by Nhys Glover
The last argument was the only one I was willing to accept. But if I was needed I would have no problem jumping into the action. I would never accept men setting me on the sidelines out of fear for me.
The spot we planned for the attack was three days from Westsealund territory. Far enough from us not to attract attention and far enough from Westsealund that the King could not be blamed for the attack.
As soon as Beyen's men arrived, we packed what we needed and headed out. My nerves were raw and I jumped at the slightest unexpected noise or movement. My men were focused and tense. I kept wishing I had been able to arrange the escape without them. If any of them were hurt or killed I didn't know if I would survive it. They were as essential to me as air. Even losing one would be a devastation I would never recover from.
But this was my mother, and I couldn't do it without them. I just had to pray to the Goddess that we would succeed.
Chapter Twenty-Six
We had set up camp behind the rocky outcrop, which would be the site of our ambush. Mother's transport should be a day away and unable to see our campfires. Even if they did, there were so many travellers on the road it could be attributed to anyone.
We had eight airlings with us, four for my men to ride and four to carry the rock packs. At Calun's request, the latter would join the nearby grazing airlings, spacing themselves within the flying flock when the time was right.
We had practiced releasing the rocks many times by now and the airlings were familiar with the odd sensation of losing weight from their backs. Or sides, which would be more accurate, as the packs were equally loaded with stones on either side of their wide backs.
Rama was worried that both loads wouldn't release at the same time, or some problem would arise where one side didn't release at all. The airling would then find itself off-balance, making flying and landing a perilous proposition. But as we had systematically increased the loads and practiced the procedure, time and again, no such problem had arisen.
When we all settled in for the night, each of us finding a spot near the banked fire, I stared up at the star-dusted sky. On nights like this, when so much hinged on the coming day, staring up at the enormity of the heavens reminded me how insignificant our small dramas were in the scheme of things. Each one of those glowing specks of light was the soul of a departed, so I'd been taught. The good souls, that is. The bad souls existed in the dark realms between, knowing no light or joy.
What if that was true? What if, by going against the Godling, I had condemned my soul to eternal darkness? I would never be one of those shining lights. More than anything I wanted to be one of those lights.
No, not more than anything. If that were the case I would have let Father sacrifice me. That would have assured my soul its place among the stars.
What would being the Goddess Incarnate give me after death? A brighter star than the rest? Would my husbands and I be a cluster of bright stars like the ones I could see in the sky? I liked that idea. Or would we be one large star, shining our light together for an eternity. That was even more appealing.
"What're you thinking?" Jaron asked from his place to my right. Calun was to my left, Darkin at my head and Rama at my feet. None of us touched but we lay much closer than the others in our party did. It disconcerted Beyen and his men, our relationship, but I no longer cared what others thought of our arrangement. We were happy, and that was all that mattered.
"I'm wondering if we will be condemned to darkness for what we do, or find ourselves as a cluster of bright stars in the heavens at our deaths. I am hoping we will be one big star."
"We won't be condemned to darkness for saving an innocent woman from a terrible fate. What we do is a good thing, a noble thing." Jaron's tone was filled with pride. I was glad he felt that way. It eased my conscience a little.
I sighed. "It is. But I cannot help thinking it wouldn't have come to this if I'd just done my duty."
"Let yourself be killed, you mean?" he said with disgust. "No, that would've been impossible. You could no more have given up your life to placate false gods as you could've killed your own mother.
"I'm coming to believe in this Goddess of the rebels. Largely because I'm convinced you're the walking, talking manifestation of her. The sooner you accept that everything that's happened: your escape, finding us, becoming part of the rebellion, the babe − it's all part of your destiny. Our destiny. If you must have duty, then make that your duty: to follow your destiny."
I sighed again, this time a little more lightly. "For the joker of our bond you have a lot of wisdom."
"I think not taking yourself or life too seriously is very wise."
I smiled, though I knew he couldn't see it. I silently went back to watching the sparkling souls above me as my eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
The following day was another painfully long one filled with more waiting. There was nothing to do, nothing to say. Beyen's men handled the forced inactivity the best. They told outrageous stories about the fish they had caught, the mermaids they had encountered, and the storms they had weathered. I wondered if there was even a kernel of truth in any of them. But the tales were entertaining and passed the time. I was told that fishermen spent a lot of time waiting. There was an art to it.
It was late afternoon when Calun told us the transport was closing in. The first group would pass in about a 'turn. Everyone jumped into action. Beyen and his men had laid the rope on the road overnight and now half his men moved to the other side of the road to hide.
I began to walk and climb to my allocated spot half a league distant. If I took too long, I would have to hide as the first two parts of the cavalcade passed. But there was no way I was going to be that slow. Certainly, I had been sick in the morning, as usual, but that had passed. So, except for a little tiredness, I was fine. The airling ride to our hiding place the evening before had restocked my energy, as had the food and sleep the night before. I was fit enough to carry out my task.
But the terrain proved more challenging than I'd expected, especially as I was trying to stay as hidden from passing traffic as possible. I wore tunic and breeches the colour of stone, and my blonde mop was tied in a knot and covered by a kerchief the colour of my clothing. I blended in to my surroundings well, when I wasn't on the move.
I ended up ducking behind a large boulder when the first troopers passed my spot. I could recognise them from the pictures in Calun's head. They seemed alert for danger, looking this way and that. They too probably thought this was a perfect spot for an ambush.
Once they'd gone past, I continued my journey a little faster and was at my destination by the time my mother's transport passed by. The two men riding on the front seat of the carriage and the two riders following close behind were all dressed as Godslund soldiers, with swords at their waists and armour on their chests. They looked impatient and edgy. I fought the urge to pop my head up for more than a few seconds in hopes of seeing Mother at the window of the carriage.
It would take the next group about a quarter 'turn to reach me, moving with a wagon that was slow and cumbersome. I found a comfortable spot and split my time between studying the darkening sky for airlings and the road beyond my hiding place for troopers. I was glad the worst of the heat was fading out of the day and that the sun was setting in the eyes of my opponents.
A squawk overhead finally alerted me to the airlings. I noted the troopers and their wagon had reached me. Though I had practiced this strategy a hundred times, I was still nervous something would go wrong. But I took my place just beyond my hiding place and watched for the perfect moment to release the first load. It came, moments later, as the airling flock began to pass low overhead. I couldn't waste time watching the troopers; my full attention had to be on sending focused gusts of wind where it was needed.
I jerked my fingers at the protruding lever on the first packed airling that flew just behind the first of the wild airlings. Moments later, I saw rocks falling.
The beastlings' screa
ms of terror and pain were hard to bear, but I hardened my resolve. I heard panicked shouts from the men, but I focused on the next airling. I had to release that lever before it passed.
Another flick and more stones rained down from the sky. No time for checking what was happening. I focused and sent the next gust of air to the third airling. Again I saw rocks falling.
But something was going wrong. A gale force wind, not of my making, had been stirred up and was shooting toward the airlings, catching at their wings and sending them off-course.
It took a moment for me to realise what was happening. They had an Air Master with them. Father had decided to fight fire with fire or, in this case, air with air. Terror clogged my throat and made my already fast-beating heart drum all the more riotously.
I looked down at the chaos the rocks had caused. Of the five riders that surrounded the wagon, only one was still on his mount. Several beastlings lay on their sides, pinning at least one rider beneath its huge body. The other unseated riders were scrambling around, attempting to get out of the way of falling rocks and struggling beastlings.
I saw the Air Master almost immediately. He'd been driving the wagon and had dropped the reins so he could use his arms to direct the gale. For a split second I was captured by the magic of it: his long black hair flowing around him like ribbons, his face a picture of ecstasy.
I knew that feeling. I experienced it every time I caused the air to do my bidding.
But the magic son's attention was drawn from the airlings above. He turned and found me with his focused gaze. I knew I would be thrown from my feet in the next second if I didn't do something. Anything.
I could not use my wind to fight his. But neither could I run and hide. Panic fought to claim me, but I tried to stay strong. Heart racing, sweat running down my back in rivulets, breath coming in short gasps −as if I'd run a league − I tried to focus my mind. But it was like being caught on the back of a runaway beastling. I was powerless against the raw emotions that threatened to take me under.
Until something exploded out of me. I had no time to consider what it was. Or even what was happening. I threw my hands downward, as if shaking off water in the direction of the road. As I felt the first buffet of wind from my adversary, the earth groaned and cracked open. The sound was deafening, like the earth itself was moaning in agony.
While I stared in horror, I saw the deep crevice swallow the wagon, Air Master, and all the closest troopers, including the only one still mounted. Their screams made my chest ache. I rubbed it absently as I tried to take in the enormity of what had happened.
What I had made happen.
But there was no time to worry about the devastation I had wrought. Or even how I had done it. I had to get to my mother.
With no need to stay hidden any more, I ran down to what was left of the road and raced for my mother's carriage. I could see my Airluds circling overhead like beastlings of prey. Arrows rained down on the carriage, in the same way the rocks had done on my party only moments ago. The road was still in one piece here, though the rumble and earth tremor seemed to have unseated one of the riders. Another was trying to get his mount under control while dragging an arrow from his shoulder.
I sent a gust of wind at him, and he flipped out of the saddle like a leaf caught in a breeze. When he hit the ground he didn't move again. His mount took the opportunity to race away.
I saw another trooper trying to drag my mother from the carriage. He was planning to use her as a shield, I was sure. I sent more wind his way and knocked him from the door.
Rama had dismounted and was racing into the fray on foot. I saw him raise his make-shift sword and sever the head of the man I'd blown away from the door, before he could rise.
Blood flew in ribbons on the wind, covering Rama's clothes and face. His expression was a mask of vengeance. If there had been a god of war, Rama would have been his embodiment. With an efficient lunge, he reached up and dragged the remaining man from the seat of the carriage. That man had his sword drawn, and for a time they fought, blade to blade.
But Rama was bigger and stronger than his opponent, if not as skilled with the sword. The fight would go to him, I knew. It was only a matter of time.
In the meantime, I took advantage of the break in the arrow barrage to run to the carriage. The door had closed after I'd blown the man away from it. I flung it open and a huge body from inside collided with mine, sending me sprawling to the ground. I heard a scream. From my mother, I assumed. But I couldn't see. I couldn't see anything but the muscled body pressing down on me, trying to get his hands around my throat.
I felt Calun's terror for me from somewhere above. He was trying to get close enough to shoot my opponent, but he was scared he'd miss and hit me.
I told him I was well able to handle the threat. It wasn't a lie. I kneed the soldier where it would hurt the most, and then threw him over my head. He landed behind me with an ominous thud.
I struggled to my feet and faced him. He was not supposed to be in the carriage. Calun and the airlings hadn't seen a fifth man with my mother. But he had been there, just waiting for his chance. Maybe he had planned to use my mother as a shield too. But my unexpected appearance in the doorway must have spurred him to take action. I was only a small woman, after all. I could wield wind, but in a hand-to-hand battle that was a useless skill. He expected me to go down easily and stay down.
With satisfaction, I limped over to him. He was curled up in agony, clutching his nether regions. I would have grimaced if he hadn’t been my opponent and trying to choke me. I know Rama was doing so reflexively as he ran to my side.
He lifted his sword to end the man's pain forever.
"No," I cried. "Just tie him up. He's no threat to us now."
I saw bloodlust wage with his desire to please me. For a moment I thought the god of war would win. Then, as if the wind had fallen from his sails, he let his sword drop to his side. With a piece of leather, he quickly bound the man's hands behind him. The other brothers were on foot now, checking on the other fallen troopers.
Mother's cry drew my attention to the carriage. She stood in the doorway, staring at me as if she was sure she was seeing a ghost. I rushed to her side and she fell into my arms, nearly knocking me off my feet yet again. But she was not a huge warrior. She was no bigger than I was, and I was prepared for her weight. I simply took a little step back, let her feet hit the ground so she could gain her footing, and hugged her properly.
"Oh Airsha, Airsha, my darling. I thought you were dead. They told me you were dead!"
"Dead?" I said, drawing back to look her in the eyes. "Did the harem not find out about the attack on the palace by the rebels? Of my escape?"
She shook her head as the tears streamed down her pale, emaciated cheeks. Had Father been starving her? Now that I looked at her properly I could see she was little more than skin and bones. Like I had been twice over in the last couple of mooncycles.
"We heard about the rebel attack. But you died during it. That was what we were told. Your body was thrown in with the rest of the rebels and burned up without proper ceremony."
I shook my head, wondering at the pain she must have been going through during this last moon'. No wonder she looked so frail.
At that moment, a large, filthy fighter ran up to us. It was Beyen. I drew away from my mother so he could have his moment with her. He had earned it.
The fisherman stared at his lost love with so much awe my heart ached. I knew that look. I had four men who looked at me just that way on occasion. That Mother had been denied this love for so long was a travesty.
"Beyen?" Mother said, as if she was dreaming.
"Aye, my love. Come to claim you at last."
"But... How? I do not understand how this is possible..."
They didn't move closer to each other. It was as if they were two young people meeting for the first time. Shy and insecure.
"Let us get out of here while we can. Who knows if there are more tro
opers racing to join the fight as we speak," I said, grabbing at a riderless beastling nearby and gesturing for Beyen to mount and take Mother up with him.
He did as I directed and, though unused to riding, Mother settled in against the big fisherman as if she had always been at his side. Together with his men, and as many beastlings as they could collect up, Beyen headed out.
"Airsha, mount up," Rama demanded, drawing me away to where the airlings awaited us.
I had spent time in the last quarter moon learning to ride on my own. One of the airlings had accepted me as hers. It made me smile, thinking about it. To Godslunders, an airling belonged to her rider, to an airling the rider belonged to her. And Calun had belonged to this one and had named her Bay. She had accepted me because of my connection to him, and she had been willing to carry the rocks in the barrage. Now she only had the empty leather packs on her back and it was easy for me to mount her.
Calun rode a newly tamed airling, and I noted he'd remounted and taken off already. A steady buzz of anxiety for me came from his direction.
I was starting to see why being able to be inside all my husbands' minds might be a bad idea. Dealing with Calun's concerns for me was hard enough. If I felt them all, it would be impossible to do anything dangerous.
I asked him if there were any more threats.
'I don't think so, but I want to be away from this place. Other travellers were coming. Who knows whether they are troopers or not.'
I could read his insecurities. He had not correctly identified how many troopers were with Mother's transport and that had almost cost me my life. I would have to reassure him that he had done well, and that spying on such a detail was never going to produce exact numbers. But that was for later. Now we just needed to get home.
I mounted and took to the skies, watching as Mother and Beyer rode hard in the direction of the Centre. I felt an immense sense of peace come over me as the air buffeted my face.