by Astrid Amara
Suddenly Jandu realized he was looking at Lazro, Tamarus Arundan’s son. It seemed Keshan, too, had just recognized Lazro, because he started forward but Jandu held Keshan back. Such an action would be an easy way for Darvad to place spies in their camp.
Jandu frowned at Lazro, trying to radiate Triya regality. “Are you such a coward that you would desert your army? Where is your pride?”
The tall man next to Lazro lifted his head and glared. “We are not cowards!”
“Keshan, please believe me. You told me yourself about the rules of battle but I didn’t understand.” Lazro held his shoulder tighter and Jandu could see blood seeping out between his fingers. “Bravery is foolishness in the face of a sharta. I am an honorable man, but I am not a fool. I will return to my family in one piece. There is no honor in dying like a dog on that field and leaving my father alone.”
Jandu stared down at the men with a sinking sensation in his gut. He felt ashamed for his own family’s role in determining the rules of war. He resheathed his sword and brought his hands together in the sign of peace.
“Join us at the fire,” he offered, making room for the men. “Lord Keshan can see to your wound, Lazro.”
The men prostrated themselves low, and then approached the fire, thanking Jandu profusely. Jandu caught Keshan’s eye briefly, and Keshan raised an eyebrow at him.
Jandu served the men the leftovers of their rice and tea while Keshan rummaged in their tent for his herbs.
“What are your friend’s names, Lazro?” Jandu asked.
“I am Warash, Lord Jandu,” the man’s tall companion said.
“I am Ohendru, my lord,” the third man spoke.
Jandu nodded. Keshan emerged from the tent and then sat beside Lazro. He stared at the young man’s wound, but did not touch him.
Jandu watched Keshan nervously hesitate on the edge of action. He clearly waited for permission, but Lazro was obviously in too much pain to realize he needed to give it. Finally, Jandu spoke.
“If Keshan is to tend to your arm, he needs to touch you.”
Lazro nodded.
“Do you understand what you are doing by allowing him to touch you? Are you willing to become tainted?”
Lazro nodded again. “My lord, I think my wound will hurt me more than Lord Keshan’s tainted caste.”
Jandu and Keshan both laughed. Jandu’s tension subsided. He leaned back against his log as Keshan whispered shartic prayers and rubbed herbs into Lazro’s wounds. Jandu asked the men about the war, about the Uru camp, and about Darvad, and they honestly responded, enthusiastically revealing details about the layout of the camp.
The three soldiers helped Jandu and Keshan wash their pots and tend to the fire, so it seemed natural for Jandu to offer them a place to stay in the camp.
“I cannot guarantee anything about the future,” Jandu warned. “But as long as you are in my camp, I will protect you, deserter or no. Caste means nothing to me now, so you will be respected here for your own merits.” As he said the words, Jandu couldn’t help but smile. Five years ago, he would have laughed out loud if someone had predicted he would have said such a thing. Jandu went to his tent, and returned with a single blanket. He gave it to Lazro.
“You may use this blanket if you would like,” he offered. He watched the soldiers carefully. “Keshan and I sleep together.”
The soldiers looked at each other immediately. Lazro blanched, but then nodded his acceptance. The other two soldiers seemed to follow his lead. They busied themselves with cleaning the campsite, but didn’t raise a word of objection.
“Good night,” Jandu offered, letting out the breath he was holding.
“Good night, Prince,” Warash responded. Lazro and Ohendru also bid them a good night.
Keshan entered the tent quietly after Jandu, lighting his way with a butter lamp. After Jandu and Keshan settled themselves under their remaining blanket, Jandu turned to Keshan, and found him grinning.
“What?” Jandu whispered.
Keshan buried his face against Jandu’s shoulder to muffle his laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Jandu demanded.
Keshan’s eyes danced with joy. “That was a very subtle speech.”
“I was testing their loyalty.”
“Good decision. Testing the loyalty of enemy deserters we just met by declaring we’re sexual deviants.” Keshan laughed again.
“What would you have me do? Turn them away? If the Urus find them, they’ll be executed. If the Parans find them, they’ll become slaves. I’m willing to give them a blanket and my protection. But in exchange, they have to accept that we’re together, and that you are not beneath them. That’s all I ask.”
Keshan kissed Jandu. His tongue flirted briefly in Jandu’s mouth, and then pulled away as he grinned once more.
“Remember when I told you that the world would change?”
Jandu nodded. “Yes. I’m glad to see you are back to remembering and believing it as well.”
“What you did out there, Jandu, was light the pyre on this era. The death of this age just officially begun. The Triya are over, starting with you, me, and those three frightened men.”
Jandu snorted. “What a pitiful beginning to the new age.”
“Wait until you see what we can become.”
“I believe in you.” Jandu pulled Keshan closer, relishing the heat of Keshan’s body.
“Believe in us. You are the one who has begun it now.”
◆◆◆
“Jandu!”
Jandu groggily awoke from his slumber. For a moment, he thought he was back in the mountains of Pagdesh again. But then he opened his eyes and saw Keshan asleep beside him, curled up in a ball and hogging all of the blanket. Jandu gently tucked a lock of hair behind Keshan’s ear, and then fumbled in the darkness for his sandals.
“Jandu!”
Jandu recognized Baram’s voice. He rushed out of the tent to see his massive brother struggling against half a dozen Yashva who had him pinned him to the ground. The three Uru deserters stood over Baram’s prone body, spears leveled. Their loyalty warmed Jandu’s heart, and calmed his nerves about this impromptu visit from his brother.
“He’s all right,” he assured the men. Warash and the others immediately lowered their weapons. The Yashva, however, held on.
“Jandu!” Baram cried, sounding almost frightened.
“Let him go,” Jandu said in broken Yashva. He had learned that much from Keshan, at least.
The Yashva immediately released Baram, and bowed to Jandu before slipping back into their world.
Baram jumped up angrily, his expression black with rage and fear.
“What the fuck was that!” He swung his fist at the ghostly bodies, but his arm simply passed through their light.
Jandu yawned, trying to pretend that his heart wasn’t hammering in his chest. “Mendraz, King of the Yashvas, has offered his allegiance to me. They are my bodyguard.”
Baram’s eyed widened. Jandu could see his excitement. But then Baram turned and glared at the deserters. “And who are these people?”
“My men,” Jandu said.
“They look like deserters,” Baram said, scowling at them.
“They’re mine now.” Jandu crossed his arms. “Have a seat.”
He and Baram moved towards the low embers of the fire. Warash, Lazro and Ohendru watched warily.
“Would you give my brother and I five minutes alone?” Jandu asked them. The three soldiers bowed, then sidled off into the darkness.
Jandu fed branches onto the coals of the fire as Baram took a seat. Baram sniffed at the empty cup beside the log, and then tossed it aside.
“What are you eating?” Baram asked gruffly.
Jandu shook his head. Of course Baram’s first question would be about food. “Rice and cheese that Suraya gave us when we left. We’re almost out.”
Baram didn’t look at him. “Here.” He stuck out his hand, in which miraculously had appeared a roll stuffed wi
th meat and yogurt. Jandu took the roll without a word. He tore it in two and set one half aside for Keshan. Baram fed twigs into the embers of the fire and little flames leapt up. As the light increased, Jandu noticed the bandage wrapped around Baram’s left bicep.
“How’s Suraya?” Jandu asked.
“Mad at me,” Baram said. “She called me an asshole. I guess I have you to blame for encouraging such foul language.”
Jandu didn’t respond.
Baram picked at the log beneath him. “She’s also refusing any sexual favors until I apologize to you.”
Jandu snorted. “I’ve been your loving brother for twenty-nine years, and you repudiate me, but Suraya refuses to sleep with you for twenty four hours, and you are suddenly contrite.”
Baram smiled slightly. “Well, she’s hotter than you.”
Jandu sighed. “Baram, what do you want to say? It’s late, and I’m tired.”
Baram moved closer to him, then crushed him in a hug.
Jandu’s roll leaked yogurt down the front of his cotton shirt. He was annoyed by this. And then, realizing what his brother was doing, forgave him.
“I’m sorry I shouted at you,” Baram said.
Jandu leaned back and wiped the yogurt off his shirt “It’s all right.”
“I spoke out of shock, not out of anger,” Baram said.
“It’s fine.”
“I love you, Jandu.”
Jandu stopped wiping his chest and studied his brother’s expression. He saw honest regret in Baram’s eyes. Jandu hadn’t considered how much Baram’s rejection had hurt him, but now, seeing him genuinely penitent, affection flooded Jandu and he forgave his prior callousness. He smiled. “I love you too.”
“Even if you are a big faggot.”
Jandu continued to smile. “Thanks. So much.”
“But you have lost all your Suraya privileges, understand?”
“I wasn’t really using them, you know,” Jandu replied.
Baram added extra kindling to the fire. “Suraya’s pregnant again.”
Jandu shook his head. “God, you two work fast. Congratulations.”
Baram grinned back.
Keshan emerged from the tent, looking sleepy, with crease-lines on one cheek. Jandu couldn’t help but smile.
Keshan tensed as soon as he saw Baram. “What’s going on?”
“Baram is sharing his leftovers with us,” Jandu said. He handed Keshan his half of the roll.
“Is it poisoned?” Keshan smirked.
Baram stiffened at Keshan’s words. Baram may have made peace with Jandu, but it was obvious that it would take more time before he was ready to exchange banter with Keshan.
“I assume you two are responsible for so many of Mazar’s shartas failing today,” Baram said. He turned back to face Jandu, obviously ignoring Keshan’s remarks.
Jandu nodded. “We tried to get them all.”
“Our spies report that Mazar is furious,” Baram said. “They are planning a massive assault tomorrow, using all the celestial weapons they know.”
“You need to kill Mazar,” Keshan stated. He stared into the fire, his expression grave. “There is only one way you will win this war, and that is by removing the general of the Uru army.”
Baram shook his head. “Every time someone gets near him, he spits out a sharta. And he is well-guarded.”
“Have you tried the Tunufisharta?” Keshan asked.
Baram scowled. “Only Jandu knows it.”
“That’s a pity.” Keshan leaned back with a smirk on his face.
Jandu touched his brother’s knee. “I could speak it from here but it won’t do any good unless Mazar is in range.”
“I could drive him close to your position,” Baram said.
“He doesn’t know we’re still here in the forest?” Jandu asked.
Baram shrugged. “I’m not sure. The rumors are all over the place. Some soldiers believe you are fighting in the guise of another.”
“If Jandu was fighting, everyone would know exactly who he was,” Keshan said.
Baram threw his stick into the fire. “Look, if I can get Mazar to drive by the edge of the battlefield, can you use your sharta?”
“If he goes slowly enough,” Jandu said.
“It would be better if he stopped completely,” Keshan said. He continued to stare into the fire with a bemused grin on his face.
Jandu narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“If Baram can push him into the forest, I will be able to stop Mazar long enough for you to shoot him,” Keshan told Jandu.
Jandu turned to his brother. “Can you do it?”
Baram thought for a moment, and then nodded. “I will get him to you tomorrow.”
“Good.” Keshan yawned and stretched. “Then I’m going back to bed.” He smiled at Jandu, and then withdrew back into their tent.
Jandu touched his brother’s arm. “Do you think you can bring us some more food tomorrow?”
Baram frowned at the tent, but when he turned to Jandu his expression softened. “Certainly.”
“I need enough to provision my men,” Jandu said. It felt good to say the words, to point out that he had supporters. “What will you tell Yudar?”
“As little as possible. Rishak is our general now and he’s all but said he’d take you back if it weren’t for Yudar.” Baram nodded to himself. “Just be ready for Mazar.”
“I will.”
Jandu walked with Baram back to the Paran camp, feeling a reassuring burst of pleasure, striding alongside his brother once more. Two nights ago, Jandu had thought he had lost his family. Now Baram was beside him, brusquely slapping him on the shoulder. Things would never be the same between them again, Jandu knew, but now, at least there was honesty between them and it gave Jandu hope.
“Baram. Thank you.” Jandu bent down and touched his brother’s feet in respect. In response, Baram ruffled his hair.
“You will always be my little brother, Jandu,” Baram replied with a smile. Then he turned and strode into the Paran camp.
Chapter 53
AT DAYBREAK, MAZAR LED HALF OF THE URU ARMY IN ONEdirection, and Tarek Amia and his allied states led their troops in the other, creating a pincer around Yudar’s location. Keshan watched the battle transpire, breathing deeply, preparing himself for another grueling day of battling shartas.
But he was more worried about Jandu, and whether he would actually kill Mazar.
Jandu had said little that morning, rising and completing his ablutions without a word. Jandu greeted the half a dozen new faces who had joined the other deserters in the dead of night. He spoke with them briefly, and offered them a little food and learned their names. Most were Chaya, though they came from both Paran and Uru forces. Jandu assigned them duties: building shelters, foraging for food and collecting water from the nearby stream.
Now, perched beside Keshan on the tree limb, Jandu was silent once more, Zandi held loosely in his hands.
“As soon as Mazar is within range, I will hold him,” Keshan told Jandu. “I’m not sure how long I will be able to maintain the curse, so you must act fast.”
“I’ll be ready.” Jandu showed no outward hesitation.
Keshan heard someone say his name, and looked down to see more deserters, pointing up at Jandu and Keshan with an expression of hope in their eyes. Several were burned from the previous days’ shartas. Keshan knew some would die before the end of the night. But for now, they looked to Jandu to save them and to treat them with respect.
The Yashva kept constant vigil in the surrounding forest, monitoring the humans, their devotion to Jandu and Keshan unwavering.
Jandu pulled an arrow from his quiver. He nocked it into place and practiced his aim. Keshan realized he’d seen this moment in time before, in a premonition when he was still just a child and then later, time after time. But in his premonition the man’s face had always been obscured, like the face of a Yashva blurred in the human world. And so he hadn’t recognized it unti
l that small motion, when the man beside him took aim.
It was him. Jandu. This was the moment which would change history, that Keshan had spent his entire life striving for. This was where he was meant to be. His changed world, it wouldn’t have come from Darvad after all. Keshan had been wrong.
It was Jandu, all along. The savior of Marhavad sat beside him. Keshan’s branding, his abandonment of the Uru side of the war, it was all intended, and now, having given up his vision, Keshan’s destiny would come true after all.
Keshan had waited for this moment since he was six years old. Now, he couldn’t contain the tears of gratitude and love that filled his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Jandu asked, his hard expression softening for a moment.
“Nothing,” Keshan said, smiling and wiping his eyes.
Jandu glanced down at the growing crowd of deserters. “By the time the day is over, we may have more infantry than Darvad.”
Keshan smiled down at the men. “One of them told me he joined us because of a rumor that you are forming a revolutionary army in the forest to challenge both armies and remove the distinction of caste from society altogether. The rumor even mentions demons on your side.”
“Close enough.” Jandu leaned over and kissed Keshan briefly on the lips, then surveyed his surprised troops with a
smirk, issuing his own challenge. Many of the men shifted or averted their eyes, but none of them left.
Keshan turned his attention back to the battlefield before him.
The earth was dark with gore. Mazar’s shartic rampage left a trail of severed heads, limbless corpses, and great spills of blood. Horses slipped on the remains of gutted humans, and trampled over charred bodies. Cratered ground, littered with corpses, marked where a minor sharta had been used to clear the path of foot soldiers. Bodies were scorched beyond recognition. Melted metal helmets and armor glittered amid the ash.
Almost worse than the carnage on the battlefield was the fact that the Triya did not pay the gruesome display any heed. Chariots rolled over limbs and men not even dead as they charged forth towards their targets, no longer bothering to steer clear of the wounded.
