Mica (33 page)

The temple doors opened. Shen, accompanied by a young Priest whom Mica didn’t recognize, approached, staffs in hand. Without a word both attacked Mica at once.

Though his skill didn’t fail him eventually his strength did. The young Priest used his weapon to knock Mica’s feet out from under him. He landed hard on his back and moved too slowly in blocking Shen’s blow. The end of the staff stopped short of breaking his nose.

Panting, Mica stared at the Priests. By losing the match he might have forfeited his chance of remaining on Goddess Peak.

Shen offered a hand up, which Mica accepted. He bowed from the neck in acknowledgement of both Priests.

“Mica of Ademene. It is good to finally meet you,” the youth said. “Many here speak of you with respect. I am Sahir.”

Again Mica bowed. A Priest of this man’s age must have spent his entire life training on Goddess Peak. For that Mica admired him.

“The High Priestess awaits you,” Shen said.

Mica felt a bit shaken. “Now?”

They stepped through the temple doors and into a vast room devoid of all furnishings. Several Priests sat on the floor, their eyes closed in deep meditation. In spite of his worry, peace washed over Mica like cooling waves on a midday beach. The times he’d meditated in this temple had been so soothing that he’d felt as if he could accomplish anything.

The doorway at the far end of the hall opened to a long, winding staircase. Mica sighed. His legs were just beginning to recover from the trip up the mountainside. The three ascended and walked down a narrow corridor. Chanting, drumbeats and wind music wafted from behind several closed doors. Mica smiled to himself. Not only had
he learned to perfect his fighting skills here but he had studied the ancient art of ritual dance Sun had enjoyed watching.

Sun. It seemed every path of thought led back to her. He longed for the day they would marry and raise a family together.

They stopped in front of a door at the end of the hall. Shen knocked once.

An older Priestess, her braided hair as white as her robe, greeted them. She stepped aside, allowing the three men to enter.

The High Priestess’ council room was no larger than one of the guest rooms at the palace of Ademene. No rugs covered the stone floor. No tapestries adorned the walls. A simple cot stood against one wall, a chair and bath in the center of the room. A wooden trunk sat beneath the chamber’s single, oval-shaped window large enough to brighten the entire room by the light of the sun or moon.

The Priestess sat atop the trunk. An attractive woman of late middle age, she was tall and voluptuously built beneath her red and white robes. Other than streaks of silver-gray at her temples her thick, straight hair gleamed black. Dark eyes rimmed with kohl stared at him in a manner that had always made him a bit nervous. The High Priestess looked through a person’s veneer and measured the truth in his soul.

“Shen tells me you’re cured, Mica. Words cannot express my happiness.”

“Thank you, High Priestess Naja.”

“A Knight of the Ruby Order has cured you?” Naja gazed at him with perceptive eyes.

“He knew of the treatment and another man, a Nalmite, brought the herb to make it.”

“I see.”

For several moments they stared at one another in silence.

Finally Mica said, “I came here to request your help.”

She nodded. “What do you require?”

“I need to become the man I once was. I need the strength and skill to win the Blood War against a powerful enemy.”

“You believe the Blood War will end the violence tearing our kingdom apart?”

“I believe it’s worth trying.” In spite of his anxiety, Mica tried to remain calm and collected, knowing a display of temper would hinder his chances of gaining Naja’s help.

“If I win the Blood War the fighting will end with little bloodshed.”

“And if you lose it could mean massacre for all the Kennas.”

Mica drew a long breath. “I know.”

“And you’re willing to put everyone at risk so that you can be admired?”

“I don’t want admiration. I want revenge.”

Naja smiled.

Sighing, Mica closed his eyes. He’d just lost his only chance of training on Goddess
Peak. He would need to find another way.

“Thank you for your time, High Priestess.” Mica nodded and turned for the door.

“You may train here.”

Spinning on his heel, he stared at her. “I may?”

“I’ve never known you to risk lives if you didn’t believe you could protect them.

You are right in believing that if you win less blood will be spilled. I just wanted to be certain both you and I understand all the reasons for your decision to call the Blood War.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m glad you finally returned to us, Mica.”

“So am I.”

“I pray to the Goddess you can fulfill the task you set for yourself.”

The alternative was too terrible to consider.

* * * * *

Sun gazed at Upper Kenna’s shoreline from the deck of
The Sparrow Song
. When she had left with Lock’s crew and several temple Priests nearly three months ago guards had been posted at the dock. They appeared to have doubled.

Since Mica left battles had been frequent. In spite of Lower Kenna’s attempts to take the northernmost island only a few random troops had managed to breach the emperor’s defenses. Still many lives had been lost protecting the shoreline, Shortly after Mica’s departure, a group of Priests was taken during a battle and sold into slavery. Zareb was among them. When Kado allowed several of his best warrior-Priests to track their brothers, Lock volunteered the service of
The Sparrow Song
. The emperor’s fleet was required to help defend Upper Kenna’s shoreline so Lock’s offer was accepted with gratitude. Knowing Mica would have searched for Zareb, Sun decided to join the rescue party.

The slave traders Teman had hired as mercenaries were elusive, yet after nearly two and a half months of searching they recovered almost every captive. Unfortunately three of the Priests had already been killed by violent masters. Only Zareb seemed to have completely disappeared. To everyone’s surprise they discovered him on his way back to the Kennas in the company of a female warrior from the Western Continent.

The woman had bought him at an auction with the intention of freeing him. Between the slave market and freedom Zareb and the woman Reana had fallen in love and married.

Throughout the rough travel and search for the missing Priests, Sun thought often of Mica. She missed him more than she’d ever imagined. She longed for his strong arms around her and the sound of his laughter. Even worse she had finally learned the reason for his sudden departure for the desert.
Soon after Zareb and Reana boarded
The Sparrow Song
the Messenger called her aside and disclosed Mica’s intention to initiate an ancient ritual called the Blood War.

“By telling you of the Blood War I’m betraying my emperor’s orders. Other than me and Mica only the emperor and High Priest Kado know of the coming challenge.”

“Even Mica wouldn’t tell me,” she murmured.

“It’s a solemn ritual.”

“What does it entail?”

“Only someone of military bloodline is allowed to call the Blood War. Mica comes from a long line of military leaders. His father was a general. He was a general himself.

Karlus is the same. By law one emperor’s general may challenge the general of another emperor. If both kingdoms agree the two fight to the death. The defeated kingdom is forfeited and the winning general’s emperor becomes the ruler of all. The tradition dates back thousands of years.”

“What if Mica challenges and Teman or Karlus don’t accept?”

“The people take the Blood War very seriously. An emperor who doesn’t accept appears to lack confidence in his own military and it is a sure path to an uprising of the people. As for the general he must obey his emperor.”

Sun’s belly clenched. “So one way or the other Mica is going to fight Karlus to the death?”

Though she wanted to see Karlus dead she knew the extent of his evil. The thought of Mica dying by his hand was unbearable.

“I told you, Dame Sun, because I know how deeply you and Mica care for each other. Since meeting Reana I’ve learned how powerful such emotions can be so I will tell you he’s gone to a place called Goddess Peak to train.”

“How do I get there?”

“It is a sacred place to the followers of the Goddess. By the vows I’ve taken I cannot tell you all its secrets but I will tell you where to find it.”

Sun gripped the ship’s wooden rail. For almost two weeks she’d thought only of seeing Mica again. She prayed she wasn’t too late and he hadn’t already called the Blood War. If she had just a short time with him she would know for herself if he could defeat Karlus or if she should prepare for her heart to be broken yet again.

* * * * *

Dusk approached and Sun squinted at the darkening sky. Adjusting her backpack more comfortably, she drew a cleansing breath and continued the last several steps to the mountaintop. Sweat trickled down the sides of her face and she brushed it away.

The grueling hike to the top of Goddess Peak had been a strange journey. In several places she passed men and women who either wouldn’t—or couldn’t—speak to her.

They simply offered her water from their flasks and pointed upward as if pressing her
to continue. By the robes they wore she knew they were followers of the Goddess, however they weren’t like the Priests she’d met in Ademene. They seemed almost untouchable.

Zareb had told her little about the dwellers of Goddess Peak. He simply warned that should she not reach the mountaintop by nightfall she must return to the bottom and begin again the next day. It had been a challenge but after so many years as a Dame she was accustomed to forced marches over rough terrain. She’d arrived at the base of the mountain just before noon and was about to take the final step to the top just as the sun sank in the sky.

That was a hell of a climb.

She flopped on the ground to catch her breath.

A man and a woman leapt from behind a tall boulder. Had she been a moment slower in springing to her feet they might have killed her with two sharp kicks aimed at her face and her ribs.

“I’m here in peace,” she bellowed, drawing her sword, her gaze darting from the Priest to the Priestess.

They circled her, each carrying a staff that they wielded skillfully against Sun’s sword. After several moments they seemed at an impasse. The two lowered their weapons.

“You are a skilled warrior,” the Priestess said.

The Priest asked, “Have you come to train among us?”

“No.” Sun lowered her sword though she remained wary of another attack. “I’m looking for Mica of Ademene.”

The two exchanged glances before the Priestess said, “You must be Dame Sun.”

“He mentioned me?”

The Priest smiled. “You know he must have mentioned you. I’m Sahir and this is Dayle.”

Dayle nodded to Sun. “Mica has gone to the oasis. We expect him back early tomorrow afternoon. You are welcome to wait for him.”

“Thank you.” Sun sheathed her sword. “Why did you attack me?”

“It is tradition,” explained Dayle. “Most who travel here wish to study with us to perfect their fighting arts during their service to the Goddess. To reach the top and still be able to defend yourself is the first test that helps us decide if you’re ready for our training.”

“So I passed I guess.”

“Far better than most. Our High Priestess will like to meet you I’m sure,” Sahir said.

“I’ll ask if you may join her for the evening meal.”

“After you’ve washed and rested of course,” Dayle said. “Come. I’ll prepare a guest chamber for you.”
Gazing at the beautiful stone temple in the distance, Sun followed Dayle and Sahir.

Upper Kenna and its strange but fascinating customs never ceased to surprise her. She only wished Mica was there. It had been months since they’d last seen each other. She felt giddy with anticipation—though their reunion wouldn’t be completely joyous. She brought news of the situation between Upper and Lower Kenna. Battles still raged. Two spies had been caught trying to infiltrate the palace in Ademene. The attacks from Lower Kenna hadn’t slowed and she wondered if a Blood War was called could a single victory possibly end the war. Still she’d seen that the Kennas were deeply rooted in tradition, more so than almost any other place she’d visited. Perhaps the Blood War was the only way to win. She wished someone other than Mica had the courage to fight it.

After meeting with the High Priestess, Sun was shown to a simple chamber. She took her meal in the hall with High Priestess Naja and the other followers of the Goddess. They sat on mats on the floor since no furnishings were allowed in the prayer hall. In spite of the lack of material comforts the food was plentiful and good—

flatbread, desert fruit and goat cheese.

High Priestess Naja asked many questions about the Dames and Knights.

“It’s good to see a group of empowered women,” she said. “As you must know our culture worships the Goddess.”

“Yes but there’s something I don’t understand. Mica said that for him to become a Priest he must undergo a ritual that removes an important part of him.”

“It is an old custom. In ancient times men did it to show their devotion to the Goddess.”

“Don’t the Priests show their devotion by all the good they do in her name?”

“You’re a wise woman, Dame Sun. However it’s difficult to end tradition. There are some who believe that without the ancient ritual they are missing an honor bestowed upon their forefathers. Those like you who think the ritual is cruel and unnecessary become Messengers. You’ve made Mica reconsider his decision.”

“I don’t want to interfere with him and his religion but—”

“That’s not the complete truth.”

She’d only just met the High Priestess yet she was as perceptive of Sun’s thoughts as Blaze was.

“I can’t help thinking it’s a waste for him to mutilate his body.”

“Though Mica hasn’t spoken in detail regarding your relationship I know you have changed his feelings in many ways.” Naja held up her hand before Sun could interrupt.