Free ANUNDR: THE EXODUS by N. U JOSHUA Page A

avoiding the thunderbolts. Everyone stood still watching it until it cried out. Its cry was piercing like an increasing echo that blared in the ears and clawed at the mind. The sky rumbled as if in agreement with it. People screamed, some falling dead. The crowd ran in different directions. Natalia covered her ears. Her head pounded and dizziness clouded her mind but she knew she wasn’t to yield to it. She looked up. Akasha’s face was filled with terror. He said to the guards below the platform, ‘Kill it. Don’t let it escape.’
    The guards shot arrows at it but it was too fast. It dodged leisurely and cried out, thunderbolts striking the guards. Akasha raised his staff and aimed it at the bird as he made incantations. Out of the heads of the snakes came forth fiery darts which missed their mark. The last dart hit the bird. It shrieked and burst into flames. The people stopped running and cheered the victory. Even Akasha had a smile on his face. However, their happiness was short-lived. Before the ball of flames could reach the ground, it split into three large birds, just the same as the first but with fire emitting from their tails. They opened their mouths and lightning struck the earth, setting fire to whatever it touched. A bolt went for Akasha but he was quick to jump out of the way. It set the gallows in flames. Akasha didn’t move as he gaped at the scene before him. Natalia watched him, waiting to see what he would do. As if aware she was there, he turned and their eyes met. His face changed from confusion to fury. Natalia turned and ran with the crowd. There were some guards on horses at the back trying to control the chaos. Lightning struck one of them. Natalia ran towards one of the guards she knew. He was directing the people to find shelter. She pushed through the crowd to get to him.
    ‘Maxim, I need your horse.’ she said.
    ‘And who are you?’
    She lowered her hood for a moment for him to see her face.
    ‘My lady, you shouldn’t be here--’
    ‘Hush and do as I ask.’
    He complied. She climbed on his horse and said, ‘I’ll send it back to you when I’m done.’ She turned and added, ‘Oh, and Maxim, thank you.’
    He raised his brows in surprise and nodded. She rode off, dodging the thunderbolts and the people in her path. A dark cloud came down in front of her, forming the figure of Behozi. She was too close to avoid it. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, riding through it. She heard the whisper of her name. It sounded like Behozi. It hit her again that he was dead. She urged the horse into a gallop. Her hood fell leaving her face exposed but she no longer cared. She wanted justice for Behozi and she was willing to exact it.
    A group of rahis stood in front of the temple watching in distress what was happening. Alinus was among them.
    ‘Alinus.’ she said. He looked at her face and cringed, then he turned and ran into the temple.
    Natalia got down from the horse in front of the rahis and raced up the temple’s stairs to the entrance. Two guards blocked her way.
    ‘My lady, this is the entrance for the servants of Machish. You know you cannot pass.’
    ‘I only need--’
    She was blocked again. ‘No, my lady. You of all people should know.’
    She glowered at them. ‘Who says I cannot?’
    The rahis outside whispered amongst themselves as they looked on at her and they cleared a path as she stormed back to the horse. She mounted it and rode to the temple gate, then she turned around and charged towards the temple. They scampered out of her way, some tripping on the others in the process. The two guards at the entrance ran in opposite directions. She got off the horse and ran down the hallway, startling the rahis in her path. Alinus ran down a flight of stairs and through a door. She followed him.
    When she got in, she stopped in her tracks. It was like she had walked into one of her nightmares. The room was dark and filled with mirrors, and clear water covered the