by Laura Abudo
Chapter 7
Revenge
“What is this??” Vunn screeched, staring through the arch.
Caris jumped at his outburst. She knelt down in front of the Well, watching the scene before her. She had heard her. Finally. It was satisfying. The desperation was forced, but now that the initial deed was done they could relax and explore and have fun. Caris watched as Pearl allowed her man to love her. Finally.
“This isn’t over!” he shouted.
“They are mine,” she told him. “Leave them alone. You said if she could resist you that would be it.”
“No, now I get to rip their hearts out.”
“Leave them alone,” she told him. “They are too busy with each other to care about us.”
“We’ll see.”
“Do you mind?” she snarled at him, as he stepped in front of her. “I want to get some enjoyment out of them before you destroy them. She’s about to learn what he can do for her.”
“I’ll let you watch,” he said stepping aside, his own arousal evident. “Then you can please me.”
Caris cried inwardly as she watched the little one in love. She moved with her man in a way Caris could only imagine. Vunn was brutal, careless. Their labored breathing became cries as her man pleased her flesh with his mouth and hands. She rejoiced as her little one became a woman shuddering in his strong arms. He kissed her so gently. A tear fell from Caris’ eye.
And she grew angry. So much hatred. She turned her attention to Vunn, who stood watching the two with a look of disgust as he adjusted his wrap, waiting for her. She moved to stand in front of him, to block his view, her arms crossed in defiance. This was her private world. These were her protégés, her children. He had no right to play with them.
“He wants her again. Move.”
“No,” she said.
Vunn grabbed her arm to move her but she stood firmly. The giggling girl behind her just strengthened her. He raised his hand to strike but Caris pushed him backward with an unseen pressure. She pushed him down, battering his chest with unseen hands. He stared at her, unable to move.
“Now,” she said. “Do you see how they do that? That is what I am going to have. I will use your body to get what they have.”
And with a renewed sense of self, of revenge and hatred she took him. By force. She would pay for it. But it was worth it to see him struggle and gain some humility. He’d taken so much from her, her dignity. And it bought them some time.
Ten Siri rode in first. They were brought into the war room to meet with Fredrick and Pearl before the others were called. They were welcomed as friends and offered refreshments after their long ride.
“Your Majesty,” the leader, Laren, began, “The Kusira have approached us unarmed. They asked us to bring them here to you for help. To Lady Doran.”
“To me?” Pearl asked.
“Yes, Lady. They say they need your help.”
Fredrick looked at her curiously. “How many are with you?”
“Fifty three of their covered Sisters. Another twenty or so servants.”
“And the rest are Siri?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We felt a strong guard would be best without knowing their intentions.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“There have been no storms, no loss of control. They are humble and forthcoming though say only they must come to Lady Pearl.”
“We will meet with them,” Pearl told him. “But to have all fifty three in the castle is unwise.”
“Agreed,” Laren said. “I will bring their leaders only. The others will remain under guard.”
Fredrick stood to issue orders to the page at the doors. Pearl told him to have them set up at the fields, no sense keeping them in the middle of the city waiting for word, causing panic. She straightened her robes and adjusted her hatchet as the Siri departed. Fredrick smiled at her.
“They are to see me?” she whispered, looking nervous.
He put a supportive hand on her shoulder as Marshalls started to trickle in and generals sent word they were on their way. Coral entered the doors, leaving Darius with a page to find his nanny they used when she was on business. Pearl waved her over.
“Something is wrong,” she told Coral in whispers. “With the goddess.”
Coral leaned in close. “What’s happened?”
“I need you to go to her. See if…find out what’s happening.”
“I will,” Coral told her, nodding.
“She wed us,” Pearl told her friend. “She wed us in about three seconds and said we had no time. And she forced us together.”
Coral looked at her concerned. “You are okay?”
Pearl smiled and looked to Fredrick, who was welcoming his people. “I’m fine. I’m happy. But you need to go to her.”
Coral nodded. “I’ll leave Amias here with you?”
“Yes, please. Take…Glory.”
Coral curtsied and whispered, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Pearl gasped at her friend’s humor. The woman turned with a chuckle and rushed from the room signaling for Lady Glory to be called.
Tomas paced, glowering. He looked down at the empty gardens from his father’s library window. She hadn’t given in. She hadn’t come back. Instead she was with his brother, that child who cared more about his horses and dogs than anything else.
And now that witch, the god-smiter, had moved into his mother’s rooms and probably shared his father’s bed to get his crown. It belonged to him. It wasn’t hers to take. She would outlive his father, she would take control and he would be left to die still a prince with no crown. And if his brother had anything to do with it, he’d be left with no wife and heir either. They were taking the kingdom away from his father and him, they would destroy everything.
Jimm stood in the doorway and called, “The Kusira are here. I’m going to the north fields to see if you want to join me.”
Tomas didn’t answer. Jimm left him there to pout. He’d been pouting so much lately Jimm was relieved his brother didn’t want to go. He walked away, excited to go see the Siri and Kusira.
Four Kusira women walked in amid a circle of Siri guards. They were tall and slender covered head to foot in pale grey robes of soft fabric. All four lowered to their knees in front of King Fredrick and Pearl.
“Rise,” the King told them. “Welcome to Danyc.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” one said to him, “We thank you for allowing us to see you.”
“We were surprised to hear you were coming,” Pearl told her. “We have had little word from Kusira in almost five years.”
The woman nodded. “I am the high priestess of our faith. My name is Kubetha. Like you, we are faithful. I am sorry to say that the battle you fought six years ago was created at the hands of a very wicked god. We have been ashamed of our actions.”
“We met him,” Pearl told her.
“Of course,” the priestess said, nodding. “Our visit is one of a divine nature. It is not military or trade. We seek your help, god-smiter.”
“We are willing to hear you,” Pearl told her.
She looked around at all the people surrounding them, the armed guards, the Marshalls, military officers, and then back at Pearl. “These are matters of faith and the heart, not the sword.”
Pearl nodded. She asked the army leaders and the Siri to step out, at the protest of one of the generals. The others stood with him, demanding to stay. The Siri backed out without delay.
Pearl looked at the men coldly and Fredrick moved to her side. “You will obey the queen,” he told them gruffly.
The men looked from Fredrick to Pearl, bowed and left with no further question. The Marshalls looked from one to another in surprise and with a motion from Amias they started to go.
“No, you stay. You are disciples as much as I or she is,” she told them. To the priestess she said, “They have entered the Well with me. They are with us.”
“Your Majesty,” the priestess began and Pearl made a face that m
ade Fredrick chuckle. “There is something wrong with the gods.”
“That is a common theme,” Fredrick said quietly and she looked at him with curiosity. He waved her to continue as he took a seat. Everyone else decided to sit as well.
“When you relieved us of Vunn,” she said. “We were then cared for by two others. Very peaceful, pleasant gods. They helped me rebuild, showed me how to bring Kusira to the faith again. Vunn had destroyed everything.”
“Tell me about him,” Pearl said. “He wasn’t like the others.”
“No, I just remember the filth of him. He controlled us, he gave us magic to destroy, filled our hearts with jealousy, anger, fear and the thirst for power over others. You experienced that, I believe.”
“Yes,” she said. “We all met the Sisters he sent to tear us apart.”
“When you dispatched him we were freed. The others came but then…”
“What has happened?” Pearl asked, getting uneasy.
“They are gone. They don’t speak to me. The Well is empty.”
Pearl sat silently taking in the information. The Marshalls waited. Amias, from the back of the room said, “I’ve been to our gods recently. The goddess was there, one other spoke.”
“What was their world like?” Pearl asked the priestess. “Who were the new gods?”
“Vunn’s world was mud, sickening mud. These two had a pale blue haze. It was hard to see them but they were there, in the haze.”
Pearl and Amias exchanged looks. So the gods had worlds to communicate with their people. Theirs was the grey world where the gods appeared opaque. The eight other gods and goddesses stood around the soothing voiced goddess, very few spoke or moved.
“They never shared their names with us,” Pearl said.
“Who is it who speaks with you, Your Majesty.”
“She is a beautiful goddess with a sweet voice.”
“Caris,” the woman breathed. “She is like a queen or a general. She oversees the others. She is not better or more powerful but she is wise and capable.”
“Like you,” Fredrick whispered to Pearl with mischief in his eyes.
She ignored his comment, almost, and said, “I suspected something was wrong. I sent someone to see…But, priestess, what else can I help with?”
The woman shifted uncomfortably. “We want you to come with us to Kusira. Be our leader. Speak to the gods for us. Find out where they’ve gone. We need you.”
Fredrick bristled at the suggestion. He shook his head intently. “She is not going.”
Pearl smiled at the woman. “I will do what I can from here. But like the King just said, I can’t go.”
“We weren’t aware of your station,” the woman said. “That you were queen, I apologize. That is asking too much.”
Coral slipped into the war room with Glory behind her. Both women were pale and looked shaken. Pearl waved them forward. Coral called out as she approached, “Amias, get Darius. Now. We need him now.”
Amias ran out. Coral’s tone frightened everyone. To Pearl she said, “Something is very wrong.”
Caris watched as her little one spoke to her new husband before the others joined them for a meeting. Caris shifted her weight. She felt bruised and sore. Vunn had not been forgiving. He’d assaulted her with a vengeance.
Coral had left the meeting. Caris watched her search for the young Glory and together they suddenly appeared before her. Caris nervously stared at them. Coral looked around carefully at the other gods surrounding them. Caris didn’t have the pleasant look on her face she usually wore.
“Goddess,” Coral said quietly.
“Yes.”
Coral whispered, “Is something wrong?”
The goddess nodded sadly.
“Do you need help?” Glory asked, looking around them but not seeing anything in the grayness.
The goddess’ eyes bore into Coral’s. She mouthed the word, “Yes.”
“How?”
In the arch appeared the image of Darius, laughing and playing. The goddess emptied the arch and sent them sliding back to the corridor in the castle they’d come from. As they steadied themselves they both heard Vunn.
Tomas raged. A guard found him in the gardens with a sword, hacking at plants and trees with such anger the man wouldn’t get near him. A bell was sounded in the hallway outside the war room, startling everyone inside.
“Stay, please,” the King ordered, waving to a page to find out what the alarm was.
Coral had just finished telling the war room about the meeting she’d had with the goddess. The priestess shook visibly when she said the word, “Vunn.”
Pearl whispered the name. “How?” she asked. “We killed him.”
“Is that who Vunn is?” Coral cried. “The goddess looked scared…the gods were all like statues. None of them looked…”
“Dead,” Glory said. “They all looked dead or like shells.”
The high priestess and the other three cried almost silently. Pearl tried to think how Darius could help. He was just a little boy. Why did she say Darius could help them with Vunn?
The page returned, running to the table to hand the King a note. He jumped up, startling Pearl, and ran through the door to his library. Pearl followed, calling to him. The page whispered to Glory that Tomas was in the gardens fighting with guards so she left. The others followed, leaving the Kusira women with the guards.
When his father walked into the gardens Tomas screamed. Pearl approached cautiously. Tomas looked at her like he would murder her with his spit if he could. Others appeared around them.
“Tomas, put the sword down,” his father told him, standing tall with a scowl on his face. “You are destroying the gardens.”
“No,” he roared. “These are my gardens. My mother’s gardens.”
“They are my gardens,” Fredrick demanded, stepping forward. “Put the sword down.”
Tomas glared around at everyone. Pearl became the focus of his attention. “That witch is taking everything,” he shouted. “She has mother’s rooms. She will have your crown next! She already has your knockers!”
Fredrick’s face turned red in anger. The Marshalls spread out around him. Amias came to protect Pearl from the verbal onslaught by standing in front of her looking menacing.
“She has her own little army. She’s taking everything from you!” Tomas cried out. Pointing at Glory off to the side he yelled, “And she almost had that one beat me to submission.”
“That’s not Tomas,” Pearl said, touching Fredrick’s arm. “It’s not him.”
Coral stepped forward. “Vunn,” she yelled, looking around them. “You cannot have him. Leave us.”
Tomas raged again, swinging his sword. Amias rushed forward to pull Coral back from harm. Guards tried to get close but his arms swung at everything that moved. He screamed and yelled at them all as they stared.
Jimm came running in from a side entrance. Tomas glared at him. Jimm smiled and walked forward. “Tomas, what are you playing at? Drop it.”
Tomas backed up. Pearl moved over to motion for Glory to come to her, to come away from Jimm and Tomas. Tomas noticed her and yelled, “You were mine! And now you go to him. You are my queen not his!”
Glory stood up straight and tall, faced him and walked forward out of Pearl’s grasp. “You are a pitiful excuse for a god,” she spat, advancing on Tomas. “You don’t even have the knockers to come and face us yourself. You need to go through a weak child. Oh, that’s right, you don’t have any knockers.”
Tomas reared up, and while howling at her, took a huge swing. Jimm jumped forward crying out to Glory and fell, blood splashing over the ground and Glory’s dress amid screams. Tomas kept swinging, lunging for Glory and Pearl, who had grabbed her around the waist.
“No,” bellowed Fredrick, his hand extended toward his oldest son. Tomas flew backward. His back hit a tree with a horrible crack and thud.
Fredrick fell to his knees not fully aware what he had done. Pearl grabbed him, crying.
Glory rushed to Jimm, shouting orders to get a physician, tears running down her face. She used her skirts to stop the bleeding across his back and arm. Glory searched the chaos around her.
“Coral,” she shouted. “Coral, Amias.”
Amias stepped forward. “She’s getting Darius,” he yelled in the noise around them.
“Get the high priestess, Kubetha,” she needs to come with us.
Tomas’ body was removed from the gardens by the Marshalls and passed off to guards. They waited for the physician and his aides then from the corner of the garden, among some sweet blossoms, Darius took them all to their secret world on the Doran estate.
The priestess Kubetha cried out and fell to her knees. “What is this child?” she sobbed, touching Darius’ face.
Coral rushed over to the arch. “Darius, can you look at our goddess? In the grey?”
“I don’t know,” he said, “I never tried. I don’t like it there.”
“Try now.”
And there he was. Vunn stood shouting at Caris. She cowered as his hand came up to strike her. In the gods’ arch they saw the garden.
“They can’t see us here!” Amias said.
Vunn’s verbal and physical assault on Caris made their hearts cry out. She had always helped them and been so kind. This beast was destroying her. He had destroyed the others. Coral turned Darius away quickly when Vunn forced Caris onto her knees in front of him. She pushed Darius into the open arms of Fredrick and she spun in fury. Concentrating with all her power Coral stared through the arch. She pushed Vunn so hard he fell out of view. She yanked, with all her strength on Caris. Her image blurred, sliding sideways then came into view standing with them, in full colour.