The Edict

by P. J. Keyworth

  “They did.” The elf offered him nothing more, and Trevisian gauged from the tension that probing could prove unhealthy. “And I would question whose authority you gained that information from.”

  Definitely unhealthy for him. Only the government was aware of the Southern Elves’ exile, and they had tried to keep it quiet to prevent other economically important races from following suit. Garesh’s approach to maintaining a firm rule depended upon uniformity.

  The elf halted suddenly, leaning over the boy’s face listening for breath. After a few moments he snatched up his satchel, he fishing through it until he found the tool he wanted. He drew out a dagger.

  “Too civilised, eh?”

  “His breathing’s shallow,” replied the elf, ignoring Trevisian’s tone.

  The Prince kept back. The last time he had been in a sick room had been with his father. He felt suffocated by the smell of the herbs that peeked out of the elf’s bag. He shut his eyes against the flood of memories, only opening them when he felt calm.

  The elf snatched at the loose shirt the boy wore. The knife went through it quick enough, but what it revealed the elf was at a loss to understand. Trevisian, however, was not. All thoughts of the past evaporated in an instant. He came closer to better see the tight binding on the prisoner’s chest.

  “She’s a woman.”

  At these words, the stunned elf recovered his senses. “Stand back,” he commanded.

  “And miss all the fun?”

  “She can’t breathe with this on.” The elf didn’t bother asking Trevisian a second time. He took the knife, pulling up part of the binding and slipping it underneath. The linen tore apart under the pressure with which it had been bound. Zeb pulled up the shirt sides with his hand to cover the woman but it wasn’t easy. As the last of the linen gave in to the blade, the woman heaved to life.

  She gasped, inhaling all the air she had missed in the last few minutes. Her eyes flew open, fear evident. She flashed blue irises between the elf and the man and then down at her destroyed shirt. She snatched at the material, covering the smooth, bare skin that had been on display down the centre of her body.

  “Oh please,” Trevisian said, leaning casually against the wall, a smile licking his lips. “Don’t worry on my account…woman.”

  She was frantically shuffling away from the elf and the Reluwyn until her back hit the cell wall.

  “It’s okay, it’s okay,” the elf tried in vain to soothe her.

  “What are you doing? What happened?” Her voice was panicked and strained.

  Seeing her as a woman for the first time, Trevisian could not help but acknowledge how beautiful she was. The eyes were what had struck him before, now he noticed the fuller lips, the perfectly formed nose, and that body…

  “Your leg – the pain made you fall unconscious – and you couldn’t breathe because of your…” Zeb apparently didn’t know what to call it.

  “Because you were trying so hard to hide your womanly attributes.”

  Kiara could see the Reluwyn’s gaze running all over her body. She pulled the two torn halves of her shirt together more tightly. She had been near tears a moment ago, her voice strangled by the shock of waking up practically naked in front of a man and an elf. The latter’s eyes were averted, but the Reluwyn’s were filled with that look of… she didn’t like to say what. Her fear was rapidly morphing into fury.

  “You’re even more attractive when you’re angry.”

  He came closer then, leaning towards her, his breath against her cheek. She tried to swat him. Too slow. Zeb’s movement was quick and hard, punching the Reluwyn’s forearm away.

  “Get off her!”

  The Reluwyn put his hands up. “I’ve never met a female thief before.”

  “My lady,” Zeb turned back to Kiara, his address coming out stilted and unfamiliar. “You must let me treat your leg.”

  “After you’ve torn off my clothes? Go to the Spirit Realm!” She wished them both to the darkest parts of that other world.

  “So fiery,” murmured the Reluwyn from a safe place by the far wall. He continued to stare at her in a way that made her skin crawl.

  Zeb’s voice softened and dropped too low for the Reluwyn to hear. “Let me treat it. I promise no harm will come to you. I won’t let that man near you. As soon as I have the wound dressed I’ll get the guard to move you, but for now you’re bleeding and it must be stopped.”

  Kiara finally retracted her gaze from the Reluwyn and saw in Zeb’s eyes real earnestness. He wasn’t touching her anymore, nor did he do so until she gave him her permission. She’d spent several days with the elf, perhaps she could trust him. And anyway, what choice did she have?

  He put the knife away in his bag and drew out various herbs and bandages. He pounded the plants together, forming a paste with some kind of elixir from one of his bottles, and then placed them on her leg and bound the poultice on with the bandages. She was biting her lip against the stinging and finally had to shut her eyes. When she opened them again she caught eyes with the Reluwyn. He still watched her.

  “Zeb,” she whispered, “I’m Laowyn. Please, get me out of here.” She knew what Reluwyn men were capable of. They were a barbaric race, living on drink and women, worshipping nothing but pleasure and excess. She had not known someone look at her like he did, and she didn’t want to find out what that look meant. It held such intensity that he either wanted to kill her or… she didn’t want to know.

  “Come to the door, I’ll help you.” Zeb put an arm under Kiara’s shoulders, pulling her up and going to bang on the door. “Teo! Come now, it’s an emergency!”

  Kiara turned back to see that the Reluwyn had risen.

  “What? Going so soon after such revelation?”

  She flinched at his words, at his look, and the elf must have sensed it for he hammered on the door more vigorously.

  The door was finally unlocked, and Zeb barked instructions at both guards. One came in to keep the Reluwyn in place, the other helped Kiara and Zeb out of the cell.

  It wasn’t until the door closed that Kiara relaxed. She rested heavily against Zeb, exhausted. Soon she’d be unconscious again, although hopefully she wouldn’t wake up half naked this time.

  Zeb nodded to one of the guards, who went over to a door across the way. As he opened it, oil lamps illuminated a store of barrels, dried fruit and bread.

  “This is the only other place I can put you.”

  “But I’m Laowyn, I’ve already told you.” Kiara’s mind was tiring, along with her body. The small room before her was moving and dancing. The ringing from far off down the corridor was growing louder in her ears.

  “I can’t confirm that.”

  “Yes,” Kiara, not fully realising what she was doing anymore, reached up and pulled at one side of the ripped shirt. “Yes, I’ll show you.”

  “No.” Zeb dragged her forcefully towards the room, grabbing her shirt at the neck to prevent her from opening it and sitting her down among the barrels. If Kiara had been fully aware of her surroundings, she would have seen the elf’s discomfort, the way the muscles in his jaw jerked, his hands twitched, and the warring in his eyes.

  “I’ll get you a blanket.” Zeb disappeared through the door. A guard took his place on the threshold, but Kiara wasn’t going anywhere. Her head bobbed gently, finally falling back against one of the sacks of grain, her eyelids flickered and then shut.

  She wasn’t awake to see Zeb come and place a blanket over her. Nor did she see the conflicted look he gave her. He shook his head and walked away before he could think more. He needed to report to Captain Fidel; someone else needed to check for this woman’s mark, it couldn’t be him.

  Chapter 8

  “She’s a woman.” Fidel stood at a table on which a leather map and markers had been placed.

  “Really?” Ikara, the Commander of the Laowyn Resistance couldn’t hide her surprise. “How did we not know this?”

  Fidel shrugged, there was no one else in
the Commander’s meeting room, he could be informal with his childhood friend in here. He looked over at her, catching ice-coloured eyes that matched the silver hair. It was an unusual combination, and Fidel had joked that it was this supernatural look that gave her the ability to command the masses.

  “She was dressed as a boy, short hair, and she didn’t say anything.”

  “She’s been in a cell with a male elf for days. We should have realised this.”

  “There’s no way we could have done.”

  “How did we find out then?”

  Fidel cringed inwardly. He’d rather not tell the story to Ikara. The look from his Commander ordered him to do so however. When Fidel had finished recounting the events, he attempted to reassure his Commander. “She’s already been moved to a cell opposite. Zeb expects her leg to be healed by tomorrow.”

  The distraction of Zeb’s healing powers was enough for Ikara. “Tomorrow? That elf’s abilities never cease to amaze me. Yet he still didn’t guess - she must have made quite the impression.” She sighed in frustration and straightened. When standing, she was as tall as Fidel. “Another room taken up with prisoners when our numbers grow daily. There isn’t enough space for our people, let alone those we catch in the woods. Especially strange women.”

  Fidel would have expected Ikara to smile, but she didn’t find amusement as easy these days. None of the Laowyn did and her lot was harder than most. So many lives depending on her decisions.

  “Zeb wasn’t keen on the looks the other prisoner was giving her. The Reluwyn is particularly vicious, but it isn’t just that, from the way he speaks to her, he seems to know her.”

  “You mean they’re involved?” Ikara did little to hide her distaste at the thought.

  “Not necessarily. He was not exactly kind to her. Either way the Reluwyn’s dangerous.”

  Ikara eyed the bandage on Fidel’s arm. “Or perhaps age is catching up with you.” A gleam appeared in her eye but no smile on her lips.

  Fidel answered with a crooked grin. He was handsome and well built, a man, known for his honour - everything a Laowyn woman could want. “I can still take you in combat if you dare, Commander.”

  Sensing they were on dangerous ground, Ikara changed the subject. “Have we confirmed his identity?”

  “He wears all the garb of a palace entertainer from Emril city. That and his dark colouring suggests he is of Reluwyn descent.”

  Ikara nodded. Though the Laowyn’s colouring could differ, Reluwyn always had hair and eyes that varied from brown to black. “And is she from the palace too? Is that how she knows him? I was given to understand she claimed she was Laowyn.”

  “She did, but her colouring is fair. She could just as easily be from the southern parts of the Kingdom. Zeb was going to check for her mark but he wishes you to do so now her sex is known.”

  “So careful, and Zeb is usually the one to break all the rules.”

  “He’s very particular about his treatment of women, even more so when it comes to this one,” Fidel drifted in thought.

  “One day I will have a long chat with that elf.”

  “I doubt he’d tell you anything more than he already has.”

  “We know so little of him.”

  “He’s useful,” replied Fidel, as though that were enough. He watched Ikara shut her eyes briefly, as if in weariness.

  “Very well, I will check her mark, if she is one of us then she must be missing from somewhere. The sooner we can find that out, the quicker we can restore her to her kin.” Ikara spoke with finality.

  “I…”

  “Yes?”

  “If she’s disguised as a boy, don’t you think she would not wish to return? This isn’t the first I’ve heard of Laowyn women disguising themselves to escape the Edict of Maidens.”

  “Yes, and the ones that have been caught have been executed.” Ikara turned away and looked towards the fire that slumbered in the grate. It was always cold and damp in this place. Even in high summer fires were needed, but careful watch had to be kept over smoke generated above ground. “It’s not our place to decide her fate, Fidel. Besides, as you say, there’s no room for any other Laowyn at present, especially not women. We’ll need fighters if war comes.”

  Fidel looked at her quizzically but she didn’t take the bait. Everyone had doubted her ability at first, after her father, the first leader of the Resistance had died - nevertheless, she had risen to bear the mantle, refusing to pass it on to a man. The scepticism went hand-in-hand with the Laowyn attitude towards protecting women. Fidel couldn’t imagine anyone trying to protect Ikara. And maybe she was right: for all they knew, this prisoner could be a risk to them all.

  “How many replies have we had from the Laowyn Elders? We must meet soon if we are to plan the future of the Resistance. Our protection of those persecuted by Reluwyn radicals is all very well now, but not if the situation escalates. And High Councillor Garesh seems intent on upping his suppression of our people.”

  “We have had seven of the twelve. Zephenesh of Miresh replied yesterday that he travels already.”

  “Excellent - we should expect him in a few days. Great Spirit give us wisdom,” Ikara prayed, looking towards the earthen ceiling. She then turned to Fidel. “What’s more pressing is the twins scouting news. They’ve sent word that Reluwyn troops are mobilising all along the eastern border of the forest. They say they are preparing to enter the central area.”

  Fidel rubbed the back of his neck, the furrows in his broad brow increasing.

  “We have no information on their purpose but we must be ready. Garesh may have decided to do an entire sweep of the Great Forest in order to smoke us out.”

  “We have been fortunate not to incur such a sanction already.”

  “Give thanks to the size of this forest and its beasts. The only thing that stopped him before was a lack of troops, but it seems he’s not hesitating on that count anymore. If they are looking for our base we should not have much trouble picking them off.” Ikara’s eyes turned ominous along with her voice. “One by one if needs be.”

  “Hopefully not,” Fidel decided to change the subject, “If the twins’ scouting mission is done, are we expecting them back?”

  “Presently.” Ikara was no longer listening, her pale eyes refocusing on the map before her, her long-fingered hands moving pieces towards the east.

  As she leant forward, the armour’s carefully sculpted shoulder panel revealed her Ensper. A bold series of unique wide pointed slashes surrounded a large gem which was the same colour as her eyes.

  The Ensper had caused the Reluwyn to admire the Laowyn at first, before it had become a desirable object. Fidel knew that the Reluwyn were removing this mark so they could add the gems to their royal treasury. Such barbarity was unspeakable. Soon their race would have no defining factor - they would be nameless among the masses - and if Garesh had his way, they’d be suppressed to the point of extinction.

  Worse than all this; if they were without their Ensper, they were without knowledge of the Great Spirit’s favour. For centuries the Laowyn had relied on their markings, and the inner light which guided them in matters concerning their people. They had not seen that light in many years, something which the Elders attributed to remaining in a conquered land, or even abandonment by the Spirit. Fidel had faith that the Spirit was still present, that soon he would speak and bestow favour upon them, and until that time came they must wait and trust. But what good would that be if the Ensper was taken from them?

  Ikara reached across the table for another piece shaped like a Laowyn archer, her breastplate impeding her movement.

  “You know, you don’t need to wear your armour here.”

  “It’s good for the men to see me in it.” She had the Commander’s position but that didn’t stop some of the Resistance fighters from remembering she was a woman.

  “Are there men here?”

  Ikara sighed. “Help me out of it.” She turned her back to Fidel who started working on
the leather straps that suspended the breastplate from her shoulders. “It weighs heavily on me.”

  They were both caught off-guard when a knock sounded on the door, and then without waiting for a response two young men bowled into the room.

  “No!” cried one, elbowing the other and leaping in front of him.

  “You can’t! I won’t let you!” The second rubbed his ribs briefly before grabbing at the belt of his comrade. His fingers managed to slip beneath the top and he yanked his fellow spy back so hard he hit the wall.

  “You idiot!” said the wall hugger, glancing up at the Captain and Commander. “Can’t you see we’re interrupting?”

  Ikara brushed away Fidel’s hands, turning to face the two intruders with her armour still very much in place.

  “Calev, Jaik, what news?”

  “Control yourselves!” Fidel rebuked the two before him. “Salute your Commander.”

  The men straightened themselves up and stood side by side obediently. They were identical, even down to the way their beards were clipped. Despite their Captain’s disapproval, the twins couldn’t stop nudging each other with their non-saluting elbows.

  “Yes, yes!” Ikara waved down their hands. “The news?”

  “Well…”

  “No! I shall tell the Comm…”

  “I was the one who overheard it.”

  Ikara’s icy eyes, now robbed of patience, fell upon the Laowyn scout to the left. “I don’t care who heard it. Jaik, speak.”

  He capitulated with little persuasion. “We were scouting the woods as commanded.”

  “And you saw the royal army mobilising to the east.” Ikara corroborated, placing the pieces together in her mind.

  “Yes, Commander. We reported back the army’s presence - but we also have news as to why they are here, good news.”

  “How can it be good news?” Fidel asked. Despite their motley appearance, the twins’ performance in the field was exemplary. Fidel had never met any warriors that were as given to stealth as these two; their scouting abilities were unparalleled. It was only in the underground caverns that they would become uncontrollable.