The Heretic Land Read Online Free PDF Page A

were already swimming for shore, two of them striking out confidently for the rocky, violent coast, the others struggling in the surf. They thrashed against the water and went under when the large waves broke over them, just gathering themselves in time for the next wave.
    Something bobbed on the waves closer to the beach.
    ‘Don’t let go of me,’ Leki said, ‘and try not to swallow any water.’
    Bon nodded.They held hands. He only hoped the guards did not decide to cut off one of her limbs anyway, to try and disadvantage her.
    As they reached the railing, Bon glanced back. The guards were gathered behind them, smiling, unconcerned. The crew went about their business as if nothing was happening, but a couple glanced their way, faces drawn. Whether they were saddened at what they saw, or concerned that they needed to be underway, Bon would never know.
    The priest was also there. He stood at the back of the grouped prisoners, staring out past Bon at Skythe’s coast. His expression was unreadable. Bon wondered what he had done, or what beliefs or opinions had led to this, and suddenly he wanted to know more than anything. He tried to catch the priest’s eye. But the younger man seemed to see nothing.
    Nudged forward to climb the railing, he turned to look towards Skythe. Here was the island he had never thought he would see; the place that had fascinated Venden, and which had then become Bon’s curse. A land where a great civilisation had lived and died, and the disputed cause of its demise six centuries before was the reason he was here now. The Ald maintained that Skythe had launched an unprovoked attack south against Alderia, seeking dominance over that continent in the name of their heathen god Aeon. When their attack was countered by Alderian opposition, the Skythians unveiled their ultimate weapon – a plague, cultured from a distant Outer island and intended solely for war. It backfired, infecting tens of thousands of Skythians, driving them to a murderous frenzy. The Alderian story called these infected people Kolts, and they had destroyed their civilisation as the plague polluted their island and its surrounding waters. Alderia only survived because of the ocean between them – the Kolts were mindless with rage, and could not sail or swim.
    That was theofficial story, at least.
    And yet Bon had seen the evidence that refuted this account. Evidence that spoke of the Ald’s ancestors actually being the aggressors, attacking Skythe because of the physical manifestation of Skythe’s god, and destroying Aeon with forbidden magic. The Ald could not accept that their entire Fade religion was built upon falsehood, and so they set out to destroy the very thing that brought doubts upon it. Aeon died, and the murderous Kolts were the result.
    There was so much fear, rumour and obfuscation over that ancient war that Bon could not understand why more people did not question it. But he supposed fear itself was a great motivator.
    Leki touched his hand, and her skin was still warm. ‘We’ll go under,’ she said. ‘Hold your breath, exhale slowly through your nose. Don’t thrash or panic. It’ll be easier for me to swim underwater and pull you along.’
    ‘But the things in the water …’
    ‘We’re quite close to shore,’ she said uncertainly. ‘Quite.’
    ‘Just don’t forget I can’t hold my breath as long as you,’ Bon said.
    Leki kept her eyes on him as she dropped her trousers, and in one fluid motion lifted the jacket up and over her shoulders, leaving only her undergarments. He tried not to, but he could not help glancing at her heavy breasts, her flat stomach. His sudden thrill of desire was so out of place that he chuckled.
    ‘Welcome to Skythe,’ the lead guard said, and Bon felt a meaty hand strike him between the shoulders.
    They fell towards the angry Forsaken Sea, and as he struck the surface he squeezed Leki’s hand. The water closed over his head, flooding his mouth and nose and ears,