by H. M. Clarke
She is Kalena Tsarland, Hatar Kalarthri, and partner to Adhamhma’al’mearan.
But she is also Dearen of Clan Mufista, Cearc of the Dymarki and sister to Hauga.
She remembered it all.
CHAPTER TWO
The pain and buzzing were suddenly gone. She pried open her eyelids and slowly released her head from her hands. Her body felt…normal. Her head was now filled with memories, from sitting in the tall trees along the steep cliff where she was born to growing up alongside Adhamh, Tayme, and Trar at Darkon.
“Kalena, can you hear me? What’s happening?”
Tayme was beside her, one hand rubbing her arm, the other brushing long locks of her hair away from her face. She turned and looked at him, but could still feel Hauga’s warm hand resting gently on her shoulder. To her, they were the two aspects of her life, precariously balanced and still unsure how to treat the other.
‘Hauga, the Southerners were telling the truth. I am Kalena. But I am also Dearen, and Dearen is who the Dymarki need now. Kalena will have to wait.’
‘Dearen-‘
‘Did you hear me?’ Kalena coldly cut him off.
A pause, then, ‘Yes, Cearc.’
Satisfied, Dearen then sort out another mind before talking to Tayme.
‘Adhamh, are you okay? Something just happened to me and I heard you call out.’
Silence, and then, ‘I’m fine. Now. The pain…it was excruciating. Like someone pouring boiling hot oil over every nerve and bone in my body. And then it was gone.’
‘I think it was our Krytal crystals. You say they are linked right? Well, now I know they are. I have my memory back and it was the Krytal crystals that got it back for me.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘My memories were locked away behind a barrier. The power from the Krytal freed them.’
‘You now remember who you were? You now remember me?’
‘Yes.’
Dearen could feel Adhamh’s grin across the mental link and she now realized how much she had unknowingly missed him.
‘So that would mean that whoever was powerful enough to knock us from the sky that day, also placed a barrier in your mind to make you forget who you are?’
‘So it seems. And seeing as how Asnar has been lying to me since I awoke in that cave, I have a feeling that it was him and his secret group of cronies that were involved.’
‘That would suggest that they were targeting you Kalena.’
Adhamh’s words sunk hard and heavy into her mind.
‘They were targeting us Adhamh. They knew that once they had me that they would have you as well.’
‘Look at how predictable I must be.’
‘You’re a well know stickler for rules and are as loyal to the core to your friends Adhamh, you should not be surprised that someone would think you would want to save one of them?’
Adhamh did not reply but gave a mental nod.
‘That then begs the question…what is so special about us?’
“Dearen!” The shaking on her shoulder grew more insistent and Dearen broke her connection to Adhamh to glare at Tayme’s warm, tight grip on her shoulder.
“Are you okay? Trar is telling me not to worry but-“
“Then you should listen to your Hatar,” Dearen snapped. But then she relented when she saw the hurt that flashed across Tayme’s face. She let her frown flow into a smile. “I was talking to Hauga and Adhamh. I can remember again. I remember who I was.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Dearen rose from her chair and threw her arms around Tayme’s neck and pulled him to her in a tight bear hug. She felt his body stiffen in shock, then it slowly relaxed as he exhaled, his warm breath making the hair above her ear flutter.
“It’s good to have you back Kalena.” Tayme then abruptly pulled away from her to arm’s length and looked at her shrewdly with brown eyes. “But Adhamh said not to rush things. He specifically told Trar to remind me to keep my big mouth shut.”
“Until I am ready to talk about it. And I am ready now.” Dearen smiled at him again, trying to reassure him that everything was all right. At least, she hoped it looked like a smile.
It must have because Tayme smiled back at her and that silly grin was reflected in the rest of his face, especially his eyes. They sparkled when he was happy, yet another trait she now recognized.
“Please keep calling me Dearen. At least for the time being. It will make everyone’s life easier if you do.”
‘Dearen, we have a visitor.’
Hauga’s voice cut into Dearen’s mind and she held up a hand to forestall Tayme’s answer as she turned her head to look at the cat.
‘What do you mean? There’s no one here-‘
Just as Dearen finished her thought, there was a soft tap at the door. Hauga flicked his black-tipped ears in smug satisfaction.
‘You heard them didn’t you?’
‘And smell them. Some of the Pydarki do not wash their leathers. They need to let themselves run free more often.’
‘I hope you’re not saying they get naked are you?’
‘By the Lord of the West Winds, No. I wouldn’t curse that sight on anyone.’ Hauga’s light tone made Dearen relax the tightness she found between her shoulder blades. No matter what she had told Hauga earlier, she had been worried that her restored memories might change things between them.
‘You said Pydarki? I take it it’s not Asnar then?’
Hauga gave her a single shake of his head. ‘If he was out there, then Raga would be as well.’
Speaking of Raga…
“Raga, you’re closest to the door, please see who is there?”
‘If I must.’ The clan chief rose slowly from the table with what can only be described as a sour expression as his lips curled up in distaste showing his fangs to good effect.
‘Dearen-‘
‘Shush Hauga. I trust Raga not to rip the throat out of every Pydarki he meets.’
‘Except for Asnar.’
‘Yes, expect for Asnar.’
Dalon Peana used a long finger to mark his spot in the book he was reading and sat up straighter in his reclined position on his bed as he watched the door.
Raga, his tufted ears pressed down firmly against his head, placed a large, furred hand on the door handle and opened it to reveal the young Pydarki again waiting in the corridor.
The young man’s eyes widened at the sight of Raga’s bared teeth, but the emotion was gone as soon as Dearen noticed it. The man’s eyes then scanned the room, quickly coming to rest on her.
“I bring a message to Cearc Dearen from the Pydarki Council,” he said quickly fishing a large folded piece of paper from a pouch on his belt and holding it up before him.
Dearen raised a hand and waved him forward and Raga stepped aside to allow the Pydarki to enter.
“I bring a message from the Council,” he repeated as he stopped before her and bowed with the message held reverently before him.
“I thank you. I hope it bears good news.”
A hiss from the door told Dearen that Raga did not believe so. ‘You never know Raga, they may surprise you.’
The Clan Chief snorted but remained silent.
Dearen smiled and took the message from the man. He immediately straightened and stepped away from her. The paper was heavyweight and looked well-made and was sealed with a large green wax seal with a stylized imprint of Daegarouf pressed into it. It was very official looking for a treaty denial. She could feel all eyes in the room watching her, waiting to see what the council’s reply would be. Dearen ran her thumb under the paper’s leading edge and cracked open the seal.
Opening the paper, she saw that it had been written in three different languages, two of which she did not recognize, in a very neat flowing script. Her eyes skipped down to what she recognized and Dearen began to read.
‘Well?’ Hauga asked after a moment’s hesitation. Dearen knew that he was trying to preempt Raga’s angry reaction.
“Just hold on, give me time to read it properly,” Dearen replied without taking her eyes from the document. Her eyes slipped up to read the passage again and a spark of excitement began to ignite in her chest as her second read through confirmed that she had read it correctly the first time. She looked up at Hauga and grinned.
“By all that is holy!” Tayme was still standing close to her and could plainly read the paper she held.
“What is it?” Peana called from across the room.
‘What does it say?’ Hauga and Raga’s voices echoed together in her head and Dearen had to stop herself from giggling. An unseemly thing for a Cearc to do in this type of situation. She cleared her throat.
“It seems that the Pydarki Council has decided to support us after all. They have pledged their warriors and Shamans in our fight against the Northerners.”
Raga’s ears jerked upright and his hackles fluffed out in surprise. ‘What?’
‘That is very good news.’ Hauga’s voice was laden with relief and she watched as his face relaxed back into the happy one she loved.
“There is a caveat though. The Pydarki will not do anything that would place their treaty with the Suene Empire in jeopardy. They are currently exempt from the Second Born Rule and do not want to do anything that would make the Empire enforce it.”
‘That is fair enough,’ Hauga replied.
‘We have no quarrel with the Southerners, as long as they leave us be,’ was Raga’s response.
“The Council would like to discuss troop numbers, logistics and what plans and strategies are already in place by the Dymarki.” The soft voice of the Pydarki youngster seemed loud in the silence of the room, drawing all eyes to him. He had now straightened from his bow and looked expectantly at Dearen.
‘I will go and speak to them Cearc,’ Raga chimed in immediately. ‘I am the senior Clan Leader and I have the most experience and knowledge of our Dymarki warriors and tactics. I also know our muster points and camps more intricately than you do.’
‘He has a point Dearen,’ Hauga said. ‘I have no love for politics and talk, if he wants to do it, let him.’
“Very well Raga. You are now my War Chief. I am sure that none of the other Clan Leaders on the Elder Council will object. What say you Hauga?”
‘There will be no objections. Raga is a good choice,’ Hauga replied enthusiastically. Dearen knew that he was just relieved that he did not have to bear the burden of War Chief on his shoulders.
“Then it is settled.” Dearen turned back to the Pydarki. “I take it the Pydarki council want to start right away?”
The young man nodded.
“Very well. Raga, go with him and get things underway. Inform me of the details once they are hashed out, then we can get underway to join the others at the Muster grounds.”
‘Yes, Cearc.’ As he spoke, Raga drew himself up to his full height, inclined his head and thumped his hand across his chest.
“War Chief.” Dearen returned the salute and watched silently as Raga followed the Pydarki out of the room.
“Now that is a fine turn of events!” Tayme bust out as soon as the door closed behind them.
“Yes, I’m still a little bewildered by it all,” Dearen replied as she sank back into her chair. She carefully refolded the Pydarki document and slipped it into one of her belt pouches. She would have to remember to give it to Otteren when they got back to CouncilMeet, the old cat would be ecstatic over having new lore to store in the Hall of Records.
Tayme slipped into the one beside her. “At least now you are not as alone as what you thought.”
“I didn’t think we were alone, not when I have you, Trar and Adhamh.” Dearen smiled at him. “Kral, it is so good to have you back,” she said leaning over and giving Tayme a hug.
“Kal-Dearen, you silly goose, I never left. But it is good to have you here again. I’ve missed my friend,” he said as he returned her hug giving her a slight squeeze as he said ‘my friend.’
‘We need to start getting ourselves ready to go,’ Hauga said as he walked around the table to stand behind her.
Dearen signed and pulled herself from Tayme’s embrace, leaving a hand resting on his shoulder, reluctant to end the moment they just shared.
“You are right as usual Hauga. As soon as Raga and the Council have hashed out details, we need to be on the move to join our people.”
‘And we need to send an ambassador back to the Pydarki Council to ensure that they keep to what they have promised us.’
“Do you think it rash of me to suggest Drusa represent us as Ambassador? I know he is from our own clan and his choice might rub some fur the wrong way, but I trust him to look after our best interests.”
‘I think that’s an excellent idea Dearen. And I don’t think any of the other Clan Leaders would object. Mention it to Raga. If he has no issues with it then none of the others will have.’
“Thanks, Hauga.” Dearen turned back to Tayme. “You may want to get all your stuff together. As soon as Raga gets back we are leaving.”
“Thought as much. Luckily I don’t have much. Just the clothes on my back, my trusty sword, and some saddlebags sadly in need of food.”
“Food. Good point.” Dearen turned back to her brother. “Hauga, we will need to see if we can get provisions from the Pydarki before we go.”
‘I’ll go arrange that now. That group we met earlier should still be in the common room. They’ll be able to help with that.’
“Thanks, Hauga. I’ll start packing our stuff. It’s lucky that you, Raga and I travel light.”
Hauga nodded and gave her a grin, flashing a glimpse of his front incisors before disappearing out the door.
“What do we do in the meantime?” Tayme asked as he reached across the table to grab the bowl of nuts.
“We wait.”
CHAPTER THREE
“Hanton, a word,” Peana hissed at the lanky tracker as he closed his book over his finger to keep his place.
The tracker’s head swiveled from watching the two Hatar Kalar to look at his Lieutenant as if making sure that it was Peana he had heard.
Peana frowned with annoyance and used his free hand to wave the man over to him. Hanton nodded and excusing himself from the other men, he rose from his chair. The movement reminded Peana of a stick insect rearing up to grab a higher branch and he quickly suppressed a grin before the Tracker could see it.
“Yes, Sir?” the man asked in a low voice as he reached the foot of the Lieutenant’s bed.
Peana gestured to the bed next to his with the hand holding the book. “Take a seat, Hanton. We need to talk.”
Hanton pursed his lips as he sat on the bed opposite the Lieutenant. As the man sat down, Peana swung his legs off the bed and leaned forward to face the Tracker.
“Have you heard anything back from your Pydarki contacts yet?” He asked, his voice hushed so that those at the main table could not hear.
The tracker shook his head, making some of his shaggy hair come loose from his pony tail. Without a thought, the man shoved the hair back behind his ears to keep it from covering his eyes. “Nothing as yet, but they assured me they will get back to me as soon as they heard anything.”
“Do you believe they will?”
It was Hanton’s turn to frown as if insulted by the question, but he nodded.
But Peana was not convinced. Before he disappeared, Captain Vosloo had given the impression that he distrusted the Pydarki and that they had something to do with Kalena’s disappearance. The girl said that they didn’t, but she couldn’t remember anything from before she woke up with the Dymarki and she believes everything the Dymarki tell her. She may be their Leader, but a leader is only as good as the people they lead. And though the cats have done nothing against him or his men, Peana trusted them as much as he did the Pydarki.
“You need to go back to them and ask again. One of them somewhere, must know of or have seen traces of the Captain. By The One, the man said he was coming
here.”
Hanton heaved a sigh, shrugging his thin shoulders back as if he was uncomfortable about where this talk was going. “They will just give me the same answer Lieutenant. But I will do as you ask, I will find Jugar again but this time ask if they have seen or heard of anything or anyone unusual while patrolling their lands.”
“You think we may have asked them the wrong question? What do you mean?”
Hanton pursed his lips again as if restraining them from spitting out the first thing on them. After a slight hesitation, he replied. “I had asked them if they had seen or heard of a Suenese Captain either in their lands or on Daegarouf. But what if the Captain did not want to be seen? You said he distrusted the Pydarki, maybe he’s hiding out of sight somewhere watching them.”
Peana’s eyes suddenly lit up, “You may have a point there. A very good point.”
“Either way, hiding or not, he would have left signs that someone had been around. One of the hunters would have seen them, maybe thinking they were Arranian.”
“Good thinking Hanton. Yes, go and ask them that. And go now while the others are occupied.”
The tracker gave him a curt nod and stood up from his seat on the bed. Peana couldn’t help but think that the man should make a chirping sound like crickets do when they rub their back legs together whenever he moved. He tried to suppress the smile as he returned the nod and reclined back onto his bed with his book. He watched as Hanton said a few words to the men seated around the fireplace and then slipped out the door. The two Hatar at the table didn’t even notice him leaving.
Peana’s eyes lingered over the Hatar, more over Kalena than Tayme. He didn’t know what to make of her and her lost memories. She was a Hatar Kalar, A Wing Commander, but now she was the Leader of these Dymarki Ice Tigers and she should be sympathetic towards the Suenese who are, after all, her people. That would mean that she could bring the Ice Tigers under the sway of the Empire. And he was the Highest Ranking officer here at this moment. A feat like that could bring him under the eyes of the Emperor, along with promotion, title, lands, and honors. Perhaps he should stay with them instead of waiting here in case the Captain showed up…