Rider's Rescue (The Rider's Revenge Trilogy Book 2)

by Alessandra Clarke

  The designee from the Tall Bluff Tribe, a tall, thin woman with stooped shoulders announced a count of seventy five for the gods, seventy-six against.

  How could so many want to give up the protection of the gods? What kind of fools were they?

  The crowd waited, hushed, as the last tribe, the Desert Storm Tribe gave their numbers. "One hundred seventy-three for the gods. Five against." The woman representing the tribe met K'lrsa's eyes. "We didn't forget that we wouldn't be here now without the help of horses provided by the gods."

  Hisses and boos from the Black Horse Tribe met her statement. A man shouted that without the meddling gods the vote would already be over. In their favor.

  The wise woman turned to the other wise ones who were gathered together at the base of the dais, each with a counting board. "What's the tally?"

  They checked back and forth, one with the other. "It's a tie. Five hundred and twenty-two votes each."

  "What?" a man across the way shouted. “How is that possible?"

  A little boy flounced to the ground at K'lrsa's feet with an aggrieved sigh. "You mean they still haven't made a decision? This sucks." He rested his chin on his hands with a pout.

  K'lrsa agreed.

  But she was still reeling from the fact that so many of the tribe would forego the protections of the gods. For what?

  The wise woman held up a hand to quiet the crowd, but before she could speak, Herin strode forward. "Not all the tribes have voted."

  The wise woman stared at her. She leaned forward. "H'lina?"

  Herin nodded. She pointed behind her. "And L'dia and G'zen. And my grandson, Badru. We are the last living members of the Summer Spring Tribe."

  "Liar," someone shouted from the crowd and others joined him.

  The wise woman stood. She gestured for Herin to join her. "No. I recognize this woman. She was a member of the Summer Spring Tribe. As were her sister and her husband." She nodded towards Lodie and Garzel.

  "I recognize them, too," the wise woman for the Tall Bluff Tribe said.

  The wise woman for the Black Horse Tribe turned to Herin. "So? What is your vote?"

  K'lrsa held her breath. She never knew with Herin what she was thinking and Herin had been furious that Badru and Lodie wanted to go to the Hidden City. But surely she wouldn't vote against the gods just because of that?

  Garzel grunted something at her and Herin frowned. "Three for the gods. One against."

  The crowd roared, half with excitement, half with anger.

  The wise woman shouted over them. "The tribes have spoken. We will continue to follow the ways of the gods and continue to enjoy their protections. Tomorrow all here who are old enough to vote will swear on the oath stick to abide by this decision. Any who cannot, must leave the tribes forever."

  She scanned the crowd as it quieted. "Choose wisely. The Daliph's men have surrounded us and any who reject the gods also reject their protection. This matter cannot come up for another vote for five more winters."

  Some continued to mutter that Herin and the others shouldn't have been allowed to vote, but it was too late. The vote had been cast, the decision made.

  The tribes were safe. At least for now.

  Chapter 58

  By the next morning, most of the Black Horse Tribe had joined the Daliph's troops in surrounding the gathering grounds. They could still cross over easily enough—as they proved rather belligerently when K'lrsa came to study their camp—but they were making it clear that they had no intention of swearing to the gods and that the enemy the tribes would have to fight through was even larger than before.

  One Rider, a man her father's age, stepped right up in her face, glaring her down. "This isn't over, you know. Not like you can live on the gathering grounds forever. And when you leave, we'll be here, waiting."

  She rolled her eyes. "You don't scare me. We beat you once, didn't we?"

  He sneered and lunged at her. She braced for an attack, but he was yanked back at the last moment. She laughed. "You can't hurt us. Not while we're here."

  She walked away.

  What did she care for the foolish posturing of overgrown boys?

  There was one reason she was there. She wanted to find F'lia.

  She'd said she'd join them if they won, but like the man had pointed out, they hadn't won yet. Still. The Daliphate wasn't a fit place for any woman.

  At last, K'lrsa found her, kneeling on the ground, packing a tent.

  "F'lia."

  She glanced at K'lrsa and away again. As before, J'vin hovered nearby, watching his prize. "What are you doing here?"

  "I came to see if you'd come back with me. You know your mother would welcome you back with open arms. And…" She licked her lips, suddenly awkward. "I miss you. You're my best friend."

  F'lia glanced nervously at J'vin. "The Daliph's men have orders to kill any who don't swear allegiance to the Toreem Daliphate."

  "And you're going to do that?"

  "What choice do I have?" She stroked her belly.

  "You could come back to us."

  "And starve?"

  "No. I'm…" She glanced at J'vin, unsure how much F'lia might tell him. "We're going to find a way out of this, F'lia."

  "Let me know when you do." She tied the last knot on the tent tighter than she really needed to. "But until then I have to make the best decision for my child."

  K'lrsa wanted to scream at her. Allying herself with the Daliphana was the worst decision she could make for her child. But she didn't. Because she wasn’t the one having to make that choice.

  She tried again. "You don't understand what that place is like for women." She shivered just remembering.

  "I'm sure it's not that bad."

  "It is!"

  "You seem to have survived it just fine."

  "You don't understand. They made me take baths every day and wear these ridiculous outfits of all sorts of different colors and with so many buttons I could've never dressed myself. And they put my hair up in these elaborate hairstyles. And put all this stuff on my face so I couldn't even recognize myself. And they wouldn't even let me feed myself. Everything was done for me. Everything."

  F'lia grinned at her. "Did you have to wear silk, too? And pretty jewels? Did everyone look at you and admire your beauty?"

  "Yes. It was awful."

  She laughed. "But, see? That sounds wonderful to me."

  "But it wasn't. I…" How could she explain how horrible it all was?

  F'lia stood. "We've always wanted different things, K'lrsa. Those silks you rejected so easily? I would've died to have. And now I can have them." She smiled, but it was a smile full of sorrow. She grabbed her pack. "Goodbye. Hopefully we'll meet again under better circumstances."

  K'lrsa watched her walk over to J'vin. He threw a possessive arm around her shoulder and led her across the border into the Daliph's camp.

  It was wrong.

  All of it.

  But it was F'lia's choice to make, her life to live. All K'lrsa could do is be there for her friend when she realized her error.

  Chapter 59

  As the sun hovered directly above them, beating with the ferocity of summer even though it was winter, the five remaining wise ones gathered on the central dais.

  The wise woman from the Black Horse Tribe had left with her tribe. K'lrsa was sorry to see that even one steeped in the mysteries could turn against the gods, but it was what it was.

  Once again, the wise ones invoked the protection of the gods, but this time there was no appearance by the Lady or any other god.

  The wise woman for the Tall Bluff Tribe stepped forward and held the oath stick above her head with one steady arm. "All adults who wish to remain a part of the tribes must swear their loyalty to the gods and their willingness to protect the desert and the Hidden City. Any who cannot swear this oath should leave now."

  No one moved. The wise woman studied the crowd, pivoting slowly so she could look at each and every person. "I should also warn you that
none will be able to swear a false oath. If in your heart you don't intend to abide by your vow, do not attempt to swear on the oath stick."

  She turned towards the far left side of the dais. "Shall we begin?"

  A young man from the Tall Bluff Tribe took the oath first followed by his mother and sister. The oaths were quick. Each person grabbed the stick, nodded when asked if they agreed to follow the gods and protect the desert and the Hidden City, and that was it.

  No flash of light. No test of faith. Just a simple, straight-forward declaration.

  But even with such a simple vow K'lrsa knew it would take the entire day to get through everyone. She considered returning to her tent until most of the crowd had gone, but decided she might as well stand witness.

  Not long after, a man from the Black Horse Tribe stepped forward to take his oath. When the wise woman asked him if he agreed to protect the desert and the Hidden City, he nodded just like all of those before him.

  But this time, when he went to remove his hand, he couldn't.

  He jerked away from the wise woman, the stick still clenched in his hand.

  "Get if off me," he screamed as he shook his hand, but the stick remained glued to his flesh.

  He started to sweat, muttering desperately as he used his knife to try to pry the stick loose. It wouldn't budge. He swore as the knife slipped and he cut himself.

  A heat haze filled the air around him.

  He tried harder to remove the stick, digging the knife into the flesh of his palm, but it didn't work.

  The haze intensified until the air was wavy with it, the man's shape blurred.

  A scream tore from his throat as the light of the sun concentrated itself upon him, glowing brighter and brighter until K'lrsa had to shield her eyes against the glare.

  He screamed and screamed and screamed, his voice spiraling upward in agony.

  And then…

  Silence.

  K'lrsa lowered her hand.

  The man was gone.

  The stick lay on the ground where he'd stood, but there was no sign he'd ever been there.

  The wise woman picked the stick up, her hand shaking so badly she had to press it to her side. She turned to the crowd and said, loudly enough for all to hear, her voice as shaky as her hand, "As I said, do not attempt to swear a false oath. If you can't find it in yourself to follow the ways of the gods, then best to leave now."

  K'lrsa shuddered.

  The wise woman was right. Better life as an exile than to burn.

  A man standing a few rows before her turned and pushed his way through the crowd. His mother called after him, but he didn't stop.

  "Who's next?" the wise woman asked.

  No one stepped forward.

  K'lrsa didn't blame them. What if it hadn't been the man's impure heart? What if the gods were just capricious and cruel, like she knew them to be?

  The wise woman tried again. "Who's next? If your heart is pure you have nothing to fear."

  But still, no one was willing to take the risk.

  Finally, when it was clear that no one else would, K'lrsa forced herself forward. Her throat was so dry she couldn't speak.

  The wise woman held out the oath stick.

  K'lrsa wiped her sweaty palms on her vest.

  She closed her eyes for a moment and then gripped the stick in her hand, waiting for the fire to shoot up her arm, but it was just a plain old stick with some grooves and scratches on its surface.

  There was a slight tug on her palm when she agreed to follow the gods, but that was it. She handed the stick back and walked away quickly, just in case.

  As others stepped up to take their oaths, she walked back to their tents.

  It was time.

  Time to find the weapon that would save the tribes.

  Chapter 60

  When K'lrsa reached their tents, she found Badru and Herin screaming at each other with Garzel and Lodie seated nearby watching, Lodie with amusement, Garzel with resignation.

  Badru stood toe-to-toe with Herin. "I'm going, Grandmother, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

  She glanced at K'lrsa. "There's one thing I can do."

  He followed her gaze. "You wouldn't dare." He clenched his fist as if ready to hit her.

  "Wouldn't I? To save you?"

  "Stop it. Both of you." K'lrsa pushed between them. "She's your grandmother, Badru. And as annoying and repellant as she may sometimes be…" She glanced at Herin.

  "Thanks."

  K'lrsa almost smiled. "She deserves your respect. She's very much part of the reason you're alive today."

  Herin nodded. "Which is why he should listen to me now."

  Badru shook his head. "Not on this."

  "Pzah, you foolish boy. Don't you understand what I told you?"

  "I do. But I think saving these people is more important."

  Lodie stood. "Now that that's settled. The six of us should make sure we're ready to go."

  Herin clenched her jaw and rolled her eyes. "Far be it from me to want you two to live out the week." She stalked away.

  K'lrsa shook her head. Typical Herin. Worried about Badru and Lodie, but hadn't once thought about K'lrsa being in the exact same danger.

  Then again, K'lrsa had always known Herin's priorities: Herself first, Badru, Lodie, and Garzel second, anyone else a distant third.

  She turned back to the others. "So? Do we have a plan? Do we know how to find the Hidden City? Is it hard?"

  Lodie shook her head. "Should only take about three days to get there. Our stones can guide us if the horses can't."

  "If it's so easy to get there, why doesn't everyone go?"

  Lodie shrugged. "Ignorance mostly. Most don't believe it exists and if they do they don't know how to find it. But fear, too, for those who know enough."

  "What's there to fear?"

  "Nothing much." She stepped away. "I better talk to Herin. See if we can't reconcile before I die." She winked at them and left.

  "No one's going to die, are they?"

  She turned to Badru and Garzel, but neither one acknowledged her question.

  "Badru?" She poked him. "I said no one's going to die, are they?"

  "Huh?" He chuckled. "What kind of question's that?"

  He turned towards the dais. "I better swear my oath before it's too late. Be right back." He kissed her on the cheek and walked away.

  She looked at Garzel. He shrugged and turned away, too.

  She stood there, alone, wondering what it was that they all seemed to know that she didn't.

  Chapter 61

  As the sun set and twilight fell, the wise ones finished with the last of those in line to swear their oaths and started winding their way through the camps looking for any stragglers.

  The wise man for the White Horse Tribe walked up to where they sat eating a meal of dried paste root and millet. It was the worst meal K'lrsa had ever eaten, but still food. He nodded towards Herin. "You haven’t sworn."

  Herin spat on the ground. "Pzah. And I'm not going to."

  He blinked back his surprise. "Then you have to leave."

  "I will. As soon as the moon rises." She nodded to their packs.

  K'lrsa shook her head. "You didn't swear your oath? But you have to. We can't travel the desert if you don't."

  "Why not? You'll be leading us and you swore it."

  "Herin. I just swore I wouldn't lead strangers into the desert. If you don't swear your oath, what do you think that makes you?"

  Herin blinked once, twice, then she cussed her head off. "Fine. Give me that stick." She yanked it out of the man's hand and muttered that she agreed to follow the god's rules, every line of her face showing how unhappy she was to do so.

  K'lrsa held her breath, waiting for the sun to strike her down, but nothing happened.

  The wise man must've been thinking the same thing, because he took his time taking the stick back.

  Lodie and Garzel swore their oaths next.

  They, too, had no i
ssues.

  Next it was Vedhe's turn.

  She shook her head. "Not of the tribes."

  The man frowned at her. "But you have to be. You have an Amalanee horse."

  "So do I," Badru said. "And I wasn't one of the tribes when Midnight found me."

  "Yes, but as I understand it both of your parents were."

  Badru nodded.

  "Which makes you of the tribes." He held out the stick. "Here, child. Swear your oath."

  Vedhe crossed her arms.

  K'lrsa nudged her with her foot. "Vedhe. Just swear your oath. We can't take you to the Hidden City if you don't."

  Vedhe laughed. "You not take me. Kriger take me. Not need you. Or tribes."

  Herin shrugged. "Her choice."

  "But…What will happen to her if she doesn't? And us for taking her with us?"

  Cruel, child-like laughter filled the air. The Trickster stepped out of nothing right next to Vedhe.

  Herin narrowed her eyes, glaring at him. So did K'lrsa.

  "Give me the stick, old man." The Trickster turned to where the wise man cowered.

  He handed over the oath stick, his hand shaking badly, and then backed away, careful to keep the Trickster in sight the whole time.

  The Trickster held the stick out to Vedhe and she took the other end. "Do you promise, my child of pain and suffering, to protect the secrets of the desert even after you return to your people?"

  "Yes."

  "Good enough for me. And if it's good enough for me, it's good enough for my parents."

  He threw the stick back to the wise man who dropped it, scrabbled around for it, and then fled.

  The Trickster turned slowly, smiling at each of them. "So you're going to the desert, are you? Even though you're going to die?" He raised an eyebrow at Herin who glared back at him, full of venom. "Even though you'll never come back?" He turned to Lodie who pretended he wasn't there. "Even though…"

  He turned towards Badru and Badru lunged at him. "Go away you vicious little man."

  The Trickster jumped backwards. "Oh ho ho. You think to challenge the gods do you, baby Daliph?" He shook his head. "Not a wise choice my boy, not a wise choice." He lunged at Badru and Badru flinched backward.