Women of Power

by C. R. Daems

  "They're my observations based on the facts that I have. Whether they will prove to be true only time can tell. You may defeat Rhybac armies within a few moons, if they are careless enough to challenge you upon your arrival. Or they may drive you back into the Sands within a year—two hands of full moons. I'm not a seer."

  "We have no choice. Our land is dying and us along with it. That's the reason the tribes have united. We have nothing to lose. The war chiefs see nothing but victory and glory in a war with Rhybac. I must therefore provide a solution or be replaced. I know you feel your observations have value only after a plan has been developed, but if you have a suggestion that would prevent the bloodshed, now is the time." He sat back, looking prepared to wait.

  I was not trained to be a solution provider, only a disinterested observer. Negozi was right. Once you suggested a solution, you had a vested interest in it being implemented and were no longer unbiased. I sucked in Qi and let it engulf me. Time stood still while my inner self sorted my experiences from the time I entered the Qi'temple.

  When I came back to consciousness, it was dark. Negozi sat in the same place, Ayria had moved between him and me, and the guards had been replaced with fresh ones.

  "Welcome back. You've had Witch Ayria very nervous. And you have worn out my guards. Would you like something to eat or drink?"

  "Something to drink would be nice." I felt rested but not hungry; however, in this dryness my body needed water. Shortly afterward a young woman placed a cup of water on the mat in front of me and fled.

  "Have you made a decision, qi'Nisha?"

  "I've considered the facts as I know them and have several observations." I smiled at the irony. It was not for me to make decisions. My value lay in my unbiased observation of the world around me. Negozi nodded, acknowledging the distinction.

  "The tribes need fertile land if they are to survive. They understand war and would prefer to take the land they need by force. You would prefer a solution that minimizes the killing, but, as their leader, you must provide a solution that satisfies the tribes' leaders—an interesting dilemma. The Iovis-Hala solution is the most appealing to the war chiefs. It satisfies both their desires. You, on the other hand, would prefer a solution that gets you the land quickly and decisively, without prolonged war. Your initial plan was designed to do that. Its failure changes your options. That's what I observe about the tribes."

  Negozi nodded.

  "In Rhybac, people think the tribes are barbarians. They do not hunt you in the Sands only because the land's hostile. Wenrich plans to unite the provinces through force and wipe out the tribes." I took another sip of water to dampen my throat. "If you take Hala, you force Duke Sandar to join Wenrich, and Rhybac will be united and dedicated to destroying the tribes. You have the numbers, but they have castles. You can kill each other, but neither side can win."

  "Nothing will have changed except we will have better land."

  "And they will know exactly where to find you and in a land that they know and is not hostile to them. You need a solution that achieves your original plan's outcome."

  "You seem to have ruined my plan. Reason enough to kill you." He smiled. "Are you talking to stay alive longer, or do you have more?"

  "You have two potential allies you didn't have when the king lived. They may be willing to talk with the tribes about a solution to both your problems."

  He raised an eyebrow and looked at Ayria. After a long silence, he said, "You have just suggested the last thing I would have considered. Again, the question is whether you're trying to delay our invasion for Rhybac or whether you believe that is an option."

  "I have suggested nothing. I have only told you what I see. What you do is up to you."

  "Ayria?"

  "Her words sound true. But nothing we couldn't have reasoned if we had chosen. We would never have considered an alliance. We would have thought it a weakness to be exploited. I doubt the dogs would consider an alliance. Maybe we are both right and an alliance is out of the question, and maybe we are both wrong. She has seen what neither the tribes nor the dogs would see. She is also right. It's not for her to decide for you or the dogs. And to answer your question, I believe she is what she says—an observer."

  "Return to your tent. I'll consider what you have said."

  He rose and walked off with Ayria, talking quietly. She was his mentor and he trusted her.

  * * *

  "I would prefer a good fight. This waiting is driving me crazy. I visited the captives. They both have fevers and no one is doing anything to help. Bastards!" Irmak spit on the floor. "What's new with the war chiefs?"

  "I don't know. I met with Negozi and his witch. They were alone, if you don't count the four bowmen standing off to the side. Tomorrow should be interesting."

  "I'd hate to see what you don't consider interesting. I can't take too much more of this."

  "Then you will be relieved to know tomorrow will decide our fate."

  "Why?"

  "I gave Negozi my observations—"

  "You didn't," she said rising to face me.

  "Calm down. I'm no military strategist. I do not advise on war. They already have war plans. I pointed out the problems with their existing plan. The war chiefs don't care, but I think Negozi does. He won't mind slaughtering the dogs, as they refer to us, but he would rather not see his people in a war that lasts for generations, which is a real possibility under their current plan. I've shown him a possible way to avoid that."

  "What do you think he'll do?"

  "I don't know. But even if he decides to try what I see as a possible solution, Duke Tebos and Duke Sandar must also see it as an acceptable solution." I went on to explain.

  "By the gods, qi'Nisha. I doubt the war chiefs or Duke Wenrich would go for that idea. Why do you think Negozi will?"

  "Neither the war chiefs nor Wenrich would think of stealing the Scepter. That took a very shrewd man."

  * * *

  When I arrived, all of the war chiefs were seated, and Ayria stood in her usual place, slightly behind Negozi and to the side.

  "I've listened to the dogs' advisor and have found her reasoning interesting. As we all agreed, her observations about our plan to siege Taal and Inari put us at risk. I believe her observations about our second plan also make sense. We would survive generations of war, but not without great hardships."

  That generated a variety of looks, ranging from anger to defiance. He ignored them and continued.

  "But that is preferable to staying in the Sands. She has made other observations that present a possible solution that does not avoid war but could avoid generations of war."

  Bolaha jumped to her feet, her face flushed red. "She wants to delay us invading the dogs!"

  When Negozi raised a hand, Bolaha's eyes went from him to Ayria, and then she reluctantly sat, glaring at me. It was interesting that Bolaha feared Ayria more than Negozi.

  "Possibly, warrior chief of the Tendal, but if a small delay can avoid many generations of war, it's worth it. We lose nothing by a small delay. In fact, the plan I propose may work to our greater advantage." He walked back and forth across the tent before he continued.

  "The Witch Nisha pointed out that stealing the Scepter has created a division in the provinces and a civil war, which I expected. However, what I had not considered is that our enemies' enemy is a potential friend."

  "The dogs?" Idowu and Shani said in disbelief. Bolaha had a look of distaste and spat in my direction. Masozi and Kunto nodded, looking thoughtful.

  "Yes, the dogs." Again he held up his hand. "We will go ahead with our invasion of the eastern part of Rhybac as planned but delay the attack on Hala and Sobek. Witch Ayria will talk with the duke at Hala. If Ayria has not returned by a set time, we attack. If she does, we'll evaluate their proposal."

  Bolaha was on her feet again. "No!" She spit a glob that landed beside me.

  Idowu and Shani shouted at each other while Masozi and Kunto leaned close together, talking fas
t and furiously.

  Negozi sat quietly like a father waiting for his children to run out of energy. Eventually, the shouting subsided and the discussions ground to a halt.

  "Yes, you have many questions and concerns. They will be answered as we develop our plan."

  "Is the she-dog going to listen?" Bolaha asked, never taking her eyes off me.

  "She will not make our plan, but her observations have been meaningful. Understand, she does not decide. I do." The discussions went for most of the day, each war chief needing to be heard. It was late into the evening before a plan had been crafted.

  Masozi's Omyeka would immediately proceed with his warriors to capture Arbor. Bolaha would lead the Tendal's warriors down the Karp Mountains and capture Emin. Shani's Tuare would follow the Nazar Mountains past Arbor, which should be in Masozi hands by then, to Akan. Meanwhile, Kunto's Dinko and Idowu's Topoke combined force would join at the northern end of the Karp Mountain to protect the tribe's rear in case Wenrich sent more troops up the Castor Corridor. Negozi's Songye would move down the Iovis Corridor to the Black River. There, Ayria, Irmak, a small band of warriors, and I would depart for Inwood.

  Arbor would be under tribes' control in four days, Emin in five, and Akan by the time Negozi arrived at the Black River.

  From the Black River, we expected to reach Inwood in three to four days. With good reason, the war chiefs didn't trust me, even though I agreed Ayria would be within listening distance of me at all times, but Negozi's command was absolute.

  If Ayria and I weren't back to Akan a hand of days plus one after Negozi arrived at Akan, the invasion of Hala and Sobek would begin. It was after midnight before I returned to the tent.

  "Am I glad to see you! I imagined you killed and warriors swarming into the tent to kill me. What happened?"

  "We're returning to Hala. We leave..." Irmak remained silent while I explained the entire plan, mostly because she was in shock.

  "By the gods, they're going to kill everyone in those towns. Thousands of people will die, and they expect an alliance with us?"

  "Yes, people will die. That's what happens in war. They've agreed to kill only those who resist, at least until the negotiations are over. I want your word not to tell anyone what I've just told you, until I give you permission."

  "Why? They need to know," she said, standing and looking around the tent as if wanting to run but not knowing which direction.

  "I'll tell Duke Tebos. He'll need time to decide what to do. If the civilians hear what's going on, they will panic. It would be chaos. You have to trust me. We can't stop the war, but if we're careful, we might prevent the destruction of Hala and Ferox."

  She stood quiet for a long time. I hoped I wouldn't have to leave Irmak with the tribe.

  "I trust you, qi'Nisha. I'll give you my word," she said after several minutes. I believed her.

  We spent the rest of the night deciding what she could say and what she couldn't, until I felt comfortable she had answers that didn't divulge details that could cause panic. Her stated conclusion would be the tribe had sent a representative to talk peace. We had just finished when Ayria entered the tent followed by two women with food.

  "I wanted a chance to talk before we left." She waited until the food had been laid on our table and the women backed their way out of the tent. "This will change the tribes. I cry, because I love our way and don't wish them to change. You think us a cruel people, but we're not. We have had to change as the land turned harsh. Now we can no longer survive here. We will die if we stay, so war does not scare us. What matters if we die here or there." Ayria looked into my eyes. "I've agreed with you, because you have given me hope our people can live in peace not war. I believe you want the same for your people. I've convinced Negozi you can be trusted. I pray to the winds I'm right."

  "I've been honest and will continue to be. I cannot know the future, so I cannot know what would be the best action. By being unbiased, I hope I can point out that which will make killing and cruelty less appealing. In the end, I'm Qi for better or worse."

  Irmak let out a long sigh. "I don't understand you, qi'Nisha, but I trust you. You saved the duke's life, and I don't believe you'd do anything to hurt him. I'll do as she says, Witch Ayria."

  "Good. I believe we all want the same thing, if for different reasons."

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The Sands: Warriors invade Rhybac

  An hour before sunset, the tribes began to move. The sinking sun had turned the sands a blood red, making for an ominous sight. Negozi, Ayria, Irmak, and I were in the center of Negozi's Songye, a vast sea of warriors. I cringed to think of Wenrich sending a large army into the Sands to destroy the tribes as he had planned. It would have been a massacre.

  Warriors kept coming and going all night. I surmised they were part of a relay from the various tribes, informing Negozi of their progress.

  As the sun began to lighten the sky, we made camp. The Karp Mountains rose to our southeast and the Nazar Mountains to our west. Although our group comprised only warriors, we were moving slowly so as not to outdistance the warriors' families following in our wake.

  The routine continued for the next four days: start just before sunset, ride all night, stop at sunrise, eat, sleep, and begin again. I hardly saw Negozi. He seemed to need little sleep and frequently rode off with a small band of warriors, using the few desert horses the tribes kept. Water was too scarce to maintain large herds of horses. Their horses had adapted over the years with large, soft hooves and an ability to store water when available. Several times, he rode back to the north to where the families were camped.

  Ayria ate with us every morning and joined us after we awoke, keeping us informed. By the time we reached the Black River, Arbor and Emin had surrendered to the tribes. The Tuare had crossed the Black River two days ago and would be attacking Akan the next day.

  If one forgot about the loss of life and suffering, it was a masterful plan and was being executed with perfection.

  As we approached the Black River, Irmak and I decided it was time to leave. By traveling all night, we should make the Kiwaq River by early the next morning. If we did, we could cross into Hala in daylight. I wanted the Hala soldiers to be able to easily identify Lieutenant Irmak and me. At night, too many things could go wrong, especially with warriors from the Sands tailing along.

  * * *

  "You travel like a warrior," Ayria said as we sat resting at the banks of the Kiwaq River. We had found a narrow section of the river to cross but decided to rest before crossing over. It promised to be a long day.

  "The Qi allows me to rest as I ride, and Windrunner is like sitting on a cloud," I said, watching him munching on the long grass near the river's edge. I never thought to tie him up. He felt almost human.

  "What do you think will happen when we reach Inwood?"

  "The most dangerous part will be entering Hala. The soldiers are difficult to see in the forests and nervous. It will be important to keep all weapons out of sight and let Irmak and me take the lead. No matter what happens, no aggressive actions." Tebos would take a lot of convincing, but he would listen if we managed to reach Inwood.

  Ayria nodded. She turned and said something to the four warriors, who gave small nods of agreement. We spent several hours resting the horses before crossing the river.

  Once across, we walked the horses, ensuring we did not look threatening or hostile. As the day wore on, the forest became denser and the trail narrowed. Someone had to have noticed us by now.

  "Stop," I said, raising my hand. "They have to know we're here by now, so I'm not sure why they haven't challenged us." I surveyed the area slowly, looking for any movement or objects, like arrows, sticking out from behind trees or shrubs. Nothing.

  "I'm qi'Nisha. I have with me Lieutenant Irmak of Ferox, and guests I'm taking to meet with Duke Tebos. If you doubt me, send word to Lieutenant Javaid." I climbed from the saddle. "We'll wait here, until they decide what to do."

  And wait we di
d. Many hours later as the forest began to lose its filtered light, a group of riders approached. As they neared, I saw Lieutenant Javaid.

  "We thought you were dead. I see you have company. Are you prisoners or are they?" His detail had melted into the forest. Only two stayed on the path with him.

  "They're my guests, here with me to talk to Duke Tebos."

  "I can't wait to hear this story. You seem to lead a charmed life, judging by your companions. I'm afraid I can't let them pass with weapons, even if they're with you. Sorry."

  "Witch Ayria, ask your warriors to surrender their weapons. I'll do my best to see that no harm comes to them."

  She nodded and removed her knife from its sheath.

  I nodded to Irmak. "Lieutenant, collect their weapons and give them to Lieutenant Javaid for safekeeping."

  There was no trouble, and Javaid rode next to me as we proceeded at a trot toward Inwood. His detail trailed behind the warriors.

  "What happened to Sergeant Volos and Boain?"

  "The tribe surrounded us and they chose to try and fight their way out—the way of the soldier," I said, remembering the meaningless attempt to escape. They never had a chance. "Lieutenant Irmak would also have charged the warriors if she hadn't felt a duty to protect me."

  "You don't seem to need protection. The woman back there isn't the Sands leader, is she?"

  "No. She's his representative."

  "Is she here to negotiate surrender?" He looked serious.

  I couldn't help a snort. The situation wasn't funny, but the lieutenant reflected the arrogance of the Rhybac people—they were the strongest, best fighters, smartest…

  "She's here to talk to Duke Tebos," I said, letting the conversation die. I didn't want any speculation going on among the soldiers or the civilians.

  Sensing I wasn't going to say any more, Javaid lapsed into silence. Well after midnight, we made camp at a clearing, which was obviously a halfway point between Inwood and the Kiwaq River. Javaid and Irmak sat talking quietly around a small fire as we ate and prepared for bed. He looked frustrated when they parted.