Absolute Chaos

Needing to quench his cruel fury, pushing it into sheer lust and hate, Araphel now stormed to his caves doors, barking orders as he went.

“Sabaf, send for that new slave girl and bring in Masika.!....Merkha, find me Maia,... NOW!.” Slamming his large doors in both men’s faces.

Striding to the back of his cave and into a small dark room the king of Otamia used to store his food and mead, he wrenched a large pottery jug from the shelf and stormed to his bedroom. His chambers had been cleaned earlier and a large limestone tub had been filled with clean water. Liquid soaps, oils and flax linen sat on the floor next to the large tub.

Furious, he paced the floor at the foot of his bed, taking long swigs of mead straight from the jug, rapidly moving as he strode, infuriated with Raijen, his own son was lying to him, he acted like nothing had happened while he was gone.

Last night, after they had raided the first tribe and set up camp, a few men tied and watered the horses, while some of the others tended to the new slaves, tying them in a long chain, linking each person to the next.

Each new slave was blindfolded and given a brew. It was a concoction of blue water lily and opium, it calmed them just enough for the newly acquired slaves to follow aimlessly along the road without too much fuss, it was also a very useful potion to manipulate the slaves, using it to his advantage if he chose.

Araphel was warming his cold soul by the fire, they were roasting goat and gazelle, drinking mead and eating bread. His men had become drunk and rowdy, a few had already passed out, others were having some fun with a couple of the slave girls, their screams muffled by the men’s rough hands, their laughter echoing around them.

Sabaf had come through the trees then, gripping a small woman by the elbow, pulling her roughly towards him. The woman’s face was covered in a flax scarf, only showing her frightened brown eyes.

Araphel had ripped the scarf from her face, immediately recognising the woman. It was Theda, Sabaf had found her lurking amongst the fig trees near to the North of the Nile.

Listening carefully, Theda had told him of the four falling stars she saw from Otamia. Theda did not sleep well and was out for some air when she saw the magnificent sight.

Three of these stars seemed to part from the other and disappear into the clouds, however one star kept falling, it hurtled into the grazing land below Otamia’s hillside. Theda had made her way into the vast grassland towards were she believed the star had landed. As she neared she was shocked to find Raijen, Lykus, and Maia surrounding something she could not at first see.

What Theda told him next, the King could not believe. They had lifted an Angel from Mother Earth, she was glowing a dull silver-blue, with skin and hair as white as rare snow and two huge bloody wings slumped from her shoulder blades.

Theda had stayed low, watching Lykus run ahead, while his son and Maia carried the Angel back to Raijen’s cave.

These events had terrified Theda, she would not have come all that way to find him with this secret if she was not.

Araphel’s reverie was broken with a sharp rap on his door, opening it to find Sabaf with the two slave girls he had summoned for.

His latest pet Masika and the new slave, Tabia, both bowed their heads quickly, murmuring, “My King.” In unison.

Araphel was in a dark mood, he could not fathom why his son would not have told him of such an amazing event. He wanted to see this Angel, he needed to know why his son would keep this from him.

Turning to Sabaf, growling, he stated,

“Do not disturb me, I will call for you when I am done!, tell Merkha to keep Maia entertained if I am still busy when he finds her!.”

Araphel grabbed Tabia by her elbow, yanking her towards his bed, Masika dutifully followed, Sabaf closing the door on the two girls cruel doom.