kill him.
Ikai tugged at his bonds, but could not free his other hand. With his free one he felt desperately around him. Orgel stumbled to the table and bent over him, then raised his arm with the ominous knife in his hand. With a sharp, brutal blow, Ikai jabbed a pair of red-hot tweezers in his eye. With a grunt of surprise, the giant fell dead on top of him.
Liriana was retreating. Istas had cut her twice and she was losing blood. She counterattacked fiercely, but his technique was superior. With a feint and a master-twist of his wrist, he disarmed the young Captain.
“It’s time to die and pay for this treason!” he said and drew his arm back, ready to pierce her through.
“No!” Shouted Ikai. This was followed by a hollow blow.
Istas’s body arched. The butcher’s knife was stuck deep in his neck.
Ikai, standing beside the table with his arm still outstretched from the throw, watched him fall.
“You’ll die… all of you…” Istas gurgled. “Your families will die…”
“Maybe so, but not today.” Liriana said.
“I’m sorry…” murmured Ikai, but Istas had already se
t out on the journey with no return.
Liriana picked up her sword again. “Thank you. You’re very good with a throwing knife.” She turned her big turquoise eyes on Ikai’s. “We’d better get out of here before Torkem comes back,” she said. “We’re in danger, and I won’t be able to protect you.”
“Why?” Ikai asked in confusion. “Why risk yourselves for me? Asgos is dead… for me? Why? I don’t understand.”
“There’s no time for explanations. He didn’t die for you, he died for something much more important, for an ideal, a dream.” Liriana knelt by the body of the brave soldier and put her hand in the blood around his head. She closed her eyes and said a brief prayer. With her hand soaked in blood, she went to the wall and pressed her palm against the white surface. When she took it away the mark of a red hand was printed on the wall. Ikai remembered that image.
“Can you walk?” she asked.
“I think so.”
“Good. Grab your things and follow me, let’s get out of here.”
Ikai hesitated for an instant.
“There’s a lot you don’t know. Come with me if you want to find out.”
“Where will we go? They’ll send the whole Guard after us.”
“I’m not worried about the Guard. What worries me is the Executors.”
She turned and left through the door.
Ikai took a deep breath.
There’s no way back.
14
From the deck of the ship, lost in wonder, Kyra stared at the immensity of the city which rose magnificently till it was lost in the clouds. Beside her Idana and Yosane did not even blink. Their minds were trying in vain to take in the splendor, majesty and unbelievable architectural beauty in front of them. They had just docked at a pier full of ships and frantic activity. Kyra watched merchandise and slaves being unloaded. Executors and Eyes made their presence felt everywhere.