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Tariro

Chapter 11: There are Two of You

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Long shadows of the morning crept through the temple, making deep pools of inky darkness on the decaying tiles of the floor. Any one of the shadows could hide a crack that led into the cavern below, and the men all knew it. They tread carefully, not trusting the ground under their feet or the tricks that their eyes were playing on them.

"Well, I could easily believe they were moving too." Tyro leaned closer to one of the statues, his nose inches away from its own. "They're quite creepy, aren't they? The way their smiles don't quite reach their eyes... who would make a temple to a group of children?"

"They really moved." Keith's voice was stubborn. The leader smiled and patted the statue on the head.

"Could be. Could be. Of course, what could a statue of a child do to you?"

"Wait until it grows up, then it will be scary." One of the other men offered, setting off nervous laughter. Despite their flippant words they could all feel it- the strange atmosphere that tingled down their spines, like they were being watched by unseen eyes. Being surrounded by the red-painted walls was like being inside a giant mouth, with the pillars of stone cutting through like monstrous teeth. They stayed closer to each other than normal and didn't touch anything, especially not the uncomfortably blood-coloured alter. Tyro, on the other hand, seemed quite happy to be there, and looked around with interest. Keith explained to him about the holes in the walls, and how they whistled when the wind blew through them at sunset.

"Right, so it's that which makes the screaming noise?" Tyro nodded to the men, who reached into their pockets and bags for something. Keith shook his head and caught the other man's sleeve, making him look at the statues.

"They scream. The walls just set them off."

"Keith, I know you're into rocks and all that, but let me explain something that I don't think you understand about them." A vein of iron ran through Tyro's normally patient voice. "Rocks don't scream. They can't, they're rocks! Just because they look like people doesn't mean they can talk to you!"

"What kind of idiot do you think I am?" The man demanded, raising his voice. "I'm telling you they're not statues at all, they're something else. If rocks don't scream then they're not rock, but something else that can make that noise!"

"Whatever." Tyro yanked his sleeve away. "I won't argue like this. If the walls start that noise, then all we have to do is seal the walls. Easy." He reached into his bag and pulled out a heavy square packet, wrapped in stained cloth. When it was unwrapped, Keith saw that it was a block of clay, and that all the other men had them as well. They must have scraped it from the floors of the cave when he told them about this place. They must have planned it. They weren't planning to listen to him at all, just do the thing they thought would solve the problem easily. He threw up his hands and walked out of the cave, wishing Numair was here so he could talk to them. People listened to him. He was in the city somewhere- the healers had found that their magic worked if they went far enough from the cave, so as soon the screaming in the city had stopped that morning they'd taken their patient for a walk. Or, at least, a hop. Keith didn't know how fast Numair could walk on one leg, but he bet he could catch him up if he was quick.

When he was walking out of the cave, the light caught his eye and half-blinded him for a split second. Something streamed past the corner of one eye and he rubbed at his eyelid, thinking it was a bit of dirt. When he looked back into the temple the walls looked dark and forbidding. The statue that Tyro had touched couldn't be seen at all. Which was odd, because he thought it was lit up by the slanting light. Keith shrugged and walked away. The light always plays tricks in the morning.

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Daine got back to the camp just as the first colours of dawn were streaming through the cave. From experience she knew that no-one would be awake yet, but at the same time a knot of fear rooted itself in her stomach. Nobody saw her- or, at least, she didn't see anybody seeing her- and when she got back to the women's cave she dressed quickly. She made more noise as she relaxed into her normal morning routine. She smiled and bid good morning to the other women as they started to wake up, grumbling at the sharp morning air.

"You're in a good mood this morning," one of them jibed over their breakfast of flat bread. "We usually don't get more than half a smile from you before lunch."

"Is it that unusual?" Daine asked, surprised, and then nodded slowly. "Ye-es. I guess I've been homesick."

"Haven't we all?" Another woman muttered, glaring up at the rock-sky that loomed over their lives. General grunts of agreement ran through the group. The women were universally sick of darkness and dank and damn spooky lakes.

"I know why you're so happy," a sharp-faced woman said suddenly, a sly smile on her lips. Some heads turned from their own conversations curiously. The woman's smirk turned to the sycophantic grin of the born gossiper. "I think it might have something to do with you sneaking off and staying out all night." Her voice turned to a carrying drawl, and more heads turned their way. Daine could feel herself going pale. But, surely, if they suspected her of spying, they'd just tell the men..? She looked at the knowing smiles on the circle of surrounding faces, heard the whispered comments and jokes that were guarded by raised hands, and suddenly realised what they were saying. She blushed bright red, setting off a chorus of giggles.

"It is, it is!" The sharp-faced one shrieked, gasping with laughter. "But who was it, I wonder?"

"Who said it was anyone?" Daine snapped back, mortified. The woman shook a finger at her playfully.

"I've seen you sneaking off for weeks now, Arra. But to stay out all night!" Around her, her friends made expressions of mock shock. Daine stared at the floor, willing it to swallow her up. Quicksand would be better than this! The women started shouting out names, watching her for a reaction- people she'd been seen speaking to, people she'd never even heard of, old, young, tall, short, ugly, handsome...

"What about Elan?" Sharp-face raised an eyebrow and leaned forward confidentially. "He's been watching you."

"Have you been following me around, too?" Daine demanded, stung. The woman shrugged with one shoulder.

"When someone like Elan does something strange, everyone knows about it. He's done it before. But you should know better."

"It's not Elan." Daine stood up. Around them, the bandit women were packing away their breakfast things and getting ready to leave. The woman's eyes followed her as she did the same.

"As you say." She replied archly. The others smiled behind their hands, whispering to each other as they trailed out. Daine knelt by her bedroll, willing her hands not to shake and not quite knowing why she was upset. The fact that these women thought she liked Elan in that way seemed horrible. When she thought of the man at all, it was with the harsh friction of the captive to her captor. The thought of him being anywhere near her, let alone touching her, made her feel sick. She didn't raise her head as the others left the cave and they laughed, mistaking her anger for embarrassment.

One woman hung back from the others, hanging her head shyly until they'd all left the cave. Her voice was soft and melodic in the empty room. "We were just playing games. Don't be angry."

"I'm not," Daine didn't look up from tidying her bedroll. The woman dropped something on the floor next to her, where it landed with a dull clink.

"I noticed... you don't have one, that I could see." She hesitated, feeling the need to explain. "You should have one. I used to be a midwife's 'prentice, and I kept some. I don't need it, see."

Daine looked around, confused, and picked up the metal object. It was a pregnancy charm, hanging on a knot of plaited wool. The woman smiled at her, mistaking her confusion for acceptance, and left before she could be thanked. The curtain whispered as it shut behind her, leaving Daine alone. She held the charm up to the flickering candlelight.

It was made of cheap metal, barely even gleaming grey in the half-light. The symbols that were scrawled on it were spiked and untidy, as if the person who'd made it had done so in a hurry with a blunt nail. It was nothing like the one that she'd bought in Tortall, which was carefully shaped to look like part of a normal necklace. She raised her hand to her neck absently at the thought of it, and froze when her fingertips touched nothing but bare skin. It was gone.

Why hadn't she realised? Now she thought about it, she couldn't even remember the last time she'd had it. It had been like the badger claw- just something that was always there, that she never really thought about. When she'd given the claw to Numair the emptiness where the necklace should have been had shouted at her, but she thought it was just the claw she was missing... goddess above, had she been wearing it then? She couldn't remember.

And you've been sick for months. The traitor part of her mind whispered, Are we blaming it all on the ship, and the food, and homesickness? That last one doesn't even make people sneeze, and you know it!

Don't be stupid, she snapped at herself. The traitor mind's voice became slightly smug. It started to sound worryingly like her mother's voice had when she was telling her off.

Seems like I can't be more stupid than you've already been.

Shut up, shut up, shut up! She repeated, panic starting to scald her stomach like hot water. The smug voice was silent, but she imagined it laughing at her from its distance. She needed to talk to someone. Anything would be better than this loud silence. The gossiping women were long gone, split into their foraging groups for the day, and the cave was nearly empty. Automatically, she headed for the lake. The closer she got to the water, the more her conversations with Ghada came back to haunt her. By the time she was metres away, she was nearly frantic.

"Ghada!" She yelled in panic, not caring that people might hear her. The water was an eerie glowing blue in the morning light, but no answering ripples danced over its surface. She tried again, shouting with her mind this time as well. "Ghada, I need to talk to you!"

Surely. Ghada's wild voice was cold. Why else would you scream for me, like some animal?

I'm sorry, Daine replied rapidly. She let the hysterical confusion run through her wild voice, speaking better with that than with words. I have to talk to you. There's no-one else I can talk to. It's important!

Speak, then. The creature still didn't appear above the surface, but her voice was calming. Daine forced herself to breathe slowly, to sit down and think carefully. When she spoke, each word was unnaturally heavy.

What, exactly, did you mean, she realised her hands were shaking and clenched them into fists, What did you mean when you said there were two of me?

You asked that before. It is not more important now.

I didn't understand your answer, I'm sorry. Daine rested the flat of her palm against the icy water, needing the contact even if Ghada refused to grant it. You didn't mean two names, or two faces, or that there are two different gifts under my skin, did you?

There was movement under the water, the graceful curve of silken fins, and the glint of two bright eyes looking up. No. There are two of you. Not two names, not two magics. Two Arra-Daines.

Only one of me is called Arra-Daine, Ghada. The girl rested her wet hand on her stomach, feeling the icy cold seeping through the fabric, melting some of the burning fear away. The part of her life that was still Daine seemed to always live in the moment, and not plan ahead. The idea of thinking of the future made her feel dizzy, but the moment seemed calm and patient. It waited for her to speak, just as Ghada did. She knew that admitting it, that speaking of it, would bring it solidly into Arra's world of plotting and planning and secrets. But for the moment, just for a few minutes, she cherished the secret as her own. When Ghada called to her again, she closed her eyes, almost afraid to say the words out loud. When they were finally spoken, they fell softly in her ears, like a lullaby. The other one is called a baby.

Ghada's eyes appeared above the surface, narrowing into two slits. You said that... she started, and suddenly stopped, her head tilted to one side. Even Daine could hear this sound- thin, broken screams that echoed through the cavern. The hiss of drawn steel, the shouts of soldiers. After the weeks of forced silence the noise seemed unnatural. She turned to ask Ghada if she could hear what was going on, and gasped. The creature's face was warped with fury, like it had been when she'd tried to drown her. Her eyes were no longer slits but wide orbs, gleaming a baleful yellow in the half light. She opened her mouth, teeth gleaming like the swords high above, and screamed.

The noise was cutting, piercing. It rose through the cave with the other noises, adding to the cacophony. The other noises didn't halt for a moment, but in the lower cave people began running towards the exits, hands clapped over their ears.

Ghada, what's wrong? Daine asked, knowing her normal voice wouldn't be heard. Are you alright? What's happening? Ghada...

The creature ignored her, still screaming to the sky. The glowing water around her started to bubble until it looked like the whole lake was boiling. As one, hordes of other merfolk burst through the surface and screamed with her, their elegant faces distorted. The sound was almost visible, it was so loud. Daine pressed her hands over her ears and resisted the urge to run away.

STOP IT! She screamed at them with all the power she could muster. Some of the smaller creatures hesitated for a split second, and then started screaming again. Ghada looked down, her face still possessed by fury, and with the same swift motion as before reached out and dragged the girl into the lake.

The icy water struck her with the screams of thousands. The sound was even louder here than it had been on the surface. It hit Daine's ears with a stabbing pain, and echoed behind her eyes. Half-stunned, she watched the water getting darker around her. She wondered if it was because she was being dragged deeper, or if this was what death felt like.

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END OF PART 1

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