by Moose Tyler
Amaria was beyond disappointed that she wouldn’t get to keep anything. Though her arrow had not killed the cat, the battle was worth at least a few of its teeth. Sacred Peacock, Wanje can dole out the punishment. “Yes, ma’am.”
“If you do decide to train—,” she looked at the cat, “—Timber, I ask that it does not interfere with your duties.”
“Timber?”
“It will need a name, will it not? I also advise you to notify your mother of the pet as soon as she returns.”
Amaria heard a horse clomping down the path. Timber darted into the thick and disappeared as a rider approached.
“The queen has called special council for midday,” the rider shouted. “There’s news from the mission.” She stopped next to Wanje. “The queen requests your counsel.”
Wanje turned to Amaria. Amaria prayed that Wanje would cancel her punishment for the day, in lieu of the special council meeting.
“I must answer the queen’s call. Great Mother protect you on your swim. I’ll see you at midday.”
The messenger extended her hand. Wanje grabbed it and hopped on the back of the horse. The rider kicked its ribs, and they took off down the path.
A few heartbeats passed and Amaria heard the rider shout again. “The queen has called special council for midday. There’s news from the mission.”
Amaria took hidden paths to the southern shore. Timber followed and slinked towards a perch on the rocks. Amaria left the quiver on the beach to lighten the load but slid the spear through the back strap of her chest piece so that it was secure between her shoulders. It wasn’t wise to be in the sea without a weapon.
Though she was exhausted, famished, sore, upset with the severity of Wanje’s discipline tactics, and lonely for a friendly face and kind word, she finished her first punishment swim and returned to shore to find Timber waiting by the quiver.
Amaria approached. “Good girl,” she said. Timber darted to the rocks. “I’m not going to hurt you.” Silly cat.
She returned the spear to the quiver before slinging it over her shoulder and hurrying home, not checking to see if Timber followed. Due to exhaustion, she had not kept her usual pace for the swim, and now she risked being late to the council meeting. There were no heartbeats to bathe, though she desperately needed it. The sea’s salt had felt like a hot iron searing the cuts on her feet and body, but it had scrubbed off much of the blood and earth. Her smell would have to do. She put on a clean fighting kilt and hurried outside to hang the wet one on the line. She saw Timber crouched in the bushes near the bathing pool, eyeing the messenger birds in their pen.
“Oh, no you don’t,” said Amaria. “Don’t even think about it.”
She tested the pen’s gate and made sure the latch was secure before grabbing a pail, filling it at the water source, and returning to the barn. “There you go,” she said to Timber, still crouched in hunt mode underneath the bushes. Great Mother, protect my birds.
She dashed inside the house. There was a buffet of boiled eggs, meat strips, bread, and fruit in the dining area. Bless you, Gypsus. Bless you every day.
She stuffed the eggs in her mouth, barely chewing before swallowing, and ate the bread like a savage. She took the meat strips outside and waved them at Timber, trying to lead her into the barn. The cat kept position beneath the bushes.
“Fine.” Amaria went to the water pail, tossed the strips next to it, and looked at Timber. “Stay.”
Timber growled, and her ears flicked.
“Stay!”
The growl lingered for a few heartbeats, but then her ears relaxed, and she started licking her paw.
“And keep away from my birds,” Amaria shouted as she ran out of the yard.
Though crowded with citizens going both directions, Amaria took the main path to Queen’s Cliff because it was quickest and softest on her feet. Despite the congestion, she made it to the entrance just as the midday horns sounded. She hustled inside, moving as fast as the other witnesses in front of her would allow.
The temperature inside the chamber was overheated with the energy coursing through the room. As she made her way up the stairs and through the archway, she saw warriors pacing around their benches. Citizens buzzed about at an equally frantic pace around theirs. Amaria walked along the back row to her designate seat, an area already crowded with witnesses. She saw Penelope sitting close to the wall.
Penelope look up, smiled, and waved her over. “Great Mother, this is ridiculous,” she said.
Amaria took the open seat next to her.
Penelope shifted positions. “You should have seen the common area. Riders are already taking post to deliver the news. How have you been?”
Amaria shrugged. “Thanks for your message. I would have never found that scroll.”
“I thought it might have been for you. I couldn’t believe Micah did that, even after Delphi warned her not to. I had about two heartbeats to leave that message.”
“It was a blessing.”
“I wouldn’t have been able to, but Delphi sent me inside to get her water, which she had on her horse.”
“Why did Micah do that?”
Penelope shrugged. “She has a snake in her belly. She’s constantly yelling at me about everything. She sent me in the Stalks just to get me dizzy.”
Amaria tried to sound like she hadn’t been listening in the trees. “She did? Barb to her heart.”
“It’s fine. Hopefully I won’t be assigned to her patrol after we take the shield.”
“Here’s to the sea.”
Penelope nodded. “I haven’t been in the water in I don’t know how long. I can’t believe I’m not competing this cycle.”
“How’s your mother?”
“We got her moved to the healers’ camp. She’s been struggling since, or so I’ve heard. I’ve been on horseback. Oh, and why is Wanje asking for my sandals?” Penelope held up a satchel. “Here they are, all two of them.”
Amaria raised her foot. “Plus, the ones you have on.”
“Great Mother, you’re not serious.”
Amaria nodded. “I’ve traversed the north forbidden path barefoot.”
“To Jagged Ridge?”
“All the way. Do I smell?”
Penelope inhaled deeply and shook her head. “Not much.”
“I battled a mountain cat and fell into the Great Ravine.”
“What? What happened?”
“I’ll tell you later, but now I’ve got this little cat shadow. Wanje told me to train it.”
Penelope smiled. “That’s beastly, Amaria. What does it look like?”
“It’s got the yellow hide.”
“I prefer black, but yellow’s nice. How old?”
Amaria shrugged. “Not full-grown, but not a suckling either.”
“These seats taken?” Amaria heard Ophea ask.
Ophea and Jax sat on the bench in front of them. “We got reassigned,” she said.
Penelope looked at Amaria. “We’ll talk later.” She adjusted her position to allow more room. “Why?”
Ophea shrugged. “Not sure. Euphora just said all warriors taking the shield are to sit over here.”
“All of us?” Amaria sat up and scanned the crowd.
She didn’t have to look long before getting an answer. Zora had entered the chamber and was sauntering along the walkway towards the area. When the path opened wider, she stepped to the side and let Lyla, Mortli, and Taryn go in front of her. Amaria groaned and repositioned herself into a more secure posture. Mortli and Taryn walked to a row of empty seats closer to the middle. When Mortli sat down, she turned and gave Ophea a nod before facing front.
“Guess we’ve dropped rank,” said Lyla as she joined Mortli and Taryn on the bench.
Zora locked eyes with Amaria when she passed. Amaria prepared herself for a cheap,
verbal attack, but Zora walked on without incident.
“She’s being unusually quiet,” Penelope whispered to Amaria. “She’s always got something nasty to say.”
Amaria smiled. “A stint in the mines really changes a warrior.”
Penelope looked confused. “What?”
Amaria shook her head. “Nothing. I’ll tell you later.”
Jax nudged Ophea as Zora took the seat next to Lyla. “Guess all the sages got a thing for sandals,” she said.
Amaria leaned forward. “Euphora take yours, too?”
Jax nodded. “Just before this. It’s not bad. The clay feels nice.”
Amaria laughed. Yeah, feels nice now. She didn’t have the heartbeats to discuss the hardships Jax’s feet were about to endure because the council meeting started, only this time there was no music making the announcement. There was no formal processional for the warriors or an opening prayer. The only real indication that the meeting had begun was that the queen had entered and taken her throne.
“As many of you know,” she shouted into the buzzing chamber, “there’s been word from our sisters about their mission.” The chatter died immediately. “A boat’s been seen.”
“Two boats,” Bekos hissed from the sages’ table.
“Two boats, yes. We have about fourteen moons before we receive more news.” The queen shifted her position. “I must say, I am a bit confused as to why some of you have requested this emergency council meeting so early in the day.”
A warrior stood. “May I have the floor, your grace?”
Amaria squinted but, with the shadows, she couldn’t see which warrior had made the request.
“Aye, Janus,” said the queen.
Janus stepped into the light on the stage and bowed. “I know I do not speak for all warriors and citizens, but many have expressed concern, your grace. Some wonder if we are doing all we can to prepare for possible—,” she paused, “—outcomes that could unfold.”
“We have begun initial preparations. Citizens are rationing meals. The hunt party has been expanded and extended. The weapon makers have doubled their production. Warriors are patrolling. What else do you suggest we do?”
“Some have suggested postponing all activities,” said Janus, “until we receive more news from our sisters.”
The queen laughed. “All activities? I was quite looking forward to visiting the galleries and seeing a good play this Genesis.”
There was a small burst of applause. Amaria couldn’t see, but she assumed her grace’s support for the arts was appreciated primarily by the representatives from the artists’ camp.
Janus waited for the applause to die down. “Not to undervalue the arts, my queen, but some say there is a much greater issue at stake.”
There was a larger round of applause for Janus’s point of view. Zora raised her hands above her head and clapped hard. Lyla and Taryn joined in.
“Yes, but there is an even larger matter you may not have considered,” said the queen. “One doesn’t have much to live for when one’s consumed by fear.”
Amaria felt the urge to applaud but abstained. She wasn’t sure how she felt about the issue. Part of her wanted to applaud just to oppose Zora, but another part agreed that focusing on plays and paintings, even if it was Pandora and Ursula’s work, was a waste of heartbeats, under the circumstances.
“We need to increase patrols,” shouted a warrior from the benches. “Extend our search in the sea.”
A surge of cheers echoed in the chamber, but the queen silenced the outburst.
“We have already doubled our distance by sea. I am certain there isn’t a warrior among you that doesn’t take their patrols seriously, regardless if the players put on a play, but I assure you, there will be order here. Step out of the shadows and request the floor, if you have something to say.”
No warrior stepped forward. The queen waited for two heartbeats. “I see,” she said. “When the cloak is removed, the tongue is less daring. Typical.” She stood and crossed the floor to Janus. “Speak your mind, Sister.” She took Janus’s hand. “You are always the voice of others, but rarely do I hear your opinion on matters. What do you say, Janus? What else can we do? Cancel the arts? Cancel the Games? Cancel everything that makes us feel alive, and then what? Wait? Grow sick with worry? Grow weak? How passionate will your blade be then?”
The room was quiet. After what seemed like a hundred heartbeats, Janus finally spoke. “My sword and conviction have never faltered, your grace, and it never will. My opinion on this issue sides with whatever you think is best for the citizens.”
The queen laughed. “You could be queen with your rhetoric, but pretty words always get drowned out by the tide.” She walked away from Janus. “There isn’t a warrior or citizen who isn’t aware of the threat on our horizon. We are all preparing for the battles we shall face, not just in the new moon, but for many moons to come. I will not spoil the spirits and enslave us any more than we already are. Hera has done enough of that already.” She turned and addressed the chamber. “I cannot allow this tribe to live in fear of death when death has yet dared to wash up on my shores! Only after the blade has pierced my heart or severed my head will I embrace death, not a heartbeat before. So, until then, all activities will commence as planned.”
A large eruption of applause broke out around the chamber, and Amaria joined in. She looked at Zora. She was sitting with her arms folded, obviously not moved by the speech. Amaria clapped harder.
The queen left the chamber. The heartbeat she was gone the chatter ignited, only much louder than before. Warriors clamored out of their seats, and witnesses shoved their way towards the exits. Amaria kept seated as Ophea and Jax stood and turned around.
“That was fierce,” said Jax. “The hairs on my arms stood at attention.”
Ophea agreed. “As did mine.”
Amaria watched as Zora passed, but there was no eye contact. Even Lyla was reserved. Mortli and Taryn followed. Mortli looked at Amaria and nodded. Amaria returned the gesture. After a few heartbeats she stood up, and joined the tide moving fast as slugs towards the chamber exit.
When Amaria stepped out of the chamber, the sun was hot. Its reflection bounced off the water like spears. She squinted and shaded her eyes before stepping aside to let Ophea and Jax take the lead. They gathered in a circle on the beach. The heat seared the bottoms of her feet. She burrowed them deeper in the sand where it was cooler. Jax and Ophea were also barefoot, but Penelope still had on her sandals.
Jax hopped from foot to foot. “What’s next?”
“I’m on leave until first light to see Mother,” said Penelope. “You?”
Jax motioned to Ophea. “We report to the Beltline.” She looked at Amaria. “What about you?”
“Just lessons, for now.”
Ophea shifted her stance back and forth. “You haven’t been assigned duty?”
Amaria pinched the sand with her toes and shook her head. “Not yet.”
“She battled a mountain cat though,” said Penelope.
Jax socked Amaria’s arm. “Beastly! You kill it?”
Amaria looked at the ground and nodded. She looked out to sea. Lying was a sin, but she couldn’t tell Jax how the cat really died.
Ophea hopped from foot to foot like Jax. “You keeping the hide?”
“Nay. A gift to the queen.”
“Still,” said Jax, “a mountain cat kill.” She nudged Ophea. “Come on. This sand’s hot as Hades.”
Ophea extended her arm to Penelope and Amaria. “Sisters.”
“Let’s go,” Jax shouted, already moving towards the shade. “Peace and blessings to you both.”
Ophea hustled after her. They looked like two old citizens hobbling down the path.
Amaria shouted after them. “What’s the matter? You can’t handle the heat?” She strutted in place. “T
his isn’t hot, you sucklings!”
She heard Penelope from behind her. “Amaria.”
She didn’t turn around. “Go on, run to the main path.”
“Amaria!”
She stopped strutting and turned around. “What?”
Wanje stood behind her, watching the scene. Amaria bowed.
“I’m glad I caught both of you.” Wanje looked at Penelope.
Penelope bowed and handed over her satchel. She bent down, took the sandals off her feet and forfeited them, as well.
“Thank you,” said Wanje. “Micah will be expecting you at first light.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She turned to Amaria. “It may be a while before our next lesson. I’ll send word to let you know. Continue your swims. Tend to Timber. Prepare for the Games. I know how important they are to you, especially this cycle.”
Amaria felt her cheeks burn. She clenched her fists and gritted her jaw.
Wanje bowed. “Great Mother be with both of you.”
Penelope bowed, followed by Amaria.
“Great Mother be with you,” said Penelope.
Wanje returned to Queen’s Cliff. The heartbeat she was gone, Amaria cursed.
Penelope shifted from foot to foot. “Shhh.”
“Don’t silence me.” Amaria stormed up the coastline. “What is her problem?”
Penelope hurried after. “Wanje?”
“Nothing I do is good enough, and I’m just doing more of the same. Climb Mesha Cliff. Fetch a scroll. Climb Mesha Cliff. Fetch three scrolls. I thought I’d be assigned duty once I’d finished hauling berries for the healers, but no, I just get more punishments. It’s not my fault I fell into the Great Ravine.”
Penelope stayed calm. “I know. It’s not you, Amaria. I get the same.”
Amaria laughed at the idea. “You’re patrolling the north, P, on horseback.”
Penelope rolled her eyes. “Praise be.”
“Yes, praise be. You should be more thankful.”
Amaria knew she had said something wrong. Penelope stopped walking. “Excuse me?”
She tried to explain. “I just mean you’re in there. You’re doing what we’ve been training for our whole lives, but I’m sitting over here still in General Studies.”
