Maliha

Maliha was jarred awake by rough hands and a panicked voice. Nails dug into her skin as she was ripped awake by the urgent person.

“Maliha.”

Maliha’s bleary eyes speared open to the damp face of Darsan. Her blonde hair was sprawled across her shoulders and her clothes were dishevelled as if she hadn’t had the time to get ready properly.

Maliha sat up and wiped at her face slowly. She was exhausted, her body was aching from her dance just last night and her eyes were killing her as the ceremony had continued on until the early hours of the morning. She had literally just fallen asleep a few hours ago and now she was forced to not only be awake but to actually function.

“Darsan.” Maliha sighed while rubbing at her temples in exhaustion.

“You have to stop them,” the girl cried.

Her face was red and blotchy, and snot ran down her nose in an unpleasant display.

“Stop who?” Maliha huffed.

It was too early in the morning for riddles.

“Them. They are going to fight. Please Maliha, you have to talk to them.”

Darsan began yanking on Maliha’s arm, trying to pull Maliha from her bed with such urgency that her nails tore at Maliha’s arms.

Her words were incomprehensible as she sobbed and pleaded for Maliha to move.

Maliha shook of Darsan’s grip and climbed out of her pallet, shoving her thin blankets aside.

“Give me a moment.”

Maliha was beyond tired, her head was pounding her with the need for more sleep, but she could not ignore Darsan’s pleas for help. Plus, she doubted that Darsan would actually allow her to sleep.

Maliha reluctantly got ready for the day, washing her face and cleaning her teeth with a crushed mint paste. She rinsed as much of the hair growth oil out or her hair and quickly dried it with a piece of cloth before tying the much longer strands back with a thick band of leather. She quickly wiped her body with a damp cloth before flinging on some clothes and shoes.

As soon as she was ready, Darsan gripped her hand in an unbreakable hold and yanked her from the tent. The sun had barely begun rising but already Maliha could tell that something was different. There were too many people awake at this hour. There was too much noise. The boisterous activity was not normal for this time of day, especially after last night’s event.

“This way,” called Darsan.

She led Maliha through the bodies of chattering people until they reached the main fire pit. The pit had been cleaned of all logs for the fire and the earth had been smoothed down until it was all one flat surface and the fire was nothing but a distant memory.

“What is going on?” Maliha questioned.

Confusion was heavy in her mind as she tried to piece together all the clues. The area where the higher ups usually ate was levelled and a ring of people had formed as if there would be a main event in the middle.

A fight.

Darsan had said there would be a fight.

“Darsan,” Maliha mumbled. “Who is fight-”

Maliha’s mouth hung wide as a topless Ray’et stepped forward into the circle, his dark skin glimmering under the rising sun.

Dread pooled in Maliha’s stomach as his bare feet padded on the ground. His long hair was tied back in a tight bun and all of his weapons were discarded to the side.

The drums banged into the early morning air and then the crowd parted and Ray’et’s opponent stepped forward.

The crowd rippled in conversation, but their noise was drowned out by the roaring of Maliha’s heart as horror stuck her body.

“Oh goddess.” She cried, her anxiety skyrocketing.

“Maliha you have to stop them. He will hurt Ray’et.”

Maliha was glued to the spot as the tattoo of a Draganir moved along the skin of Ujarak’s back.

“Maliha.”

Maliha Cried out as the pain of Darsan’s nails digging into the wounds she had previously inflicted, jarred Maliha into movement but not as Darsan wished.

“Why do you care?”

Darsan’s throat bobbed in consternation as she looked to the pit where the two men were sizing each other up.

“Darsan.” Called Maliha, her eyes flickering to the two men and back to Darsan who was wringing her hands anxiously.

“I kissed him.” Darsan mumbled. Shame coated her skin pink and large globs of tears cascaded down her cheeks.

Maliha mutely acknowledged Darsan’s confession. Her lips pursed tightly as she tried to understand her tumultuous emotions. Where she should have felt the green bite of jealously, Maliha felt none. Nothing but pity and annoyance but not at Darsan.

She felt annoyed by these two men. She was annoyed by Ray’et for not telling her, though Maliha acknowledged that time had not been their friend.

“It’s okay Darsan.”

Maliha tried to console the sobbing girl, patting her on her pack and pulling her into a tight embrace. This situation had become a lot more complex than she had ever imagined it would be, but she couldn’t deal with Darsan’s confessions or emotions now. She had to stop these two stubborn males.

Leaving Darsan with one final pat, Maliha headed into the crowd of people. She was jostled by the boisterous crowd, people gave her dirty looks whilst others acknowledged her with curious stares.

As she broke through to the front of the crowd, a firm hand gripped her wrist and pulled her back.

“Let them fight.”

“Are you crazy?” Maliha snapped.

Abazz’ dark skin rippled as he enclosed his arms around her chest and kept her locked to his side.

“Aren’t we all crazy?” He chuckled.

Maliha tried to break his grip but he pulled her tighter into his side. His thick muscles contracting around her like a snake.

“Don’t worry Maliha, this is normal behaviour for them. They have never quite gotten along as family should,” muttered Abazz.

“Family?” Maliha choked, her mouth gaping open as she sputtered in disbelief.

“Yes, they are cousins. Their fathers were close but that caused a rift amongst between Uja and Ray. One that results in constant disagreements and fights.”

Watching the two men Maliha could see that they were quite similar in body weight and stature.

“Cousins.”

Maliha was incredulous. She was in complete denial. Ujarak and Ray’et couldn’t be cousins. They couldn’t be but looking at both males now, she could see the clear resemblance that marked them as family.

How had she missed the obvious?

Both of their noses were wide, their lips were full, and their colour was almost the same shade, barring that Ujarak was slightly darker from his travels. The texture of their hair was similar, and their angular jaws were almost identical. Though their eyes were different shapes and colours, they could almost pass as brothers. Perhaps it was Ujarak’s clean shaven face that made the resemblance obvious now where it previously had not been.

Maliha felt bile churning in her stomach at the realisation that she had likely deepened the pre-existing feud between the cousins.

“Abazz, they can’t fight... not over-”

“Not over you?”

Maliha flinched away from his steady gaze.

“They can, and they will. A challenge has been issued and now neither of them can back out.”

Their pride wouldn’t let them.

Abazz shrugged his shoulders in disinterest before he raised his free hand. A loud bang thudded into the air as he signalled the fight to start.

There was one second were they stood still and then Ray’et and Ujarak were charging into each other.

Their muscles rippled as they fought with precision. Ujarak was in the attack, his muscles clenched with each strike to Ray’et but Ray’et did not crumble like so many other men would.

He pre-empted each of Ujarak’s moves, ducking and weaving as if they were dancing. Ray’et remained on the defensive until one of Ujarak blows landed on his shoulder. Instead of tumbling back, he absorbed the blow and used it to strike at Ujarak.

“They were both trained by Kain, Ujarak’s father and later by his uncle and Ray’et’s father Urik.”

It was clear to see that both males had similar fighting styles and that they were familiar with the small nuances each man had adopted.

“Why don’t they get along?” Maliha questioned, wincing as Ray’et delivered a brutal blow to Ujarak’s chin.

Blood splattered into the air and instead of causing people to gasp in distress, the crowd cheered in delight. Their cheers egging the males on.

“Ujarak blames Urik for not interfering in his father’s discretion’s.”

“And Ray’et?”

Maliha winced as Ray’et landed another blow to Ujarak’s ribs followed by a kick to his knee, a loud crack splintering into the air.

“Ray’et agrees that his father should have acted as a voice of reason, so now, that is what Ray’et is to Ujarak. He is the opposition when no one else is.”

Maliha’s head shook in frustration and pity. These cousins were at constant with each other over decisions that they had no part in. Decisions and mistakes made by their fathers.

Maliha’s eyes clenched closed to the sight of Ujarak landing a fatal blow to Ray’et’s leg. He tumbled to the ground and the crowd roared with pleasure.

Her eyes snapped back open in time to witness Ray’et rolling to the side and narrowly missing Ujarak’s foot from stomping on his head.

“This is getting too much,” Maliha cried.

She looked to the crowd for help, but no one paid her any notice. They were in a bloodlust frenzy.

“Abazz.” She cried, trying to jerk from his arms.

Abazz tutted his teeth and pulled Maliha tighter into his embrace.

“They have just begun.”

Maliha’s eyes narrowed as both men began swishing their arms in front of them. The sand circled around their feet as energy swelled and surged in angry pulses.

A smirk spattered across Ujarak’s face as he used the energy to create a whip of fire that cascaded to the floor. A shield of purple fire rose along Ray’et’s left arm and in his right, he clasped a spear of flames.

Ray’et rocked back and forth on his feet as he waited for Ujarak to make his move.

The air undulated with a blast of energy as they clashed in the middle. Ujarak’s whip lashed against Ray’et’s arm. The fire singing his skin.

Ray’et jerked back, his feet stumbling as Ujarak advanced again. The fire-whip lashed against his arm again but instead of jerking back, he allowed the whip to drag him forwards. Ray’et used the momentum to run into a leaping jump. The head of his spear glided against Ujarak’s neck and drew blood.

Ujarak tumbled to the dirt. He clutched his neck, his whip dissolving into nothing as Ray’et straddled him with his spear raised high to make the final strike.

A clap of thunder blasted above them, the sky darkening as a bolt of lightning exploded across the sky and thwacked into Ray’et’s body.

The force flung his body high into the air, the sand flying with him as Ray’et was propelled into the earth.

Ujarak limped to a stand and then pulled the energy into his body. His whip reappearing in his hand.

He yanked it back and then flung the end towards Ray’et. The tongue wrapped around Ray’et’s neck and began choking him as Ujarak pulled Ray’et’s body towards him.

“Stop it.” Maliha screamed, tears gliding down her cheeks.

Ray’et’s skin was darkening with his struggle for breath. His eyes bulging wide as his fingers grappled around the whip.

“No more,” she sobbed.

Her cries garnered Ujarak’s attention. His brows knotting together in confusion.

That glance was all the time Ray’et needed. A spear of fire lodged into Ujarak’s shoulder blade and sent him staggering back into the ground.

Ray’et flew at him, kicking and stomping at Ujarak’s body in a fight that was no longer fair.

Maliha thrashed in Abazz’ arms but the second in command held her closely as he whispered in her ear.

“Watch this.”

Goosebumps raised along Maliha’s skin as Ujarak’s eyes shot open. Amber flecks shot from his irises as flames of lambent fire coated his whole body. Ujarak shot to his feet, the move was so fast it caught Ray’et off guard. The man staggered a few feet back and channelled the fire energy into his palms, but his fire could not match Ujarak’s.

Massive circles of fire twirled from Ujarak’s wrists. The arches of fire sliced at Ray’et’s legs and sent him to his knees.

Ujarak stepped before his cousin, his fiery stare clashing with Ray’et’s glare of defiance.

Silence descended over the crowd as they waited with halted breaths for Ujarak or Ray’et to move.

There was a crackle in the air.

A blast of pale yellow light splintered from Ujarak’s chest and struck Ray’et’s body in viscous currents that crushed the man into the dirt.

Maliha felt Abazz’ unbreakable grip loosen as soon as Ujarak’s fire and light receded back into the earth. She sprinted into the circle and collapsed by Ray’et’s side. She reached for his pulse to find that it was still strong.

Her hand shook as she placed one above his heart and the other into the earth. Her eyes clenched shut as she called the energy of the earth into Ray’et’s comatose form.

A large gasp of air tumbled from Ray’et’s lips as he snapped awake.

The moment his dark orbs met Maliha’s, her fury at both males reappeared.

“What the hell is wrong with you” she growled.

Instead of responding, Ray’et made a move to rise forcing Maliha to help him to his feet.

His weakened body staggered towards Ujarak who was surrounded by celebrating tribes people. He tried not to lean heavily on Maliha, but it was clear that he was wounded deeply. His warm blood leaking onto her skin.

“Ujarak,” he bellowed over the cheers.

“You fought well.” Ray’et outstretched his free hand in a sign of peace and respect.

Ujarak looked to Ray’et’s extended hand and then to the one that was proffered around Maliha’s shoulder for support.

“And you.” He grunted.

Ujarak’s fist bumped against his cousin’s before nodding at the arm that lay along Maliha’s shoulder.

“I won though.”

Ujarak folded his arms across his chest as his heated gaze lingered over Maliha

“I demand my price.”

It didn’t take Maliha too long to realise what Ujarak was implying. Her fury boiled over, complete anger and frustration spewed from her lips.

“You can claim your price, Ujarak but I am not it.”

The utter shock that lined his face brought Maliha pleasure. She was disappointed in both males. That they thought they could fight over who got to keep her was their biggest mistake.

“I am not a toy to be discarded and picked up when you choose. I am not something for you to fight over. I make my own choices.”

With that, she gripped Ray’et’s arm and forced him to retreat with her. She ignored Ujarak’s growl of annoyance, and instead let his frustration bolster her up.

She half dragged, half marched Ray’et back to his tent. Her hands shaking as she forced him onto a chair as she rummaged around for some herbs and medicines.

“Maliha.” Ray’et pleaded.

Maliha gritted her teeth in annoyance and began cleaning his wounds, somewhat aggressively.

She felt betrayed.

“Maliha, just look at me.”

She threw the cloth to the floor and glared down at him defiantly.

“What Ray’et?”

Her chin quivered with her emotions, but she made sure her voice did not betray her feelings.

“You were never on the table as a price to claim.”

Her chin jutted out in contempt, but he gripped her chin and forced her to look at him.

“I promise you Maliha, I would never do that.”

“Then why were you fighting over me like I was some prize to be won? I can make my own choices.”

She could expect this of Ujarak but not Ray’et. He wasn’t like that, he didn’t pick and choose when to acknowledge people’s feelings and he wasn’t the type to offer her up as a prize, but he had and Maliha felt hurt by it. Betrayed by him.

“I didn’t fight Ujarak to gain your favour or to claim dominance over your affections.”

She scoffed derisively, plucking the cloth from the floor and slamming it down on a table.

“I fought my cousin because he needed to know that you have people in this tribe who genuinely care for you.”

She could hear the truth in his words, but her heart was still hurting from the way they had treated her.

“You are a prize Maliha, not one to be won and placed on a mantle but one to be cherished. I see you for who you are, and whether you are my partner or not, I will always defend you.”

He spoke no lies and yet there was so much they still needed to discuss.

“So, you fought your cousin in my defence?”

“Yes, he wanted majority over you and challenged me. I told him that regardless of the outcome, I would continue to see you until you decided otherwise.”

A dry chuckle tumbled from Maliha’s chest. She could practically envision Ujarak’s response to Ray’et.

“What does this mean?”

She slowly made her way over to him and propped herself against his knee. His arms came around her waist as he pulled her body between his legs.

“Whatever you want it to mean.” He shrugged.

“You can be with Ujarak, you can be with me, or you can be with no one but in all of those instances, I will always be in your corner.”

Maliha liked the sound of always having Ray’et on her side but was also deeply affected by his nonchalance. Did he not care for her as more than just a friend?

She knew he lusted after her, as she did him, but did he not have true affection for her beyond friendship?

“And Darsan?” The bite of jealousy in her tone surprised them both.

Ray’et’s eyes clouded over as he tried to shelter his feelings from her, but it was clear to Maliha. Even through her jade cloud of jealousy, she could see clearly.

“Darsan...” He huffed, lips punching tightly in frustration.

“Darsan is someone I did not ever anticipate being a thought.”

Yet she was.

Maliha could blatantly see that Darsan was more than just a thought for Ray’et.

Her hand gripped his chin and pulled his lips to hers. As her mouth melted around his it became so clear to her that without even speaking, they had both made their decision. The feeling of burning lust and pleasure she had always felt in his embrace had shifted to one of finality and acceptance.

Pulling away from his soft lips, her fingers stroked along his bushy eyebrows before placing her chin along his shoulder. His arms tightened around her as he held her in a comforting hug.

“You know what, Ray’et?” Maliha mumbled into his neck.

“Some of the best gifts we can ever receive are unexpected.”

Perhaps Ray’et wouldn’t act on his indecisive feelings straight away, if ever, but it was not fair for Maliha to keep him tied to her when it was so clear they were not meant to be. Perhaps they could have belonged together, in the beginning it had seemed that way.

They belonged together until nature had forced them apart. The rainstorm had marked the end of their journey together but neither of them had known it.

Now Maliha did.

She understood that what the goddess willed no man could change, and Savuriya willed Ray’et for Darsan.

How could Maliha begrudge Darsan one of the only pleasures she may ever have in life?