Daughter of Ninmah

by Lori Holmes

  “What are they searching for?”

  “We do not know.”

  Sefaan caught Nyriaana’s eye across the restless crowd. The girl’s mouth was set in a grim line as they shared the same thought. The days she had to bring the boy back to them were already numbered.

  “They have returned to their camp.” Aardn reassured the gathered tribe. “We will continue to watch.”

  The tribe dispersed. Sefaan made her way to Nyriaana’s side.

  “Did you go back?”

  Nyri lifted her chin.

  “And?”

  “He has accepted food and agreed not to harm me.”

  Sefaan let out a breath. A step had been taken at least. “Good.”

  “But that is all, Sefaan. He still does not remember. He still does not trust me. It is never going to be enough. He seems to have a strong personal hatred for us.” Nyriaana let her dismay leak into her emotions. “They are searching for him. I do not have enough time. They’ll find him long before-”

  Sefaan waved a hand. “We have to trust the Great Spirit, young one. It is a large forest and only five Woves. Keep trying.”

  Nyriaana sighed. “I promise, Sefaan, but I cannot help but feeling that it might not be enough.”

  * * *

  It was fully light when Nyri showed up in Baarias’ dwelling.

  “Nyri, where have you been?” he scolded. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

  Nyri absently brandished the herbs she had collected on the way home, thanking Ninmah that she had thought to do so. “You were running low on these, Baarias. I thought I’d pick some for you to save you the trouble. Kyaati needs your undivided attention.” She turned away, still wrestling with what she had just heard.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, picking up on her subdued state. He had not joined the gathering outside and had not yet heard the news. Nyri enlightened him.

  “The Woves breached the border again.”

  His intake of breath was audible.

  “Don’t worry, they didn’t come near.”

  Baarias grumbled in his throat. “What are they doing? Their behaviour doesn’t make any sense…”

  Nyri was careful to keep her eyes down.

  “Where did you go for those?” Baarias indicated the herbs in her hand. “I could not feel your presence anywhere.”

  “I was at the river, washing,” she said. “I wanted some privacy.” Nyri brushed past him before he could probe any further, intent on checking on Kyaati. He knew she did not like to bathe in front of others. Kyaati had always found her need for privacy amusing.

  “You shouldn’t be straying from the tribe!” he admonished sharply. “Those Woves could decide to return at any moment!”

  “If they return, it will not matter where I am, Baarias.” Nyri kept walking.

  He grabbed her arm roughly, yanking her around. “Nyriaana, promise me! I don’t want you out there alone. You do not know where they might be. Promise me!”

  Nyri stared at him in alarm. She was reminded sharply of how Haana had looked on the night she believed her daughter to have been carried off by Woves. Nyri’s heart contracted as she witnessed first hand the consequences of zykiel. He was desperate to protect her, terrified of her being in danger and ever having to experience such things again.

  Nyri clutched at the herbs in her hand as her heart sank. She had just given her promise to Sefaan, if she made this promise to Baarias, she would be betraying him. But her teacher did not know that. Baarias only wanted her safe and she knew he would not rest easy until he had her word.

  She closed her eyes, breathed in through her nose and lied to him for the first time in her life. “I promise, Baarias. I will not go out alone.”

  Guilt shot through her as she glanced up into his readily accepting face, his fear draining away as he released his grip on her arm. “I’m sorry, Nyri,” he said. “I’m… still adjusting. I just want you safe.”

  Safe was the last thing she could stay. Juaan needed her and they needed him to command the Woves.

  “I need you.”

  Nyri’s heart skipped a beat, terrified that he had somehow heard her thoughts.

  “I need you to take care of Kyaati,” Baarias continued hesitantly and Nyri breathed again. “Her mind might have healed but that is all, this place is doing nothing to aid her recovery; all it does is remind her of sickness and death. And… as you just witnessed, I am probably not the best person to be around at the moment.” Nyri could see how much the admittance cost him. “I need you to take her into your home, let her accompany you at all times as you go about your day-”

  “Can’t Pelaan look after her?” Nyri questioned hastily, then realised how awful that had sounded. The situation was going from bad to worse. “I mean,” she added, “surely her father will want to be the one to take care of her. He’s her father.”

  “He did want to take care of her.” Baarias’ face tensed. “But, honestly, Nyri, I don’t want Pelaan to be the one to take care of her. You saw what he did the last time he was alone with her. He lost the grandchild he still so desperately craves. It won’t help Kyaati to be around someone who is focusing on the loss nearly as much as she is. She’ll have to feel that from her father every day along with the pressure he will put on her to rectify the problem. You remember what Aardn told you after the auscult. They will not stop to consider the cost to Kya.”

  “We can’t let them!” Nyri burst out. “She will not be able to stand it.”

  Her teacher laughed humourlessly. “If you have any ideas as to how we would stop Pelaan seeking a new match for her, I’m all ears, akaabi.”

  Nyri cringed at her own selfishness. Baarias was already doing all he could to keep their focus off her and now he was also struggling against the after effects of zykiel. She could not let him bear this burden alone. “I’ll take care of her, Baarias,” she said quickly. She would do all she could to keep Kyaati away from her father and Aardn as much as possible. “But how did you ever get Pelaan to agree to hand her care over to me?”

  Her teacher’s face contracted with pain and… was it guilt she could feel? Baarias squeezed her shoulder. “It wasn’t easy. In the end I had to promise…”

  “Promise what, Baarias?” Nyri asked with a mounting sense of foreboding.

  “That if you succeeded in caring for Kyaati, then I would deem you a full akaab healer in your own right. My teaching of you would be over.”

  Nyri gasped. At first she did not know how to feel. Betrayed. Certainly. Baarias knew what it would mean for her when her teaching was complete.

  Elation. He thought her ready. She imagined the pride in Baarias’ lilac eyes when he completed the mark of the akaab healer over her brow.

  Fear. Kyaati’s recovery was now entirely in her hands and she wasn’t sure if she was capable of or ready for such a task.

  Resolution. She had to do this. If she chose not to take care of Kyaati, she could remain safe behind Baarias’ protection for a little longer, but it would mean that her friend would have to go back to her father where her heart and mind would be entirely broken.

  The feeling of betrayal evaporated. Baarias had made the only choice he could.

  Nyri squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I will not let you down, Baarias. I will complete my journey as your akaabi and make you proud of me.”

  His eyes crinkled with relief. He reached out and squeezed her shoulder. “Thank you. But I could not be prouder of you than I am in this moment. I know Kyaati will be safe with you.”

  Nyri smiled warmly at him, hiding her racing thoughts. She could not stop in her mission to free Juaan’s mind from the Wove’s hold. It was too important. The raiding party was prowling, closing. If they reached him first, her tribe was finished. Now she would also have Kyaati to consider. She bit her lip.

  Baarias sent her on his daily round again but there was only one visit to make that morning. Omaal’s nightmares were keeping him from resting and Umaa was growing co
ncerned for his health.

  “He keeps having the same dream,” Umaa said as they stood before her tree.

  “Evil Wove, evil Wove,” Omaal muttered darkly over and over.

  Throat tightening, Nyri crouched before him. “Where is the evil Wove?”

  “In the woods.” Omaal’s voice trembled.

  She let soothing energy roll out. “The Woves are not in the woods, Omaal. Your father and the other sentries are watching, we will know if they decide to come back. You are safe.”

  Omaal shook his head, fear scrawled across his face.

  “Aardn only made it worse forcing him to track down Kyaati,” Umaa spat. “He’s scared to death. That girl has a lot to answer for.”

  “Umaa, you know that’s not fair,” Nyri admonished as she pulled some herbs from the pouches on the akaab staff. She handed them to Omaal’s mother. “Mix these with water, they will help him rest better.”

  Sitting close by in his usual place next to Omaal, Batai’s tongue lolled out. Nyri eyed the furry form. I’m so glad you can’t talk. Besides herself and Sefaan, Batai was the only other being who knew of Juaan’s presence. The wolf cocked his head at her stare. Yes, you just keep your thoughts to yourself, young wolf.

  After Omaal, her duties were done and she returned to the healer’s tree.

  “I have nothing more for you to learn today,” Baarias said. “I will keep Kyaati for a few more days until you have made your preparations. Your tree is young. Ask Daajir to help you, it’ll keep him away from here and you may need to go out into the forest for supplies. Do not go alone.”

  Nyri ground her teeth at the thought of asking Daajir for help but obeyed her teacher.

  Daajir was not hard to find. He had just finished his turn on watch and was looking tired and grouchy.

  Well, join the tribe, Nyri thought.

  “What?” he asked irritably when he saw her approaching.

  “Hello to you, too,” she said. “Baarias wishes for Kyaati to stay with me while she recovers. I need to prepare my home. I could use some help.”

  His tiredness lifted and he straightened himself up importantly, just as she had imagined he would. She had to remind herself how he would also want to do anything to help Kyaati.

  “What do you need first?” he asked.

  “I suppose a second bower is most important,” Nyri considered. “Mine is too small for both of us. Let’s go back to my tree and see what we can do.”

  Together, they headed to the young eshaara. She might not like it, but she was secretly glad of Daajir’s help. She did not believe she had the energy to complete the tasks that were needed alone.

  She was barely aware as Daajir helped her select the best shoots from the interlocking branches above. Together they drew them down, influencing them to grow, weaving them together into a cosy and secure, tear-drop shaped bower beside Nyri’s. They worked silently, both too lost in their own thoughts as they focused their will on the newly forming structure.

  Finally, Nyri could do no more. Exhausted she looked out of her tree to see that Ninmah was low in the sky. The new bower would require a few days of careful attention before it was strong enough to be used.

  Daajir sat quietly on a branch outside of the main chamber and pulled a fruit from a fold in his garments. Nyri went out and sat beside him as her eyes began to droop. Her stomach snarled.

  “Aren’t you going to eat something?” Daajir asked.

  “I don’t have anything,” Nyri said without thinking.

  He turned to her, askance. “What happened to all of those berries you had this morning?”

  Nyri tensed, realising her blunder too late. “I ate them.”

  “All of them? Already?” He frowned at her as though preparing to scold an errant child. Nyri folded her arms defensively and stared straight ahead. Daajir really knew how to get on her nerves and she had precious few of those left. “Did you not plan for the rest of the day?”

  “Obviously not,” she sighed, deciding she didn’t have the energy to engage in a debate with him.

  There was a long pause. “Here,” Daajir broke the piece of fruit he had in half and offered one part to her. He had just as quickly decided she was in no mood for a lecture.

  “I’m not going to take your ration,” Nyri refused. “I’m the one who foolishly ate mine in one go. I’ll live.” As long as she didn’t pass out and humiliate herself first.

  He did not withdraw his hand. “You look like you are going to fall down. Take it this once. Just be more careful next time.”

  Huh. Reluctantly, Nyri took what he offered. She began to wolf the fruit down and felt instantly better.

  “I wish I knew what the Woves were after!” Daajir burst out, apropos of nothing.

  The core of Nyri’s fruit froze half way to her mouth.

  Thankfully, Daajir did not notice. “I tracked them earlier with the other sentries. If I could find out what it was, we could use it as bait.” His face became thoughtful. “If you were a Wove, Nyri, what would be so important to you that you would spend time searching the forest for it and ignoring your main target? What would you care so much about that you would give up your hunt for us.”

  “Daajir, could we continue tomorrow?” Nyri interrupted. She needed him to leave. “I’m too tired to carry on today.”

  His eyebrows shot up at her dismissal. “I’ll work it out on my own, then, since you are not interested.” He swung down from the tree. “Somebody has got to do something.” He called over his shoulder before disappearing into the gloom below.

  Nyri wrapped her arms around herself as she blocked out the sound of his voice.

  “Ninmah, help me,” she whispered to the darkness.

  28

  Traitor on the Inside

  “Where are you going, Nyriaana?”

  She had just crept from her tree and was about to steal into the forest. She froze at the sound of Baarias’ voice; he had seen her. She had hidden from Juaan. She could not hide from the others it seemed.

  “To find my mama,” she whimpered.

  “Little one…” he said slowly. “You cannot find her. She was lost to the Woves. I’m sorry.”

  “No,” she tried to cover her ears to block out what he was saying. “Mama!” Baarias came over and tried to gather her to him but she fought him off. “No! I find her! No!”

  “Nyri!” Juaan appeared out of the trees and Baarias back stepped quickly. Juaan’s face had been panic stricken but it quickly subsided at the sight of Nyri standing there safe and sound. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere—”

  She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She could feel his shock and embarrassment at her actions. He attempted to free himself but she clung on and he quickly gave up. He had been in this position many times over the last few days and he knew better. Instead, he simply stood, awkward and silent, and let her cling. His warmth spread through her shivering body. “What is it?”

  Baarias took another step back from them. “She’s just—”

  Juaan acknowledged the healer’s presence with a cold glare. “You do not need to trouble yourself,” he snapped. “Go. We are none of your concern.” Furious, Juaan pulled Nyri after him and out of Baarias’ sight. Glancing back, Nyri was in time to see pain contract across the healer’s face before he became lost in the trees. As soon as they were alone, Juaan composed himself and crouched before her. “What’s wrong, Nyri, Nyri, Nyriaana.”

  “Baarias,” she whimpered. “He-he said mama was not coming back!”

  Juaan sighed as he gripped her arms. “It’s true,” he said gently. There were tears in his eyes. “She was lost, Nyri. I’m sorry.”

  The words brought the full truth crashing down upon her at last. She knew Juaan would not lie. Burying her face in his chest, she wailed until she thought her heart would burst. “I want my mama!”

  He caught her up in his arms, murmuring comfortingly, whispering his rhyme for her. She clung to his neck a
s he carried her back into their tree, more clumsily than her mother would have. By and by, she became aware that he was crying, too. Her mama had become his mama. They had both lost her. This knowledge only made Nyri cry harder. She tightened her arms through the fresh onslaught of grief.

  Finally, the tears ran out. Nyri wiped at her puffy eyes and nose. Her head throbbed.

  “It’s okay,” he said as he set her down. “It will be okay. Your mama told me to look after you and that is exactly what I am going to do, Nyri, Nyri, Nyriaana.”

  “She did?”

  “Yes.”

  She touched his face, running her fingers over skin that was always slightly too dark. Her mama had wanted Juaan to look after her. Her sadness and pain did not lift but her uncertainty evaporated. She frowned then, tracing his tears. Who had promised to look after him? She remembered her mother’s words on that very first day. “Juaan lost his mama last night. We have to look after him now because no one else will.” Mama might be gone but she was still here. That meant the responsibility to take care of Juaan like her mother had wanted was hers alone now. She patted his cheek softly. “I promise I look after you, too, Juaan. We got to look after each other now.”

  He nodded solemnly. “To the end.”

  * * *

  “You’re quiet today, elf.” The green eyes stared coolly from across the Pit, shaking Nyri from her reverie.

  “I was under the impression that you did not like me talking,” she murmured, keeping her eyes down so she wouldn’t have to see the bitterness in his eyes. Days had passed and Nyri hadn’t got any further with him than this uneasy truce. Each morning before dawn she would go to the stores, fearful and on watch to take her forbidden ration, stealing it out into the forest, using every trick she possessed to get past the watch to spend a few precious moments with Juaan.

  His appetite was insatiable. After taking just a few bites herself, Nyri often would give him her whole ration along with the little extra she had dared to take just to keep him sustained. And all apparently for nothing. He still hated her. “It’s not as if you talk back much.”