A Warrior's Path (The Castes and the OutCastes) (41 page)

Now, she lay dying next to him, and there was nothing he could do about it.  He was helpless even as he watched her every movement, desperate to see some sign she might be able to rally.  He didn’t want to lose Jessira.  Not so soon after Brand and Keemo, and maybe even Farn.  They were so close
– just a few more days would see her safe.

Karma.  Fate.  A fickle God.  Whatever the reason, it flew in the face of goodness
for Jessira Viola Grey to die this way.

Just then, the sound of a large animal moving through the shrubs and trees came to him.  It moved without any subtlety toward their camp.

In an instant, Rukh was on his feet, sword ready and his back to the fire as he scanned the woods.  He wasn’t too weak to fight.  His
Jivatma
was woefully thin, but he had more than enough to speed his thoughts and muscles to take down any animal out there on this night.  He welcomed such a challenge; not for the killing, but just to release some pent up aggression.  He wanted to hit something, so whatever was out there was in for a beating.

His blood ran cold when he saw what stalked into his firelight.

A Shylow.

The cat was a young female with a calico pattern and a black patch of fur surrounding her right eye.  She slowly padded forward, ears erect.

What was she waiting for?  The Shylows on the Flats had charged straight in, claws out and out for blood.  This one just paced toward him, and her eyes didn’t appear to hold malice or a promise of death.  More than anything, they looked to be filled with curiosity.

She stopped
five feet from Rukh and carefully sat down, tail tucked neatly before her front paws.

*You have an unusual voice.  It is melancholy, and yet soothing at the same time.*

Rukh glanced around, not sure where the words had come from.

*I sit before you.*

Rukh’s gaze sharpened on the cat.  The Shylow?  It couldn’t be.

*And yet it is.*

“Can you speak?” Rukh asked aloud.

No response.

*Why do your kind make so many loud noises? *

“Who are you?”

Again.  No response.

*My name is Aia.*

Rukh frowned.  Was the cat speaking to him through his mind?

*Yes I am.*

Rukh rocked back.  Impossible.  He had to be hallucinating, or maybe even having some sort of lucid dream.

*
If you can hear me, pat the ground three times,*
Rukh said.

The cat patted the ground three times.

*Twice.*

The Shylow did as Rukh asked.

Rukh smiled hesitantly.  It
was
her.

*I already told you that.*
the cat said.

Rukh didn’t know what to think.  There had never been any reports of a person speaking to a Shylow.  As far as anyone knew, the great cats were
simple beasts, deadly to everyone around them.  It was best to avoid them, and trying to talk to one of them had certainly never been a recommended piece of advice.  Yet here he was doing exactly that.  It was surreal.

*
I’m going to put away my sword now.  Do you promise not to kill or eat me?*

*I came to talk.  If I wanted to
kill and eat you, you would already be dead.  My father says Humans taste awful, by the way.*

*
I need a promise.*

The Shylow seemed to sigh. 
*I promise not to kill or eat you.  My name is Aia.* 
The cat repeated politely, seemingly waiting for an expected response.

It took Rukh a few seconds to understand what she wanted. 
*
Hello, Aia.  My name is Rukh Shektan.*

*Hello, Rukh Shektan. 
Most of my kind believe Humans incapable of speech, yet you possess it.  You are the first Human with whom any Kesarin has ever spoken.*

*
Kesarin?*

*We
are the Kesarins.  You name us Shylows. *

Rukh sat down. 
*
I think I need a drink.*

Aia padded further into the camp.  *
What is wrong with your mate?*

*
She isn’t my mate.*

*She is female.  You are male.  You are alone.  And yet you are not mates?*

Right now wasn’t the best time to go over Human relationships.  *
It’s complicated. 
Rukh said. 
She’s sick.  I’m trying to get her to some help.*

*I saw you defend her from the Nobeasts. *

A vision of the battles with the Braids and Ur-Fels flashed through Rukh’s mind.

*
You saw?*

*I witnessed.*

*How long have you been following us?*

Another vision, this time of the battle with the first two Shylow on the night when Brand and Keemo had died.

*You’ve been watching for that long?  Why?*

*I was curious.  Why did the Demon Wind strike down Her Nobeast Kezin?*

*I’m thinking by Demon Wind, you mean Suwraith?*

*Yes.*

*We also call her the Mad Queen or Bringer of Sorrows.*

*So many names?*

*She’s earned every single one,*
Rukh said.
  *But what is a Kezin?*

Another flash of information.

The Kesarins were organized into glarings of forty-to-fifty, each one led by a dominant male, the Kezin, or what the Ashokans called the Slayer.  There were also many Kesarins who chose to live as solitaries, like Aia.  Most eventually rejoined their birth pack, but some never did.

*
The Kezin lead the Nobeasts.*

*
We call them the Fan Lor Kum.*
  Rukh quickly explained the organization of Suwraith’s armies and the role of the Baels.

*And these Baels betrayed their Mother?*

*Yes.*

*Then it is good they were killed.  For the Kesarin
s the greatest sin is to go against our Father and our Mother.* 
Aia blinked.
  *They were Human.*

*
What do you mean?*

*My birth father is Kezin to the Hungrove.  My birth mother is a Secudus, a lower ranking female.  Bu
t Mother and Father, our Creators, were Human.*

Was Aia talking about the First Mother and First Father?

*I see you know of whom I speak,*
she said.

*
The Demon Wind is not First Mother to the Baels.  There is only one First Mother and First Father, and Suwraith is Their Daughter.  The Baels say the Queen killed Her parents in order to become who She is now.*

*The Demon Wind slayed the First Mother and First Father?* 
Outrage tinged Aia’s thoughts.
  *Our stories tell us how after their seasons of labor, the First Mother and First Father lay down to rest.  They sleep deeply now, but one day, They shall rise up and complete the path of the Kesarins, as They promised.  But you say They are dead?  How can this be?*

Rukh explained all he knew of Suwraith
and the Night of Sorrows, and Her endless war with Humanity.

*It is good I did not slay you when you were in reach of my claws*
Aia said.  *
The Kesarins give wide berth to the Demon Wind, and we slay the Nobeasts when necessary.*

*
And why would you have killed me?*

*Some believe the
Humans have hidden the First Mother and the First Father away so they cannot complete the Kesarins.  It is why some Kesarins hate your people.*

*
But the First Mother and First Father were Human.  Why would we do such a thing?*

*Some Kesarin
s are fools and believe what is most convenient.*

*
So are many people.*

*I will have to tell my father of this matter.*

Rukh nodded feeling a sense of unreality.  This was beyond doubt the oddest conversation he could have ever imagined having: ‘talking’ to a Shylow – a Kesarin – while a ghrina, an OutCaste woman, lay next to him beside a campfire somewhere in the depths of the Wildness.

*
When the other two Kesarins attacked us, you didn’t finish us off.  You could have.*

Aia seemed to smile, or at least
it was the impression Rukh sensed from her. 
*I am…unusual.  Of all the Kesarins, only a few are born such as I: ones who can hear the voices of others.  It is said: the Kesarin who can hear all, will understand nothing.  We are thought to be dreamers and fools.*

Rukh smiled. 
*
It seems like Kesarins and Humanity have much in common.*

*Perhaps.*
Aia gently nosed Jessira. 
*But in this way we are quite different.  When one of us becomes too ill to even stand, they are left to die.  We do not care for them as you have cared for this one.* 
She blinked. 
*The wounds are sickened.*

Before Rukh could stop her, the Kesarin bent low and licked at Jessira cuts, scraping off the scabbed crust of suppuration and opening up the wounds until the blood ran clean, without a hint of pus.

Jessira moaned.

*
You’re killing her!*

Aia looked at him.  *
I am not.  This is how we clean our wounds.  It works for some cuts and illnesses, but it won’t help her deeper sickness.* 
She cocked her head as if she were listening to a sound only she could hear.  *
In her mind, she wishes you had her knowledge.  She believes you could Heal her if you did.*

Rukh grimaced. 
*
I can’t do what she can.  Believe me, I’ve tried.*

*
Jivatma
?  So this is how your kind throws fire.  We wondered.  We do not have this
Jivatma
.* 
Aia looked at him.
  *She can Heal.  You cannot.  You only lack the knowledge?*

*
And the skill.*

*I can give you her knowledge.*

*How…*

Rukh never had a chance
to finish his question.  A mind-splitting flash had Rukh on his knees.  He clutched his head.  The pain must have only lasted a few seconds, but it seemed to go on for much longer.  Minutes or hours.  It finally eased off.  Rukh closed his eyes and waited for the world to stop spinning and the pounding of his heart to settle down.

*
What did you do?*
he asked, not bothering to mask his anger.  He didn’t care if the cat took offense.  He was furious at what she had done.

*I gave you her knowledge.  You can Heal her now, if you wish.  Good luck.*

*Wait!* 
Rukh searched his thoughts, and found he
did
know how to Heal.  What had Aia done?

*I gave you her knowledge.  I’m certain I’ve already explained this to you.* 
Aia wore a quizzical expression with her head tilted to the side.

Rukh didn’t know what to say.  He was stunned, but also heartened.  He might
actually be able to save Jessira.  He walked over to stand before the Shylow.
  *Thank you.  It hurt like the unholy hells, so please don’t do it again.*

*You are welcome.
  And I won’t.* 
Aia paused.
  *My chin always itches.*

Rukh frowned, not sure what she meant by her last statement.  Surely she didn’t…maybe she did.  Hesitantly, he reached forward and scratched under Aia’s chin, rubbing harder as her eyes slitted closed and she purred contentment.

After a moment she stepped back and shook her head.
  *Utterly perfect.  Had we known how well your fingers could groom us, we would have attempted to speak with your kind long before.  A proper grooming…Father will find this most interesting.  He needs to know of this as well.* 
She rubbed her forehead against Rukh’s chest, knocking him back a step.
  *Good luck to you, Rukh Shektan.*

With that, Aia walked out of his campsite.  Rukh stared after her as she left, and he briefly wondered how his people would view him now.  He
had spoken with a Shylow and had two Talents not of his own Caste.  Perhaps one Talent might have been forgivable, but certainly not two.  Most folk would see Rukh as a walking disgrace, only a few small steps short of a ghrina.

He mentally shrugged.  Tomorrow would have to take care of itself.  He had work to do.  He tur
ned to Jessira.  Time to Heal.

First, he examined her wounds.  He frowned in surprise.  There was no pus seeping from them.  The edges of the cuts actually did appear to be somewhat cleaner, no longer quite as heaped up with inflammation.  They
still didn’t look good, but maybe Aia’s cleansing
had
helped a little.