O Saga: Part One: Book of Origins

Teodor stood on a cliff overlooking the North Sea. The city’s fortified walls were surrounded by crevasses, and a jagged precipice formed a natural bastion towering over the sea. The walls wound around the hill next to the precipice.

The crevasses on the sides were wide enough to make it difficult for any Army to use siege engines to scale. The cliffs and coastal waters were too dangerous to make it reasonable to attempt. That left the south-facing front gate the only spot to try to breach.

The front gate made you wind up the escarpment paths to the portcullis and drawbridge. The slope angle made it difficult to ram the gate by attackers. A star pattern of eight towers stood inside the defensive walls.

Rovan was studying the outer defenses and planning for the battle that would happen soon.

Teodor sat like a cone. When you entered the gate, you moved upward in the direction of a clock until you reached the city’s central part. In the center was the citadel tower. All the people and buildings were on the main level. It was a sparse city. It didn’t function as a usable city; it looked like a place people went to for refuge only.

Rovan remembered that Yachay had said his people didn’t live in Kwento. The people were hunters and farmers; only traders lived in the cities. Rovan assumed that Teodor was similar.

When Rovan and Olafur arrived at Teodor, they saw the RKA Elysium anchored in the harbor as planned. Rovan sent Olafur to meet with Captain Dantes and the crew. Olafur would send word later for them.

Rovan and his new caravan of associates were ushered directly to the Chief, Chief Kava, Malaika’s Father.

“Chief Yachay, what is this rabble you bring to me?” Chief Kava greeted them.

“We are here to warn you of the Army marching towards these walls. They come in the name of destruction, but we came here as allies,” Yachay explained.

“We are aware of this Army; we are not blind in Teodor.” Kava rebuffed.

“But you are a little arrogant.” Malaika accused her Father.

“The prodigal daughter returns. Yachay, you were foolish to trust this one. She doesn’t care about her people, only herself.” Kava accused.

“My people are the only reason I’m here.” Malaika angrily argued.

“If I may, this family quarrel will have to wait.” Yachay interrupted. “I have come to help the people of Teodor, but also to ask for safe refuge of my people. They are walking here this minute after surviving an onslaught on our lands. We have been under attack for months. The Tsar from the Southlands has been taking our sacred ancestral lands. They will come for yours.”

“You are a respected Chief, and I honor your offer of alliance. Your people are welcome to take refuge in these walls briefly. We only have so many supplies. This Army may try to starve us out.” Chief Kava warned. “Who is this Islander with you? Does he belong to the ship that anchors in our harbor?”

“I do. My name is Sir Rovan. My Esquire Apprentice is meeting with the men onboard now. We offer our aid to your people as well. We know a massive fleet from Ishvara is making its way to Teodor. We vow to do what we can.” Rovan said.

“Is this ship from the Gods?” Kava asked sarcastically.

“No,” Rovan answered, growing perturbed.

“Well, how else does one ship plan on taking on a whole fleet by itself?” Kava inquired.

“This man is a powerful channeler. He destroyed four ships on his own defending Kwento.” Yachay defended Rovan.

“He will need to be powerful.” Kava mocked.

“If I may. There are soldiers on the ship. Instead of fighting the fleet, we can send the most vulnerable people onboard our ship. They can be taken further West to Bimnet. The soldiers will stay and help us defend the city.” Rovan shared.

“Who will fight the fleet then?” Kava questioned.

“We can fight from the bastion a lot easier than by ship. Only so many ships can enter the harbor. I count five of us who can use the power to connect. One of us can fight against the ships.” Rovan suggested.

“How many people does the enemy have with the same power?” Kava said, not entirely convinced.

“In the last battle, none,” Rovan said.

“Then we may yet defeat them despite their large forces.” Kava reasoned.

———

It had been a while since Malaika had seen her Father, and she had intended to come and mend old wounds. It didn’t take long for the past to bubble up between them.

In many ways, Malaika was her Father’s daughter. She took after him in too many ways and was probably the source of their combatant relationship. When Malaika’s mother was alive, the feuds could be mended. Since her death, things have kept spiraling between Malaika and her Father.

Qamata’s lands are vast, but they are also harsh. They’ve been able to remain tribal lands through the centuries because of their harshness. The winters are brutal, and nothing grows. With nothing to eat, the herds of caribou and deer head to the mountains in the South.

The bears find caves in the hills to hibernate. The birds all flock to the Southern waters. The beavers have an underground complex that you can only access under the ice sheets. What little remains to hunt has little reward in meat.

The fortified cities in Qamata aren’t just trading posts. During the summers, the tribes will bring meat and vegetables to be dried and cured. They will fill the city stores so that they can survive the winters.

Large winter camps for the tribes to unite and pool resources are formed. When summer comes, the cycle is repeated, and the tribes spread out in small familial groups.

Some will go to farms and chase herds of buffalo like the tribes of Lwazi in the South. Others herd caribou year-round and in winter in the mountains.

The Western tribes of Dingani are known for large herds of sheep. They use the wool for winter clothing, and it is a prize trade commodity. The Dingani also plant a lot of grain for trading, usually as baked bread.

The Owethu tribe is the largest, and the one Malaika belongs to. They are known for their diverse resources. The tribe spends time in summer lake fishing, lobster and fish traps in the sea, herds of caribou and deer, large crops, and every other way these lands can be used.

As the Chief’s daughter, Malaika has always been pushed harder than others in the community. She was supposed to be the one replacing her Father. She knew they’d find another to replace him. It wasn’t as if they’d be left high and dry. That’s not how her Father saw it.

If they can’t find someone with the power to connect with the tribe, they can look to other tribes. If none can be found, the other Chiefs from the other tribes can take over until a successor can be found and trained. Her Father had already found another to prepare, though. He was still very young.

——-

Growing up, it was Malaika’s job to be perfect. She had to be the best at everything. She became the best fighter, rider, hunter, and everything else.

She had a solid connection to both the Earth’s Father and Mother. That connection told her that her fate differed from what her tribe and her Father wanted.

Like everyone else, Malaika had to pass the warrior test as she transitioned from youth to adulthood. Initiate warriors went to the mountains to use their learned skills to survive. Certain things had to be retrieved as evidence of their warriorship.

Before the test began, warriors stayed in tents for a month and had limited food and water. Deprivation allowed the warrior to enter the dreamland, where the spirits of the ancestors guided them.

When it was Malaika’s turn, a wolf pack led her in the visions. She would see them quite regularly. They warned her about the dangers of the white mountain tigers. It was a protecting spirit of the mountain. It would try to kill warriors who felt unworthy and lacked the courage. She thought it was only a vision.

Malaika went to the mountains to survive for a month. A wolf pack visited her almost daily, and they became quick friends. Malaika’s connection to the Chief’s power had allowed her to connect her mind to animals’ minds. Some animals were more accessible, though. Wolves seemed to come the most naturally to her.

After a couple of weeks, Malaika started to see tiger tracks near her camp. The wolves warned her that one had slain a deer.

The North side of the Eskander Mountains was Qamata, but the southern range led into the Realm of Hanwi. The warriors were supposed to stay away from there.

Malaika had been on a deer hunt, getting pelts for the day. A wide range of pelts were collected to pass the warrior test. She was sitting on the ledge of a rock that had a strategic advantage over a deer trail. She had a bow ready for any prey to come into view. She kept a dagger to use for dressing the kill after.

Malaika felt a weird silence come over the woods. Her senses tingled in alarm. From behind Malaika, a low, rumbling growl made Malaika feel as if all her blood had suddenly left. She gulped in terror as she knew it to be a tiger behind her.

Malaika didn’t want to move suddenly, so she slowly pulled the dagger out. Her back was to the fierce creature, and she knew the tiger wanted to pounce. For a brief second, Malaika thought about calling the wolves, but there wasn’t time.

Malaika turned with the dagger just in time to duck a giant paw. The rest of the tiger knocked her over, but she stuck the beast in the side.

She held the dagger with one hand, still stuck in the tiger. Malaika’s other hand was used to bash the tiger’s face with a rock. The beast was trying to turn to use its massive canine fangs. It was immensely powerful.

Malaika concentrated her mind to connect to her powers and summon the unnatural strength they could produce. A typical warrior would be dead by now. She was wrestling and maneuvering as best she could so the tiger couldn’t strike a fatal wound, but the claws were too sharp and quick to avoid injuries. Malaika knew she was bleeding.

A strange noise approached them, but Malaika couldn’t shift her focus from the tiger. A flash of light filled Malaika’s vision, and the tiger was gone. It had run away for the moment. Standing in front of Malaika was a tall, dark-skinned man in clothing Malaika was not familiar with.

“I am Chaska Ehawee. I’ve been tracking the cat for some time.”

“Thank you for saving me.”

“I haven’t saved you yet. You’re bleeding. I need to look at those wounds.”

Chaska had gone away for some time and returned with leaves full of tree sap. He smeared the sap all over her wounds and covered it with leaves.

“This is just a short fix. Where do you come from? We must get you to where I can properly care for you.”

“You can’t help me; you’ve already done too much. I have four more days to stay out here.” Malaika protested.

“OK, where’s your camp? Let me at least help you get to your camp.”

“No. I will walk myself.”

Chaska had followed her back to her camp. There, he was able to determine her wounds were not bad enough for stitches.

It wasn’t against the rules for warriors to get help, as many would team up for their month’s test. It was mostly just a tradition. Malaika was determined to do it her way, though.

“Thanks again, but I can tend to my wounds from here. I have to do it myself.”

“I understand. I’ll leave you to fulfill your tests. If I were to visit and check up on my patient someday, what village would I look.” Chaska tried to inquire. Malaika hesitated but then decided on better manners.

“Are you from Hanwi?”

“Yes.”

“Teodor. I’m often in Teodor.” Malaika confessed.

“Before I go, I found this,” Chaska said, handing her a tiger claw. “I just scared it away. You fought with the tiger and deserved the reward.”

After a few weeks, Malaika had passed her warrior test. She healed just fine. Chaska had kept his word and checked up on her. During this visit, Maliaka knew she was fated to be Chaska’s apprentice and would have to make a hard choice. It was the beginning of the rift between Malaika and her Father.

—-

Rovan and Olafur had been helping to move people and supplies to the Elysium. The rest of Yachay’s people had arrived, and many were immediately loaded onto the Olafur’s ship.

Yahchay and as many warriors he could find were staying to fight. Kava and his warriors; likewise. It was a great surprise and relief when riders from the West arrived at the gates.

Six people on horseback had come. Rovan thought at least two were from Nanook, a Khanate Southwest of here. He went to see who they were.

“Ipiri, you are a welcome sight.” Chief Kava greeted the new arrivals.

“Word is spreading throughout the lands of what is happening. I left my warriors to guard my people in Bimnet, but if you have people needing to escape the battle, they are welcome to head to my city.” Chief Ipiri said. She was taller than most women Rovan had known. She had long red hair and friendly green eyes.

“About that. We’re loading a ship about to set sail for your city. We’re loading it with our vulnerable. Some of Yachay’s people had just arrived. Who did you bring with you?” Kava said.

“My city will gladly take them in. I brought a couple of warriors, but these two Ijani Knights came on their own.” Ipiri said.

“I am Gaia Temen, and this is Elisapie. We are both Ijani Knights and come to help.” Said one of the strangers.

Gaia was tall, long-haired, and had a distinctively big nose. It looked like it might have broken several times. He had a long black beard and an instant charm to him. Gaia and Elisapie had mocha skin and eyes. They wore similar armor and carried the same type of curved swords.

Elisapie pushed her hood back. Rovan was a married man, so he didn’t like to acknowledge such things, but Elisapie had one of the most stunning faces Rovan had seen. He wasn’t in danger of falling in love; he cared too deeply for his family. Rovan wondered if Olafur had taken notice of her, though. But Rovan assumed everyone had.

Rovan knew enough about the Ijani Knights to know that even though Elisapie was younger, she was not Gaia’s Apprentice. The Ijani Knights trained like a military. All their Knights were conditioned as a group. They had Military ranks and were not called Masters.

“I thought the Ijani Knights only fought for the Khan of Nanook?” Rovan asked.

“Normally, we do. We assigned ourselves this mission.” Gaia said.

“So, in other words, you’re not supposed to be here?” Rovan stated.

“Some might call it treason,” Elisapie said.

“Some have,” Gaia said.

“Why risk it then?” Yachay asked.

“Because as loyal as we are to our Khan. We are more loyal to the Source of All Things. And our instincts told us to come here.” Elisapie said.

“Oddly, I’m here for similar reasons,” Rovan said.

“I hate to break off this conversation, but a massive force is descending on us soon, and we have work to finish.” Kava interrupted.

Rovan returned to help load the ships as the three chiefs went inside the city to discuss. Malaika and Chaska had ridden East to scout for Tsar Miro’s forces.

It wasn’t long after the Elysium left the harbor that Tsar Miro’s fleet arrived at the harbor. Captain Dantes and the good people of Qamata had just escaped. Everyone came inside the city walls so that they could shut the gates and watch to see what the enemy ships would do. Seventeen enemy ships had arrived, but as Rovan had predicted, they could only anchor six in position at a time. The other ships would wait in reserve.

Rovan and Olafur were inside the city with the soldiers from the Elysium. They were charged with defending the bastion facing the fleet. It was expected that Rovan would attack the ships like he did in Kwento. The Elysium’s soldiers would fire stones and arrows from the bastion to join him.

The Three Chiefs took a position in the citadel as Gaia and Elisapie were given the East tower to look after. When Malaika and Chaska returned, they’d be assigned the West tower to lead. The rest of the warriors would be divided among them.

“We haven’t been able to get back to your training,” Rovan told Olafur.

“Yes, but my second mission was to join the fight against Tsar Miro. So we accomplished half of our goals.” Olafur joked.

“A third. I still have no word on my Master and her fate.”

“Do you think she’s still alive?”

“No. It was more of a hope. I thought a clue might be revealed to me. So far, war is all that we find.”

“Do you regret coming?”

“All let you know after we survive this battle.”

“Do we have a backup plan in case we can’t repel the Tsar’s forces?”

“I’m working on it. I hope it won’t be required.” Rovan said.

“Sounds good, Master.” Olafur spoofed.

“It will have to do, Squire.” Rovan teased.

Malaika and Gaia came back quickly, shouting that the Army was here. They went inside the main gate and took their place in the defenses.

Drums and soldiers could be heard in the distance. It grew louder and louder until the first of the enemy was spotted. The pounding of the drums could be felt in your bones and echoed like a thunderclap. The people inside Teodor could only watch as soldiers piled into their ranks on the battlefield.

Horns rang out in the evening light. The enemy soldiers chanted together to rally their courage and chip away at those inside the city’s resolve.

Rovan saw Tsar Miro take his place at the back of the lines. The Tsar had brought a much larger Army than before. There were less than a hundred still in the city. The Tsar had brought thousands.