by Orr, Krystal
Twenty-seven years ago, D'jiira had learned that there was a secret beauty and mystery in the world and that enigma was in the Arnira. She had fallen in love with, not only a creature of fantasy and myth, but a woman. From that, her world had changed and for many months, she and Iolirthas had been young, free, and in love. Then, there had been only the world and its wonders. The greatest wonder of all had come nearly a year and a half later when she had learned of Io's pregnancy.
She had marveled at such an occurrence, at how her connection, so deep and spiritual with Iolirthas, had produced and created a whole other life, a life that she had been able to feel the moment she learned of the pregnancy.
Twenty-seven years ago, that life had come into the world at the departure of another life. Iolirthas had died and, with her, taken a part of D'jiira.
Despite how much she had grown over the years, a part of her had remained in this majestic forest. That part was her youth and her optimism and her belief in magic. Not a day had passed in nearly thirty years that D’jiira had not thought of Arizira or Iolirthas or wondered how things might have been had she never left. Not a day had gone by that she had not felt the weight of her guilt or found herself second-guessing all of her past decisions.
Now, however, she was finally where she had always desired to be. Back in the forest that was the home of the Arnira. Back with the child she had left, the daughter she loved more than anything.
Arizira stepped closer to her, shushing her and drawing her close. D'jiira's sobs sounded in the quiet as mother and child embraced for the first time. Arizira cried with her. All of her life, she had felt that a part of her was missing. Though she had led a life full of wonder and discovery and happiness, not knowing her parents had always left her unable to know a part of herself.
She had accepted the fact that her parents were not with her and thus had made the most of her life. Every woman in the tribe was as if a member of her family in some way. Many of them had fed her, clothed her, or taught her various skills. Women she knew today, that had been her childhood friends, had filled her youth with games of chase and bow bending, and nights filled with staring up at the stars.
Always, Arizira had been happy and caring and patient. Yet, as she had gotten older and, especially after she had met Talliea and learned of her own pregnancy, she had found herself more and more wishing that her parents were with her. Though Iolirthas had aided her during her separation from Talliea, her nurture mother's spirit was in the body of a wolf. She could not speak to Arizira or offer her the comfort nor the answers she needed.
D'jiira, however, was living, breathing, proof of her existence. She could hold Arizira and tell her about herself and about the past. She could help her to understand herself in ways that Iolirthas could not.
The enormity of everything that had happened in her life so very, very recently hit Arizira suddenly. From learning of the Esu to falling in love with Talliea; to being separated and feeling ill to learning about her parentage and her pregnancy; to reuniting with Talliea only to fall victim to an arrow fired in hatred by Bela'luin, to returning to her love, learning of her powers, discovering her connection with Cynra, and now meeting her mother whom she had yearned for all of her life. Arizira poured everything she was into the hold she had on D'jiira.
The both of them swayed where they stood. Tears glistened on their faces as words were spoken between them.
"There is nothing to forgive, lana. Always you have had my respect," Arizira whispered, holding her mother tightly in her arms.
Around them, Cynra, Talliea, Taetylona, and Markahn all watched. Cynra could not help the smile on her old and worn face. So many years had been spent in secrecy that she was happy for the truth to finally have seen the light of day. No longer did she have to hide her relationship with Arizira or the truth of who she was. She could just be nai'lana now, not Dream Speaker or Honored One.
Watching D'jiira, taller than Arizira, holding her granddaughter healed a part of Cynra that had been suffocating the last several months.
Markahn smiled, despite not having understood anything D'jiira or Arizira had spoken. He understood enough of the situation to know that what he was witnessing was a reunion. His eyes, yet again, cut to Talliea and he watched her with a mask of forlorn longing. The way Talliea was looking at Arizira was the way he had always desired to see her look upon him. It was pure, pellucid, and genuine love.
He noticed tears falling down Talliea's face. Despite the darkness around him, the moon above provided enough light so that he could appreciate her beauty.
Taetylona watched Markahn watch Talliea and her face mirrored the repugnance she felt. She did not know what Markahn was doing here nor what his connection could possibly be with the mother of Arizira, but she vowed to keep a close eye on him were he inclined to join them.
"My daughter. My beautiful child. Look at you," D'jiira's voice sounded hitched as it cut into Taetylona's inner musings and she returned her attention to the two women nearby.
D'jiira sniffed and held Arizira at arms’ length as her eyes unabashedly looked over her features. She smiled when her fingers traced over the pointed curve of Arizira's ear and when her eyes noticed the way Arizira turned her head the same way she did when she was curious.
Without a doubt, despite the Arniran features so heavily present, Arizira was D'jiira's daughter. She was a child of the day just as much as she was a child of the night.
"Lana, what are you doing here?" Arizira asked, her voice full of wonder and fascination as she pulled herself together.
D'jiira smiled down at her and moved so that she could look at the other people present. Her eyes immediately found Talliea and she felt a happiness well up inside her for her daughter. The other woman was exotically beautiful. Her skin, hair, and eyes were a darker shade than D'jiira had ever seen among their people. Full lips set off delicate cheek bones while intense and deep eyes stared back at her.
Yet, despite the beauty of the woman, there was something else D'jiira was sensing from her. Something old and powerful, yet gentle and humbling. Talliea may have looked unassuming, but D'jiira suspected she held within her a force stronger than any of them combined.
"We have a need of shelter for the night. I can answer everyone's questions, as I am sure there are plenty, but right now we need to take haven from the dark."
Cynra looked to Talliea and Taetylona. The other two women nodded and the decision was made without words.
"We are holding camp at Li'nas Dei until daybreak. You may end your sojourn this night," Cynra said.
D'jiira smiled her thanks, her arm still around Arizira's shoulder. Her eyes landed on Markahn and she hesitated. Reuniting with both Cynra and her daughter had allowed her mind to forget about him entirely. She suddenly was unsure how the other women would feel having him included in their affairs.
Whatever those affairs were.
Clearing her throat, she held out a hand and indicated Markahn. "This man aided me in my travels. He claims to know you, Talliea." Turning back to Arizira, she said, "Translate my words for me."
Arizira smiled. "She sees your words, lana."
D'jiira frowned, "How?"
"Because I do. Our connection allows this to be possible."
D'jiira nodded, not understanding the full implications of the connection Arizira spoke of. Her eyes found the older Esu woman's. "Does she also see my words?'
At this, Talliea stepped forward and entered the clearing where both Arizira and D'jiira stood.
"Yes, she does," she said. "For reasons we do not understand, the four of us have been able to communicate freely. Whether your words are Esu or Arnira, we will understand them."
D'jiira smiled. Talliea had spoken to her in Esulan, the same strange dialect that Markahn spoke in. At the thought of him, she turned to face him.
"And you? Have you understood the Arniran tongue tonight?"
Markahn shook his head slowly, his eyes growing wide as everyone focused their attent
ion on him. Despite the dark, he felt very exposed under the women's scrutiny. "N-no," he stammered. "Only just now, as Esulan was spoken have I understood the words."
Cynra took a step closer to him, her purple eyes studying his face with interest. Arizira watched her and a small smile colored her lips. She wondered if this was the first time her grandmother had seen a man.
"A mystery, for certain," Cynra said. "But a mystery we shall examine at a later time. Arniran scouts or Esu patrols could be about. Come, let us return to camp."
Talliea translated Cynra's words for Markahn before looking back at D'jiira. The other woman smiled at her before placing a hand first on her forehead and then over her heart. "Honor and grace," she said.
Dipping her head and returning the gesture, Talliea waited until everyone was moving and heading back toward the cave overlooking Li'nas Dei. Arizira met her eyes and the two of them shared a smile. Talliea caressed her cheek briefly before leaving her love to walk with her mother.
* * * * *
"Yet the dreams continued, invading my mind while my body slumbered," D'jiira said. Her words were spoken in Esulan so that Markahn would be able to follow the conversation. Currently, he sat a little away from the main group who were all huddled around a small fire in the front cavern of the cave.
It had taken the group nearly half an hour to cover the short distance from their location to the cave sitting near Li'nas Dei. Cynra and Arizira, their eyes sharp and their senses keen, had been the only members of the party able to see in the lack of moonlight. Their Esu fellows had fared far worse, even with Markahn's abilities offering some illumination.
When the group had finally come to the cave and relieved themselves of their gear and packs, everyone had sat themselves near the fire-pit, sharing food and drink alike as D'jiira had begun her tale. She told Cynra and Arizira about her dreams, about how they had been relentless and unending. She told them of her long and lonely trek from the west and how her mind and heart had been divided over matters.
"Twenty-seven years in the past, I made a decision to leave my child, thinking it the lesser of two evils. Now I have left my mate on the voice of a dream and I wonder, again, if I have erred," she had said.
Finally, she'd returned to the dreams, her mind refusing to allow her a moment to forget them. Cynra sat forward, nibbling on a piece of dry cake. "These dreams, they did not fade when you resolved to travel here?"
D'jiira shook her head. "No. They lessened, but ever they were with me. A part of me wondered if my mind was diseased, so crazed I felt after journeying.
"No, no disease, but a spirit," Taetylona's raspy and low voice barely sounded over the crackling of the burning fire.
"A spirit?" D'jiira asked, her eyebrows lowering. She sat with one knee drawn up to her chest while her right arm was draped across it.
"Yes. A similar occurrence visited me before Talliea was to be born. I, too, felt a madness in my mind. It was as if a fever burned inside of me. The knowledge I possessed, given to me by another, was too great for my faculties. I felt crazed and burdened, but the madness stopped as I neared completion of my task."
"You are saying that something desired my presence here? That a spirit invaded my dreams so that I would come to be here, in this one moment?"
Taetylona smiled crookedly and nodded. "That is what I am saying, yes. You will soon come to realize that more is happening than you are aware."
Again, D'jiira furrowed her brow and looked at her daughter who was seated to her left. "I deduced something was amiss when I spied two Esu with your grandmother. Never in memory have our peoples walked in friendship, yet they do."
Arizira nodded and inhaled deeply. Her eyes found Talliea's and she could not stop the smile that touched her face. "Taetylona is a friend and an adviser. Her counsel is without debate and she is as wise as she is gifted." Reaching for Talliea's hand, she entwined their fingers before continuing. "Tah-li is my friend and more."
Markahn shifted slightly at the words but said nothing. D'jiira's eyes twinkled as she watched the two women knowingly.
"She is the mate of my spirit, lana, the other half of my heart. My love is for her and hers for me. We are one."
Cynra and Taetylona smiled, happy for the younger women who, despite the dark times, had managed to find and secure a love for one another. Markahn smiled, too, though his did not quite reach his eyes.
D'jiira's smile, however, was bright and full and happy. Her eyes misted over as she looked upon her daughter's fair hand covering Talliea's darker one. "An Esu and an Arnira," she said in playful tones. "History repeats itself."
Arizira and Talliea laughed, their eyes finding one another.
"D'jiira, these two women are more than just lovers. You named Arizira ‘Ahmanae’ and over the years she came to be known among our people as the Child of Whispers."
"What?" D'jiira asked, unsure where Cynra was going with her words.
"The others of our tribe attributed her hair and eyes as a sign of greatness. They grew to believe that she was destined for some grand fate and they were not wrong in that assumption."
"What are you on about, leyaja?"
Instead of answering, Cynra raised an eyebrow at Arizira. The younger woman sighed. She wished she could just enjoy a moment with her mother without the present interfering. She just wanted to learn about D'jiira and hear stories about her life instead of being reminded of all the bad that had recently happened.
Talliea squeezed her hand in comfort, but remained silent. "Lana, are you aware of the Doira'Liim?" Arizira began.
D'jiira appeared taken aback and looked around at the faces gathered around her. The Doira'Liim was an Arniran belief, a myth about the possible connection between two people. Iolirthas had told her about it, what little she knew, and the two of them had smiled and fancied themselves the recipients of such a bond.
What did this ancient myth have to do with anything?
"Io told me of it years ago. It is just a story told to inspire hope and good fortune."
Arizira smiled and looked over at Talliea. Her love smiled back at her and stood up. Everyone watched, including Markahn who was eager to know exactly what was going on. D'jiira spared a quick and unsure glance at Arizira before returning her gaze to Talliea.
Everything grew silent. Talliea closed her eyes and brought her hands together before her body. For long moments nothing was said and no action was made. D'jiira was about to question matters when Talliea opened her eyes. An unknown wind blew her blouse and skirts around her and her eyes were completely black, devoid of any white. She spread her hands apart and, to the astonishment of everyone present, the fire that had been burning in the pit below her now danced between her palms.
D'jiira looked to Arizira, her eyes wide. Talliea, her black eyes now glowing with some inner white power, turned to look at her. The flame in her hands did not burn her nor mar her flesh.
She bent down in front of Arizira and extended her hand. Arizira smiled and took Talliea's hand, the flame seeming to become infused with her skin before a bright light was all that could be seen between their joined hands.
Talliea exhaled and the light appeared back in her palm before returning to the fire pit. The wind that had blown around her ceased to be and her eyes once again became brown instead of black.
Markahn sat nearby, too stunned to do anything other than stare in wonder and disbelief. D'jiira swallowed her awe and met Arizira's eyes.
"It is not just a myth, lana. Tah-li is my Doira'liim and I hers."
Chapter 22: The Measure of Worth
"I...I have no words. This gift, this power-- it is from Esuval?" D'jiira asked, her eyes curious and slightly unfocused after Talliea's display. Across from her, Markahn too watched with a disbelieving gaze.
"No, not entirely," Cynra answered. "This gift is an extension of Talliea and Arizira's love for one another. It is a gift from both Esuval and Aitla because Arizira herself is both a day walker and a child of night."
<
br /> D'jiira shook her head slowly, a small smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes seemed to dance with the flames of the fire before her, and her face was set with a visage of esteem and wonder. She suddenly realized that there was much she had a need to know. Events had taken place that were larger than herself, larger than just her people. Somehow, just as she had suspected all along, her daughter was at the center of great change. She was the eye of the coming storm.
Talliea, the woman Arizira loved, was the storm.
Swallowing the several questions that begged to be voiced, she tried to focus on what to ask first. Her eyes caught movement and she watched Markahn scoot closer to Talliea. The action caused Arizira's gaze to land on him quickly. Silver-blue eyes, illuminated in the deep dark of night, seemed to emit an air of warning. Markahn exchanged glances with first Talliea and then Arizira before gaining the nerve to speak what was on his mind.
"It was you," he started, looking at Talliea. "The clearing. The crater and the destruction. That was by your hand, was it not?"
Talliea met his expectant eyes and was silent for a long moment. Even feeling Arizira's hand in her own was not enough to allow her to forget how alone and devastated she had been when she had believed Arizira lost forever. Vividly, she could recall the look in her love's eyes when the arrow had pierced her skin. She could still feel the warmth of her blood as it had coated her fingers. Though the events were in the past, Talliea could still see them in her mind more clearly than she wished.
Arizira's dying words to her replayed inside her thoughts.
The feeling of their hands grasped together as Arizira fought to speak her last words left Talliea feeling flushed.
The loss of light and life in Arizira's eyes was an image her own eyes refused to bid farewell.
She remembered how despair and agony had quickly replaced her feelings of happiness and hope as Arizira had slowly faded to death in her arms. She knew the memory of the event would leave an indelible mark on her until the spirit of her life walked elsewhere.