by Bridie Blake
“Me and Rando have been working with your guard. No harm will come to you,” said Zadi. She turned reluctantly to Nic. “Or you.”
He smiled at her. “Thank you cousin. I know I’m in capable hands.”
She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Otto and Tempani.
“We need to make sure those who stay behind are guarded,” said Madoc. “In case the enchantments surrounding the camp fail.”
Tempani swallowed. He meant in case she was killed. If she died the enchantments she created died with her.
“I will be here,” Eriluz hissed.
“I meant fighters,” he said.
Her eyes flashed angrily at him.
Tempani stifled a laugh and looked at Madoc. “My niska will be enough. I’d like to see Hallam’s men even try and take her on.”
“Perhaps Bhatia could stay behind and help. She’s a good fighter.”
Now Tempani laughed. “Can I please be there when you suggest that to her?”
“Some of the elders will stay behind. Their bones are weak, but their magic is not. We will destroy any man who dares come near us.”
“That’s settled then. So in four days we make our move,” said Tempani.
They all looked at each other and nodded slowly.
—
Thara sat by the fire cradling the baby. She was anxious. She knew the others would all be going into battle soon, and she didn’t know if any of them would come back alive. And if they didn’t, what would happen to everyone else? Would they come after them all? Thara knew she would run if that happened. But she had no idea where she would run to. Maybe try and find Colbert. But then how long would it be before all the Kalaowins were hunted down?
And then there was the other outcome. What if they won? Would everyone go back to their normal lives? Would the Kalaowins go back to their camps? Tempani and Nic and their noble friends would go to the palace. And Nic had promised Bhatia anything that she wanted. She could live a good life.
But where would Thara go? She had no idea what would happen to her. She couldn’t go back to her old village, and she’d never been to the city before. She didn’t know anyone there. Well, except for the people here, but once they went back to their fancy way of living, they’d forget about her.
Part of her wanted them all to stay out here. Living off the land wasn’t that bad. They always had food. Sure it was freezing now that winter was close, but they’d make do. They’d just dress warmer. Everyone got along out here. It had become a family.
She saw Nika watching her. He always did that. He was always close by. Just watching. It unnerved her. Why didn’t he ever come and talk to her? But she knew the answer to that. He didn’t understand a word she said.
She often found herself staring back at him. There was something hypnotic about him. Something about him that she was drawn to. She realized she would miss him after all this - miss the way his stare made her blush and the way she always felt more aware of herself whenever she sensed him near.
She tensed as he walked towards her. Had he heard her? She groaned at her stupidity. She hadn’t said anything aloud. Of course, he hadn’t heard her. But the slight smirk on his face made her doubt that. Perhaps he could read minds.
He sat beside her, his arms resting on his long legs as he held his bow. Despite the cold weather, he still wore nothing but breeches, and Thara found herself blushing as she looked at him. Even though he still scared her, she felt alive with him next to her.
“Name?” He asked and pointed at the baby.
“He still doesn’t… his pa didn’t,” she stammered. Why couldn’t she think clearly?
“You his ma.”
“No, his ma, Leandra, she’s um, she’s dead. I’m just looking after him.”
“He yours.”
She shook her head. How did she make him understand? “Me.” She pointed at her chest. “No ma.” She shook her finger.
He held her wrist to stop her shaking her finger. “You love him. He yours. Simple.”
She stared at him. Was it really that simple? She did love the baby. She didn’t know how, but it had happened. Colbert had deserted him, and Leandra was gone. Without her he would be all alone in the world. But surely once they won, Tempani would want to look after him. Or give him to someone else to look after. She just assumed caring for him was temporary. It was part of the reason she couldn’t bring herself to name him.
She looked down at him, asleep in her arms, and her heart swelled. She didn’t want to lose him. Maybe if she asked Tempani she would let her keep him. Or Bhatia could plead her case. Bhatia was better at convincing people. Thara would just give up if someone knocked her back but not Bhatia. She’d keep going until she won.
“Name?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered. She couldn’t think of any name that would do him justice.
“Ilya.”
“Ilya?” She frowned. Yes, she liked it. It suited him. And now he had a name. She looked up at him and smiled. “Thank you.”
He leant down and pressed his lips against hers briefly. “And you are mine. I will always protect you.”
“You can speak Kamari!”
He smiled at her. “It was funny watching you talk to me.”
“I looked silly.”
He pressed his lips to hers again and then got to his feet and walked away.
Bewildered, she held her fingers up to her lips. Had he just kissed her? Yes, he had. And he had said she was his. It was not the way a girl was normally courted, but to her it didn’t matter. He was different, and she liked that.
—
Tempani spent the next two days moving between all the different practice sessions, making sure everyone saw her face. She wanted these people to know who she was and what she stood for. They all wanted unity, but they wouldn’t get that in peace time unless both sides came together and forgot about skin color.
So when she walked amongst them she always had her Kamari and Kalaowin bodyguards by her side. People would see that she belonged to both worlds and so would they.
“Tempani!” Chae cried as he came running over to her. “You better come quick.”
“What’s going on?” She ran beside him, matching him stride for stride.
They reached the meeting tent, and she froze when she saw Yuta, his face bloodied. She knelt down beside him and studied his face. He didn’t have a scratch on him.
“They’re rioting,” he croaked. “We told ‘em what happened to the convent, and they went crazy.”
“The King’s Guard are killing anyone who puts up a fight,” said Keane. “We got out just in time. It’s brutal.” He shuddered at the memory.
Tempani looked up at Otto. The question was clear in her eyes, and he answered it with a nod. She agreed. There was only one thing they could do.
She got to her feet and turned to her commander. “Madoc, gather your fighters. We set out at nightfall.”
“Are you sure?” Chae asked.
“We have no choice. If I can save lives by launching our attack ahead of schedule then I will,” she said and turned back to Madoc. “I want to meet with all squadron leaders before we set out. Send them all to me as soon as you can.”
“Right away,” he said and rushed out of the tent, Chae at his heels.
She turned to her niska and Darby. “I trust the two of you to protect those we leave behind, and I want some of our people placed between here and the city. Any that are able to escape the devastation there I will send to you.”
Darby kissed her cheek. “I regret that I will not be with you in battle.”
“Your wisdom will be there with me.”
Eriluz pushed Darby aside and held Tempani’s face between her hands. “Remember our First as you take this journey.” She kissed her on both cheeks, and Tempani knew her niska was proud of her. “If you fail, we all die. Remember that.”
Tempani rolled her eyes as she hobbled away. She always had to ruin a nice moment. She sighe
d and turned to her bodyguards. Both so different yet both willing to protect her with their lives.
“I know what I’m about to say may fall on deaf ears, but I need to say it. There is one fight that is mine and mine alone. I will not allow either of you to get in my way. You may come with me, but you will not fight it for me.”
Zadi raised her chin, her eyes meeting Tempani’s. “If someone is a threat to you, I will kill them. As is my duty. Rando’s too,” she said after a moment’s thought.
“My orders come from your father. I protect you until my last breath. Issue any order you want and most of the time I will follow, but if I think for even a second that your life is in danger I step in. Simple as that,” he said.
She looked at the two who had pledged their lives to her, and she frowned. Escaping their watchful gaze would be tricky, but she would do it. If only to save their lives. But they didn’t need to know that.
“Fine,” she said briskly. “You may go and rest before we set out.”
She turned to Otto. “You certainly knew what you were doing with those two.”
“You deserve the best.” He kissed the top of her head. “I have fighters waiting in the city. Once we attack, they will join the battle,” he said. “I best go say my goodbyes. Darby may turn into a blubbering mess.”
She smiled at him. Here was the man she remembered and loved. She stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, papa.”
“I love you, too,” he whispered. “And I am so proud of you. More than you could ever know.”
When he left she finally turned to her husband and sighed. “Did I make the right choice?”
He shook his head and pulled her into his arms. “Who is to say?”
“I wanted to be Shiasa. I wanted to lead this rebellion. But now all I have in my mind is doubt. I am sending my people off to an unknown fate. It is terrifying.”
“The fact that you care is already a step in the right direction. We will get through this together. Just like we will anything else that comes our way.”
“I wish I could convince you to stay behind here. At least you would be one person I could keep safe.”
“I would just disobey you and follow anyway,” he said. “Anywhere you go, I go.”
“Then please try and not get yourself killed. I like having you around.”
He laughed. “As long as you’re with me, I’m not going anywhere.”
She kissed him slowly, enjoying the taste of him on her lips.
“There’s no point asking you not to fight is there?” Her expression made him smile. “I thought so, but I had to try.”
She kissed him once more and then ushered him out as her squadron leaders appeared. One by one they filed in. Chae, Nika, Reeta, Bhatia and Keane. Madoc followed them in and stood beside Tempani.
“The five of you, with your commander, will lead this with me. As discussed, when we reach the outskirts of the city, we split. There are six roads leading into the city. Chae, Keane and Nika will take the east and west roads. Reeta, Madoc and myself will attack from the south. Bhatia’s team will be split between all of us. Kill anyone in a King’s Guard uniform that stands in your way. If they surrender, tie them up securely and move on. The palace will be their last stand. We will meet out the front and take it together.”
They nodded in agreement.
“But, know this. Hallam and Ricton are mine. Their blood will be on my hands alone. Do not stand in my way and do not allow any of your people to interfere. Is that clear?”
She glared at them until they nodded.
“Good. Aidis is working on bringing down the enchantments that protect the city. When they fall, we can’t be sure of what creatures may swarm on it, but I ask that none be killed unless you are attacked. Dahlia and her team will be on hand to aid the injured.”
She paused and looked at the group that would help lead this fight. Kalaowin and Kamari. Noble and common born. Man and woman.
“May the God and Goddess watch over you,” she said, her eyes misting over before she quickly blinked them away. “We’ll meet again at nightfall.” She turned on her heel and marched out of the tent.
There was so much more she wanted to say to them. That she was proud of them. Proud to know them. To call them friends. But the words had been lost on her tongue. For some reason it felt wrong. Like she was bidding them farewell. But deep down she knew that was exactly what she was doing. She knew the likelihood of her surviving wasn’t great. That the fight with Hallam and Ricton would probably be the last thing she ever did but for her that would be all right. As long as they were dead and the kingdom could live in peace then she would be fine with that. Nic would lead them, and she would go to Tritus knowing that he would make a great king.
She straightened her shoulders and moved quickly through the crowd of fighters. She had one more person to see. Just in case.
Teddy had not moved from his bed since it had happened. She wondered if he would have even hung on this long if they hadn’t forced him to fight for his life. She knew the answer to that. She bit her lip and swallowed the lump in her throat.
She sat on the bed beside him and took his hand. “We’re leaving tonight,” she started. “We’ll strike the city at dawn the day after next and end this once and for all.”
He turned away from her. Had she really expected any different? He wasn’t exactly going to cheer up the moment she said they were going to fight.
She leant over and kissed his forehead. “Your brother and I love you dearly. We will come back for you.”
Tempani sighed sadly and glanced one last time at the boy she had grown up with. He was still in there. And if she got through this, she would do everything in her power to bring him back.
As she left his tent, she was confronted by a large shadow.
“What are you doing here?”
“I come to offer my services.” The blonde centaur from the mountain nodded his head.
“The city is enchanted,” she explained. “You can’t come with us.”
Aidis landed beside them. She had stayed clear of the camp until now and her presence startled the commoners who had always believed dragons to be a myth.
I am working on the enchantments. The edges of it are weak so they are easy, but closer to the city they are strong.
“My herd will wait for it to fall, and when it does we will fight,” he said. “Your kings have kept us locked out for too long while inside their enchantments they keep my kind trapped in cells, training them for their own purposes.”
“How do you know?”
“Not all humans are evil. Some have shown us kindness because half of us is made of them. You are saving not just human lives but ours too. But know that not all beasts have a kind soul. If they attack, you fight back. That lesson you know well.”
“I will see you on the other side.” She raised her eyebrow, waiting for him to divulge his name.
“Elik,” he said proudly.
She nodded and shook his hand.
I will see you when the enchantments are broken. Aidis took to the sky once more.
As night fell she collected Mincha rein’s from Alvara and kissed Tilaw’s head as Alvara promised to keep him safe. She glared at him as he tried to follow. At least let me keep you safe. He licked her hand and then dropped his head and skulked back to Alvara.
She walked Mincha along the rows of her fighters, and her heart swelled as they looked at her with trust and respect in their eyes. They were ready for this. The Kamaris were dressed for battle in their tattered shirts and breeches. Otto had been collecting weapons and armor for this over the years. The Kalaowin men wore their breeches, their upper bodies and faces covered in their tribal war paint. The women were dressed similarly with breast bands to cover their chests.
Tempani reached the front and exchanged a small smile with Nic. The two of them had remained true to their Kamari people and were dressed as they were but had painted their faces as a Kalaowin would.
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She turned her horse around so she faced her people. She clutched at the jewel that hung around her neck and sent a silent prayer to her Goddess asking for strength and wisdom.
“Now, we fight,” she said, hoping her voice didn’t waver. “We, who have all suffered at the hands of an unjust rule. United we will stand against a common enemy and fight for freedom for all people. White and copper skinned, rich and poor, male and female. We deserve better, and we will fight for better. We will take a stand against an evil that befouled our purest souls and took lives that were not ready to depart this world. We fight for peace!”
A roar ripped through the group as Tempani turned Mincha around and kicked her into a gallop. They rode hard and fast, covering as much ground as they could before they settled for the night.
—
The city was ablaze. The dawn sky covered by thick smoke as all around homes and shops burned. Mincha moved slowly as they picked their way through the street. It was eerily quiet. Unsettling. Tempani’s eyes worked overtime as she scanned the street. Her ears alert for any noise. She heard it too late. Arrows rained down on them as all around her people fell from their saddles.
“Take cover!” She screamed as Zadi pulled her from her saddle, and they ran towards the closest shop.
They’d known they were coming. She cursed loudly and then sent a silent prayer to the God and Goddess to keep her people safe. She heard their cries as arrows were embedded into their exposed bodies.
She heard the pounding of hooves outside, and she knew the King’s Guard had arrived. It was now or never. The arrows still flew, but if they stayed hidden, they’d be slaughtered by the approaching Guard. They had to fight. She broke free from Zadi’s grip and let out a blood-curdling Kalaowin war-cry, and with her sword raised she ran outside to meet the enemy.
Her first kill was clean. He fell where he stood, mouth agape as she pierced his heart. Beside her Rando battled with two soldiers, the older man more than a match for them as he killed them swiftly.
There were cries as a swarm of common born men and women joined the fight, their weapons ranging from swords to daggers to knives to planks of wood embedded with nails.
