But why...? One of my lightnings was flowing straight into his chest. The leather armour and cloth burnt away and smoke and fire licked out from his chest as the lightning swirled around him and crackled outwards. Amandera’s hair stuck straight out in every direction and one of her hands reached out toward him as if she could stop what was happening.
No! I wanted it to stop, but it wasn’t listening to me. I couldn’t even lower my hand. Stop! I didn’t mean to hurt anyone!
His body jerked and spasmed and then he fell from Amandera’s palanquin. I could not move. I certainly could not dodge a falling body and he was headed straight for me. I was going to die.
The world went black.
Chapter Nine: Bones of Al’Karida
Awake? Alsoon asked. His footsteps jostled me back and forth as he trod. The rocking feeling was pleasant, although I seemed to be lying on my belly across his back, strapped onto my saddle with my legs and arms dangling over both of his broad leathery sides. How in the world...?
Awake, I agreed. My head throbbed, my feet and legs were fiery with pain and the gashes from Amandera’s whip stung like acid in open wounds. At least I hadn’t died.
I opened my eyes and the bright light stung worse than my wounds. Immediately I shut them again, and then slowly squinted them open, trying to see as much as I could without letting in any more light than I had to. I was seeing elephant and dirt and clouds of dust. A figure walked beside Alsoon. I studied the figure, my thoughts still blurry. Could I recognize him? Not him. Her. Jakinda.
“Jakinda,” I tried to say, but my dry throat only produced a whisper. I worked my tongue, sucking on it to try to produce some moisture. “Jakinda.”
She turned. “Tazminera. You are awake. The High Tazminera told us not to disturb you until you awoke on your own.”
I tried to glare at her. I was too tired to glare.
Jakinda bit her lip, toying with the javelins in her hands. “Can I get you something? Anything?”
“Water,” I said.
“Of course.” She motioned to someone outside my vision. “I apologize for your position, but the High Tazminera did not have room for you in her palanquin and she said it was important that we make haste, so we tied you to the saddle.”
One of my guards ran up with a waterskin and tried to pour water into my mouth. I twisted to get my head upright and gasped and sputtered as he poured it down my nose and mouth. At least there was enough moisture to speak.
“Stop!” I said, coughing out water. Clumsy fool. He jumped back, his face white. “Untie me.”
“Of course, Tazminera,” Jakinda said, reaching over and fumbling with the cords holding me in place.
Alsoon stopped as she worked and the flow of the caravan moved around us. When the cords were loose, I twisted and pulled my way to a sitting position on his saddle, rubbing my hurt wrists and waist.
I scowled at Jakinda and said, “Don’t bother with the ‘Tazminera’ this and that. We both know that you failed in your duty to me.”
“I haven’t failed you, Tazminera,” she said, but her eyes were looking at a distance behind me and her cheeks were flushed.
“Then explain why I was tied across the back of an elephant like a prisoner.”
“Orders, Tazminera,” she said.
I leaned towards her from Alsoon’s back and she looked up at me, finally meeting my eyes.
“Yes, Captain Jakinda, but whose orders? Not mine. Are you my Captain of the Guard?”
“Yes, Tazminera,” she said, looking into the distance.
“Then maybe you should think of ways to persuade me to trust you again,” I said.
Her gaze darted to my face again before taking their place back on the horizon. “Again, Tazminera? I do not know what you mean. We are honored to see you will not just be married off to a low noble. Your place among the higher nobility is assured.”
Really? So, my pain was better for her status?
“How far are we from Al’Karida?” I asked, motioning to the guard to pass me the waterskin. Perhaps I should learn their names. Or perhaps not if they were simply going to betray me too.
“Do you see those hills?” Jakinda asked, pointing to the purple jagged rocks beyond us. “They are the Bones of Al’Karida and they mark the far boundary of the city. Where the light shines between those two peaks, the pass lies between them. We are two hours’ ride from the Bones and we will be in Al’Karida before sunset.”
I drank deeply of the cool water. It felt so good on my throat, but my belly ached at the lightning quick stab of cold. Wait. Lightning. Had I really killed a man with it?
I reached up and pulled my heartstone down. Could it have changed? Was it still cloudy? It was not clear, but within the cloudy mass in the gemstone, bright stabs of lightning formed and shot across the surface, popping and spitting like a tiny thunderstorm. It was so beautiful. My eyes began to mist at the emotion of seeing something within those taunting cloudy depths. I could sit and stare at it all the way to Al’Karida. To think that my heartstone was finally something more than just a blank slate. It was still mysterious and difficult to see what was happening, but it was alive and sizzling with excitement.
Jakinda cleared her throat. I looked over at her and raised my eyebrows, but kept my face stony. She might get a second chance, if she proved herself trustworthy, but she wasn’t off the hook yet.
“I am reluctant to bring this up, Tazminera, but the High Tazminera requested your presence once you were awake,” she said.
“And who do you serve?” I could practically feel the lightning dancing at my fingertips.
“You, Tazminera Tylira Nyota.”
I smiled, and started to climb down Alsoon. “In that case, take good care of my mount.”
So Amandera wanted to see me, did she? Well this time I had lightning at the tips of my fingers and I was not afraid to use it. Forget boiling oil and falling off a cliff. Imagine what she would look like with the shocked expression that poor soldier had? It was a shame about him. I would have to ask after his family and pay them a compassion offering. But Amandera was different. If she tried to make me run laps around the camp, I was no longer defenseless. She would pay! And it would feel so good!
With renewed energy, I strode through the caravan, dodging the skittish horse of the guard nearest me. He cursed before he realized it was me and then hastily averted his eyes. Servants in bright livery made room as I passed through and around them. On their heads were wicker paniers with colorful bundles heaped up. Each elephant had his own load in the woven baskets he carried. The tassels on the elephants’ heads told their age and cost. I was royalty in a rich and beautiful culture. I was talented in connecting with the Common. No one could ever make me feel small again.
I passed a dappled horse walking with his hooves high as if he were too good for the dust. I glanced at his master to see if he walked the same way and met the eyes of the stranger from the other night. Jakinda had called him reckless. I felt a thrill of excitement when I saw him recognize me, almost as strong as the thrill of wielding lightning had been. I looked away quickly and walked on. He knew I had been beaten by Amandera. How could I look him in the eye, knowing that? How could any of these people ever respect me after what they’d seen? My joy and pride from a moment before shrunk away.
Twenty minutes later as I approached Amandera’s elephant the terrain became steeper. The pass was getting closer. Amandera noticed me immediately, gesturing serenely for me to ascend the elephant. I swung myself up onto the rope ladder as he walked. She should be afraid. I wasn’t here to make peace.
Amandera’s face was hard as a stone. “You killed a useful soldier, and one that was easy on the eyes. He would have made the rest of my journey pass more quickly. Instead, I suppose I will need to turn to you for entertainment again.”
My gut clenched. Now was the time.
“Set your lightnings loose on me, Tylira.”
Had she really just said that? I raised my hand, but
I felt nothing. Quickly, I slipped into the meditation. Come on lightning! Come on Common! Let’s fry this queen of evil where she sits! Nothing. I could see the threads just like I had before. I went to the pool and tried to pick at a thread. Nothing.
An’alepp appeared suddenly, took one look at me and began to laugh. Had it all been a nightmare? A hallucination? Maybe none of it had ever happened.
I fell back to reality with a start.
“I thought not,” Amandera said with a smug smile. The snake! But how had I failed? I was so sure! “Don’t think that one tiny display means we will all bow and scrape to you now. Your training will take much more time than just a few days.”
She looked past me towards the pass. The path’s incline was getting steeper.
“Unfortunately, I must put it on hold for a time.” I barely held back a sigh of relief. “Oh, don’t look so disappointed. We will carry on again after your binding and the Great Sounding. Until then, I must fulfill my other duties as High Consort. You may stay in a suitable inn until two days from now when your binding will take place. Remember not to go out more than necessary. The streets are filled with vagabonds, and although I’m sure your guard is of the highest quality there is no need for you to show me how poor your judgment is – I am already well aware.”
I clenched my jaw. Leave it to Amandera to make me feel knee-high and stupid all at once.
“I will send word to Jakinda when the arrangements for the Binding have been fully put into place. Please obey my instructions to the letter when they come. Your binding, while small, will be attended by notable dignitaries, and it is of importance that you do not humiliate me with your usual churlish behavior —or worse, the High Tazmin! Remember, whatever you are, you share our blood and dignity.”
Nice. So now a woman who wasn’t related to me at all was lecturing me about sharing my blood just because she shared other things with my ancient father? It was enough to turn anyone’s stomach and I hadn’t eaten since that porridge at breakfast.
“Please stop nodding off, Tylira. Your decorum is a disgrace. Go and freshen yourself up so you don’t humiliate us all when we enter the city.”
As if the cuts, bruises and exhaustion I bore were my fault! As if she wasn’t the one who did this to me!
I bowed to Amandera, just to get away from her, slid down the rope ladder and wove my way back through the caravan to Alsoon. I would get cleaned up—because I did have dignity, whatever nonsense she wanted to believe—but if she thought I would just bow and scrape and obey forever she was mistaken. I would find a way to get that lightning back, and when I did, she would be so sorry! I would show her how lone trees feel in the middle of a field during a thunder storm and then she would pay for everything.
That was one thing I was going to live up to, even if I failed at everything else.
Chapter Ten: The Blue Feather
Al’Karida, sheltered by the Bones of Al’Karida on one side and the cliffs of Canderabai on the other, with the great Penspray River rushing through it was everything I had imagined and more. The bridges looked like spun gold woven into lace—and there were so many of them! Bridges over the River were obviously needed, but there were bridges over the Dawn Gate, the Bones Gate and the Ransom Gate, bridges from one spindly tower to another and even bridges across roads from popular taverns to well-established inns. It was truly a city of wonder. Minarets rose in smooth ivory perfection and reflected the romantic colors of the setting sun.
Our shadows trailed out long and black as the sins of our ancestors, where the dappled purple ground melted into the Al’Karida valley. And below us, in the city, lights blossomed into being and the distant sound of laughter and music met us before we could even distinguish the details of the city. I had donned a canary yellow sarette sewn with seed pearls and as the dark of night grew stronger, the crackling light from my heartstone became more obvious. It painted strange patterns on the faces of my compatriots and gave the gloom an almost spooky atmosphere that was at odds with the warm singing of the city.
Ahead of me the caravan wound through the Bones Gate and trumpets sounded loud and raucous to proclaim the arrival of High Tazminera Amandera Mubaru. The top of her palanquin almost grazed the underside of the bridge that topped the gate. I couldn’t wait for my turn to ride Alsoon through the narrow passage. People lined the city wall, waving colorful scarves at us and cheering. I yawned, and tried not to sag in my saddle, focussing instead on the excitement of the crowd around us. If I had the energy – and if Amandera wasn’t watching – I’d wave a scarf and cheer along with them.
As our part of the caravan arrived at the gate, I stood on top of Alsoon’s back and waved to the crowds. Whoops of delight filtered down from the walls. They were cheering for me! I flushed and then sat back down in my most dignified pose. Did I look good in yellow? Would anyone notice that my cheeks were flushed and my heartstone bright?
We passed through the gate and Alsoon’s great shoulders almost filled the tall narrow passage. People laughed and shouted on the lattice bridge above us and the scent of wine and cinnamon filled the air. Lanterns, both clear and colored, were lit along the streets and at every inn and tavern. Their patrons refused to be confined and while a way had been cleared for us by Amandera’s guard, the side streets were packed with dancing figures. Women in sarettes so filmy that they were nearly transparent, danced wildly with men in short, tight trousers and long vests. My feet itched to jump down and join them.
And the music! I swayed in time to one tune and then another as I rode. The songs, though fleeting, were lively and the center of my core pulsed in time with the beat. A drum solo here faded into a string quartet on the next street and then a set of horns at the street after that.
“Dignity, Tazminera,” Jakinda said in an undertone and I stopped swaying and frowned. I tapped the rhythm out with my fingers onto my leg. What Jakinda didn’t know, wouldn’t hurt her.
In front of us a chain of feather dancers swayed by, hands on each other’s hips as they danced to the rhythm. Their feathers waved and flirted in the breeze as the smell of cardamom drifted up. Alsoon trumpeted loudly, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Oh, to have grown up here! Here you could let your hair down and have fun. I was willing to wager all five hundred devlins I’d inherited that no one here had to get up in silence and run tomorrow morning.
At a fork in the road Amandera’s guards and servants continued up the wide main street. A white palace with sharp spires glowed golden with lantern light against the velvety purple sky awaiting them. The Grand Hall of Doves.
Jakinda led my guards in the other direction down a darker, narrower road. It was still loud with excitement and dancers.
“You’d think they would have more to worry about than dancing,” Jakinda said in an undertone to a guard beside her.
“News travels slowly, Captain. Perhaps they have not heard,” he said, rolling his shoulders. I really did need to learn the names of my other guards. I’d only ever needed to speak to Jakinda, but it occurred to me that now that I was no longer in the Silken Gardens, I should know who served me. I should count them. Was anyone watching?
I carefully counted thirty guards, twenty slaves, five elephants and twenty horses. Amandera probably knew the precise number of every person and animal in her entourage. She probably knew all their names and proficiencies. My cheeks flamed. I had a lot of catching up to do.
Our narrow street widened where a fountain shaped like a pair of elephants stood in a small square. Down either side of the street large inns with heavy signs hanging over their doors had their shutters thrown wide and inviting. The smell of roasting meat and spices made my mouth water and from every open door music spilled out into the night.
Jakinda led us unerringly to one called The Blue Feather where she spoke quietly to the man beside her and then turned to me.
“Soldier Nythrom will go and see to the arrangements for our mounts and servants, Tazminera. If you will wait a moment I—”
/> A heavyset man with a forked beard and a mane of thick hair spilling over his vest came bustling through the door wiping his hands on a green apron. Why did I have to go through stuffy formalities when all I wanted to do was join the fun with everyone else?
“Captain Jakinda, it’s a pleasure indeed. I am Hoth Rakton and I assure you that we have made arrangements exactly as you requested.” His smile was wider than the Bones Gate and his eyes glittered in the lantern light. Hopefully Jakinda hadn’t promised him too much money. He looked like a carter who thought he could get extra coin by sweet talking the purser.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw the men in hooded cloaks who had joined our caravan tie their mounts outside the inn beside ours. A garish sign said it was ‘The Red Curtain.’ One of them paused and seemed to look right at me but in the deepening dark it was impossible to tell which one it was. Could it be the man with the baritone voice? I shivered a little at the thought.
“This is the Tazminera Tylira Nyota, Innkeeper Rakton,” Jakinda said.
I turned my attention to the man and he bowed deeply.
“It is a great pleasure to entertain you tonight, Tazminera,” he said. His voice droned with such little inflection that my eyelids felt heavy. “We have had the privilege over the years of entertaining two Lesser Tazmins and three Tazmineras...”
My muscles ached and my welts stung and I hadn’t slept and we were going to talk about entertaining? Jakinda cleared her throat and I startled. Had I been asleep?
“Forgive the Tazminera, it has been a long journey and she is tired,” Jakinda said.
“Of course, Captain,” the innkeeper said, stuttering slightly as if he were nervous. “If you will follow me to your suite, Tazminera, a hot meal has been laid and a bath drawn.”
Ah. Heaven. We followed him into the inn and I noted that six of my guard peeled off and followed, shaking their dusty boots off as we entered.
The common room was noisy with dancing and drums, but the people had happy, open faces and the music appealed to me. Not a bad inn. A touch worn, perhaps, but fine and well furnished. There wasn’t a patron there who couldn’t afford good clothing and decent food by the look of them. Jakinda had done well.
Teeth of the Gods Page 6
