Identity Revealed: The Tue-Rah Chronicles

by Butler, J. M.

  "But…" Naatos stared WroOth down.

  WroOth did not appear concerned. "I doubt she will. She's playing some little game. Also, she is not from Reltux. There was a scorpion sting on her hand. The mottling was consistent with a Neyeb as well, I might add. But there are no scorpions like that on this continent. She also had a wound wrapped in gauze quite unlike anything they are even capable of weaving here," WroOth said. "She's not from Reltux, and her mannerisms are nothing like any Neyeb I've ever seen. The Tue-Rah has been interfering again. I think she may have been brought here to protect and train Inale. She might even have been the reason we couldn't find Inale's body. You know how Neyeb can reach children, especially their own kind. And if she has any knowledge of healing, she could have resuscitated her."

  This was strange news though it offered numerous explanations. Naatos scowled, mulling it over. It was not especially bad, but it wasn't fully good either. "This could change everything."

  "Amelia is not a Neyeb name though," AaQar said.

  "No. But she wasn't lying. Her eyes made that clear. I imagine she wound up with an Awdawm name the same way Inale wound up with one. And for whatever reason, she wants to see you alone up there."

  It would be a great advantage if this Amelia was actually one of the Neyeb who had supported him. But all of the Neyeb who had supported him as well as their families knew better than to play such games as this woman had with WroOth. She should have never pretended to be a Machat or sought to single them out from one another. No. As appealing as the thought was, this Neyeb was not one of his former allies. She might be persuaded to become one though. Inale needed a Neyeb to look up to and to train her.

  "Why?" AaQar's voice interrupted Naatos's thoughts. "Why would a Neyeb want to see Naatos alone on Valne's Peak? What possible purpose could there be? He was there in the palace."

  "She did want to see Naatos, but she pretended to be a Machat, so she got me. That's when she gave me the so-called prophecy. As I said, I don't know what she hopes to gain from this precisely or what her end goal is, but going out here will expose that." WroOth shrugged. "You shouldn't have a problem figuring it out. She's easy enough to agitate. Just start tearing up some books."

  "Let's avoid killing her then, all right?" AaQar gave Naatos a pointed look.

  Naatos returned it with annoyance. "She's a Neyeb. She should only be eliminated if she is utterly unbearable and unusable. Even if she doesn't know where Inale is, we can use her." Besides, he did not like to consider more Neyeb dying. Not after what had happened. The plan for Valne's Peak still had the capacity to backfire. Given what Amelia had already demonstrated, it made the most sense. Better to intimidate her into cooperation, especially if she intended to pursue this divide-and-conquer method. If he needed someone to soften matters, AaQar or WroOth would both be in hiding.

  Naatos fell silent until they reached the top of Valne's Peak. The forest closed in from the south, but the slope of the peak was the smoothest down the eastern and southern sides. Higher ridges to the north and a sheer drop and open slope to the west made the southeastern quarter the most likely point Inale and the strange woman would come. The ravine to the northwest was something they'd likely avoid.

  It did not take long to set up the peak for the upcoming confrontation. AaQar went down to search the river for threats and signs of Inale. WroOth took to the skies. As his brothers scoped everything out, Naatos had the cages with the crudons placed at the back of the peak, and then instructed the warriors to place branches and foliage over them. This way they would not frighten Inale any more than necessary. He ordered Josiah bound, gagged, and placed behind the brush close to the crudon cages, approximately within sight of where Amelia was likely to come. If she was on his side, she would leave the boy alone because she would understand that such things were required.

  For the most part, Alita had been quiet and withdrawn, clinging to her son and crying softly. As soon as Naatos ordered Josiah taken, she clutched her son close and screamed. "No! You can't. He's a child!"

  One of the guards grabbed Alita by the hair as the other pulled Josiah away. "You can't do this!" Alita shouted. Her voice covered the boy's cries of fear. "Please, no. What are you doing to him?"

  "Ensuring your cooperation." Naatos surveyed the forest. His gaze narrowed in on the point where the forest came closest to the peak. The location he'd sent the mercenaries to put Josiah. If Amelia had ill intent, this was almost assuredly to be her course. If she supported him, why would she hide?

  Josiah's cries broke off as the mercenary gagged him. "Make sure he's covered with branches and mostly out of sight," Naatos said.

  The queen continued to sob, her hands covering her face. Naatos looked at her again, disgusted. He disliked her more than most Awdawms. Mara, WroOth's wife, had been one of the few Awdawm women he had actually liked. But Alita embodied everything he found distasteful in Awdawms. She was shrill, easily frightened, desperate to protect her child and yet unwilling to risk angering Naatos. She hadn't even attacked him once. And now here she was on the ground, sobbing and clutching at him, begging him not to feed her son to the crudons, promising anything.

  Naatos barely paid attention. This was an old, old scene. She made every expected statement. Why she seemed to be under the impression that he took some deep pleasure in killing eluded him. Killing and torture were efficient tools to particular ends. It wasn't until the digging of her fingernails in his calf became uncomfortable that he shook her off. "Enough, woman. I don't want your life in exchange for your son's. You die as soon as we return to Telhetum. But if you want your son to live, then stop your weeping and do exactly as I say."

  Alita wiped her dirt-covered hands across her face, the mud streaking with the tears. "I care nothing for my own life, but do not kill my son."

  "And yet you made no attempt to escape and free him," Naatos said.

  Alita kept her gaze on the ground, her hands clasped before her. "If I had done so, you would have killed him before me as punishment for defying you. This is the only way I can protect him."

  A fair assessment. Naatos stepped back from her. "Then you understand the importance of doing what I say. Now wipe away your tears and call for Inale."

  Alita frowned, confusion filling her face. "Why would I call Inale? She's in the palace. Surely—"

  "If she was back at the palace, I wouldn't have you calling her out here," Naatos said, his voice sharpening. "Inale escaped last night, and some woman claims she has her. She is to meet us here with Inale, but we all know that's not what will happen. So you're going to call Inale, and we're going to find her."

  Realization spread over Alita's features. Hope flickered in her wide eyes. She clasped her fists to her chest, her knuckles whitening. "But what do you want with Inale? She's just a little girl. She has no value to anyone but our family."

  Naatos chuckled darkly as he folded his arms. "So you understand the danger of disobeying me but not the risk of lying to me?"

  "I don't understand."

  "Not even I believe you're that idiotic." Naatos motioned to the guards to drag her to her feet. "I already know that Inale is the Third Nalenth. I'm sure even you can determine why I want her. If you aren't sure, take a guess. Now start calling her. When she comes to you, you will give her to me. And you will not make a scene. Do you understand?"

  "You cannot—" Anger flared in Alita's eyes. She knotted her fists.

  But it was too little too late. Naatos grabbed her by the face, glaring at her. "If you do not, your son gets torn to shreds by the crudons." He gripped her face tighter, his fingers digging into her cheeks. "I'll let them eat him piece by screaming piece. And as for you, I won't kill you all at once. I'll let the crudons tear off your legs, patch you up enough for the journey back, and throw you in a cage with the shredded corpse of your son to comfort you on your way home." He shoved her back.

  "You—you can't hurt her," Alita said. "She's just a—"

  Naatos silenced her with a look, his
annoyance intensifying. "I will do with her whatever I choose. One child is lost to you. Do not risk the second."

  15

  Unease

  Amelia resisted the urge to look back over her shoulders as Halig rambled down the path, out of the palace and out of the city. If she had learned to read minds, she could have learned precisely what WroOth was thinking and adjusted accordingly. Not that Naatos wouldn't be at Valne's Peak. Oh no, of that she was certain. He probably wouldn't come alone though. He'd likely bring a few Talbokian mercenaries, but she was a good shot, and they could be dealt with swiftly.

  Halig traveled the cobblestone path as if it was any other day. He sometimes snuffed and shook his head, often turning toward the empty vendor booths. No one was out and about. On occasion, Amelia caught glimpses of people looking out of windows, but, aside from the mercenaries on patrol, none of the citizens of Libysha could be seen. Not that it meant they weren't doing anything.

  Amelia suspected that the beginnings of an insurgency already developed outside of what she, Shon, and Matthu had planned. Naatos and his brothers likely knew it. The execution of Queen Alita would be just as much for the Libyshans as for King Theol and the other nations.

  As they passed the central courtyard of Telhetum, Amelia's guess seemed to be confirmed. Most of the corpses were being laid up in piles along the dais. It didn't matter whether their clothing was lilac, blue, pale gold, or even silver grey. Blood stained their fabric the same distinctive black red. Nothing sat in the center of the dais, and all of the ornamental carvings had been removed. It looked like a bare slab of stone with a wall of headless bodies surrounding it.

  Amelia's heart ached and her stomach turned, but she drove the thoughts down. She'd seen variations of this so many times in her nightmares, but weeping or running would do these people no good. Like tiny needles, her nerves prickled along the back of her neck.

  To make matters worse, she knew something was watching her. Not the mercenaries. They paid her little heed beyond an initial curious glance. And that was odd in and of itself. No, not them. Something—someone else.

  As she left the city, the fragrant wind blew in her face. Clouds drifted above, lower in the sky than at dawn. Indeed, that cloud cover prevented Amelia from seeing anything more than an occasional patch of blue. WroOth could be up there, watching. Or Naatos for that matter. She wasn't sure about AaQar. He might be limited to only aquatic forms.

  A wren landed on a tree branch nearby. She gave it a suspicious glance before it flew away.

  The land outside Telhetum did not appear as if it had been subject to a military conquest at all. Another strange fact that Amelia wasn't sure she understood. Despite his use of terror in some areas, Naatos wasn't as destructive as she expected.

  The tall green grass waved on either side of the road. Heather, blue brambles, and tri-leafed ferns poked up at intervals. Here the wind swept down from the mountains, fresh with the scents of flowers, brush, and trees. If she kept her face toward the pass and in the general direction of Valne's Peak, she could maintain a beautiful illusion that she was out for an afternoon ramble.

  The forest started close to the road. Most of the trees were similar to the ones in the woods where she lived in Indiana. Elms, maples, oaks, and aspens clustered together, different shades of green leaves intertwined among branches of varying sizes. Amelia guided Halig into the forest and off the path.

  Though the leafy branches brushed against Amelia's face, Halig continued at such a slow pace none of them hurt. A bright-green beetle dropped onto her hand. She shook it off, her skin prickling at the feel of its crooked legs. Halig pushed aside a large bush of yellow flowers and snorted loudly. Reaching down, Amelia scratched the back of his neck.

  Arriving at what was likely the safest place, Amelia removed the outer layers of Machat garments. A small clear running stream cut through the forest floor. Kneeling down, Amelia peeled off the fingerless gloves.

  The air struck the sensitive markings on her palms and forehead. For her exposed elmis being so dangerous, it was remarkably relaxing to have them uncovered. It was like removing a pair of sunglasses on a cloudy day and then being able to see clearly. This clarity sharpened all of her senses, and, despite opening her up for horrors, it felt…right.

  Kneeling beside the water, Amelia stared at her elmis. They never felt evil. Sometimes she had pulled her gloves off and clenched her eyes shut, waiting to see what would happen. But nothing had. Most of the time she was more aware of her own feelings, and it left her feeling sadder or lonelier. As if she was missing something quite important. They left her exposed and raw, a crab without its shell on the beach at sunrise. But somehow, at the same time, she felt more real.

  Halig harrumphed abruptly and thrust his head against her shoulder, knocking her forward.

  "We'll be going soon." Amelia rubbed his ears with her fingertips, being careful not to use her palms or wrists. Without the gloves to cover the markings, her hands were quite sensitive. Perhaps they would have developed more tolerance if she didn't keep them covered all the time, but the what ifs and Uncle Joe's cautions prevented her from leaving them exposed for more than a few minutes. Her encounter with Shon had been the most emotional, unlike anything else. All the rest of the time, she'd simply been more sensitive as if being primed for something yet to come.

  Truthfully, this was the main reason she wanted to face Naatos alone and far from civilization. More likely than not, she was going to go mad. Out here, alone in the wilderness, she could let that happen and hopefully regain her sanity before encountering others. She wouldn't hurt anyone other than Naatos. Hopefully. Then again, the gun might work first, but Amelia doubted that it was only the gun that would save the day despite her earlier words. Her hope was that it might kill Naatos fast enough so the blood curse wouldn't set in. Or perhaps she would regain control, succeed in killing one of the other brothers, regain control, then kill the last, and then kill herself. Perhaps the mad monstrousness of herself could be held off so that she did not harm innocents. Maybe she never had to become a monster. That didn't seem likely. Particularly now as she thought about it. It was too much to hope that she could outrun the curse. One day it would seize her. Perhaps this day. Perhaps in a few hours.

  "At least if I go mad, Naatos is the only one who will pay," Amelia said softly. She scrubbed her hands in the cold waters to wash the ink away. More icy water to her neck and face both refreshed and cleansed her. She stripped off the Machat clothes and turned the sashes into a layered shawl to cover her red shirt.

  "Come on, Halig." She gave him a light tug. She'd take him a little way farther, but she did not want to take him all the way to the peak. He didn't deserve to die if she went mad.

  A heaviness spread over her as they continued on. It was sinking in that she was at last going to face Naatos. The beginning of her end.

  The roundabout route she had taken proved to be a good choice. As they moved farther up the slope, she occasionally thought she heard the sounds of a caravan. More than once, Halig lifted his head, sniffed, and snorted. The back way to Valne's Peak was steeper with large stones and thick tree roots providing support at some of the most difficult points.

  Then there were screams. Amelia's chest tightened. Was it possible? For a moment, she remained motionless. Halig's ears pricked forward.

  That was her mother's voice. She was almost certain. When those distorted cries for mercy broke, she heard a young boy's as well. A sick knot tangled in her stomach.

  "Faster, Halig." Amelia quickened her pace as Halig followed. Though they were still in the forest, they had nearly reached the top. Growls and the occasional shout punctuated the air. Then…the screams stopped.

  Amelia froze. Her ears strained. Why wasn't Alita screaming anymore? Had Naatos killed her?

  "Gefel," she commanded Halig, pressing her hand to his shoulder. He would remain there until she called him. It was too dangerous to bring him farther.

  Removing the gun from its h
olster, Amelia crept along the uneven ground. Birds chirped overhead, fluttering their brown and yellow wings with sharp whirrs. The trees were no longer spaced so close together. A tightness and prickling spread across Amelia's neck. Looking up, she glimpsed an eagle. It had distinctive scarlet and azure plumage unlike any she had ever seen. WroOth. He flew high in large but languid circles.

  The river on the other side of the peak cut to the left, but its body was out of her eyesight. AaQar was probably down there.

  "Inale!" Alita's voice stabbed Amelia's heart.

  Directly ahead, with no visible signs of a caravan or anyone nearby, stood the queen.

  Amelia didn't remember much of Alita except for her quiet manner and her embroidery. But Alita was practically a girl! Younger than she. Mid-twenties at the oldest. Alita stood at the crest of the lowest cleft on the peak, her body shaking, tears streaming down her face. Her thick brown-blond hair was matted and tangled with straw, and the thin blue dressing gown she wore over her cornflower-blue night garb was dirt and grass stained.

  Naatos was nearby. And so were the mercenaries. There was no question. But where was Josiah? Amelia was almost certain she had heard his voice too. She scanned the peak.

  There!

  A small brown boot was half hidden under brush and in the crook of the forest. There was a cage beside him, also covered with cut branches and leaves. Then another cage. And another.

  Amelia ground her teeth together. It was time to finish this. It was a trap. Clearly. She might not be able to deal with all three of the brothers, their warriors, and save her family, but maybe that was what the curse was for and maybe she could work this to her advantage and get Alita and Josiah out of there before the curse struck…Amelia slid back farther into the forest and circled to the edge.