Violya

Chapter 12 Violya

12

VIOLYA

V sat on a wooden bench on a raised platform in the great hall. Her councillors sat to her left and right, and warriors lined the edges. It was teeming with women, come to see the new Melokai for themselves. Had the weather been better, this official ceremony would’ve happened in the square, but days of heavy winter snowfall and a blizzard that had whipped up in the night had put paid to that idea.

Everyone was wrapped up in thick fur cloaks and woollen clothes, waxed leather and animal hide boots. Those who had arrived early were sat on wooden benches, but most stood, squeezing into any space available.

The hall was cold. The last time V had been here it had been full of Dromedars. And she had failed to kill Ammad. She shuddered and Emmo squawked. The caterpillar was in her usual position around the back of V’s neck, her little feet clinging to V’s collar.

Head Speaker Zecky was doing what she did best: speaking. V admired her easy confidence when it came to talking in front of a crowd. V’s stomach fluttered and she wanted to duck and hide from all the eyes pinned on her. But she couldn’t. She was the new Melokai and she needed to be seen. To be appraised, to be judged.

Her mouth went dry as memories of her childhood came back. The bullying for being different, for standing out. Well, she was different now. She had bright red hair instead of black and red-stained palms, was taller than most Peqkians and her skin glowed with a visible aura. There was no blending into the background now.

“Our beloved Stone Prophetess has spoken, and we have heard. There will be no Melokai Choosing Ceremony. Sybilya has chosen our Melokai.”

Murmurs and grumbles around the room as women discussed this with their neighbours. These public assemblies were always open and casual. V had attended them when she was the personal guard of Ramya, and debate was encouraged. But now they were discussing her, and V’s bubbling stomach launched bile up her throat.

“The people should have a say,” one woman shouted from the back. “We’ve always had a say in who rules us. I understand the Stone Prophetess has spoken, but we don’t know anything about this woman. We haven’t seen her fight or take part in the aptitude tests and ruling trials. How do we know she can lead?”

Voices rose as women agreed and disagreed. V’s cheeks burned. Why had Sybilya chosen her? She didn’t even know if she could lead.

Zecky flicked her thick rope braids out of her face. “From peace, Peqkya has now entered a period of turmoil. Sybilya created this nation, Sybilya protects this nation. She would not do this if it wasn’t for the good of Peqkya.”

The Head Speaker beckoned V forward, and put a hand on V’s shoulder. “Violya is a skilled warrior. She led the army to victory against the Dromedars, the traitorous warriors and peons. She drove the cammers out of our country. She was trusted by Melokai Ramya. She is trusted by the Stone Prophetess.”

“Is it true she has magic?” A woman at the front shouted.

Ripples of excitement spread across the hall.

“It is true,” Zecky said. Cheers went up. “For many long years we have sought another with The Sight. And this warrior, our new Melokai, is that one!”

Chants of ‘Melokai Violya’ drowned out the women still in disagreement. Zecky bowed low to her then shuffled away leaving V stood on her own in front of the crowd.

V swallowed down her trepidation. She was a warrior, not an orator. As the cheering and excitement simmered down, V raised her hands and heard gasps at the sight of her red palms. Her voice wobbled as she said, “I promise to do my best.”

There was a pause as people waited for her to say more and she had to force herself to continue. “I promise to rule fairly and always with the best interests of Peqkya at heart. I will use my power for the good of the nation, for the good of all of you.”

V stopped and an awkward silence filled the hall. I’m no orator.

An excited clapping started up and the new Head Trader, Joz, exclaimed, “Melokai Violya, I believe in you. I believe you will rule us well. Melokai Violya!”

Lizya repeated, “Melokai Violya!” and warriors echoed the chant.

The women in the room looked at one another and then joined with their voices. The clapping and cheering intensified as V bowed low to her people and felt elated as they bowed back. Then she swiftly exited the stage and left the hall. Monya following closely behind.

***

Melokai Ramya had visited Sybilya every week during her tenure, and although V could sense the Stone Prophetess’ presence and hear the great lady speak in her own mind, V continued the custom.

Two weeks after V had been announced as Melokai, she sat cross-legged in front of the great stone lady and allowed her mind to calm. Sybilya didn’t always communicate but V could sense the prophetess was grateful for her presence.

“Do not be scared of your magic,” Sybilya said laboriously in V’s mind. Her voice was low and breathy. Faint and unsteady.

V waited as the Stone Prophetess gathered her energy to speak again.

“It will control you if you let it. You must learn to master it. Do not let it fool you, your ability is not limitless, but it can be staggeringly powerful.”

“How can I master it?” V said.

“Practice and meditation,” Sybilya finally replied. “Meditate every day, listen to its chatter, become at peace with it. And then practise. In the time of Xayy, thousands of years ago, there were schools for magic. I went to one.” Sybilya’s laugh was more of a huff. “I’m so old.”

V smiled.

“Practise with each element. Earth, fire, water, air. Practise with your body, and with the bodies of others. Practise using the magic as a weapon, and for the everyday mundane.”

“I will.”

“Be careful, don’t push yourself too far. Magic will drain your body of its strength if you use too much in one go. I wish… I wish I still had the strength to train you, V.” Sybilya’s voice trailed off to silence.

V remained seated, closing her eyes and listening to her breathing. She blocked out the stench of the place, the howling wind outside, the cold, hard ground on which she sat. Removed those things from her consciousness and listened.

Turn her into a woman again! Drive back the stone curse, fight with the old, poisonous magic that binds her body.

We could fly over mountains and desert and straight to that worm’s hiding place in Parchad. We could blast him to little pieces.

What are you waiting for?

We could do anything.

We could rule the world.

How long she listened to the magic, she didn’t know but when Monya touched V’s shoulder she snapped alert, her hand drawing her dagger instinctively.

“It’s getting dark, V. We should return before we can’t see the path.”

Monya helped V to her feet. Her entire body felt stiff, her feet numb, but it was a small price to pay for Sybilya’s instruction.

***

V woke when the novices did. She had refused Ramya’s old apartments to stay in the barracks in her old bunk, preferring the noise and bustle of the army sleeping quarters. Above her was no longer Emmya, but a novice who crept around not wanting to wake or disturb the Melokai who slept beneath her.

After the announcement ceremony, V had attended a few of the court dinners and traditional ceremonies to “show her face”, as Zecky had called it, but she favoured the boisterousness of the warriors’ mess hall. Brin and his Jute fighters were invariably drunk and rowdy, there was good banter to be had and people forgot she was anything different to them.

She left Emmo curled on her pillow and dressed with the novices, not waking Monya who slept nearby. V followed them out into the training ground, pulling up the hood of her cloak to mask her face and grateful for the gloves that hid her red palms. No one paid her any attention as she ran through the daylight dances with them, the series of moves and postures to keep their bodies supple, and listened to the orders from the captain.

They filed out into the streets, grabbing shovels as they went. They were on snow duty. The peons whose job it was to clear the roads of snow were struggling. Their numbers lessened by the peon rebellion. The city needed to function, and the warriors always needed the physical exercise so Lizya had allotted the task to the novices. The blizzard of a month past had blown over but a heavy snowfall in the night had deposited a layer of snow over the city up to V’s elbow.

It felt good to listen to orders and follow them. To not have to think. The snow had made it impossible to venture into the bamboo forest and V needed to feel anonymous for a while. Yearned for it. Being close to others but not having to communicate was a welcome respite.

She and the novices worked tirelessly to shovel snow from the busiest of Riaow’s thoroughfares, from the marketplace and main square. When no one was looking she lifted chunks of snow from the ground and onto the cart using her magic.

This is so boring, it moaned at her.

This is practice, she replied.

She shovelled and cleared an area, moved on to the next. Her breath formed little clouds in front of her face, her body warmed with the exertion under layers of fur and wool.

Daya had not yet returned from Ashen Valley with news of the stone army. V knew the warrior would be gathering as much information as possible, watching the stone men, testing them to understand any weaknesses. And the winter snows would make travel back along the West Way treacherous. Be patient.

The snow had also prevented them from taking action in Drome, but taking their full army into the desert was a mistake. V knew she had to try another way. But what? It had been a topic of discussion with Lizya for many nights in the mess hall.

As she continued to clear the road, her thoughts turned to Fertilian. Captain Denya had disobeyed a direct order from Melokai Ramya. She’d broken the warrior code, she’d deserted.

Cats surrounded V, dashing under her shovel to circle her feet. They jumped up at her legs and pawed at her in a frenzy, all the time mewing and yowling. The other novices stopped their work to look at the spectacle.

It was a sign, V understood, but for what?

A warrior headed down the half-cleared street, crunching through the snow until she reached their group. She spotted the captain in charge and headed towards her at a run, relieved to no longer be wading through thick snow. She didn’t notice V.

“Sybilya’s Strongcats have been spotted on the North Road, heading into the city,” the warrior announced. “The Melokai and Head Warrior must know. Our clevercat is entranced by the tigers so I’m carrying this message. Send others, we must find them quickly.”

The warrior continued to run towards the Melokai’s enclosure, and the captain turned to the two novices nearest her and ordered them to take the same message to Head Warrior Lizya. Then she shouted at the remaining warriors, including V, to hurry up and clear the rest of the road for the tigers.

V knew she should run back to the barracks, knew they would be searching for her, that Monya would be desperate with worry at losing sight of her, but she remained.

She had never seen Sybilya’s Strongcats. The tigers were legendary, once used in battle, they were loyal to the Stone Prophetess. They had come to the aid of Peqkians when called up by Sybilya and had helped them win the battle against the wolves just months before.

V reached out in her mind to Sybilya. The Stone Prophetess’ presence was still, calm. Perhaps a hint of excitement danced around the edges. V couldn’t be certain. But the great lady was in no danger.

They shovelled quickly, clearing the road to the edge of the city where it joined the country pathway. V and the novices waited, catching their breath. They watched in hushed awe as a group of what had to be one hundred tigers came towards them.

They were majestic creatures. Their striped black and orange fur was dotted with snowflakes. Their huge paws padded over the snow effortlessly and their sleek forms were elegant yet deadly, lithe yet coiled with explosive power.

As they neared, V caught glimpses of brown fur through the moving orange. They surrounded two animals also moving on all fours.

Wolves!

V saw a flash of the face of one and her heart leapt into her chest.

Darrio.