‘Know this also, Rael. Thousands of people from our world died as the moons appeared – buried as the city and its hills and mountains appeared, stamping down like a colossal hammer upon the wide plains.’
‘You were quite right,’ said Rael. ‘Had you told me this before I saw the two moons I would have thought you demented. Even now I can scarce believe it.’
‘I saw the vision,’ Anu told him. ‘I knew what was to come – and what is to come. Within two months a golden ship will sail into the port of Egaru. It will bring messengers from the west.’
‘And these people are Avatars like us?’
‘Not like us, Rael. Their power is no longer derived from the sun. It comes from ritual slaughter. They are a malevolent people.’
‘How many of them survived?’
‘Thousands.’
‘And they have zhi-bows?’
‘No, but they have developed other weapons equally deadly.’
Rael swore softly, then rose and walked towards his horse. Swiftly he mounted. ‘We few Avatars are clinging to life by our fingertips,’ he said. ‘We are surrounded by enemies who wait like wolves for the kill.’ Guiding his horse back to where Anu sat, he leaned on the pommel of his saddle. ‘I hope you have some good advice for me, Holy One,’ he said.
‘They must not be allowed to win,’ said Anu. ‘They will plunge the world into darkness and evil.’
‘Then find a way for me to defeat them,’ said Rael.
‘I will – once my pyramid is completed. Until then. Rael, you must use your wits.’
The first few days in Egaru had been difficult for Sofarita. She had visited the city four times with her parents and once with her husband. But each time they had stayed only one night, at a tavern called the Peace Raven. To Sofarita’s dismay the tavern had been closed that spring and she knew nowhere else to stay.
It was close to dusk when she arrived and gave her name to the guards on the eastern gate. Had she known then that the tavern was closed she could have asked them for directions. Instead she found herself sitting upon her pony outside a once-familiar building, made cold and hostile by the boarded-up windows and the plank hammered across the main doors.
Heading deeper into the city she scanned the buildings for sign of a tavern, but saw none.
The streets grew more crowded and the little pony became anxious. Sofarita tried to soothe him, but he was unused to such noise and bustle. A dog darted under his legs and the pony reared. Sofarita clung to the saddle. A burly woman in flowing gowns of gaudy red, yellow and gold moved from the crowd, grabbing the pony’s bridle and stroking its long neck. ‘Steady now,’ she said. ‘Steady.’ Sofarita thanked her. ‘You can’t ride much further, child,’ said the garishly clad woman. ‘No Vagar riders allowed in the city centre. Where are you going?’
‘I wish I knew. I’m looking for a place to stay.’
‘Do you have coin?’
‘Yes. A little.’
‘Come then,’ said the woman. Leading the pony by the bridle she turned into a narrow side street and through a stable yard into a lantern-lit square. Tables had been set out and candles flickered upon them. Some twenty people were already eating, and serving maids were carrying food drink on wooden trays to other waiting customers, climb down, girl,’ said the fat woman.
Sofarita slid from the saddle. Her back ached from the ride and the inside of her thighs felt stretched and painful. ‘My nephew owns this place,’ said the woman. ‘He’s a good lad, and you’ll not be troubled here. Where are you from?’
Tacepta.’ The woman looked blank. ‘It is a farming village close to the lands of the Erek-jhip-zhonad.’
‘And you are seeking work in the city?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well first you will need a permit. Without one you will get no employment. But – and here’s the stupidity of it – if you have no employment you will be refused a permit.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘No more do I. Avatar rules, child. They are not meant to be understood, merely followed.’ A thickset young man appeared in the doorway. The woman called out a name and he strolled over.