Heart of Shadra

by Susan Faw

  “What is it that the emperor thinks he has found?” Shikoba could not deny that she was curious. “What does he hope to accomplish, digging around to unearth myth?”

  “The emperor does not share his full plans with me.” Shikoba snorted and a muscle in Casper’s cheek jumped as his face flushed red. His fist tightened. “The emperor has unearthed a weapon of great power. He intends to possess it.”

  “A weapon?” Shikoba laughed. Her voice was full of skepticism. “Legend does not speak of any weapon. He is chasing ghosts.”

  “If he is chasing ghosts, then the ghosts have bodies. You will see. Move.” He shoved her forward and they started off again. This time the tunnel sloped down and to the right. As they walked, the torches affixed to the walls were smaller and more frequent. The ceiling lowered until the top of the torch carried by Casper trailed across it, the smoke from the pitch billowing into clouds of black. Shikoba coughed as the smoke thickened. Casper grabbed a smaller torch and stowed the one he had been carrying. The darkness shrank in on them, and Shikoba was forced to stay closer to him. His shadow enveloped hers, and she shivered as her aura was swallowed by his.

  The tunnel twisted in serpentine swings, right to left to right, with no rhyme or reason. The walls rounded, abandoning the oval shape normally associated with tunnels created by humans. The air was heavy and damp with the salty tang of the sea, mixed with the musty odours of stagnant waters. She wrinkled her nose but said nothing. Water seeped through the rock, staining the walls like sweat and running down to create slick ribbons that tested her footing. She had to slow to keep her feet from sliding out from under her body. Shikoba’s right foot hit a patch, and she stumbled into the rock, scraping her cheek against the curve of the ceiling.

  Swearing, she turned back to Casper. “I need a torch or I will split my skull in this passage. I can’t see a cursed thing!”

  “Take the next one we pass,” he grunted as Shikoba slipped again.

  She grabbed the tiny torch from the bracket as she went by and sighed a small sigh of relief when she could see the immediate space in front of her feet. She didn’t need if for much longer, for a couple of turns later, the tunnel merged into an immense cavern, twice the size of the pit they had just left. She walked up to the railing to take in the sight. Stairs led down to the floor below, and similar-sized tunnels opened onto the space, but it wasn’t the dark recesses that caught her eye. It was the sparkling light cascading off the walls. Everything was made of the jewels. The walls, the floor, even the ceiling were covered in gemstones of every kind. Fat rubies and oval sapphires; chunky emeralds and bulging opals; spikes of amethyst and rivers of turquoise; and a thousand stones she could not identify covered every surface, like a swarm of beetles.

  There was but a single flat area paved in gold within the chamber. The road of sorts led to a pair of giant fretworked gates made of a silvery substance with a buffed finish. They rose to touch the cathedral-like ceiling. But none of this splendor attracted Shikoba. It was the thin ribbon of humanity that captured her gaze. In front of the gates huddled a group of ten children. They were guarded by a ring of men. Even from a distance, she could see the terror that gripped their bodies.

  “Casper. What does the emperor really want with the children?” she whispered, steeling herself for the answer.

  Casper moved up beside her to stand at the railing.

  “They are offerings to the naga. The children are taken by the naga in exchange for that which the emperor seeks.”

  “And what is that?”

  “Magic.”

  Chapter 25

  Naga Palace

  THE TRUE HORROR of the fate of the children washed over Shikoba in a sickening swoop. The emperor is sacrificing children to a monster? What kind of a beast is he? She thought about all the emptied villages, of the people stolen away, whole families taken to serve in the mines. Her mind also flickered to Chutzpa, but she ruthlessly pushed it away. He was not of Shadra, and his problems had to take a second seat. Her focus had to be on her people and her mission. She could not forget her mission, despite the obscene abuses surrounding her.

  “Where are their parents?” said Shikoba, gesturing to the children. The chains on her wrists rattled. “What has happened to your people, Casper, while you serve your monster of a master?” She turned around, her expression so fierce that Casper took an involuntary step backward. “Did you betray your family? Did you betray your mother, the Shamankas, to the emperor, Casper?” Her voice fell to a whisper. “Did you betray my mother, the tribal queen, too?” His eyes shuttered, hiding his emotions. His face turned to stone. “If you betrayed them, you are a worse monster than any naga could be. You disgust me.” Shikoba’s stormy eyes stabbed into Casper’s, a hazel tempest flung into the dark abyss of cruelty.

  Casper’s mouth twisted into an ugly grimace. He grabbed her arm, forcing her down the steps to the left. “Do not worry about my family, Shikoba. Worry about your own.” He pushed her ahead of him onto the steep steps and steered her onto the golden road at the bottom. The clanking of her chains drew the eyes of the children. They stared at her in fear, moving into a tighter ring as she approached.

  Shikoba wanted to weep. She loved children. She pasted a watery smile on her lips as she approached them hoping that they were not afraid of her, but of the hulking man behind her bristling with weapons. She caught a glance at her reflection in the shimmering surface of the road and realized that her cheek was streaked with blood. Her lip was swollen and purple, and blood stained her clothing. She looked like what had happened to her and was relieved to see a worried smile cross the face of the oldest of the children. It quickly faded when she glanced at Casper. By their reactions, she understood that this was not the first time they had seen the wizard.

  Casper ignored the huddled children, walking Shikoba past them and up to the front of the gates, jerking her to a halt in front of the tall gleaming panels.

  “Why are we here?” Shikoba muttered, shooting Casper a murderous glare. But he was not looking her way. His attention was focused on the shadows to his left. Shikoba squinted into the darkness and took a step back as the shadows dissolved in to the body of Emperor Madrid. His mocking gaze latched onto Shikoba, and his mouth stretched in a mirthless smile. Casper bowed low, hands on knees. Shikoba did not. She would have crossed her arms with defiance had it been possible. She settled on a glare of hatred and turned her face away as he came closer.

  “Rise, Casper.” The emperor paused in front of Shikoba. He reached out with his thin-fingered hand and grasped her chin tight, then pulled it around so that she was forced to meet his gaze. “So, Shikoba, are you ready? Are you prepared to take these children’s place today? I hear the naga is hungry.” His smile widened, as his eyes took in the mask clutched in her right hand. “And thank you for bringing the mask. You have no idea what it does, do you? No idea of the power you hold in your fist? I see the truth of it in your eyes.” Shikoba reluctantly nodded her head, but she did not speak. “Come, I will teach you how to use it.” Madrid released her chin and turned to the doors. He flung his arms above his head, pressing the palms together with index fingers pointing toward the sky and spoke in an ancient language that Shikoba did not recognize. The murmuring continued as his palms separated. His arms lowered, the doors rumbling in response then they swung out toward them of their own accord. Madrid’s arms drifted in a perfect arc to rest at his sides.

  Shikoba gasped. There was a wall of water on the other side of the threshold. The water filled the entire space. Casper grabbed Shikoba’s arm and dragged her forward toward the doors. Alarmed, she struggled in his grip, but her resistance was futile. She could not swim. She had never been near this much water. Shikoba kicked out at Casper with a strength born of her fear. Her heel connected with Casper’s shin. Casper grunted with pain, but he did not slow. When they were within a foot of the watery recess, Casper gripped both of her upper arms, lifting her off her feet. She squirmed, trying to loosen his ho
ld. With a mighty toss, she was flung into the opening. Shikoba’s scream was a piercing wail. The sound of her terror abruptly ceased as she pierced the invisible shield that separated the two realities and was swallowed by the water.

  Madrid moved his hands together in front of his body. The motion of the doors reversed and closed. Madrid hurried forward stepping between the doors and across the threshold into the watery abyss.

  Casper did not follow. The doors swung closed with a hollow boom. He stood still a moment longer than he had for the other victims. He drew in a deep breath, letting it out slowly, then retraced his steps. There was no need to stand watch. Only his master ever returned from the other side.

  ***

  Sarcee morphed from a fly to a fish just as he hit the barrier. He’d been hiding in Shikoba’s hair ever since she left her cell, but he couldn’t risk contacting her with Casper so close. He would know of the abilities of the Djinn. The danger was simply too high. Shikoba flailed in the water, her eyes bulging as she held her breath. Panicked movements caused her to sink further in the water. Sarcee swam around Shikoba’s head and stopped right in front of her eyes.

  Shikoba, it’s me! Calm down! There is air above you. Kick with your feet and push yourself up. Follow me. I will take you to the surface. Come on now. You can do it. Kick!

  Shikoba’s eyes widened, and she gave a slight nod and started kicking her feet with purpose. Sarcee led the way, wriggling his tail in front of her eyes as she pushed herself to follow her bond mate. The terror did not leave her face, but she managed to rein in enough of the fear to put her efforts into motion.

  Slowly they rose through the water. Sarcee swam in circles, urging Shikoba to move faster. Her face purpled as her air supply dwindled. Panic spread across her face as she struggled to get the air she needed.

  We are almost there! Push! Come on, Shikoba, don’t give up.

  She kicked harder. She thought she saw the water lightening above her, as though sunlight touched the surface. She worked her way toward the light, struggling with the last of her strength to reach the area where the water was brightest. Her head bobbed to the surface, and she gasped in a breath before she sank under the water again. Exhausted, she pushed herself above the surface once again, her arms and hands splashing the surface.

  Lay on your back, Shikoba, and rest for a moment. I will not let you sink. Sarcee increased his size and swam under her back as she turned over, so that he could support her while she rested. He hid in the folds of her tunic, wary of being spotted in the water.

  Shikoba gasped, sucking in the sweet air. She blinked away the salty water. It stung the open cuts inflicted by Casper, adding to the pain in her chest. Shikoba shuddered, trying to get control of herself. Before she could gather her thoughts, the water erupted beside her as a monstrous head exploded up out of the surface. It was followed by a long, sinuous body, covered in brightly covered scales. The head twisted toward her. Shikoba panicked and started to sink despite Sarcee’s support. The monster’s head tipped toward her, its mouth opening wide. Shikoba screamed as a blast of hot breath washed over her, pushing her up onto the surface of a giant wave.

  She was carried along with the white crest, tumbling in its grip, not knowing up from down. Choking on more sea water, she didn’t see the sand until her face smacked into the shoal, skidding away from the collapsing wave. She rolled onto her stomach, retching on the salt clogging her airways. Shikoba spat bile and the contents of her last meal onto the glistening sand. Her stomach heaved over and over until there was nothing left to throw up. A groan escaped her lips and she collapsed, exhausted beyond measure. A sharp object poked into her side. Dazed, she stared at it, not able to comprehend what it was. She shifted slightly to find the beak of the mask partly buried in the sand underneath her body.

  “Impressive. You managed to not let go of the mask.” Madrid stepped from the water, allowing the bubble of air he had conjured to collapse. His clothes were completely dry. “Why did you not call on the element of air to allow you to breathe, Shikoba? Are you really such a child of magic that the simplest forms of its use escape your notice? I had expected more from you.” He walked over to where she lay, quivering on the sand. He studied her for a moment, taking in her sodden tunic and dripping moccasins.

  Shikoba forced herself to sit up. Her mouth dropped open as she admired the interior of the palace for the first time. The shores of the hidden sea lapped against a shoreline made of sparkling crystals. Crystals that were an identical match to the one that she wore around her neck and that Casper no doubt wore beneath his wizard tunic. Her hand drifted to the crystals, and she picked up a handful. She let them slide through her fingers, then allowed her gaze to sweep the chamber. The sand ended and a lush jungle surged from the transition. Flowers grew in astounding variety and colour, crowding each other for space. A wide walkway of purest gold pavers cut through the vegetation.

  The road terminated at a massive structure. Eight fluted columns of grey marble embedded with swirling veins of gold held up a massive red-clay-tiled roof. At the roof of each column was a carved statue of a naga, its tail sinuously curling around the column to where it perched on the edge. Eyes of rubies stared back at Shikoba, and each mouth was open, displaying pearly white teeth and a flickering tongue. The gem-encrusted statues seemed to breathe. Under the roof was a simple grey granite slab mounted on a platform of obsidian glass. Beneath, the obsidian flames danced, as though the stone capped a portal to the underworld. Shikoba shivered at the thought. Beyond the temple, an underground city spread away on all sides. Shikoba’s eyes widened in awe. Thousands of people could easily live in the city. It could hold a hundred times the population of Shikoba’s village. She saw no signs of life, however. Nothing moved.

  “Tonight, my dear, you are going to be the guest of honour at a very special ceremony. Why, you could even say that without your presence, we couldn’t hold it.” Madrid grinned, motioning her toward the altar. “You know the legend of the Naganese? How they disappeared from Shadra never to be seen again? Well, here they are.” Madrid’s gesture encompassed the temple and the city beyond. “What, you can’t see them? Well, we are about to fix that. You, your gifts, and your treasures will be made to serve me and my army. Now step into the temple.” The smile faded from Madrid’s face. “It is time to begin.”

  Chapter 26

  Hatching a Plan

  CHUTZPA FLUNG OUT HIS ARM and pressed Marsai back against the stone wall. They waited, holding their breath as the squad of guards hurried past, the soles of their boots slapping the cold stone. The echo bounced against the walls. Chutzpa waited until they disappeared around the corner at the next junction before easing back into the hallway. It was the third patrol to pass by in very short order. Something had stirred up the guards. Chutzpa grabbed Marsai’s hand and pulled her out into the corridor to continue down the passageway. Caution would keep them alive.

  Marsai loosed her warning grip over girl’s mouth, pushing her out in front of her. “Follow Chutzpa, Tesha.”

  They had been fortunate to come across the girl as they were making their way through the vast facility. The stolen cloaks they wore would only disguise them in a crowd. They had paused behind a large pillar to discuss where to go next and how to get in when they’d spied Tesha. Marsai had recognized the girl when she’d come out through a heavily guarded door that they had been watching and had been carrying an empty tray. Anywhere that required guards was of interest to them.

  They had ambushed Tesha as she passed them by and led her to an empty room and questioned her about what lay beyond the doorway. At first, she had been tearful about all the inquiries. When Marsai mentioned that they were searching for Shikoba, Tesha’s lower lip had trembled with fear. It had all come out in a rush then that Shikoba was a prisoner of the emperor and that she was being taken to the one place no one wanted to be taken, the deep caverns that no one ever returned from. It had taken some convincing, but Tesha had finally agreed to guide them as
far as she knew of the passages leading to the last of the prisoner cells.

  They were getting close to their goal, judging by the amount of patrols of the area. Chutzpa slid from doorway to column to shadow, leading them deeper into the underground labyrinth. The wide hall ended in an intersection with multiple doors leading off the landing. He motioned to them to remain still, then edged his way to the end of the wall and peered around it. He counted five pairs of doors, but only one set was guarded. Two bearded men stood by the doorway, standing with hands on the hilts of their swords to defend the door. Each wore a leather chest guard and leather pants, tucked into boots that ended midcalf. Their arms were bare and inked with tattoos.

  Chutzpa pulled back from the landing then fished in his pocket for a small hollow tube. From an inside flap of his cloak, he pulled two small darts. He was careful not to touch the needle’s sharp end, which was tipped with a slow-acting poison derived from the larvae of the Bushman beetle.

  Lord knows I have killed enough of those beetles protecting my trees! Finally, I can put those pests to good use. He had been unsure that he had brought along the substance, but when he searched his pack, he had found the dart tube and a package of darts tucked into the corner.

  Chutzpa slid a dart into the tube, leaned around the corner and took aim. He put his lips over the mouthpiece and breathed hard into the tube. With a soft phut, the dart shot from the tube and nicked the scalp of the first guard with the touch of a mosquito. The guard slapped at his head, scratched for a second and went back to attention. Chutzpa loaded the second dart and shot it at the other guard. It nicked his ear and he slapped at it, grumbling audibly about people leaving doors open to let in bugs.

  Chutzpa straightened, leaning against the wall. He started to count. One, two, three. Before he could reach a count of twenty, he heard two soft thuds. He peered around the corner. Both guards had collapsed, sprawling unconscious on the floor. Chutzpa gestured to the women to come forward.