Godborn, p.35
Godborn, page 35
part #1 of Gods of Bronze Series
The herder flinched and clutched the whimpering boy to him.
“Still your knife, son,” Makros said to Belolukos. “This poor man is filled with fear already. Fear of that thing in there and those men that serve him.” Makros crouched beside Herkuhlos. “Listen, friend, all we want to know is whether our people are inside. Our women and children. They are our kin, do you understand? Do they live?”
The shepherd looked between them and finally gave a tight nod.
“Where?” Herkuhlos said. “Where in that great place are they?”
“All over,” the herder said, speaking quietly. “In the houses that were once ours. But most are kept around the Temple of the Mother. Well, the Temple of Leuhon now. That’s what we are commanded to call it. The Temple of Leuhon.”
“What is this temple?”
“The most sacred place in Nemiyeh, lord, and once we honoured the Mother there, all men sacrificed the first handful of grain from his fields, the first lamb and calf of his herds but now the god Leuhon takes whatever he will. Now the blood of men and women flow across the sacred stone.” Anguished, he shook his head.
“Where is it?”
“The centre of Nemiyeh, lord. All the streets lead to the centre. The houses around it are where the lords of the council lived. All dead now and the homes given to Kreuhesh and the warlords. Their homes are where the best slaves are held. And the blood slaves.”
“Blood slaves?”
“Girls, mostly. Some Kalekka, some Heryos. Those that the… that our lord the god Leuhon bleeds. Well, the acolytes bleed them or sometimes it is his chief warlord Kreuhesh who bleeds them.”
Helhena stepped forward then. “Girls?” Her face twisted in horror and anger. “He bleeds girls?”
“Yes. As I said, lord, women too and sometimes men.”
Herkuhlos clenched his fists. “We knew they were devourers. It is what they are.”
“How often does he drink these girls?” Helhena asked, her eyes in shadow as she looked down.
“Every day, I think. I do not see much. I live far from the centre, you see, so as to be near the flocks.”
Kasos ran a hand over his face. “He eats one a day? How many days has it been?”
“That is it, then,” Belolukos said into the stunned silence, staring at Herkuhlos. “They are dead. We came for nothing.”
The herder looked up. “Oh, the blood slaves are not killed, lord. Well, some are, I think. And many others besides. But the blood slaves are bled and they live on. They feed them and keep them, you see?”
“All the women and children are blood slaves?” Helhena asked.
“Oh, no, lord. He mostly takes the young women. Thank the Mother he takes only girls or he would have had my grandson.” At that he squeezed the terrified lad all the tighter.
Herkuhlos fought down the thought of Laonome being subjected to such torments. “What about the women, then? The mothers?”
The herder placed a free hand over his eyes and sobbed once. Makros patted him on the back. “Answer him, friend.”
“The women that yet live are put to work. The youngest serve the acolytes and the warriors by day and by night. The old women do what all old women do.” He sobbed again, shaking his head as tears ran down his weathered cheeks. “My people. My people.”
“It is our people we care about,” Belolukos said. “They are all in the centre, he says. And all the paths lead into the middle, is that right?”
“Yes, lord. To the top of the hill and the Temple of the Mother.”
Belolukos shrugged. “That is all we need to know.”
Herkuhlos pursed his lips. “What is this Mother you speak of who resides in the centre?”
The herder frowned, confused. “The Earth Mother, lord.”
“Ah.”
“What about the warriors?” Makros asked. “Where are they?”
“They have taken the homes of my people. All over the briya, east to west, north to south.” He shrugged. “Mostly west. They force many of us now into the east, closest to the river.”
“Why?”
“The river stinks of shit, lord.”
Makros nodded. “And the acolytes. Where are they?”
“The acolytes serve the god Leuhon who resides in Ocka’s house.”
“Who is Ocka?”
“He was the foremost of the chiefs.”
“How will we know which house is Ocka’s?”
“It is the largest of the homes, lord. On the western side of the Temple of the Mother. The acolytes made the doorway larger, so that Leuhon could use it. He is a god, they say.”
That made Belolukos angry. “He is no god but a demon, you fool. A deceiver and a devourer.”
“Yes, lord.”
“Are the ways in and out guarded by the warriors?”
“I don’t think so, lord. Used to be we set watch on the horses, sheep, pigs, cattle, everything. But no one raids us now.”
Makros raised his eyebrows. “No one raids them, Herkuhlos. They are complacent.”
“Even so,” Herkuhlos replied. “We can never hope to fight so many. How many warriors are there?”
“Don’t know, lord. Always some off raiding but must be a hundred of them still.”
“A hundred,” Belolukos said, shaking his head. “If even one of them raises the alarm them we shall be dead.”
“We are all masters of the shadows,” Herkuhlos said. “We are wolves, all of us.” He nodded at Helhena. “Even you.” He looked at the old shepherd and his grandson. “If you speak a word of this then I will find you and I will kill you. Both of you.”
The shepherd nodded furiously. “Of course, lord. I will say nothing, lord. Not to anyone, lord.”
Belolukos was outraged. “You cannot mean to let them go.”
Herkuhlos shrugged. “We cannot tie them up and leave them here. That would be the same as killing them.”
“Let us kill them, then.”
The old man sobbed and wrapped his arms tighter around the boy. Herkuhlos stood and faced Belolukos. “We are not killing them.”
Makros cleared his throat. “Best we keep them with us for now, then. At least keep the boy to be certain the old man does not give us away.”
“I would never!” he said.
Belolukos turned on him. “Be quiet.”
“What if someone notices he has gone missing?”
“Who would miss a shepherd?”
Herkuhlos sighed. “I am letting them go.”
“The Mother protect you, lord!” the old man said.
“Be silent and hear me. If you speak a word of this, I will know it. And I will find you and I will kill you and that boy. Do you believe me?”
“I do, lord.”
“Go, then. See to your sheep.”
“My thanks, lord. May the Mother guide and protect you, lord. I shall sacrifice a ram to you this very night.”
“No sacrifices,” Herkuhlos said. “I forbid it. Now, go.”
After they scrambled away, the others stared at him.
“You are too soft,” Belolukos said.
Kasos grunted. “Heedless of good advice.”
“Enough,” Herkuhlos said. “We know where our kinfolk are now. All that remains is for us to go and bring them out. How shall it be done?”
The wind blew through the leaves overhead while the birds sang. One of the horses stamped her hoof and Dhomyos moved to calm her. His companions stared at him and then looked at each other, waiting for someone to speak.
“A hundred warriors or more,” Kasos said. “The risk is too great.”
“And it must be risked,” Herkuhlos said. “We have always known there were hundreds of warriors in the demon clans. Nothing has changed. All we need to do is think of a way to avoid them all while we bring our people free of them. As we are all sworn to do.”
“That is not the only oath you have sworn,” Belolukos replied. “You are also to slay the yotunan. How will you do it?”
“He need not do that now,” Helhena said. “He can do that after we free our kin. Or whenever he likes.”
Belolukos shrugged. “It seems like a fine opportunity to do both together.”
Herkuhlos said nothing and Kasos made a suggestion. “We know the demon now lives in the largest house. One with an oversized doorway. Why could you not sneak in and cut his throat before he wakes?”
Makros whistled softly. “Hardly a glorious act.”
“At least it would be done,” Belolukos said. “How else can he do it? I have seen one of these demons from afar and I know that no man can beat one in battle.”
“Could burn it,” Dhomyos said without looking around while he stroked his horse’s neck.
Kasos scoffed. “What do you mean?”
“Burn it. Set a fire on his house. Burn him up. That is how you kill demons, is it not? With fire.” He looked at Kasos. “In the songs, anyway.”
Makros grinned. “Not a bad idea.”
“It is a terrible idea,” Helhena replied. “How will you make it start quickly enough to kill him? No, a terrible idea.”
“Not to burn the demon.” Makros nodded slowly. “You ever seen a camp burn, boys? I have. What about these houses that they have in these parts? You know they are built from wood and the roofs are bundles of dried reeds. Inside they have loose straw everywhere. When the demons burn these places they go up easily. And if one of us makes a fire on one side of Nemiyeh, it would bring the men out to fight the fire.”
Belolukos scratched his chin, frowning. “How does that help us?”
“Think of it. There will be people rushing everywhere in panic. Men shouting. Drawing water and carrying it. In we walk, find our kinfolk, and lead them back here without anyone noticing. Get as far away as we can and do not stop until we are across the river and heading for home.” Smiling, he looked around. His smile dropped. “It is up to you, Herkuhlos.”
“Then I say that is what we shall do.”
Dhomyos stepped away from his mare. “Someone should guard the horses while we bring our kinfolk out.”
All eyes turned to Helhena.
She scowled at them. “I am not staying here alone.”
Belolukos shrugged. “She has a point. She can shoot well enough but she will not be much of a guard if a band of raiders come upon her.”
She crossed her arms. “Then you stay here and you be the one to fight a band of raiders by yourself.”
Makros grinned. “Yet again Helhena makes a good point. Surely, the horses will be well enough for half a night?”
“Someone must stay,” Herkuhlos said, shaking his head. “Without the horses at the ready to bear the slowest of us when we flee, we may as well not attempt this at all.”
Kasos bowed. “I will stay. My spear is the slowest. My arm weakest.”
“But your wits are the fastest,” Herkuhlos said. “And though we will miss your wisdom, we could not have a better man guarding our way home.”
Belolukos clapped Kasos on the shoulder. “Guard them well for we will have to run like deer when we return.”
“Now,” said Makros. “Who can make the best fire?”
They once again turned to Helhena. She nodded. “I will help to set the fire.”
Herkuhlos faced his people. “Our kin are in that place. Lost and alone without us. This is the reason we came halfway across the earth.” He looked at each of them in turn. They were dirty and tired but each of them had been hardened by the trials they had faced and overcome and looked back at him unflinchingly. Their courage moved him. “Let us now make sacrifices and hail the gods so that they may be with us for tonight we shall have victory or we shall have death.”
26. The Fall
Clouds drifted before the moon but there was enough light to see the way in. The pale plastered walls of the houses seemed to shine from the hill above them.
“They have been too long,” Belolukos whispered.
Herkuhlos hushed him softly but he was thinking the same thing.
Makros and Helhena had circled Nemiyeh in the darkness, leaving him, Belolukos and Dhomyos waiting for flames and panic to fill the air. But there was nothing and the night was passing swiftly by. Wind rustled the stalks of the crops in the fields around them and in the leaves of the trees by the river. The waters rushed past below the briya, another constant noise to hide their approach.
“They have been captured or slain,” Belolukos whispered. “We cannot wait all night for a fire that will not burn.”
Herkuhlos silently agreed with him but still he waited. He wished now that he had never sent Helhena with Makros. He wished also that he had found some time to lay with her before now. Thinking back on it, there were many nights when it could have happened but it had never seemed like it at the time. Why had he not taken her away from the fire one night to lay her down on his furs? He could think of no reason at all. And now it was too late. They would never have the chance.
It struck him, suddenly, how unlikely they were to succeed.
The briya was enormous, filled with enemies and a yotunan more powerful than the strongest of men. The chances of finding his mother and sister were so faint that it was madness to even hope. All he could pray for was that a god would bring them together. He looked up at the stars. His father was the shining daylight sky. Would he have any power at all in the night? At least Kolnos would be with him. He thought then of what Dehnu had said about the wolf god’s territory stopping at the Denipa and wondered whether Kolnos had any power in these lands. That shepherd had said they worshipped the Earth Mother in Nemiyeh and Herkuhlos wondered if he should have sacrificed to her before tonight. If so, it was too late to do so.
It always seemed too late to do anything, hurrying from one camp to the next with hardly a thought to anything. Everything had happened especially swiftly since they crossed the great river and he felt as though he was being dragged behind a bolting horse with no way to stop it or to cut himself free. Is that simply what it is like to be aware of one’s fate? To see the path while being unable to change it?
Belolukos jabbed him hard with his elbow. “There!”
From the briya, faint cries could be heard over the rustling crops and the river. The walls and tops of some houses were flecked with a faint yellow glow.
“Smell that?” Dhomyos said. “That’s a lot of smoke.”
Belolukos grinned, his teeth showing in the moonlight. “I knew they would do it.” He slapped Herkuhlos on the back. “Your woman’s a wolf, brother. A true wolf. Come on!”
“Just a while longer,” Herkuhlos said. “Wait for the panic to take hold.”
Belolukos got up. “Come on, you fools. Hurry!”
He jogged forward, bent low, with two spears in one hand and his axe in the other. Growling in frustration, Herkuhlos tapped Dhomyos and went after his brother.
In his left hand Herkuhlos carried his spear and in the right he held the bronze sword of Kounos, sharpened along both edges and its point until it could shave the hairs from his arm. At least he had the weapon of a chief in his hand.
The path into the briya grew steeper before they passed between the outermost of the houses. There was no gate there and no gates in any of the paths radiating from the centre. The animals were penned or tethered outside or between the houses but there was nothing to stop Herkuhlos and the others from walking right in. It must have been so simple a thing for the demon’s men to take the place.
And when they entered the briya it almost seemed that it was being attacked once more, for the people had been roused from slumber into action by the fire. Men and women shouted warnings. A group of old women hurried down the hill between the houses herding small children and large goats before them. Herkuhlos and the others politely stood to one side, pressing themselves against the wall of a house as the strangely domestic scene barged through.
“Mother save you, boys,” one of the old women said as she went by.
“And you!” Dhomyos called cheerfully after her. Belolukos slapped him on the arm. “What?” Dhomyos asked.
They pushed on deeper into the briya, past house after house. Most of the houses were built right up against another with hardly a gap between each house but each cluster of houses was separated from another cluster by narrow streets.
“Where is this big open place in the middle?” Dhomyos muttered. “Can’t see anything ahead but more walls and darkness.”
“We must have missed it,” Herkuhlos said. “In a moment we shall surely be out the other side.”
“What can we do but go forward?” Belolukos said over his shoulder as he strode ahead of them.
“Don’t like this place,” Dhomyos said, glancing left and right at the walls.
“Quiet,” Herkuhlos said as a group of men ran from a side street behind them. The men ran on without stopping, heading for the fire. “Come on.”
“Look!” Belolukos hissed from in front of them. “This is it.”
Ahead, the path ended in the open square at the centre of the briya, filled with moonlight and shadow. The temple of the Mother, as the shepherd had called it. An open, roofed structure took up part of it but the rest was almost empty, bar a few figures who ran across in ones and twos, some struggling with waterskins and buckets. Another group pulled up buckets of water from a well off to one side of the area and rushed after the others. Herkuhlos pushed his companions back into the shadows until they were gone and none paid them any heed.
“Quickly now,” Herkuhlos said.
“Where are the women?” Belolukos asked, looking around. “Every building is the same!”
Herkuhlos turned to his right and made his way toward the eastern side of the square. “This way.”
“Fire’s still burning,” Dhomyos said as he hurried after them. “What if it burns down everything?”
“We will be gone by then,” Belolukos said. “Be quiet, Dhom.”
After passing two buildings with open doors that appeared to be empty, Herkuhlos stopped at the third. Women’s voices came from within and he peered through the gaps in the timber door. Shadows moved inside.
“Are Alkmene and Laonome in there?” Herkuhlos said, his voice coming out louder than he had intended.
