Hope Sundered

Keila released a lingering yawn and arched her back, stretching her limbs as far as her private alcove allowed. Easing down to her bedroll, she blew out the lone candle and covered herself with a fur-skin wrap. However, her restless mind refused her body the much-needed embrace of sleep. The fear of Forizu scheming for the kill kept her weary senses vigilant.

Her self-denial was rewarded an hour later when she heard the curtain hanging in the entrance slide open. Nearly silent footfalls approached. She heard the slow shallow breathing a moment before she felt her blanket begin to slide off.

Keila was ready. With her knife in hand, she sat up and thrust, catching a dark figure in the soft flesh of the abdomen. A man, judging by the timbre in the stifled cry of pain, staggered back, giving her the chance to get to her feet.

But her assailant was far from defeated. He rushed her, ignoring his mortal wound, and pinned her to the wall with one arm. Light from the hallway framed the taller larger man and illuminated her peril. A glimmer flashed across slender steel; she caught a glimpse of his descending dagger just in time and caught his hand with both of hers.

Keila cried out for help. She’d killed Azrahterans in combat, but at a distance with her bow. Now face to face with a new enemy, she had no leverage. The dagger inched closer to her breast.

Desperation conjured ideas of biting or kicking—anything to thwart the attack long enough for her to escape. She cried out again, calling Sekka’s name, hoping he was nearby as he always seemed to be.

Every muscle in her arms and shoulders burned in their collective effort to hold his weapon at bay, despite its steady advance. A heartbeat later the tip punctured her tunic and bit her skin, drawing a whimper from behind her clenched teeth.

And then it stopped. A powerful force yanked her attacker away from her, causing his dagger to clatter against the stone floor. Instinct propelled her hand to her wound. She felt moisture, but the laceration was much smaller than she expected.

Sounds of a violent struggle echoed off the walls. She scrambled for her candle, lighting it with trembling hands. When she finally managed to dispel the darkness, she turned to find Sekka had subdued…

Not Forizu?

The surly hunter was there, assisting Sekka bind the would-be assassin. He looked up, making eye contact with Keila. “This is why I warned you,” he said in Nokri. She understood him, but didn’t reply, still shaken and confused.

It wasn’t long before Ginica arrived with Colbi and a concerned entourage. She rushed past the tangle of bodies on the floor to embrace her daughter. “Are you alright? Did he hurt you?” Her eyes grew wide when they noticed the crimson stain on her tunic.

“It’s not deep,” Keila answered, raising a hand to stifle the flurry of concern she knew would follow.

“We’ll need to clean and dress it.”

“I’m fine, Mother. Truly.” Her expression echoed her words, doing much to alleviate Ginica’s apprehension.

Calm once more, the Nokri queen turned to address her daughter’s attacker, now on his feet and bound by Sekka and Forizu. “You break my heart, Qorio,” she said. “I never would’ve suspected you.”

Qorio didn’t blink or make a sound. He kept his chin up and his stony gaze fixed on the wall behind her, but his clenched jaw and sweaty forehead told everyone his wound was agonizing.

“I noticed him taking an interest in your daughter,” Forizu shared. “I didn’t like it.”

“You’ve been blessed with a strong instinct, my brother,” Sekka said. Keila noticed his use of the term akaí.

Ginica turned to Sekka. “You know what to do, my son.”

“No,” Forizu said and placed a firm hand on Sekka’s shoulder. “He tried to kill the daughter of our queen. For this he dies.”

Ginica’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not the Jitsa way, Forizu; you know this.”

The hunter was adamant. “Forgive me my queen, but this must be the exception. If he makes it back to the Moesa, he’ll tell them of your daughter’s presence here. You know what that’ll mean.”

Ginica’s internal conflict was plain across her face. Everyone awaited her decision in silence. She looked to Colbi and Sekka for their input. Their expressions told her Forizu wasn’t wrong, despite their own obvious misgivings.

Her shoulders slumped, surrendering to the cruel weight of reality. “Do what you must,” she said in a strained voice.

“You’re still Moesa after all,” Qorio said with a triumphant grin. Sekka and Forizu dragged him from the room.

Ginica dispersed the crowd until she was alone with Keila and Colbi. She looked tired. Keila could tell it was from more than a rude awakening in the middle of the night.

Ginica sighed, casting a gaze down the now empty corridor. “I pray daily for Yajuel to reveal any spies in our midst. He has a strange way of answering that prayer sometimes.”

“You said it’s not the Jitsa way to kill,” Keila said. “What was to be done with him?”

“Spies are branded and released close to Moesa territory. We spare their lives in the hopes of showing the Moesa we forgive them and value them as kin. The brand lets them know we take their betrayal seriously; a permanent reminder of the pain they’ve caused.”

Keila thought for a moment before asking, “Was Forizu branded?”

“Yes. When he refused Sekka’s offer to become Jitsa we had no choice. Forizu showed no pain when we seared his flesh, but the sight of Sekka weeping for him cut his heart worse than any blade could. Seeing his ‘enemy’ care that much taught him we weren’t his enemies at all. He’s been one of us ever since, and Sekka’s most trusted friend. It’s clear his loyalty remains true. You owe him your life.”

“And an apology,” Keila shook her head in disbelief. “I could’ve sworn he threatened me.”

“Do you remember exactly what he said to you?”

Keila recalled the phrase, to which Ginica chuckled. “A subtle mistranslation. What he said was, ’I’ve got you’, meaning he’d be watching out for you.”

“It seems I have much to learn. All this time I thought he hated me.”

Ginica smirked. “He often looks dour, doesn’t he? Knowing Forizu as I think I do, he probably sees you as a liability.”

Keila scowled. “I’m not that helpless! I didn’t expect my opponent to keep fighting after being stabbed. How was I supposed to know the Nokri have a higher tolerance for pain?”

“Peace, Keila, that’s not what I meant. My, you’re a fiery one! Nokri pride is certainly flowing through your veins. I’ve already told you how the Moesa feel about half-breeds. Forizu understands this thinking, and as much as it pains me to admit it, he was right about Qorio. If the Moesa find out you’re here, they’ll stop at nothing to kill you, and another war with them could cripple us in a profound way, and certainly prevent us from helping Wyndham.”

Forizu and Sekka returned moments later, both looking grim. Keila saw a profound sadness in Sekka’s eyes, but found a steely determination burning bright in Forizu’s.

“You’re safe now, my queen,” Forizu said, addressing Keila with a low bow. “Rest well. We rise early tomorrow.”

“We?” she echoed.

Forizu nodded. “You’ll be joining us. There’s much to be done.”