“You should take the books with you.”
He laughed. “But they’re Fahim’s favorites. What would he do?”
She glanced at her brother. “He’d get new favorites. He reads a lot. Or you could take him with you.”
Fahim slammed his book down. “I don’t wanna be away from all of the books. We might leave one I want to read.”
Their father laughed and scooped Fahim up, hugging the toddler to his chest. “Well, one day you’re going to have to be away from your precious books and ride with me because I love it and I love you!”
“No!” Fahim laughed and squirmed as their father tickled him.
“I’ll ride with you.” Tiny-Ashni hopped to her feet.
“Well, you have to save your brother first.” He swung Fahim around like he weighed nothing at all.
Tiny-Ashni wasted no time attacking her father. If she jumped, she could reach his neck. He moved out of the way. She spun into a kick as soon as she landed, hitting him in the knee. He hissed and jumped away.
“Fahim, your sister must love you very much. She’s trying to hurt me!” Their father moved Fahim in front of him, like a shield.
“Put him down!” Tiny-Ashni pointed at her father and lightning shot from her finger. She yelped, as did her father.
Her father ducked in time to miss a face full of lightning. Chuckling, he glanced behind him as he put Fahim down.
Tiny-Ashni twitched as shame slammed through her. “I’m so sorry, Daddy!”
Her father flashed a carefree grin. “It’s okay. I love when you do the lightning!” He yanked her off of her feet. “It’s so amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it in all my travels.”
Fahim tugged on their father’s sleeve. “Can I get lightning?”
Her father gasped. “You don’t want my talent? What’s wrong with my talent?”
Fahim scoffed and waved it away. “Everybody has it, but only Ashni has lightning. Mommy said Ashni was chosen and I wanna be chosen with her, so we could be together and get strong.”
Her father beamed. “She could use the practice. I mean, that poor wall.” They all looked at the charred hole in the wall.
Tiny-Ashni stared at Fahim. “You like my lightning?”
He nodded. “It’s different. I want it so we can match.”
“Well, you can’t have it. It’s mine,” tiny-Ashni said, but she beamed on the inside. Her younger brother flattered her.
Fahim pouted. “Oh.” His distress ate at her with a speed she never thought possible. She didn’t mean to hurt his feelings.
“Hey!” She held up both hands. “I was only playing. We can both have lightning! Just like we can both join the same guild when we get older.”
Fahim’s face brightened. It felt good to make him feel good. She didn’t want to hurt Fahim any more than she wanted her older brothers to hurt her. It wasn’t fun when it happened, so she didn’t want to spread that.
“So, what guild are you two joining then?” her father asked, finally putting tiny-Ashni down.
Tiny-Ashni poked her chest out. “The Lion Guild!”
Fahim made a tight fist as he held his hand up. “Of course!”
“My warrior guild. A fine choice.” Her father mussed her hair, literally ruffling her feathers that were braided into her light ocher hair. “However, you’re not old enough to be in a guild, not yet.”
Tiny-Ashni was aware of the rules. “We could get me a lion cub now. I’ll take the best care of him until I turn thirteen.”
“I’ll talk to your mom. We only just got Jay his bear brother. Both of them are growing like weeds.”
Tiny-Ashni nodded, even though she didn’t care about the rules. She wanted things to happen now, especially since her father liked her lightning. And she had Fahim to back her up. Her father had enough faith in her to want her to join his warrior guild. She wouldn’t let him down.
The scene melted and Ashni sighed into the darkness. She had been so thrilled about joining the Lion Guild in her youth. The poor kid didn’t know the tragedy waiting for her, but at least Fahim let her know she was a good sibling.
***
Nakia sat down for dinner with Layla and Adira. Badar stayed behind with Samar to make sure she didn’t work herself to exhaustion. Layla and Adira would keep her safe. They compared notes. It seemed most of the nobles backed Nakia’s claim to the throne. Many religious leaders would rather wait for word from Ashni or Chandra, but almost no one backed the brothers.
“Nobody likes them,” Layla said.
“Nobody likes who?” Asad stalked over and sat down next to Nakia.
Layla stared at him. “You.”
Asad smiled. “Being liked is overrated. Not everyone likes my mother, and she’s still Empress.” He inched closer to Nakia, invading her space. “Hell, there are times I don’t like my mother, but she’s still Empress. That’s just the way things are.”
“Are you admitting treason?” Adira asked.
“Of course not.” Asad chuckled, snatching some berries off the shared plate. “I’ll follow the Empress’ decisions, although that doesn’t mean I always like them. Don’t you feel that way about what she’s done to Amal?” He moved to put his arm around Nakia, and she caught his wrist.
“Don’t touch me,” Nakia said.
A low wheeze filled the room, and both Layla’s and Adira’s blades were at his throat before anyone could blink. He continued to smirk. His eyes darkly evil.
His gaze flicked to Layla. “Are you sure you want to point your sword at me, Shadow Beast? Need I remind you whose territory Tariq and Tiq sit in? One word from me and those places will not only be burned to the ground, but everyone will be raped, the children slaughtered, and the rest will be sold into slavery.” The way his voice remained low and steady drove home that promise. He tapped his chin. “Or maybe I already left that standing order. You know, should something happen to me while I’m here.”
Layla didn’t waver but cut Nakia a glance. Nakia was flattered by Layla’s loyalty. Still, she couldn’t trade so many lives and anguish for her. She gave a small nod and Layla’s jaw tensed as she put her weapon down.
Asad chuckled. “Good dog.” He turned to Adira. “I don’t think anyone noticed, but Jay went to go see Bashira dance. He hoped to get a private show.”
Adira snarled. “You are a fucking monster!” She sheathed her blade.
Asad laughed, and the sound cut through Nakia like a serrated blade. He was worse than Amal, and Adira said Jay was worse than him. At least Amal brought the fight to Ashni, one on one. Amal never made it personal in that sense whereas now innocent people Ashni cared about were in danger.
“Have a seat, ladies. Let’s celebrate this peaceful exchange of power.” He put his arm around Nakia’s shoulders and yanked her to him. She cringed as his strange cinder scent surrounded her. His demonic laugh filled the room and drained all feeling from Nakia. The brothers had entire towns as their hostage and Jay also had Bashira. What’s my next move?
Chapter Nine
FOR ALL OF HER life, Ashni wanted to be a member of the Lion Guild, like her father. They were the top warriors as far as she was concerned, a perfect mixture of intelligence and strength. They always had each other’s backs. Her father practically bounced when she received her cub, Tau.
“Look at the size of his paws!” He held up the paw of the five-month-old cub. The sleek yet tiny golden cub yowled.
“I’m going to make him fierce!” Ashni held his leash tight, and her father put Tau on the ground. They had a journey back home, walking from the arena. Crowds parted for them, mostly due to recognizing the Great Amir.
He laughed. “I’m sure you will. It’s about time one of my kids joined my guild. I mean, Jay and the damn bears. The betrayal!” He put his hand to his heart. “And the twins with the wolves. The wolves! They’re a bunch of sneaks!”
Ashni threw her shoulders back, giddy. She’d grow Tau up strong and fierce to make her father eve
n prouder. Tau was already big for his age, which was one of the reasons she picked him. He would be huge when he matured.
“Treat Tau like your brother, Ashni. He’s going to protect you for the rest of your life, like Hamza did for me.” Her father’s fingers went to the lion teeth around his neck. He had a number of lion tattoos along with eagle tattoos, honoring his guild and his godfather. She wanted the same.
“I’ll give him the best life,” she said.
Her father gave her a sort of sad smile, his eyes wet. She didn’t understand his tears at the time.
Tau was her brother in every sense of the word, cuddling her whenever Amal bothered her, whenever Jay and Asad ignored her, and listening to Fahim read. He stole bits of her dinner and trained with her for hours. She wasn’t sure they spent any time apart in three years and in less than a minute they’d be separated until they met again in the circus.
When she turned thirteen, the day was upon her to finally join the Lion Guild, and she wanted to run. No, I don't want to see this again. Ashni sat in the dusty, shadowy corridor in the circus. She could hear people cheering the match outside, but it was like a dull hum.
Her focus was on Tau, her lion brother. He was three now, mature for a lion. He was as big as she’d hoped he’d be, solid muscle, big teeth, and an even bigger heart.
Ashni hugged Tau, his short, dark mane tickled her cheek. People liked to tease her and say they had the same hair, same coloring, though she liked to hear it. “I’ll never forget you, brother. You’ve been with me through tough times.”
He blew his hot breath in her face, and she laughed. He nuzzled her, and she cried in his mane. She wanted this so badly, but she didn’t want it this way. You don’t think about it when you first pick your brother. You don’t think about it when you’re bonding over the years. You’re too young to figure it out and then it hits you when you’re sitting in the damn dirt at the fucking circus, and you can only go through with it.
“I’m so sorry.” And she apologized up until men came for Tau and took him away. She was given a spear, helmet, and chest plate, and she walked onto the circus floor.
It happened like a blur. She recalled the smell of incense, as this was a holy rite of passage. The audience sounded like a buzz to her ears. She didn’t understand why. Tau lay dead at her feet, her spear in his chest. How dare they applaud that? She had killed her brother. Was the Guild worth it? She wanted to say yes, but it wasn’t until it connected her to her new family, to warriors who would always be there for her, with her.
Ashni wasn’t sure how long she stood there, covered in the blood and the scratches of her lion, and then an arm around her shoulder pulled her away. Her father pulled her close.
“I know,” he said.
Her father knew because he had to kill his lion in the circus. Every warrior in every guild had to. She wasn’t alone. They all knew how she felt, but it still didn’t fill that void. Wearing Tau’s teeth around her neck, so that he was still always with her, protecting her, didn’t fill the void either. It was the second time in her short life she learned not to ask for something, because you just might get it. First her talent, now her brother. Life wasn’t fair.
***
Nakia sat with Ashni, holding her clammy hand. It still felt like her skin covered damp cloth rather than muscle and bone. She had hoped it was a step up from it feeling like thick cereal was under her flesh. Each breath rattled in Ashni’s chest. Nakia said silent prayers for her beloved over and over. She wished she could leave offerings at a temple, but Jay or Asad might have questions or take it as proof that Ashni was dead.
Asad had followed her around after dinner and she allowed it, to give them a false sense of power. To get down to see Ashni without him knowing, she had Badar transport her in a shadow.
“I don’t understand your brothers, Ashni. I don’t understand how they’re your mother’s children,” Nakia said, her thoughts spinning with the brothers’ betrayal.
“They were actually raised differently. The brothers had more parents than she did,” Samar said from the corner of the room, reading. She and Layla were there while Adira had gone to check on Bashira and Saniyah, taking Badar as backup. They’d better be alright.
“More parents? Did the nobles really have that much influence? Why didn’t Khalid or Chandra stop them?” Nakia shook her head. Why hadn’t they done something?
Samar sighed. “Well, I don’t have any insight in that, but I’ve met some of the nobles who shaped them. Helli’s filled with snakes. Their venom reaches far and wide.”
Nakia sighed, but that made sense. She knew that from growing up in the palace of Phyllida. The nobles tried to influence her life, knowing at the very least that whomever she married could end up with a great deal of power.
What sort of nobles got to the brothers and let them think taking towns hostage was all right? What had those nobles done so the brothers didn’t mourn the death of their sister? What had those nobles said so that Amal had been fine with trying to murder Ashni on so many occasions?
“Royalty almost always breeds intrigue, even in the best of families,” Layla said.
Nakia nodded, though she wished she didn’t have to think about it. How would this affect her own family? She only just got her sisters back, and her nieces and nephews from Thia. One day, would there be intrigue between them? How would Thia react to this attempted coup, and what was going on with Saffi?
“We’re going to come out on top off this,” Layla said with a confident nod.
“How can you be so sure?” Nakia asked. How can Layla have such faith?
Layla motioned to Ashni. “Because she’s not dead and my mother will find a way to get the poison out of her system.”
So many lives are in your hands now. Nakia’s throat went dry. It was hard to breathe. She was one step away from losing not just Ashni and Ashni’s kingdom, but Layla’s people, Adira’s family, and possibly her own sisters. This will break you. And this time, the thought stuck.
***
Ashni scowled as she stared at a closed stable door, warning signs all over it. Warning signs she had ignored when she was thirteen. Why the hell is my life flashing before my eyes? It was annoying.
Even in her glory, Ashni wasn’t interested in herself. She jeered at plays when there were characters based on her. After murdering Tau, she went straight to Midnight Thunder. He had been in the royal stables, a prize for anyone who would dare try to tame him. He kicked down doors, jumped fences, and even killed one unfortunate soul with a swift smack to the jaw. There was talk he was a demon in horse form.
Ashni had been hurt enough, curious enough, and maybe even depressed enough to check out this demon horse. She’d need a horse soon. She was a member of a guild now, a warrior. She could join the military. Her father would definitely take her on campaign within the next year or so.
The first time she met Midnight Thunder, he bit her. Lightning in his face kept him from coming back for another piece. He didn’t try to bite her again, though he still fought her for months. Her life became training and fighting Midnight Thunder. It helped her work through the pain of losing Tau.
“I don’t care how difficult you are. I’m not giving up on you,” Ashni said as Midnight Thunder refused to let her on his back.
“Give it up, princess. He’ll make good barbecue!” one of the stable hands told her.
“No! He’s a great horse.” Other people couldn’t see it, but she knew he just needed someone to be there, to understand him. She leaned closer to the horse. “Do you hear that? You keep being an asshole and they’re going to eat you.”
Midnight Thunder didn’t care. He was a jerk of a horse. He beat her up so often that her brothers would come watch.
“You think you’re going to war? You can’t even break a horse!” Amal said from a safe distance. Asad and Jay snickered.
Ashni ignored them, hating to think they had a point. Warfare was more than the ability to kill someone. Warfare was about
decision-making and look at her stupid decisions. She was fighting a horse that hated her. She wanted to be in a warrior guild so much she had looked her best friend in the eye as she ran him through with a spear.
It didn’t matter if others had done it. It didn’t matter that those were the requirements. Tau deserved better. She wasn’t worthy of any of that. She wasn’t worthy. So, she gave up.
Not too long after that the stable worker who told her to give up let her know Midnight Thunder was going to be put down, so Ashni had a chance to bid him farewell. At first, she wasn’t going to, but she thought of Tau. Midnight Thunder deserved a goodbye, deserved to know at least one person thought he mattered. When she got to the stables, Midnight Thunder actually whinnied as if he was pleased to see her. He nuzzled her, like he missed her.
“I guess I don’t have to ask if you’ve been being good,” Ashni said, stroking his muzzle. “If you were being good, you wouldn’t be in this mess. You could’ve made a great war horse, you know? We could’ve gone into battle together and you could’ve kicked, bit, and head butted all the enemies you wanted, but you want to be a jerk.”
He snorted and she laughed. It was like he knew he was a jerk.
She kissed the side of his head. “Bye. Maybe the gods will see fit to reincarnate you as something who can just run free.”
She turned to leave, but he followed her and nudged her with his head. Workers rushed to wrangle Midnight Thunder. She didn’t look back as the horse cried out, fighting. A yank on her robes stopped her.
“Hey!” She spun and Midnight Thunder pushed her with his head again. “Look, it’s over. I tried. You and I want different things. I can’t save you.” He had the nerve to blow his hot breath in her face.
“If you can’t save him, who can?” her father asked, appearing through smoke.
Ashni practically jumped out of her skin. “Dad!”
“I was coming to make sure you were okay. I didn’t think the demon horse would still be here.” Her father motioned to Midnight Thunder.
Blood Rain (Warrior Class Book 3) Page 13
