Daughter of Ninmah

by Lori Holmes

  “You did what?” She mustered enough surprise to satisfy him. “Truly?”

  “Yes. I think it’ll be a while before they decide to make another foray into this forest. I have seen to that.” His pride was almost unbearable.

  “I can’t believe it.”

  Daajir laughed gloatingly. “Believe it, Nyri. I am going to save us all.”

  He was still clinging to the misguided belief that killing Woves would be the solution to all their problems. Nyri almost pitied him for the very ignorance that she had shared in until only a short while ago.

  Daajir frowned. “What’s the matter? I have just told you I can save our people and you don’t seem pleased at all.”

  Nyri forced a smile onto her face. “I am happy, Daajir. I am weak with relief. I haven’t slept in so long for fear of those beasts coming for us in the night. Knowing what you have done, I can rest easy now.”

  His self-satisfaction impossibly found new depths. “Go and rest, Nyri. Leave this to me. I will take care of you.”

  Nyri’s smile dropped as soon as he swaggered away. Sure you will.

  But not all of what she had said to Daajir had been a lie. She was exhausted to the core of her bones but she knew she would not be able to rest. Not now. She had to see him. She had to see him in the light of her new learning and know that nothing had changed. Kyaati was still with her father and Baarias had released her for the day. She was free to go where she would. At the first opportunity, she stole out of the eshaara grove.

  She travelled carefully, exhaustion hunting her every step, both physical and mental. She would have served herself better by returning to her tree and catching up on some much missed sleep but she couldn’t let herself. She did not let herself turn back even when she tripped over a root in her tiredness.

  Wake up, Nyri, she told herself. You can’t afford to lapse. You’ve been bad enough for Baarias today. Hopefully, Baarias would pass off her lack of sleep and attention span as concern for her recent revelations. She rubbed her aching eyes. A tree blurred before her, doubling in her vision. Wake up.

  Her skills at masking her presence must have grown indeed because she was past the sentries before she even really thought about it. Nyri was getting the idea.

  Juaan was a little surprised at her appearance. She had been careful to call softly down to him before she lowered herself. He wasn’t expecting her in the revealing light of day and she didn’t want to catch him unaware. She already had enough bruises.

  Without speaking, Nyri handed him the food she had brought. He took it gratefully and sat watching her as he ate. Nyri watched him right back, seeing him afresh in the knowledge that he was indeed a Wove, or at least partly. Could it truly not matter to her? She must have looked troubled because he asked: “What’s wrong? You’re looking at me as if I have two heads.”

  She stopped her restless chewing of a fingernail. “Sorry.”

  “World on your shoulders?”

  “I’m reassessing it. It’s difficult.”

  “Ah.” He swallowed the last bite. “Anything to do with me?”

  “Everything to do with you. You’ve caused me nothing but trouble.”

  “Then let me go.”

  Nyri blanched. She had only meant that last in jest but he was serious. “I can’t.” It still hurt that all he wanted was to leave her and that pain was the final confirmation she needed. It did not matter. But her heritage was obviously still repulsive to him. She bowed her head. She had hoped she had at least come to mean a little something to him by now. You fool, her inner self told her scathingly. How could you expect that? You are nothing to him. Only his keeper; an enemy. He will never help you.

  Nyri shook the treacherous thought away. No, I am already showing him I am not. I will win his trust. He will remember me.

  Yes, the traitorous voice argued. But what then? Once you win his trust and if he remembers you, what will you do? You can’t keep him in this Pit forever. Your tribe will never accept him-

  “I’m sorry,” Nyri said to him. “I can’t let you go.”

  He was looking up at the sky through the gaps in the coverings. It was beginning to rain softly; showers of water sighed through the trees. He let out a soft breath. “I wasn’t expecting anything different, though it would be better for us both if you did.”

  Nyri sat down hesitantly beside him. He no longer flinched away but accepted her closeness indifferently. As always she felt dwarfed. She studied his face in the novelty of the light, picking out certain features, seeing now with her opened eyes. So much of it was foreign.

  His hair was a deep brown, a darker shade than when he was a boy. His skin was a rich, earthly colour, a couple of shades darker than her own red-gold flesh. His ears were more rounded. The beard. When he moved his mouth Nyri could see the four teeth behind the incisors were slightly pointed, like a wolf. Flesh eaters… she shuddered. And then there were those green eyes, same as the girl in the mountains. Not one of Nyri’s race possessed such a colour.

  Nyri looked closer, trying to see anything of his mother, of his Ninkuraaja half, fearing that the Wove half had driven it all out, like his captors had driven it from his soul. It took a moment but eventually, she saw it. His features were much finer than any Wove she had ever encountered. Reaching out with her senses, she found the part of the Great Spirit that resided in all her people. It was certainly there, buried deep and forgotten but there all the same, the Woves could not have that, and was it her imagination or was there something of Baarias in the shape of his eyes and nose, or rather Rebaa. That was a comfort.

  “I can see your mother in you,” she murmured softly. The words came unbidden and Nyri knew he would not react favourably but she could not help it. “She was of my tribe.”

  “I do not care who she was,” he returned testily. “And I do not want to know. I admit I may carry elf blood but not gladly, I am nothing of you.”

  “Yes you are,” Nyri had to get him back. “You are more of us than them. I wish you could remember. I wish you could remember me.” She was met only with stubborn silence so she changed direction. “What do you remember?” Nyri was in parts both curious and resentful of wanting to know what had become of him since he had been taken.

  He sighed irritably. “I was found in a forest. My chief told me an elf clan had been about to kill me. Elves do not believe in half-breeds. We are named Forbidden to all others. You say we are the evil ones but your people would have put me to death simply for who I was. Because the so-called gods tell you that it should be so. To me, your people are the murders. That fact I have never forgotten.” He gave her a chilling glare. “Luckily we ‘Woves’ have none of your superstitions. We know better. My clan took me in and nursed me back to health. When I was strong enough, I became Raknari, a position of high honour. I protect my clan from those who would do them harm. That is all I know. All I need to know.”

  “No,” Nyri denied. “That is not what happened. You were lost protecting me from being taken by the Woves. They were going to kill me but you would not let them.” Tears started in her eyes. “We were only children. I thought they’d killed you. I thought I’d lost you forever but now here you are and you remember nothing. Your mother-”

  “Abandoned me,” he growled. “She would never have kept a Forbidden child. She would’ve killed me. It’s what the elves do.”

  “No!” Nyri hissed. “Your mother never abandoned you. She fought for you. She died keeping you alive through the long Fury. You owe her your life as I owe you mine.”

  “You owe me nothing,” he growled. He got to his feet and walked away from Nyri. His fists opened and closed into tight balls. A very Ninkuraaja way of displaying tension, like he wanted to take to the trees. “Say no more. I will not hear it.”

  Nyri blew out a frustrated breath. “Well, what shall we talk about, then?”

  He drew a deep breath, calming himself and glanced about at their surroundings. A glint came to his eye. “That rock looks a bit like a
wolf if you squint at it long enough,” he said.

  Nyriaana stared at him for a moment, nonplussed, before laughter bubbled from her throat. His dry comment had been so unexpected. It was something he might have said as a boy. Ah, my Juaan, how I’ve missed you.

  “I’m glad my boredom amuses you,” he grumbled, though Nyri got the sense he wasn’t truly annoyed by her laughter.

  The rain started to fall harder, breaking through the coverings on the pit. Juaan sat and hunkered down. Nyri saw for the first time the dark circles under his eyes. He did not move as smoothly as he had. “Are your injuries bothering you?” She asked in concern. “You look… uncomfortable.”

  “So would you if you’d been sleeping on bare rock for nights on end.”

  “But…” she said tentatively, embarrassed by her own ignorance, “don’t Woves usually sleep on the ground?”

  Juaan laughed. “Yes but not on the bare rock. We dark spirits do need a few human comforts, you know.”

  Nyri blushed, mortified. She glanced around the Pit. He had indeed been sleeping on bare rock, shelterless and exposed. The sticks covering the hole above offered little protection to the elements. How thoughtless she had been. She had thought she had covered everything. Already the rain was soaking his furs through. It sluiced off her waterproof coverings.

  Where did Woves usually sleep? It certainly wasn’t a question she had ever had cause to ask herself. She had never really entertained the idea that the ‘evil spirits’ slept in the first place.

  “I’ll be right back,” Nyri told him. Swiftly, she rose and scrambled up and out of the Pit. It was getting harder to manage as her strength waned. She scoured the forest, the sodden ground squishing beneath her feet, collecting what she needed as she went. Nyri wished she had a gathering basket. She did her best with her arms, gathering cotton moss and leaves and throwing the loads down to Juaan bit by bit until there was enough to make a comfortable resting place big enough even for him.

  That was the bedding taken care of but what about shelter? Nyri could hardly grow an eshaara for him before Ninmah set. Juaan was looking down at the pile thoughtfully.

  “That should make things more comfortable for you,” Nyri called down. “But I’m afraid I have nothing for you to shelter under.” She wiped a lock of dripping hair out of her face.

  He looked up at her quizzically. “But you have all of the materials you need. Do you elves know nothing?”

  Nyri opened her mouth to retort but he waved a hand. “Find me some sturdy branches. I’ll show you.”

  Nyri was annoyed by his dismissive tone but, at the same time, curious. Instead of planting her feet as she might have wanted, she did as he asked. It took her a while to find as many sturdy branches lying around as would satisfy him. He had wanted her to take them from the trees themselves but she had been appalled by this notion.

  At last Juaan was satisfied with her offerings and Nyri climbed back down into the Pit. With an air of superiority, Juaan began arranging the branches, propping them against one another. He grumbled about having nothing to tie the pieces together with but he was clever and they balanced and interlocked perfectly. When he was finished Nyri stared in amazement at what he had made. It had the appearance of a beehive with a little opening in one side.

  “But there are still gaps in it,” she pointed out, casting her eye a little smugly over the structure. “That’s clever but you are still going to get wet.”

  “It’s not finished yet,” he growled defensively. “I need hides but I’m not going to get any of those around here, am I?”

  “No! You will not.”

  He chuckled once at the look of consternation on her face. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t dare ask.” He glanced at her clothes and the water running off them. “Do you have any more of those leaves?”

  A smile spread slowly across her face. “Wait here.”

  “Of course.” He rolled his eyes.

  This time Nyri had to travel a little further but she found what she wanted. The aacha tree had leaves as big and as round as an arm was long. She gathered as many as she could carry. When she returned with them, Juaan looked pleased.

  “They’ll do.” He lifted a leaf and placed it against his new structure. It promptly slipped to the ground. “Hmmm.”

  Nyri touched his arm as an idea struck. “I think I can solve that problem.”

  “How?”

  “Don’t you Woves know anything?” She smiled as he raised an eyebrow at her. “Watch and I’ll show you.”

  She knew what she needed. The silk from the weaver spider would be more than strong enough to hold the leaves in place and give Juaan’s strange, dead shelter its skin. The only problem was they were very hard to find. Nyri needed a vision far sharper than she possessed. Her eyes turned to the trees as she extended her will. Moments later a small kaala bird lighted onto her waiting hand. The small insectivore watched her intently with his bright black eyes. Perfect. He queried her with images. Nyri showed him her need and his reward if he succeeded. With a brush of soft wings against her fingers, he was gone.

  Juaan watched with begrudging wonder. “How are you doing that?”

  Nyri smiled softly. “Ninmah’s Gift. We are all family here; the Great Spirit binds us all. I told him what I needed and now he has gone to fetch it for me. Kyaati has a particular talent for birds.” At the mention of her friend’s name, Nyri’s heart grew heavy.

  Her sorrow must have shown on her face. “Kyaati is the girl you are caring for? The girl who lost her baby?”

  Nyri nodded mutely.

  “How,” his voice was careful, as if he didn’t want to appear too concerned but couldn’t help asking. “How is she recovering.”

  “She isn’t.” Nyri could say no more and she was saved by the return of her little companion. A large spider dangled delicately from his beak. He dropped it on the roof of Juaan’s shelter then disappeared to fetch another and then another.

  Once he was finished, he swooped around Nyri, twirling in an aerial display, showing off his impressive skills. He landed on her shoulder and started pecking at her ear. He wanted his reward.

  “Okay, okay!” She brushed him away gently. “Here.” She drew out a handful of plump seeds from her garments. They were the kaala birds’ favourite treat. He ate quickly and was gone. It didn’t do to be still for long in his busy life. Nyri saw Juaan shake his head and murmur something like elf magic.

  She turned her attention to the spiders that the little kaala had brought her. They sat, legs huddled in defensive crouches, not quite sure what had happened to them. Insects were so different from Nyri’s kind, it was difficult to understand and influence them. It took practice. Sefaan had taught her much with the making of garments. Spider silk was an invaluable material.

  Concentrating hard, Nyri bent her will on the three dazed arachnids. She sent them the undeniable urge to eat. They set to work at once and Nyri began placing the leaves ahead of them. They scurried along weaving their tough and sticky silk, binding the leaves together. Hungry as they were, they would not risk a single morsel getting through their nets. It wasn’t long before Juaan’s roof was watertight. Nyri let the spiders stay. They deserved to harvest the bounty of their skilled labour.

  Finished at last, Nyri sat down and leaned wearily against the rock wall. All the activity and concentration had tired her; she felt light-headed.

  Juaan circled the structure they had made. He touched the new skin on his temporary home. “The first ‘wove’/’elf’ shelter ever made. It’s… not bad.” He looked sideways at Nyri as a smile spread across his face. “Thank you.”

  Tired as she was, Nyri felt her answering grin split her face in two. It was a moment of true camaraderie. Nyri’s heart danced as their eyes locked and the world grew still around them, everything else fell away and he was all that existed. His smile transformed his face. He was beautiful.

  A blood-chilling snarl from above shattered the moment. Nyri leaped to her feet. She had be
en so preoccupied, she had not been aware of an approach. She looked up and her eyes fixed upon a large grey form looming above them. Batai was standing on the edge of the Pit staring down. Nyri stiffened as she read his intent. His heart was full of fear and anger. Before she could stop him, he leaped down into the Pit with astounding agility, hackles raised and fangs bared. There was only one thing on his mind.

  “Batai?” Nyri whispered. He ignored her. He had eyes only for Juaan and the look in them chilled Nyri to the bone. A low rumble was emitting from the wolf’s throat as he scented the air. His lips curled higher as he stalked forward. “Batai, stop,” she warned, speaking with both voice and soul. “What’s the matter with you? He’s a friend.”

  “I don’t think he’s seeing it that way,” Juaan hissed through clenched teeth. He was half crouched in defence as he backed away but he could not get far and his back was soon against the bare stone of the Pit wall. The wolf coiled.

  “Batai!” Nyri cried.

  He did not hear her. He sprang, bared fangs gaping wide for the killing bite. Juaan had no defence. “No!” Nyri screamed, leaping forward.

  A wave of power almost bore her to the floor. Wild, uncontrolled and desperate. The sheer strength of it took her breath away.

  “Down, wolf!”

  Juaan had his hands thrown out but it was not their mortal flesh that had protected him. Batai twisted in the air, aborting his killing leap and landed a mere arm’s length from the tall man before him. There he lay on his belly, appearing as shocked as Nyri. He licked his lips, panting in wolfish distress.

  Nyri recovered first. She put her hands on the wolf’s fur. Batai, return to Omaal, she thought in images, evoking the same reactions in his brain as Omaal’s scent did. He understood. With a last confused stare at the Wove standing against the wall, the wolf turned away with a disdainful huff. Gathering his considerable strength, he leaped towards the lip of the Pit above. It was almost beyond even his abilities. He had to scramble and claw his way back over the top

  For a moment there was silence, then: “What was that?” Nyri breathed.