Free The Conqueror by Louis Shalako Page A

torches.
    No, this dark underworld of secrets and
incantations was quite outside of her interest. Let them have it,
she thought, as the woman nodded in approval, taking the cup from
Theodelinda and looking at Eleanora in assessment.
    This was in stark contrast
to other kings and queens, who were seemingly intent on engrossing
every kind of power. For Eleanora to conduct the chorus in song,
make the sacrifice or lead the people in prayer was almost
unthinkable. At least in her own mind. Hades , it was almost laughable. And
yet she had told Lowren that she needed to do this—and for some
reason it was more than just a delaying tactic.
    Maybe there was something to be learned
here after all. At one time, when she was a child, all of this had
meant something to her unformed self. It still meant something to a
lot of people. Had it really been so long then?
    The Priestess took a massive breath,
threw her head back, and bellowed out into the darkness.
    “ So long as your intentions
are good, as long as your spirit is pure, as long as your thoughts
are clean and your motives are inspired by love, then you may
enter. Beware, all of those who are unworthy.”
    The effect was astonishing, as a
thousand voices, in different tones and even languages it seemed,
repeated back and forth and all around and swam all the wrong way
inside of her head. The babble of voices and people and animal
sounds and waves crashing and thunder and lightning and trees
splitting asunder swelled, fell away and swelled again. It became
more and more incoherent with each crest.
    The echoes in the Cave of Sighs fell to
a dull roar, and Eleanora found the courage to speak.
    “ Thank you,
Mother.”
    The Priestess’ eyes were black pools in
the torchlight as she opened the wicker basket and pulled out the
first of their special breed of snakes, all-white and with darting
red tongues and black eyes.
    While everyone assured her they were
completely harmless, there was that sickening lurch in the guts,
and it wasn’t just the snake—it was the sudden realization that you
were completely naked.
    There was something primeval and
atavistic in that fear. It was the fear of violation.
    Eleanora took one, holding it up and
away from her, trying not to squeeze it to death with her tight
grip around the neck. It was horrid when the creature curled around
her forearm. It wasn’t the snake’s fault she was afraid of it. It
was her problem. A helper gave her the other one as the Priestess
and her acolytes nodded in approval. They went silent and then
began a dull, throbbing chant that belied its coming forth from the
throats of women. Their helper quickly rejoined on the end of the
line, picking up on the beat and now apparently ignoring the royal
ladies if that was possible.
    The echoes swelled and strengthened,
becoming a roar again.
    It was like drums beating in her head,
and her body tingled all over as a sudden wave of fear swept over
her.
    She took a deep breath, as there was no
backing out now. She was just being silly. It was just a dirty old
cave full of bat droppings and in a half-hour or so they would be
able to come out. With a little luck, they would never have to do
it again.
    The Priestess raised her hands and the
chorus fell silent.
    “ Begin.”
    Eleanora began speaking the ancient
words in the ancient tongue, as it was used all those eons ago, and
with Theodelinda and her torch throwing her crazy black shadows
every which way, she slowly led off with measured steps, following
the rose petals into the darkest recesses of the
unknown.
     
    O Gaia Matrem totius mundi Neptunus et Pater omnium fugasset Nudus sumus coram te, Nos filii Dei verbum Sequimur per semitas iustitiae Inquisitores in via sumus, Iuppiter Pater , de sapientia, Et petimus , et inveniamus Rogamus et nos accipere Gratias Deo pro munere tuo, Et amor qui cadit , et stellas.
     
    Oh, Gaia, Mother of all the
World
    And Neptune, Father of all
the Seas
    Naked we stand before
thee
    We are the