Lauren had not gone with the other women. Heidi’s children had been impressed into the charge of another woman and Reena looked across the ground at Lauren, wondering why the woman had chosen not to take the children herself. She offered to shelter them; she had spoken up for them and offered them refuge when their mother was being Shunned.
Lauren’s hair had been caught up at the nape of her neck with a soft leather tie and harsh light blue eyes held a troubled expression. The woods were silent around them. It was as if everything was hushed and still — expectant even. Reena had done everything she could to dispel the superstitious fear of those around her, but there was a sense of dread rolling up inside her that she could not control. It ate away at her defenses; it whispered in a little voice inside her head that she could not ignore.
The trees were black and bare in the moonlight. The canopy of leaves that was often their shelter and their shield hung silent and unmoving. The crickets and tree frogs were also silent, they did not croak or sing and there were no splashes of water from the nearby ponds. Even the night birds had lost their voices, and that alone worried Reena more than she could’ve said.
To hide her feelings she said as calmly as possible, “I think we should all go to bed now. We have to get up early tomorrow and we have to do some serious hunting. There is no way we can go into the desert without food, and for that we have to kill a deer.”
Lucas asked, “Have you lost your mind girl?”
Lauren added, “There haven’t been any deer in these woods in almost a decade. The only place to bag a deer is closer to the outside, and not even on the outside but within feet of the city walls.”
Reena knew she was asking for trouble, but she also knew that if they went to the desert without a substantial amount of food they would never make it out on the other side. “I know that. I also know that it’s worth the risk; we have to have it.”
Dax said in a mild tone, “Have you considered how long it will take to clean it, dress it, and preserve it for travel?”
“Yes, I have. But there is another way besides smoking.”
“Are you thinking of using the ground radish? I know the city old folks used to use it to keep meat fresh for days but that hasn’t been around in at least a decade.” The person speaking was an old timer, someone who had been an Outlaw since long before Reena had even been born.
Reena turned to look at him, “Have you ever used it?”
“Of course. But that was when it was available; it is not available anymore. It’s nowhere to be found, at least not in the woods.”
Reena said, “Perhaps not in the woods but it is available. They burn it in the temples in the city. To get it they go to the farmers right outside the walls. The farmers that we never go to because their too close to the city, and we risk too much by going there. We already have to get closer than we would like to get a deer, so we might as well get the radish stew.”
Lucas said, “Girl, you have completely lost your mind. First you want us to go get a deer within feet of the city walls and you want us to steal a radish while we’re at it that may or may not exist.”
Anger made her face turn bright red. “It does exist! I have seen it!”
Lucas said, “So you have seen it. That’s fine, for you. But for the rest of us we haven’t and yet were supposed to just take your word that it’s there.”
Why was he bucking against her leadership? They needed the deer and they needed the radish and surely he of all people needed to know that.
She glared at him as she said, “Lucas, you of all people know that there are things in the city that can get us across that desert that we simply do not have and we cannot do without. Besides, if they are looking for us in the woods they would have no reason to look for us in the city.”
Silence fell over the entire gathered tribe. Nobody had seen that coming; in truth Reena had not even noticed she was going to say it, but now that she had, it made perfect sense. If the soldiers were roaming the woods, then going into the city was their best bet. They could access the road to the desert from the city just as easily as they could from the woods and if they could get things from the city that would keep them alive crossing the desert, why not?
Lauren said, “She has the right of it there.”
Eventually they all agreed.
**
Without the children to slow them down, they made it to the city within 2 ½ days. They made better time than any of them expected, considering the massive amount of soldiers roaming the woods looking for them. As they walked they had worked on ways to disguise themselves. Some of the ideas had been so utterly laughable that they actually had all laughed, a good thing since they were also so incredibly tense that some of their words had nearly shattered like glass when they spoke.
They were not in the clear yet though. The city was in sight, its tall spires and temples rising high above the clutter of rooflines. The heavy smell of incense hung over the air: rich, perfumed, and heavier than any sent most of them had ever smelled. Bells were ringing, a clashing tinkling sound that would’ve been musical or pleasing to the ear if it did not sound so much like an alarm.
It took all of them longer than it should have to recognize that those bells were indeed an alarm and by the time they did they were caught up in a wave of humanity that was being pushed and shoved towards the gates. There was nothing to do but to go along and hope for the best.
The guards at the gate were screaming that everybody coming through the gate show their hands. Lucas looked at Reena who looked back at him; the two of them were very well aware of the reason why the guards wanted to see everyone’s hands. Gladiators were tattooed across the palm, and he was definitely a tattooed gladiator.
Reena had escaped that simply because the Governor had never thought to issue that decree towards her or maybe because the people under whose care she had landed had decided never to give her that mark; either way her palms were clear and unlined.
Lucas though, if he were caught he would be killed. There was no doubt in their minds that now was the time that he would be caught. They had decided to skip bagging the deer and gathering the radish until they were on their way out. Reena had hoped to be able to catch up to Praxis or Nemia or even Hector, if any of them were still alive. She knew that any of them would be happy to supply her with the things that she would need to get across the desert, and she was equally sure that all of them knew that that was exactly where she was bound. That that was the only place she could go.
Reena was regretting her foolish decision to go straight to the city first. Why had she not stopped to think about the mark on Lucas’s palms? How had she forgotten about that? It was there and glaringly obvious, nothing would wear that off, nothing ever could. Slaves were tattooed on the forearm and gladiators on the palm. The girls in the tavern were tattooed on the back and everybody who came in was checked for a mark in some way.
Deal said, “I will see you guys inside. You better come and get me.”
Before any of them could wonder what he meant by that, Deal began to scream and dance in a small circle. His bare feet kicked up a small cloud of dust around his slight form and he lifted his hands high above his head and yelled out, “Behold people. I am the one that was released by the great gladiator arena! I came back to do as much damage to this forsaken city as I possibly can so all of you can kiss my narrow little ass!!”
The soldiers immediately chased him, while those in line and the spectators that lined the upper walls of the city began to howl laughter. Deal darted left and then right, always managing to somehow elude the soldiers’ grasp. Once he even pulled his robe up, exposed his bare buttocks and shook them at them. The laughter grew louder and Reena would’ve stood there watching forever if Lucas had not grabbed her by the shoulder and hustled her in through the gates.
“They’re going to take him to the Pit. We have to get him back!”
“We will,” Dax said grimly. “Look at his father’s face—do you think you
should dishonor what his son just did by getting us all caught?”
Reena had no answer to that because there was no answer to that. They all moved inside the gate and then deeper inside the city, moving in small groups or alone and never looking at one another but always keeping within sight of the others.
They were headed toward the temple. They needed help, they needed answers. When they arrived, they saw Nemia at the front gate dispensing flowers and water to the followers who came for them. As soon as she spotted Reena she nodded slightly and held up a finger in a fleeting gesture that meant wait.
Reena did wait, they all did. When the temple doors were finally cleared, Nemia beckoned them forth and they came, still in the small groups, to the doors of the temples.
If Nemia were surprised to see so many of them it did not show. She led them inside, taking them past the bathing chambers and to the small room where they all gathered. There were so many of them the room could barely hold them all, but that was not a situation that lasted long because as soon as they were all inside, several other priestesses appeared bearing pitchers of cool water and plates of food: cheese, bread, fruit, and sliced meat.
There were not enough chairs, so they all arranged themselves on the floor, all of them were hungry and tired and it showed. When Reena asked Nemia were Praxis was she said, “He will not be able to get away until later tonight. I will send word for him. Until then, you must all remain here and remain quiet. At some point we will get you all bathed and clean so that you can begin your quest.”
At the word quest every person in the tribe stiffened. They exchanged glances that said exactly what they thought and the priestess saw those glances. “Yes, this is an ordained quest. The gods have seen fit to favor you; do not be afraid and know that even as your journey shall be hard it shall be rewarding.”
Reena reflected bitterly that it was easy for the other girl to say that, she was not the one who was about to have to journey across the desert. She kept that thought to herself though, just as she did not ask what time Praxis would be able to come.
Why was she so excited about seeing him again? Her face burned every time she remembered the kisses that they had shared here in this very room. Was he just using her? He captured her and brought her to the city and then he had helped her escape although she could not say why and she still wasn’t sure what his motives were, or who he was truly loyal to, if anyone.
He was so handsome though, so strong and he seemed so brave all the time. The other soldiers would have killed her the night she had put the werebene in the cooking pot if he had not intervened. A frown creased her brow at that memory. Why was it that he alone had noticed that she had been plucking the werebene? It wasn’t a plant that was common to the people in the city — it grew deep in the woods, where most were afraid to go because they were afraid of spirits.
Praxis was a puzzle, and one she was not sure she can afford to try to solve. When he came she was going to guard both her heart and her words — and her mouth. If this quest was indeed one that the gods had decided for her, this was her fate and her destiny and she would do it, but she was going to have to have help.
All of the tribe bathed and were given fresh robes, Reena included. She already knew what it was like to be cleaned in those sacred chambers, but even so, after it was finished and she was back in the small room clean and fresh with her belly full of food, she could not help but feel grateful for the experience.
The other priestesses had brought soft pillows and blankets for them to sleep that night; the room was crowded and mostly airless but it was still more comfortable and secure than many of the places they had been laying their heads lately, so all of them were happy to take that night and its respite regardless of what small discomforts might be involved.
It was late when Praxis arrived. Reena knew he was there because Nemia shook her awake, putting a finger to her lips to remind her to be quiet. Lucas sat up immediately, his hand going for his weapon, but Reena shook her head and whispered to him that she had to go meet a friend, an ally she would help as they made their way across the desert.
Praxis awaited her in her room on the other side of the Temple. Incense burned heavily. Coating the air was not just its smell but a heavy thick smoke; gray streamers of that smoke drifted around the room and Reena felt like she was about to suffocate or smother in its rich perfume.
Her heartbeat accelerated when she saw Praxis standing there. His uniform was stained and dirty, and there was a bandage wrapped around his upper right arm and his face was tired and drawn.
Without thinking about it she ran at him and threw herself into his arms. They came up and wrapped around her, holding her tight and she relaxed into him feeling more secure and safer than she had in a long time. She was not sure why he made her feel that way, she was anything but safe and she knew it.
“I found the sword. I think I’m supposed to go across the desert with it, take it back to the city where it belongs. Is that right? Do you know there is even a city there Praxis? Why is this happening to me? What if I fail?”
Praxis did not answer this question immediately; instead he held her back from his body slightly, his eyes studying her face carefully before he answered. “We are all called to do what we are called to do Reena. The gods decide, not us. I knew from the moment I met you that you were the one the prophecy spoke of, and while I am sure that is going to be hard and it will be dangerous, you have enough strength to do it.”
“I’m scared.” Her lips quivered as she said the words. She had not said those words out loud ever, not even to Lucas who was rapidly becoming not just her right hand man, but her best friend. “Praxis, what if I fail? I will be leading the people that are following me straight into death in that hellhole of a wasteland.”
“You won’t fail. You have to trust me on this one Reena.” His fingers stroked her hair and he leaned forward to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. Her eyes closed as she waited for him to kiss her mouth but he didn’t even though she wanted him to desperately. His muscles of his arms were hard and almost inflexible below her fingers, his mouth was full, lush, and so kissable…
“You have to leave tonight.”
“I can’t. We have to have supplies. We’re going to bag a deer, take it down right out there by the outside.”
“Why do you need a whole dear?” Praxis asked. “Why not just take dried meat?”
“Dried meat is so salty; it makes people thirsty. You’ve obviously never had to live off dried meat for days at a time.”
Praxis’ lips twitched into a grin, “Actually, I have. And you’re right — it is incredibly salty. It’s how they keep it from bearing the poisons that come from meat that isn’t cured properly. But how do you plan on carrying fresh meat across the desert?”
“I need ground radish. I also need water bags, filled to the brim. We can’t go back through the woods, and for the last day or two we have been cut off for most of the water sources so we’re already lacking in in those.
“We need tried vegetables, and fruit. I would take cheese but it wouldn’t last under the sun; we also need other supplies and many of our members do not have shoes. The sand would burn their feet off. They’re used to walking on the floor of the woods, not the sand of the desert. Without those things we will never make it, we cannot get those things anywhere else.”
Praxis said, “You are utterly correct in that. But you cannot stay the entire night here Reena. I know your people are tired, I know you’re exhausted as well but the soldiers are scouring not just the woods but the city; they are determined to find you — they are determined to wipe you from the earth. You do not understand how bad things have been since your escape.”
Tears filled her eyes. Anger swelled up inside her, ballooning as fast as the sorrow that his words had brought about. “I don’t understand? I’m not the one who decided to just run away, Praxis! You and your friends engineered the whole thing! It was your decision to send me away, I never wanted to go! Now
you make me feel guilty because I did? What kind of a person are you? You send me on a quest and say that it’s the gods’ decision; that it is my fate and yet you belittle me for taking it on!”
“No, that is not what I am saying. I am saying that none of us realized how insane the Governor is, how single-minded. None of us knew that his anger was so great his hatred of you so high that he would have you murdered at any cost.”
Reena’s anger and sorrow collapsed inward, leaving her feeling lonely and frightened. “Why does he hate me so Praxis? Surely I’m not the first person who ever escaped death in the Arena! It was as if he looked at me and decided that he wanted me dead in the worst way possible and he would not be satisfied until I am.”
“Tell her.” Nemia came in so silently that neither Praxis or Reena had noticed her. She stood near the doorway, the small candle she held in her hand highlighting her loveliness, showing the pristine whiteness of her robes. “Tell her Praxis or I will.”
”Now is not the time.” A muscle in his jaw dropped and Reena stared at it, wondering what it would be like to put her fingers on that smooth jaw of his, to touch his skin and to draw his face towards hers. His scent came to her nostrils: musky, masculine, wood smoke and sweat. She wanted to nuzzle her face into his neck and smell that scent until she could keep it in her memory forever.
“Now is not the time for what?” Reena asked. “It has something to do with me, so tell me. Why should I be locked out of something that pertains to me?”
Praxis said, “This will not bring you better understanding and it will not help you to cross the desert either. If anything it will make it harder. Let’s not do that. When you return, and yes Reena, I do believe that you will return, I will tell you all of it. We will tell you all of it.”
Battle Cry Page 5
