A Whisper of Wings (45 page)

There! Where the base of the statue had once stood, the ïsha seemed more intense. Shadarii excitedly ran over to sift the aura through her mind.

Deep beneath the earth, power flowed. The scent of it seeped out from beneath the giant rock. Shadarii stepped back and reached into her ïsha well. The girl slowly drew it up, feeding it until the ïsha glowed around her like a storm. Sand erupted back from the ground before her, and a slab split off from the pavement and slowly moved aside. Shadarii gasped as she let go, astonished by the mighty thing that she had done.

A hole yawned before her, and a set of steps led down into the ground. From the darkness there rose a smell - ancient air long shut off from the Wind and Rain. Shadarii stared down in fascination, pulled helplessly towards the mystery.

A slight noise came from behind. Kïtashii crouched in hiding behind her; it was only to be expected, and Shadarii felt rather pleased and touched. The dancer closed her eyes and smiled, holding out her hand. Kïtashii moved from her hiding place and took her teacher’s grasp.

The two Kashra walked slowly down the old stone steps, thrilling to the icy chill of shadows on their fur.

***

In the dreaming forest, a fire crackled in Zhukora’s lodge. Quiet and drifting in a fragile, precious peace, two slender figures sat in the firelight, enjoying one anothers company before the coming of the storm.

Zhukora dragged her hair out of its ponytail, and sheer black silk spilled down into the night. She smiled as Daimïru reached out to take it softly in her hands; the sensation of a gliding comb filled the air with peace.

Daimïru cleared her throat and spoke into the silence.

“The jiteng match is all arranged for tomorrow. King Saitookii and all the chiefs have gathered for the game. All of them; every elder of the Katakanii and the Vakïdurii together in one place and one time.”

“Our players are ready?”

“Oh yes. I have handled all the details. Each and every follower knows exactly what to do.”

Zhukora gave a thoughtful nod, careful not to disturb Daimïru’s gentle hands. Of course, there was nothing left to do but wait. One way or another, the world of tomorrow would be different to today. The huntress closed her troubled eyes and sighed.

“And so the game begins, Daimïru. Finally it begins. I must lose myself totally in my purpose. The time for Zhukora is gone.I must change a final time - Rise up from the shadows and out into the light.”

Zhukora swallowed, then stared into her lap, unable to meet Daimïru’s golden eyes. There was something that had to be said - now, before the time was gone. Zhukora felt her body trembling as she tried to bare her soul.

“Daimïru… In all my life I-I have never had a lover…” Zhukora felt her eyes burn bright with tears. “If-if things had been different… Sometimes I wish The Dream had never come. That I could-could simply be with you.”

“Not all love is consummated in the bed.” The golden woman’s eyes shone bright with tears. “Wherever you go, whatever you do, know only this. My love for you will never fail, my faith shall never fade. Whatever path you fly, I shall be there with you.”

The fire crackled as logs shifted in the heat. The women sat side by side in silence, staring at the stars. Finally Daimïru shook herself awake.

“I should go. There is much to do tomorrow.”

Daimïru slowly rose and wandered to the door, then turned and sank into a bow, spreading out her wings in silent worship.

Zhukora stared into the dark and felt the fire glowing at her back; she gazed into the emptiness long after her friend had gone.

***

Far beneath the desert sands, Shadarii danced in astonishment. The stair shaft had opened out into a chamber - a chamber that echoed like a mighty cave. The ceiling stretched high overhead, vaulted like the limbs of a forest tree. Both walls and ceilings were sheathed in fabulous painted scenes. The height and majesty just seemed to go on and on; the people of the desert had once held marvelous powers!

The ïsha was more than thick enough for flight. Both girls rose into the air and stared at the murals, peering in amazement at the scenes of life gone by. The art style seemed simpler than that used by Shadarii’s people, lacking all sense of depth and perspective. Their ancestors had been primitives in the fields of the fine arts; still, the ancients had raised a civilisation of staggering size and power.

It had been a fertile place; flat grassland with little soul but rich in food. The hills were terraced just like steps, with orderly rows of plantlife growing in the soil. Another picture showed women harvesting grain with little metal knives.

“Shadarii, come quickly! Come and see.”

Kïtashii hovered beside another set of pictures, her face blank with horror as she pointed to a string of scenes across the wall. Tiny Kashra tore each other into bloody ribbons. Heroic figures strode through fields of corpses, striking down their enemies with metal clubs. There were women pierced through with darts and hunters slicing at each other’s wings. Shadarii backed away, staring at the walls with new aversion.

Shadarii suddenly straightened up her back and turned around. She cocked her head impatiently and glowered.

~Well? You may show yourself whenever you are ready. I’m quite prepared to wait.~

“Shadarii?” Kïtashii’s antennae jerked and swivelled. “I can feel… Something’s in here with us!”

Oh yes, it was clever. Its patterns had merged with those of the cavern, and the Ka lay in hiding, content to spy upon its visitors. Shadarii tapped her foot, looking for all the world like a school Ma’am waiting to chastise her young.

Something stirred deep in the ïsha as a vast, powerful presence took shape in the darkness.

*There’s no need to be testy! I was going to show myself when the right time came. Moving too quickly only leads to disaster.*

Speech from a Ka! Shadarii regained her composure and swept down in a bow. The little Dancer knelt and offered up a glorious ïsha sculpture to her host. The mighty Ka exclaimed in delight, wrapping tendrils all about Shadarii’s gift.

*How beautiful! How clever! It seems art has flourished across the dusty centuries. You are most polite, child. It is a pleasure to see that good manners have survived.*

Shadarii’s mind felt all a-whirl. Never once had Shadarii encountered a Ka who talked. The little dancer carefully covered her face with her wings.

~Pray forgive our intrusion. If we have offended, we offer our apologies. We were motivated only by reverent curiosity.~

*Offended? Why no, child, hast thou not guessed? I have been waiting for thee. I have been waiting for a thousand empty years.*

Shadarii jerked her head up as the spirit came to swirl graciously above her.

*Thou art the little teacher - the Silent Lady. I have felt thee blazing through the desert like a star. Finally we meet.*

~Felt me! From all that way?~

*Why yes. For a thousand years I have slept to heal my wounds. I awoke only when I felt thy touch of beauty stir against my soul.*

Hurt? It had been hurt? Poor thing! Shadarii sat up on her haunches and stared up into the swirling ïsha clouds.

~Spirit, my name is Shadarii, daughter of the Chief Nochorku-Zha. I am of the tribe of Katakanii, the clan of Swallow-Tails. I was a dancer of the second circle before my journey into exile.~
The girl held her bow with a dancer’s fluid grace. ~Whom do I have the honour of addressing?~

*I have never been such a one for labels. If thou like’st, thou may call me Starshine.*

Kïtashii stared at the spirit with great wide eyes. Clearly Kïtashii could not hear the spirit speak. Shadarii turned back to the Ka, losing herself in the wonder of communication.

The spirit danced and filled the air with song.

*Thy curiosity blazes in thee like a fire! A kindred spirit! After all these years a scholar wanders to my lonely lair. What can we teach each other, my little one? Shall we make a trade? Let us swap knowledge for knowledge, truth for truth! I shall answer any questions thou desire. In return, tell me of the world of life! Ask; ask and I shall speak.*

How old was such a Ka? Thousands of years? Millions? Think of all the secrets it could tell! Shadarii leapt to her feet and spread open her arms.

~Tell me, Lady Starshine! Tell me of this city. Who lived here, and where have they all gone?~

*The city has had many names. As a mere watering hole it was known as “place of reeds”. The village became a city over many long, slow years. The Kashra of the Northern kingdom called this place Jho-Kori-Jho. This means “Many trees within the wilderness”.*

Shadarii’s eyes blazed bright.

~More! Tell me more! How did they live here in this empty desert? Why did they live in such awful desolation?~

*Desolation? Oh no. It was once green and beautiful.*
The spirit swirled like a summer rainbow in the sky.
*The Northern folk dug trenches to bring water to the desert. Alas, the canals were cut by Serpent and his minions; the plants withered and the city was abandoned to the dust. The city fell because the people would not fight. They thought they could ignore their danger and have it merely pass them by. They paid the price for foolishness. Serpent came for them, and now there is only sand and empty bones.*

Shadarii’s ears lifted high in wonder.

~Serpent? What is “Serpent”?~

*A spirit of evil. A creature that thrived on holding power over others. He was finally slain in a war long, long ago.*

~The war! You saw the war?~
Shadarii felt a chill ripple down her spine as her mission blazed inside her soul.
~What was it like? Why did the people turn to such wickedness?~

*Wickedness? Perhaps. Your race were once powerful warriors, child. When the Kingdoms of the North and South finally went to war, the very earth trembled with their might! Serpent worked destruction on an entire world! I could not stop him! Finally we met in single combat. We clashed, and he fell away in mortal agony. Though I was nearly slain, I had some small powers yet. I crept into this place and gave myself to sleep, hoping time might cure my wounds.*

The spirit shrugged away her mournful mood and let new light steal through her aura.

*Tell me, little sister. Speak to me of thy world. Do the flowers still shine deep in the grass? How do they feel against thy skin? How does the water sound as it goes spilling down the rocks. And-and Rain, and Wind, and autumn leaves beneath thy feet! Tell me! Tell me what it is to be alive.*

The little dancer cleared her mind and tried to show the spirit visions of her forest world. She thought of deep, cool glades and silent ferns; the lazy drift of dragonflies across a mossy pond…

Suddenly, quite gently, she began thinking of Kotaru. Not the rotting, blackened thing high on the cliffside, but Kotaru the man; sharp and clever, bright and gentle, with his funny lop-sided smile. She remembered long, slow walks hand in hand and grilled crayfish eaten by a fire. Dancing for him while he played his wonderful little flute…

Lady Starshine seemed to give a little sigh. Shadarii polished her memories, reaching out to feel the forest deep within her soul.

*The man Kotaru - he inside thy dreams. Wilt thou wed? Wilt thou bear young to him? I should like to meet him one day. He seems a fine, strong boy.*

Shadarii felt her heart grow chill.

~No. You will never meet him. He was murdered by my sister. He is gone, and I am condemned to remain behind. Now I wander through the world wondering if my grief has made me strong.~

The Ka rippled with a quiet flow of rainbows.

*Has it made thee strong, girl? Did’st thou ever find the answers that thou seek’st?*

~I don’t know. I set out upon a quest to find why violence happens. All I have found is dust and fleas, and hollow towers of mud…~

Shadarii miserably hung her head. The spirit seemed to pause in thought.

*Shadarii, what would thou do if thou had’st power? Real power! Power to heal any sickness with a simple touch. To make life bloom all around thee like a song of joy!*

Shadarii sniffed and sighed.

~An idle dream. Peace has no power in the world.~

*No! Not so! A miracle can move men’s hearts. Find miracles, and thou shalt have thy power!*

Shadarii’s ears slowly rose.

~Miracles? What do you mean?~

*Miracles are made, not found. Join with me! Let me escape this dreary land of dust! Let me see and hear and feel through thee. In return, I can give thee sorcery beyond thy wildest dreams! Think of all the good that we can do together! Let me help thee in thy quest for peace.*

Starshine looped and whirled in desperate eagerness, and Shadarii felt a sudden blaze of greed. Here lay the key! Perhaps this was why Mother Rain had led her to the desert. The girl reeled in excitement, barely able to stand straight.

~I-I want… I need to talk to Kïtashii. Please! Just let me speak to her.~