Title: Moon Light Nights
By: MoonDreams
Chapter: 15
Notes: I actually realized I never mentioned the author of the Blue Sword, Robin McKinley, thanks to all the 50 people who have told me. I actually found my own copy of the book and was able to read it and the Hero's crown over again. I've been working on this one for awhile. It's about two years old almost 3, not the chapter, but the story. Thanks to everyone who reviewed.
A group of riders were ready to meet them as the Outlander cavalry rode toward the encampment. Ruben sneered at the small group. So this was the famous Bedouins who fought like tigers to defend their home. They didn't even have guns. Soon, if he played his cards right, he'd be promoted out of this sand trap. Soon, with Beryl at his side, he'd take over the Outlanders and Bedouins alike. Right now, these simple savages were just a thorn in his side. He spurred his horse ahead with the interrupter at his side. Two riders rode from the Bedouin camp to meet them. One was dressed in red riding a dun colored horse, the other dressed in white rode a horse of silver. Both of them were armed simply with swords at their sides.
"Shelsaydim," greeted Merchek courteously as he touched his hand to his forehead and then his heart as he bowed his head. The rider in red returned the greeting. Her sash marked her as a knight of the Sol's. He glanced up at Ruben as he sneered at the woman rider.
"Tell them to hand over provisions and water for our horses and men," his commander growled. Merchek paled knowing that both riders would have every reason to cut them both down where they stood after such a request. Manners were highly prized in the desert; many men had been killed for less.
"U che alim hyeish ie mandioum sleia chie," Merchek said as he bowed even lower. The rider in red's eyes narrowed but made no move toward her sword. Merchek sighed with relief.
"Hito ri che shou so liste renia. Ise woen che sleia nioeo eieee. Hieyeah aie che neenei qeien keoiji jinn ieknoleee. Eiiol, tuyan so che ise nieo kosioshi," the rider in red answered back. Merchek's eyes widened and choked out,
"She says no." Actually, her answers were riddled with insults including that hopes that Ruben's manhood would shrivel up like a leaf in the desert sun. Merchek thanked the heavens above that his commander thought the Bedouin language too far below him to bother learning.
"Who is this female? I wish to speak to the leader of this tribe!" Ruben bellowed at his interpreter. Merchek grimaced.
"My lord, sir, this woman holds the same position as you in their army," he explained stuttering slightly. Ruben sneered at the two riders.
"I thought this was Endymion's camp! Is he such a coward that he won't face us?" he said coldly raising an eyebrow in question. The woman in silver's hand moved to her sword. Blue eyes narrowed in loathing at the both of them from above her veil. She understood them, Merchek would almost swear on it. His commander didn't seem to notice. The woman in white spoke up, her speech was slightly accented. No doubt, she was a boarder dweller as Merchek was himself, which would account for an understanding of the Outlander language. Merchek squinted in the desert sun to get a good look at her belt. His eyes widened. She wore the belt of the Sol himself.
"Captain..." Merchek started to speak only to be cut off by Ruben.
"If they refuse us supplies, then we are supposed to treat such as an act of hostility," he said coolly. Merchek reluctantly translated. Both Bedouins looked furious. The Sola spoke out matching the commander's cool tone.
"Our people hold no hostility toward the Outlanders nor their lord, to do such would be barbaric and against the codes of war, unless the Captain is not well versed in them then I suppose pardon can be considered," Merchek interpreted slowly keeping an eye on his commander just in case he decided to kill him on the spot. It wouldn't have been the first time. Ruben's eyes narrowed as he stared into a blazing pair of light blue of the white rider...unusually light for the Bedouin people... Stupid headdresses were obscuring his view of her.
Ruben grabbed hold of the Sola's headdress and ripped it off. Instead of the golden hair he had been expecting a glorious mane of silver hair cascaded around her like a waterfall. The Sola's horse reared and she unsheathed her sword. A light from... well Ruben wasn't sure where it came from blinded him momentarily.
"I am Sharai Sola!" she yelled in accented Outlander. Stupid wench knew every word he had been saying. Ruben growled and shielded his eyes.
"Attack!" he bellowed. He pulled a revolver from his jacket and pointed it straight at Sharai and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened.
Elidi's horse pranced excitedly from beneath her causing the rider to tighten her grip on her stallion. A beam of silver light shot from over the sand dune that had been hiding the group.
"Is that the signal?" Gavin asked.
"It's a good enough signal for me," Elidi said and raised her arm motioning for them to attack. Like a swarm of locusts, the group of Bedouins rained down upon the unsuspecting Outlander Cavalry from the rear. With a piercing war cry, Elidi raised her sword in the air and brought it down upon the nearest Outlander.
It was like she was in some sort of dream world. Sharai could see herself fighting against the army, could hear their yells of dismay as their guns refused to work and were forced to use their sabers. Her arm seemed to have taken a life of its own, for her sword cut and pierced any enemy within range. And just as the battle had started, it seemed to be over. Commander Ruben signaled for a retreat and the remaining Outlanders fled. But not with out a warning from their Captain on revenge for their victory. Sharai watched him go only then realizing her whole body was covered with blood, not hers, but of those she had slain. She scanned the battlefield and watched as the wounded struggle, trying to hold on for life. Vultures were already starting to circle as they listened to their dinner moan as the sand rubbed into their wounds. With that, Sharai spurred her horse towards the distance and practically fell of as she proceeded to loose the content of her stomach. She hunched over, moaning and crying. She stiffened as she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She looked up to see Elidi looking very concerned. The young woman was just as bloody as she was, but she had a rather satisfied look on her face.
"If you dare tell me this is unfitting for a warrior, I swear I shall behead you myself," Sharai stated as she rubbed away her tears with the back of the hand. Elidi's face cracked into a smile as she knelt tiredly next to her friend. She said nothing and the two women stared into the distance. The sun was starting to set turning the sky into a blaze of orange, red and blue.
"I killed my own people," Sharai said softly looking down at the sword Orion had made that she had thrown down.
"No, you saved your people, the Outlanders came picking for a fight, Nadia told me about it. They think of us savages, you know. Only three of our people have died today, if it wasn't for you, many more would have," Elidi assured her. Sharai closed her eyes and ran her fingers through her blood streaked hair. Sharai wanted nothing more then a bath to wash off the blood and then go to sleep to forget what she had witnessed, what she had done.
"I miss Endy," she confessed. He would know what to say to her. He always did. But as her heart wished for him, she pushed all thoughts of him out of her mind. He was a stubborn man, if only she could go to Robin. He would surely control Ruben and the two people would be at peace.
"He'll be here soon, and proud of you... oh there'll be no living with him, he'll be showing you off and bragging of what a fine woman he has, men like to do that you know," Elidi assured her friend causing the sola to grin at the mental picture her friend had painted.
"But now, your duty is to your people, we have funerals tonight to mourn our dead, then tomorrow will be my wedding," Elidi told her with a smile.
"It's about time you two got together," he friend teased. Elidi gave her a playful slap on the arm and helped her friend to her feet. Together they walked back to the camp and toward the grim task of tending to those who were wounded and those that had died.
Deva paced back and forth in her rooms. Lavish and rich as they were, they gave her no comfort. The fool of a captain had failed and then Deva had found herself drug in front of the Lady Mina and other women of nobility. Each wanting to know why she had made it and their precious Serenity hadn't. That's all Deva had heard for the last week, Serenity, over and over. The almost made the blonde little tart into a saint. She had distracted herself by taking Ruben as a lover, but even his charms were growing thin. Every where she was being compared to that little wench. A servant appeared at the door way. Deva raised an eyebrow in question. The maggot didn't even have enough manners to bow. Didn't he know his betters?
"Lord Robert requests your presence in his study," the servant announced before exiting. Deva grabbed a vase and hurled it against the closing door.
Robin rubbed his temples. Trouble was creeping upon his province like a plague. Beryl had been causing trouble in the courts, most of the nobility were starting to complain over her behavior. He had listened to his own wife's opinion of the red haired woman. Her answers seemed inconsistent causing Mina to wonder if she was telling the whole truth. Plus, the draught was damaging most of the crops laid by the farms in the area. Exporting food was expensive and would no doubt drain the treasury. Plus with a good chunk of his Cavalry was gone after a group of Bedouins ambushed them. Apparently, not only was Endymion going to be a thorn in his side but a woman called Sharai, Sharai the silver haired. That's what everyone was calling her. Robin opened his eyes as Lady Beryl was announced. He watched her warily as she flounced into his study. She was wearing a blood red gown today, embroidered with gold thread that must have cost a fortune. The black egg sized stone was still around her neck. Robin's eyes narrowed. The rock almost appeared to be glowing... Robin shook the absurd thought from his head.
"Lady Beryl, thank you for coming," he greeted as he stood as she came closer.
"Good day, Lord Robert," she said silkily as she took a seat across from him.
"It has been mentioned to me lately, that you may be comfortable having your own house in town," Robin said with folded hands as he leaned forward on his desk. He had gone over many ways to tell her to get out, a noble didn't simply kick out a lady. Having a house of Deva's own would smooth over some ruffled feathers in the court.
"I don't think that would be a good idea," Beryl commented coldly.
"Why not?" Robin said as he blinked in surprise. Beryl stood up, as regal as a queen. Robin stood up as well as it was polite to do so. A small smile played on her lip as she circled around the desk. Robin forced himself not to back up as she came with in inches of him.
"Are you sure that there's nothing I could do... to persuade you?" she said sultry. Robin clinched his teeth shaking his head. Her hand caressed his cheek.
"No, Lady Beryl, you must leave," he commanded taking a step back. Beryl let out a sigh of disappointment.
"Well, if you must be that way," she stated with a cold look on her face. Robin stared down at her with disdain, then her necklace caught his attention. It really was glowing.... He frowned and was about to ask about it when he felt Beryl grab a handful of his blonde hair. With her other hand she laid her hand on his cheek. Robin flinched from her touch and was about to yell out for the guards when pain started radiating from her touch. It was almost like being struck by lighting as the pain traveled down his entire body and the last thing he could remember was the glowing black stone.
Deva looked down at the body of Lord Robert. She smiled and stepped over it. "I always get my way," she told him as she exited the room. With Lord Robert out of the way, things would be much easier. The stone throbbed against her throat as it radiated with power. She laid a hand over it as if calming it down. It thirsted for life blood and soon it would have all it needed. Deva smiled as she walked down the hall towards her chambers. Lady Mina passed her not bothering to look at Deva. Dislike had been evident at the 'meeting'. Deva truly hated the wench with her blonde hair and regal bearing that evident in every thing Robert's wife did. The lady also looked like a certain other blonde hussy for Deva's liking. Deva didn't bother with the curtsey of respect but continued walking. She purposely slowed her steps down. Sure enough a scream of horror pierced through the hall. Deva smiled before letting herself into her chambers. Yes, everything was falling into place.
Music streamed through the air joined in with the ribbons of laughing and merry making. Sharai sat back as she took a sip of wine along with the other party goers as the Bedouins celebrated the marriage of Elidi and Gavin. Some looked down on the mixed marriage but after Sharai's own marriage to Endymion, no one criticized it out loud. She couldn't help but feel a heart tug as she thought about her own husband. Her bed was cold without him and her soul was lonely. Had it been so long ago that she was married herself? The happy couple were dancing in a long circle of friends and family. Nerfera's band had met up with theirs as soon as word had spread over the attack. Fortunately, many of Elidi's cousins belonged to the solana's group. Nerfera and Sharai had a long talk about what had happened with Endymion. Sharai found her new sister ready to offer any comfort needed and talk about all the stupid things Endy had done as a child. Soon, both girls had been laughing so hard that tears had streamed down their faces.
All guests ignored the paltry feast in favor of the wine and the dancing. Elidi suddenly broke from the circle and grabbed hold of Sharai's hand pulling her into the circle. Sharai tried to protest but was soon caught up in the merry making. Eldi's face radiated with joy causing her friend to smile as well. A shout caused the dance to pause, many of the dancers tripping over the person next to them as the movement ceased. A rider in the distance appeared causing Sharai's hand to move to her sword. The party goers watched the rider warily until he was identified as a Bedouin. Nerfera immediately took charge and order food and drink to be served for the messenger. His garb marked him of be longing to the southern region, Nerfera's region.
"The village of Bria and Oten have been burned to the ground," the messenger announced. A silence fell over the merry makers. Gavin put a protective arm around his new wife. "The Panka and the Outlanders have joined forces. Their commander has hair like blood and a lust for it. By him, a woman with hair like flame rode. No one was left alive," he explained looking tired. Several women started wailing. Nerfera and Sharai stood side by side dumbstruck.
"It's all her fault, they are punishing us for her!" an old woman screeched as she shook a boney finger at the young queen. Sharai didn't recognize her giving evidence that she was a part of Nerfera's band.
"Quiet, hag," a woman from Sharai's group spat. Several looked at her with shock. Berating ones elders was unheard of. The old woman shrieked with protest. The air that was once filled with music and laughter was now filled with anger and yelling as members of the different bands argued back and forth. Several of the young men looked ready to start throwing punches.
"Quiet everyone," Nerfera yelled. The chaos became immediately silent. Sharai knelt down to look at the messenger.
"There was a woman ... Lanaa there," she said. "She had a babe...," she explained. The messenger looked at her and shook his head. "She didn't make it, her husband was killed as he ran away...she died protecting her child was killed as well," he said softly. Sharai felt her heart twist in pain. Pain for Lanaa, pain for the people killed but mostly for the small baby whose life had only began just to be ended too soon. She closed her eyes. No doubt this was Ruben's way of punishing her. With a determined shake of her head, she opened her eyes to find her friends all staring at her.
"I'm going back."
To be continued...
Thanks for the reviews!
Moon Light – No the outer scouts will not be in this story, as far as the inners being scouts... we'll I haven't decided that yet
Kiko – I hope this chapter answers your question
And my personal favorite.... Keiko – who's decided to be my clock, "it's been insert # of weeks since you posted the last chapter! You better not wait a year!" Ect ect lol so she's been posting to keep me still working. So thanks!