Warden (Blade Asunder Book 3) (8 page)

A female Akkedis came to take them to the meeting with their Empress, but first they were all led to a chamber with many heated baths. It seemed a custom to bathe before an audience with the Empress. The cavern smelled strongly of sulphur. Guards stood around one empty bath, but the others contained many Akkedis, washing themselves.

“This place stinks.” Hendon was first to speak, though he said it quietly. It would not do to upset all the Akkedis that surrounded them.

“I will explain to them our etiquette with regards to human bathing,” Ganry said to Myriam. “It seems that the Akkedis do not differentiate their females from the males. I will see if I can obtain a private bathing area for you.”

“No, Ganry,” Myriam stopped him. ”I feel this is a test of my resolve. Let us make the most of this hot, bubbling water and bathe together. We are all friends, and I am sure you will divert your eyes at the appropriate moments.” She smiled at Ganry for his thoughtfulness.

The hot spa was refreshing on her naked skin and she felt cleaned. If this was some ploy by Ghaffar, then it had backfired on him. It seemed the little man was becoming more daring. It would only be a matter of time before they would be treated as prisoners and no longer guests. She took her time in the hot spa to think on her present situation. Soon, it would be time to act and make their escape, but could they take the Duchess with them?

***

“Your Queen and all of you are in danger,” Perseus informed Ganry as they bathed in the hot pool.

“I knew that the minute we set off.” Ganry was not surprised at Perseus’s words of warning. “What I do not know is what your part is in this, Perseus, because I do not believe it to be that of a guide.”

“I am sworn to protect your Queen and the Duchess, and I am not your enemy, Ganry, of that you can be certain. But I fear it may be too late for the Duchess.” Perseus did not wish to explain his role. What these human’s did not know, they could not repeat. It was better that way.

“Do you know what ails the Duchess?”

Perseus knew very well what ailed the Duchess, but could not divulge this information for fear of jeopardizing his own plans.

“We should ask the Lizard Empress if the Duchess can be moved to her granddaughter’s room. She no longer serves a purpose for the Akkedis in her present state, so I think she will agree to this,” Perseus said. He knew they had almost drained the Duchess dry of her blood juices, and she was very close to death. “Convince the Akkedis Empress that if the Duchess rests with those who she loves, she will make a full recovery and will soon be fit again. This will please the Empress.”

He knew that this would build up her blood supply once again, but the Akkedis seemed unaware that all they needed to do was let the patient rest in between sessions. If he could get them to convey this message to the Akkedis, it may buy the Duchess some time.

“Whatever do you mean, Perseus?” Myriam had been slowly moving over towards the men, hiding her modesty beneath the water. “Are you saying that my grandmother was serving some sort of purpose for the Akkedis?” Myriam was confused at his words.

“Blood!” Linz whispered as he waded through the water in their direction. “The Rooggaru fed from my uncle’s blood. That is how the Akkedis feed.”

“Are you saying that Ghaffar is taking my grandmother’s blood?” Myriam gasped.

“That puts us all in danger then. We’ve all got a good supply,” Hendon said as he also moved closer to the group.

Ganry pointed out the obvious. “In case you have not already noticed, my dear Hendon, we are already in danger and have been ever since we came to this city.”

“That’s what I dreamed about, I remember now,” Myriam recalled. “My necklace stopped them from taking my blood, that’s why it burned at my skin, to warn me.”

“You mean they were in your room?” Ganry was angry with the Akkedis, but more angry with himself as he had checked that room for secret passages. “They did not enter through the door, so there must be another way into your chamber. Tonight, we swap rooms. I’ll be interested to see who’s paying you a visit in your sleep.”

The female Akkedis, Arriba, appeared at the edge of the pool. She again was allocated to the humans.

“It is time,” she said to them. “The Empress is ready to receive you.” She bowed her head.

“Listen,” Ganry addressed the group. “We most not let them know we are aware of this. We are not yet ready to face them down.”

Despite his calm words, Ganry was furious with the Akkedis, angry that they had kidnapped the Duchess, but even more angry that they threatened Myriam. He may be urging caution now, but one day in the not too distant future, these lizards would pay a heavy price for their treachery, and Ganry would personally see to it.

They all nodded their agreement before leaving the baths.

None of the menfolk seemed to be aware that they had climbed from the pool naked, but Myriam stayed in the water. Whilst she had managed to get into the pool, she was now suddenly self conscious of her nakedness. Linz approached the edge of the water with a towel, grateful that these creatures used such things.

“It seems the Akkedis Empress wants us cleaned up before she eats us for dinner,” Linz joked.

Myriam could not see the funny side of his jest. It was just a little too close to the truth.

The Queen’s party were led into a new area of the caves, one that they had not seen before. Though it was hard to tell one stone passageway from another, this new area was better lit and had fresher air to breath.

Led into a huge chamber, they all stared in wonder at the glittering walls of crystals. Many rare stones came from these regions so it was not a surprise to see them, but the wall was covered in a shimmering glow of twinkling rainbow colors. It was magnificent.

The tall vaulted ceiling rose so high above them that they could not see where the walls ended. In the center of the chamber on a raised bejeweled dais, sat the Akkedis ruler, Empress Gishja, overlooking her subjects.

This truly was a royal chamber, Myriam thought, and the Empress was a frightening sight for any human. Her scaled body shone with an almost luminous green. The form of her body was eerily human shaped, only more that of a bent old person with a permanently misshaped backbone. The lumpy bone was clearly visible through her thick scaled skin before it merged into a thick, long snake-like tail.

Her feet and hands were adorned with long sharp claws. But it was the face that unnerved Myriam the most. It looked cruel and unfriendly, with wide yellow eyes that never seemed to blink. Her head had high protruding cheekbones adorned with wiry hair, plaited into straight vertical lines. The little pointed chin mimicked a human face, a cruel face, one that had never shown any mercy.

Ghaffar appeared at the side of his Empress and spoke to the new arrivals. “Empress Gishja welcomes the humans into her city, and hopes that they will repay her kindness of saving the human Duchess. What do you offer our Empress for such generosity?” he asked, directing his look at Myriam.

“I cannot know what riches the great Empress Gishja is in need of,” Myriam replied. “If my grandmother is allowed to come and share my chamber, where I can care for her, she will soon recover fully and we will not burden the Akkedis Empress with our presence much longer. When I return to my Kingdom, I can send forth any payment the Empress would consider suitable.”

“What if the payment I require is more than you can afford, human Queen?” Gishja hissed.

“You cannot know this until you name your price, Empress Gishja.” Myriam would show no fear, as this she had been well trained for. “I value my grandmother dearly and I am willing to reward you richly for your help in caring for her and keeping her safe.”

“I need no riches, human girl.” Gishja spoke with the hiss of a snake, if a snake could speak.

“Then let us burden you no longer and be off on our way,” Myriam suggested.

“You take my hospitality and run, what sort of a gratitude is that?”

“I will send you a hundred horses so your people may roam the desert lands with comfort.” Myriam stood her ground, staring the Akkedis Empress right into her yellow mesmerizing eyes.

“We have no need of such creatures. We do not eat that which you call meat,” Gishja replied, almost laughing.

“What is it that Empress Gishja requires from the human lands as a reward for her kindness?” Myriam asked.

“I require blood,” Gishja spat out loudly, showing a long forked, black-red tongue. “Can you supply me with this?”

“Indeed I can, Empress Gishja. We have an abundance of livestock in our lands. There are many full bred cattle, pigs and sheep. If this is important to your people, then yes, I can supply such creatures that will give you such sustenance.”

“You insult me, human. Animal blood is not the requirement of Akkedis royalty!” Gishja filled the room with her anger, her voice echoing around the vast chamber.

All was silent, not even a breath could be heard.

“Royalty requires royal blood, human, can you fill my cup with that?”

Myriam knew what was coming, but it still rocked her to her very core. They were in desperate danger now, and she was left in no doubt that the Empress was threatening her very life. The time had come. They were no longer guests, but prisoners of the Akkedis people.

“No!” Myriam shouted out for all to hear. “I cannot provide such a price. I can feed your people, as I have promised, but I cannot fulfill your personal requirements, Empress Gishja.”

Myriam had hoped that some of those who would overhear her would be sympathetic to their plight. There must be many Akkedis who were unhappy being ruled by such a treacherous Empress. A union between the two people would have many advantages for both their nations, and she was certain that some here would see the benefit in that. Yet, this Empress was blatantly making the human’s her enemy.

“Then you do not value the life of your grandmother very well, do you, human?” Gishja’s voice filled the chamber once again. “Guards, take them all prisoner. Keep them together, it will make my feasting so much easier,” the Akkedis Empress instructed, no longer willing to keep up the charade of the welcoming host.

“So much for rescuing the Duchess, Ghaffar, only to murder her entire family,” Ganry cried out above the noise of the approaching guards. “I salute you for your trickery. I look forward to removing your head from your shoulders in repayment.”

Ghaffar bowed low to him. He had done well and his Empress would reward him greatly. Soon she would be healthy again with her new supply of D’Anjue blood flowing into her cup.

Ganry’s anger rose as he stared at the slimy Ghaffar. He drew his sword swept it in a wide arc to keep the guards at bay. Perseus had mirrored his actions on the other side of their small circle, Myriam and the others shielded between the two veteran warriors.

Ganry looked around and witnessed more Akkedis guards heading in their direction at speed.

“How many do you think we could kill, Perseus, before we are overcome? I believe I could take at least a score, maybe more.”

“Between us, double that,” Perseus laughed.

“Let’s make the Akkedis regret the day they double crossed us.”

In between swings of his sword, Ganry saw the Akkedis Empress was being led out of the chamber surrounded by her royal guards. Ghaffar though, did not warrant such protection and Ganry managed to throw a small dagger that grazed Ghaffar’s cheek, causing blood to flow, before embedding in the wall behind him.

“Hah!” Ganry chortled. “Next time if will be your throat, little creature.”

“Filthy Palarian!” Ghaffar shouted at him. “You will pay for this, dearly.”

“I want them alive,” the Lizard Empress instructed as she was hurriedly pushed through the door and out of the chamber.

Ghaffar quickly followed her, his hand over the wound on his cheek, cursing the human as he fled. That fool would regret the day that he had marked him. He would personally make him suffer, Ghaffar promised to himself. By the time he had finished with him, he will have wished he had died here today.

With the Akkedis Empress and Ghaffar gone, Ganry turned his attention to the lizard creatures that were surrounding them. Myriam seemed in no immediate danger. She stood tall and proud, her face impassive. If they were to ever get out of this alive, she would make a wonderful Queen of Palara.

“Well my friend,” Perseus said, “shall we do battle? Make them pay for their treachery?”

With those words he leapt high into the air, sword drawn before landing between two large lizards and embedding it into the throat of one of them, before he quickly spun on the balls of his feet and removed the head from the shoulders of the other.

“The skin is tough, Perseus, but it holds little resistance to a sharp blade,” Ganry cried, his sword hacking and slashing at their tough skins.

Ganry found himself facing three guards, their swords extended in front of them as they cautiously tried to engage him, wary of his weapon. They had seen a number of their colleagues fall and were in no rush to join them.

Suddenly one of them raised the courage to attack, and lunged at Ganry with a cry of victory in its throat. This soon turned into a death rattle as Ganry’s sword speared through its neck, the fabled blade slipping through the scales before protruding out of its back. The creature fell to the floor in a crumple, its blood staining the sandy ground of the royal chamber.

One of the remaining lizards spun around quickly, its tail whipping against Ganry’s legs sending him tumbling to the ground. Two Akkedis lizards were soon on him, pinning him to the floor.

Ganry managed to raise another of his daggers and plunge it into one of the lizard’s ear, pressing it all the way in until the hilt stopped it from going any deeper. The creature screamed out its agony, with hot, sticky blood gushing out onto Ganry as it slumped dead on top of him. Before he could kill the other, more lizards were on him, pinning his arms to the ground. Looking across to his right, he could see that Perseus was in the same situation. He too was pinned down by a number of the Akkedis guards.

Breathless, Ganry had no regrets that he had chosen to attack the enemy. They needed to know that they would not give up without a fight. He worried for Myriam and the plans these scaly creatures had for her. Right now, he was powerless to help her.

“It was good to have you by my side, Ganry,” Perseus said to him as they lay trapped beneath the heavy Akkedis that held them down.

He nodded his acknowledgment. Ganry relaxed and stopped struggling under the weight of the Akkedis who practically sat on top of him. They were soon dragged to their feet.

Ganry smiled at Perseus who had also been pulled up. He looked a mess, and Ganry was certain that he must look the same, clothing disheveled and torn, blood, most of it their enemies, covering them. He had some satisfaction knowing that some Akkedis had paid part of the price for their treachery.

Dragged from the chamber, they were led into a procession of tunnels. Every now and then one of the Akkedis guards would strike them with their heavy scaled fists. They had been instructed not to kill them, but it was clear that they were determined to make them suffer for the colleagues they had lost in the chamber. By the time they reached the dungeons, both were bruised and bloody from the blows.

With hands and feet chained together, they were strapped to the walls, the chains pulling tight so that their feet only just touched the ground. As they hung there, a female Akkedis approached them with a bucket before throwing freezing cold water all over them.

Ganry cried out at the shock of the water on his bruised body.

“You do well to remain quiet, human,” the female said to him.

He looked at her. She was familiar, and he realized she had served them in the rooms.

“You do well, Arriba, to stay away, in case I get loose,” he answered her back with viciousness.

She hissed and walked out of the chamber, leaving the two males hanging in their chains.