Behind the Musings – Part 2

Part Two

Fun story–this book started as a creative writing assignment for my junior year of high school. This was originally written in 1st person past-tense and was only 42 pages! As I became more confident in my writing abilities and looked for a way to bring this story into my world, I realized Are’An was SUPER boring. I started expanding it, perfecting it. A LOT of revisions happened…because of my page constraints, I didn’t describe anything or anyone (which my editor and betas were quick to point out🤣. It’s come a long way. Enjoy.

I collapsed under the foliage and remained motionless as the soldiers’ heavy footsteps thudded in my ears. One foot pinned down the edge of my skirt and another landed on my outstretched hand. I bit my lip, swallowing down the scream that threatened to tear through my lips. Once they passed me, I quickly rose, pulling back my bow, two arrows ready. The shot was easy; both arrows hit the back of the soldiers’ necks. After another darting look around, I ran towards the field.

Dying yells and high-pitched screams resonated, the faint, dull stench of death lurking in the air. The skirmish had raged for nearly a day. The Ambassador’s soldiers regrouped faster than the Inzi tribe could ever hope to defeat them. It was too much; we couldn’t fight against so many men, so many men who were so well-equipped.

A black cloud of crossbow fire dropped a line of my tribe. The untouched jumped over the injured and dead, pressing on. A sword whished over my head as I dropped to the ground, kicking out the enemy’s knees. He toppled onto me and I twisted around until I straddled him, grabbing the sides of his head and giving it a quick jerk. A clamor echoed far off as another brigade of soldiers began storming over the hill. I shielded my eyes from the hazy sun, watching their approach. Our tribe was thinning; would we be able to even defend against such a large group?

“Na-izik!”

Aira’s command to our tribe made me spin around. Her accent was Lyngarian – the language of The Ambassador – not of the Inzi. Her face twisted in thought and her eyes were fixed on the approaching soldiers. The sun’s rays reflected beams of light from their armor, giving it a menacing red glow. “Na-izik!” she called again. All warriors stopped and turned to her. “Yamiu!” Obeying the command, the Inzi quickly ceased fighting and turned to escape into the shadow of the woods. My wounds were grateful for the retreat, but I feared for Aira. Even as a dalo…a leader, had she been right to defy the chief’s order? Had she been right to make such a drastic command?

The moon shone brightly in the black sky long before I reached the night’s meeting place. Flames from the fire leapt into the sky, illuminating just the features of my fellow tribe. As I approached, the chief’s quick, stormy voice grew louder.

“Warriors?” he bellowed. I took my seat in the circle of survivors.  “We were doing so well yet you retreated! How then, will we win this war?”

The night sounds grew louder as all eyes traveled to the ground. A dirty pair of feet stopped before me, feathers around the ankles. “Are’An.” My eyes slowly traveled upwards. I could only make out the chief’s menacing silhouette before the bright flames. “You ran also. Did you not question it?”

Of course I did.

“One of my greatest warriors!” He grew angrier at my silence. “Who dared try my order? Who called yamiu?”

The fire popped, sending a shower of embers upon Indohy. “No one speaks?”

No one dared. Everyone loved the child, Aira. She had come nearly four years before to help our fight and soon surpassed many of us in heart and skill. Although she was no more than thirteen, she had been the sole reason for several of our victories.

Indohy would use me as an example. With an angry groan, he reached down and pulled me to stand before him by my hair. I cried out in pain and tried to pull away, but the strands were wrapped tightly within his fingers. Before he could repeat his question, Aira spoke up.

“Na-izik, Indohy.” Her small voice echoed in the stillness, and through the leaping flames, I could see her rise to her feet. “Na-izik. I called yamiu, Indohy.”

“You!” Indohy’s face strained with anger as he tossed me to the ground. “You are only jusr accepted into our tribe, Aira. Do not take advantage of that! You have no right to give such an order!” Aira’s blank expression didn’t change as she calmly aimed her bow at him, a sharp arrow already notched. “What is this?” Indohy’s eyes flashed fear as he shrank back.

“You are standing down, Indohy.”

The tribe jumped to their feet in surprise, everyone armed and waiting. My arrow was notched, but I hesitated to point it at the young girl. From the corner of my eye, I could see others wavering as well.

“All of your decisions have led us from bad to worse.” Aira continued, voice so stern for her age, yet so calm. “You proudly display your lack of a warfare mind. We should have never attacked the castle nor fought so close to it…we were slaughtered out there. You are a wonderful dalo in times of peace, but during times of war, you are inept. Stand down, Indohy.”

Indohy’s mouth had fallen open, but words failed him. He didn’t move, didn’t call for aid, just stared, stared as if he couldn’t believe what was happening. Aira grew impatient, and drew back her bow. At once, the tribe followed suit. Aira barely looked over her shoulder at the several arrows pointed at her. “Do I speak wrongly?” she demanded. “Shall we lose more of our brothers after him or will you follow me?”

Such a position to put us in. Even the nightly animals seemed to silence. She committed alowé…she attempted to take a tribe that Indohy lead for nearly seven years. Could we follow her? Or should we stand by Indohy and attack?

Unsure of the outcome, Indohy decided for us. With a bow, he ran off into the night. Aira’s bow didn’t lower until he was completely out of sight. “Iamo, I am nik’dalo of the Inzi. Iamo, you will follow me.”

No one disarmed. Aira dropped her bow and armed herself with a sharp blade in each hand before staring down each of us. “Will you after me?” she demanded. “Or shall we fight?” She spun the blades in her hand, taking a threatening step. Those before her stepped back, arrows still aimed. Those loyal to Indohy would now take the opportunity to defend him.

Only young Saramine stepped forward, daggers armed. The girl was dimorphous; a dragon in human form. She had trained and instructed Aira for years. Aira faced her friend and broadened her fighter stance.

There would be no need for more bloodshed. Saramine thrust her dagger high into the air. “Aki-mi! Nao ami nik amik tawa ra!” she called out jubilantly, releasing everyone’s tension.

“Aki-mi! Aki-mi! Inzi ami nik amik tawa ra!”

Our chants echoed in the night. A loud crack in the sky introduced pouring rain. The falling drops dismissed the tribe and we silently went our separate ways. It was too risky to return to our village, or have our tree morines too close to each other, so we lived spread throughout the forest. Our meeting place also changed every night.

I lay my deerskin skirt underneath a large muya leaf and tugged at the laces on my high-cut shirt. Through the steam, I could see Aira and Saramine already in the water. I pulled off my headpiece and slowly waded into the curing heat of the spring.

“Aibe, Are’An,” Aira greeted.

“Aibe,” I replied. I worked my fingers through the knot at the back of my head, until my hair fell down my back. I slowly sunk underneath the water, letting the heat sooth my muscles and clean my wounds.

“I have already many plans.” Aira rubbed the soap made by the medicine man over her neck. “Only first, we need time to restore our defenses. We will not attack as often as we used to.”

“Our losses have been great, even in today’s battle alone,” Saramine added. Her green, dragon eyes with yellow slits reflected the moonlight and shone bright in the dark evening. “With so few warriors, we shall need time to rebuild.”

I nodded and brushed the raindrops from my eyes. “What do you command? I am devoted to you.”

“You are my abiné, Are’An,” Aira said with a smile. “And one of my dearest. I know you are devoted. Return to the inn. I want everyone that lives in the castle town to return and stay there for five days’ time. I will designate our next meeting place at dawn.”

“As you command, Aira,” I agreed. I submerged again, gently wiping the soap from my body and forcing myself from the hot water and onto the muddy bank. I gathered my clothes and headed towards the tree-morine of the medicine man.

The Ambassador behind the Musings


Fun Facts

Sam didn’t exist in the original story. My editor and I would often joke “he just showed up on our doorstep, covered in blood.” No idea where he actually came from, but he easily became one of the most pivotal parts of the story.