by Cully Mack
‘Then yes.’
They followed the river’s flow away from the city and stopped at a river bend where riffles flowed over smoothened stones by the water’s edge. Marsh reeds shrouded the area and gave a good view if any fishing boats came near.
‘This is a good place,’ Galia said. ‘What I want you to focus on is controlling the rock and the water. First see if you can lift the smaller stones, balancing them one on another and then guide the water around them.’
Mirah calmed herself and focused on a tiny stone. She willed it to lift onto a dark red stone protruding out of the water.
‘Good, now add another and focus on keeping them balanced. That’s it. Now push the water and make it flow either side, not allowing it to touch the stones and hold the water at bay until the stones dry.’
‘Really?’ Mirah asked, raising her brow.
Galia came around to inspect her progress. ‘When they’re dry, add another stone. Find a large flat one. I want you to keep them balanced until I say let go.’
Mirah spotted a wide flat stone on the other side of the riffles and dragged it forward whilst holding the others stacked like a small tower. The stack wobbled when she gently wielded the flat stone into the air and balanced it on top of the others.
‘I have an idea. See if you can force an airflow and knock down the stack?’
‘But I can’t wield air.’
‘How do you know unless you try?’
She peered around, but all she saw was the river, the trees and marsh reeds. ‘How do you grasp hold of air, exactly?’
Galia shrugged. ‘Not sure.’
‘Well, air wielding would be a lot easier if I could see it.’ She looked again as though she was expecting air to show its face and appear.
‘Don’t rely on your sight, feel it.’
Mirah focused on the breeze surrounding her and imagined its shape, the way the air curled and wisped. She didn’t understand how air traversed this way and that but she somehow sensed a wisp and gripped it hold.
Air cleaved to air and gathered in strength, the wisp growing stronger and stronger. When she thought she had enough, she released her hold, and the air snapped forwards. The stones flew apart. The middle stone skipped across the surface of the river with such force it almost reached the other side.
‘You know what this means?’ Galia said, her eyes widening.
She stared at Galia’s beaming face and her suspicion rose in defence.
‘Fire,’
‘No.’
‘You have to at least try.’
Mirah faced away from her.
‘Spoilsport.’
Mirah picked the up a large red stone, twisting it in her hand. ‘What would happen if others found out?’
‘I dread to think. Esha for sure would see you as a terrible threat. A potential rival for her position. She might make a move against you whilst she has the advantage against your inexperience. Most Wielders would prefer you standing beside them on the battlefield.’
‘I told you I won’t fight.’ Mirah dropped the stone and water splashed over her dark leather pants.
‘Someday you might not have a choice,’ Galia muttered but Mirah still heard.
❊
The day had been sweltering and Mirah wanted nothing more than to sink into her warm pool but as she returned to her chamber Neviah’s door was ajar.
There was no getting around it, even if she darted past, her shadow would betray her. She peeked inside and found Neviah sat at a table eating.
Her room was similar to hers except decorated in shades of green with painted dragonflies and ladybirds on the plastered walls. She breathed in the aroma which smelt of smoked root vegetables and earthy herbs.
‘Hungry?’ Neviah asked and tossed her a flatbread.
Mirah crossed the room and slumped down on the edge of Neviah’s bed. ‘Your room is nice.’
‘I’m getting used to it. The hot water in the pool is pleasant.’ Neviah finished slurping her meal and offered her a cooled plum juice. ‘Are you sure you are all right? What I said on the veranda the other day—I didn’t mean it.’
‘It’s all right. I understand,’ she said, taking a sip. ‘How is your training?’
The bed sunk as Neviah sat beside her.
‘I’ve grasped the basics. Ninsun and Ninkurra are kind but I can’t stand being cooped up in the Taphas cavern with Shayla. What makes it worse is she’s better than me. How about you?’
‘Galia showed me how to create a water bird and on the east side of the mountain there are waterfalls cascading into many pools, I spend most of my time freezing them.’
‘A water bird, how fascinating. Can you show me?’
‘What now?’
Neviah nodded.
‘But you heard what Esha said.’
‘What harm can a water bird do here? She’ll never know.’
Neviah lifted her hand and small flame flickered in her palm. ‘I’ve been practising each night. No one has come for me yet.’
‘How does wielding fire work?’
Neviah closed her palm extinguishing the flame. ‘I don’t know.’ She shimmied up the bed and rested her back against the wall. ‘The fire just happens. Sometimes, I’m not sure if it’s me doing it.’
‘If I ask you something will you promise not to laugh or think I’m strange? I don’t trust anyone else.’
Now she was here, Mirah wasn’t sure how to phrase it. She’d recited and practised what to say but whatever way she’d framed it made her sound foolish. Fool or not, she had to know and Neviah was the only Wielder she trusted.
‘The Fire. Have you ever heard it talking to you?’ She could tell by Neviah’s vacant expression that she hadn’t. ‘I mean not an actual voice speaking, more an impression of something and though you don’t hear it you understand its meaning. It’s hard to explain but when I was with Galia the other day, I sensed something urging me forward, faster than I was ready to go.’
‘Maybe it’s your fears playing tricks with your mind?’
Mirah glanced at the ring on her finger. ‘Maybe. I guess you’re right. I mean I haven’t heard it since.’
Neviah stretched and leaned over placing her empty cup on a table beside her bed. ‘I saw Abela today. She arrived with those vulgar looking Azu. One of the Earth Wielders dropped a rock and injured her ankle.’
Mirah looked up to see Neviah plumping up her pillow. ‘How is Abela?’
‘Now she’s healed, her complexion looks rosy. Although I can’t believe she enjoys wearing that ridiculous Azu frilly fashion wear. The light green suits her though.’ She threw a pillow halfway down the bed, shifted forward onto her stomach and rested on her elbows. ‘Abela said they are learning a strange language and spend most of their time mixing herbs.’
Neviah lay across her bed with her raised ankles swinging in the air. ‘Do you ever wonder what would have happened to Huldah if she’d survived?’
‘She probably would have wielded air and become a great spy. I keep asking about Dara but no one wants to talk about the Chashmalim. It seems if you mention them everyone becomes afraid and goes silent.’
Mirah told Neviah about Shayla and the nasty comments she’d made. As she spoke Neviah’s legs stopped swinging and her lips pursed.
‘I don’t care what she says, Zeev’s a good man.’
Mirah couldn’t believe she’d complimented him. She’d never mentioned anything positive about any of them, not on the journey here and not since arriving.
As if Neviah hadn’t noticed her shocked face she continued, ‘And besides Shayla is nothing but a bitch and a liar. I wouldn’t put it past her to have made up that story about meeting Nate in the garden.’
‘Do you think so?’ Mirah asked, struggling to read her eyes.
‘He admires you.’
She resisted the temptation to clasp hold of her necklace. ‘He’s just helping us.’
‘Yes well, you obviously don’t see the way he admires you when you
are sparring. I swear he would help you until his heart stops. The way his eyes linger over you. I wish someone from home had gazed at me that way. Do you realise, I don’t know what it feels like to think about someone like that?’ She let out a deep sigh. ‘He’s not trying to help us Mirah, he trying to save you. And as much as I see his determination, I still hate him for bringing us here and for everything else he’s done. Sometimes, I want to hate you and have to remind myself that you haven’t forgotten. But then, it’s not like we’re going home is it?’
‘He said he was sorry for what happened at Barakel.’
There it was, the words were finally out. She expected Neviah to shriek, rage and pull on her braid, but instead, she lay still in silent contemplation.
‘You know the girl you asked about, the one who replaced Huldah? He found a job for her in the kitchens.’
Neviah’s mind ticked over and she had to remind herself to breathe.
‘I will never trust him,’ she said, after a long silence. ‘There’s something I’m not seeing. Sometimes I wonder if he hates this place as much as I do and then I remember what he’s done. Mirah, please listen. Just because he desires you, doesn’t mean he’s right for you. I get it, he makes you feel safe, but that’s not enough. Use his fondness for you against him. Allow him to train us and make us stronger. When the times is right we must be ready to escape. Aside from the obvious something strange is going on here and I can’t put my finger on it yet.’
Mirah knew Neviah wouldn’t let it go. She’d keep searching until she found the truth and when she did, she’d tell her. She also knew Neviah would never see beyond her blind hatred towards Nate.
‘I want you to come somewhere with me. Galia will arrange it with the Taphas. There’s someone I’d like you to hear.’
‘Who?’
‘They call him the Fallen Star.’
❊ 14 ❊
After journeying many days, jagged rock formations pierced up through the scorching sand. Like abandoned watchtowers, they loomed over a dry, cracked, riverbed. One that come autumn would flow and meet The Buranuna River to the south.
A behemoth of storm grey rock, shaped like a monstrous spine guarded the pass to the oasis. Thirty giants, twenty guardsmen and six Wielders converged near its entrance. Nate instructed Bishnor to organise several of the giants to take first watch.
The guardsmen along with the Wielders dismounted and led their camels through the pass to a clear turquoise pool. If any had questioned the absence of Water Wielders whilst crossing the desert plains, none dared voice it aloud.
After quenching his thirst, Nate sat in a slim slither of shade under a palm tree and contemplated his strategy for when they’d reach Anat. Men would die. He’d have to make a show, as Shemyaza had ordered but he needed to come up with a plan before Bishnor or Esha expected their orders.
Relieved that she was here, he watched Arella slipping off a pale blue veil, revealing braided silver-grey hair, a darker shade than her sister’s. He couldn’t remember who was older but looking at her, the way she moved with grace and wisdom, he assumed Arella was older than Galia if only by a couple of years. She leaned by the pool patting water along the side of her neck.
He felt Esha’s presence, even before she strutted in front of him and blocked his view of the pool.
‘How do you expect us to reach Anat without Water Wielders?’ She fumed. Heat radiating off her like a shimmering mirage.
He’d commanded her to gather three Fire Wielders, one Earth and one Air without explaining their destination. If she’d known, she would have insisted Galia come along.
‘We’ll manage.’
She glowered at him, trying to work out his angle. ‘I knew you were an idiot, but I never thought you’d be as foolish as this.’
Nate gave her a seductive smile infuriating her more. They still had several more days in the desert. He’d been foolish but he couldn’t risk leaving Mirah without Galia to guide her.
‘Maybe, I still like to see you sweat,’ he said, faking a flirtatious gaze which flowed over the curves of her body. His eyes might have appeared hungry, but inside he suppressed the gag rising in the back of his throat.
Esha’s long henna hair caught up in the breeze and her eyes snapped to his. He matched her glare, noting the swirling pools of amber fury threatening to scorch him to the bone.
‘What are my orders?’
‘I haven’t decided yet.’
She stormed off.
After he’d eaten he searched out Bishnor and found him sitting on a smooth boulder, sharpening the edge of his sword. Zamani lay beside him running his barbed tongue over the remaining flesh and bones of an indistinguishable lizard. Nate preferred to ignore him, unsure if Zamani realised that Nate understood who this chimeric beast was.
‘New blade?’
Bishnor never raised his head to see Nate’s thin smile. He continued sliding the sword edge along the whetstone and then angled the blade, inspecting its sharpness.
‘Blacksmith said he needed more time but if you ask me, this one is better than the one I lost.’
Nate gave a dismissive shrug, ordered him to rotate the giants on watch every two hours and to spread the word that from now on they’d be travelling at night.
They spent the afternoon resting under shade wherever they found it. Arella wielded a cooling breeze now and then. By early evening, Esha gravitated towards Bishnor. By the sounds of their laughter, Nate supposed she had a new target in mind. It didn’t surprise him.
He wondered if she’d ever suspect the beast laid beside Bishnor was Zamani in a chimeric form. Would Bishnor ever tell her? He dismissed the thought. Bishnor had more spite than to play fair.
Heat transmitted through the camel’s heavy fur provided little warmth against the freezing nights. Each night as they travelled he yearned for sunrise only to regret its scorching approach. So did the desert rats as they abandoned their foraging quests to return to the safety of their shaded nests.
They avoided the heat of the day sheltering as best they could. He tried to push Mirah’s abilities from his mind and focus on the task at hand. Untested and untrained, he knew Galia would do everything to protect her from exposure but knowing this didn’t stop the gnawing ache.
Before dawn on the last day, the desert broke into marshland and they dismounted near a small river to the south of Anat. Nate ordered them to make camp. When dusk descended, he gave Arella a brown cloak and instructed her to scout ahead.
He took her to the side and whispered, ‘When you reach Anat, tell them to leave enough men. I don’t want the others becoming suspicious that they’ve received a forewarning.’
Arella made to the boundary of their camp before a whirlwind of air carried her away.
She returned a few hours later and reported to Nate who sat with Bishnor and Esha going over their plan of attack.
‘Eight guard posts protect the city. Four to the south, two east, and two west. Their remaining men are stationed in a garrison near the bay.’
‘How many?’ Bishnor asked.
‘Less than expected. I presume most were killed by Zamani and his forces.’
Her eyes darted upwards and to the left and Nate saw her lying tell. The others, too busy discussing the way forward didn’t notice. Nate gave her a slight nod.
‘Bishnor, you take the chimera and twenty of the giants and attack from the east. Make for the garrison once you’ve taken out the guard posts.’ Nate figured by keeping Bishnor and Zamani together it at least kept the carnage in one place. ‘Esha, leave one Fire Wielder and Arella with me. Take the remaining Wielders and giants and come from the west. I’ll bring the men up from the south. Do not wield fire to take out the guard posts. We don’t want them raising the alarm before we arrive. Once we’ve secured the guard posts to the south, I’ll send a signal to attack.’
Esha and Bishnor gathered their units and footsteps squelched in the marshy floodplains as they left. Zamani stalked ahead of them, his sp
ikey tipped tail twitching in anticipation and his serrated edged fangs grinding with revenge.
‘Thank you,’ Nate said to Arella. ‘What else?’
She glanced over to see those who remained busy checking their weapons and then sat. ‘I spread the rumour of our impending arrival through the taverns and then followed as it swept throughout the city. They’re not leaving.’
‘Why not?’
‘They’ve dug tunnels under their dwellings to hide their women and children.’
Nate cursed. ‘When the fires begin, they’ll be smoked out.’
‘I can wield most of the smoke away.’
‘Can you push their scent from the chimera as well?’
‘I’ll do my best,’ Arella answered.
Rising, he said, ‘Let’s get this over with,’ and beckoned the others to follow his lead.
Nate covered his head under the hood of his blue cloak and reached for his twin blades sheathed across his back. When they reached the first guard post, Arella pulled the air from the guards’ lungs. Men clutched their throats unable to cry out, suffocated and dropped to their deaths. Quick and quiet they made their approach to the other three guard posts before Nate instructed the Fire Wielder to send a flare in the air.
They descended on the city of Anat from the south, east and west. Fire Wielders set alight everything in their path and death’s amber glow lit up the city.
Zamani had taken flight, his golden wings soaring in the firelight before he dove with slaughtering strikes of vengeance on the men who’d defeated him before. Nate’s men and giants slashed their way through the city.
Whenever Arella sensed tunnels under buildings, she encouraged fires to burn whilst pushing smoke high in the air until nothing but the sizzling heat of embers remained. She ran from one building to the next, forcing pure air into the tunnels beneath as she passed.
Nate didn’t search men out but when they came at him or Arella, he gave them the one thing he could, a quick death with the edge of his curved blades. He made his way towards the garrison and found Bishnor and the giants, shields raised high to protect themselves from a hailstorm of arrows.
