On Fire’s Wings (36 page)

 

The dawn was crisp and bright, a good omen. The clans were preparing for departure, breaking down the encampments. She had assisted them in a solemn duty before she had slept that night; lighting the funeral pyres for the honored dead. There had not been as many as she had feared, but enough so that the task was heartbreaking.

She was walking toward the Dragon, carrying a small bundle of provisions Sahlik had packed for her, when a woman approached her and said, “Kevla-sha-Tahmu?”

The name still sounded so strange, but also very sweet. Kevla turned to see who had addressed her and saw tears in the woman's eyes.

“My name is Shali-sha-Terku.” Kevla hoped her face did not register the sudden shock she felt. This was Jashemi's wife, the one he said he did not love, who deserved better.

She found her voice. “I know your name,” Kevla said. “You are…you are my brother's widow.”

Shali nodded and placed one hand on her belly. She seemed to be a naturally thin woman, yet her stomach was starting to grow round—

“Can you tell me how he died?”

Guilt weighed Kevla down. To confess to this woman that she had lain with her husband, Kevla's own kin, would heal nothing and harm much. And though she had once burned with jealousy for Shali, now that she saw the woman and her pain, the only feeling Kevla had for her sister-in-law was compassion. Yet she could not lie. Gently, Kevla took Shali's hand in her own.

“Jashemi was my Lorekeeper, though neither of us knew it for too long,” she said. “He helped me to discover who I truly am. In so doing, I lost control of my powers and…I killed him.”

It still hurt her so badly she had difficulty breathing. Shali's hands tightened painfully on hers, squeezing so hard that Kevla wondered if the bones would break.

“You…?”

Kevla nodded. She kept her eyes glued to Shali's. “I have known no greater pain in this life than having to live with this. I didn't
want
to live with it. But I have to, because Arukan needed me. Other people elsewhere need me, need the Dancers, or else we are all doomed.”

“I should hate you,” Shali whispered. “You killed my husband, the father of my baby. But I don't. I see your suffering. To have bought your power at such a cost—I do not envy you, Kevla-sha-Tahmu, no matter that you ride the Great Dragon.”

Kevla smiled sadly. “Then you are wise indeed, Shali-sha-Terku. The basest beggar on the streets is happier than I.”

“Did…did Jashemi speak of me?”

“He did,” Kevla said. “He said you deserved better than him.”

Shali laughed, though she was starting to cry. “Then Jashemi-kha-Tahmu was a liar. I could have had no better man for my husband in this world.”

Shali began to weep in earnest. Her heart breaking for the girl, for both of them, Kevla took her in her arms and hugged her gently. Shali was smaller than she, and Kevla felt the wetness of tears on her shoulder.

“Be easy, sister,” Kevla said. “I will tell you this and you may know that it is true: His body is gone, but his soul is free. He would want you to be happy, to raise your child in love and peace.”

Your child.
Any chance that Kevla had conceived during their single union had been shattered that same night. The fire that had claimed Jashemi had surely also destroyed any seed he might have planted in her womb. If there were to be any heritage from Jashemi, it would come from this woman.

“That is a comfort,” said Shali, pulling back and wiping her wet face. “To know that his soul is free.”

I'm glad you find it so,
Kevla thought.
If only I could take comfort in it.

“Will you return? To see your niece or nephew?”

“I hope to, but I cannot tell,” Kevla said. She bent and kissed Shali on the forehead. “Stay well, my sister. Blessings on the child you carry.”

Slowly Kevla walked to where the Dragon waited for her. He looked at her with compassionate eyes and lowered himself to facilitate her climbing atop his back.

Kevla looked around and despite her pain smiled at what she saw. Everywhere, the former
kulis
had found parents or siblings or even strangers to welcome them. Women mixed freely with the men. On the hard-packed, yellow earth were colorful veils some of the women had discarded. Others kept their veils.

Good
, Kevla thought.
A woman should be the one who gets to choose to reveal her face or not. At least there is no Great Dragon dictating to her.

Time would tell if this would last. Old habits were hard to break, and it might take a while before some of the older clansmen learned to accept former demons as children, wives as true partners, and the lower-born among them as equals.

But it was a good start.

“Are you ready, my dear?” said the Dragon, craning his neck to look at her with infinite affection.

She nodded. “I am ready,” she said.

Her people cheered her as she rose into the sky, waving goodbye. Kevla saw her father holding Meli's hand in his own large, strong one. He placed his other hand on his heart as their eyes met. And she saw Sahlik, and Shali, rubbing the round belly that was filled with Jashemi's son or daughter.

They would be all right without her. Life would go on here. It was up to her and the other Dancers she was setting out to find to ensure that life went on everywhere in this and other worlds.

She lifted her gaze from the rapidly dwindling images of her people and fixed her eyes on the horizon, her heart lifting with every beat of the Dragon's powerful wings.

Akana: rider of the Hawk Clan

Arukan: the name of the country

Arukani: native to Arukan

Asha: apprentice to Maluuk, a healer

 

Bahrim: obsequious
uhlal

Bai: generic term for Bai-khas and Bai-shas

Bai-kha: “male without father,” derogatory term for illegitimate boy or man

Bai-sha: “female without father,” derogatory term for illegitimate girl or woman

Balaan:
root, served raw or cooked, particularly in stews

Baram: member of the
Sa'abah
Clan

 

Clan, Cattle

Clan, Horserider

Clan of the Four Waters

Clan, River

Clan,
Sa'abah

Clan, Sheep

Clan, Star

Clan, Warcry

 

Dragon, Great: see Great Dragon

Dumah: servant, member of the Clan of the Four Waters

 

eusho:
a hot, bitter drink that takes time to prepare

 

five-score: slave/servants captured in battle. For each year they serve, they are “scored” on the arm. At the last score, they are freed.

Great Dragon: the keeper of the morals of the people of Arukan

 

halaan:
slang for “prostitute”

 

Jalik: Second of the Star Clan

Jashemi-kha-Tahmu: Tahmu's son, Kevla's half brother

 

Keishla: Kevla's mother, a prostitute, Tahmu's great love

Kevla Bai-Sha: illegitimate daughter of Tahmu and Keishla

kha:
unit of money, gold

-kha-: “son of”

khashim:
Lord of a clan; plural
khashims

khashima:
Lady of a clan

khashimu:
the young heir, prince

kurjah:
Arukani term for the male organ

kuli:
demon

 

liah:
gazelle-like creature

 

Maluuk: Healer of the Clan of the Four Waters

Melaan: Second of the
Sa'abah
Clan

Mirya:
Sa'abah
tender

 

Naram: Jashemi's uncle, Yeshi's brother

 

paraah:
sweet, thick-skinned fruit, usually peeled

Pela: Jashemi's aunt, Yeshi's sister-in-law

 

Raka: young lord of
Sa'abah
Clan

Rakyn: Tahmu's father

Ranna: young handmaiden to Yeshi

rhia:
a flowing garment worn by both sexes. Men's rhias are shorter and worn with loose breeches

Rusan: Yeshi's father

 

sa'abah:
desert animals with long, fluffy tails, long legs with broad feet, small “hands” and long ears

Sahlik: head servant of the Clan of the Four waters, five-score

sandcattle: cattle that survive well in the desert

Sammis: Jashemi's cousin

-sha-: “daughter of”

shakaal:
long horns, blown at moments of high ceremony or great import

Shamizan:
board game with colored glass stones

Sharu: five-score

simmar:
big cat of the desert

skuura:
female dog; used as an epithet

sulim:
Arukani term for female genitalia

Swift-Over-Sand: Tahmu's horse

 

Tahmu-kha-Rakyn: Kevla's father,
khashim
of the Clan of the Four Waters

Terku: leader of the
Sa'abah
Clan

Tiah: voluptuous handmaiden of Yeshi

 

uhlal:
term of respect; “gentleman” or “sir”

uhlala:
female term; “lady” or “ma'am”

 

Yeshi: wife of Tahmu, mother of Jashemi

Yuma: Jalik's friend

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