A Warrior's Dance

XIX – The Barrier

Living with a foreign tribe was a hard thing to do, especially if they are savage and no regard of women.

Zelle was wearing the same clothes she had when the valkans raided their city. She was in the temple when they had captured her. Their tribe was celebrating the moon festivity, a sacred night for the wives who had a hard time bearing a child. It is said that when the peach trumpet-shaped flowers of the tree of Marya blossomed under the full moon, the deities would grant the wives a child.

As a servant of the temple, Zelle had been lighting the candles when their town had been sacked. Their king sent the warriors to fight the valkans and soon enough, put a barrier to keep them from coming further. After all, they hadn’t expected to be conquered during their festivity. And certainly, not by the Valkan tribe. They were too late, though. Much too late.

But their race was as strong as them, their dignity unmatchable.

“Hey, Zelle,” Azaiah called out. “Follow me.”

He went back to being a cold-hearted lad, throwing her dangerous looks and all. After the little red-haired girl successfully escaped, the valkan’s rage seemed to heighten. They would never stop hunting her down.

Zelle followed the young prince to his chamber, trying to balance herself as the big waves collided with the ship.

“Did you let anyone in my room?” he asked as soon as they stepped inside, his gaze intense. He wore a blue wool cloth, emphasizing his well-toned arms and a long breeches.

Zelle shook her head, thinking in haste where the conversation was going.

Azaiah glared at her, his eyes piercing. “Then why is my dagger missing from where I put it?”

She bowed her head down, not answering.

“I swear to Nar Burkhan, if you stole from me, I will kill you,” he said in a low tone.

Nar Burkhan. Sun God. That was one of the few words she had learned from their language.

She still kept her silence. Whatever her answer would be, he would still be angry.

“Prove you didn’t steal from me. Strip out of your clothes,” Aza ordered, eyes cold. “Show you’re not hiding anything.”

Zelle blinked, not sure if she heard him right. Slowly, she sought out his eyes, burning cold toward her.

“Do you not hear me?” he asked when Zelle did nothing.

She couldn’t tell if he was trying to be funny. She couldn’t read his thoughts. “I swear to Sun God- “

“I don’t need you to swear, I need you to prove me wrong!” He hit the wooden shelf on the side, his voice startling her.

Zelle blinked again. It was against their Holy Credo.

Azaiah wasn’t the most patient lad on the sea. He closed their gap and was about to touch her when Zelle swatted his hand away from her.

Surprised, Azaiah looked at her.

She stepped back and was about to run, but then Azaiah caught her and pinned her to the wooden wall. Zelle kneed him to his crouch but didn’t work since he swayed to dodge her attack. It all happened so fast that they both surprised one another.

It was all Azaiah needed to diffuse his anger. He had been at edge for many moons now and the frustration and the hollowness he felt inside slowly eating his strength. His eyes darkened, every bit of his muscle tensed. He grabbed Zelle’s arm and twirled her, making her face the wall, wrapping her body with just one arm. The girl elbowed his stomach with such force he hadn’t anticipated, that he had to let her go.

Zelle tried to run out of his chamber, losing her balance when another wave rocked the ship, making her stumble. Aza regained his composure and went after her, his hand grabbing her neck, suffocating her. She flailed her hands, trying to pry his hands from her neck, his weight pinning her to the ground.

“S-stop- “ she mumbled, gasping for air.

In a snap, Aza released her from his grip and stood up. He looked down at her as she huddled herself on the corner, heaving. The sight of her made him felt terrible, and at the same time, the anger he felt did not subside at all.

He put a safe distance between them, eyeing her peculiarly. Something the way she moved and defend herself made him think as well.

“You’re not just a common girl praying in the temple,” he said, clearly remembering the first time he saw her. It was him who captured her, after all.

Zelle shook her head, pretending her heart wasn’t beating hard, so hard she could almost hear it. “You are right.”

“You are a warrior.”

She composed herself, head held up high, her eyes fiery from their little rumble. “We are the Krigers.”

The Krigers.

Their race was the only match for the valkans, someone would argue.

“Our race will be the one to end yours,” she said, refusing to acknowledge the tears filling her eyes.

“Huh,” he crossed his arms over his chest. “Then why we’re able to capture the lots of you, if what you say is true?”

Zelle narrowed her eyes. “Things happen because we let it happen.”

Azaiah smirked. “Could have fooled me, girl, but I remember you being scared when we haul you up in this ship.”

She didn’t make a move. “Because unlike the Valkans, we Krigers can act.”

She was getting in his nerve. He pointed his hand to her. “You’re not as good as you think you are.”

“Really?”

Azaiah closed their distance, once again grabbing her arm and making her stand. He pinned her to the wall, his height towering over her. “Really. Because if I am a Kriger, I won’t ever let you know unless you’re dead. Kriger’s number one credo— don’t get caught.”

Zelle looked away from him. She knew that well enough.

“I know you didn’t have my dagger. I just want to know who you truly are.” He opened the door in his chamber.

“And do you really have to attack me that way?” she questioned.

Aza’s unsmiling face stared her down. “I know you can fight. No ordinary girl can attack a valkan with just a snap, like what you did in the cellar,” Azaiah said. “But I will never forget how you help her escape.”

“Sanne?”

His hand covered her mouth. “Do not say her name.”

She nodded, wanting to get out of his shadow. But there was something in his blank eyes that she could see. A hope at the mention of the girl’s name.

“As much as I wanted to get rid of you, I won’t.” He sighed, almost lost in his own thought. “Not until I repay you for my debt.”

Zelle’s stomach constricted hearing him say that. The Valkans never forget. Her helping him that night to free Sanne was a considered a debt for him. The valkan prince was surely caught to red-haired girl’s charms.

“Thank you,” she said in a whisper.

He just shook his head. No, thank you.

Right then, she knew that Sanne was important to Azaiah.

***

Evander headed to the shore of River Lights. The dancing lights were still absent, only the half-moon shone from the sky. The wide shore of their lands stretched over the horizon, the sand soft against his feet. He was the kind of king who didn’t bother wearing boots, instead, he walked with his bare feet, feeling the warmth of nature.

His people respected him, admired him, and their loyalty would always be on him.

He checked the barrier he placed on the sea to keep the Sea Serpent from resurfacing again. It almost looked transparent in the eyes of the common people. It looked like a clear coating, but it was thick enough to mute the noise coming from the lurking evil. The barrier wouldn’t be able to hold it for long but it was enough while they warn the people.

The queen approached him, the same long silver hair flowed at her back. Her silk night dress robes looked like a sea, swiftly swaying as she walked. They seemed to shimmer under the dark sky.

“Are you okay, Evander?” she asked, touching his arm.

He glanced at her queen as they held hands. “I’m not sure.”

“Thaeros and the others already left,” she said, looking over her shoulder to where their kingdom was.

The king was quiet for a moment, letting the cool wind bathe him with peace, the peace he was pretending to have. “Do you remember when Thaeros was born?”

Queen Naira smiled. Of course she remembered. It was a silent night, their people had just starting anew, all were contributing to build their own fortress of peace and serenity. “Rainbow lights danced in the sky and the wind hummed a lullaby.”

He nodded, remembering the same memories. “The common people knew us as the heaven fairies. But Thaeros’ race was much higher to us. He was the last one of his race, the Light Keepers. And I fear for his safety.”

Naira smoothed his face gently, calming his chaotic mind. “Fear not, for the Heavens know what to do. Besides, there is nothing to fear for he has powers stronger than we have.”

“You calm my mind, my queen,” Evander said as he looked at her.

She smiled. “It’s the only gift I have, why not use it?”

He returned her smile.

Not all Neraides had a gift. Only the elders were able to maintain their powers after the Great War. Evander knew it was a punishment for being greedy. The next generation of Silver Neraides inherited the same features but they held no gifts or powers. They became like the common people.

“I wish we have more of the Light Keepers in times like this.” He mused. “I wish Thaeros isn’t the last of his race.”

“Even if Thaeros will have a child to any woman,” Queen Naira said, humoring him. “Will the child bear the same gift as the father?”

Evander wrapped his arm around his queen, his eyes darting back to the dead sea. “That I cannot answer, my queen.”

“Ease your mind, love. Let us pray many will heed to our call to protect our land and humanity.”

“I hope we could survive this war,” he said after a while. “I just hope this war will unite us and not put barriers to every race.”

Evander remembered Mikhail’s words in the sacred chamber.

“’For there is no greater power than love. And there is no greater weakness than fear. The only enemy is the evil. And we all have one in ourselves. So kill it. Or it will kill you.’”