I will not die alone, she thought, Arm-Ra has heard my prayers and I will die at his side.
Arn dug his long spurs into the sides of his mount and turning they rode away from the bursting shells and the metal monster that was nearing them. Down the long valley they rode and as they crossed the open space called the Eye of Death the King saw a Whiptail riding towards him. When it drew nearer he could see that the rider was a female and suddenly he knew that his mate was rushing to his side.
She will stand with me, he reassured his mind.
Andra’s heart pounded in her heart because she knew that soon she would be riding beside the man she loved and that together they would be Moric-Kan once again. But as she drew near she saw that the Norgonie Queen had her arms around Arn waist and that quickly cooled her desire.
Now the images that had been plaguing her mind came flooding back, the images of green eyes and soft nights and she knew that his love was being shared with another. She did not speak as his Whiptail approached but rather she turned and dug her spurs into her mount and raced back the way she came.
Arn saw her riding away and he knew then that she had opened the secret in his heart.
A price to pay he thought, a price to pay.
Chapter 46.
Light and Dark.
Light and Dark are the two banks that hold the River of Time.
Ancient Norgonie proverb.
When Andra put her child’s safety into the hands of Omara she knew that her baby would be kept from all harm for the old Touchtender was known as a woman of strong will. And now that she was alone with the strange infant she would not break her vow to protect it until her birth mother returned.
She washed the child in clear water and wrapped it in a clean cloth and now sat with it in her arms and began to sing an ancient cradlesong.
“Days of wonder and nights of dreams.
Forest of dewdrops beside quite streams.
Moons and stars that walk in the sky.
Silver wings that fly on high.”
It was a song that her mother had sung to her and she had sung it to countless children over her many cycles. Now as she looked into the beckoning blue eyes of the strange child in her arms her mind filled with the faces of those children long ago. One by one they moved passed her inner eye and it was if she was with them again and it made her heart soar. Then she heard a voice speak to her.
You have given yourself to them.
The old woman did not know who had spoken those words but she believed in Isarie with all her heart and surely no demon would whisper such words to her.
“It has been a good life,” she said smiling.
It was then that she heard a sound from the outside and rose up still holding the baby in her arms. As she turned towards the tent flap it opened and standing there were two strong Thungodra warriors and a Handmaiden of the Goddess.
“What do you want in the tent of the King?” she asked as she held the infant to her breast.
“Give us the child” was the reply from the Handmaiden.
The old Touchtender drew the child close to her and looked at the intruders with cold eyes.
“I would die first” was all that Omara said.
The Thungodra were well trained in killing either by ax or dagger, they could also move silently when needed and strike before a defense could be made, they prayed to Isarie and vowed to guard the Holy Mother and follow her commands to the death. So they did not hesitate to strike down the warriors guarding the Kings tent and kill anyone who kept them from returning with the demon child.
But let it be known that the Touchtender called by her tribe as Omara fought with every ounce of her strength and later her name was written in the Book of Isarie with pride.
Osh had been wandering in the lower corridors of the pyramid temple for a long time, now and then he heard footsteps and caught glimpses of shaven headed monks from his hiding places. But he had learned long ago in the prison ships of the Markins that it was best not to be seen so he called upon that skill and kept to the shadows and moved with the silence of the grave. But as the monks passed he heard them speaking of a great power that was coming to destroy them and not even the combined power of the Nomads and the Norgonie would be enough to stop the death that was drawing near.
Save my world the Old man thought this must be what the Guardian meant.
Osh had always thought of himself as a little man, a cog in a greater wheel that could be replaced when needed. But now he understood that even the smallest of creatures can affect the outcomes of time and space and perhaps the Gods did exist and took notice of him? So gathering up his strength he would answer a plea from a God beneath his feet.
I will try, he told himself, I will try.
He did not know the inner workings of the great temple so he relied on his mathematics and designs of ancient structures to guide him, now and then he chanced upon a locked door or a stairway would end but mostly he moved downward. Around his neck hung the ornate medallion that once belonged to Vitranius and it proved very helpful for when a door did not open he would search for a place to insert the ancient ornament and it would open.
But something else seemed to be guiding his steps, something that he could not understand with logic or any other means known to him? It was a power within and without him. And although he tried to alter his steps he found that he could not. Then after a time he found himself in the corridor leading to the chamber of the Overlord machine. Before him was the thick door the kept intruders away and remembering the exact finger movements of Vitranius he touched the correct places on the door and listened for the “clicking” sounds that followed, the door opened and with no other place to go he entered.
While many of them died the Sandjar slaves never stopped digging. They had no food and some of them were about to reverted to the cannibalistic ways of their Outland brethren and eat the flesh of their dead comrades. But Endo with the help of Mog kept them from reverting to the ways of their ancestors saying that Freedom was near and that they would have all the food they wished.
The huge steel gates that kept them prisoners was slowly loosening its grip on the dense rock that held it, the slaves had used their digging tools and their clawed hands to tear away the stone holding the massive hinges and soon the way would be free for them. The noxious gas was beginning to subside now and it would not be long before their Norgonie masters would return and then they would pay a price for their rebellion.
Through this Rawna stayed close by the side of her mate and knowing that she was there gave courage to Endo.
I will live to see her free he told his mind, and he reached out and touched her on the side of her face.
It did not take long for the warriors to return to the Fortress and seeing that only half of them had come back the Nomads and Forest-dwellers flung open the gates and quickly gathered around them. They took the wounded to be cared for and gave drink to the others.
Valen was among those who had been hurt but it was only a flesh wound and wouldn’t have needed the care of a Touchtender.
Kuno who had been left to command the Outlanders saw that his King was not among those who returned and he drew near the Caladon warrior and placing his huge hand upon his arm he turned and spoke to him in an angry voice.
“You are an Outcast but still a warrior, why did you not defend our King?”
Hearing the name that the big Nomad called him made the blood race in Valen’s veins and lifting his ax he was about to make a challenge to the Captain of the Spikebacks when a cry was heard from one of the Norgonie lookouts on the fortress wall.
“The Queen and the Outlanders have returned”.
When Kuno heard those words he let go of Valen and averted a fight that would have surely ended in bloodshed.
The two Whiptails quickly bore their riders inside the fortress gates and there they were met with shouts of joy from the warriors, but the King knew that there was little time for celebration for Atos was only wounde
d and would soon come for them all.
“Bar the gates and gather the warriors” he called out, forgetting that it was not his place to give commands to the Norgonie.
But the Queen did not counter those orders as she dropped from her Whiptails back.
“Do as he says” she shouted, and hearing her words the Forest-dwellers ran to carry out her commands.
A moment later Kuno was at his Kings side along with the Caladon warrior Valen.
“The long range guns and disrupters have been placed on the walls” the Spikeback Captain said, “the Elders are safe and every strong warrior awaits your orders”.
Arn nodded his head in approval then turn to see Andra dismounting her Whiptail and moving fast to wear the Norgonie Queen stood wiping the blood from a small cut on her forehead. She came up behind Ishea and grabbed her by the arm spinning her around to look into her blooded face.
“Keep away from him!” she shouted.
Andra was not a Nomad for she had been born on a distant planet on the other side of the Outer Rim. And on that world men and woman acted quite differently than the Nomads of Gorn, but she had spent enough time amounts the Outlanders to know that if someone tries to steal your mate you never show weakness. On the other hand she should have known that you do not challenge a Norgonie Queen, so drawing her dagger Ishea answered her words with a challenge of her own.
“I listen to no half soul!” she screamed and leaped for the girl.
Arn watched as Andra grasped the wrist of the Norgonie female and using her soldiers training she flipped Ishea head over heels and she hit the ground with her back. But she did not remain there and pulling herself to her feet she glared at her attacker with eyes that burn with a green fire.
“I will have your head!” the Queen shouted and moved in for the attack once more.
Andra pulled the twin daggers from her waist and readied herself for the fight ahead, Arn could do nothing now for a challenge had been given and not even a King could stop what was about to happen.
The two combatants circled each other like angry Sagar cats, each looking for an opening and each ready to die if need be. But just as they were about to strike again a shout was heard from the highest tower.
“Atos comes!”
And a few moments later the fortress was rocked by impacts from cannon shells. The thick walls of the Norgonie stronghold cracked but held strong, but one shell struck the pyramid temple and caused the great silver gong under the golden dome ring out loudly sending a warning to all the warriors. Now there was no time for challenges and Andra and Ishea lowered their weapons, and although the Queen still held great angry in her heart she turned to her warriors and spoke.
“We fight!” was all she said. And hearing her command the Forest-dwellers gave out with a loud cheer and raced to the fortress walls.
Andra also wanted to finish what she had started but being a soldier she knew that there was a greater enemy to fight, so she turned to look at her mate and when their eyes met she felt her heart beat faster.
He is a fool like all men she thought, but he is my fool.
The King also felt a great stirring deep inside him but whether it was from love or the sound of battle he could not be sure, but being King he had to lead so he turned to look at Kuno who was standing near him.
“The God of war has challenged us” he said calmly and then smiled, “give him our answer”.
Nothing more needed to be said and the big Captain gave the order.
“ALL WEAPONS FIRE!”
Hearing the words of their leader the Outlanders fired all of their long-range weapons and a great blast of fire spewed from the fortress walls.
The Taskrobot had ceased to function and the great chamber was filled with smoke and fire, the weapons console no longer had power and navigation was erratic. The outer shielding was not at full strength due to damage and therefore mechanically unable to send out the Mind pain that rendered an enemy powerless. If the Taskrobot could speak it would have said that repairs were needed and then given orders to the Repairbots and Spotters to begin their work. But the Halfman God that now commanded the huge machine was filled with a rage that could not be stopped and all that mattered now was having his revenge on the humans before him.
I will kill them all was the only order that mattered; I will see them ground to dust under my feet.
The huge machine moved out of the thick forest and rumbled forwards towards the massive walls of the fortress. But before the powerful claws could begin ripping away the stone and steel a volley of cannon fire struck the engines and they burst apart in an inferno of steam and fire. The risen warship ground to a halt and when it did the warriors on the wall gave out with a loud shout, but although Atos was stricken it could still bring death for its guns continued to fire and rain death down upon the Fortress.
Knowing that they could not remain inside and be destroyed by the fire from the sky the King gathered his warriors near him.
“Who will ride out with me?” he asked.
It was a question that need not be asked for a Nomad was created for battle and was always eager to face an enemy.
“I will ride with you,” one said.
“We will stand with the King,” called out another.
Andra was at the side of her mate when she heard him speak and knowing that he might not returned she wished to be at his side like she had promised, so she looked into his eyes.
“Together always” she said then ran to mount her Whiptail.
The Norgonie Queen saw the Nomads climbing into their saddles and rather than stay behind while the Outlanders gathered up all the glory she shouted to her warriors to mount their Rowgors. They did as she commanded and as the canons from the Fortress continued to answer the guns of the Metal God the warriors of the two tribes rode out through the great gates and into the face of death.
Vitranius felt the impacts on the walls of his temple chamber and with each sound of thunder he felt his dream of power and glory slipping through his fingers.
It cannot end like this? He told his weakening mind, I will rule the galaxy and all shall bow to me, but he knew that it was only a broken dream now, a future that would never be. And seeing that all his plans of power were gone it torn the last shreds of sanity from his thoughts and he fell into madness.
Around him were several shaven headed monks praying to Arm-Ra to come and save them and when the ancient Callaxion heard them repeating words that he himself had written it made him laugh.
“Fools, insects, humans,” he shouted, “you are nothing to me, nothing, there is no God, only me, only me!”
And seeing the face of their master with the eyes of a wild beast they ran from his chamber and left him to the will of the Gods. The High Priest watched them run away like vermin and then he took up a silver goblet sitting on a table near him and smashed it against the wall.
“All is ending,” he said with drool slowly dripping from his thin lips. “All is ending”.
Osh was safe deep inside the pyramid and before him was the God machine of the Overlords. Like before the chamber filled with a soft light and voices that seemed to be everywhere. And as he stood there he wondered why he had been drawn to this place for it would have been much more logical to seek the outside and freedom then to venture deeper into the prison that held him.
Something is guiding me, and then he suddenly understood for he remembered his dreams and the Guardian that had appeared to him and the strange words she had spoken.
“Save my world” she said.
And now before him stood a machine whose power might be great enough to carry out that impossible task, so without thinking he seated himself in the uncomfortable command chair and slowly lowered the cone shaped helmet over his large skull. When it was in place he took the medallion and inserted it into the mechanism and waited.
At first there was nothing just a buzzing like a Dot-fly inside his brain, then like a field flower blooming he saw a door opening in his m
ind and he moved towards it. He reached out with his thoughts and tried to open that door but he found it blocked by an impervious wall of coding.
He felt the great power building and he knew that if he did not find a way through that mind wall he would be hit once more with a force inside his mind that he would not survive.
“I must find a way,” he thought out loud, “I must save this world, and those I love.”
Egmar no longer cared for her world or those that she once loved; all that matter to her was seeing her forgotten son destroy those that would oppose him. The great chamber of the Moving shrine echoed to the plaintive chatting of the Handmaidens for they knew that only the power of Isarie could save them now. They stood naked before the golden statue of the Goddess and lifted braziers of sweet smelling incense and prayed with all their hearts for the Mercy of the Gods.
But in one corner of the chamber the Holy Mother sat and smiled at such nonsense.
What fools they are she thought they put their faith in a God that does not exist.
Her Thungodra warriors surrounded Egmar and although it was a great sin to allow men into the sacred chamber she no longer cared for the laws of false Gods. At her feet lay the demon child wrapped in the cloth that Omara had put her in, she did not cry or show any sign of fear, she only stared into the air with those strange eyes.
The Holy Mother could hear the battle raging outside and now and then a blast would shake the great wagon and the Handmaidens would scream in terror, but Egmar sat content as if nothing mattered anymore. She looked down at the child then at the dark spider that sat upon its body.
“A great gift” the demon said in words that only the Holy Mother could hear, “why not take the offering to your son?”
And thinking that the words of her companion were wise she rose up and took the child into her arms.
“Come with me” she told her Thungodra and following their vows they walked with their mistress out of the great chamber and into the war raging around them. They formed a wall of steel with their bodies and prevented any harm to the Holy Mother, they marched side by side and now and then a bit of steel from an exploding shell would take a life but they did not abandon Egmar and kept her safe.
The Fallen God Page 68