The Core

‘If the gates of the Desert Spear close behind the Majah, they will not open again without bloodshed.’ Inevera glanced at Chavis to see if she would dispute the reading, but the old woman only grunted in assent.

‘It is inevera,’ Chavis said. ‘Ahmann Jardir was a false Deliverer, and his armies are destined to fail. The Desert Spear is our last hope.’

‘I do not know what they taught in the Chamber of Shadows when you were young, Damaji’ting,’ Inevera said, ‘but we teach nie’dama’ting not to assume what the dice do not tell.’

‘Perhaps our armies risk failure because the Majah desert in our hour of need,’ Asome noted. ‘Slinking away to hide like khaffit as all mankind unites against Nie.’

‘No one is uniting behind you, boy,’ Aleveran said. ‘Already your army is a fraction of your father’s, eroding more each day. Would you add warring in the streets to the attrition?’

‘I will make you leader of the council of Damaji, as your father was,’ Asome said. ‘You will stand above all save the throne.’

Aleveran shook his head. ‘To the abyss with your council. I will not bow to a man who broke sacred law to murder my father in the night.’

Inevera looked to Chavis. ‘Let us consult the dice again.’

‘You have had your question in Aleveran’s blood,’ Chavis said. ‘Now Asome will surrender his arm for a question of mine.’

Asome stiffened, pulling up to his full height. ‘I am Shar’Dama Ka. You presume to ask for my blood?’

‘Your blood now may spare the blood of many of our people,’ Chavis said. ‘If you are Shar’Dama Ka, you are wise enough to see that.’

Doubt flickered across Asome’s aura. He started to look to Inevera for advice, but thought better of it. He rolled his sleeve and held out his arm as Aleveran had.

‘Everam, Creator of Heaven and Ala, Giver of Light and Life,’ Chavis shook the dice after coating them in his blood, ‘your children need guidance. Should Damaji Aleveran bow before Asome asu Ahmann am’Jardir am’Kaji?’

She threw, and again the women bent together, studying the dice. As before, one answer was stronger than the others.

‘No.’

Inevera nodded to Asome, confirming the word as Chavis spoke it, but she could see he did not trust her.

‘If you cannot stay, take your people to Everam’s Reservoir,’ Asome said. ‘Fine lands, rich with water and as green as the Bounty. I give you those lands, to claim for Everam.’

Aleveran shook his head. ‘Take the land just as the waters of the fish men thaw and they renew their assaults? I will not be your buffer against the greenlanders after they scattered your brother’s armies. Take it yourself, and leave us Everam’s Bounty.’

‘I would sooner have your head,’ Asome growled.

‘Try and take it now,’ Aleveran dared. ‘Or let us go in peace, a last bulwark against the forces of Nie.’

10 (#ulink_2e093649-1cff-537b-8f65-a49cdf7447c0)

Family Matters (#ulink_2e093649-1cff-537b-8f65-a49cdf7447c0)

334 AR

Beware, sister, Jarvah’s fingers said. I have never seen the Damajah so angry.

Ashia found her centre in the comforting weight of Kaji sleeping in his sling as the Damajah stormed into the room. With the windows covered, she glowed and crackled in Everam’s light.

‘He has my family,’ the Damajah growled.

Ashia tilted her head. Her family? Ashia and her spear sisters were Inevera’s nieces after all. The Deliverer was lost, Jayan was dead, and Asome sat the throne. Who was she referring to? ‘Apologies, Damajah, but I do not understand.’

Inevera’s eyes found hers. The Damajah’s gaze was unnerving under any circumstances, but now it burned with such intensity, Ashia wished she could look away.

‘My mother and father, Manvah and Kasaad, yet live,’ the Damajah said. ‘Until recently, they remained anonymous in the bazaar. Even the Deliverer himself did not learn of them until just before his fall.’

Ashia blinked. She and her spear sisters followed the Damajah everywhere, but even they barely knew her, it seemed.

‘Asome discovered and hostaged them,’ Ashia said.

‘Dama Baden’s bodyguard Cashiv knew of them.’ Micha jumped as the Damajah spat. ‘I should have killed him long ago.’

The Damajah shook her head. ‘This cannot stand. As soon as the sun sets, take your spear sisters to my son’s wing of the palace and find them.’

Ashia put a protective hand over Kaji at her breast. ‘I cannot take my son into Asome’s wing. Micha and Jarvah …’

The Damajah’s eyes flared, and her aura brightened until it became difficult to look at her. Ashia put up a hand, lest she be blinded.

‘They. Have. My. Mother.’ The Damajah bit the words off, each striking like a lash. ‘I have tolerated your insolence long enough, Sharum’ting Ka. You will not send your little sisters into danger alone. You will do as I command. Kaji will be safe with his grandmother in the Vault.’

Ashia slipped down to her knees, putting her hands on the floor. She bowed, touching her forehead between them. ‘Yes, Damajah.’

‘Asome gave reason to believe they were in the royal suite,’ the Damajah said. ‘No doubt he wishes to know his grandparents better. Begin your search there, and plant a hora stone in his chambers to give me an ear there.’

Ashia nodded. ‘Of course, Damajah.’

‘When you have their location, bring it to me and I will retrieve them myself.’

Ashia looked up at that, horrified. Inevera still flared bright with power, and she closed her eyes against it. ‘Damajah! You cannot expose yourself so.’

‘It is inevera,’ the Damajah said.

Ashia made her way through a series of hidden passages down into the Damajah’s underpalace, only recently cut into the bowels of the hill beneath the greenland duke’s palace.

The smooth rock walls glittered with wardlight, the symbols running along them proof against demon and mortal intrusion both. Here, the Damajah worked her deepest magics and secured her most precious treasures.

‘Nie’s black heart!’ The words echoed in the hall. ‘Is there half a mind among you? Apple juice, I said!’

One of her moods? Ashia’s fingers asked the eunuch guarding the door.

She only has one, the eunuch’s fingers replied.

Ashia sighed, finding her centre before she pushed open the door. Kajivah’s chambers were large and lavish, with servants to attend her every need. At the moment all of them were on their knees, auras ripe with fear.

‘Holy Mother,’ one of the servants said. ‘The greenland fruit is not in season. There are none to be had in all Everam’s Bounty.’

Kajivah drew breath to shout what would no doubt have been a terrible reply, but she caught sight of Ashia in the doorway and the rage dissipated with her exhale. She strode over, arms extended. ‘Give him to me.’