by Susi Wright
Just before sunset, after two hours of heated discussion, the council summoned Luminor and his men to the chambers. The wayfarers had been offered rest and refreshments in the government reception rooms while they waited. The food and drinks had been left untouched, as they had spent the entire time in silent contemplation, much to the puzzlement of the attendants.
The doorman announced their entry, as before, and Luminor approached the assembly, flanked by Altor and his men.
Governor Rand studied again the strange lord and his entourage, noticing this time how each remarkable and oddly brilliant pair of eyes differed in colour, and how each one’s hair was a different shade of striking blonde. All Baramese had dark hair, and their eyes, whatever hue, were so unremarkable in comparison.
Clearing his throat, he proceeded. ‘Lord Luminor, it has not been an easy decision, a few members still oppose it… but majority has ruled. We have no choice but to agree to your terms, on one condition… which is written into this agreement,’ he held up the parchment that had been prepared, reading out loud, ‘That you, as leader of your clan, will be responsible for the submission of your people to the laws of this government. In return, Gaians will be allowed open citizenship… as long as they are useful members of the community.’ He added with a wry, but not unkind smile, ‘I am interested to see just how else you think you will be so valuable to us! Just start by killing the monster, I say!’ He struck the table once for emphasis, to a round of loud agreement from the assembly members. ‘Will you sign?’
Luminor had already sensed the decision would be favourable, from the early enthusiasm of the majority. He had, however, hoped for a little more in the detail. But, after they had accomplished the task ahead, he was positive that gratitude would open the way for further negotiations.
‘I will… read it,’ he replied, noticing two councillors exchange glances, and stepped forward to do so, adding, ‘I will need a battalion of your soldiers, to build medical camps, physicians to tend the injured. Our women will assist in healing duties. I need all my warriors with me.’ He continued silently reading the agreement.
The governor looked up sharply. More audacity! Noting with surprise that a nomad, like Luminor, could actually read, he shrugged, seeming to accept the condition. ‘I agree. One battalion. For that purpose only! I cannot afford to put them in harm’s way! Two physicians may go, the rest we need here to treat the injured we already have. I will send to Splendo for extra nursing volunteers.’ He signed his authority to this initial treaty, followed by Luminor, then stamped it with the seal of the Capital, exclaiming, ‘It is done! You will leave immediately, I take it?’
‘Certainly!’ Luminor replied, bowing slightly and taking his leave, flanked by his warriors, to their waiting samblars and leaping upon their backs with the same flourish as when they arrived. The crowd by now had swelled greatly in number as news of the strange wayfarers had spread throughout the city, since no one had seen their like in living memory, of all the traders and travellers that had ever entered the Capital gates. It was to be expected that such foreigners would suffer the scrutiny and curious stares of hundreds of bystanders who lined the streets, all the way back to those portal gates. The group exited on samblar-back, as they had entered. They would of course be abandoning this form of transport out of sight of the city walls, leaving their animals in the care of waiting clan-members, when they would take to the air on the summoned breeze, the remainder of the way to their northern destination. The few sentinels left behind were to escort Gaian women with their healing herbs safely to the medical camps.
During the short ride, Luminor spoke to his men about his plan of action. Plans would only be useful at the beginning; complete success would be dependent on intuition and perception, because they were dealing with an unpredictable and deadly foe. They were all risking their lives.
Altor, as captain, would co-ordinate the warriors, to entrap the flame adder in its lair, using all the skills at their disposal. Luminor would face the monster alone and defeat it, as prophesied, saving the lives of human and Gaian alike. Together, they could go forward into the time of the Alliance. There was momentous change in the air.
Chapter Thirty-three
The atmosphere in the family villa had improved, a little. Everyone was hopeful, since Fralii had eaten something and the following day had taken the company of Simban to go riding. She had spoken a few words to Runo, but she still refused point-blank to speak to her father. To his extreme regret, she would not accept his apology. Runo tried to console Chadren by saying that she would just need time, that eventually she would come around.
In Fralii’s mind, things were still jumbled. The soul-deep ache of loss still haunted her, although the feeling of galloping Spirit on the open grassland had brought a tiny measure of relief. She would go riding again. Apart from that, she still could not decide whether she hated her father, or Luminor, or both of them. Her resentment was a gloomy grey presence, having no definite form. She could not banish it, so she allowed it to exist as it was, for now.
She had taken some small comfort in Sala’s maternal ministrations and gentle encouragement, being plied with all her favourite foods, which enabled her to regain at least some physical strength. Simban was always ready with the samblars to provide morning excursions into the hills, ever wishful to see her laughing into the wind again as they galloped. Runo hovered close, patiently waiting for the return of her complete confidence, while poor Chadren, though recovering well from his injuries, was excluded from this small, hopeful but uncertain circle which orbited the equally fragile Fralii.
As the days passed, one thing Fralii discovered was the more she found active pursuits to occupy herself, the less her thoughts took on their morose inclination. So, riding her samblar for many hours in the protective custody of Simban became a regular pastime, reminding her of happier, carefree times, though the laughter seemed to remain just out of reach.
She had just returned from one such outing, entering the hallway of the villa, when she overheard Runo speaking to Chadren, who had just managed, for the first time since he was injured, to negotiate the stairs with Runo and Sala’s help, and was sitting in an armchair in the downstairs reception room. She held back in the shadow of the entryway, curious to hear the conversation without having to engage in it.
Runo had been out about his daily business early and was relaying some news, while Sala was preparing the midday meal. A messenger had arrived here in the city at dawn, calling for volunteers to nurse those injured by the flame adder. There had been many more casualties, too badly hurt to make it to the city, their villages burned to ash. ‘They are being housed and treated in encampments set up by soldiers from the Capital,’ continued Runo. ‘Apparently, a foreign chief and his men have taken up the quest to kill the beast. Everyone thinks they are mad!’
‘Well, Runo, if we do not have hope…’ Chadren sighed, feeling the sentiment deeply, ‘what do we have?’ He meant that about everything right now.
Fralii felt a small stab of guilt, knowing she was responsible for her father’s present state of mind, but then, was he not responsible for hers? An idea formed itself at that very moment, how she could busy herself for a time, away from this self-imposed prison of pride and resentment that seemed to fester in the company of her father. She knew how to use Prian.
In a sudden gush of excitement, surprising even herself, she flounced around the corner, announcing to the room in general, regardless of the effect on the hearers, ‘I am going to nurse the sick in the north! I will take Simban. I will leave in the morning!’ The stunned silence said it all.
Chapter Thirty-four
At dusk, as Luminor and his men flew closer to the Northern Mountains over the villages in the foothills, the devastation was obvious; scarcely a dwelling remained, the villagers’ bodies charred where they lay. Ahead of them, the orange glow on the horizon boded a dire evil pervading the entire region was given uncharacteristic voice by one of the warriors exclai
ming, ‘The flames… on the hillsides and villages… the mountains all around… the aura of bloodlust is everywhere… our foe is formidable indeed! Pray the Ancestors we can succeed!’
The entire terrain on the near horizon was alight, the flames reaching ten metres into the air, the thick black smoke billowing hundreds of metres above that. They all knew this was the most perilous undertaking any of them had ever faced in their lifetimes, even the elders, and that some of them might not survive the night. A few, the most sentient, knew it for certain. The deadly and powerful presence of the flame adder permeated everything.
They landed amongst the clan members already assembled in a small woodland in the foothills that was not yet burning, welcomed enthusiastically by the warriors awaiting their arrival as the signal to action. As Luminor surveyed his loyal and brave warriors, he could not shake the private, sickening premonition that some of them would not see the morning’s light in this existence. The magnitude of the creature’s presence had increased in strength since last time; he was not sure why. But for Gaians, though few in number, destiny, courage, and honour were what they were, whatever the cost!
Luminor addressed them formally. ‘My clan-brothers, the flame adder is deadly. According to prophecy, it is our destiny to destroy this beast! I believe I can kill it, this time. We will work together. But… if I prove unworthy… and I fail… tonight we will all die, together! But I swear, I will lay down my life before I fail!’
His promise was heartfelt, accepting the sacrifice.
As the small force of warriors stood in the shadow of the imposing Mount Varn, heads bowed in silent prayer, the sky became obscured by the gathering clouds of smoke. Then they raised their eyes to Luminor for his order. Their unity of resolve was unshakeable, immovable as the mountain before them. Every man placed his right hand over his heart; the silent gesture spoke volumes. They were together and they were ready. They had absolute faith in him and he felt it keenly. As one, they knelt in devotion to their new lord, who had just forged a historical alliance, and was leading them into the quest of a lifetime! They were eager for action, ready as they had all been for years, but now with an enormous sense of purpose and meaning. The interminable waiting and endless rounds of exercises were over!
Yes, they were ready, but they had a problem: one of the sentinels had stopped an uninvited guest who had just galloped into camp. A government envoy had arrived unannounced, on a hard-ridden samblar. He had come, he explained, on the express orders of the governor, directly from the nearest military outpost, where a message had arrived in his hands by fast carrier pigeon. His instructions were to observe Gaian combat tactics first-hand, especially should they prove successful, in the hope that Baram’s army could learn from them.
One of the warriors brought the man forward to present him to Luminor, exchanging a knowing glance with first his lord, then his captain that it would be so easy to confuse the man for as long as necessary. This, however, would undermine the ideals of the alliance, and they agreed in silence to refrain from that path. The time had come for humans to witness Gaian powers, and accept them.
Wasting no time on unnecessary questions, Luminor looked the man in the eyes directly and earnestly, as he spoke. ‘We respect you. You are courageous and open-minded. A soldier. You also must respect us! Believe me when I tell you… it is impossible for you to learn Gaian skills!’ The man, whose name was Thomass, raised his eyebrows in mild affront. Ignoring that, Luminor continued, ‘But I will allow you to observe… use your courage to accept us for what we are, however strange to you… Do I have your word?’
Thomass replied with forbearance. ‘Lord Luminor, I have seen many incredible sights, both marvellous and terrible, during my twenty years’ service. But I do give you my word, though it would take a great deal to shock me nowadays!’
‘Be prepared, then!’ warned Luminor, with a wry smile. Giving a respectful nod, he took his leave, deferring to Altor the job of outlining their plan to the visitor. Each warrior knew his individual strengths, Altor providing cohesive focus. Since Luminor would face the beast alone, the envoy would not be able to observe what happened in the lair, a fact that Thomass was initially, quite disappointed about. Leaving no time for protest, Altor then invited the man to be ready, whatever happened, to accompany him, and being familiar with human dialect, he would explain as things unfolded. Timing was crucial. The beast was very fast. It was time to move!
Altor watched the man’s reaction as Luminor raised his cloak and took off on an eddy straight up the mountainside. Thomass’ fearless exclamation ‘By the Ancestors! I believe it!’ was heartening, giving Altor leave to then swoop the man up with him on another current of air, as groups of warriors simultaneously flew off in different directions to surround the mountain containing the tunnels, and deep within that labyrinth, the lair of the flame adder.
They were to remain hidden in crevices until night had fallen, when the beast would return from its recent hunting. They all spared a sympathetic thought for the most recent victims, the villagers who refused to leave their homes even though they were advised to go. Once the creature was on the mountain, things would happen in quick succession.
Thomass seemed to recover fairly quickly from his airborne experience, so as they lay in wait in the shadows of the craggy cliff-face, Altor gave him a brief outline of the various Gaian skills they would employ, relieved the man’s reaction was simply intense curiosity, and the intermittent awestruck exclamation ‘By the Ancestors!’
Soon, in the orange illumination of the countless fires, the flame adder appeared, visible in a distant gorge, its scales glinting in the eerie glow. Although huge in size and land-dwelling, its powerfully muscular body was surprisingly lithe and agile, and it moved with frightening speed up and down the valleys and mountainsides. No other living being, even with the assistance of the wind, could catch it in the open, let alone defeat it, hence the need to trap it in its lair.
Earlier, Luminor had entered by the same cave he had for his sojourn. He would hide himself in the lair and wait, attacking by first using his power to calm or confuse, then arrows, as before. But this time he was more powerful; even as he entered the cavern, he could already feel it pulsing in his veins. And he would need to be much stronger and faster than the last time he was here. But the power to control Fire would be key, in this battle to the death.
As the adder ascended the cliff in mere seconds, its supernatural speed making it impossible to predict, it did something terrible and unexpected, a territorial reflex, spewing a fiery blast scorching the rocks in its path. The six warriors hiding in the crevice right below it were instantly annihilated to ash, before they had even time to react. It was a quick and painful death for their fellow warriors, felt keenly and suddenly by them all. But there was no time to mourn now. They would pay tribute later, when they had rid Existence of this evil.
Luminor waited, coiled like a spring, as he had clearly perceived the approach of the creature in a nearby gorge, and its rapid ascent up the mountainside, passing close to his comrades, their horrific sudden deaths jolting him like a thunderbolt, forcing him to his knees in shock and grief. He forced himself to take a steadying breath to regain enough composure to face the beast, which had already begun moving down a northern entry tunnel. He could feel that it also carried death within it; no doubt its belly and gullet were full of hapless human victims.
In a few moments, it had slithered through the tunnels at supernatural speed, and the massive head entered the far side of the cavern. Luminor observed again those golden eyes with slitted pupils, the silver scales glittering in the orange glow of its own breath. A fleeting pang of regret, borne only from Luminor’s love of natural beauty, was gone as soon as it came, for having to destroy a living creature, even as supremely dangerous as this one. The monster had just added the deaths of his trusty warriors to its many evils, just reason to rid Existence of it.
In the middle of the cave floor, the colossal creature dropped wh
at it carried in its teeth, a bloody morsel, barely recognisable as a human corpse, and proceeded to disgorge several other partially digested bodies onto that grisly pile, the length of its body undulating very close to Luminor’s hiding place. While the beast was relaxed, unaware of the Gaian presence on the mountain, he began a calming influence which he hoped would helpfully take root. Then he launched himself in the air directly onto its back, making straight for its head, firing six well-placed arrows, one for each of his fallen warriors, in quick succession into the soft skin between the scales, all the way up its neck, as it rose up vaguely irritated but still occupied with its feast. Using these arrows as footholds, he climbed up to the topmost one, just behind the head, taking a thick leather thong from round his waist, lashing one end round and round this anchor point embedded deep within the hide. The other end he wrapped and retied around his waist, preventing him from being thrown from the beast too soon, and leaving both hands free to use his bow. For a few moments as he clambered to a vantage point on its head, he needed his entire focus to calm the monster, as it started to feel pain. Then, using a puff of dust carefully aimed to cloud its vision, and nocking an arrow into his bow, he leapt on an eddy of air in an arc around the front of the head, firing one, which pierced an eyelid, then another directly into an eye, causing a thick spurt of sticky fluid to spray out, as he passed by. He landed where he had started, holding tightly to the leather thong.
Fear and rage exploded with this new pain and the loss of sight in one eye outstripping the calming influence, as the beast started thrashing from side to side, breathing fiery blasts in all directions.
This commotion of energy was the signal for Altor to put the other warriors to their tasks. A small group flew part-way into two of the tunnels to assist Luminor, should he need them, before those specialising in power over Earth created landslips and cave-ins, blocking the exits of remaining tunnels, preventing the pyrothon’s escape, should it try. The air-benders sent eddies of wind through the crevices, carrying the cloying dust further into the mountain as an extra precaution to blind and disorient the beast if it got away from Luminor, into the maze of other tunnels. The water-movers were tuned in to underground springs and streams in the heart of the mountain, ready to douse fire or assist an injured Luminor to escape. Their help was needed because of the size and terrible energy of their foe, because in the end, all Luminor’s strength and focus would be needed to summon the Supreme Power.