Ra' van (Book Three of the Items Trilogy)

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  Calosh asked him about Yosh’s vision and the reason for altering the date, but not even Wilo knew what had changed.

  And just as the sun began to drop they prepared for the Zamba.

  Wilo had to keep pretenses of being ill and could only offer words of gratitude to Alex and Marlin for putting their lives on the line. Isabelle emptied her item of everything, but slipped Alex’s equipment and Marlin’s item into it for quick retrieval. Clift and Krum weren’t allowed to follow, but Shade used the night to his advantage since shadows were everywhere and Ava stayed at a distance to also remained undetected. Calosh couldn’t further risk exposure for he might be recognized by someone who remembers him and his people being exiled.

  Rope bound both Alex’s and Marlin’s wrists again, but this time they were led by their women who followed Isabelle.

  Outside the gate they weren’t too surprised by how many moved from all the noise and sounds of large drums being beaten to a strange and dark melody that said death will come this night. Both sides of the canyon were brightly lit with torches and showed just how many hurried to finalize preparations for the cruel festival, but Alex couldn’t look so openly and quickly turned on a broken, defeated appearance.

  So this is how priests celebrate? He wondered without speaking. Killing and sacrificing innocent lives for a ritual that’ll never work… Priests should work for the benefit of all peoples, not do something so hideous repeatedly and not get any results except blood and carnage. Hopefully Calosh can set these people on the right path. I believe the Ancients were once alive, but will never return. Death is the end of this life and once it’s over there’s no coming back.

  Once in awhile Alex would glance away from the ground to see the surroundings. Captured people, who had become slaves, were all being drug towards the High Temple by purple clad young adults. Just like they were.

  Then they reached a great suspended bridge that converged from either side of the canyon. Full priests were everywhere and outnumbered them several thousand to one. Eventually, Isabelle and the rest made it to the crowded bridge and had to wait a moment just to step on. Not one priest, or one to be, cared to even glance at those they were about to execute. Slaves all showed being beaten to the point of death. Most shook in fear, but were too weak to do much else. Crying became the most dominant feature to those about to be forcibly sacrificed. One or two tried breaking free, to jump over the high bridge, only to be beaten by Juguan warriors or priests and still dragged away. Lily had an easier time staring blankly at all the mistreatment and torture for she grew up in it and killed many in ignorance before meeting her love, but Niranene fought to take every step to not break down and try to help these poor people. Healers had it tough, especially when they had the power to ease suffering and couldn’t do anything about it.

  When the wooden suspended bridge converged they stepped onto a stone bridge and were led straight towards the monumental temple. High walls surrounded the large building and many priests traveled across its top like sentries. The wall then broke into an incline inside to reveal a stadium of worship, where Juguan followers can come to pray or pay respect. None said anything for the sound of beating drums obliterated any other form of noise. Dread continued to creep into them as they began descending to the open courtyard, but what sickened and infuriated Alex the most were that some slaves were no more than small children and it triggered the memory of the baby being sacrificed straight from her mother’s mutilated belly. He had to consciously breathe slowly and not fly into a rage like his body wished. Control became tenuous.

  He didn’t realize he stopped till Lily forcibly tugged on the rope she held, that bound his wrists. He didn’t look up, but followed and remembered to appear subservient.

  Less and less priests crowded their path as they split off and took a seat on the stone seats. At the bottom Isabelle could lead no further and took a seat, but Lily and Niranene continued to casually follow others dressed like themselves.

  Then they saw a line of purple and standing before them stood a large pen full of nearly naked people all in fear for their lives. Seven level five warriors guarded the cell and all slaves were being led there. While they approached Alex smelled decay, rotting and putrid scents that led to a large pit. That nearby hole is where many had been thrown when the rituals were complete. Tonight they would most likely be filled if something failed.

  The slaves were thrown in the pen, but when it came their turn Lily slipped a small object in Alex’s hand as she cut the length of cord, but left his hands bound. She then grabbed his knotted and dirty hair and forcibly threw him in with the others. Marlin stumbled in right after him. They acted like the other’s and tried getting as far away from the entrance as possible. Lily and Niranene moved to stand in line with the hundreds of lined acolytes who brought a slave.

  Drums continued to beat incessantly while Alex looked at what had been slipped to him. In the darkness he found she had given him one of the small green capsules that make any who inhale go unconscious. He slightly smiled at her idea and would put it to good use. Marlin squeezed close to reveal that he too had one.

  Their women were geniuses.

  The next few hours felt like an eternity as more slaves were brought and nearly a thousand crammed into a small space. Inconspicuously, Alex moved close to the gate, but not too close for no matter how he thought he could save these innocents he couldn’t be the first. The drums worked the believers into a frenzy and made Alex feel much more on edge. He’d lost Marlin in the sea of filthy and beaten bodies, but knew he’d be alright somewhere in the middle. While they waited he began flaring heat to his wrists to make the bindings more brittle and easier to burn away when the time came, but not so much as to get caught or look ready to break once it all began.

  Shade positioned himself by the alter while Ava roosted in the darkness of a windowsill. Neither were spotted and waited patiently.

  Suddenly the drums cease being struck and a heavy silence washed over everyone like the world had come to a complete stop. Those within the cage even grew deathly quiet.

  Then the great wooden doors of the High temple opened and veiled priests stepped out in a line and circled around the open stage, the slave pen and around the acolytes preparing to become fully fledged priests. Few whispered while the veiled ones finished encircling the area.

  An old man with a long wooden pole then came out and all in the audience and on stage went to their knees and bowed. Alex stared over High Priest Yosh with deep loathing and hatred. He could slightly understand why Runkamon wanted unification of the lands, but Yosh wants it for something that will never again exist. Killing for religion will not be tolerated.

  Yosh stood an elderly man who retained all his faculties and a tall stature, but age has made him come to rely heavily on that walking stick. Grey hair tumbled down his back. Pure white colored his robe and tucked in his white sash revealed the hilt of his dagger. Upon his brow prominently stood the opposite pointing arrows that didn’t touch < > and signified humanity and the Ancients separated by death and would only touch when their idols returned. Around his neck hung a necklace item capable of creating hallucinations. Not very powerful in the physical sense, but can make others believe what they’re seeing is true. Its capabilities alone frightened any who dared to stand in Yosh’s way.

  Ten sash clad guards stood behind the priest and shut the large doors.

  High Priest Yosh approached the sacrificial alter of the purest marble and all noises except crying from slaves came to an end. He cleared his throat and all rose to clearly hear him speak. “Brothers and sisters, we come here today on this auspicious night to give offering to the Ancients in hopes to show them we are worthy of meeting again in this existence. We are also proud of our young priests who have had such fortune in gaining valuable sacrifices for tonight’s event and will be awarded full priesthood after the offering is complete. In two day’s time I fervently believe we will get an answer from beyond. We will be able to finally
combine our mark.” He thumbed his forehead and the crowd cheered.

  “As you know I’ve had a vision and tonight gives me the same feeling. The Ancients have spoken through me and tonight they will be appeased…” Yosh continued to speak, spewing lies to those not rational enough to realize the Juguan religion is nothing but a lie that preys upon the weak. Yosh’s eloquence enthralled all who came to witness the Zamba. After a few more words he looked up into a moonless night. “The time is now! The Ancients are watching us for darkness has consumed the moon for the night. Come brothers and sisters and witness as our hope to see the beloved Ancients once again walk among us.” He turned towards the guards around the cage to smile in an uncaring way. “Brothers, bring the first sacrifice.”

  Panic stricken terror erupted in the cell as the door opened and five high class warriors came in and grabbed a middle aged man who has been shoved by the other slaves in an attempt to forestall the inevitable. “No! Please!” the man yelled as two large warriors took hold of his emaciated arms. He kicked and struggled, but was unable to free himself or the ropes that bound his wrists. “Please, don’t do this!” He pleaded as they drug him towards the raised alter. “I have a wife and children! Don’t take me away from them! Please!” None in the crowd even acknowledged him or his frightened words.

  Alex knew he could do something, the iron bars would be easy enough to bend or break, but many more would die if he didn’t believe Zawat knew what he was doing. The more he saw the more he believed Zawat knew why things had to be done in a certain way. Still seeing this and not interfering made his rage grow to new heights and he found Niranene and Lily staring blankly like those they stood silently beside, but he could see their anger growing.

  The struggling man continued to do everything in his power to escape, but the men were too strong and pulled him up the steps and stopped before Yosh.

  Something odd happened when they stopped. Yosh’s round pendant around his neck began to glow and the man who fought ceased instantly when he looked right at it. The man became relaxed and smiled. Alex swallowed thickly as Yosh simply gestured to the alter and the man simply laid down on it without fear. High Priest Yosh bent down and whispered something into his ear and the man nodded in peaceful ease. Alex then noticed the slave cry from joy, seeing a vision of something remarkable enough to forget where he found himself.

  Coward! Alex mentally shouted to Yosh. You’re not giving salvation, you’re making people believe what you want them to.

  Then Yosh stood, withdrew his curved, ceremonial dagger and carved the opposite arrows into the man’s forehead, but the man didn’t seem to react naturally. He then took the blade and plunged the blade into his stomach. Yosh stuck his right arm into the gaping wound and reached into the ribcage to rip out the still beating heart of the victim. The High Priest then raised the bloody heart like a trophy and the crowd cheered.

  The two warriors then drug the corpse over and threw him into the deep pit in the center of the courtyard in full view of the people.

  But something near didn’t sound right.

  Alex glanced around to see everyone standing with him staring at Yosh’s still active item with joyous smiles. Not one to be seen unaffected, Alex only managed to smile after remembering how Lily accepted and became his wife, her touch and kiss made the expression genuine. He knew that Yosh directed his item’s effects towards all the slaves, but thankfully his Furion characteristics and immunity to certain items left him able to see reality and not an illusion created by a madman.

  The gate opened, but this time instead of wild panic the people simply waited contently. First one, then another and another stepped toward Yosh to lay down, nod when he whispered and slain without so much as flinching.

  After the eleventh sacrifice, someone grabbed Alex’s arm and guided him along like the others. He remembered just how everyone before him moved without struggle and reacted and acted similarly. The smile never left, even as he stood before the murderous priest who looked horrific. One arm remained fully drenched in stolen life and his once immaculate white robe looked like regular priest attire. Blood made him appear like one on death’s door, but not a drop belonged to him. A basket of hearts lay at the head of the alter, but still Alex smiled. Then the old man gestured and Alex laid down on the blood slicked stone alter like the other’s before him. Without seeming to be impervious he lay and stared straight at the starry sky.

  Yosh then proceeded to lean closer and whispered in Alex’s ear “Do you wish to have the happiness you see granted forever?”

  “Seeing as how I can only imagine you dead, sure!” Yosh reared in shock and saw Alex’s smile change into a grin. No sacrifice had spoken, simply nodded.

  Before the priest could get away the world slowed as Alex’s heartbeat thrummed with the speed only a Furion can survive. Blood and heat surged through him as he effortlessly snapped the weakened rope binding his wrists and grabbed the collar around the old man’s neck.

  Alex pulled his head back as he sat up and tugged the man forward. Using his heightened abilities he threw his head forward and head-butted the priest with enough force to effortlessly indent the man’s skull and make the ends of the priestly symbol carved into his forehead touch.

  He got his wish.

  Before the warriors behind Yosh could even react or understand their priest had been killed Alex tossed the green, eyeball sized capsule on the ground, flipped backwards and got a hold of the top section of marble alter. Strength no normal man possessed fortified Alex as he lifted the five hundred pound slab of marble. As the capsule broke and the contents turned to mist, he whipped the slab like one would a fan and blew the mist in the warrior’s direction. All ten personal guards dropped into contented oblivion after inhaling the mist.

  Seeing their brother strike, Shade howled gleefully by his side, emerged from his shadow and raked his claws through three nearby priests before sinking his fangs deeply into another and throwing the screaming prey into two others. Ava flew from her perch and opened her beak to screech, knocking out everyone beneath her and stunning many others. Nearly everyone on the stone steps dropped like a great weight under her ability.

  Lily pulled her blades free and enveloped herself in a flurry of pink rose-like petals while plunging her crescent sword to the hilt of the first person near who went to attack her love. Her sword gorged itself on blood and grew to six feet in length, turning the recipient into a withered husk, all within three seconds. “Niranene! Stay low and keep up!” She didn’t wait to see if the healer did as told as she made the razor sharp petals dance in a blur around them both while she grinned and cut others clean in half.

  Freed of Yosh’s influence and understanding the situation because of preparation, Marlin quickly made his way over and out the door before the guards slammed it shut and made his way up the steps to pummel the first person he saw advancing on Alex and used his quick arms to snap the veiled individual’s neck before tripping up another and stomping on the head. He watched Shade ripping everyone to bits and several were violently thrown or broken by Alex’s inhuman speed and strength. He soon reached his friend’s side, picked up the walking stick Yosh used and proceeded to fight alongside dear comrades.

  Ava shrieked again, knocking out another swarm of humans before spotting Isabelle waving to gain her attention. She swooped down with skill and precision few Fury possessed as Isabelle tossed her item bag into the air. Talons extended for but a moment, Ava effortlessly caught it and shot straight for her brothers. She found them fighting gloriously and the reflection of the item in her possession gained Alex’s attention. She whipped herself and launched the item straight at him.

  Alex effortlessly caught it, opened it and withdrew Marlin’s rod first. “Marlin!” He yelled and tossed it. The moment he caught it the rod extended, he dropped the walking stick and went to face off with two warriors with excitement now that he had his weapon. Alex then withdrew the bracers and his unsheathed sword and applied them while Shade took d
own any who dare challenge him or his brother with the full voracity of a Shadow Fang lord.

  Since Ava’s ability took care of the bulk of enraged zealots, all that remained were mostly acolytes and veiled priests who were loyal only to Yosh and were needed to be taken down.

  Once armed with a sword Alex became the deadliest being there and waded through all attacks like a scythe through wheat. None could stand before a Furion who finally gained an outlet for all the pent up rage and suffering he’s endured at the hands of worthless beings who believe taking life for no legitimate reason is needed.

  That will end today. He vowed.

  When Shade saw his brother fighting he witnessed several in red trying to gain access to the pen of humans and he understood what they were attempting to do. He wouldn’t allow any more to be sacrificed in the confusion of battle. He had had enough of watching innocents being slain. Shade snarled and powered his way through anyone foolish to stand in his way. Arrows and weapons harmlessly bounced off his fur as he plowed over dozens of humans, sinking his laced claws in whenever he could.

  At the cage of unclothed humans he tore through those trying to complete the ritual that had been started. Startled screams made him quiver in excitement. He howled again, challenging anyone else to get past him to get these helpless humans. Several charged, but didn’t survive.

  Within minutes a horn blew and many stopped to see Calosh standing in his white robes, ordering over a hundred loyal priests to aid Alex’s pack and those who fought for life and not the sacrifice of innocents.

  The battle turned in the favor of good.