“Where once we were just a small clan concerned for ourselves, now us, Rau, and all who must join together are of the Claw.” Bau paused and held up one hand claws extended. “Now our talons must be swift and deadly.”
He paused, letting his words have effect. Then, in a more even tone, continued.
“You are aware that four days ago, we sent Sherril Rangawo to negotiate safe passage for us through the lands down there.” He gestured down the slope toward the wide valley, then turned to point at Sherril, who preened at the attention. “But there he sits! You can see that he has returned safely. The Lord Tae Shanissi has agreed that we can proceed unmolested…” Bau’s voice was drowned out by a chorus of pleased yowls. “Bury it, you fools! You know it isn’t that simple! This is still a Liskash we’re dealing with. Nothing is straightforward. The weakling dinos always have a reason. They always want an advantage. This is it: in exchange for allowing the tribe to pass through the land, he demands a cultural exchange.”
“They can’t understand culture,” Drillmaster Scaro Ullenh said, with a scornful flip of his tail.
Bau nodded agreement. “Not ours; not yet. That is what he claims he wants. We are interesting to him.” He held up a hand to forestall the outbursts. “No, I don’t really believe him. I think it is just a means of gaining power over Mrem, though I do not yet know how he plans to achieve that. We will not know until it’s all over and we’ve shaken the dust of his realm off our feet. But we can’t stay here on the edge of his lands forever. There are too few of us to fight, though we’d take many times our number to Aedonniss with us. To go back and choose another route would cost us months more of travel. I do not lie to you; we have little food left for us or our beasts. We need to trade or buy, and no one else is near enough to sell us grain. We lose Mrem and herds on the road every month we must travel. Those who go to perform for Lord Tae will likely save many lives. I do not pretend that those who go will come back, alive or unaltered. The Liskash magic has robbed many Mrem of their names, minds and freedom. We could lose all those who go into the citadel. Therefore I ask for volunteers.”
Nearly all the warriors leaped to their feet, yowling their willingness. Bau couldn’t help but feel pleased. They knew it was suicide, but that never stopped a true Mrem. He had to weed out the foolhardy, the inexperienced, those who were too young or too old, and especially those who did not rise until they saw their fellows spring up.
“I would die for the sake of the clan!” declared one warrior, shaking a fist above his head.
You’re not going, Bau thought to himself.
Then one he knew and trusted heaved himself to his feet, a stocky, grizzled male with scars on his arms and chest. Emoro Awr led a squad of picked warriors. Every one of them feared his wrath, yet strove for his approval. He prided himself on bringing all those under his command back, alive or dead. Bau nodded. Here was the first of a strong band.
“Emoro, will you lead a force to accompany our people into the city?” he asked.
“To Aedonniss’ gate, if need be,” Emoro said. “And back again.”
He wasn’t bragging, only stating what he believed to be true. Bau was pleased. He crossed to Emoro and put the staff into his hand. The strands of crystals danced and twinkled. All the Mrem’s eyes followed.
“Choose your fighters.”
Emoro looked around. It was a tribute to the old male that no one looked away, or sat down, to avoid being chosen. In fact, most of the young ones seemed eager. Bau watched with interest as Emoro made his decisions. He forewent most of his usual band, tapping instead fighters who were more than cadets but had seen only a few battles.
Bau frowned. “Will you choose none of your own warriors, brother?”
Emoro flicked his tail. “I don’t want to leave the clan with inadequate defenses.”
“You won’t,” Bau said, slightly amused. “We’ll make do.”
“All right, then.” Emoro pointed to Scaro, who had been one of the first to rise. “You’ll be my lieutenant, Drillmaster Ullenh.”
Scaro threw his chest out. “Of course, my Clawmaster! I am proud to serve.”
Emoro returned the staff to Bau, who immediately passed it to Cassa Fisook.
“The choice of a Dancer must fall to you.”
The elder female sighed. Her bright green eyes looked sad. “I would go myself. There is much more I would teach my students before I am confident that knowledge is safely stowed in their memories, but I am growing old. There may come a time when infirmity might cause me to hold you back. Better I give myself to this task. If I were not to come back, others could carry on. When the Clan of the Claw is reunited, that lore that I had not passed on to my Dancers can be restored to our collective memory.”
“There is another way,” Bau reminded her. In his heart he feared the loss of any of the priestesses. They protected the clan in ways that he and his warriors could not, and they were the guardians of their history and customs. Nearly three-quarters of the fighters could fall before it would mean the same as being deprived of one of the remaining Dancers. “We can go far to the south and skirt Tae’s land. It will add greatly to the length of our journey, though.”
“All the more reason for me to undertake it,” Cassa said. “Petru, you will come with me, won’t you?”
The valet cast himself upon the ground on his back before her, throwing up a cloud of scented glitter. “Anywhere and anywhen, my mistress.”
“No,” Cleotra said, alarmed. She rose. “I will go, Cassa Fisook. You can spare me. You have others who know as much as I.”
She said it, though she didn’t really mean her humble words. Cassa smiled at her kindly.
“No, my dear. I cannot ‘spare’ you, but I will be grateful if you will make this journey. You will be better than I.”
“Never that, Cassa!”
“Don’t underestimate yourself, my dear. I expect you to succeed me one day.” She turned to the talonmaster. “Bau, this is our Dancer.”
The talonmaster bowed deeply to Cleotra Mreem, flicking his tail in wide arcs. “Your Sinuousness.”
She accepted his obeisance.
“The rest of us will work for your safety while you are in enemy ground,” Cassa Fisook said. “But you should not go by yourself. You, too, should take,” she smiled, “a lieutenant.”
“Me!” Ysella Ehe sprang up at the military term. She glanced at Scaro and ducked her head immediately. The warriors all chuckled except Scaro. If her unrequited passion had gone unnoticed before, it was not now. He looked perturbed and slightly horrified.
Cleotra moaned to herself. That girl would be nothing but trouble, mooning after the randy warrior in the midst of danger.
“No, child,” she said. “Stay with the others. It will be safer.”
“I am not scared of lizards,” Ysella said scornfully. Why did no one take her seriously?
“And what is the source of your courage?” Bau asked, gently. He had a daughter her age.
“The Dancers can stand against all,” Ysella insisted. “When we Dance, the power of Aedonniss flows through us.”
“I think not,” Cleotra said. “Remain here, my dear. You are the next generation. Give yourself time to grow up.”
“Cleotra Mreem!” The girl’s golden eyes widened with dismay.
“Take her,” Cassa said, unexpectedly. “You may need her energy.”
Cleotra frowned. To concentrate upon their rituals, she needed to focus. If she was worried about one wayward youth, that distraction could break the vital link between her and the others. Ysella picked up on her concern.
“I will serve you,” Ysella promised. “I will be the best apprentice you could have. I will be obedient. No one will work harder than I.”
Cleotra did not want to, but she relented. “All right. I will hold you to your word.”
“I won’t fail you!”
“Mistress, I must go, too,” Petru said, rubbing his cheek against Cassa’s ankle.
“You, my friend?” Cassa asked, looking down on him fondly. Petru blinked at her.
“Of course. Who will care for the lady Cleotra and Ysella in that barbaric city? Who will see that their coats are brushed smooth and that every bracelet is polished to the sun’s own gleam? Who will see that they have food that is fit to eat? Aedonniss alone knows what filth they consume behind those walls!”
Sherril perked up. A valet in his train? He had felt like such a supplicant in Lord Tae’s court before, with all those lizards running to and fro to serve the noble’s every whim. To show that he was a Mrem of substance, worthy of having a servant of his own, would elevate his status. Besides, should they survive to return, there would surely be an opportunity to take a measure of revenge upon the obnoxious creature.
“I would be grateful if you would allow him to accompany me, Your Sinuousness,” Sherril said.
“Granted, then,” Cassa said. “Prepare, then. We will Dance you a farewell.”