by Drew Wagar
She began her patterns, stepping, turning, blocking and punching, moving around the hall in a practiced fluid way.
She was sweating hard and short of breath by the time she had finished.
‘Quite impressive.’
Nerina stood at the door.
Kiri ignored her, continuing her routine. She moved up the hall and at each turn, shouted sharply, to indicate the end of a move.
Nerina was still there.
‘I’m allowed to practice, aren’t I?’ Kiri snapped, irritated.
Can’t you see I want to be alone?
‘I hear Rihanna and the others are still making your life difficult.’
Kiri missed her step and her rhythm was thrown out. She stopped. ‘Nothing new there.’
‘You sound angry.’
Kiri spun around. ‘Of course I’m angry! Rihanna … I just hate her! I hate them all.’
Nerina remained completely calm, hands folded in her gown. ‘Could you beat her? In a real fight?’
Kiri glared at her, summoning back a measure of control. ‘It’s not allowed, I’m told that often enough.’ Kiri laughed. ‘Otherwise one of us would already be dead.’ She put on a silly voice. ‘Don’t meet violence with violence! Shame Rihanna doesn’t listen!’
Nerina’s face was blank. ‘It’s a crime indeed. Punishable. But could you, if it came to that?’
Kiri frowned. ‘Maybe, I don’t know.’
Nerina walked across to her, a slight smile touching the edges of her lips. Kiri was suddenly aware that she was now just a little shorter than the enigmatic priestess.
How I’ve grown in the last few passes!
The good food provided within the temple had made such a difference.
Nerina interrupted her thoughts. ‘I hear you want to be a healer.’
Kiri nodded. ‘Yes. Like Charis. Being a healer would be …’
Nerina walked past her with complete disinterest. Kiri’s voice faded out in surprise. Nerina turned to look at her.
‘Regrettable that you would waste your talents.’
What?
‘Waste?’ Kiri frowned. ‘Healers are so few, they are necessary!’
‘There’s no doubt of that, but do you really consider that to be your calling? You have skill with the kai, with knives, with the sword and the bow …’
‘I do not want to be violent …’
Nerina gave a little snort.
‘You’re a natural fighter. You’ve killed out of necessity,’ she said. ‘Don’t you remember?’
Kiri looked at her in astonishment. ‘Choso? He fell … I don’t do that anymore.’
‘And you used the seeing then, didn’t you …’
Kiri held out her right hand, looking at it. She remembered it being outstretched, concentrating on Choso’s mind, recalling how he’d yelled out in pain. It seemed so easy … and yet …
‘I was desperate,’ Kiri said. ‘I wanted to escape and …’
‘You used it on Rihanna too,’ Nerina said, a faint smile playing around her lips. ‘You certainly alarmed her.’
‘But it’s wrong, that’s what Charis said …’
‘Charis says it’s wrong, but Charis isn’t everyone,’ Nerina replied. ‘Perhaps you could use this to your advantage. Have you considered that it may not be wrong at all?’
Kiri stopped, ‘I don’t understand. It’s against the law! We’re not allowed to …’
All our training seems to have been about how not to use the seeing. Charis and Merrin were furious when I used it on Rihanna …
Nerina walked across the hall and pulled one of the sparring posts across towards her. She stepped back and waved Kiri forward towards it.
‘Punch it,’ Nerina said.
‘You mean, sparring practice?’
‘No, I mean punch it, hit it.’ Nerina’s eyes narrowed. ‘Break it.’
Kiri looked at her in surprise. ‘But we’re not supposed to make contact.’
‘What is the point of learning a fighting art if you do not make contact?’
‘It’s only exercise, discipline. To help us master ourselves …’
‘It is that, but more.’ Nerina paused before walking around Kiri. Kiri remembered how Nerina had done that before at the Quisition. Finally she spoke again. ‘Have you heard of the sixth element?’
‘Sixth?’
But, there are only five elements …
Her expression must have shown her confusion. Nerina smiled. ‘Oh. Charis hasn’t told you, has she? Well, I don’t suggest you read about it, it’s not for the faint hearted. You’ll find Lacaille wants a people prepared, not a people afraid to fight. That’s what Merrin is always telling me.’ Kiri felt the sting of accusation.
‘I’m not afraid.’
Nerina stepped back and offered a small bow.
‘Prove it. Break it.’
Kiri turned and adopted her fighting stance, she punched the wooden post hard. ‘Hai!’
It hurt, the first two knuckles of her fist impacting on the post with a solid hammer-like sound, she winced.
‘Why are you stopping?’ Nerina demanded, her voice raised, louder and more imperious.
‘It hurts!’ Kiri complained.
‘Of course it hurts, this is a fight, not a dance. Break it.’
Kiri readied herself and punched again. ‘Hai!’
The pain was intense; she was unable to prevent a cry.
‘Don’t think. Act! Break it.’
‘Hai!’
‘Break it!’
‘Hai!’
‘Channel your aggression. Break it.’ Nerina was close now, shouting in her ear, her teeth bared.
‘Hai!’ Kiri gritted her teeth against the pain. It was excruciating.
‘Harder, fight. That post is your adversary. It is going to kill you.’
‘Hai!’
‘It is the source of your frustration. Break it.’
‘Hai!”
‘It is Choso, don’t let him fall, kill him first!”
‘Hai!’ Kiri was beyond the pain now, hitting powerfully, dangerously.
‘Harder. It’s Rihanna getting in your way. Break it!’
Kiri shouted a cry of rage and punched viciously. ‘Hai!’
‘Smash her face in. Kill her. Use your powers!’
Kiri hit furiously, the power of her punch magnified by her rage. The crisp metallic tang flooded her body. The post shattered, her fist going straight through it, snapping it in two. She staggered back, astonished and off balance. It was an inch thick plank and she’d broken it!
Nerina grabbed her outstretched arm, bringing Kiri’s fist towards her, inspecting it. The strength in the woman’s grip was astonishing. Kiri’s hand was bloodied, the skin cut and bruised. Kiri gasped, breathing hard. Her hand burned with pain as hot blood dribbled from her knuckles.
Nerina twisted Kiri’s face around with her other hand, ensuring their gazes locked to each other.
See? You mastered your pain and channelled your aggression. Few manage this. You have great potential. You have great power. You could be a great warrior!
Kiri was unable to respond. The pain was intense, but the rush of adrenaline and the pounding of her heart pushed her beyond it. She felt elated, strong, invincible.
‘But …’ she whispered. ‘I shouldn’t …’
Tell no one of this. I will have your promise.
Kiri tried to pull back, but Nerina’s grip was firm.
This is more important than you know! Promise!
There was pressure and pain around her head. Kiri struggled for a moment, but it was like a lock around her, practiced and secure. There was no escape.
I promise! I promise!
Nerina dropped Kiri’s arm and spoke normally, her voice whisper quiet as always.
‘Clean yourself. See to the wound.’
The priestess turned on her heel and strode away imperiously, leaving Kiri gasping for breath in the midst of the hall. She turned at the entrance and fixed Kiri
will a cool stare.
Kiri felt Nerina’s presence wrap around her mind.
A time is coming when these skills will be required. Learn. Keep secrets. Be watchful.
‘Did the other candids do this to you?’ Charis demanded the moment she saw Kiri’s bloodied hand.
‘No, it was my fault,’ Kiri stuttered. ‘I was trying one of the moves. I made a mistake …’
‘The choosing happens today – what were you thinking? Here let me wash it.’
Charis gently took Kiri’s hand. Concern, worry and sadness burst across the link between them. Kiri recoiled instinctively.
Why are you lying to me, Kiri? I thought we trusted each other.
Kiri pulled her hand away, shame brightening and flushing her cheeks.
‘I can’t …’
‘You can tell me anything, you know that by now.’
Kiri shook her head.
‘It’s the other candids, isn’t it? I can have you separated from them.’
Kiri didn’t answer, furious at a tear that dripped down her cheek. She trembled, trying to keep her emotions in check.
I can’t tell, she said not to …
‘I know they’ve been taunting you,’ Charis continued. ‘Trust me Kiri, they can be stopped. I will see to it.’
Kiri managed a small nod.
‘Then consider it done,’ Charis said, her tone cross. ‘You have as much right to be here as anyone else, Kiri. Never stop believing that. Be proud of what you’ve achieved.’
Kiri nodded again.
‘Now, let’s clean up this wound. Come.’
‘I tried,’ Kiri burst out. ‘I really did. I don’t want to fight, but they keep forcing me …’
‘I know. You’ve shown excellent restraint.’ Charis busied herself washing the wound.
‘There’s part of me that just wants to hurt them, break them, make them pay …’
Charis looked at her. ‘Yet it’s always your choice, Kiri. Remember that, no matter how we feel, we always have a choice.’
‘I don’t know if I’m strong enough for this,’ Kiri said. ‘What if I’m not chosen? What then?’
You will be chosen, I know it. Don’t let them win. Stay true to your promise. Don’t meet violence with violence. You will be such a wonderful healer. Yes?’
Kiri’s heart thumped.
Fight! Don’t fight! Too many promises! Warrior … healer …
Charis washed and bound up Kiri’s hand. Eventually satisfied with her work Charis signalled for her to stand.
‘Come, it is not long now.’
Crowds of people had gathered in the wide piazza that surrounded the temple, cordoned off away from the entrance by thick heavy ropes stained a dark purple and secured with gilded chains and buckles. Here and there were large flags, gently furling in the wind, with wide colourful sunbreaks erected to shade the wealthier citizens as they waited for the celebration to begin.
A trumpet sounded from the top of the temple itself. Kiri turned and saw three musicians standing fearlessly on one of the parapets, three trumpets held proudly aloft with ribbons and decorations flowing from them in the breeze. More notes sounded, a triumphant voluntary, inviting the assembled mass to move inside the temple. Cheers from the crowds echoed around her.
Kiri’s heart lurched. The choosing. This was it.
‘It’s time!’ Charis said. ‘Take your place, Kiri. Quickly, now.’
Kiri saw that Joyce, Jessie, Tasha, Sahria and Rihanna had lined up immediately, none had left a space for her so she joined at the back behind Tasha.
Charis’ eyes were glowing with the same excitement that Kiri was feeling. The priestesses took the lead, with the six candids just behind them. Guards moved some of the ropes aside and the mass of people slowly moved forward until they were approaching the entrance. Kiri was awed anew by the scale of the place. Even the door was imposing. Pootle had told her it was a hundred hands high and forty across. The simple numbers had meant little to her, but the sight of it was awe-inspiring. It was secured on huge hinges of wrought iron, with massive bolts driven though it to secure it to the wall. It was held in a huge stone arch, which was decorated with carvings, faces and representations of powerful priestesses from the past. One bolt was at eye level as they paused at the threshold, a massive lump of metal, as thick as her wrist. Above it a stone dach curled, looking back at her with empty eyes. The crowd moved forward.
The smell assaulted her nostrils as she stepped through. It was like ancient carpets and polish mixed with perfume. A strange heady combination, but it felt oddly appropriate. Then she blinked as she could hardly see anything. The inside of the temple looked almost pitch black, her eyes were drawn forward to a staggering stained glass obelisk at the far end of the interior space, which was glowing with light from the sun behind it. She realised the temple was carefully oriented so that Lacaille’s light would shine through and illuminate the interior in particular ways. Then she began to make out mirrors everywhere, hanging on massive wooden rosettes from the distant ceiling and placed all around the interior. There must have been thousands of them, just keeping them all clean would be a huge job. Light was reflected in all directions, with criss-crossing glowing beams forming a lattice work in the dusty air above her head.
As Kiri emerged from the entrance arch she found herself inside the temple, its true scale forcing a gasp from her. Huge pillars rose from the ground and scaled into the heights. Kiri had to crane her neck up to see that they met tens of feet above her head in lofty but delicate arches. She gasped again, as between those arches were huge murals depicting stories from the elements that Charis had introduced her to. The detail and colour was incredible, the images life-like and real. Kiri almost fancied that they moved. How could anyone have drawn and painted them up there a hundred feet from the ground? Surely this was the work of people beyond the ordinary.
And only five are pictured …
As they walked on Kiri saw row after row of wooden benches. Each held spaces for people to sit and Kiri could see a small pile of books in front of each seated position.
Real books for the commoners to use?
Looking down at her feet she was astonished to see more pictures alongside mosaics too. Beautifully decorated creatures were entwined with bold and proud priestesses picked out by their distinctive colours in a pageant of storytelling. Kiri would have loved to stop and admire it. It must have taken patient toil over hundreds of chimes just to do tiny sections and people were walking on it! How impressive must the dedication of these crafters have been to spend so much time on just the flooring!
Charis and Merrin stopped at a bench and then began to file down it. The Daine candids followed. Kiri ended up between Tasha and Sahria. Sahria cast an idle glance at Kiri and then made an exaggerated show of sniffing, wrinkling her nose and shuffling slightly away.
Kiri ignored her, concentrating on what was going on in the temple. She was pleased to be able to see almost everything from her position. The other people around them were taking their places too. Kiri found the bench quite uncomfortable; there were no cushions, just a hard wooden seat. Behind her more and more rows of candids were seating themselves, the buzz of muted nervous conversation rising around them.
Kiri continued to look around, seeing more detail everywhere she looked.
At the end of the central aisle, she could see a huge square stone monument with words inscribed on each of its four sides. Each word skilfully chiselled to perfection. Around some of the pillars there were carved animals and people. She found an angry looking cainar, fellins, hergs, marsips and a large number other animals including a huge gold winged creature she took for a dach, which appeared to be casting a sharp eye over the congregation from its lofty perch.
Not far in front of them was a wooden partition, which separated their area from even more interesting parts of the temple towards the front. Beyond this were more seats, presently unoccupied, but much more ornate and impressive than the one she was sitting o
n. Beyond that Kiri could make out a stone altar, draped with purple cloth edged with gold. Candles flickered along three sides accompanied by two huge stands with flames atop them, burning with a fierce blue actinic light.
Sitting behind the altar was a figure, small hunched and draped in a thick cowl. Who it might be Kiri couldn’t tell. The figure was completely still, Kiri wondered if it was a statue, dressed for the occasion.
Just then there was a heavy thumping echo from behind them. Kiri’s head spun around to see that the door in the archway had been closed and a small group of priestesses were bolting it.
A hush descended on the assembly. All attention turned to the front as conversation faded. Kiri looked forward to see what was happening. In front of the partition people began to file into the ornate benches, their robes flowing dark green, edged with cream and gold bands. She watched as young boys moved in to stand at the front, older ones behind, then young men and finally old fellows, their white beard immaculately trimmed. They all remained standing. Then more people came in. Girls and women, dressed in those same flowing robes, filed in to face the men from the opposite benches. For a moment the two groups stood, then on some unspoken signal they all sat down, in perfect synchronisation. Kiri was impressed, there was something simply appropriate about it. It was tidy, neat and respectful.
The temple choir … the only men allowed here …
Now the temple was in almost perfect silence. Kiri could hear people breathing, with the occasional half stifled cough. Nothing else seemed to be happening, but everyone was waiting. She held her breath, as the tension mounted.
What happens next?
She was almost startled out of wits when a huge rumble bellowed out in the silence. The most extraordinary noise filled the interior of the temple, echoing around. It was the temple organ, bigger than the houses outside, yet still contained within, it was bellowing out sound. Kiri felt some of the lower notes coming up through the floor, whilst the higher notes were almost shrill to her ears. In between though, a delightful melody was flowing, an inspiring tune that Kiri felt was announcing an arrival.