Tasmina's Tale

15. Long Live the King

Tasmina

We had barely stepped out of the palace when everyone shifted. I climbed onto Felan’s back as Mama jumped onto Faris. We could shift, but we fought far better in this form. Rikom’s brother, Rodin, joined us, grinning at me before he shifted. 

He was playful, there was a softness to him that I hadn’t seen from his brother. He was also far more likeable, making Mama smile immediately as he kissed her hand before shifting. 

It took us just over three hours to reach the village. Rikom brought a dozen men with him, no women except me and Mama, I noted. We heard the screams from the village before we saw it. 

Attack! Rikom linked. 

We charged into the village and I bounded from Felan’s back as he went straight for a rogue. What he lacked in height, he made up for in sheer, brute strength. 

I pulled out my dagger and leapt into the battle. There is a common misconception about wolves, that it is only silver that kills us. Slitting throats beyond the ability to heal is also a very effective method. 

My eyes searched desperately for Malaka. I had known her since we were children. She had been one of few children who had treated me no different, despite knowing I was the child of a royal mystic. 

I hacked my way through a rogue that bounded in front of me with ease, dodging his snapping jaws and slicing his head almost clean off. He fell to the ground with a loud thud, immediately shifting into his human form as he died. 

“Malaka!” I screamed. 

I searched for her wildly as Mama twirled and danced around two rogues. Then I saw her. A wolf had her pinned to the ground. He growled, opening his jaws to finish her off. I pounced, jumping onto his back and slicing at him with my daggers until I was covered in his blood. I pushed him off her and reached out my hand to help her up. 

She stood, her eyes wide.

“You saved my life,” she breathed. 

I picked up her sword from the ground and handed it to her. 

“Now help me save the king’s,” I said, grinning. 

She nodded quickly, bounding into action immediately. Her mother had been a famed warrior, serving under the previous king. King Iza, however, had not deemed women worthy of battle, and had disbanded the Queen’s guard. 

As a rogue found himself at the wrong end of Malaka’s blade, I thought to myself just how wrong he was. All of a sudden, there was a loud cry.

“THE KING HAS FALLEN.”

I turned, horrified to see King Iza staggering, a silver blade protruding from his chest. Rikom had shifted back and he sprinted, wide-eyed, running towards his father as he fell to the ground. 

His men surrounded him as he knelt at his father’s side, his ear close to his face as King Iza whispered to him his final words. I was so busy watching this tragedy unfold, that I hadn’t noticed one of the few remaining rogues standing behind me, his arrow drawn. 

“MINA!” I heard Mama scream. 

I whirled around as a silver tipped arrow flew at me, only to see my mother’s body shield me before it hit. She fell into my open arms, her eyes wide as though she were surprised. Faris pounced onto the rogue, tearing off his head. He was the last of them. 

“My girl… you are well?” Mama gasped, blinking rapidly. 

“Mama… yes, Mama, I’m fine… I…”

“Take this arrow out of me, child… it burns…” she breathed. 

I felt around her back for the arrow and pulled it quickly. Relief washed over her face immediately and she smiled. I nearly wept with relief. She would be fine. She pushed me away gently, smiling as she stood before me. Then she staggered again and I ran to her, catching her quickly before she fell. 

“Mama?”

Her breathing was shallow and I lay her on the ground, still holding her in my arms.

“It seems, child… perhaps I am not as invincible as I had once thought,” she breathed, chuckling lightly. 

My brothers were beside me immediately, on their knees, shielding our mother with their bodies. 

“Mama… Mama, come on… not like this, Mama,” I whispered. 

She shook her head. 

“There is no wrong way to die, Mina, the same way there is no right way to die. Our bodies must return to the earth some day, my girl, as our souls must return to goddess, hmm?”

Tears pricked my eyes and I shook my head angrily.

“No, Mama. Not today, alright? Not today, Mama. Goddess and the earth can both bloody wait.” 

Felan and Faris each held her hand, their tears falling thick and fast as she gazed up at them.

“My boys… my beautiful, strong boys… I love you… protect your… sister. At all… costs,” she breathed, her words taking a great effort.

They nodded, unable to speak as their tears fell. I shook my head furiously.

“Hush, Mama. Stop talking… I will get a healer… just you wait, Mama, I’ll get help."

I was fighting to keep the grief from my voice.

I looked around frantically, calling loudly for help. Again, she shook her head.

“No, my girl. It is futile. Goddess calls to me… it is my time… Mina… Mina, listen to me…”

“I’m listening, Mama, I’m listening,” I sobbed, choking on my tears. 

“You will have great power, my child… I have seen it. My child, I need you to remember… we all have power within us… true strength lies in knowing… where to find it… and when to use it…”

“Yes, Mama,” I cried, rocking back and forth, soothing her as best as I could. 

“Never… forget… who you are. I see you, my sweet girl… I will always see you.”

“I see you, Mama. I see you,” I cried, my voice thick with tears. 

She smiled widely. When the light dimmed from her eyes, I knew she saw no more. I threw my head back and screamed.

—

Rikom

I placed my father’s head on the earth gently. I don’t know if it was love that existed between us. I had no memory of him embracing me, or of any affectionate words between us. But I had respected him greatly and he was my father nonetheless. 

His last words to me had been, “Tell Maha I am grateful.”

So he had loved her, after all. Not the kind of love one write books about, but love nonetheless. 

“Cover the King’s body. We will take him back to the palace.” 

My men nodded, before dropping to their knees in front of me, pressing their fists to their chest. 

“Long live the king,” they chanted. 

My jaw clenched. It was too soon. I wasn’t ready for this. I nodded at them, gesturing for them to stand. Baba’s body was covered with a white sheet and they carried him reverently into the village, seeking a carriage and horses for our deceased. It was then I heard a scream that raised the hairs on the back of my neck. Tasmina. 

I ran in the direction of the noise and saw her and her brothers kneeling over Miya. F*ck. F*ck, f*ck, f*ck. I should have never let them come. She looked up and her eyes met mine and my heart nearly broke at the grief in them. I felt her pain as though it were my own, tight vines of agony wrapping themselves around my heart and squeezing it until it felt as though it would burst. 

I walked to them slowly, knowing that any words of condolence would never be enough. I saw the way they had gazed upon their mother, the way all three of her children were drawn to her like ships to a lighthouse. She was a force of nature and they were caught in her orbit; I had seen it with my own eyes. No words of mine could ease their pain, so I said nothing. They held her and cried, their tears falling onto her body, their grief so raw, it became an entity of its own. If I only reached out my hand, I could touch it.

My brother, Rodin, came up beside me.

“Rikom, we must get you back to the palace. It is time.” 

He paused when he saw the scene in front of us. Carefully, he walked towards them, kneeling beside them and bowing his head. He leaned towards Tasmina, holding her shoulders gently, before murmuring in her ear. She allowed him to bring her to her feet, putting his arm around her. Her brother, Felan, stood on her other side, his arm around her. 

Faris lifted his mother’s body into his arms and stood. There was a quiet rage in his eyes, contrary to his quiet, gentle demeanour. He stopped just a few feet short of me.

“I will join your army.”