by Bridie Blake
“I want the tale of the First Shiasa,” she said. “Don’t ignore me, old woman. And don’t tell me I can’t request a story. I have been invited here.”
She glared at Tempani before slowly giving a nod of her head.
A reverent silence fell around the circle as all eyes fell on the elder, Dimpa. His silver hair fell over his shoulders and his skin crinkled at the eyes, a sign of wisdom in the tribes.
When he spoke he did so quietly, yet his voice was strong and each word carried with it a call for respect.
“In the days following the birth of our people from the Goddess Allarah, we roamed the southern parts of this land looking for a place to call home. As we wandered, clusters of people broke from the main group, choosing to settle in one place over another. Some chose the riverbanks or the dense forests or the green meadows. On the twentieth day of travel the final group stopped and made their home in the mountains.
With all tribes now settled on their chosen piece of land, a struggle for power began. Each tribe had a leader, selected by their peers for their strength, wisdom and courage. Yet battle raged for the ultimate power of leading our people as one, not dissimilar to the king in the north.”
He paused and waited for people to finish spitting on the ground at the mention of the northern king.
“Tribal leaders fought one another to the death to prove who the stronger and more capable leader was. The only tribe to refrain from the fighting was the one housed deep within the mountains. And yet their leader held more power than all other tribal leaders combined.
She held the ability to speak to animals. Not just horses, dogs and cows but odd creatures that were part human and part animal. And the one creature that we valued above all others. The dragon.”
An audible gasp swept over the group. Tempani raised her eyebrows at Darby. They had not heard of the existence of dragons before. All Kamaris thought the stories of their existence were just that. Stories.
“The power struggle continued until two of the tribes forged an alliance. At their head was Criolu.”
More spitting.
“He moved from tribe to tribe, killing their leaders and replacing them with his own men. But one tribe remained elusive. Each time he tried to travel up the path into the mountains he was met by strange creatures that wouldn’t let him pass. He lost many good fighters in his quest for ultimate power.
Desperate to take control over the final tribe, Criolu aligned himself with a northern sorcerer. Together they took that mountain, destroying everything and everyone who stood in their way. It was a massacre. Men, women, children, animals. One life after another was taken from this world. But they could not find the lone female tribal leader. It was as though she had disappeared into thin air.
Criolu returned to his tribe, believing he was now the sole leader of the Kalaowin people. No longer needing his northerner friend, Criolu murdered him. Slit his throat from ear to ear.”
A spattering of excited chatter broke out. The good part was coming.
“He began to rule the people cruelly. Each tribe was forced to offer more than half their livestock each month as a sign of respect. Some were forced into the mines to dig for diamonds, and everything that was uncovered went straight to Criolu. And if you spoke out against him…” Dimpa ran a finger across his throat.
“All this time there was a young woman hiding out in the mountains, grief stricken for her slaughtered people. She had been forced into hiding by her elders and protected by a creature so powerful that some say it rivaled the power of the Gods.
Then one night she was visited in her dreams by our Goddess Allarah. She begged the Goddess to end her suffering and reunite her with her people, but the Goddess wouldn’t hear of it. She told the young woman that the fate of all Kalaowins rested in her hands. She was to rescue them from Criolu and take her rightful place as their Shiasa.
The young woman argued with her Goddess. She did not want to lead people who had stood by while her tribe was slaughtered. The Goddess told her that a true Shiasa had a kind yet remote heart. She was not to be ruled by her feelings but not be emotionless. Her heart was to have a perfect balance. The young woman turned to the Goddess with a frown and said ‘I am ruled by nothing but my feelings.’ The Goddess smiled at her and pointed at the dragon that towered over them. ‘She believes otherwise. The dragon will only choose to protect a true leader.’”
Tempani shivered at her words. Was that the key? She had to find a dragon to acknowledge her as the rightful Shiasa?
Yes that shouldn’t be too hard. She thought to Tilaw as she stroked his fur. Where am I going to find a dragon?
He looked up at her, understanding in his eyes.
“The young woman pondered over the Goddess’ visit for weeks. Her decision changing like the wind. Until one morning she woke to the sound of laughter. It sounded foreign to her for a noise so pure and full of happiness had not met her ears in so long. She travelled down the mountain path and stumbled across a little girl who was playing with a pile of twigs. The little girl smiled up at her and then hurled a twig towards an overgrown bush. A tiny wood nymph clutched at the twig and jumped into the girl’s lap, placing the twig back in her hand.
It was at this moment that the woman knew she had to rescue her people so once again they could all experience some joy. She whistled for her dragon, who flew to her side and allowed her to jump on its back. She reached a hand down for the girl to join her but the pile of twigs lay discarded, and the woman knew the girl was a gift from the Goddess.
She flew to each tribe and was met by deafening cheers as she blasted each leader aligned to Criolu if they did not surrender to her. Most refused and paid the price. She saved him for last. She came down on him as he slept and wanted nothing more than to make his death a painful one but that would mean her feelings ruled her judgment so she made it swift. Painless.
She called all the tribes together, and one by one a new leader was voted into each. Chosen by the people. To aid them would be the tribal elders, wise in their hearts, minds and eyes. No decision would be made without a vote by the leaders. And no outcome acted upon without approval from their Shiasa. They would be led fairly and truly and never suffer at the hands of an unjust ruler again.
The years went by and Shiasa’s changed with each generation, but one thing never did.” His eyes flicked to the mountains. “Our First still watches over us all, and we in return protect her mountain home. We protect the spirits of her slain tribe so we never forget her pain.”
Tempani sensed their eyes on her as Dimpa finished. She knew they were waiting for a reaction. Something to show them that she understood the message. She tried to keep her face blank as she stretched her arms over her head.
“I’m exhausted,” she murmured as she rose to her feet.
Chae was quick to follow suit and pulled her towards the group and out of earshot. “You’re not going to try anything stupid are you?”
Tempani’s face was the picture of innocence. “Of course not. I’m going to bed.”
“Promise us you won’t go chasing myths,” Madoc said. “All this talk of dragons and the Goddess and that creepy little girl.” He shuddered. “It’s all nonsense.”
She smiled at him and patted his hand. “I know it is. Goodnight.” She waved over her shoulder as she weaved her way through the crowd.
“She’s going to sneak off isn’t she?” Madoc asked.
“She wants the dragon.” He glanced at his friend and sighed. “I’ll take first watch.”
Tempani lay awake in her bedroll as she waited for silence to take hold of the camp. She desperately wanted to get moving as soon as possible because the closer it got to dawn the more chance she had of getting caught by one of her people.
She groaned as the two men still seated around the fire broke into another ballad. This was now their tenth song. Normally she would not object to their singing but tonight she did. She had a mission, and they were delaying her.
She
was ready to go. Dressed in her breeches and shirt, she had a pack filled with whatever supplies she could scrounge in her tent. It wasn’t much, but it would do. Nika had taught her to hunt and what berries were safe to eat so she knew she wouldn’t starve. She may not even need to resort to that. For all she knew she’d be back, with a dragon, before anyone realized. She smiled at the image she had of wandering back into the camp with a dragon trailing behind her.
Perhaps this was all nonsense, and she was embarking on a fruitless mission. She had to take the chance though, didn’t she? It was the only chance she had to prove that she belonged. That she was the next Shiasa.
Finally the singing ceased, and it was safe to leave. She shoved her feet into her boots and grabbed her pack. She gave Tilaw a kiss on his nose and ordered him to stay. He gave a little whine so she enforced her message with a glare.
“I’ll be back soon,” she whispered to him and gave him a final pat.
She pulled open the flap of her tent and was met by an unfriendly breeze. And Chae. “You can’t stop me,” she told him.
“I know,” he replied and kissed her cheek. “Just promise me you’ll tell the others I tried to.”
“I will.” She grinned at him, her eyes darting with excitement. “I can do this. I can prove to them all that I belong.”
“Be safe,” he said. “If you’re not back by sunset, I’m coming after you.”
She nodded and waved farewell, setting off into the darkness.
The path up the mountain seemed to go on forever. She had pushed on despite her exhaustion and her aching back. She found it harder to breathe the higher she went. The incline had been gradual, and she hadn’t been able to see how far she had come until now. The view had been blocked by looming trees and wild hedges, but she came to a small clearing and stared down at the small speck that was the camp.
She threw her pack down and sat for a moment to regain her strength. She didn’t want to pass out from exhaustion before she’d found this dragon. She had promised Chae that he wouldn’t have to marry a Kalaowin for her, and she wasn’t going to let him down. If she didn’t come back with a dragon then she would find another way. She didn’t know how yet, but she would do it. Perhaps reach out to the tribes that did believe in the prophecy. The ones that wanted to put a stop to the feud with the Kamaris.
She sighed and pulled herself to her feet again. If she wasn’t back by sunset, then they would come after her.
There was now no light at all coming through the overgrowth. She jumped as she heard a snarl. Her heart raced as she twirled around to face the oncoming threat. But there was nothing. She slowly pulled out her sword and gripped it between her hands.
“Show yourself,” she stammered, her nerves betraying her.
A pair of bright red eyes stared at her through the darkness. Her heart pounded in her chest as the creature’s feet thudded against the rock.
It snarled again, and she knew it had come closer. Panicked, she used some of her magic to cast a small flicker of light and shrieked when she found herself facing what appeared to be a large black cat. But it was the biggest cat she’d ever seen. On all fours it came up to her waist, its paws the same size as her own hands.
She dove to her side as it lunged at her, and her arm smacked against the rock. It landed on its feet and turned around, hissing at her, exposing its sharp teeth. Her left arm throbbed as she pulled herself up. The cat circled her, its red eyes unblinking. She gripped her sword in her right arm and swiped at it when it snapped at her, but all she met was air. It was teasing her. She was easy prey to this creature.
But she hadn’t climbed this mountain to be defeated by the first threat she came across. It lunged again, but this time she stood her ground and gripped its legs as it pushed her to the ground. She got her leg up and kicked it in the stomach, forcing them to roll over. She bit back a scream as its claws dug into her shoulders. Her sword had been knocked from her hands as they’d rolled. She staggered to her feet and fumbled for the dagger that was sheathed against her thigh. With it in her hand she launched herself onto the cat’s back and held on as it tried to buck her off, its head twisting and teeth snapping. She slashed it across the belly and rolled off as it snarled angrily. It wasn’t done. It ran at her again, but she saw it was faltering. She brought her dagger up and met the cat in mid-jump, digging the blade into its side. They fell to the ground, and she lay pinned underneath the dying animal. She kicked it off her and wrenched her dagger free, wiping the blood on her breeches.
She didn’t like taking the life of an animal. The cat had only been doing what was in its nature just as it was in hers to fight back. It was a senseless death when it knew nothing else. She staggered to her feet. There was no point crying over an animal that had tried to kill her.
Tempani only made it a few steps before stumbling over her own feet. The fight had taken more out of her than she’d realized. She cursed under her breath and lifted herself up. She could do this. Just a little further, and she’d find the dragon. She had to finish this.
She moved gingerly, her pace much slower now as the pain from the cat’s scratches burned her skin. She stopped suddenly at the sound of hooves approaching. Had Mincha followed her? She spun around and froze.
She gripped her sword as the centaur approached her. She tried to remember Darby’s words. That not all centaurs were dangerous.
“You’re trespassing on sacred ground.” The man’s voice was deep, and it echoed against the mountain.
She craned her neck and tried to meet its eyes. They were a beautiful sky blue and were set under thin eyebrows. His blonde locks were long and framed his prominent cheekbones and strong jaw line. He was handsome. If you could get past the fact that below his muscular stomach was the bottom of a white horse.
“I mean you no harm,” she croaked. “I seek only the dragon that protects these mountains.”
“And kill the creatures that live here?”
“Only if they attack,” she said quickly. “I do not like to take life from this land, but if I am attacked, I will fight back.”
“Will you spill my blood?”
“Will you attack me?”
The centaur cocked its head to the side as he stared at her. “Put your weapons away. You will not need them.”
She raised her eyebrows at him. “I’ll be the judge of that.”
He moved quickly towards her, his face a mask of fury. “You are disrespectful. Enough blood has been slain on these mountains. She wants no more.”
“She?”
“This is the point where most fail.”
She frowned at him. Who was he talking about? Was it the dragon? If it was, she couldn’t fail. This must all be part of a test. She had to prove she was worthy. But should she trust this centaur and put away her weapons, leaving her defenseless and ripe for the killing? What other option did she have? She put her sword and dagger back in their sheaths and met his eyes.
“Happy?”
He moved out of her way. “All others fail at the next point.” His voice was low, and it seemed to follow her as she moved past him.
She shivered as she walked on. She was scared. She had no idea what she would face next, and by the sounds of it, it wasn’t going to be pleasant. If no one ever made it past the next point, how was she going to? Was it even worth finding the dragon? Surely she could think of another way to prove that she was the true successor to her grandmother. She looked behind her, but she knew she couldn’t turn around and go back down. Deep down she knew this was the path she had to take. She had to show everyone that she was worthy or they’d never believe in her. And to be honest, she had to show herself too. There was a tiny part of her that still didn’t think she was capable of any of it. This would silence her doubts.
A light fog blurred her vision as it crept across the path. She squinted her eyes as it settled around her. She tried to conjure some of her Power to use against it, but she couldn’t. Something held it from her reach. She tried to s
truggle against whatever the force was but to no avail. She staggered through the fog, which had grown thicker and now choked her breath. She gasped for air, but there was none. It was suffocating her. Her only instinct was to run. To run blindly forward no matter what was waiting for her on the other side of this fog.
So she did. Her legs pumped underneath her and slowly gathered speed. She couldn’t see, her breathing was haggard and she was weaponless, but she would not give up. She prayed that her feet stayed on the path and she didn’t plunge to her death, but as she did she ran straight into a tree. She landed on her bottom but picked herself up gingerly and moved her legs forward once more.
The panic was setting in as she continued running. The fog seemed endless, and she was beginning to think it impossible. Her lungs burned and screamed for fresh air, and her eyes stung against the dampness of the fog. Her fingers itched to grab her sword, but the centaur had told her to put them away. She was exhausted, and her legs now wobbled each time they pounded into the ground.
This couldn’t be right. All others would try to run. And all others had failed. She stopped and closed her eyes, trying to soothe her racing heart. She must stay calm. And focused. She moved slowly through the fog, taking care with each step, and then she stumbled and with a forward thrust landed heavily on her stomach, her lungs filling with a rush of cold air. Fresh air.
She rolled over and rubbed at her eyes, slowly opening them and finding that she could see. She looked inside herself and found her Power, simmering away as it always did. She had made it through. She dragged herself to her feet and spun around wildly, looking for the next threat. But all she saw was a cave up ahead. That must be it, she thought. This must be where the First Shiasa sought refuge after the massacre. She pushed aside the vines that covered the entrance and found a small figure sitting in the entrance.
“Hello.” The little girl’s voice was sharp. High-pitched. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Tempani knelt down before her. “Are you a Goddess?”
