Priestess

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

From atop his horse, Coen addressed the gathering of village women, “It has been proposed that those unable to fight flee. The men will fight back those who break through. If you’re willing, the women will be archers atop the wall. I need your decision. We haven’t much time.”

Some of the women clutched infants to their chests, as if imagining the Kanovians and their Hebocks already over the wall. Small children clung to their mothers. Older ones tried desperately to swallow back tears that came anyway. “Why do you ask this?” one woman demanded, and Ara saw her fear reflected a hundred times over in the eyes of the others.

“They greatly outnumber us. We need the wall to hold. If it doesn’t, at least we can delay them,” Coen answered.

Ara felt his unsaid words hanging heavily in the air. So the children have a chance to escape.

“What should we do, Ara,” the tanner’s wife asked.

Ara felt all their eyes turn on her. She hadn’t expected any of them to ask her. She swallowed. “It’s your decision. I can’t make it for you.”

Myrel came forward first. Cashelle joined her, and soon a good many of the women were lined up next to Coen. All that remained were mothers with very young children or obviously pregnant, withered elders, and those too maimed to fight.

Coen turned to Myrel. “I know a soldier when I see one,” he proceeded carefully, “and that’s why I need you to lead the others to safety.”

Myrel sagged in disappointment, but she forced her herself to straighten. “I will.”

Lodan entered Ara’s mind. “Send them to Benin.”

“Benin?” she asked.

“The one watching over your mother.”

It had never even occurred to Ara that the bear might have a name. “Where?”

Lodan paused before relaying the picture of a canyon in her mind. “He says it is rock-strewn there. The Kanovians will not be able to follow their tracks to the cave. He will do his best to safeguard them.”

There wasn’t time to ponder trivial matters, like the oddity of a bear safeguarding anyone. Though she couldn’t believe that she was trusting Benin, Ara relented. Lodan told her how to get there, and she relayed the message to Myrel.

Myrel’s brow furrowed at the mentioned of a cave. “There isn’t a cave in that canyon, Ara.”

All her life, she had been submissive to adults—especially to Myrel and her parents. But somehow Ara’s own adulthood had clicked into place. She was right. Myrel was wrong. And Ara wasn’t going to back down. “Yes, there is. My mother is there now, and she’s hurt.”

Her father rested a hand on Myrel’s arm. “She’s right. All day, she’s known things she couldn’t have. But she’s always been right.”

Myrel squared herself for an argument but then her gaze brushed Ara’s star. “Yesterday, I would have argued with you. But yesterday, I never would have believed that you would appear before me with a star in the center of your forehead and a unicorn at your back.” She embraced Ara. “I will take care of Qessa. You know that, don’t you?”

Nodding, Ara fought to hold back tears.

Coen clapped a hand on Myrel’s shoulder before looking over his new archers. “I am sorry to ask this of you.”

Some of the women were shaking but none backed down. As Ara watched, she silently began pleaded that her plan wouldn’t lead to their slaughter.

In an instant, Coen’s voice changed from mild to commanding, “Retrieve your bow and daggers. If you can find a sword, get that too. Report to the wall!” The women ran to retrieve dust covered weapons from beneath beds and inside chests.