by H. M. Clarke
‘I am going to sleep as well Hauga. Will you keep an eye on Asnar?’
‘Yes Raga, though I don’t know what he can do here. Asnar is being treated like he is a stranger rather than one of their own.’
‘Even more reason not to trust him.’
‘Okay, cubs. I’m going to grab a nap.’
‘Yes, Cearc.’
Dearen rose from her chair and followed Lieutenant Peana to the row of bunk beds pushed against the far side of the room.
Peana flopped into a bed in the middle and Dearen laid down on the bed closest to her and within moments was sound asleep.
CHAPTER SEVEN
A GENTLE TAP AT THE door warned the occupants that the time they had been waiting for had arrived. It was time to meet the Council.
Tayme had woken not long before the soft knock and he had no idea how long he had slept for. He now sat up in bed, using the wall as a backrest and had been busy trying to wake Trar so he could have someone to talk to. A few bunks down, Kalena was just beginning to stir under her blankets. He caught himself watching her and quickly turned away. Hauga must have mentally woken her. Unable to stop himself, Tayme’s gaze slipped again to Kalena’s bed and his eyes hungrily drunk in the sight of her. Every time he looked at her, his feelings swirled around as if caught in a maelstrom. And when she went missing it was as if someone had cut his heart out and threw it in the mud. But now she was back, and Tayme knew that he was never going to let her out of his sight again. He loved her, had always loved her. Now, if only Kalena could remember him and what they once had... Tayme pulled his gaze away again. It did no good to torment himself. She had broken it off because as Hatar Kalar, they had no guaranteed future together. But now things had changed.
Hauga and Raga sat quietly together at the table. Hanton sat with them, the tracker was drawing on the table with a piece of charcoal with either Hauga or Raga making corrections. Hopefully, the stuff will wash off. The Pydarki might not take too kindly to their guests damaging their tables.
The rest of the Suenese were still asleep. Since Hanton was occupied it was up to him to wake Lieutenant Peana. Tayme sighed and swung his legs off of the bed. Luckily he had his shoes on otherwise his bare feet would feel the shock of the freezing cold floor seep through to the bone.
Moving around to the next occupied bed, Tayme bent to gently place a hand on the Lieutenants shoulder.
“Lieutenant Peana? Lieutenant?”
The Lieutenant’s eyes sprang open before Tayme had to shake him.
“Lieutenant, there is someone at the door.”
Peana looked up at him and then gave a nod. Tayme stepped back to give the man room to get up.
“Go get the door and see what they want.”
“Yes, Lieutenant.”
Tayme rose and let himself have a bit of a stretch as he walked across the room to open the door. Outside stood two young Pydarki. Both gave him a slight bow before the taller of the two spoke.
“The council is gathering. They will give you a short while to prepare and make yourself presentable. One of us will be back to escort you.”
Tayme gave them a brief nod as he replied.
“Thank you. We will be waiting.” He then politely closed the door and turned back to the room.
“We’d best get prepared. They’ll be ready for us soon.”
“Right then. Let’s get to it,” Peana said as he slid out of his bunk. “Dearen, you’d best get a wiggle on, after all, this is mostly your show.”
Tayme watched as Kalena yawned and ran a hand through her sleep tangled hair.
“You never know lieutenant, they may be able to tell you where your missing Captain has gone. If he’s passed through their land, then they have probably run across his tracks.”
The lieutenant just shrugged in response as he pulled on his jacket and started to button it.
“Dearen. I want you to reconsider what you are about to do.”
Tayme shifted his view to the Pydarki now sitting up in his bunk. The man did not look good. Still half asleep but with black smudges under his eyes and a gray pallor to his skin – he looked like he was rising from his grave.
Raga turned to look at the Pydarki with bared teeth. His implicit meaning was unmistakable.
“Asnar, our mind has not been changed from since we last talked about this. We are going to go to the council and ask for the help that you have promised us they will give.” Kalena stood up and stared hard at the Pydarki. “If you have been telling us the truth, then this should not worry you. Unless there is something you’re not telling us?”
The Pydarki glared at Kalena a moment before turning away from her. He gave her no reply.
“Then it is settled. Hauga, Raga, you can accompany me and help present our case. As Elder Council Members and Clan Leaders, you will need to present me as your Cearc. Then we can present our case for them to live up to the support they have promised us.”
The two Dymarki stood up from the table and in unison gave their Cearc a curt nod.
Tayme took this moment to move back to his bunk and finish dressing from the clothes and weapons he had left at the foot of his bed. He then poured himself a cup of water from the pitcher on the table.
“Kral and Hanton. You are to come with me. The rest of you, stay here and try to get what sleep you can.”
“Yes, Sir,” came from the men around them, and Tayme poured himself another drink.
“I wish those two had bought some food with them.”
Peana smiled. “You do think with your stomach don’t you?”
‘He’s got you there!’ Trar’s voice piped up in Tayme’s head. She was finally awake.
‘The council is here, we will be meeting them shortly.’
‘About time. You have been asleep for nearly six hours Kral.’
‘Really? No wonder I’m hungry. It’s breakfast time.’
Tayme heard a snigger come over the link and could not help but smile.
‘Is Adhamh awake?’
‘Not yet. He’s still curled up asleep. The Pydarki gave us several deer carcasses to eat and he ate well. I think he is still making up for not being able to eat while he was with the Arranians.’
‘How do you think things are between him and Kalena?’
There was a pause as Trar seemed to think over the question.
‘I think they are getting along well. Maybe not like they once were but they are talking together for long periods of time. Adhamh has said that she is starting to remember some of her past, but he has not been more forthcoming than that.’
‘That’s good news! That might mean Kalena will come back to Foxtern with us.’
‘Kral. Be realistic. She is no longer just a Hatar Kalar. She is now Cearc of the Dymarki. She just can’t put that aside and leave.’
‘But-‘
‘But nothing. She is a leader with people and families who depend on her. She just cannot pick up and leave them.’
‘What will happen if Suene declares outright war against the Dymarki? And since the Dymarki are claiming Suenese land in the Bhaglier Ranges, you just know they will.’
‘That is a fence she and us will have to climb when we come to it.’
‘So, no use worrying about the future when the present is calling for our attention?’
‘Yes. Don’t waste time worrying about something that may never happen.’
‘You are starting to sound more and more like Adhamh every day you fat old buzzard.’
‘I’ll tell him you think he’s a bad influence on me.’
Tayme started to snicker and quickly tried to cover it by taking a drink from his water cup. He glanced around the room and saw that the others were now as ready as they were going to be for this meeting.
‘Trar, everyone here is now ready to go. They should be back soon. Keep an ear out and see if you can listen through me at what happens and let me know what you think.’
‘Of course Kral.’
‘Thanks. Now we j
ust have to wait.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE HALL WAS LARGE and devoid of furnishings. The highly polished stone walls and floor reflected their images back at them as the group stood in the center of the cavernous room.
The only furniture were twelve chairs arranged in a row at the far end of the room and sitting upon them were twelve figures dressed in the traditional white suede of the Pydarki. Four of the figures were women, the sight of which made Dearen stare. And then she caught herself.
‘Don’t be stupid. Of course, there are female Pydarki. Just because no one speaks about them doesn’t mean they don’t exist.’
‘Females do not venture outside of their territory, but they are just as tough and fierce as the males.’ Adhamh’s voice slipped into her mind. ‘And remember. As strange as the female Pydarki look to you, you as the Dymarki Cearc will look strange to them.’
‘Very true Adhamh.’
The two groups stood next to each other with Dearen, Hauga, and Raga on one side and Lieutenant Peana, Tayme and Hanton on the other.
The Pydarki council showed no expression but Dearen got the impression that they were startled to see Dymarki and Bareskins mixed together, much less traveling with each other.
The young Pydarki who had guided them here stepped forward and bowed slightly to the twelve seated figures.
“The Suenese and the Dymarki have asked for an audience with you, and, as requested, I have bought them to present their messages to you.”
A woman with silvered hair seated near the center of the row nodded back at the youngster and then waved a hand, effectively shooing the boy away.
“Lieutenant. What business brings you to Daegarouf with a need to speak to the council?” the woman asked without much preamble.
Lieutenant Peana took a step forward and gave a rather stiff, and reluctant, bow.
“Lady, we are looking for one of our party who left us to come to Daegarouf. We are seeking news of him.”
The woman raised an eyebrow but gave no other response.
“We also wish to give warning that there may be an Arranian incursion into the Bhaglier Ranges.”
A man seated at the far end of the row nodded. “We have already seen some pass through.”
This response bought a low growl from Raga and Dearen gave him a mental nudge to have better control of himself.
Dearen saw the frown that passed briefly over Peana’s face before he composed himself. “But there is another’s business here that is more pressing than ours. We have traveled here with a small group of Dymarki who have a request to ask of you.”
The eyes of the council quickly switched from the bareskin side of the group to the Dymarki.
Lieutenant Peana took this moment to step back and Hauga took his cue to step forward.
‘I trust you can hear me?’ Hauga asked the twelve and they all nodded back to him. Hauga straightened and Rage stepped up beside him.
‘I am Hauga, son of Ghrista, Clan Chief of Mufista.’
‘I am Raga, son of Jorga, Clan Chief of Trisqa.’
Hauga’s whiskers flared as he tried to stifle a smile. Dearen could tell he was pleased that Raga now stood with him.
‘We are here to introduce our new Cearc-‘
“What happened to the previous Cearc? We understood her to be in excellent health,” said a man sitting to the left of the silver haired woman.
‘She was killed in an Arranian attack on Councilmeet. Clan leaders were also killed.’
Dearen noted that Hauga did not mention that one of those leaders was his father.
“Where is the new Cearc? We do not see another Dymarki with you?” asked the woman who spoke earlier.
‘She is here.’
Hauga and Raga moved apart to allow Dearen to step between them.
“I am Dearen of Clan Mufista, Cearc of the Dymarki.”
All eyes of the council fell on Dearen and she could see the surprise and shock mirrored on all their faces. Surely Asnar would have sent word back to Daegarouf of what had happened?
“A human rules the Dymarki?” the woman’s voice questioned them all.
“A Hatar Kalarthri no less,” said another of the council.
‘She is my adopted sister,’ Hauga said placing a hand on her shoulder.
‘And she avenged the death of the Cearc. The Claw of the West itself declared her Cearc,’ Raga said placing a hand on her other shoulder.
“This is an age of surprises it seems,” the Pydarki woman said, the surprise now blanked from her face. “If we had known that the Cearc was among you, we would not have housed you in the common quarters.”
“The quarters are adequate and comfortable and the hot food was most welcome,” Dearen replied. But she did not want to waste any more time with small talk.
“The Arranians are encroaching into territory once held by the Dymarki, they are encroaching into territory held by the Suenese and also into territory held by the Pydarki. They have killed both Dymarki and bareskin and they have most probably killed some of your own people. The Dymarki council have voted and decided to invoke the ancient treaty held between our two peoples, to ask for your aid against the northerners.”
Dearen paused and looked along the length of the seated Pydarki, trying to gauge their mood. But the twelve now gave nothing away, their faces as impassive as the stone walls around them.
The woman who had greeted them turned to look at Lieutenant Peana and the Suenese. The Lieutenant gave her a respectful bow. “We are here as observers only in respects to the Dymarki. But I will say that Arran has made repeated incursions into Suenese held territory. We also have reports of Arranian forces massing along our northern border. Daegarouf and the lands around it will be in the direct path of their attack if they choose to come across the border.”
The woman turned her gaze back to Dearen.
‘The Pydarki came and fought alongside us in the battlefield before the Great Exile. The Covenant that bound us then is still in force.’
Dearen glanced sidelong at Raga, hoping that his words were not aimed at antagonizing them. She wanted the Pydarki to join them because they wanted to, not because they were shamed into it.
“The Dymarki were exiled. The Pydarki were absorbed into the then Kingdom of Suene.” One of the seated men replied.
‘Have not the Pydarki promised to help us regain our lost territory?’
“Raga!” Dearen’s voice was low and hard and full of as much warning as she could layer it with. Raga took the rebuff and stepped back. She could feel his frustration and seething anger that the Pydarki seemed not to want to lift a finger in something that, if successful, would benefit them.
“We have given no such promise of help to the Dymarki. We welcomed you back to your ancestral homes but have not explicitly promised anything else.”
So what Dearen had begun to suspect was true. Asnar had been deceiving them. He had not been acting on behalf of the Pydarki leadership like he had implied, but for reasons of his own.
“Are you denying our request?”
Dearen’s voice rose into the silence. She had trusted Asnar. She would not make that mistake again.
The council members looked amongst themselves, obviously talking with each other. They then all turned as one to look at Dearen.
“Please allow us time to discuss this issue. We will send a messenger when we have come to a decision.”
Raga looked like he was about to let out an outburst, so Dearen reached back and placed a forceful hand on his arm to calm him. Antagonizing them will not help their cause.
“We will await your decision.”
Dearen bowed to the council and as if summoned from outside, the young Pydarki came back into the hall to escort them all back to their room.
CHAPTER NINE
ANGER AND BETRAYAL boiled into a hissing mix within Dearen, She could feel it’s pressure building within her as she followed the young Pydarki back to their room.
‘Is everything
alright?’
Adhamh’s voice popped into her head. He must be feeling her rolling emotions over the Krytal link the Hatar had told her about.
‘I’m fine Adhamh. I’m just disappointed in someone I thought was a friend.’
‘You’re talking about the Pydarki? Or just one Pydarki in particular?’
‘Just one.’
They had now arrived outside their room. Tayme turned to let her enter first but Dearen shook her head.
“You go ahead. I’ll come inside in a minute.”
The southerner gave her a strange look but followed Lieutenant Peana and Hanton inside.
‘Hauga, Raga, stay with me a moment.’
The two Dymarki stood beside her and they waited until the door closed on the others, giving them a semblance of privacy.
‘I want both your feelings on that meeting. I want to see if I’m reading too much into what just happened.’
Raga was the first to answer. His anger burning as hot as Dearen’s, though for a different meaning.
‘The Pydarki do not want to help us. They acted as if we were beneath their notice. Our so called ancient bonds of family and friendship did not hold up against the centuries our people have been away.’
Though angry, Raga’s words were not as one sided as Dearen thought they would be. She nodded and looked to Hauga.
‘The Pydarki did look like they were hedging. I am not pinning my hopes on help from that quarter.’
Dearen looked between the two.
‘So you both believe the Pydarki will refuse our request for help and break the Covenant between our people?’
Both cats nodded.
‘I too think the Pydarki were hedging their decision. But not for the reasons you gave Raga. I believe they are worried about the presence of the southerners. They are also beholden to them and are worried about going against their wishes.’
‘But this southern land of the bareskins did not exist when our Covenant was made,’ Raga countered.
‘Even so, it is what is affecting their decisions now. It would not surprise me if they want to observe the Suenese interaction with us to see if they were telling the truth about not getting involved in our affairs.’