Queens (The Wielders of Arantha Book 2)

by Patrick Hodges

  “But you will keep his secret?”

  She bowed. “Of course, Sire.”

  Aridor returned the bow and departed, disappearing inside his tent.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  As much as it pained Maeve to think that the distance between her and Kelia likely grew with each passing hour, she knew it would achieve nothing to formulate a rescue plan with the Ixtrayu in their current state. She worried that their enemy might return while the Ixtrayu were crippled, but figured that was unlikely.

  They only had one chava at their disposal, the one Sarja had left in the corral after her abrupt return to the village. Zarina confirmed that the chava, Vad, was in good enough shape to make the journey to Lake Barix, so Maeve asked the huntresses if one of them would go inform the rest of the tribe of their misfortunes. Gruta volunteered. Gruta departed with instructions to return with the rest of the tribe as quickly as possible, especially the Council.

  It didn't take the huntresses long to discern which way the Elzorath had gone. They found a plethora of fresh merych tracks leading away from the village in a southeasterly direction. That would put them on course for either the impassable southern wetlands or the border of Vanda. No one had a theory as to what might drive their enemy toward such inhospitable territory, but they had much more pressing problems at that moment.

  Maeve left her Stone in Lyala's care for the morning, as it provided her with the energy to heal the survivors' electrical burns and arrow wounds. Lyala then made an attempt to enter Runa's home to heal what Maeve couldn't, but the grieving huntress shooed her out the door with an angry glare and an order to leave her alone.

  Davin came up with the idea to use the portable sensors they'd brought from Earth to set up a surveillance net around the Plateau. They'd set up a similar perimeter around their camp in the mountains just after they landed, and programmed it to alert them in case anything nasty approached. The strategy hadn't been totally effective against Roisin and her pack, but it would give the Ixtrayu plenty of forewarning if Elzaria or any of her soldiers returned.

  While Davin used the excavator to set up the twenty-odd sensors with a radius of half a mile from the Plateau, Maeve went to visit Nyla in the Room of Healing. Despite Maeve's and Lyala's efforts, the girl's body was still weakened from the attack. Worried, Maeve returned to the Talon to retrieve the medcorder and her computer pad, hoping they would give her a more accurate picture of Nyla's health than Lyala's observations.

  Nyla sat up in alarm when she saw the alien object in Maeve's hands. “What is that?”

  “It's called a medcorder,” Maeve explained. “Lyala tells me the energy wave seemed to do more damage to your body than it did to the others. I'd like to know why.” She pressed a button on the device, and it activated with a low boop. Nyla's eyes widened at the sound. “Don't worry. I promise it won't hurt. Lie back, please.”

  With a comforting smile, Maeve ran the medcorder over Nyla's body. A minute later, the results appeared on the pad. “Hmmm,” Maeve murmured, eying the screen.

  “What is it?” Nyla asked, her body tense.

  “Elzaria's Wielding abilities derive from a source my people call 'electricity'. It's a form of raw energy that, when harnessed, can be used to provide power for anything designed to use it: lights, generators … any kind of machine, really. Centuries ago, the people of Earth depended on electricity for almost everything.”

  “And lightning has a lot of this … electricity in it?”

  “Oh, yes. Far more than a person should be able to withstand and live. In low doses, electricity can be used to restart someone's heart. Too much, however, will kill you. There was even a time on my world when hardened criminals were executed by having lethal amounts of electricity pumped into them.”

  “Huh.” Nyla peered at the screen, her eyes alight with curiosity. “What language is that?”

  “It's called 'English',” Maeve said. “You can't read this?”

  Nyla shook her head.

  “Hmm. After I Shared with Kelia, she and I discovered that we could understand each other even though we were speaking in different languages. I'm at a loss to provide a scientific explanation for it—hell, for half the shite that's happened—but I guess Arantha's linguistic gift doesn't go both ways, at least when it comes to writing.

  “Anyway, the reason you're feeling so weak is, simply, because of your age.”

  “My age?”

  Maeve nodded. “You're thirteen, and still growing. According to the scan, you haven't even reached puberty yet.” She went on to explain that, like Elystran females, human girls tended to have their first menstrual cycle at roughly the same age as Nyla. Kelia had taught her daughter of such things, and Nyla's face reddened when she confessed that she was the only one in the tribe who still hadn't achieved this stage in her development.

  “So what you're saying is, if I'd been any younger …”

  “You'd probably be dead right now,” Maeve confirmed, lovingly cupping Nyla's cheek. “Thank God you have your mother's strength.”

  Nyla gave a weak smile. “Will I recover?”

  Maeve checked the readings again. “It'll probably be a while before you're up to full power, but yes. I'm hoping, with my and Lyala's help, you'll be able to consult Arantha within the next day or so. I won't risk your health, but we need Arantha's guidance as to what to do next. With me augmenting you, maybe we can even figure out where your mother is.”

  Nyla laid back down, her eyes suddenly moist. “Do you really think they'll keep her alive?”

  “I do,” Maeve said, trying to sound as reassuring as she could. “I expect they'll send someone to negotiate before too long. They'll ask for the Stone in exchange for Kelia's life.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because it's what I'd do.” She took Nyla's hand in hers. “She's alive, Nyla. Ever since we Shared, I've felt … connected to your mother. I can't explain it, but I think I would feel it if she was dead.”

  Nyla turned her head, staring at the nearest wall. “I hope you're right.”

  Davin walked in, a frown on his face. “Hey, Nyla. How are you feeling?”

  She neither looked his way nor changed her expression. “I'll live.”

  He sidled closer, moving into her line of sight. “I'm … I'm so sorry, Nyla. About Sarja.” Maeve watched as her son's chest heaved. “She was a great girl.”

  Nyla finally met his gaze, her face mirroring his. “Yes, she was.”

  “I-I mean, I didn't know her that well,” he stammered, “but she was sweet, and kind, and …” He sighed. “Boy, did she love you.”

  “I wish she didn't,” she whispered. “If she didn't, she wouldn't have come back to be with me.” A tear sliced down Nyla's cheek. “That's why she's dead.”

  “Sweetie, you can't blame yourself,” Maeve said.

  “I don't,” Nyla said, her voice tinged with venom. Hate welled up in her eyes, taking Maeve aback. “I blame Elzaria. She took the two people I love the most from me. I'm going to find her, and I'm going to kill her.”

  “Nyla –”

  “Please go,” Nyla said, turning onto her side and away from her and Davin. “I'm tired.”

  Maeve and Davin shared a brief unspoken conversation, and then she patted Nyla's arm. “Okay. I'll be back to check on you later.” Nyla didn't respond.

  As they stepped outside the Room of Healing, Maeve asked, “Did you get all the sensors set up?”

  Davin nodded. “Affirmative. Set up, and all working perfectly. He pointed at the pad in Maeve's hand, and the small console strapped around his arm. “If anything larger than a Dalmatian comes within three miles of here, we'll know.”

  “Good work, kiddo.”

  He gestured at the medcorder. “Can I borrow that?”

  “Why?”

  “I checked on Rahne. His headaches are getting better, but I'd like to scan him just to be sure.”

  Maeve nocked an eyebrow at her son, whose jaw had clamped shut. She knew wh
at that meant. “What are you thinking, Dav?”

  He held out his hand, and she placed the medcorder in it. “Just a theory I want to test out.”

  She beamed with pride. Despite his current feelings for his father, he was definitely Richard's son: always thinking outside the proverbial box. “Go ahead. Let him and Rabin know that when the Council returns, I'll have a chat with them about letting them out.”

  “Will do. Anything you want me to synthesize for you?”

  The mention of food set her stomach growling. “Two corned beef and cabbage spring rolls, please.” A thought struck her. “Let's hope when the tribe returns, they'll bring their food supply with them, or we might have to synthesize dinner for everyone.”

  “Two spring rolls it is. How about some lemon tea to wash them down?”

  “Oh God, yes. Off you go, Little Bug.”

  Davin rolled his eyes as he turned and headed for the Talon.

  * * *

  The sensor array informed Maeve of the approaching fleet of chavas long before the first one appeared over the hill to the Plateau's south. She, Zarina, and Yarji had to tie strips of cloth around their noses as they walked out to greet their tribemates; they had yet to clear away the remains of most of the dead Elzorath, who still laid, charred and decomposing, where they fell.

  Despite the stench, Maeve was delighted to see Liana and Eloni on the lead chavas, riding in tandem with Gruta and Hathi. There wasn't time for a full debriefing right there on the scarred plain; the grim carnage was enough for the two Councilors to confirm what Gruta had no doubt told them.

  Over a hundred Ixtrayu made their way back to their homes, sharing hugs with the surviving huntresses and shedding many tears over their fallen sisters. Many Ixtrayu stopped a respectful distance from the Talon, tracing its shape with reverential eyes, but did not linger. There was too much to do.

  After the chavas were dispatched to collect the remaining Ixtrayu still at Lake Barix, Maeve beckoned for Liana and Eloni to sit in a pair of chairs Davin had brought from the hold. Maeve couldn't help notice how much the last week had aged them. The sadness emanating from them was palpable as Maeve brought them up to speed on everything that had happened.

  “Twelve of our sisters, dead. Our Stone, taken. My beloved nima …” Liana covered her face with her hands, choking back a sob.

  “Twelve?” Maeve asked. “Only eleven were lost in the battle.”

  Eloni placed a hand on Liana's shoulder. “It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that Councilor Katura journeyed to the Great Veil last night.”

  Maeve's breath caught in her throat, and she lowered her head. “I'm so sorry.”

  “The ride to Lake Barix was too much for her,” Eloni explained.

  Liana wiped her tears, composing herself. “May Arantha welcome her, and all our sisters, with loving arms.”

  “What is your plan, Protectress?” Eloni asked.

  Maeve paused, surprised. She wasn't sure whether the Councilors would accept her nomination by Nyla and the huntresses, but given the circumstances, she was glad to have their confidence for the long road ahead. It's what Kelia would want, Liana informed her.

  “As soon as Nyla is up to it, we are going to consult the Stone. We're hoping that will give us some idea what our next move in this game is.”

  “ 'Game'?” Liana said, her volume rising to a shout. She pointed a bony finger at the burned-out croplands behind her. “This is no game, Maeve! We need to find Kelia!” Her finger moved to the ship. “Can't you use your technology to find her?”

  Maeve held her palms out, keeping her face implacable. “Even my technology has limits, Councilor. It's not like I can fly all over Elystra looking for her. Even if I could somehow locate her that way, they'd hear me coming from miles away, and they'd kill her. We need a better plan than that. We're hoping Arantha can provide it for us.”

  “I pray Nyla recovers quickly,” Eloni said, casting a furtive glance at the ship.

  “Me too,” Maeve said.

  * * *

  By nightfall, all the Ixtrayu had returned home. Maeve ordered that most of the torches remain unlit for now. She didn't want to draw any additional attention to the village and another attack right now would be devastating.

  Many of the tribe were exhausted, emotionally and physically, but none would miss the ceremony scheduled for that evening.

  Thanks to Lyala's ministrations, Nyla had recovered a great deal of her strength. With Maeve's help, she was able to use her earth-Wielding ability to create a large, deep hole in the ground on a flat section of plain not far from the Circle of Union. This, Eloni told her, was the Ixtrayu's burial ground, home to the bones of dozens of generations of their ancestors. Tonight, twelve more would be laid to their final resting place.

  The tribe's cloth-wielders spent the entire day sewing the fallen huntresses, and Katura, into their burial shrouds. They were dark brown in color, similar in shade to the soil in which they were to be interred. Once the final flap of cloth covered their faces, they would be carried by their sisters to the burial site and placed in the grave.

  Prayers would be spoken, and tears would be shed. Never in eight centuries had the Ixtrayu had to bury so many of their own at one time.

  Four Ixtrayu were assigned to carry each of the huntresses' bodies the distance between the village and the gravesite, except for Susarra, who required two additional pairs of strong arms.

  One by one the shrouded bodies were brought in on the shoulders of their sisters and placed gently inside the grave.

  Katura, possibly the longest-lived and most respected Councilor in the Ixtrayu's long history, was first. Lyala led the prayer thanking Arantha for her mother's long life, her wisdom, and for the healing abilities she'd passed on to both Lyala and to Sershi.

  Maeve shed a tear for the kindly old woman, who had been the first among the Council to accept her at face value. Kelia had called her 'the wisest woman I've ever known', and Maeve couldn't help but think of her own grandmother, Niamh, when they spoke.

  Next was Susarra, who was also laid to rest with both reverence and delicacy. Even so, no tears were shed at her loss, and no one offered any words of eulogy.

  Then came the huntresses. Maeve chided herself at the unfamiliarity of many of their names: Ebina, Lyria, Frondi, Tarna, Obreya, Verna, Melira, Irini. To her they'd just been faces in a crowd of students, preferring to keep a distance between herself and them, just in case …

  Just in case this happened.

  She watched Bika break down as Jazia was laid in the grave, watched her bury her face in Zarina's shoulder, watched the young chava-keeper clutch onto her companion lest Bika throw herself into the same grave.

  All fell silent as Runa entered the circle of torches, bearing an enshrouded Sarja in her arms. The tall huntress's face might as well have been carved in granite. She'd been a veritable recluse for the past few days, barely eating the meals left for her and not speaking to anyone. The only person she'd let near her was Amya, her companion of fifteen years. They'd raised Sarja together, and she felt the pain of Sarja's death as intensely as Runa. Amya, the tribe's head cloth-weaver, had seen to Sarja's arrangements personally.

  As the young girl's body took its place alongside the eleven others, Runa remained silent. She accepted brief hugs from both Amya and Nyla before trudging back to the village, alone. Both watched her go, their faces stained with tears.

  After a final prayer led by Liana and Eloni—and many long minutes Nyla was forced to take a moment to compose herself for her final task this night—Nyla once again called upon her earth-Wielding ability. Maeve helped her focus as she coaxed every granule of excavated dirt from the nearby pile into the grave, letting them fall like rain onto the honored dead until they were completely covered. No headstones or markers would be placed to indicate the dozen Ixtrayu's gravesite. It was not their way. It hardly mattered. Those present would not forget what was lost and where the silent dead now lay. They would never forge
t.

  * * *

  The next morning brought with it a sense of renewed urgency. The remaining dead had been buried and the Ixtrayu food supply had been placed back into the deep fissure of rock designated as the tribe's cold storage. Nyla used her air-Wielding to lower the temperature in the storage room to a level where the meat would not spoil, and then she moved to the cistern where her sisters could enjoy a warm bath for the first time in days. Maeve, too, partook of the opportunity to wash away any residual dirt and blood that clung to her frame.

  Rather than keep the Stone she found in the cave that housed its counterpart, Maeve decided it would be best to keep it instead on the Talon. If the Elzorath attacked again, she informed the Council, they would not be able to access it. If it became necessary, she could program the auto-pilot to fly the ship into orbit, far from Elzor's reach.

  It was on the bridge of the Talon that Maeve instructed Nyla to consult Arantha. They would have privacy and silence, two things necessary for the level of concentration required. After several minutes of wide-eyed staring at the interior of the Earth ship, including the array of consoles and screens lining the cockpit, Maeve sat her down in the copilot's chair. She then retrieved the Stone, placing it on top of a small portable table between them.

  “Are you ready for this?” Maeve asked, seeing the tension etched into Nyla's young face.

  Nyla stared at the Stone for a few moments. The dance of yellow light had begun, further illuminating the tiny room. “Yes,” she said, her voice shaking slightly. “I just hope this Stone tells me as much as our Stone did.”

  Maeve thought for a moment. “It should. My Wielding abilities have remained constant from one Stone to another, so yours should as well. Just promise me if things get … difficult, you'll end the consultation, okay?”

  “I'll try, but according to my mother, it's up to Arantha when the consultation ends.”

  “Just try your best.”

  Nyla nodded, placing her hands on the table a few inches away from both sides of the Stone. With a deep inhale, she incanted, “I bask in your divine presence, O Arantha, for I am your humble servant.” And then she brought her hands together, grasping the Stone.