Andra was also ready to fight if need be for she had learned the ways of Gorn well and knew that danger was waiting at every turn. Then as the rider moved up over a hill she could see that the lone rider wore the helmet and armor of a King of the Almadra, she smiled for she knew her efforts would be rewarded for it was her mate returning to her.
Her heart began to beat like a mating drum in her chest for soon she would be holding her love once more in her arms and together they would live out their lives in contentment.
I have found him; she heard her mind say, I have found him.
In her mind she saw them together once more; together they would travel all the lands of Gor and once more make love under the stars. Together they would go on and on, together whey would face any dangers that the Gods placed in front of them.
I have found him.
But then her joy turned to apprehension for as she reached out with her thoughts she did not feel the warmth that should have been returned to her, instead she felt a dark coldness that seemed to fill every fiber of her being with dread.
This can’t be the one I love?
And the rider came close enough for her to see him plainly.
Nothing in Andras life could have prepared her for what she saw for they’re before her was a creature that she hardly recognized. Arns body was covered in blood and gore and his armor was rusted and covered with filth, he bore many cuts that were festered and sores that oozed with a foul smelling fluid. His Whiptail was gaunt and from its gaping mouth hung bits of rotting meat and it pawed the ground and snorted eager to sink its teeth into flesh. But what horrified Moonbud most was the look in the eyes of her mate for what had once held a deep love now seemed vacant of all humanity. He stared beyond her with a hatred that would never end, and from his snarling lips hung drool that matted his quivering chin.
Death rider she thought. Where has he been?
And it was true, all memories of his past life were erased by the power of the Death Shadow flower, now all that remained was an empty shell filled with hatred for all that was living.
Where has he been? But the answer was before her, for his eyes carried the story of his journey. He has been to death and back.
The warriors lifted their weapons and although they had vowed to find and return their King to his people they knew that he was gone, forever lost in the darkness of madness and from that place of horrors no one ever returned. They moved forward ready to protect the leader and give up their lives for her, but as they did Andra lifted her hand and they stopped in their tracks.
Slowly now Moonbud dismounted her Whiptail and moved towards her mate, and as she did she reached out with her mind once more.
Look at me, remember me.
But there was no response from the King for he could not see through the veil of darkness that shrouded his mind.
Remember me.
And again there was nothing, only an empty echo of hatred and death; he has forgotten all that he was.
Moonbud watched as Arn leaped down from his mount and began to move towards her, he held his ax so hard the muscles in his thick arms stood out like bands of steel.
Look at me, remember.
Then as he lifted his weapon to deliver the killing blow Andra threw down her ax and spoke to him.
“I am not your enemy, look for him elsewhere”.
For a moment Arn just stood there like an iron stature but the fire of hatred still burned in his eyes, then once again he lifted his ax.
“I am not your enemy” the girl repeated, “I am one who loves you”.
That moment seemed like forever but Andra did not turn her eyes from him and lifting her arms she spoke in a soft voice.
“It’s me, Moonbud, and you are the one I love”. And then she reached out with her thoughts and filled her mind with all the images of their past together, the first time they met and the first time they made love in the ruins near the Eye of Isarie. The Mating time and the Great Dome in Omargash, the long sleep in the Hollow Hills and their battle with the Talsonar, all the wonderful days and nights they spent together and the terrible times that pulled them apart. It was there, every warm embrace, every bitter separation, all there to see and embrace if only she could break through the dark barrier that separated them.
Look at who we once were, remember me.
And as she remembered she saw a small flicker of reason beginning to return to the eyes of her mate, and with each passing second it grew.
“Look at me” she cried with tears in her eyes, “remember our vow to never be apart, to stay together through this world and all the worlds to come, look at me, you are not a dead man you are alive, remember me, remember the love we shared!” And as more tears began to fall she closed her eyes and cried out in pain, “please Isarie help him!” take anything you wish from me, take my life and return his, please. Then she waited for the deathblow that would end her misery.
But it did not come.
She opened her eyes and saw that Arn no longer held his ax ready to strike; instead he let it fall to the ground. He stood there unmoving and as he did the flicker in his eyes began to grow into a fire of remembrance and looking hard at the woman before him he spoke weakly through parched lips.
“Moonbud?”
Andra nodded her head and held out her arms to him, “yes, yes” she said as tears of joy rolled down her cheek, “I am here, and I love you”.
She took him into her embrace and felt the walls that separated them in her mind begin to crumble; soon they would vanish like the dew in the warmth of the morning suns.
It would take time of course, a long time for all the hatred and pain to be driven out of the heart of the Nomad but it would happen. And in return Andra would fill it with love for she spoke the truth when she said that she loved him and together they would go on. And although the days ahead would be hard and filled with many dangers they would face them side by side.
And no matter how cold their world became they had the never-ending fire of their love to keep them warm.
Chapter 51.
Sunbirth.
And now my story is done, the suns rise and soon another day will begin, and with it will come the Nomads of Gorn who travel the endless lands of this world. You who have heard my words may want to return another night and listen as I tell of more adventures of those they call Moric-Kan for I have not yet told you of their battle with the dreaded Hagars, the ravaging icemen who ride down from the frozen lands of the North.
Nor have I spoken of the wave riders of the Western Sea and the hunt for the Great Leviathans that dwell in the soundless depths, and you should know of the soulless things that crawl beneath the earth and worship foul Gods of darkness and pain, and you will stand in awe as you gaze upon the eternal Guardian called Isarie that watches over all.
All this and more I will speak of and you will come to know of the wonders that still lay waiting on this strange world. But now I will end my words for I am tired and need sleep, and in that sleep I will dream, I will dream of all that I have seen and done and my soul will sore high above and deep below and I will be content.
So go now and let an old man rest, but when the night moons are once more high overhead and the Washa fires burn brightly return and sit beside me once more.
At that time the sacred drums will beat and fill the night air, their pounding will mix with the ancient songs of the Outlands and we will talk again for there is much more to say before the Angel of Death comes for me and my soul is taken to the Afterlife.
Map of the lands to the East, the forests of Caltarine and the Forbidden City, do not enter the Land of Smokes or the Jungles or Yug for you will only find death.
Gary Mark Lee was born in Pasadena California in 1947, he graduated high school then went into the art and entertainment field. He worked for many special effects companies in the mid 1980’s and then went into the theme park design business, he has worked for the Walt Disney company, Warner Brothers, and Universal Studio’s.
Gary doesn’t consider himself a writer but more of a story teller, The Fallen God is the second book in the three part trilogy of Nomads of the Gods, the third book, The Risen God should be finished soon.
He and his wife Margaret live in the Riverside area of Southern California and enjoy watching old movies, having friends over and their two very spoiled dogs.
Gary has written a number of movie scripts and short stories, all the drawings and illustrations in this book were done by him.
The Fallen God Page 74