by Alex Archer
Hsusia laughed. “There is no such thing as losing when you are engaged in great battle. Honor is the only prize that exists. And we shall both have it regardless of who lives and who dies.”
“If you say so,” Annja said.
She stepped down off the dais and walked toward Hans and the rest of the team. He smiled as she approached.
“Glad you made it back in one piece.”
“Me, too. Although I’m not so sure I’ll stay in one piece when I have to fight her.”
Roux grinned. “If it’s any consolation, I’d put my money on you if I were a betting man.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Spier drew close. “Did you see the oracle, Annja?”
“I did.”
“What was it like?”
Annja smiled. “The oracle is the pearl, Joachim. It’s about eight inches across, black, and immensely powerful for some reason that I can’t quite figure out.”
Spier gasped. “So, it does exist.”
Annja nodded. “Oh, it exists all right. And it’s far more potent than I think any of us ever imagined.”
“Incredible,” Spier said.
Roux looked fascinated, as well. Hans merely put his arm around Annja.
“Are you all right?”
Annja put a hand on her forehead. “I’m not feeling all that well, to be honest. It’s a good thing I don’t have to fight her right now. She’d win in a heartbeat.”
“You need rest,” Hans said. “And she mentioned food, as well, yes?”
“Yes.”
He smiled. “Good. We’ll get you fixed up and prepared for the match. I would battle for you if I was asked, but something tells me that she wants this to be between you two.”
Annja nodded. “She does. Apparently female warriors are the top rung of the ladder here.”
“Amazons,” Roux said. “They’re like the Amazon warrior princesses.”
Annja shrugged. “I need to lie down.”
Hsusia’s men started to lead them out of the throne room. Hans helped Annja along, but at the portal to leave, Annja suddenly stopped him.
She turned back and called out to Hsusia. “You said there were other conditions to be met before we could go free.”
“I did.”
“What are they?”
Hsusia shook her head. “We will battle first.”
Annja frowned. “And what happens when one of us dies? What then? Who will know what the oracle told you to do? We should know everything now.”
Hsusia smiled. “Perhaps you are right. There is much wisdom in you, Annja. Much wisdom indeed.”
“Thank you,” Annja said. “Now, what are the conditions?”
“You must fight me.”
“We already covered that.”
Hsusia smiled. “And when the battle is over, all but one of you will be allowed to leave.”
“All but one—”
Hsusia smiled even more broadly. “One of you must stay here forever.”
21
Hsusia’s warriors led them down another corridor to a comfortable room filled with cushions and a low table set with an incredible array of food and drink—none of which any of them recognized.
Annja lay down on the pillows and felt her forehead again. As far as she could tell, her temperature must have been running at least five degrees higher than normal.
Hans sat down next to her.
“Any better?”
“I feel like crap,” Annja said.
Roux hovered nearby, munching on something that had been left out for them to eat. “No idea what this might be, but it’s delicious.” He glanced at Annja. “Would you like some?”
“I don’t think that would be such a good idea,” Annja said.
Roux frowned. “When did you start feeling sick?”
Annja sighed. “We were outside the oracle room and Hsusia mentioned that all of the surface dwellers who had ever viewed the oracle had become sick. I told her not to worry and we went inside.”
“What happened then?”
“It was hot. I noticed that almost immediately. The pearl sits on a pedestal in this basin of water that is constantly renewed. Fresh water flows around it, and the old water, which is apparently very hot, flows down and into the cistern.”
“There’s a cistern?”
“We swam through it,” Annja said. “When the water temperature was hot, that was waste water from what circulates around the pearl.”
Roux rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “And this oracle—or the pearl, rather—it provides all the light and energy that they use here?”
“That’s what Hsusia said.”
Roux shook his head and spoke quietly. “It’s not possible.” He walked to the table and poured a glass of liquid before bringing it back to Annja. “You should drink this. Keep hydrated.”
Annja accepted the glass and drank it, expecting it to be some strange beverage. It was cold water and she relished the feel of it on her throat. She downed the glass and asked for more.
Roux watched her intently and then sat down next to her on the cushions. “I think you might need to spend some time resting. Deeply, if you get my meaning.”
She looked at him. “What do you mean by that?”
He smiled. “I know there’s a lot we haven’t discussed about the sword, Annja. I know there are things you can do with it besides just fight really well. The sword has other…properties. Doesn’t it?”
Annja took another drink of water. “Like what, Roux?”
“Like it has the ability to heal you in some ways, correct? It’s not merely an implement for killing.”
“How would you know something like that?”
Roux smirked. “I’ve spent more lifetimes thinking about the sword than you can know, Annja. It’s nothing to be so secretive about. But I’m right, aren’t I?”
Annja thought back to the times when it had indeed seemed like the sword had healed her, or at least had accelerated the healing process of her own body. “I think so. Yes.”
Roux nodded. “Then if what I think may have happened has indeed happened, you need to go to wherever it is you go in order to activate that healing. In fact, the longer you delay, the more you are in danger of losing your life.”
Annja frowned. “Why is that?”
“Because you’ve been poisoned, Annja.”
“Poisoned? She didn’t touch me.”
Roux shook his head. “Don’t misunderstand me. Hsusia didn’t do a thing to you. In fact, she warned you about it before it happened. But your exposure to the pearl has poisoned you just as it did those others. And the longer you linger here feeling sick, the more time the poison has to infect you.”
Annja lay back. Roux’s suggestion actually sounded appealing if only because she’d be able to sleep. “What sort of poison has infected me?”
Roux shook his head. “I’m not sure. I have a few theories on that, but I want to discuss them with Spier before I worry you too much. And we don’t have a lot of time to spare. I think you need to do this right away in order to maximize your chances of survival.”
“It’s that bad?”
“It might be,” Roux said.
“Okay.” Annja closed her eyes and Roux moved away from the cushions. She could hear him urging everyone to remain quiet while she rested.
Annja had wanted to tell Hans not to worry, but even as she closed her eyes, she could feel her body sinking into the deep meditative reservoir of personal energy that seemed to be a part of being the owner of the sword.
Annja floated through a gray haze and saw the sword hanging in front of her, suspended, as always, by some unseen force. The blade glowed with its usual dull gray light.
She found herself drawn to the light and as she approached, the light intensity grew stronger. Annja tried to block it out, but the light glowed through every part of her body. She could feel its rays piercing her skin, down to the most minute cellular level.
She remembered reading abou
t supposed healers who visualized white light pouring through their bodies, healing the sick and infected areas. Was there truth to that, after all? Or was this just a function of the sword’s healing powers?
Annja didn’t know. But she drifted through a between-world for what seemed like hours while the light from the sword continued to pierce her through and through. At times, she could feel the energy moving up and down through her body. In a way it almost felt like she was being cleansed from the inside out.
Bizarre, she found herself thinking. She didn’t know exactly what was happening but she knew she should have faith in the power of the sword.
As the intensity increased, Annja felt her body temperature skyrocket. Sweat broke out all over her skin. She was drenched in it as more and more sweat spilled from her pores.
Her breathing came in hurried spurts. Her inhalations and exhalations fused together so there was no break in their timing.
And still the light from the sword grew even stronger. Annja felt as if she was being set on fire and in her mind’s eye she saw an image of flames licking their way up her body.
Just like Joan of Arc.
But were these actual memories? Or was her body simply offering up a visual comparison of what it was experiencing at that moment?
The sword started to vibrate, giving off a constant humming sound like a tuning fork that had been struck and left to vibrate in the air. Annja felt the sound waves puncture her body and cause it to vibrate then, as well.
She shuddered and shook and continued to sweat. The humming continued. The light shone ever brighter.
And then everything went dark.
“I DON’T THINK I ever want to watch something like that again.”
Annja’s eye cracked open. Roux hovered over her, grimacing. “Seriously, that was not a pretty sight.”
“This isn’t exactly my Sleeping Beauty dream playing out here, either, Roux. What happened? Where’s Hans?”
“He’s in the corner having a heated conversation with Mueller, Heinkel and Gottlieb.” Roux offered Annja some water. “How are you feeling?”
Annja sat up. She was tired, but she no longer felt sick. “Better, actually. Not one hundred percent, mind you, but a lot better than I was a few minutes ago.”
“You mean two hours ago,” Roux said.
Annja frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“You’ve been unconscious for two hours. It was all I could do to keep any of them from disturbing you.”
Annja glanced around. Spier smiled at her and then went back to studying the construction of the room they were in.
Annja looked back at Roux. “Two hours? Really?”
“Yes.” Roux mopped her forehead with a cool cloth. “I take it you achieved what I suggested?”
“I think so. It’s not something I seem to be able to control. More a matter of presenting myself and the sword seems to sense what needs doing.”
“Well, let’s hope it worked.”
“Let’s hope.” Annja took more water. “Have you given any more thought to what might have poisoned me?”
“I have. But I don’t know if this is the time to discuss it or not.”
“You said that before I went under.”
“I haven’t had much chance to talk it over with Spier. I’ve been tending to you. He’s been absorbed in the construction of this place. He seems fascinated by it. I don’t even think he wants the pearl any longer.”
“Really?”
“He hasn’t mentioned it. Much to the chagrin of Hans and the boys there. I think that’s what they’re discussing right now. They have been holding some sort of secret conversation since Spier started going on about how wonderful this place is. It’s all a bit much, if you ask me. He’s clearly lost his marbles.”
Hans came over and smiled at Annja. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better.”
Hans glared at Roux. “He would not let us help you when you appeared to be having a seizure.”
Annja held up her hand. “It’s okay, Hans. Roux knew what he was doing. You would have hurt me if you’d attempted anything while I was under.”
“This thing,” Hans said. “It happens a lot?”
“What—me being sick?”
“Yes.”
Annja smiled. “Hardly ever actually. I get colds like anyone else, of course. But serious stuff like this? Never.”
Hans nodded. “Good. That was not a pleasant sight to witness. I thought you might have been possessed by a demon.”
“Not yet.” Annja looked at Spier. “Is Joachim all right?”
Hans frowned. “He has become obsessed with this place. He no longer speaks of getting out of here. Nor of the pearl that we have traveled all the way around the world to find. I don’t think he cares about it any longer.”
“But you do,” Annja said. “You and the rest of the guys.”
Hans smiled. “We came here to find this pearl and we mean to do so. One way or another. To give up the quest now just because of the other things that have confronted us is not acceptable. We must have the pearl.”
“What’s so important about it?” Annja asked.
Hans leaned closer to her. “The pearl has the power to affect a great many people back in Germany. It has the power to right the wrongs of those who have forsaken their duty to the people.”
Annja shook her head. “You’re sounding a little bit like how I’d expect Roux to sound when he gets that maniacal look in his eyes.”
Hans frowned. “Don’t disregard what I say, Annja. You could help us obtain the pearl. You could be there when we use it.”
“Use it?”
Roux held up a hand to silence them. “Did you hear something?”
Annja strained to listen and then she heard the approaching sound. “I think we’re going to have some company any moment.”
The portal to the room slid back and one of Hsusia’s warriors strode into the chamber. “Annja, the queen would like me to inform you that the time of your battle has arrived. You are requested to follow me to the arena where you will fight. Your friends will also accompany us.”
Annja stood and stretched her arms above her head. She glanced at Roux. “Thanks for suggesting that rest. I could use a few hours more of sleep, but beggars can’t be choosers, I guess.”
Roux smiled. “My pleasure. I wish there was more time for you to recover.”
Annja walked to the front of the chamber and smiled at Hsusia’s warrior. “I will follow you.”
And together they walked out.
22
Hsusia’s warriors led them down a long winding corridor that funneled them into a tight walkway. At the end, they emerged in a circular room almost a hundred feet across. Along the walls, rows of seats set above the field of battle waited. They were already almost completely filled. Annja saw the Jiao women for the first time. They looked almost exactly like Hsusia, their blond hair and blue eyes seemed so different from their male counterparts.
The lead warrior pointed to the center of the floor. “You will stay here and await the queen.”
Annja nodded and waved to the rest of the team, who took seats in the row nearest to the action. They were perched about ten feet over the combat area.
Annja walked the length of the field, getting a feel for the arena. As far as she could tell, there was nothing to be suspicious of. The omnipresent light flooded out from the ceiling high above the field of combat. And like every other room in this place, the arena was constructed almost entirely of marble.
Annja shook her head. Who would ever have thought that she would end up in some underwater city, waiting for a fight to the death with a queen she didn’t even consider an enemy?
It was too bizarre to believe. But then again, so were a lot of other aspects of her life, she decided.
The good news was she felt great. Her strength had returned. The fever was gone. Annja squatted a few times to test her legs and found them springy and responsive. She
did a couple of arm circles to warm up those muscles and she felt great.
Ready.
She breathed deeply, oxygenating her blood and ensuring she didn’t starve them unnecessarily.
The crowd watched her intently. This might be the first time they’ve ever seen anything like this, Annja realized. An outsider coming into their home to battle their queen.
She wondered if the Jiao were gamblers. Perhaps there were people in the stands eagerly taking bets on how long Annja would last against the might of Hsusia.
That was the problem, she knew. Trying to figure out how capable Hsusia was on the battlefield. If the painting in the hallway was to be believed, then she certainly knew how to fight.
But how did she fight?
If the circumstances were somewhat normal, Annja could have figured out if her opponent knew martial arts, was a brawler or just a gifted fighter. But down here? Who knew what they’d been exposed to or been forced to create out of the necessity for survival.
It presented a problem for her strategy.
As did the triple-barbed spear that she felt certain Hsusia would employ in her defense. Annja would have to figure out a way around that if she had any hope of surviving this fight.
The crowd suddenly fell silent.
Queen Hsusia entered at the other end of the arena. She was resplendent in bright green armor that seemed to cover her from head to foot. Annja frowned. She hadn’t expected armor. Now she’d have to figure out how to penetrate it and see if it had any weak points. Most armor, as impenetrable as it seemed, had weaknesses. It just took a sharp mind to figure out how it was constructed. Oftentimes, the individual pieces would be joined to other pieces. The locations of those joinings were the best place to attack.
But Hsusia’s armor looked as though it was one solid piece of a latexlike material.
Annja frowned. This would be tougher than she thought.
“Annja, we have been ordered to battle each other to the death by the glorious oracle that gives us life.”
The crowd roared its approval and it sounded like a thunderstorm had taken root in the arena as Hsusia’s people clapped and stomped their feet.
“There will be no quarter given.”