In An Age Before – Part 213
Chapter One Hundred thirty-nine
The Red Khan, Rhûn – The Third Age of the Sun
Now after parting ways with Shulgi, Helluin, the Mâh-Sakâ, and the freed slaves continued their journey. They had ridden southeast after returning from their foray upriver to the huluppu tree. The lands ''round them were increasingly drier steppe with patches of barren ground where not even scrub grew. Ground water became increasingly scarce, mostly found in seeps too small to be considered wahat, which arose from an aquifer underlying parts of eastern Rhûn west of the Orocarni Mountains. There were also a few unreliable wadi, dry streams which might or might not have any water flow during the rainy season in any given year.
Flat stretched that landscape, for it had once encompassed the eastern shallows of the Sea of Helcar. Not even Helluin realized that the huluppu tree had taken root in what had once been the northern end of a broad swath of primeval forest lying west of the Orocarni range 'twixt the mountains and the Sea of Helcar. Somewhere on the western verge of that forest, still far to the south, had lain the mere of Cuiviénen.
The company was making their way towards a river that arose in the range some three hundred miles from its southern end. 'Twas part of the largest river system in the east, far greater than the Silys that they had crossed aforetime. The river 'nigh which they had met Shulgi and Enkidu, and which Helluin had not named in Sindarin, had been its primary tributary, draining the central Orocarni wherein its headwaters arose, whilst the river they sought now was a major tributary joining downstream from the east. Although its course would change somewhat in following Ages, 'twas the same drainage basin the locals called the Rā, or Rŋha¹, and would one day be named the Volga. ¹(Rā, Wetness Scythian; Rŋha, Wet Avestan)
Now the intent of the Mâh-Sakâ and the freed slaves was to cross well upriver of its confluence with the Rā. There they would enter the lands of the Mâh-Sakâ Confederation, whose borders were the river Rā in the west, the Orocarni Mountains in the northeast, and to the south, another tributary that also fed into the Rā from the east. South of the Orocarni range, their realm extended east to an irregular frontier that ran roughly north south in line with the mountains. The land to the east beyond the border was inhospitable desert that none contested and few traversed.
The home of the freed slaves lay just south of the ford and only a couple leagues east of the river. Called Wahat Xzûwing, 'twas the closest settlement to the border and the most oft subject to attack, hence they had been taken during an invasive raid by the Medes.
From the ford of the upper Rā, 'nigh where the company had encountered Shulgi, to the ford on the border of the Mâh-Sakâ lands, their way ran for three hundred forty miles. As aforetime, 'twas a trackless waste to Helluin's eye, wherein one mile looked just like all others and only their shadows gave any clue to their direction during the day. On 28 Gwirith, their second day after leaving Shulgi, Tahmirih told Helluin that they needed to avoid a place of enemies called Wahat Binya, which lay roughly midway 'twixt the fords.
"'Tis said that the son and heir of the Sultan of Binya was abducted and ne'er seen again," she said. "They claim 'twas a daemon in the form of a giant raptor that carried him off. That was a couple years ago now and all deem him slain. As his people and mine are hereditary foes, they blame us, for we are considered to be in league with devils. To be truthful, we believe the same of them, for they are devoted to the God of Fire and sacrifice Men in his name."
Having seen the Anzû bird carrying off the body of the serpent, Helluin had little difficulty imagining another giant raptor, (perhaps half tiger), carrying off a prince. Obviously, such things happened all the time in the east. She had no way of knowing that it had been her friend Meneldor who had abducted, (and later made a meal of), Burj Aleaqareb, after first conveying him to Minas Anor for interrogation by King Eärnil. Had she known, she might have been suspicious, but at times, ignorance is bliss. To be truthful, once she heard that the people of Wahat Binya sacrificed victims to Sauron, she was disinclined to be sympathetic to them in any case.
Another location Helluin desired to find in those lands. According to Liltisse, the abode of the Blue Wizards lay, 'two hundred sixty miles south and one hundred twenty miles east' of the huluppu tree. When she plotted those distances on her memorized map of Rhûn, the Ithryn Luin would be found to the south 'nigh the river Rā, though the Noldo was unsure of exactly how far to the east or west of the river that might be. 'Twas probably closer to Wahat Binya than the ford crossing into the Mâh-Sakâ lands, she realized, shaking her head.
O'ershadowing all else was the presence and location of the temple of the God of Fire, and its corollary, the presence and location of Sauron and his Nine. Whilst Helluin could only be sure that they were not in Dol Guldur, she had no current knowledge of the whereabouts of the Dark Lord or any of the Nazgûl. This, she deemed, might be better known by the Blue Wizards due to their proximity to his malign presence in the east. Because the Noldo had seen aforetime that the Wise of Eriador had not been sure who had inhabited Dol Guldur in T.A. 1002, nor had they been sure of the nature of the Necromancer later, she perceived that none of the Ithryn could simply locate him with any Maiar 'vision'. His person was probably as dark to them as it had been to Liltisse. Save for the evidence of his actions, he could hide in plain sight, and from her personal experiences in Fangorn and Ost-in-Edhil, Helluin knew that to be true.
"This sorcerer we cannot see, nay, not with any sight," Elrond had claimed in council at Imladris in T.A. 1002 regarding the first appearance of the Sorcerer of Dol Guldur. Galadriel, Celeborn, and their counselors had concurred. When she had gone thither to confirm the sorcerer's identity, she had discovered Tindomul, but who could say with surety that his master had not been there recently as well? Some power had raised the fortress atop Laiquadol. Had Tindomul created it? Had he created Carn Dûm later, or had he only built upon some existing stronghold of Yrch and Hillmen? Could all of them have commandeered an abandoned outlying fortress of the Naugrim? Dûm was a Khuzdul word for 'hall' or 'mansion' and Gundabad, which lay two hundred miles east, had been the birthplace of Durin the Deathless. Helluin was uncertain. She had ne'er heard any definitive lore regarding the building of either Carn Dûm or Dol Guldur. The more she thought on these things, the more she realized that much was shrouded in mystery.
Therefore, Helluin hoped that in finding the Ithryn Luin, she would hear tidings of activities attributable to Sauron and/or his Úlairi. She imagined assailing the Lord of Lies in his own temple, as she had aforetime in the topmost chamber of the Barad-dûr. Of course, she realized that such a rash attack would be tactically dubious at best and would most likely resolve 'naught, but the psychological value would be great. Depriving the Dark Lord of the illusion of security in his sanctuary might even force him out to some more accessible redoubt that could be embattled, with the armies of Gondor, perhaps. She cackled as she indulged herself in those fantasies, prompting questioning looks from Barq.
Pray tell, what thought confers such mirth to thee, O Helluin? He asked, having twisted his neck 'round so that he could look her in the eyes.
For now 'tis but a fancy only, O Barq. Imagine the uproar I could create by attacking the God of Fire in his own temple.
The Easterling horse rolled his eyes at the thought.
Perhaps thou could practice by poking a dragon in the eye with a stick, O Helluin, he offered.
Excellent idea! Having seen the serpent, the were-worms, and the Anzû bird, I doubt not that a dragon or two abide in the east. I know of none in the west.
When last I traveled in the east, I heard 'naught of any dragons, Barq said. Perhaps we shall needs ride north.
Perhaps, she said, though there was much else to do besides seeking for Morgoth's creatures.
Now though the lands 'twixt the fords were closer to home for the Mâh-Sakâ and the freedmen of Xzûwing, 'twas also a land held by foes, seldom freely traveled and not so well known as their own lands. As aforetime, there were no marked trails, no known roads, and the terrain was not intimately familiar. Time was spent trying to maintain or correct their course, and many were the adjustments that caused losses of time whilst adding miles. Additionally, the company was forced to spend time seeking water, criss crossing the landscape.
So 'twas that in the afternoon of 12 Lothron, they topped a low rise and looked down onto a stretch of steppe featuring a circle of palm trees rimming an expanse of open water, and a sizeable walled town of many mud brick buildings. In its midst stood a temple and the tower of a citadel, low, but far taller than 'aught 'round it. An ominous cloud of smoke rose from the temple. Some cultivated fields stretched out from the settlement, with narrow channels testifying to irrigation farming. There, distant figures could be seen, bent to their labors.
"Too far north we have come," Tahmirih said in alarm. At Helluin's questioning glance, she added, "'tis Wahat Binya. We must flee."
"Of course 'tis," Helluin muttered, thinking, perhaps they also have a dragon.
Kiana and Ashti had already turned their horses, whilst Alun and the slaves, who had not topped the rise, were trotting their horses south. Helluin and Tahmirih followed. Soon they caught up with the slaves, and the company kicked their horses to a canter and continued away for the half part of an hour.
When they finally stopped to rest their mounts, they had to shake their heads in muted amazement that in the expanse of the trackless steppe, they had stumbled upon the place of their enemies. They had found the proverbial pin in a haystack and probably could not have found it at all had they sought it.
"I suppose that if 'naught else, we know where we are," Kiana muttered.
"Aye, but still we need water," Ashti said. "After that run, the horses need to drink."
A drink and a bite would be most welcome, Barq said.
Aforetime thou marked sweet from mineral laden streams 'nigh the Weather Hills, Helluin said, hast thou any clue now as to the presence of water?
Faintly, faintly, the Easterling horse said after taking some moments to carefully sniff the air, a ways south I believe we shall find water.
"I have reason to suspect the presence of water to the south, though t'will take us from our course southeast," Helluin told the others.
The Mâh-Sakâ looked to her with questioning eyes. Of them all, the Noldo was least familiar with the terrain.
"Know ye with certainty of another water source?" Helluin asked. When the three shook their heads 'nay' she said, "then we shall follow Barq's nose."
Helluin gave Barq his head and the column followed behind her. For three hours, they continued as the afternoon passed. After two hours they had begun muttering, and they became increasingly doubtful as time passed. Still, Barq continued without deviation as their shadows stretched e'er longer behind, swinging further to their right as Anor sailed west. After three hours, they came to a patch of true desert where 'naught grew amidst an expanse of sand. Finally, as evening fell after just o'er four hours, they came to a small pool amidst the dunes.
As at Wahat Binya, the oasis was encircled with palms and stands of tall grasses. A few buildings stood clustered to the south 'nigh some outlying trees, but with the workday done, none could be seen moving 'round, and the few openings in walls were dark. As they saw no fields or crops, they deemed the inhabitants to be herders. The horses were pulling at their bits, eager to drink. After carefully watching and seeing no threats, the company approached.
Now they came to the water and Barq pronounced it wholesome. Horses and people drank their fill, and then they filled their water skins as well. All seemed quiet and at peace 'neath the darkening sky, yet the warriors chose to withdraw out of sight o'er a dune ere taking their evening meal. As usual since coming to the steppe, they kindled no fire for lack of fuel. The company was set to spend the night resting, feeling grateful to have found sanctuary from thirst.
Well done, O Barq, Helluin said. Thy nose has proven its worth once again.
In more lush climes, I would not have marked water at such a distance, but here there is little else to smell and scents carry far in this dry air. Now that we are here, I smell more.
What more?
For the last half-mile, I caught the scent of dates, which all in the east love o'er any other fruit. They have the virtue of staggered ripening, thus providing their bounty o'er many months. 'Tis believed that God made them thus to provide sustenance through the year.
So what of these dates? I know them not from the west.
They grow on the palms and love the desert where water can be found. At this time of year, the early crop that we call kimri should be ready for thinning. Afterwards, the remaining fruit grow larger. Now the fruit is edible, but not so sweet as later in the year. Still, t'would be a treat.
I see. Can thou tell from the ground in the dark which are worthy of picking?
Aye, a bunch would offer a nice addition to our meals. The farmers, and I deem the people here are date farmers, would thin them soon in any case and shall not miss a bunch or two.
Helluin walked o'er to the Mâh-Sakâ and told them that, "we shall return shortly. Barq speaks of something of interest at the oasis."
Though the three warriors looked at her with curiosity, Barq had led them to water and so they simply nodded in acceptance as the Noldo took her leave.
It required little time once they had returned to the water for Barq to follow his nose to a tree. This leaned out o'er the water at an angle, making it easier for Helluin to climb.
This one shall do nicely, O Helluin. Pray cut free the third bunch hanging on this side.
With a nod, Helluin shimmied up the trunk, finding that the rough texture of frond scars provided easy footing. When she reached the third bunch, she tied a cord 'round the base of the stalk and cut it free with her dagger. The bunch weighed 'nigh one and a half stone and she had to sling it o'er her shoulder to climb down safely.
Once on the ground, Barq immediately snatched a fruit and began chewing, pausing only to spit out the pit.
Oh yum, yum, yum, he said. I have missed these greatly. How I wish we could linger a couple months for the later crop.
Barq snatched a couple more, pushing one into his cheek whilst chewing on the other. He and Helluin withdrew, returning o'er the dune to where the company waited. Upon seeing their plunder, the rest mobbed them. The Noldo was reminded of a company of starving Dwarves and shook her head in consternation, but she did sample several and had to admit that the dates were very tasty. 'Twixt the two dozen people and their horses, the bunch of dates disappeared in a quarter hour.
Immediately after finishing off the last of the dates, Alun and four of the freed slaves took off to the oasis with the intention of bringing back another bunch. Following the long spell spent in captivity and returning home, they had missed the traditional foods of their land and now the dates proved irresistible. Helluin sighed, hoping their lust would be rewarded and all would be well sated after. Barq waited with hope, knowing he could consume a stone of dates just by himself.
Now following the slaves' departure, 'naught was heard for some time and all deemed this good, for though the homes 'cross the water had been dark, the better preserved their stealth, the greater their chances of passing the night safely. Eventually though, as time dragged on, Helluin began to wonder why five Men who had grown up eating dates should be taking so long to harvest a bunch of fruit when she had found the task straightforward and easily accomplished.
"How long could it take to retrieve a bunch of dates?" She asked no one in particular, whilst shaking her head at the delay.
The Mâh-Sakâ o'erheard her and Tahmirih answered.
"Clumsiness aside, it should not have taken so long. I shall go and see how they fare."
With that, she and Ashti rose and walked back o'er the dune towards the water. 'Twas but a few minutes ere they returned with haste, obviously confused and upset.
"Even by moonlight we could see their tracks leading to the oasis, but they are not there," she said.
"We did see some tracks leading away south," Ashti added, worry etched upon her features.
With a groan, Helluin rose, looked sharply at the remaining slaves, and ordered, "Nobody leaves 'til we return, and remain silent. Kiana, pray keep watch."
"Show me," she said to Tahmirih and Ashti.
With a nod, the two warriors led Helluin back 'cross the downs. When they came to the oasis, all was as they had reported. The tracks of the five slaves led down to the water and showed that they had gathered at the base of the same tree that Helluin had climbed aforetime. Ominously, a bunch of dates lay on the ground unattended, but none of the slaves were to be seen. More ominously still, three sets of footprints were seen coming from, and returning to, the buildings south of the oasis. With a groan, Helluin shook her head and started following the footprints. Ashti and Tahmirih followed behind, careful not to tread on the tracks.
"Five came and but three left, yet no bodies remained behind and we heard no splashes as of a body tossed into the water," she muttered.
"We saw no bodies floating either," Ashti added.
"I would swear the tracks leading south are deeper in the sand than those made coming north," Tahmirih observed.
"Aye, and two pairs of prints are deeper than the third," Helluin said. "I wager two carried two bodies each and the third a single body, but we shall see soon enough."
"They must be very strong then," Tahmirih muttered.
"Whyfor did none of the slaves call out if foes came upon them?" Ashti asked rhetorically.
All Tahmirih and Helluin could do was shrug. Perhaps they had been taken at unawares. Perhaps those on the ground had been held at swordpoint, compelling silence and cooperation from those in the palm tree by threat against their friends' lives. There was no way to know for sure.
Now Helluin, Tahmirih, and Ashti made their way 'round the water, following the tracks that led to the closest of the buildings. 'Twas one of several low, rectangular structures with slightly slanting walls, built of mud brick. It had a flat roof and an open doorway recessed within a deep niche at the front. Carved into the lintel o'er the door were some unintelligible symbols. The Mâh-Sakâ shuddered as they reached the entrance, which was blacker than night within.
"This is a mastaba," Tahmirih said. At Helluin's questioning look, she said, "a tomb."
"So, robbers have taken refuge in an old mausoleum," the Noldo guessed.
"If we are fortunate," Ashti muttered, prompting another questioning look from Helluin.
"Tales tell that many such places are cursed," Tahmirih said.
Ashti nodded in agreement and Helluin groaned.
"Of course they are," she said 'neath her breath, then asked, "and what say these curses?"
"'Tis told that the mummified dead walk at times, accosting the living for their rites," Tahmirih answered.
"Uh-huh," the Noldo said, deeming the tale doubtful, "and hast thou seen such aforetime, or heard tell from anyone thou knows?"
"They are folklore that all accept," Ashti said. "Are they any less likely than the Anzû bird?"
"I suppose not," Helluin admitted, shaking her head. Both Fornost Erain and the barrows 'nigh Cardol had their wights, courtesy of the Witch King's sorcery. "Stay behind me," she said.
Tahmirih and Ashti were only too happy to let the Noldo go first. They would have been utterly blind in the dark. With a deep breath, Helluin drew Anguirél and lifted the Sarchram, then projected a soft glow of Light to illuminate the interior of the mastaba. Slowly they entered the door, finding a low chamber with a couple dozen shabby sarcophagi carved of mudstone leaning upright against the walls and a passage at the rear leading downward. O'er time, much sand had been blown in 'cross the floor, leaving a clearly visible trail of tell tale footprints entering the passage.
Of course there is a tunnel leading 'neath the ground…just like in a barrow, Helluin thought, what a surprise.
Alas, the descending passage was not the only surprise. No sooner had they crossed a row of hieroglyphs carved into the floor of the chamber and come to the entrance of the passage than they heard the dull thuds of lids striking the walls or falling to the floor. All 'round the interior of the mastaba, sarcophagi were opening, and from within each one a bedraggled mummy struggled to escape its narrow confines. They were wrapped head to toe in moldering bandages of stained linen with many of the ends hanging loose. Some had partially unraveled to reveal desiccated flesh clinging to jutting bones, or holes in their abdomens from which organs had been removed. Some gaped at them with the frozen rictus induced by the contraction of tendons in their jaws. Neither did they speak, nor utter any sound, as if to do so would o'ertax whatsoe'er simulacrum of life motivated them, and the horror of them was only increased by their silence.
Helluin cast a glance back, meeting the eyes of Tahmirih who followed directly behind her.
"T'would seem that lore speaks true and the dead have risen," the Mâh-Sakâ said. "Yet how can we slay those already dead?"
"We hack them to bits," Helluin told her, a grim glint of anticipation in her eyes and a grin on her lips. "That should teach them."
Despite the terror, Tahmirih could not help but roll her eyes.
"The Sarchram sends the spirits of those it slays to the Void. Perhaps t'will still these who are accursed, for something must animate them," Helluin offered, more reasonably.
'Twas a wholly unnatural sight in the dim glow of Helluin's incandescence and the Mâh-Sakâ shuddered in horror whilst Helluin groaned at this well 'nigh predictable complication of their attempted rescue. She increased her luminescence as the mummies shuffled towards them, slow and ungainly, but threatening in their inhuman nature, their arms extended forward to grapple the living with their cold and ancient grasp.
Having followed hindmost, Ashti was now closest to the advancing mummy wights and she snapped from her horrified paralysis just ere the nearest laid its shrunken hands 'round her throat. She swung her sword with panicked strength, hewing off both the mummy's forearms, yet still it advanced towards her. Too terrified even to scream, she hacked at the figure like a berserker, lopping off its upper arms and then slashing 'cross its torso. Finally, she hewed off its head with a grunt of effort, as much by luck as 'aught else, and that loss served to leave it disoriented. It lumbered past her as she dodged aside, and Tahmirih swung her sword low in a broad slash that clove off its legs. Still, the dismembered torso crawled towards them like an inchworm on its stumps whilst its limbs wriggled forward, dragged by the grisly animation of fingers and toes.
Soon Tahmirih and Ashti were frantic with horror, but their reaction was to hack at the mummies with undisciplined and desperate abandon. They were screaming incoherent curses as they swung their weapons in fear induced mania.
Seeing their terrified frenzy and the mindless assault of the mummies, Helluin could not but burst out in hysterical laughter at the ludicrous nature of the scene. 'Cross the floor crawled severed limbs, whilst severed heads snapped at them like dogs with gaping jaws. She took two quick steps and kicked a fallen skull 'cross the chamber to knock a mummy off its feet. The Noldo cackled with glee as she dodged or slipped 'twixt the creatures, leading them into collisions and then body slamming them to the floor. Some she beat down with their own severed limbs, using legs or arms as clubs. Some she mocked, imitating their lurching strides and their frozen expressions. Some she grasped by the hands and swung 'round and 'round as if in a vigorous dance ere slinging them into another of their kind so that both lost their balance and tumbled in a tangle of limbs. She reckoned that she had not had so much fun in an Age.
Yet finally, the plight of the kidnapped slaves and the terror of her friends extinguished her mirth and she stalked the chamber, hewing heads from necks with the Sarchram. As she had suspected, that seemed to break whatsoe'er spell animated the wights, leaving them as dead and still as they looked. It took but a few minutes once she applied herself, and at last she hauled her two companions away down the tunnel whilst their frantic breathing returned to normal. She was stifling her chuckles the whole way.
The trio followed the footprints leading down into the bowels of the mastaba. They deemed it ominous that they heard no sounds of struggle ahead, nor 'aught of threat, boasting, or pleading. Each wondered if the slaves had already been sacrificed in some dark rite. Precious time had been lost whilst fighting the mummies and now they rued the delay.
After four fathoms, the tunnel made a u-turn, but the tracks on the sandy floor continued. The three warriors followed in silence, straining their ears for the slightest sound. Again, they came to the end of the passage and found that it turned back upon itself for a second time, completing a light trap that would defeat any sunlight cast from the outer doorway down the first tunnel. The footprints continued, and halfway through that third passage, a stairway led yet further down. After exchanging looks, Helluin led them step by silent step still deeper 'neath the ground.
When they had descended half the staircase, they began to hear very faintly, as if from a great distance, the muttering of many voices. Grating they were as if long unused, the words spoken through dry throats past stiffened tongues. The sounds were indistinct, but recited with a cadence that hinted at some fell incantation. Helluin, Tahmirih, and Ashti marked a chill to the air, well 'neath the constant temperatures in caves and mines.
The three continued down the stairs using all the stealth they could muster. With each step it seemed the voices grew louder and the air more chill. Tahmirih and Ashti could feel the hairs rise on the backs of their necks and they shivered from sweat growing cold upon their brows.
At the bottom of the staircase, they found a landing opening into a large chamber on their left. A dim glow of greenish light illuminated the space. The walls were carved with hieroglyphs and painted with scenes of reed boats navigating on water that had dried up in Ages past. The wreckage of many artifacts of wood lay strewn 'round, boxes and chests broken open, but no glint of gold or other treasure was to be seen. They guessed that the tomb had been plundered long aforetime. Many sarcophagi of unadorned stone and even some of wood filled much of the space. Perhaps they had been the resting places of servants or lesser priests.
Upon the lids of five closed sarcophagi of pale limestone, far finer in their crafting and set in the center of the chamber, lay the five slaves, naked and unconscious, each of their still bodies accompanied by a set of canopic jars.
'Round them were gathered the principal wights, or so Helluin deemed them, for they evinced a higher state of animation. Like the silent mummies, they were the aged and desiccated bodies of Men, all of them clearly long dead and still mostly wrapped in many yards of linen bandages. Four there were attending each sarcophagus and in groups of four they prepared to minister to each of the unconscious slaves. In each group, one held a long knife, one an organ scoop, and another a bowl of natron salts. In the hands of the last were rolls of rotted bandages such as they themselves wore. All twenty rocked to the cadence of the chant they recited in their cold, dead voices. Though Helluin, Tahmirih, and Ashti understood not the language they spoke, somehow the meaning of the words came clearly into their minds.
Ere 'aught else, God ruled Light and Dark,
And the only Light in the Dark was flame.
God brought Fire from the Void and we worship,
Light from Darkness only Fire can bring.
To light the world with Fire we pray,
To the God of Fire we send these slaves,
To do his will 'til the world is Dark again.
The wights repeated their chant o'er and o'er, but a single telling was all that the trio needed to understand that these had once been amongst the first worshippers of the God of Fire, and that god was Morgoth, not Sauron. 'Twas obvious that the wights intended to eviscerate the slaves, preserving their organs in the canopic jars and their bodies by mummification, just as they themselves had been preserved long aforetime. Then together, they would await the coming of Morgoth when they would serve their God of Fire in the subjugation of the world.
And that shall be a long time coming, Helluin thought. When Men first arose, Morgoth came amongst them bearing lies, and he commanded obedience and gave thralldom in exchange, but I shall set straight the perversion he hath wrought upon ye.
Then, rather than assailing them with steel and endangering her unconscious friends, softly at first, but with increasing volume and power, Helluin opposed the wights with a chant of truth.
Ere 'aught else, Eru ruled Timeless Halls,
And in the Void was the Imperishable Flame.
From Eru's thought the Ainur were made,
And a Song of Creation before him they sang.
Then from their themes Eä was conceived,
To achieve their Song, the Ainur came,
To order all things here in praise of his name.
Now at first it seemed that the wights could not hear, or else they paid no heed to Helluin's chant. Yet as she continued to recite it in time with their own chant, she increased in volume and projected her power through the words, and they impinged on the spell 'neath which the mummies were enchanted. As she did thus, she also increased the luminosity of her aura such that it soon lit the chamber, driving back the greenish glow. And as her Light was gleaned from the Two Trees of Valinor and was unsullied, it brought suffering to 'aught given to evil.
Then as Helluin's Light illuminated e'er more of the chamber, the mummies were forced back to avoid being bathed in that ril of silver and gold. They abandoned the sarcophagi and the slaves, retreating toward the far side of the chamber with expressions of fear and wrath. With their attention usurped by her threat, they ceased to voice their chant. Soon enough, the wights were cowering against the far wall of the chamber, alight within their greenish glow.
Helluin stepped into the chamber, holding her weapons aloft. Within the aura of her fëa, a shifting iridescence danced o'er the steel of the Black Sword, whilst upon the Sarchram, the cirth were as letters of fire. Then on the last recitation of her chant, she flared with the brilliance of the Two Trees as they had shone in the noontide of Aman and cried out,
'Til the world is changed and the Song sung again!
A terrible shrieking broke from the throats of the mummies and a crack like thunder assailed Tahmirih and Ashti's ears. Whatsoe'er spell had ruled the wights fell before the assault of pure Light, and they withered from the world and were no more.
In the aftermath, Helluin returned her glow to the level of a few candles, sufficient to see by, but no more. With Tahmirih and Ashti, she roused the five slaves who slowly returned to their senses, being freed now from the sleeping spells of the wights. Though they were all eager to be gone from that place, the five had been despoiled, and only after recovering their garments from a pile of refuse did they clothe themselves and take their leave.
The slaves and the warriors rejoiced to breathe the fresh air outside of the mastaba, and as a group of eight, they walked away towards the oasis with thankful hearts. Helluin eyed the other tombs with a suspicious glance, but 'naught slouched forth from them. Eventually, they came to the palm tree, and seeing the fallen bunch of dates, the Noldo admonished the slaves, saying, "Hard won was that fruit. I pray ye not waste it."
Alun looked sheepish, but he hefted the bunch of dates and carried them back 'cross the dunes to where the rest of the company waited. O'er the tale of their abduction and rescue, the company shared the dates, and all were uneasy after the telling. They posted sentries and tried to relax, but e'ery noise caused the most nervous amongst them to bolt upright, suspecting the worst. Some believed that they heard whispers in the rustle of palm fronds. Others swore they felt footsteps reverberating in the sand they lay on. Seeing their restlessness, Helluin rose to offer some words of reassurance.
"My friends, no creatures followed us from the tomb and none pursued us after the rescue of those held hostage. They were defeated and there is 'naught to fear now. Pray settle yourselves and rest 'til dawn. We have still a long road ahead."
The slaves had barely begun to take heart after her words of comfort when a scream came from o'er the dunes and the sentries fled back into camp, their eyes wide in terror. In their high state of agitation, they gibbered incomprehensibly. Aggravated by their inability to give a report, Helluin, Tahmirih, Kiana, and Ashti trod back o'er the dune. The Noldo was shaking her head and preparing to make some disparaging remark about fools fleeing from cloud shadows when they came into view of the oasis. There they marked dark figures shambling from the tombs and heading towards them following some unerring sense of direction. A rough count revealed no fewer than five or six dozens.
"Surely 'tis a jest," the Noldo muttered in amazement. No doubt 'tis e'ery mummy within a hundred miles. Unbelievable. I would even offer to return the dates…
"Haste! Haste! We must flee!" Kiana hissed as she turned back towards the camp.
Helluin shared a look with Tahmirih and Ashti. The two warriors seemed to expect some inspiration from her. She could do 'naught but shrug, being no expert on mummies.
"What she said," Helluin finally muttered as she gestured after Kiana and headed back to camp.
The whole company mounted their steeds in record time and fled east at a gallop. From the shambling gait of the mummies encountered in the mastaba, they were certain of outrunning their pursuers. Even a laden foot soldier could have outpaced them. After putting a couple of leagues 'twixt themselves and their abandoned camp site, they slowed to a walk.
"We shall all be pursued 'til the end of days," one slave wailed.
"It is said that the undead ne'er cease in their quest for vengeance," another moaned.
"What did I do?" A third slave whimpered, wringing his hands.
"Surely we shall all die," a fourth slave cried out.
"T'would seem that morale is lessened somewhat of late," Helluin observed. "Have thy folklores 'aught to tell about such things?"
"I have only heard that the undead are ceaseless in their quest for vengeance and eventually slay all they seek," Tahmirih said.
Helluin looked at her in disbelief, but beside her, Kiana and Ashti were nodding in agreement. Finally, she could do 'naught but throw up her hands and resolve to outrun the mummies, if they were indeed bent on pursuing them 'til the end of days.
"Perhaps they shall mildew, or melt into mud whilst trying to follow us 'cross the river," she muttered.
Now the company continued southeast through the remainder of the night ere daring to stop and rest. By then, many miles lay 'twixt them and the mummies. 'Round dawn they left the desert behind, for which the horses in particular were thankful. Dry, hot, shifting sand was not a good surface for iron-shod hooves.
The company mounted and resumed their flight 'round noon and they rode in haste 'til dusk. The first few nights, few rested save in fits and spurts, and most mumbled and turned as their hours of sleep were visited by nightmares. Yet they saw no trace of the wights, and as the days passed, the mortals calmed somewhat.
Another fortnight passed, and still indistinguishable mile followed indistinguishable mile as the steppe slowly disappeared 'neath their hooves. They were fortunate to find seeps for water, but their rations were running low when, on 27 Lothron, they saw a dark line in the far distance that could only be trees. Those trees marked the bank of a river, and it ran from north to south beyond the limits of sight.
Tahmirih, Kiana, Ashti, and the freed slaves were jubilant. No other watercourse in that land stretched so far, and thus it had to be the border of their homeland. They had made an epic journey, eluded many foes, and had returned safely. Only Helluin, whose eyesight was sharper than any other in the company, marked the cloud of dust rising from the river slightly to their north. That cloud became e'er more obvious as they approached through the hours of the day 'til 'twas unmistakable even to the mortals. Unlike them, the Noldo could easily see that whate'er horde raised that cloud of dust, they were approaching rather than drawing away.
"We shall be met by a great host," she told the Mâh-Sakâ after checking Anor's position, "and if they encamp this night, then t'will be shortly after dawn when we draw 'nigh each other. I deem we are still distant enough to evade their notice if we turn aside."
"We hope 'tis our own forces," Ashti said, "for if not, then they are invaders and all too close to the border."
"There is no way to tell from this distance whether they are friends of foes, and if we draw close enough to be sure, they shall also mark us as well," Tahmirih said, shaking her head.
"With the count of their numbers being so much greater than our own, we must choose prudence," Kiana said.
"I agree," Helluin said, and then asked, "If they are indeed your own people, how far afield would they send their scouts in advance of their host?"
"Scouts will range ahead to the limits of sight. In these flat lands, five leagues, give or take," Tahmirih answered, "further if hostiles are deemed 'nigh."
"I reckon they shall pass a couple of leagues to our north," Helluin said, "and so I advise withdrawing further south. Three more leagues should suffice."
The three warriors nodded in agreement and the company began to move south at a walk so as to raise the minimum of dust in their passage. For the next three hours they continued thus as evening fell and darkness grew. Whilst the light lasted, they kept an eye on the cloud of dust and indeed, it seemed the host advanced west as anticipated. In the last hour ere sundown, the cloud slowly dissipated as the host broke from their march to encamp for the night. Helluin, the Mâh-Sakâ, and the freed slaves rode on another hour ere they too stopped for the night.
Now despite believing that they were a league beyond the expected range of any patrols, they posted sentries and kept watches. 'Twixt the memory of the mummy wights and the unknown host, few got a good night's sleep. Most strained their ears for the slightest hint of any sound out of place, and stared out into the night from the folds of their cloaks with shifting eyes. Despite their paranoia and vigilance, they discovered 'naught and the night passed in peace.
In the morn of 28 Lothron they rose, and seeing no trace of the cloud of dust to their north, mounted and rode east. They intended to reach the river to the south of where they had seen the host the previous afternoon, and expected to come to the ford by riding north up the bank. 'Twas a good plan, for it emphasized prudence and sought to minimize any chance of meeting a horde of foes.
The morn's ride passed without event and the company did indeed reach the west bank of the river an hour ere noon. Seeing none to challenge or stay them, they turned north, staying within the verge of the trees. In that way, they hoped to present themselves as dark on dark, their robes against a backdrop of vegetation, whilst the dun robes of the slaves could be taken for the surrounding steppe save at close range. When they took a short break for their noon meal, Helluin projected her senses and with care, examined the bank ahead for any presences. She found the land deserted.
"I perceive none on this side of the river for a league ahead," she told Tahmirih, Kiana, and Ashti, "and I deem us safe to hasten our ride lest any come to the ford unexpected."
The thought of hastening their return to the safety of their own lands was well received, and after consuming their rations and taking some water, they retrieved their horses from the river and rode north at a canter. They covered the two leagues to the ford in an hour, and before them lay a section of bank graded as a ramp down to the water.
The company gathered on the west bank and 'cross a dozen fathoms of sparkling water running calf-deep o'er marl, they saw the further bank which was home, and a small company of riders standing as sentries upon the thither bank. These called out to them in challenge, seeking their names and their business. Helluin marked that they spoke a dialect closely related to what she had heard from the three warriors and the freed slaves.
"I am Tahmirih, and with me are my warriors Kiana and Ashti. We return with those taken hostage, including Alun who was missed most of all. We bring a fell ally met far to the west, Helluin of the Host of Finwë, an Elf who has walked the Land of the Gods."
Then the leader of the guard company acknowledged them with joy and offered welcome, bidding them cross into the lands of the Mâh-Sakâ in peace.
"Princess Tomyris, we rejoice in thy return. Thy father shall give thanks to the Gods to know thou live after 'nigh three seasons amongst the infidels. My lord sultan, thy people await thee."
Helluin gave Tahmirih a look, for she had ne'er claimed any title, but the warrior said 'naught and led the company 'cross the water and home. The guard company formed up and saluted as they rode up the further bank. There many of the slaves dismounted and kissed the ground ere laughing and hugging each other. The leader of the guard company gestured Tahmirih aside so they could hold short, a privy council.
"We ride for Wahat Xzûwing," she announced when she returned, "and then I must go to the camp of my father."
Helluin recalled that Alun and the other freed slaves had been abducted from that wahat and would now be repatriated with their people. She deemed it as happy an ending as could be desired, accursed mummies, giant serpents, and the Anzû bird aside, and so she followed the rest of the company southeast from the ford.
Along the way, the Noldo rode up beside Tahmirih.
"So, thou art a princess of the Mâh-Sakâ," she said.
The warrior smiled and waved her query away, saying, "My father is a chieftain, one of many in the confederation, and so e'ery daughter is a princess and e'ery son a prince. Half the Mâh-Sakâ can claim such, for leaders come and go o'er time, but the titles remain."
She shrugged and returned her attention to the landscape. Helluin digested the explanation, then turned back o'er Barq's rump to view the company. They had ne'er seemed in higher spirits, for now they laughed and chattered amongst themselves, and they offered Alun congratulations.
"Thou said Alun is a sultan of his wahat," she said.
"Aye, he is one of seven," Tahmirih answered. "The governing council requires seven to make their acts binding and they could not appoint a replacement ere a year had passed. They shall be very happy at Alun's return, for I wager many decisions needs be made."
After a comfortable ride of two hours, they came to a walled city of mud brick, and it seemed that word had gone ahead of them, though they had seen no messengers outpacing them. Tahmirih, Kiana, and Ashti let the freed slaves pass them to lead the procession. The gates stood open and a company of guards was drawn up on either side. Helluin offered the guards the same gesture of greeting she had learnt in Suat, right hand o'er her heart and a dip of her head, and 'twas returned.
Throngs of people had gathered the courtyard within the gates and they lined the avenues within the city walls. As soon as the crowd saw Alun, they cheered and waved, and he waved back, offering smiles and dipping his head to return the bows of the citizens as the company rode past.
Helluin was struck by how similar the architecture of Xzûwing was to Suat, a phenomenon she considered, strange, for being on the other side of the world, as Ashti had once said.
It looks remarkably like Xwârazm, Barq remarked after looking 'round.
I am coming to believe that all places in the east resemble each other, Helluin said.
Mud is mud and a brick is a brick, the Easterling horse said, and there are but so many ways to stack them, I reckon.
Helluin nodded, accepting his opinion. In her estimation, none of the fortifications she had seen in Rhûn would have withstood a western style siege for more than an hour or two. Catapults and rams would have brought all crashing down in short order.
The procession made its way down the central avenue, and just as in Suat, came to a plaza before a citadel. Rows of guards held open the doors, but already a throng stood before the steps to meet them. There were six Men in particular, each accompanied by a scribe and attendants, all dressed in fine robes with modest turbans of white fabric upon their heads, who waited on the steps. To these six, Alun and the other freed slaves bowed, and they received bows in return.
Some peculiarities stood out to Helluin. Whilst the crowd and the six important Men on the citadel steps, (whom she wagered were the other six sultans), had primarily gathered to rejoice at the return of their abducted leader, she had marked many also offering bows to Tahmirih. Whether or not e'ery chieftain's daughter was indeed a princess as she had claimed, these people seemed to hold her in especial esteem.
Another unexpected aspect of Xzûwing's population was that amongst them the Noldo had marked the presence of no few Avari. Whilst she had known that some of that kindred lingered in the east, (for they had not originally marched west following Oromë), she had not looked to find them living openly in a city of Men. In all her years upon the Hither Shores, she had only run 'cross them a few times, most recently during the War of the Last Alliance. She had met none in the 'nigh on two thousand years since. Whether those she had seen had also been aware of her, she knew not, for they had offered no signs of recognition.
Atop all this, Helluin wondered why Xzûwing looked so much like Suat 'nigh a thousand miles away. There were definite affinities in the architecture, with the angular profiles of the mud brick buildings softened by a smoothing coating of daub. The cities were laid out in the same manner. The people dressed much the same, and when Helluin had offered the gesture of greeting to the sentries at the gate, it had been recognized and returned. Although there had been similarities in their languages and customs, the Mâh-Sakâ had ne'er heard of Suat, and the sultan had ne'er heard of the Mâh-Sakâ. Even Barq had added to her curiosity, for he claimed that Xzûwing looked like Xwârazm. She found there was much to wonder at and felt a mystery afoot.
Helluin was still pondering these things when Kiana caught her attention. Alun had disappeared into the citadel with the other six shortly after their arrival, but now he and the others had reappeared. The change in Alun was startling. He had obviously washed away the dust of the road and taken time to groom himself. No longer dressed in the ragged raiment of a freed slave, he wore the rich robes and turban of a sultan. Now he stood on the steps with his peers and a herald appeared before the cheering throng.
When the people finally stilled, the herald cried out, "Behold! Alun Freed and the Sultans of Xzûwing!"
It seemed the citizens of Xzûwing could not stop celebrating. Following speeches by the seven sultans, a feast was held in the streets with the high table set in the plaza before the doors of the citadel. From appearances, e'ery citizen of the city joined in the revels. Great quantities of food were provided and all ate their fill whilst wines made from palm, plum, and grape circulated in abundance. Inaugurating the festivities was a display of fireworks with astonishing variety in forms and colors. The dark sky blossomed with starbursts, fountains, sparklers, and rockets. Reports boomed through the night to applause and exclamations of wonder.
Helluin sat at a table with Tahmirih, Kiana, and Ashti, surrounded by the officers of the wahat's army. They discussed the military situation, which was of great interest to the Mâh-Sakâ after missing the past three season's developments. The Noldo gave their conversation half an ear whilst observing the character of the populace. Although she knew that any settlement had its measure of suffering and discontent, such was not on display and the people did not seem oppressed. She heard much laughter and spontaneous song. The city of Xzûwing seemed a wholesome abode where the residents lived productive and rewarding lives.
The celebration continued well into the night and in the morn, Helluin joined Tahmirih, Kiana, and Ashti for their ride to the city where Tahmirih's father ruled.
"He does not truly rule from the city, but rather his army has encamped outside it at this time," Tahmirih explained, "for unlike Alun and the sultans, we are riders of the steppe. Settling and city building is not our way, yet we defend our lands and many confederated people dwell within walls."
Within the Mâh-Sakâ lands, the roads were well known and it took but three days to cover the hundred miles from Xzûwing to the city of Ürgenҫ. Helluin saw yet another a city of mud brick, though this one was set into a hillside and its buildings were more angular and vertical. Indeed, it seemed to be a collection of smaller forts, each with its own walls and towers, all encompassed within a more robust outer curtain wall pierced by several gates. She guessed Ürgenҫ could hold fifty thousand souls. Helluin imagined it to be what the southern Dúnedain would build if they were restricted to mud bricks stacked up in a desert.
Interesting as the city may have been, 'twas not what focused her attention. Rather, Helluin's eyes were drawn to the vast cavalry camp with its thousands of tents that sprawled before the hillside upon which the city of Ürgenҫ had been built. Had it been a siege, the Noldo wagered the defenders would have easily been outnumbered five to one. 'Twas truly the greatest host she had seen in an Age. She wagered the camp contained 'nigh a quarter million warriors.
Though the encampment had no palisade, it lacked not for security. Roving mounted companies roamed seemingly at random, whilst others circled the perimeter. As they approached, the Noldo marked no certain repetition of their movements, a very difficult defense for any attacker to penetrate unseen.
When they had come within a half-mile, they were joined by a company of thirty riders whom, Helluin noticed, bowed in the saddle to the princess. Tahmirih bowed in return to their commander, as did Kiana and Ashti. Once 'neath escort, Tahmirih rode in front with Kiana and Ashti flanking her a horse length behind. Helluin gave them another horse length's space ere bringing up the rear. Behind came the riders in three columns.
Helluin appraised the cavalrymen, marking that they were armed with short, recurved bows, quivers of arrows, lances, and curved swords or double-headed axes. Their horses were akin to Barq and proudly stepped in synch in a well-practiced formation, evincing a degree of unit discipline that not even the Dúnedain cavalry aspired to.
The procession wound their way towards the center of the camp where four tents larger and higher than the rest had been set with three of equal size surrounding the largest and centermost. After approaching the tent set southernmost if the ring of three, most of the escort broke off, leaving only the commander and his two seconds.
At the tent, several grooms waited for Tahmirih, Kiana, and Ashti to dismount and Helluin followed their example. As there was no stable in the camp, the grooms began ministering to the horses immediately. The groom who approached Barq seemed confused at first, for he bore no saddle or other tack, but then he began to examine Barq's hooves and hocks. Helluin nodded in approval. Their horses would be ready and waiting in front of the tent rather than at a mass picket, a practice that would save time and reduce confusion when mobilizing.
Tahmirih quietly traded words with the detail commander and then offered him and his officers a bow of dismissal. They bowed in return and took their leave, at which point the Mâh-Sakâ entered the tent. Again, Helluin followed their example.
Now Helluin had seen many campaign tents in many places, o'er many years. In the cases of nobles, especially royalty, those tents had been ostentatiously appointed and filled with much she deemed unnecessary for waging war. Unlike those set for Gil-galad or Elrond, Tahmirih's tent was functional and spare. Three cots were arranged along the walls, each with a storage trunk at its head and a stand for armor at its foot. Atop each trunk was set a ewer and basin and a washcloth. 'Nigh the pole in the center were three folding camp chairs and a folding table upon which was set an oil lamp, three mugs, and three plates.
"I shall have a fourth of each brought for thee, Helluin, if we should be staying the night," Tahmirih said.
Helluin nodded her thanks, but ere she could say 'aught else, the princess continued.
"We are expected by my father as soon as may be," she said, giving the Noldo a look that clearly said, 'literally'. "Pray take a moment to wash the dirt from thy hands and face, but no more delay can we have, for already he will have received word of our coming."
Helluin nodded and took a cloth from her travel bag, moistened it from the closest ewer, and wiped the dust from her face and hands. After finishing, she enquired of Tahmirih about bringing her weapons. Being a stranger, she was unsure if 'twas proper that she should bear arms into the lord's presence.
"Thou art an allied warrior accompanying me, and so 'tis expected that thou be armed. My own safety is thy voucher. 'Tis implicit that thou art trusted and shall act in the lord's defense should any threat arise," she explained.
Helluin nodded, accepting the practices of her culture and wiped some dust from her armor and Anguirél's scabbard. When Ashti and Kiana were prepared, they four made their way from the tent, 'cross the short space separating it from the central tent. At the entrance flap, a herald stepped within and announced their arrival. At a word, the sentries on either side pulled back the tent flaps and the herald preceded them into the tent.
Now the warriors strode into the tent in the same diamond pattern in which they had ridden, Tahmirih at the fore, Kiana and Ashti flanking her a pace behind, and Helluin bringing up the rear. They came to a halt a fathom from the entrance and bowed to the lord. The herald had continued forward 'til he stood at the lord's left hand.
"Princess Tomyris, liege warriors Ashti and Kiana, Helluin of the Host of Finwë, ye are come into the august presence of Targitai, Khan of the Mâh-Sakâ Confederation."
Targitai the Red Khan, Scourge of Rhûn is her father…well, huh, I did not see that coming, was all Helluin could think.
To Be Continued