The Fallen God

by Gary Mark Lee

  Osh knew that the skulls of human were not very strong when compared to the thickness of his or the Sandjars, he also knew that the cranium of a Nomad was much denser than others of their species, the creatures who created them as soldiers made them that way. And knowing this he was about to go into a long and detailed answer for the girl when he suddenly realized what Andra was really asking.

  She and Arn have quarreled, he told his mind, then he cleared his throat of stinging broth and spoke, “Arn is a good man but like all men his actions are sometimes a bit erratic”.

  “Erratic?” the girl cried out, “he stood and watched a innocent girl die, that’s a lot more than being erratic”, she stood up and began pacing back and forth in the small tent, “I know being King has lots of responsibilities and sometimes those come before a single person”.

  “Yes” the old man interjected, “a Nomad King is...”

  “And Arn is a good man deep in his heart” Andra said cutting off the sentence of the Callaxion, “but why did he stand by and let them beat that poor girl until she died, huh, answer me that?”

  Osh tried to answer that question, “well you see the laws of the Outlanders clearly states that when a...”

  “If he thinks I’m going to just stand by and let them get away with what they did” Andra interjected, “their mistaken”.

  “Well mistakes can be made but if you follow the strict interpretation of the law the girl was...”

  “I’m going to tell that arrogant, overbearing, rock headed barn cleaner just what I think about him!” and with those words she stormed out of the tent and left Osh and Endo staring at each other.

  “Mother yells very loud” the Sandjar finally said. “The loudest is often the leader,” he added, then he picked up the bowl of soup that was sitting nearby. He took a small mouthful and spit it out, “mother is a good leader but her soup tastes of wood”.

  Osh could only nod his head in agreement.

  Arn also did not sleep in his tent, with his mate gone he found the quarters unpleasant and for the last few days and nights he had stayed with Kuno the Captain of the Spikebacks. They had drunk and ate and drank again all the while trying to understand the minds of females and their general lack of good judgment.

  They sat close to a large barrel of the fiery drink and near them roasted an enormous cut of Rimar meat, they wore the ever-present armor of the Nomads and at the ready were their axes. Now and then they heard the roaring of the Thundra beasts that carried the long-range weapons of the tribe and they talked of past battles, but mostly they grumbled and complained.

  Kuno poured more Po into the empty goblet of the King and then continued with his ongoing troubles with the women of the tribe. “At first they are all meadow cane and smiles, then after a few nights of blanket war they start asking to move their robe chests into your tent”. His words were slurred because of the great amount of sour wine they both had consumed during the last few days. “And after they move their belongings they start asking when you will be back from a hunt and where you are going when you leave their site and if you have spoken to another female”. He took a long drink of his Po, “and if you put up with their demands they think you are well trained and they start asking for mating rings”; he took another drink and nodded his head “the demons in the Pit of Marloon must surely be female”.

  Arn listen to the words of his old friend and added his own thoughts, “if females are demons why do we come to them when they call?”

  Kuno was quick to reply, “because their voices are like signal horns, when they speak we must answer,” he said, “and if we find death in their arms so be it, it is the will of the Gods”.

  This made the King smile, “yes, but it is a pleasant way to die”.

  The big Captain smiled and lifted is cup to Arn, “you are a wise King,” he said, then took a long draft of his Po.

  The King laughed a little at his comment then his mind turned to other thoughts, thoughts of his mate, I would die in her arms if the Gods wished it, but when his mind filled with images of her face he washed them away with a gulp of wine.

  For a moment they both sat in silence and then Arn turned to his friend, “in days passed my brother Agart gave me good advice, now he is gone but I have you to stand by my side”. His voice was serious now; “if I become lost I want you to show me the path”.

  Kuno put his large hand on the shoulder of his King, “long ago I took the oath to stand by my King, I will not break that oath” he said solemnly, “and if we become lost we will wander in the darkness together”.

  It was a promise that could not be broken.

  Arn stood up and looked at the sky. The Suns were rising fast and he knew that the time had come for them to continue on their journey. “Raise the warriors and prepare for travel” he said, “it is still a long way to the forests of Caltarine”

  Kuno also rose to his feet although they were a bit unsteady, “it will be done,” he said lifting his cup. The King nodded and left his side, and then the Captain spoke in a voice so that only he could hear, “as soon as I finish my cup”.

  Andra looked everywhere for her mate, she first checked their tent and when he was not there she looked for him with the warriors, but he was not to be found. Then she heard someone say that he might be with the leader of the Spikebacks and so she headed for the gathering place of the great beasts all the while becoming more and more angry at her lover. When she at last found him he had just finished talking to one of the Elders and telling him the tribe would soon be leaving the oasis.

  With her eyes ablaze she confronted him “why did you let the girl die?” she shouted.

  Several of the older tribe members could not help but hear her angry words and turned to see why an Off-world girl would dare to challenge the actions of their King.

  Arn said nothing and walked away from Andra.

  She did not speak as he left her side but as she watched him go her heart cried out to him.

  And being the woman she was she could not let it go unanswered, so she followed him as he made his way to the pool of water that was at the heart of the oasis.

  Once more the Selcarie girl found her mate and came close to his side, but this time she did not shout nor do anything that would show her anger, this time she simply asked him a question.

  “Do you love me?” she asked, it was a question that all creatures of the Outer Rim would ask, for being loved and loving someone was a primal force that drove civilizations, it was at the heart of all purpose and a gift from the Gods.

  Arn heard her question quite clearly, and he knew no amount of diversions would keep her from wanting an answer. “I would give all that I have for you,” he said softly.

  As she looked into his eyes Andra felt something inside her, it was not just her feelings for Arn it was something more, something that was not entirely her, what is this thing inside me? She asked herself, why does it come when I am near him? Then she remembered the crystal spiders and their rebirth, the gift of renewal and all that it gave them. I am now more than I was, then she realized the other gift that the lurkers in the darkness gave them, the ability to know what the other knew and the feelings that they now shared, why do I asked something that I already know? ---I am loved.

  Andra reached out and took her mate into her arms, and the Nomad King did the same, then as forgotten Gods looked on they kissed beside the clear water and forgot about everything but their entwining love.

  It can be said that a Nomad warrior is one of the most formidable weapons of destruction in the Outer Rim, their strength and courage are unmatched in combat and when the killing madness is upon them they are all but unstoppable. It is also true of their lovemaking, at times it is harsh and demanding and under the Great Dome of Omargash it can be a battle for survival. But in the strong embrace of Arn the woman known as Moonbud found all the contentment and joy that could be felt by her heart and her body.

  The suns of Gorn were high in the sky when the Almadra once m
ore set out over the land. They traveled in the formation that was done by their fathers and their fathers before them; at the head of the long column rode the King and his best warriors. For if any dangers were to be found it would be their leader and the strongest of their tribe to face it first. Next came the wagons of the Elders and the oldest of the clan, the very old were known as Frail legs, these were men and women who could no longer care for themselves and needed the help of their kin or the Touchtenders. Someday they would be left behind, but that time was not now so they were treated with respect and love. After the Elders came the wagons of the members of the tribe, each one riding in the ornate traveling home that had been handed down through their bloodline for generations. These vehicles or Karracks as they were called in the old language were strongly made from iron and bone, and the hard wood of the Balbar tree, they could transverse most terrain’s on their wide wheels and carry all the goods needed to sustain a Nomad in the Outlands. Next came the Holy Wagon of the High Priestess, the huge moving shrine was guarded by the Thungodra and behind it was the cage holding the Malock. Close by the shrine were the most precious wagons of all for they held the Grana, the green salt that must be eaten to live, it was well protected for the wagons were armor plated and guarded by the best of the Thungodra. They would quickly kill anyone friend or foe who came to near the gift of the Goddess.

  After the Grana carriers traveled the Ironworkers, the smiths of the tribe, these wagons were very large with a great iron furnace and carry carts filled with Itarian steel scavenged from fallen drop ships, and the ancient machinery that dotted the land. Last were the Spikebacks, for they held the long-range canon and the disrupters that were used to defend the tribe.

  Surrounding the column were the Outriders, the young warriors who rode the smaller and faster Whiptails, they kept their eyes sharp, always watching for danger for the lands of Gorn held death at every turn.

  They headed west towards the green forests of Caltarine the home of the tree people and the Norgonie, the Nomads that do not travel the Outlands and guard their forts against all who may come to harm them. They were fierce warriors and worshiped a powerful God called Arm-Ra, not Isarie as the Nomads of the Outlands did, their God was the father of the Holy Goddess and they did not except that his daughter killed him and gained his power. This put them at odds with the other Nomads of Gorn and it often led to violence. But for the most part they were friendly with their brethren and shared food and danced with them in the moonlight.

  As the Almadra left the Western lands they traveled through the great valley of Rowmas-Agor, or the womb of Isarie as it was sometimes called, for a Nomad had to pass through this break in the high mountains to reach the lands beyond. It was a narrow gap between two great peaks that are home to the creatures that blot out the sun.

  Arn was now content because beside him rode the woman who had stolen his heart, as he swayed to the rhythm of his Whiptail he glanced over at his mate. She looked strong and proud in her gleaming armor and her hair softly flowing in the wind as it emerged from under her helmet.

  She is not the helpless girl that I took out of the desert, he told himself, and that was true, for she had become a great warrior and without her help they would not have defeated the Talsonar and regained the land. But as he looked at her another imaged walked into his mind an image that he had not thought about in a very long time. This is not the face I wish to see, and he forced the picture from his mind eye and turned back to look over the land before him.

  He saw a narrow canyon; it had steep cliffs on either side that rose straight up. They were of a smooth white rock and had tuffs of vegetation clinging desperately to the jagged outcropping, the break in the mountains was small but with care the Almadra could travel through this narrow opening without much danger.

  At least from the earth.

  Arn put up his hand and the column of wagons and warriors came to a stop, Andra watched as her mate slowly looked at the sky above them. When the girl did the same she saw a bright open sky without any sign of danger.

  There are no Sundroppers or Sky Riders, she told herself, but she had learn that just because you cannot see danger that does not mean it is not there. So she lifted her hand and used it to shade her eyes then focussed on the thin clouds, but still she saw nothing.

  Arn continued to watch the sky for a time then motioned to a warrior riding just behind him, the Nomad was a woman by the name of Lux, who was known as a good warrior and a hard drinker, she urged her mount beside the Kings and waited.

  “Close ranks and guard the wagons well” Arn told her, “tell all to remain silent and watch the skies”

  Lux nodded her head, “it will be done”, then she drove her long spurs into the side of her beast and they rode off together to spread the Kings commands.

  Andra watched the woman ride off and then turned to Arn, “is their danger here?” she asked.

  The King nodded his head, “there is danger everywhere” he said softly, and then he smiled at her, “but it will think hard before facing Moric-Kan”.

  This made the Sellcarie girl smile also, for she understood the meaning of his words, Moric-Kan the Twin Dragons, she thought, the name he gave to us after our rebirth, “yes they will” she replied.

  Along the column Lux rode hard giving the orders to draw the wagons together and close ranks and hearing this the Almadra did as they were commanded. One by one they moved until they were closely gathered, the warriors made certain that all was in place and no wagon way left behind. The Thungodra circled the Holy shrine of the Goddess and held their weapons at the ready, they would fight if need be and stand their ground to the last man or woman.

  High atop the great wagon Egmar looked out over the people who the Gods had placed in her care, beside her stood the Handmaidens and with them was Kela, they all wore simple traveling robes and stood close to the Holy Mother. Many of them had traveled this path before and knew the dangers that might come, as did Egmar, she looked up at the sky and lifting her hands and prayed.

  “Hear me oh Gods and send us your love, Guard us from those that come from above”.

  And in turn the Handmaidens also raised their hands and took up the chant.

  “Oh Goddess of winds turn not from our site, Bring not the creatures that blot out the light”.

  They continued this prayer as the wagons of the Nomads started to move forward.

  Some distance away from the great wagon of the Holy Mother the smaller but well armored Karrack of the Callaxion and the young Sandjar moved cautiously forward.

  Endo had recovered enough from his wounds to allow him to guide the Trofar that pulled their heavy wagon, beside him sat his adoptive father whose head was still hurting no matter how much Grana he consumed.

  “Go slowly” the old man, said rubbing his large cranium, “my head is throbbing like a Argonagan blood worm”

  And not wanting to upset him the Sandjar boy did all he could to avoid jostling the wagon.

  It did not matter to Anais if his wagon hit a rock or not, he sat alone in the back of the vehicle and concentrated on drinking a cup of aged Po and left the driving to a warrior who was ordered to guard the bother of the King.

  Romas-agor, the great womb, he thought, if only I could turn back time and never emerge from my mother. He took a large gulp of his drink, but as he did the wagon hit a rock and the contents of his cup splashed over his face.

  “Artock!” the blind man called out, “watch where you are going!” the words were directed at the Nomad who was not looking where he was going, “steer to the left, there are no rock there!” Then satisfied that he had made his demands clear he took another drink from his cup, but has the sour wine was moving down his throat he suddenly realized something.

  How do I know there are no rocks to the left? It was something that caused him to wonder, after all he was blind and even if he could see the back of his wagon was covered and no light could enter, what trick are the God playing on me now? He asked hims
elf, it was a question that would have to wait for an answer.

  As the Almadra moved into the narrow valley Arn continued to watch the skies, as did Andra. But no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t see anything to cause fear, there is nothing here she thought. But no matter how hard she tried she could not shake the feeling that danger was near, what’s the matter with me? She asked herself, it was a reasonable questions for she had been on many reconnaissance missions when she was a lieutenant in the army of her Homeworld and she relied on her feelings many times to keep her from being killed but those times she knew what lay ahead. Now it was different, the sky was clear and the land empty except for shrubs and those strange looking plants.

  The plants were unlike anything the girl had seen before, they were as tall as a man and twisted in shape with large flat leaves, they also had tentacle like shafts growing out of a central base that had heavy roots spreading over the ground. That base had three or more large funnel like pods jutting out with long sticky feelers that seemed to be waving about even with no wind blowing.

  As they passed the cluster of vegetation Andra was about to comment on how interesting they appeared, then she remembered the words from her mate about staying silent and it reminded her once more or her army days. “Follow orders and keep your mouth shut!” the words that her old drill Sargent use to yell at her, then as she thought of her old comrades she noticed a small Rockrunner approaching one of the plants.

  The little reptile timidly came near one of the large funnels and sniffed at the waving feelers, that plant must have a sent that draws the rock runner? She thought. Then to her horror one of the sticky shafts suddenly shot out and wrapped itself around the creature and began to drag him into its base, and as it did the plant started to emit a sound like the wailing of a child.

  This made Arn suddenly bolt upright in his saddle. The cryleaf has been triggered. They will be coming. The Nomad King raised his hand “forward” he called out loudly, he looked up at the sky then at his mate, “stay close by my side” he told her.