Something grabbed her ankle and she pitched forward. She felt a hand pulling her leg. She kicked wildly, wailing. Her foot hit something and she heard Lale grunt. She kicked again and freed herself. She scurried to her feet and glanced over her shoulder.
The sword swung at her. Aeolia ducked, and the blade whistled over her head and sunk into a tree. She lashed her knife and scratched Lale’s stomach. Bloodtalon flashed down, and Aeolia rolled aside. The blade hit the ground, severing a strand from her hair. Aeolia lashed again, slicing Lale’s leg, and then she scrambled up and ran.
She knew she couldn’t run forever. Already she felt weakness slowing her. Her plan had failed. Lale had outsmarted her again. And now she was going to die. She’d never even see Talin again.
And then, a miracle happened, and she did.
Talin stood amid the trees ahead, Taya and the other warriors around him. Aeolia had found the hunting expedition.
She rushed to Talin, blubbering with fear. “He’s right here, right behind me, he grabbed my leg....”
Talin was about to reply, when the Forestfolk swarmed over them. A dozen hands grabbed Talin and yanked his sword away. Two warriors grabbed Aeolia and bent her arms behind her back. When Taya tried to stop her comrades, they did the same to her. Soon the three were held helpless, like sheep to be shorn.
Lale stepped out from the trees. Blood trickled from his scratches, but he was otherwise unharmed. He tsked, shaking his head.
“So innocent, girl, trying to sell me for ransom,” the prince said and smiled sourly. “If you knew my father, you’d know the Esiren Firechild is worth more golddrops to him than his son.”
He paced toward her, Bloodtalon in hand.
Aeolia knew she was going to die. She wiggled her head free and looked into Talin’s eyes.
“I’m sorry, Talin,” she whispered, and words just slipped out of her mouth. “I love you so much.”
She didn’t mean to say that. She could not guess why she did. I barely know him; how could I love him? She opened her mouth to take it back, but Lale interrupted her, tapping his cheek.
“And after all,” the prince said, “there is nothing worse than watching the deaths of your beloved. Isn’t that so, Talin? I think we both learned that lesson. Spirit, did we learn it.” He turned to face Aeolia. “That is why, Aeoly, before you die I want you to watch me kill your two friends. Starting with the woman.”
Aeolia opened her mouth to scream, but the Forestfolk’s palms muffled her cry. She watched, tears burning down her cheeks, as Taya was led forward. The warrior woman walked straight, not suffering herself to be dragged.
Lale placed his hands on Taya’s shoulders. Slowly he spun her around, as in a languid dance, till he stood behind her. Graceful as a lover, he pulled her against him, his arm across her chest. Gently he laid his blade on her neck.
Aeolia linked to her. Turn into a fish! she pleaded in Taya’s mind. Turn into a fish and squirt away!
Taya gazed at her, green eyes sangfroid. A droplet of blood trailed down her neck.
“Release the link,” Taya said calmly. Trembling, Aeolia obeyed.
Taya smiled at her—a small, lopsided smile. And then she grabbed the blade. Blood flowed between her fingers. She winked. Then, in a sudden movement, Taya pulled down, plunging Bloodtalon into her stomach, through her and into Lale.
Lale screamed behind her. Blood filled his mouth.
“Help me!” he screamed. “I’ll pay anything! Just help me!”
Aeolia fell crying as the Forestfolk rushed forward. Through her tears she saw them lift Lale, Taya pinned to his stomach. She saw Talin fighting the Forestfolk, trying to reach the skewered bodies, but the Forestfolk fled into the trees. Everything was red. She shut her eyes, but only saw Taya wink, Taya bleeding, Taya pinned to Lale like a collector’s butterfly.
“I killed her,” she cried as Talin knelt beside her. “I killed her, Talin, I killed her.”
He held her, and she sobbed against his chest.
* * * * *
Aeolia and Talin fled deep into the forest, where no foot had ever stepped, where only loneliness dwelled. They sat in an ocean of orange leaves. A soft breeze blew and the trees swayed like waves, whispering. Dry leaves glided and danced. Aeolia thought of all the horrors she had seen, how Lale was hunting her, how Joren had betrayed her, how Talin and she could not consummate their love—and her life seemed lost. Her tears fell into her lap like little jewels. She let her hair drape over her eyes, to hide them.
She felt Talin near, his body warm, his hand once more smoothing her hair. He held her fingers, and her heart fluttered so hard it hurt. His hand was so warm, her fingers felt more alive than her entire body. She looked up at him. His eyes were soft, deep green like fathomless wells. He held her. She parted her lips. They kissed in the saddest and most tender moment of her life.
She wondered if she’d ever see Joren again.
Chapter Eight
Awakening
Earth enveloped her, pushing against her skin. It felt cool and good. She took a mouthful of the nourishing moistness and swallowed, as if she could swallow life itself into her belly. The pain was gone now. For a long time it had been with her, making her twitch and wiggle. But now it had faded, leaving only a hazy contentment in her mind, a kind of languor halfway between wakefulness and slumber. It became hard to think. It was easy to forget, to burrow deeper into the cool soil of life and never reemerge. And yet... something disturbed her, some tingling in her belly. It meant something, she knew. She strained to remember. She had not always been this long, soil-eating strip. Once she had had a form and a name. Taya. Yes. Taya of light and leaves, not of dirt and darkness. Slowly the memory flooded her.
Aeolia had seemed so frightened, her lips trembling like a child’s. Turn into a fish and squirt away, the girl had pleaded, and Taya had been tempted, but now she had Lale alone. If she changed shape the Forestfolk would surge. And so Taya stayed human, smiled and grabbed the blade. It was so sharp she felt nothing when she impaled herself, only satisfaction hearing Lale scream behind her. The warriors carried them away, skewered together. Then the pain came, sharp and blinding, and weakness replaced her draining lifeblood.
“Get me a Healer!” Lale screamed beneath her. “Get me a Healer, you louts, I’m dying! I’ll pay anything!”
“What do we do?” one warrior asked.
“The Aaee clan has a Healer slave,” another replied. “His wound is a slow death. He might last the journey. He’ll pay a fortune if he lives.”
“I’ll pay anything!” Lale screeched. “And get this strumpet off me!”
Taya’s eyes were lolling. She felt herself slipping away. She took a painful breath and tightened her lips. Pain exploded as she mustered her magic, more than she’d ever used, so much magic it almost burned her away. She screamed as she morphed, turning into the smallest animal she could manage, smaller than she’d ever gone before, smaller than she’d ever thought possible. She turned into a worm.
Thus diminished, the impaling blade split her in two. Her halves fell to the forest floor. Writhing in pain, Taya crawled away, leaving her tail behind. Her mind fluttered with fear and disgust. She burrowed into the moist soil, crawling deep into the ground, down into the nourishment. She’d be fine now, she knew. As a worm, she would heal. Calmness swept over her, and she slept.
How long had she lain here, convalescing underground? Taya did not know. It felt like long. Why not stay longer? came a thought like a whisper. She could stay forever vermian, curled in the damp softness, eating, letting the soil filter through her. It was nice here, so cool....
But no. She could not. The magic would not let her. She felt it inside her, tingling, like an elusive sneeze. The more she thought of it, the more unbearable it became. She had mustered much magic, and it had lasted long, but now it was itching. She would have to release it sooner or later, she knew. But was it time? Was she healed yet? Was her... tail grown back? She didn’t want to become human an
d find she was missing her feet.... She tried a wiggle. She felt whole enough. There was only one way to find out.
She wriggled up through layers of loam, humus, leafmold, moss, rotting leaves, and finally into sunlight. She lay a moment, hesitating. Then she let go of her magic. It was a great feeling of relief, like a breath of air to a drowning man. She bulged and swelled, felt bones form within her, sprouted limbs and hair. She thought she felt feet, but she wasn’t sure.
When all magic left her, she lay still. Damp leaves murmured beneath her. Sunlight fell on her shut lids. And she felt no pain. In fact, she felt healthier than she’d ever felt. But there was only one way to be sure. With a deep breath, Taya opened her eyes and looked down.
Her leggings were torn, her moccasins were tattered, but her lower half had not a scratch. She was whole again. And strangely, she did not feel glad.
She stared at her new legs and felt only a lump in her throat. Her body was whole again, but she was not the Taya she once had been. She touched the tattoos on her cheeks. Suddenly she loathed them. Shame and humiliation rose like bile in her throat. She had been a fool, thinking she could become a warrior. Uaua had been right. She was only a spoiled girl. All her dreams had been built on nonexistent frameworks.
She thought of Aeolia her friend and of Talin her cousin. They, at least, had each other, and a purpose to their lives. But she, Taya, had been left here, alone, not dead, but with no life to live.
Slowly she rose to her new feet. She brushed dirt off her bearskin mantle and heaved a deep sigh.
“It’s time to go home,” she said and started walking.
* * * * *
She reached Yaiyai four days later.
She climbed the rope ladder and entered the airborne village. She walked along its bridges, amid the clusters of tree houses, while children scuttled underfoot. Water gurgled in wooden pipes that wound around her. Woodsmoke curled out of grass roofs. The smell of fresh and spicy food filled the air. Taya sighed. Living here would be dull, but not a bad life. She would become shaman in time, and if she had no adventure or glory, at least she would have respect and power in her clan. Perhaps she would even marry. A dull but peaceful life. And if it did not fit her, Taya knew it was her destiny.
“Hello, Blueberry!”
Taya turned her head. The call had come from a group of aging men sitting in hammocks that hung from a branch.
“What do you want?” she demanded.
“Some of those sweets they say you’ve been handing out,” one man said. His friends’ laughter was not avuncular.
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s the whole village that’s talking. Come on, sweet berry, give us a sweet time.”
Taya walked away in disgust. She had grown up knowing those men. They had been friends to her father before he had died of bluebone several winters past. How dared they talk to her like that! She had been away fighting Lale in the woods, and they treated her like a trollop. It offended her but mostly made her sick.
She crossed several swinging bridges, climbed a series of ladders, and gradually forgot the men. She found herself anxious to see her mother, despite their recent disagreements. How she’d surprise her! Perhaps Eeea would make her a plate of roasted grubs and mushrooms, Taya’s favorite, and some honeycombs and berries for dessert. Taya licked her lips.
Imagining the taste of food on her tongue, Taya spied Ooor standing ahead on a branch. Ooor was the strongest and handsomest bachelor in the village, every girl’s dream. His teeth were white and straight, his muscles were corded, and he had three braids in his red beard. He was two years older than Taya, and had always ignored her when they were growing up. Now, however, he smiled and waved.
“Hi, Taya!” he called.
“Hello, Ooor,” she replied, and was surprised to find a small, lopsided smile on her lips. She had always told herself she wasn’t interested in men, but Ooor’s admiring gaze felt good on her.
“I missed you,” he said. His teeth sparkled.
“Really? Well... I missed you, too.”
Taya Tomboy, missed by Ooor! Imagine that. Perhaps things at home weren’t so bad, she thought. If Ooor liked her, things might turn out fine. That would show those cub-eyed, empty-headed girls who had always called her a hoyden. Yes, perhaps things weren’t so bad at all.
“Tell me,” Ooor said, “what are these stripes on your cheeks?”
“Do you like them?” Taya asked.
“I’ll tell you what I like.” He leaned closer. “I liked it yesterday, when you wiggled your tongue in my ear.”
Taya stepped back. “What do you mean?”
Ooor pulled her close and stuck out his tongue. “Let me show you.”
Taya shoved him away. “You’re crazy,” she said and walked away.
The whole clan was losing its mind, she thought. She was surprised to find herself close to tears. Was she welcomed nowhere, not even at home? Why was everybody acting so strange, taunting her so? What had she ever done to them?
Her spirits low, she reached the clan’s Core, where she had lived with her mother. The house looked dreary as ever, with its bone walls and skull bridge. But home was home, and Taya drew comfort from the sight. She told herself that when she is shaman she would spruce up the place. Smoke was rising out of the grass roof, and as Taya crossed the bridge she could smell her mother’s cooking. She swung open the door.
Her mother stood inside, bedecked as ever in batwings, cobwebs, dried leaves, gnarled roots, crystals, shells, and endless other clutter that covered her head to toe. The only parts of her visible were her eyes, which now blazed, and her knotty fists, which rested on her hips.
“So there you are!” the shaman said and slapped Taya across the face.
Taya stared in shock, her cheek burning.
“What—” she managed stuttering. “What—”
“Don’t dare talk to me after how you’ve shamed me, dallying with your clansmen, letting them touch you.... And now you’re getting tattoos! After all the years I’ve been a mother to you....” Eeea looked ready to cry. “Just get out. Get out and don’t come back.”
Taya fled as Eeea tried slapping her again. She raced along the bridge, tears welling in her throat. She stood outside, legs shaking. What was happening? Was this all some terrible dream?
Ooor! It must be him! He was always bragging about girls, he must have been telling stories about her. Taya’s rage flared. How dare he! She’d show him. She’d rip his lying tongue out!
She marched back through the village, enraged enough to shed blood. When she reached Ooor, she paused, steaming. The lying boar’s-dropping stood before her, fondling a scantily dressed girl. Their mouths were glued together, and neither noticed her. Taya clenched her fists. He flirts with me, and a minute later he’s petting some trollop! I’ll turn into a ferret and bite off his lousy—
The girl looked up, and Taya felt the blood leave her face. Looking at the girl was like looking into a mirror. They had the exact same face.
The girl smiled and winked, then stuck her tongue into Ooor’s ear.
Taya let out a strangled yelp, turned around, and ran.
She fled down swinging bridges and rope ladders, and all but crashed to the forest floor. She ran between the boles as if all the horrors of the world were following. She left Yaiyai far behind, running deep into the silent woods, running till she could run no more. She fell panting into the moss.
“It’s just a dream,” she told herself. “It’s just a bad dream. I never met Lale, I was never a worm, I was never....”
... split in two.
Taya moaned. Split in two!
Of course! After becoming a worm, she had been cut in half. Both her halves had grown. And now her twin was ruining her reputation, upsetting her mother, and taking over her clan.
Taya’s anger bubbled. Yaiyai was her clan. She would not share it. Not with that cheap, sleazy, cunning, darned... Ayat! Her twin had grown warped, not like her at all. The gi
rl’s brains were in her pants. Lower half indeed! She’d have to get rid of her, Taya decided. And if she couldn’t, she herself would leave. Yaiyai was too small for the two of them.
Fists clenched, Taya marched back to the village, prepared to confront her evil twin.
* * * * *
She found Ayat in the center of the village, flirting with some young men. Her blood boiling, Taya marched up to her twin and grabbed her arm. The young men stumbled back, eyes and mouths wide with shock.
The twins stared at each other, and Taya shuddered. They looked frighteningly alike, though Taya now noticed that Ayat, grown from her lower half, was missing the green stripes on her cheeks.
“Hello, Taya,” Ayat said calmly. “You look upset. Were you surprised to find me here?”
“Get out,” Taya hissed. “This is my clan.”
“I got here first. If anyone should leave, it’s you.”
Taya saw Ooor standing among the surrounding men, rubbing his eyes. His friends gaped and muttered amongst themselves. How many of them had Ayat bedded already?
“You’re not me!” Taya shouted at her twin. “You’re nothing like me.”
Ayat smiled. “You mean I’m not a lonely virgin? I’m doing a better job being you than you ever had. People like me.”
“They like your body, maybe.”
“It’s your body, too, you know.”
“You disgust me.”
Ayat’s smile was condescending. “Look. Why don’t we live here together? We’ll have fun. Many boys dream of twins, you know.”
“I’ll never live anywhere with you.” Taya pointed at her twin and spoke to Ooor and his friends. “This woman is an imposter!”
Ayat smiled sadly. “I’m sorry it has to be this way,” she whispered. “We could have made a fine couple.”
Saying that, Ayat faced the young men and pouted like a baby. “Please help me,” she said. “She thinks I’m not Taya, and I’m really scared.”
Taya blew out her breath. “You’re not fooling anyone, you know.”
Ayat spoke tremulously. “I know I’ve sinned, running off into the woods. And now the spirits are punishing me, sending this ghost whose cheeks are marked with evil. And I know, I deserve it! I’ve been such a naughty girl. I need a strong man to take control of my life.”
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