by Lori Holmes
“Look at me, Nyriaana.” Nyri forced her eyes up. “I also thank you for Kyaati’s life. Pelaan will be forever indebted to you. We all saw you face down that demon alone. You inspired our people to take a stand against our enemies. Never before have the Woves fled before us. Because of you, I now have hope. A hope that whatever plan Daajir brings before us will drive our enemies from our borders and our people will finally be free of their dark magic. I have you to thank for that hope.”
“I do not deserve such thanks,” Nyri said. She for one could not look back on that terrible night with hope. “I was not thinking when I faced that Wove. And Kyaati’s baby still died. I could not save her.”
Aardn’s lips thinned. “Not even Baarias could have saved Kyaati’s baby, Nyriaana. The curse of the Woves is getting stronger. They are to blame for Kyaati’s loss, not you. Because of you, she lives and can bring more children into the world. We will Join her-”
Nyri gasped. “But she does not want to! She swore.”
Aardn’s eyes widened at the outburst and Nyri felt the backlash of her anger at such a contradiction from a junior member of the tribe. Aardn’s face was stiff as she spoke. “She may feel that way now. But, when she recovers, we will make her a new, stronger match. It was a mark of Sefaan’s growing madness that she Joined Kyaati and Yaanth in secret. It was not Ninmah’s will. Once Kyaati knows that a true Joining awaits her, she will rejoice and remember her duty to our people’s survival.”
Nyri blanched. She remembered the emptiness in Kyaati’s face and shivered. She did not share the Elder’s confidence. When she looked up, she found that Aardn was regarding her appraisingly.
“You have grown, Nyriaana. I had not noticed until this moment. You are a child no longer.”
The cold sweat was back. Nyri glanced around for an avenue of escape. She did not like the turn this conversation was taking.
“Baarias says you are the strongest and brightest pupil that he has ever trained. Stronger even than he.” Her expression was that of a proud grandmother. “High praise indeed.”
“Thank you, Aardn,” Nyri responded woodenly. Ordinarily, she would have glowed under such commendation but, in this particular moment, she wished Baarias had told Aardn she had been the least talented akaabi he had ever had the misfortune to know.
“Yes, you have grown indeed. It may be high time to find you a mate.” The Elder smiled widely; a rare sight. Nyri shuddered, concealing her revulsion with an effort. “It would certainly prove a task to find one worthy of you. Even Daajir-”
This time there was no hiding her reaction. Nyri stepped back, throat closing as the colour drained out of her face.
“What is the matter?” Aardn demanded. “Does this not make you happy?”
Nyri screwed up her courage. She had betrayed her emotions and now she had no choice but to forge ahead. “No, respected Elder. Do not misunderstand. I am overwhelmed that you see so much potential in me but, I admit, the thought of being Joined terrifies me.” Nyri hesitated. “The thought of children terrifies me more.”
The Elder’s frown was cutting. “And what causes you such fear? There could be no greater glory and honour than ensuring the survival of our people. You would stand defiant before a Wove and yet tremble at this?” Aardn’s face turned towards the great tree where Baarias lived. Nyri was quick to guess the new direction of her thoughts. The Elder’s eyes glinted dangerously. “It’s him isn’t it? He is losing his senses, just like Sefaan. Filling your head with misguided-”
“No. No!” Nyri defended her teacher. She didn’t want to get him into further trouble. He was not losing his senses. “I believe in Ninmah’s teachings. Please. I simply… do not feel ready.”
Aardn eyed her for a moment then relaxed, satisfied by the truth in her soul. “Good. If I thought he was poisoning your mind with heresy, I would end his guidance of you, whether he saw fit or not. Baarias was wrong to say what he did. I forgave him because of his skill but I cannot have him turning our most promising off the path we must follow. The power Ninmah has blessed you with is a Gift that we cannot waste. Hold on to your bravery, Nyriaana. You have your mother’s courage and that will never see you fail.”
Aardn paused, her eyes gentling. “Jaai and I might not have seen eye to eye on many things but she was one of the bravest women I ever knew. She would never turn away from what she believed to be right. If only she had had the sense of your father…” The Elder shook her head with an exasperated expression. “I pray that you inherited that from him. We will need all of your strength if we are to overcome our enemies. You cannot waver. It is those like you who will return our people to greatness!”
Nyri wanted to take another step back but forced herself to remain.
“Nyriaana. Aardn.”
Nyri could have wept with relief at the sound of Baarias’ politely intrusive voice.
“Baarias.” Aardn acknowledged him coolly without turning, still staring at Nyri as a wolf would stare at a prized haunch of meat.
Baarias stood in the shadows with his arms held calmly behind his back, his silver-white hair billowing in the breeze. “Could I borrow my akaabi, respected Elder? I have an important lesson that she may find illuminating.”
At last, Aardn turned her head from Nyri to regard him. She was clearly annoyed by the interruption but she could not deny the master akaab his request. “Very well. Go,” she waved at Nyri without taking her eyes off Baarias. “But do not keep her too long. It is late and she is exhausted.”
“Just so,” he said as Nyri all but ran to his side. “Ninmah’s blessings be with you this night, Aardn,” Baarias bid in the same even tone.
“Blessings to you,” she responded with a hard stare and turned to walk away. “I will speak with you again soon, Nyriaana,” she called over her shoulder. Nyri shuddered.
Trying hard to put Aardn’s words from her mind, she looked up at Baarias. Her teacher was staring silently after Aardn, a grim set to his lined face.
“What was it you wanted to show me?” she prompted. She did not think she could take much more before her head burst.
“Nothing,” he said, a smile playing on his lips as he looked down at her.
“Oh.” Nyri rubbed her eyes.
“You just seemed like you needed rescuing.”
“Ah.” She nodded and stifled a yawn. “Kyaati?” She really ought to check on her friend but Baarias’ tree seemed so very far away right now.
“Still sleeping,” he said. “I told you, she will not wake until morning. Go.” Baarias patted her shoulder. “There’ll be time enough for lessons when you are not asleep on your feet. Do not worry about Aardn. I will do what I can to keep her distracted for as long as I am able.”
Nyri smiled wanly, knowing he would do just that for her no matter how futile the effort. She stretched out with her energy, wrapping it around Baarias’ own in an embrace. “Blessings,” she murmured softly to him. Baarias smiled warmly before disappearing back into the shadows as he made his way home.
Nyri climbed her tree and threw herself into her bower, leaves and moss billowing out, then lay there unmoving.
So, Aardn thought her as brave as her mother? A laugh bubbled from Nyri’s throat. She certainly did not feel that way. From what little she remembered of her mother, Jaai had been a force of nature. Nyri had never seen her mother afraid. Nyri was afraid; she trembled before the future and all that it might bring.
Aardn had also hoped that she had inherited her father’s good sense. Nyri thought of Juaan in the Pit and smiled dizzily. Aardn would be disappointed.
Good sense seemed to be the last thing she was capable of.
19
Time
“Come and play, Juaan!” Nyriaana bounced before the mournful boy. She wanted to cheer him up. It had been days now since her mama had brought him into their family. Nothing she tried worked. She had brought him more gifts, talked to him, slept by him and yet he still just sat there, brooding, green eyes distant. He would
not speak. He would not even eat. “Do you wanna go and find some hala nuts?” she tempted. He must be starving. “They my favourite!”
Nothing. He just shook his head in a silent gesture; he did not even look up.
Nyri hung her own head in defeat. She went to the back of their tree where her mother sat watching.
“Juaan won’ play with me,” she whined. “He won’ talk. Doesn’t he like me?” Tears started in her eyes at the thought.
Her mother smiled down at her. “Of course he likes you, my little cub. He is just sad. You carry on being there for him and he will get better. Just give him some time…”
* * *
Time. Nyri woke. She did not remember dreaming and that was unusual. She glanced across her tree to the deeper darkness waiting outside; it was still long before dawn. Exhaustion pulled at her, dragging her back down but she fought it. It was a blessing she had woken at this time, Baarias had assured her repeatedly that Kyaati would not wake until light and she wanted – needed – to see Juaan again.
The longer she was away, the harder it was to accept that he was real; his return from death too much of an impossibility. And despite the new fears and confusion his presence brought her, the distraction was a relief. This was the only chance she would get to sneak away. Most of the tribe would still be sleeping – except the watch she assumed. Baarias would not miss her yet.
Nyri pulled herself upright, combing her fingers quickly through her hair to rid it of any stray pieces of moss. Every moment counted; she must have returned by Ninmah’s rise otherwise her absence would be noted.
Digging out the last of the food from her own ration, she stowed one honey fruit and a large hala nut. She imagined the giant frame of the man in the pit and cringed. How much food would it take to keep him? She pushed the thought away, burying the worry, and grabbed an empty hala nutshell half as an afterthought.
The cool air swept across her hands and face as she slipped down her tree. A thick mist was swirling between the forest’s tangled feet. She blessed it; it would hide her that much better.
Nyri hesitated at the edge of the black outer forest. If the Woves had re-entered the borders, the sentries would have sounded the alert. Only the familiar shrill whistles and chirrups of the night met Nyri’s straining ears. She drew a breath and struck out into the darkness.
The trees closed around her. Every now and then, Nyri paused in the dim pre-light. Her every sense hummed, tasting the energies of the forest, checking for watchful eyes. She couldn’t entirely silence the small, guilty voice that told her that she shouldn’t be out here; she was selfishly putting her whole tribe at risk. I have no choice, she told the voice. I can’t let him die.
She was barely out of sight from the eshaara trees when she came up against the first sentry. Imaani was perched high in a tree, his attention thrown out to the forest beyond.
Nyri crouched out of sight. She was not the best at masking her presence; it was her weakest talent. Imaani would pick her up as soon as she moved into his range. Far-seeing, Omaal’s father was their best sentry. It was just her luck to have run into him.
Impatient, she waited for him to move away. And waited. Time continued to slip by, offering her no opening and Imaani did not move. One idea then another passed through Nyri’s mind; each one more futile than the last.
Her heart wailed silently. She would have to abandon the attempt. She could not get past. She felt the food she had brought keenly against her skin and her heart twisted. Juaan could not last much longer without but she could not risk getting caught. She would have to figure out a new way to get to him and soon.
She had just started to turn, intent on returning to her tree to think, when a browsing boar lumbered through the undergrowth close to where she crouched. An idea rekindled the hope in her heart. It was an old trick of Baarias’ and it might just work. Nyri merged her will with the massive creature and sent him an overwhelming sense of fear; he would think a predator was on him.
The effort paid off. With a sudden squeal of terror, the boar crashed away through the undergrowth; running as though its very life depended on it. Nyri was sorry to have caused him such alarm but the plan worked. Startled by the creature’s unexplained behaviour, Imaani was distracted for a few vital seconds. On cat’s paws, Nyri evaded him and ran.
Ninmah was with her and she met no one else. The area in the direction of the Pits appeared to be lightly guarded. No doubt it was considered the Pits gave sufficient protection and didn’t bear as much watching. Nyri thanked Ninmah for that.
A stiffening breeze hissed through the shadowed leaves above and blew strands of dark hair across her face; Nyri brushed them away with sweat-slicked palms. Her insides writhed at the thought of seeing him again, in turns both excited and terrified. Nyri tried to think of what she should say, what he would say now that they were finally together again.
Her heart thudded. A part of her still expected to find the Pit empty. With fumbling hands, she removed the coverings and peered into the gloom below with a mix of dread and hope.
He was there; a large, dark form sitting in the depths. Nyri blew out a breath of relief. He was awake but as his eyes came to rest upon her, she felt all her carefully planned words turned to ash inside her mouth. They were vicious in their hostility.
“H-hello.” Her voice caught pathetically.
He did not respond; the frightening expression only intensified. Nyri had to call upon all of her will to remain in place.
“Um. I-I brought you some food. Are you hungry?”
Up until now, Nyri had imagined going into the Pit again, of him recognising her at once now that he was more lucid. She had imagined their joyous reunion. She saw now that this was not going to be.
Whatever was preventing him from remembering her went deeper than the mere stun from his fall. There was not one flicker of familiarity in that gaze and there was no way Nyri was going in to that Pit when he was looking at her in such a way. A sick feeling took hold in the pit of her stomach. The Woves had bewitched him.
But he has to remember. He spoke my name. He still speaks our tongue. Whenever Nyri had been unfortunate enough to hear a Wove speak, their Ninkuraaja words had been fractured and halting; Juaan appeared fluent. His memories were still there. Somewhere.
Time. Time. He needs time. She wasn’t going to reach him in just a few moments. It had been years since he had been taken from her. Years under the evil influence of the Woves. Nyri controlled another wave of hatred for their enemies and lowered herself slowly to sit upon the edge of the pit. She worked to keep her expression smooth.
“Here.” She pulled the honey fruit out into the faint light. She thanked Ninmah he could still understand the Ninkuraaja tongue. This was going to be difficult enough; it would be impossible if he had forgotten how to hear her. “This is sweet. Try it.” Nyri threw the golden globe down to him. The tough fruit bounced once on the ground and rolled to a slight distance away from where he sat. Nyri looked on hopefully but he made no move to pick it up. His piercing gaze did not so much as flicker from hers.
Her face fell but she was not completely surprised. Pulling out the hala nut, she broke open its shell and began to eat the offering inside. She chewed slowly, savouring the creamy texture, thinking. Juaan watched every motion and Nyri saw him swallow visibly. His gaze left hers for the briefest of moments to flick to where the honey fruit rested. Then he regained his composure and returned his warning glare towards Nyri with a heavy scowl.
He didn’t even trust her enough to eat the food she brought.
A new fear twisted her stomach; a fear that she would be forced to witness his painful demise as he slowly faded towards death. The set of his face promised that starvation would be preferable to submitting. Nyri shuddered. She had to reach him.
“I healed your wounds. You were badly hurt from your fall.”
His face contorted and he withdrew his hands from the brace on the healing limb as though it may bite.
; “It’s all right, Juaan. It will heal. I would never do anything to harm you.”
He flinched violently at the mention of his name. It hurt; she fell silent, finding that she had run out of things to say. Feeling increasingly helpless, Nyri filled the silence with action. She got up and moved around the Pit. His gaze followed her. She ignored him with an effort and turned her mind to fulfilling his immediate needs. She needed to provide a water supply; if she had to start carrying water from the river, Nyri would undoubtedly draw unwanted attention.
Studying the area, she spotted what she needed clinging to a mossy trunk. An aquilem. The water vine was delicate and would not hold any weight. Perfect. Nyri tugged it from the hosting tree and peeled it carefully along until she had a substantial enough length, then she threw it down the side of the Pit. One problem solved. She was glad to note the sandy areas dotting the bottom of the Pit, too. It wasn’t all solid rock. That solved another little dilemma; he could dig holes. Nyri wrinkled her nose.
Juaan was eyeing the vine she had just thrown down with keen interest.
“It won’t hold your weight,” Nyri warned. “It supplies water. Here.” She threw down the empty nutshell half she had brought. He wouldn’t be able to use the vine like a Ninkuraa would but he could get a little from it until she gained his trust enough to get down there again.
Nyri realised that she could see him far more clearly now. Ninmah was rising; her time had already run out.
“I have to go.” She tried to keep the despondency out of her voice. “I will return when I can with more food. Take this for now.” She threw down the rest of the half eaten hala nut. “It’s going to be hard for me to come here often but I will come back. Trust me.”
An eyebrow raised; it wasn’t much but it was a reaction. A very Juaan-like reaction. Coupled as it was with the hate in his eyes, it was almost more than she could bear. Nyri tried her best to ignore the pain and let it reassure her that Juaan was still there, somewhere. “You will remember me, Juaan. I promise.”
