“Over my dead body,” Vaxi said with as much defiance as she could.
Voris smiled, as if this was how he wanted the encounter to end. “Whatever ya say, gell.” He nodded his head at Steff. “Have fun, brudda.”
The man called Steff urged his merych forward, drew his sword from its sheath and charged at her. He'd only covered half the distance between them when she fired.
The arrow flew straight and true, embedding itself into Steff's eye. The impact flung the big man off his mount, and he hit the ground with a loud thump. His merych continued to trot past her as well as the two men behind her.
Vaxi looked down at Steff. His one remaining eye was wide open, staring up at the hidden sky, with a three-foot arrow lodged in his skull.
Despite her warnings, Voris obviously hadn't expected a mere girl to threaten a company of men, let alone fire upon them. He looked down at Steff's body, spluttering and choking muted, coarse words she couldn't understand. When his eyes met hers again, they were blazing with hatred. His chest heaving with anger, he bellowed, “Kill her!”
Vaxi kicked Tig's flanks as hard as she could. Like a coiled spring, the chava charged forwards, rushing at the three men and their merychs. She lowered her body onto Tig's back as she quickly drew another arrow from her quiver. One arrow whizzed by her head, and then she heard the sickening sound of a second arrow embedding itself into Tig's flank.
Tig roared in pain as Vaxi nocked and fired again, hitting one of the archers square in the heart before he could loose his own arrow. He tumbled off his merych, dead before he hit the ground. The fourth archer fired, and Vaxi saw it too late to dodge it. She nudged Tig slightly to the right, and the arrow stuck itself deep in her thigh.
The pain was overwhelming; unlike any she'd ever experienced. But she couldn't see to it now. Tig was now upon Voris and the remaining archer. Voris's eyes widened in fear as he tried to spur his merych into motion, but he was too late.
Tig squeezed herself into the small space between the two merychs, her wide girth knocking both of them off balance and causing their riders to fall to the ground. With another burst of speed, Tig raced down the forest path, away from the riders.
Vaxi dared not turn around to see if they were following. Doing her best to ignore the pain in her leg, she used her feet to steer Tig down the path. The arrow in Tig's flank had gone deep, and it was affecting her speed. If Vaxi didn't lose her pursuers quickly, Tig would continue to tire until they caught up to her. And then they'd both be dead. The gallop of hoof beats behind her filled her ears as the reesa trees continued to thin out.
She couldn't help but wonder if this was Arantha's punishment for defying her wishes. Her grandmother was wrong. This wasn't her destiny. She'd disobeyed the Protectress, betrayed her friends and her tribe, and now she would die, miles and miles away from home.
Arantha forgive me, her frantic mind thought. Please don't abandon me, great Arantha. I will serve you faithfully from this day forward, I swear to you! Please don't forsake me!
Another arrow shot past her head. Turning back, she saw that Voris and the other archer had remounted their merychs, joining the other two men in pursuit. Trying to steady herself, she pulled a series of arrows from her quiver and fired them in rapid succession, but the intense pain in her leg threw her aim off, and she missed her targets.
The archers' aim, however, was not as amateurish as she'd hoped, and another arrow pierced Tig's hindquarters. Vaxi felt the vibrations in her body as her mount's muscles tensed and contracted, and she felt her chava's cry of anguish as if the arrow had penetrated her own body.
The next one did. Vaxi turned to fire another volley of arrows, and one of the archers' shots found its mark, piercing the leather that covered the left side of her torso. She couldn't hold it in this time. The ghastly pain coursed through her, and she screamed in agony.
She resumed looking at the road ahead when the last of the reesa trees shot past, and she burst from the forest into an open area, a narrow strip of treeless land bisected by a shallow, slow-moving stream. Straight ahead was a large, steep hill leading to another row of trees. She didn't want to stay out in the open if she could, but climbing that steep a hill would no doubt slow Tig enough for the men to catch her, so she banked to the right. Tig jumped into the stream, which was less than a foot deep and only a few yards wide, and reached the other side within seconds. With nowhere else to go, she spurred Tig alongside the river, looking for an escape.
She heard the riders exit the forest behind her, and the merychs' hoof beats echoed through the darkening twilight. She reached for another arrow, but her hand came up empty. She was out of ammunition, Tig was noticeably laboring, and she had no idea where she was going. They would soon catch her. But she would not give them what they wanted. They would not violate her while she was alive. She would fight them to her last breath.
Chapter Thirty-Five
I t took far less time for Kelia to make her way from the lake to the passageway leading out to the desert than it did on the way in. She didn't need to use her Wielding this time either, as Fex was more than capable of making the six-foot jump off the same rock Kelia had to help her ascend before.
She was thankful Maeve allowed her to fill her water-skins from the purifier the night before; while she disliked the strange metallic taste the purification process infused the water with, it was still cleaner than drinking water taken directly from the lake.
Before beginning her trek back across the desert, Kelia finished off the few strips of kova meat and riverfruit from her satchel, and gave Fex the last remaining leaves from the bundle. Satisfied they had more than enough nourishment to sustain them, Kelia gently nudged the chava into motion. Within seconds, they were racing at top speed across the dusty, barren landscape.
Kelia spent several hours with her head buried in the folds of Fex's neck. Traveling at high speeds put her at risk of getting sand in her eyes. It wasn't like there was anything to see anyway. She trusted Fex's instincts that they were traveling in a direct line back to the village.
For the first few hours of the journey, however, tears constantly pricked at Kelia's eyes, and she knew it wasn't from the dust.
What wonders she'd seen. She'd met, eaten with, and engaged in civilized conversation with beings from the Above; two people who had redefined her perception of life, her world, and all of Creation. Arantha herself deemed an alien woman worthy of her divine gifts, and led her to a Stone. She'd Shared with Maeve, Wielded with her, flew with her.
Kissed her.
And now she was returning home, alone, with no more solutions to their problems than when she first set out from the village. Their questions remained unanswered. She had nothing to present to the Council, and her people, but an interesting story.
She used the cloth of her cowl to wipe the tears from her eyes. Her chest was tight, and her nose felt clogged. This was also not from the dust.
What we could have achieved together, Maeve and I. We could have used our combined abilities to build a community, a nation the men of this world would dare not challenge. We could have shown all of Elystra how truly powerful women can be. But no. She chose her son over fulfilling her destiny.
She pictured Davin in her mind's eye. A kind, respectful, intelligent boy.
Had she been in Maeve's place, would she have acted any differently?
Kelia's thoughts turned toward the two sons she'd birthed. The first was to a fisherman named Seelan, who called a small coastal town in southern Agrus home. He was a kind enough man, good-looking and strong, but a little rough-natured at times, and with a wandering eye. Definitely not the monogamous sort.
Her second Sojourn led her to mate with an Imarian pelt merchant named Krast. He was considerably older than she, nearly fifteen years her senior. His wife had passed away the year before, and he was starving for companionship when they crossed paths. She found him a pitiable man, but it was obvious to her he'd been a good, if overly possessive, husband to his late wife. The son
she'd left on his doorstep, she realized, would now be exactly the same age as Davin.
For much of the second half of her journey, Kelia wondered what became of her two sons. Was her eldest a fisherman like his father? Did Krast's son fill the void in his father's heart?
Maeve's stinging words echoed in her mind. The moment Kelia's sons were born, it was clear what had to be done. They couldn't stay within the Ixtrayu. It did not matter that they had grown within her womb, nor how great her personal desire to stay with them was. She was Protectress: how could she expect her sisters to follow her if she flouted her tribe's most important tradition?
So many boys born to Ixtrayu mothers. Given up, never to be seen again.
What if we hadn't given them up? What if we'd raised them to share our values, our beliefs?
No. They were boys, and boys grew into men. Men did not abide by women's rules.
But what if they could?
Kelia's introspection was interrupted by a familiar sight that appeared in the distance: a long line of huxa trees that stretched across the horizon.
She smiled. Fex had gone a little off course because of her inattention. They were too far north, but not alarmingly so. Within the hour, they would reach the trees, and not long after that, home.
She slowed Fex's pace to a gallop. She needed the extra time to figure out what she was going to tell the Council, who surely waited with bated breath for her return.
* * *
Riding through the forest, along the banks of the River Ix, refreshed Kelia, every stone and boulder along its edge a welcoming friend. She half-expected to encounter at least one or two of the huntresses along the way, but concluded Runa must have employed them elsewhere.
When she emerged from the forest, gaining her first full view of the Plateau, as well as the fields and the orchards of her home, she heaved a sigh of relief. All seemed calm and normal.
She'd no sooner had this thought than she saw Yarji sprinting down the path towards her. The mixture of tension and worry on her face instantly set Kelia's teeth on edge. She nudged Fex into a faster pace, finally bringing her to a halt as Yarji ran up.
“Protectress!” she said, panting. “Thank Arantha you've returned!” She doubled over, grabbing her knees as she fought to get her breath back.
“Yarji, calm down,” Kelia admonished. “What's wrong?”
After several more deep exhales, Yarji said, “It's Vaxi, Protectress.”
An icy terror gripped Kelia's heart. “Vaxi? What's happened?”
“She's gone.”
“Gone?”
“Yes, Protectress. She went on Sojourn.”
Kelia's jaw fell open. “She what? When?”
“Two nights ago.”
Kelia cursed under her breath.
Susarra.
Thinking fast, she offered a hand to Yarji. “Get on. Now.”
Yarji swung herself into the saddle, right behind Kelia. Moments later, Fex resumed her gallop. They passed several more Ixtrayu working the fields and vines, but did not stop to converse.
When they reached the northern edge of the Plateau, Kelia slid off Fex's back, handing the reins to Yarji. “Take her to the stables. I must speak to the Council immediately.”
“Yes, Protectress.” She pulled the reins to the left and urged Fex to the east, toward the chava corral.
Many Ixtrayu hailed her as she passed through the village, but she didn't have time for pleasantries. She had just reached the stairway leading up to her home when Runa came running up. “Protectress!” she said, looking both alarmed and relieved.
“I heard,” Kelia said before Runa could continue. “What happened?” She began her ascent, and Runa fell into step behind her.
“Susarra sent Vaxi away. She left in the middle of the night. Nyla tried to stop her, but couldn't.”
Kelia scowled at her. “Nyla knew about this?”
“No, I don't think so. Don't be too hard on her. She says she did everything short of using her Wielding on Vaxi. She didn't want to hurt her friend.”
“Any idea where she went?”
“I'm afraid not. There are so many chava tracks heading away from the village, it's nearly impossible to tell which ones are fresh. And besides, I taught her everything I know about covering her trail.” She snorted. “Never thought I'd regret that.”
They'd reached the top of the stairs, and were now on the threshold of Kelia's home. “I must change. Summon the Council immediately, Runa. Especially Susarra. Drag her if you have to.”
“I will.” She turned to move away, but then paused. “Did you find anything? In the mountains? The entire tribe has been speaking in whispers ever since you left. I'm loath to believe unfounded rumors, but …” She trailed off, looking at Kelia expectantly.
Kelia met her friend's gaze. “I have a great deal to tell you, the Council, and the entire tribe. But one thing at a time, Runa. I must deal with this crisis first.”
“Yes, Protectress.” She gave a humorless smile. “Welcome back.” And then she ran down the steps.
* * *
It only took Kelia five minutes to change into a clean tunic, explain to a frantic Liana that she was fine and would spell out her last two days' adventures in due course, and grab a snack from the dining area before heading for the Council Chamber. Nyla was nowhere to be found, and Liana could only surmise she was off with Sarja somewhere.
Once again, she had to pass through a throng of Ixtrayu on the way to the Council Chamber. Their faces bore a mixture of curiosity and repressed anger. Kelia's sense of dread increased with every face she beheld, and wondered if the tide she'd spent the last thirteen years trying to stem had finally broken through. The whole Sojourn situation had reached a boiling point, and if she hoped to contain it, she would have to act quickly.
She climbed another stone staircase to the Chamber, but turned around halfway up to see a crowd of fifty Ixtrayu milling around, waiting for answers. Their murmurs blended together to make one incoherent voice, rapidly increasing in volume.
Kelia held up her hands. “My sisters! Calm yourselves! I have returned, unharmed. I know you seek answers, and I promise I will provide as many as I can. But first, I must speak to the Council.”
The crowd, momentarily silenced by Kelia's commanding voice, nodded their assent, and began conversing amongst themselves. Kelia turned and strode up the stairs and into the Chamber, where all three Councilors were waiting for her.
“Protectress!” Katura said, rising unsteadily to her feet. “Thank Arantha –”
“Be seated, Katura,” said Kelia, striding to her appointed chair. She sat down and faced the Council, her eyes locking on Susarra, whose self-satisfied smirk told her all she needed to know.
“You must know, Protectress,” Eloni said, her eyes pleading, “We had no idea what Vaxi was planning.”
“Eloni speaks the truth,” Katura added.
Susarra snorted at them. “How ironic that your first words are to shift the blame away from yourselves, when you three are, in fact, the reason this had to be done.”
“Be silent, Susarra!” Katura growled, in as angry a voice as Kelia had ever heard the old woman use. “You have defied the will of Arantha, and of not one but two Protectresses, all to serve your own selfish needs.”
“Selfish?” Susarra spat. “I have done this for the good of the Ixtrayu!” She glared at Kelia. “Because of your inaction, we are poised on the brink of extinction. Since your last Sojourn, Protectress, we have lost nearly one-fifth of our population. How many more have to die before you act?”
“Before I act?” Kelia retorted, gripping the armrests of her chair. “I am Arantha's vessel, Susarra! We follow the path she decides for us! You dare insinuate that I have acted counter to her wishes? Or do you suggest that Arantha no longer has our best interests? Which is it? Has Ilora's death weakened your faith to such an extent that it has led you to defy her so blatantly?”
“This isn't about faith in Arantha,” Susarra s
aid, her tone now cold and emotionless. “It's about faith in ourselves.”
Kelia's brows furrowed. “Explain yourself, if you can.”
She straightened up, addressing Kelia. “When Onara called a halt to the Sojourns, it took us all by surprise. But she journeyed to the Great Veil before she could provide us with a satisfactory explanation. Since that day, we have waited for Arantha to reveal to you her reasons, but Arantha refuses to tell you. And I can only ask myself, 'Why'?”
“Just say it, Susarra,” Kelia seethed. “You deem me unworthy of my position. You've never made a secret of that.”
“Then you have misjudged me. I do not believe Arantha has withheld the answers we seek because you are unworthy. I believe she wants us to find those answers for ourselves.”
Katura visibly trembled. “You think she's abandoned us?”
“Not abandoned. Released. For eight centuries, we have held her hand. Back then, we were but children, trying to survive in the wilderness. But look what we have become: a strong community of women, who have survived and thrived without the help or supervision of men. We teach our daughters logic and reason, not superstition. We have grown, my sisters, as all children do. We are all mothers, and we know there comes a time in our children's lives when we must let them go, let them find their own way.”
“Profound words,” said Kelia, “which would carry far more weight were they not laced with such hypocrisy. You speak of letting children find their own path, and yet you have pushed Vaxi to follow no other path but yours.”
“What I have done,” Susarra continued, “I have done for the benefit of all. Vaxi is the strongest, the most capable of all our youth. She will complete her Sojourn, and she will return. You will see. Arantha will protect her, not punish her.”
Kelia rose to her feet, taking several menacing steps forward. “As I have told you repeatedly, Susarra, Arantha's will is not always ours to understand. You think you know her wishes, but the truth is, you only hope you know. I am Arantha's vessel for a reason, and it is not your place to substitute your judgment for mine. Whether you believe your own words or not, it doesn't change the fact that you sent your own granddaughter into danger the moment my back was turned.”
Pawns (The Wielders of Arantha Book 1) Page 26