Realms of Eden: Book 5: Hyak Anali

"Help me Enyalius," Aniki screamed when he saw his old friend running towards him. George Rahnti was right behind him. The big islander captain had watched Sydney and seen his gaze concentrated on his other fast bowler. George was a firm believer in the old Polynesian gods that had displaced the Christian one that had held sway over his people for as long as the Europeans had been visiting the island. Now he was a follower of Rangi and he believed devoutly that the ancient gods had come to the islands to help his people.

He saw the big bowler's face change and in the transformation he saw an ancient evil: snake predator! An ancient curse that had come to his people millennia ago and turned them into savages that bargained with the netherworld in blood and sacrifice. His mother, a follower of Nugua, had told him that she believed that the evil followers of Tu Matauenga had arisen from the underworld and were preparing the way for the ancient devourer of children. Now he was seeing it with his own eyes.

Sydney grasped Aniki into his big arms and the bowler gibbered into his face. "Can't hold on much more my brother," he gasped.

"It's ok Ani, I have you now. Let go Maru!" Sydney cried, his grip on the man firming.

A blinding blue glowing figure was suddenly beside the three big men and a spear touched Aniki at the back of his head. George gasped as a wriggling, hissing midnight black snake suddenly emerged from the man's skull and lunged at the woman in blue. Her shield flicked upwards and George almost fainted when the painted mongoose on the shield came alive and snapped its sharp teeth and powerful jaws. The snake blurred then became a roiling black smoke that the large rodent inhaled into its gaping mouth. "There is another Enyalius," the woman spoke quietly as her warrior lay his brother on the ground tenderly.

"Abraham?" questioned George as he spun back towards the pitch.

A large hand, encased in a batting glove grasped his biceps. "No George, Penny will handle it. This is her territory," Sydney told him. They watched the tall blue figure walk towards the now aggressively screaming other fast bowler that had begun to run at her.

"Rangi protect us all!" cried George as he watched his teammate turn into a huge spitting adder that struck directly at the suddenly dwarfed woman still brightly shining as she stood and waited.

The mongoose was too quick, too powerful and above all too big for the snake to find its intended target. Blue fire poured from the spear and the circlet of the unmoving woman as the mongoose's teeth, claws and jaws finished off the monster. When the two had finished, a man, his whites slightly torn and dirty, lay on the ground looking up at the beautiful woman above him. George ran to the woman's side as the man on the ground spoke, "Who are you?"

"I am Mafdet," said the woman softly. She turned to Sydney and touched him with her spear. A flashing green light poured from him into the staff and the ground was covered in mist.

George Rahnti had never seen such beautiful colours, nor had he ever felt so peaceful in the mist that surrounded him. "George," called Aniki.

Turning to the voice the big islander captain saw three ancient figures before him. The man that had called him stood as the proud warrior Maru. He was instantly recognisable to the rest of the team that had gathered around him. Many of them began to fall to their knees. "No!" yelled Maru, "I am not to be worshipped by you my brothers. I am here to protect you. Though it seems we have been outwitted by our ancient enemy."

The huge man with his shield, sword and silver armour chuckled as the man urged his teammates to stand tall before them. "Maru is right," he said in a deep rumble. "Today has seen some ugly reminders of the ancient past come to us. We must remain strong. However, for now we must also keep it from the people who watch us play this game of cricket." The players around him nodded in awed agreement.

"How shall we do that?" asked Brendan Stewart nervously.

"Easy," chuckled Clarry Van Spink, "we go back to our positions and let Mafdet clear the mist and it will seem like Sydney has just come to the wicket." The wise keeper turned his eyes to the warrior before him. "My Nanna used to tell me that Enyalius, Warlord of warlords, also had the power to command time and men's memories. Do you have that power my lord?" he asked quietly.

"That and more brave Periden!" stated Penny to the startled keeper. "You cannot hide from me, my old friend. I remember you kept more than wickets in your early lives. You kept the hordes at bay on the river barge for a night and a day with only your sword and a barge pike. I shall ensure that you have more support than a frightened twelve year old girl who could barely lift her sword to help you."

"She was a brave girl nevertheless. Taking many with her before she threw herself into the freezing flow carrying her would be rapists with her!" grinned the man. His hand reached out to the shining blue figure and their fingers touched briefly before Penny sighed and let them go.

The mist cleared and Sydney looked down the wicket to umpire Harry Clements, "Centre thanks Harry."

Chapter 3 – Visitors and Openings

Abraham Jefferson polished the ball against his groin and looked up with interest to the big dark haired man waiting for him at the other end of the wicket. A memory of the man standing blazing in silver and holding a large sword in his hand made him shake his head in a little confusion. Just play today, Abe, said a voice in his head, We will talk about what happened later. The tall rangy bowler smiled, his bright teeth showing behind his dark lips as he began his run in.

The ball whistled past Sydney's visor on his helmet as he rocked back from the bouncer. With a little nod at the bowler in his run through and the nod he received in reply told him that Abraham was back in the game.

For the next two hours Sydney and Jason took the islander attack apart. George bemoaned the single chance that had come their way from the edge of Jason's bat and disappeared through the gap between third slip and gully. He had had a man fielding there only two balls before.

Aniki ruffled Jason's hair as the two batsmen walked off for tea and gave Sydney a quick punch to the shoulder. "Well batted guys," he said as he moved off towards his teammates.

"Well fuck me!" exclaimed Jason. "The bastard has been trying to take my head off for the last three hours and he can still be so nice afterwards."

"Don't forget it matey," said Sydney softly, "the game is the game."

After tea Sydney and Jason cashed in on the lifeless pitch and flogged the bowling mercilessly. Clarry van Spink laughed when Sydney suggested that it was probably time for big George to have a bowl as he lifted Les Collins over the fence for his fourth six of the over to bring up his 150. Jason had already hit the first two balls for a six and a single.

With only a half hour left in the day George Rahnti took up the challenge. Standing back the eight or so paces that he seldom bowled off he examined the ball and saw that it was hopelessly scuffed. "Nothing to shine on this piece of crap," he muttered to himself. Jason was licking his lips in anticipation of plundering more runs when a piercing whistle came from the players' room behind him. Turning his head he saw Peter Bond waving at them to come in.

"Bugger," he said to himself as Sydney came down the wicket to congratulate him once again on his fine double century as they walked off the field to thunderous applause and cheering. The ground announcer was beside herself in describing the two batsmen as the best that anyone will ever see as the pair waved to the crowd as they made their way to the pavilion.

The Solomon Islands had to face eight overs to end the day and George and Glen were eagerly looking forward to knocking off a few runs of the generous 480 run target. George and his team believed it was generous as the Australians had scored almost 500 runs on a pitch that Willy described as lifeless as a Monday night strip joint. His humour and confidence cheered his team of players.

Despite the effort by Gareth, Barry, Joe Donnelly and Mike Brennan the openers never looked in trouble and they managed to knock almost fifty runs off the target. It certainly was a day for making hay while the sun shone.

Crowds of people still hung around the stadiums as the two teams, coaches and support staff warmed down and chatted out in the centre. George Rahnti never left Sydney's side as they did some slow laps of the ground in company with almost the entire staff. The only absentee from the running was Willy Jackson.

The colourful man stood in the middle of the pitch square and curiously rotated his body around as if he scanned the grounds for something. "Willy is also a shaman, Enyalius," said George quietly as they slowed their pace even more.

"Stanton didn't like shamans much," replied Sydney. "I have the shrunken head of one hanging from my belt. Of course he upset me by killing my mother."

"That was a long time ago, Sydney," said Kelsey beside him. Her breasts were still tingling and her nipples stood stiffly against her tight T-shirt. Big George grinned at her in a friendly but still lusty way. Kelsey blushed as she read his mind.

"Willy is a shaman of the old gods of the sea, Sydney," interjected Aniki. "He is a follower of Beltea, though he does not know her by that name. He believes she is called Thetis."

Chuckling, Sydney stopped and let the others gather around him, George, Kelsey and Aniki. "Thetis is Beltea's mother if I remember rightly," he said. "Thetis played with Poseidon and Zeus in her watery world. She was a sea-nymph!"

"But a very formidable one, Enyalius. She controlled two gods with only her pussy and looks. Imagine what she could have done had she been granted the powers that Beltea has!" exclaimed Bonnie.

Laughter surrounded Sydney and with a quiet word he bade the group to sit. "Willy, come and join us. I know that you already sense the battle that took place here today," he called to the colourfully dressed shaman.

Willy came over slowly to the group and at Sydney's insistence sat in the middle of the double circle of players. The old coach looked up to the stands and the sudden absence of any spectators in the stands. He turned to the large man sitting next to him. "Did you send them home, warrior, or did one of the others that I sense follow you like sheep after the shepherd, do it?" he asked. Sydney was not surprised that the man could sense the realm masters and the protectors around him. He himself had sensed them ever since Penny had dealt with the snake spirits. Now their presence was becoming palpably stronger, waiting for him to grant them permission to appear before the thirty odd players and support staff.

Closing his eyes he scanned the men and women around him. None of them appeared to be frightened about what may be revealed in this meeting of the strange entities that they had been seeing on and off for the past several years. In fact many of them were eager to learn what was happening in a world that seemed to be just on the edge of their consciousness. One entity in particular was extremely anxious to find out if his dreams and fears were real or whether his imagination had just been doing overtime.

"I suggest Enyalius that this group not be seen by any other eyes," whispered Nugua in his mind. He nodded his agreement. A mist surrounded the ground. Nothing penetrated it from the stands or the edges of the field. In its centre was a clear, bright space and here the players of the Solomon Islands and Australia met the entire force of otherworldly guardians that each somehow knew was protecting them at all times.

As the players gathered to one side, nine robed figures emerged from the mist and stood before them. Many of them could not help but drop to their knees or bow to the Realm Masters and Mistresses as they threw back their hoods as Kelsey quietly named each one.

Belenus, tall and coldly handsome. His smooth alabaster features broke into a rare smile as the realm master took in the eager faces of the men and women around him.

The bright face and rippling muscles of Ea caused an involuntary sigh of lust to escape Pamela Smith as the former sun god and Realm master of Art and Craft calmly surveyed the group. "I am pleased to be here to support Enyalius and his team. I hope that you will support him well in the battles to come."

Freyr and Freya stood side by side as they revealed their beautiful faces and full heads of pale hair. The bright eyes were mischievous and they grinned easily as the men and women around them shifted a little self-consciously as each found themselves aroused by the pair. Freya giggled, a soft throaty noise as she observed the faces of several of the Australian players turn red with embarrassment. "Yes gentlemen it is me you have been dreaming so lustily about," she said huskily.

"And me," squeaked Ceridwen, with a whimsical pout, in her sexy northern European accent. The red head gazed with intense interest at Dean Paulsen as he tried to hide from her view. "I see you Dean," she called, "my cuffs and collar still await your pleasure."

"I didn't mean to, like I never knew," stammered the young man.

Kelsey coughed softly to let him know that the Realm mistress of Fortune was only pulling his chain. "That little Irish bitch creams herself over what you might actually do to her, Dean," she said to the slightly shocked batsman. Dean's face though still flushed found a smile to return to the little woman that grinned openly at him.

Bacchus' red robes flapped as he deposited a large tub of drinks onto the ground in the centre of the circle. He reached into the ice filled container and retrieved several bottles of beer and began passing them around to the players. "Drink up," he said jovially, "there are a few shocks to come yet people. These might help!"

Looking at Sydney he reached into the tub and retrieved several bottles of wine cooler. Passing an open one to the warrior he asked softly, "Forgive me?"

"There was nothing to forgive my lord," said Sydney as he sipped the drink appreciatively. "It was a lesson I needed to learn. And you were right, I did find what I was missing."

Bacchus nodded and with a hearty laugh he wrapped his arm around a pretty woman that suddenly appeared by his side. Sally looked resplendent in her long gown of wine red and she batted her eyes sexily at the Realm master of Wine and Song as he produced his ubiquitous chair and sat with her on his lap.

The group of men and women, now armed with a bottle of beer or wine, sat on the ground as the leader of the realm master council introduced himself. "I am Jove," he said to the startled faces. "Yes I have lightning eyes and a thunder bolt in my armoury, but most importantly I am here! The battle ahead is going to be hard and from the little bit you saw today, full of surprises and danger.

"Retsam Elam is a dangerous and powerful force. He is older than I am, as old as my father. He, however, has not sprung from the hearts and souls of the people of this planet. Conceived in the cold dark of space the creature has no heart nor conscience. He will attempt to bring chaos and destruction here the likes of which has never been seen before."

He paused, catching and holding the eye of each of them for a few seconds before he continued. "You may well ask why he hates this planet so much." Many heads nodded around him.

"I will tell you when the rest of the crew are here," he said softly and reached for a flagon of mead from the tub in front of him and lifting it toasted the group around him. Bottles were lifted in response as Jove took a long swallow of his drink. Sydney observed that the ancient god appeared to be quite excited.

Quietly Jebidiah stood beside the man he helped bring into existence in the combining the equivalent of sperm and egg from the entities that could not otherwise have joined to create the mighty warrior. There was an immense feeling of pleasure within him, akin to the pleasure he felt when he gazed upon the naked and wanton form of his love, Lucinda. With a gentle nod he acknowledged those around him who saw him as Apollo.

Nugua arose from the place she had taken beside Willy Jackson. The colourfully dressed man's face was an open mask of lust as the extremely attractive woman that had been talking with him lifted herself gracefully from the ground. He watched her rump sway as she walked to the warrior and kissed him hotly on the lips. Many of the group chuckled and a few whistled as the big man wrapped his arms tightly around the universal goddess and lifted her slightly off her feet. Long legs wrapped around the man's hips, accentuating her feminine form as her skirt shifted higher on her hips.

"Not now you two," laughed Bonnie as she helped Kelsey disentangle the pair.

The nine realm masters, former gods and goddesses stood together as Sydney's brow furrowed slightly and in a cascade of colours his other wives joined him. The Australian team members, along with many of the Islanders, shivered as they observed first hand the powers of the terrific opening batsman. "My goodness Sydney!" exclaimed Simon Hunter, "I knew you could scan minds but to transport people as well! What the fuck else can you do?"

"Scan minds?" asked Peter Bond in an incredulous tone.

"Wait a minute, Simon," called Sydney, "there are a few others that need to hear what you are going to say."

"What the fuck!" exclaimed Jerome Adeane as he suddenly found himself standing among a group of men and women, many still dressed in cricket whites. Around him were smiles as he and the rest of his team and Kevin Ropati found themselves on a mist shrouded cricket field that looked nothing like the oval that they had been training on.

"Sorry gentlemen!" called Sydney, "but there is something about to be said here you need to hear."

"Where the fuck is here, Whirlwind?" screeched Rod Jamieson.

"The Solomon Islands man," grinned George as he handed out beers from the tub in front of him.

"Well fuck me dead!" exclaimed a few of the other Kiwi players as they took in many of the Australians and the Islanders that they had been battling in whites and colours over the past few seasons.

It took some time for the players to settle, but with the help of Nugua, Sydney was able to touch all of their minds and settle any feelings of panic. The soft probing and reassurances calmed them quickly and gentle reminders of incidents that had happened on and off the field made many aware that the feeling of something protecting them was now before their eyes.

"Why us Syd?" asked Roger Akoha. He was standing with his best mate Dean and Kelsey saw that many of the faces, Kiwi, Australian and Islander wore the same expression. All wanted to know why them. She shushed Sydney before he could open his mouth. The big man looked at her with some consternation.

"Jennifer, this is your world. I think you should provide the explanation," said Kelsey softly to her daughter.

Jennifer had already decided that it was her indeed her time to announce her intentions. She had taken a place where she could be seen by everyone. The petite woman let her body drift upwards from the ground and she stood proudly in the air as if she stood upon a stage. All eyes, including the realm masters were upon her. "Has everyone got a drink?" she asked and her soft lilt carried to all of the people surrounding her. Bacchus' hands waved and everyone found their hands full of bottles or glasses.

"Thank you Bacchus," the pretty girl said, then beckoned all of them to sit. There were delighted smiles and ohs as chairs appeared and the men and women took seats in comfort.