by Pedro Urvi
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Epilogue
Note from the author:
Acknowledgements
Author
Books in this Series:
Other Books by Pedro Urvi
Prologue
Rumors tell that the unthinkable has happened, that a group of Senoca has managed to escape from the Eternal City, evading the Gods in their own dwelling. Seven are the Heroes who have seen the faces of the Gods and escaped from their Power.
The breezes of the east tell that the Heroes can cross the Boundary. That they can free the Senoca people of their Rings.
The murmur of the great River tells that the Heroes have created a Shelter for the Senoca outside the Boundary, where they live free, in safety, beside Oxatsi our Mother Sea.
The crackling of the bonfires tells that a rebellion is under way, led by the Heroes. The seed of the rebellion has been sown and now grows strongly. That all the Senoca people must join the rebels.
The stars of heaven tell that there is hope for the Senoca. That they must fight for freedom. That they must follow the Heroes to rebellion.
Chapter 1
“Faster, by Oxatsi!”
Liriana’s muffled urgency broke the silence of the night. Frightened, a white owl flew away from the edge of the forest. Wary footsteps sounded through the tall grass, leaving behind the shelter of the fir thicket.
“Come on, don’t lag behind!”
This time the warning was tinged with the urgency of fear. The footsteps sped up until they turned into a run. Dull moans and whines, hushed by the fear of imminent danger, were whispered along the breeze through the open land. Bent bodies went on, bathed by the silver light of a full moon.
Liriana shook her head. I have a very bad feeling about this.
Appearing suddenly out of the depths of the forest they had just left behind, a beam of white light rent the darkness of the night. It reached the rear of the group. The arcane beam shone on the thirty-odd fugitives, staring with terrified eyes at the light which had revealed them.
“Falcon Eye! Hunters!” Liriana shouted. She turned around and looked to see where the threat was coming from. She could not see them ‒ it was too dark for that ‒ but she knew the damned Hunters would soon appear. Her stomach lurched. We’ve been discovered, but how? This is the safest route. It’s never been compromised. Nervously she passed her hand over her head, expecting to feel her short strong blond hair, but instead she met the rough touch of the scarf she wore, covering it, tied with a knot at the back of her neck. She remembered then that she was dressed for the mission. She put her hand to her mouth, where she found a second scarf of the same dark blue, covering the lower part of her face. She rearranged it so only her eyes could be seen. That way nobody would recognize her. A necessary precaution, as Regent Sesmok had put a price on their heads: a very high price, which many would be happy enough to pay. She tried to think of some means of escape. The situation was getting desperate and fleeing from the Hunters was impossible: even more so if she was guiding a group of unfortunate refugees.
A long, threatening whistle reached her ears. She narrowed her eyes and caught a metallic gleam in the darkness of the sky. Pure instinct made her duck. Two arrows brushed past her head and embedded themselves in the back of the man in front of her. He fell dead with a moan of surprise and pain.
“Run for your lives! Run!” she shouted now, at the top of her voice. They had been discovered, and the wariness they had kept up during their flight for more than two weeks was now pointless. Now only the options of running or dying remained. She rearranged the bow she carried across her back, together with her quiver, so they would not hamper her, and raced on.
Panic took over the group. Men, women and children dropped the scanty belongings they were carrying and ran as if a pack of wild animals were after them. And unfortunately, that was exactly what it was: a pack of man-hunters.
Romen pointed at the edge of the forest behind them. “They’re right on top of us!” he said. Liriana looked at her lieutenant. His face was hidden, like hers, and there was fear in his blue eyes. She followed his pointing finger and saw four Hunters at the fore. Damn, they’re here already! She watched them carefully for a brief moment. They wore brown, with reinforced leather armor, and were carrying swords and short bows. There was no doubt about it, they were Hunters.
“Run to the front and guide them. Make them ford the river. If they catch us before we cross, we’re lost.”
Romen nodded and ran off like lightning.
The Hunters nocked their arrows and aimed.
Liriana turned and ran. Four lethal hisses followed her. Her legs pumped with all the power anguish could inject into them, trying to avoid the death which would begin to rain upon her in an instant from the blackness of the sky. The first arrow buried itself in the ground to her right. The second grazed her arm. Where the other two fell she did not see.
Damn! she thought, trying to control the fear creeping up her throat.
A woman tripped and fell heavily to the ground. The little girl running beside her turned to help, but the woman was too heavy for her to lift. Liriana reached them, and the terror in the little girl’s face was so obvious that for a moment she thought she was in a nightmare. With a sharp pull she lifted the mother up. Blood was running down her cheek from a cut on her forehead.
“She’s all right, don’t worry,” she assured the little girl with a brief smile, trying to soothe her. “Now, run!”
The three women broke into a run, with Liriana helping the woman so that she would not trip again. In the midst of the surrounding darkness, with only the light of the moon to rely on, fleeing was a hazardous business. Ahead of them the group was running in the grip of terror, following Romen to the river. Several tripped, others lost their footing or slipped on the damp grass and fell on their faces. Helped by family and friends they got up immediately and went on, knowing that death would reach them if they did not keep running.
They finally got to the river. Romen showed them how to make a human chain to ford the shallowest stretch between the two banks. Without wasting any time he went into the water, taking with him the first members of the chain, until this stretched across the whole width of the river. The current was strong and treacherous, if anyone lost their footing they would be dragged away by the water. One by one they began to cross, holding on to the others in the chain with trembling arms, using them to cross to the other side.
“Come on! Hurry up!” Liriana urged them. She was scanning the flat stretch of land behind her with narrowed eyes, searching for a glimpse of their pursuers. She could not see them, but a knot in her stomach assured her they were getting closer. Soon they would catch up with them: they were hunters of men, and the fleeing group their prey. She went down the hill to the muddy riverbank and joined the last ones to make the crossing. She looked for Romen and saw that he was helping the ones who reached the other shore, with his usual energy and determination.
We’re almost there, we made it, she encouraged herself. She started to cross the river. She was the last.
The deadly hisses came again, with their ominous melody. She crouched, but an instant too late. An arrow grazed her shoulder. She lost her footing and had to dig one knee into the ground. The cold water hit her face like an icy hammer, and she lost her balance. The current was going to carry her away. A strong hand held her arm, and she managed to recover. She looked at her savior; it was Komas the baker, who smiled at her. There came a dull thud, and Komas’ smile turned into a grimace. He tried to say something but failed; blood came out of his mouth. Liriana saw an arrow buried in the good man’s neck. He fell, and the current carried him away. Behind him three other men met the same fate. Shaken, she watched the bodies floating downriver.
Romen waved his arms to attract her attention. “Liriana!” he shouted. “Hurry!”
“Let’s get out of here! Follow me!” she cried, and raced on.
Romen and the other survivors followed her quickly. She went on running until her eyes found what she knew was waiting nearby. On the ground she made out a golden, almost translucent line, which became more solid as she watched it. It was the Boundary, the barrier of the Gods. She reached it and stopped at a prudent distance, without crossing it. She reached out her left arm. The Ring gave a stinging buzz, and her arm began to shake uncontrollably. One day we’ll break down this barrier that holds our people prisoner. Unfortunately, that day hasn’t yet come.
Romen came to stand beside her. “Shall we cross?” he asked.
She turned to face the thirty-odd frightened faces watching her in a semi-circle, faces of slaves, of good people, hard workers, honest, brave-hearted yet with their souls caged: men, women and children, families, waiting for her to show them the way to a better life, to hope, to freedom. She had to lead them to a safe place, where they would be slaves no longer, where they would be able to live in peace and freedom, with other brothers like them who had also been set free. That is, if they managed to survive.
“Cross,” she ordered, trying to hide the doubt in her voice.
Romen nodded. Pointing at a dozen people in the front row, he motioned them to cross the barrier. Those selected stepped forward with fear, hollow-eyed, their steps unsure. It was not to be wondered at. No man could cross the limits established by the Gods. Anyone who tried would suffer a horrible death. They all knew it. And that was exactly what they were being asked to do.
“Don’t be afraid, nothing will happen to you. You know your Rings have been altered so you can cross,” Romen explained.
The unfortunate men and women exchanged frightened looks. Then they turned to Liriana.
“Go ahead! Trust!” she said confidently.
They put their left arms forward, trying to control their tremors, until they reached the forbidden strip. The Rings crossed the barrier and gave off a silver gleam. They were allowed to pass. Spasms of pain whipped at them as they crossed the barrier, and they fell to the ground in uncontrollable convulsions. Pain burst out in their minds, and they fainted. When they saw this, the remaining fugitives stepped back with cries of terror.
“There’s nothing to fear,” Romen said. “They’ve crossed, and they’re alive. They’ll recover presently.”
But the fear of the Gods and their obscure Power was too much, and the group did not move.
“Come on!” Liriana ordered them. “There’s no time to lose!”
Romen stepped in at this point. He took hold of the undecided group and made them cross. As for the few who were still reluctant, he forced them to cross over. Then he went back to Liriana.
“That’s done.”
“Thanks, Romen. Now you cross.”
There was worry in his face. “What about you?” he asked.
“I’ll delay them,” she said, and waved in the direction of the river.
He pointed to her shoulder. “But you can’t, you’re wounded.”
“It’s just a scratch.”
Romen sighed and obeyed. She grunted with pain.
“We don’t have much of a head start,” she explained. “If we both cross they’ll catch us. And what’s worse, we’ll be helpless, unconscious.”
“Let me be the one to delay them. You have to cross.”
“Nobody’s going to sacrifice themselves for me. I’m in command, I’m the leader, it’s my responsibility.”
“Liriana, please, let me…”
“There’s no time for arguments. I’ve given you a direct order: cross over, then when you wake up and recover from the noxious effect, guide them. Get them to safety. I’m counting on you. Don’t fail them. We can’t let them die. They’ve put their trust in us, in the resistance, and we have to save them.”
“I won’t fail,” Romen told her, and crossed over. He fell to the ground amid convulsions and lost consciousness.
For a moment Liriana considered the group lying on the grass. They were on the other side of the Boundary. They had crossed over, had almost reached freedom. So near and so far at the same time! Unfortunately the Hunters would arrive at any moment and would kill them mercilessly before they had time to recover and escape.
And she could not let that happen. I must make sure they reach safety!
She grabbed her bow and ran to hide behind a nearby oak tree. She looked to the East where there was an opening in the trees, nocked an arrow and watched the river in the gully. Soon they would arrive there.
She waited.
The first of the Hunters appeared on the opposite bank. In the light of the moon she could make out his silhouette, although she could not distinguish his features. He crouched, searching for the group’s trail, and found it easily. He went to the spot where they had crossed the river.
“Bloody hounds!” Liriana cursed to herself. The Hunter made a sign, and a second Hunter came over to him. They watched the shore briefly. She prayed to the father-god Girlai they would not see her. They came to a decision and began to cross.
She aimed at the one in the lead, not letting her nerves get the better of her, inhaled deeply and held her breath. She waited until the man had reached the middle of the river, breathed out and let the arrow fly. It took him in the chest. The Hunter put his hand to the arrow in surprise, looked ahead trying to see where the attack had come from and fell sideways. His companion tried to help him, but the wild water carried him away. Liriana nocked another arrow. The Hunter crouched and moved forward almost on his knees, trying not to make himself an easy target. She let fly. The arrow grazed the crouching body, but missed.
Damn!
She nocked again and breathed in harshly. Her arm shook, but she kept control of herself. The Hunter had reached the shore and was crawling like a snake through the tall grass; she could barely make him out. She followed his movements, calculated the shot, breathed out and released the arrow. It took him in the right shoulder a moment before he could hide behind a boulder.
She grunted. The shot had not been lethal. She nocked again and aimed at the boulder.
Two arrows buried themselves in the trunk of the oak she was hiding behind. A piece of bark hit her in the face. In a reflex she pulled her head back and protected herself behind the tree.
The two other Hunters must have reached the river already, and they’ve located me. I can’t count on the surprise factor any more. I have to gain more time, or else we’re doomed.
With a swift move she poked her head out and shot at the two men beside the river, then hid instantly. Several arrows brushed her head.
This is getting complicated, she sighed, nervously. But I have to keep them there.
She tried to repeat the same move, faster this time. An arrow scratched her face. Flinching, she dropped her bow and had to duck at once, her heart pounding. She tried to calm down. It was a tight fit, but this was not the first time. She had to think.
She heard soft footsteps to her left, nocked an arrow and turned, waiting for the Hunter to appear from behind the tree. A silhouette was crawling like a snake through the grass. She let fly, but the Hunter drew back with an agile movement and her arrow buried itself in the ground.
“Drop your bow,” came a voice to her right.
Hell! She started to turn.
“Don’t even try, or I’ll put one through you!”
Slowly, without raising her bow, she looked right. It was the Hunter she had wounded. He was pointing his bow at her.
He’s wounded, perhaps he’ll miss, she thought, and began to move her own bow.
“Do what they tell you,” came another voice on her left. She
turned and there was another Hunter on one knee, aiming at her.
She was surrounded. She dropped her bow and raised her arms.
A third Hunter joined the first two, and this was no mere Hunter: he was the leader of the pack.
“On your feet,” he said in a crisp, authoritarian voice.
Liriana obeyed, studying him as she did so. He was not very tall, but was extremely thin, with a long sharp nose. His hair was long and white, tied back in a queue, and his eyes were light brown. She knew who he was: Lonus, the Master Hunter responsible for the Fifth County. His bad reputation preceded him. He was said to be cruel, and to enjoy abusing his privileged position. The Enforcers of the Gods let him act with impunity, and the brute enjoyed inflicting suffering on the poor wretches he came across. She knew the six Master Hunters now. She had spied on them and studied their ways, since they were the enemy, and the more she knew about them, the better the chances of defeating them. In the same way, the less they knew about her organization and activities, the less risk of being captured. Or at least so Gedrel had taught her.
“If I’m not mistaken, and I rarely am, I have a ‘Rebel’ before me. Today’s Hunt has gone well for us.” He smiled ironically.
Liriana looked at him defiantly, but said nothing.
“For months there’ve been rumors of your existence, of the presence of an organized resistance group calling for rebellion against the Regent, and still more outrageously, against the Gods themselves. Something utterly irrational, a madness that can lead only to failure and death. Yet even so, there’s talk of you and your message: whispers and mutterings in taverns and markets, temples and barns. The Regent denies it, he turns a deaf ear. Either he refuses to believe it, or else it doesn’t suit him to: probably both. But we Hunters always keep our ears and eyes open, and in the end the song of treason has reached us. I still can’t believe it, it’s insane. Do you really seek Rebellion? Is it true that you’re beginning to be organized?” He shook his head repeatedly and stared at Liriana with a look of incredulity on his face.