Talon (The Astor Chronicles Book 1)

by Greenslade, Amanda

  ‘They can’t just boot us out of our splittin’ homeland!’ a man across from him responded indignantly.

  Angry voices echoed in the chamber.

  ‘We could stay here,’ a younger voice suggested.

  ‘We’ll petition the king,’ said another.

  Others commented, but my concentration was waning. It seemed to me that even if we could increase the defences around Jaria village there weren’t enough warriors to protect the herds and farms. By its very nature, our home was spread out, using most of the realm of Jaria, not just the village.

  Though it was possible to go deeper into the catacombs it would be easier for us to sneak home through the forest. I’d tried to follow other tunnels, once or twice, when I was younger, but they were too complex—a torch of embers or an oil lamp only lasted so long.

  One such torch was being waved in front of my face with Namal standing before me.

  ‘Do you have the strength to walk with me?’ he asked.

  I swallowed my first response and nodded politely. When I climbed to my feet, Rekala lifted her head and whine-growled.

  ‘I won’t be long,’ I promised.

  She wanted to follow me, but she was beyond exhaustion.

  Namal lead me deep into the catacombs where the pearly glow gradually faded. Soon all we could see was the flickering light of the torchfire on the walls, and our silhouettes in stark relief. Namal went unerringly down one tunnel and another, choosing with absolute certainty which way to go when it branched.

  ‘Have you explored these caves before?’ Namal asked.

  ‘Not this part of the catacombs, no. I visited the Womb a few times when I was younger, with Ella.’

  ‘You and your sister were close?’ It was more of a statement than a query. Namal was old enough to be among those who’d known me from birth, which was part of the reason I was so open with him.

  I shrugged. ‘Why? Is there something down here of significance to Ella?’

  Namal met my eyes as we walked, ‘Well yes, she knew about it. The Womb is the birthplace of the Rada, but deeper in is home to something much older, one of the few remaining Ancient Sapphire Trees.’

  My eyes widened. An Ancient Sapphire Tree was even more special than a Great Sapphire Tree.

  ‘It is one of only nine remaining on Chryne,’ Namal went on, ‘the nine original trees from which all the lesser Sapphire Trees are spawned.’

  I stared at him. ‘Can we see it?’

  He gestured ahead with the torch. ‘That’s where I’m taking you. I thought you’d be interested.’

  ‘I am. Why haven’t I been told of it before?’

  There was a slightly blue glow in the darkness ahead of us.

  Namal put his hand across my shoulders, ‘Ah, now that is hopefully obvious.’

  I sniffed, masking my frustration. From what I knew of sapphire trees they were sought after by weapon-smiths, armourers, jewellers, sculptors, collectors and more. The nine remaining Ancient Sapphire Trees were said to be impervious to human devices because they were among the countless original trees that were set down at the dawn of creation by the Lightmaker himself. Only if an Ancient gave up one of its leaves willingly could any item be crafted from it.

  ‘The Ancient Sapphire Trees are indestructible,’ I said. ‘Why would you need to hide its location?’

  ‘Not to protect it,’ Namal answered, ‘but to protect its spawn.’

  As he said that, we rounded a sweeping bend and the blue light suddenly became a glowing miasma. Namal extinguished the torch and rested it on a stone table set into the wall. Before us was a forest of sapphire trees, spread out in a massive cavern even bigger than the Womb. Just like the Great Sapphire Tree near Jaria, these were as hard as rock from trunk to branch to leaf. The sapphire-like leaves glowed and throbbed with sap, and each tree was easily twice my height.

  We walked among them for a while, and I noticed there was a faint sound in the air, like whirring and chiming. The cavern smelt like rich, dark earth, and the floor was slick with moisture. It felt like soil beneath my boots, not rock. Tiaro revelled in the presence of the trees, one of which might have been her ancestor.

  It seemed possible that the earring had been fashioned from the leaf of one of these very trees—my mother or father might have come here to harvest it. I wondered if they had somehow known that I would become an Anzaii like my mother and sister. Emotions rose, almost choking me.

  ‘Why did you bring me here?’ I asked.

  He stroked the shiny trunk of a tree. ‘Only the prime and a handful of others are aware of the Ancient Tree’s existence. Traditionally, it has been a secret kept between the prime, the elders and Jaria’s Anzaii. Your mother and sister took their responsibilities seriously, which is why you were never told about this spawning ground.’

  I could only frown in frustration.

  ‘Feera was the sole surviving Anzaii, after Ella and the others were captured, as you know.’

  ‘Aye?’

  ‘Now that she, too, has been parted from us,’ Namal began carefully, ‘you are Jaria’s only Anzaii. Some will want you to take up the mantle and serve as those before you served.’

  The honour of being Jaria’s appointed Anzaii leader was more than I had ever dreamed, but I felt a certain aversion to being harnessed so soon after coming into my new abilities. Having just met Rekala and Tiaro it seemed there was a world of possibility for me now. I realised that my desire to find out what was going on beyond Jaria’s borders had doubled.

  ‘I should not like to disappoint my leaders,’ I said carefully.

  ‘I said “some”,’ he reminded me. ‘Your leaders may not have decided what to do with you yet.’

  Do with me? Am I chattel?

  ‘And what do you think I should do?’ I responded stiffly.

  Namal continued walking, glancing at me over his shoulder.

  ‘I think you should heed Sy-tré,’ he said, ‘and follow your heart.’

  We had arrived at the foot of the biggest sapphire tree yet. Its trunk was wider than me, even with my arms out straight. The branches towered above me with leaves as big as saddles. When I rested my hand against its trunk, a burst of sensation went through my mind. Tiaro screamed in alarm as hundreds of voices and emotions overwhelmed me. I collapsed to the ground, completely absorbed in the waves.

  Here was Namal. There were the Jarians—including Sarlice and Ivon—all the Rada-kin and a number of bonded weapons, Tolite-kin. Further away were specks of floating darkness. Masses of resentful, murderous thought, scheming and complaining, eating, rutting and praying to their many gods—Zeikas!

  ‘I can sense them,’ I exclaimed. ‘The Zeikas.’

  Namal was crouched on the ground beside me, peering intently at me. ‘Do not touch it again.’

  ‘I won’t.’

  The burst of insight faded, leaving echoes of thought in my mind. It had been far too much information for me to process; a barrage of words and images continued to range through my conscious mind, making little sense. I breathed hoarsely in and out.

  ‘This is the power of an Ancient Sapphire Tree?’ I sputtered, after a while.

  ‘Yes,’ Namal said slowly. His voice was a little high-pitched, like someone was squeezing him around the middle. ‘And it is too much for most Anzaii to bear. I am amazed that you were able to discern the Zeikas.’

  ‘I, too, am astonished,’ Tiaro said.

  ‘This tree gave up a leaf to us once,’ Namal said. ‘And an item was fashioned from it by Zoen of Watercrag. It has been in our keeping for generations, passed from Anzaii to Anzaii. In days past, when there was more than one Anzaii in Jaria, the best of them was declared “Wave Master” and took care of Jaria’s Anzaii artefact. Feera’s time is over and it seems your time has come.’

  I picked myself up, staring at him. ‘Are you making me the Wave Master of Jaria?’

  ‘Nay—it is not my decision to do that, but seeing as you are Jaria’s only Anzaii now you are ent
itled to carry the belt. That is written in the Codes of Jaria.’

  He handed me the belt of black leather that I had last seen around Feera’s waist. On closer inspection I realised that the jewels it was encrusted with were thick shards of sapphire tree leaf.

  Following my gaze, Namal said, ‘They’re made from one of the Ancient Sapphire Tree’s leaves. Hundreds of years ago the Anzaii wore entire suits of leafshard armour, but those were crafted from Great Sapphire Trees. This is something even rarer.’

  The shards were as tough as rock, but flexed with the leather. Dark channels of the tree’s sap glued it all together. By my reckoning, this belt would be impervious to blade and fire.

  ‘You entrust this to me?’ I asked in disbelief.

  ‘Yes,’ Namal said. ‘It is law.’

  ‘Surprising that the Zeikas didn’t steal it from you.’

  ‘They daren’t, for these are holy trees and the belt a holy artefact.’

  I thought again of the reversed corpse I had seen in the Zeika camp. It had only been demonic powers that had kept that Zeika alive. Contact with a holy artefact would have a chance of making the demons flee.

  ‘Imagine a leafshard sword, Tiaro!’ I exclaimed mentally. ‘It would kill Zeikas past the span of normal human years with the lightest touch.’

  The earring hummed a warning, vibrating in my ear.

  ‘Such power is only to be wielded by the most trusted of Krii’s servants. You are wise for your age, but you have much to learn.’

  I slid my belt pouches onto the leafshard belt and wrapped it around my waist, already feeling safer.

  ‘It looks well on you.’ Namal was clearly pleased with his decision.

  ‘Thank you,’ I murmured, awed.

  When my fingers brushed the shards I experienced a surge of awareness—the Zeikas I had sensed when I touched the Ancient Sapphire Tree were still out there. It surprised me that the insight from touching that Tree still reverberated in my mind.

  ‘I will take good care of it,’ I said, giving Namal my belt in return.

  ‘Good,’ Namal replied. ‘There were some who used to say there was a spiritual purpose to the Anzaii artefacts. With so many of our scrolls lost in the ban on the Tanzans, we have not been able to look further into it.’

  ‘It sounds like a worthwhile quest.’

  I noticed only the slightest nod from Namal before he turned away. With one more look at the Ancient Sapphire Tree, I followed him out of the cavern. It was tempting to pluck a leaf from one of the smaller trees as we passed, but Namal’s reverence for them stayed my hand. Were sapphire trees so few now that they needed protection? In some ways, it reminded me of my people.

  We, too, had once glowed brightly.

  Chapter Ten—The Letter

  Most of the Rada travelled home in animal form, carrying those who were injured or couldn’t morph. Ivon helped Sarlice and I carry our gear back to the horses that were busy cropping grass and chewing it over their bits.

  The forest was eerily silent as we hurried through. Namal was anxious to return to Jaria in case the Zeikas attacked again, but our enemies did not pursue. Why? There would be less than two hundred in Jaria once we arrived. It would be easy pickings for the Zeikas.

  ‘You caught them off guard,’ Tiaro said. ‘They realise the mistake they made last night. Jonaal must recalculate Jaria’s defences before their next attack, especially if it now has a new Anzaii.’

  ‘Me?’

  ‘Of course.’

  A frightening thought occurred to me, ‘Tiaro, do you think the attack on Feera had anything to do with the Zeika attack?’

  ‘It does seem to have been convenient for them.’

  It didn’t make sense that an extremist cult could have connections with the Zeikas. Fanatical they may be, but from what the murderer, Dugan, had said the Wavekeepers considered them the enemy. Dugan had inferred that the only way to prevent the Zeikas from capturing and using Anzaii was by killing us.

  Rekala, walking slowly through the forest behind us, said, ‘You can hope it was an isolated attack and you’ll never hear from those hunters again. If I had only been there I might have intervened….’

  ‘It happened so suddenly. Not even Namal’s Rada-kin, Josker, could see it coming.’

  ‘Talon,’ Kestric said, unaware that he was interrupting my private conversation with Tiaro and Rekala, ‘Some of the other Rada-kin want to know if you are certain there are no scrying marks in the forest. The Zeikas could be watching us at this very moment.’

  ‘I think I would have noticed,’ I replied. ‘But I’ll pay more attention.’

  ‘Lightmaker, reveal these marks to me,’ I requested under my breath.

  Speaking to Tiaro, Kestric and myself, Rekala asked, ‘Why is there such a tremendous war raging between the Kriites and the Zeikas?’

  ‘It’s not simple, and I don’t pretend to have all the answers,’ I began, ‘but in essence the Zeikas will not abide us because we have a different view to them on who created the world, who rules it and how we are to live in it.’

  ‘Why not just let them have their way? Would they leave you in peace if you swore allegiance to this Zeidarb?’

  ‘You are still new to human culture, so you may not realise how such differences in worldview affect the behaviour and customs of a group of people,’ I replied. ‘The Zeikas support all kinds of atrocities that Kriites abhor. They kill in cold blood, not only their enemies but anyone who gets in the way and is too weak to defend themselves.

  ‘Zeikas lie with anyone they feel like and count it a personal success to father offspring with as many different women as possible.’

  ‘That reminds me of some icetigers I used to know,’ Rekala said.

  ‘It may be acceptable among animals, but it is not good for the human soul or for the children.

  ‘Zeikas build their kingdoms on the backs of slaves, and their womenfolk are treated like chattel.’

  ‘These two opposing views cannot abide each other. Neither group wants the other to defame their god, or have any control to prevent the other from living the way they like. That is why there’s so much conflict between Zeikas and Kriites.’

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘Why can’t you just leave each other alone?’

  ‘I’m sure most Kriites would do just that. We prefer not to go to war. Zeikas, on the other hand, have a mandate in their codes that any who disbelieve or worship a god other than Zeidarb must convert or else the Zeika has the right to enslave or kill them.’

  ‘Haven’t you tried to reason with them—stake out territories where they’re allowed to live the way they like and you’re allowed to follow your own beliefs?’

  Her mind illustrated this concept with the scent-marking of trees and bushes that was common practice among wild tigers.

  ‘The Zeikas have mostly stayed out of Telby since their exile,’ I replied, ‘but it seems that they’ve had enough of leaving us alone. They consider it their mission to rid the world of the Kriite way of life, and they believe it is their right to rule, in the name of Zei.’

  Throughout the rest of the day Sarlice, Kestric, Rekala and I travelled with six others. We were bringing up the rear, just in case the Zeikas tried to follow. With my new ability to banish wards, spirit circles and conjurations, I had a distinct advantage over the others.

  As we neared Jaria that afternoon, I detected three scrying marks, which I removed in much the same way as I had banished the demon from Rekala’s ward. Sy-tré made his appearance in the waves each time, and disappeared as quickly as he had come. It made me think the spirit realm was a much different place from the waves, and that Sy-tré could only cross for a short time after being invited. I was thankful for the mechanisms the Lightmaker had introduced when he first created the Anzaii abilities. It gave me a measure of certainly and control that some Kriites with other gifts, like healing, rarely had.

  Sarlice, Kestric and Rekala went with me on a quick foray around the outskirts of Ja
ria Village, hunting for more marks. I found ten altogether, and called Sy-tré to banish them one after the other.

  When we finally made our way into the village, the day-star was starting to retreat, and the two moons, Capril and Naeva, were visible in the pre-twilight sky. Charred debris scattered the village grounds, and the reek of smoke and magic still clung to every surface. The smell of spit-roast goat had Rekala salivating when we were half a mile away from the village centre. Eventually it reached my nostrils, reminding me I had eaten only rations since the battle here.

  Sarlice has got to be at least as hungry as me. I felt a thrill at the idea of serving her before myself. Jarians valued such selfless behaviour, and it was a good excuse to remain near the Lythian. Having been through the rescue with her, I felt unusually drawn to her. I couldn’t help wondering what she thought of me.

  Waving off the advances of a healer, I urged her to attend to Sarlice while I collected some food. Upon my return, the Lythian rewarded me with a generous smile.

  ‘Have you many friends here?’ Sarlice asked.

  I shrugged. ‘Jaria is my home—its people are my family. You don’t get to choose your family, nor can they choose you, but you love them nonetheless.’

  Rekala sat up and whined.

  ‘Sorry, girl,’ I muttered, bending down to place the food in front of her.

  I sat beside her and rubbed her back, dismayed when patches of greyish-blue fur came off in my hands. Her wounds were already healing, and I could sense the great cat’s strength slowly returning, but it would be some days before she was back to normal.

  Once Sarlice’s wounds were treated, she sat in the leather and wood chair beside me to eat. I was glad she didn’t leave—I worried that, any time now, she would announce what business she had to attend to as Ambassador and be on her way. Then I would never see her again. Kestric looked up at me, surprised.