Dhoulren awoke to the light of dawn streaming through the split of her tent. Bright and shinning, the sun on her ruined cheeks. She had not slept. Sleep could never hold any festerling. Indeed no. Instead, she had simply let her mind go blank, to feel nothing but the sense of time passing. A smile did not fit well on her dead lips but smile she did. For the first time in her being, the other conscience had left her entirely. Through the daytime it had been silenced. Been scrunched up into a minute eternity inside the back of her mind but at night, it would extend poisonous tendrils of doubt and fear in to her thoughts when she had no Silver or Geuda to distract her. At first she was powerless as it pumped sheets of icy terror through her veins, but gradually, the spasms of misery grew weaker, the thoughts of pain less biting until she rolled over and thought of nothing until the sun arose. She had won and peace at last was hers. For a while, she lay in her blankets staring intently at the cream fabric of her tent ‘til she could gain no more pleasure of lying still to sustain her idleness. With something that could only described as a sigh of pleasure, she got up.
It was still early so few people would cross her path as she made her way to the pavilion which served as Silver’s home. She liked that. Less unwanted stares. It made it easier for her bubble of joy to survive without having to contemplate the foul words brimming and busting from the minds of those who hated her, who blamed her for the evils of her kind. When there was no one else around, she could pretend she was amongst friends not with those who would gladly slip a sword inside her…
The way before her was empty of all but one small group of women. At first they looked surprised to see her and she them, but before they had walked away, the youngest woman, a girl in her mid teens raised her hand to her lips.
“Havil Dhoulren. Grettgras.”
Dhoulren inclined her head, touched by the greeting “Nii Cha tuae Sawali, Thankee.”
Sawali smiled at her answer before walking on. Her peers followed on gobsmacked apart from one older woman who smiled at Sawali and turned to incline her head in a mock bow at Dhoulren. Dhoulren returned with a curtsy before moving on. She had met Sawali the previous day as she collected water for Silver, (an act she had been surprised with for he had more than was needed. She suspected he sent her out to integrate with the other people of the army, or Kalastians as the were called). When she got there, she found she could not work the pump, no matter how hard she tried. She was far too afraid to ask anyone and would have gone home to tell Silver of her problem, had not Sawali stepped forth to help her. Sawali explained that the pumps had been set up so that they could not be used by spies or enemies. So they had been made deliberately difficult to use. The pump was made of a dull silver metal, hammered together to form a neck that curved back on itself. It reminded Dhoulren very much of a fern shoot. To get water, first the neck had to be raised. This was done by flicking several short metal switches at its base. To these Dhoulren had exclaimed surprise.
“Yes, I thought that too when I first saw it. Apparently they fell through a portal of ‘Coldfire’. A gift by the gods to help Kaa win this Blisted War.” Sawali sighed then smiled.
“Of course I don’t really believe that. It’s just a story. You would be surprised just how many facts are in fact suspicion-turn-theories by idle men who have enough money to say what ever they like. No one has time for that sort of rubbish here. Every one knows that the war will never end and why should it? With out war there is no need for Kaa and without Kaa there is no army and no where is anyone treating more with equality than here. Women here are actually treated like human beings. There’s no slaves. No sorrow…” She turned to look at Dhoulren before giving a little shriek.
“Oh Dekk forgive me! Lords above! I am sorry! How dare I talk like this is some sort of haven when here you are treated like krott by people ignorant of everything but their own Dekk-confounded prejudices for the unknown!” She was actually at the point of some distress when the pump turned violently and water surged down in a torrent of droplets. Cursing profusely, Sawali righted the fallen bucket and held it steady as it quickly filled with to the brim with clear, untainted liquid. She pushed down the pump’s neck and in an instant, the flow of water stilled.
“There.” She passed the bucket smiling again. Her eyes sparkled. It was the first time Dhoulren had looked at her properly. She had the darkest skin she had seen on a human. Beautiful, deep mahogany. With black shadowy hair, pitch eyes and an impish smile, she held a sort of exotic beauty that was startling to behold.
“Well, it was nice meeting you, Sorry for making such an ass of myself!” She had indicated to her sodden clothes, laughed, before flaunting off to change in to something a little less saturated.
Dhoulren heard angry shouts, so out of place from her mellow daydream. She was near Silver’s pavilion and that seemed to be the source of the disruption. Her pleasure shattered as she began to make out the words. Words that left a bad ring to the air.
“…Will not stand….festerling about….its not natural…there is no place here for it here! Best to throw it out before it rots any more of your precious heart!” Dhoulren’s own heart sunk further to her feet as the foul words strung together to form sentences. Another voice spoke.
“How the spirits haunt your mind you worthless maggot! Where is your pride mad dog? Wasn’t it you that said ‘All are equal no matter their brethren or where they were born. You shameless hypercritic you!” Dhoulren froze in surprise. That was Silver.
“Dekk take you! You are harbouring one of his own. Don’t let her drag you down to him! Don’t sink so deep that you can’t get free!” She did not know the other voice or why its owner hated her so. This did little to slow her rising fear. With all her remaining strength of will, she forced on her feet on what seemed a march to death.
As she rounded the last tent she could see the fight unfold. Silver, human formed, ran at the other man. Arm swinging. Farrez, she recognised him now, raised a fist of his own. Geurda was standing snarling and spitting at Farrez. Dhoulren could not believe it. They were fighting for her!
Suddenly, a woman rushed forward between the two men.
“Stop! Children! Infants! Babes in mothers’ arms! For spirits! Pray contain you selves! End this ridicule! This fighting! Call your selves men of honour when neither of you has a harness for your temper?”
Silver snarled and Farrez swore but neither of them could deny the words. Farrez oathed before speaking.
“Woman! What purpose did that serve but to slur at our prides? You! My Wife! So you accept having a murderous piece of scum beside our homes! She will kill us in our sleep! Have you a conscience and care for the many who have been lost to those creatures? Would you shame their families so?” It was then that he turned to see Dhoulren, pale and motionless, a witness to his words. For a moment he stood rigid. His eyes widened, his mouth dropped open. The others also turned.
“Krott!” groaned Silver.
Farrez’s face darkened from rage to pure fury. He seemed to want to say something but the words stuck to the anger in his mouth.
“Now Farrez. Don’t do anything you might come to regret. You are causing a scene. Please…”
That was Ejiavstae. Dhoulren recognised him at once. She could never forget him for it was he who spared her life in the face of all odds. She also recognised the similarities between him and Farrez. The same darkly tanned skin. The same thin lips and powerful cheek bones, set off by the same dark brown hair.
“Please… Let us go away from here and talk about this… As brothers…” He raised an arm as if his hand was to be shaken. Far from that, Farrez looked as if he might hit him but his face regained most of its control and the words he spoke were quiet but unforgiving.
“You and I are brothers no more. Consider me contempt at your existence.”
With that, he looked about him as the gathering crowd gasped.
Farrez oathed once more before spitting on the ground and walking off. His wife sighed. The crowd began to disperse, mumbling as they went. Until they left behind only Ejiavstae, Farrez’s wife Elanie, a hissing Geuda and Silver who looked despairing but still angry at what had just unfolded.
“Too much angerment! Such bitter words will bring no voice to an agreement. Remember you used to be friends. Don’t let this come between you.” Elanie sighed again at Silver, shuddered at Dhoulren before following her husband.
“I’d better leave it a while before talking to him again.” Said Ejiavstae. “He will come round eventually, he always does but it may be a while before I will attempt to make peace.” He looked hard at Silver who returned his gaze with a grunt. “and I suggest you do the same.”
Silver snorted angrily. “Foulast! He has brought it upon his own. From now on my only acknowledgement of him is laid in scorn!”
Geuda gave a little crooked half smile. Ejiavstae did not seem in the least taken aback by his retort.
“Come Come! Surely you know by now what a pig headed idiot my big brother can be. Don’t take it to heart. I’m sure this time tomorrow you will be sharing a jest between passing beers in the tavern. Oh don’t look like that! Roll your eyes all you want but you know I’m right! As soon as Kaa is back you will have the whole thing off your minds.”
“Some how I don’t think so…” Silver replied, but he let it be all the same. He turned around and smiled sympathetically at Dhoulren before beckoning her over. As she walked towards him, her mind was still whizzing at what she just witnessed. Silver was willing to break his friendship with Farrez just for her. She didn’t know whether to feel gratitude or terror, for this fight had unearthed another side to the Passive, gentle Silver she thought she knew.
“Don’t worry about Farrez. He is just an old fashioned sort of man. He just needs to get to know you. I’m sure things will settle down in a couple of days.”
Ejiavstae clicked his tongue and bared his broken teeth in a thin smile. “Maybe maybe... Eh listen; I’d better go and find that ‘noble steed’ of mine. If he hasn’t calmed down by now he never will.”
Geuda gagged. At first Dhoulren thought that she might actually be choking until Ejiavstae laughed.
“I’ll tell him that you did that!”
Geuda grimaced “Ugh! Sod him, filthy coward! Imperial pony! Useless cradderack!”
To explain Silver mock whispered. “She doesn’t like him very much…” Then winked an eye sparkling with merriment.
Dhoulren cocked her head questioning.
Silver smiled. “He is a little bit frightened…” He nodded at Dhoulren in a subtle gesture. Dhoulren was shocked. Frightened? Of me?
“Bah! Frightened? He’s bloody terrified! Silly filly! Epdemise will never learn!” Ejiavstae grinned then turned to look at her. As soon as he met Dhoulren’s eyes, he broke off and shuddered slightly.
“I must go. ‘Urgent’ business to attend…”
“What has he done now? Soiled himself in fright? Ah the poor babe!”
Ejiavstae grinned at Geuda.
“That’s quite possible. Any way… I will be seeing you… Gueda. Silver.” He paused “…Dhoulren.” His smile turned more into a grimace but he did not shiver as he said goodbye and his eyes held her gaze for with out faltering. Then he turned his back and walked away with a slight wave.
Silver sighed suddenly looking very weary. Dhoulren grunted.
“Don’t worry about it.” Silver said “Ejiav is a good man and Farrez… Well they both need a little time. It will work out fine.” He smiled weakly. “Come. You had better come with us. I think we have had more than enough excitement for one day…”