Dark streets, dim light from a window here and there, homeless children crouched in sheltered corners or behind garbage, rats that scurried in the shadows and the odd hungry bark of a dog in the distance was the norm as Bodil and I navigated toward the burned out shell of a building. Two blocks from our destination, Bodil left me to take an alternate path in a wide arc to the opposite side of the compromised structure where we were to meet Jolon and his father.
I’d noticed no sign of the Tonrar as I vigilantly scanned for any movement in the area. The streets were virtually bare, everyone preferring the safety of their residence to facing punishment for disobedience. The populace seemed eager to please Casimer’s despotic rules. The homeless children likewise hovered in darkness to avoid any altercation with the Tonrar.
Weapons were strategically placed in the belt around my waist and my throwing knives were tucked in various locations within the folds of my clothing. I navigated the quiet street carefully, ever watchful of inebriated souls that might be wandering about aimlessly, the only ones without enough sense to stay indoors. Some drunks could be violent given the opportunity. Desperate people could do desperate things. Starving people were hard to trust and some willing to kill in order to eat.
Just before I was to enter the next intersection of streets, I heard voices and I slowed my approach. Hugging the wall of the last building, I took a cautious look around the corner and noticed two men walking toward me. One held a double edged knife in his hands, twirling it, the light from a window causing the blade to send out a flash of brilliance now and then. The other man held a wooden club in one hand and a short iron pick in the other. These two were looking for trouble and I had no interest in drawing attention.
Backing away, I found a spot to hide in a sunken doorway. I stood deathly still and waited for the two men to reach the intersection and keep walking. To my dismay, they turned and headed down the street where I was hiding. The volume of their voices increased and I eased over to the side that was most shadowed in darkness. I hoped they wouldn’t notice me as they passed by.
The men walked on by, right down the middle of the street. I breathed a sigh of relief and waited until they were a distance down before I emerged. Their backs to me, I hurried from my hiding spot and on toward the intersection.
A shout behind me told me they’d turned and spotted me. Their pounding feet told me they were in hot pursuit. I cursed and ran for the nearest alley, rushing down to the end to find a place to conceal myself. I would have to kill them if they followed. If I spared them, they would surely give me away and soon the Tonrar would close in. The cruel wraiths were always drawn to fights and destruction.
Hiding behind some large broken barrels, I withdrew two throwing knives and waited. I heard the men enter the alley, their voices grew in volume but they walked cautiously to avoid ambush. By their staggering gate I knew they were drunk. The men threw out cocky barbs, insults and vulgar suggestions as they came closer. Obviously they had no idea who they were dealing with. I was not some simpleton, weak women or one of Loralai’s whores. I was certainly not one to be taken for granted. After tonight, they would know.
From my knelt position and when I knew I could easily hit my mark, I let the first knife fly. The blade pierced the first man’s skull, sinking in deep. He dropped like a rock onto the dirt floor of the alley. The other man stopped and in his shock froze. I let the other knife fly and the blade pierced through his eye and on to his brain. He sunk to his knees and fell forward, a cloud of dust rising around him as he perished. Just like that the risk was dealt with. It felt like child’s play to me. They did not prove to be equally matched opponents and I was disappointed.
Blood-lust rushed through my veins as I stood. In that moment I missed the excitement of the charge to war on my farrin. I longed for a mass of opponents all surging toward me simultaneously and the thrill of cutting one down after the other in systematic fashion. But, I needed to focus on the evenings agenda and I forcefully corralled the urge to kill.
I walked toward the two slain men, removed my knives, picked up their weapons, tucked them into my belt and continued toward my destination.
Arriving at the designated burned building, I cautiously navigated down the alleyway that ran alongside the charred and crumbling remains and entered through a broken window. The odor of death was strong and took my breath away. I found myself situated in a room, the ceiling sagging precariously and threatening to collapse. Staying against the wall, a knife in my hand, I hurried toward the slanted doorway and scanned the wide open space in the center. On the floor of the large area were decomposed bodies, some charred boards and beams that had let go from the ceiling and a layer of ash that clung to everything.
I could hear faint voices but could not see anyone. Then the voices quieted and the silent hush of the eerie space echoed back to me. I waited for the voices to direct me before moving. A few minutes passed and then I heard them again. Attempting to get my bearings straight, I moved in the direction I believed was correct, where I thought the voices were originating.
Staying close to walls and darting inside rooms, I slowly made my way to where the sounds were increasing in volume. I would not expose myself before I knew what I was walking into. I was sure that it was Jolon’s voice I heard but still I waited in a room in the shadows, looking through the cracks of the burnt boards. Suddenly I noticed a man walk into the open, turn and scan the area. He held a lantern in his hand.
“Neesha, are you here?” Jolon asked.
I was thankful I had not shared my real name with him. He knew me only by Neesha. I noticed him waving to someone. I then saw an older man step in beside Jolon and he also scanned the area.
Waiting a moment longer for any sign of foul play, I finally scrounged up the courage to step from the dark shadows and into the light of Jolon’s lantern.
When he noticed me, he stared and when he knew it was me, nodded and moved his head for me to follow. His father could not take his eyes from me and nearly tripped on a dead corpse on the littered floor as he walked. Righting himself, he slowed his pace so that he walked a stride before me.
“Welcome,” he said with reverence in his tone.
I didn’t bother answering.
Jolon led the way into an inner room with no windows and set his lantern onto the floor. “Here we are.”
His father turned to me and said, “My name is Kibou.”
I didn’t answer but glared at both men in distrust.
Kibou tried again. “And your name is Neesha?”
“Tell me of your dreams,” I demanded.
He glanced at the weapons at my waist and fingered the hilt of his knife tucked into his belt.
Kibou looked thoughtful and then said, “First of all, how do I know you are to be trusted? We don’t know which farrin you are from or your real name. I need more information before I share anything with you.”
There was fear in his eyes and I understood his caution. “What makes you think I have not shared my real name?”
“It’s not what I heard in my dream.”
“What name were you told?” I asked. I knew we were playing a stalling game but we were both feeling cautious and mistrust flowed between us.
Studying me for a time, he finally said, “Viveka.”
Sighing deeply, I said, “You are telling the truth. That is my name.”
His tense shoulders relaxed by a degree and he said, “Okay.”
“Tell me. What have you seen?”
Kibou said, “In all my night visions, there was a women warrior leading a large group dedicated to eradicating Casimer’s rule on Dwarkaa. She gave us information, encouraging us and imparting instruction on how to subjugate Casimer’s power.”
“And you’re sure it was my name you heard, not another?” This was not what I wanted. I wanted to infiltrate the Royal Palace, perhaps be initiated into the Royal Guard where I could learn firsthand how to outwit and destroy Casimer. To be stuck here in this paupers district felt like a waste of time.
Kibou looked confused. “Yes, I already told you that I heard your name clearly in my dream.”
“And what is the point of me leading a bunch of unarmed, weak and un-enlightened group of oppressed Dwarkaa-born? Not one of you has access to the Royal Grounds. What good will it accomplish for us to unite but then be targeted and killed by Casimer’s regime?”
“You don’t understand. This has never happened before. There is a reason I began to receive visions in the night. There is a reason we have met.”
“Tell me, do you know who showed you these things while you slept?”
“I heard different names.” In a whisper he said, “I heard the name Mowae.”
I could see his fear of being overheard. No one is allowed to speak the name of Mowae on Dwarkaa Farrin.
He said, “I am told that you call him by a different name.”
I nodded.
“And I heard the name Suma.”
I said, “She is in charge of The Noble Ones.”
“The Dragons of the Mission.”
I couldn’t help but gawk at him. He knew more than what I thought possible.
He then went on to tell me things he could never have known. He knew many things; that a powerful woman had set foot on Tarman, had returned to her land mass, he knew of the dragons, the revolt, he even knew of the uprising taking place in the western farrins. My home farrin, Akoni, is far to the southeast of Dwarkaa.
Kibou continued, “The instructions given to me in the night visions were as follows: when we meet you, we are to collaborate, begin to assemble regularly, allow others to join our cause as they learn about it, begin to send members on specific missions that will be revealed to us over time and move into places of leadership as they become available.”
I said, “I was told that only those of the nobility, the powerful and upper class citizens are allowed into places of authority and leadership on Dwarkaa.”
“Kibou said, “I was shown that a way would be made for us.”
“When I was asked to come to Dwarkaa I assumed I would be placed with an upper class home, facilitating my entrance into Casimer’s inner circle.”
“Don’t ask for something you don’t really want,” Kibou said.
Anger flared in my chest. “Don’t tell me what I want! I know exactly what I want. I came to Dwarkaa on the assumption that I would infiltrate the Royal Grounds and be placed on the inside operations.” Fury burned inside my chest at the shift of purpose that I felt forced into. I had no desire to stay here leading a remnant and surrounded by the starving and disenfranchised populace.
“There is something you need to know,” Kibou said.
“And what is that?”
“No woman is given a place of leadership on Dwarkaa. No woman is allowed to become a warrior or serve as a Royal Guard. If you insist on going into Casimer’s employ you would do so as a sex slave, kitchen staff, housekeeper or a nurse maid to the many babies on the Royal Grounds.”
I felt repulsed by the suggestion and infuriated by the way women were treated on Dwarkaa. “Never!”
“And there’s one other thing you should know. Being close to Casimer’s influence brings with it the constant weight of the Tonrar. They surround him most of the time and seem to give him great pleasure. None of those within the inner workings of the Royal Palace Grounds are safe and they know it. If they displease the Tonrar they are quickly eliminated from among the ranks of the living. No employee of Casimer’s enjoys a long life.”
I had never heard this before and it forced me to rethink my aspirations.
Kibou continued, “In my visions it was revealed that you are a mighty warrior. I was also shown last night that you would arrive here with blood on your hands.”
Kibou knew too much. But with all he’d shared, I suddenly knew a lot about him too. I could use this information against him. My silence told him all he needed to know about the veracity of his claims.
“My son and I will gather the ones willing to revolt and we will meet here again in two days, at night when the sun has set.”
I felt defeated. I could not resist the force of evidence he presented. “Here? Is there not a better place to meet, a place that isn’t permeated with the smell of death and decay and is safer?”
“For now, this will have to do. I am working on securing a different location and I will let you know when that becomes available.”
Suddenly Jolon reached over and extinguished the light in his lantern. Quietly he said, “I sense the Tonrar nearing. Stay quiet.”
