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A Legend of the Before People, of Elahu, the Chosen of Atelani

Elahu was free. Unconsciously, he shook the links that hung from his wrists. He would find a way to remove those later. For now, he was grateful that his captors had been foolish enough to compel his fellow unfortunates to forge them. The warriors of Ouentaku had thought it a grand joke to have their slaves put each other in chains, but the joke was on them: quite a few of the links had been poorly made and were consequently easy to sunder.

Elahu had heard rumors of such and eventually the gods had given him his chance. Ouentaku’s evil sister, Ouani, had decreed that the swamps east of Ti Anaki should be drained and filled. An enormous task, it was the first step in the Twins’ insane plan to build their immortal city of stone. Ouani’s murderous zeal drove architects, engineers, and laborers alike. The work had commenced in haste and both slaves and overseers were spread thin. Heads were not thinking clearly. Mistakes would be made.

Two strong bucks, captives like himself, stood on the sledge and shoveled stones into the baskets of those tasked with wading into the swamp. As Elahu presented his basket, he caught one of the buck’s eyes and motioned toward a particular link in the short length of chain that bound his wrists. Nodding slightly, the burly buck picked up an unusually large stone and feigned dropping it. In reality, he had propelled it with all his might on the exact place that Elahu had indicated.

The link had snapped. A smile flitted across the buck’s face as Elahu turned and made for the swamp. Careful to keep the broken chain from dangling in too obvious a manner, Elahu returned to the work site. And he kept on going.

Further and further out he waded, until he had strayed far enough to draw the attention of one of the few overseers present. Barking a curse, the warrior commanded Elahu to stop. As one deaf, Elahu plodded deeper into the morass. For a moment the overseer stood indecisive, hesitating. It would not be the first time a manacled captive had given in to despair and wandered off to be sucked into the foetid muck.

Elahu prayed that the guard would let him go, but the loud splashing behind him told him that his petition must go unanswered. Slaves, apparently, were becoming scarce enough to warrant recapture. Elahu stood still and when he judged his pursuer to be within reach, he dropped his basket. Then suddenly turning, he lashed out with the broken length of chain.

Months of pent-up rage and sorrow were in Elahu’s blow and as the improvised flail smashed into the overseer’s face, he stumbled and pitched sideways into the stagnant water. There he remained motionless. Reaching for the sword strapped to the fallen buck’s back, Elahu silently commended his soul to the gods.

Elahu shook his head; tabu had been broken. Freedom had come at a terrible price. As the Mighty Ones allowed, Ouani and Ouentaku would help him to pay it.

Description

A Legend of the Before People, of Elahu, the Chosen of Atelani

Elahu was free. Unconsciously, he shook the links that hung from his wrists. He would find a way to remove those later. For now, he was grateful that his captors had been foolish enough to compel his fellow unfortunates to forge them. The warriors of Ouentaku had thought it a grand joke to have their slaves put each other in chains, but the joke was on them: quite a few of the links had been poorly made and were consequently easy to sunder.

Elahu had heard rumors of such and eventually the gods had given him his chance. Ouentaku’s evil sister, Ouani, had decreed that the swamps east of Ti Anaki should be drained and filled. An enormous task, it was the first step in the Twins’ insane plan to build their immortal city of stone. Ouani’s murderous zeal drove architects, engineers, and laborers alike. The work had commenced in haste and both slaves and overseers were spread thin. Heads were not thinking clearly. Mistakes would be made.

Two strong bucks, captives like himself, stood on the sledge and shoveled stones into the baskets of those tasked with wading into the swamp. As Elahu presented his basket, he caught one of the buck’s eyes and motioned toward a particular link in the short length of chain that bound his wrists. Nodding slightly, the burly buck picked up an unusually large stone and feigned dropping it. In reality, he had propelled it with all his might on the exact place that Elahu had indicated.

The link had snapped. A smile flitted across the buck’s face as Elahu turned and made for the swamp. Careful to keep the broken chain from dangling in too obvious a manner, Elahu returned to the work site. And he kept on going.

Further and further out he waded, until he had strayed far enough to draw the attention of one of the few overseers present. Barking a curse, the warrior commanded Elahu to stop. As one deaf, Elahu plodded deeper into the morass. For a moment the overseer stood indecisive, hesitating. It would not be the first time a manacled captive had given in to despair and wandered off to be sucked into the foetid muck.

Elahu prayed that the guard would let him go, but the loud splashing behind him told him that his petition must go unanswered. Slaves, apparently, were becoming scarce enough to warrant recapture. Elahu stood still and when he judged his pursuer to be within reach, he dropped his basket. Then suddenly turning, he lashed out with the broken length of chain.

Months of pent-up rage and sorrow were in Elahu’s blow and as the improvised flail smashed into the overseer’s face, he stumbled and pitched sideways into the stagnant water. There he remained motionless. Reaching for the sword strapped to the fallen buck’s back, Elahu silently commended his soul to the gods.

Elahu shook his head; tabu had been broken. Freedom had come at a terrible price. As the Mighty Ones allowed, Ouani and Ouentaku would help him to pay it.