Becoming a Warrior

by Moose Tyler

  The queen laughed. “Interesting.” The look on her face grew serious as she pondered her next move.

  Four Crowns required patience and strategy. Anyone who got in a rush was sure to lose. Amaria had been playing ever since she could remember, but the game wasn’t just for warriors. It was used in General Studies to teach citizens the basics of combat strategy. Everyone in Themiscia had played at least once, many regularly, and some were addicted to it. Amaria had spent her fair share of heartbeats hunkered over the board, but she never bet arrowheads. She mainly just played with Ophea in solitude.

  The board was laid out in four territories, each with its own crown. The one who captured all the crowns was the winner. Players had a three-tiered army of foot soldiers, a winged and a naval defense, and the priestesses, and each piece had rules regarding things like which way they could move, where they could go, and how much power they had. The game could accommodate up to three players but was best played between two.

  When there were only two, both players got fifteen foot soldiers. Those only moved one space at a time and couldn’t jump or win a battle unless another piece was in a specific position.

  The winged and naval defense had more power. There were six pieces in the winged and nine in the naval. They moved three spaces at a time and could win a battle simply by jumping over other pieces, as long as the piece they were attacking was no farther than three spaces away, but the naval defense was limited to battles at sea, whereas the winged could attack on water or land.

  The priestesses were the real jewels of the game. There were three, and they had enormous power. They could cover great distances in a single move, jump over terrain, and win battles in the water. They were extremely valuable and to be protected at all times.

  The queen nudged her winged defense into a better position on the side of the mountain. “So, are you nervous about taking the shield?”

  Amaria moved a foot soldier. “Yes, your grace. I know I’m not ready in body and mind just yet, but I’m working hard to prepare.”

  The queen smiled. “I’m sure you will do fine.”

  There was a lull in conversation as moves were exchanged. Amaria and the queen had similar playing styles. They both took their turns quickly. Ophea pondered for an extended amount of heartbeats over each move. It was frustrating as an opponent, which was part of her strategy. The queen didn’t take more than a few before finishing her turn, so the game progressed quickly.

  It was Amaria’s move. She studied the board and scratched her head. The queen had two of her winged defense dangerously close to striking distance, and three foot soldiers were fanned out around the clearing. Amaria only had her foot soldiers in play, and now two of them were at risk of capture. She moved a priestess towards the brewing battle.

  The queen raised an eyebrow. “So early for such an aggressive move.” She pushed a piece from her winged defense into the clearing, an equally combative move.

  “Aggressive indeed.” Amaria moved the priestess across the board to a secure position in the east.

  The queen laughed and sat up in her chair. “I like your style.” She used the winged defense to take out one of Amaria’s foot soldiers. She placed it in her base camp and took another drink of tea. “Do you fight the way you play?” She set her glass down. “I mean in battle, not competition.”

  Amaria used her priestess to take out one of the queen’s foot soldiers, even though a bolder move would have been to attack the winged defense. She put the piece in her base camp. “I don’t know. I’ve never been in real battle.”

  “You’ve simulated them in training.” The queen made a somewhat aggressive move on Amaria’s priestess.

  Amaria thought the queen was bluffing, and it crossed her mind to challenge, but she decided better of it. It was still early in the game, and her army had been weakened by the queen’s last move, so she picked up her priestess and moved it to safety in base camp.

  The queen nudged another foot soldier towards the sea and leaned back in her chair. “I think you will make an excellent soldier.”

  Amaria couldn’t believe her ears. Only excellent soldiers were stationed in the north, her dream post. She giggled. “Thank you, my queen.” She moved a foot soldier towards the battle at the mountain. “I promise to serve you well.”

  The queen edged a piece from her naval defense out of base camp. “Do you always talk like this?”

  Amaria moved her naval defense west. “Like what?”

  “What about when you were left in the Valley of Sand or the Great Ravine, did you make the same pledge? Surely your thoughts were not as pure as they are now.”

  Amaria looked at the queen but didn’t know how to respond. She moved a piece on the board, but her mind was nowhere near the game. She thought about the Valley of Sand, when she was so thirsty she thought about slicing her own forearm to drink the blood.

  The queen moved another one of her naval defense pieces out of base camp, and Amaria’s attention was snapped back to the game. Her grace had excellent position both in the east and west. Amaria looked up. The queen smiled.

  Amaria refocused. “My devotion has never wavered.” She used one of her priestesses to take out two of the queen’s foot soldiers and one of her winged defense. Amaria added the collection to her army at base camp and did a status check of the game. She had lost two of her winged defense, four foot soldiers, and two pieces in her naval defense were in serious jeopardy.

  The queen played Four Crowns like a mountain cat sneaking up on its prey. “Glad to hear it,” she said.

  Moves were exchanged, and each captured the others’ pieces and sent them back into the game as their own. After a while, Amaria tried to commandeer the queen’s focus. “Do you have any advice about the quest?”

  The queen studied the board carefully before moving a foot soldier. “Be prepared for anything.”

  Amaria used her naval defense and took out one of the queen’s pieces. The move put Amaria in excellent position to take out two more ships.

  The queen’s brow crinkled. She moved a priestess. “Surely your sister gave you advice already.”

  Amaria moved her winged defense towards the mountain. She was gaining better position on that part of the board. “Sakina didn’t speak of it, not really. She just said it was a difficult quest.”

  “Difficult in what way?”

  Amaria felt flustered, caught off guard. She had been so focused on gaining better position in the game that she had forgotten to watch her words. She thought about what she had said. Was it something that would get Sakina in trouble with the queen somehow?

  Amaria backtracked her words. “Not difficult.” Her voice sounded defensive. She tried to relax. “She just said she was so tired that she struggled with balance.”

  Sakina had also said that the task was senseless. More hoops to jump through were her exact words, and she had cursed and ranted about having to endure such a foolish ritual, but Amaria had no intention of confessing that information.

  The queen made another move. “And the youngest? What has she said?”

  “Telsa?” Amaria’s mind raced. “Telsa has said nothing, your grace. She has no knowledge of a warrior’s quest, and she doesn’t speak as if she does.”

  Heartbeats seemed to slow, and Amaria could hear hers clanking inside her chest. She looked at the queen. She was leaned back, her elbow resting on the arm of the chair. She raised the glass to her lips and sipped. Amaria could hear the liquid swish around her mouth and wash down her throat. She lowered the glass. Her lips now smirked, and her stare bore into Amaria.

  Amaria’s heart clanked louder. “Telsa is innocent, your grace. She only speaks of the Great Mother and the animals and stuff.”

  The queen didn’t move.

  Panic coursed through Amaria’s body. “Why do you not believe my words?”

  “I never said that
I don’t believe your words.” She took another sip.

  “But, clearly your grace is not pleased.”

  She set the glass down. “What makes you say that? It’s your move.”

  Amaria looked at the board. It felt like ages since it had been her turn, but judging from the status of the pieces, that was not the case. She had made some thoughtless, senseless moves, and now the queen was in excellent position to take the crowns in both the north and south and had stabilized her position in the east and west.

  Amaria moved a priestess. “I don’t understand why you summoned me here, my queen—,” she paused, “—other than to beat me at Four Crowns.”

  The queen laughed, but the fire in her eyes did not soften. Amaria felt the weight of her power in the stare, and Amaria’s shoulders began to bow under the pressure. She kept her eyes on the board.

  The queen made another bold strike in the west. “Telsa has said many things. Did you know she’s had her first vision?”

  “Yes, your grace.”

  “Has she spoken of the prophecy?”

  Amaria looked up and shook her head. “No. She said it would taint the vision.”

  The queen took another drink of tea. “So, she said nothing?”

  “Only that it hadn’t been recorded, which was why she couldn’t speak of it.”

  The queen knocked out a few of Amaria’s foot soldiers. “Was that all?”

  “Aye, your grace.” Amaria looked at the board and chuckled. She was getting slaughtered. She didn’t know for sure, but this might very well be her worst game of Four Crowns ever.

  “Is this amusing?” asked the queen.

  “No, your grace.” Amaria captured one of her foot soldiers and added the piece to her base camp. It was a pathetic victory, but the only one she could muster at this point. “I’m just glad I didn’t wager on this.”

  The queen laughed again, and her stare softened. Amaria exhaled slowly. When the queen smiled at her, it felt like the sun kissing her cheeks, the wind tussling her hair, and the water cooling her toes, all at once. It was an effect Amaria had never experienced before, and the sensation was soothing. She stretched out her back and waited for the next move.

  “Being queen is tough, Amaria. You might not think so, but it is.”

  Amaria didn’t doubt that being queen was hard. She certainly wasn’t envious of the job.

  “It’s difficult to know what to believe,” said the queen. “You hear so much. Talk is a constant in Themiscia. Talk about this. Talk about that. Talk, talk, talk.”

  The queen made a few mercy moves in the west, and Amaria was able to take out a piece of her winged defense and a few foot soldiers. She suspected the game was being delayed.

  “What’s more interesting to me is action,” said the queen. “Do you know how I took the throne?”

  “No, your grace.”

  “I had to kill two other warriors. It was quick. The battle lasted only a handful of heartbeats. The blood was still fresh on my face and kilt when I was crowned.” The queen used her priestess to take out the last piece in Amaria’s naval defense. “I can still taste it on my lips. It’s haunting – a blend of sea salt, metal, and warm honey. My blood would have tasted the same to them, had I lost the crown.”

  “But you didn’t,” said Amaria, “and you’ve ruled with grace and honor. We are all better because you are queen.”

  Amaria felt strong in her convictions. Under the queen’s rule, great advancements had been made in science, farming, and medicine. The arts flourished, and education had been granted to all citizens, not just those with immortal blood. She had also invested more resources in architecture, built up the naval defense, and more than doubled the mounted fleet so that every warrior stationed on the island would have a horse, if the tribe went to war. She had learned about the accomplishments in Themiscian History. She didn’t know who the other two candidates vying for the throne were. She was sure they were fine warriors, but Amaria was glad they had lost. Themiscia was a better place because of the queen.

  “You’re too kind, Amaria.” She was done playing the game. She moved her pieces swiftly. “I have enjoyed ruling Themiscia, but my reign will eventually come to an end.”

  Amaria moved her pieces to make the conquering easier.

  “As did the one before me. As will the one who follows me.” The queen collected what was left of Amaria’s arsenal. “It’s inevitable. From the heartbeat the sages make the prediction, the moons on a queen’s reign are numbered.”

  Amaria moved her last priestess towards slaughter, a suicide mission she would never accept on any other day, against any other opponent. The queen attacked and captured the piece. The game was over.

  “Your sister has made a prediction,” she said. “My reign will end soon, if the young sage is correct.”

  Amaria was stunned. A queen’s reign only ended in death, and a queen only died in battle.

  The queen poured another glass of tea. “She named a predecessor, but the vision has not been verified by the others.”

  Amaria couldn’t blink. She couldn’t breathe. Was this why she had been summoned to the queen’s chamber? She couldn’t feel her heart’s beat inside her chest.

  The queen took a long drink, set the glass down, and put the game pieces back in their box. “Apparently, someone in your family will take the throne after I die, but like I said, her vision has been unverified.”

  The queen’s words hit Amaria like a branch she didn’t see while riding. She felt the wind escape her lungs. She stood up.

  “Breathe,” she heard the queen order.

  Amaria looked at the wolf on the ground. It growled and snapped at her. She looked at the queen. She could see her mouth moving, but the words were muffled. The room around her spun rapidly. She broke out into a sweat as the light dimmed. She felt her stomach lurch, and in two heartbeats, chunks of fruit flew out of her mouth and splattered all over the game board and the queen’s well-polished table. Amaria looked up, panicked.

  The queen was not pleased. “You might be able to hold your own in the arena,” she said, “but you need a lesson or two on holding your tea.” She walked to the rope and yanked it with a firm snap to call for her maid.

  Amaria followed Jocelyn through the tunnel. She felt sluggish as she shuffled along in the dark. The maid opened a door in the wall. Amaria hadn’t seen it when she had entered the cave earlier. She had been distracted by the queen’s grey wolf, Ashes.

  Small torches lined the path, and they walked at a decline for a while before coming to another door. Jocelyn opened it, and Amaria walked into a small corridor that led her out onto the stage of the council chamber. It was dark, only a few torches burned around the walls. She looked up at the empty seats cascading above her. She got dizzy and closed her eyes. Her head throbbed in rhythm with her heartbeat.

  “This way,” Jocelyn said.

  Amaria opened her eyes and followed her around the stage and down to the witness benches.

  “I take it you can find your way from here.” Jocelyn bowed and waited for Amaria to leave.

  Amaria walked up the steps. Her legs wobbled, but she made it to the top, through the archway, and back down the stairs with little effort. It didn’t take half the heartbeats to exit, now that the space was empty.

  She looked for Timber as she walked up the eastern coastline, though Telsa had said she would return her to the barn. When Amaria made it to Southern Bend, she broke into a jog. With each jarring step, the pain in her head amplified. She raced around the curve and burst into the yard before looking up to see the torches out front had been lit. She slowed to a brisk walk. When she passed the barn, she felt a hum in her toes and stopped. Though she couldn’t see her, she knew Timber was inside. The vibration intensified when Amaria faced the barn. She felt her heart pound inside her chest, the way it had when the queen had told her
about Telsa’s prophesy. She focused on the feeling in her feet and heart. The vibration surged to her stomach. She heard Timber growl from inside, but the cat stayed out of sight. Amaria walked away from the barn. She wasn’t sure how she knew, but Timber was too afraid to come outside.

  Amaria walked through the library and into the main room. Her mother sat by the hearth, clean and properly dressed, as if she had not just spent the past twenty moons or so on a hunt deep in the Great Ravine or wherever she had been.

  “Mother, you’re back!”

  Her mother set her tea cup down. “Yes, we returned around midday, after a much-deserved bath, I went to the barn and discovered some kind of bed and the carcasses of what was once messenger birds.”

  Amaria looked at her feet.

  “The parchments are for you,” Mother said. “Looks like you owe Penelope and Ursula new birds.”

  Amaria looked at the bowl on the table next to the hearth.

  “Don’t even think about it. Sit down. Gypsus told me about your pet.”

  Amaria looked at her mother. “Wanje told me to train her, and Telsa helped me learn how to connect. I did it just now before coming in. I think she’s scared.”

  Mother’s tone was serious and firm. “I said sit down.”

  Amaria sat in the chair across from the hearth.

  “That’s because Telsa scolded it and banished it to the barn after I told her about the birds.”

  “Her name’s Timber.”

  Her mother gave a stern look. A few heartbeats passed. “Now, I’ve already talked to Wanje, and she assures me that this cat will not harm anyone.”

  Amaria was amazed that her mother could talk to Wanje at a heartbeat’s notice, but she had to wait moons for word.

  “We’ll talk about that in a moment. Wanje asked me to tell you that you won’t have another lesson until after Genesis.”