‘Pravin, Asha will be here tomorrow.’

  ‘I’ll take a look and see if I can find some of those loose horses for the lad to ride,’ Pravin said.

  There are only three left, Isa-cub. They are over the next ridge by a rivulet in the forest, near an alder tree.

  Isaura told Pravin. His eyes narrowed as he listened and he looked suspiciously at the Matriarch.

  Only three? Isaura asked.

  Hunting is hungry work.

  Isaura’s lips drew into a tight line and her gaze settled on the bodies of the enemy. She called out, ‘Pravin, take Pio with you. I have something I need to do. There are more of our enemy out there and more coming. I want them gone. I want to send a message to those bastards that if they cross into our land they will not live to tell the tale.’

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Ratilal wandered in the dark throughout the camp near the training field. He was not arrayed in finery, but in his favourite simple, dark, dusty training clothes, his identity concealed by a cloak. Niaz should be here, he thought. The entire camp had been under lockdown for two days. The men will be restless, they’ll talk more to ease the tension. What will I hear? A select few knew his plans. The common soldiers knew only that they were to move soon. The quiet conversations of the men stopped as he wandered by, but believing him merely another soldier they continued speaking.

  ‘Stroke of genius.’

  ‘Who’d have thought we’d strike at the Bear in their capital.’

  ‘Think of the devastation. They’ll be weak come the end of winter.’

  They’re weak now. Karan’s men cannot have arrived. Their forces will split.

  ‘Think of the dead. Families lived in Gopindar. How many little ’uns died in that great fire?’

  ‘Where was the honour in murdering children?’

  ‘They say it razed most of the city.’

  ‘They?’ Scorn dripped from the man’s words. ‘I will tell you one thing. There is no going back from this. Their blood will be up—we’ll never have seen the like. We had best win the next battle or they’ll wipe us out.’

  ‘Well, love or hate him, Ratilal is clan lord and the best warrior amongst us. The Conclave proved that.’

  ‘The Conclave? Some wet-behind-the-ears rich boys. The new “lordlings”—they never stood a chance.’

  ‘They fight well enough. All they do is train …’

  ‘Once upon a time, there was only one lord, now we’ve dozens … never worked a bloody day in their lives either.’

  ‘Keep your trap shut if you know what’s good for you.’

  ‘All I’ll say is this: our high lord, I’ll bet my last coin he’s got a plan that’ll shit all over Karan.’

  Ratilal frowned and moved on. I’ll have to pull the ‘lordlings’ into line. Can’t have a revolt on my hands from the plebs. Vikram. A niggle of doubt remained about him. Ratilal shook his head. No, he burned Gopindar, he’s quashed the slogans. He’s loyal to his clan. Faros is in good hands and soon I’ll be back to claim it.

  Besides, he’d left Vikram with the worst of his troops—the old, the weaklings and the women. Faros was in no danger—he and the Divide stood between it and the enemy.

  Men began running through the camp, spreading the news. Ah, they’ve issued my orders. Horses’ hooves were to be wrapped and padded and the long, large covered wagons’ axles well greased—all to deaden sound. Under the cover of night they would move out.

  * * *

  The Vale of Safa was peaceful; its peace galled Baldev. Warriors from Bear Tooth Lake had reported in late the day before. Their tales of the death of Umniga and the kidnapping of Pio infuriated him. Kiriz and Pio should have been safe. Isaura and Pravin had hared off on their own rescue mission. Madness! Baldev was mollified by the fact that Asha had stayed for Umniga’s farewell ritual. Now, she’s off though. He kicked the dirt.

  His captain cleared his throat. ‘Asha is a capable warrior.’

  ‘I know that!’

  ‘Chances are Isaura and Pravin made short work of the enemy for they do not hunt alone.’

  ‘I know that too! But four squads of warriors—mine and Karan’s—went with her.’

  ‘You’d rather they hadn’t?’

  ‘Shut up, just shut up and stop making sense!’ Baldev jumped up and stalked a short distance away before returning and sitting again. ‘We leave tomorrow morning. The first of the northern watchtowers is two days’ hard ride away. Let’s pray it still stands. Maybe then we’ll see what Ratilal is up to.’

  * * *

  Pio scuffed his boots through the dirt. Alejo had broken his crystal. He knew he shouldn’t be mad but it was so pretty. I can get another one. Fiamma squawked angrily at him. ‘I know, I promised!’ he said. It must be here somewhere.

  Pio threw his hands in the air and sat on the ground. He looked at the rubble around him. Isa must think I’m an idiot. Her magic did this. He sighed, looking forlornly toward Fiamma. The little falcon was very still. Fiamma cocked her head and made a soft cry.

  ‘All right,’ he said to her before pulling his flute from his satchel. Sulking, he played a sad little tune, bemoaning his lost treasure. It bounced off the rocky rubble around him. A dull glow began under the grey dust of rocks.

  Pio stared at it, his playing halted. The glow stuttered then was gone. He dived forward onto the spot and began scraping the fragments of rubble and thick dust away. Fiamma emitted a high-pitched squawk and bit Pio. He ignored her and kept scraping. The falcon danced about in agitation. ‘Enough, Fiamma. Let’s just see.’ Pio sat back on his heels.

  The dark flame eye crystal fragments lay before him. Carefully he picked them up, dusted them off and placed them on a scrap of cloth from his bag. He lined the fragments up. Joined together they would make the original crystal, except at one end a chunk was missing. Hesitantly, he resumed playing. Fiamma cocked her head, watching the crystals with wary fascination. They spluttered to life; a delicate rainbow shimmer rippled along the pieces. Pio’s tune brightened and became faster; the crystals began to pulse in time to his music. The dainty flames danced and changed colours with the song, perfectly controlled by the music—resonating it. Where are the rest of you?

  Fiamma jumped sideways and scratched at the dirt, revealing the remaining crystal pieces. Pio ceased playing and scraped the dust and rock from three more fragments, which he placed next to the others. These were no longer the dark flame colouring of the others—they were blue.

  Pio stared at them before playing a short tune. The dark flame eye crystals sprang to life. The blue ones did not. Fiamma flew to his shoulder. He sat with his eyes closed, concentrating.

  Reverently he wrapped the flame eye fragments up, leaving only the blue pieces separate. Yes, for Isaura.

  * * *

  Isaura tilted her head back and forth, from side to side and rolled her shoulders, trying to loosen up. The night had been freezing even though they’d been tucked amongst the Asena. It was nearly midday and still their breath steamed in the air and the breeze bit at their skin. The Matriarch sat next to her.

  Pio plonked down beside them. ‘Isa, you know my crystal …’ Isaura arched her brow at him and began drumming her fingers on her leg. ‘Well … oh bother … just look.’ He pulled a cloth bundle out of his pocket, unwrapped it and revealed the crystal fragments. ‘These pieces here changed colour. I like them better like this—they’re blue like your eyes go.’

  Isaura closed her gaping mouth. She tentatively reached a shaking hand toward them and withdrew it.

  The Matriarch sniffed the pieces warily. Be careful, Isa-cub.

  ‘It’s not going to hurt, silly—look.’ Pio placed the blue ones in her hand. A warm buzz ran up Isaura’s arm, through her body and subsided. The crystals glowed, pulsed in time with her heart and dulled. The Matriarch paced.

  ‘Wow! They didn’t do that when I held them—none of them did. Isa? You look like you might pass out.’

  ‘I’m fine,’ Isaura replied quickly. ‘I told you to leave them.’

  ‘No, you told me to not get another one …’

  ‘But I told you it was dangerous. Last time, the rainbow crystal … it frightened me … when I touched it … it was powerful magic … like the old tales back home.’

  Pio swallowed nervously. ‘I’m sorry. I won’t get another. But the others just light up when I play, that’s all—nothing bad.’

  ‘Only when you play?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘Did it do that before?’

  Pio shrugged. ‘Don’t know. Fiamma wanted me to play and they were just there and they lit up.’

  ‘You didn’t feel hot or tingly or angry … unwell at all?’

  ‘No. Isa, Fiamma wouldn’t let me touch it if it was bad.’ Pio’s eyes opened wide as he remembered. ‘She tried to stop us going to the cave where we found them.’

  Isaura ground her teeth. ‘Why didn’t you listen to her?’

  ‘Fiamma wasn’t my guardian then,’ Pio stammered. ‘I just thought she was a crazy bird. But she let me touch them now.’

  Isa-cub, this is pointless.

  ‘Promise me you won’t go there again.’

  Pio nodded anxiously. ‘Should I throw them away?’

  Isaura looked to the Matriarch for advice. Well?

  I have no ideas, Isa-cub. Nothing has been the same since your arrival. The aura of these crystals attuned to yours when you picked them up. Your aura brightened.

  ‘No, keep the pieces safe. Don’t tell or show them to anyone, including Kiriz. And don’t play around with them until the Kenati are teaching you again or unless I’m there. Can I keep the blue ones?’ Pio nodded.

  Fiamma swooped by. ‘They’re coming!’ Pio said excitedly. He wrapped up his crystals, shoved them in his pocket and tore off.

  Silently Isaura and the Matriarch followed.

  Asha rode at the head of the column. Fihr circled above them. As she drew nearer, Isaura stared at her, asking, ‘Pravin? What’s Asha done to her face?’

  ‘Umniga. All the Kenati will do this when one of their number has been killed. It’s more than mourning. It’s so when one of them kills those responsible it will be as if Umniga did it.’

  ‘Oh!’ Isaura’s jaw dropped at the realisation of what Asha had coated on her face. ‘I’ve already killed them.’

  ‘Their revenge will go further than that.’

  Asha dismounted before Isaura and Pravin. ‘I saw the blood. Where are the bodies?’

  Isaura blanched. ‘The Asena … have … um … disposed of them.’

  ‘Ma!’ Pio raced past to be swept up in Lucia’s arms.

  Asha smiled. ‘I couldn’t have kept her from coming even if I’d wanted to. She is a mother bear when it comes to him.’

  Pio jabbered excitedly, dragging Lucia toward Isaura and Asha. ‘And I’ve got a guardian. Look out, here she comes!’

  Lucia halted abruptly as Fiamma swooped low and landed on Pio’s arm. ‘That’s … wonderful … She’s very … pretty.’

  ‘Ma! Fiamma’s not pretty! Pretty is for girls!’

  ‘Pio, you’ve given her a girl’s name,’ Lucia said, confused.

  ‘She’s tough and fierce and smart … and clever! She’s not a girl, she’s a falcon!’

  Lucia shook her head in bewilderment. ‘Well … good. Watch Fiamma doesn’t hurt your arm with her talons.’

  ‘Never! Isa ripped up a cloak, see, and padded my sleeve.’

  Lucia darted an anxious glance at Isaura, before quickly looking away.

  Pio rolled his eyes and grabbed her arm. ‘Isa, Pravin and the Asena saved me. And Alejo too … he’s not really as scary as everyone thinks.’

  Pravin snorted.

  Pio hauled Lucia to a stop in front of Isaura. ‘Say hello to Isa, Ma.’

  Isaura folded her arms. ‘Pio, your mother doesn’t have to …’ she began.

  ‘Yes, she does,’ Lucia said. ‘I owe you an apology—we all do. I don’t understand your transformation, but I know that it’s not your fault and I believe that the gods have made you our champion.’ Lucia drew a deep breath. ‘I should’ve known a heart such as yours would remain true. I was a coward. I wish I’d been stronger and remained as true to you as you did to us. Forgive me?’

  Lucia held out her hand. Overcome, Isaura could only nod before dragging her into a hug.

  Pio took Asha’s hand. She gently stroked Fiamma’s chest with the other. He bit his lip anxiously, before taking a deep breath. ‘Umniga?’ he asked.

  ‘She’s gone, Pio.’

  ‘Nimo and Kiriz?’

  ‘Nimo will live. She says as soon as you get back she’ll teach you letters. Kiriz is here.’

  ‘Really? Where?’

  ‘At the back. She feels guilty for running away.’

  ‘That’s just daft. She was smart. I’ll find her and fix it.’ Pio wandered off, mumbling to Fiamma, ‘She’s bonkers. Help me fix it.’

  Asha smiled sadly. ‘Umniga was right to bring you all here.’ She stood taller. ‘We need to get the children and Lucia back to camp.’

  Pravin spoke up. ‘They’re going to Hamza’s.’

  ‘But Hamza is not there,’ Asha said. ‘Baldev …’

  ‘Is not here either,’ Pravin said. ‘I am and I’m senior. Those are my orders. I say Hamza’s and I’ll bet the Old Mother agrees with me. Hamza is due back anytime soon.’

  The Matriarch and Isaura shared a glance. ‘Yes,’ Isaura finally said.

  ‘We’ll lose time,’ Asha insisted.

  Isa-cub. We will take them to Hamza’s. We’ll keep Pio safe, the Matriarch said.

  But I’m going to the front, Isaura replied, kneeling before the Matriarch and burying her hands in her ruff. The conversations of the others became a mere burble in the background.

  I know, Isa-cub. We will not help you there, not in a full-scale battle. I will not risk more of my kind. We have lost too many in wars with the clans.

  Isaura frowned. There’s more, isn’t there?

  There are too few of our original number left. We do not age or die naturally, but we can be killed. We breed like your wolves would. Our offspring are intelligent and something more than mere animals, yet not us. When we are killed, the spirits of my priests and priestesses pass on—gone. I need to preserve them and our knowledge for as long as I can and … I am not sure what our offspring will do when we are not here to guide and control them. Know that I will watch you from the spirit realm and advise you when I can. When this war is over, I pray to M’Aricel that we will have a long association.

  So do I.

  Asha touched Isaura’s arm. ‘Did you hear, Isa?’

  Isaura shook her head, wiped her eyes and reluctantly stood up, breaking contact with the Matriarch. ‘The Asena will take them to Hamza’s. They’ll watch over them.’

  Lucia ran to fetch the children.

  ‘They’ll be safer there, Asha,’ Isaura said.

  ‘I know, Isa. I’m just … angry. Ready to kill.’

  ‘Ready to kill is good right now. Pravin, while Lucia and the children are not here will you help me?’ They walked into the forest and hauled out two lumpy bundles covered in dried blood, which they tied to one of the pack horses before rejoining Asha.

  Lucia, Kiriz and Pio approached.

  ‘Ride safely. We’ll see you soon,’ Isaura said.

  The Matriarch stood waiting for them with her pack. Pio and Kiriz both turned back for one last wave before they disappeared down the rise and into a forest trail.

  Asha and Pravin mounted, leaving Isaura staring after the Asena. ‘Isa, are you ready?’ Asha said softly.

  ‘It’s stupid—I feel like I just lost my mother again.’

  ‘Only this time you’re not without family,’ Asha said.

  * * *

  Vikram looked out upon Ratilal’s empty training camp. So now it begins in earnest. He turned his horse back to Faros.

  ‘The high lord wants Mistress Malak found and returned to Faros,’ Vikram said to Jabr, who fell in beside him.

  ‘Will she be safe?’ Jabr asked.

  ‘You ask that of me?’ Vikram shook his head. ‘Of course she’ll be safe. Mistress Malak is at Umniga’s cottage. I want you to fetch her, and a young woman I sent to stay at Parlan; also Deo’s grandson. We’re going to have another Conclave and Deo’s grandson is to stand as witness to the death of Shahjahan.’

  ‘You knew where Mistress Malak and the girl were all this time?’

  Vikram smiled. ‘Just go bring her and the others back; tell Malak I sent you. And tell her to keep the others with her and safe.’

  Jabr cantered off toward Faros and Vikram continued to plan. When he dismounted in the citadel courtyard, Māhir, the mason, was waiting for him.

  ‘The repairs to the walls are finished, Captain,’ Māhir said.

  Vikram was brusque. ‘Come, I want to inspect them.’

  Walking along the battlements, Vikram said, ‘The camp is empty. We need to step up activity. Malak will return, along with the girl. Keep your ear to the ground. How well are you doing cultivating connections among the wealthier merchants?’

  ‘Fine, it’s easy. The merchants loathed Paksis. The news of Gopindar horrified many of them. They’re worried what revenge the Horse and Bear may wreak upon us. Their main worry, mind you, is business. Was it as bad as they say?’

  Vikram’s hands clenched, then he ground out, ‘Worse. They are right to be worried—encourage it. Turn talk to how Shahjahan would never have done it, for there was no honour in it.’ Vikram peered over the side of the wall, making a show of inspecting the repairs. ‘I’ll make sure the slogans return and the rumours grow. Lady Malak will help. She has great influence amongst both the merchants and the upper echelons in old Faros.’

  ‘Maybe, but Malak downright annoyed some of the merchants. They tried to stymie her business, and she outsmarted them.’

  ‘Yes, but they need her,’ Vikram said.

  ‘You’re right and now she’s doing so well, they want to work with her. But Captain, don’t forget the lower city love her. Malak and Daniel give the poorest citizens work, good pay and discounts on the goods they need.’

 

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