SWORD MAIDEN OF SEKHMET

Chapter 9: Jackals

The morning started out like any other.

For the first four weeks of their novitiate, they had never left the precinct of Sekhmet and all their runs had taken place within its walls. But now they were often led through other parts of the city where Ashayt loved to see the homes of the other Gods, hoping to catch a glimpse of the deity who lived inside.

Today, Panya was leading their group on a route that had become familiar.

They crossed one of the squares, then entered a long tree-lined avenue that ran between two estates, that of Ptah on their left and that of Isis on their right. Few people were to be seen at this early hour apart from the guards at the gates, many of whom waved and smiled or called out cheekily as the Sword Maidens passed. They were, of course, forbidden to wave or smile back, but there was the occasional suppressed giggle at some of the compliments that were flung at them.

Ashayt and Layla were running near the back of the pack with only Sadeh and Menwi behind them.

Just ahead was an intersection between four estates. One of these was that of Anubis, its dark walls barely touched by the light of the early sun. They never ran past the estate itself, but always turned away to head back towards the precinct of Sekhmet.

On some occasions, Jackal guards could be seen at the corner and today was one of those. Three of the black-clad men could be seen leaning casually against the black stone walls watching their approach.

Without so much as a glance, Panya led the group left at the intersection as usual. The walls of the estate they were skirting now hid the front of the group and Ashayt was relieved when she and Layla also rounded the corner, turning their backs on the dark estate.

Suddenly, there was a muffled scream from behind. Looking back, Ashayt was horrified by what she saw.

Two of the Jackal guards had grabbed Menwi by the arms, one with his hand over her mouth and they were dragging her away as fast as they could towards the gate to the estate.

Sadeh, without pausing for thought, was already rushing back to help, but the third Jackal had drawn his sword and was backing away, covering the others, daring Sadeh to come on. The girl skidded to a halt just out of reach of the wicked blade, calling out for help.

Ashayt glanced at Layla. Without hesitation, they spun round and sprinted back.

Seeing them coming, Sadeh - with great bravery - made as if to dart round the swordsman, momentarily distracting his attention. He lunged at her with the sword and she danced away, but not quite fast enough to avoid a cut to her forearm, bright blood running from the wound.

But it had given the two girls time to reach them.

Without breaking stride, Layla launched herself feet first through the air in a flying kick that took the Jackal full in the exposed side of his chest. He staggered backwards, off balance, just as Ashayt darted behind him, fell to her knees and took his legs out from under him. He fell heavily, his sword clattering to the ground as Sadeh and Layla threw themselves on top of him, desperately pinning his arms.

Ashayt snatched up the fallen Jackal's sword and sprinted after the two who were still dragging Menwi away, dimly aware from shouts behind her that the rest of their group had now seen what was happening.

Ahead, the two Jackals who held Menwi had almost reached the gate. Seeing that the novice who was chasing them now carried a sword, one left Menwi to his companion and, drawing his own sword, he stood to bar Ashayt's path.

This was the closest she had been to a Jackal and she could just make out the eyes of the man through the holes in the helmet and his mouth below its long, pointed Jackal-snout.

He grinned unpleasantly.

"Come then," little Sword Novice," he said, mockingly, "it's time for your first - and last - lesson."

What happened next was too fast for conscious thought as Ahsayt's instincts and training took over.

Ashayt made what looked like a weak stab towards the man's chest which he batted away with a mocking laugh. Even though the sword she held - with its straight, broad blade - was different from the Khopesh she was used to, it had good balance.

She advanced again, aiming a deliberately amateurish slash at his head. Grinning, he brought his sword up to meet it - only to find hers was no longer there: with lightning speed Ashayt had whipped her sword back then reversed its direction with a hard thrust straight at the Jackal's throat. His eyes widened in disbelief as the sharp blade went in above the leather jerkin and he gave a strangled, choking gurgle as his life-blood flowed out around the blade. His sword, still waving uselessly above his head, dropped from his hands as he slumped to the ground.

For a moment, Ashayt was paralysed with shock at what she had done, but there was no time to be lost: the other Jackal, alarmed at how quickly his comrade had been despatched, was hurriedly dragging Menwi towards the gate.

Seeing the armed girl rushing towards him, her face white with fury, he realised there was no way he could hold on to Menwi and still defend himself, so he pushed the girl away, snatching for his sword.

He never got it out of its sheath.

Instead of running, Menwi whirled round and - just as his hand was curling round the hilt of his sword - she grabbed his arm and held on, preventing him from drawing the blade. He struck out with his free hand, punching her hard in the face so that she staggered back, releasing her grip.

But that was all the time that Ashayt needed.

His sword was barely halfway out of its sheath as Ashayt swung hers in a hissing arc at his upper arm. A shock ran up her arm as she felt it cutting through muscle and striking bone. He screamed in pain, the sword falling from his now crippled arm.

To Ashayt, there was a dreamlike quality to what happened next:

More Jackal guards came running from the gatehouse, just as Panya and the other mentors reached the girls.

"Come," Panya screamed, "Now!"

She grabbed Ashayt by the arm just as another mentor took hold of Menwi, hustling them away as fast as they could run. Ashayt was relieved to see Layla, unharmed, still holding the first Jackal down with the help of three more mentors. Leaving him lying there, they jumped up to run with the others.

Looking back, Ashayt saw that the Jackals were trying to follow, but weighed down by their armour and weapons, they were no match for the speed of the women as they sprinted away beyond reach, heading back for the safety of Sekhmet's estate.

She was dimly aware that she still gripped the Jackal's sword tightly in her right hand.

©Adriana Nicolas 2016