by Alex Archer
“I don’t know if it’s much of a theory,” Annja said with a grin. “I’m trying to make sense of the situation just like you guys.”
Roux’s flashlight revealed another portal. This one wasn’t as smooth as the others and showed that part of it had crumbled away. Roux ran his hand over the broken portion and shook his head. “It certainly appears to be stone,” he said. “Marble, if I had to guess. It amazes me they were able to build such a place.”
“It’s no more incredible than what the early explorers must have imagined when they cast eyes upon the pyramids,” Spier said. “It perhaps only seems wondrous because we have no reference point for any of this.”
“Hopefully we’ll get some answers soon,” Roux said. “And I’d like to find the pearl, as well.”
Hans nudged Annja. “Do you remember what I told you?”
Annja nodded. “Is it worse now?”
Hans nodded. “And there’s something else.”
“What?”
“Heinkel is gone.”
Annja whirled around. “Roux, the light!”
“What?”
“Shine it back here, now!”
Roux did as she asked and Annja saw that it was true. Mueller, Gottlieb and Hans were with them, but Heinkel had vanished. “Where did he go?”
Hans shrugged. “We have no idea. We came down single file, but when we stopped at the painting, I think we were all amazed by it and we lost track of Heinkel. He was last in line.”
Spier called out to Heinkel but Annja put up a hand. “Stop shouting. It won’t do any good.”
“Why on earth not? One of my men is missing.”
Annja looked at Hans. “Would he go back without us?”
“Where? Back to the tunnel?”
“Yes.”
Hans frowned. “I doubt that. We have all been together for several years. Heinkel would not dare abandon his friends.”
Roux scratched his chin. “Which leaves what possibility?”
“He was taken,” Spier said quietly.
Annja nodded.
Hans eyed her thoughtfully. “You don’t seem surprised?”
“I don’t know what I am,” Annja said. “When you told me you felt as though we were being watched, I had to agree with you. I’ve felt it, too.”
Roux came closer. “Are you sure?”
“I’m not sure of anything, Roux. But I know when my instincts are telling me something. And they’re telling me something now.”
Roux gave her a searching look that seemed to ask if she could manifest the sword here. Annja shrugged. She didn’t see why not, but until she actually did it, there’d be no way to know for certain.
Spier stepped forward. “We should double back and try to find him. He could be injured.”
“He might be,” Annja said, “but I don’t think splitting our forces is a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Because if we are about to be attacked, it would be better to have as many of us here to fight them off, don’t you think?”
Spier frowned. “I didn’t think we’d be in any danger.”
Hans reached down and unsheathed his diving knife. “We are armed at least.”
“Those knives may not do much,” Roux said. “Did you see what the weapons were in that painting?”
Hans shrugged. “Weapons don’t make the fighter, spirit does. And if they have harmed my friend, then they will know the fear of facing me in combat.”
Roux smiled. “All right, all right. I was just letting you know what you might be up against.”
Hans turned and spoke quietly to Mueller and Gottlieb, organizing them accordingly.
Annja whirled at a sound coming from down the corridor. “Did you hear that noise?”
“What noise?” Hans asked.
Spier nodded. “I did. It sounded like something metallic.”
Annja glanced at Hans. “If something strange happens in the next few minutes, I want you to promise that you won’t be upset with me, okay?”
“Why would I be upset with you?”
“Just promise.”
Hans looked puzzled. “All right, I promise.”
Annja nodded. She closed her eyes and saw the sword hovering in the otherwhere. It was ready to be summoned if she needed it.
She opened her eyes and saw Roux looking at her with an inquisitive expression. She nodded at him.
She’d be ready.
“There it is again,” Spier said.
Annja had heard it, as well.
“Definitely metallic.”
“Circle up,” Hans said quietly. The six of them formed a circle with their backs to one another so they could keep an eye on every approach. Annja wasn’t ready to face whomever this was head-on. Especially if Heinkel had been taken from behind.
More sounds came at them from down the corridor.
But this time it wasn’t metallic.
It was the sound of running feet.
18
Heinkel came running around the corner.
Fast.
Annja looked at him, saw the expression on his face and then glanced at Roux. The old man held up his hand. “Wait, Annja. Not yet.”
Hans grabbed Heinkel. “What happened to you?”
Heinkel bent over double as if he’d been running a marathon. “They grabbed me from behind and there were too many of them to fight off.”
“Who?” Annja asked.
Heinkel pointed. “Them.”
Annja whirled. The corridor ahead of them was filled with angry-looking warriors similar to those depicted in the painting. There were at least a dozen of them, from what Annja could see. And each one of them carried a long triple-barbed spear. The weapons looked even more menacing than they had in the painting.
Hans stepped in front of Heinkel. “Who are you?” he demanded. “We mean you no harm.”
“I don’t think they will agree with that sentiment, Hans. And I am certain they mean us harm,” Spier said quietly.
Hans gritted his teeth. “Then let them come.”
Roux cleared his throat. “Hans, I don’t mean to overstep my bounds here, but that knife is not going to do a thing to these chaps. You won’t even get close to them before they have you on a spit like one of those delicious pigs they serve back at Club Noah.”
Hans frowned. “You have a better idea?”
“Actually, yes.” Roux smiled at Annja. “Now might be the time, my dear.”
Hans looked at Annja. “What does he mean by that?”
Annja stepped in front of Hans. “I didn’t want to have to do this, but it appears I have no choice. Not if we want to get out of here alive.”
Hans stood there staring at her with a confused expression plastered on his face.
Annja saw the sword and then reached for it, felt her hands wrap around the hilt, felt the flow of power into her body as it suddenly appeared in her hands.
The sword gave off its own dull light, clearly showing Annja all the enemies she would face if this went to a full-scale battle.
Hans gasped as he looked at Annja. “How in the world did you do that?”
Annja smiled. “It’s a long story.”
Roux smiled. “All that matters is she knows how to use it well.”
Annja stepped ahead of the rest of the team and held the sword high overhead, staring at the mass of warriors in front of her. They looked scared. They’d just seen the unthinkable occur in front of them. An unarmed woman had just conjured a sword out of thin air.
One of the warriors stepped forward and hurled his spear directly at Annja.
Hans shouted her name.
But Annja merely flicked the sword and cut the shaft of the spear in two. The pieces fell clattering to the floor.
Hans grabbed the end with the triple barbs on it and hefted it. “It’s got a good amount of weight to it.”
Mueller grabbed the staff and twirled it in his hands. “Now we’ve got a bit more reach at least,” he said.
She could hear mumbles from the crowd of warriors. It wasn’t any language she recognized, and she found herself wondering if she had stepped back in time and this was really a long-lost civilization. If it was, the last thing she wanted to do was contribute to its extinction.
Unfortunately, if she had to kill some in order to get everyone out alive, then that’s exactly what she would do.
“They seem a bit nervous around you, Annja. Perhaps you should press them a bit and see how they react,” Roux said quietly.
“That could worsen the situation,” she replied.
Roux shrugged. “I doubt it. If anything, it might show us exactly what they’re planning to do with us.”
“You mean if they wanted us dead, they would have already attacked?”
Roux nodded. “Seems to me they would certainly have killed Heinkel already if they’d wanted to kill us. Why simply grab him? Unless they’re under orders to capture us and take us somewhere.”
“Take us somewhere?” Spier asked. “You mean like in front of the people who rule this place?”
“It’s possible,” Roux said.
“So, what do you want me to do?” Annja asked. “Charge them?”
“No, but you might advance a few more steps and see what they do.”
Annja took a swipe at the air in front of her with the sword and the result was immediate. The warriors retreated a few steps, pushing one another back.
Annja stepped closer to them, brandishing the sword in front of her and grimacing threateningly.
The warriors screamed.
Annja almost grinned. But then she imagined how she’d feel if she was in their place and had seen something so inexplicable happen right in front of her eyes.
Another warrior shoved his way through the crowd and twirled his spear menacingly.
Annja readied herself. There had to be one in every crowd.
The warrior in front of her stood only about five feet tall and his muscles extended along his limbs like thin ropes, stretched taut. A sheen of sweat covered him from head to toe, and he wore a simple loincloth around his waist.
He yelled at Annja, something guttural and not at all pleasant sounding.
“I don’t think he likes you very much,” Roux said.
“Apparently,” Annja replied.
“Make an example of him and be done with it,” Roux said.
Annja frowned. “I won’t do that unless he leaves me no choice. We don’t know who rules this place and the last thing I want to do is anger them by killing one of their own.”
“She makes a good point,” Spier said.
But in the end, it was the warrior who decided what would happen. He stepped forward and attempted to stab Annja with his spear. The triple barbs lunged forward, wicked looking at close range.
Annja jumped back and parried with her sword. The warrior had the advantage of distance, but he seemed ill prepared to utilize it in the close confines of the corridor. Annja had seen spear fighters in Japan who knew how to keep a sword-wielding opponent at the optimal length, never letting the sword cut the distance down to its effective range.
But this guy didn’t seem to understand that. He cut back and forth, forever bringing himself closer and closer to Annja’s blade.
Sweat broke out along her hairline as she fended off his attacks. There was strength behind them, and she realized that she would only be able to fend them off without harming him for only so long.
And then it happened.
The warrior stabbed in and attempted to leap around the point of Annja’s sword to deliver another stab.
He miscalculated, however, and ended up running himself through.
A scream erupted from his lips and blood splattered the corridor as he sank free of the sword blade. His body was already lifeless by the time he hit the floor.
The warriors in front of Annja shrank away in terror.
Annja was angry. “That achieved nothing.”
“Well, they’re terrified,” Roux said. “Should we press the advantage now?”
Annja hated to do it, but they had to get out of there. And slaying one of the warriors made her feel terrible, even if she hadn’t intentionally killed him.
She stepped forward and the warriors shrank farther away from her. Several of the rearmost warriors turned and fled back down the corridor the way they’d come running.
“That was some magnificent fighting, Annja,” Hans said as he came closer to where she stood.
Annja shook her head. “No. It wasn’t. That was me trying to do the bare minimum necessary to get us out of this situation without having to resort to killing someone.”
“It’s unavoidable sometimes,” Hans said. “As much as we might try to avoid it, sometimes there is no other way.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Annja said. But she felt awful. Killing someone who was intent on killing you was one thing if you knew who you were dealing with. But she had no idea about who these people were. They were probably just frightened at the thought of intruders and were doing their best to keep their home safe.
Roux came up alongside her. “Don’t be so merciful that you expose yourself to attack, Annja. Some will look to exploit that weakness if you let them.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
“You’re welcome.”
Annja led them down the corridor. The warriors shrank back, several steps at a time. It was an odd dance of sorts with Annja advancing and the warriors shrinking backward.
But they progressed.
Gradually, the corridor turned and led them farther downward into a much larger room. It was still dark, but Annja’s sword reflected some light. And it was enough to see for some distance.
“Now what?” Annja asked.
Roux sighed. “I don’t know. I can see several doorways but I have no idea where they might lead.”
“Great.”
The warriors in front of her suddenly stopped backing up. And their faces no longer showed any fear.
“Roux,” Annja said.
“Yes?”
“I don’t think they’re scared anymore.”
“No?”
“Why wouldn’t they be scared anymore?” she asked.
Hans was at Annja’s elbow. “I see more of them.”
“How many?”
“A lot,” Hans said. “A whole lot.”
The room blossomed into light at that moment and Annja could see it was filled with warriors, all of them brandishing the weapons they’d seen in the painting.
Roux whistled appreciatively. “Well, this is somewhat unexpected.”
“Great plan, Roux,” Annja said. “We walked right into their trap.”
“I merely suggested one possible path we could take,” Roux said. “You chose to follow my advice. I take no responsibility for that.”
“Of course, you don’t,” Annja said. “Why would you?”
The circle of warriors surrounded them and pressed a little bit closer. The tips of their spears caught the light that spilled in from somewhere far overhead.
More of that seemingly sourceless light, Annja thought. I wonder what powers this place?
But she had more immediate concerns at the moment. Namely, the sheer number of armed warriors she faced.
“There are too many of them,” she said quietly.
Hans nodded. “You can’t be expected to fight them all.”
Spier spoke quietly, as well. “I think it might be time for a strategic withdrawal.”
“No good,” Mueller said. “They’ve blocked us from behind, too.”
Annja glanced quickly over her shoulder and saw he was right. The warriors had formed a complete circle around them. Every avenue of escape was closed. They were completely surrounded.
A sudden clap echoed across the cha
mber and instantly the circle of warriors backed away from Annja and the team.
“What was that?” Spier asked.
And then they heard a voice speak up from somewhere behind the mass of angry warriors.
“Why have you invaded our home?”
19
The group of warriors parted at that moment and Annja looked up at a throne sitting on a raised dais. A woman of indeterminate age sat on the throne. Her blond hair and Asian features reminded Annja of the woman she’d seen in the painting back in the hallway. Before Annja could say anything, Roux stepped forward. “We mean you no harm.”
“You have trespassed in a place that does not belong to you. You have come into our home uninvited and, for that, you must be punished.”
Roux stepped back. “We would prefer that you not punish us.”
The woman ignored him and focused instead on Annja. “Come forward, sorceress. I will speak with you.”
Annja approached the throne, keeping the sword in front of her. The rest of the team stayed close behind her.
The woman on the throne looked Annja over carefully, her eyes coming to rest upon the sword after a few moments. “What are you named?”
“Annja.”
“I am Hsusia, ruler of this land.” She pointed at the sword. “How is that you are able to conjure that weapon?”
“Don’t say you don’t know.” Roux whispered to Annja.
Annja shrugged. “It is within my power to make the sword appear and disappear at will.”
“And how came you by this skill?”
“I was chosen,” Annja said. It isn’t a lie, she thought. The sword did seem to choose me.
“Are you adept at its use?”
“I am.”
Hsusia nodded. “Interesting. Female warriors are a rare breed in our kingdom. We let the men do the fighting, caring not if they are killed in battle.”
“And yet you lead them,” Annja said. “And judging by the painting in the hallway, you have led them into battle, as well.”
“This is true,” Hsusia said. “I am an old warrior, however. I spend my days now studying the ancient tomes and consulting with the oracle to divine how best to lead my people.”
Annja looked around. “Are there more of you than this? I see only your warriors.”