Women of Power

by C. R. Daems

  That night Javaid sent two of his men north, and Irmak sent two east. I took the late watch position for the north and sat thinking about the scouting party. The soldiers from both provinces were veterans. They each had several years of experience, and the sergeants were solid professionals. I concluded there was no rash, inexperienced, or a glory seekers among the detail. That reduced the risk somewhat. The lieutenants were different, but both were mature and experienced. That meant that although they would ask my advice, they would not be afraid to make up their own minds as to the best solution.

  With less than an hour to sunrise, I heard someone approaching from behind me. I turned my head and saw Javaid.

  "I thought I'd join you if you don't mind."

  "I'd enjoy that, Lieutenant."

  "Javaid, please."

  "That would be inappropriate. It would give the impression I'm equal in rank, but I'm not. I have no rank. I sleep in nobility quarters and eat with them because the duke wants it. I'm not nor do I care to be nobility," I said. He stared at me frowning for a long time.

  "I hear your words and know you mean them. But you're well educated and conduct yourself like a lady of nobility, and you appear untouchable like a priestess." He looked serious yet had an impish expression.

  "An interesting observation, Lieutenant. Nobility is a title bestowed on a person at birth based his or her father's title. It's not earned. Like you, I earned my position and wouldn't trade it if I could, and I don't consider myself better than anyone."

  "Do Qi'advisors ever get married?" He blushed ever so slightly but didn't look away. His question wasn't really what he wanted to know. I hadn't considered the question of sex and marriage at the Qi'temple, but the subject was inevitable.

  "The Qi can marry and have sex, but the issues are complicated."

  "Complicated?" he asked, leaning closer to me.

  "Yes, for a number of reasons. For one, a person who is Qi would be difficult to live with—" I stopped when I heard sounds of movement. Seconds later I saw our two scouts approaching. "Our northern scouts have returned." I pointed toward the river where a shallow gully ran parallel to it. Two men emerged, leading their horses.

  "You've good eyes, qi'Nisha." He rose as they approached. The men were smiling and looked excited.

  "We found what looked like many tribes camped about five leagues north of here. It was hard to estimate their numbers because there were few fires and those partially hidden, but they had to number over a thousand, maybe two. There were women, who looked like warriors, but no children."

  Just then one of Javaid's soldiers joined us. "Qi'Nisha, I'm your relief."

  "Good timing, Peron. We need to have a conference as soon as the other team returns. Qi'Nisha, you will need to be there."

  We left Peron on guard and joined the others, who were sitting around a small fire eating. The scouts from the north had just finished repeating their news when the two scouts from the east appeared.

  "Find anything, Boain?" Irmak asked.

  "Sure did. We couldn't get too close because they were camped on the open plain, but they were easy to see with their hundreds of fires. Looked to be close to a thousand. Definitely a war party—women but no children."

  "What do you think, Javaid? Should we wipe out both groups and go back to Hala, or should we go look for bigger game?" Irmak said, maintaining a straight face.

  "I'd like a bigger challenge if we can find one," he said, looking at me. I sensed a double meaning in the remark. He was interested and wasn't going to be easily deterred.

  The discussion went on for some time without a definite solution. We had stumbled on three thousand warriors, but did that mean we had accomplished our mission and should return, or was there more to learn? Our ultimate goal had never been defined, because everyone felt sure we would know when we found it.

  Eventually, the discussion trickled to a stop and all gazes fastened on me. That didn't bother me, as it might others. After all, that was the reason I was along. I closed my eyes and cleared my mind of everything except what I had learned from the scouts and the tribe's previous actions. I don't know how long I sat silent before I opened my eyes.

  "I don't think what we've found so far is of significant value to Hala or Ferox, although it would be to Duke Wenrich. But it's information we didn't have before, and it would be lost if we didn't return—"

  "Cheery thought," one of the soldiers interrupted, but he smiled. Mirce shrugged, ignoring the remark.

  "That we found two armies, which include women warriors, and their size and locations?"

  "And their apparent strategy, based on their sizes and locations," I said.

  "What's that?" Javaid and several others asked simultaneously. I had pondered why the two groups were split, and why the one in the middle of the corridor was smaller and in plain sight. When added to the apparent intelligence of their leader, the reason appeared obvious.

  "The tribes in the middle are bait, small enough to invite an attack. As they retreat, the Rhybac forces would be drawn further into the Sands, while the larger force, hiding by the Nazar Mountains, would be in position to attack their left flank. Given that, it would be logical to assume another force is hiding near the Karp Mountains ready to attack the right flank."

  "At least four to five thousand warriors against our...what?" Irmak almost whispered. I heard a few soft whistles and saw knowing nods from Javaid and the sergeants. I continued.

  "What we don't know for certain is whether I'm right about there being tribes along the Karp Mountain. If so, is there a similar trap in the Castor Corridor? And is there a larger force held in reserve and positioned to support either trap?"

  "By the Watcher," Irmak said, "That could be ten thousand warriors. And our army would be caught in the open, not behind fortified walls."

  The camp was silent for a long time while they digested what I had said. Finally, Javaid spoke.

  "I suggest we send a four-man team back to Hala with the news and qi'Nisha's conjecture. I want to make sure the information reaches Duke Tebos. He can relay our findings to Duke Sandar. I suggest we move east, well south of the tribes in the center, to the Karp Mountains. Once there, we can determine if tribes are there and their size."

  "Agreed," Irmak said, as she drew a map in the sand, which showed the mountain ranges, the positions of the tribes we had discovered, and the ones I suggested might exist—six groups set to annihilate any incursion into the Sands by Rhybac.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The Sands: Warriors of the Sands, stealing of the Royal Scepter

  The Witch Ayria stood looking down at the war chieftains kneeling in front of her. They were wise in the ways of survival, made hard by the land, the ritual trials of becoming warriors, and years of tribal wars. Their heads were bowed toward the ground where their weapons lay.

  Ayria walked toward them silent like a ghost, leaving no sign of her passing. Even the charms hanging around her neck, wrist, and ankles were quiet, as if afraid to disturb her. When she reached the first man, she placed her hand on his head. He shuddered. Idowu commanded the Topoke tribe; those war-bands—each having one hundred warriors—numbered over three hands plus two. Although a brave and a fierce fighter, he feared magic.

  "Idowu, talk to us," she whispered yet was heard by everyone within a spear's throw.

  "The warriors of the Topoke tribe rode as quiet as a hawk on the wind through the central path leading to Rhybac. We killed the few that saw us and no alarm was raised from the cities of Taal or Carne. We crossed the river called Phocas a day's run—twelve leagues—from Carne. There I left one of every three warriors to guard our back. A hand of days later, four hands of days after the great gathering as the Great One ordered, we arrived at the city of Inari. Like a hawk, we swept down, raiding and killing in the villages outside the city. We left with their army at our heels. But the dog-soldiers could not catch us as we retreated toward Carne. The warriors I left to guard our backs raided the city when they saw our
dust. The dog-soldiers from Inari stopped at Carne, as the Great One predicted. As agreed, we did not engage them, although our blood raged to do so."

  Ayria felt the truth of Idowu's story and glanced at Negozi, the Great One and war chief of the tribes. He nodded.

  "Negozi is pleased, Chief Idowu. You bring honor to the Topoke and the peoples of the Sands." She removed her hand and walked to the next man and rested her hand on his head. Kunto was the war chief of the Dinko tribe, a small tribe numbering two hands of war-bands. Impulsive and reckless, he feared nothing.

  "Talk to us, Kunto, chief of the Dinko." She could feel him tense for a moment as her power engulfed him.

  "I rode straight to Taal and arrived six hands of days after the great gathering as agreed. We could not gain entrance to the city, but we killed many outside the walls. The dogs chased us into the path to the Sands for a full day and night before they stopped. They were weak. We engaged them twice in the night." His faced twisted in pain and his body convulsed as Ayria sent waves of power cursing through him. Blood trickled from his nostrils.

  "That was forbidden. Your task was to pull them away so they could not aid Sobek." Ayria looked to Negozi, who shook his head. "By the love of the Great One, you live—hopefully wiser. I'd have killed you for endangering the Great Plan. We want the kingdom of Rhybac not a few dead dog-soldiers."

  She moved to the next in line, Shani, the war chief of the Tuare, a tribe the size of the Topoke. He was a proud warrior, who feared no one.

  "Talk, Shani, chief of the Tuare." His body tensed as she touched him. She noted his courage...or was it stupidity?

  "I left one of every four warriors to harass Arbor while we went on to Inwood. We arrived in six hands plus four days as agreed. We killed few since they use the trees to hide like cowards, but we held them at Inwood for three days. As the Great One predicted, they did not chase us."

  Ayria glanced at Negozi. "Negozi is pleased. You bring honor to the Tuare." Looking down at his arm, she saw it was wrapped with cloth. When she touched it, the muscles in his face tightened.

  "An arrow, the Witch Umala treated it," he said. Ayria drew her knife from her belt and split the cloth. A red line ran out from the wound. Umala, like all the tribes' witches, had studied under her. They were adequate but would never have great power like the Witch Iloloa. Years ago, Iloloa had challenged Ayria. The contest had lasted the time for the shadow of the sun stick to move four of a warrior's foot. It took Ayria two weeks to recover—Iloloa didn't.

  "Have someone bring me your water skin, full. It will not taste good, but you will drink it all or lose that arm." She untied a cloth from around her waist and rewrapped his arm.

  Masozi, chief of the Omyeka, another small tribe like the Dinko, was next. A cautious warrior, his part had been to stop at the Black River while the Tendal tribe proceeded to Sobek. They encountered no trouble and raided Emin when the Tendal tribe returned from attacking Sobek.

  The last in line was Bolaha, the chief of the Tendal, which numbered over four hands of war-bands, and the only woman chieftain. She had fought hard to earn her status—brave, fearless, rash, and unyielding. Ayria knelt and picked up the Scepter lying in front of her. For a moment, Bolaha's muscles tensed, ready to fight her for it. Ayria's thin lips smiled.

  "Bolaha, you're a great warrior and bring much honor to the Tendal tribe and the peoples of the Sands. The Great One's pleased and you will sit on his right, if you survive the next few minutes. The Scepter belongs to the Great One, who will deliver Rhybac to the people." Bolaha's muscles slowly relaxed, and she bowed lower.

  "Yes, Witch Ayria. Forgive me."

  Ayria took the eight-hand-long relic, turned, and walked to Negozi, carrying it across her outstretched palms. She could feel the power throbbing through it as if trying to escape or...to give one its power. She understood Bolaha's moment of insanity. The Scepter looked plain yet magnificent. A wooden pole with two desert snakes carved along the shaft, painted so beautifully they looked alive. A golden crown circled their necks, free to move, but too small to be removed over their heads or slid down past their hooded necks. The only explanation was that the Scepter had been carved from one piece of wood. It looked as new as if it had been created yesterday.

  Ayria stopped in front of Negozi and extended the Scepter. She did not kneel or bow. Ayria didn't consider herself his equal, but while she lived, she'd bow to no one.

  She had recognized Negozi's potential as a young boy and taken him under her tutelage. He was faster and stronger than older children, clever beyond his age, and had the charisma to be a leader. She encouraged him to work harder, pushed him to question his world and to endure when others faltered. He had exceeded her expectations. He not only became the war chief of the Songye but consolidated the tribes into one nation. She had gone from mentor to trusted advisor.

  "The king's Scepter has found its rightful king, Negozi, the Great One, leader of the peoples of the Sands, and our savior," she said, and a roar vibrated through the endless sea of warriors.

  "No, Witch Ayria. I leave it in your trusted hands to safeguard." He nodded for her to resume her normal place by his side. "Rise, my war chiefs, and join me, you have talked. Now is the time to celebrate our victory and boast about your conquests." Cheering rose from the Songye camp that numbered close to five hands plus one of war-bands. The Witch silently watched as the Songye and the war chiefs partied for two days and nights.

  * * *

  On the third day, the war leaders were assembled. Ayria used the Scepter to draw a map of Rhybac and the Sands and took her place at Negozi's side.

  "Shani, is the Tuare in place?" he asked.

  "Yes. My warriors wait along the Nazar Mountains, a two-day run from Arbor."

  "Masozi, the Omyeka?"

  "My warriors are camped midway between the Nazar and Karp Mountains, a two-day run from Arbor. We are in plain sight for all to see."

  "Bolaha, the Tendal?"

  "My warriors are at the tip of the Karp Mountains, ready to feed the dog-soldiers to the buzzards." Excitement danced in her eyes.

  "Kunto?"

  "My Dinko stand exposed to all a two-day run from Turret, east of the Tendal and west of the Topoke warriors."

  "Idowu, the Topoke?"

  "My warriors are ready, at the tip of the Marar Mountains. Why do we wait? We outnumber them and they are without a leader. We should attack." Idowu slammed his fist into the sand. "Bury the dogs in their own den."

  "You're right, Idowu. We have more warriors, but we would destroy the people trying to dig them out of their castles. I love our people, Idowu...even you," Negozi said, receiving laughs and hoots. "Some must die for us to win, but I want many alive to enjoy our victory. We have the Scepter, and they cannot elect a king without its help. We have kicked sand in the dogs' faces and now must await their reaction. If we are lucky, they will attack in force." A small smile touched his lips and he took a sip of water before continuing.

  "The tribes will look like easy prey and draw them into the Sands. When they reach the Songye, we will close in and crush them. They won't have a place to hide."

  "What if they don't come into the Sands?" Bolaha asked.

  "Then it will be a longer war. We will destroy the outlying towns and isolate the major cities. None will be able to go in or out. They will rot in their dens, while we enjoy their lands."

  The war leaders sat silent, nodding. Ayria stood with the Scepter watching Negozi. She had mentored him, but he had gone beyond her. He had over the years understood his opponents' strengths and weaknesses and wove them into strategies to defeat them.

  * * *

  The war chieftains returned to their tribes the next day.

  "Well, Ayria..." Negozi stared at the horizon, and Ayria wondered if perhaps he even saw beyond it. "Now we wait for the dogs to respond. It'll be interesting to see who seizes power. I believe it'll be the fiercest of the dogs. That would serve us best, since he would send a large force against us. The
worse outcome would be if they had wise counsel as I have from you. But they will surrender eventually, either way."

  "What will you do with them when they do?"

  "We will have to reach some compromise with them." He shrugged. "They have rich lands we can use to make the people's lives better without destroying our ways. But in the end, the people will rule."

  "As we should, Negozi."

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The Sands: Scouting party discovers the warriors' trap

  As the sun set, four men, two from each lieutenant's detail, left for Inwood, while the rest of us mounted and rode east toward the Karp Mountains. The daytime temperatures soon cooled as the sand gave up its heat, making for a comfortable ride. We traveled slowly, not more than a fast walk, moving slightly south to avoid detection by the tribe in the center of the corridor. If my guess was correct, the tribe's aim was to be seen. Nevertheless, we gave them a wide berth, as the open country provided little cover.

  We stopped as the dim light of morning exposed the open plain. It turned out to be a bright, sunny day with not a cloud in the sky. We made camp behind a shallow series of mounds and small bushes. The mounds provided good concealment for the men and horses, and I managed to find adequate cover among the shrubs to maintain my watch. I volunteered since everyone had been up for twenty-four hours, and I could rest while I watched. The shrubs provided me sufficient shade and cover, and my white clothing blended in well with our surroundings and tended to absorb less heat.

  The desert lay silent, except for a hawk's cry and the skitter of a desert rat as it scurried from its burrow for food. I found my center easily. I sorted through what we had discovered so far. The tribes were keeping close watch, probably to carry out some plan. I thought it likely but should not allow myself to be biased and assume I was correct without more evidence.

  Although the scouting missions had put everyone's plans on hold, I suspected Wenrich would act soon. He acted on impulse. But, would he move against the Sands or Ferox? And how would that benefit the leader of the tribes?