Donagh looked well fed and healthy. No sign of torture, imprisonment or harsh treatment showed on his robust body. Seeing Donagh, my previous Dwarkaa Ship Captain, standing before me on the ground of a low-based farrin and clearly siding with the clan leader, Xiomara, was more than I could take. How did this happen? I knew he was not abetting the planned revolution when he started on his farrin patrol to the southeast. So why was here on Akoni Farrin and still alive? And why did it appear he had joined their clan and defected from Dwarkaa?
Donagh began to speak. “I welcome you two, my former Dwarkaa comrades, to Akoni Farrin. As you can see, Xiomara and her clan have recruited me to join their cause. My ship was not destroyed. It is hidden in the ocean caves around Akoni, along with the other ships.”
“How many ships have they taken?” I asked.
“In time I will tell you. Right now, hear my tale.”
I moved my head slightly and he continued.
“When I and my ship crew attempted to subdue Akoni farrin, all the men under my command, my Apolake Warrior crew, were destroyed. I refused to bow my will and my men suffered for it. Although I assume they would have been killed regardless. I was imprisoned at first, kept in a cave and stripped of my clothes to humble me. Eventually I had to decide whether I wanted death or join the cause. The decision was agonizing. To join Akoni meant I could never return to Dwarkaa Farrin. I would forfeit my position in Dwarkaa’s Domain. To join also meant I would have to bow my will to a woman.”
I stared at Xiomara and noticed her standing straight and regal, just behind and to the side of the former ship captain, her eyes glued to Donagh as he spoke.
“When I agreed to join their movement, the clan leadership transferred me to a home on the outskirts of their village. I was isolated, restrained and forced to undergo deprogramming.”
“Deprogramming?” I asked.
“Yes. They claimed my brain washing needed to be reversed.”
I wondered if that’s how Casimer does it, controlling everyone by mind control, keeping the population of the earth subservient and beggarly.
“As my deprogramming progressed, I was taught of Xiomara’s bravery, her summoning to Tarman Farrin, her return, her appointment as the leader of Akoni Farrin and her clan’s absolute acceptance of her to lead them.”
“She’s the one who was summoned to Tarman Farrin?” I asked, staring at the woman more closely.
Donagh continued. “Yes. She has set her feet on Tarman Farrin’s ground. She’s seen unspeakable things and has returned to share her knowledge. Her understanding has fueled the advancements you’ve seen as you walked through this settlement. The design of Akoni’s settlement mirrors what Tarman is like, although it is but a shadow of the magnificence of that amazing place.”
“But where did all the building material come from? None of the farrins have access to such modern trappings.”
“Tarman Farrin has helped in the design and the products to accomplish it.”
I stared at Xiomara again, a question burning my tongue. I knew that Suma was from Tarman Farrin. I stood, fury burning my insides, and directed my question to the leader. “Has Suma been here on Akoni? Has she been here since she slaughtered my men?”
Xiomara glared at me. “So many questions and so little loyalty. It is too soon to speak of Suma and her whereabouts. Again, I will insist on some debriefing for you and Andrei. Some time is needed to come to terms with the death of your men, to help recalibrate where your allegiance lies.”
An Akoni Warrior motioned for me to sit. I grudgingly sat but anger burned inside my chest at the situation I found myself in. Never had I imagined a woman over me. Not once had I considered that a woman ruled Akoni. If I had known, I never would have agreed to this assignment. Her disregard for my question infuriated me. No inferior farrin leader ever dares to order about a Dwarkaa Ship Captain. I wished I’d kept a knife hidden in my boot. I’d hurl it at her skull and kill her before her guards could lift a finger to intervene. It would be the death of me but it would be worth it. I felt exposed and powerless in the presence of this woman.”
Donagh continued his diatribe on Xiomara, her farrin and clan, all the improvements they’d made, the advancements, the peace rendered with the farrins surrounding Akoni, and on and on he went. My stomach began to growl in hunger as the afternoon wore on. The information was a lot to take in and my mind balked at it.
Finally Donagh looked at me with concern and understanding. “You have a decision before you, Razmig. You will need to decide. If you choose to turn your loyalty back to Casimer and Dwarkaa Farrin you will be executed.” He turned to look at Andrei. “The same holds true for you.”
Xiomara stepped forward and said, “Think long and hard before you answer. If you choose to align with Akoni Farrin you can never return to the life you were accustomed to on Dwarkaa again. This will be your new home, your headquarters and I will be your leader. You will answer to me and any disobedience will be dealt with quickly and decisively.”
Andrei said, “I’ve made my decision a long time ago. I pledge my allegiance to Akoni Farrin regardless of the cost or the risk.”
Donagh waited for me to add my pledge to the conversation. I couldn’t get the words past the feeling of cotton filling my mouth. The sensation of losing control, the humility of answering to a woman and the demotion from any kind of high position in Dwarkaa’s Domain felt like a death knoll to my soul. And yet, I felt no great allegiance to my home farrin or the despot who rules there. There were no family members left on Dwarkaa, no ties pulling me back, except for the pledge I received from Vanora. If I aligned with Akoni I would never be able to cover Vanora, make her my woman.
Another thought invaded and confusion filled my chest. I looked at Xiomara. “I received instruction from Suma that I would return to Dwarkaa and give a report of bringing the wrath of Casimer to your shores. How am I to do that if I don’t return to my life on Dwarkaa?”
Xiomara answered, “There is much we need to debrief on and discuss but not before you are deprogrammed and have time to process the death of your men. You obviously need some time to consider all the information you’ve been given before pledging your loyalty to the cause.”
She lifted a finger and her warriors gathered around Andrei and me, signaled us to our feet and directed us down a pathway leading away from the Outdoor Theatre. We walked back through the settlement to the edge where a small, quaint house stood. The home was constructed better than anything on Dwarkaa Farrin. A few trees encircled the home and plants and shrubs lined the walkway to it.
The warriors motioned for us to enter. When we stepped inside, the door behind us closed. I suddenly found myself a prisoner and fury filled me at the injustice. Hadn’t I done everything Suma had instructed me to do? Why was I in this situation then? She was the one who killed my men or allowed them to die. And now she was adding my imprisonment to her list of wrongs.
Walking around the small interior, I noticed a single bed in the corner and a long, cushioned chair in another. A tiny kitchen area stood center of the home with a coal burning furnace within it. I was thankful that we wouldn’t freeze through the night. There was a writing desk on one side with an oil lamp on it, scrolls for scribing, jar of ink and a few quill pens.
I walked over to it and picked up the items one at a time, grateful that I would have something to do while being confined in this small space.
Andrei said, “It’s not a bad spot to be imprisoned.”
I stared at him. “I don’t know why they put you here with me. You pledged your loyalty to them openly.”
“Yes, but I saw as much death and destruction as you did. I also need time to decompress. They don’t know if I’ll change my mind, try to kill them for what they allowed Tarman Farrin to do to our comrades. They are taking precautions and I see it as wise.”
“You would.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You seem too eager to throw your lot in with Xiomara. Does it not bother you that the leader is a woman?”
“I was raised by women. I have four sisters older than I. My mother was a warrior at heart and trained me well. I was taught to respect the women in my home.”
I nodded in understanding. Although I’d loved my mother, I never obeyed her. She was never home to tell me what to do. She was too busy working her trade. When I was very little she arranged for a neighbor to watch me for a small stipend from her earnings. By age six the neighbor could no longer control me and I began to do as I pleased and made my own rules.
A knock at the door brought our heads around. The door opened and two women entered carrying food. Warriors holding archaic handguns stepped inside to ensure the unarmed women would be safe. The women set the items on the table. Whatever they brought smelled wonderful and was still warm and steaming. They even brought a jug of elixir and set it on the table.
One woman said, “There are eating utensils in the cupboards and mugs to drink the elixir.” She was a fine looking woman but looked well seasoned in war. Her rough leather garb did nothing to enhance her features and yet her beauty was obvious, even with the lines creasing her brow, eyes and lips. The other woman was not nearly as fetching.
I stepped to the table, looked at the items on the table and nodded in thanks.
The fair looking woman bobbed her head in response. Concern shone from her eyes. “You will need your strength for this evening’s activity.”
“What activity is that?”
“I’ve said too much. Donagh will come for you later.” She reached into her pocket and took out a small vial of liquid. “I brought this ointment for your wound. It will ensure a speedy healing. May I?”
I stared at the woman a moment, wondering if she could be trusted. Finally I nodded.
“Remove your coat.”
I glanced down at my arm, surprised she knew I was injured. I noticed that the blood had stained the sleeve of my Dwarkaa Ship Captain’s uniform. I met her eyes and said, “First tell me your name.”
She looked at me, seriousness in her eyes. “What does it matter?”
“It matters to me who touches me.”
She nodded and said, “My name is Viveka.”
Studying her pretty face, I craved a woman in that moment. I suddenly longed for the bathhouses of Dwarkaa.
“Get on with it,” one of the Akoni Warriors stated.
“Remove your coat,” Viveka instructed again.
I did as she asked. She pointed to a chair and I sat.
Unwrapping the white linen bandage around my upper arm, she placed it to the side and studied my wound.
“This ointment should ease your pain significantly,” she said.
The woman removed a flask of water from a satchel she carried and soaked a cloth with it. After cleaning my arm, she took the ointment and poured it liberally on my wound inflicted by the arrow. She doused both the entrance and exit wounds. Then she wrapped my arm in fresh white linen and secured it.
She was right. Although the wounds stung with the cleaning of it, the ointment soothed my arm and all pain subsided as she tidied up the items she’d brought and prepared to leave. Before departing she turned to me again and said, “Later this evening you may remove the bandage.”
“This evening? My arm will need more time than that to fully heal.”
Viveka gave a small smile. “You will see.”
I thought she was a rather strange woman, despite her beauty.
The entourage left and Andrei and I dug into the food like starving men. The elixir went down well. Andrei and I finished the whole jug with our meal. The meat was roasted to perfection. I guessed we were eating lamb’s meat. The potatoes were a new touch and the fresh baked bread was delicious.
After the meal I could have settled down for the night and slept like a baby. A knock at the door changed my mind’s trajectory and my tiredness fled.
