by Juliet Lili
A sudden, a lone breathtaking beautiful maiden crawled behind the shadows soundlessly and stood beside a tall tree not too of a distance from the two circles of warriors. A sharp hiss of swords drawn from sheaths rang in the air as the warriors took hold of their weapons and directed them toward the maiden, but took no farther measures. Some of the men had their heads averted in fear the maiden’s gaze alone would lead them to their fall while others held the maiden’s gaze in both fear and courage. Sweat trickled down their temples.
Sword out of the scabbard and ready in hand, Nara bravely looked at the nykr.
The nykr stood bare feet, clad in a wet blue cloth that whets her slender figure, her unnatural turquoise hair slick from wetness and her pale face, a face so bewitchingly beautiful it made Nara’s chest ache with deep envy she had never felt before. The darkness heavy in her chest, her face twisted harshly, and malice consumed her eyes displaying what she felt toward the nykr. Dark Magic
She jerked her gaze from the nykr and shut her eyes tightly for a moment, fighting against the nykr’s darkly pull. She wasn’t the only one affected, she heard Astrid hiss and bare her teeth and the men who had glanced at the nykr, were now transfixed, their eyes glazing with lust.
When she opened them and glanced back at the nykr, she was met with a glint of mischief simmering in the unusual violet eyes. The seductive creature took pleasure from the distress they suffered, a seedy smile adorned her lips. She parted her lush lips as if to speak.
Gasp! The warriors took a sharp intake of breath. Chills spread over her skin and fingers flexed nervously. They waited for the creature to make a move.
The nykr darted her tongue and licked her lips instead and grinned ever slowly, regarding each man calculatingly, appreciating her next meal.
The wretched being was teasing them.
She’d make sure to chop of that tongue of hers before she could utter a single note and feed it to pigs! Nara vowed. She only needed a word or sign of approval to engage. Nara kept her eyes on the nykr as the nykr continued to peruse each man with her taunting gaze…Until they met Barra. A look that resembled shock and disdain marred her lovely complexion. Her sardonic smile disappeared while her eyes lingered on Barra for several seconds before her gaze moved past him and continued to the others.
Suddenly like the quick winds of winter, the nykr whisked into the dark woods.
Relief flooded the restless warriors.
Men stood with their weapons and took a step forward wanting to chase after her, but Barra stopped them with his outstretched hand- a clear sign for them to standby and not engage. Few grunts arose in the crowd for the missed opportunity.
Nara balled her fingers and wanted to punch whoever grunted. Has grief dulled their senses to incite negligent act? For them to charge forward at the nykr would be like a headless chicken running for its life. Swords could not fight against magic, and if they did, it was nearly impossible to win against dark magic. The second the nykr (if too powerful) opened its mouth and whispered a single note-a note that was uniquely comprehensible to everyone’s desire they would forfeit their lives except for Nara and Astrid, the only women in the troop. And if the nykr took an interest in them they would not be able to do anything as they would be inert. She and Astrid might as well be given the privilege to watch their guts been cut out with their own swords.
Her stomach churned from the cruel imaginations.
The nykr resumed laughing to whatever subject they found amusing. Nara and the rest quietly waited on standby till the voices seemed to fade, an indication the nykr were far away from the camp.
“Ahhh…Those wenches if I wasn’t haggard. I would have speared them with my cock” the crude proclamation came from Hagen as he leaned against a tree long after the dire situation had passed. For the first time in two days they’d rode, genuine laughter exploded in the midst. The bulky soldier next to him bumped him with his elbow, his eyes are fearful darting back to Nara.
Nara’s face might have been scowling because Hagen had paled and apologized quickly “Forgive me my lady for my foul tongue” drawing, even more, chuckles from the crowd. Nara just shook her head. She couldn’t laugh or smile because it was though her cheeks would tear when she did that. Her jaw was still throbbing with pain from being hit. Also, Nara couldn’t change how some acted around her, with care and caution since she was of royal blood, the king’s niece.
Nara stayed awake all night and knew her fellow warriors did too, lest the nykr returned.
***
Horses clopped at a steady rhythm on the bridge as they neared Vessener’s great iron doors. Set in the smooth green plains, great walls erected from the ground to up high and surrounded the large capital city. The evening sun enswathed Vessener’s towers with colors of dusk. Vessener located northeast in the kingdom was bordered by hills and Ruhig forest, a dense forest that stretched to the south of the nation and to the far east while to the far west laid beach swamps and Fisher Province.
Lucky nickered, whipping her tail back and forth.
“Me too. I’m glad to be home” Nara murmured, petting the horse silky black neck.
She tilted her head and watched Barra stretch his hand high, holding the black flag of Murisa with a gray wolf as an emblem. He waved it back and forth to signal the guards patrolling in the towers to open the gates. The great gates were opened during the day and closed at night except for trade day. Merchants from other cities and territories came to display their goods and trade. The doors were left open for five days and night during the event. A horn blew and the unyielding gates opened; they marched inside the heart of Murisa. Well-built townhouses, residences, and merchant shops stood tall and emitted a yellow glow of burning lamps through the opened large windows.
They slowly trotted into the capital. People went on about their business while a few men, women and children who were unoccupied stopped to welcome them as they usually did, waiting for one of them to speak anything of the trip. Nara could see inquisitiveness mirrored on their faces, hopefully waiting. It shriveled the little excitement she had of returning home. No reply came from the troop, rather, they kept their eyes straight ahead as they trotted toward the castle. Only if they knew bad news is what they brought with them this evening, they wouldn’t look so curious. News strong to shake the entire kingdom possibly send every beating heart into a state of fright panic. Nara was certain many would not be able to control themselves, and in the result, riots would outbreak and spread across the kingdom. Something she surely didn’t want to deal with when a greater enemy was knocking on their door. Hence, keeping their mouth shut behind their helmets was a good call. Reluctantly the horde that was forming behind them as they neared the king’s manor dispersed in murmurs and disappointment. The troop came to a halt at the courtyard. Giant sculpted marbled wolves guarded the stairways between leading inside the castle, their gemmed eyes reflecting the burning fire from the torches mounted on the pillars in the vicinity.
Three men stood before them. General Tatu, a bald huge middle-aged man with a thick red beard and dressed in boots and black trousers and green buttoned badges studded doublet with a sword hanging on his waist. The mage beside him wore a grey cloak that shadowed his face, and to his left stood lord Thani. Startled by her father’s presence, she watched him keenly as Barra approached the General. Both the lord and the General’s face remained unreadable as Barra reported the devastating news concerning Latrell.
“You may take your leave soldiers” the General ordered after his short discussion with Barra, his firm dark hawk like eyes landing briefly on them before quitting the night with the mage on his side. Her father remained behind. Warriors paid quick respect before him as they also took their leave.
Nara stayed and approached her father when everyone else dispersed.
“How are you?” her father implored holding her gaze the moment she got close to him. “Take off your helmet” he urged before she could reply.
“I’m fine. Let me return
the horse to the stables, and I will speak with you father”, she said, wanting to avoid the inspection.
Her eyes narrowed with concern. “Father what’s troubling you?” He looked tired, circles under his eyes. With everything that has been happening lately, she was beginning to worry.
“Nothing is wrong, now show me your face,” he said again. Sighing Nara took off her helmet her plaited hair fell past the shoulder plates and hanged to her waist. She turned the less bruised cheek to him, hiding the other in the shadow. Her father wasn’t fooled, lifting her chin gently with his thumb, he turned both sides to the light his brows creasing when he saw her battered jaw. He clucked, unhappy. Her father hadn’t been pleased when she decided to join the army and had made his displeasure known to her many times. He tried countless times convincing her to leave the army, but his words failed to persuade her. Hence he settled to inspect for any visible wounds on her face or hands whenever she returned home. Nara always found it ridiculous and sometimes incredibly annoying. Goodness! She was twenty-four and not a child. Her profession didn’t come with bruise free and life guarantee. Nara would have objected like any other day yet today she perceived it was urgent, he looked unsettled more than he was when she had just joined the army hence she obliged.
“You have to stop this. No more of this”, Jae murmured sternly as a guard passed them while they began to walk toward their house. Lucky trotted behind them naturally. “Do not worry it’s just a simple bruise. It will heal.” she tried to brush it off with a smile but ended up wincing instead.
“You always come home wounded. I do not like this happening to you.” His concern was more than usual. This had her worrying even more.
“Tell me, what’s going on? Did anything happen? How are Ingrid and mother, are they alright?” she questioned.
“Your sister and mother are in good health.” He looked at her with a secretive knowing smile as they reached the simple manor they called home.
“Don’t leave me in suspense father. What is it that has you smiling widely?” she prodded, curious. The stable boy came and guided the horse to its stall as they stood at the entrance door of their home.
“Your mother is pregnant” the corners of his eyes wrinkled from the huge smile he was trying to contain.
“You don’t say!” Nara’s eyes grew wide in surprise. She pulled her father in a quick tight hug, celebrating the great news causing her to push the tragedies of the last days aside. Her father laughed proudly while he hugged her back and dropped his hands as quickly as she did in consideration for her dislike of prolonged physical contact. Still, he looked elated, floating in the clouds of becoming a father for another child. Indeed, Nara was happy for her mother since she had been longing and trying to have another baby for years after the birth of Ingrid but with no luck. Still grinning, they walked inside.
“Do not tell her I said. She wanted to be the first person to let you know”, he whispered as they moved across the quiet hall and took the stairs leading to the wing of bedchambers. No one was in sight except for the two of them. She wondered if others had already retired for the night.
“She will have my hide if you do so.” Nara l at her father’s expense. “You’re in trouble old man. I advise you to get lost in the many rooms of the castle tomorrow while you are still alive.” She could not wait to see her mother scolding him for not being able to hold his tongue.
“Tomorrow will be a good day for me to listen to all the pompous old roosters’ demands.” Her father grinned. Rooster was a nickname the two of them had come up with for some selective noblemen who thought highly of themselves, demanding everyone should be on their back and call. And her father as a member of the king’s council came across them frequently.
She laughed lightly.
“Now go and take care of yourself. I told the maids to prepare you a bath earlier when I heard your party had arrived”. He regarded her once more, his old but aging handsome face shone with the effects of a good laugh and eased her worry a little. Her free hand reached for the knob of the door that opened her chambers then she faced him. “I’m glad to see you father.” Her words were genuine.
“Likewise, my daughter. Sleep well, and we shall talk more tomorrow” he kissed her forehead and took to his bedroom.
Nara twisted the knob, opened the door and stepped in her room.
The maids had lit up the oil lamp, the light casting warm glow and faint shadows of the furniture in the chamber. They had also prepared a bath in the adjacent chamber. “That’s all for tonight. You may leave” she ordered the maid standing at the corner of the room. The girl wished her a good sleep and left, shutting the door on her back.
Nara placed her helmet on a carved stool at the sound of the door being closed and breathed in the familiar scent of her room. It smelled fresh and clean free of dust despite her long absence. Finally, alone and in the comfort of her room, Nara shed her armour, and the clothes she wore beneath together, which bundled at her feet. Her aching limbs revel in the freedom of not being weighed and pressed by the armour. Nara rolled her shoulders, ridding the pressing stiffness. Bare skin, she walked toward the bath chamber bright from another burning oil lamp set in the top shelf corner, stepped in and sank to her chin in the large crafted wooden tub filled with water. She shivered and gasped from the cold water caressing her hot sweaty skin yet still welcomed the coldness as her body got accustomed to it. It was refreshing from the heat of summer. She grabbed the piece of cloth placed on the edge of the tub, wet it and lathered it with a bar of soap.
Nara leaned against the tub and leisurely scrubbed the sweat and dirt from her body. Little scars here and there adorned her skin like badges. She was no longer the shy little girl with skin so pale from tucking inside the house like a turtle in its shell. She had grown into a fine yet round face, brown eyes, with dark hair over long overdue for a cut. Tanned skin spanned over lean muscle with firm muscular thighs and legs, results of regular horse riding and combat. She was also tall like her late mother, well that’s what her father told her. She remembered so little of her mother since she died when she was a little girl.
She undid her braid and ran her fingers through her wet hair, untangling it. Exhausted from restless thoughts, her eyelids shut. She sucked in a lungful of air and submerged herself completely in the water, letting the cold water rinse her troubles too. A short time lapsed when she heard a familiar voice, “Are you planning to sleep in there?”
Lips stretching to a closed smile, Nara surfaced up and exhaled through her nose. Dressed in a long nightie with a shawl draped on top, her mother posed at the entrance of the alcove holding a towel and smiling at her. Quickly Nara stepped out the tub with water sloshing down on the floor. She was not bothered displaying her nakedness to her mother. Her mother had seen her bare before when she was still a child and when she treated her wounds in occasions. She was also confident in her body.
Avoiding getting her wet, Nara wrapped the woolen cloth around her body then embraced her mother, the emptiness she felt from missing her family slowly filling up. Her mother hugged her back with the same affection. She cupped her face lightly cautious of her bruises and regarded her. “Father has already talked to me,” Nara said softly, her gaze lacking confident to look at her straight in the eyes. She could see the concern, and sadness on her mother’s steady gaze even though she said nothing.
“Welcome back home. We have missed you,” Kami said gently.
Nara tightened her arms around her conveying she felt the same, before letting go and walking to the different larger room.
“I thought that you were sleeping.” Nara sat across her on the bed after drying herself and wearing her sleeping gown she retrieved from the wardrobe.
“I was, but I wanted to see you,” Kami replied and handed her tiny green twigs. Undoubtedly, she appeared to have been sleeping if her sleepy dark eyes were any indication but still looking good. For one, her thick long kinky hair was twisted in braids, and a warm bronze radiance fl
ushed her even and lush dark-hued skin.
Nara curiously examined the thin twigs in her palm that was half the size of her small finger.
“It is malmun has a bitter taste, but it is good for aches. Chew it all” Kami insisted, pushing the hand Nara held the twigs towards her mouth. In one go Nara threw the twigs in her mouth and chewed. Her eyes teared and blinked repeatedly, the malmun was unsweet, an acrid taste filled her mouth. Intrigued of her mother’s new status Nara’s gaze dropped to her stomach and witnessed the small bulge sitting there. Earlier in the bathing chamber, she couldn’t see the swell of her belly since they were both standing and the shawl Kami had draped around her hid it but now as they sat on the bed it was prominent, her clothes had pulled up and snagged around her midriff.
Her quick examination did not go unnoticed.
“That man! He blabbers off like a parrot these days!” Kami complained and rolled her eyes. “And here I’ve been secretly congratulating myself for marrying a reserved, quiet gentleman.” After the death of her real mother, her father remarried a few years later when he left for Amahle to sign a treaty that allowed Murisa passage to use Amahle’s province Úsh seaport without being heavily taxed when they transported goods from Rary one of Murisa’s territory. Their marriage, a duty to their kingdoms had later blossomed to love and bore Ingrid in the process. Now a second baby was on the way.
Nara swallowed the last bits of the twigs and laughed softly. “When are you expecting?”
“Beginning of winter, I believe. Soon you’ll have another sister or brother.” Kami smiled widely.
“I’m very happy for you.” She smiled. “What is it?” worry crossed her features when her mother’s eyes became glassy, and a tear dropped.
