Trial of Chains: Crimson Crossroads: Book One by Ahmad Sohan

Author:Ahmad, Sohan [Ahmad, Sohan]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Published: 2017-12-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14: The Blue Woman

A sweltering sun began its slow rise the following morning, attempting to cleanse the world of the Garden’s taint. Most still slumbered within the lingering cold from the prior evening, but not her. “Wake up, Cyrus. You’ve slept long enough,” the blue-haired crone scolded in the glimmer of candlelight. “There is work we must do.”

He rubbed the crust from his eyes, remaining idle on his slab of stone bedding. “No, I will do nothing for that demon,” he replied, his throat seething with a dry rasp.

Z’hiri did not yell or shout. “We don’t do this for him,” she said in as somber a tone as she could muster.

For who then? Cyrus wondered, ceasing his tantrum. It doesn’t matter. I owe you more than I can say. They returned to the surface with a handful of others who seemed all too accustomed to the horror to which he would soon bear witness. Goddess! Slaves were strewn about the yard like broken toys, battered and spoiled with wounds festering in the sun.

They came across one young woman whose eyes were still open. Her clothes were torn to pieces as if dogs, both bronze and beast, had taken their turn. Skin that was once a dark olive was stained with spots of white that trailed from the corners of her mouth down to the center between her thighs. Cyrus reached out to help her, but the old easterner stopped him. “Don’t waste your time, boy,” she said, pointing her wrinkled finger to the flies that buzzed around the poor girl’s unblinking eyes. “Shame, her beauty was equal to any princess.”

Few were as ravaged, but she certainly was not the last. Z’hiri continued to lead them through The Climb until they reached the outskirts of the garden. “There. Hurry, Cyrus.” Katia stood dormant, her slender wrists tethered to a post, bleeding, her knees grazing the cool blades of grass beneath her. “Help me untie her,” the blue-haired crone cried, her words shaking with an unfamiliar tremble. “Quickly, there’s little time!”

As they carried the living corpse across the yard, Cyrus noticed others, free of flies. “What about them?” he asked with ragged breath.

Z’hiri barely broke her stride. “Only Katia matters to me.”

Heartless woman. He loathed the blue woman’s callous words, but every glance towards Katia’s face reminded him of his mother. I will not abandon her. Despite their differences, their steps hastened in equal measure until they returned to the crypt that was their quarters. In the blue woman’s cell, an old mute stood, gripping a thin wooden rod and pail of water within folded hands, as if he had known they would find Katia.

“I’m in your debt, Kondar. Please make ready, we have less time than usual,” Z’hiri said as they placed Katia gently atop a flat stone slab. The old mute nodded before turning to the fire that simmered in the darkness behind him. He placed the cold pail atop the hot red coals, gazing unflinchingly as the water slowly came to a boil.

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