Nukledeus

Sumai was trying to follow Torgny; Torgny was trying not to leave Sumai behind. The red-orange glow that still dyed the night sky guided them towards their destination. They were worried about Nikodem, their horses could sense their unease and galloped as fast as possible.

Because of the great fire, everyone had to flee to the other side of the river. It had been a real stampede in every direction. But Nikodem had not fled, he had stayed over there, in the heart of the furnace. He was no longer the same Nikodem, since Olek's death.

Sumai did try to force him to leave, but Nikodem had knocked him out. Who would have guessed he was so strong! Luckily, Torgny had taken the unfortunate Sumai away to bring him to safety. They deserved a few hours rest. On the battlefield, a distraught Nikodem wandered aimlessly by himself, unconcerned about the blaze around him.

A while later, Sumai was back on his feet and he set off once again, with Torgny. Sure enough, it was safer to stick together in this area full of dangers. Riding past the last small hill, Torgny and Sumai stopped their horses. Two riders were waiting for them motionless. Friends or Enemies? It was hard to tell. The light from the distant flames was not enough and one could barely make out the silhouettes facing them. The sedentary tribe and the rest of their friends were coming, they were following closely, in all likelihood. With a hand signal, Torgny notified Sumai that they'd better stall and wait for the group, when a voice called out to them in the otherwise silent night.

"It's me, it's Olek".

It was definitely his voice. Torgny was overjoyed. Olek and the other rider got off their horses, and Torgny and Sumai followed suit. If he had hoped for great effusions, Torgny would have been disappointed but seeing Olek alive was so miraculous that he didn't know how to behave anyway. He was content with a hug that Olek reluctantly gave him as if this simple friendly contact cost him a great deal.

"Is Nikodem...dead?"

"Last I heard, he was alive and well, not far from the fire over there. We're going to find him."

Torgny concealed his concern behind an optimism that impressed his friend Sumai. Truth be told, their worries kept increasing by the minute and they felt so guilty to have left their friend when he was at his worst. How ironic! If Nikodem had agreed to follow them instead of fighting them, he would have reunited with Olek now.

The second rider then approached, hesitant. He said with a reedy voice, "My name is Sam and I am…"

A female voice, dry and razor-sharp, interrupted the young man.

"He is my brother."

The sedentary group had just arrived with Lana leading them, and had unexpectedly come across this place. She was now wearing clean and proper clothes and her demeanor and queen-like behavior made it clear that she was in charge, at least regarding the sedentary people. She got off her horse and, escorted by ten or so soldiers, joined the four youngsters who were still silent.

The disbelief that showed on Torgny's and Sumai's faces mirrored the great shock that petrified the dumbfounded Sam. The three young men stood gaping, truly speechless and unable to react. Only a few days before, young Olek would have burst out laughing. But it was already in the past, when he still unwittingly enjoyed a carefree and innocent life, shielded and sheltered attentively and unfailingly by his elder brother.

Right now, Olek didn't care about the current awkward situation, he only had one idea in mind: Nikodem was alive, perhaps in danger. Olek wanted to go looking for him. He was really raring to go now, and Torgny and Sumai quickly came to their senses. They didn't care about the bad relations between Lana and Sam. Their concern for Nikodem resurfaced, all the stronger now that they unexpectedly found Olek. They had to get back on track.

Lana's look toward her brother was filled with hatred and contempt. She clenched her teeth and fists while Sam delivered a speech in order to be accepted by his fellow tribesmen. Arrogance and hypocrisy oozed from every pore. Olek had a hard time recognizing the fearful young man who had set him free and had then eviscerated drugged men to eat their hearts raw. It seemed impossible to have such opposing and contradictory personalities, this man must have been crazy.

Lana, seeing the three friends get back in the saddle, faced away from her brother. She had to help Sumai, she owed him, and her duty came first. She straddled her horse while giving orders for Sam to be escorted and guarded until their father arrived. Sam was her prisoner until he could plead his case to the chief of the tribe.

The four riders left immediately. Watching his sister ride away, Sam swore that before long he would eat her heart with relish to avenge all the harm she had done to him. It was all her fault. If she had agreed to convert and worship the Sun God, he could have married her and ruled the tribe with her. But she said that she loathed this i.n.c.e.s.t, that he was truly a pervert. He had seen red and, the situation becoming beyond remedy, he had lost all control. Had he really slaughtered all these people? Whole families were murdered, as stated at his trial. He did not remember, yet he had been condemned and banished from the tribe for his greatest misfortune.

But now, his tribesmen seemed to waver, just one more push and they would follow him. Fratricidal or not, it didn't matter. He had to find a way to kill her. Then he would lead the tribe to conquer Ark City and destroy the false god Nukledeus. He would become a hero! Appeased, the Sun God would again bestow his blessings. No more divine wrath, no more drought.