by D. L. Kramer
"I really can't say that I blame him," Kanatu continued after a moment. "I've thought about doing the same thing every day since we found her body."
Nahtan looked at her. "What stopped you?" he asked.
Kanatu watched Nahtan for a long moment. "You," she admitted. "When the boys were sent to Lord Mo'ani, I rode as far as the village where we met. Taking a place with their elders to watch for a red-cloaked army to crest the hills in the west. If I'd remained back here, I'd probably be dead now, too."
Nahtan nodded, understanding. "Where is she buried?" he asked.
"The burial grounds are two leagues north," Liwanu answered. "Behind a flat-topped hill."
"I'll show you the way," Yenene volunteered.
Nahtan sighed, nodding to Yenene. "I'll do what I can," he promised Liwanu as he stood. "But if they're determined to cause problems, I don't think I can stop both of them."
"You can stop Sewati though?" Kanatu asked. "He's the one I'm most worried about doing."
Nahtan paused for a moment, remembering their fight in the stronghold. "As long as I have my sword," he nodded. "Tuketu was always more willing to listen to reason, so hopefully they won't both come after me when I get in their way."
"Please," Liwanu said as Nahtan turned toward the door. "Don't let them do anything foolish."
"I'll do everything I can to stop them," Nahtan said. "Though I can't guarantee I won't have to hurt them."
"Just don't let them die for something so foolish as revenge," Liwanu asked.
Nahtan shook his head before turning back to the door, Yenene beside him.
As he untied Tyran, Nahtan turned. "You can ride out on Tyran with me," he offered. "Or if you're more comfortable with your own horse--" He didn't see any other horses tied near Liwanu's house.
"He's not as big as Chase," Yenene pointed out.
"No," Nahtan agreed, swinging up onto the saddle. "But I doubt you weigh anymore than his barding."
"My uncle's stable is just around the corner," Yenene said. "But we'd probably lose half the day answering his questions." After another moment of consideration, she took Nahtan's offered hand.
Yenene directed Nahtan to Notaku's burial site, but a quick search of the area showed Bear and his brother had already been there and left. Nahtan dropped from Tyran's back and began walking around the site, looking for Chase's distinctive hoof marks. After a few seconds, he found them, leading back towards the village. Another set of hooves ran alongside, and Nahtan guessed they were from Tuketu's horse.
"They went back to town," Nahtan said, walking back to Tyran's head. "I can't track them over the cobblestones there."
Yenene nodded. "If we assume he finds out what happened, where would he be most likely to head?"
Nahtan didn't want to hear the response to his answer. "Straight to finding whoever ordered her killed."
"The BishopLord," Yenene supplied. "Both Liwanu and Kanatu have told me Notaku got in his way more than once. It would have been on his order she be killed that way."
Nahtan's stomach knotted itself again. Bear was an excellent archer, even better than Lady Bavol when he had his longbow, but the BishopLord wouldn't let himself be exposed that much.
"We should head for the garrison," Nahtan decided. He hoped it would take Bear and his brother a while to find someone willing to talk to them, but deep down, he knew better. Bear could be very convincing and was an excellent liar. He would have no trouble making someone think he needed to know for reasons other than revenge.
Nahtan and Yenene rode back towards the village, following Chase's hoof prints as long as they could. Before picking up one of the roads leading into the city, they turned toward the garrison.
Leaving Tyran tied a quarter league before reaching the garrison, Nahtan and Yenene continued on foot. Tyran's height and the shine of his coat would unquestionably attract the notice of any church scouts.
A brief discussion with one of the Mo'ani watching the garrison confirmed Nahtan's fear. Bear had already been by on the premise of checking the watches. The Mo'ani had seen no sign of Tuketu, and Nahtan hoped he had decided to stay behind. Nahtan saw no sign of Adie, and wished he knew where she was.
"Where would he go from here?" Yenene asked as they began moving again.
"Around to the back," Nahtan guessed. "It's the only place he could get close enough to hit anyone." They moved quickly, staying far enough below the hilltop to remain hidden. Nahtan only moved up on the hill to check their progress and the placement of the sentries. When one of the church guards turned to walk back in their direction along the wall, they stopped, ducking low behind the top of the hill.
"Surely he won't sacrifice himself--" Yenene said quietly.
Nahtan wished he could assure her otherwise, but deep down he knew Bear had been waiting most of his life for this. If it meant taking the BishopLord with him, Bear would let himself be cut down.
"It's clear," Nahtan said, watching the church guard turn his back to them. Another hundred feet would put them at the back of the garrison. Shortly after they reached the back, Nahtan saw Bear's familiar form. Laying on the hillside, he was watching the garrison, his longbow in one hand and a full quiver of arrows beside him. "There's no sign of Ke," Nahtan noted, hoping it meant he had stayed behind. He turned back to Yenene. "Wait here."
Yenene nodded as Nahtan turned and crept up to Bear. When he was still several yards away, Bear turned towards him.
"I'm not leaving," he said stubbornly.
"Would you stop and think about what you're doing?" Nahtan asked, moving closer. "What you're endangering here?" Bear's eyes still burned, and Nahtan could see how dangerously close he was to finishing what he had started.
"I only want to kill one of them," Bear responded, turning back to the garrison.
"Just the BishopLord," Nahtan corrected. "The army's still back at the camp, if you should happen to kill him now, you'd be just as dead."
"So?" Bear looked at him.
Nahtan clenched his left fist, letting the pain distract him from losing his own temper. Another fight between the two of them would undoubtedly draw the attention of the church guards.
"So, I can't let you do that," Nahtan said, his voice even. He knew immediately what he would have to do to stop Bear. There was only one other thing Bear had devoted so much of his life to. Now he hoped Jensina and Halona were watching and would keep him from being shot in the back. Taking the chance, he stood and stepped between Bear and the garrison. He knew he was in full view of the church guards walking patrol, all one would have to do is turn in their direction.
"Are you crazy?!" Bear demanded, pushing himself up.
"No more than you," Nahtan shrugged, trying to make himself look relaxed despite the uneasy feeling between his shoulder blades. He waited for the whistle of an arrow behind him.
"You bastard," Bear growled, clenching his teeth.
"We all do what we have to," Nahtan said, keeping his voice even. "If you're going to insist on going through with this, you'll have to kill me, too." He didn't add that if he stood here for much longer, the church guards would take care of that. "Now will you come back to the city with me and talk?"
He could see the fight raging in Bear's eyes. After another second, Bear's eyes flickered over Nahtan's shoulder. Grabbing Nahtan by the front of his tunic, Bear threw his weight back and down, pulling them both out of sight.
After sliding several feet down the hill, Nahtan exhaled slowly with relief and turned to his friend.
"I was hoping you were just a little bit more loyal to me," he said, brushing the grass and dirt from his back. He wanted to ask him why he had waited so long, but didn't.
Bear glowered at him. "You owe me," he said. "You know how long this has been bothering me."
Nahtan nodded. "You'll get your chance," he promised. "But we'll do it the way it's supposed to happen."
Bear didn't say anything as he crept back up the hill to retrieve his longbow and quiver. Making their wa
y back to Yenene, Nahtan couldn't help but smile at her shocked expression.
"You're out of your mind," she stated.
Nahtan shrugged, then nodded, remembering Janec's observation of what a person will do when they think it's their duty.
"Where's Chase?" he asked Bear.
"He'll be heading for Tyran," Bear said simply, making it clear he was still angry and didn't want to talk.
"Now where's Ke?" Nahtan continued, not caring about his friend's mood.
Bear shot him a dark look. "He stayed at the camp."
Nahtan nodded and they began making their way back to where Tyran was tied.
They left Yenene at Liwanu's, but Bear refused to stay. Nahtan rode beside him as they left the city, letting him pick the direction. He wasn't surprised to find them heading back to the burial grounds. Still not saying anything, Bear dropped from Chase's back and walked to his mother's grave. After a moment, Nahtan dismounted and walked to his side.
"I can't believe my father doesn't want anything done about this," Bear said quietly. "He knew how she died, and he just turned his back on it."
"No, he didn't," Nahtan said evenly. "But your father understands that he's not the one meant to take care of it." Nahtan paused for a moment as Bear pulled the string of his mother's beads from his pouch. "She's with Jensina," he continued slowly. "Jensina caught her soul before it could go--wherever the sacrificed souls go. She hid your mother in her temple to heal her, then took Notaku's soul with her."
Bear fingered the beads, then turned to look at him. "How do you know?" he asked, his doubt obvious.
"There's a priest," Nahtan answered, meeting his eyes. The pain in Bear's eyes betrayed the scars on his soul. "He told me Jensina brought the Growling Bear's spirit there to be healed. He said her sons wanted revenge, but they'd be killed if they found it."
Bear turned away from him as his eyes began to fill with tears. Nahtan couldn't help but feel sorry for him; even after all they'd been through together, Bear still had to hide what he felt.
"That's what her name meant," Bear said after taking a deep breath. He paused for another long moment. "Where's the priest?"
"He was in the temple down in the city," Nahtan answered. "But I don't think he's alive anymore. When he left me, he was talking about having finished what Jensina told him to and that she'd be coming for him soon."
Bear wiped at his eyes before turning back to Nahtan. "I want to go there," he said. "I need to know myself."
Nahtan nodded and led the way back to their horses. The temple was just as deserted as when Nahtan had visited it before. Letting the horses loose to graze, he led Bear around to the back. The wildflowers he had placed on the steps were gone and he paused to pick a few more and set them there before stepping up to the door.
The door opened easily, confirming Nahtan's suspicions that the priest was gone. Inside, he led Bear down the narrow hall to the central chamber. When they reached it, he stood by the wall and let Bear wander around the room on his own. Almost absently, Nahtan set his left hand over the nearest symbol to ease the throbbing in his wrist.
"I don't feel her," Bear said after a moment, stopping by the altar and looking up at Jensina. "Jensina's presence is here, but not my mother's."
"Your mother's with her," Nahtan assured him. "Just not here in this temple." He paused, trying to sort out what the priest had said. No other part of the prophecy had mentioned Bear, but the priest spoke of him as if he was a part of it from the beginning. Nahtan wasn't sure what the rest of the visions--or ramblings--meant, but that they were equally important. "The priest talked about other things, but I didn't understand them," Nahtan finished.
"Like what?" Bear asked, turning to look at him.
"He said the 'serpent's guards think this place deserted'--or something like that. When I asked what he meant, all he said was 'the fallen son of Herridon'."
"Probably the Archbishop," Bear guessed. "Though the only thing I can think of that he might have fallen from is the gods' favor."
"The other thing he said was that I would witness the betrayal of the fallen son of Herridon."
Bear raised an eyebrow at him. "I don't suppose he elaborated?"
Nahtan shook his head. "Most of what he said sounded like he was just quoting visions and things Jensina had told him."
Bear looked around the room, stopping on Nahtan. "I wonder if Yenene could hear anything here," he said. "My father says she sees things sometimes before they happen."
"She's the only one Kutci will talk to," Nahtan reminded him. "Every time I've heard her name in the village, it's with a note of respect."
Bear nodded, then tilted his head as he looked at Nahtan. "What are you doing?" he asked, motioning to Nahtan's hand on the wall."
Nahtan smiled and glanced down at the marks on the wall. "The symbols make it quit hurting," he explained. "I have constant pain in it now, thank you."
"It's your own fault for being such a stubborn ass," Bear shrugged. "If you'd just spoken up and told everyone who you were, I wouldn't have had to do that." He paused for a moment. "I wonder if they'd help my father heal."
Nahtan shrugged. "I don't think they heal," he said. "They just seem to ease the pain while I'm touching them."
"I probably couldn't get him in here anyway," Bear decided. "He won't even let any of the other elders besides Kanatu see him yet."
"Are you ready to go?" Nahtan asked. "We've got a lot to do in the next couple of weeks."
Bear sighed, looking around the temple again. "Probably more than I want to do," he said. "So I guess the sooner we get started, the sooner we can head for Herridon."
Eight - "Let's go start a war"
In the next couple of weeks, the Mo'ani got a good idea of the workings of the garrison and the church guards in the city. The BishopLord only emerged to oversee the sacrifices at the cathedral in Bear's village, then disappeared behind the garrison's iron gates again. Each time services were held, Nahtan had to practically tie Bear down. When Liwanu was strong enough to be up and around regularly, Nahtan would ride with Bear and Tuketu to their father's house, then stay with them until the services were finished.
Word spread quickly through the village about the Mo'ani camped in the hills behind them and what they were there for. Fisherman started sharing their catches with the army while the farmers made sure there were plenty of other meats, fruits and vegetables. Nahtan also found himself being offered all the help he could ever want when they attacked the garrison. Knowing he needed the strength, and that the Mowik needed to be a part of it for themselves, he readily agreed.
The fog started rolling in thicker each night. A quiet discussion with Adie, Bear and the Mowik elders told Nahtan they were more than anxious to start this war. They selected a night a week ahead, and planned to use the fog for extra cover so they could also approach the garrison from the front.
Time passed too quickly, and the night they had chosen was there before Nahtan knew it. Still not strong enough to go with them, Liwanu had spent the last few hours at the camp talking with his sons. Nahtan found the elder Mowik a mix of both Tuketu and Bear. He knew immediately where Tuketu got his sense of calm maturity, but the gleam in Liwanu's eye was identical to Bear's. There was also no mistaking the pride in his eyes when he saw Tuketu and Bear in their cloaks.
As Liwanu talked privately with his sons, Nahtan pulled Yenene to one side.
"I have a favor to ask," he said.
"What?" Yenene met his eyes, and Nahtan knew then she was the one he was supposed to ask.
"I want you to go to Jensina's temple in the city," he began. "You know the door in the back?"
Yenene nodded. "The temple's been deserted for over six decades."
"The door in the back is open," Nahtan continued. "I want you to go inside and bar it, then wait for one of us to come get you." He didn't want anything to happen to the temple, and with the old priest gone, it would be in danger. He hoped the priest's words were still true, and so l
ong as the door was barred, the temple would be protected.
Yenene considered him for a moment. "Why?" she asked. "If the church guards in the city attack, I'd be trapped."
"Jensina will protect the temple as long as the door is barred," Nahtan explained. "Even if I have to go myself, I can't let anything happen to it."
"You're needed here with your army," Yenene said, then stopped.
"What is it?" Nahtan asked, concerned.
Yenene stood still for a moment, then shook her head. "I was just remembering something I saw," she said. "I'll go and bar the door when we head back to the village."
"Thank you," Nahtan said. He turned when Liwanu approached them. "You're still more than welcome to come with," he told the elder.
Liwanu smiled and shook his head. "I'm a simple fisherman," he replied. "Notaku was the fighter in our family, and our sons followed her path instead of mine."
Nahtan smiled. He knew Liwanu was far from just a 'simple fisherman', but wouldn't argue with him. Liwanu knew this battle was for his sons to fight, and accepted that. Besides, Nahtan had heard him and Kanatu talking, and knew they were going with the other Mowik to significantly shorten the lives of the church guards within the village.
"I'm afraid Sewati has a problem with getting dirty," Nahtan mentioned as his friend wandered over, Tiimu walking between his feet. "He doesn't get into too many close contact fights. I suspect that's why he prefers archery."
"That, and I can cut my own arms off with a sword faster than an enemy could," Bear added. He stooped over to pick up Tiimu.
"There is that, too," Nahtan agreed. The anticipation growing in the army was feeding his own adrenaline. There was a sense of familiarity in the preparations, and he relished it. He also couldn't help but wonder what reprimand Mo'ani would give him for the excitement he felt.
"Everyone's ready," Adie said, joining the group. She put her dagger on her sash, then knotted it around her waist.
Nahtan nodded and turned to Bear. "Let's go start a war," he said. "And let you finish what you need to."
