Daughter of Ninmah

by Lori Holmes

  As the flare of hatred burned across the space that separated them, she did not know in that moment which one of them she was attempting to convince.

  20

  Poisoned

  Dawn was breaking as Nyri made it back towards the safety of the eshaara grove. She scowled at nothing in particular. She had never thought she could loathe the Woves any more than she had; how wrong she had been. The beasts had taken the most precious person she had ever known and filled him with the blackness of hate, taking his memories, taking his heart.

  Anger ripped through her despair. At least no further doubts lingered as to Juaan’s impossible return. A dream would surely be happier. Nyri struck out at a rock in her path with her foot, sending it flying into the trees.

  The fit of childish temper made her feel slightly better and she lashed out at a few more rocks until she stubbed her toe and had to gate a cry of agony between her teeth. It did nothing to improve her mood.

  Imaani was unfortunate enough to be the first person to cross her path. Releasing her pent up frustration and bitter disappointment, Nyri unleashed a flock of birds upon the watchful sentry. As Imaani leaped from his perch with a cry of surprise, desperately trying to shield his face from the angry barrage of flapping wings, Nyri dodged round him and slipped back into the safety of the eshaara grove.

  It seemed getting in and out of the tribe unseen would be the easiest part of her challenge. She had not factored Juaan’s memory loss into her plan. She thought of their enemies waiting just outside of the trees. How long did she have before they decided to breach her tribe’s borders again? When they did, her tribe would flee and she would be forced to do so right along side them, leaving Juaan behind.

  She took a few deep breaths to get a hold on herself before she faced Baarias. She certainly could not show negativity in front of Kyaati.

  Her people were rising to the new day. They moved with furtive caution, parents kept their children close to their sides. The knowledge that the Woves were poised upon the border was a constant torment. A few bore dazed expressions, as though they could not comprehend how they had lived through another night to see a new day. The air was tainted with fear.

  Making her way to Baarias’ tree, Nyri ran through every possible way she might break through the spell Juaan had been placed under. If she could just earn enough of his trust to get back into the Pit with him…

  She cut the thought off as she reached the threshold of Baarias’ home, burying it deep. Her teacher was already awake. She was hesitant to enter, feeling quite irrationally like her morning activities were scrawled upon her forehead for all to see. She was holding her breath when she stepped inside.

  “Could you wake Kyaati please, Nyriaana?” Baarias asked as he moved around the first chamber of his tree, gathering what was needed for the day. He did not even look up. Nyri let out her breath. It had been foolish to fear that he would be waiting to fling accusations at her but Nyri could not help feeling self-conscious of her wrong doing. “I need to go to the stores for some food,” Baarias continued. “There are some duties I want you to attend to but I will discuss them with you when I get back.” He glanced towards the chamber where Kyaati slept.

  Nyri nodded her agreement. “H-has there been any news from the sentries?” She was careful to keep her tone even.

  “No. The Woves have yet to make their next move. My guess is that they are waiting for reinforcements before they challenge us again.”

  “Reinforcements?” Nyri asked faintly.

  Baarias nodded. “They won’t risk sending so small a force against us again. Their confidence has been shaken but I doubt their caution will last for very long once more of them arrive.”

  Nyri felt sick as she watched Baarias leave the tree.

  Kyaati was curled upon herself inside the bower where she slept. Nyri could tell she wasn’t asleep. As she moved around to stand before her, she could see her friend staring off into space; tears dried upon her reddened skin. Nyri’s breath caught at the crumpled expression on her face. She cleared her throat with difficulty.

  “Kyaati,” she murmured. “Ninmah is risen. It is time to get up. Baarias is bringing food.”

  The lavender eyes flickered in her direction; an accusing gleam glowed from their depths as Kyaati pushed herself up slowly. “You know where my baby is, Nyri,” she almost growled. “You ran into the forest on the night she was born. Where did you take her? Where did you hide her?”

  “Kyaati!” Nyri gasped. Sleep had not cured her friend’s confusion. Your baby is dead, Kyaati, how could you accuse me of such a thing? The words burned on her lips but she was afraid to speak them, afraid of her friend’s reaction. “Kyaati, no.”

  Kyaati’s gaze burned into her for a moment longer, then she shook her head, making a disgusted sound in the back of her throat as she rose to her feet. “You, too. I can’t believe you of all people would be a part of this.”

  Nyri backed out of the chamber without another word. She could not bare any more such accusations. Kyaati followed in her wake.

  As they emerged, she saw with relief that Baarias had already returned.

  “I trust you have already eaten, Nyriaana?” he inquired as he produced two pieces of fruit.

  “Yes.” Her traitorous stomach chose that moment to growl, belying her words. She had not eaten much of her hala nut before she had sacrificed the rest to Juaan. She pressed her lips together and willed her stomach to quiet.

  Baarias frowned but let it pass. “Kyaati.” He passed her a honey fruit. The fruit was her favourite. Baarias knew that; the whole tribe knew that, but Kyaati made a face as if she had just been handed night berries. She sank her teeth into the sweet, golden flesh without enthusiasm. Nyri’s own mouth watered; her stomach threatening another noisy protest.

  “I don’t care what any of you say,” Kyaati declared suddenly, throwing the fruit down. “I am going to find my baby. I will find out what you have done with her.”

  Baarias’ lips thinned as he turned to Nyri. “Would you be good enough to check on our people today, akaabi?”

  “You want me to go alone?” Nyri was surprised. As an akaabi, a learner of her art, she had never been permitted to tend to the tribe without the guidance of Baarias.

  “Yes.” Baarias flicked his gaze towards Kyaati. “There are chores I need to attend to here. Herbs and such.”

  Nyri understood. Kyaati was in no condition to be exposed to the curiosity and the pity of their people. The truth of her condition must be kept to a minimum. One wrong word could shatter her completely. She did not question her teacher further.

  “I am grateful that you think I am ready for this, master akaab.”

  Baarias smiled warmly. “You are.”

  Nyri glowed but then caught sight of Kyaati’s face and felt her pride drain away. She left the akaab’s tree quickly.

  She was surprised when she found Daajir waiting outside. She was further taken aback by his appearance. He appeared to have aged since she had last seen him, new lines of strain marking the skin around his eyes. His dark eyes were hollow, haunted.

  “How is she?” he asked. “Baarias will not let me in to see her.”

  Nyri shook her head once and his worn face twisted bitterly.

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  “No. I doubt there is anything any of us could do right now, Dar. Not even Baarias knows how to reach her.” She paused and then decided Daajir had a right to know, he was one of Kyaati’s closest friends, just as she was. “It is like her mind will not accept the truth. She thinks her baby is alive and we have all plotted to hide her from her-”

  Nyri’s breath caught in her throat as the answer hit her. The Woves had not only poisoned Juaan’s mind. They had now poisoned Kyaati against them, too.

  Daajir’s outrage flared alongside hers, his hands balling into fists. “Wove curses! Ninmah help me, I will make them suffer for what they have done!”

  “How?” Nyri bit out between her teeth
. “Tell me, Daajir, how will you do that? Please, stop this! No one can defeat the Woves.”

  His lips twisted into a fierce smile. “I can.” His breath hissed through his bared teeth as he stared off into the surrounding forest. “I’m glad that that raiding party chose to stick around. Soon enough, they will know the pain of our revenge!”

  Wordless, Nyri turned away from him.

  “I will try to look in on Kyaati later.” Daajir returned his attention to her as he spoke. “For now, I have work that cannot wait. I must be ready for them when they decide to make their move.” He turned on his heel and strode away.

  Nyri watched him go, her eyebrows pinching together. Daajir could never resist being dramatic. She scuffed her toes in the earth.

  Omaal was the first patient she decided to check up on. She was about to climb into the branches of his family’s tree when a hand grabbed her arm, halting her ascent before it could begin.

  Umaa stood scowling beside her as she prevented Nyri from entering her home.

  It’s all right, Umaa, she thought through their contact. I have come to check on Omaal’s progress.

  Where is Baarias? The tension in the other woman did not ease.

  He is occupied with other matters. He sent me in his stead.

  Umaa relaxed slightly but her eyes darted to the entrance of her home and Nyri spied a tightening around her thin lips.

  “Can I go up and see your son?” she pressed.

  Umaa shook her head and Nyri felt a flash of distress from the other woman before it was quickly tempered. “Omaal is not up there,” she said. “He’s playing with Batai.” The boy’s mother gestured around the great tree. As though in answer, an excited squeal floated to them from a short distance away.

  Nyri smiled carefully and nodded as she stepped around the trunk of Umaa’s home and followed the sound of laughter. From what she could hear, Omaal seemed to have made a full recovery from his brush with the grishnaa.

  The boy and the wolf were wrestling together. Batai was writhing on his back, mouth opened playfully as little huffs and growls emerged from his throat; his head whipped back and forth. Omaal lay across the wolf’s chest, hands buried in the thick fur as he tickled madly.

  Nyri felt her lips twitch at the scene. At least someone around here was happy. “What are you doing, Omaal?” she asked.

  “I a wolf!” Omaal giggled. “I fighting evil Wove in woods!” He renewed his attack on his friend.

  “Evil Wove?” Nyri’s heart thumped uncomfortably. The last thing she needed was visions of Woves waiting in the woods.

  “He had a nightmare,” Umaa murmured a quiet explanation as she came up behind. “He’s been having them ever since that… night. Those filthy monsters scared him to death!” she spat. “Why can’t they just leave us alone!”

  Nyri grew cold as she remembered the night the wolf pack had chased the Woves from the forest, her mind flashing unwillingly to her memories of the Woves in the dark, the real Woves, dead eyes rolling in their skull faces. Her stomach squeezed.

  “Evil Wove in woods!” Omaal declared again

  “Omaal, can you come here a moment? I need to take a look at your shoulders.”

  The little boy stopped playing with a long-suffering sigh. He rolled off Batai and caught hold of his fur, seeing through the wolf’s eyes through their contact as they made their way towards Nyri.

  Forcing down the fears clawing to get loose inside her chest, she examined the wounds that had been inflicted upon him by the grishnaa. Baarias had done his work well; the wounds had fully healed. There was no infection, no further risk and Nyri released the pair to continue with their game.

  She did her best to banish the vision Omaal’s words had put into her head - that of a skull-faced monster lurking in the woods.

  * * *

  Baarias was lighting the girru moss inside his tree when Nyri returned, looking pale and drawn. He was glad to see some of the tension leave her shoulders as the warmth and light of the moss fell upon her features. Her face seemed to have hardened over the past days, the girlish softness leaving it at last. Baarias did not like the change.

  Kyaati lay upon her bower as he finished crushing his sleeping herbs into a hala nut filled with water. “This should help you rest better,” he murmured to her. He had not been able to ease her agitation; the best thing he could do was to keep her calm in the only way he knew how.

  Kyaati drank greedily, though her eyes darted, lacking any of her cool reason. Baarias’ stomach tightened uncomfortably. He turned to Nyriaana. “All finished?”

  Nyri lifted her chin in an affirmative gesture as she sank down beside Kyaati, watching her worriedly. She reached out before Baarias could stop her and took Kyaati’s hand. Kyaati tore violently away from her grip. Pain contracted across Nyri’s face but Kyaati did not see it. She hadn’t even spared her friend one glance.

  “Is there anything I should know about?” Baarias asked, covering the uncomfortable moment.

  “No,” Nyri answered quietly. “Omaal is having nightmares, but that is all.”

  “Nightmares?”

  “About Woves in the woods.” She gave a delicate shiver. “A reaction to the attack.”

  Baarias lifted his chin in agreement. “Most likely. If the trauma gets any worse, I’ll mix him some herbs to ease his rest.”

  Nyri half smiled. “Your sleep remedies could knock out a boar.” She attempted a teasing tone. “I remember drinking them after Juaan–” She stopped speaking abruptly.

  Baarias’s eyebrows rose in surprise. He had never heard her mention that boy’s name voluntarily since she was a tiny girl. He felt his own heart shiver at the unexpected reminder of his sister’s sin. Nyri’s face flushed as she cast her eyes to the ground. Tears had started around the edges of her lids.

  Kyaati was quick to pounce. Fighting against the influence of the herbs Baarias had given her, her gleaming eyes narrowed dangerously. “Do not tell me you still mourn for that Forbidden half-breed?”

  Nyri hunched her shoulders. “He was my friend.”

  “Friend,” Kyaati snorted with cutting sarcasm.

  “Kyaati…” Baarias warned. Nyri was fighting to keep herself composed as he had taught her but she could not hide her pain and he could not bear to see it.

  “What?” Kyaati lashed out “She should not mourn such a creature! He was nothing. An abomination. A monster.”

  “He was not!” Nyri snapped back hotly, her tenuous control failing her. Her chest heaved as she tried to regain it.

  Kyaati had no such compunction. “Oh yes he was,” she continued mercilessly. “You were a naïve baby, Nyriaana, easily fooled by the poison that came from his mouth. You did not see what he was. It was a blessing he was killed by the Woves. A blessing!”

  “Shut up!” Nyriaana retaliated. “I’m not the one who has been poisoned, Kyaati! Don’t you see? Don’t you understand?”

  Baarias cut her off with a sharp glance. Kyaati did not mean what she was saying. Her pain was causing her to lash out, wanting to hurt the nearest person she could reach.

  “He deserved to die, my baby-” Kyaati’s voice broke at the end and she buried her face in her hands. “My baby. My little baby,” her voice came in muffled, racking sobs. “Where is she? Where is she?”

  Baarias felt his heart shatter at the sight of her grief. He knew he would be rejected but he couldn’t help trying to offer what comfort he could. “Shh, shh,” he murmured.

  “No!” The maniacal gleam blazed back to full strength and Kyaati shoved him away. “My baby!” she screeched as she fled into the other chamber.

  Nyri jumped to her feet and started after her but Baarias caught her arm and shook his head. “No, don’t. Give her space. There is nothing you can say right now that will help and you need to get a hold on your temper.” He frowned at her.

  Shame coloured her cheeks. “Baarias, I…”

  “Never mind. Go home, Nyri. I will take care of her.”

  For
once Nyri did not argue and shuffled reluctantly from the tree. Their combined pain ripped across Baarias’ senses and he cringed, at a loss as to how to comfort either of them.

  * * *

  21

  Enemy

  “Mama, Juaan is sick,” Nyriaana tugged on her mother’s arm.

  “I know, little one,” her mother reached down to touch the boy’s sweaty brow as he writhed deliriously. She closed her eyes frowning. “This is beyond me. Nyri, go and get Baarias.”

  Nyri turned quickly to obey. Juaan was never sick. A bite from the fang spider usually spelled a quick death unless treated immediately.

  “Stay right where you are, Nyriaana,” her father’s angry voice cut in. He rounded on her mother. “This is nonsense, Jaai. If he is to die, then let him go. It pleases Ninmah. I don’t know why you are wasting your time. He is a monster who doesn’t belong. He dies now or he dies later. His fate is—”

  “Telaan!” Her mother glared at him. Nyri was quick to emulate her fierce energy, she had grown tired of her papa’s dislike for Juaan. She raised her chin in defiance.

  “I get Baarias, mama,” she said, and quickly scooted out of the tree before her father could stop her.

  The healer was not hard to find and she dragged him back to her home. “Come! Sick!” she told him over and over. Baarias was confused but put up no resistance.

  “Who’s sick?”

  She didn’t answer and made him follow her up the tree. She noticed her father had disappeared when she entered; she could taste the aftershock of a fight on the air. He and her mother had argued. Again.

  Baarias stopped dead when he saw Juaan lying in the bower. Nyri pointed hopefully. Her mother got up from where she had been sitting by his head and extended her hands to the healer.

  Baarias backed away. “No, Jaai!” he whispered. “You know that I cannot. Do not ask me.”

  “Pleeaaase!” Nyri begged, tugging on his coverings, wide eyes filled with tears. Fellow tribe members always gave way to her when she did this and quickly surrendered whatever she wanted.