Tasmina's Tale

9. Harlot

Tasmina

“Ouch!” 

I rubbed my arm as Mama whacked it with a stick. 

“Tasmina Miya Kaiz, that’s four touches. I haven’t managed more than two touches on you since you were eleven, what has gotten into you?” she asked, bemused as she stepped back. 

I shook my head.

“Nothing, Mama. I just need to concentrate better, I’m sorry.” 

“I assume it has nothing to do with that boy?”

She raised her brow and crossed her arms, as though she were merely talking about one of the street children I often scrapped with. 

“I’m ready! Sorry I’m late,” Ruki wheezed, running up to us.

We trained by the forest on the outskirts of the village outside the Daro walls. It meant a good run every morning for stamina, after which Mama and I would spar. This would be followed by an hour of meditation, which was often my favourite part. As Ruki approached us, Mama held a finger to her lips to silence me, but there was a slight smile playing on them. 

“That’s alright. You’ve missed sparring this morning, Ruki, but we can meditate together now and listen to the wind. Let’s see what she tells us today,” Mama said, winking at her. 

Ruki looked bashful.

“I’m not very good with a blade… I… I was never taught the right way.” 

Mama considered her carefully. 

“I like to duel with two blades. Do you wish to learn, Ruki?” 

Ruki looked between us and nodded shyly. 

“Then learn you shall. You will join Mina and I three times a week for the first month until your body adapts. Then you shall join us five days from thereon. How does that sound?”

She gave Mama a small smile and I grinned at her, linking my arm through hers. 

“See, now we’ll really be sisters.” 

“Well, you sisters had better sit now and clear your minds for meditation.”

Mama’s tone was strict, but her eyes were gentle as she looked at us. 

We sat on the ground together and closed our eyes. 

“We thank the God Flame and the wind for our blessings. May we see what Goddess intends for us to see, and may we use the sight wisely,” came Mama’s voice, soft but clear as day. 

“Why do you seek the God Flame when there is more power in the dark?” Ruki asked, suddenly. 

My eyes snapped open and I stared at her, my eyes wide with shock, although Mama didn’t seem remotely perturbed by the question. 

“We do not seek power, we seek enlightenment, child. Things have never ended well for our sisters who sought the dark instead of light,” she said, gently. 

Ruki grew quiet. 

“But then what of people who try to hurt you? How do you stop them if you have no power?” 

“That is why we train,” Mama said, brightly. “Mina is sixteen, but I daresay I’d feel for any man or woman who tried to hurt her.”

She smiled at me proudly and I returned her smile with all the possible warmth I could muster. Ruki looked at the ground, seemingly abashed. 

“Do not fear, Ruki. By the time we are done training you, you won’t ever need to worry about not being able to protect yourself. Your mysticism is a gift. We do not use our abilities in the name of power. But who’s to say we can’t develop other skills in the meantime… just in case,” Mama said, winking at her. 

She seemed heartened by this and gave Mama a small smile. 

“Now close your eyes, both of you. Let us connect with the elements and thank them for this honour.”

We did as she asked, closing our eyes and inhaling deeply for an hour of peace and tranquillity.  

—

“Aliza has asked if you would like to spend some time with her? Her daughter has gone to Bulan to fetch some elephant hairs for an elixir she is making, and she’ll be gone for a week,” Mama asked Ruki when we got him. 

“She wants to spend time with me?” Ruki asked, wide-eyed. 

I knew Mama would have suggested it. I could already tell she was on a mission to make Ruki feel accepted by her sister mystics, and Aliza was a wonderful place to start. 

“Of course, who wouldn’t?” I added. 

Ruki smiled shyly. She had met Aliza only once, when she had visited our home for tea with Mama. She liked her immediately. Aliza had a comforting presence – she had the ability to attune her mood to yours, and she knew exactly what to say and how to say it. 

“Her daughter is gone for a week, and I said I’d ask you if you were willing to spend the week with her so she isn’t alone. If you’d rather not, Mina will go,” Mama said. 

I nodded affably but Ruki shook her head, still looking rather dazed. 

“No, it’s alright… I’d like to go,” she said. 

“Well then, that’s settled,” Mama replied, smiling. “Although I still expect you to meet us in the forest in the morning for training, mind you,” she added, sternly. 

Ruki beamed at her. 

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Miya,” she said, smiling widely. 

We had spent time in our small garden, picking mint leaves for supper, and it had suddenly grown dark.

“Faris will walk you to Aliza’s,” Mama said. 

Faris nodded, standing quickly and waiting for Ruki by the door. Once they had gone, she turned to me, assessing the mint and coriander leaves I had brought in from the garden. 

“Hmm, this will do nicely, my girl. Now, are you intending to go to sleep early so that you can get enough rest after linking the prince?”

I spluttered, trying my best to look innocent but to no avail. Mama laughed and shook her head as Felan lit his pipe slowly. 

“So, my little harlot sister is linking royalty in the middle of the night.” 

“Says the biggest harlot in the house,” I retorted, sticking my tongue out at him. 

He grinned, puffing on his pipe and blowing large rings of smoke. I loved it when he did that, it was like magic. 

“But of course, sister. I can’t say I’m not a little bit proud that you took after me and not our righteous big brother,” he said, grinning. 

I laughed, throwing a cleaning cloth at him. He caught it and wagged his eyebrows at me.

“That’s enough, you two,” Mama said, laughing. “Mina, just be sensible. I said I didn’t want the prince visiting too often because you still have training to complete. It defeats the point if you’re speaking to him until dawn and can’t stay up for training.” 

“So I shouldn’t speak to him?” I asked.

I felt a pit settle into my stomach. 

“No, my dear girl, of course you can talk to him. Just get enough sleep, alright?” Mama said, her tone softening.

I nodded gratefully. I was shocked at how the thought of not speaking to him suddenly terrified me. Mama noticed and sighed. 

“It seems I will lose you to this Prince of Zamee after all,” she said, smiling sadly. 

“You will never lose me, Mama,” I said, decisively. 

“So you’re taking us all to the palace with you, then?” Felan asked, raising his brow. 

“If it comes to it, yes,” I replied.

Mama laughed, shaking her head at the both of us. I turned to her, suddenly thinking of something. 

“Mama, why didn’t you live on the palace grounds? Didn’t Nani live there when you were a young girl?” 

Mama grew quiet suddenly, averting her gaze. 

“Yes, well… I know how it can be in the palace. I didn’t want my children growing up around royalty and developing a false sense of grandeur. It seems Goddess had other plans,” she said, wryly. 

“So, when did you leave?” I asked. 

Again, she grew quiet, as though thinking about how to answer me. It wasn’t exactly a trick question. 

“Your Nani, my Mama, died when I was still young,” she said. 

“Only nineteen,” I said, sadly.

I knew this story.

“I wish I had met her,” I added, wistfully. 

Mama smiled sadly. 

“I wish you had too. She was quite the woman. And she had a voice that could reach from one end of Daro to the other,” she said, chuckling. 

“Mama… does it make you angry that I brought Ruki home?” 

My Nani had died protecting the royal family from dark mysticism. A Rai mystic, likely Ruki’s grandmother, had attempted to bewitch King Iza. The Dark had almost taken over him, but Nani had intervened. But the Dark had weakened her and although she had defeated the mystic, in the end, it had taken her life. 

Mama considered my question carefully.

“I was surprised at first. But we will not judge her for the sins of her mother, or her grandmother.”

“So that’s why you left the palace?” I pressed. 

“It’s part of the reason, yes. I stayed for a while… but it wasn’t a home without Mama, and when I became pregnant with Faris, I knew I needed to leave, start afresh. And here we are!” she concluded.

I could tell by the finality with which she said it that I wouldn’t be getting any more information out of her today. 

“Oh, and one more thing, Mina. Queen Maha linked me today. Prince Rikom will be coming to see you in three days.”