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New Years Day 1008

The moon was setting when we finished crossing the ocean. I followed the woman and the girl to a cave in the cliff that bordered the shore. The woman had stayed at this cave before, I was sure of it. She pulled out some metal tools from her bag and scraped them until they sparked, then lit a candle behind the cave entrance.

The cave was a decent size. The woman found some branches in a corner and started breaking them up. I helped. A rodent ran out, squeaking.

“I suppose no one’s been in this cave in a bit.”

“I imagine not. People in Nonsaii have retreated to within the walls. I must tell you, we are entering dangerous territory. It would be wise for you to go to Buarvige-tongue rather than journeying with us. If you follow the shore to the east, you will get there within a day. There is a path above the cliff that ought to be decently marked, even if the snow is deep.”

“What will I find in Buarvige-tongue?” I only vaguely knew the chiefdoms of Buarvige.

“You will find people on your side,” the woman said.

“My side?”

“You are from Aza, are you not?”

“Yes.”

“Your people fought for the conqueror. People in Nonsaii and Cenat fought for their queen.”

“Oh!” I suddenly understood. This woman was from Cenat. She thought I was the enemy. “My brother fought for your side. Torvin.”

The woman scraped her metal tools together again. The branches caught fire. She pulled out a pot and measured grain and snow. “That would have been in defiance of your chief.”

“Amyra, let her stay with us if she likes,” the girl said.

Amyra. Where had I heard that name before?

“It is still dangerous for her, even if we can trust her,” Amyra told the girl.

“Maybe I can help. I’m a runner.”

“Do you want to be a spy?” Amyra asked me.

“Sure. Anything so I can get enough to eat.”

“You could be killed. Kristiana and the Lilacans don’t care about killing women. Think about it.”

Amyra fluffed her shawl and tossed it onto a pile of straw in the corner. The girl was already lying down, in the corner closest to the fire. I could see her praying, her grey eyes staring into the fire. I followed their lead. It was my first time sleeping by a fire in a long time. Mrs. Mirin’s loft had been cold.

Amyra woke me up too soon. “We should eat before sunrise.”

I looked out the cave. It was still dark, but light enough to see that the snow had stopped falling. I remembered: it was New Year’s Day. The girl was already awake and eating. She was quiet but seemed so bright, so alive. Her hair was darker than mine or Amyra’s, darker than I had known hair could be dark. I wondered if she was from western Isvartoi.

“Pack up your stuff,” Amyra said. “We’ve a good hour to walk to the hill.”

I followed along a narrow path through the trees. The sky grew lighter. Pinks and oranges began to color the east. We were walking southeast, towards the sunrise. At last, Amyra led us to a hill and stopped. She handed around some water. Then, she stood at the top of the hill, facing the sunrise. The girl stood next to her. Both were silent until the sun started to peak over the mountain.

Amyra’s voice was strong and unwavering. “May this year bring us a better life, and a better world; one that lives; and believes in peace, kindness, and helping the unfortunate. Please, earth, be able to feed, shelter, and clothe us. And in return, we shall not take what we do not need nor shall we injure one another. We will not hurt or kill one another, either. We love Rhetia very much and wish to live here always. For those who have gone on before, whom we will never forget.” Amyra took a deep breath.

“My mother,” I said, remembering the night before last. “And probably Torvin.”

“My mother,” the girl said. Softly, she added, “Queen Aralina. And my Protector. Saria. And all my people who have died fighting for me.”

I heard her choking sobs, but I couldn’t comprehend. I was in the presence of my Queen. And Amyra must be the priest. The Regent.