“What now?” Dalan whispered.
Without taking his eyes from Amiran’s chest, Faruz sighed. “I don’t know. We can’t leave him here, but I don’t know how we’ll get him up into a tree.”
Amiran’s shallow breaths turned to irregular gasps, and Faruz dropped to his knees beside him. “You can’t die! Do you hear me? We need you, your wife and son need you.”
Faruz grasped Amiran’s shoulder and shook hard. “Wake up!”
An eerie silence hovered over the moment.
“Amiran?” Faruz leaned in, a moment of concern turned dark. “Amiran, tell me you’re okay, boy.”
Amiran slid back into the mud, still, motionless.
“No,” Faruz shouted, shaking him again. “No, you have to be ok.”
A hand settled on Faruz's shoulder, and he peered up through his tears. Dalan stood behind him, flanked by Wayra and Hekma.
“He’s gone,” Dalan whispered.
Numb with shock and grief, Faruz stood, staring down at his friend’s body.
“What do we do with him?” Dalan said. “We can’t leave him here, and we don’t have anything to make a pyre.”
The ground beneath them shook, knocking Faruz’s trembling legs out from under him. He knelt beside his fallen comrade and glanced around at his friends.
“What was that?” Wayra asked, voice shaking.
“I don’t know,” Faruz said. He pushed to his feet as the ground shook again.
14
Nivaka
“Eddrick and Kiri of Nivaka, please come forward.” The spirit who had led them to the door drifted across the empty floor to the front of the assembled panel, gesturing for them to take that position. Eddrick clung to Kiri’s hand as he positioned himself in front of the spirits.
The tall spirit–the one who had ended the meeting the day before–leaned forward and glared at Eddrick.
“Well? What have you to say?”
Eddrick gulped and opened his mouth, but Agommi cut him off with a curt gesture.
“I will speak on behalf of these two.”
The ancient’s expression softened as he turned to Agommi.
“That is well. A wise choice, indeed.” His voice was a wisp of smoke nearly swallowed up by the cavernous space. Eddrick had to strain to make out the words. “What say you, then? Choose your words with care.”
“My son seeks the permission of the ancients to give advice to his living child. He would not act in a way to change the course of predetermined events, but only to inform his son of happenings beyond the forest.”
The six spirits exchanged looks, and the silence stretched on. Eddrick cast a panicked glance to Agommi, but his father gave a tiny shake of his head.
“A most unusual request.” A powdery spirit spoke, and all the others turned toward him. “Tell me, what advice would the young one give to the living?”
Again, Eddrick cleared his throat, and Agommi shot him a silencing glare.
“He would warn his son that his enemy does not follow the established rules. Perhaps it will make no difference. Perhaps it will allow the living to adjust his strategy and more effectively defend his home.”
“Interesting.” The word drew out. “And what rules does this enemy eschew?”
Agommi shifted and cleared his throat. “The enemy’s ancestral spirits have taken possession of the bodies of his warriors–”
“ENOUGH!” The shout reverberated through the room, echoing off the bare stone walls.
Eddrick jumped backward, away from the sound. He couldn’t tell which spirit had spoken.
“You speak of a grievous offense, indeed. Who is this enemy? And who are the ancestors?” The tall spirit’s voice shook with emotion.
Keeping his head bowed and hands clasped behind his back, Agommi took half a step forward.
“The enemy is Helak, of the Eastern Raksaso Mountain clan, though he has recently relocated to the Bagana Desert.”
An ancient spirit lifted out of his seat and floated above the broad podium for a breath. The spirit fixed Eddrick with a pupil-less stare. "And how do you know these things?" He drifted forward until Eddrick could feel his cold breath on his face.
With a sigh, Agommi dropped his eyes to the floor. “Due to the improbable strength they showed when they attacked and invaded our family’s village, my son and I have spent some time watching this enemy.”
At the incredulous looks on the faces of the ancients, the rest of his words came in a rush. “We have not interfered in any way; we have only watched. Our living relations know nothing of our activities or the things we have seen.”
An uncomfortable silence stretched, the air so tense Eddrick thought he should be sweating. They stood, waiting for the ancients to make the next move. The sunlight faded, and darkness fell upon the room and its occupants. When the light of the moons illuminated the space once more, the tall ancient moved through the podium to hover in front of Eddrick's small group. "We require more time to confer. You will return in two days' time for our decision."
The other spirits vanished, and as soon as the echo of the last word died against the stone walls, the tall spirit disappeared, as well.
Eddrick, Kiri, and Agommi made their way back to their assigned room in silence. When they were safely inside, Eddrick leaned against the door and slid down until he sat on the floor.
“What happened in there? I thought they had forgotten about us for a while.”
Agommi shook his head. “They don’t forget. They talk to each other without speaking, but I’ve never seen them keep at it for so long before. I…” He trailed off and drifted to the window. “I’m not sure it’s a good thing. We haven’t done anything wrong, but they don’t like anything that interrupts their routine, and this is not business as usual.”
“Well, what do we do now?” Eddrick tried to ignore the sick twisting of his gut and the wrenching disappointment. He had looked forward to seeing Aibek. He had never been away for such a long time before.
Pointing out the window, Agommi grinned. “All three moons are full. Why don’t we venture out into the city? There’s plenty of light.”
“Why? Everything looks exactly the same.” Eddrick frowned. “That’s why it took us so long to find this place when we got here!”
"That's just the magic; it's another layer of protection for the ancients. Come along; I'll show you how to see past it."
They wound through the maze of hallways until they reached the foyer. With a start, Eddrick realized he couldn’t tell which one led outside and which led back the way they had come, but Agommi moved forward with an easy confidence.
Kiri grabbed hold of her husband’s arm, and he placed his hand over hers. His father led them through the river of spirits–did it ever stop?–and into an open courtyard beyond. There, he stopped, turned, and pointed to the row of buildings they had just exited.
“What do you see?”
Eddrick scratched his head and tried to see something besides the row of identical grey stone buildings, but nothing happened.
“They’re all alike. A never-ending row of identical buildings.” He sighed and turned to examine the buildings on the other side of the courtyard.
“Close your eyes.”
Eddrick did.
“Now, look around without opening your eyes. Your sight will blind you. Trust your other senses, and you’ll see.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Kiri’s shrill exclamation echoed off the buildings, and Eddrick opened his eyes to see her face.
He tried to stifle a laugh at her dumbstruck expression, failed, and roared with mirth and suppressed anxiety. He had always loved the way her face displayed her every thought.
She glared at him before bursting into laughter.
Agommi waited quietly for them to regain control. When they stopped giggling, he returned their attention to the exercise.
“You already know how. It’s the same as talking to the forest. Use all of your senses, but close your eyes s
o they can’t deceive you.”
Eddrick closed his eyes and stretched his senses, exploring the sounds and smells of the city. A picture came into focus. It was a vibrant, colorful city. Most of the spirits dragged along with the current were an illusion, a part of the magic that protected the city. There were only a few real spirits in that melee, and those looked as lost as he had felt when they had first arrived.
Now, it was almost too easy. Every building shone with unique carvings illuminated by the light of the three moons above. Some were different colors, but most were shades of white or gray. Between them, small alleys lined with gleaming pebbles formed a maze of paths: shortcuts through the city.
Eddrick heard Kiri gasp. She must have figured it out, too. They stood there, soaking in every detail until the warmth of the sun touched his face.
Agommi cleared his throat. “We should go back inside, where they can find us if they have more questions.”
* * *
“Let me come with you to today’s meeting.” Tamyr hurried along the boardwalk beside Ahren. “I can help you step into the mayor’s role.”
“No. It was awkward enough when you tried to join in last time. According to the old rules, the meetings are open for citizens to watch, but you can only talk if the council asks.”
“But they never ask!” Tamyr’s voice rose in an irritated squeal, and Ahren cast a sideways glance.
“Why are you trying so hard to shove me into the mayoralty? I don’t want it.” She shook her head hard enough that her long white hair whipped her in the face. “The more I’ve learned about what the council does and what the mayor does, the less I want anything to do with any of it. I mean, sure, it sounds amazing and glamorous and all, but most of it is unbelievably boring.”
“But you could lead the whole village! And represent everyone at the Grand Council in Kainga.”
“I don’t want it.” The words came out as a low growl, and Tamyr stared at Ahren with wide, shock-filled eyes.
She threw her hands up. “All right, I get it. You don’t want it.”
Ahren hummed a quiet tune to calm herself as they proceeded toward the Meeting Hall. When they approached the low building, she stopped and faced Tamyr.
“Listen, I really appreciate your support, but I think it would be best if you didn’t come to today’s meeting.”
“What? Why?”
The hurt in Tamyr’s eyes almost made Ahren change her mind. Almost.
“I’m trying to convince them that they can trust me, and you make that hard. They still see you as Ahni’s friend, and I’m guilty by association.”
Mouth agape, Tamyr started to say something, but Ahren rushed on. “I still want to be friends, and we can spend time together any other time, but I need you to stay out of the council’s business, all right?”
"Fine, you win. I'll wait out here." With a jerk, she waved to the benches under the Pavilion. She dragged her feet along the wooden walk and dropped onto the nearest seat.
Ahren regarded her friend for a breath. She didn’t have time for Tamyr’s histrionics. Turning on her heel, she strode into the Meeting Hall. She would have plenty of time to soothe Tamyr’s hurt feelings later.
* * *
The meeting began with the normal business: minor disputes the mayor would usually settle, repairs needed and mundane messages received from neighboring villages. Soon enough, they moved on to the more difficult topics.
“The whole southeastern corner is starting to crumble.” Wayra’s father, Vitur, stood and paced behind the table. “We’ve lost four support trees at that end. If Faruz doesn’t return soon with the cure, I’m not sure he’ll have a village to come back to.”
“It’s not quite that bad,” Valasa soothed, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. Louder, he continued. “We have managed to shore up that corner with stored wood, but it’s a temporary fix. I’ll keep a close watch for any signs of compromise in the repairs.”
Zifa pressed a hand to her forehead. “Is there something we can do about the smell? Anything at all? I don’t know how much longer I can take these headaches.”
Valasa shook his head. "I'm doing everything I can. Come see me after the meeting, and I'll see if I have a tincture that will help."
Ahren watched her friend’s pale features as Valasa spoke. Would a tincture help her? Or would the strong liquid make things worse?
“Before you call an end to today’s meeting, there’s one more item that needs your attention.” Valasa walked to the center of the dais and turned his back to the few villagers who had come to watch. “Today, a hunting party was attacked in broad daylight. They returned home bloody, and their day’s catch was stolen.”
A gasp escaped Ahren’s lips, and she worked to control her reaction. “Who were the attackers?” She asked dully, though she knew the answer.
"Ground folk," Valasa whispered the words, and Wayra jumped up, his chair clattering to the floor behind him.
“We can’t stand for this! They’ve broken the treaty,” Vitur roared.
Valasa fixed him with a cool stare, and Wayra’s father righted his chair and sat back down.
“You’re right, they did break the treaty, but only because they believe we’ve endangered one of their own. The Queen has reported that an emrialk followed Aibek’s party several days back, and they haven’t been located since. I’m hoping they took to the trees to stay safe, but that’s all I know for sure.”
Bitter tears stung Ahren’s eyes. They had to be all right; they couldn’t be hurt!
Vitur’s voice choked, “How would the Queen know such a thing?”
“Her network is vast, and I suspect she speaks to the forest much as I do. I haven’t gotten much from it lately, though. Perhaps she has had better luck.”
“Has there been any word of Faruz?” Zifa kept her eyes on the table as she spoke.
“I’m sorry, but my information only comes from within the forest.” Valasa placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I’ll know once he’s back within the Tsari, but I have no way of knowing anything while he’s further north.”
“Well, I guess there’s nothing more for us to do here,” Vitur stood, rushed toward the door, and left before anyone else could respond.
The others filed slowly out of the large room, Ahren trailing behind. She didn’t want to face Tamyr right now. She needed time to process everything she’d learned, and to beg the forest to protect Aibek. They had to come home; the alternative was unthinkable.
* * *
Life in the village continued as if nothing had happened, though the rumors spread like wildfire. Ahren forced herself to maintain her normal routines. She wandered through the marketplace set up under the Pavilion’s peaked roof, looking for a new length of ribbon or lace or some trinket to spend her money on. She hadn’t had the will to set up her own booth.
“Ahren!”
She stood on tiptoe, cursing the fates that had left her so much shorter than all the other villagers and stretching to see who called her in the crowded Pavilion. Tamyr waved and pressed through the crowd toward her friend.
The washwoman started shouting over the din even before she reached Ahren. "I came as soon as I heard. Is it true? Is he dead?"
What could she say to that? Every time Ahren thought of Aibek being chased down by an emrialk, her heart twisted in her chest, and she had to work to catch her breath.
She realized Tamyr stared at her and forced a breathless answer.
“No, of course not. It’s just a rumor. They’ll be back any day now.”
She sounded desperate, clinging to a dim possibility, but she wasn’t ready to give him up for dead just yet. He had to come home.
“This is perfect!” Tamyr’s voice rose to a squeal of excitement at the end. “I couldn’t have done it better myself. Now, we just have to get you nominated, and you’ll be mayor before you know it.”
“Did you hear me?” She struggled to keep the hostility out of her tone. “I said it’s just a rumor
. He’s not dead.”
A gleeful laugh escaped Tamyr, and she patted Ahren on the head. "Of course, he is! The queen couldn't be wrong about something like this. She certainly wouldn't break the centuries-old treaty without good proof. Now, how do we present you as the best new mayor?"
Blood rushed into Ahren's face, and she counted to ten before she said anything. "You'll do no such thing. Aibek is not dead. He'll be home in time to make it to the Grand Council in Kainga in two weeks' time. My father will put an end to these rumors and everyone will settle down."
Tamyr cast a pitying glance toward Ahren, her smile fading. “Sure, he will. In the meantime, we should plan to make the most of this.”
"Why won't you listen to me?" Ahren screamed the words, causing several members of the crowd to turn and stare. "I do not want to be the mayor." Each word ground out between her clenched teeth.
Eyes wide, Tamyr stared at her friend. “You can’t be serious. This is what we’ve wanted since we found out he was coming here.”
“No, this is what you wanted, what Ahni wanted. I wanted someone local–I had Alija in mind–but then I saw how good Aibek is at it. He handles it like…like he trained for it, which he did. I don’t know who could do better.” She cut off as the tears threatened to choke her. She spun on her heel and rushed away from the energetic crowd.
She hurried south, away from the Pavilion and the buildings of The Square. Seeking the isolation of the farthest corners, she ran, hot rivulets of tears streaming down her cheeks. He couldn’t be dead. He had to be all right. Surely the queen had it wrong, and his team had escaped the danger of the emrialk. They were probably hiding along the river–they had headed that way, right?–where the trees couldn’t see them. They would be safe from emrialk and other such predators there. She made her way to an abandoned park and sank onto an intricately carved bench.
The Nivaka Chronicles Boxed Set Page 44