And so the grumbling went on and on each side saying that the young warrior was not to be believed and that he was under the spell of a witch or demon. And perhaps that demon was already in the fortress for they knew that a small creature was hiding in the tent of the Nomad King and that its skin was as white as the winter snows and its eyes were not human.
Soon the shouting grew more intense and it would not be long before weapons were lifted and blood was spilled but before that could happen Arn leaped upon the table and spoke loudly. “I have fought beside this man and he has always proven himself, I say his words are true”. And saying this he looked at the young warrior near him and into his eyes, he is telling the truth, but then he questioned his own mind, but can a God of iron be real?
For once the King wished that the old man were beside him for he knew that Osh possessed a deep mind in spite of his weak body and that he had knowledge of many things that were beyond the teaching of Isarie and the Elders of his tribe. But earlier he had sent warriors to bring the Callaxion to him but they returned saying that his Karrack was empty and his Washa had not been lit in many days. And hearing this Andra became very upset and went to look for him so now he was alone listening to his own people and the Norgonie calling out for the truth.
But he was wrong for there was another who would stand with him, over the past days and nights Ishea had put aside her hatred for her former mate and replaced it with the love she once had. And fighting beside the King against the horrors of the Forbidden City she knew that she would not sit idly aside and listen to the endless yammering of the warriors around her.
“I say he speaks the truth!” she shouted out as she too jumped up and stood beside the King and the Caladone, “I have seen the monsters that live in the earth and have defeated them, I have watched as the dead returned to the living. I have ridden on the air with the Giants of the Earth, and I say that such things do exists, and if there is an enemy coming then we must fight!” then she turned and looked at the King and she was content to see him smile. “To the west stands the great wall and to the south we have Eurdor-Can, the Mother of all Voices, and all that have heard her speak have died!”
And hearing that the Queen would call for the ancient Voice to speak the Norgonie let out a great cheer.
“Nothing can stand before the Great Voice” a warrior called out.
“Eurdor-Can will speak and the monster will die!” said another.
The words were true, for the Great Voice had protected them sense ancient times from all enemies that dare approach from the South. And although the Forest-dwellers had cared for the Mother she had not spoken in many cycles, but knowing that she was there to protect them gave courage to the warriors.
The Nomads knew of the Voice but none of them had ever heard it speak for it was a God of the Norgonie and one that they did not speak of. Some legends said it was a creature of enormous power that spit fire and shook the land, others said it was a fallen God who slept in the earth and only awoke to bring death and destruction.
And seeing that the Queen would use all her power to protect her people made Arn feel proud.
She is a strong Queen the King thought.
And once again he felt the urge to hold her in his arms and return to the peace of the crystal pool and the warm night they spent together. But the sound of the warriors drew him back into the present as the great meeting dome was filled with the shouts of those who believed and those who did not.
Sitting near the King was the Blind Prince and beside him was the Handmaiden Kela, they had spent the night together in each other’s arms but Anais could sense that his lover’s mind was walking in a place he did not know. But when morning came and the twin suns once more rose in the sky she seemed her old self again and he did not ask were her thoughts had gone too. Now he sat and listened to the doubts and fears of the two tribes and at last he rose up and with the help of Kela he stood beside his brother.
“A wise warrior will listen!” he called out and suddenly there was quiet in the great dome for those words were written both in the Book of Isarie and the teachings of Arm-Ra. And when the shouting died the young Prince spoke once more, “I have listened as some said that his man has spoken only lies and I have listened as others said his words were true. Now listen as I say that we send warriors to see if his story is one that will stand.”
The warriors of both tribes thought over these words for a time then an Almadran warrior called out, “it would take many days and nights to travel to the city of the Talsonar!”
“That is too long to wait!” shouted a Norgonie, “if a demon God is coming we must know now!”
And again the warriors began to argue, then Anais called out for them to be silent, “by Whiptail or wagon it would be many days to know the truth, and Rowgors would take many more”. He paused for a moment to let his words hang in the air, “but the air is swift and those that fly on it are even swifter”.
And suddenly the answer was clear, the great Screechers with the Honnargar on their backs could quickly carry warriors to find out if there was indeed a metal God to be feared or just the raving of a madman.
Arn’s faced showed a slight smile as he heard the words of his brother, without his hate he has grown wise he thought, then he called out to those who still doubted the young warriors tale.
“Valen is an Outcast so I shall go and see if there is a demon God among us”, and before he could say another word Ishea rose up and spoke, “four eyes are better than two, so I will fly with him”.
And knowing that it would have been useless to try and change her mind the King only nodded his head, “very well we shall both see”. And again he was interrupted for Valen was not going to sit by a Washa like an old woman and wait for others to prove him true.
“Six eyes are better than four,” he said.
And again Arn did not argue for he remembered his own youth and the times he was left behind while others rode into danger, so he let the matter lye and called out yet again.
“We will go and return with the truth, until then make ready all that is needed and work together as brothers and sisters”. He said loudly, “for it there is an enemy coming be it demon or false God we shall not run or bow our heads, we shall go to war!”
And hearing the words from the Nomad King both the Almadra and Norgonie began to call out and pound their feet upon the stone floor and waved their weapons over their heads and the great dome echoed over and over again with the call to war.
When Andra heard that her old friend and the young Sandjar that she cared for were nowhere to be found she rose up from her bed and demanded that she be able to look for him. But the King knew the fear that was directed at the young child so he commanded that two Touchtenders enter the tent and watch over the infant while she was gone. And knowing that a dozen of the strongest warriors guarded their quarters the Selcarie girl felt that she could be parted from her offspring if only for a short time.
Now with two warriors accompanying her she was taken to the old man’s wagon but when she got there she found only an empty Karrack and little else.
Where could they be? She asked herself, suddenly she had a fear that the Norgonie had killed them in secret and flung their bodies in the moat outside the fortress. But there was no sign of a struggle and when she looked under the wagon seat she saw the young Sandjar’s chamber rifle still there. Endo would not be taken without a fight she told herself for she had spent time with the young Sandjar and taught him some of her army training. On the other hand she knew that the old man could be lured into danger with the promise of knowledge and this caused her worry, for the Fortress was filled with the unknown and this would draw her companion like meadow cane draw Dotflys.
For some time she searched the campsite looking for any clue that might take her to the whereabouts of the old man and the young boy, but her efforts proved futile and at last she turned and slowly walked back to her tent. But all the while she could not help but feel that her compani
ons were still alive and that somehow she would see them again.
The Sandjar slaves continued to work even as the heat and noxious gases from the earth grew fouler, many of the older workers grew weak and some even died but the chance for freedom drove them on and on. There was no food sent down the pipes and the water that was usually plentiful suddenly stopped, perhaps this was done by the Norgonie as a way of punishing the miners or maybe the heat under the ground dried up the spring? But whatever the reason the Sandjar had to work without nourishment and only blackish water to slake their thirst. But in spite of all this Endo continued to lead his people and say that they would soon be free.
And at his side as always was Rawna drawing strength from his and giving comfort to her mate, and seeing the young girl by his side gave encouragement to Endo.
I will see her free he told his mind I will live to see all my people free.
Next to him Mog beat at the hard rock with his heavy pick and with each bite he repeated the word over and over in his mind.
Freedom.
They continued to work without stopping for each one also knew that if they stopped they would surely die.
Sunbirth broke in the sky and when it did it cast a light into the tent of the King and his mate.
When Arn returned from the meeting dome he found Andra asleep for she was not truly a Nomad and the past days and nights had taken much of her strength, so he let her sleep and rested in a chair through the night. Now as light entered their quarters he once more donned his armors and took up his ax.
I will let her sleep he thought, and although he knew that when she awoke she would be very angry for leaving her behind but he did not want her in danger. So he went outside quietly and was met by Kuno who had been waiting for him and the King could see that he in his big hand he held a large tankard of well-age Po. Without saying a word the King took the wine and quickly emptied its contents, then wiping his mouth with the back of his hand he smiled.
“How many times have I placed the care of our tribe into your hands?” he asked.
“I have not counted” replied the commander of the Spikebacks.
“And how many times have I said I was grateful? Said the King.
“I did not listen” spoke the big warrior shaking his head.
And hearing this Arn and Kuno started to walk away from his tent and towards the gates of the fortress and as they did they continued to speak.
“Do not wait for me to return,” Said the King, “begin preparations for war, send the Elders and children to safety, gather the warriors, and do all that is necessary to defend the tribe”.
“I will do as you ask” Kuno said, “all will be ready when you return”.
“When I return we shall share a full barrel of Po together”.
“Only one?” Kuno laughed.
They continued walking for a time without speaking and then as they passed the moving shrine of the Holy Mother surrounded by her Thungodra Arn looked up and saw his mother standing on the upper most level. And seeing her he could not help but wonder if the Gods were watching or had they abandoned them to the darkness?
Seeing her son walk passed her Egmar could not help but smile, but it was not for love of her son but the uselessness of his actions.
What a fool he is she thought what fools all of them are. And she turned and looked up at the dark clouds overhead, “only clouds and above them only an empty sky nothing more”.
Egmar turned away from the dark skies and looked into the red eyes of her companion as it crouched near her hand.
“You are a wise woman” the vile creature said, “and when the great God comes you will sit by his side and rule this world”.
“Yes” the Queen replied, “together we shall watch this land burn”.
Near her were several Handmaidens but they no longer listened to the words of their Mistress for those that had questioned her were punished by whippings and more. Now they stood not looking at the Holy Mother and their ears were deaf to her ravings.
Egmar moved to the exquisitely carved railing and placed her hands on the ancient wood, she turned to look in the direction of the thick forest to the South and began to speak as if someone was listening.
“Come to me my son” she said softly, “come and destroy them all”.
In the Valley of Despair a creature that once was a man heard the words spoken by his mother.
“I am coming,” said the metal man.
The thing that was once human sat upon his throne and let his mind reach out across the land between him and the creature that gave him birth and unlike before he could see through the woman’s eyes and saw what was before her.
He saw the tiny creatures that would dare to defy him and their pitiful efforts to change what was to come.
Let them scurry about like Blaze-ants he thought I shall destroy them and all that once tried to destroy me!
The vision stopped and he was once again in the great chamber of the Orb and surrounded by those that served him. All about were Repairbots and Spotters removing debris and broken sections from the vast room and replacing them with new plating that had been taken from the great machines around them. The Taskrobot oversaw everything and made sure that the interconnections and terminals were working at maximum efficiency and that there would be no delays in repairing everything that was damaged.
“Repairs are continuing” reported the machine to his master, “fuel and H2o have been replenished and the outer hull has been reinforced with new plating”.
“Understood” replied the God man “continue forward momentum as soon as it is available”.
And knowing that his orders would be carried out the metal man turned to look at his newest creation, in appearance one would think that it was a well-crafted suit of armor for its design closely matched that of the best Ironworkers. It was taller than most humans and bore the shape and features of a female but there the resemblance ended for this thing was not soft or radiated any sign of warmth or love.
Neelu was once a kind and loving girl of the Norgonie, she delighted in dance and sing and feel the warm sun on her face, but now that girl was gone and only an empty shell holding the tortured memory of her humanity was all that was left. And as the thing that called himself Atos looked at her he felt contentment.
Much better than the soft weakling she once was he thought. And lifting his hand slightly he summoned the metal creature to his side.
Now the feet that once had stepped so lightly in dances to the Gods pounded on the hard floor of the chamber and echoed like the clanging of Ironworkers hammers, and when it came close it fell to its knees and bowed its head.
“What do you wish of me my lord?” it said in a harsh voice that once sang like the night birds of the forest.
And seeing that her programming was now complete the metal man nodded his head.
“You will serve me,” he said.
“As you command my God,” came the reply.
Neelu had once been human and being that she had doubts and fears, she had questions that she wished to be answered and possessed a heart that wanted to be loved. Now all that was gone, there was no fear or doubts or questions, or anything that might get in the way of her purpose, and that purpose was to serve her master.
But deep inside her, beyond the programming and replacement of organs and fluids, hidden in the inter most reaches of her ripped mind there was a part of her that still understood what had been done to her and what she had become. And knowing this she cried out in a scream that no one could hear but her.
Outside the great machine thousands of Repairbots scurried about fixing broken plating and salvaging anything that would make the chamber of their master stronger. They took usable parts from the huge digging machines and attached them to the front giving the moving fortress the appearance of some clawed monster from the Pit of Marloon. They also took smaller bits of Itarian steel and used it to fashion armor for the Galu who were now being processed into weapons of war. The hug
e ape-men would become perfect soldiers, they would have no fear or grant no mercy, they would obey without question and they would die without cries of pain. All night they had worked and when Karus and Micos rose in the sky they were finished.
“All systems ready” reported the Taskrobot.
“Understood” replied the Man-God, “shielding at maximum, weapons at the ready, set heading as I command and activate long range scanners to identify any humans”. And he transferred the place he wished to go with his mind to the navigational console for he had touched the mind of Egmar and would use her as a fixed point of reference.
“Understood” the Taskrobot, said.
And then there came a great shudder and a grinding of metal and once more the steel God began to move. It left the Valley of Despair behind and moved into the green landscape of the Yug jungles, it crushed everything in its path and any creature great or small that came within its reach died a horrible death.
The King had summoned the Honnargar and they obeyed, they mounted the Screechers and quickly returned to the fortress of the Norgonie. They came down through the thick clouds like demon Gods of the air and landed outside the skull-faced gates and waited for the King to command them. They did not wait long for soon Arn and two others walked through the great portals and drew near them. And knowing the mind of the Nomad they bore him and his companions high into the sky and towards the south. If they had been riding Whiptails they would have taken the path that the Nomads had come, they would pass through the Belt of Isarie and into the land of the Arabus birds. Then out through Rowmas-Agor, the womb of Isarie and then south towards the Pyramid City. But they now sailed on the wind and could take a more direct route to the Talsonar stronghold. And so they used the Sky Beacon high atop the mountains of Gorash as a guide for the height was too high and even the mighty Screechers could not cross that plateau.
There were three great flyers; the hand of a risen warrior guided them all for only the Honnargar could control the mighty beasts. Two Norgonie and one Outlander now knew the feeling of the Sky Riders and what it must be like to be a God.
The Fallen God Page 64