by Orr, Krystal
She sighed and continued to watch the men. The moon rose high above and the clouds parted. Fresh, bright light fell upon the group. The light was great, so great that it temporarily removed the shadows keeping Bela'luin hidden. Everything happened in a flash. Arizira was unsure if the men actually saw Bela or if they just reacted when one of their number fell dead to the ground. An arrow was stuck in the man's chest, blood covering the green grass where his body lay.
The men jumped up, eyes wide as they looked around. Voices shouted and weapons came up. Another arrow landed in one man's leg while a second lodged itself in a third man's shoulder. Blood splattered the ground and shocked yells sounded in the forest. Arizira looked over her shoulder and her keen ears easily picked up on the sound of the other Arnira warriors making their approach.
She looked down to where Bela'luin had been and was stunned to no longer see the woman. The two men who had not sustained injuries were attempting to help their comrades while also look for their attackers. Arizira struggled to come to a decision, but there was nothing she could do.
She wondered where her mother was.
At that moment, a great white shape appeared along the far side of the clearing. Iolirthas was behind Bela'luin who had moved deeper into the trees' cover. The men were attempting to make their escape and pull the body of their fallen man out of the clearing. Bela'luin nocked another arrow and was about to release it when Iolirthas howled from behind her.
The sound caused Bela to falter in her movements and, like a spell that had settled over, she fell to the forest floor and was asleep.
Arizira watched with shocked amazement. The Esu men disappeared from her sight while the other Arnira soon appeared next to Bela‘luin. Of Iolirthas, there was no sign. She had disappeared.
"Bela!" M'kesei yelled, coming over to kneel by her captain. "She appears unharmed," she said as she inspected the other woman.
"Should we pursue the enemy?" another woman asked.
"No. Allow them to return. Their words will strike a greater fear into the others. Our concern is Bela'luin," M'kesei answered. She studied Bela's face and looked around her.
"What has befallen her?" she asked no one in particular.
"M'kesei, we should take her and get away from here unless we intend to pursue the Esu."
"Of course," the second in command said as she stood up. "Get another to help you with her. We shall move to a safe location and have one of the healers look her over."
"And then?" the second woman asked.
M'kesei scanned the trees that surrounded the clearing. Her purple eyes and silver hair accented an angular face with fair features.
"Then, we continue our march against the Esu. By this time tomorrow, with speed, we can be upon our enemies and finally remove their taint from this blessed forest."
Chapter 9: The Manifestation of Destiny
War is often seen as the result of a catalyst.
Something or someone misinterprets information and a misunderstanding comes about. Soon, that misunderstanding breeds with hate and contempt and something that started so innocently and unassuming, becomes a test of morals and beliefs and values.
Where misunderstanding could have been solved, the emotions of anger and disgust do not allow for talks or forgiveness. They do not have in them the desire to do anything other than run their course. They burn hot and quick and so wish to last as long as possible in their fury.
In war, there is no understanding. There is no common ground because both sides will always believe that they are right and that what they do is just and for the betterment of others. Allowing the enemy a chance to breathe their distasteful views in peaceful negotiations will only spread that set of beliefs and so result in a world one side will always seek to destroy. In such times of upheaval and unrest, there is only one solution.
The truth.
The truth does not take sides. It does not know deceit nor does it have the ability to dissemble. It does not change. It can not be altered, unless by an outside influence. The truth withstands any test of time. It is older than history because history, even with its misconceptions, can never truly exist without the truth.
Even if that truth has become grey due to the interference of sentient beings, the truth shall forever remain the one pure source of goodness in the world so long as there are those who seek to know of it.
War is a catalyst that is often the result of a lie or fabrication. To win a war, to attack a prevarication, one must only endeavor to see the truth.
* * * * *
"You must be certain of this! Did you see a warrior woman or not?"
Haldynn was beside himself. Lao'dahn had left the day before and still had yet to return and the clan was anxious with a wave of apprehension settling over the camp. Ever since the scouting party had returned and spoken of their attack, the entire Esu camp had become agitated and listless. Many whispered that the forest was cursed, that it carried within it evil spirits of evil women who would only attack them as they tried to progress further.
Others demanded action. They were not prone to believe in such fantastical whims as spirits and warrior women who could not be defeated. To them, a proactive and offensive strategy was best. Sitting in their homes and waiting for their enemies to attack them was akin to digging their own graves and laying down to die.
Too many signs pointed to battle: Lao'dahn's strange encounter from months before when he had been shot at by a mysterious bowman, Talliea's survival during the harsh winter months, Taetylona's ominous parting words when she had been banished, and Lao'dahn's fight with the savage woman with glowing eyes.
There were those among the Esu who saw these occurrences as parts to a larger whole. They did not believe their arrival to the Northlands had gone unnoticed.
Recently, Markahn had been seen leaving with Talliea and the two of them were now missing. The latest incident involving the scouting party was only the confirmation of something dire approaching to all within the Esu camp, both those that believed in evil spirits and those that believed a tribe of aggressive women were responsible for so much pain and suffering.
All of these matters weighed heavily upon Haldynn's broad shoulders. With both Markahn and Lao'dahn being absent, the other Lat'sa'val had voted that Haldynn, again, was the man best suited to lead their efforts…whatever those efforts turned out to be.
He looked into the dark eyes of the man before him. A bandage was wrapped tightly around the man's upper thigh and the stain of his blood could easily be seen through the cloth poultice. Others stood around him, eagerly hanging on his every word. The simple man held the future of his entire clan in whatever words he spoke next.
"Y-yes, Haldynn. It was brief. The moon was not my ally, but I glimpsed the woman in her deviant attire. Her hair seemed aflame on her head, silver like a dancing whisper on the wind. She was tall and adorned with weapons while her eyes appeared white and devoid of life."
Haldynn sighed and looked up at the group of Lat'sa'val around him. Four sets of eyes stared back at him in earnest.
"Was it only the one or were there others?" Haldynn asked cautiously as he glanced back down at the injured man.
The man winced in pain and grabbed his leg. He would receive no further healing until the information he possessed was told in full. After gritting his teeth for a moment, he replied. "I saw only the one, but as we ran there were voices carried through the trees. Strange voices."
"Strange?"
"Yes. The words curdled in my ears for I could not understand them and yet..." the man trailed off.
"Yet?" Haldynn prodded impatiently.
The man shook his head and stared off across the room. "Yet, they were fair as if a melody in my mind. As if some song followed me while I ran."
Haldynn scoffed and placed his hands on his hips. "A song? You would have this clan go to war to battle faeries and their music?"
"No," the man replied. "I would have us go to war to avenge our brother who died at that w
oman's hand. I would have us go to war against an enemy both subtle and devious, one that can ensnare our imaginations as easily as they strike fear into our hearts. This enemy is unlike any other we have fought before, Haldynn. We must make our attack sure and swift. If they come upon us unprepared, our fate will already be sealed."
The man's words seemed to suck the air from the tiny room he was in. A tense atmosphere settled over the other men as they weighed their options. Could they gather nearly every able-bodied man and send them into a forest they were still learning to navigate all on the fevered words of one individual?
If Lao'dahn's tale was to be believed, then there were possibly others in the Northlands. The other men of the scouting party had been unable to corroborate anything. Everything, according to them, had happened too quickly.
One thing was for certain: If there were savage women in the forest, they had to be nocturnal. Lao'dahn's first attack had happened at dusk and all of the men who had seen the woman with Talliea had noted her unusual eyes. Now, this injured man was stating that his attacker had also possessed glowing eyes and the attack had taken place in near darkness.
Haldynn sighed heavily and scratched at his chin. A decision had to be made and he had to be the one to make it. Wait and possibly die in his sleep or take a stand and search for the people responsible for killing one of his brothers.
The decision was easy for a man like him.
"Begin preparations at once. I want groups of five ready to depart within two hours. You will need to move with great haste. Station a guard here and have the women and children taken to the prayer area. I know I asked the previous scouting parties to refrain from using their abilities to light their way in the dark, but I doubt that matters any longer. Our enemy is aware of us just as we are aware of them. Take precaution where necessary."
The directions had been spoken to one of the lead men of the Lat'sa'val order. The tall, stocky, and brooding man only nodded. Dark tattoos covered his eyes in the pattern of bear claws and gave him a thoughtful expression.
"At once, Haldynn," he said in a deep voice.
Haldynn looked around the room and into the eyes that watched him so expectantly. "Tell the men...we are going to war."
* * * * *
Talliea brushed aside a branch that softly caressed her face. The low hanging limb was covered in deep green leaves and newly bloomed pink flowers. She did not stop to admire the flowers, however. All of her attention was focused west. Ever west.
Arizira was close now. Closer than she had been in nearly two months. Talliea's strength was all but renewed as she took a careful step into a wide, open area. Grasses swayed in a gentle breeze and the scent of pine and earth came to her senses.
She lowered her two leather satchels to the ground and proceeded to stretch her tired muscles. During her day's walk since parting from Markahn, Talliea had stopped only long enough to wash her body in a stream a short few hours behind her.
Her food and drink she had taken while she walked. Her delight over finally being able to see Arizira was overriding any other function or need she had. Though she was sore and tired, all Talliea could think about was seeing Ariziria's perfect face adorned with one of her playful smiles.
After resting a brief few minutes, Talliea reached down to grab her belongings when a harsh blow to the side of her head clouded over her vision. Darkness covered her eyes as the warmth of fresh blood seeped down her brow. Staggering, she tried to remain up right and focus on who had just attacked her.
Hands tore the leather packs from her own as a foot collided with her middle. She fell to the ground with a pained grunt. Her vision cleared briefly and she looked up into the hate-filled eyes of Lao'dahn. The man appeared worn and haggard. His eyes were the darkest Talliea had ever seen them. He sneered down at her before reaching down to grab her legs.
Talliea's fight or flight response kicked in immediately. Her mind grew sharp for a moment and, in her determination, she found the strength required to kick Lao'dahn soundly in the stomach and lower ribs. The man grunted and nearly fell backward. Talliea attempted to roll onto her abdomen and crawl away, but hands were on her again all too suddenly and were pulling her back.
"No...n-no," she struggled to get out.
"Stop denying this! It could never have ended any other way! Where is Markahn? Did your pet kill him? Did you?"
Lao'dahn was pulling her toward him again, all the while avoiding her pathetic attempts at resistance. Once he had her close to him, he flipped her over onto her back. Blood covered her face where he had struck her and her eyes remained slightly unfocused.
She struggled to kick at him or push him away, but in her weakened state caused by his blow to her head, she found her attacks less than satisfactory.
"W-why? Why are you doing this? Let me go. It does not have to be this way," Talliea cried. Lao'dahn slapped her hard across the face and her vision blurred again. He leaned down on top of her and pinned her legs down beneath his body. She watched as he began to undo the tie to his pants and her stomach dropped inside of itself.
She slapped at him and continued to try and fight him, but his desire to take her gave him a near unnatural strength. He was determined to break her spirit, to rape her and prove, once for all, that he was powerful and in control.
Nothing else mattered to him. He cared not for Markahn, for he was not present. He did not care about the savage woman he had fought or the possibility that others could be about. To him, all that mattered was Talliea.
His obsession bordered on the insane, but it also gave him a strength he had never known before. It empowered him and he reveled in feeling Talliea squirm and struggle beneath his weight.
Vaguely, he was aware of sounds -- distant sounds. Muted sounds. But he ignored them. It would not take long to finally force himself inside of Talliea. She would cry and she would beg and he would finish and finally be done with it knowing he had been the one to tame her. Afterward, he would take her back to the clan and begin preparations for whatever battle laid in wait.
"Let you go?" he laughed. "No, your trouble ends here. You could very well be the reason for all of this! Did you conspire with that woman to have the others attack us? You would turn against your own people? As if sharing your flesh with her wasn't sin enough! I will cleanse you and you will be mine!"
Talliea watched, horrified, as Lao'dahn leaned back and pulled his engorged erection from his pants. The sight of it caused a familiar panic to rise up inside of her. She remembered the last time he had been on top her. She recalled his erection and how it had made her feel.
As she struggled to push him away, she knew what he intended to do. Although Arizira had not hurt her when she had been inside of her, Talliea knew that Lao'dahn would be different.
He would hurt her because he wanted to hurt her.
She felt his hands pushing at her skirts. His touch was frenzied as he pushed the material up her thighs. She cried and did everything she could do to stop what was about to happen. She had come so close to getting back to Arizira. She had begun to feel whole again. Hope and joy had settled inside her heart. This could not happen…not when she was so close to having everything she wanted.
Lao'dahn leered down at her and stroked himself. Talliea felt bile rise up her throat. He leaned over her and...
Screamed.
The moment happened so fast, Talliea could not say what transpired. One minute, Lao'dahn had been about to rape her, and the next he was on his side beside her screaming. Hollering. Yelling. Crying.
Talliea sat up and backed away from him, covering herself as she moved. Lao'dahn held his erection in his hand. Blood spilled past his fingers which were resting beneath the shaft of an arrow.
An elegantly crafted arrow with beautiful purple feathers at its end.
Talliea's heart raced. She stood up, the act making her dizzy, and looked around for her savior. Behind her, Lao'dahn continued to roll around on the ground begging for her help, but she ignored him.
"Talliea...please. I can not -- please -- help me. We are under attack. They are -- please..."
Sounds came to her. There were footsteps. Many, many footsteps. They were being drawn to Lao'dahn's cries. Talliea looked around frantically. Everything seemed to happen slowly. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her breathing was fast and quick. She looked ahead of her, to the west, and a moment later her entire world stilled.
Arizira stepped out from behind a tree.
Her bow was in her hand, her quiver over her back. She smiled at Talliea, the wind moving her silvery hair across her face. The moment seemed to last forever as the two women stared at one another, each lost in the sight of their love.
Talliea made a sound somewhere between an elated laugh and a relieved sigh. She took a step toward Arizira. Her eyes drank in the sight of the Arniran woman.
She was more beautiful than Talliea remembered.
Arizira lowered her bow as she watched Talliea. The other woman was still some ways off from her. Their distance was still too great for her liking, but she could not seem to get her body to cooperate with her. Her feet refused to move. She was too astounded by being able to see Talliea again to do anything other than bask in the sight of her. Her smile grew as happy tears touched her eyes.
"Tah-li," she whispered to herself brokenly. She leaned against the tree next to her for support when she felt her body begin to sway.
Talliea was here. She was alive and she was beautiful and she was walking toward her. Arizira’s heart elated at the information. Her sadness faded.
"Ahmanae!" Talliea yelled in her direction. She took another step toward the woman she loved before stopping abruptly.
Something felt off. Something felt wrong. The air stilled around them, as if some prelude to the events that were about to unfold. Talliea looked back over her shoulder at Lao'dahn who was still writhing on the ground crying over his manhood. Behind him, as if in slow motion, she saw other men between the trees.
Men with weapons. Men in heavier armor. Men marching toward Lao'dahn. Toward her. Toward Arizira.