The Oracle's Message (11 page)

“Behold the oracle,” Hsusia said reverently.

Annja looked closely at the pearl. It wasn’t quite as big as she’d imagined—perhaps only about eight inches across. But its ebony appearance made her want to step back in awe of it.

It seemed to pulse in some way, as well. Annja watched as fresh water continuously bubbled around it. She could see that the mechanism brought fresh water in and transferred older water out, down the basin and into the floor. A constant stream of water surrounded it.

The light in the room was almost painfully bright, too. Annja had to squint or risk a horrible headache if she stayed much longer.

“It’s incredible,” she said.

Hsusia looked pleased. “It has been this way since our ancient elders molded this into what it is now.”

“But it’s not a pearl,” Annja said.

Hsusia looked at her. “Of course not. What made you think that this was something so common?”

Annja smiled. “One of the legends I had heard before coming here was that there was a giant pearl hidden somewhere on the reef.”

Hsusia sighed. “No doubt that legend was spread by one of the first people to ever intrude upon our kingdom. And the only person we ever granted freedom to. As you can see, it was a terrible mistake.”

“Who was he?”

“A local diver,” Hsusia said. “He found an opening in the reef and made his way here, somehow. He had the most amazing ability to hold his breath for what seemed hours. We were quite taken with him and showed him the breadth of our home. He took advantage of our kindness, tried to steal the oracle and then fled when he was unable to do so.”

“He tried to steal it?”

Hsusia nodded. “He claimed he would make a gift out of it for some woman on the surface. What a fool.”

“You stopped him from stealing the oracle?”

Hsusia shook her head. “No, we had no idea he would attempt such treachery. He came here during one of our rest periods and tried to pry the oracle out of its base. But while he may have had incredibly strong lungs, he lacked the physical strength necessary to carry the oracle. He was forced to abandon his attempt. And by that time, we knew what he was up to and chased him back the way he came in, through the cistern.”

“I think that’s how we entered, as well,” Annja said.

“You swam through the waste water,” Hsusia said with a grin. “But I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure you’ll be perfectly fine, provided you did not stay in it too long.”

“What happens if we stay in the water too long?”

“Did you see any fish?” Hsusia asked.

“Not close to the entrance where the water was hot.”

Hsusia nodded. “Exactly. The waste water kills everything it touches. The fish know to stay away from that area. Once the waste water mixes with the sea, it becomes safe again.”

Annja frowned. Something gnawed at her subconscious about the oracle. But she’d need to discuss it with Roux before she made any decisions.

The interior of the room felt warm. Annja put a hand to her head. “It is hot in here.”

Hsusia nodded. “You’ve been exposed to the greatness of the oracle already. You should wait outside.”

Annja shook her head. “No, I said we would consult it together. And I will stay until we do so.”

“Very well.” Hsusia knelt in front of the dais and bowed her head. From her pocket, she pulled out an assortment of long and short metallic objects. When she was finished with her prayer, she cast the metal objects on the floor in a way that reminded Annja of a shaman casting chicken bones and reading a fortune.

Hsusia looked at the metal objects and then back at Annja. “We have our answer.”

“We do?”

Hsusia rose. “Come.”

Annja followed her outside and back up the corridor to the throne room. “What did the oracle say? I didn’t hear it speak.”

“The oracle does not talk,” Hsusia said. “It speaks in the way it manipulates the metal objects I cast at its base. The oracle uses its power to arrange them in such a way as to communicate a message.”

“But I couldn’t understand what it said,” Annja said. “How do I know that you’re telling the truth about what it might have said?”

Hsusia stopped in the hallway and looked at Annja. “Because none would ever lie about what the oracle says.”

She strode on, forcing Annja to follow her. Annja felt grateful to be out of the room where the oracle resided. She’d felt feverish and clammy in the room and couldn’t help thinking she was being exposed to something dangerous.

But how Hsusia was able to withstand the effects was a mystery. Perhaps, Annja mused, they had grown immune over time?

Back in the throne room, Annja saw Roux, Spier, Hans and the others standing in the circle still surrounded by Hsusia’s warriors. They all looked bored. And even Hsusia’s men looked tired.

But upon seeing their queen enter, they all snapped to immediate attention, their spears clanging as they brought them to bear on the intruding party.

Hsusia seated herself on the throne and gestured for Annja to stand beside her.

This is odd, Annja thought.

“Annja, you have asked that we consult the oracle and I have done so. Its words are profound and not even I expected the message that I received.”

“What was the message?”

“As you know, my people have lived in secrecy for eons. We have only ever allowed one intruder to go free and that was a mistake that very nearly cost us our entire civilization.”

Annja waited. Get on with it already, she wanted to say.

“The oracle, in its profound wisdom, has suggested that you and your friends might also be freed—”

“Thank you,” Annja said. The room had erupted into startled murmurs and gasps.

Hsusia held up her hand. The throne room fell silent. “There are, however, conditions.”

Annja frowned. She should have known better than to imagine she’d get out of here without some sort of penalty.

“What are the conditions?” she asked quietly.

“First, you, Annja, must battle my bravest warrior in a contest to the death. If you prevail, then you will have to meet the other conditions set forth by the oracle.”

“I have to fight someone?”

Hsusia nodded. “It will be a glorious bout and the honor of it will become legend.”

“Who am I to fight?” Annja asked.

“There is but one warrior who would be able to stand before you,” Hsusia said. “Only one who would wield enough power to match your skill.”

Annja frowned. The last thing she wanted to do was fight. She wasn’t feeling particularly well. “Who is that warrior?” she asked.

“Me,” Hsusia said.

The room erupted as Hsusia’s warriors cheered.

Annja stood there with her mouth hanging open.

“You?”

Hsusia looked at her. “Of course. Do not look as though you are surprised. I have led my people into battle many times before.”

Annja nodded. “I know. And I saw on the painting in the hallway that you had. But I find it odd that the oracle would suggest we fight.”

“You were expecting a male warrior?”

“Well, yeah.”

Hsusia smiled. “In our society, female warriors are the best, Annja. We stand alone at the top. It is truly a great honor to be commanded by the oracle to meet in battle with a warrior such as yourself.”

Annja took a deep breath. “Well, I guess I feel likewise. As surprised as I am, however.”

“The oracle manifests its will in mysterious ways that defy comprehension sometimes,” Hsusia said. “But obey it we must, for it is all-knowing and all-powerful. It provides us with everything we need to sustain ourselves.”

Annja frowned. Fighting Hsusia wasn’t exactly what she’d had in mind. She’d only just met the woman, but somehow felt something of a kinship with her. And now they’d have to fight to the death.

“The contest shall occur in the time span of two turns,” Hsusia said.

Annja frowned. “Does that mean we can rest before the battle?”

“Absolutely,” Hsusia said. “You will need rest and nourishment from your journey to our home. To fight now would be to nullify the honor of a match fought on equal terms.”

Annja nodded. Good, she could use some rest. And food didn’t sound so bad, either.

Hsusia summoned three of her warriors. “These men will escort you to chambers where you may rest yourself for the coming battle. The other members of your party will also be placed there with you. Feel free to take advantage of our hospitality, Annja. This is a glorious opportunity for you.”

“Not if I happen to lose,” Annja said.

Hsusia laughed. “There is no such thing as losing when you are engaged in great battle. Honor is the only prize that exists. And we shall both have it regardless of who lives and who dies.”

“If you say so,” Annja said.

She stepped down off the dais and walked toward Hans and the rest of the team. He smiled as she approached.

“Glad you made it back in one piece.”

“Me, too. Although I’m not so sure I’ll stay in one piece when I have to fight her.”

Roux grinned. “If it’s any consolation, I’d put my money on you if I were a betting man.”

“Gee, thanks.”

Spier drew close. “Did you see the oracle, Annja?”

“I did.”

“What was it like?”

Annja smiled. “The oracle is the pearl, Joachim. It’s about eight inches across, black, and immensely powerful for some reason that I can’t quite figure out.”

Spier gasped. “So, it does exist.”

Annja nodded. “Oh, it exists all right. And it’s far more potent than I think any of us ever imagined.”

“Incredible,” Spier said.

Roux looked fascinated, as well. Hans merely put his arm around Annja.

“Are you all right?”

Annja put a hand on her forehead. “I’m not feeling all that well, to be honest. It’s a good thing I don’t have to fight her right now. She’d win in a heartbeat.”

“You need rest,” Hans said. “And she mentioned food, as well, yes?”

“Yes.”

He smiled. “Good. We’ll get you fixed up and prepared for the match. I would battle for you if I was asked, but something tells me that she wants this to be between you two.”

Annja nodded. “She does. Apparently female warriors are the top rung of the ladder here.”

“Amazons,” Roux said. “They’re like the Amazon warrior princesses.”

Annja shrugged. “I need to lie down.”

Hsusia’s men started to lead them out of the throne room. Hans helped Annja along, but at the portal to leave, Annja suddenly stopped him.

She turned back and called out to Hsusia. “You said there were other conditions to be met before we could go free.”

“I did.”

“What are they?”

Hsusia shook her head. “We will battle first.”

Annja frowned. “And what happens when one of us dies? What then? Who will know what the oracle told you to do? We should know everything now.”

Hsusia smiled. “Perhaps you are right. There is much wisdom in you, Annja. Much wisdom indeed.”

“Thank you,” Annja said. “Now, what are the conditions?”

“You must fight me.”

“We already covered that.”

Hsusia smiled. “And when the battle is over, all but one of you will be allowed to leave.”

“All but one—”

Hsusia smiled even more broadly. “One of you must stay here forever.”

Hsusia’s warriors led them down another corridor to a comfortable room filled with cushions and a low table set with an incredible array of food and drink—none of which any of them recognized.

Annja lay down on the pillows and felt her forehead again. As far as she could tell, her temperature must have been running at least five degrees higher than normal.

Hans sat down next to her.

“Any better?”

“I feel like crap,” Annja said.

Roux hovered nearby, munching on something that had been left out for them to eat. “No idea what this might be, but it’s delicious.” He glanced at Annja. “Would you like some?”

“I don’t think that would be such a good idea,” Annja said.

Roux frowned. “When did you start feeling sick?”

Annja sighed. “We were outside the oracle room and Hsusia mentioned that all of the surface dwellers who had ever viewed the oracle had become sick. I told her not to worry and we went inside.”

“What happened then?”

“It was hot. I noticed that almost immediately. The pearl sits on a pedestal in this basin of water that is constantly renewed. Fresh water flows around it, and the old water, which is apparently very hot, flows down and into the cistern.”

“There’s a cistern?”

“We swam through it,” Annja said. “When the water temperature was hot, that was waste water from what circulates around the pearl.”

Roux rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “And this oracle—or the pearl, rather—it provides all the light and energy that they use here?”

“That’s what Hsusia said.”

Roux shook his head and spoke quietly. “It’s not possible.” He walked to the table and poured a glass of liquid before bringing it back to Annja. “You should drink this. Keep hydrated.”

Annja accepted the glass and drank it, expecting it to be some strange beverage. It was cold water and she relished the feel of it on her throat. She downed the glass and asked for more.

Roux watched her intently and then sat down next to her on the cushions. “I think you might need to spend some time resting. Deeply, if you get my meaning.”

She looked at him. “What do you mean by that?”

He smiled. “I know there’s a lot we haven’t discussed about the sword, Annja. I know there are things you can do with it besides just fight really well. The sword has other…properties. Doesn’t it?”

Annja took another drink of water. “Like what, Roux?”

“Like it has the ability to heal you in some ways, correct? It’s not merely an implement for killing.”

“How would you know something like that?”

Roux smirked. “I’ve spent more lifetimes thinking about the sword than you can know, Annja. It’s nothing to be so secretive about. But I’m right, aren’t I?”

Annja thought back to the times when it had indeed seemed like the sword had healed her, or at least had accelerated the healing process of her own body. “I think so. Yes.”

Roux nodded. “Then if what I think may have happened has indeed happened, you need to go to wherever it is you go in order to activate that healing. In fact, the longer you delay, the more you are in danger of losing your life.”

Annja frowned. “Why is that?”

“Because you’ve been poisoned, Annja.”

“Poisoned? She didn’t touch me.”

Roux shook his head. “Don’t misunderstand me. Hsusia didn’t do a thing to you. In fact, she warned you about it before it happened. But your exposure to the pearl has poisoned you just as it did those others. And the longer you linger here feeling sick, the more time the poison has to infect you.”

Annja lay back. Roux’s suggestion actually sounded appealing if only because she’d be able to sleep. “What sort of poison has infected me?”

Roux shook his head. “I’m not sure. I have a few theories on that, but I want to discuss them with Spier before I worry you too much. And we don’t have a lot of time to spare. I think you need to do this right away in order to maximize your chances of survival.”

“It’s that bad?”

“It might be,” Roux said.

“Okay.” Annja closed her eyes and Roux moved away from the cushions. She could hear him urging everyone to remain quiet while she rested.

Annja had wanted to tell Hans not to worry, but even as she closed her eyes, she could feel her body sinking into the deep meditative reservoir of personal energy that seemed to be a part of being the owner of the sword.

Annja floated through a gray haze and saw the sword hanging in front of her, suspended, as always, by some unseen force. The blade glowed with its usual dull gray light.

She found herself drawn to the light and as she approached, the light intensity grew stronger. Annja tried to block it out, but the light glowed through every part of her body. She could feel its rays piercing her skin, down to the most minute cellular level.

She remembered reading about supposed healers who visualized white light pouring through their bodies, healing the sick and infected areas. Was there truth to that, after all? Or was this just a function of the sword’s healing powers?

Annja didn’t know. But she drifted through a between-world for what seemed like hours while the light from the sword continued to pierce her through and through. At times, she could feel the energy moving up and down through her body. In a way it almost felt like she was being cleansed from the inside out.

Bizarre, she found herself thinking. She didn’t know exactly what was happening but she knew she should have faith in the power of the sword.

As the intensity increased, Annja felt her body temperature skyrocket. Sweat broke out all over her skin. She was drenched in it as more and more sweat spilled from her pores.

Her breathing came in hurried spurts. Her inhalations and exhalations fused together so there was no break in their timing.

And still the light from the sword grew even stronger. Annja felt as if she was being set on fire and in her mind’s eye she saw an image of flames licking their way up her body.

Just like Joan of Arc.

But were these actual memories? Or was her body simply offering up a visual comparison of what it was experiencing at that moment?

The sword started to vibrate, giving off a constant humming sound like a tuning fork that had been struck and left to vibrate in the air. Annja felt the sound waves puncture her body and cause it to vibrate then, as well.

She shuddered and shook and continued to sweat. The humming continued. The light shone ever brighter.

And then everything went dark.

“I
DON’T THINK
I ever want to watch something like that again.”

Annja’s eye cracked open. Roux hovered over her, grimacing. “Seriously, that was not a pretty sight.”

“This isn’t exactly my Sleeping Beauty dream playing out here, either, Roux. What happened? Where’s Hans?”

“He’s in the corner having a heated conversation with Mueller, Heinkel and Gottlieb.” Roux offered Annja some water. “How are you feeling?”

Annja sat up. She was tired, but she no longer felt sick. “Better, actually. Not one hundred percent, mind you, but a lot better than I was a few minutes ago.”

“You mean two hours ago,” Roux said.

Annja frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“You’ve been unconscious for two hours. It was all I could do to keep any of them from disturbing you.”

Annja glanced around. Spier smiled at her and then went back to studying the construction of the room they were in.

Annja looked back at Roux. “Two hours? Really?”

“Yes.” Roux mopped her forehead with a cool cloth. “I take it you achieved what I suggested?”

“I think so. It’s not something I seem to be able to control. More a matter of presenting myself and the sword seems to sense what needs doing.”

“Well, let’s hope it worked.”

“Let’s hope.” Annja took more water. “Have you given any more thought to what might have poisoned me?”

“I have. But I don’t know if this is the time to discuss it or not.”

“You said that before I went under.”

“I haven’t had much chance to talk it over with Spier. I’ve been tending to you. He’s been absorbed in the construction of this place. He seems fascinated by it. I don’t even think he wants the pearl any longer.”

“Really?”

“He hasn’t mentioned it. Much to the chagrin of Hans and the boys there. I think that’s what they’re discussing right now. They have been holding some sort of secret conversation since Spier started going on about how wonderful this place is. It’s all a bit much, if you ask me. He’s clearly lost his marbles.”

Hans came over and smiled at Annja. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better.”

Hans glared at Roux. “He would not let us help you when you appeared to be having a seizure.”

Annja held up her hand. “It’s okay, Hans. Roux knew what he was doing. You would have hurt me if you’d attempted anything while I was under.”

“This thing,” Hans said. “It happens a lot?”

“What—me being sick?”

“Yes.”

Annja smiled. “Hardly ever actually. I get colds like anyone else, of course. But serious stuff like this? Never.”

Hans nodded. “Good. That was not a pleasant sight to witness. I thought you might have been possessed by a demon.”

“Not yet.” Annja looked at Spier. “Is Joachim all right?”

Hans frowned. “He has become obsessed with this place. He no longer speaks of getting out of here. Nor of the pearl that we have traveled all the way around the world to find. I don’t think he cares about it any longer.”

“But you do,” Annja said. “You and the rest of the guys.”

Hans smiled. “We came here to find this pearl and we mean to do so. One way or another. To give up the quest now just because of the other things that have confronted us is not acceptable. We must have the pearl.”

“What’s so important about it?” Annja asked.

Hans leaned closer to her. “The pearl has the power to affect a great many people back in Germany. It has the power to right the wrongs of those who have forsaken their duty to the people.”

Annja shook her head. “You’re sounding a little bit like how I’d expect Roux to sound when he gets that maniacal look in his eyes.”

Hans frowned. “Don’t disregard what I say, Annja. You could help us obtain the pearl. You could be there when we use it.”

“Use it?”

Roux held up a hand to silence them. “Did you hear something?”

Annja strained to listen and then she heard the approaching sound. “I think we’re going to have some company any moment.”

The portal to the room slid back and one of Hsusia’s warriors strode into the chamber. “Annja, the queen would like me to inform you that the time of your battle has arrived. You are requested to follow me to the arena where you will fight. Your friends will also accompany us.”

Annja stood and stretched her arms above her head. She glanced at Roux. “Thanks for suggesting that rest. I could use a few hours more of sleep, but beggars can’t be choosers, I guess.”

Roux smiled. “My pleasure. I wish there was more time for you to recover.”

Annja walked to the front of the chamber and smiled at Hsusia’s warrior. “I will follow you.”

And together they walked out.