The Cult of Sutek Read online

  She didn’t budge.

  He swung harder, faster, despite the ache in his arms. His breath came in desperate gasps. Rondel yelled something, but the minstrel’s raspy voice was lost in the fighting.

  Andrasta stepped to the side, seeming to lose her balance. Jahi smiled, attacking the opening in the woman’s guard.

  Now she’ll have to admit that I have some skill.

  His arm had barely come forward when his back slammed into the ground, head striking a second afterward on the padding of the trampled grass. Staring at the gray-blue sky, he wondered what had happened.

  Rondel appeared above him. “Are you all right?”

  Jahi nodded, not wanting to move as the fatigue in his limbs hit him. “What happened?”

  Rondel grinned. “I tried to warn you that she was setting you up. She did the same thing to me the first time we fought.”

  “You mean she hadn’t lost her balance?”

  “Nope.” Rondel offered a hand.

  Jahi took it and stood. Andrasta waited across from him, still as a statue, completely calm.

  “Well?” Rondel asked while looking at his partner.

  “Worse than I thought. I’m not sure if his instructors were that incompetent in teaching him, or simply didn’t care what he knew.” She grunted. “It could just be that the boy is an awful student. He might be worse than you were, but then again you never had any training. We won’t be able to count on him in a fight. We’ll leave him in the next town we come upon and continue by ourselves.”

  “I will not be left behind!”

  “You’re a liability.”

  “How am I a liability? I know sorcery. Neither of you do.”

  “We need someone who can perform sorcery when we need it.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Then why haven’t you already?”

  Jahi opened his mouth, but said nothing. Admission of a faltering confidence and inability to focus would not help his argument.

  Andrasta spat. “You could have lit the cloaks of the men who attacked me. Instead, you did nothing. And just now, you lost all control and lashed out in a blind rage.”

  “Gods, Andrasta. Lighten up,” said Rondel.

  “He needs to know the truth. It’ll be hard enough trying to save the girl. Watching out for him isn’t something we can afford to do.”

  “I want to help my sister. I need to help her,” he nearly begged.

  “No. I thought you were a sorcerer. That was the only reason I didn’t care about your youth. But you can’t heal wounds, and you’re no good in a fight. You can’t even use a sword.”

  Jahi seethed. Dendera was his sister, the most important person in the world to him and they were going to just drop him off somewhere and make him wait while they searched for her.

  But, she’s right. What have I done to prove myself to them? Rondel might not be half the warrior Andrasta is, but he did kill that spearman. He can at least tend to wounds.

  “What do I need to do to convince you I should come?”

  Andrasta raised her sword. “Beat me.”

  “You’ve already proven I can’t.”

  “Not with a sword. With sorcery.”

  “But you have no talent.”

  Rondel clicked his tongue. “You can’t be serious, Andrasta. He could kill you.”

  She shrugged. “I’ve fought sorcerers before, much stronger than him.”

  “And what happened?”

  “I’m here. They’re not.” She turned to Jahi. “Well?”

  “Jahi, there is no shame in waiting for us,” said Rondel.

  “Yes. There is,” he whispered. He dropped Rondel’s weapons. “I accept.”

  Andrasta ducked behind her shield. “Begin when you’re ready. I’ll even let you strike first as you’re accustomed.”

  The mocking remark made Jahi’s face redden in anger. He forgot all about his hesitation and self-doubt from earlier. All he wanted to do was shut Andrasta up and save Dendera.

  He knew that compared to most sorcerers, he lacked experience, having only mastered a small number of spells. However, he had always been good at improvisation and doing the unexpected. He could get the most out of what he knew. Without a shield or even any real armor to ward off Andrasta’s attacks he needed something to act as a mode of defense should his first attack fail.

  They’ve only seen me use fire. She’ll be expecting that. But not in this way.

  Jahi canted two spells, one after the other. He used the dry grass for the basis of his first spell. It was the hardest as he needed to ensure the sorcery stayed concentrated in one area so he didn’t light up the entire clearing.

  An eight foot high ring of fire erupted around him. Heat blasted his skin. It felt wonderful.

  It worked! My focus is back. I can do this.

  “You might want to do something, Andrasta,” said Rondel.

  “I said I’d let him attack me first. He hasn’t yet.”

  Jahi suppressed a grin, controlling his excitement from the success of the first spell.

  I don’t want to disappoint.

  He reached down into the earth with invisible fingers at Andrasta’s feet. He felt the moist dirt, wet roots, and hard rocks as if his physical hands were doing the work. He pulled his invisible hands apart. It all took a matter of heartbeats.

  Through the licking flames, he caught the look of surprise on Andrasta’s face as she dove to the right to avoid falling into the hole he created. Earth and rock rolled and tumbled into the small gap now present in the earth.

  Jahi quickly created another hole where Andrasta landed. She avoided it again. Twice more this happened until on the fifth try she caught him off guard. Rather than jumping aside to a safe patch of earth, she lunged through the flames with shield raised.

  Is she crazy?

  He ended the spell of fire while jumping out of the circle. After several steps, he fell, half-hanging over one of the large tears in the earth he had created. It was much deeper than he expected. Rocks of various shapes and sizes slid down the walls of the hole. Here and there, worms and beetles frantically tried to get back into the soil.

  Gods, that was close.

  Jahi looked away from the fissure as Andrasta hurled herself toward him.

  Thinking of the rocks, he reached out to them with his mind, feeling their rough edges and varying weights. He lifted several he felt he could manage with invisible hands and launched them toward the charging woman.

  Jahi had never tried anything like that before and it showed. Most of the rocks flew off in every direction but where he aimed.

  The few that stayed on course pelted Andrasta’s shield or skipped off the armor at her legs, giving her pause.

  Quickly he tried once more, this time reaching for the largest stone he sensed. He flung it forward with all his might. The effort felt like he pulled a muscle in his mind, but it was worth it as the rock careened into Andrasta’s shield, staggering her.

  Jahi used the moment to climb out of the hole and get his feet under him. He did so while reaching back with invisible hands and snatching up another rock. He was bringing the rock forward when the sharp edge of a sword pressed against his throat. He froze.

  “Drop the rock,” said Andrasta.

  He hesitated.

  “I can open you up long before that rock hits me.”

  Jahi let the rock fall and with it his hope of continuing with Rondel and Andrasta.

  Andrasta lowered her blade and stepped away. He scanned the area at his feet where small fissures and holes littered the clearing in front of a circle of black scorch marks. The smell of smoke and burnt grass tickled his nostrils.

  I did this? He blinked. He had never tried to use sorcery for fighting before. Nothing even close to this. A realization struck him. I-I’m better than I thought.

  His gaze rested on Andrasta, sword and shield still in her hand. The warrior looked to be deep in thought.

  But I’m not good enough. She won. He s
cowled. Fine. Let them leave me behind. I’ll just go after Dendera on my own.

  Rondel sprinted up, shouting. “That was amazing! Both of you. Are either of you hurt?”

  “I’m fine,” said Andrasta.

  “The leg?” asked Rondel.

  Gods, I forgot she was injured too.

  “I may have pulled one of the stitches, but it’ll be all right.” Andrasta’s gaze never left Jahi. “You?”

  Why would she care? “Sore from the fall,” he admitted.

  “And your head?” she asked.

  “Huh?”

  “Your eyes won’t stop blinking, and you’re swaying on your feet.”

  “I am?”

  Jahi looked down. He started to stumble forward until Rondel grabbed his arm. He shook his head. “What happened?”

  “Have you ever done anything like this before?” asked Andrasta.

  “No.”

  “I didn’t think so. You haven’t pushed yourself enough. Sorcerers who overexert themselves often pass out. Your talent is like a muscle. You need to use it.”

  Rondel gave Andrasta a surprised look. “How do you know all that?”

  “The man who trained me was thorough in preparing his students for all types of opponents. Sorcerers included.” She looked back at Jahi. “What did you use to push yourself? To help you focus?”

  “Dendera.”

  Andrasta gestured. “This was a start. But you have a long way to go. Rest. You’ll practice again after dinner.”

  She walked away.

  Jahi looked at Rondel. “What just happened?”

  “Looks like you’re coming with us.”

  “But I lost.”

  “I don’t think she expected you to win. She just wanted you to try.”

  “But if I can’t beat her, how can I be of help to anyone else.”

  “I’ve learned not to judge myself against her, only my own improvement. Most anyone else would have fallen in that first hole. Not many are like Andrasta.” He patted Jahi’s shoulder. “Come on. I’m not sure what she has in store for you after dinner, but whatever it is, you’ll definitely want a rest first.”

  * * *

  Rondel sat at the campfire, staring out where flashes of light erupted from the darkness. Flames flew through the air, bright balls of orange with streaking tails of yellow and white. An odor of sulfur lingered on the breeze.

  Andrasta came into view, lowering herself to the ground across from Rondel.

  The fire ended and sounds of rocks pelting wood followed. It reminded Rondel of a bad hail storm.

  “Well?” he asked.

  “I told him he could come in for the night, but he said he wanted to practice a little longer.”

  “That’s good.”

  Her mouth thinned slightly. “He might be worth something yet.”

  Is that a smile?

  “I know you said that your old master prepared you for the weaknesses of a sorcerer, but how would you know what drills to have Jahi perform.”

  “I didn’t. We talked things through while figuring out what he did and didn’t know. His knowledge is mostly elemental, but he doesn’t know much about water or air yet. It only makes sense to have him hone his skill with what he’s already comfortable with for now.”

  “Fire and earth?”

  “Yes. Most of what he’s working on is about control and accuracy. Speed will come later.”

  “Makes sense. I’ve seen sorcerers do some interesting things with fire and earth over the years. I’ll talk to him about it. Maybe he can figure out a way to do the same.” He paused. “So, now we just have to find Dendera.”

  “I’m working on it,” Andrasta snapped.

  “I didn’t mean that as an attack on you. Meir is only two days from here. Why can’t we go there?”

  “As I’ve said before, we go asking about the cult or Dendera in a place like that, and we’ll draw unwanted attention to ourselves.”

  “You mean a light-skinned man, a boy, and a Juntarkan woman traveling together isn’t going to draw attention anyway? I once knew someone named Imenand. If it’s the same person, I know I can find out the information we need.”

  “And if it isn’t?”

  “Then we ask around, and if no one knows anything, we move on. Look, I’m not saying you won’t eventually get us to wherever the cult took Dendera, but we both agree that the longer it takes us to get there, the less likely we’re going to find her alive.”

  She worked her jaw. “Fine. Meir it is.”

  Chapter 13

  Dendera learned from Oni that Emperor Chuma’s erratic and unusual behavior, all stemmed from her kidnapping nearly a year ago. She couldn’t help feeling a little bitter about it all, considering her own father’s steadfastness in marrying her off for the good of the people. It contrasted the Emperor’s willingness to sacrifice the well-being of an entire country by allowing Menetnashte to influence him so that his daughter might continue to live.

  The situations are not the same, so quit dwelling on them.

  She and Oni spoke about many things over the next several days. There was little else to do but talk as none of the girls could leave the chamber. Since she had been the newest of the captors to arrive, many listened eagerly as she filled them in on the happenings of Iget.

  During that time, the only other people she saw were lowly, young servant boys, dressed plainly in tan robes. They would enter the chamber with a half dozen guards and replace chamber pots, deliver meals, and draw baths for everyone in attendance.

  Though Dendera had known Oni for years, she and the princess were not close. Therefore, it took time before she felt comfortable speaking on things that it was obvious the other girls were too afraid to discuss.

  “Princess, may I speak with you in private?” Dendera asked after setting down her plate of bread. Subconsciously her eyes drifted to the table of food. All of the bread, fruit, and vegetables had been consumed. However, the large bowl of cooked meat lay untouched. Oni had warned her at the first meal that it was best not to eat such things as the rumors of the cult practicing cannibalism were not as farfetched as one might imagine.

  Oni looked up at Dendera’s question, head cocked to the side in a way that caused her hair to fall haphazardly down one shoulder. “What is it?”

  Dendera shifted on the thick pillows and sheets beneath her. The surprising comfort and fresh food made it hard at times to remember she was essentially in a prison.

  “Why is it that whenever I mention the Heka, no one acknowledges it?”

  “Why would they? For many, it is too hard to think about.”

  “What is it?”

  “Gods. I keep forgetting that most of us have been here for months and have known about it for some time.” She took a deep breath, then another before clearing her throat. “The Heka is an awful ritual. The worst I have ever heard of. Centuries ago, Sutek’s followers devoted half of each year to plan for the event. The ritual magnifies their powers for a finite amount of time, gradually decreasing until the following year’s Heka.” Oni breathed deep again. “It involves the sacrifice of one hundred virgins, one after the other over the course of a single day.”

  Dendera looked around at all the women milling about, eyes vacant or distant.

  “You don’t need to count,” said Oni. “You are the one hundredth.”

  Dendera’s stomach dropped as she thought of Menetnashte’s phrasing when answering her question about being released. “In a sense.”

  She swallowed. “I take it our deaths will not be quick.”

  “No. We will be raped on their altar. One at a time. Each by a different man. When the man is . . . finished,” she said, spitting the word out like a curse, “they will carve out the girl’s heart and eat it.” Oni’s eyes glazed over. “The cult believes that our tormented souls will then be consumed by Sutek, and in turn, his power disbursed to his followers. Perhaps worst of all, each of us will be forced to watch the women who suffer before us. It is believe
d our additional fear will better satisfy Sutek.”

  Bile crept into Dendera’s throat. Her head spun.

  I wish I had never asked.

  “How can people be so cruel?”

  Oni rested a hand on her shoulder. “That’s an answer I don’t have.”

  * * *

  Jahi lifted a pebble off the ground with his mind and zipped it forward. It flew through the air like an arrow, striking a crow perched on top of a gallows pole outside of Meir. It flapped its wings and hastily took to the air, cawing.

  He smiled. I used to only have enough focus to hit a wall with a pebble.

  Over the last two days, Rondel and Andrasta had pushed him in ways he had never considered. Neither had the talent he possessed and therefore knew little about what was involved to cast a spell. However, Rondel drew on his knowledge and travel experiences to pass on things he had seen other sorcerers perform. Andrasta knew less than Rondel on a conceptual level, but she did understand what it took to hone one’s skills. When Jahi had wanted to practice the larger spells he had in mind, Andrasta forced him to perfect the simpler ones first.

  “Becoming unmatched in skill with a couple of spells will carry you farther than being adequate in a dozen,” she had said.

  Since Jahi had experience with fire and earth already, Andrasta had him focus on two primary attacks with each. Fire came easy, earth took more concentration.

  Andrasta liked the spell he had used against her with the rocks. However she scolded him for using so many at once as it reduced his control. She told him to practice with one stone at a time until he could strike moving targets consistently at more than one hundred feet. Only then could he add another.

  Though his control had improved, he still hadn’t reached the level of accuracy Andrasta suggested.

  He glanced to the woman, seeking approval after hitting the crow.

  “No sorcery in city limits or around those who don’t already know of your talent. Keep your skills hidden.”

  Jahi frowned even if he did see the wisdom in what she said.