by Reece Dinn
'Yes. Will return to talk by next moon.'
The Lial of Twiz eyed Melonaz suspiciously. Lial not strong. He smart though. Knows what happen? Melonaz knew that this Lial wouldn't be satisfied with half truths, but Melonaz wasn't his responsibility, so he would hold his tongue.
'Next moon,' said the Lial of Twiz. He pointed at Melonaz. 'I will be watching you, Sehnal. If you still alive.'
Melonaz swallowed hard.
'Up,' snapped the Lial.
Melonaz slowly got to his feet. He take me away? Kill me out on plain? Make me fight him?
'Nofar, Chicoroz,' said the Lial.
'Nofar, Seboraz,' replied the Lial of Twiz.
With that the Lial motioned for Melonaz to follow him. Melonaz obeyed, trailing him as they passed through the village. He kept his eyes on the ground but he could feel everyone examining him as he passed them by, questioning who he was, and his part in the big fire that everyone would have seen.
They didn't leave the village by the donoz, which felt wrong to Melonaz. The Lial led him directly onto the snow plain. Fire and smoke billowed up into the sky ahead and he realised that they weren't going back to the village. A strong dread filled him, his heart thumping in his chest.
'You give me dilemma,' said the Lial. 'Hard choice.'
Melonaz didn't respond.
The forest was still burning, though it was mostly embers now. The sky was clearing, rays of sunlight breaking through the cracks in the clouds. It was hard to believe that earlier that day they'd been the source of so fierce a storm. The journey across the plain felt like the longest journey Melonaz had ever taken, every step he took an agonising reminder of his guilt.
They entered the forest.
'It happen again, yes?' the Lial asked. 'Don't lie.'
Too late to lie. 'Yes, Lial.'
'I know it you. Sense it. Raiz the same. Bigger though. Much bigger. Speak. You fight them. That clear. What happen?'
'The three of them attack me. Beat me. I lose control,' said Melonaz.
The Lial spotted the bodies before Melonaz did. His pace quickened. He stooped down near where the three boys' bodies where and picked something up out of the snow.
It was Nekolz's sword.
'Lose control? Explain,' snapped the Lial.
'They beat me,' said Melonaz. 'Make me angry. Raiz heat up. Grow. Can't stop it.'
The Lial turned to face him. 'Not stop it?'
'No, Lial.'
The Lial marched over to one of the bodies and prodded it with Rorkaroz. 'Look what do. LOOK.'
Melonaz forced himself to look at the burnt body.
'YOU DO THIS,' roared the Lial. 'YOU.' He threw Nekolz's sword at him. The blade missed him by a hands width.
Melonaz trembled as the Lial's Raiz swelled.
'You kill three Sehnal. Three Sehnal I need. You forget what up in mountains?' A spark of lightning shot out of the Lial's free hand and struck the rocky ground.
'It accident, Lial.'
'Accident? ACCIDENT?'
Melonaz looked at the ground. 'I lose control.'
'I say you danger. Say I should kill you. I right. How Raiz grow? Speak.'
'Not know, Lial,' Melonaz whispered.
The Lial advanced on him, Rorkaroz held menacingly at his side. 'Not know? NOT KNOW?' He burst forward.
Melonaz whimpered, trying to move but his body not responding. The Lial slammed Rorkaroz's butt into his throat, whipping him off his feet. It remained pressed against his throat as he was slammed onto the ground, the staff squeezing in, preventing him from breathing. The Lial glared down at him, his eyes wild.
'Make Raiz grow. Let me see. Show me how,' the Lial spat.
Melonaz grabbed Rorkaroz and tried to pull it off him, but the Lial was far too strong, he couldn't even budge it. The agony was unbearable. All his strength left him in an instant. He couldn't breathe, could barely think.
'What are you?' hissed the Lial. 'What?' He pressed Rorkaroz harder into Melonaz's throat.
Melonaz pawed at the Lial's leg. Tried to force out words of apology, of regret, shame, guilt, but all that came out was a squeak. There was enormous pressure in his head. It felt like his eyes were going to burst.
'Come on. Show me,' the Lial cried. He placed a foot on Melonaz's chest and pressed all of his weight down on him. 'SHOW ME YOUR POWER.'
Can't. Melonaz hit Rorkaroz weakly with the flat of his palm, pawed at the Lial's leg. His legs kicked out. Tears streamed down his face. His mind darkened.
The Lial removed his staff from Melonaz's throat, took his foot off his chest. Melonaz tried to breathe, but his throat would barely open. A tiny amount of air entered his lungs. He gasped and gasped, and little by little, his throat opened up. He rubbed it with his thumbs, desperately trying to relax the sore muscles there.
'Pathetic,' said the Lial.
There was no strength left in Melonaz. He barely had the will to move. He simply lay still, concentrating on breathing.
The Lial glared down at him. 'I should kill you.'
Yes, Lial. I know.
'Not feel Raiz so big. It bigger than even Nam-Ainez's, I think.' He prodded Melonaz in the stomach. 'Where Raiz go? Not draw it back?'
Melonaz tried to croak out words, but his throat hurt too much. The Lial kicked him in the side and walked back to the bodies.
Slowly, Melonaz sat up, his head spinning from the motion. He let me live?
The Lial turned back to him. 'Speak.'
'U...us..e...it....,Li...al,' Melonaz croaked.
'Make fire?'
'Not...wan..t...to....It...ha...ppen.'
'Not want to? In middle of fight? Don't lie.' The Lial walked back to him.
He rubbed his throat, trying to loosen it. 'Raiz....really.....hot. Not...con..trol....it.'
'So you say.' The Lial kicked him in the side again, then knelt down and pressed his fingers hard into his skull. Melonaz squealed. 'Look at what you do,' hissed the Lial and forced him to look at the five bodies. 'You kill two girls you vow to protect. LOOK.'
More tears ran down Melonaz's face. I so sorry.
'If village know what you do they kill you,' the Lial whispered in his ear.
The village. Their family. It wasn't just the Lial he had to worry about. Anyone related to one of the five would be baying for his blood. They can't know.
The Lial stood. 'You dead.'
Melonaz's heart skipped a beat.
'Dead to village. You die here.'
What?
The Lial turned back to face him. 'I need you. The village needs you. You must die here.'
Not understand. 'Not...know...what...'
'Ludenez do this,' said the Lial, gesturing to the smouldering forest. 'You six fight the ludenez. All die in fight. Not know why girls here.'
'Lial, I...'
'Quiet,' the Lial growled. 'You die here. Not return to village again.'
'What?' whimpered Melonaz.
'Not go back again.'
What about Mal? Diamoz? Aeolnaz? I need see them. Need to know I live. He went to speak but the Lial cut him off.
'You not see family. You dead to them,' said the Lial.
Not see again? Melonaz wiped away a tear from his eye.
The Lial knelt back down and grabbed Melonaz's braid. Something crackled and the smell of burning hair wafted up his nose, making him gag. The Lial yanked his head back, Melonaz's neck cracking from the sudden jerk.
'You not Sehnal,' said the Lial. He dangled Melonaz's braid in front of his face.
Melonaz ran his hands over his head and gasped when he felt only scalp.
The Lial chucked the braid away.
Not Sehnal. That thought, more than anything, made him feel nauseous. He couldn't comprehend the idea. Not be Apochal. Not be Lial. It gone. Life over. It felt like he was dying inside.
'Where do I go?' asked Melonaz.
'Mir-Tolkz,' the Lial replied.
'Mountains?'
'It'll be like you on your Cubsoz. You
train up there. Fight. Survive, if can.'
Ludenez up there. Melonaz swallowed hard.
'I come see you every moon. Check if alive. When the time comes I bring you back to fight.'
The ludenez. That's why he spare me. Needs me to fight. Save my family, the village.
The Lial sat down, cross-legged. 'We leave after I rest. Legs tired from run here. Use Hakah too much.' He rubbed the backs of his legs and lay back.
Melonaz's gaze wandered over to the five bodies and once again was overcome with guilt and remorse. Tears came unbidden and he buried his face in his hands. I so sorry.
End of Part Two
Part Three
Predemagda
City of Denistas
(Present Day)
Chapter Thirty Three
Shonmu lounged in the Tekan's Chair, listening to one of the Nobans drone on about more damage inflicted upon the city by the warring gangs.
Who does he think he is, an emperor? thought Koma. Her legs ached from standing as she endured the prattling of the City Council from behind the Monster's seat on the Saban's Dias. Koma could tell the Monster was struggling to follow what was going on.
'Yes, yes. We understand, Picmu,' said Shonmu, waving his hand dismissively. 'All gang related damage shall be taken care of.'
'By your Konar?' asked another Noban, rising from his seat. A blond haired man who was Raginarsaru-like in appearance, tanned skin and dark eyes.
Shonmu frowned. 'The Konar are doing all they can.'
'Tell me. Have your Konar apprehended those who attacked the Konar station and released those prisoners?'
Shonmu leaned forward. 'What are you getting at, Regan?'
'That your Konar are incapable of handling this situation. We should request the military's assistance,' said Regan.
'We'll do no such thing,' Shonmu snapped. 'I have assured the Saban that this situation will be brought under control soon enough. The problem with rounding up dirty dogmas is that there are many nests to exterminate. It takes time.'
'Assured the Saban, eh?' said another Noban, one who remained seated. 'Is this before, or after, you decided to slur her name with your graffiti?'
Shonmu's face creased in anger. 'Do you have proof it was me?'
No one responded.
'I thought not. Now, back to the issues at hand, gentleman,' Shonmu gestured to the two female Nobans, 'and ladies. Of course.'
Koma sighed. How long do these Councils go on for? They're three times as long as the Council of Sab. And far less interesting. Her gaze swept the faces of the Nobans sat in a circle around the centre floor, all chairs facing the Tekan's Chair, which was situated directly below the Saban's Dias. She gasped, her heart suddenly pounded, when she saw Sanamu, the servant boy she'd killed, sat in one of the Noban's seats, glaring at her, puckering his lips.
She shivered, taking a step back. No. No, it can't be. You're dead. She squeezed her eyes shut. When she reopened them Sanamu had vanished, replaced by the middle aged features of a Noban. She sighed in relief. Why? Why does he keep appearing? It's been over a month. He's dead. That's the end of it. Why then can't I stop thinking about him? She'd barely slept in the past month, fatigue threatening to overwhelm her. It didn't help matters that she hadn't even had half a day to herself since then. The Monster had been extra demanding, dragging her to the Archives to research, or to temples to listen to sermons, or simply to comfort her after a dinner with her mother and the Socrae-al. It was a wonder she hadn't been driven insane.
When Sanamu was reported missing people had wondered what had become of him. There'd been a small search, led by some of the kitchen maids who'd been fond of him, but they'd found nothing, to Koma's relief. His meagre belongings had still been in his room so they knew that he'd not left of his own volition. After a couple more days many had come to the conclusion that he'd somehow been caught up in one of the spats between the gangs in the city below while out running errands. Some hadn't believed this, but after a month of waiting for him to return even the most hopeful hearts had given him up for dead. The Konar had been called in to investigate, but with minimal evidence there was little that they could do. Thank the gods they didn't find the body. I've no idea how they haven't. The body must be rotten to the core by now. They'd have smelt it surely. Unless karrons found it and ate it in the night. Koma felt nauseous. This has to stop. He was just a savage. They're all going to die, sooner or later. What does it matter if I killed him? Her hands trembled and she hid them behind her back.
'Tax them then,' Shonmu shouted, bringing her back to the room. 'Gods, it's like talking with a bunch of simpletons. If we need to accrue more money for repairs then tax the people to get it. They'll pay.'
The Monster turned around in her seat and whispered to Koma. 'Is that wise, taxing the people more? Mother and Hontonu have said it is wise not to overtax the lower classes. That they can revolt if pushed too hard. Am I right?'
'I don't know, Sabu,' Koma whispered back. 'I'm just a handmaiden.'
The Monster frowned. 'Don't play dumb with me.'
'I'm sure the Tekan knows best.' Or he's trying to turn the populace against the Saban. I bet that this conflict between the gangs down below is playing right into Shonmu's hands. Wouldn't surprise me if he's the one who started it.
'The people are taxed enough, Tekan. What excuse would we have to increase taxes?' asked a Noban on the left side of the room.
'We don't need an excuse,' snapped Shonmu.
'But we do,' said the Noban Picmu, gesturing to the people watching in the stands at the back of the hall.
'Then we call it a living tax. To ensure the livelihood of our citizens.' Shonmu rose to address the people in the stands. 'Do you not agree, citizens? Do we not need funds to repair our city?'
Murmurs ran through the stands.
'You see?' Shonmu said to the Noban sat before him. 'The people agree.'
This Shonmu is dangerous. A malicious savage. I'd hate to see him in charge of the whole country. Hopefully it'll be burning long before that happens. Koma wiped her hot, clammy head with the sleeve of her robe. She was running a fever. She leaned in close to the Monster's side. 'Sabu, I'm not feeling so good. I think I need to retire. Do I have your permission?'
The Monster turned to her and huffed. 'This isn't a good time, Koma,' she whispered, almost hissing. 'I need you here.'
Bitch. 'I'm burning up, Sabu. I feel I may faint.'
The Monster huffed again. 'Fine. FINE. GO. I'll just have to manage, won't I?'
Bitch. 'Thank you, Sabu. I should be well by dinner.'
Before the Monster could change her mind Koma hurried away, exiting through the servant's entrance at the back of the City Hall.
She lay on her bed, staring up at the cracked ceiling of her small, cramped room. The fever had broken almost as soon as she was alone, the nausea easing. It's just stress and tiredness. That's all.
The previous two nights she'd gone up to the roof to meet with a Shadow, but none had appeared, which'd never happened before. The Shadows always appeared. They were never early or late. It was unsettling.
Has something happened to call them away? They wouldn't just leave me here alone. They wouldn't be that cruel. The thought made her nauseous again. Are they done with me? Have I done something wrong? What does that mean? Will they kill my family? She rolled over and buried her face into her pillow. They wouldn't kill them. I've done everything they've asked of me. I need to calm down. CALM DOWN.
She felt herself welling up so she pinched her cheek to stop the tears. Calm down. She rolled over onto her back, breathing heavily. They'll come tonight. It's me. I've just gotten the date wrong. They'll come.
The Monster kicked the stool of her night stand over. 'Where were you?' she snapped. 'I sent for you after dinner, but you didn't show.'
'I'm sorry, Sabu. I was exhausted,' said Koma, attempting to look sorrowful. 'They must have tried to wake me, but I don't think there'd have been any chance of doing so. One of
the other maids gave me some tea. I think it worked.'
'Well don't do it again,' said the Monster, sitting down on the edge of her bed, rubbing the foot that she'd kicked the stool with. 'Look what you've made me do.'
Great. A day with her in one of these moods. That's all I need. 'What do you need me to do, Sabu?' she asked.
'Help dress me. Obviously. There's a sermon I wish to attend at the Koku-bier's temple. It starts at the thirteenth hour. I don't want to miss it.'
That's in six hours time. Why the rush? She rolled her eyes in realisation. She wants to walk. Gods. She scratched the side of her head irritably. With the gangs warring that's not wise. Surely the Guards will object.
'Come on. Get to it,' snapped the Monster. 'We don't have all day.'
Why couldn't it have been her that caught me on the roof?
'Nuchai gives us strength through the ground with each step that we take. He nurtures us. Guides us when we go wayward. Pushed us up when we fall. He is the ground we walk on. Without him we would simply float in the air. Direction-less, with nothing to hold us down. Keep us level headed. Nuchai is the great balancer. He does not discriminate. He gives us the earth. Each and every one of us.' The Koku-bier adjusted his green robes.
Another nonsensical speech. He's captivating enough I suppose. Koma tried not to sigh, the last thing she needed was an argument with the Monster. She shifted uncomfortably on the bench, her rear numbing.
The Monster shot her a look.
Koma mouthed that she was sorry. I'd give anything to stab out those eyes.
She looked up at the painting of Nuchai hanging above the Koku-bier. No Shadow again last night. I'm not wrong. He was due three nights ago. Where is he? What's happened? Has the Great Purge begun? Those rumours I heard about the Ragi's Host reaching Tier-Shanan must be true. Does that mean I'm done here? Can I just leave? She glanced at the Monster out of the corner of her eye. Can I finally kill her? Sanamu's face flashed through her mind again, and her stomach bubbled. Not again. Why?
'Have faith in the ground, the soil, mud, grass, trees, the rocks of the mountains.' The Koku-bier spread his arms out wide. 'All of it is Nuchai.' How much longer can he go on for? 'All the gods are equally as important, but to fully appreciate them we must first understand their roles. Their power. How they influence our lives, not just the physical realm around us, but the different aspects of our spirits too. We are all earth, fire, water, wind, and light. Learn the elements and we begin to learn who we truly are. Thank you.'
