“Atanami, you must stop this madness!” Iktomi pleaded with the young queen. They had been arguing most of the morning in the queen’s private chamber within her temple. Now they were on the veranda overlooking Mordovan City. Iktomi kept his voice low, aware that they might now be overheard. Atanami didn’t seem bothered by this. The inhabitants of the city were going about their day. Some were pushing wooden carts. The aromas from cooking fires in low buildings made their way upward.
“Madness?” Atanami whirled on Iktomi, her robes flowing in the light breeze. “What we’ve had up until now is madness—tribes warring with each other, kidnapping members of the ruling families. Did you know I have been the target of many such attempts? Ever since I was little, I had no freedom to walk where I chose. I may have been a princess, but I felt like a prisoner. That was madness, and I will put an end to it.”
Iktomi sighed. He felt the truth of her words, and she was very persuasive. It also didn’t hurt that she was stunningly beautiful. She spoke fiercely, but Iktomi knew there was softness behind those dark brown eyes. Still, the more she continued down this reckless path, the more he feared for her, and for everyone else.
“It’s not up to you alone,” he said. “No one person can possibly know what’s best for everyone.”
She caressed his face, moving a curled strand of dark hair away from his eyes. “Yet here you are, telling me what is best. How could you know? You are an outsider.”
“That is true, I am not from here. And neither is that!” He pointed to the golden scepter resting against the banister. It had a bluish crystal embedded in a golden circle fixed to the end. “And what have you done to it? You have attached my wayfinding tool to the end. How is that possible? Those are two separate tools. They are not meant to work like that.”
“And yet it is like they were made to be together.” She smiled at him as she picked up the scepter. “It is seamless. The two have become one.” She caressed the smooth glassy orb of the amulet, which was encased in metal that matched the scepter perfectly. It looked as if it had always been part of it. “It answers to me now. It may not have been made here, but it most certainly belongs here.”
Atanami raised the scepter over her head and shot a stream of golden fire skyward. The citizens below gasped and ran for cover.
“Rallying the troops already, my lady?” A thin man dressed in a simple tunic approached them. He didn’t appear fazed by the scepter’s display.
“Tano! Where have you been?” asked Atanami. “I have been waiting for word about the merchants. I want them to move their shops to the bank of the river.”
“I have been tending to that task, my lady,” said Tano, bowing low. “There is still much to clean up after the…unfortunate stampede of bison. And some merchants are wary of setting up so close to the river.”
“They have nothing to fear. This city will never flood again,” said Atanami.
“My lady is wise and all-seeing,” said Tano. “Speaking of that, while this city may be safe, reports have come that some settlements downstream may be affected by high water. If it pleases my lady, I ask for leave to visit my home and see if my family is in need. I have not seen them for many years.”
“Soon, Tano, soon. I need you here at the moment.”
“My lady, you promised!”
“I said soon, Tano,” said Atanami, tiring of the exchange. “Now, go and see to those merchants. Enlist Arjon’s aid if you must. He surely needs something to do.”
Tano frowned at the mention of Arjon’s name. “This task calls for a diplomatic approach. Arjon would shove them all into the river if they resisted.”
“See? I told you. We need you here. Now, go. If I have to ask you again, I will not be pleased.”
“My lady’s kindness surpasses that of her father.” Tano bowed again and left.
“He annoys me greatly at times,” said Atanami. “He is right—my father would have flung him from a cliff for such insolence. Still, I do find him useful.”
“He fears for his family’s safety, Atanami. Can’t someone else see to the merchants?” asked Iktomi.
“He can go tomorrow with ten soldiers if he likes. See? I am generous with my loyal subjects.”
“He is loyal because he fears you.”
“You have much to learn about this place, my dear Iktomi. The lands beyond our borders are wild and lawless. Do you really think he would be happier elsewhere? He would come running back after a week if he survived.”
“I am learning, my dear Atanami. And I don’t always like what I am learning.”
“You should be glad! Look at what we have created together. Isn’t it wondrous? Mordovan City will be the envy of the entire world.”
Iktomi looked out over the city. With the aid of the scepter, he and Atanami had transformed it, as well as the landscape itself. He too, was amazed by the power the scepter held. The stone temple where they now stood had been made in a matter of days, built on top of the older, smaller temple.
“We have been careless, like children playing with fire,” he said. “We are lucky no one has been killed.”
“We can fix it,” said Atanami. “We can fix anything. We don’t even need the help of the fickle gods anymore.”
“Some people say that you are now a god.”
“And you want me to tell them that I am not.”
“I think that would be wise,” said Iktomi.
“Some people believed that my father was a god. He did nothing to dispel the myth. It was useful at times.”
“I am worried that you believe you are a god.”
“You are being ridiculous. And you worry too much. Do we not wield the power of the gods?”
Iktomi sighed. “When I hear you speak like that—”
“I know that I am not a god. I have you to remind me, after all. The people have many gods to pray to, to appease, to ask for good fortune or revenge. I will not take that away from them. But when those gods don’t answer their prayers, I hope they will remember who to thank for their prosperity and their safety. It will work out. You will see.”
“I hope you are right,” said Iktomi.
“I am right,” she said. “As for hope, the people have reason to hope for the first time in ages. They will have a better future than anyone who has walked the Earth before. They won’t have to pray for rain or for the hunters to be successful. Once they see what we can bring them, they will adore us. It will be paradise.”
Iktomi frowned. “Paradise—we don’t have such a word where I am from, yet somehow I grasp the meaning. It does sound nice…in theory.”
Should he tell her that he was worried the power she wielded would do more harm than good? That it may even destroy her? Or would she just wave him off? She seemed more and more determined and more and more enchanted by the power of the scepter.
“Remember, we are having dinner tonight with the Chieftains from the north,” said Atanami. “I would like you to wear something other than those outland clothes.”
“But these are my clothes,” said Iktomi. “I am comfortable in them.”
“I want you to wear Mordovan attire. You are one of us now.”
“All right, then. Just for tonight.”
* * *
By evening, the great stone temple had been lavishly decorated with banners and flowers and hanging baskets. Torches and fire pits glowed in the late summer evening, chasing away a chill that hinted at the coming autumn. A great feast had been prepared for the visiting chiefs and their dignitaries in an open courtyard. Musicians and dancers entertained them throughout the night. At the end of the meal, the chiefs raised their ceremonial staffs and pledged alliance with Atanami.
“That went well,” said Atanami to Iktomi afterward. “You see, I am uniting our lands.”
“They may have felt they had no choice but to stand with you after your demonstration with the scepter,” said Iktomi.
Atanami laughed. “They would be right. But they will come to see that an alliance is good for everyone.”
The chiefs had gone to their guest quarters in the temple. The royal staff were clearing the remnants of the feast.
“They pledged loyalty to you out of fear, just like Tano,” said Iktomi.
“Not this again. Must you find fault in every—”
“They are plotting against you!” said Iktomi sternly.
Atanami just smiled at this revelation. “I have been a princess my whole life. Someone is always plotting against me. What good are their plots now?” She patted the scepter.
“Come with me,” said Iktomi, his voice urgent.
“What?”
“Come away with me. We’ll leave tonight—right away.”
“And leave my realm? Are you out of your mind?” Atanami waved away the suggestion.
“They are coming for you now.”
“Who? Not Arjon?”
“No, no. He is blindly obedient. In fact, he may be in love with you.”
“Don’t be silly. Who, then?”
“I fear that if I tell you, you will hurt them. Or worse.”
Atanami was growing impatient. “And wouldn’t they deserve it if I did? Is it the priests?”
Iktomi looked away without answering.
“It is, then.” She dismissed this with a wave. “I will disband them and their tiresome religion. Useless gods and useless priests. Wait!” She stared hard at Iktomi. “How do you know what they are planning?”
Iktomi stood. “It’s not just them. They have help. I don’t know how many.” He held out his hand. “Please, let’s go. We can use the scepter to go to my home. I can show you things you can’t even imagine. Perhaps we can even return when things calm down.”
Atanami was on her feet now, circling Iktomi with the scepter in her hands.
“Why did you wait until now to tell me?”
“I thought I could convince you to change, but—”
“You are a liar!”
“No. Please, Atanami, I fear for your safety.”
Shouts came from a corridor behind them. The sound of fighting echoed off the stone walls. A large soldier emerged from the corridor at a run. He was dressed in a leather tunic and had many tattoos. When he reached Atanami, he knelt.
“Arjon!” she roared. “What is happening?”
“My lady,” said Arjon. “Those traitorous scum! They have broken through the ranks. There were not enough soldiers in place to hold them back. I will have their heads!”
“Let them come!” said Atanami. “They only rush toward their deaths.”
Tano emerged from another corridor. “My lady! I heard the noise. Is there a battle in the temple?”
“Like you don’t know, you cowering dog!” snarled Arjon. “What have you done, Tano?”
“Arjon, you are suspicious of everyone. Would I put myself in the path of danger if I were part of a conspiracy?”
“Yes, you would! Because you think you are so clever that no one would notice. My lady, I beg you, let me put an end to this sneak!” said Arjon. “I will give him a warrior’s death, even though he doesn’t deserve it.”
“Steady, Arjon. Tano still has my favor,” said Atanami. “But you, Iktomi—have you betrayed me?”
Arjon unsheathed a knife. “Let my blade find a happy home in his foul heart, my lady.”
“Brave Arjon, stay your hand. This is between him and me,” said Atanami.
“Betrayed you? What? No, I want to save you,” said Iktomi.
“You are a liar. A trickster. A shapeshifter, come to steal this!” She held up the scepter.
“Steal it? You only have it because of me. I see that I was foolish to let you come near it,” said Iktomi.
“And I was foolish to give you my heart. You want to save me? Ha! I have unlocked secrets not even you could guess. Save yourself!”
She pointed the scepter at Iktomi and hit him with a bolt of blue fire. When the smoke cleared, an eagle was standing in the spot where Iktomi had just been.
Iktomi tried to speak, but a piercing cry came out of his…beak? What had happened?
Arjon roared with laughter. Tano was left with his mouth hanging open.
“Well done, my queen,” said Arjon. “That is an improvement. I would have chosen a buzzard, though.” He threw his knife at the bird. Iktomi leaped into the air to dodge the throw and stayed there. At least he had the ability to fly.
What could he do now? Atanami was out of hand. There was no reasoning with her anymore. He had to get the scepter away from her. He hoped he could undo what she had done to him.
The sound of fighting grew louder and louder until the battle spilled out into the courtyard. Arjon’s soldiers were being pushed back by an assortment of Mordovan priests, townspeople, and soldiers from the visiting chieftains’ tribes.
Atanami spun to face the attackers. Arjon moved to protect her, but she pushed him aside. She leveled the scepter at the mob. Iktomi saw his chance. He swooped at her and ripped the scepter away with his talons, then flapped his wings, rising higher into the air. He was having trouble remaining aloft given the weight of the scepter.
Arrows whizzed past him. One of them hit the scepter, knocking it from his grasp. When it hit the ground, the amulet that had been Iktomi’s wayfinding device broke from the end, bounced twice, and separated from its metal housing. Priests pounced on the pieces and the scepter itself.
Iktomi settled on a ledge, trying to hide from the archers while maintaining a view of the courtyard. Arjon and his soldiers were greatly outnumbered. The other soldiers surrounded them, pointing spears, knives, and arrows at them.
One of the Mordovan priests stepped forward. “Bind them all, quickly,” he said. Soldiers tied up Atanami, Arjon, Tano, and the few of Arjon’s soldiers who remained. “You have brought dishonor on your father’s house, Atanami, by summoning dark magic and consorting with a demon. We will catch him as well, despite his transformation.”
“How dare you, Priest!” said Atanami. “I swear you will pay with blood and screams. I curse you all. Invaders from foreign lands are coming. I have foreseen them with their great wooden ships and fire-breathing spears. You will not be able to resist them. Only I can stop this!”
“Enough!” said the priest. “It is finished.”
“Release me now!” Atanami ordered the crowd. “Slay this traitor, and I will spare the rest of you.”
The priest who had picked up the crystal center of the amulet noticed that it had started to glow with a swirling blue light. He brought it forward and gave it to the head priest. The ground lurched beneath their feet as they tried to keep from falling down.
“Last chance, fools,” said Atanami, smiling. “Return that to me. I shall let you hunt the ‘demon’ for sport.”
The earthquake grew in intensity, knocking many of them to the ground.
“No! We must go now,” said the head priest. “Away from the temple. It is collapsing back into the underworld from which it came.”
The priests and their compatriots began to flee the temple, which had started to crumble around them.
“What about them?” said a soldier, indicating Atanami, Tano, Arjon, and his soldiers, who were still tied up.
“Leave them,” said the priest as he ran for his life.
Atanami! Iktomi shouted her name, but all that emerged from him was an eagle’s shrill call. He flew from the ledge and tried to untie Atanami, whose hands were bound behind her back, but not having had a beak for long, he wasn’t very good at using it yet.
“Ah, my beloved, is that you?” said Atanami. “I have cursed you, too. Now you will never leave this land. You will see the evils of men for yourself.”
Iktomi tugged harder at her bonds, but the temple was crashing down around them.
“Save yourself, outlander. It’s all you were ever going to do anyway,” said Atanami with a note of finality.
Iktomi looked up at the falling stones. He was going to be buried if he stayed. Survival instinct took over, and he flew as fast as he could, a stone column barely missing him as it collapsed. Higher and higher he flew. Looking down, he could see that the temple was nearly gone. There was no way any of them could escape. Feeling great anger at the head priest, he quickly scanned the area until he spotted him. He dive-bombed the priest, scratching at him with his talons. The priest fell to the ground. One of the soldiers almost caught Iktomi by throwing a blanket over him. There were too many of them; he was going to be captured. He rose into the air, outflying a barrage of arrows. He was high enough now that they couldn’t reach him. He caught snatches of their conversation—something about taking the pieces of the scepter east, north, and west and creating sentinels to guard them.
He flew away from Mordovan City, heading east.
He was alone.
There was no way home.
He was an eagle.
The temple was gone because the power that had created it had been disrupted. So why was he still an eagle? How long would that last? He didn’t know. He did know that he was hungry. What did eagles eat, anyway? Atanami was probably laughing at him still, thinking that he had much to learn.
