They were told that they could occupy any of the rooms on the south wing of the building. There was a larger room on the very end overlooking the water that was designated to be kDira's and Agis’s private chamber.
There were enough empty rooms that those that wished to be lodged together could be and those that wished a private room could have that option as well. The structure had a crew in place that did the cooking for all the occupants,
It was explained that from time to time, everyone might be called upon for hunting or fishing expeditions. This concerned the Survivors because none of them had any experience in these areas. The Blackhorn warriors agreed to stand in for the Survivors, at least until the underground folks learned how to fend for themselves.
It was explained to them that the foods gathered from the hunting and fishing trips were pooled and provided to everyone collectively. There were strict rules against saving food for yourself; no one was above any of the others.
As the Blackhorn tribe entered their new quarters, they all noticed was that it was not nearly as nice as the Palace of the Crowne: paint was chipping and peeling from the walls, and in places, the ceiling was falling. The General instructed the new occupants that they would be expected to do maintenance and repairs on their portion of the building.
As kDira entered her chamber, she was pleased with how large it was. There were nice furnishings, although they looked like they had not been cleaned in the years since the Great Cloud. kDira walked over to the large windows on the south wall as Agis was helped in by two Blackhorn warriors and placed into a chair. The two warriors then left to find their own lodgings. Charlomine and Star were exploring the building but were expected to be joining them shortly.
The view out of the window was beautiful, though not nearly as nice as the Queen of Ravengard’s view. To the southwest, she could see an island, and she wondered to herself if anyone inhabited the island. Even if they did, how would anyone get there from where they were now?
“Well, we are here, Queen Mother,” said Agis. “What do you think of where we have ended up?”
“I don’t know. This is all so strange. I feel like we are making our home in the Karn Palace.”
“It does have a special charm about it, doesn’t it?”
“Charm? You’re joking, I hope.”
“I know this isn’t what you hoped for, but it’s peaceful, and we can see the ocean. I know it’s new and strange, but maybe we should give this a chance?”
“Perhaps you are right.”
A rapping at the door interrupted their conversation; it was one of the Ravengard warriors.
“kDira, Queen Lehentis wishes to see you now that you have found your lodging.”
“Tell her I will be there shortly.”
The warrior at the door hesitated.
“What is it?”
“The Queen, uh… requested that I escort you back to her.”
“Oh? That sounds like a bit of an order. I guess I better go see what The Queen wants,” kDira said with more than a hint of sarcasm.
“When Charlomine and Star get here, I will have them start to clean up,” Agis said.
“Maybe you could get up off your butt and help?” kDira asked tersely as she headed to the door.
“But you know I have a bad knee. Oooh, it really hurts.”
“I will make it hurt worse if you keep milking this.”
As kDira walked out of the room with her Ravengard escort, Agis looked around at the dwelling that had been offered as his new home. Aside from the dust and a little rubble, he decided that he could probably get used to this lodging, but only if kDira was happy with it.
“What can I do for you, Queen Lehentis?” kDira asked, trying not to sound annoyed. She had been led up to the tenth floor and into the Queen’s massive chambers. Ari was sitting on a couch to the far right of center where she was not directly in the line of sight of kDira, but still within earshot of anything that might be said.
“Hello, Ari,” kDira said, not waiting for the Queen to answer. “I see you have made yourself right at home,”
“kDira, I have some things to discuss with you,” Queen Lehentis said. “I think you probably know that we cannot have two tribes here, and there is not room enough for two Queens.”
“That thought had crossed my mind.”
“Then I think we should discuss how we should proceed. First,” the Queen said, gesturing over to Ari, “I am certain you are aware of my affection for your warrior friend.”
kDira looked at Ari, who in turn looked away. “Ari can make up her own mind. She wears the mark of the Blackhorn on her shoulder, but if that doesn’t bother you, then so be it.”
“I find a certain appeal to her marking. I am not asking her to lose her loyalty to you, just that she must be loyal to me if she is to be my personal guard.”
“Your personal guard? She would make a fine one. She has saved my life several times, but you did not need my permission for this. What else do we need to discuss?”
“Second, I would like to merge your people into the Ravengard. Together we will be much stronger. If you wish to stay within these walls, I feel it is necessary that you become one with us.”
“And I become… what? Just another warrior?”
“Of course not! You would be a General within my army. I could use another battle-hardened General.”
“I don’t know that I am up to becoming a warrior again; I have girls to raise. I have people that rely on me, that trust in me to do the right thing. I couldn’t make this decision without talking to them.”
“Then, by all means, discuss it with them. From the looks of some of your people, many need more protection than your small band of skilled warriors can provide. This might be the safest place they could ever hope to be.”
“Finally, I would like to begin mating with your breeding males. Is your Agis available for breeding?”
“That would be up to Agis. As for Ari, she has my blessing to do whatever her heart tells her to do. For now, I will head back to the Blackhorn. There are many things we have to discuss and decide.”
“Very well, I look forward to hearing your answer.”
“kDira?” Ari called across the room, standing up.
“Yes, Ari?”
Ari searched for the words, and the strength to say them. Her pause was longer than she intended.
“What is it, Ari?”
“Thank you. I know this will work out well for all.”
“I hope so. You are welcome.”
kDira turned and left, the Ravengard warrior close behind.
“She wants to take over the Blackhorn!” kDira said, stomping into her new living chambers. Agis was walking with his crutch, trying to get the place in order, as were Charlomine, Star, and Tuviast. “She expects us all to become Ravengard!”
“We predicted as such, didn’t we?”
“She wants me to be a General in her army. A General!”
“You would make a very good General.”
“That doesn’t help!”
kDira paced back and forth, her two youngest daughters silently making their way off to another room. Tuviast decided it would be prudent if he accompanied them.
“And you know what else? Ari is her personal guard now. This is not how I wanted things to be. I didn’t think we’d run into a tribe like this; one that makes ours look like a small clan of nomads.”
“We could just move onward. Maybe go north? Or south? What keeps us here–”
“And you know what else? She wants to mate with you!”
“With me? Why would she want that?”
“Oh, I am guessing she sees you as one more thing she could take from me, to put me further in my place.”
“I think she sees me as a prime example of a perfect male and wants that in her bloodline.”
“You wish!”
“Come on! You have nothing to worry about. I am not going to mate with anyone but you.”
kDira looked
at Agis as he made his way over to a freshly cleaned chair and sat down. He propped his foot up on an ottoman and leaned back.
“Promise?”
“Come here,” he said, motioning for kDira to join him on his lap. She complied, sitting down gently on his lap so as to not aggravate his knee. “Let’s just get four or five good warriors together and go in there and wipe them all out, like the olden days.”
“Can I help, mum?” Charlomine asked through the doorway to the other room.
“Me too, mum!” said Star, holding up a hickoring sword.
“Sure, you both can help,” kDira said, laughing for the first time since she had come back from visiting the Queen. “If it ever comes to that, you can both help.”
cHAPTER 11
Winter had chosen to room with Miss Davis, who could look after her Achilles tendon that seemed to be healing nicely. Though their room was not as spacious as kDira's, it was big enough and had separate beds. They had spent the morning cleaning and were taking some time to relax in the freshly dusted chairs located in the living area when Winter suddenly got up, hobbled over to a trash can and proceeded to throw up.
“Are you okay, Winter?”
“Yes,” Winter said hoarsely. “I seem to be getting sick a lot, especially in the morning. Mostly it passes by midday.”
“Hmm, that is interesting…. Tell me, Winter, have you ever been… intimate with anyone? A male, that is?”
“I am not sure I feel comfortable talking about this.”
“I know, but I need to know, have you been intimate with a male, perhaps Aaron?”
Winter fought back her strong emotions, remembering her one and only night with the doctor. “Yes, we were intimate once.”
“I see. And were there ever any… times… with the Midlanders? Did they ever take you?”
“No! I made it so hard for them to get to me that they gave up in frustration. Those bastards! I wish I could go back and kill them all like I did Malak!”
“Well, I believe they are all dead now so that no longer matters. What does matter is that I think you are now pregnant.”
“Pregnant?! What do you mean?”
“You are with child. You are going to have Aaron’s baby!”
Winter stumbled over to the chair again and sat on the arm. Tina could see the emotion begin to sweep over Winter, her face becoming crimson, tears pooling in her eyes.
“Aaron’s child? I don’t know whether I should be happy or sad.”
“Winter,” Miss Davis said, walking over to the young girl and taking her into her arms. “You can be happy that Aaron is not completely gone now; a part of him, a very big part of him, will live on in your baby.”
“Could I name it Aaron?”
“That is a fine name for a boy or a girl, and I know it would have made Aaron very happy. kDira and Agis will be very happy and proud.”
“Proud of what?” kDira asked, appearing at the door.
“Come here, mum,” Winter bade, holding out her arms to her mother as Miss Davis stepped away. kDira entered the room and went to her daughter, accepting her embrace.
“What is it, my precious Winter?”
“Mum, I am with child.”
kDira pulled back a bit to look her daughter in the face. “You’re…? Please tell me the doctor is the father and not…”
“Yes, mum, Aaron is the father; it is Aaron’s baby.”
“Then we must celebrate! We will celebrate the coming of a new Blackhorn! A new…” She trailed off, the sudden thought of the newest baby not being raised a Blackhorn stopping her words cold.
“What is it, mum?”
“Nothing. I am so happy, I am without words. Can I go and tell your father and your sisters?”
“Please let me. Have them all come down here so that I can tell them the good news.”
“Okay, Winter. I will tell them. Don’t work too hard now, you need to stay rested.”
“I will, mum.”
kDira hugged her daughter once more, then walked out of the room. She stopped just outside to door to gather her thoughts and catch her breath. How could she explain to her daughter, to any of the tribe members, that there may be no Blackhorn from this point forward? Slowly, she turned and walked back down the passage to her chamber.
All the Blackhorn met in the courtyard in the middle of the living areas for the midday meal. Many congratulations were given to Winter on her announcement of being with child. For most, it was a happy occasion, but as kDira looked at her surroundings, she could not quite feel the same joy as her tribe.
Again, the meal offered was fish and bread, but only water to drink. kDira longed for rock-goat or some fresh chideer. Sitting at their own table next to the Blackhorn table were an equal number of Ravengard, all male, stuffing their faces as though they had never eaten before. kDira watched several of them gobbling their food and guarding their plate as if it would soon be snatched from them.
One of the Ravengard warriors walking by stopped behind kDira and touched her shoulder.
“You better eat while you can before the others pick the bones clean and you have nothing,” the warrior advised kDira before continuing on his way.
“Let’s eat, everyone. It seems there are more mouths to feed than food to feed them.”
The Blackhorn set about eating their meal. Within a few minutes, some of the Ravengard began making their way to the Blackhorn tables and quickly snatched up any bread or fish that was unguarded. Suddenly, one of the Ravengard reached over kDira's shoulder to take her bread. In the blink of an eye, she had stabbed the man’s hand and pinned it to the table. An ear-piercing scream brought the entire courtyard to silence.
“That is the last bit of food you will take from a Blackhorn table!” kDira announced, looking at the screaming man. Several of the Ravengard warriors stood and made a move to defend their own, but simultaneously the Blackhorn had weapons ready and stopped the advance. kDira removed her knife from the man’s hand, who then ran off, holding his injured hand in his other hand. Looking over at the Ravengard table, kDira said, “No one takes food from the Blackhorn, and no Blackhorn will take food from you.”
The Ravengard looked at the Blackhorn and around their own table, then sat back down and continued eating the food they already had.
“Have these people not eaten before? This is very strange.”
“It’s almost like they are not given this much food on a regular basis,” Miss Davis said. “Look at them. They all appear to be malnourished.”
“Malnourished? If that means they look like they are starving, then you are right. Are these citizens? Or prisoners?”
“We must keep a close watch on our hosts. I think there is more to this place than meets the eye.”
“Winter, you might want to take some of that bread back to your chambers,” kDira suggested, “just so you have something to nibble on when you get hungry.”
“Yes, mum.”
“kDira's oldest is with child?” the Queen queried, responding to the news General Ultral had presented her. “Doesn’t that make things a bit more interesting…”
“What does, my Queen?” Ari asked, walking into the Queen’s chamber after stretching her legs for a bit. “What makes things more interesting?”
“Oh, just the news that kDira's oldest is with child.”
“Winter? Winter is expecting a child? That is wonderful!”
“Why, yes, it is! The youngest Ravengard. This is cause for celebration.”
“But my Queen… has kDira agreed to merge with the Ravengard? I have not heard that she has.”
“She will, of course. How could she not want the life we live here? Our life is peaceful, food is plentiful, and no one wants for anything here.”
“Still, I think you should get her agreement first. She can be hard to deal with when pressured.”
“Oh, can she? Well, so can I! Maybe it would be good if you went to her and discussed it with her. Convince her that it is the right thing to do.�
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“I don’t think she would listen to me. We haven’t talked much since we got here.”
“The little lady is jealous, isn’t she?”
“I hardly doubt that; just confused, I think.”
“Go, then, un-confuse her, get her into agreement.”
Ari hesitated. Uncertain how to handle the situation, she turned toward the door, then stopped.
“What is it, Ari?”
“I am just trying to sort out what I would have to say to her…”
“Come here. Come let me hold you a minute, my dear.”
Ari turned back and went to the Queen, accepting her embrace. Ari found it colder than it had been previously.
“Ari, do you like it here? Up here, with me?”
“Yes, my Queen.”
“Then you get down there and convince kDira that this is the best way to go,” the Queen said with a sharper tone. “Go now.”
“Yes, my Queen,” Ari said, pulling away, confused by the change in tone. “I will talk to her.”
“Don’t just talk to her, convince her. Go now.”
Ari left without another word.
cHAPTER 12
“kDira, she only wants the best for all of us,” Ari pleaded. She could tell by the look in kDira's eyes that the Queen Mother was not convinced. It was not an easy task to try to convince kDira to give up her tribe and become Ravengard. “Why must you be so stubborn?”
“You think that’s what this is all about? Being stubborn? Do you take what I do to be an act of vanity? I am Blackhorn; my mother is Blackhorn; my daughters Winter, Charlomine, and Star are Blackhorn; and like it or not, that mark on your arm makes you a Blackhorn, also.”
Ari glanced at her own bicep – at the mark that had been made in her skin with a knife and ash from burned Blackhorn bodies. For a moment, she pondered what it meant to her, then looked up at kDira once again.
The kDira's World Anthology Page 50