The Anialwch Connection
Chapter 15
Kafil received the news about Pieter when the ship arrived from Playa. He’d heard a lot of bad things about Pieter’s temper, but under his direction, Bergen had assisted Nyumbani. The toughest rulers were sometimes the least popular, it seemed. Kafil’s first thought was that Donte would rule in the wake of Pieter. On the next ship came the news that Pieter had named another person as his successor. In a way, it was good news.
Nyumbani had a problem that they had been unable to rectify. Halisi was doing a good job as Queen. The colony had not only been feeding itself now, but trading goods with Anialwch as well. Anialwch had been ready to open their ports to Nyumbani ships when the trouble began. It had started with one raid on a small farm in Anialwch. They hadn’t simply taken food. They had killed an old man and his wife and burned their farm.
Halisi had proclaimed The Prophesy nonsense. She maintained that Donte was simply a good hunter and refused to accept the notion that he could sense animals around him. Kafil didn’t care if any of it was true. Donte got results. That was all he cared about. He was pondering if he should send a message to Donte when Kenyon arrived. It was a stroke of luck because Halisi liked Kenyon.
Kenyon had a tall lean build like Donte. He was a little taller, but lacked the muscle tone that Donte had. To Kafil, he looked a lot like Donte. It seemed to him that Kenyon would remind Halisi enough of Donte to dislike him. But Kenyon had a casual walk and a way of looking at people that made it clear he didn’t care if they liked him or not. That would appeal to Halisi. He was a good-looking Mascot, though his mouth was given to sardonic smiles. He knew women found him attractive and was unabashed about using it to his advantage. He liked women and often said nice things in a flirtatious way.
Kenyon followed them into the sitting room in a languid manner and sank into the chair Halisi indicated. He leaned against the back and placed an ankle on one knee. His curious gaze settled on Halisi. “How are things going?”
Halisi studied his face a moment before responding. “Well enough in some ways, but I imagine you are here to question us about the raid in Anialwch. We had nothing to do with that.”
Kenyon’s smile slipped sideways. “I didn’t think you did have anything to do with it, but now that you opened the subject, I did wonder if you have any idea who might have been involved.”
Halisi's attention turned to Kafil – a signal for him to answer Kenyon's question. He nodded and addressed Kenyon.
"In the beginning, I found it difficult to believe the attack was conducted by anyone from Nyumbani. It could have been a grudge made to look like Nyumbani raiders. We executed all the raiders so it couldn’t be them. I assigned three different men to look into the situation. All have been killed." He paused and shifted position in his chair. "Of course, the raid was not sanctioned by Nyumbani, but I understand it reflects on Nyumbani, all the same."
Kenyon nodded. "You have a problem. I'm sure other colonies will wait to see how you respond before making any judgment on Nyumbani."
This was one of the things he and Halisi both liked about Kenyon. He stood back and looked at things objectively rather than addressing them with emotion.
Kafil nodded. "We believe that a nomadic group lives in the mountains, not far from Anialwch. They have evaded contact and the killing of my men indicate they are hostile. It appears that they are armed with primitive weapons – bows, arrows and spears. We may be better armed, but it does little good when they silently strike and run. We are unfamiliar with that area and it is rough country."
What he needed was someone mountain bred who had the ability to find the raiders. He needed two things. One was Donte. The other was Halisi’s permission to get him into Nyumbani. Actually, he needed three things; the third being Donte’s agreement to come to Nyumbani, but that was useless without the second. The second was the most unlikely.
Donte had killed King Farasi – Halisi's father. She had blown it up in her mind until she believed Farasi was a kind man who was betrayed by Donte. When she heard of the failed assassination attempt on Donte, her only comment was that now he knew what it was like to be the victim. She was alienating herself from her people, though. They had not forgotten what life was like under Farasi and how good it had been since Donte killed him. They remembered the way Donte had helped them. Donte had saved many children with his knowledge of medicinal herbs and his willingness to help. He had fed many starving people, as had Halisi. It was Donte who had spoken in their favor to get the aid that ultimately took them from poverty to prosperity. Halisi’s people adored Donte. Sometimes Kafil wondered if that was why Halisi despised him. She was fiercely protective of her people – like a mother.
For a moment, Kenyon studied his face without responding. Then he glanced at Halisi before he turned back to Kafil. “Would you like some help?”
Kafil glanced at Halisi. “We need a good hunter.”
Kenyon looked at Halisi. “I don’t know if Donte is available, but if he is, would you give him permission to search with Celyn and me?”
“Celyn?”
“King Neirin’s daughter. She and Donte work together in a way that defies reason.”
Halisi squirmed in her chair. “I don’t want to see him.”
Kenyon nodded. “That can be arranged.”
Halisi looked down at her hands. “He isn’t to go near Heri.”
Kenyon looked askance at Kafil. “Are you afraid he will take Heri from you?”
Halisi jerked her head up and gave Kenyon a challenging look. “I’m not afraid of Donte.”
Kenyon’s smile was sardonic. “Donte has a mate and two young children now. He’s happy with them…or is that what bothers you?”
Kafil gripped his chair arm and watched Halisi. Kenyon’s question was inappropriate and likely to get the wrong results. Halisi never had any feelings for Donte. Kenyon wouldn’t know that, though.
Halisi stared at Kenyon for a moment. Finally, she smiled. “It pleases me that that Donte has found happiness. He deserves that.” She looked at Kafil. “I will give permission for Donte to come to Nyumbani with Kenyon to search for the raiders – under the conditions that I have already stated.”
Kafil released the breath he had been unconsciously holding.
Halisi turned to Kenyon, her expression sober. “I do not like to be reminded of how Heri came to be.”
Kenyon nodded. “I apologize.” He lifted his ankle off his knee and put his foot on the floor. He escaped the chair in one smooth deliberate movement. He looked at Kafil. “I believe there is a ship leaving for Playa this evening and I don’t want to miss it. I’ll get back with you as soon as I know something.
Kafil saw Kenyon to the door and returned to find Halisi sitting with her head in her hands.
“What is it, Halisi?”
She shook her head. “Memories, that’s all.”
He didn’t ask which memories. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know. Until Kenyon questioned her feelings for Donte, he would have sworn that she had none – other than those concerning the death of her father. Now he wasn’t so sure. It was possible that her refusal to let Donte return had nothing to do with her father.
***
Donica had been staying with Saskia since the death of Pieter. She hadn’t heard a word from Chait. In another week the elections would be over. Hopefully he would contact her then. Sima had sent a representative who attended the funeral, but Chait had remained ominously silent.
Donte & Rianne were visiting Donica and Saskia when Kenyon arrived. Donica hugged him. “I’m so glad to see you.”
He kissed her forehead. “It’s nice to have you so close.”
He talked with them for a few minutes, but it was obvious that he came to see Donte. When he finally explained what the Nyumbani wanted, Donica looked at Rianne. Donte had returned from a dangerous mission no more than a week ago and they wanted him to leave again. Would there always be someone to drag him away, and would Donte always go? Unfortunately, the answer to both questions was probably yes.
Rianne looked from Donte to Kenyon, obviously waiting on Donte’s answer. She looked disappointed when Donte agreed, but recovered quickly, smiling at him in a reassuring way. Donica tried to imagine how she would feel if Chait was constantly walking into danger instead of constantly traveling somewhere to campaign. Rianne was proud of Donte. Donica wasn’t sure she had ever told Chait that she was proud of him. She had argued with him about being away so much and accused him of not caring about his son. Did Rianne ever argue with Donte about going? Donte was a devoted father when he was at home, though.
Saskia interrupted her thoughts. “Rianne, while Donte is away, why don’t you and the children come and stay with Donica and me? We could all support each other.”
It was a great idea. Having each other to talk to would make the time pass faster and they could learn from each other. Donica would like to know how Rianne could be supportive of Donte traveling with Celyn so much. Celyn still believed that she and Donte would exchange vows when she was nineteen. How could Rianne and Celyn be friends? How could Rianne invite Celyn to live with them? Then again, seeing how often Donte was gone might be a discouragement. Of course, he had been with Celyn every time he traveled. It was a strange situation.
Donte was the current ruler. He didn’t have to ask anyone if he could go, but he did notify the cabinet. Since Pieter had already requested Beier, Donte had someone to take his place if he didn’t return. Donica shuddered at the thought. How could Rianne stand living under those conditions?
On the day of his departure, Rianne left the children with Donica and went to the station to say goodbye to Donte. When she returned, she was unusually quiet. If they were going to support each other, now was the time to start. Donica put an arm around Rianne’s shoulders.
“He’ll be fine. He has Kenyon with him.”
Rianne nodded. “He had Kenyon and Celyn with him last time, but he said the musket ball came close enough to him that he heard it.”
Supporting each other wasn’t simply saying all the things they wanted to hear. It was listening to the fears of others as well.
“It must be difficult to have him leave so often on dangerous missions.”
Rianne sighed. “I knew that when we agreed to exchange vows. Life without Donte would be so much worse than life with Donte traveling. Donte has an enormous burden. I want to be there for him.”
Saskia sat in the chair beside Rianne. “Donte isn’t the only one who carries an enormous burden. Supporting him is an enormous burden, and you do an admirable job of it.”
“I wish I could do such a good job of supporting my mate,” Donica said. “I don’t understand him like you do Donte.”
Rianne laughed. “What makes you think I understand Donte?”
Donica shrugged. “When Chiku died, you understood how he felt. When he was feeling Papaw’s pain, you understood.”
Rianne looked surprised. “Yes, I did, didn’t I?”
“Donte felt Pieter’s pain?” Saskia looked confused.
Rianne explained how Donte connected with loved ones in need. “He didn’t understand what was happening when he felt Chiku’s fever. I think it frightened him.” Rianne sighed. “This is what I was talking about when I said he carries a great burden. He knows he has a special gift that can help others and he feels obligated to use it. I can’t imagine him turning down help to anyone. I’m afraid…” She paused and swallowed. “I’m afraid it will get him killed one day.”
“And yet, you don’t protest when he goes,” Donica said.
Rianne looked at Donica. “How could I, in all good conscience? He can save lives. It would be like asking Quade not to doctor people because he might get sick.”
Donica sighed. “I never thought about it that way.” She hesitated, not sure if she should bring up the subject, but maybe it would help Rianne to talk about it. “I don’t understand how you and Celyn can be friends. I mean, she believes they will exchange vows.”
Rianne nodded. “I know. Everyone asks that. Donte and Celyn are an amazing team. It’s no wonder that they confuse her visions with The Prophesy. As Donte pointed out, she was only nine when she had that vision and she hadn’t even met him yet. He thinks she misinterpreted the vision. That’s possible, although she is still certain that they will exchange nuptial vows. She doesn’t want to come between us. This isn’t something she feels she has any control over. It’s as upsetting to her as it is to me – and it is upsetting to me. It is equally upsetting to Donte. None of us understand the vision. We didn’t ask for this, but if we let it consume our lives years before it happens, we will be the ones who destroy our lives. I have decided to live life as it is given to us, not thinking about the vision or The Prophesy. Donte and Celyn have made the same choice. We have so little time, but such a great opportunity because we know how little time we have.”
Donica considered Rianne’s reasoning. No one was guaranteed any length of time. They might have hundreds of years or mere hours. If The Prophesy was true, then Donte and Celyn could count on the years before it happened. In that way, they were safer than anyone else. The musket ball didn’t hit Donte because it wasn’t time for him to die. That wouldn’t make it any less frightening for him, though. Was Donte afraid during the missions or did he assume that he would live?
No one actually knew what would happen with The Prophesy, but Rianne’s reasoning was one that could apply to anyone. If every couple lived their lives like there were only a few years left, they would have a better union. When she returned to Lochfowk, she was going to treat Chait with more respect. Maybe no one on Purlieu would live more than a few more years. The Prophesy wasn’t only about Rianne, Donte and Celyn. It was about everyone on the planet.
Soft Science Fiction
