The Fall of Vaasar

by Rosalyn Kelly

  Edgar came to the bedroom late and Tamza suggested she dance for him to help him unwind, but he pushed her away and took to his bed, not even undressing. Snoring almost immediately.

  Tamza crawled in next to him and gently pressed her fingertips to his cheekbones. She knew it wouldn’t work without him looking in her eyes, but she did it anyway, desperately.

  They were awoken by shouting outside and thumping on the door. This time, Orpey didn’t wait to be told to enter, and burst in. “Lights spotted in the desert, in the passageway between the two colossal dunes that Dabecki says is the only way to Parchad. The fuckers are coming right at us, as brazen as a broke whore.”

  Edgar stood, stepped into his boots. Tamza pulled on her cloak, headscarf and slippers and ran with him out the room.

  They jogged through the town’s alleys and at the southern edge, where the reed hut district used to be until it had burned on the day that Vaasar fell, they were given horses. Edgar mounted and rode away, not waiting for Tamza. He dismounted at the beginnings of a great wall, four hundred paces away, and hunkered behind it with the other soldiers there. Tamza looked back at the town, it was dark. No lights in any windows. Dead. Even the palace was in darkness. The moon gave off enough light that they could just see one another.

  Edgar looked out from behind a low section of the wall at the lights in the desert. They were slowly advancing, a long trail of them. Dabecki was hunched low behind the wall, sweating, drunk. He looked nervous, as well he should, the traitor who had helped the Ferts to capture Vaasar. Tamza hoped he was imagining all the horrific things that the Parchad fighters would do to him when they found out.

  To either side of them, Fert archers lined the wall where it was built. And a group of armed horsemen stood a way off behind her, the horses scraping at the dusty, rocky earth. Not quite desert, but another few steps and the sand started. Tamza had never gone out onto the dunes. Her brothers had, as dares, like so many of the young men of the town. A kind of rite of passage for teenage boys, claiming they were discovering their desert roots. But they only ever went the once.

  The lights were slowly getting nearer.

  “The advance party?” Orpey asked Edgar. “There’s not many of them. Is the rest of the army behind that dune waiting for some signal to attack?”

  Edgar narrowed his eyes. “Archers get ready.”

  The men along the walls bristled with acknowledgement of the order. Nocking arrows to bowstrings.

  The tinkling of bells floated on the wind. The bells that Dromedar camel-pullers always tied around their camels.

  “It’s a camel caravan,” Tamza whispered. “Dabecki, you said we were due one.”

  Dabecki, looked up at her, and his eyes widened. “Yes, yes, Tamza is probably right.” He slurred. “It’s a water caravan coming back from Parchad. The Parchad army, even if coming at full speed, could not get here this quickly.”

  Edgar glared at him, and looked back at the dunes. “Archers, when in range, take your shots. Aim for the men, not the animals. Those beasts might be useful.”

  Tamza leaned in to Edgar, desperate to influence him, to save the lives of the poor men. “Edgar, these aren’t fighters, they are nomadic desert people, they pose no threat. They will be useful, keep them alive…”

  He slapped her face and shoved her so hard that she fell on her rump in the dirt. “Simeon, silence her would you. Her twittering in my ear is distracting.”

  Simeon pulled Tamza up, cupped a dusty hand around her mouth and pulled her away from Edgar. She squirmed but the soldier held her tight. More unnecessary death, and I can’t stop it.

  The Fert soldiers readied themselves, a silence descended and soon the whistling of the camel-pullers could be heard, steadily getting closer. Whistling into a slaughter.

  The caravan stopped a few paces from the wall, so close that Tamza could hear one man shout to another, in the Dromedari tongue that the Vaasarians also spoke, “Is this new? What is it?”

  “Some kind of wall?” came the reply.

  The camels bunched up in a line, parallel to the wall. The camel-pullers gathered together to stare at this new landmark in their desert. The perfect targets.

  “Now!” Edgar shouted.

  The archers loosed their bows and the whizzing arrows rained down on the camel-pullers, who screamed and tried to run for cover.

  Tamza bit Simeon’s hand and he released her with a yelp. She yelled, “Edgar, stop this!” before the soldier muffled her voice again.

  But Edgar ignored her. “Horses,” he shouted at his mounted soldiers behind her, “pick off all who remain alive.”

  Tamza saw an old man with huge, misshapen hump, chased down by a Fert soldier on horseback and stabbed. The camels did not stir, did not spook or notice that their masters were being slaughtered around them.

  Edgar joined his men in celebrating when not one Dromedar remained alive, jeering and kicking sand on their bodies. He left the corpses in the sand and his men led the docile camels into their usual pens at the unloading area near to the edge of town. Edgar watched as the soldiers emptied the sacks and untied the great, empty water containers that the camels had been carrying. The small glass trinkets and jewellery he distributed amongst the men, keeping one of larger glass crystals for himself, declaring, “This can go in my new crown!”

  Tamza observed the scene, mute. Edgar is pure evil. I was foolish to think I could influence that dark heart.

  She was still held by the same soldier, impatient now with his task and eager to release Tamza to join in the pillage, shouting to friends to save him some treasures, but he didn’t dare defy the King’s order.

  13

  Tamza danced for Edgar the following night, in their chambers. He’d eaten dinner with her and then had a long bath. He was in a pleasurable mood and she took advantage, wanting to strengthen her enchantment long enough to find a way to end his life. She had just finished her dance and was sat in his lap as Ursah-bear’s voice soared through the little square window of the second floor room. The thunderous roar came again.

  Tamza jumped off the King, pulling at his tunic. “Ursah is in danger, I must go to her!”

  Edgar frowned. “My order is for no one to go near the bears. It’s nothing.”

  She took his face in his hands, grateful she had strengthened her spell moments before and said, “I know my bears, and I know Ursah-bear is in danger. I must go to her, now!”

  Edgar’s eyes rolled. “Stay here, I’ll go.”

  “Edgar! Ursah needs me.”

  His eye twitched, his temper was fraying. “Do as I say, woman.” He stood, tapped on the door and the soldier posted there let him through. As the door locked behind him, Tamza heard Edgar’s order, “Don’t let her out.”

  Ursah-bear’s roar sounded a third time, shaking Tamza into action. She pulled on her cloak and headscarf, took a deep breath and clapped. A blue doorway appeared between her palms and grew to the size of a turnip.

  “This has to work.” She pulled the chair that Edgar had just been sat on, to under the little window, climbed on it and could just reach the ledge. The doorway rested in one hand, the smoky blue swirling into the jagged edge and the purest black she had ever seen in the centre. She held it in her mind’s eye for a moment and dropped it out the window.

  Usually, the doorway had to be placed exactly where she wanted it. Tamza had never attempted to drop it into place. Concentrating to will the circle down, down, to the dirt ground, she prayed that there was nobody around to see it. She made it bigger, so she could step through it. If this didn’t work and she ended up falling from height, it could be the end. Or if the doorway hadn’t expanded, she would be speared on the sharp, serrated edge. I have to try, even if I die trying. I cannot sit here and not help my bears.

  She clapped her hand a second time and the adjoining doorway opened in the room, she widened it, took a deep breath, and stepped into the portal. This was the second time she h
ad transported herself and the feeling was still strange. A sudden nausea, an intense pulling on her insides and a fast wind against her face.

  In an instant, she was through the other doorway, her foot landing on ground. She ducked low, but there was no one to be seen. She looked back at the portal. It was glowing bright blue, like a beacon. She clapped her hands a third time and it disappeared. Knowing from experience, that the doorway left in the room would dissolve at the same time into nothing.

  She edged her way along the outermost part of the garden, now overgrown and straggly after weeks of not being tended. It was dark and deserted. She crept through the bushes and out onto the Killing Fields, trying hard not to look at the piles of bones that lay there, stripped bare by the vultures. She stumbled in the dark over ribcages and skulls, repulsed, but her desire to help Ursah forced her on.

  Tamza reached the bushes that marked the end of the Killing Fields, the enclosure fence a few paces away. Men laughed and cheered. Peeking from the bush she saw Burrington, Orpey and a few other men on Edgar’s council, inside the fence, on the sandy training ground.

  Soldiers surrounded Ursah-bear, prodding her with sharp spears. The brown bear was reared up and roaring, trying to lurch forward to get to her cub, Fir, who was tangled up in a net hanging from a tree, just skimming the grass. A huge slab of meat on the floor under him. A trap, they sprung a trap to catch him.

  Fir-bear was agitated, trying to wriggle free but only managed to entangle himself further. Ursah-bear was furious, trying to get to her son. In between roars, she growled, “Fool boy! Told you, no trouble. Due to leave me soon, then this! How you plan get out? Can’t help, stinking humans block me.”

  Fir didn’t reply, he whined and pawed at the net, swinging.

  “Stick her in the gut,” Burrington slurred, swaying like Fir-bear in the net, a jug of beer in his hand. He and Orpey stood a few paces away from the group who taunted the bear. A soldier took up the challenge and prodded with his spear, Ursah-bear roared as blood was drawn across her belly.

  Tamza scrambled through the bushes but froze at the sight of her father’s body. Still laying where it had fallen. She dragged her eyes away to see Edgar stride up the path and through the gate.

  “What the fuck is going on here?” he growled.

  The men’s faces dropped, and the laughter subsided. Ursah-bear dropped down to all fours, sensing the threat from the spears lessoning.

  Burrington sauntered over to the King, knocking into him, his beer sloshing over the top of the jug. “Cousin, we are having a bit of fun. We are taking bets on how many spears this big one will take before she abandons her baby.”

  Edgar stared hard at Burrington. “I told you not to touch the bears.”

  Burrington shook his head and tutted at himself, running fingers through his thin hair.

  Orpey answered on his behalf. “After that slaughter yesterday we needed a bit of a challenge. Those camel folk didn’t even put up a fight. The men needed a strong adversary, to sweat a little.”

  The King brought a hand up to scratch his beard. He took a long time to consider his answer. Tamza knew her spell had saved her bears up until now, he had ensured no harm came to them. But now, he faltered.

  “Call them off,” Tamza muttered under her breath, willing for those words to form in Edgar’s mouth.

  Edgar placed a hand on Orpey’s shoulder and grinned. “Carry on, lads! I bet ten spears before the beast falls.”

  Burrington glared enviously at Orpey, shook his head and patted his own shoulder, mumbling.

  The men’s merriment started up again, as did the prodding. Ursah-bear reared up on her hindlegs and roared. Tamza ran along the enclosure fence, past her father, and through the gate.

  “Stop this, Edgar!” she screamed as she ran past him and towards Ursah-bear.

  But Edgar grabbed her arm and yanked her back. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

  She turned to him, eyes opened wide, locking his eyes with her gaze. If she had any influence over this man, it had to work now. “Stop this,” she said quietly. “Release the cub.”

  Burrington sniggered, “Cousin, you’re going to let this little camel humped bitch tell you what to do? Granted she’s lasted longer any of your other women, well, apart from your wife, the Queen you left back home, but…”

  Burrington trailed off as Edgar glared at him. The King considered Tamza and then his men, who looked eagerly at him. Tamza knew he couldn’t lose face in front of his soldiers, that internally he was fighting against Tamza’s spell.

  He glanced back at Tamza, opening his mouth to speak. But Dabecki crashed through the gate.

  “What am I missing?” the hunchback snorted. He, too, was drunk. His tunic was damp and he grasped a jug of barley wheat beer in his hand.

  “Know smell, dead lilies,” Ursah-bear rumbled. “Sumear murderer! He die now. Fir-bear, you old enough to take own care. I kill this human.”

  Fir-bear let out a wail, but replied. “Yes, Mama.”

  Ursah dropped to all fours, brought her head down and charged through the men with spears, swiping them out of her way with great paws. Yowling when one stuck in her neck, but not stopping.

  Edgar and Orpey stood their ground, Burrington dove to one side. Dabecki attempted to stumble backwards but fell on his rump, staring at the great hunk of brown bear hurtling straight for him. He was so drunk he forgot his ability, leaping in the air would’ve saved him.

  “Call the beast off, Tamza!” Edgar squeezed Tamza’s arm but she remained silent. “Call it off!”

  Ursah-bear had reached Dabecki and loomed over him, snarling, great globules of drool hanging from her sharp fangs. Her pink gums glistening as her lips receded. Her forehead knotted as she brought her snout down close to his face. Her paws scraped at the dirt next to Dabecki.

  The traitor was whimpering, trying to crawl backwards. A spreading wetness between his legs.

  The soldiers, recovering themselves from the charge, surrounded Ursah, spears pointed.

  “For fuck’s sake, Tamza, call off the bear,” Edgar growled.

  Tamza narrowed her eyes at him, then clicked. “Ursah-bear, you will not survive. And Fir-bear may not survive.”

  The bear grunted back, “I know. Go meet Bear-god. Go see Sumear. If Fir-bear comes, I welcome him.”

  “Tell Sumear I love him when you see him, Ursah. I love you.”

  Ursah lifted her two great paws and slammed down onto Dabecki’s chest, crushing his body. A crack sounded as she broke his ribs and shattered his spine. Blood spurted from his mouth and nose. She ripped at his body with long claws, her teeth latching onto his neck and wrenching most of it away.

  “Kill it!” Edgar ordered his soldiers.

  The soldiers positioned themselves to Ursah-bear’s sides and behind, thrusting spears into her thick fur coat. Jabbing and pulling back, jabbing again. When spears lodged in the bear’s flesh and would not tug free, the soldiers let go, drew swords and continued their stabbing. Orpey pulled out his sword and stormed into the fray.

  Ursah fought back viciously, whirling on her attackers, biting off arms and splitting faces with her great claws. She snarled and huffed. She reared on her back legs and pounced on two soldiers, smashing their chests into the ground with an almighty roar. She rolled and barrelled forward, taking out the legs of two more soldiers who dropped as if cut in half. Orpey slashed a deep wound in her shoulder and she yelped in pain before turning on him, holding her injured foreleg close to her chest she lunged for his neck with jaws wide.

  Edgar grabbed a sword from one of his fallen men and dove into the fight.

  Tamza grabbed the fallen man’s dagger and ran to Fir-bear. She started sawing at the rope that held up the net. Fir-bear was whimpering. Tamza looked over at Ursah, bloody wounds crisscrossed her chest and spears stuck from her haunches. With an effort, the bear reared on back legs and went to slam down on Orpey, but Edgar sprung forward and buri
ed his sword in her chest. Her pitiful, low moan echoed throughout the enclosure.

  Ursah slumped to all fours, and the surviving soldiers swarmed her.

  Tamza, with the unfathomable pain of loss swelling once again in her chest, sawed faster. “Fir-bear, when I get you down you run for the forest. You run and hide and don’t look back. Search out your father, Brea-bear. Understand?”

  “Yes,” replied the cub, his voice still squeaky with adolescence.

  “Stop her!” Edgar shouted.

  Tamza hacked at the last threads with the dagger, her muscles burning and the net dropped, spilling Fir-bear onto the ground.

  “Don’t look back, run!”

  Fir-bear shook his fur out, stood and ran into the forest. A soldier raced after him but as the man reached the tree line a huge paw stuck out from behind a trunk and knocked the man off his feet and back five paces. It was Rae-bear. He huffed at Tamza and ran off up the hill, deeper into the forest behind the cub.

  Edgar reached Tamza and punched her in the stomach. He dragged her to Ursah’s bloody dead body and crushed Tamza’s cheeks to turn her face. She squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to look. Refusing to see the fallen bear, who was older than Tamza and had mothered her when she was a child, had snuffled Tamza’s belly with her huge snout to make her giggle, had done what she could to comfort Sumear and Tamza when Hayat had died. Ursah, another family member brutally murdered.

  Edgar hissed, “You just lost me eight of my best soldiers, and that whiney little shit of a translator. And you just lost your bears. We will come back and hunt the rest of them in those woods until there’s not one left, you understand, bitch? We will make them suffer, I will make you suffer.”

  He threw her at Orpey’s feet. “Put her with the other prisoners.” To the soldiers, he said, “Take its head. I’m going to mount it on the wall of my new castle.”

  14

  “Tamza?” Maryam’s voice echoed across the hall where the Vaasarian Usefuls were still being kept.