by Cully Mack
‘Everything here is a lie.’
‘I know that.’
‘No, you don’t. There’s something I want to try but I’m uncertain it will work. Come, it’s more private by those marshes.’
‘You’re acting strange,’ Neviah said as she followed. ‘What is this all about?’
Satisfied the marshes hid them from view, Mirah said, ‘Gabe was here.’
‘What do you mean was?’ she asked, scanning her eyes around as if she expected to see him. ‘Where is he?’
‘He did something to shift a veil from my eyes. I’d like to see if I can show you.’ Mirah reached over and touched Neviah’s forehead and whispered, ‘Galah.’
After several attempts she flopped down onto the sand. ‘I don’t understand why it isn’t working. I’m sure I have the word right.’
‘Mirah, what is going on?’
She recalled how Gabe had done it. They were arguing his voice more forceful. She wondered if instead of asking she should seek to be more commanding.
‘Let me try again?’ With every ounce of might she possessed she demanded the glamour to shift from Neviah’s eyes.
‘What was that?’
She grabbed Neviah’s arm and led her along the river. ‘Look at them,’ she said, pointing to men digging for worms in the silt.
Neviah squinted and after a moment her eyes snapped to Mirah’s.
‘It’s called a glamour. Everything we believed is a lie. Gabe said he’ll be back the day after tomorrow to take us home.’
‘What about Nate?’
Mirah closed her eyes and rubbed her hand across her brow. ‘He’s not coming.’
‘I thought you loved him?’
‘I do.’
‘Then I don’t understand?’
‘There are other things, more complicated things which I’m not ready to explain. For now, we need to keep our routine, not raise suspicion and find a way to reach Abela and Ayla.’
In case they became separated, Mirah explained where to meet Gabe. Three days seemed an awful long time.
Keep to your routine, she’d told herself over and over as they made their way to training the next morning. Would Nate see right through her, realise her intentions? She hadn’t seen him since storming off into the rain.
Last night was an endless purging of conflicting thoughts and emotions. She felt violated knowing an unnamed being used her and touched up against her soul. The Beast’s voice had been silent since the lake and it had relieved her to ignore it, hoping she’d somehow been mistaken.
Maybe she was being too hard on Nate and she needed to take responsibility for her own denial? If she talked to him, would he come, could she risk it?
No, he’d known for sure about the wielding. He’d allowed that Beast to use and defile her. As much as she loved him, she couldn’t forgive him for the betrayal.
Every essence of her being recoiled against the knowledge of their impending separation. Her plans accusing her of her own treachery against herself, against him, against their love. On and on her meditations surged through the night as she sat, arms locked around her knees, rocking herself in an attempt to pacify them.
When she arrived in the courtyard the following morning, Eliah’s grim face revealed that Nate had confronted him about her bruises. She pushed thoughts of where Nate was or what he was doing to the side.
Zeev had his head bowed, finding the dust on his boots very interesting. She crossed towards them and whispered to Neviah to act normal.
They’d been sparring for a while when Eliah said, ‘Your technique has become sloppy in my absence. You need to focus.’
‘Yesterday, I was unwell. I’m still recovering.’
‘Maybe you should visit the Azu?’
‘I plan to go after,’ she replied. The first part of their plan clicking into place.
‘Then we’ll leave training for today. It’s good to see you again.’
‘Thank you for your assistance. I hope Nate wasn’t too severe with you?’
Eliah shrugged. ‘I cleaned the latrines for a week. I’m guessing it could have been worse.’ He smiled a knowing smile.
Eliah never discussed his history or what he thought of this place. It was likely that if Zeev and Nate trusted him, they’d probably taken him into their confidence. Either way, she liked him and was glad she’d seen him before leaving. ‘It’s good to see you as well,’ she said, passing him her staff.
When she reached the Azu, the door was ajar. She stepped over the threshold and a mixture of pungent herb scents wafted around the small room.
A formidable bronze statue of a seated cone-headed woman dominated the space. She sat with her arms across her chest, a string of golden amulets covering her neck and a row of pleated frills adorned her legs. Whichever way Mirah rotated around her, the statue’s penetrating eyes followed. Whoever she was, she gave Mirah an uneasy feeling which made her pity the sculptured dog reclining at her feet.
‘Can I help you?’ said a rounded figured Azu.
‘I have a headache.’
She turned and over her shoulder said, ‘Follow me.’
The Azu led her into a cedar panelled antechamber. Mirah studied a perplexing cuneiform script inscribed all over the wood as she waited. On the far wall, rows of clay jars and pots in varied shapes and sizes were organised along with small terracotta figurines with hands holding various body parts.
‘Sit,’ the Azu said, her cone-head nodding to a chair.
She selected a few jars, scooped their contents into a clay bowl and set the bowl over hot coals. The Azu ignored her, preferring to chant over the burning contents.
Mirah found the aroma appealing. ‘What are the ingredients?’
‘Goose blood, fat and the rind of its gizzard,’ she announced without looking up.
She regretted asking. At home, she would have made tea from blue vervain or rosemary and sage.
The Azu removed the clay bowl and its contents from the coals. ‘It will take a moment to cool,’ she said, stretching for another jar.
‘Is Abela or Ayla here?’
‘Ayla is making poultices.’
‘Could I speak to her?’
The Azu place down the jar and left the antechamber. She returned a moment later and announced, ‘She will be here soon.’ Returning to her labour she scooped out a reddish cedar wood resin from the jar.
On arrival, Ayla regarded the Azu’s preparations. Her brow furrowed. ‘Headache?’
‘You have no idea.’
When the contents had cooled to the Azu’s satisfaction, she ground them with added herbs and mixed them into the cedar resin. It formed a thick gooey ointment which she rubbed over Mirah’s forehead.
‘Thank you,’ Mirah said.
The Azu scraped the remaining ointment into a small pot. ‘Weddings can be so stressful. Here,’ she said, handing Mirah the pot. ‘I’m sure Ayla can see you out.’
When they were alone, Mirah tapped her fingers to her tacky forehead. ‘I was expecting herbal tea.’
‘They have strange ways around here.’
Mirah’s eyes flicked to the door, and she softened her voice, ‘I need to talk to you, somewhere private.’
‘Is it about the wedding?’
‘Yes and no.’
‘There’s a quiet garden out the back.’
Every herb and plant she knew and others she didn’t recognise filled the garden. They paused by a lily covered pond, the cast of their shadows encouraging the golden fish to rise to the surface, searching for food.
Satisfied no one was nearby, Mirah poured out everything in whispers. When she finished Ayla let out a long breath.
‘Will you come?’ Mirah asked.
‘Of course and so will Abela.’
‘Do you know where Mammetum’s ruined temple is?’
Ayla nodded.
‘Then meet us there tomorrow at midday.’
Standing by the exit of the Azu’s complex, Ayla took her hand. ‘You’ve made
the right choice,’ she reassured her.
On her way to meet Neviah, she bumped into Galia.
‘I was coming to find you. Zeev told me you’d gone to the Azu. Are you ill?’
She waved the small pot in her hand. ‘I feel better now.’
In the truth, the ointment was working. It not only relieved the headache but soothed some of her anxiety as well.
‘We’ve missed the Fallen Star. He’s already stopped singing. I don’t suppose you feel like shopping? I’ve seen the most precious sandals.’
‘To be honest, I just want to bathe in my pool.’
Galia’s dark eyebrows lowered, the beats of her mind silently ticking.
‘I’ll catch up with you later,’ Mirah said, rushing off, the pain of seeing Galia heavy on her heart.
If she didn’t find a way to warn her or Arella about the wielding, then she was no different from Nate. But how? How could she tell them without risking their plans to escape?
When she reached the mountain, Nate leaned against the archway of the lapis boundary wall. He stared at the sticky residue on her forehead and grimaced.
‘I know you’re not ready to talk to me but I thought you should know, that lad you saved, Eran, Bishnor has found him.’
‘Where? Is he all right? Can I speak to him?’
‘Bishnor took him into the bowels of the mountain before I could intervene.’
Her voice came out sharp and urgent. ‘You have to help him. Get him out of there.’
‘I’m working on it.’
She leaned up against the archway. She couldn’t take anymore. ‘Don’t,’ she said, lifting her arm out to stop him as he edged closer.
‘I love you Mirah. I’m trying to protect you. Don’t look away from me,’ he pleaded.
With her raised arm shaking, she rested her head back against the cooling gemstone covered stone and shut her eyes. If she didn’t stop swaying, she knew she would faint.
‘I’m sorry. Please, don’t hold it against me. Let me help you.’
He came nearer. The warmth of his breath caressed her cheek, but he didn’t touch her. She couldn’t move. If she allowed his support, she’d crumble.
She sensed his hesitation, saw the shadow of his movement crossing her eyelids as he shuffled favouring one foot over the other. Love pangs beat within her chest, their sharpness crying out for him to ease away the pain.
Something changed.
Her heartbeats slowed. A calmness overcame her not quite cold but distant, unrecognisable. She opened her eyes.
‘If you want to help me help Eran.’
She pushed off the archway and crossed the courtyard into the chasm.
❊
Later that evening Neviah entered Mirah’s chamber. ‘Have you eaten?’ she asked.
Mirah didn’t answer.
‘I have food in my room.’
She returned a moment later with cheese, flatbread and some grapes.
‘You need to eat. For tomorrow,’ she said, in a low secretive whisper.
She meant well so Mirah didn’t protest. The hollow of her stomach grumbled in agreement as she swallowed a tiny bit of cheese.
Neviah leaned by the opening in the mountainside. ‘Those beasts are not in the arena,’ she said, filling the sound of emptiness.
She’d already known, their silence confirming they’d gone somewhere but where or why, she didn’t dare focusing on that now.
Mirah pushed the food around her plate. ‘Eran is here. He’s their prisoner, somewhere under the mountain.’
Neviah didn’t turn from the opening. She unfolded an arm and tugged on her hair braid. ‘It changes nothing. We stick to the plan.’
If she’d had the energy, she would have argued for the impossible knowing they’d never reach him.
‘Do you know with everything going on, you’ve not told me how Gabe found us?’
‘I don’t know. Our meeting was brief. He said he’d explain later.’
She retreated from the opening and studied her. ‘Why haven’t you confided in Nate? Even though I still don’t trust him, I know he’d come with you if you asked.’
‘I can’t talk about him now.’ She blinked slowly, pushing back the moisture in the corner of her eyes.
Neviah wrapped her hands around her shoulders and her voice cracked as she said, ‘I don’t want to leave Zeev behind. I kind of like him.’
Mirah wasn’t sure if her admittance was to herself or her. ‘I know,’ was all she could reply.
‘We should sleep,’ Neviah said, preparing to leave.
Mirah hadn’t even realised the stars blossomed in the sky until now. She twisted away from them and waited for a new nightmare to begin.
❊
The following morning, she heard Neviah’s rapid footsteps echoing in the tunnel before she opened her door and shot inside her room.
‘I’m not sure Zeev believed a word I said when I told him I was ill. What if he’s in the courtyard or follows us when we leave?’
‘Nev, calm down. Did you see Galia?’
‘No. It’s strange, she never appeared and when I asked Zeev, he said Nate had her running an errand.’
Mirah wanted to ask more about Galia’s curious assignment but realised Neviah was already flustered and inquiring further would only make her worse. She’d slept little for the past three nights and had no energy left to carry Neviah through this, she didn’t have the resources to support herself.
‘We have one chance. All we can do is stick to the plan and hope for the best. Ready?’ she asked, opening the door. She took one glance around her room and left.
To her relief, they saw no one as they traversed the tunnels to the shaft. When they reached the bottom and crossed to the chasm, Mirah said, ‘Remember if anyone asks, we’re going to the Azu.’
Neviah nodded. ‘I hope Zeev isn’t around.’
She inhaled a deep breath, and they stepped into the light. She would have sworn Neviah didn’t take another breath until she crossed under the lapis lazuli archway.
They were midway to the Diatheatre when Neviah interrupted her surveillance of the street ahead.
‘Are you sure about this? It seems risky stopping to say goodbye to the Fallen Star. I mean how long before Nate realises we’ve left?’
‘I have to do this. There’s something I need to explain to him. I’ll tell you later after we are safe.’
Neviah stopped in her tracks. ‘I don’t like secrets. I think you should tell me now.’
Mirah couldn’t tell her about her plans to ask the Fallen Star to warn Galia. She’d been too afraid to disclose the horror to Neviah just yet.
Seeing Neviah would not to budge, she walked off. ‘I’ll meet you by the brook as soon as I can.’
She rounded the street corner and froze. Nate raced over the top of the Diatheatre steps against the flow of women leaving.
What was he doing there? The thought of him seeking retribution because of the Fallen Star’s confession sent a muted shrill deep into her core. How could she have been so foolish to give Nate his name?
Neviah grabbed her arm, pulling her behind a building. ‘This way,’ she urged. ‘Run,’ she snapped, her words penetrating Mirah’s clouding brain.
He’d looked so wounded and exhausted that Mirah had to remind herself of what he’d done. How he’d let that Beast debase and defile her. She cringed at the prospect of its power surging through her.
With every step she paced, she couldn’t identify if her ragged breath was from running or anxiety
❊ 26 ❊
Gabe curled his toes inside his mud crusted boots. Like a motionless bronze idol, he fixed his gaze across the brook, still nothing. Would Mirah come? How long would he wait before sneaking into the cursed city to find her? Alone, he somewhat regretted declining Meciel and Bina’s offers to assist him. This was his risk to take and his alone.
He glanced at the majestic crystal blue mountain reigning over the mud huts and resplendent buildings b
eyond. He’d listened to every detail Meciel shared about the war beyond the heavens and Shemyaza’s descent on the mountain. At the sight of it, every strange word Meciel taught him fled from his mind and so did the power that came with them. If she didn’t come the chains of defeat soon would.
The blazing sun seared remnants of the storm away, leaving an elixir of mildew harassing the air. He resisted the urge to rub the sting in his eyes, every time he’d closed them the dreaded memory of her pleading cries surfaced. Who was this man she’d given her heart to? What had he done to her? He knew if he saw him, he’d kill him.
A haggard woman strolled to the brook to draw water. Gabe willed her to leave. If she saw Mirah with possibly the others, he’d have no choice but to intervene. What if Mirah came to refuse him? To try again to beg him to stay?
Ammo would have known what to do. Underneath his swagger stood a champion who’d coached him on how to survive, not just with the skills of an Acquisitioner but how to endure on the inside as well. He’d warned Gabe she might react this way, but he’d refused to believe it until now.
The woman filled her water skin and shuffled back into the city. She’d not long gone out of view when he stiffened, his legs almost buckling.
Mirah looked terrible. He wasn’t guilty. He’d achieved what he’d needed to open her eyes. Neviah, Abela and Ayla were with her. As the girls crossed the brook, Gabe scanned behind them, checking they weren’t being followed.
‘I’m glad you came.’ He wanted to embrace them all, most of all Mirah and ask her to forgive him for his harsh words but instead, he said, ‘Talk later, keep moving.’ He urged them onward as they moved through the trees foreboding shadows.
Neviah kept pace with him through the brown grass whipping at their hips. Mirah stayed a short distance behind with Abela and Ayla but he couldn’t risk stopping or slowing down.
After some hours they entered the boggy marshes, and he slowed his pace. The pungent scent of decay clung to their clothes and seeped into his nostrils.
He stopped on a muddy elevation rising up over the sodden ground. Cracked eggshells, feathers and gloopy bird droppings decorated the mound. Crouched and sheltered within the frayed reeds, he passed around his water skin. Still, no one spoke as they gulped the water and tried to catch their breath.