Demon Child Ch. 07

Jhardron stood, "Your people have made promises of peace to the Bak Tai. You are free to roam your lands and rule your people as you wish. You must not aid our enemies. If any Ramaldi have hidden among you, it will be your duty to turn them out."

As Neekah spoke the words, Lachram looked uncomfortable, "The grasslands tribes have many ties with the Ramaldi. Many of the tribes are related by marriage to the Ramaldi. One of my wives is Ramaldi."

Neekah turned to Jhardron and translated this. Jhardron shook his head, "I do not speak of Ramaldi that are now grasslands people by marriage or adoption. I speak of any warriors of the Ramaldi that may have taken refuge or come seeking allies to mount resistance to our victory over their land."

Neekah could sense the easing in Lachram's spirit as she reassured him. He nodded, "No Ramaldi warriors have come to the grasslands to my knowledge. If any seek shelter among my people, I will refuse them hospitality."

"Your people were wise to accept offers of peace. The lands of the Ramaldi lie empty. It is time for us to return to our camp. We will travel by moonlight. We will return tomorrow."

Lachram stood and nodded. "We look forward to your return."

Jhardron stood and Neekah followed him to the horses. She had been so busy speaking that she had not eaten. Her stomach rumbled softly in complaint, but missing a meal was a small thing. She wrapped her arms around Jhardron's waist and leaned her head against his back, her long legs hugging the warm flanks of the gray stallion in the cool night air. She yawned sleepily and wondered if she would share pleasures with the warriors under the bright moon hanging low in the sky.

She felt her body relax, her mind filled with images of a figure bound with chains, facing north, a figure with fiery red hair and smoke in its eyes.

She was almost asleep as they rode into the camp. She slipped into the arms of the warrior who pulled her down into his arms. She sensed his urgency. "Ha'akh, you have kept us waiting."

She laughed, "I have so many masters to serve, and I cannot refuse my Khan when he commands me to ride with him. I am here now."

As she woke in the morning, Neekah felt the heaviness and pain in her womb that heralded her woman's bleeding. She knew her monthly time would start soon. Neekah carefully tore several wide strips from the cotton fabric and fashioned several short loin cloths. She wondered to herself about her woman's blood. How would she keep herself apart from the warriors at this time?

Among the Ramaldi it was customary for the women to be isolated from the village during their bleeding time, staying in a special hut where their blood would not contaminate the village. While Neekah was not welcome there and had never been, she knew it was forbidden for a woman who was bleeding to couple or even speak to a man during that time.

Neekah nervously approached Kwal'kek as he supervised the loading of the wagons, her face flushing with shame. Her voice low and whispering, "This ha'akh is soon to start her woman's blood. I will be unclean. I must go to a place away from the warriors."

He looked at her irritated at being interrupted. "It is not our way to keep a ha'akh isolated during her moon blood. We will not share pleasures with you and you must keep yourself clean with cloths. Use some of the wound bandages from the boxes. When your moon blood ceases you may resume your mating with the warriors. In the city the Bak Am use this time to make sacrifices at the temple to wish for a child. I am sure you will carry a Bak Warrior in your womb soon enough." He turned back to his task muttering about not being an auntie.

Neekah chose not to speak of the herbs she had eaten that made her unable to conceive. She sensed no life growing inside her, she was sure it was unlikely to happen. She did not want a baby in her belly. She thought to herself that a demon's womb is no place for a Bak warrior's seed.

Jhardron told Kwal'kek that he would need the ha'akh to ride with him again today. He took the lead rope to Xin'sha as they rode slowly toward the grassland herder camp. This time the majority of the warriors rode with their Khan. Neekah was struck with the order of the group as they rode as a regiment. Most rode in a double row behind the Khan, but there were many that rode ahead and to the side, scouting for possible danger.

A scout rode up with the message that a small herd of wild plain gazelle were spotted. Jhardron ordered that a group of warriors go and kill them for a gift to the grassland people.

The warriors startled the small herd of wild antelope and just as quickly a half dozen bows were up and arrows in the air, and six of the medium sized grazers dropped in their tracks. Just as quickly the dead animals were slung across the flanks of the warrior's mounts and the group moved on toward the camp.

The warriors moved quickly over the grass, Neekah was challenged to keep her seat without using her hands. She was determined not to ride like a baby. She focused on sitting tall and balanced; her hands free. She knew from watching that the warriors rarely used their horse's reins to guide them, they used their legs and their balance to communicate. She had learned if she gripped too tightly with her knee or heel, Xin'sha would turn that way. She gently experimented with this as much as the long lead rope would permit.

Neekah knew the grasslands were deceptive, as she sat on Xin'sha's back it looked like they were featureless, but she knew that the endless waves of grass hid myriad sheltered valleys. The herder's camp was hidden in such a valley, the riders had to be almost on top of it before they could see it, one minute endless sky and grass, a few steps, and below stretched a valley filled with the round tents of the herders.

Jhardron directed the main body of the warriors to dismount and keep back with their horses. "Bring the antelope and leave them on the grass." Jhardron dismounted and pulled Neekah down to stand beside him.

Lachram stood before a small group of men. "How may the grassland herders serve the Bak Tai Twisted Dagger?"

Jhardron nodded, "We bring a gift of meat. We would share your hospitality one last time before we ride west."

Lachram smiled warily and spoke to a man to his right. Soon a small group of women came and carried away the animals.

With Neekah translating the two men spoke. Jhardron looked to the west. "What grasslands tribes have their camps to the west?"

Lachram spoke, "To the west are the traditional herding grounds of the Wind Singers, but their tribe was lost. The tribes of the Bitter Grass Eaters and the Sand Dancers are further west, but I know not the locations of their camps."

"Tell me of the sea to the north."

"The grasslands tribes do not travel to the sea, it is a haunted place. The spirits of the demons that died in the Great War still roam there. The wind that howls through their empty stone cities can steal your soul. A band of low forest grows along the cliffs to the north. The Grass Walkers do not travel beyond that boundary."

Jhardron frowned at the words about magic and demons. "You speak about the body of the demon that stands to the west. Have any other demons been seen in the grasslands?"

"That is the only demon that has been seen in our lands in our memory. It may have had some powers, but it could die. The story of this demon," he tipped his head at Neekah, "shows that they can be killed by mortals."

Jhardron laughed grimly and patted his sword. "I have heard many fireside stories about magic, but I have never seen anything that can withstand a steel blade."

Lachram nodded. "The blade that the demon carried is still buried in its body. I have never seen its like. Its length is longer than the tallest man of my village. The demon who wielded it was a giant."

Jhardron raised his brow, "I am increasingly curious to see this marvel. Our wagons will arrive at the noon sun. We will share meat with you then and discuss trade. We will stay the night and leave in the morning."

Lachram looked relieved to learn that the warriors planned to move on in the next day. The little tribe did not have the resources to feed the large number of men and had no defenses against such an armed force. The survival of his little tribe was completely on the whim of Jhardron. "The Bak Tai are men of honor. You are welcome to our camp."

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

This story contains many words from the language of the Bak culture that I have created. The meaning of most of these words is easily inferred from their context. A ha'akh is the lowest rank of female slave assigned to serve a regiment of warriors.

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