Ilf reached for his spear and gripped it tightly. “I had hoped to be called. I was to spend this day here in prayer and wearing the Lady’s circlet.”
“It would be better for you to return to your band. I do not think they will turn aside, but if they come to your camp, you must not trust them. Any oath they might swear to your band will be a false one.”
“I didn’t know such evil could exist, but you cannot be lying before Her.” Ilf picked up his pack and weapons and followed us outside.
“This is their garb.” I pointed at my sheepskin coat. “Those men ride the horse, as do we. There will be no more than four or five of them. If you see them, you must prepare to fight. Do not treat with them; they will only be waiting for a chance to attack you. Do not let them get close—strike from a distance with arrows and wound the horses if you can. I can tell you no more and pray that those men do not seek out your band, but if they do, you must be prepared.”
He stepped back, wary of our horses, then took a piece of dried meat from his pack. “Take this in return for your warning, Arvil. I have food enough, and you cannot stop to hunt if you are to escape.”
I gave him one of the dead men’s knives in return. “Farewell,” he said as he slipped it under his belt. “I hope you find safety.”
“Farewell, Ilf.”
The young man ran off through the high grass as we refilled our skins and then led the horses to the stream to drink. Ilf, I thought, was one who might have become a friend. Had I been alone, I might have found a place with his band. I gazed at Birana as she knelt by the stream and drank from cupped hands.
“What can you tell me of this Barrier?” I asked.
She stood up. “We call it the Ridge. Long ago, even before most of our cities were built, it was to be a great wall around the lands we left to the Goddess, but it was never completed. It may have been that some decided there was no need for it, or maybe the effort simply became too great. Two cities lie far to the south of the Ridge, and any men living this far north would have to travel some distance to reach them. My city’s ships rarely fly beyond the Ridge.”
“Then we would be safer on the other side.”
“If we can cross the Ridge,” she said.
“If others have crossed it, we can find a way.” Ilf had spoken of bands by a lake, but I did not see how we could live among those men for long without revealing Birana’s true nature. Yet he had also said that one band among them had seen the Lady appear. Could this be only a dream, or the sort of vision that had been visited upon Truthspeaker when he fell into a frenzy? Or could it mean that one like Birana had come among them?
“The refuge I seek may be at that lake, or not far from it,” she said.
“Don’t raise your hopes too high,” I replied. “Ilf told us only what others told him.”
“There’s a chance.”
I did not object. It would be better for us to travel with some hope, however mistaken.
We stopped that night but did not rest for long. We ate some of our dried meat and rode on while it was still night. In the morning, we stopped once more near a few trees. I dismounted and secured Star.
“We mustn’t stop now,” Birana said.
“We can spend some moments here,” I answered. “I’ll teach you how to use a sling.” It had come to me that it might be easier for her to master this weapon rather than the spear or the bow. “Our enemies, if they follow, will still be far behind us.” The flatlands stretched far to the west, and yet I still saw no sign of pursuit. For a moment, I hoped that they had given up the chase, then turned to Birana. I did not want her helpless, if those men found us, but did not speak that thought aloud.
We searched for stones as I told her which ones were best for hurling; then I showed her how to fit a stone inside the sling. “You must hold the ends together,” I said, “and whirl the sling this way so that the stone is held until you release it.” I whirled the sling and sent the stone against a tree trunk. “Now you must try.”
At first, her stones fell from the sling before she could whirl it. “You must whirl it with more force.” I demonstrated the sling again, then handed it to her. She bit her lip and tried once more. This time, she was able to send the stone a few paces from her feet.
I stepped back and watched as she hurled more stones. They did not strike at where she aimed, and a few still fell from the sling before she could release them, but she was gaining some control.
“Enough,” I said.
“I still can’t hit anything.”
“That will come. You can practice later. You have done well enough for now.”
My praise brought a smile to her lips. We gathered up a few of the stones and continued on our way.
Ilf had said we would come to hills, and already the land to the east was not as flat. On the plain, we could see danger from a distance, while among hills, we could be surprised. We rode more slowly as I searched the ground for men’s tracks.
In the evening, we stopped again so that Birana could try the sling. Her stones flew farther now although they still found no target. I sat on her sheepskin coat as she practiced, watching her body move. Her small breasts lifted under her shirt as she swung her arm, and I imagined my hands upon them.
A half-moon lighted the sky that night. We rode on until I saw that Birana was growing weary. We came to a small slope where a few shrubs grew, and from where I could see much of the land below. “You may rest for a little while,” I told her, “but then we must go.”
She fell asleep quickly, pillowing her head on my old coat. I listened, as her breathing grew steady, then touched her hair lightly, so as not to awaken her. I wanted to lie at her side and feel her warmth against me. Instead, I stood up and paced until the tightness in my groin eased.
There was a torment in being with her, and I worried about how long I could endure it. I could overcome my longing during the day, but at night, when she slept, I had visions of her arms embracing me and of her lips touching mine as those of the spirit-women had. I might have satisfied my need alone, but I feared that this would only fuel my desire for her. All that she had told me had not robbed me of my longing for her.
“Birana,” I whispered. She stirred in her sleep, as if hearing me, but her eyes remained closed.
We were soon among hills, and our journey was a slow one, for I needed to be alert to danger. As the sky grew lighter, I led us up one high hill so that I could see what lay around us.
These hills were green, and wildflowers had begun to bloom. A flock of birds below us suddenly rose toward the sky in a black cloud. I lifted my eyes toward them and then saw, on the horizon, that which Birana had called the Ridge, and my courage nearly failed me. It was a wall so vast that it dwarfed the one around Birana’s enclave. I wondered how we could ever pass over it.
Birana lifted a hand to her lips as she gazed out at the Ridge. “It doesn’t seem to end,” I said.
“It was never completed. To get around it, we would have to go far to the north or south, but I don’t know…” Her voice trailed off.
“It is another sign of the power of your kind.”
She shook her head. “It’s only a sign of how much we feared when we retreated from your world.”
I slept uneasily that night, and for only a short time. Birana practiced with her sling before we mounted. I had cut away part of the ends to make the sling easier for her to use, and she dropped no stones this time before hurling them, but they did not travel as far. The sight of the Ridge seemed to have robbed her of her spirit.
As we rode east, the Ridge grew higher, and by morning, I could make out some of its features. What had seemed a wall from a distance now looked more like the side of a vast cliff. The Ridge, I saw, had been built of rock, and its surface was uneven, unlike the walls of enclaves. My hopes rose a little. On such a cliff, we might find footing.
Although we had allowed our horses to rest from time to time, I saw their weariness and feared to drive them too hard. Th
ey carried us slowly toward the Ridge while I searched for a way over it.
The cliff rose before us. I scanned the expanse quickly, then pointed south. “Do you see?” I asked. Birana shook her head. “There, in that place. It seems a traveler has marked the way.”
We rode toward where I had pointed. An arrow was lodged in the ground; I grabbed it and pulled it out. Perhaps a man some time ago had scouted this land and left a mark for his band. A few worn bones, those of a small creature, perhaps a hare, also lay there. I could imagine a man kneeling to pray before crossing the Ridge, offering the hare to the Lady, hoping She would allow him to pass. I scattered the bones with my foot.
I now saw a possible way up the Ridge, but we would have to lead the horses. I dismounted from Star and tied Wild Spirit’s reins more securely to my pack.
I led the horses onto the rocks while Birana followed. I had to pause often to test my footing. Ground that seemed solid could be loosened as we trod upon it. I murmured to the horses as we climbed, trying to soothe them, urging them on gently. Once we were forced to creep north, unable to move higher for long moments until I saw a way up. I might have turned back, but there was no room for us to turn around, and we were forced to press on. A stone, loosened by Star’s foot, fell, bringing down a shower of pebbles with it; I flattened myself against a wall of rock, then took several breaths before moving on again.
In this way we climbed, and as we moved higher on the Ridge, we found a wider passage among the rocks and firmer footing. I wondered how many feet had worn away this trail, how many men had come here, gazed at the Ridge, and then found the courage to cross.
I did not look up and refused to look down; I did not know that we were near the top until I saw that the passage ended between two sheets of rock. The way was narrow and steep, and I had to pull on Star’s reins to urge her through the passage.
I was standing on a flat surface that ran to the north and south and far enough to the east that I could not see what lay on the other side. I bent down and ran my hand along this surface, which seemed like the substance of the enclave’s wall. Birana’s kind had set this barrier here, must have used some of the mightiest of their magic to build it, and then had abandoned it.
Birana led Flame onto the top of the Ridge. I stepped back to let her pass, then looked out at the land to the west. At first, I saw only the hills, and then movement caught my eye. I squinted. The tiny forms of horses and riders appeared for an instant, then disappeared into a hollow between two hills.
I knew then what I would have to do.
I motioned to Birana and took her arm as she came up to me. “Steady yourself,” I muttered.
“What is it?”
“Gather your courage and look below.”
I heard her cry out as the riders reappeared. “Arvil!”
“They will be sure now that we have no band. They must have ridden their horses hard these past days to have come so far.” Their rage and their madness must have been great to have kept them on our trail.
Birana crouched down and hid her face. It had taken us much of the day to climb up, and our enemies would not reach the Ridge before evening. I wondered if they would chance climbing at night. They would see that we had found a way up. They had come this far; they would surely follow.
“Come with me,” I said. We led the horses toward the eastern side. Below lay more hills and the sparkling ribbon of a distant stream. Along this side of the Ridge, the way down seemed wider and less precarious, for the cliff was not as steep. “Do you think you can lead the horses down alone?”
Her eyes widened. “Won’t you be with me?”
“You must listen. I can run, or I can make my stand here. I count only three of them, and I’ll have high ground. We could end this pursuit here.”
“But, then why…”
“If you lead the horses down, you’ll be safe below. I’ll watch to see what they do. They may turn back, they may fear this Ridge, and then I can follow you. If they do not, they may still believe us gone, and I will have a chance to strike at them as they climb.”
“You might be hurt, Arvil. You might…” She looked away.
“If I fall, you will still have a chance to escape them. You can find another band to protect you when you reveal what you are.”
“No.” She lifted her eyes to me. “I’d rather stay with you. I may not be able to fight, but I can’t leave you to face them alone.” Perhaps she was thinking only that she would have little chance to find safety without me, but her words heartened me nonetheless.
I pointed to the south. “Lead the horses away, then, and secure them farther from here on this Ridge. I don’t want one of them to give us away.”
As she went off with the horses, I walked to the western side. The rocks at the top of the Ridge would conceal us from the men. I peered through the space between the rocks and saw a small boulder just below, along the passage.
I crept down, put my shoulder to this stone, and pushed it up until it blocked part of the space, then climbed over it. I hunkered down and began to test my bow, welcoming the feel of it in my hands. Birana came back to me, and I motioned her down.
She held out a hand as she seated herself. “I brought you food.” I chewed at my meat while she nibbled at hers, then drank some of my water. “What now?”
“We wait, and pray that they turn back.”
This waiting was hard for her. She said nothing, but her hands fluttered from time to time, and her lips were raw and bleeding as she bit at them. Once, I reached for her hand and rubbed my fingers against the calluses on her palm. Her hand was cold.
I leaned my back against the rock, and the knowledge that I would need to be alert later was enough to allow me to sleep. I awoke when the sun was setting. Birana was gazing over the boulder, keeping her head low.
The men were below; they had come to the place where we had begun our ascent. As they dismounted, I saw the legs of one horse give way. Its rider lashed at the beast until it got to its feet. They had driven their horses too hard. Perhaps they would have to rest.
One man gestured with his arms, then pointed at the Ridge. I could guess what he was saying. He would be telling his companions that they must press on, that they had gained on us, that from the top of the Ridge they could see where we had gone, that the moon would help to light their way. I did not move. One man raised his head. I was too far from him, and the light of the sun was too faint for him to see me, but he might suspect that we were lying in wait for his band. The men sat down as their horses grazed. They might wait us out, wait until we showed ourselves or gave some sign of our presence.
The sun had nearly set. One man stood up again. The others rose and began to lead the horses to the Ridge. They would not be starting their climb if they believed we were here.
Birana caught her breath. “Stay low,” I whispered. “I can do nothing until they are close. You must be still.”
A wind was blowing along the top of the Ridge. I hoped that the wind would not carry my arrows far from their mark. The moon would rise before they reached us. I would have to strike before they could see me clearly.
My mind grew calmer as we waited. I had the advantage of both high ground and surprise. “When I have loosed an arrow,” I whispered, “we shall both push this boulder down the side. Can you do that?”
She nodded. I wanted her safe, and yet I was happy she was with me.
The sun was gone and the half-moon beginning its climb before I heard the voices of the men, although I could not make out their words. I shrugged out of my coat and tested my bow again, then readied an arrow. Holding my bow at my side, I peered around the boulder, waiting to catch my first glimpse of them on the passage below.
At last, when it seemed that the entire night might pass before they reached us, I saw the first of the men. His hands were on the reins of his horse, his spear still tied to his back. He climbed until he was no more than a few paces below us. In one movement, I stood, aimed my bow, and loo
sed my arrow.
The arrow found the base of his neck. I saw him fall against the legs of his horse. I dropped down as we pushed against the boulder. As it rolled, it loosened other rocks, and I heard a scream as a man and a horse fell from the Ridge, bringing a shower of rocks and pebbles after them. The horse struck an outcropping and lay there senseless. The man disappeared. The horse nearest me scrambled for footing, then reared. Its legs flailed as I sent another arrow into its chest. The horse arched as it fell into the darkness.
One man remained. I heard him bellow his rage but could not see him. As I aimed in his direction, a cloud hid the moon. I released the arrow and heard the cracking of crumbling rock as a horse shrieked. Something had fallen, but I could not tell if it was the man or the horse I had struck.
Birana was on her feet, her back flat against the sheet of rock. She reached under her coat. I held my breath, afraid to move, unable to see.
He was suddenly before me, a shadow just below the gap in the rock. Before I could aim, he had hurled his spear. I leaped to one side to dodge his weapon and felt my head strike rock.
I have failed you, I thought. Darkness swallowed me as the surface rushed up to meet me.
BIRANA
Arvil had fallen, I could not tell if he still breathed, my terror nearly paralyzed me. Somehow I pulled a stone from my pocket and placed it in my sling as the moon reappeared.
The man was already pulling an object from his belt as I whirled the sling and released the stone. For the first time, I found my target. The stone hit him in the chest, and I heard him grunt as he staggered back.
My stone did not have enough force to injure him badly; I had done little more than startle him for a moment. I saw him teeter as I groped helplessly for another stone, and then he lost his footing. He disappeared over the edge.
The Shore of Women Page 26
