The Firefarer

Part Six/Chapter Two: Briars and Thorns

The Ruach sisters were arguing once again ˗ yelling at each other in their strange, guttural language, punctuating their words with sharp jabs at the air or, on occasion, at each other. Muna sat with her arms wrapped around Hori, who had covered his ears with his hands. At last, unable to bear it any longer, she screamed: "Stop it!"

Carin turned bold, arrogant eyes on her, stunned into sullen silence.

"I'm sorry." Moran shook her head. "She doesn't trust it."

"Trust what?"

"Your map. She says its Pagese trickery. She says we must keep going towards the Harar, no matter what. I tried to persuade her of what we just saw."

"Is she always so stubborn?"

Moran's lips twisted upwards into a thin curl of a smile. "We had a mule before, but it ran away. She out-stubborned it."

"There's no such word as out-stubborned in Ahi."

"I know. I just made it up."

Muna rose, now giddy from lack of food, her head swimming, her vision tunnelling. "Ask her if she has good reason to doubt the map."

Moran fixed her with a cool gaze and then translated Muna's words. Immediately, Carin lapsed into another gabbled tirade.

"What is she saying?" Muna asked, frustrated.

"She asks...Carin, shut up!...She asks why you, of all people, would trust the Pagi. After Simone and... we know what the enchanter back in Warvum was capable of."

Muna gnawed on her nails. Carin could well be right. Why trust Hieronimo? Perhaps he had been as false as Artemisia, or Simone. His maps had deceived her parents after all. She thought, then of her mother, of the day she had left with a raiding party bound for the Pagi. She had kissed Muna's forehead and bid her take care of Hori while they left in search of land. Muna had never imagined that she would not be coming back ˗ Koka Hyr, famed for her courage, her skill with axe and spear. When only Erland returned, he'd seemed half the man he used to be without her.

"So maybe Hieronimo lied." Muna picked up the map and shook it in the sisters' faces. Carin backed away, staring at the parchment in disgust. "Maybe this is just more Pagese treachery. But why should I trust you? Does your King, your Golach, does he seek my brother because others do? Does he want to use him, to send him out against your enemies as my own people would do?"

Moran turned away, biting her lip. Muna's suspicions gathered pace. "Will he have Hori incinerate the Pagi with a mere stare? Look at me, Moran. Tell me the truth!"

Moran turned back, her face pale and haggard. "He offers you both refuge," she repeated, but the words rang false and hollow.

"Let me tell you about my brother, Moran." She grabbed the Ruach woman's arm, pulling her before Hori. "People see him as a living weapon, a vessel of fire. But do you know what he is?"

Moran shook her head.

"He's just a young boy, Moran. A child. His parents are dead, he has no friends, he is hunted like a frightened animal from one end of the earth to the other. All I wish is that he might find some safety, some security and grow into manhood. Is that too much to wish for?"

Carin tapped Moran on the shoulder, keen to understand Muna's words, but Moran shrugged her off. With a low growl, Carin stomped over to the rear of the cave and slumped down against the wall, cradling her head between powerful hands.

"Muna..." Moran cleared her throat. "We all do what we can to protect those we love."

"Really? It sounds as if you stood up to the Pagi when they came for your parents."