Warrior's Soul (Book 3 of The Warrior Chronicles)

Chapter 48

Two dozen soldiers of the Protectorate stood guard around the large pile of bodies just outside of the camp walls. The dead had been kept vigil over through the day and in the tradition of the Water People, they would be burned with the setting of the sun.

"Protector."

Leyla flinched at the name. Protector? How did she deserve to be called that when there were dozens of innocents dead at her feet?

"Protector?" Peter said again.

Leyla turned to him soundlessly. She had not spoken since the river. What was there to say?

"The amulet of the Water chief." He handed her a large round necklace with symbols of water and peace. "Malia says it is sacred object for the Water People and that they would never let it touch the ground."

The amulet was cold in Leyla's hand as she slipped it into her pocket. The sky was changing colour, the moon growing brighter in the darkening fringes of the sky.

It was time.

Raising her hand, she signalled the soldiers to bring forth their torches. They stepped forward, faces grim. They had all shared bread and laughed with the Water people. They had all received their kindness and their trust.

Now, they reached the edge of the piled bodies and looked to Leyla for the last order. The hands of one Hayvani boy, who could not have been more than eighteen, shook so hard he almost dropped his torch.

Leyla marched to the boys' side and took the torch form his hand. It was only right that she be the one who set the fire. They were dead because of her.

Touching the flames to the kindling around the bodies, Leyla stepped back. The soldiers followed suit and soon the air filled with scent of death.

Beyond the wall, the people of the camp wept at the sight of the rising smoke and Athiri's pained growl echoed across the forest.

It took many hours for the bodies to burn to Ash. The guards changed twice in that time and bread was served to those who kept watch. Leyla refused to eat. She barely moved. It was only after Malia and several others came out to collect the ash in mud jars that Leyla stepped away from the dying fire.

The jars were brought into the inner camp after the fires were put out. Leyla followed Malia and the women to sit beside one of the three fires that had been lit, just like on Naming day. This time, however, there were no drums nor dancing. The Protectorate gathered in silence to keep vigil over the ashes of their dead friends until sunrise.

"Leyla," the Sage whispered as he sat by her side. "Kaya will not stop crying. Even Athiri's presence does not help."

She blinked at the news, wondering what he thought she could do about a child's tears? She who had let so many children perish at the hands of Bone Eaters. Bone Eaters who killed them for want of her.

"She is looking to you for guidance, Leyla," the Sage's voice was gentle. "They all are."

Following his hand, Leyla saw the children of the camp sitting beside their parents, watching her. Her gaze moved over their faces. Kaya, Tai, Malia, Waru...their eyes flitted to her and away as if they had been caught staring. Why were they looking to her? What could they want? What could she do for them, when she had done nothing for the dead?

Needing to move out of sight, Leyla rose to her feet and crossed to the large tree under which the children liked to run. It was here that she had gotten her first taste of what it felt like to play. It was here that the Water children had come into their lives.

Feeling cold, she slid her hands into her pockets and felt the amulet of the Water chief. The tribe had never let it touch the ground and neither would she.

Reaching up to a high branch of the tree, Leyla tied the necklace and watched it spin above her head. Long moments passed, then two Hayvani children came to stand beside her. Leyla looked down and saw that they were holding out straw birds in their small hands. Did they want her to hang their toys?

Tearing thin strips from her scarf, Leyla took the birds from their hands and hung them beside the amulet. The children smiled at the flying birds, then a patter of footsteps was followed by the arrival of more kids. 

Fish, horses rabbits and more; Leyla helped hang up the precious toys as the crowd under the giant tree grew. Women removed their rings, while men brought wood and bone carvings to hang. Before long the tree was full of beloved items, floating above their heads.

"Could I put this up?"

Leyla turned at Kaya's voice and found her walking towards her with Tai's help. The Sage and Athiri were only two steps behind as the girl handed Leyla the small carving of a Hayvan. It was the carving she had made for Kaya the day she woke from her coma.

Nodding, Leyla ripped another strip from her scarf and tied the little figure to the branch above Kaya's head.

"The Water kids would like this," the girl smiled, watching her Hayvan dance in the breeze. "This is their tree, the Water Tree. Now they will never be forgotten."

Tears stung at Leyla's eyes, but she held them back. No, they would not be forgotten, and she would make sure that they were avenged.

At the first light of day, the ashes of the Water people were scattered. The river that had bled only hours ago, was now speckled with the bright colours of Blom flowers. As the last remains of the Water people floated away  the tired people of the Protectorate retreated to their beds.

Despite the brightness of day, only the lookouts and a handful of guards remained awake along with Leyla. Standing at the outer wall, she watched the silent forest and waited.

Peter and Anne tried to get her to rest, but Leyla would not budge. She was thinking. Planning. And it was only when darkness descended once more that she made her decision on what had to be done.

"You came," the Sage smiled as she walked past the medical hut.

"Is Kaya alright?"

"Of course," Gabriel nodded. "You should stop worrying about her, she is well. It will just take some time for her leg to heal."

Leyla nodded. She had assumed as much, but it was good to get confirmation before she left.

"Is Athiri with her?"

"Snoring happily beside her," Gabriel said.

That was good. Once Shik was gone, the Protectorate would be a peaceful place. The Commanders would see to protecting the camp, Malia had a handle on the day to day work and the Sage would lead the people. He was a man who was trained to lead the Land of Light. Kaya, Athiri, Tai, Ummut; they would grow up well under his guidance.

Approaching her slowly, Gabriel reached for her wrist. Leyla didn't pull away, watching his brows rise and fall above the cloth covering his eyes. "You're as healthy as ever." His fingers fell from her skin, "Still, you should rest, Protector. You haven't slept in two days."

"Alright," Leyla agreed. Taking a step towards her hut, she looked up at the bright moon and stopped, "Gabriel?" 

"Yes?"

What could she say? It was not the moment to feel guilty. If Shik had his way, the Protectorate would be wiped out. "I am grateful that you are here."

The Sage was quiet for a moment. Then he took a deep breath, "I'll see you in the morning, Protector."

The fires were low across the inner camp as Leyla crossed to her hut. Just a few hours. She would sleep just for a few hours.

"Leyla."

Leyla eyes widened as the door closed behind her. Raphael. One moment he was standing beside her bed and in the next he had wrapped his strong arms around her.