CHAPTER 21
Ritual of Death
The old man stared at the blocks of stone as they gave one last shudder before settling themselves into place, the whole side of the temple had slipped downwards demolishing the doorway. He watched the dust settle before making his way across the temple square. The screams and yells of fury from the palace drew him through the gate and into the courtyard recently vacated by the warriors. Edzna stepped from the shadows and began to swing a blow that would have decapitated him but for Chacuti screaming, ASTOP! He is a friend!@
AYou are safe child,@ said the old man, Athe Shaman is trapped. Where are the skulls?@
Chacuti pointed towards the fountain, the old man stepped across and stared fixedly at the crystals, AWhere is your father?@
Chacuti pointed towards the sound of battle.
AI shall help him and return to you.@
Although the look in Chacuti's eyes was begging him to remain the old man continued into the palace.
ASomeone's watching them Uncle Paddy, I saw them move when the warrior went to hit the old man!@
Davey searched the area around the courtyard. Behind a low wall crouched Aquila, the axe-head held in his grip, his eyes peered over the wall glaring towards Chacuti and her protector.
AHe'll be after the skulls lad. Them things will be worth an awful lot to someone like >im.@ They watched as concealed by the wall Aquila made his way nearer. AFlippin' heck. Here we go again. Can't yer let the old man know what's going on and get him back here!@
AYou're right Uncle Paddy. He's their only chance!@
The old man looked into the great hall. Bodies were strewn everywhere, the walls were painted with the blood of men. Amongst the carnage a small group of Incas battled. Pikemen attempted to hem them in but the warriors were moving too quickly, staying close to their foes to prevent muskets being used. The commander realised the danger, AForm a phalanx!@ he ordered, The sergeant yelled out the order and a wall of pikes was formed. Muskets were loaded and made ready behind the safety of the pikewall.
The old man heard the orders being shouted and knew that in an instant the Spaniards who were fighting with the Incas would retreat behind the pikewall and expose the warriors to a deadly cross-fire.
He ran into the hall: mistaking him for an enemy a Spaniard struck towards him with his sword but the blow just bounced off the bubble of protection around him. Nearing Axa he shouted in a tremendous voice, AMy Lord Axa. You must retreat!@
Axa heard him in the midst of battle, pushing a body away from himself he whirled towards the old man, AWe hold our ground!@
Seeing the danger was almost upon them the old man leapt towards the pike wall. In the same instant the Spaniards retreated behind the tiers of pikes, muskets were levelled.
The old man ran into the press of pikes, not recognising him the Spaniards stabbed towards him but instead of the vicious points on the axe-heads finding their target the energy of the attack was thrown back upon the man wielding the weapon. Pushing and shoving the shafts from the hands of the men who held them, the old man caused the volley of shots to explode harmlessly into the air above the heads of the warriors. One of the Spaniards, slower than his fellows to reload, had fired before he withdrew his ramrod from the musket barrel, the ramrod hurtled across the hall and embedded itself in the back of a warrior.
ACome! You must retreat!@ yelled the old man, running back away from the pikemen and past the warriors. Realising that but for the old man they would have been slaughtered Axa blew his horn, his men followed him at speed out of the great hall. In disarray the commander yelled at his men to reform and reload.
Back in the courtyard they found Chacuti, she was hiding, terrified, in a small recess in the courtyard wall. She ran to her father's side.
AThe skulls are gone!@ shouted the old man seeing the pedestal knocked to the ground.
AMy Lord, Edzna has been slain!@ cried a warrior finding the body of the warrior, from the far side of the courtyard another warrior shouted, AHere lies his killer!@ Axa ran to him as he kicked the body over onto its back.
AAQUILA!@ he turned to his daughter, AWhat has taken place here child?@ Chacuti was too terrified to speak. Axa repeated his question to the old man.
AI begin to see, but there is danger my lord. Let us move away from this place!@ warned the old man.
Axa motioned for the warriors to move. AWe shall make our stand at the canal bridge!@ he ordered, at a fast trot they made their way out of the courtyard.
AWhat's happened lad, who's killed >em?@
AI'll go back and take a look Uncle Paddy. I can let the old man know what's happened.@
Using the wall to get as close as possible Aquila stalked his prey. Waiting until Edzna turned towards the sounds of battle he launched himself into the attack, Chacuti's warning cry came too late as the powerful arms of the guards leader swung the stunted axe-head in a vicious blow.
Ignoring the child Aquila moved across to the fountain, he was about to lift the skulls from their watery sanctuary when the child sobbed. He looked past her to the gate and saw a movement, starlight glinted upon the scales of a huge snake. Aquila darted into the recess clamping his hand over the child's mouth, AThe Shaman comes,@ he whispered.
The snake moved in through the gate, it's tongue flicked back and forth scanning the air. Intent upon recovering the skulls the reptile was not as vigilant as it ought to have been. Straight towards the fountain it slithered. Chacuti would have screamed but for the hand which held her mouth closed. Round the fountain the snake extended it's length, encircling the crystals which lay in the centre with its thick mass.
AIt's flippin' massive Uncle Paddy!@
AEh up, what's A-Killer up to?@
Aquila forced Chacuti to remain silent, it was all she could do to breathe through a tiny gap left by the fingers clamped across her mouth. When he was certain the child would not cry out Aquila released his hand, he waited until the reptile extended it's head towards the fountain then left Chacuti and circled slowly in the shadows so that he was behind the serpent. The snake looked down into the water but it would not retrieve the skulls, instead it placed its thick snout against the stone bowl and began to push.
AIt's scared of the water.@
AIt's going to push the lot over.@
The bowl rocked as the snake applied more and more force: shooting its head forwards it sent the bowl tumbling so that the skulls were disgorged onto the soft earth below. At that same instant Aquila struck, he did not swing the axe, the warrior was too skilful to waste any of the power of the blow he knew would be needed to kill the reptile, instead he lunged forwards throwing all his weight and strength into the fiercesome point which extended beyond the axe-head. The steel embedded itself deep in the head of the cold-blooded serpent. Aquila jumped aside, the axe was twisted from his grasp as the great reptile threshed wildly with the agony of the death-dealing blow.
AHe's got it! He's killed the flippin' Shaman!@
Davey was elated, AThe girl's going to be okay!@
They had no sooner spoken than the snake whipped its body so convulsively that the axe was flung from its head. It lay quite still, not even the tongue flicked out to indicate it still lived, the cold surface of its eyes betrayed nothing. Aquila skirted around it towards the axe-head, he picked up the weapon and moved in upon the animal.
AHe's goin' to cut its head off!@ exclaimed Paddy as Aquila raised the axe ready for an almighty downward swipe.
The snake twisted upwards and bit its attacker upon the arm with jaws so powerful that Aquila instantly dropped the axe. The fangs of the snake pumped a massive dose of poison into his veins, paralysing heart and lungs, suffocating him.
Chacuti shrank into the recess.
The snake moved in jerks towards the skulls. It dropped its lower jaw and swallowed them one after the other, only when the crystals were protected within its thick body did the reptile look around. Its tongue flicked in and out as it moved towards Chacuti.
Before the recess it stopped, its head waved back and forth as its weak eyes sought to penetrate the darkness. Its heat-seeking senses probed forwards but an almost human cry of pain came from its mouth as it was driven by its agony away from the child and back out the courtyard.
Davey and Paddy heaved a sigh of relief as they watched its tail disappear.
AThat was a close one Davey boy.@
AThe old man know's what's happened now Uncle Paddy.@
AGood lad, you keep him clued up and he's got a chance.@
Davey looked thoughtful as if he was listening, AHe wants to know where the Shaman's gone.@
AFoller the snake then lad!@
AWhat about the girl?@
Paddy thought for a moment, AHang on, what are we playin' at, she's with the old man and Axa now. Remember, we shifted it back to see what had happened, not what was happenin'@
APhew, yeah. Okay Uncle Pad.@
They watched as the snake climbed up the side of the temple. It was fatally wounded, they could tell by the way it moved that it could not have long to live. To the top of the temple the animal slithered painfully, where the small edifice had stood before the Spanish guns had blasted it to smithereens was the altar upon which many a victim had ended their life. The snake reached the altar, beneath it was a hole which acted as a drainway for the life-giving blood of the victim. The reptile forced its body down into the hole and passed through the narrow tunnelways deeper and deeper into the bowels of the temple, finally to emerge into the chamber of the skulls. There it lay, weak and panting upon the filthy floor.
A skull rasped, ADeliver the skulls of the Shamen to their places, there is not much time.@
The snake released the skulls from its stomach, immediately it did so the body of the Shaman began to form, the fatal injury to the back of his head was clearly visible.
AYour life has ended but your work is not yet complete, the child carries the energy she has stolen. It must be recovered,@ rasped a skull.
AWhy did you not take her when you had the chance?@ questioned another.
ALeave him. He has done well in delivering us!@ hissed one of the skulls as the Shaman placed it back upon its stone block, Athe girl can always be taken.@
ANothing can stand in our way. The man in stone has been turned, we have altered the fates,@ sang the remaining skulls.
The Shaman collapsed to the floor.
AYou must undergo the ritual of death Shaman. Your body is useless, your life is ended, but while the child is still alive we are not complete, the energy she carries must be recovered.@
AThe helmet of power must be recovered,@ said another skull.
AThe Shaman must take a body,@ chanted the skulls.
The skulls began to intone a sacred chant, it was similar to that used when the Shaman flew through the ether but instead of the sound rising and falling, it rose, remained at a certain pitch, then rose still higher before dropping slowly in tone at which point the sequence was repeated.
APrepare yourself Shaman. You do not have much longer,@ ordered a skull.
The Shaman dragged himself into a seating position. He crossed his legs and sat with his hands upon his knees. The chant sent him swaying slowly from side to side, after some time he lent his voice to the sound of the skulls.
AWhat's >e up to now lad?@
ANo idea Uncle Paddy. I'm letting the old man know what's going on though.@
AGet over and see what he's doin'.@
Behind the canal bridge stood the old man, with him were Lord Axa and Chacuti. Around them stood Axa's men and scores of warriors, finally convinced by the massacre in the palace that they must fight the invaders. The canal would be the first line of defence, its raised banks zig-zagged across the plain, channelling water down from the mountains to the fields below.
A group of women, herding llamas and alpacas before them rushed across the bridge, both animals and women alike were loaded with anything that they had been able to quickly lay their hands on, their children followed on behind not knowing where they rushed or why. A younger woman cried a shout of encouragement as she passed her lover who waited, spear in hand, ready to defend their escape to the hidden city with his life. An older woman carried a small child wrapped in a thick shawl, to protect it from the first winter snow which begun falling throwing a dusty white powder over the bridge; over the beasts which crossed it, and upon the shoulders of the men who waited grimly to defend it. In the cold breeze the powder swirled, illuminated against the darkness by the flaring torches which were placed upon the bridge, allowing the women and children to find their feet as they crossed the delicate structure. Beyond the blaze of light the snow blacked out the mantle of stars overhead, to avoid detection the group continued their way in darkness.
The bridge would be the first point of pursuit, the high-banked canal would force the invaders to attempt to cross the bridge to get to them, Lord Axa was busy directing men into strategic positions, the old man was pleading with him, AYou must destroy the bridge Lord Axa, only water will prevent the Shaman from getting to her!@
AIs not the Shaman trapped within his evil lair?@ asked Lord Axa.
AThe Shaman caused the death of your warrior,@ said the old man, AIt was only the work of the man Aquila that prevented Chacuti being taken.@
AHe acted to help?@ asked the chieftain incredulously.
The old man shook his head, AThe crystal skulls were his undoing, he has injured the Shaman but I do not believe that any mortal man can kill that fiend,@ he spoke with such meaning that the warrior pursed his lips and stared hard back at him.
AThe bridge will funnel the invaders into us, without it we cannot know where they will attempt to cross,@ answered Axa.
ANot only the life of your child is at stake in these matters,@ said the old man, Athe powers that we fight against are more than the Earth has witnessed in aeons of time. We must act to prevent the seven becoming eight, their power will become awesome once united.@
AI hear you old man, I believe in you.@ Axa pondered for a moment before ordering his men, ABurn the bridge! The warriors will assemble at a point behind the canal from which they can be dispersed to any point where the invaders might try to cross. Make ready!@
Several of the small reed boats which were moored along the canal bank were set on fire and positioned beneath the bridge, soon flames leapt up, licking and spreading beneath the arch. A final group of women and children crossed, their animals had to be severely whipped to force them to walk above the flames which were already beginning to take a grip. Immediately they had crossed the timbers caught alight and flames burst into the air. The burning structure warmed the warriors who were forced to move further away from the intense heat. Like a burning beacon it lit up the night sky giving away their position.
AWhy do the invaders delay?@ shouted one of the warriors.
APerhaps they do not wish to taste our power again so soon!@ boasted another.