by Cully Mack
Zeev appraised them both his gaze fixing on Neviah. ‘I hear you have a temper?’
Neviah shifted her weight on one hip and played with the ends of her hair. There was nothing seductive in her pose, fury simmered beneath. Mirah leaned in closer and nudged Neviah’s shoulder so gently she wondered if she felt it at all.
Zeev missed nothing, his mouth twitched at the corners, his deep brown eyes sensing in Neviah a challenge. ‘Well, we’ll soon sort that out of you.’
Neviah knew full well she needed to be on her best behaviour but still, in the dim light Mirah saw her nostrils flare.
‘We’ll see,’ Neviah muttered under her breath.
Zeev’s smile beamed. ‘Bring it.’
‘Enough. We don’t have time for this,’ Nate said, coming up to Zeev and turning his broad shoulders to face the girls. ‘The first thing to teach you is how to get out of a grab hold. Like this.’
Zeev swung his arm around Nate’s neck, gripping him in a tight chokehold. Nate grabbed Zeev’s forearm and whilst turning his body, dipped his hip and pulled Zeev over his shoulder. Zeev landed on the floor with a thud and laughed. Mirah had seen Gabe tumbling with his friends Eran and Tam but this was nothing like that. These were battle honed men trained in fighting, their strength and technique overwhelmed her.
‘I’m not letting that filthy man put his paws on me,’ Neviah said and darted off towards the chasm leading back into the mountain.
Mirah rushed after her and caught hold of her clothing. ‘Nev, please. You might need this one day.’
Neviah paused, pulling her fingers through her hair, calculating how much she would tolerate and what she’d lose or gain. ‘Fine, but if he touches me in any other way, I’m leaving.’
As they walked back, Zeev lifted his hand beckoning Neviah towards him.
‘Throwing you in the dirt will be a pleasure,’ she snapped.
Nate ignored them and focused on Mirah. ‘Come, let me show you.’
He came up behind her and gently reached his arm around her neck, tightening it enough so she couldn’t slip through his grip.
Apart from a hug from Gabe, she’d never had a man touch her, except when she’d fainted on Nate’s ship but even then she’d been semi-conscious. She could feel the warmth of his chest and the conquering strength in him as he held her.
‘Dip your hip, turn and then pull me over your shoulder.’
As much as she tried his feet wouldn’t lift from the ground. ‘I can’t do this. You’re like a solid block of muscle.’
He shifted closer. ‘Yes, you can. Don’t over-think it. Let the momentum take me over. When you drop your hip, lift the other one,’ he patted her other hip with his hand, ‘and push it back into me.’
Embarrassed he might notice the heat emanating from her face and quickly spreading down her neck towards his arm, she drew a deep breath and tried again. He heaved over her shoulder and thudded to the floor. Guilt overwhelmed the rising thrill of success, she reached down and held out her hand. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.’
Nate was on his feet before she finished apologising. ‘You didn’t. Again,’ he commanded.
Over and over she threw him until her shoulder ached and burned. She took a moment to catch her breath and watched Neviah and Zeev prowling around each other in a circle. Neviah was tiny compared to his sturdy frame, but she didn’t falter. She slipped out of his path as he lunged in an attempt to bring her down. With both of their eyes locked onto each other, it was difficult to tell who was the predator and who was prey.
By the time the sun came up, Nate had shown her how to sidestep, turn and shove her knee up into his groin and how to escape from a grab hold from the front.
‘You did well,’ he said. ‘But you’re out of breath far too soon. Before we go, I want you both to run around the courtyard.’
‘What now?’ Neviah said, bent over and panting.
‘Go, before I decide on making it twice.’
They ran around the courtyard, to the sounds of warriors stirring from the barracks and Mirah’s throat burned more than she ever thought it could. Nate and Zeev strolled over to a stone fountain positioned near the chasm. They watched their pathetic attempts at running whilst splashing water over their heads and down their necks.
Neviah groaned and slowed to a halt several paces from the fountain. ‘I’m sure they enjoyed that.’
Mirah took the few paces to steady her breathing.
When they reached the fountain, Zeev said to Neviah, ‘Same time tomorrow, then?’
He lifted his chin and Mirah suspected he was sniffing the air.
‘Bring it,’ Neviah said, scowling.
Nate ignored the tension between them as if it didn’t bother him at all. He wiped his palms in his thighs and said, ‘Drink. It’s time to go.’
He dismissed Zeev and led them into the chasm. Instead of ascending up the shaft they went deeper into the mountain. The tunnel cut through the rock winding downwards before opening onto an enormous underground arena. She found no brilliance of lapis lazuli or gold, here charred scorch marks and bruised craters tortured the walls.
The Taphas women filed into the cavern. Bishnor and other giants sat like boulders in rows against a far wall. Mirah recognised some of the girls who had travelled with them lingering. The sisters, Ninsun and Nikurra, were standing near a torchlight suspended from the wall, its light shimmering off their dark satin skin and next to them to her dismay was Shayla, flicking absent lint from her shoulder.
With a vainglorious air and a salacious hip roll, the henna-haired woman approached Nate. She lifted her chin as she reached him and snapped, ‘You’re late.’
Mirah wasn’t sure if she wanted to taste him or tear off his skin. Whatever her intentions, Nate didn’t appear to care.
‘You forget your place Esha,’ he cautioned. ‘You might oversee their training but this is my unit to command.’
That was something he’d neglected to mention the night before.
‘You may begin,’ he instructed her.
Esha strode away but Nate called her back. ‘Your memory seems to have slipped whilst I’ve been gone,’ he said, with an expectant glare.
Her face turned icy as a well-rehearsed, ‘Thank you, Captain,’ rolled off her tongue.
She bowed her head, relenting to his authority but everything about her told Mirah she was still standing tall on the inside.
‘As I said, you may begin.’
Esha stepped into the arena and everyone paused. ‘First a quick display and then we’ll see what our new recruits are made of.’
She directed her gaze at a dark-haired woman with a long braid sliding over her shoulder. The woman stepped forward and bowed. She then pushed her arms out in front of her and balls of fire pulsed from her hands hitting the far wall.
Before Mirah could gather her thoughts, a whirlwind spun through the cavern, weaving its way in-between them. Mounds of earth and rock ripped from the ground and propelled through the air as the whirlwind dodged out of their path.
Wind and rock battled around the cavern with such speed, as tempting as it was to find cover, Mirah and the others froze. The whirlwind halted in front of Esha and lost momentum to reveal a slim, silvery-grey, haired woman standing in its place.
Without hesitating another silver-haired woman stepped forward and spears of ice shot through the air crashing against the walls spraying shards of ice everywhere. When they finished they stood together, their grey eyes and high cheekbones so similar Mirah wondered if they might be sisters.
Mirah, and the other new girls, patted down their windswept hair and brushed debris and melting ice from their clothes. To her dismay the Taphas women were immaculate. How they escaped the destruction unscathed, she couldn’t comprehend.
Esha eyed them with a smirk of satisfaction and announced, ‘Shemyaza descended from the clouds so that we the Taphas would not be kept in darkness. Through his unending generosity, he has opened our eyes to the kn
owledge hidden within. Tithes, it is an honour to be chosen and to learn the way of the Taphas. It’s now time to choose your weapon.’
Mirah hadn’t noticed the massive iron doors until they creaked open to reveal an array of amulets placed on an altar.
Leading them over, Esha ordered, ‘Do not touch them until you have made your selection.’
All manner of gems; from fire oranges and reds of carnelians; to oil black sardonyx with their red or white bandings; to polished agates, in aqua blues and greens and every other colour combination; even the rarest and highly sought after lapis lazuli; all of them carved and engraved with strange symbols and set into pendants, rings and armlets.
A jagged shard of amber on a golden wire caught Mirah’s eye. The shape and the rough cut edges reminded her of her Ma’s necklace, although hers had been green and fixed to a fine leather strap. Ninsun snatched it up and wound it around her neck before walking off unaware of Mirah’s intention.
None of the amulets looked like weapons but Mirah felt this choosing was somehow important. She studied each amulet, not worried as others rushed in selecting their prize. In the end, she chose a ring with curling and twisting gold plaited wires spiralling around tiny golden globules, their patterning finished with an inlay of lapis lazuli.
She glanced over to see Neviah slipping on an armlet made of strands of plaited gold with an eye-shaped onyx stone.
‘Now let’s see what you can do,’ Esha said, and they returned to the bruised cavern.
Nate had taken a seat at the far back behind the giants. In the shadows, his face was grim. Hold on to yourself, he had warned her.
‘For those who haven’t already done so, put on your amulets,’ Esha instructed.
Mirah studied the embellished ring in her hand. An uneasiness swept over her as she considered what it might do.
‘Now,’ Esha commanded.
She looked to Nate. He gave a slight nod which she assumed meant follow Esha’s orders. She slipped on the ring and waited. She felt nothing and sighed in relief before reprimanding herself for ever fearing some unknown power would rise up and overtake her.
‘Now, come and face towards this wall,’ Esha directed.
The rest of the Taphas strategically placed themselves behind them.
‘I want you to focus on your amulet. Let it direct you and then unleash what it offers against the wall. You first,’ Esha said, pointing to Neviah.
Neviah stepped to the front. She closed her eyes and stood motionless. The Taphas glanced at each other as they waited. Neviah opened her eyes, let out a scream and threw fireballs from her fists at the wall.
‘Fire Wielder,’ Esha declared. ‘Next,’ she said, pointing to Ninsun who’d chosen the amber shard.
Mirah wondered what Ninsun would do and if she had reached the necklace first would she have done the same.
‘That’s some rush,’ Neviah said, returning.
‘How did you do it?’ Mirah asked.
‘I don’t know, I thought of our families and how they had suffered and it just happened.’
A loud cracking sound as a rock shattered against the wall echoed around the cavern.
‘Earth Wielder,’ Esha announced. ‘Next,’ she said, to Ninkurra who now wore a lapis lazuli pendant.
A spiral of air rose before her and then sunk back into the ground.
‘Air Wielder,’ Esha announced.
From behind her, Shayla leaned over Mirah’s shoulder. ‘Maybe you’ll be an Air Wielder,’ she sneered in a low whisper. ‘I’m sure the Captain would love your tickling breeze.’
‘Shut up, Shayla,’ Neviah spat as she pulled Mirah away. ‘No one cares what you think.’
‘Next,’ Esha ordered beckoning Mirah.
She stepped forward and focused on the wall. All her being craved a glance at Nate for affirmation. Esha’s impatience loomed heavy in overbearing waves so she forced her desire into submission and rubbed the ring, harmless on her finger.
Earlier, Nate had shown her strategies for defensive but this, what she was about to attempt was nothing other than pure unadulterated attack. She didn’t know if she could bring herself to do it. Please don’t let it be fire, she pleaded towards the ring.
‘Come on, little wind breather,’ Shayla sniggered.
Mirah shut off her mind and everyone else around her. She focused on the ring on her finger. She raised her hand and thrust it forward, half expecting to fail, before a spear of ice flew across the room. Instead of shattering into shards, the ice impaled itself into the rock.
‘Water Wielder,’ Esha said, raising her brow.
Shayla, now brandishing a sardonyx stone set in a golden bangle which coiled around her arm, had turned out to be another Fire Wielder. Mirah waited for the others to finish wondering where all this might lead.
Esha came and stood before them with her knuckles perched on her hips and feet placed well apart. ‘For now, you will only wield your power in the presence of the Taphas. If anyone disobeys, I will send them before Shemyaza. You are dismissed,’ Esha declared.
An hour later Mirah soaked her bruised and aching body in the warm watering pool in her room. Sumer had shown her how to remove a stone to let the water flow in and another to allow the water to flow out. She’d given her a soothing balm before leaving.
Mirah let the heat penetrate her aching shoulders and appraised the golden ring, holding it up to the light. Etched along the inside of the band were unfamiliar tiny symbols. Dipping her hand under the water, she felt a gentle pull against her finger as though the ring was drawing in power.
She’d known before the spear of ice formed what she would do. When she’d calmed herself and shut everything else out, she’d found she could sense every liquid molecule, in the air, the ground, even perspiring droplets from those waiting in the cavern. They called out to her, craving her attention. To select just a few had been difficult. How it worked or how she formed the ice, she had no clue.
I will open your eyes to powers yet unknown she’d heard it whisper.
❊ 9 ❊
Sumer arrived to escort them to the courtyard.
‘Happy birthday,’ Neviah said, exiting her chamber. She handed Mirah a braided bracelet. Three fine weaves of red, blue and green colours wound together. ‘It’s not much, but it’s all I had to work with.’
‘It’s beautiful. How did you get it?’
Neviah glowed with mischievous indignation.
‘Tell me you didn’t cut up your garments?’
‘If you ask me, they’re lucky I stopped at three colours.’
Mirah slipped on the bracelet and Neviah knotted it.
‘How did you know it was my birthday? I didn’t even realise.’
‘Zeev’s comment yesterday. He said the summer solstice coming tomorrow must be enhancing my crabby mood. As if that has anything to do with it,’ she snorted.
‘Come, Nate gets impatient if he’s kept waiting,’ Sumer said.
‘Like I care,’ Neviah grumbled following her along the tunnel.
They passed silent chambers. Abela and Ayla had left to stay with the Azu and Dara was on her way to meet Chashmalim in the desert. If it weren’t for Neviah her world would collapse.
Mirah admired the little weaved bracelet. ‘Thank you, Nev, this means so much to me.’
‘It’s such a shame we won’t get to dance and celebrate.’
Mirah caught up to Sumer. ‘Do your people celebrate the summer solstice?’
‘Not anymore. We only observe one festival now. Duranki. It’s on winter solstice though, the day Shemyaza arrived on the mountain in his chariot to enlighten us all.’
‘How do you celebrate?’
‘No time for questions. Go,’ Sumer said, pointing at the shaft. ‘I have extra chores today.’
In the darkness of the shaft, Mirah thought about summer solstices and birthdays. If she’d been in Barakel, they would have lit fires, danced and celebrated the solstice blessing of the sun. Her Ma would hav
e gifted her a crown of flowers for her eighteenth birthday as was the ancient custom of their clan.
Her heart sank quicker than their descent. She’d find no flowers, dancing or singing in celebration now, all that remained was an emptiness which no light could fill.
The darkness turned a darker shade after they stepped out of the chasm. Nate and Zeev were arguing. Looking up, they stopped before Mirah caught a word of what they said. Nate glared at Zeev and as they approached Zeev shrugged him off.
‘This is not finished,’ Zeev said. ‘If you want to be an idiot so will I.’ His countenance shifted to roguish amusement on sighting Neviah. ‘My ray of sun, come again for seconds?’
Neviah held her tongue.
‘It’s definitely not over,’ Nate grunted. ‘Come,’ he said to Mirah, glaring over his shoulder at Zeev.
When they’d moved closer to the centre of the courtyard Mirah asked, ‘What was that about?’
‘You.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘It doesn’t matter. He was wrong.’
They sparred repeating the same defensive techniques from the previous day. Except for huffs and sighs when she didn’t perform to his expectations, Nate stayed silent. A heaviness descended on him draining the strength out of her. What was Zeev wrong about?
After what seemed like the thousandth sigh she could hold her tongue no longer. ‘How do you expect me to hold on to myself when you can’t do the same?’
Before she could comprehend what happened he was behind her. His arm gripped her around her shoulders so tight he’d pushed her breath from her lungs. She gasped for air but couldn’t breathe.
In the seconds he pinned her, she held onto his words, it would be a shame not to see her light shine but at that moment she wasn’t sure if they held true. He squeezed tighter as though debating it himself. Heat fled up her neck burning across her mind, she was drowning in blood red darkness.
‘You’d better hold on to yourself better than that if you don’t want to die,’ he whispered in her ear and then released her.
Her body hunched over gasping for air.