Altaica

by Tracy M. Joyce

  Pio bowed slightly, then formally said in Altaican, ‘Thank you.’ He stared at this big old man leaning down at him, whose eyebrows had risen so high they seemed to disappear into his hairline.

  ‘This is obviously the boy Umniga has been letting roam,’ Vikram stated blandly.

  ‘Aye, commander,’ Deo said. ‘He’s a good lad. He learns fast and he’s done no harm.’

  ‘Get the rest kitted with new clothes, Āsim. Then we’ll take them to the river.’

  As the men were escorted under guard to the river, Jaime asked, ‘Nic? Do you really think we are going to bathe? They could just be taking us away to kill us.’

  Daniel answered in a tired voice. ‘Why give us new clothes then? Why feed us?’

  Pio’s hand tightened in Nicanor’s and he piped up. ‘They are helping us—that’s all.’

  ‘Jaime,’ Nicanor said.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Shut up.’

  * * *

  Inside the lodge the women waited; some were distraught and crying, some sat resignedly.

  ‘Will they be hurt, do you think?’ Gabriela asked Lucia.

  Lucia shook her head in exasperation. ‘They’re bathing … How is that going to harm them? Look, if they wanted us dead, we would be.’ She patted Gabriela’s hand. ‘It will be fine.’

  Umniga and Asha unpacked their brushes and together began to remove Isaura’s top.

  Lucia glanced around at the other women. Many were absorbed in their own misery, but a few were keenly watching what the old woman and her friend were doing to Isaura; Elena sat amongst them, whispering. Lucia touched Umniga’s arm, holding up her index finger. ‘Wait?’ Umniga nodded. ‘Gabi, sit just there. I’ll get Elena. If we all sit in a semicircle on this side, we can shield her from view.’

  Gabriela looked with distaste at the gawkers. ‘Absolutely.’

  Lucia approached Elena. ‘Leni, I need your help.’ Elena remained mute. ‘Elena, come with me, please?’

  ‘What do you need help with, Lucia?’ Elena replied in a saccharine tone.

  Inwardly, Lucia was furious. She knew that Elena wanted her to say it was for Isaura, but that would draw more unwanted attention to the poor girl.

  She reached out casually, yet took Elena’s upper arm in a vice-like grip. ‘Come, I’ll show you—it will be easier.’ Elena winced, but allowed herself to be towed along. Lucia whispered harshly in her ear, ‘I don’t know what is wrong with you, but I am sick and tired of it. You pour poison in their ears about Isa—I know it.’

  ‘I haven’t …’ Elena winced again as Lucia dragged her across the room.

  ‘Don’t lie to me!’

  ‘I’m not …’

  ‘Pio can lie better than you.’ Lucia sighed, frustrated and despairing of Elena. ‘This will lead to your own downfall. By all that we hold sacred, stop this path you are on. You must stop!’

  Elena was shaken. Lucia had never talked to her like this. Maybe she was right.

  Umniga scowled, watching as Lucia brought another woman to join them.

  ‘What is it?’ Asha asked.

  ‘I don’t like that one. Her aura, it’s dark, almost malignant. Take a look soon with Fihr. Tell me what you see.’

  Elena saw the old woman scowl at her, then felt her bitterness rise again.

  ‘Now sit here, like that,’ Lucia instructed.

  ‘Why?’ came the sullen response.

  ‘If you were in Isa’s position, would you like everyone to see you like this?’

  ‘I’m not and will never be in her position. There is something unholy happening here—the way they treat her—the special treatment,’ she hissed.

  ‘Your nephew has received special treatment from them too. Are you going to talk about him like this?’ Lucia leaned in so they were nose to nose, before she said with open hostility and disgust, ‘Just sit there and do not speak again.’

  ‘I like that one though,’ Umniga said to Asha, indicating Lucia. Now that Isaura was largely shielded from view, Asha and Umniga finished removing her wraparound top, loosened her drawstring pants and rolled her onto her stomach. ‘Both trees must interlink.’

  Asha nodded. ‘I’m not sure where to start.’

  ‘Just start at the base, her buttocks, and work up. Relax—it will come.’ Together they painted an oak tree on Isaura’s back. Umniga began humming Pio’s tune and Asha joined in. The roots commenced at her buttocks, travelling across and down between her legs, where they intertwined with the willow roots. The strong trunk travelled up her spine to her shoulder blades, where it split into branches and a canopy that spanned to her neck, over her shoulders and upper arms, to mingle with the willow branches. Umniga pulled Isaura’s arms to her sides and they continued the oak roots pattern across from her buttocks to her wrists, connecting with the willow. Asha continued the oak roots down her legs to her ankles.

  ‘That’s well done, we will have to finish the front likewise.’

  Elena watched with horrified fascination as these strange women painted Isaura so carefully. Gabriela was transfixed and clutched Lucia’s hand, as they quietly hummed the same tune as Umniga and Asha.

  When they were finished and Gabriela could see the whole pattern of tattoos, she whispered, ‘Magnificent.’

  Without a word, only a look of disgust, Elena left them.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  BALDEV HAD SAID little since his earlier outburst and it was clear that he was impatient at their pace. Karan decided he’d had enough of his sullen anger. Baldev was at the river, refreshing himself and filling his water skin. Karan stood behind him, leaning against a tree, with his arms crossed.

  Baldev heard Karan arrive—knew he was waiting. Determined to take his time, he stripped off his shirt and poured water over his bare torso, enjoying the chill water on his sore muscles. He dried himself with his shirt, before putting it on and turning to face Karan with a surprised look.

  Karan scowled. ‘Don’t give me that. You knew I was there.’ Baldev made to walk past him, but Karan grabbed his arm. He shrugged free. ‘Wait.’ Karan’s voice, while calm, had an edge of steel to it. ‘You can’t keep acting like this. We must be unified and focused.’ Baldev grunted. ‘What is wrong?’

  A look of fury crossed Baldev’s face. ‘Asha.’

  ‘Asha?’

  ‘Asha. It was your idea to send her there.’

  ‘Yes, I wanted her there and it worked.’

  Baldev gripped his friend’s jacket and shoved him against the tree. ‘She could have been killed.’

  ‘Yes, she could have, but she wasn’t. We both saw Shahjahan as the potential problem, but not one who would kill her.’ Baldev growled and drove him harder against the tree. Karan continued, ‘It was not Shahjahan who hurt her. Neither of us thought of Ratilal.’ I didn’t think he’d dare in his father’s house. He placed his hands around Baldev’s wrists and tried to force them away from him. ‘Does she know how you feel?’

  Baldev blinked, a little stunned, and let go. ‘What? Ah … no.’ He stepped back, ran his hands through his hair and looked sheepishly at Karan. ‘Ah … sorry.’

  Karan shrugged. ‘Doesn’t matter. But you must control yourself.’

  ‘I want to get to her! We are going so damn slow.’

  ‘You’ll get there. This pace suits me—the horses will remain fresh.’ Baldev scowled. ‘Yes, be mad, but not like this. Keep your anger deep in here.’ He tapped Baldev’s chest. ‘Otherwise you put her in more danger. If they think she is of personal importance to you, she will be at risk. That, and you are making our alliance seem strained.’

  ‘I’ll kill Ratilal one day.’

  ‘Someone should, but not yet, not now. We have a chance here with Shahjahan to make a formal peace—let’s use it. Long term, it could benefit everyone.’

  Baldev nodded reluctantly. ‘You’re always right, aren’t you?’ Karan gave him a sardonic grin. Baldev continued, ‘I don’t know how you do it. Always cool, controlled, always analysing.
I know you like Asha, you don’t want her hurt, but you switch off. You have accepted what happened.’

  ‘I am angry, Baldev, believe me. The fact that this happened at all, let alone in the home of her clan lord, is a disgrace, but Asha is a Kenati and a soldier. She knows her duty and the risks involved in combat.’

  ‘This was not combat.’

  ‘No, it wasn’t. If she had been armed, things may have been different.’

  ‘She should have been.’

  ‘Yes, but have you thought about why she wasn’t? Why is Shahjahan removing weapons from his own people who visit the keep? What has he to fear? And whom?’ He gave him pause to think, before continuing, ‘We need a formal peace, we need improved relations between our clans, so he can concentrate on putting his house in order. That will enable us to increase our spy network and that will benefit us.’

  ‘Thank the gods you’re my friend and not my enemy.’

  A genuine smile lit Karan’s face. ‘You may drive me crazy, but I’ll always be your friend.’

  * * *

  Gabriela was laughing as they walked back from the river. She was clean. Her clothes were clean. Clean and not hungry or thirsty! Three simple things she swore she would never take for granted again.

  ‘Did you see the guards’ faces when Umniga made them turn around? I still can’t believe she did that for us—one little old lady.’ Gabriela shook her head in disbelief.

  ‘I can,’ Lucia said, laughing. ‘She’s a little old lady with clout.’

  ‘I don’t think I could have bathed with them looking on.’ Even Elena was smiling.

  ‘I was contemplating jumping in clothes and all—just scrubbing the lot,’ Lucia said.

  Gabriela wrinkled her nose in disgust. ‘Ewww!’ Mischievous giggles burst forth. ‘I was going to wash no matter who was watching.’

  ‘Gabi!’ Elena was scandalised.

  ‘I couldn’t stand the smell any longer,’ she said, grinning. ‘I doubt they could either.’ She linked her arm in Lucia’s. ‘Oh, I feel so good!’ she cried. ‘Don’t you feel good?’

  Lucia nodded. ‘Yes, but what’s to happen now?’

  ‘Now? Oh! For the moment I don’t care. We’re off that boat. We’re away from war. We are safe. This is the chance that we were waiting for—that we were hoping for!’

  Asha and Umniga walked behind the group, watching the interactions between the three closely. Lucia and Gabriela were buoyant; although Elena smiled she remained aloof from the others. If this woman wasn’t happy now, when would she be?

  Asha had been deep in thought, but now spoke. ‘Umniga, the Ritual of Samara requires a male and female Kenati from each clan and the seeker.’

  ‘Correct,’ Umniga answered, although she was still distracted by the three women ahead.

  ‘We can’t succeed. Juhangir is dead. We have no male Kenati in the Boar Clan.’

  ‘That’s what the boy’s for.’

  ‘Pio?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘You think he’s Kenati?’

  ‘Yes. I’m still worried about how hard you hit your head, little whelp,’ she said wryly.

  ‘He has no guardian.’

  ‘I don’t think they have any understanding of such things where he came from. If they did, Isaura would have been trained.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘And? Well, he has only just arrived and he is still young. I’m hoping a guardian will present itself.’

  ‘In time for the ritual?’ Asha sounded sceptical.

  ‘Maybe.’

  ‘But he’ll need one. He has no training … how?’ Asha was despondent. They had gone to so much trouble and now more obstacles were in their way.

  Umniga seemed nonchalant. ‘Who knows? With a completed circle, maybe his presence will be enough.’

  ‘How?’

  Umniga frowned. ‘Asha, I hope that it may be enough for him to sit in the circle with you and play.’

  ‘Play?’

  ‘Asha,’ Umniga had slowed her speech as if she was talking to a simpleton, ‘Pio will be a Kenati—a Bard Kenati. Of that I am absolutely certain. With a full circle and his playing, even without training, it might be enough.’

  ‘Might?’

  Umniga’s frown chastised her. ‘We can only try,’ she replied, shrugging. They walked in silence for a while.

  ‘A Bard Kenati?’ Asha said in wonder. Umniga nodded. ‘We have not had a Bard Kenati in generations. You are certain?’

  ‘Oh yes. I think he is the only reason the girl is still alive.’

  Asha’s eyes widened with sudden understanding. ‘He’s anchoring her.’

  She nodded. ‘I don’t think we have much time though. We need to get her to the others and perform the ritual as soon as possible. I would like us to leave with her and Pio in the wagon now, but the situation is, as always, more complicated by the clan lords. If I overstep, I could ruin everything.’

  ‘Yes, well, we could just take them—Shahjahan wouldn’t know.’

  ‘Possibly, but the families …’

  ‘It’s too many.’

  ‘And too far.’

  ‘We could ready the wagon anyway. Vikram may help.’

  ‘Vikram is a good man, but you misjudge his loyalty. He will not disobey his clan lord and should he do so, Shahjahan would flay him and his men.’

  ‘He doesn’t have to know.’

  ‘They’d know, the others would know. Too many to keep it a secret. We’d have to get them to come quietly without their guards knowing and without their friends; their friends may object. That will be our last resort. No, we just have to wait. If I know the lords, they’ll be here very soon.’

  * * *

  Shahjahan had not ventured far from Faros for a long time—too long, he realised, from the reaction of his people as they travelled along. Ratilal and some of his generals had been out in the countryside on various unsuccessful missions to try to reclaim their lost territory. The further from the capital they travelled, the less friendly became the greetings and observation of the group. Initially, children had fled at the sight of the soldiers. Workers in the fields remained, but were obviously on alert. When they realised that it was Shahjahan and the other clan lords, their wariness dropped, but there were no smiling faces.

  Shahjahan had plenty of time to think as they rode and his anger at their reactions had faded. He compared their reactions of today with those he remembered from years ago; he did not like the comparison. Gone was the joy at seeing a procession from Faros, what replaced it was trepidation. He was relieved and grateful that neither Karan nor Baldev commented on their reception. As they progressed, word seemed to have travelled ahead to the villages they passed through that he was coming, and they saw more smiling faces amongst the older members of these communities, but too many were still wary.

  When they reached Parlan, all the villagers gathered at its entrance. Shahjahan stopped and dismounted as Vikram approached him. The villagers gave the formal greeting gesture commencing with their hands on their hearts, followed by a low bow as they moved their hands wide apart, palms up. Karan and Baldev remained mounted, not wanting to detract from the greeting to Shahjahan.

  ‘Clan lord,’ Vikram began. ‘You have made good time. The strangers are in the lodge.’

  Shahjahan nodded in greeting. ‘People of Parlan. It has been too long since I have travelled so far from Faros and I am honoured by your greeting. I’m sure that you have heard, nevertheless I shall tell you, that lords Karan and Baldev ride with me to investigate the strangers we found at sea. In this, the clans are united.’

  Karan and Baldev dismounted and faced the villagers, greeting them as formally as they had Shahjahan.

  ‘Come, my friends—let us see what we are dealing with.’

  * * *

  Now that they had done all they could for Isaura, Umniga and Asha were tending to the other villagers. It was an easy task now that they had food and water in their bellies—miraculously all that remained to
do was some simple healing. They paused, looking up at the sound of approaching voices.

  ‘The clan lords,’ Asha murmured. Umniga nodded.

  Asha began to move toward the door, but Umniga restrained her. ‘Just wait, let him come.’

  ‘He’s our lord.’

  Umniga’s face soured. ‘As you will.’ She moved to Isaura and her friends and waited.

  Asha greeted Shahjahan formally at the door. ‘High …’ she corrected herself, ‘Clan lord, welcome.’

  Karan and Baldev looked at each other with brows raised. They had heard this salutation slip from several of the Boar guards, who had also hastily corrected themselves. Karan thought, Why ‘high lord’? Has someone else the title of ‘lord’? Ratilal? They would need to expand their network of spies. He broke from his reverie as he heard Baldev emit a low growl.

  The sight of Asha’s bruises made Baldev furious. At her furtive glance, he attempted to wipe the scowl from his face and control the emotions roiling within him. He did not want her thinking he was angry with her. His fury quickly changed to relief that she was alive and obviously healing, though he fought the powerful desire to simply embrace her and take her away. She would think him insane. She had no idea how he felt.

  Shahjahan began talking to Asha and moving through the survivors. Baldev was still marshalling his emotions and had not really heard what was being said, when Karan nudged him, then grabbed his elbow and led him along whispering, ‘Focus! You give too much away. If you lose your temper now we are done for.’

  As they walked through the group, Asha was describing the strangers’ state of health and what had been done for them so far. Vikram added only that so far they had presented no threat whatsoever to the Altaicans and that, due to the language problems, they had managed to discover only a little about them. It was clear that these people were not rich—the clothes they had been wearing when found, although well made, were sturdy and simple; their skin bore the callouses of working men and women. They knew that two men were a smith and a carpenter and the unconscious woman was some sort of healer. The lords listened quietly while they surveyed the still bedraggled people before them, finally stopping before Umniga.