by Ono Ekeh
Senaya stretched her back and then crouched to look up into Nouei’s face. The Queen had refused to sit back into a more restful position and so her attendants supported her weight whichever way they could. But regardless of the Queen’s position, she kept of her muttering.
“What’s that?” Senaya asked, pointing at a shadowy figured in the darkened rear of the sanctuary, in the space behind the throne. The attendants looked up and stared as did the guards. In the dark, a tall human figure stood motionless. “Can we illuminate the space?” Senaya asked.
An attendant shook her head. “The lights would be too bright for the Queen.”
Senaya motioned one of her soldiers and walked slowly toward the figure. A few Sybu with lanterns joined them. The space behind throne extended about thirty feet. A row of chairs lined the back wall for priests in service to sit on during rituals. There were no doors on the back wall. There was only one entrance from behind the throne and it was through a door on the other side of the wall, and it was guarded.
As Senaya and the others moved toward the figure, cautiously, the shadows parted and the lanterns cast their light eventually revealing it.
“It’s a statue,” one of the Sybu said. The entire sanctuary fell silent.
Senaya looked around in confusion. How did they all hear him? Her heart pounded and adrenaline shot through her. She stood in front of the statue. It was about eight-feet tall and human in form. The features were in perfect proportion.
“Look at that detail,” Senaya whispered as she rubbed the arm of the statue. “So life-like.”
It was difficult to tell everything about the statue, but it appeared to be made of a black crystalline substance. It was intricately carved so much so that it felt very textured. Its eyes stared outward into the hall. There was recognition in them.
“The Queen wishes to see it,” an attendant called out.
Senaya and her soldiers, along with the Sbyu tried to lift it, but it was too heavy. They tried dragging it but it still wouldn’t budge. After about thirty minutes they gave up.
Panting at all the exertion, Senaya tried to describe it to the Queen, who insisted on hearing every detail about it. When Senaya was done, Queen Nouei sat upright. Her body trembled as she fought to keep herself steady.
“My Queen,” Senaya asked, the whole assembly listening behind her, “what is that statue? It wasn’t here earlier.”
Nouei turned her head slowly, grimacing at every degree. Finally, she said, “It is done. All is written and nothing can be undone. I have won.” She slumped forward again, this time her body fell forward and off the throne. Her attendants caught her just in time before she landed on the floor. Thick fluids drained from her swollen eyes and watery blood dribbled from the side of her mouth as they set her back in the throne and tried to find a comfortable position for her.
It was almost 6 a.m., when she would have to hand over the prisoner to the Commander. She cast her mind through all possibilities she could think of, but there was no way out. She was already in enough trouble as it was. If her future was to be redeemed, if her child was to have a future, she had no choice but to comply.
“CAPTAIN TENADE,” COMMANDER Skene’s voice boomed from the rear of the sanctuary. “How is my prisoner.” He walked up confidently with his entourage of elite soldiers in tow. His was the voice of rested man, one secure in his victory.
Senaya saluted. “Officer on deck!” Her scout force all saluted and remained at attention. Her ceremonial declaration was her attempt to ease the tensions and rescue her and her force from severe punishment for insubordination.
“At ease,” he said as he strolled past her and walked up to Nouei. She stirred slightly but her head hung down and the attendants supported and held her in place. “Get out,” Skene barked at the attendants. They hesitated. Grabbing them one at a time, he pushed them down the steps.
He stalked the top of the platform in full view of everyone. The queen remained a crumpled figure on her throne.
“This,” he pointed at Nouei, “is your god.” He stopped and scanned the hall. “That woman, that withered thing in that throne is your god.” He laughed. “You are the Sybu, wise, learned, respected by all the tribes and races of humanity. How can you be so blind? She is nothing. She is no god. Look at her!”
The hall remained silent. No one so much as stirred. He walked up to Nouei and punched her hard in the stomach and then in the chest. The people gasped and guns clicked active as the soldiers warned the people back.
Senaya’s stomach twisted. Anxiety welled up in her as blood rushed to her face. The queen was already fragile and in desperate need of medical help. Skene was nothing short of cruel.
“There are barely more than twenty human tribes left in the world. The future is bleak. Our planet remains flooded with radiation. Our resources are limited. But it doesn’t have to be so. If we all come together and work together, we can accomplish great things. We can survive. We can thrive. All the southern tribes have united. Our federation is just. We look after the weak among us. I know you sympathize with that. Unlike the Navalese, unlike this imposter, we care for those whose lives may seem to be a burden. Join us. Don’t let devotion to a—”
“They will never abandon me,” a soft, raspy voice spoke. It was Nouei. Cries of joy went up from the crowd in response. Nouei, with deep breaths, pushed herself up until her back was against the backrest. Then further straightened herself until she sat straight. Senaya felt a surge of pride at Nouei’s determination. “I know who you are... you are—”
Skene yelled in rage as he slammed his fist into her face. “You, shut up!” He turned to the crowd. “She is nothing but an imposter. She’s manipulated you with her lies.”
“You will be my slave.” Her voice, though barely a whisper, rang clearly throughout the hall. “I will turn you from Ryna and you will worship at my feet. This will be my victory.”
He laughed. “Imposter, you are chained and I am your captor.”
“You will love me more than life itself,” she said, her voice strengthening. “You will see my beauty and do everything I ask.”
“You are nothing!” He bellowed.
“I am your Lord and you will be my husband and slave and, with you, I will rule this earth.” Her voice carried confidently through the hall.
He grabbed a rifle from one of the guards and pressed its butt on her face, pressing the broken visage against the hard marble throne. She whimpered in pain but didn’t scream. He then held the rifle high as though looking for an area of her body he hadn’t hurt yet. He found it and rammed the thick wooden end into her shoulder. She cried out in pain.
A Sybu man ran through the security line but never made it up the steps. A piercing whir rang out, dropping him to the floor. One of the elite soldiers walked up the dead man and rolled him over with his foot. There was a charred hole in his torso. The soldier looked up at the Commander and nodded, clearly pleased with himself.
“Sir,” Senaya said, trying to keep her voice calm, “we’ll never make headway with them, if we treat them this way.”
“Come here, my dear,” Nouei said to Senaya. Her breaths wheezing out loudly.
Senaya looked at Skene. Seeing no visible reaction, she rushed to the side of the queen and knelt.
“There are two and only two gods,” she whispered. “Lord Ryna and—”
“What is she saying?” Skene spoke loudly, but Nouei didn’t stop.
He raised his fist to hit her again.
“Stop,” Nouei said as she straightened herself. “I cannot be defeated by you or Ryna. She’s sent you to torment me, but I will turn you into my slave and you will serve me forever.” Her words, slurred, came out in spurts. “You will be a testimony to my eternal victory.”
“Shut up!” He dropped the rifle and in a fit of rage pummeled her with blows. Senaya threw herself on Nouei to protect her and screamed in pain as the blows landed on her back. A pair of powerful hands grabbed her by the neck. She threw her
elbow behind, but her captor was too quick. Something hard crashed into her side, it felt like a knee. She fell down coughing, as she tried to catch her breath. Black boots in front of her signaled the presence of one of the elite soldiers. She rolled over and pulled herself up using the throne.
Nouei’s torso hung over the side arm of the throne.
“My Queen, I’m sorry I cannot protect you,” Senaya whispered.
Nouei’s mouth opened and closed and then she found her voice. “I am eternal,” she croaked. “I—” She screamed and her eyes opened wide. Her body jerked and tensed.
Senaya stared at her then up. It was Commander Skene, his hands around the hilt of a knife, whose blade was swallowed up in Nouei’s flesh. His frenzied eyes flashed with rage as he twisted the knife and ripped it out.
“No!” Senaya caught Nouei as she fell forward. Deep red blood gushed from her back. “No, please don’t die.” The Sybu cries filled the hall and the soldiers yelled orders at them.
Nouei’s head jerked up as she tried to mouth words. And then with a barely discernable puff, she was gone. Her gaze now distant and her body limped. She was dead.
A strong grip around her neck forced her up. Senaya stood in front of Commander Skene who regarded her with disdain. “What did she say?”
Senaya swallowed. “You heard what she said. She said nothing... ow!” A blow landed right above her stomach sending spurts of pain through her body.
“She said something before she died. What did she say?”
Senaya closed her eyes and recalled the beautiful face of her Lord, Queen Nouei. Even though it was just seconds ago, her death already felt like an eternity. And Nouei’s last words, though not audible, would forever be a comfort. “She said, it’s too late. She is reborn.”
Epilogue
My daughter will never know what it is to feel the sun beating down on her face. She’ll never feel the wind in her hair, nor will she know the joy of running wild in the fields in play—the grass yielding under her feet. She’s never skip rocks in the creek, or pluck an apple off a tree.
I regret that.
But she’ll never know that I am a coward and an unworthy sinner. For that, I am indeed grateful.
Though my heart fails and fear has trapped my breast in its vice, I shall bear my shackles as honorably as Queen Nouei bore hers. I shall bear my suffering as nobly as she bore hers. My steps toward the gallows are heavy and my confidence has failed me.
But though I cower in dread of the perpetual darkness to come, I find strength in my new family. No, I am not Sybu. I am Jaru. Yet, when the story is told, it will be said that a Jaru woman chose to die with the Sybu race than live without her queen. Perhaps someone someday will recall these deeds—that an entire race there was, that chose to die than live without their god. Perhaps such love and devotion will inspire. Perhaps.
The darkness closes in and my name will soon be called. The charges will be read and I will be extinguished for treason. I am honored to have witnessed the glory of the queen. I am forever marked by the stains of Nouei’s blood on my body and on my soul. I have loved the queen of heaven and earth and I am blessed above all women, for she is the glory of our race, and she died in my arms.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED this short story. The edited and cleaned up version will be available online soon. In the meantime, you can continue with the story of Nouei in The Clay Queen. If you’d like to get regular updates from me through my newsletter, you can sign up for that here.
The first three books of The Children of Clay series are available on Amazon.
Book 1: The Clay Queen
Book 2: Clay to Ashes
Book 3: Icon of Clay
Book 4 is about half way completed.
I anticipate that the series will be 8 books. Books 5 and 6 are already written for the most part. Books 7 and 8 are partially written. So please join me. I’d love to have you along for the ride as I follow Queen Nouei through her reincarnation and we’ll see if she can in fact rewrite history and change her prospects when she returns to this moment.