When he got close enough, Marnej saw that the three soldiers rode with their weapons drawn. There would be no element of surprise. Marnej charged, then broke left, raking the outermost rider. The soldier’s horse screamed. Marnej brought his reindeer around to charge again. The remaining two soldiers rode directly at him. Marnej broke left again, but the soldiers intercepted him, hacking at him from both sides. Marnej blocked on the right, then slashed left, but he couldn’t pivot fast enough to stop a blow from unseating him. His reindeer staggered. He fell off the beast, tumbling over the animal’s prodding antlers. He felt the burn of cold metal cut across his arm, then saw blood blooming through the cut in his furs.
Marnej rose to his feet, his blade ready. He heard the sound of his name an instant before a soldier tackled him. Marnej’s long blade was useless to him in close quarters, but he fought the soldier off with his fists.
Then he saw the man’s face clearly.
Marnej stared, stunned. “Gáral.”
“I thought I had lost my chance to avenge the Avr when you ran,” the man growled, squeezing Marnej’s throat.
Marnej clawed at the man’s hands. Then stuck his thumbs into his former comrade’s eyes.
Gáral howled and released his hold, allowing Marnej to roll away, gasping.
“Leave him,” a voice commanded.
Marnej’s vision cleared in time to see Válde pulling Gáral to his feet. Herko sat astride a horse. A smile twisted the man’s thick features.
Marnej scrambled to his feet. He pointed his blade at men he’d once called brothers. “The Avr betrayed me!” he shouted.
“Lies!” Gáral lunged for him, spittle flying from his mouth.
The hillside to the west erupted in shouting. Válde looked up to see colors flash through the trees.
Válde yanked Gáral back. “Leave him. We must go!”
“Let me kill him,” said Gáral, breaking free. “It will be quick. I promise.”
“This is no time to defend your honor,” Válde said, rising into his saddle. “Honor is useless if we are all dead. Now mount up or we will leave you.”
Before Gáral could take a step away from the traitorous Marnej, a young boy astride a reindeer rode at Herko. Válde hesitated for an instant, unable to fathom what he saw. Then the boy raised a blade and rode as if born in the saddle. Válde shouted Herko’s name. It was the only word he could get out before the boy set upon Herko with vicious blows. But the Piijkij came back with powerful sweeping strikes that toppled the boy from his mount. The boy landed ass-over-shoulder with a scream that made it clear it was no boy. It was a girl. Válde gaped as she leapt to her feet, her blade ready.
Marnej charged between the girl and Herko, Gáral on his heels. “Get out of here!” Marnej shouted, then turned to parry Gáral’s attack. The girl stood her ground, moving around him.
“Leave!” Marnej implored.
“I’m no coward,” she said, blocking Herko’s assault. Before Válde could act, the thunderous sound of hooves drew his attention. He turned to face a mass of soldiers riding toward them. It was impossible for Válde to tell if any among them were his men. But with both Herko and Gáral on foot they could not ride away. They would have to fight. Válde swore at the gods who seemed hungry for their souls that day. Then the onslaught was upon him.
From the corner of his eye, Válde saw a blade flash. He spun to attack and narrowly missed Herko’s head. The man’s bald pate ran with sweat and blood. At Herko’s side Gáral fended off another. As Válde pushed his way forward into the fight, two soldiers collided in front of him. He lurched to one side to avoid them, but a pair of rough hands unseated him. Lying winded on the ground, Válde fought against the relentless pressure that pushed his face down into the snow—into his grave. He arched up, desperate for air, and managed to push off his attacker. Lurching forward, he grabbed a sword in the slurry of blood and icy mud, then felt the sting of his flesh being cut open through the quilted layers of his clothing. He turned to block, but was too slow. His sword flew from his hand. His attacker raised his blade to slice through Válde’s belly, then the soldier dropped to his knees, his eyes wide and unseeing. Over the top of the soldier’s head, he saw the girl’s menacing sneer. In that instant he recognized her. It was that Jápmea girl who had escaped. Then the moment passed and she was a blur, moving, fierce and deadly. Válde grabbed a sword, ready to fight once again. But the question of why the Jápmea girl had saved him continued to plague his thoughts.
A voice shouted, “More soldiers to the south!”
Válde spun to see at least a dozen mounted soldiers riding toward them. He tugged a slumped soldier out of his saddle and pulled himself up.
“Brethren. Ride!” he bellowed, heartened to see that a few men were riding north already. Válde circled, looking for more of his men. Herko had his hand out to Gáral to lift him up onto his horse. Then he saw the Jápmea girl. She fought beside Marnej. In her blood-streaked furs, she looked like a wild animal. The two stood against five. The girl fended off two at once. Válde glanced to the south. The riders were nearly upon them. He did not care about Marnej’s fate, but the girl . . . she had saved his life.
Válde rode into the fray, swinging at any uniform in his way. He heard Marnej yelling for the girl to run. She ignored the plea. Instead, she parried and blocked, moving forward, heedless of his words. Válde did not doubt she could hold her own, but with fresh soldiers bearing down upon them it was hopeless. He brought his horse between the girl and soldiers. He hacked at the men’s heads, then circled again, holding out his hand to her. “Take my hand or you will die here.”
“I will die fighting,” she snarled.
“Dárja, no!” Marnej shouted. The boy’s warning was cut short by a cry of pain.
The girl spun to him, just as a soldier charged her, knocking the blade from her hand. Válde seized his opportunity. He grabbed her by her outstretched arms, and pulled her awkwardly off the ground. Her legs dangled and kicked as he spurred his horse toward Marnej.
The boy rose to his knees to block Válde’s escape but then collapsed backwards into the bloody snow.
Dárja squirmed against the man that held her. The horse’s withers pounded into her ribs and gut.
She looked back to the spot where Marnej had fallen, willing him to get back up. “Let me go!” she shouted into the wind.
“So you can die on that field?” a voice growled and elbows dug into her.
Dárja felt the reins snap across her back. The horse lurched forward, gathering more speed. She arched, breaking the Olmmoš’s grip on the reins, and, for one brief moment, both she and the rider were suspended in the air, then a branch caught her in the head. She fell back into something else hard, then tumbled to the ground.
Lying on her side, Dárja attempted to take a breath through the pain. Snow filled her mouth and nostrils, cold, wet, and suffocating. She clawed at the ground, her hands raking through the snow as she tried to move. Somewhere beyond her, she heard men shouting, “Don’t let the Brethren escape.”
Dárja rolled under the low spread of a pine tree, and lay still, her breath returning slowly as the sounds of men and horses faded north of her. She didn’t know what it meant that Olmmoš soldiers fought among themselves, but she didn’t have the time to look for reasons. The soldiers were gone now. She needed to get back to Úlla and Okta. Úlla may have already had the baby. If that was the case, they could ride and regain the sled. Then she could make Úlla and her mánná comfortable for the journey home.
Dárja crawled out from under the tree. Her body screamed in protest as she pushed herself to her feet. Then her head exploded in pain and she crumpled to her knees again. A piercing scream cut through the air, followed by another.
Terror gripped Dárja in the silence after Úlla’s scream. She had to get back to her. She had to help her. Dárja scrambled to her feet, stumbling headlong back the way she’d come. When she broke through the trees into the valley, it was blanketed by sickening
stillness. Mounted Olmmoš soldiers surrounded the place where she’d left Okta and Úlla.
Dárja stood, dazed, her head pounding with blood and defeat. Each inhale was a knife through her ribs. She looked across the valley to the dark rise of scattered bodies that marked the spot where she’d last fought alongside Marnej. Nothing moved there. She ran forward, toward the gathered soldiers. To where she’d last seen Okta. To where Úlla was to give birth. Her hand went to her belt, but she had no weapon. She had nothing.
Dárja’s footfalls slowed. The wind picked up. It was like a howl in her ears. Then she realized the plaintive sound was coming from her. In some distant part of her mind, she registered the sound of horses growing louder. She turned her unseeing eyes away from the death before her and half-ran, half-staggered into the cover of trees, heedless of the branches that lashed her. She accepted their sting like a penitent, thinking, They’re all dead. She’d been so sure. She’d convinced them all that she could protect the nieddaš. Now Marnej was dead. What did it matter that he’d shared her secret with Úlla? What they’d shared together had been greater than one broken promise.
Her foot turned on a rock. She stumbled, and her other foot plunged through the ice of a hidden stream. Dárja stood breathless, looking up at the sky, as cold water seeped into her boot. Above the snow-topped trees, the just-waning moon shone, casting shadows, even in darkness. There, beyond the moon, was the bright and unwavering North Star. It pointed the way back home. Home. She thought of Kalek, how he had held when she’d returned from the battle. She longed for that comfort now. The warmth of his embrace. The scent of herbs. She had promised she would return. He had called her his daughter. But she could never be that now. She could only hope to be forgotten, even if she would never forget herself.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Olmmoš
Áigin
Order of Believers
spy/agent for the Vijns
Bávvál
Order of Believers
High Priest/Vijns
Beartu
Brethren of Hunters
Piijkij/rogue
Daigu
Brethren of Hunters
Piijkij/rogue
Dávgon
Brethren of Hunters
leader/Avr
Edo
Brethren of Hunters
Piijkij/rogue
Erke
Order of Believers
member of Court of Counselors
Feles
Brethren of Hunters
Piijkij/rogue
Gáral
Brethren of Hunters
Piijkij/rogue
Herko
Brethren of Hunters
Piijkij/rogue
Ivvár
Soldier
killed at Brethren introduction
Irjan
Brethren of Hunters
Piijkij
Jonsá
Order of Believers
soldier
Joret
Order of Believers
soldier
Marnej
Brethren of Hunters
Irjan’s son
Matti
Order of Believers
soldier
Mures
Brethren of Hunters
Piijkij/rogue
Niilán
Order of Believers
soldier/commander
Osku
Order of Believers
soldier
Redde
Brethren of Hunters
Piijkij/rogue
Rikkar
Order of Believers
Apotti/Priest of Hemmela
Selen
Order of Believers
soldier/guard at Ullmea
Válde
Brethren of Hunters
Piijkij/rogue
Jápmemeahttun
Aillun
nieddaš
oktoeadni to Dárja
Ávrá
nieddaš
weaver/Kalek’s love interest
Birtá
nieddaš
cook
Dárja
nieddaš
Aillun’s daughter
Ello
nieddaš
farmer
Einár
boaris
leader of Council of Elders/Noaidi
Háral
almai
Kalek’s lover before Aillun
Kalek
Healer
Aillun’s mate/Okta’s assistant
Kálle
almai
blacksmith/Úlla’s lover
Kearte
nieddaš
Kalek’s guide child
Lejá
nieddaš
about to give birth
Okta
Healer
former Taistelijan
Ravna
nieddaš
tanner
Tuá
nieddaš
butcher
Úlla
nieddaš
blacksmith
ENGLISH TERMS GLOSSARY
Brethren of Hunters: group whose original function was to hunt and kill the Jápmemeahttun.
Chamber of Passings: ceremonial group charged with overseeing the Jápmemeahttun life bringers.
clasp arms/clasped arms: greeting and parting gesture.
Council of Elders: the guiding group of Jápmemeahttun.
Court of Counselors: advisors to the High Priest of the Believers.
end time: the period of time where the Jápmemeahttun boaris experience the change in their body that signals their end.
Fortress of the Brethren of Hunters/Brethren’s Fortress: Fortified encampment of the Brethren of Hunters.
handmate: spouse for the Olmmoš.
heart-pledge: to be “in love/monogamous/together as an understood partnership” for the Jápmemeahttun.
High Priest of the Believers: leader of the Order of Believers; theocratic/military leader of the Olmmoš.
Hunter: English term for a Piijkij; capitalized to distinguish for an ordinary hunter.
hutkeeper: wayside Olmmoš tavern keeper.
league: measurement approximately equal to three miles.
life bringer: term used by Jápmemeahttun to refer to the individuals involved in the birthing process.
moon cycles: how the Jápmemeahttun and Olmmoš mark the passing of a month.
Northland: geographical term associated with the Pohjola and the Jápmemeahttun.
Order of Believers: religious hierarchy developed by the Olmmoš after their rebellion against the Jápmemeahttun; became a theocracy.
Origin: birthing area for individual Jápmemeahttun.
Outside: Jápmemeahttun concept of everything “outside” the Song of All; the Olmmoš world.
quickening:Jápmemeahttun concept of pregnancy.
season of snow: how Olmmoš and Jápmemeahttun mark the passing of one year.
spirit stream: the energetic force released at the death of a Jápmemeahttun boaris as part of the birth process.
Stronghold of the Believers: fortified temple for the religious seat of power.
travelers’ hut: wayside tavern.
weight stones: measuring weights for the healers
JÁPMEMEAHTTUN GLOSSARY
Many of the terms used in The Legacy of the Heavens trilogy are derived from various Saami dialects spoken in the northern regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and extreme northwestern Russia. The definitions in this glossary reflect the meanings as related to the books and are not intended to be a dictionary of Saami dialects.
almai: male Jápmemeahttun Avr: leader of the Brethren of Hunters bieba: short form of biebmoeadni; term of endearment like “mom”
biebmoeadni: guide mother bierdna: bear
binna: herd of reindeer; used as singular and plural for the animal boaris: the old ones among the Jápmemeahttun males chuoði: regiment
chuo
ði olmmái: commander chuoika: mosquito
duordni: sea buckthorn berry Geassemánnu: summer month (June/July) goahti: hut
Guovassonásti: Life Star; its cycle marks the ages of Jápmemeahttun individuals Jápmea: Olmmoš name for the Jápmemeahttun (slang pejorative) Jápmemeahttun: tribal name for the original inhabitants of the area jogas: stream
joik: personal song (chant); story of an Olmmoš individual (plural: joiken) juhka: alcoholic drink latnja: gathering hall lavvu: leather tent
mánáid: children
mánná: child
Mehjala: name of a village miehkki: sword
mihttu: measurement of age niibi: knife
muorji: berry
návrrás: turnip
nieddaš: female Jápmemeahttun Noaidi: head of the Jápmemeahttun Council of Elders oktoeadni: birth mother oarri: squirrel
Olmmoš: name for the “human” tribe; man or men Oso: name of a village Piijkij: title for a member of the Brethren of Hunters Pohjola: Northland
puohtja: penis
ránesjeagil: grey reindeer lichen Skaina: name of a village Taistelijan: title for Jápmemeahttun warrior Ullmea: name of village uulo: plant tea used for medicinal purposes urtas: angelica root
Dreams of the Dark Sky Page 38
