Chapter Eleven: Taysa Taru
Courtney wiped her brow again, swearing she was going to boil. She never realized how sheltering the forest was, until this little venture. They had been travelling for over a week and a half, and still had a long way to go yet. Courtney could not tell anyone the specifics of the journey up to a few days ago. She had fallen ill and barely lived through what Gui'Yata had told her was an allergic reaction to his blood. At least that had been his untrained assessment.
She looked through the glare to their leader, Nobaya. At least he was in the lead. He seemed to be relishing the heat, all 190 degrees of it. He stood straight in the saddle, alert to everything around him. She shook her head.
Beside her was Gui'Yata who had refused to leave her side since she became conscious. He held his mount to her shorter creatures pace, and the poor creature looked extremely pained. She must have really scared him, for his eyes never left her, not even when his mount stumbled. She had assured him several times over that she was feeling better, but it was obvious that he did not believe her.
Behind them was Endra, and bringing up the rear was Sora. Courtney glanced over her shoulder at the young stranger, who had joined their company just before her collapse. The slim creature seemed to be asleep, swaying in time to the choppy rhythm of her mount. Sora was as alert as Nobaya but was obviously not at all comfortable. Well she was glad she was not the only one.
She returned her attention to her hands, firmly clasped around the saddle-horn, remembering how really sick she still was.
Several blurry monotonous days later she looked up as they reached another patch of thick forest with trees almost as large as the city they had come from. She had not looked up for any other reason than that Gui'Yata had called a halt. She followed his gaze, which was now in the trees and sucked in a shocked breath. It was dark under the canopy where they gathered, but an ethereal green light bathed them allowing all around them to be seen. Neatly tucked into the curve of the branches was a cluster of Growths, their large rounded surfaces providing the light that they were seeing. It was the same variety that was widely used in Onona but these were pristine and untouched and that much more beautiful because of that fact.
Gui'Yata looked back seeming pleased with himself as he said, "We are where we need to be."
Courtney looked around the dining area of Taysa's common hall, or the Gather, as she preferred to call it. The place was pretty crowded a situation she thought they would never have to face starting a city on a premise totally alien to the way Onona had been run.
Gui'Yata had also been surprised at how many of Soona's residents found the lack of restrictions at Taysa appealing. The city was now four years old with a population of a little over two hundred. Soua from all over the planet had heard about the outcasts that had succeeded in eluding pursuit, and had made a home for themselves in the deep forest. No one would divulge information on where the city was located, and some of the residents had spent years just wandering through the forest trying to find the elusive paradise of Taysa.
Most of the population was younger Soua, ranging from Fausi to Taura, with different years of experience. They often came with Yimhi, supplies and weapons, as well as their trades, and expertise. Some had even brought ships of various technological advancement, allowing the residents of Taysa to continue their training, and to hunt. The demand for the ships was often more than the supply could handle. The wait for the hunts was upwards of a rotation, more if the ships were needed for transporting Saru for their raya or Fausi in need of completing their Taurana. Both cases taking several rotations in space, depending on the size of the pack taken.
A spaceport was located approximately fifty miles from the actual location of the city to prevent detection. Some Taysa ships were located on already existing ports, though they required a great deal of care to stay clear of unwanted attention. Either the use of large refractors or elaborate paint schemes camouflaged all ships from view. Thick forests, to prevent detection surrounded the spaceport on all sides. Hiding it from all but air travel.
Courtney saw so many new faces in the crowd, hoping that one of them was not an informant for the Eesa Oana, or those who followed him. Quite a few of the faces there however were very familiar, and she was thinking of the circumstances that brought each to come to Taysa, the City of Outcasts.
Nobaya stood across the hall, conversing with several Soua, most of them new to the city. Nobaya was a risk-taker, though more subtle about it than most. He appeared to be a Soua who was happy with his life, his position, and the society in which he lived. But now that Courtney knew him better, she had found that he had never been satisfied with the regulations instated on a citizen of a city like Onona, and only too happy to give it up for a chance to live the way he wanted to. That had been a surprise to all of the Soua who had thought they had known Nobaya. They never expected him to just give up a secure position, to instead start a new society with a group of Taysa Taru.
Yalsa who stood nearby looked uninterested in the yammering newcomers and was studying the comm board that displayed news garnered from the other cities.
He had never divulged why he had come here, though Courtney felt it was along the lines of some personal hurt. He had been highly regarded when she had left Onona, in high demand for the many small hunting ships in need of good astro navigators. He had soiled that reputation when he had deserted Onona and arrived here. The city had only been two years old with a population of ten individuals. Three had been Soua females, and the rest, with the exception of herself, were Soua men. At the time of Yalsa's arrival there were no drop ships, nor hunting ships of any kind. There was, therefore not much for a navigator of his stature to do. The fact did not seem to bother him. He had told them how news of Taysa was spreading, and talk was rampant. A great many of the population talked of leaving for the newfound city, but he had written most of them off as talkers only, with no intent to act on those words. The reputation of Onona's posse kept most of them in line.
The said-same posse arrived shortly after Yalsa's arrival, putting the young Taura in suspicion of giving their location to the Ot Eesan. It took some doing to get Yalsa acquitted of wrongdoing.
The "Posse" was not quite what it seemed, although its arrival brought all the population to the conclusion that they were going to die.
The reason it had taken so long for a posse to be sent, they had found, had been because the only party concerned about the deserters had been away on a tour as Eesa on a pack ship. The rest of the Ot Eesan assumed the deserters would just perish in the harsh wilderness and the summer heat.
Oana had been smug in the thought that the punishment he had concocted for the youth would be torture to both Gui'Yata and the Quona Lyanas. A Soua whom he had, had a grudge against these past hundred rotations.
Returning from the Pack hunt, and finding that his game had backfired, with the youth and the Clusu gone, Oana had been outraged. There were no traces of the two of them. Belatedly he had ordered an inquiry, and the information he gathered connected that disappearance with several others not only at Onona, but also Oosud, Hosmara, and Lesapa. Over the course of the investigation it was revealed that Quona Lyanas, of the Taya Quarta, had and withheld knowledge of Gui'Yata's intention to defect. Oana was more than happy to hear that, it gave him the ammunition he needed to humble Quona Lyanas.
The price for not turning over defectors was to be stripped of all rank and privilege. But in Oana's desire to injure the Quona more, he convinced the Ot Eesan to approve another punishment.
The Quona was instructed that he was to find this city of Taysa as its residence called it, and slaughter all the defectors he found there. If the task were not accomplished as stated, they would revert to stripping him of rank, where he would be forever training under Taura younger than him. The verdict outraged and appalled Lyanas, but he complied, knowing that rebelling outwardly would do him no good. He was watched very closely as he gathered those to be on the posse. Oana had made sure to include a group of Huada to ensure the Quona's compliance. But paid no real attention to those Quona recruited for himself.
Quarta took off two days after the verdict, headed in the general direction the defectors were said to have taken. It took them over two weeks to find the small well-hidden city, midway up a large thick stand of trees. And he silently congratulated his grandson for picking such a well-hidden spot.
Over the course of those two weeks, the Huada slowly began to disappear, only to be found dead in well concealed compartments. It put those Huada remaining into a state of constant alert, and they began to suspect everybody of suspicious behavior. But even the Huada could only stay alert so long, and when they made mistakes, they paid for them with their lives. The crew that Quona Lyanas picked had been sympathizers that he knew existed in the city, but had been too afraid for their lives to attempt desertion on their own. The Quona had gathered them together and informed them of the mission and the intention he had to defect himself. He also had full cooperation of the Taya Quarta. With that kind of power to lead them they were willing to try. They were apprehensive about taking the Huada on, and it showed when several of them were killed attempting to take their assigned man down. But he saw that the plan was paying off.
Another measure he had taken when trying to find the city, was to remain cloaked the whole journey. To prevent being tracked, and inadvertently giving away their "quarry". Tracking a refracted ship was improbable at best.
When they finally did arrive at the city it was minus all but a few Huada, who were easily subdued, as they made ready to disembark. Their intent to join rather than destroy the city's residents. It had been a nervous moment when they had seen Quarta looming over the city. Even worse when the contingency actually arrived in their treetop home.
The Quona had later said that they could not strip him of rank if he was not there for it. Or even if they did, what effect would it have on him here in Taysa?
It did not take long for the word to spread that a Quona, and a Taya ship, complete with crew had defected. Thereafter the new arrivals came in steadily.
Malice toward the new city was growing in those who saw Taysa as a threat to the Soua way of life. Recently, several squads of hunters who had trekked from Onona, and posing as new comers had attempted to destroy the city, to burn it, to assassinate its people. Many dwellings and many more citizens were lost in those raids.
The council had chosen to retaliate by sending hit squads into surrounding cities, usually Onona. Cautious ones aimed only at those responsible for the attacks on Taysa. That did not prevent those not involved in either side of the conflict from being killed, as well as those warriors on both sides of the disagreement. The attacks were escalating steadily, and if not resolved soon would result in a full-blown Soua civil war.
An emergency council meeting had been called, and rumor was spreading that Huada had been seen in the city. Courtney and Gui'Yata sat staring at the self proclaimed emissary of good will from the Ot Eesan. The Huada who stood stiffly at the other side of the room was of very high rank. The Soua looked more than uncomfortable being in the presence of those him and his brethren had sworn to bring down, for the massacre that the Quona Lyanas had orchestrated.
As the remaining council members seated themselves, the Quona rose to address them, "The Huada Magara has come to us bearing an official message of the council."
The Huada nodded stiffly as Quona seated himself again, "I am here under orders. Were I not, Lyanas, your head would be on a platter for Oana's trophy wall."
Gui'Yata stood abruptly, "Mind where you are!" he boomed, "The protection of the Ot Eesan does not extend to Taysa, we can just as easily send your head back to that prehistoric kickback!"
"I would like to see you try, SAI!" Magara hissed.
"Enough!" Quona thundered to silence them, "This is not the time for this. We are trying to avert a war here. I will not have it start in my Eesan. Magara you will keep your insults to yourself... as you say you are here on orders. This is no vendetta trip for you."
The Huada was growling in a low menacing tone, which was slow to stop. Finally he bowed in respect, and turned to address the council members.
"The Ot Eesan summons you before them, under protection to discuss solutions to the rising tensions between our... different ways of life. The four highest members are to be in attendance. The Huada are to deliver you there in one week. Should the meeting fail to solve these problems protection is extended to you until you are again free of the city." Not until they were again home, just to the outskirts. The hunt would be soon after their feet left Onona soil. All seated understood that.
The silence following the Huada's words was oppressive. And the Huada began to look offended that they were even considering the idea. He was unaccustomed to anything but immediate compliance.
The Quona looked around the room getting slight nods from all around the table. They all understood that they were hopelessly outnumbered if the Ot Eesan ordered their destruction. He looked up again at the flustering Huada, "Give us two hours to prepare, we will meet you at the east edge of the city. You are dismissed." With that he and the rest of the council rose and left the room.
Courtney looked up at Gui'Yata as they left, looking concerned. "Do you think the Ot Eesan will keep their word?"
"We can only hope so. I do not wish to walk into a trap. It would greatly hurt Taysa if the top four Eesa were killed at this meeting."
"That's what worries me."
"Well they did not say we could not arm ourselves."
"True. But how many trained Soua are you willing to take on?"
As discussed Nobaya, Courtney, Gui'Yata, and Quona Lyanas, gathered at the East edge, preparing to head back into a city that did not want them. There were ten Huada waiting for them, taking up positions fore and aft of the mounted council members. Without a word or looking back, the group headed for the distant Onona.
The trek back was tense and silent, the council spoke to each other only in sign, a system they had developed after coming together as the governing body. It kept discussion between the members, and out of unwanted hands. They arrived to throngs of onlookers, some looking upset with the Taysa Taru return. None moved against them as they expected, though. Something for which Courtney was grateful.
They were escorted to the very door of the Doana, and their guard took up protective positions on the door to prevent intrusion. The Council members stepped inside, the Doana was void of the audience that had witnessed the Bonding of Courtney and Gui'Yata. The silence was eerie, and the mood was forboding.
The only illumination came from the end of the chamber on which the Ot Eesan sat, and all the members were seated silently waiting their audience. Seats had been set up at the base of their council, an inferior position to be sure, but how could they argue, they were here only by the truce and protection given by those seated above them.
The Ot Eesan and the four members of Taysa spent the next four days, discussing possible solutions to the current situation. Many times there was a sense that they were losing rather than gaining ground. And several times negotiations broke off both sides ready to walk away. But the overall want to prevent a civil war kept them there, kept them trying to reach a solution.
Toward the end of the fifth day a compromise was reached. And rules were set that would allow the Taysa Taru to exist legally in the eyes of the Ot Eesan. They were granted their freedom to live as they choose, so long as they bound themselves to the societal rules when traveling, or visiting other cities. They could harbor no criminals, requiring them to turn over all those raiders, and rogues who attempted to find refuge with Taysa. Those already in residence were given full pardon for their desertion, which in itself was a crime on Soona. Any further action against other cities was prohibited, and would be dealt with severely.
The next day there was a citywide announcement of the policy reached in closed session. The citizens were also warned that any action taken against the city of Taysa and its residents would be dealt with harshly. There were many unhappy grumbles at the announcement. Too many were still angry for those lost to the many raids staged by the Taysa Taru. Numbers exaggerated by those in power, to fan the flames of their anger.
With the compromise finally reached, the Taysa Taru were given quarters in the city and allowed to rest before returning to their own city. The party was exhausted, and many slept for several days, before being ready to trek back to Taysa.
The hostilities continued for a little while, from those who were not willing to abide by the High Eesans decision. They dwindled off after some time, as the notion became less popular.
"Gui!" Courtney yelled as she ran full bore toward their dwelling, "Gui!"
He turned toward her as she slid to a stop in front of him. "What is it?" he asked curiously in English, the language they used almost exclusively talking to each other.
"I just came back from the Gather. A message just came from the landing field. The drop ship just arrived from Earth."
"Giaran?"
"Gui, the ship was empty, came back on autonav, Giaran's been killed!" she was on the verge of tears.
Gui'Yata closed his eyes. Giaran was one of Courtney's students. An exceptionally brilliant Soua, who had learned quickly what he had been taught. He had even been interested in being a Soyasa, in Courtney's footsteps, which had made her very proud. Everyone thought he would be the first from Courtney's class to make Taura. Now he was dead, it must have been a serious blow to Courtney to find out her prize student was killed in his Taurana.
"They are retrieving the recordings now. The rest of the Eesas are gathering. They are going to need you there." She finished, trying not to sound as distressed as she looked.
With the exception of the Quona, all of the Eesas in Taysa were less than one hundred years old, an age considered immature to be leading a whole city. Even with the High Eesans favor of the city, very few older Soua came, being set in their ways, and still distrustful of the way the Soua at Taysa lived.
Gui'Yata and several others of the first settlers had been made Eesa's and were charged with the running of the city. It was hard work for someone not familiar with politics. Courtney, Nobaya and Sora were also inducted into the Eesan.
Gui'Yata tried to be leisurely in his walk back to the Gather, as much as he wanted to hurry and find out the circumstances of the young Soua's death. The information would not be disclosed before the whole of the Eesan was in attendance.
Once the Eesa's were assembled the recordings were started. The recordings began with several routine stalk and kill procedures, with some very nice resulting trophies. But now and again they would see a recording of Giaran attempting to lose pursuit by an unknown tracker. A man for all Giaran's skill seemed to be able to detect and track his presence. The first few he was, it seemed, allowed to get away from the pursuit, as if the man was just keeping Giaran under surveillance. The encounters became more and more frequent as the hunt lengthened. Giaran was having to resort to more deadly tactics, for he could no longer lose his tail. But as the incidents went on there was more in the opposing parties, and Giaran created more carnage as he tried to escape.
There was very little said verbally, for Soua on the hunt remained silent. One of the things Giaran said before the end of the tape was disturbing, and seemed to be made just for the benefit of the audience, "These followers are dogged, able to track me wherever I go, and are in seemingly endless supply. For all that I have killed in my escapes there are more to replace them. I cannot hunt any longer for they are dangerously close. Tomorrow I will break camp and return to the drop ship, to be judged for those trophies I have already been able to gather."
There was one last section of tape. Giaran was trapped, surrounded by fifty or more men with weapons. The young Soua had mistakenly fallen asleep and been boxed. The walls behind Giaran were smooth, no hand or toeholds. He searched the crowd of clusu around him searching for the weakest point to break through. In an act of desperation, and hoping they could not detect what he was doing he removed his disa, and aimed it at one point in the crowd. He aimed his plasma cannon at another spot and the missile launcher at a third. He launched all three simultaneously, at the same time he leapt for the far edge of those soldiers gathered in front of him. The recording taped men screaming as all three weapons ripped through their ranks. But those remaining, or who were able, took aim at the leaping form of Giaran, for he grunted as the projectiles made contact. He sprawled on the ground in trying to land a sure sign that he had been hurt. Courtney knew he never missed a landing when he performed his acrobatics.
Giaran pulled himself forward, attempting several time to regain his feet, only to fall down and resume crawling. Several time he looked over his shoulder, and the Eesans saw the men converging on the down Soua.
"I will not... allow myself... to be captured..." they heard him growl into the mike, and watched stupefied while he pressed the detonation sequence into his armband.
The video did not change but Courtney listened to the men in the background shouting, "Fuck detonation... get out." Shortly thereafter the screen filled with static.
There was a heavy silence in the room. Courtney finally broke it, "That's the third death on Earth in two rotations." she said quietly, her face flushed with anger. She could name off the cities that each had happened in, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Phoenix. She had kept track of who had gone to the planet and how they had fared. The years just after her departure from Earth were relatively quiet, all hunts were successful and the hunters returned, but starting about five rotations ago that had drastically changed. Twenty percent of the warriors, who went there for their Taurana, were tracked, easily, and forced to take their life rather than being captured. Though not all the hunters lost were from Taysa the losses still burned at Courtney.
"Could we see that last part again." Courtney requested. Watching closely as the recording played, looking for details that might tell her whom they were dealing with. "Whoa, stop there", she asked and the image froze. "Enlarge quadrant 10-6."
The image grew, soon dominating the screen. It was a patch on the sleeve of one of the soldiers, and as Courtney studied it she was certain that she had seen it before. But she found that after ten years, even the memory of that experience just before leaving was now fuzzy.
"Gui', Nobaya, do you recognize this?" Gui'Yata looked quizzical.
"It is familiar, but I cannot place where I have seen it." he said.
"I do," Nobaya interjected. "It is the same as that worn by the soldiers who lay siege to Quarta." Gui'Yata nodded in agreement.
"You are right." Courtney said her face going dark, "Damn them!"
