Altaica

by Tracy M. Joyce

  About ten minutes later, Karan and Baldev appeared. Baldev was furious. He had just berated his captain for losing one little boy. ‘Have you found him?’

  ‘Not yet. Devi is looking,’ said Asha.

  Karan nodded. ‘You have a little longer. Shahjahan has apparently wandered down to the beach to clear his head. We must wait for his return.’

  Umniga held out her arm as Devi gently landed upon it. ‘They are asleep in the dunes near the beach, at the back of Deo’s hut.’

  Lucia could hear the amusement and relief in Umniga’s voice. ‘Pio?’ she ventured with a hopeful smile. Umniga nodded and patted her hand.

  ‘I’ll go,’ Asha said. As she turned to leave, Nicanor stood to follow her. Karan shook his head, restraining him.

  ‘We’ll go,’ Karan said. ‘We might see Shahjahan and take our leave of him.’

  ‘I would still like to come, my lords,’ Asha offered. ‘He knows me better than you. You may frighten him.’

  ‘I have no objection and I’m sure Baldev doesn’t either.’

  Together they made their way through the dunes to where Pio and his friend lay. Asha knelt down beside the boys and gently shook Pio.

  He moaned, sat up and promptly leaned into Asha’s arms. ‘Oh Asha, I don’t feel so good.’

  Baldev looked at the plates beside them and the empty mugs as he woke the other boy. ‘Come on, wake up.’ He shook him firmly. The boy groaned and rolled into a ball. Baldev uncurled him and held him up. ‘Here, drink this—it’s water.’ The boy shook his head. Baldev grabbed his chin, holding his face still. ‘Drink it. You’ll feel better.’ The boy nodded and drank, then emptied his stomach near Baldev’s boots. ‘Watch where you aim, boy.’ He handed the flask to Asha who made Pio drink.

  Karan stepped back, just in case. He picked up an empty tankard and addressed Deo’s grandson. ‘How much have you drunk?’ The boy, still retching, held up two fingers. ‘Between you?’

  He shook his head. ‘Each.’

  Asha looked grim. ‘Drunk? Idiots! Wait until your mothers get hold of you.’

  ‘Let’s get them back.’ Baldev stifled a laugh as he lifted the boy.

  ‘It will be easier to go past Deo’s workshop, up the beach, then onto the path,’ Asha offered. ‘Follow me.’

  Karan picked up Pio and they began to make their way back to the celebration. As they neared the top of the last dune, Asha froze at the sound of voices, dropped to her belly and wriggled up the slope to peer through the grass at the top. Karan stopped, suddenly tense and alert. Baldev was instantly still. They lowered the boys, indicating that they should remain there. Wide-eyed, the children obeyed. Quietly, Karan and Baldev joined Asha, leaving Pio and his friend crouching at the base of the dune, feeling vulnerable yet curious. They crawled silently to Asha. Annoyed, she signalled them to silence and to stay down.

  * * *

  Shahjahan stood on the beach, the waves gently lapping against the shore. The fierce storm they’d endured on the journey here, followed by the wrangling over peace and organising the future of these new members of his clan, had left him weary to his core. The lull of the waves had always soothed him in the past and it did so now. He was pleased with the outcome they had reached and, while he had never felt so old, he felt as if a veil had been lifted from his eyes and a shadow from his heart. There was much work to be done, and he had many plans laid out already in his mind. For the first time in many years, he felt like leading.

  There was a halo around the moon, a sure sign of a cold night and rain to come. I should head back. I’ve kept those young lords waiting long enough. He chuckled, gaining some satisfaction knowing Karan and Baldev would be champing at the bit to be off. Turning to leave, he spotted a figure who had just stepped from the path between the dunes. It was Ratilal.

  ‘Well met, my son.’ Ratilal said nothing. ‘We have had a good day’s work and you were most helpful with the future placement of the strangers.’ Still Ratilal did not speak. Instead he looked out to sea. ‘Come now, what is wrong? Why do you not speak?’

  ‘What is wrong?’ he repeated his father’s words quietly at first, then louder. ‘What is wrong?’

  Shahjahan scowled at him and opened his mouth to speak, but Ratilal cut him off.

  ‘Surely you cannot be so blind? You have given them what they want. We do not have our lands back.’

  ‘We have been over this already. We need stronger ties with them while we rebuild our clan and our army. Trade will resume, as will the games.’ At the mention of the games Ratilal looked interested. ‘All this will benefit us. We need to reconnect with our traditions, reclaim our identity and pride. While we do this our people will have peace.’

  ‘Peace! Reclaim our pride? How? With the Horse and Bear ruling lands that are rightfully ours? With our clan relegated to inferior status, begging them for trade?’

  ‘I told you, it will take time to rebuild …’

  ‘Years! This will take years.’

  ‘Listen to me, boy. These strangers have fled an enemy, possibly a vast enemy by the looks of it. The clans must be closer, so we can work together if we face a threat.’

  ‘What threat? From them?’ Ratilal mocked. ‘You are not seriously worried about the enemy they ran from, are you? They barely made it here, I doubt anyone else will.’

  ‘Ratilal …’

  ‘No, do not patronise me! Even if such an enemy were to reach here, we would be able to defend ourselves. It is your lack of leadership, your folly, your weakness, that has led us to this pass.’

  ‘Remember your place, boy!’

  ‘My place? How could I forget? You are always so good to remind me. All my life I have tried to please you, but no, you always preferred Samia. She could do no wrong.’ Spittle flew from his mouth. ‘I was always made to feel the lesser child. It never mattered to you how I tried, or how you hurt me. It was always her.’ He paused, drawing a ragged breath. His hands were fisted by his sides, his control thinly holding.

  ‘She did no wrong,’ Shahjahan retaliated. ‘You …’

  Ratilal laughed in scorn at this. ‘Oh yes, me. Do tell me again my many faults.’

  ‘You have only ever been impetuous, angry and ill-disciplined. I hoped you would learn patience. If only you would have learned patience and prudence.’

  ‘Patience, prudence!’ Ratilal hissed.

  ‘Yes. You have many admirable qualities, boy, but without those two you will not make a good ruler.’

  ‘Oh, here we have it, you patronise me again, old man. You would counsel patience and prudence while others rule in our stead north of The Divide. You, who were too weak, who let your grief consume you like a woman, until we were left with not a clan lord but with a mere shadow of one, and a ball-less one at that.’

  Shahjahan stepped closer to Ratilal, slapping him savagely. ‘How dare you! You will never be clan lord. I will have a contest for my …’ Shahjahan looked down in amazement at Ratilal’s dagger sticking from his belly.

  Karan and Baldev were poised to move, to come to his aid, but with amazing speed Ratilal whipped the dagger out of his gut and stepped behind him. He seized his father’s neck, pushed aside his head, then drove the dagger into his neck. Karan was certain he saw Ratilal smile as he flicked it sideways, almost casually, before withdrawing it.

  Shahjahan toppled forward, clutching futilely at the gash as his blood pumped out.

  Karan and Baldev subsided; there was nothing to be done now. The boys held Asha’s hands. They were trembling, but utterly silent.

  Ratilal walked around his father seething. ‘I will be high lord of our clan. I will regain our territory. Now that you have served your purpose, you can join my dear departed weakling of a sister. She too had only one use.’ Wistfully he continued, ‘I miss her sometimes …’ He bent down, speaking directly into his father’s ear, gloating. ‘She had a lovely body.’

  With these words the life left Shahjahan’s eyes. Ratilal departed as quietly as he had come. Baldev
looked at Asha. Even in the moonlight he could see her pain and anger. He reached over Pio and squeezed her shoulder.

  Karan’s face held a fierce sadness. He knew he should not linger, but it galled him to leave Shahjahan without the ritual words being spoken. Karan strode across the beach and knelt beside the clan lord’s body. He closed Shahjahan’s sightless eyes, angry at the startled expression frozen on his face. The hairs on the back of his neck rose as he whispered, ‘I’m sorry this happened to you—after everything you have endured. May Rana and Jalal guide you and protect you on your journey. May you find peace and happiness in the next life—alvida.’ The tingling on the back of his neck subsided; he was alone.

  Karan rose to join the others, then heard the chink of armour. Niaz, Ratilal’s confidante, with half a dozen guards, stepped from the path onto the beach. A slow, cunning smile crept across Niaz’s face.

  ‘He has attacked the clan lord. Get him!’ He pointed at a young warrior. ‘Return to the village, raise the alarm.’

  In an instant Karan weighed the possibility of fighting them. If he did, Baldev would help. Asha would have to get the boys back to safety alone. The risk of their exposure was too great. He ran, making sure they could follow him.

  Niaz looked at Shahjahan’s fallen body, then joined in the chase.

  Baldev said to Asha. ‘We’ve got to get back to the village now.’

  ‘What about Karan?’

  ‘He’ll be fine,’ he replied tersely. ‘Boys, smarten up. Time to move, as quickly as you can and quietly. Keep moving, I’ll be back.’ Baldev sped off after the returning soldier. Despite his bulk and the deep gloom between the dunes, he moved surely and silently. The young man was running without care, making enough noise for Baldev to track him. Baldev tried to remember the way the path lay from his walk earlier in the day. Praying he was correct, he veered off to the side, crested the dune and spied the path running along its other side. He was now ahead of the runner.

  Baldev concealed himself beside a low lying scrubby bush and waited. The sound of sand underfoot grew louder. He could hear rapid breathing. Wait … wait … NOW! Baldev thrust out a leg, tripping him. The soldier had no idea what he had fallen over. Baldev was instantly upon him, wrapping his massive forearm around the front of the young man’s neck. He struggled, but was unable to cry out. On his side, he continued to fight to escape, but Baldev wrapped his legs around his lower body, further hindering his efforts. Baldev applied steady backward force with his forearm, while using his other arm to force the soldier’s head forward, throttling him. The young man’s struggles quickly lessened in this vice-like grip, until they ceased altogether. Shoving the body away from him, Baldev rose and dragged him off the path. Then he caught up with Asha and led the way back to the village, with Asha bringing up the rear.

  Pio felt ill. He wished they had not drunk the ale, or the mead, but it was more than that. He had never seen someone murdered; it was so quick, so easy. He would never forget the hate in that man’s voice. He was frightened and worried and he wanted his father and mother terribly. Pio knew they must be stealthy, but felt certain his clumsiness, thanks to the alcohol, would be heard.

  ‘Baldev,’ Asha whispered. He waited. She knelt and encouraged Pio to climb on her back, managing not to show her pain as his slight weight pressed against her bruised body. Don’t think about it, just get out of here. Baldev carried the other boy.

  Pio was astonished—Asha was stronger than she looked and they moved at a faster pace. When they reached the outskirts of the village, Baldev and Asha put the boys down.

  ‘Find your grandfather,’ Asha directed the other boy. ‘Tell him what happened, but tell no one else.’

  ‘Tell Deo to be careful. If Ratilal suspects any of you know the truth, you are dead,’ Baldev finished. The boy nodded and disappeared.

  ‘Baldev, I’ll take Pio back. Make sure he understands …’

  Baldev reached out and pulled her to him, kissing her ardently. ‘I’ll see you again. Take Pio to his parents. They’ll know something is wrong. Let him tell them, but they must keep quiet. Then find Umniga—she knows what to do. The pair of you hide until later.’

  ‘Later?’

  ‘Trust me. Find Umniga.’ He kissed her again and slipped into the darkness.

  ‘Pio.’ He looked at her wide-eyed. She pointed in the direction they came from and placed her finger on her lips. ‘Ssh.’ He nodded. She took his hand, straightened up and smiled broadly, encouraging him to do so too. Oh, good boy, she thought as Pio followed her lead and plastered a grin onto his face. Together, they walked through the village.

  Asha was not sure what she expected—an uproar perhaps? However, Parlan was quiet. There were a few revellers left, but most people were calmly packing up the tables. She walked to the door of the lodge, where she could see Nicanor and Lucia waiting. Pio tugged on her hand, wanting her to release him so he could run to his mother, but Asha held fast. He looked at her and, reminded of the need for caution, kept walking at a sedate pace. His hands were sweating, and he looked frightened, but Asha hoped that to any observers it would merely appear as if he was worried about parental chastisement.

  Lucia swept him out of Asha’s hands and into her arms. ‘Where have you been? Ugh! Pio, you smell of ale!’ Nicanor leaned forward, sniffed him, and wrinkled his nose in disgust.

  Asha ushered them inside the lodge. She saw the Boar and Horse guards assigned to them. She needed to go pass them the news, so she held up her finger to Pio indicating for him to wait.

  Nicanor questioned his son. ‘How much did you drink?’

  Pio looked guilty, darting his eyes to Asha as he stalled for time. ‘We were just having fun. Then we got hungry and thirsty.’

  ‘I asked you, how much did you drink?’ Nicanor was watching Asha speaking intently with the guards who had been with them all afternoon. When they quickly dispersed, Asha briskly entered the lodge, followed by Vikram and Āsim. They ushered Nicanor, Lucia and Pio over to Isaura where the rest of the group had been waiting.

  Nicanor was filled with foreboding. He asked Pio very softly, ‘What happened?’

  ‘We did drink too much …’ Pio mumbled, not meeting his father’s gaze.

  ‘Pio, what else happened?’ Pio looked at Asha, confused at how to respond. ‘Pio—look at me, I am your father. What else?’

  Pio was torn. He wanted to tell him, but Asha wanted him quiet.

  Nicanor was angry and extremely worried. Pio had always told the truth. Now he was denying his father—waiting upon permission from a stranger to speak. What had happened to his son?

  Asha leaned forward, took Pio’s hand and nodded at him to speak.

  His hushed voice answered, ‘We did eat and drink too much and fell asleep. Then Asha, Karan and Baldev found us. My friend threw up.’ He paused, not wanting to recount what happened next.

  Lucia could see him struggling to speak. She put her arms around him to soothe him. ‘And?’

  ‘And they were going to bring us back, but we heard voices. Angry voices. We hid and watched. It was that old man, Shahjahan, and a younger one. The nasty looking one who you saw at the door … He killed the old man.’ Lucia stifled a gasp. ‘Karan went to the body. I don’t know why. But when he was coming back, some men saw him. They yelled and chased him.’ He looked at the adults around him plaintively. ‘They must think he killed the old man, but he didn’t. Ma, Pa, he never did.’

  There was shocked silence for a few minutes. Then each adult began to speak.

  Asha thumped the floor with her hand, attracting their attention. ‘Enough. Ssh, ssh.’

  ‘What does she mean, “ssh”?’ Elena was shocked. ‘Someone’s been murdered.’

  ‘Yes,’ Curro said through clenched teeth. ‘And Pio has seen it all.’

  ‘Think, Elena.’ Jaime continued quietly, ‘What do you think will happen if the wrong people find out that he knows?’

  ‘Elena, we must not let anyone know,’ Gabriela urged. ‘Ash
a is trying to help us. We must go about as if nothing has happened.’

  ‘Other than my son getting drunk,’ Lucia added.

  Asha listened carefully to this exchange. Convinced that they would remain quiet, she left with Vikram and Āsim.

  ‘Where is Umniga?’ she asked them.

  ‘Here.’ Umniga had been sitting under a tree, waiting. She stood at their approach. ‘You two should go,’ she directed Vikram and Āsim. They did not leave. ‘Asha will be fine with me. But you do not want to hear what I have to say—at least not yet. Go on.’ She waved them away.

  ‘As yet, Niaz has not returned. No one knows what happened.’ Umniga snorted. ‘Fools. I don’t know why they haven’t raised the alarm.’

  ‘We should hide Isa and the others,’ Asha said.

  ‘No, that will just bring them to Ratilal’s attention. We wait, Asha.’ She whispered in her ear, ‘Now hide. I’ll come to you. I don’t want Ratilal to see you.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  KARAN WOVE AMONGST the dunes. He could hear his pursuers clearly. This section of dunes was covered in clumps of long feathered grass. Karan crouched on the side of a dune between two clumps of grass, ensuring their feathery tips fell back naturally over him. A pair of guards ran past, disappearing into the dark. A third followed along behind them, more quietly—cautious. Karan had heard others talking off to the side somewhere. They are green. He waited for the last one to pass his hiding place. Stealthily, he rose and moved forward. He was gaining on the cautious one, his dagger poised. A soft breeze blew. The grasses rustled. His quarry spun, nervous, and saw Karan almost upon him. Karan pounced as the man opened his mouth to call out. He knocked him to the ground, hand over his mouth, gagging him, then drove the dagger into the base of his neck near his collarbone. Casually he wiped his blade clean on the dead man, before moving on.

  Karan needed to get back to the village, to meet with Baldev and leave. He crept between the dunes, avoiding the pale moonlight and keeping to the gloomy shadows as much as possible. He was heading in the general direction from which he had come, but trying to travel diagonally through the dunes to save time. He had not heard the noisy two who passed him again, but knew that at least six guards had been with Niaz. Karan came to an open expanse between the dunes—too exposed. Where are they? He crawled on his belly through the vegetation to the rise of the dune nearest him. At the rise, he could see across the expanse and down the other side of the dune. Nothing. He waited.