by Cully Mack
Mirah didn’t miss the gloating hidden behind Shemyaza’s slim smile.
Two Wielders rushed across the plateau and marked out chalk lines. Galia, Arella and several other Wielders positioned themselves around the plateau.
‘And now a tournament from my newest Wielders,’ Shemyaza announced. He turned to Shargaz and said, ‘A far stronger strategy than wielding swords, don’t you agree?’
‘I have another suggestion,’ Buzur cut in. ‘As you know the pitiful attack on my mines delayed your ceremony. I’ve brought gifts which are in need of disposing. I thought they will compensate.’
‘How intriguing,’ Ditallu said. ‘A far more entertaining display, I’m sure.’
The other gods agreed and Shemyaza adjusted his purple garments as he stood to open the Isten Baba.
‘What’s going on?’ Neviah asked.
Mirah shrugged, ‘I have no idea.’
She looked to Nate and found his eyes fixed and stony. The telling sign of his white knuckles gripping his sword pommel unnerved her. She caught sight of Esha, her face beaming as she gave instructions to Galia who in turn spoke to Arella. They both glanced over at Nate and he closed his eyes briefly. Whatever he signalled, they understood, their eyes turning as expressionless as his.
By the time she returned her focus to Shemyaza, the Isten Baba had re-opened. Buzur’s guards herded shackled men down the blackened stairway and led them onto the plateau. Dark bruises and untreated wounds aside, the prisoners didn’t appear too injured. Their ragged clothes revealing they were just beginning to shed weight.
The shackled men surveyed the scene, weighing up the danger, and searching out potential escape routes. They assessed the gods seated on their thrones and cursed. Esha stepped forward beckoning Galia and Arella to her side and awaited instructions.
‘We’ve already seen what she can do,’ Buzur said, pointing to Esha. ‘That would hardly be a fair competition.’
Shargaz twisted on his throne and made a strange clicking sound through his teeth. ‘As you said, Shemyaza, it’s supposed to be a tournament for your latest recruits. Let Esha pick the best three of your more recent additions. After all, we don’t want the tournament to end too soon.’
‘Excellent,’ Ditallu agreed.
‘As you wish,’ Shemyaza replied, gesturing for Esha to choose.
Esha scanned the Wielders. ‘Shayla, Neviah and Mirah, step forward.’
As they crossed the plateau, Esha slipped a scheming smile at Nate. ‘You heard what Shargaz said, he doesn’t want this over too quickly. This is a display of your powers as Wielders. Impress Shemyaza before you kill them.’
Panic hit Mirah’s body hard, her heart thumping against a hollow ache within. ‘You expect us to murder them?’
Air refused to fill her lungs, and she didn’t know if she’d first collapse or start choking. She thought she’d understood when Nate explained his trapped and powerless feelings. How was she going to escape this?
‘Of course, you will kill them. They are criminals.’
‘I won’t do it.’
Esha curled her lip. ‘No one refuses Shemyaza. If he doesn’t destroy you first, I’ll burn you to ash myself.’
❊ 21 ❊
Nate clamped unsaid curses between his tongue and teeth. He wanted to strangle Esha as she sauntered towards him, her slick smile revealing she knew how much Mirah meant to him. He’d be damned if he’d let her know she’d gotten under his skin. Instead, he relaxed and unclenched his clammy fists.
‘Problems?’
‘Nothing I can’t handle,’ Esha responded.
Her sense of victory made him want to vomit. He braved a glance at Mirah and found her whispering in Neviah’s ear.
Shackles clinked to the ground and Buzur’s guards dragged the rebel’s chains to the edge of the plateau. The rebels worked the blood flow back into their wrists, rubbing and shaking their hands.
Did Mirah understand, these were fighting men? They’d come at her fast hoping to obliterate their competition. Would she attack? He doubted it.
Years of once adoring and then loathing Shemyaza spread out before him. He’d never hated Shemyaza more than he did right now. Resigned to the fact he could do nothing else, he prayed to the old gods, Anu, Enlil and the nameless Cloud Rider. Calling out silently for any of them to intervene.
‘How are they going to defend themselves with no weapons?’ asked Usemi. ‘It seems hardly fair and rather boring.’
Buzur instructed his guards to unsheathe their daggers and place them on the ground as a Rock Wielder chalked a wide circle on the plateau.
‘If you step over the line, you will be dead before your foot touches the floor,’ Shemyaza said to the captives. ‘Pick up the weapons.’
Unhurried they collected the daggers and spread out, keeping inside the line of the circle. Among the rebels, Nate spied a tall lanky lad with freckled cheeks. He was young compared to the others, maybe seventeen or eighteen. His grip on the dagger loose and unskilled. Had no one shown him how to use one?
The lad stared at Mirah, his face a mask of misery. When they spotted him, Neviah gripped Mirah’s arm. They recognised him. How? And what was he doing here?
Mirah and Neviah followed Shayla into the centre of the plateau. They formed into a huddle, their backs together in a protective formation.
The rebels didn’t wait for Shemyaza to give the command. One of the sturdier men rushed forward, dagger positioned to shunt it into Neviah’s ribs. She responded by hurling a brutal fireball straight at his legs, knocking him to the floor. He rolled over dousing the flames from his pants. She would fight back at least.
The rebels paced around the edge of the circle, moving inward reducing the distance between them. If Mirah and the others didn’t wield a defense the rebels would soon surge and attempt to overpower them.
With everyone’s eyes on the centre of the plateau, he edged around the chalk line to get closer to Mirah. Shemyaza be damned if she didn’t fight back he’d intervene.
Except for the lanky one, the rebels in unison doubled over, their complexions withering. Mirah was drawing the moisture from the pores of their skin, not sufficient to injure them but enough to send them a warning.
He was certain if she had the mind to, she could draw every drop of moisture from the rebel’s bodies. By the lake, he’d witnessed her almost drain the life out of Galia.
In desperation, the rebels launched their daggers. They clashed with shards of ice blocking their advances. The daggers fell from the air, the rebels lunging after them. Relief swept through him. At least she wouldn’t let them harm her.
Sinuous curling flames that flexed like fingers spread out from Shayla. On reaching the ground they charged across the plateau like forked lightning hitting their targets with a crack.
Several of the men didn’t rise and the smell of charred flesh brought Nate’s memories back to Barakel. The remaining rebels surged forward and chaos ensued. Shayla whirled lethal fireballs into stomachs, shoulders and heads, men burst into flames, falling to the ground.
Blood trickled down Neviah’s arm from a small gash, her face now furious. Nate had no doubt if she had the opportunity to fight against the men and giants who’d attacked Barakel, she wouldn’t hesitate in destroying them. He couldn’t help wonder if he’d still be one of her targets.
With tactical skill she held the ground against the rebels, defending with combustible fireballs at any who approached her or Mirah. How long could this continue before Shemyaza tired or became suspicious?
A rebel flashed towards Mirah, Nate was about to step over the chalk but a thick barrier of ice surrounded the man. Nate heard the rebel’s dagger chipping at the ice as he stole a glance at the immersion pool, the water two thirds gone.
A stray bolt of fire flew into spectating Wielders. It was quickly extinguished by Arella smothering the flames, and the Azu took care of the injured.
Three rebels remained. The one behind the ice wall, a brutish
dirty blonde and the freckled lanky kid.
To his shock, Mirah rushed over to the lanky one. She blocked his pitiful jabs with the dagger. He wasn’t even trying to hurt her. In between thrusts and blocks, they exchanged a few words, too low and too fast for him to hear.
The blonde brute crouched, blade in hand, ready to strike if Neviah lost her focus. He’d seen that glare in her eyes before, whenever Zeev got on her bad side. She’d take the brute down when he came for her.
With no one left to fight, Shayla put her hands on the ice wall, melting the ice. The trapped rebel burst through the wall and met with a fiery death. She rounded towards the blonde brute. Nate recognised the battle frenzied glaze. She was losing control.
A fire bolt blasted into the brute and he dropped to the floor, a smouldering pile of flesh.
‘You’re welcome,’ Shayla snapped at Neviah.
Intent on seeking glory, Shayla sized up the lanky kid. Tears welled in Mirah’s eyes. This kid’s life was over. She blinked them away and shrilled an agonising scream. The lanky kid rose in the air and she wielded him over the side of the mountain.
The Wielders gasped. Buzur and Shargaz jumped up from their thrones.
‘Water and air. How is this possible?’ Shargaz yelled.
Nate studied the gods’ faces, all of them stunned, including Shemyaza.
Bishnor rushed forward. ‘As Chieftain, I claim her as my bride,’ he announced.
Years of avoiding confrontation dissolved from Nate. A rage hotter than a Wielder’s flame burned in his chest. He knew defying Shemyaza’s will was dangerous but he didn’t care. He couldn’t allow this to happen.
He hollered, ‘I challenge his request.’
Bishnor snarled.
Ditallu’s gaze was a little admiring as she said, ‘Fascinating… how these humans still have the capacity to sometimes surprise us.’
‘Indeed,’ Shemyaza said, staring at Nate.
‘I don’t give a damn about him,’ Buzur said, giving Nate a dismissive wave. ‘I’ve never understood what you see in that human and to rank him above your own blood.’ He pointed to Mirah. ‘What about her and that power?’
Shemyaza raised his voice. ‘I’ll not have you interrogate my leadership or my motives. Nate’s loyalty is without question.’ He held up his hand, warning Buzur to stay silent.
Nate examined the other gods to see if any would come to Buzur’s aid. The gods revealed no allegiances and Buzur backed off and obeyed.
‘Mirah is a matter for us to discuss later. However,’ Shemyaza continued. ‘I will not have my sons fighting and certainly not over a woman and I do not hold with rape. If there is any choice between them, it will be hers.’
‘How diplomatic,’ Usemi said.
‘Diplomacy is an art,’ Shemyaza reminded them.
‘But think of the power from her offspring,’ Shargaz said. ‘If she were mine, I’d consider wedding her myself.’
The way his eyes feasted on Mirah made Nate want to plunge his sword through Shargaz’s chest.
‘I said, these are not matters to discuss now.’ Shemyaza rose from his throne. ‘The ceremony is over. Everyone except Mirah leave now.’
Mirah stood motionless in the centre of the plateau. Had she heard what they’d said? Nate joined her resting his hands on her shoulders.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said, with her eyes fixed on the ground. ‘I couldn’t let Shayla kill him.’
He lowered and tilted his head attempting to see her face shielded under her hair. ‘You knew him?’
‘His name is Eran, he’s from Barakel.’
Nate had already guessed she hadn’t just wielded him over the mountain but had also saved him from the fall. ‘Did you hear Shemyaza?’
‘I heard.’
‘And Bishnor?’
‘That as well.’ She raised her head to meet his gaze. ‘We are powerless against them, aren’t we? I understand now.’
With small reassuring, tender strokes, he massaged her shoulders. ‘Listen. Shemyaza is more interested in your wielding. He doesn’t care about things like marriage.’
She blinked. ‘What about offspring? I’m sure he cares about that?’
Nate swallowed. She had a point. Would Shemyaza consider her as another wife? The plateau had emptied, only Neviah and Galia were waiting by the shaft.
‘I have to go. Please don’t be afraid. You’re too valuable for them to hurt you.’ He kissed her on the forehead and whispered into her hair, ‘I love you.’ There was no point in hiding it now.
❊
When they were halfway down the first shaft, Galia’s voice cut through the darkness. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’
‘No.’
They stayed silent the rest of the way until Nate broke off and left for his chamber. He’d not been there long when someone knocked on the door.
Zeev entered and Nate paused his pacing. ‘Galia?’
‘She is worried.’
Nate let out a deep sigh. He expected before nightfall everyone within the mountain will have heard.
‘So Mirah can wield other elements?’
Nate ignored him.
‘What the bidu happened? I’ve sent guards out to search for the body.’
‘You won’t find him.’ Seeing Zeev’s confusion, he explained. ‘It wasn’t an accident. She did it to save him.’
‘Why would she do such a thing?’ Zeev asked slumping down in a chair.
‘He’s from Barakel.’
Nate returned to pacing, back and forth across his chamber.
‘If you don’t stop that, you’re going to mark a groove in the floor. Come and sit down.’
‘I can’t. If I stop moving, I can’t control the urge not to break something.’
Zeev studied his boots whilst processing his thoughts and trying to piece everything together.
‘Is he the one Shemyaza sent you after? I mean if he was skilled enough to escape the slaughter at Buzur’s mines?’
Nate hadn’t considered that. The kid was not even a fighter. ‘I don’t see how he’d be a threat to Shemyaza. Will you ask Eliah to use discretion and continue searching? There aren’t many places a stranger can hide.’
‘And if he finds him?’
‘Direct him to my other quarters.’
‘You’d reveal your quarters for a stranger?’
Nate sighed. ‘It’s not for him.’
His fists were clenched so tight, he flexed his fingers and clicked his knuckles. He marched over to the table finding his beer jug empty.
‘What do you think Bishnor will do?’
Nate thumped his fists onto the table. ‘I can’t talk about him now.’
Seeing Nate needed to be alone, Zeev rose to leave.
Nate looked up. ‘When you find Eliah, will you go with him? I’d go myself but I can’t leave.’
‘We’ll find him,’ Zeev said, closing the door as he left.
Left alone, he chewed over the angles Shemyaza might play. Even after his challenge against Bishnor, Shemyaza still believed him to be trustworthy and still considered him his son. He could use this to gain leverage.
He wasn’t surprised Buzur didn’t accept Shemyaza’s favour towards him, he had difficulty understanding it himself.
Would Shemyaza consider Shargaz’s suggestion to wed Mirah himself? Nate didn’t know, but he knew Shemyaza had a talent for manipulating people’s decisions.
Even though Shemyaza had said it was her choice, he might find her wielding too tempting. His art of diplomacy always meant getting his own way. And what about Mirah? He understood the powerless feeling of being forced to make choices. Of picking the lesser of two evils.
Doubts crept into him. Is that all he was to her? He didn’t want her to choose him that way. On the plateau, he’d told her he loved her and meant it. Somehow, he’d always imagined love would take longer and not sneak up on him unawares.
Sumer arrived with food and set it on his table.
‘Have they descen
ded yet?’
‘Sorry,’ Sumer answered, fidgeting with her clothing. ‘Would you like me to stay?’
Nate shook his head. ‘I’d rather be alone.’
He baulked at the food after she left. The thought of losing Mirah became so overpowering he exited his chamber.
The tunnels appeared darker, more constricting. He soon reached the shaft leading to the plateau. The guards stationed there didn’t dare say a word. They’d heard.
He growled under his breath, ignored them and leaned towards the shaft. Looking into the darkness was pointless, and he knew it. The impossible void absorbed everything even the sound of the wind. He couldn’t stay here. He roamed back through the tunnels, ending up outside Mirah’s chamber. Should he go in?
Desperation overwhelmed him. He opened the door and inhaled her delicate scent filling the room.
One of the chimera below her chamber let out a series of shallow roars which sounded strangely like laughing. Zamani he realised. Not wanting to pry, he sat on the silks covering her bed and waited.
After some time, he spied a small carved wolf on the bedside table and wondered how she had come by it because no wolves existed in Hermonial.
In the enveloping darkness, moonlight shone through the opening subduing the shadows. He stood up and paced around.
Mirah finally entered her room and to avoid alarming her he said, ‘I hope you don’t mind me—’
She swayed, and he rushed to catch her. Lifting her, he placed her gently on her bed. He didn’t want to leave so he nuzzled down beside her, cradled her in his arms and breathed her in.
Locked within her were so many answers. Answers he knew she was too depleted to reveal.
As she drifted into the realm of heavy sleep, he studied her dark twitching lashes, her endearing freckle on the rim of her ear, and the faint scar above her brow and committed them to memory.
She was here.
He released the gnawing fear he’d kept suppressed. Fear he’d refused to acknowledge as if its acknowledgement would make it real.
She was still here.
Shemyaza hadn’t sent her through the Isten Baba portal.
