The thatched dome of the chief’s hall in Niarush kept it cool and dark. The inhabitants of the town mainly used it as a food storehouse, and that’s how the lishas from Kurush were using it too, keeping the hurums they had brought with them locked in the basement.
Kyroz walked past Ragur, who was sprawled on a straw mat and
snoring obnoxiously. He was wearing one of his zanily-patterned waistcoats, now
with a light dusting of dirt. Sleeping elegantly next to him was his father’s
consort Erisha. She was the only hurum allowed to roam as she pleased, thanks
to Gilkush insisting that an exception be made for her. Kyroz scowled – yes she
was polite, cheerful and delightfully curvaceous, but that she walked amongst
lishas as though she was their equal, as though she was more than a mere
animal, made his scales crawl.
On the ocean-side of the hall, a narrow doorway led onto a
wide balcony facing dawnwards. There Kyroz found Gilkush and Kisha.
“How are you going to replace all of the soldiers you lost?”
“I-“
“You know, we were waiting at the old docks for quite some
time,” Gilkush continued, “and we were quite surprised that you were alone when
you eventually did turn up. You’re lucky we didn’t just leave without you. I
don’t need an Ushi Karsh who can’t keep her soldiers alive”
“I defeated Tiuk,” said Kisha, “I think I deserve some
credit for that”
“Well done for defeating a batty old woman. Go and find me
some more soldiers”
“Yes sir”
Kisha didn’t look at Kyroz as she stormed back into the
hall. Gilkush beckoned Kyroz to come closer and turned to stare at the horizon.
“I knew Parua was backwards,” said Gilkush, “but to think
this shabby thing is the grandest building in the region. Perhaps in the world,
since Kurush fell. We’ll have to fix that, we’ll have to convert this into
worthy palace. And on the roof, we need a statue, at least as tall as the
statue of Makush”
“And the statue will be of…?”
Gilkush grinned, “Who else? Makush founded Kurush, and I
founded Niarush. I will be venerated for the rest of time as a wise, strong and
just ruler, as the lisha who transformed this piddling backwater into a place
of glory and beauty. They will say that the Sun shone through me, that I was
the Sun. New heights will be reached, and there I will be, at the zenith
surveying it all”
Kyroz’s attention was drawn to the sea below them. A fleet
of ships was sailing along the coast, towards the river estuary. They had
savage-looking monsters carved into the prows, but each sail had a large cross
and diamond painted in black. Had they stolen the pirates’ own ships? Kyroz
silently backed away.
“Who are this lot?” said Gilkush as he leant over the
balustrade to look down the cliffs
Kyroz drew a bronze dagger from the folds of his black toga,
sidled behind the Ikarkur and slipped the blade between two vertebrae above the
base of his tail. Gilkush shrieked like he had been plunged into an icy lake.
He swung round, swiping at Kyroz with his claws, but his legs were frozen. He
span and slipped and crashed onto the floor. Kyroz crouched down by his head as
he twitched and howled in agony.
“You’re no god. History will remember you as the man who
burned down Kurush for fear of losing his gold. A callous, jealous, pathetic
man willing to sacrifice thousands to protect his own prestige. Tell me, how has
your grand strategy panned out?”
His face twisted with rage, Gilkush lunged at Kyroz with a
hate-filled roar, but Kyroz stamped on his hands, pinning him to the ground as
he leant down to slit his throat. Gilkush’s groans petered out and he stopped
resisting. Kisha charged onto the balcony, her spear raised. Her eyes darted
from Gilkush’s blood-soaked body to the dagger in Kyroz’s hand.
“Traitor! Do you have a death wish?”
“Our allies, the faithful Ekuans, are about to arrive,” said
Kyroz, “if you kill me, you’ll have to explain to them why you got rid of the
man who led them down the path of righteousness”
Ragur stumbled onto the balcony. He became petrified by the
sight of his father’s corpse, standing rooted to the spot, aghast and
speechless. Erisha pushed past him and ran to Gilkush, her tears falling on his
lifeless face as she knelt beside him.
“Gilkush was not a pious man,” said Kyroz, “he cared not for
the Sun’s commandments. He cared only for power and wealth. Such a man could
not lead us into an age of righteousness. We shall transform Niarush into a
holy fortress, where lishas and hurums are in the places ordained for them by
the Sun. And for that to happen, we must be guided by the Sun and those who
understand His will”
“How convenient for you”, said Kisha
“Ragur, it is a shame it had to come to this. But can I
count on your faith? This hurum belonged to your father, yes?” Kyroz laid his
hand on Erisha’s head, “She is yours now”
Erisha and Ragur looked at each other uncertainly.
“In fact, why don’t you eat her now?”
Erisha gasped, the blood quickly draining from her face.
Ragur struggled to find words, “I… I’m not hungry”
“She is a reward for your loyalty,” said Kyroz, “but you’re
turning her down?”
“No, of course not”
Erisha leapt to her feet, but Kyroz grabbed her by the arm. Ragur
inched forward, carefully avoiding the pool of blood around his father.
“Please!” said Erisha as she tried to wrest herself from
Kyroz’s grip, “I’ll be a slave, I’ll be a good slave, I swear! Please!”
Ragur curled his fingers around her chest and lifted her up
despite her kicking and screaming. Ragur looked at Kyroz, tears in his eyes.
Kyroz only gave him a steely stare.
“Wait, wait!” said Erisha, “We’re friends, aren’t we, Ragur?”
“I’m sorry”, Ragur said quietly
With one hand he took hold of both her feet and shoved them
down his throat. Kyroz watched with glee as she descended writhing into his maw
begging for her life. But once her head was between his jaws, she gave up. With
a quiet yelp, she was swallowed. Ragur didn’t move as his belly bulged, his
arms limp, his eyes hollow.
“Kisha, sound the horn,” said Kyroz, “let us welcome the soldiers
of the Sun”
Constructive criticism welcome
© Paul Bramhall
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