Just as he finished speaking, Ahren reached the platform, and Zifa rushed over to her friend. She stayed near Ahren for the rest of the afternoon.
As they walked back to the square, Ahren told the group the fairy had said she wasn’t sick. The tiny person had been injured by one of Helak’s men in another village when she was returning with a message for Valasa. Zifa wondered aloud if they had lost any critical information - or any fairies - that way. They discussed this possibility briefly but finished the walk in silence. It had been an eventful day. Faruz was pleased to see that Aibek and Dalan were in the den when he entered the house. He had a great deal to discuss with his friend but thought it would have to wait until they could be alone after supper.
* * *
Zifa came in with Ahren and stayed through the meal. It had been a very long time since they’d had a sleepover, and she thought it was time to resume the habit. The two friends left the men in the main room as soon as they finished eating and went to Ahren’s sitting room. They’d been best friends since they were toddlers, but they hadn’t had much time to themselves lately. Zifa led the way in and plopped down on the fluffy sofa in the center of the room. Her friend followed more slowly, pausing to close the door behind her before lowering herself to the armchair near the couch. They chatted amiably for a while about everything that had been happening, including the marriage of their two close friends.
Zifa sighed. “I wonder if I’ll ever get married.”
“I’m sure you will. It won’t be long before one of these buffoons realizes how gorgeous you are.”
Zifa laughed. “You’re right. Maybe one of the men coming from the other villages.”
“Or maybe one that’s already here,” Ahren hinted. At her friend’s confused look, she continued, “What about Faruz? I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
“He’s funny, but I don’t know if he’s even going to stay here. Honestly, I don’t think he knows what he’s going to do yet. I’m not willing to leave Nivaka, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
They both chuckled and talked some more about the local men, their strengths and foibles. After a while, Ahren remembered the trip some of the council members had taken today. “I wonder how the visit to Kasanto went.”
“I don’t know. No one said anything when we came in. I hope it went well. I feel really bad about the way things went in that meeting yesterday.”
Ahren looked incredulous. “Why would you feel bad about it? It wasn’t your fault Aibek tried to convince everyone to make nice with our enemies.”
“What?” Zifa frowned. “That’s not what happened. Your father told us a villager suggested we try to get the ground folk to help us, and we all voted. Aibek said he didn’t know enough to participate and didn’t debate or vote on it.”
Ahren fell back against the cushions and heaved an enormous sigh. “Oh. Why do I keep making myself look like a total fool where he’s concerned?”
“What do you mean? What happened?” Zifa prodded gently.
“I heard a group was going, and I assumed it was his fault. I got angry that he was putting my friends in danger, and I said something to him about it. He probably thinks I’m a complete idiot.”
Zifa tried to reassure her. “I doubt that. He probably thinks you’re concerned about your friends.” She paused as another thought occurred to her. “Speaking of friends, weren’t you getting pretty close to that Tamyr girl, before she got caught? You didn’t get involved in her scheming, did you?”
Ahren flushed and looked away. “Tamyr’s innocent. She didn’t stab Alija.”
“What about the rest? Wayra said she all but confessed to poisoning the council members’ bed linens. And what else is she planning? Tell me you haven’t gotten involved with her plans.” Zifa grabbed her friend’s shoulders and shook her gently.
“No, I haven’t been in on any of her plans,” Ahren parroted.
Zifa examined her friend’s face through narrowed eyes. They’d been friends for so long; she knew instinctively that Ahren was hiding something. “What’s really going on, Ahren? You’re not usually so quick to judge people.”
Ahren sat quietly for a moment, avoiding Zifa’s eyes. Eventually, she sighed. “I don’t know what to do anymore. My two groups of friends have opposite goals.”
“What do you mean?”
“You and the others are happy Tavan’s gone. You want to get on with the business of freedom, and enjoy governing ourselves.” She shook her head and looked out the window at the darkening sky. “But the others… Tamyr and Ahni and their friends aren’t happy—not even a little. Tavan had promised to make their lives better. They would be important. Now that he’s dead, they’re lost. They hope that Helak will come back and keep all of Tavan’s promises.”
Zifa worked to conceal her gasp of surprise. How was Ahni involved in this? Her family were prominent community members—her uncle had been one of the last council members and had been executed by Tavan during the invasion. Her father and grandfather were considered elders in the town and were treated with respect and deference by all of Nivaka. Zifa wanted to ask more about the girl’s involvement but was afraid to alienate her friend. Ahren wanted to do the right thing, Zifa was sure of that much. She just needed a nudge in the right direction.
Instead of pressing for more details, Zifa picked up a brush from the vanity and began to draw it through Ahren’s long, silky hair. They sat in silence for a long while, as Zifa brushed and braided her friend’s hair. Eventually, the conversation restarted, but the friends avoided any further mention of the council and Ahren’s other group of friends.
19
Preparations
Faruz watched the young women disappear down the hall, then turned and trailed after Aibek. He followed his friend into Aibek’s sitting room and dropped into one of the chairs near the hearth, reveling in the warmth of the small fire. He had too much to say to wait for morning, and he wanted to hear what had happened in Kasanto. The two friends talked late into the night, with Aibek relaying the tale of the trip to see the elf king and the dwarf queen, and Faruz telling of his afternoon at the fairy houses.
Eventually, the conversation slowed, and Faruz shifted uncomfortably in the well-cushioned chair.
“How long do you think I can stay here with you?" he mumbled. "I don’t know that I could ever go back to city life. How would I cope with the boredom?” He stood and paced in front of the dying fire.
Aibek started and stared at Faruz with a surprised expression. He recovered quickly. “You know I’d never throw you out—”
“I know you wouldn’t,” his friend interrupted, “but do you think I’ll wear out my welcome? I wasn’t really invited…”
“In the next week or two, we’ll move to the traditional mayoral home, and you can live there with me for as long as you please. I have to admit; I’m a little shocked. I thought this was all just a grand adventure for you before you went back to your life in the city.”
Faruz nodded. “I planned it that way, but this place and these people are amazing. I just can’t imagine leaving. I was thinking…” He trailed off, then tried again. “Well, I thought… maybe I could lead the Nivakan army. That way I could contribute something and not feel like I’m taking advantage of your hospitality.”
“That’s a great idea,” Aibek exclaimed with a huge grin. “I’ll present it to the council tomorrow and see what the others think. We plan to meet here before the town gathering in the afternoon. Let’s get some sleep for now. I’m exhausted.”
Aibek had been laying out his clothes for the next morning as he spoke and was ready for bed as soon as he'd finished.
* * *
The next morning began much the same as every other day since they had arrived in Nivaka, with the friends discussing their plans for the day over muffins, fruit, and famanc. A drizzling rain pattered against the window, and Faruz was thankful for the fire the servants had laid on the hearth.
While they ate, Aibek encour
aged his friend to stay nearby during the morning council meeting and told him they would likely invite him into the session to speak on his behalf about the idea of his becoming the captain of the still-to-be-formed Nivakan army. Serik thought it was an excellent idea. He said it would give the warriors some much-needed leadership, and would also give Faruz a purpose in the village. They finished their breakfast in a rush when they realized the dimness of the rain had made it seem earlier than it was, then headed downstairs to join the family.
Within a short time, the rest of the council arrived, soggy from the rain, and discarded their thick leather boots at the door before they climbed to the small room upstairs for their meeting. Faruz waited in a cramped sitting room near their meeting space and stared at the rain outside the window while he waited anxiously to be called in. He knew it could be a long wait; they had to discuss yesterday’s unsuccessful visit to Kasanto before Aibek would bring up the possibility of his assignment.
Meanwhile, the meeting got underway with a detailed report of yesterday’s visit. Everyone who had gone contributed to the discussion and those who had stayed behind expressed regret they had missed the opportunity, at least until Kai told of his whispered admission that he thought they were wasting their time and the queen’s response.
Zifa was outraged. She struggled to keep her seat when she shouted, “How dare she criticize you like that? Sure, you shouldn’t have said that out loud, but she certainly shouldn’t have pointed it out to everyone!”
Aibek, concerned that the meeting might be sidetracked by a discussion of shoulds and should nots, tried to regain the attention of his friends.
His voice was stern as he spoke, “Poor manners were displayed by both sides until our hosts called an end to the meeting. Serik and I will return to Kasanto tomorrow to try again to win their support, but for now, we need to make plans for this afternoon’s town meeting.”
This speech succeeded in decreasing the rising tensions in the room and the meeting continued in a calmer mood. They discussed in depth the plans that needed to be made and what needed to be accomplished before the arrival of their anticipated visitors from the other villages. At the end of this discussion, the mayor finally felt the time was right to bring up his friend.
“I have one more item for the council to consider before we break for our meal.” He ignored the knot of anxiety in his stomach. “You all know Faruz, who came with me from Xona. It has been suggested that he would be an excellent candidate to organize and help train our warriors. What would you all think of naming him the captain of our army?”
Wayra spoke first. “I’ve been sparring with him for weeks. He’s an excellent swordsman and an even better teacher. I can’t think of anyone better to turn our fighters into an army.”
Alija looked doubtful. “What are his qualifications? I know you were both studying to be military officers, but should we accept a student as our captain? Is he ready for such a big responsibility?”
The mayor declined to answer the question but said that the best person to answer it would be the person it most concerned. He suggested calling Faruz into the meeting from the other room, and the others agreed that he should be included in this conversation. They brought Faruz into the room and briefed him on the discussion.
Almost immediately, Zifa repeated the last question to Faruz. “We’ve all heard that you were a student at the military academy in Xona. As a student, are you ready to lead our warriors? What makes you more qualified to lead than locals like Alija, who participated in the attack that freed us?”
Faruz had expected this question and had prepared for it. “You’re quite right; I was a student at the academy when I left the city, less than a year from my graduation date.” He took a deep breath and shifted his weight to his other foot. “That said, I’ve led several teams in the mountains, where I taught villagers how to defend themselves from raiders who had been pillaging their homes. I have the schooling and the experience of how to turn individual fighters into a unified force.”
He paused and looked around at the council members and took a deep breath.
“Besides all that, I’ve really come to love this village and the people here. I plan to stay long after the battle is over, and I want to do all I can to help.”
Wayra nodded. “Well said, my friend. It has been wonderful to train with you.”
Valasa, who had been silent up to now, asked if the council was ready for a vote, and when everyone indicated they had made a decision, asked Faruz to step out of the room.
He did as requested, and Alija stood to address the council before the voting could begin. “Since Zifa mentioned it, I want to be clear: I have no desire to lead our army. I had no problem helping my best friends get rid of the governors, but leading the whole fighting force is a very different thing. Please don’t turn down an excellent candidate because of me.”
The Gadonu asked if anyone else had anything to say, then began the voting process. It was unanimous; Faruz would be the new captain of the Nivakan army. He was brought back into the room and congratulated on his new position, then the group broke for lunch and planned to reconvene at the Meeting Hall. Aibek hoped the villagers would come out in the cold, drizzly weather.
He needn’t have worried. Eager Villagers packed the Meeting Hall, filling every seat. The council members took their places at the front of the room, and Valasa called the meeting to order.
Kai gave the citizens a brief rundown of the events of the previous two days, though he deliberately omitted any mention of Alija’s stabbing and the prisoner, then announced that help would be coming from their neighboring villages. Finally, he added that they were attempting to bargain with their neighbors on the ground. When grumbles went through the crowd, he reminded them that they needed all the help they could get.
“We’re not in a position to turn down assistance from anyone,” he reminded the villagers. “We all want to keep our freedom, and that may mean swallowing our pride and asking for help where we can get it.”
Aibek listened intently as the council members relayed the plans they had made to the villagers. Though they heard a few complaints and concerns, the overwhelming majority voiced their support of the council.
Once they'd explained all of their plans for the reunion celebration, Aibek stood at the center of the dais and shouted over the growing noise, “I know you’ve all been considering your roles in our freedom.” When the citizens settled into silence to hear the mayor, he continued. “Immediately following this meeting, we will hold sign-ups for our fighting force, our own army. We need as many men and women as we can get to help us fight for our homes.”
The villagers looked around at each other, exclaiming at the announcement that women would fight, but Aibek didn’t pause to hear them.
“Those who wish to evacuate before the battle should meet with Serik at the left side of the building, while those who wish to enlist in our militia are meeting on the right side. The captain of the army will be Faruz, who comes to us with a great deal of experience from the Xona Military Academy. Thank you all for coming. Please make your way to the tables to sign up to fight or to evacuate.”
Even before he had finished speaking, the villagers stood and began moving toward the tables set up next to the large outer doors. The majority moved to the right, with only a few individuals showing an interest in evacuation.
They spent the rest of the day recording the names and talents of the individuals who would form the army and deciding how to organize them into a functional fighting force. No one willing to fight was turned away, and only the elderly, frail, and women with small children expressed any interest in evacuating. Aibek was thrilled to see such a show of support for the village, and hoped their enthusiasm would last through the difficult days ahead.
* * *
The next morning, Faruz watched as the villagers arrived in groups to the designated areas within the Pavilion. The council members waited at tables lining the far side of the space, re
ady to issue the new warriors weapons and assign each one to an area to begin training. Most of the women were sent to the dais to meet with Zifa, so she could teach them how to fight while maintaining their feminine modesty. Faruz had laughed at Wayra when he’d made that suggestion, but had ultimately agreed that some instruction could be helpful. Still, he suspected Zifa would merely tell the women to wear pants for training and battle.
They divided the men according to the talents and interests they had declared yesterday. They formed groups for archery, swordsmen, and other types of weapons, such as spears, axes, hatchets, and daggers. Immediately following the meeting, the citizens broke into smaller groups to begin training. Faruz moved between the groups of swordsmen, and the other council members led the archers and other groups.
* * *
While Faruz was building the beginning of an army, Aibek and Serik left the village at dawn to try again to win the support of the ground folk. They followed their guide to the same room as before, but their hosts had removed the large table. In its place were several comfortable-looking chairs that matched the colors of the autumn leaves outside. The two friends lingered in the doorway until Idril gestured for them to continue into the room. She sat in an elevated red leather chair.
“Please, have a seat. We will discuss your proposal.”
Aibek tried to suppress the anxious fluttering in his gut as he left his place near the door and sank into one of the smaller chairs arranged near Idril. As they settled into their seats, Turan strode into the room and seated himself in an empty chair beside the Dwarf Queen. Today, they both dressed simply in shades of brown and green.
The Elf King abruptly broke the silence. “We have some questions about what it is you want from us.”
The Nivaka Chronicles Boxed Set Page 22