The New World (The Last Delar) (14 page)

"You now bear the mark of the Hhtuno.  You no longer need to read my pages to hear my voice, for now we are one.  You can summon the Ixkin from your mark when you need to look at its pages.  Before you now is a great quest.  You must regain the allegiance of the Oota-Daboon and reclaim the Len of Ituha before you can sit on the throne of the Hhtuno.  Alone you cannot do this.  You must have a slave to serve you.  Go back to the cave where you were once a captive and find your former master, Puddle.  The bond you share with him is strong, for a slave and his master are always connected.  You must find him and become his master."

"Yes, I understand," says Un-Nabus.

Un-Nabus starts to laugh in triumph. He reaches out his arms.  He slams his staff to the ground, and the darkness swirling around him obeys his every command.  Un-Nabus turns, facing the western wall of the chamber, and taps the floor with his staff.  The dark swirling cloud crashes into the rock, revealing a tunnel.  He lowers his staff and walks through the door.  He turns back to the cave with a twinkling in his black eyes, and the cave begins to collapse.  Once the last stone has fallen, he turns back to the darkness and begins his new journey.

---

A black Hornbill flaps its wings through a cluster of Mangrove trees.  Spotting a sturdy tree, the bird perches on a thick branch.  Shaking its hollow beak and filling large red sacs on its neck with air, the Hornbill bellows loudly.  The noise echoes through the quiet marshland as the morning sun begins to rise.  The Hornbill dives off the tree, opens its large wings, and explodes into a dark cloud.  From inside the darkness walks Un-Nabus, pushing back his hood as he assumes his human form.  Un-Nabus's feet silently slosh through the thick mud searching for a place he has been before.  His dark aura follows his movements as he circles the Mangrove tree. He lowers his head beneath its high roots.  A small puddle has collected under the tree, and Un-Nabus stares at it inquisitively.  Pulling up a sleeve of his dark robe, Un-Nabus catches a glimpse of his marked hand before he waves it over the puddle.  The creatures frantically fight to the surface as their home suffocates them.  Shellfish, crabs, snakes, and lizards wiggle in the muddy water beneath Un-Nabus's hand.

Un-Nabus pulls up his hood and takes on the form of the Hornbill.  The black bird bellows as it flies up toward the trees; it lands on a branch, snaps its large beak, and tucks its head under a wing to rest.  Life in the marshland is slowly beginning to wake from its nightly slumber when the Hornbill snaps its head in the direction of loud splashing.  A small creature, face deep within the mud, grunts and snorts while it dives through the marsh in search of food.  A Muddler's head rises before it shakes the mud from its face.  Un-Nabus can see a large scar across the creature's face.

"Ahhh, no tasties, no pinchers, Puddle so hungry."

Puddle has become a thin, wild-looking creature whose scraggly hair has turned white and thin.  Un-Nabus peers down at the ground where his trap is prepared.  The shellfish, crabs, and other creatures splash and make noise again under Un-Nabus's gaze.

"What? Where?" Puddle shouts as he runs over to the tree in disbelief.

"Good food Puddle has found! Puddle is great hunter! Oh yes!" the Muddler cries as he jumps into the buffet of small critters.

Once Puddle has eaten his fill, he collects what is left and starts the half-day journey back to his cave.  Un-Nabus follows Puddle from the trees, unseen.  At midday, Puddle stops under a tree to take refuge from the sun and rest.  He sets down his gathered food and quickly falls asleep.  Un-Nabus takes this time to hunt and swiftly catches a brown-haired rabbit.  Un-Nabus brings the small animal back to the place where Puddle sleeps. He watches the Muddler from a branch and tears at the flesh of his prey.  After picking at its meal, the Hornbill swoops down and drops what is left of his kill next to Puddle.

Puddle wakes from his midday nap with a full stomach and renewed strength.  He cannot remember the last time he felt so pleased with himself. He starts to collect his food when he is startled to see the half-eaten rabbit lying next to him.  He slowly backs away from the dead animal; Puddle nervously looks around, sensing Un-Nabus's eyes upon him.  Darkness begins to permeate the forest, consuming Puddle with fear.  He runs as fast as his legs will carry him, constantly looking back, stumbling and tripping through the underbrush.  As Puddle runs, he slowly drops all the food he has collected, leaving a trail of shellfish behind him.  The day is fading, and he wants to return to the safety of his cave before dark. Puddle approaches his cave and stops and stares at the forest floor.  He bends down to take a closer look, and his eyes widen as he makes out the imprint on the ground.  He knows the sight and smell of these tracks.

"My cave! NO, NO, NO! Not Puddle's cave," shouts the Muddler as he slams his fists on the ground and slobbers in anger. "Won't let him!" he squeals as he runs down the side of the hill above his cave.  Puddle trips in his haste and rolls down the rest of the way, landing with a loud thud on the ground below.  Crouching on the floor and holding his stomach, Puddle tries to catch his breath.  But before he has time to stand, he hears the hissing and slurping of a long-tooth.  The creature's massive tail waves in the air as it awkwardly crawls toward Puddle.  The lizard's body is all black except for its blood-stained head.  The lizard keeps its face to the ground smelling his surroundings with its long, blue tongue.  The beast's body is covered with scaly armor, and small teeth that contain poisonous saliva protrude from his mouth. The monitor stops licking the ground and raises his head. It has picked up Puddle's scent.  The beast snaps its jaws at Puddle, who is frozen in terror.

"Leave my cave, you nasty beast, or I'll kill you! Leave me alone, PLEASE!" Puddle pleads desperately with the beast, half sobbing, half yelling.

Puddle begins to beg, "Don't eat me, beast.  I will give you the cave, I promise!"

Puddle screams as the forest monitor lunges for his head, ready to devour him.  He cowers, covering his face with his hands.  When Puddle looks up from behind his hands, he sees only darkness.  The monitor is suspended in the air, desperately trying to escape.  It groans as its arms and legs struggle..  The darkness overtakes the creature, and blood stains the forest floor.  The darkness that has embraced the beast disappears, and the lizard drops to the ground.

"Do you fear what is before you, Muddler?" bellows a voice that terrifies Puddle more than the creature that was about to consume him. Puddle scampers away from the voice, but he does not go far.  The darkness that attacked the lizard forms a hand and pins the Muddler against the cave wall.  It raises him off the ground, and Puddle kicks helplessly.

"Don't kill me! What has Puddle done to you?"

"What has he done indeed," says the voice.

Un-Nabus walks out from the shadow and reveals himself to his former master.  Puddle’s body is frozen, a fear so powerful and overwhelming his breath stops as he stares at Un-Nabus.  Puddle looks at the dark one's face but can only see his eyes, and his flesh immediately begins to curl.  Puddle looks away, trying to avoid the dark one's glare.

"Well, Puddle, what do you think I have come for?"

"Not to kill little Puddle . . . he not worth it, he not worthy to be in the dark one's presence.  Puddle thinks the dark one wants something, Puddle will do anything the dark master wishes."

"You are right, worm, but I will give you a choice since your life I now own.  Be my slave until I release you, or begin your journey to the afterlife.  What will it be?"

"Puddle will be dark one's slave! Puddle will do what he is told! He has been a slave before and he can be one again."

Un-Nabus waves his marked hand over Puddle, and the darkness follows.  The darkness surrounds Puddle's back.  Puddle screams in pain and the black mark slowly burns onto his neck.  Un-Nabus laughs as Puddle squirms with tears rolling down his face.

"This black mark will bind you to me, and not until it is gone will you be free." Un-Nabus then releases Puddle from his grip and drops him violently to the ground.

"The name of Puddle has been stripped from you, for you are now a slave of the Hhtuno.  Defy me, and your punishments will be far harsher than the pain you have felt this night.  And there is no escape, for the mark of the Hhtuno will always call to me and betray you.

"Yes, Master, I will serve you without questi-"

"Yes, you will! And if you please me, in the end I will grant you the domain of a grand cave much larger than this one . . . and I will give you the power to keep it.  This I promise for your servitude.  From this night on, Puddle, you will be named 'Gnyok,' 'slave to the shadow.' Now bow and show respect to your new master."

"Yes, thank you, my Lord," Puddle says as he obediently bows to his master.

"Gnyok, we have a long journey ahead of us, but first go back into your cave and bring me a shell."

"Yes, Master," cries Gynok, and he runs into the cave, picking up the first discarded shell he finds.

"Here, Master, Gnyok has done what Master has asked."

Un-Nabus grabs the shell from the Muddler and walks over to the dying lizard.  He drops the shell into a large open wound on the beast.  His shadow then surrounds the lizard, and it roars in pain.  When the darkness lifts, only a mummified carcass remains. Un-Nabus reaches down and picks up the shell that is now stained with the blood of the monitor.  Un-Nabus flips the shell over, admiring the markings, and places the shell into a pocket in his robes.

"We leave now, slave, but before we do -- Un-Nabus turns, points his staff at the opening of the cave, and summons a power that shakes the ground.  Gnyok watches as his dark master destroys his home with a smile.  When the cave has crumbled, Un-Nabus turns and begins his quest followed by his Muddler slave who disappears in his master’s shadow.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Taeau bends over a paw print.  He picks up a small clump of hair, sniffs it, and then looks out into the night.  He grabs his spear and rubs his necklace.  This hunt has taken him far into the plains, and his shoulders ache from carrying Tib.  Taeau looks up at the moon and his silver eyes glimmer. Tib grunts from the satchel he rides in on Taeau’s shoulders.  Taeau takes a deep breath and a few strides before crouching over more tracks.  His ear twitches and he listens to the plains around him.  Tib's head jerks forward and his markings begin to flash.  Taeau hesitates for a moment before breaking out into a sprint.

Taeau breathes heavily, and his necklace shines brighter as he runs faster and faster.  The tall grasses whip against his skin and leave thin lashes across his arms.  He comes to the top of a hill and skids across the dirt as he tries to stop himself.  On a hill across from him stands a figure hidden by darkness.  Taeau raises his spear and points it toward the phantom.  He can see the stranger's arm pointing at him.  Tib screams, he sees a spotted plains cat roar from behind the figure and charge toward them.

Tib wiggles out of the sack on Taeau's back, jumps, and runs off into the distance followed by a trail of bio-light from his markings.  Taeau turns to the beast and runs down the hill.  He plants his feet and slides on the wet soil before leaping into the air.  Soaring high above the cat, he aims his spear and propels it toward the beast.  The spear whistles through the night, striking the cat on the shoulder driving it to the ground.  The beast roars in pain and slides across the plains, falling from the fatal blow.  Taeau lands in a cloud of dust besides the cat and grabs his spear.

Triumphantly, Taeau looks up at the figure, but the phantom has vanished.  Sensing its presence, Taeau spins, turning his spear defensively.  He catches a glimpse of the specter as a flash of darkness knocks him into the air and onto his back.  Coughing from the blow, Taeau gets up quickly and readies himself for the fight.  He groans from the pain in his ribs.  The dark creature lets out a deafening screech before it soars through the air towards him.  Stumbling backwards, Taeau raises his spear to attack.  The wraith grabs his weapon, and Taeau can see its bony fingers scraping the spear and driving it into the void of its body.  Taeau's necklace illuminates the phantom, and he looks into the blackness of the creature. He sees an endless abyss, and his mind begins to lighten.  Mesmerized by the emptiness of the creature, Taeau feels a bitter chill raise the hairs on his neck.  A memory flashes through his mind as he remembers what Alo taught him about damned creatures like this:
"They will try to hypnotize you with their stare as they feed on your soul."
Taeau yells and breaks the standoff, pushing the phantom back.  He digs his feet into the ground and throws his spear at the creature with all his strength.  The spear vanishes into the darkness of the wraith's hood.

The phantom screeches soaring towards Taeau.  Taeau stumbles backwards, defenseless without a weapon.  The specter claws at him with its skeleton hands and cuts his face.  Taeau locks hands with the wraith, and a stark cold starts to cramp his arms.  The frigid touch of the monster nearly consumes him.  Taeau's necklace turns red as he tries to fight the cold.  Fear brings him strength that builds in his arms, and he pushes back against the bones that are digging into his flesh.  His arms ignite in a flaming light fed by his necklace.  The dark creature screeches as the flames grow brighter and stronger until they consume both the specter and the youth.  The screams from the creature painfully ring in Taeau's ears until the wraith explodes into flames, sending Taeau soaring through the air.  He crashes to the ground.