In the Shadow of Mountains: The Lost Girls

Chapter Thirty-Eight

  The Love Treaty

  It was getting dark in the forest. The great trees cast shadows that brought on the darkness of evening very quickly. And as the darkness came, the forest changed character.

  In the daytime the forest was noisy with the cries of birds and other animals, and it was bright and warm in the sunshine. To the girls it was an open and friendly place, a place to explore.

  Even when they had first been captured, the forest was open and bright. They had been frightened, but only by those who chased them, not by the forest itself. At least then they could see their enemy, even if they couldn’t understand where they were or why they were being chased.

  But with the darkness came a different fear. It was the fear of the night, and of what the darkness hid from view. And as the forest grew darker, it also became deathly quiet. Soon only the sounds of men and horses breathing and walking broke the silence.

  This was not the first night the girls had spent in the forest, and they all remembered keenly the unearthly cries of the night before. They had been scared by those noises, but at least then they had known that the cause of those noises was far away. At least then they were fleeing from danger. Now they went towards it, getting nearer and nearer, and it made them look to the trees on either side in fearful anticipation, expecting at each moment for some wild and ravenous beast to burst forth and devour them.

  But the trees and the even darker shadows they cast between them hid everything from view. They closed in on them like a living wall, causing the girls to stare anxiously at each side, peering into the darkness. Now every tree in the forest seemed to be their enemy. They concealed hidden dangers in their shadows, or took the form of strange creatures in the unearthly shape of a knarled and twisted tree-trunk. And always, stray branches clawed at their hair, causing them to jump in shock and then grow embarrassed at their own childish fear.

  The girls were not the only ones to be scared by their approach to the castle. Rolf too was scared. Scared because he feared most for Soo-Kai and what her loss would do to him. He would rather die before her than live without her. Every moment he had to fight his fear, to quell the urge to grab Soo-Kai and ride away with her. And she would have gone with him too, without question. That made it even harder. Why did he have to get involved in all this? Why couldn’t he keep his nose out of it? But what of the girls? And what of those imprisoned in the castle? But was it really his fight? Rolf shook his head in annoyance. It was like he always said. People brought trouble, even children.

  Prince Harold led his column of men closer and closer to the castle, keeping to the trail to avoid getting lost in the dark. For over an hour no one had spoken, and apart from the odd cry of fright from one of the girls, there had been silence.

  Soo-Kai rode next to Prince Harold in front of Rolf. She too had been silent. But now she spoke in a whisper to the Prince so that only he could hear her, keeping her face and her eyes forward.

  “We are not alone,” she told him.

  Prince Harold nodded almost imperceptibly. “Hmmm, I had thought it too quiet, even for the night.” He also spoke in a whisper. “What do you scent?”

  “Destroyers. I know them. I should speak with them. They come close, but your numbers are large, and so they may not attack.”

  “If it comes to a fight, who will win, and on whose side will you fight?”

  “No one will win except the soil, where the blood of those who fall will nourish the grass. I fight for Rolf. And it is best for him if there is no fight at all.”

  “Then speak with them. But I will go with you.”

  Soo-Kai turned to him. “They will kill you.”

  Prince Harold looked back at her. “My brother has taught me many things about Destroyers, enough for me to know how to make the right approach. If there is a treaty to be made, I will make it.”

  “Then we should go now, and quickly,” Soo-Kai replied.

  Prince Harold held up his hand, bringing the column of men to a sudden halt. “L’Barr!” he called.

  L’Barr instantly drew his horse alongside the Prince. “Sire?”

  “Give me some food!”

  L’Barr looked surprised by the Prince’s demand.

  Prince Harold held out his hand. “Come on, man! I know well your habit of concealing food about your person! You’re always eating!”

  L’Barr reluctantly produced some bread from inside his tunic. Prince Harold snatched it from him, broke it in half, stuck a piece inside his own tunic and then handed him back the rest.

  Sir Malcolm and Rolf were both as surprised as L’Barr by the Prince’s antics. But then Rolf saw the expression on Soo-Kai’s face and he knew instantly that something was wrong.

  “What’s going on?” he quickly asked Soo-Kai.

  Sir Malcolm was equally curious. “Why do we halt, Sire? Why the food? What ails you?”

  Prince Harold’s explanation was brief. “Keep the men here, Sir Malcolm. I go to parley with another force. Only the Destroyer will accompany me.”

  “But, Sire, you cannot go alone!” Sir Malcolm complained, and Rolf was equally distressed.

  “Where are you going with my wife? What force?”

  The Prince held up his hand for silence. “You will both stay here with the men and obey my wishes. I command it!”

  Rolf looked ready to argue, but Soo-Kai took his hand. “Do not worry, my husband. I will return safely. I go to speak with my mother.”

  That frightened Rolf even more. But he found himself waiting with an equally worried Sir Malcolm as Prince Harold and Soo-Kai rode off and were instantly swallowed up in the darkness.

  Behind them, Bernice brightened up when she heard what Soo-Kai had said. Kai-Tai was nearby! Just the thought of her being close filled Bernice with excitement. She couldn’t wait to see her again.

  Ever since Soo-Kai had suggested that there might be a genetic link between them, that sometime in the past, Destroyers had visited Earth, Bernice had grown even more excited. She had talked about it to Becky and her sister, but they hadn’t really understood how she felt. Becky was more interested in the history of it all, and she kept going on about legends and Greek Myth. She and Vanessa talked endlessly about how and when it had happened, and how the legend of Atlantis was probably true. The only thing that interested Bernice was that they were actually similar to these women; that they shared a common ancestry. There was only one legend that counted for her: They were Amazons! Even Kai-Tai herself had recognised the connection. It made Bernice feel proud, it made her want to be like Kai-Tai more than ever. That was why she always felt let down in life, why everything was so boring! It was because she was living the wrong life! She was an Amazon! She should be living like an Amazon! She patted Sophia on the back.

  “It’s Kai-Tai!” she told her excitedly, looking around hopefully. But there was nothing to be seen but darkness.

  Sir Malcolm heard her, and he turned anxiously to Rolf. “The Prince goes to parley with Destroyers?”

  Rolf nodded, and Sir Malcolm muttered, “God preserve us…”

  The Destroyer name brought fear to the rest of the men, and the words “Destroyers in the forest,” began to be muttered and repeated down the column. L’Barr put an end to it. He rode up and down the line of men and shouted at them.

  “Quiet! Be still that muttering! Or the next man will be flogged!”

  L’Barr paused as he passed Bernice and Sophia. He looked sternly at them, but Sophia smiled at him. It was such a bright and come-hither smile, that L’Barr instantly forgot his anger. He cleared his throat and quickly rode back to the front of the column. There he waited with Rolf and Sir Malcolm.

  Hidden by the darkness and the trees, Prince Harold rode after Soo-Kai. To him, every tree they passed looked exactly like the last one. Now that they had left the trail, Harold knew that if Soo-Kai abandoned him, he would be instantly lost. But she knew exactly where they went.

  Soo-Kai
drew her horse to a halt. Prince Harold drew up beside her. She turned to him.

  “There is still a chance to retreat,” she said.

  “You still think I have no knowledge of Destroyers?” he replied.

  “Knowing we tell the truth and can scent our prey is not enough for what you intend to do. Nor is the bread alone that you bring, although it will help.”

  “I know more than you think, and I am prepared well enough. My brother speaks often about Destroyers; they fill his mind and his dreams. What he tells, I hear and learn. I would have to be an imbecile to venture this far without having learned what I need. I am grateful for your consideration, but it is not required. Lead on!”

  Soo-Kai stared at him. She was surprised by his confidence. But she stood her ground. “We need go no further,” she told him.

  There was a rustling of leaves. Prince Harold looked around at the darkness as shapes emerged from the shadows on all sides.

  Destroyers. An even dozen. They held their swords ready, and their expressions held a hatred Prince Harold could not have imagined. He suddenly felt cold, but quickly suppressed his fear and sat straight on his horse. He stared at them all. One of them held a long-bow, the arrow pointing right at him as she drew back the string. Strangely, another had a ribbon tied in her hair.

  One of the Destroyers came forward. Her hair was red and her face familiar. Harold looked across at Soo-Kai.

  “My mother,” she said, and climbed down from her horse.

  Kai-Tai wasn’t pleased to see her. “Why have you come here with this Navak?” she snarled. “Do you wish so greatly for your own death?”

  Soo-Kai was about to reply when Prince Harold spoke up in a loud and commanding voice.

  “Speak with me, not her!”

  Kai-Tai pointed her sword at him. “Keep silent! Or you will die sooner!”

  “Then kill me!” Harold replied. He climbed down from his horse and walked towards a surprised Kai-Tai, his arms held wide. “I hold no weapon! I am one among many! I pose no threat, but yet I am in great danger!”

  As he spoke and came closer, Kai-Tai quickly backed away. “I will bond with no male!” she snapped.

  Harold smiled. “There is meaning in my approach. You understand this. Good! I understand also. I come with an army. We could fight and die for no reason, or we could make a treaty and both benefit. What say you?”

  “Destroyers do not make treaties with the Navak!” Kai-Tai hissed in anger and raised her sword.

  Quickly, Prince Harold undid his belt and dropped his sword to the ground, still in its scabbard. Then he dropped to his knees in front of Kai-Tai and reached into his tunic. Kai-Tai froze, her sword still raised, and stared at him in horror as he took the morsel of bread L’Barr had given him and held it out to her.

  No! No! No! No! No! No!

  There is nothing you can do! He is genuine!

  No! No! No!

  There is no avoiding this! He knows the requirements! He fulfils them all!

  No! I won’t! I hate it! No! No! No!

  You have no choice! Desist!

  I will not! I will run away! I will flee!

  Then all those who stand close will strike you down! They will know you for what you are! Disgusting! Mutated! Your integrity flawed!

  I don’t care! I would rather die than face this murder, this theft of my will and spirit! He will turn me! Lie to me! He will change me and my life will not be my own! No! I will not do it! Never! Never!

  Then be condemned! And know that once you fall, your seed will follow!

  Panic! There was no escape. Logic would lead to the inevitable. If she was so flawed as to deny the bond, then Soo-Kai’s integrity would quickly be threatened. It was no use, she couldn’t even flee; there was nothing that could be done.

  All around them, the other Destroyers lowered their swords. Even Nan-Po lowered her bow and stared anxiously at Kai-Tai. They all stood and waited. Slowly, Kai-Tai lowered her sword, her eyes fixed on the bread held out to her by Prince Harold. She looked completely shocked and forlorn, and although Soo-Kai knew why, it was still a revelation. Kai-Tai was actually frightened of the bond Prince Harold obviously pursued.

  “I do not want this!” she whispered. “Stop!”

  Prince Harold didn’t relent for one moment. “It is said that you cannot deny the bond if sought by a male, that if my intentions are true, that I mean you no harm, you are powerless to prevent it. I tell you now; I mean you and those with you no harm.

  “We travel to the castle, to take it and kill all those that dwell within. We can do this without you, and I have no wish to fight you for passage through the forest. Stand aside and we will both live another day.”

  Nan-Po now spoke in the Destroyer language, her words harsh and abrupt. Kai-Tai turned her head slightly, her eyes going from Nan-Po to Soo-Kai, and then back to Prince Harold.

  “There is a Destroyer within the castle,” she told him.

  “Do you wish her spared?” Prince Harold asked.

  Kai-Tai’s expression turned from shock and fright to one of anger. “She must be killed! She is unlike us, an Outsider! An abomination! Give her to us, and we will let you pass safely.”

  “You wish her death?”

  “We wish the death of all those in the castle! They block our path to freedom and bond with the Outsider! They must die!”

  “Then our two purposes are one!” Harold announced. “We both seek entry to the castle, and we both seek the death of those within. I ask only that humans imprisoned in the dungeons be spared. Unite with us. Fight with us rather than against us. For once in our treacherous history let us fight alongside one another against a common evil.”

  “Destroyers and Navak do not make treaties!” Kai-Tai repeated.

  “They do this day. Take the bread I offer you.”

  “I will not!” In a last effort of defiance Kai-Tai raised her sword once more, pointing it at Prince Harold’s chest.

  Prince Harold glanced at the sword before fixing his eyes on those of Kai-Tai. “The bread has been offered, whether you take it or not. I have made the right approach, and my intentions are clear and honourable. If I should reach out and grasp your sword, will your blade cut me? Or will the bond have already commenced?”

  As he spoke, Prince Harold carried out his threat. He reached out and grasped the blade of Kai-Tai’s sword. She almost winced as he did it. Prince Harold smiled and gripped the blade tighter, and ran his hand down its full length until it came free of the point. Then he held up his hand for all to see. Everyone stared at it. There were no cuts in his skin, and no blood on his hand.

  “The bond is commenced,” Prince Harold declared. “No one can deny it.”

  Kai-Tai stared at his unmarked hand. “What you begin has not yet been finished.” She stuck her sword in the ground and turned to the other Destroyers. “Cha!” she shouted at them, waving her hand and gesturing for them to leave. In an instant they had all vanished, disappearing back into the trees and the shadows.

  Prince Harold watched them go. Then he turned and saw that Soo-Kai had climbed on to her horse. “You will leave, also?” he called to her.

  She nodded. “What you are about to do only the trees should witness. I will tell those that wait what has happened.”

  Soo-Kai waited no longer than it took for her to finish what she said, and then she galloped off. Prince Harold turned back to face Kai-Tai, and found her undoing her tunic.

  “Now, Navak,” she said to him. “Take the next step in the bond. Prove with your body the words of your mouth. Lay with me in the grass and give me your seed.”

  Prince Harold watched her undress. He sighed and began to undo his own clothes. He hoped Gwendolyn would forgive him. But it was for the safety of the Realm.

  There is another! I sense it in his mind and in his body! The taste of her flesh lives upon him! The bond cannot be permanent!

  Yes! I sense it! I see it! And from this knowledge
comes my escape! He cannot pursue a permanent bond! It must only be a temporary liaison!

  Then give him what he wants! Take what he gives! And when the sun rises, be done with him!

 

  With thoughts of Gwendolyn still on his mind, Prince Harold continued to undress.

  “Will you make the treaty I ask?” he asked Kai-Tai as she also undressed. “Will you fight at our side instead of against us?”

  “On one condition,” Kai-Tai replied. “I have no wish for this bond; you have pursued it, not I. Now only you have the choice to make it for life or for one night. But I sense in you that there is another, and that because of this you desire only a short liaison. This suits me also, so I will make this bargain with you. Seek no permanent bond with me and I will make the treaty you ask. In the morning, leave me and be gone.”

  “Do you speak for all the Destroyers?”

  “They will follow my lead.”

  “Then I will make you this bargain. Our treaty is until the morrow. Tonight we fight as one, and when the sun rises, we will part and tread our separate paths. I will leave you as you wish.”

  Kai-Tai came and knelt in front of him. Now they were both on their knees, eye to eye and as naked as they were born. For the first time Prince Harold noticed a thong tied around Kai-Tai’s neck. A red bone the length of a man’s forefinger hung from it. Or at least it seemed to be made of bone, or maybe pearl, or maybe it was some beast’s tooth. The surface was scratched and pitted, and while the thong passed through a hole at one end, at the other was the brightness of gold. It caught his attention for the briefest of moments before Kai-Tai spoke.

  “Where is the bread you offered me?” she asked.

  Prince Harold searched among his clothes and found it once more. He held it up to her.

  She stared into his eyes and whispered, “Feed me.”