Anton Anderson - The Seekers - Soul Ties

But there was no amulet. Sabiri spread more half-dried blood over Iskrila’s clothes as she searched but found nothing. She stood up, unwilling to continue. But then immediately regretted the decision. It was not the place for her.

«Try to find the artifact, Haileen, please,» Sabiri said, lifting the body.

«I’ll help you down the stairs, then you can carry her yourself.»

Sabiri accepted the help. She hesitated a second, but then picked up the heavy mess of fabric and half-dried blood from the floor. Iskrila has been so delighted by this stupid bow-knot. She had no right to abandon it now.

The workers were probably staring at them, staring at Iskrila, were probably whispering something. When she got outside, the people had already gathered near the smithy. They were probably staring at them as well. Sabiri wasn’t sure. Making her way home, she hardly ever glanced at the road ahead. All that really mattered was the body in her arms. She used to carry her children to bed like that. Come to think of this, sometimes even Iskrila’s children. She loved visiting their home. They used to help Iskrila make something delicious, then they played, or read books. She loved the laughter, loved to be a part of her life. Now it felt like ages ago.

Home. They lived here together for years now. Sabiri laid the body on a guest bed that was almost always vacant. She tried to make it look natural, like Iskrila was sleeping, but it was all futile. She sat beside her, took her cold hand, and that was it. Looking in her empty dead eyes and holding her hand – there was no other thought on her mind.

«You can’t do it right now,» a familiar voice said after minutes of silence.

Haileen’s voice agreed. «We won’t decide what to do next without you.»

Sabiri felt completely empty and powerless. Even sitting on a soft bed seemed too much to bear. She wanted to lie down, close her eyes, and she didn’t care about waking up.

«Report?» Sabiri sighed heavily.

«No more deaths have been reported so far, except for that lookout Berani. They found her body in the water below the pier, already returned to her family. The gates are locked, the lookouts are stationed, the scouts are deployed, all the guards are instructed.

«The assassins left an arrow in Berani’s skull. The smiths have already examined it. Great craftsmanship, common type of wood and feathers, common shape of the tip, no crafter’s stamp – it’s impossible to tell who made it.»

Haileen was always giving reports like that. Never pausing, never searching for the right words, never misspeaking. And she’d been at the smithy first. She’d brought in soldiers, made sure the scene wasn’t disturbed, and all that without asking for any orders! Sabiri felt utterly unworthy of being called her boss.

Yet, she was Haileen’s boss. Star was standing right there, waiting for her to act. Sabiri couldn’t see anything on her face. What did she find in me? What does she expect from me right now?

«What does it mean?» Sabiri asked everyone. «Only the Drowners knew about the amulet. If they were specifically after it, then it makes sense. Or does it? Did Jaesa change her mind and regret parting with the artifact? But it was so dangerous! They could’ve been discovered, and then our retaliation would follow. Jaesa must’ve considered that!»

She knew nothing! So many possibilities, so little data! Why, why did it have to happen? Why her?! Why Iskrila?!!

«It would make sense if she wanted to cripple us while she had the chance,» Sabiri resumed. «But if this is the case – why just Iskrila? They should’ve tried to kill at least all the mistresses! Did they just get afraid and end their mission early?»

Sabiri looked at Haileen and Star, waiting for their thoughts, but there were none. At least Haileen looked preoccupied – Star was staring at something out the window. What was so important out there?!!

«What if it wasn’t Drowners?» Sabiri jumped to her feet and started walking in circles. «The assassins just grabbed the amulet because it radiated magic. But then why did they search the smithy? Did they just stumble upon it? Were they looking for some armor and weapons there? And how did we manage to miss them! Shit, Haileen, I had to listen to you yesterday!»

«There was nothing you could do,» Haileen said. «I was too late with this, there was no time.»

«Then at least think of something! Fuck!» Sabiri snapped. «Could it be Drowners? Who else could it be? Why just Iskrila? How did they learn about the amulet?»

Star’s calm voice called for reason. «Sadly, sometimes there’s just no way to know. There’s no evidence, we can’t just see into the past. Please, try to calm down.»

«How can I calm down?» Sabiri rushed to her, ready to use her fists. «Look at her!» She pointed at Iskrila’s body. «What are we supposed to do? What about the attack? How… how…» Sabiri groaned and stepped back.

She knew that she had to calm down. But how? A pulsing sensation at the back of her neck wasn’t going away; she ignored it. Star was right – there was no way to know. A deep breath. And another one. What were her options? Were there any options? Any but the obvious?

«Send a letter to our allies, Star,» Sabiri said. «If it wasn’t Drowners – fine, we’ll find out when we search their village. But if it was them – we could be in trouble. They could’ve seen something here. They could’ve gotten here precisely because they knew. Our allies could suffer the same fate. We shouldn’t give Drowners any more time to get ready for us. I say we march today. We’re almost ready anyway.»

Neither Haileen nor Star looked surprised to hear this. Yet Star did object. «Being almost ready means higher casualties.»

«Giving them time to entrench or to buy mercenaries also means the same thing,» Haileen agreed with Sabiri.

Star looked Sabiri in the eyes. «Are you sure this is the best way?»

«I’m sure I want to spend time with Iskrila. I’m sure I want to lie down and do nothing.»

A weak smile appeared on Star’s face. «You’ll get your opportunity soon enough, just after we win. I’ll send the word. Be ready.»

Left alone, Sabiri quickly armed and armored herself. There was no guarantee that the attack would indeed happen today, but the chance was high enough. She knew that she had to go out to do… something. Anything to help them prepare. Everything she could.

Yet, she failed to make herself leave Iskrila. Failed not to sit near her corpse. Failed to stop clutching her cold hand, trying to warm it up. Failed to stop staring at her beautiful face. But there was something else on her mind. A thought she couldn’t quite materialize. It was very important somehow, but what was it exactly?

Berani! This thought pinched her very soul. What the fuck she was doing right now? How the damn could she sit idle in a moment like this?

Hoping that she remembered where she lived correctly, Sabiri rushed towards the pier. The whole village had woken; streets became busy and hard to navigate. The air became full of voices and commotion.

Letting a group of soldiers pass, marching towards gathering points, Sabiri immediately noticed fresh recruits. They were necessary for a task this large, but the way they stood out! They weren’t used to marching, they didn’t seem comfortable with their gear, and they looked quite distressed. It wasn’t supposed to be today! They never wanted to be soldiers! Sabiri didn’t know whether she guessed their feelings right, but there was nothing she could do to help them.

A couple of healers passed by, carrying a stack of stretchers. How many of those would they have to use? Many of those healers were also fresh out of training. Could they do their job under such pressure?