by Kate Sander
Jules stared at her and signed back, “I’m not telling them you’re a Zoya.”
Senka’s eyes blazed, anger rising, “Yes, you will. They already took my voice, don’t take it again.”
Jules sighed and looked at the Shaman for support. He had a feeling that the Shaman had understood what they were talking about. The Shaman smiled, his eyes glinting, and Jules spoke loudly, “I am Jules. I was a guard of the Queen in Solias,” he heard whispers start behind him, but he ignored them and pressed on, “This is Senka. She was the last apprentice of Master Apollyon and she alone saw his destruction.” The whispers grew louder. Senka had her head held high and stared the Shaman in the eyes. Jules continued, “The Queen and I broke her out of prison. She had been kept there for two years and was held by Intelligence. The Queen sent her to negotiate a truce between Solias and the Melanthios. She alone can save us.”
The whispers grew to yells. The crowd started to press forward. With a quick whistle, Tory had her crew surrounding the two visitors, ready to defend them against the pressing mob.
“Finish it,” Senka signed to Jules.
“Don’t make me,” Jules signed back, tears forming. He was sure they would kill her if they knew.
“Finish it,” the Shaman repeated out loud.
Jules sighed, and sentencing her to death said, “She is a Zoya.”
The people started screaming in fear, pushing forward to destroy that which they did not understand. Tory’s crew launched into the defensive. Jules turned to help them in any way he could. Senka stood, back straight, head up, staring at the Shaman, ignoring the pressing mob.
They were fighting with their fists, no one wanted to fight to kill. They were just trying to protect. Tory punched a woman in the stomach. Ujarak had a large man by the front of the shirt and was punching him repeatedly in the face. Eli was blocking a woman attacking with a beading needle. Jules was trying to pull the children out of the way of the pressing crowd.
“ENOUGH!” The Shaman’s voice rang out over the crushing noise of the mob. Ujarak punched the man once more in the face then set him down woozily to his feet.
“I am ashamed of all of you!” The Shaman cried again, “This woman has been through hell, and you wish to destroy her? Based on some stupid superstition? Go back to your homes and think about all of this. We will be having a feast in her honour tonight. The last apprentice of Master Apollyon and the messenger of the Queen deserves our respect. BEGONE! Think about what you have done. Pray you never see a fraction of the horrors this woman has seen.”
With that, the mob dispersed, their heads hung low in shame. The only people left were the Shaman and Senka, still staring at one another, with Jules, Tory and her crew panting in a semi-circle around them.
“Thank you,” Jules said when he caught Tory’s eye.
She shrugged and walked away. Ujarak walked by and smacked him on the shoulder, almost sending him sprawling.
“Means he likes you,” Eli said as he skipped away.
They were down to the three of them, standing in front of the waterfall. Senka still hadn’t moved. Jules was watching her, unsure of what to do next. The Shaman approached, and before Jules could stop him, wrapped Senka in a hug.
Jules’ jaw dropped and his eyes went wide when, instead of killing him, Senka put her head into the old man’s shoulder and wept like a child.
18
Senka
The feast would be one to remember. The village had been sufficiently chastised, and all had brought food and gifts to the two new visitors. Jules and Senka had more clothing, boots, beadwork and ceremonial weapons than they knew what to do with. Word had gotten out that Senka didn’t like to be touched, so the villagers would place the gift at their feet and bow to them. Jules would rise and give the ceremonious Melanthios handshake, and Senka would nod smiling at them.
Sitting by their pile, the man who Ujarak had been punching approached. The man had not fared well, it looked like Ujarak had broken his nose. He was surrounded by five or six hulking adult men, all who looked the same, and all who looked ashamed. Senka figured it was a father and his sons. The father bowed and said, “We wanted to destroy you. We are sorry. My sons and I have pledged to build you a house. It will be on the corner of the village where you will be close to the forest as that is where you are comfortable. We have already started gathering the wood. The other men have offered their help as well. You are currently guests of Tory, but in one week’s time you will have your own house. Welcome to our village. It will forever be your home.”
Senka’s eyes were wide and she had to brush a tear away. She nodded, and buried her head in her hands. The men blushed, and the father said awkwardly, “We are sorry if our gift displeases you. We will find another skill to use to gain your favor.”
Jules jumped up, tears in his eyes as well, and skipping the handshake gave the man a bear hug. The men blushed again, though some of the sons laughed. “You misunderstand,” Jules said to him, “She’s crying because she is happy. We both are. There is nothing we could ever do or say that could thank you enough for calling this our home.”
The man patted Jules’ back and chuckled. He managed to untangle himself from Jules’ embrace and bowed with his sons to Senka.
The feast was in full swing in the center of the village where there was a large opening with no houses and dozens of large fire pits. The fire pits were blazing, and surrounded by logs and chairs. Thousands of people milled about the grounds. It was a potluck feast, and everyone brought something, resulting in thousands of different dishes on a table. There was no ceremony and no head table. All were equal in the Melanthios village. A band played the drums and people danced and laughed. The guests of honour, Senka and Jules, had picked a spot by one of the fires, and everyone in the village seemed to be able to find them. The Shaman wasn’t present.
Tory walked up, swaying slightly, with Eli and Ujarak beside her. Ujarak had two large mugs of ale in each hand. Dropping beside Jules on the pile of clothes, Ujarak passed Jules and Senka a mug each, keeping two for himself.
Jules slapped him on the shoulder and took a long draught of beer. Tory stared at Senka, who was looking at the beverage questioningly.
“It’s ale,” Tory said, “It’s homemade, and will get you drunk in no time.”
Senka looked up, and blushing, signed to Jules, “I’ve never had ale. I’ve never been drunk.”
Jules looked shocked, then laughed. Senka’s blush deepened. Jules said to the others, “She’s never been drunk before. This will be a fun night!”
They all laughed. Tory noticed Senka’s face and said, “Don’t worry, honey, we’re not judging you at all. You were locked up young. We expected something like this. Tonight is your night! Overindulge. We won’t let anything happen to you and if you do anything stupid, everyone will be too drunk tonight to remember! Enjoy the finer things in life!”
Shrugging, Senka took a massive swig of ale. It was delicious, with bubbles that went up her nose and a hoppy flavor. She lowered the glass beaming, and her crew raised their glasses to her and drank as well. She took another swig, enjoying the bubbles in her stomach and the heady feeling it was giving her. Looking at Jules, Tory, Eli and Ujarak, a funny feeling of belonging wheedled its way into her. They were her crew, they were her family. They would be there for her no matter what. Nausea and dizziness bubbled up from her stomach. This ale was hitting her fast.
She tried to stand and stumbled slightly, sitting back down on the log heavily. Concerned, she tried again but couldn’t get her feet to hold her weight. Tory noticed and a look of unease crossed her face, “Hey honey, you alright? You don’t look good.”
Eli, Ujarak and Jules stopped chatting and looked. Senka looked terrible. She had gone very pale and was sweating profusely. She was shaking her head back and forth, trying to clear it. They jumped up and went to help her, forming a semi-circle around the log where she sat. No one wanted to touch her, but no one knew what to do.
&nb
sp; “How much did she drink?” Jules asked Tory. Tory shrugged.
Senka tried to stand again and this time fell heavily to her side. Her mug of ale slipped out of her hand, spilling to the ground. She twisted onto her back, her eyes rolled in her head. Their faces and voices were fading in and out. She tried to focus on their auras, but she couldn’t. Her body started shaking violently. Pain erupted through her entire body. She tried to scream, but her mouth distorted in terror and she couldn’t make a sound.
Tory watched as Senka fell and dropped her mug. The whole glass spilled out. It wasn’t the ale.
She rushed to kneel at Senka’s side as Senka started convulsing on the ground, foam coming out of her mouth. Tory grabbed Senka’s shoulder and rolled her to her side. Senka vomited more foam and kept jerking violently, eyes rolling.
“Somebody do something!” Jules yelled desperately.
Senka felt herself vomiting again. She couldn’t see much, the world was spinning. She faintly heard Tory yell, “Get the Shaman! Ujarak help me get her out of here!” Ujarak lifted her gently in his massive arms and walk away from the fire.
The world and everything in it faded to black.
“Somebody do something!” She heard a familiar voice yell. She recognized it, but she couldn’t place it. It wasn’t Jules or Eli, but it was so familiar. She tried to open her eyes, but she couldn’t. They felt like they were glued closed. She could only hear.
“Sir, we need you to step back, okay? We need space to help her,” A female voice this time, one she didn’t recognize.
“What did you do to her?” The male voice yelled in panic, “What did you do?” She could hear scuffling and a beeping noise beside her head. The beeping was slowing down.
“Pulse is under thirty, we’re going to have to cardiovert,” the woman’s voice said.
She heard the man yelling a name as he was being dragged away. She tried desperately to open her eyes but she couldn’t.
“Okay, set. Get the stickers on. Everyone clear?” She heard the female voice say. The beeping was slowing down.
“Charging. Clear!”
A fiery hot burning pain rifled through her chest. She couldn’t breathe. The pain intensified, and she her body lurched. She heard a man weeping and she faded back down into nothing.
She sat up quickly and took a deep breath. Her head was swimming, the world was turning and nausea hit her like a ton of bricks.
“Easy there honey,” she heard Tory say, her gentle black hand firmly touched her shoulder and pushed her back down to the bed, “You’ve been out for a couple days, take ‘er easy.”
Senka tried to speak, but only gurgling came out. It started coming back to her.
She couldn’t speak. She had no tongue.
“What. What happened?” Senka signed. The world was starting to focus. She was lying in a bed, staring at a wooden ceiling.
“You collapsed at the feast. We all thought you were poisoned, but the Shaman said that you weren’t. He said it was something to do with being a Zoya. He was worried sick about you. None of us thought you were going to make it.”
Senka tried to keep her eyes open, but her head hurt too much and she was having trouble focusing. “Water,” she signed to Tory, firmly closing her eyes.
Tory nodded and went and got her a glass of cool fresh water. Tory helped boost her up so she was half sitting, with Tory taking most of her weight. Tory held the glass to her lips and she helped her drink slowly. When she was done, Tory lowered her back down to the pillows.
The water helped clear her head.
“Wait,” she signed, “How come you can understand me?”
Tory chuckled, “I was wondering when you were going to notice. Jules and I have barely left your side. Eli and Ujarak wanted to stay too, but the Shaman didn’t want too many people here. They are out with the other men building your house. The village knows what happened and everyone pitched in. You should be able to move in tomorrow.”
“Well that’s amazing, but how can you understand me?” Senka signed again.
“Let me finish,” Tory said with a laugh, “You’re always so pushy. Like I said, me and Jules barely left your side so he started to teach me. I figured it would be helpful for me to know. Eli and Ujarak volunteered to learn as well, and Jules is going to start teaching them as soon as they are done your house.”
Tears formed, and Tory busied herself with warming some soup to give her some privacy. When Senka had composed herself, Tory raised her again and helped her slurp some warm broth, one small spoonful at a time. When Tory lowered her back down, Senka signed, “Why are you doing this for me? I barely know you.”
Tory looked at her, brow furrowed, “I don’t really know. I trust you. I’ve trusted you since you shot that arrow a half inch from my ear. You could have killed me easily, instead you didn’t.”
Senka nodded and signed, “I trust you too, I don’t know why. I figured you would have been scared of me ‘cause I was a Zoya.”
Tory shrugged and busied herself rearranging the pillows around Senka’s head so she could sit up a little, “I probably would have been, if I had known from the start. But people just don’t understand the Zoya. We’re told they are demons. Honey, as scary as your face is, you ain’t no demon.”
Senka snorted and started to laugh, then stopped when it hurt her head. Her whole body hurt, every joint when she moved, every breath in.
“Gotta love your honesty,” Senka signed. “Where’s Jules?”
“I was wondering when you would ask that,” Tory said, taking her chair beside the bed, “You two have something going on, hey?”
Senka blushed.
“Mmmhmm, I figured. Don’t you worry. I won’t tell him, but I can tell you he feels it too. He has barely left your side and was starting to stink, so I sent him home for a bath and a nap.”
Senka was beet red.
“Now,” Tory said, rescuing her, “I am on strict orders from the Shaman that you are to sleep and recover. When you are feeling yourself, you are to go and see him. I guess he wants to talk to you.”
Senka nodded and yawned, and being more exhausted than she realized, soon fell asleep. She wasn’t sure how long she slept for. She didn’t dream.
When she woke again, Tory was gone and Jules was sitting beside her. It was dark outside, and the inside of the cabin was lit with a warmly glowing fire in the hearth.
When he saw her eyes open, he beamed, “Hey there stranger.”
She smiled, truly glad to see him. The world was in focus, so she decided to try sitting up. Jules looked worried when she started moving, “You sure you’re ready for that?”
She glared at him, “I will decide when I’m ready,” she signed back, rolling to her side. Jules smiled and held his hands out, ready to catch her. Senka pushed up on her hands and slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed. She felt dizzy for a second, then the world stopped spinning. Sitting on the side of the bed, she looked up and smiled at Jules.
“Now for step two,” she signed. Jules shrugged, there was no stopping her. She was back to herself and wouldn’t rest until she was up and running again.
Senka stood without help and grinned at him. Jules grinned back.
“Ok, I stink. I’m going to go bath, then I need to see the Shaman.”
“Good call,” Jules said. “I’ll help you with the bath and then give you some privacy. Your house is ready. They already moved all your stuff in. After you see the Shaman we’ll head down together.”
Senka nodded, pushed herself onto her feet, and, taking a minute to steady herself, tried to walk. She was shaky but stayed on her feet. They boiled water for the bath. Jules turned when she undressed and stayed in the room until she got into the tub, then left.
“I’ll sit by the door, okay? Just let me know when you need me. Bang on the side of the tub or something.”
A sharp bang indicated that she heard, and Jules left her to her bathing. She thought it was kind of funny, him turning his back
to give her privacy. She bathed and sat until the water was cold, then succeeded at getting out herself. A new set of Melanthios clothes had been folded on a chair by the bath, so she put them on. The supple green cloth was well made and durable, yet comfortable. Sure beat prison robes.
Exiting the bathroom, she saw Jules sitting by the door, head on his chest, fast asleep. Smiling, she left him be. He was exhausted and she was feeling strong enough to visit the Shaman by herself. Looking around, she saw her boots by the door and the cloak hanging from a hook. Someone had cleaned them for her, and they looked better than when the Queen gave them to her. She put them on and felt like her old self, that is until she saw herself in a mirror by the door.
She hadn’t seen herself since she was with her master. They had done terrible things to her. The scar on her face was raised a half inch and was almost an inch wide. It was a deep purple colour and jagged. It ran from her hairline down her face to her chin. Her cheeks were gaunt and dark from malnourishment. There was a piece of hair that was white on the side of her head. She tucked it behind her ear and jumped. There was a chunk missing out of her right ear, she wasn’t even sure when that happened. She had thought she looked strong, but she was a malnourished mess. She lifted up her cloak and saw the new clothes clinging to her bones. She hung her head, she didn’t want to look at herself anymore.
So enthralled with her appearance, she didn’t hear Jules approach. A soft touch on her shoulder. She flinched, really she couldn’t help it, but she didn’t mind the touch. Keeping her head down, she angrily wiped a tear away.
“Don’t cry,” Jules said, raising her chin so they were both staring at the reflection.
“I’m hideous,” she signed, looking away.
