Free ANUNDR: THE EXODUS by N. U JOSHUA

Natalia ignored her and said to the guard, ‘Let me pass.’
    ‘My lady, I’m afraid I cannot. I’m on strict orders…’
    She turned and ran to the castle. She picked her cloak from her room and went down the stairs, cutting through a corridor that led to the garden so she wouldn’t have to encounter Amira. She covered herself with her cloak and scanned the ivy covered walls for the secret passageway. She spotted two thin vertical breaks of the ivy plants on the wall with broken twigs and dead leaves on each side. The wall between the breaks was wide enough for two people to pass. She walked towards it and saw more dead twigs on the brown earth in front of it. She pushed the wall and found herself revolving to the outside world.
    She pulled her hood to cover her head as she walked down the abandoned dirt road. Joining the crowd heading to the square, she felt like she was in the tide of life. Everything seemed new to her from that perspective.
    Half of the city was already there. A large statue of King Meldric the first, Natalia’s great grandfather, stood in the middle of the open space. In front of the monument was the gallows on which Behozi stood. His hands were tied behind him and the noose dangled from a wooden pole in front of him.
    The winds blew and the sky rumbled. This didn’t deter Akasha as he gave a powerful rendition of Behozi’s crimes. Natalia didn’t listen to him but focused on Behozi who was smiling as he looked up at the sky. Her breathing grew labored. She couldn’t believe she felt so much for someone she had just met. She heard Akasha mention something about his attempted escape. She turned her attention to the Rahmon. The dark weather portrayed a sinister part of him she had never seen. His beard and loose robes yielded to the wind’s influence. He looked like he was born from the elements. His large and bloodshot eyes revealed his thirst for spilling blood as he spoke about Behozi’s plan to cajole three foolish people to help him escape. One of them, he added, had been wiser than the rest and had told him the truth. Natalia swallowed. She knew who had betrayed her. She felt like a fool.
    The order was given to the executioner and Behozi stepped forward. People booed and jeered, throwing rotten vegetables at him. Before the noose was placed round his neck, he shouted, ‘Helmford, this day you’ve slain the innocent in front of the innocent. My blood shall be a curse unto you till every stone of the temple is fallen’, he continued, turning to Akasha, ‘and the man that killed the innocent is dead. This day, your nemesis and your salvation shall arise from the temple waters and then you shall know that the prophecies are no myth.’ The winds blew around him as he spoke. His last words were followed by a clap of thunder.
    ‘Hang him.’ someone shouted from the crowd. Everyone cheered in support. Natalia wanted to speak but she feared for her life in the midst of a death-hungry horde. She watched as the noose was tightened around his neck. The platform under his feet gave way and his eyes widened as he struggled for freedom, jerking in different directions. He gave up the fight and his body went limp. Natalia covered her mouth to stifle a gasp. It was then she understood her own powerlessness and she was ashamed.             
    The weather grew dark and flashes of lightning brightened the sky. Lightning struck the executioner as he walked forward to remove Behozi’s body, narrowly missing Akasha. Screams escaped from the crowd. Lightning struck Behozi’s feet, setting the body ablaze. Natalia turned her face away but she heard more screams and someone shouted, ‘Look.’
    Natalia looked. There was a large round blood stain on Behozi’s abdomen. Out of it burst a massive bird. It shook the blood off, revealing a black coat with silver spike-like horns at the back of its head and silver feathers on its wings. It flew into the sky, swimming in the waves of the wind,