The Alabaster Throne (The Fall of Atlantis Book 1)

by Wilson Harp

  “Do we need a third?”

  “If we have enough wood to keep them going, yes,” Jubaas answered.

  “I’ll go get more. When will the wolves start hunting?”

  “Soon, I would say. It could be the smell of the smoke will keep them from us for a while, but I want the fires bright. The light more than anything will keep them away.”

  The light from the fire called to Tal, but he knew they would need more wood to keep three fires lit until morning. He headed out for a third armful of fuel.

  He had just found a sizable branch under a bush when he heard something move. He stayed crouched and readied himself to throw the branches in his left arm when he heard it again. It was a good sized animal and moved slow. Every step seemed to bring it closer.

  “Tal!”

  The animal darted off as Siande’s voice cut through the darkness.

  Tal pulled the branch from under the bush and hurried back to camp.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked as he approached the bright lights of the fires. “Wolves?”

  “No, it’s Meleus,” she said. “Daelcor brought him back.”

  Meleus lay near one of the fires. Daelcor examined his wound as he shook his head.

  “He never said anything all day,” Daelcor said as Tal approached.

  “What happened?”

  “We were gathering wood when I stopped hearing him move around. I called to him, but there was no answer. I found him on the ground when I went to look.”

  “Look how pale he is,” said Siande.

  “He has a fever and the wound is festering,” Daelcor said.

  “What can we do?” Tal asked.

  Daelcor looked at the prince and shook his head. “Get him to the temple. Otherwise he will die.”

  “We can’t move tonight.”

  “No, but we must get him there in the next few days. And he can’t carry anything at all. His body will give out before his sense of duty, so you must make it a command, Tal. He can’t exert himself more than a walk.”

  Tal nodded. “We still need more wood. Jubaas and I will go gather it. You tend to Meleus and Siande can tend the fires.”

  A wolf howled nearby. It was in the direction which Tal had been.

  “Be careful out there,” Daelcor said. “The gods are angry.”

  “At me.”

  “No, I don’t think so, Tal. And neither did Anicus. There’s something happening, though, so we must stay aware of events around us.”

  Tal thought of this as he and Jubaas left the safety of the light to gather wood. They stayed together for safety, and comfort.

  “I think the priest is wrong, my prince. I think you have angered the gods in some way.”

  Tal wondered if Jubaas knew of the eagle. “How would I have angered them?”

  “You were to have died in battle. I think somehow their plans were thwarted. Then you were to have been found by the rider headed to the shrine. But through circumstance, you avoided that as well. Perhaps the prophet saw how angry the gods were at you and what kind of vengeance they would take. Maybe his vision drove him mad.”

  “I don’t know what drove him mad, but his answers were from the gods and I don’t think they would have answered if they were angry with me.”

  “We may never know the will of the gods,” said Jubaas. “But I know they are careless with our lives. They care only for their own plots and desires.”

  “Be that as it may, I will still make sacrifices and prayers to Hondre when we get Meleus to Mestor.”

  “If the wolves attack, he will be taken before the girl. You know that.”

  “I know, which is why we need to keep the fires bright tonight.”

  When they returned to camp, Siande had food prepared for them and the wood stacked up near each of the fires while Dalecor had covered Meleus with a blanket and recited prayers over him.

  Tal took first watch through the night as the others slept. When Jubaas woke to take his watch. Tal fell asleep and hoped he would see the man in his dream. But he didn’t. He dreamed of the prophet, he dreamed of Meleus and the others dying in the woods. And he dreamed of a wolf, a wolf which pursued him, a wolf which would consume him.

  Chapter 13

  The next morning was calm in the forest. The threat of the wolves disappeared when the sun lightened the sky, and soon the sound of birds met the small group. Tal was relieved to hear the birds, they had been silent the day before and the absence of their songs made the day even more dreary.

  “I can at least carry my own food,” Meleus said.

  “No, you have your spear to use as a walking staff, but nothing else. Not even a skin for water,” Daelcor said.

  “Listen to him,” said Tal. “I’ll not have you lost to me, not out here. Not now. I’ll need you in the days ahead, and that means you must grow stronger.”

  Meleus gave his small pack and waterskin to Tal. “I’ll just walk, though it hardly seems right.”

  “What are you looking at,” Siande asked Jubaas.

  “Come and see,” he said as he pointed in the distance.

  The clouds had broken since they left their camp, and Jubaas had led them to a rocky slope which looked out over the east. Below them, they could see the road they had travelled up to the shrine, but Jubaas stared toward the north, past where they had come.

  Tal looked to where Jubaas pointed. A thick cloud of smoke towered in the sky in the far distance.

  “How far away is that?” Daelcor asked.

  “I have no idea, but it is well past the shrine. Days past I would think.”

  “It’s massive. What kind of fire could be that big?” asked Shiande.

  “Tumat taught you,” Meleus said. “A mountain is on fire. If you go near, it will burn you to ashes. Tumat said there were several on the islands in the inner sea.”

  “But the gods never cursed Atlantis by setting a mountain on fire,” said Siande.

  “A bad omen,” said Jubaas. “Let’s put our back to it and keep going.”

  It was mid-morning when Jubaas called a halt to their walk. He motioned them to silence and then slipped ahead. A few minute later he returned.

  “We’ve found the trail I’ve been looking for. This will lead us to straight to Folsit.”

  “How long?” Tal asked.

  “We will be there by noon tomorrow.”

  Tal looked at Daelcor.

  “It’ll be soon enough,” the priest said. “And the trail will be easier for all of us.”

  The sun had come out and the wind was gentle. Tal tried to forget about the shrine and just focus on getting to Mestor. Daelcor had made it clear even the priests at the temple might not save Meleus, but without their aid, he had just a few days before the poison in his wound spread.

  The trail was a faint footpath which hunters used to traverse the rough mountainside, but it was much easier to walk on than trying to pick a path through brambles, fallen trees, and rocks.

  Thoughts clashed in Tal’s mind, and his desire to see Meleus safe was tempered by the knowledge which he brought to his father. He wondered how he would explain to Siande what he knew of her father. He cringed as he thought of the pain in her eyes and the anger and hatred she would feel for him. He was devastated for his father, who had held Praset in a place of high honor and esteem for decades, even as he knew the general bedded the queen.

  Tal was angry as well. Angry he had been betrayed to his death. Angry he had shared his glory with the man who, that very day, had tried to kill him. If he hadn’t allowed Praset to share in the charge…

  But he hadn’t allowed him to share in the charge, he had ordered Praset to the position of honor. If he hadn’t, Praset would have been directly behind him in the charge. Brotin would have had the opportunity to shoot him in the back just like Galius was killed.

  A new fire raged in Tal. He was furious at Praset. He was angry at the betrayals, the murders, and yes, he was angry about how Siande would be affected.

  Someone t
ouched his hand and he jerked his arm away.

  “I’m sorry,” Siande said.

  “Oh,” he said. “I didn’t… what can I do for you?”

  “You looked upset and I was going to talk with you. But if you don’t want me to, I’ll continue on in silence.”

  Tal smiled at her. His heart ached as he knew she would soon no longer wish to hold his hand and talk.

  “I’ll always talk with you.”

  “Then why have you not? It’s been two nights since your meeting with the prophet, and you haven’t given me the answer. Didn’t you ask him?”

  “I did ask him, and he said you were not cursed.”

  “What else did he say?”

  “He said you would be blessed for what you bring forth.”

  “Blessed? He really said that?”

  Tal nodded. “He did.”

  “But why couldn’t you tell me? Was the rest of it so awful you couldn’t find the time to set my mind at ease?”

  Tal took her hand and smiled at her. “I just wanted to tell you when we were both at ease. We haven’t had the chance.”

  The tender moment was broken by the sound of a howl.

  Tal pulled Siande to him as they both stopped.

  “It’s ahead of us,” Daelcor said.

  “We’ll have to fight them,” Meleus said. “They’ve come for us in the daytime.”

  “Stay here,” said Jubaas. “I’ll be back.”

  “What will be do?” asked Siande as they watched Jubaas run ahead of them.

  “We’ll wait here and see what Jubaas says when he returns. He knows this land well,” Tal said. He scanned the area for a defensible position even as he spoke, but he didn’t see any place which would provide protection.

  The wind brought the howls and yips with it, and Tal realized the wolves were not as close as he feared. It was several minutes before Jubaas returned.

  “Stay here,” he said. “Rest and relax, they will leave soon, and I don’t believe they will come this way. Prince Taldirun, would you join me? I think you will want to see this.”

  Tal followed Jubaas up the trail.

  “Why just me?”

  “This is interesting,” Jubaas said. “I know Meleus could use some time to rest, though he won’t say it, Daelcor wouldn’t be interested, and you wouldn’t want to put Siande in any more danger than needed.”

  “What are we going to see?”

  “Talk softly, we are going to go watch some wolves.”

  “Why? What are they doing?”

  Jubaas motioned him to silence and slowed his pace. He crouched low and crept up to some trees which screened a clearing. Then Tal saw two big bears at the far end of the clearing and about twelve wolves which fed on and circled a large dead bull. It was much bigger than the cattle the farmers kept in their herds, and Tal liked the strong taste. His father always had wild bull roasted for any major festival. Three were roasted for Tal’s victory just a few weeks before.

  “The wolves killed the bull last night in their hunt. They will stay here and eat on it for a few days. The bears smelled the kill and have come in to try and take it for themselves,” Jubaas whispered.

  “The bears are bigger than the wolves, why don’t they take it and drive the wolves off?”

  “They keep trying, but watch and see.”

  Six wolves ate at the bull while four others lay in the grass between the kill and the bears. One wolf sat on a rock near the end of the clearing, and on the ground at the base another wolf sat next to a wolf which lay still.

  “Is that wolf dead?” Tal asked.

  Jubaas shook his head. “No, if it were dead, they wouldn’t protect it.”

  Tal saw one of the wolves tear off a piece of the bull and take it to the injured wolf. He dropped the meat and danced back to his feast.

  “That’s amazing. I never thought wolves would take care of an injured wolf.”

  “The wolves act as a pack, and all of their choices are to make the pack better. The one on the rock is the one in charge. He ate first, and now he watches for more danger to the others.”

  The bears started moving toward the bull, both moved in different directions, though.

  “They are splitting the wolves up.”

  “Trying to. If there were a few less wolves they might do it, but watch.”

  The four wolves who laid in the grass bounded up and raced toward the bears, two at each. They snapped at and barked at each of the bears from two different directions. Two of the wolves who ate at the bull dashed off to the side of the clearing into some trees. A few seconds later they appeared behind the bears and snapped at the back of their legs. One of the bears swung close to one of the wolves, but was bit on the arm for his efforts. A loud growl from the bear and responding yips and barks from the wolves sounded ferocious, but none of the animals seemed injured.

  A wolf was then hit and flipped into the air. A howl pierced the air in response as the large wolf on the rock stood and expressed his displeasure. The other four wolves who ravaged the carcass left their meal and charged at the bears. Faced with almost twice the number of wolves, the bears turned and ran from the clearing.

  The wolf which had been hit gained his feet and came over to the lead wolf. They touched noses and the wolves returned to their feast. The large wolf sat back down on the rock as his pack gorged themselves.

  “Let’s go,” said Jubaas. “We’ve seen enough.”

  Tal stepped back and a branch snapped loudly. He froze as the large wolf looked directly at him and stood.

  “Don’t move,” whispered Jubaas.

  Tal stayed still as the wolf loped over toward where he was hidden. As the wolf approached the edge of the clearing, it sniffed and dropped its ears back.

  Tal saw it scan the woods until it locked eyes with his. The wolf stopped and stared at Tal, a deep growl started deep in its throat. Tal knew he should be afraid, wolves were savage predators and could kill in an instant, but Tal met its stare with resolve and stood up straight.

  The wolf’s ears stood up and the wolf sniffed the air again. Its mouth dropped open and its tongue came out. It yipped at him as it turned back to its pack, reaching the carcass they feasted on in three long leaps.

  “Let’s go,” said Jubaas.

  Tal backed away from the clearing. He watched the big wolf, but it never turned to look at him. When he reached the trail, he let out a deep breath.

  “See? The gods must not be that angry with you. He could have killed both of us alone.”

  “He was majestic,” said Tal. “He was more regal than my father when he sits on the throne with the crown on his head. Why didn’t he attack us?”

  “We weren’t a threat to him, his pack, or their food. And he wasn’t hungry.”

  “I thought they would have killed just to kill.”

  “Not wolves. Not when they are part of a pack, anyway.”

  They reached the others and told them they needed to be quiet as they went past where the wolves rested and ate. The woods which separated the trail and the pack of wolves wasn’t wide, but it did screen the sight and smell of the group of travelers as they passed. Sated by the bull and with no sense of threat, the wolves didn’t come close. But Tal and the others watched the trees as if a wolf would appear at any moment.

  “Did you really look into his eyes?” Siande asked after they had walked another hour,

  “Yes, and he stared into mine.”

  “What did he look like?

  “He had golden eyes and his fur was silver and grey, except for his nose and feet, which were black as night. He was massive, if he stood next to me, his back would come to my waist and the top of his head would have come near my chin.”

  Siande shuddered as she listened. One of the things her father was famous for was his collection of wolf skins, but none of them were as big as the wolf Tal described.

  “He was beautiful and terrifying,” Tal said. “And to watch the pack was amazing. They fought and acted like
a single creature. An individual wolf could kill a man, but a pack… I understand why they’re feared and cursed by those who keep flocks. They could kill everything in a pasture, men and sheep alike, in a few minutes.”

  “You sound impressed by them,” said Daelcor.

  “I am. If I could get troops to move that smoothly, if I could get my chariots, spears and bowmen to be that responsive, there would be no army in Atlantis which could defeat Mestor.”

  “The wolf pack of Mestor!” said Daelcor. “And you would be their wolf king.”

  “Just don’t end up as a decoration on a wall,” said Siande. “Or as a coat.”

  “You wouldn’t want me to keep you warm?” Tal teased Siande.

  She blushed and looked away. “I’m going to be in enough trouble when I have to face my mother again.”

  “What will you tell her?”

  “I had something personal to do with some friends and I’m old enough not to tell her everything.”

  “Will it satisfy her?”

  “No, nor my father, but they don’t approve of me anyway. Nothing I do will please them.”

  “What will they do?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe they will send me to Binta, my father’s sister. She has a well-deserved reputation for severity. Otherwise, maybe they will try to arrange for a husband to settle me down.”

  Tal frowned as she spoke. Once he revealed the words of the prophet to his father, there was no chance Siande would stay in Mestor. Praset would be arrested and executed and his household would be banished in disgrace. He needed to find a way to keep Siande from that fate.

  “Don’t you worry, my prince,” she said. “Maybe your word will temper my parent’s response. If you give them the right word.”

  It was Tal’s turn to blush. She was right, if he took her for his consort, her parents would be relieved she was well taken care of. And that might have been a solution if her father wasn’t to face execution as a traitor within a few days.

  They slept that night in a small shelter hunters from Folsit used. It was stocked with wood and Jubaas explained it was good manners to restock it for the next visitors. Tal was weary, but he and Jubaas brought back more wood than they burned for their fire that night. Jubaas was happy to reach the shelter, it was just a few hours from the town, and by the next day the farmlands of Mestor, including his mother’s house, would be in sight. Tal and the others would arrive in Mestor late in the evening, and that meant Meleus would be able to sleep in the temple, surrounded by priests and their rituals, in just one more night.