The First Dance of Rapsamash

The guards left Rapsamash right in front of the closed door of the hovel. She stared at them with hatred as they disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel, leading her sister to certain death. The entire way, Arti remained silent, occasionally letting out quiet sobs. She obediently walked ahead of the guards, as if accepting her fate. Meanwhile, a storm brewed inside Raps—unbridled rage clashed with cold reasoning, and, fortunately, the latter was currently winning. Previously, fear had aided her reasoning, but over the past few days, she had felt it less and less. Just like exhaustion. Just like hunger. She didn’t tell anyone about it, but she felt it was another “rule” of her weapon, her Suiravka. At some point, the thought crept into her mind that she would have to pay a price for it eventually... but not now. Now, she would make others pay. The day was drawing near. As she peered into the dimness where the guards and Arti had disappeared, her hand brushed against the hidden magical needle concealed beneath her clothes. Alongside it, she found the stolen ingredients. Her resolve intensified. She needed to follow the plan. She had succeeded; she had almost gathered everything she needed. Now, the wise woman could create her potions and powders to give them a chance to escape. It might not have happened if not for Arti...

— Hold on, Arti. I will get you out, — Rapsamash whispered, — Hold on until nightfall, I will come!

She wanted to shout after her sister, but if she did so, mother would find out what had happened, and it would only make things worse. No, mother mustn’t know. Raps had to remain calm. What would she say? Why did she return alone? She promised mother she would protect Arti, but it turned out just the opposite... Unable to come up with a convincing lie, Rapsamash had already pushed aside the curtain when a thought struck her. Mother didn’t know she had returned yet. They often kept them late in the kitchen. Perhaps they had been forced to train the dance again. Arti would have surely been dragged into it. Raps turned around and hurried to the wise woman. Maybe she could help rescue Arti sooner. But she would still have to wait until the guards closed the tunnels for the night.

As she briskly approached Ittira’s hut, Rapsamash noticed the same cat sitting nearby. Lazily swaying its tail from side to side, it followed her with its eyes until she reached the entrance. As soon as she crossed the threshold, the old woman’s vice-like grip seized her by the shoulders. Normally, the girl would have shrieked in fright, but something had changed within her. She calmly looked the wise woman in the eyes. She released her and, with a bony finger pressed to her lips, beckoned her inside.

— Rapsi! How is your mama feeling, hm? — the old woman loudly began, playing her part, — The ointment is ready, but be careful — don’t get it in her eyes!

She gestured for Raps to play along. The girl was somewhat taken aback. Noticing her confusion, Ittira waved her hand several times in the direction of the peculiar cat. Raps was surprised but nodded.

— Mama is holding on, gran. Thank you for the ointment. Accept my gratitude.

Rapsamash began to lay out everything she had stolen on the old, crooked wooden table. With each ingredient laid out, the wise woman’s eyes sparkled more and more.

— No need, Rapsi, no need! The main thing is for her to get better! So, what do we have for our feast, hm?

— There won’t be any food for five days, gran, — Raps understood that if she were to ask for help for her sister, it had to be now, — Arti made the cook very angry and now she thrown into a cage

— How dreadful, Rapsi! What happened? For how long? Hopefully, they will release her by evening, hm?

Ittira nodded knowingly and began looking for something.

— I’m afraid we won’t see her again, gran. She made her very-very angry..

— What a nightmare, Rapsy! How so?! Oh, poor poor little Artie... How so, how so?!

Ittira feigned surprise at Raps’s news, but her concern seemed unconvincing. Does she really think this cat is some kind of spy? Maybe it’s been rubbed with catnip or it simply enjoys sitting here. Strange that it’s here now though. Finally, the wise woman pulled out a small pouch.

— Have you already told your mama, hm? Don’t let her worry. Here’s another ointment, a soothing one. Apply it carefully and in good light! — Ittira slightly opened the pouch, revealing a glowing substance inside. Raps understood that she could use it to light her way in the mines. Well, at least she had some assistance.

— What a nightmare, what a horror! Both daughters will soon leave their mother, terrible. Terrible! Do you already know when you have to dance, Rapsi, hm?

With this question, she wanted to find out how much time Raps had for preparations.

— In four or five days, gran.

— We have a celebration tomorrow, remember, hm? Will you come?

— How can I, if Arti is trapped in the cage? What is there to celebrate?

— But hope for the best, my dear. Come tomorrow. Your uncle will be there, my sons, and many others.

— Just without food...

— As if we haven’t experienced hunger before! Yes, Rapsi, it hasn’t happened in a long time, but don’t worry, we made provisions!

— Won’t the guards interfere?

— They find it disgusting to watch such entertainment, like slaves amusing themselves. Once a year, it’s allowed for us, so we gather. What is there to fear, hm?

— I’d rather stay with mama. I don’t want to leave her alone.

The celebration she referred to was the birthday of their first ruler, Lleolirian Ba Mora Ammadithra. The Taular were permitted to have brief gatherings in the silence of the tunnels once a year, to reminisce about the past and discuss the present. Such a gathering would be perfect for a more detailed discussion of their plan, but it was also dangerous— the guards would be on high alert. Rapsamash hoped that the conversations there wouldn’t be as ambiguous as her conversation with Ittira, as it would surely give her a headache.

— Well, go then, bring the ointment to your mama, and as for your sister... It’s a pity for her, the little one, but there’s nothing we can do. That’s how it is, Raps, hm?

— Yes, what can we do? It’s the cage. Unless we beg Kavir to spare her, — Raps frowned involuntarily as she mentioned the guard.

— Be careful around him, Rapsi. He may not be able to touch you anymore, but he will take it out on others if given the chance.

Ittira arranged everything Rapsamash had brought from the kitchen into piles according to a scheme known only to her. With her finger pointing at each pile, she would occasionally fix her gaze and ponder something. Apparently, those piles lacked what Raps hadn’t managed to steal. The girl shrugged.

— Well, it’s fine, Rapsi, it’s fine. We live quite well, don’t we, hm?

— I have nothing to complain about, gran. They even stopped beating me, and I live together with mama, not in the barracks.”

— That’s how Eklat treats his ‘valuable merchandise.’ Apparently, they consider you quite valuable. What do you think, hm?

As Rapsamash mentioned Eklat, she remembered the conversation in the kitchen about the arrival of a certain Commander. Would that be a hindrance for them? How could she mention it to Ittira?

— Gran, what was the capital of Eklat called?

— Oh, my dear girl, do you want to hear stories, hm? — the old woman tilted her head, understanding that the question had a deeper meaning, — It’s called Shardyn. It’s far from here, to the west, across the ridge, and then through the forests and the steppes for a long time.

— It would probably take a long time to get there.”

— And why do you think Derrinrond is called the ‘City of the Far Lands,’ hm?

— Such a journey would require a lot of supplies, right? I can imagine how much food would be needed.

— Not as much as you might think, especially if you can hunt. The most important thing is to cross the ridge. And there, be with you a retinue of hunters, a lot of prey should run through the forests, as my great-grandmother said.

— If I were some important person of Eclat, it would probably be nice to have a retinue of hunters… But I would still take a lot of supplies with me.

Now the conversation was becoming a real headache. Ittira seemed to understand what Raps had tried to convey, but it didn’t seem to cause her much concern. Either she knew something and didn’t consider it a problem, or she underestimated it, which was even more frightening... or perhaps she simply didn’t understand what Raps is talking about, which is generally terrible.

— Would you like to be such a person, Rapsi, hm?

— I... um... — Rapsamash hesitated for a moment, — Not for Eklat, no. Only for my people. Like our ancestors.

— Like our ancestors, hm? — The wise woman began rearranging the ingredients from one pile to another, — That’s good, Rapsi, that’s good.

For a moment, silence hung in the hut. The old woman listened attentively to their surroundings. After exchanging quick glances and sharp gestures, Rapsamash managed to understand that Ittira was worried about the creature sitting near her house. It has been sitting here for a long time and almost constantly, mostly leaving at night and very rarely in the daytime. It was really weird. Why is this cat showing up now?

— Gran, I’m worried about Arti. I hope they still release her, — Raps decided to break the silence, just in case, so as not to give away their “silent” conversation.

— I hope so too, my dear, I hope so. And don’t forget — don’t get the ointment into your eyes. Tell me later how your mama feels after using it, hm?

— Yes, grandma, of course. I’ll come when I get a chance.

— Well, run, Rapsi, run. Let the old woman rest her weak back and eyes.

The girl walked out of the hut, doing her best not to look at the supposed spy. But what if the old woman was right? What if this... little congener, not so congener after all? What was this, magic? Shapeshifting? How could she find out? And what should she do if it truly was a spy? Killing it would bring Eklat’s attention. Leaving it could jeopardize the plan. No, for now, she needed to act as if nothing was wrong, as if it were normal for this creature to sit here day and night, simply observing. Strange. Perhaps there were others besides this one? But for now, it wasn’t the most important concern for Rapsamash. Now she had to wait for nightfall.

The girl hoped that the guards would not look for her for any assignments, and that no one would disturb mother either. If mama gets worried, she can get even worse. Raps could barely remember the last time mother got out of bed. It seemed like it was three holidays ago when Arti was still very young. Arti... Hang in there, Arti!

Raps decided to stay hidden in her shelter, not far from the communal barracks. There, she could quietly and unnoticed wait until the guards announced “night,” without attracting anyone’s attention. The shelter was cramped, but, so to speak, well-inhabited: a hidden passage in the tunnel wall leading to a small cave. Sometimes, Rapsamash would fear that she wouldn’t be able to get out of there, and then this small cave would become her tomb, her sarcophagus, and no one would ever know that she was there, somewhere in the wall. Maybe something similar happened to the previous owner of Suiravka, the knight? Considering the nature of the weapon, Raps had no doubt that she could use it to dig or pierce her way out if necessary. But for now, she would sit here, alone, and think about what to do next.

***

Finally, the guards announced the onset of night and began extinguishing the lanters. Soon, they would close the passage to the tunnels, and then Raps, squeezing through the bars of the lattice door, would head straight to the darkest, deepest, and most dangerous level of the mines—the fourth level. Suiravka, in the form of a dagger, lay perfectly in her hand, illuminating the space of the cave with its soft blue rune light. Perhaps the wise woman had been overly cautious, giving Raps the glowing ointment, as the light from the magical blade was more than sufficient for her to see in the darkness around her. Admiring the blade and changing its forms, Rapsamash waited a little longer before emerging from her hiding place. Concealing the needle-like blade under her shirt and hoping not to encounter anyone along the way, Rapsamash, crouching, swiftly made her way to the entrance of the mines. The tunnels seemed unfamiliar, foreign, without any illumination, although she walked here every day, almost her entire life. After bumping into walls and corners a couple of times, the girl finally found the door’s grille. It was time to draw Suiravka. Now no one should notice its glow.

Crawling through the tunnels to the staircase connecting the mine levels, Raps briefly felt like a small, helpless mouse lost in the darkness, about to be devoured by a lurking predator. But for now, it was only playing with her, toying with her, raising her adrenaline so that the prey would be more delicious. The girl tightened her grip on Suiravka, now in the form of a dagger. The delusion ceased. Somewhere down there, her frightened and lost Arti awaited her, and therefore, there was no time to waste. Hopefully, she truly was waiting. According to rumors, the creatures came out precisely at night when the noise of picks and slaves in the mines subsided. But if the creatures were hungry, they could come out during the day if there was prey. Descending the creaky staircase, Rapsamash hoped that the creatures were satiated today. She hoped very much.

She was already on the third level when she heard a high-pitched scream of terror, a scream that belonged to a young girl. Arti! Raps stopped being cautious and rushed down the stairs, leaping over steps and entire spans. Several planks broke under her, but she didn’t even notice, blinded by fury. Fury, but not fear. She was ready to tear the creatures to shreds if they left even a scratch on Arti. The scream ceased, but soon it echoed again. Rapsamash was already at the bottom of the stairs, and now a heavy wooden door leading to the cage stood in her way. Right behind it, she could hear the cries of her terrified sister. Running full speed, she slammed into the door, trying to break it down, but, of course, it had no effect. What could she do against a barrier meant to restrain creatures from the tunnels? The pain from the impact cleared her mind a little. The door was secured with a padlock, and the only way to open it was to get rid of the lock.

— Hold on, Arti, I’m here! — Raps shouted with all her might.

She slipped the dagger between the lock’s shackle, changing the blade’s shape into something resembling a double-sided prong to hold it securely. The blade’s edge elongated; she needed to create a lever long enough for her strength to be sufficient to remove the lock.

— Raps! Raps! There are many of them! Help! — Arti pounded her little fists on the door.

Good, if she’s banging, it means the creatures haven’t gotten to her yet. Rapsamash pulled the improvised lever, but the lock didn’t yield. It needs to be longer! Come on, Suiravka, faster! Raps had never attempted to make the sword this long before; she even tried to pull it herself to make it elongate faster. Arti screamed again. Raps pulled once more, and the lock creaked but still didn’t give way. Damn you, break already! Longer! She could already hear the faint, sinister growling coming from behind the door. Arti stopped screaming and pounding, likely frozen in terror. There was no time left. Rapsamash let go of Suiravka’s hilt, stepped back a bit, and with a running start, she jumped with both feet onto the blade’s surface. The lock’s shackle flew off with a loud snap, releasing the hasp. As she approached the door to finally open it, Rapsamash commanded the blade to shrink.

— Arti! Arti! I’m opening the door now. Step back a bit and get ready to run! Arti, can you hear me?!

The rusty hasp yielded with difficulty as Raps leaned her weight against it. The bolt suddenly moved aside, scraping her hand. The door was finally open. Rapsamash grabbed the magically transformed weapon, now a dagger, and kicked the last barrier open with all her might. To her indescribable joy, Arti quickly crawled through the doorway. Only closing it back on the hasp remained, and this would all be over. Raps shifted her gaze from her sister to the dark passage leading into the cage, but in that instant, she saw the hideous creature rushing towards her with its gaping maw and burning ember eyes.

She didn’t have time to close the door.

In the blink of an eye, Raps found herself lying on the ground. The creature’s jaws snapped right in front of her nose, missing her by only a couple of centimeters. Something prevented the creature from sinking its teeth into its prey. Its long and snake-like tongue began to wrap around the girl’s neck. Pinned down by the creature’s body, Raps couldn’t resist.

— Arti, run! — she croaked.

Something sticky and hot was dripping onto her hands. The noose around her neck tightened even more. The creature’s open mouth emitted a foul odor, and droplets of saliva splattered onto Raps’ face, causing her to squint to prevent the filth from getting into her eyes. The creature couldn’t finish her off. But why? The grip of the tongue suddenly loosened, and the creature made a strange sound, resembling a cough, and spat out a large clot of blood. Was it injured?

Rapsamash realized that she still held the cold hilt of Suiravka in her hands. The blade had apparently pierced the creature’s abdomen before the grip of its grotesque jaws managed to end the life of the unfortunate savior. With the corner of her eye, Raps noticed how Arti, disregarding her commands, lunged at the crushing body that pinned her sister. The monster was unfazed by her attacks. But with each passing moment, its breath grew more labored, and its tongue no longer constricted Raps’ throat. Mentally commanding her magical blade to transform, she longed to disembowel the creature. But first, she needed to remove it from herself because there were others beyond the door. In a matter of seconds, the repulsive creature, pierced through, flailed helplessly in the air, trying to grab the rising runic staff with its long and clingy tongue. In vain. Collapsing onto the ground just in front of the entrance, the monster convulsed terrifyingly a few more times before quickly succumbing. Freed, Raps swiftly stood up, restoring Suiravka’s appearance to that of a dagger. Apparently, it could transform back to its “usual” form faster. Behind the door, four pairs of little red eyes stared at her. She needed to close the door. Or run. If she ran, the creatures would likely catch up. Fight? She could buy time if Arti managed to escape. But would that be enough time?

— Raps, light! We need light! They’re afraid of light! — Arti’s high-pitched voice reminded Rapsamash of the pouch with the luminescent ointment. The wise woman knew...

While the creatures were hindered by the door, Raps, extending her hand with the dagger adorned with glowing runes, reached for the pouch with her free hand. Without much hesitation, she smeared her entire palm with the ointment and began applying it to the magical blade. Hissing sounds came from behind the door. Was it working? Taking two uncertain steps closer to the door, Rapsamash now faced the obstructing creature. Distracted by it, she failed to notice a pair of tongues-like snakes swiftly lunging toward her with a wet slurping sound. She barely had time to scream and cover her head when, to her surprise, the tongues didn’t latch onto her. But they managed to drag the lifeless body lying in front of her behind the door.

— They... they want to eat their own kin? — the girl froze, holding the brightly glowing blade in front of her.

Chewing sounds came from behind the door. It needed to be over quickly. Raps took a couple of steps through the doorway, grabbed the iron ring of the door, and pulled it towards herself. With a creak, the door slowly began to close. The last thing Raps, to her horror, saw in the darkness of the cell was the gruesome and bloody feast of the underground creatures, crunching on the bones of their kin. Finally, after slamming the door shut and securing it back with the hasp, the girl struggled to contain her urge to vomit. Her clothes were soaked in blood, her right hand glowed, covered in the wise woman’s ointment, and the fur still emitted the stench of the creature’s foul breath. Her mind grew foggy. She fell to her knees, still holding the dagger in her left hand. Arti quickly rushed to her side and embraced her with all her tiny strength, smearing her flat nose against her. Raps, initially uncertain but then just as firmly, embraced her in return.

— You silly! Why did you do that?! Why did you drop those crates!?

— I didn’t want you to be punished, I... I wanted to help!

— You didn’t even know what I was doing!

— You said it was important...

They stood silently for a while, quietly sobbing. The bright yellow light from the ointment softly illuminated the tunnel and the staircase leading into it.

— Thank you for coming to for me, — Arti wiped her nose and looked at her sister.

— I promised I would... I’m sorry you ended up getting punished after all. Next time, instead of the creature, I’ll kill Kavir!

— We need to go. Mama might be worried!

— Yes, you’re right. Wait, how do you know that the creatures are afraid of light?

— They only appeared when the torch was about to fade. Before that, they didn’t come.

So, Arti was lucky that she had left the torch there. Did they take pity on her? Or was it the opposite... Raps imagined what it was like to be locked up, knowing that your life would end as soon as the light went out. Arti must have had a tough time. The sounds of the gruesome feast behind the door subsided. Raps wiped away her tears and looked around. Bloodstains, glowing ointment, fresh tracks, and a broken lock... If they were discovered, they would surely sense trouble. How could they hide Arti from the guards now? They needed to somehow conceal what had happened here. Raps began to bury the evidence with soil and rocks, hoping that the ointment would stop glowing by morning.

— Let’s go, Arti. We’ll have to think about where you can hide.

— And do I have to hide forever now? The guards may be thinking I’ve been eaten...

— No, not forever. Soon you won’t have to hide anymore. None of us will.

They ascended the creaky wooden staircase, holding hands. Arti occasionally glanced down with apprehension, wondering if the creatures had escaped from the cage and were following them. But everything was quiet.

— We’ll tell Mama everything just as it happened. I can’t think of any reason why you should be hiding, why I’m covered in blood, and why we were delayed so much...

— And she does not know what happened to me?

— No, I didn’t tell her. You know it could make her worse.

— Well, it’s a good thing I wasn’t eaten, or Mama would feel even worse.

Raps chuckled. Her clothes were all smeared with blood. It was fortunate that she had a spare shirt—old but neatly mended. The guards wouldn’t have any questions tomorrow. Except maybe about the smell... Raps hoped that no one else would venture to the fourth level in the coming days.

— And where did you get that dagger? — Arti finally decided to ask, rarely taking her eyes off Suiravka the whole time they were going up.

— Unlad and Sanlad found it in the mine. It’s... a complicated story.

— Is it magical? It can be big or small, and it glows too!

— Yes, it is. Its name is Suiravka.

— Wow, it has a name! What else can it do?

Raps was glad that Arti, even after everything they had been through, was acting like her usual annoying and curious self.

— Ittira calls it ‘the rules.’ No one else can lift it except me—it’s too heavy for everyone else. But, in general...

Raps paused. Should she tell her sister that they would be escaping in a couple of days? Moreover, they might never see each other again after Raps was taken to the Vizier...

— What? What?

— Let’s hurry home before mama gets really worried.

They continued in silence on the remaining path to the exits of the mines. Just as they were nearing the exit, Raps decided to hide Suiravka, and just in time. Right in front of the grated door leading to the residential tunnels, two green eyes were glowing — the same peculiar cat.

— Raps, look! A cat! It’s welcoming us.

— Quiet, Arti. Let’s go quickly.

Raps pulled her sister along and quickened their pace, passing by the suspicious creature. The cat silently watched them with its gaze. Trying not to make any noise, the sisters hurried until they reached the nearest junction. Raps turned the corner and abruptly stopped, giving Arti a meaningful look and putting her finger to her lips. Arti nodded silently. Raps peeked around the corner—the cat was sitting at the entrance, lazily turning its head from side to side. Perhaps they were overly concerned? Maybe it was just a stray behaving differently than usual... The cat yawned, stretched, and disappeared into the opposite end of the tunnel, leading to the communal barracks. Raps still felt that something was off. She wanted to follow the cat, but mother had been waiting for them for a long time... It wasn’t the right time—they needed to go home.

***

Mama was truly worried. Apparently, she had even tried to get out of bed. Seeing Rapsamash covered in blood, she gasped and clutched at her heart, but her daughters quickly calmed her down. They were both fine, except for the welts on Arti’s back from the lashes. The feeling of guilt pricked Raps again—she promised her sister that there would be no lashes, and yet it turned into a nightmare. But now everything was fine. For the time being. The skin on Raps’s hand, which she scraped while opening the latch, had already healed. Perhaps that, too, was one of the “rules”? After telling their mother the whole story, Arti quickly fell asleep, curled up next to her.

— Rapsi, did you tell her what’s coming?

— No, Mama, I thought she wouldn’t understand...

— Well, as you can see, she unintentionally became part of your plan.

— She needs somewhere to hide, to stay for a couple of days so the guards won’t see her.

— Are you afraid that Kavir will come and search the house?

— Yes, probably... It puts the whole plan at risk if Eklat finds out something...

— That’s why I don’t want to know anything — to avoid betraying you.

Raps held mother’s hand. Just a few more days, and they might never see each other again.

— Mama... — Raps hesitated, tears welling up in her eyes.

— Yes, Rapsi?

— When I’m taken away, when we start implementing the plan...

— What is it?

— Most likely, I’ll die.

A shadow passed over mother’s face. She looked at her daughter with a gaze filled with sadness and sorrow, but there was also a hint of reproach. Raps didn’t try to hide her tears. If everything went according to plan, these would be some of her last days with mother. And with Arti. And in this world, altogether.

— May Kreneya protect you from such a fate, Rapsi! Did you... did you decide this yourself?

— It’s part of the plan. I... I will have to kill the Vizier to draw the guards to the palace, so that everyone else could escape, — Raps spoke with determination and resignation, — I won’t have a chance to escape from the palace myself.

— Why you? Why can’t someone else do it? Someone more... prepared, experienced?

— No one else can get close to him like I can. And I have a special weapon. While we were in the tunnels, Uncle Sangar taught me a little... I’m not afraid for myself, mama. I’m just afraid that I won’t be able to distract them.

— Rapsi, my daughter... you break and heal my heart at the same time. I couldn’t have dreamed of having a daughter who would be willing to give her life for her people, but at the same time, I don’t want... I can’t let you sacrifice your life. I don’t want to hear that you are so willing to die.

— It won’t be in vain, Mama. It’s so that others can live freely. So that you and Arti can see the sun again.

Mother embraced her with all her fading might. Rapsamash responded.

— Isn’t there any other way? Do you really have to sacrifice yourself?

— That was long ago when we accepted that I would become a concubine... So let me, at least for a few moments before my death, be free. And let everyone else have a chance to escape from here.

— I... it tears my soul apart, Rapsi. That you’ve already decided your fate... It’s not right. If you go there, you won’t go to die, no...

Mother gently pushed her away and looked directly into her tear-filled eyes. She was crying too.

— You will go there to bring freedom and the sun back to everyone. To put an end to this once and for all. You’re not going there to die, but to reclaim what was stolen. And you will come back, be sure of that, you will come back! I will pray to Kreneya, Vaus, and all the possible and impossible gods for it! Don’t even think that your life will end there!

Mother coughed. Arti mumbled something incoherent in her sleep. Not wanting to wake her, mother spoke even softer.

— Fight until the end, Rapsi, fight! Not only for their lives but also for your own. Know, my daughter, that just as you’re willing to give your life for the freedom of others, others will be willing to give their lives for your freedom too. Together, we always stood under the sun together, even when it was covered by dust and clouds. You won’t die, Rapsi. You will be the one who brings freedom, not only to our people but to all those oppressed by Eklat. Just fight, fight, my daughter! Promise me. Do you promise?”

— I will fight, Mama.