by Resa Nelson
The Iron Maidens. They can be here in moments. Komdra and his men, too.
Astrid remembered what Thorda had told her when they first met.
We learn when it is good to fight and we learn when it is good to run.
Vinchi had taught them that. Astrid breathed evenly and steadily, feeling a rush of anticipation that she needed to control. At the beginning of any fight with a lizard, her flesh and blood and bones thrummed with excitement and fear and determination. Experience had taught her when to keep those feelings in check and when to let them loose. She needed them during a fight, not before one began.
Again, moving slowly, Astrid held Starlight in front of her body with both hands. She pointed its tip toward the waterfall as she took a careful step back, feeling for sure footing before committing.
Light and dark shifted again behind the waterfall, this time quicker and more widespread. Either a very large lizard or many people moved about inside the cave.
Astrid swallowed hard, focusing to keep her hands and Starlight steady.
Don't look back. Stay focused on the waterfall. Be ready for anything.
She took another slow step back, reaching with her foot to find solid land. But when she placed her weight on it, her heel slid off the side of a small stone. Recovering quickly, Astrid caught her balance and held Starlight steady.
Calling out to her companions would accomplish nothing. She'd have to cover half the distance between here and the lake shore before they'd be able to hear her over the roar of the waterfall. Turning around would leave her vulnerable to attack, as would waving her sword in hopes of drawing attention. Astrid knew her best bet was to keep stepping backwards, no matter how long it took.
Stay calm.
Astrid felt with her foot to take another blind step back.
Stay ready.
But when she backed into something solid, Astrid froze again.
“What is it?” Thorda shouted next to Astrid's ear.
With a quick glance to her side, Astrid saw Thorda holding an ax in one hand and realized she'd stepped back into Thorda's open arm. Another glance revealed the Iron Maidens, Komdra, and his men creeping up on either side, all with weapons in hand. “I don't know,” Astrid said.
Thorda patted Astrid's back and said, “We find out.”
Thorda slipped away from Astrid and headed toward one side of the waterfall while Dirin approached the other. Each crouched in a fighting stance, weapons positioned to strike. Dirin called out in the Midlander language as if commanding whatever hid behind the waterfall to come out or suffer the consequences.
If a lizard emerged, it would kill one or both of them in seconds.
“You're too close,” Astrid called in a panic. “Come back!”
Thorda and Dirin remained in place, either not hearing Astrid or ignoring her.
Moments later, Dirin stood upright and let his weapon hand fall to his side. He then extended his free hand, accepted by an elderly woman who stepped from behind the wall of water and offered a friendly smile to them all.
CHAPTER 57
Astrid shifted her position once more as she sat on a sheepskin spread out on the floor at the back of the cave. The wool felt soft but didn't disguise the uneven and sharp rocky surface beneath it.
The elderly woman who had first greeted them sat on a simple wooden chair draped with wool scarves dyed in bright yellows and greens and blues. Her long white hair hung in a braid over one shoulder. She wore a plain linen dress decorated with large silver brooches at the shoulders and a heavy blue hooded cloak. Several strands of colored glass beads hung around her neck.
Nearly 30 people surrounded her, all sitting so they faced the Iron Maidens and Komdra and his men.
When the elderly woman spoke, Astrid recognized the Midlander language and looked to Kikita, seated next to her, for translation.
“Her name is Spathar,” Kikita whispered. “She is the gothi of the Hidden People.”
Astrid wrinkled her brow in confusion. “Gothi?”
Kikita paused as if trying to figure out the best translation. “Their chieftain. Their mystic. She has the power to look into the future and divine anyone's fate.”
While Spathar spoke, those who understood her paid rapt attention.
Astrid's gaze wandered. The cave's walls were smooth and carried sound well. At the same time, the walls seemed to dampen the noise from the waterfall, which Astrid barely noticed. She saw little more than animal skins, Spathar's chair and scarves, and a few cooking tools inside the cave. Either the Hidden People hadn't been here long or they traveled light. Or perhaps both were true.
“She says we have come to a crossroads because of Mandulane and the Krystr soldiers,” Kikita said. “The new god honors the way of man. Gaining control through fighting. Direct words. Deeds. Because of this, the new god considers all things hidden to be wicked.”
“Does that mean the Hidden People?” Astrid felt baffled. “Mandulane is telling everyone that the Hidden People are wicked?”
Kikita's expression darkened. “More than that. He says the ways of all women are wicked because those ways are hidden. Men are strong, so they fight. Women are weak, so they have to find other means to get what they want. They work hidden magic. White sorcery.”
“White,” Astrid said, suddenly understanding. The color symbolized cowardice. It described weak people who resorted to secretive plans to get what they wanted instead of standing up for themselves and asking for it in a direct way. This wasn't the first time Astrid had heard the color associated with women, and she didn't appreciate it. “How would Mandulane and his soldiers like it if we called the Krystr god white?”
Kikita smiled briefly. “The White Krystr? I imagine they'd be enraged. I've heard they believe that women are especially easy to manipulate by magic.”
“Manipulate?”
“They think women are manipulated by evil spirits. And the Krystrs also believe that if men allow themselves to spend too much time in the company of women, the men risk the infection of witchcraft that can flood through women.”
Astrid spent a long moment looking at Kikita in astonishment. “No one can be stupid enough to believe such nonsense.”
Kikita held her hands up in mock defense. “Do not blame the translator.”
The gothi Spathar called out, and a boy led a young goat into the cave. The goat trotted happily next to the boy's side. Handing the rope collaring the goat to Spathar, the boy then turned away and ran while he burst into tears.
“What's wrong?” Astrid whispered.
Kikita shrugged. “Perhaps the goat was his pet.”
Before Astrid could blink, Spathar slit the goat's throat with a knife, allowing its blood to spill on the rocky ground between the Hidden People and the Iron Maidens and Komdra's men.
Leaning closer to Astrid, Kikita said, “I imagine this is some sort of blood sacrifice to appease the gods.”
“I have never studied the gods,” Astrid admitted.
Kikita raised a questioning eyebrow. “But surely you must have invoked their help. Perhaps when you were a blacksmith? Perhaps you asked the goddess of air for assistance when building a fire?”
Astrid felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up as she looked into Kikita's eyes, which seemed to hold a depth of amusement.
Astrid had sometimes uttered a plea to the higher power of fire or air, usually when she felt frustrated and didn't know what else to do. But Kikita simply must have drawn a practical conclusion. No one other than Astrid knew what Kikita had guessed. Apparently, Kikita excelled at guesses. Before Astrid could answer her question, Spathar's voice rang through the cave.
Astrid looked up to see Spathar now lying prone on the ground next to her chair, her fingertips inches from the spilled blood offering. The Hidden People circled around her, knelt, and sang softly. Astrid looked back at Kikita.
“It is a magic song,” Kikita whispered.
Astrid rolled her eyes.
“No, truly,
” Kikita said. “They sing praises to the gods to gain their attention.” Kikita paused. “You might try it yourself sometime.”
Astrid clapped her hand over her own mouth to keep from laughing out loud. She had no desire to offend the gothi or the Hidden People, but Kikita's words made Astrid want to giggle. Astrid had witnessed odd things that stretched her sense of reason and suddenly felt amused by those who took such things so seriously.
Spathar chanted slowly, her voice ringing once again throughout the cave.
With a wicked look in her eyes, Kikita leaned slightly toward Astrid. “And now the gothi invites the gods to listen. If you want to ask the gods a question, this would be a good time.”
Astrid's eyes teared as she choked back her giggles, and Kikita's gleeful expression only added fuel to the fire. Astrid breathed deeply, determined to regain her composure.
Suddenly, Spathar rose to her knees, shouting when she pointed at Astrid.
The Hidden People stopped singing, and everyone turned to look at Astrid as Spathar called out to her.
Sobered and concerned, Astrid turned to Kikita, wanting and not wanting to hear the translation.
Once again, Kikita raised an eyebrow. “The gothi Spathar says you have a question for her.”
Astrid shook her head. “No. I don't.”
Spathar called out again, jabbing her finger directly at Astrid.
“I think you do,” Kikita said. “The gothi says you are hiding something.”
CHAPTER 58
The gothi Spathar spoke rapidly to the Hidden People, while Thorda translated her words to the Iron Maidens, and Dirin to Komdra and his men. They all stood and walked toward the mouth of the cave. Spathar then pointed at Astrid once more, her words spoken slowly and plainly.
“She commands you to choose one of us to stay and tell you what she says,” Kikita said.
Astrid considered the Midlander Iron Maidens as they walked away.
Thorda paused and looked at Astrid with hope in her eyes, as if she expected to be chosen.
Astrid remembered her discomfort when Thorda rode ahead on the path with Dirin and the Midlander Iron Maidens, all speaking in their native language. Their immediate camaraderie left Astrid feeling like an outsider and ill at ease. Since that moment, Thorda seemed to have forgotten Astrid existed.
“I choose you,” Astrid said to Kikita, who relayed the information to Spathar.
After everyone else had left the cave, Spathar gestured for Astrid and Kikita to approach her. When they stepped closer, Astrid noticed the deep wrinkles creasing the woman's face. Spathar's eyes sparkled bright blue, deep with wisdom. Spathar looked into Astrid's eyes as if searching for information.
Easing back into her chair, Spathar pointed to the ground, indicating to the other women that they should sit. As they did so, Spathar spoke firmly, still staring at Astrid.
“She wishes to examine it,” Kikita said.
“It?” Astrid said, suppressing a feeling of dread. “What?”
Without looking at Spathar or speaking to her, Kikita said, “You know what.”
The stone of darkness. It's the only thing I keep hidden, and Spathar accused me of hiding something.
Astrid reached into her pouch and pulled out the stone.
Spathar nodded and held out an open palm. Astrid placed the stone in her hand.
The gothi stared into the depths of the stone, transfixed for what felt like an eternity. Finally, she spoke and Kikita relayed the message to Astrid.
“She recognizes you,” Kikita said. “She says you are a producer of bloodstones. For that reason, under certain circumstances, you can also produce a stone of darkness, although this is far rarer than a bloodstone. This is something only someone with your lineage can do.”
Astrid paused, remembering that Master Antoni had given her a similar explanation for the stone of darkness, even though his information had come from a legend handed down through his family. “My lineage?”
“Your grandfather was Benzel of the Wolf. Benzel Scalding. You have the true blood of the Scaldings.”
The back of Astrid's neck prickled. She hadn't heard Spathar mention any of those names, and names needed no translation.
Spathar shook a nagging finger at Astrid.
Kikita hesitated for a moment before turning to Astrid. “The dragon warned you.”
Astrid forced herself to remain still and calm. Perhaps Kikita lied about the translation. On the other hand, perhaps the gothi had referred to the Scaldings and Astrid’s grandfather without naming them.
Alone in the cave with Kikita and Spathar, Astrid decided to use caution in trusting them while feeling compelled to gather as much information from the gothi as possible. How did Spathar know that a dragon had warned Astrid?
Only dragonslayers knew that two different types of dragons existed: lizards and dragons. Lizards were just that: lizards so impressed with themselves that they'd shifted shape into a size that matched their opinion. Dragons were creatures with the ability to shift shape into human form. While lizards were dangerous, dragons were powerful.
Kikita thinks Spathar is talking about lizards. Only dragonslayers know that true dragons exist.
Astrid forced a laugh, unsure how much Spathar knew about lizards and dragons, if anything. “How could a dragon warn me?”
Without waiting for Kikita to translate Astrid's words, Spathar spoke again, keeping a steadfast gaze on the dragonslayer.
“The dragon warned that you must choose who you are,” Kikita said. “The dragon said it is not something you do just once, but something you must do with every decision you make. You must choose who you are every day, and you make that choice with every action you take.”
Taddeo. Spathar is talking about Taddeo.
Spathar looked deeply into the stone of darkness for awhile and then spoke again.
“Never forget the warning of a dragon,” Kikita translated. “These are times when it becomes easy to forget the things you know best, the beliefs you hold dearest, unless you knowingly hold onto them tightly. The days of great fear are upon us, and fear can break any man or woman into pieces.”
“I'm a dragonslayer,” Astrid said with forced evenness, feeling insulted. “I'm not afraid.”
This time, Kikita didn't translate Astrid's words for Spathar. Instead, Kikita said, “There are many things other than fear capable of breaking people. Greed. Envy.” Kikita paused as if remembering something she'd long forgotten. “Arrogance.”
“But I have none of those problems.” Astrid thought for a moment. “Could you ask her what the stone is for? I've talked to alchemists throughout the Northlands, Midlands, and Southlands. They either have never heard of the stone or they refuse to talk about it.”
“Perhaps you should heed their advice,” Kikita said.
“Perhaps you should tell Spathar what I want to know.” Astrid pressed her lips together grimly, frustrated with Kikita's interference.
Kikita was merely an Iron Maiden. As a dragonslayer, Astrid had far more experience and knowledge about the world. Why couldn't Kikita see that?
Reluctantly, Kikita translated Astrid's question.
Spathar replied with a nonchalant tone, handing the stone to Kikita, who seemed mesmerized while she stared into its depths. She didn't relinquish it until Astrid nudged her with an open hand.
“The stone of darkness is the curse of the Scaldings,” Kikita said, still staring at the stone as Astrid cupped it in her palm.
“What does that mean?”
Kikita snapped out of what seemed like a spell. “The Scaldings made a pact with dragons. While all other people feared dragons, the Scaldings befriended them. But to protect dragons from other people, the Scaldings pretended to slay them. It began when Benzel plunged into the ocean in feigned pursuit of a dragon and cut the dragon’s arm off, knowing the dragon had the power to regenerate it. Benzel then pretended to chase the dragon onto Dragon’s Head Point and force it into stone. In reality, the drago
n willingly took the form of stone to make people believe the Scaldings had the power to control dragons. Therefore, people paid little attention to dragons, trusting the Scaldings to bear that responsibility.”
“Wendill,” Astrid said in amazement, remembering the dragon that had shaken itself free of Dragon’s Head when her brother Drageen and his alchemist had taken its place and turned into stone. “The dragon my grandfather pretended to kill was Wendill.”
Kikita watched her patiently. Without speaking first to the gothi, Kikita said, “The agreement struck between your family and the dragons is that Dragon’s Head Point is to be used as a symbol of fear. When a dragon is not entrapped there, a Scalding must take its place. People must fear Dragon’s Head Point so that they fear the Scaldings and dragons alike. As long as people are afraid, they will keep their distance from dragons. If people fail to do so, they will encounter a far greater danger than they face now.”
Astrid shuddered, enveloped in a sudden sense of dread. She looked at the stone and then back at Kikita. “But what is the curse of the Scaldings? And what does it have to do with the stone of darkness?”
When Kikita asked the question of Spathar, the gothi spoke softly.
Kikita said, “The curse is the power that comes to you from dealing with dragons. The stone of darkness gives you the power to end the cycle of Dragon’s Head Point.”
Astrid took a moment to consider the implications. “But you said this cycle is necessary to make people afraid for their own good.”
“Yes,” Kikita said. “The stone of darkness gives you the power to end the secret bond between the Scaldings and the dragons. And in doing so, you would put the lives of all people who live in dragon territory—all Northlanders, Midlanders, and Southlanders—in grave danger.”
CHAPTER 59
Still inside the cave with Spathar and Kikita, Astrid held out her hand while the gothi returned the stone of darkness, weighing as cold and heavy as guilt.