“Your colleagues are studying the powder,” Layla pushed. Surely, they must know something. Anything.
“Yes, I’m sure that’ll help. We haven’t found anything just yet,” the doctor replied.
Layla grimaced, hating being in the dark about her sibling. Poison was meant to kill, and Ashni was a known enemy. They might have made this poison especially for her, designed to take down a demigod. Layla’s heart pounded as though it might break through her ribs. For a long moment, it was all she could hear.
“Will she live?” Layla found herself asking. Never did she fear she might lose her older sister. What would my life be without Ashni?
The doctor took a deep breath. “I’m not sure, your Highness. It doesn’t look good.”
Layla lurched forward, like she had been punched in the stomach. She gagged. Bile rushed from her throat. She slapped a hand over her lips and although barely any sour liquid came out of her, it felt like it was everything inside of her.
Adira took Layla around the shoulders. “You know nothing stops Ashni.”
In the past, Ashni had moved, spoken even, through the poison in her body. Slurred nonsense, yes, but words. She had moved like a drunk, but she moved…until someone made her sit down anyway. The worst of it took her a couple of weeks to fully recover from. Whatever she messed up, Layla and Adira could easily clean up. How the hell could they clean this up? This land wasn’t even part of their desired conquest. It was a joke. A bad joke.
Adira gave Layla’s shoulder a squeeze. “There’s still work to be done. Ashni will be cranky when she returns to form and finds we didn’t finish it when we had the chance.”
Layla nodded. “My mother will be able to treat her when we get her back to the city anyway.” Her mother worked miracles.
“Of course.”
“And my mother has brought many people back from the brink of Darkness to fulfill their purpose before returning to the Void and Oneness.” Layla couldn’t help but cling to her beliefs. The Darkness couldn’t have Ashni yet. They had so much more to accomplish.
Adira chuckled. “Ashni will be fine. No need to get religious.”
Layla opened her mouth but found all her words were filled with references to the Darkness. She didn’t want her sister to return to the Void. Ashni thought she’d walk with the gods in death and find her place among the stars. Neither sat well with Layla.
“Mind on the mission,” Adira said.
“Understood.” She had to get her head on straight. She was the one who could end their troubles with the North. “Who agreed to sit down to negotiations?”
“I have the leaders of five tribes so far. I’m working on more. There are about twenty-five different tribes.” Adira curled her lip.
Twenty-five? Layla blew out a breath. “That’s ten more than your earlier reports.”
Adira scowled. “Oh, believe me, people are being chewed out for the misleading information. I had to rework many ideas. The five we have are some of the more influential. Be Ashni, as you are, and bring them in. Others will follow and those who don’t will be devoured.”
Layla nodded. She was Ashni. She had been Ashni before. In the past, though, it wasn’t because Ashni flirted so closely with death and the Void. Stop thinking about that. You have a job to do.
Taking a breath, Layla knew she would honor Ashni by bringing these tribes into their fold. She’d show them the reason why being allies with the Roshan was the right thing to do.
“We have a day, right?” Layla asked.
Adira nodded. “A day to work out what we should demand and show them what we have to offer. You ready to set up?”
It was something to do and it would take Layla’s mind off of Ashni. She took one last look at her fallen sister before leaving the tent with Adira. Before they even made it a step away, two healers went into the tent. Hopefully, they’d help.
Layla and Adira put soldiers to work and then went over what Layla needed to know. It wasn’t hard, but she clutched it like a lifeline to keep her mind off of Ashni.
Soldiers hastily threw together a banquet hall. It was a collection of the best tents in camp, coming together as one large tent. They made sure the fabric was spotless and smelled like a spring day. All of the lanterns made it seem like the place was bathed in sunshine. The colorful pillows and blankets sparkled like they were covered in gold. While Layla wasn’t impressed, it had to look magnificent for people who didn’t have enough trees to build homes.
“You did a good job,” Layla said.
Adira arched an eyebrow at her. “Of course.”
Layla swallowed and hoped she didn’t say anything else that stupid ever again. Get your head on straight. You are Ashni. She turned her attention to the plentiful dishes perched on tables around the room, to feed their guests and guards along with the Roshan soldiers sitting in on the feast. For the meal, they grabbed food and treats from the closest town across the River Reve—a few types of meat, fish, fruits, nuts, and vegetables, along with cakes, pies, and other sweets. More food than their guests had seen in their lifetimes in this accursed land.
The tribal leaders awaited Layla on traditional Roshan pillows at a table loaded with food, drinks, and even sauces. Their tattered robes looked particularly shabby, threadbare with holes. Despite the poor quality of their clothes, everyone, including the servants, had bracelets and necklaces of unpolished stone. The leaders were decked out in them, but it didn’t hide their poverty. There were dirt smears on their sunken cheeks and foreheads, like they couldn’t be bothered to bathe even for this meeting. She couldn’t believe they turned down Ashni’s repeated attempts to solve things peacefully.
The leaders did look suitably impressed with everything, gazing around with wide eyes. She was surprised they weren’t shoving bread in their pockets. They probably hadn’t eaten everything already because the Roshan soldiers hadn’t touched their food yet. They didn’t know if it was all right to eat yet since none of the Roshan had started. It wouldn’t do to start a political incident in the enemy camp. Layla sat on Ashni’s pillow, across from the leaders to give them all proper attention. Adira sat down next to her.
“Greetings,” Layla said in Kairon. It wasn’t the native language of the area, but hopefully they spoke enough.
A man with cobalt and black stripes painted under his sharp blue eyes bowed his head. “Thank you for hosting us,” he replied in Kairon.
“It’s my pleasure. The Roshan don’t enjoy violence.” Possibly a lie, but a useful one. “However, once provoked, we have no issue with closing our jaws around an enemy.” Definitely not a lie.
The leaders sat a little straighter, and Layla was pleased with herself. Giving them a quick study, she could see the need for order in the North. These leaders were dressed in dusty furs with patches missing from the pelts. Dark circles wrapped around their eyes and their faces were drawn. Their attendants looked worse, their torn linen clothes hanging off of their thin frames. A war wouldn’t do them any good.
Introductions were made, and faces twitched as Layla was introduced as herself and as Ashni. Maybe they thought games were afoot.
“Queen Ashni’s my sister and we’re of one soul. My word is the same as hers,” Layla said.
“Did she not think we were worthy of meeting her?” The one called Andoni asked, a frown cutting across his aged features. Green eyes tried to pin Layla, but she’d seen sharper eyes at home.
“Not at all, as you’re meeting her through me. Perhaps you’re unfamiliar with the Roshan practice, but a soul is able to be in more than one person. The essence that makes Ashni who she is also lives in me, so I’m Ashni as well. A matter has her, but she’s left you in my capable hands. Do you doubt her judgment, her faith?” Layla raised an eyebrow, daring this man to try her. She’d literally walk through him and turn his bones to dust.
“Are you the one they say controls people’s shadows?” The leader Balera asked, leaning back. A faded tattoo that dotted her strained neck was less
noticeable than the freckles on her tanned face.
“I control many things. Shadows are one. I can do the benign.” Layla flicked her wrists and her guests’ shadows rose from the ground. They gasped. She wiggled her index finger and the shadows danced. Nervous laughter filled the tent. “Or things can get a bit more grotesque.” She crooked her index finger and Balera’s shadow shoved its hand into Andoni’s shadow. Andoni clapped his hand over his throat, making a gagging noise.
“Incredible,” Balera said with wide, onyx eyes.
Layla scoffed. “Tedious.” Dropping her hand, all shadows returned to their proper places. Andoni gasped, rubbing his neck. “Tricks I mastered as a child. The damage I can do has only been stopped by one and she is me.” Of course, she liked to think she beat Ashni more than she lost, but they stopped keeping track.
“Queen Ashni,” Balera replied.
“Then it’s true she has the gods’ lightning?” The small woman named Clara asked, with a tiny quiver to her pockmarked face, obviously intrigued.
Layla nodded. “She does. It’s one of the reasons a legion of Shadow Walkers like myself follow her.”
“A legion?” A man named Thrasius swallowed, the large protrusion in his avian neck bobbing. He touched his elbows with tethered, fingerless gloves on his hands, like he wanted to hug himself.
“Enough talk about that.” Layla waved her hand and they flinched. She bit back a chuckle. “Please, eat your fill and let’s come to a peaceful solution to our current circumstances.”
Layla watched as their guests immediately reached for items to feast on. She had dough balls as they ate and drank and ignored bread and other portable things disappearing into bags and cloaks.
“Good job with the shadows,” Adira whispered while their guests were distracted, lips smacking against their meals.
“If only you knew the restraint it’s taking not to crush them all.” They were the reason Ashni was near death. Them and their foolish raids.
“Oh, believe me I know. Let’s close this matter and tend to your sister,” Adira replied.
Layla’s attention went back to the guests, ignoring everyone’s face glistening with meat grease. “You seem to be enjoying the flat bread,” she said to Thrasius.
Thrasius glanced up at her before dipping his third piece of flat bread in his stew. Thick broth dripped from his scruffy beard and he spoke around a mouthful of food. “It doesn’t overpower the meat.” He sucked his teeth and swallowed.
“So, the goat is to your liking?” Layla asked.
He coughed and put the flat bread down. “You don’t save goats for sacrifices to the gods?”
“We usually sacrifice bulls,” she replied.
“Bulls?” Thrasius repeated as if in shock. The rest of the leaders stared at her. Clara dropped the mutton in her hands, mouth slightly open. They probably hadn’t ever seen a dead bull, let alone a live one.
“Our gods demand great sacrifices for their blessings and our empire has been blessed enough to grow bulls large enough to fell a tree. Our gods like the heart, liver, stomach, and lungs. We may eat the rest.” Layla motioned to the beef dishes lining the table.
All eyes went to the beef. Layla glanced at Adira, who gave her a brief nod.
“The Empire delights in sharing goods. We’re always in search of new wonders or even fresh spins on known items,” Layla said. If the idea of trade appealed to these leaders, they might be able to talk the other tribes into deals and put an end to the raids.
“How do we know you won’t simply use your dark magic to enslave us?” Andoni asked, eyes narrowed.
Layla shrugged. “It doesn’t appeal to us.”
“Besides.” Adira leaned forward, pointing at them with a hunk of bread. “Without Ashni, you’d all still be hiding in fear of Caligo Mor.”
They gasped. “You dare say that demon’s name in our presence!” Balera growled, fire in her dark eyes.
Adira waved that off. “I dare because I was there when Ashni dispatched him and freed you from his death grip. You repay her actions by harassing her people.”
“He was just a monster slain by another monster. We’re not indebted or beholden to her. She removed a tumor, but remained a cancer,” Thrasius said.
Layla arched an eyebrow. Bold! “How so? What has she taken from you?”
“Stability,” he replied, as if it was obvious.
Layla’s mouth almost dropped open. They missed the stability brought on by Caligo? Well, his presence probably ensured one tribe wouldn’t attack others. No one wanted to call attention to themselves and die.
“We can reestablish stability and bring wealth to the region, bring life back if that’s your wish,” Layla said.
“We won’t have you rule us,” Andoni said, chin in the air.
“We don’t want to. It’s too cold.” Layla wasn’t sure how they were expected to bring stability then. Either they wanted someone to be in charge or they didn’t.
“But you can’t raid our territory and think we’ll just accept it,” Adira said.
“We have no desire to push north, but we also have no problem destroying the whole area.” Layla would prefer that, considering her sister was near death, thanks to these useless bastards.
“We would resist,” Andoni said.
Layla couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “My people resisted too, and it didn’t do much good. And not to brag, but I could kill everyone in this room right now by myself.”
Adira cleared her throat, and Layla glanced at her. She was pretty sure if push came to shove, she could kill Adira. She wouldn’t walk away unscathed, but she’d walk away.
“We were absorbed, just like others and if you thought my talent was something, imagine hundreds of us. That’s right, hundreds. And the Roshan conquered us anyway,” Layla said.
“My people were also conquered, and yet we’ve thrived with the Roshan,” Adira added.
“Here’s what I’m willing to offer you; food and goods in exchange for food and goods, provided you have something to wow me and my general here.” Layla motioned to Adira, who looked unimpressed. “Failure to impress us will result in total annihilation of your people.”
“There’s no pleasure in this for us. We want to be with our families, just like you, not fighting in a war,” Adira said.
The guests shifted their gazes for a long moment. The silence hung in the air. When their gaze came back to Layla, she kept her expression blank. She didn’t care what they decided. Ashni’s will would be done, no matter what.
“We want homes,” Clara said.
“Excuse me?” Layla wasn’t sure what she meant.
“We lack the materials to make homes, so we live in caves like animals, like we did when the demon was in charge. You built a bridge in a week. It was as if the gods themselves worked with you,” Clara replied.
So, Ashni’s plan with the bridge worked. Kind of. “Building materials aren’t an issue. What do you have in return?”
“This land’s dead. You’ve seen it. How could we offer you anything?” Balera inquired.
Layla frowned. There had to be something. And then her eyes fell on the dark beads they all wore. Clearly status symbols as they had them in abundance around their necks and wrists. Baubles, but baubles she had never seen before.
“May I see your bracelet?” Layla leaned forward, hand out.
“Yes?” Balera eased one off of her wrist and placed it in Layla’s hand.
The weight was more than expected, made up of glass beads and precious stones. The glass beads looked simple, but the stones intrigued her. All dark. There seemed to be words carved into the stones, though she didn’t speak the native tongue.
“These stones need to be polished,” Layla said. The stones were raw but rare.
“No time or tools,” Balera replied.
Layla nodded. “You can pay us, though. We can polish the stones. Do you have a mine?”
“We use what we find,” Thrasius answered.
&nb
sp; “Then let’s start simple. Stones in exchange for building materials. If speed becomes an issue, you pay us to help with construction. After that, I suggest you try mining more stones or produce a good worthy of trade,” Layla said.
“Sounds like a threat,” Andoni said.
Layla smirked. “This sounds like the makings of a deal. A threat’s more, give us the stones and we won’t water the healing earth with your blood.”
“What goods were you known for before Caligo Mor took over?” Adira asked.
Balera smiled. “We once made the most beautiful blankets, lined with fur. We had giant deer with tender meat. We made decorations with their antlers and a special wine with their blood and wildflowers.”
“It seems to me that, in the future, you’ll have things our empire might want. We can wait. We know the land has to heal and so do you. So let’s start with what you do have.” Layla held up the bracelet and then passed it back to Balera.
“You’ll sell us materials and labor?” Clara asked.
Layla nodded. “We can come to acceptable terms.”
Her guests gave faint nods. It was a small step forward, but it was a step that could send them all home, including Ashni. The other tribes better go for this.
***
Nakia shifted on the throne, leg tingling from sitting too long. She sighed as she finished reading reports from Layla on the northern front. They had settled a deal with the five major tribes and opened talks with more than half of the others. Ashni hadn’t changed, but she was on her way home with Hafiz and Naren. According to Layla, her mother and a group of Shadow Walker healers would be waiting to receive Ashni. Layla wanted any input Nakia might have for dealing with the northern front.
“We should build bridges across the Great River Reve, using the excuse of transporting materials. You and Adira probably know the best places. We’ll protect them with fortifications that’ll be trading posts…” Nakia barely finished writing her response before there was an announcement outside.
“A royal party just entered the city gates!” a servant called out.
Nakia’s heart thumped heavy in her chest. Ashni. “That was fast.” Ashni must be even worse than Layla made her sound if they rushed like that.
Blood Rain (Warrior Class Book 3) Page 6
