Tani's Destiny (Hearts of ICARUS Book 2) (27 page)

“It didn’t hurt tho much,” Dirk said.

“That’s good,” Tani said. 

“Ith it all finithed now?” Dirk asked again.

“Not quite,” Tani said, “but don’t worry.  The next part won’t hurt.  All you have to do is try to stay very still.  Can you do that?”

“Yeth, I can do that,” Dirk said, nodding.

You’re such a good boy, Dirk,” Tani said. 

 “Can I have thome water, pleath?”

“Yes, of course,” Tani said.  She started to go find a glass and water, but Drya was already moving toward the chiller, so Tani turned back to the view screen.

Once Dirk had his drink, Tani signaled Astra to start the annealer to finish healing the bone in his leg.  While she did that, Tani began healing the tissue around the injury.  Then she focused on the green stick fractures in Dirk’s arms.  None of those was serious, and she had them healed by the time the annealer finished with the tibia. 

After Dirk got another drink of water, Tani turned on the steri-lamp and began disinfecting the minor wounds that Drya had cleaned of dust and dirt.  “Dirk, do you remember what happened to you?” she asked casually.

“No,” he said.  “I woked up and wath here.”

“What about before that?” Tani asked, keeping her voice conversational as she continued to go over his scratches with the light.

“I wath…,” Dirk trailed off, his brows scrunching up in a frown as he struggled to remember.  “Oh, I wath playing a hiding game with the other kidth and I hidded in a cave and hit my head.”

“You hit your head?” Tani asked as though surprised.  “What did you hit your head on?”

“I don’t member,” Dirk said. 

“Does it hurt now?”

“No,” Dirk said. 

“That’s good,” Tani said.  “What cave did you hide in?”

“I hidded in Grandma’s cave,” Dirk said.  “Ith okay to hide there cauth I live there.  Right Grandma?”

“That’s right,” Drya said. 

“What else did you do?” Tani asked. 

“I hidded in Rikard’s cave but I askeded hith mom if I could, and I hidded in Ruya’s cave but no one livth there.”

“What did you do before you played with the other children?”

“I had lunch with Grandma,” Dirk said, “then we played the hiding game.”

“Oh, so you played the hiding game for a long time,” Tani said.  “It must have been a lot of fun.”

Dirk nodded slowly, then looked at Steel, then his grandmother.  “Grandma, did I do thomething bad?”

“No, you didn’t do anything bad, Dirk,” Drya assured him.  “Not one single thing, I promise.”

Tani felt Dirk relax beneath her hands.  “Your grandma is right, Dirk.  You didn’t do a thing wrong.”

“Why did my leg get brokded?”

“You fell down,” Tani said.  “We found you on the side of the mountain, the big one that’s behind the caves.  You know which mountain I mean?”

Dirk’s eyes widened as he nodded slowly.  “I din’t go there, I promith.  Grandma would get tho mad at me for that.”

“We know you didn’t go there,” Tani said.  “Don’t worry.”

“How’d I get there?”

“We don’t know, Dirk,” Tani said, turning the steri-lamp off.  “All finished.”

“My leg ith fixded?”

“Yes it is,” Tani said, smiling.  “How do you feel?”

“Tired,” Dirk said.  “And hungry.”

“I’ll bet,” Tani said.  “I feel kind of tired and hungry myself.  What do you say we both go find us something to eat?”

“Yeth pleathe,” Dirk said, his eyes sparkling up at her as a big grin spread across his face.

Tani stepped back and watched Drya help Dirk up off the medi-cot.  “I’ll clean up in here if you’ll walk Drya and Dirk home,” she said to Steel.

“I’ll help you,” Astra offered.

“And I’ll make sure a few people keep their eyes on Dirk from now on,” Steel said.  “I won’t be long.”  He leaned down to kiss Tani lightly, then left with Dirk and Drya. 

Chapter
8

“Tani, do you have a minute?” Astra asked one morning at breakfast, startling Tani out of her thoughts. 

It had been a couple of days since Dirk’s misadventure on the mountain, and they still had no idea who was responsible.  Everyone appeared to accept the story that he’d climbed up there on his own, but Tani had seen enough people surreptitiously watching over the child to know that most either knew, or suspected, the truth.  What troubled her most was Steel’s absolute refusal to discuss the possibility that one of his own people was responsible.  He’d seemed to at least consider the idea the night it had happened, but that had changed by the following morning.

“Of course, Astra,” Tani said.  “What is it?”

“I’ve been asked to speak with you on a matter of some importance.”

“This sounds serious,” Tani replied, wondering at Astra’s sudden tension.

“For the women, particularly those held captive for so long, it’s very serious,” Astra said.

“All right,” Tani said, frowning when Astra hesitated.  “Astra, if I’ve done something to insult or offend someone, you can tell me.  I won’t get angry.”

“Oh no!” Astra exclaimed.  “It’s nothing like that at all, I promise.”

“Well, whatever it is, it can’t be so bad that you need worry about telling me,” Tani said, trying to encourage her to spit it out before her curiosity got the better of her.

“I’m not nervous because of you, Tani,” Astra said.  “I’m nervous because this is such an important issue, especially after what happened to Dirk, and they’ve entrusted it to me.”

“I see,” Tani said, nodding.  She set her cup down, then pressed her hands together and bowed solemnly from the waist.  “I ask your forgiveness for my impatience,” she said.  “Please take your time, and tell me only when you are prepared to do so.”

Astra looked at her in surprise, and Tani smiled gently.  “There are times when formality provides you with a path to set your feet upon where otherwise you might flounder.”

Astra gave her a grateful smile, set her own cup down and took a deep breath.  “The women of the Khun want to be taught to defend themselves, Tani, but the men refuse to teach us.”

“Why?”

“Why do they want to defend themselves?”

“No, why was the request refused?”

“The men have been trying to teach themselves how to use weapons for a year now,” Astra said.  “Unfortunately, there have been some very serious accidents, so they’re not comfortable with the idea of trying to teach the women something so dangerous.  In addition, there are now about two hundred and twenty men who’ve spent the past year in the mine who are now trying to learn how to use weapons.”

“Those are good reasons, Astra,” Tani said.  Astra’s shoulders slumped with obvious disappointment.  “For them.”  Astra looked up hopefully.  “The men have reason to refuse at this time, but I do not.  I’ve studied offensive and defensive arts my entire life.  I have enough knowledge to teach the women what they need to learn, and I agree that they do need to learn.  If they know that they can protect themselves, it will help boost their confidence after all they’ve been through.  Let me talk to Steel about it, all right?”

“What if he says no?” Astra asked.  “Will you teach us anyway?”

“Astra, Steel is King of the Khun, not I,” Tani said with a frown.  “I will not gainsay him in the rule of his people, nor would I ever go behind his back in an important matter such as this.  It would be worse than wrong.  It would be a betrayal of his trust, and that is something I would never do.”

“I’m sorry, but in this instance, I feel very strongly that what those women need is far more important than what’s right or wrong, or even what Steel wants.  He cares for you, Tani.  I know you can convince him to do this, somehow.”

“I promise that I will try to convince him of what I believe to be right and necessary, but I will not attempt to manipulate him.  I’m disappointed that you would even suggest such a thing to me.”

“I know, and you’ve every right to feel that way,” Astra said earnestly.  “It’s just that those women need help so desperately.  They’re in constant fear of being taken back to the mine, and they have nightmares every night, including the children.  They all sit around in silence day after day.  There’s no life to them any more.  If they can learn to protect themselves, even just a little, it may go a long way toward helping them to recover.  At the least it’ll give them something to occupy their time and their minds with.  It’s the only solution I’ve been able to come up with that might actually work and I’m growing desperate.”

“I understand, Astra, and I agree with you that something must be done.  I will do all that I can to help, on this you have my word.  But please, for the sake of our friendship, never ask me to do something so dishonorable again.”

“I’m sorry, Tani,” Astra said.  “I truly am.  I’d never behave that way myself, which makes it doubly wrong of me to ask it of you.  I won’t do it again, I promise.”

“Thank you,” Tani said, then smiled to let Astra know she was forgiven.

Steel stood outside the entrance to Astra’s cave, pride filling him as he listened to Tani gently chastise Astra for her suggestion.  He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but he couldn’t help being glad that he’d heard this particular conversation.  He turned and took a few steps away from the entrance so that he could no longer hear them, and looked around at his people.

So many had died in the mines.  Nearly half the women, and over forty men.  There were now less than three hundred males, and only one hundred and twenty seven females.  The Khun were free, but barely hanging on. 

It felt good to see the men out and about, caring for the livestock down in the valley, practicing with weapons, or just sitting outside, relaxing in the warm morning sunshine.

But only a few women were outside, and all of those were women who’d lived in the caves for the past year.  He hadn’t seen any of the women they’d rescued since the night of the raid several days earlier.  They were all keeping to the women’s cave, even though most were well on the way to recovering their strength, thanks to Tani.  Not a single one of them had moved into the caves that had been so carefully set up specifically for each of them.  They were afraid to leave the group, he realized.  Afraid to be alone.

Astra was right.  They needed help beyond the physical healing of their bodies.  They needed to feel safe, or at least feel that they could do something to fend off an enemy.  They needed confidence.  He nodded to himself, then went back to the cave entrance and made his presence known.

“Good morning, Tani, Astra,” he said after Astra invited him in.  He bent do kiss Tani on the cheek, then sat down in what was becoming his usual place and accepted Astra’s offer of coffee. 

“I have to confess that I overheard part of your conversation about the women needing to defend themselves,” he said calmly.  Both women stared at him in surprise at first, then Tani’s eyes narrowed and Astra blushed.  “I apologize to both of you.  It was wrong of me.  My only excuse is that I heard my name and couldn’t seem to stop myself listening.  I promise to never do such a thing again, nor to hold anything that was said against either of you.”

“I appreciate your honesty, Steel,” Tani said.  Not many people would have made such a confession at all, and it spoke to his character that he had.  “Since you heard our conversation, shall we discuss the matter?”

“Yes, I’d like to do that,” Steel said.  “Astra, I just took a little time to consider your opinion that the women need confidence, and you’re right.  None of them have even left the women’s cave since their return, and that’s not a good thing.”

“No, it’s not,” Astra agreed.

“On the other hand, those of us who haven’t spent the past year in the mines have enough on our hands trying to teach the others how to fight.  Since none of us are exactly masters, we’re finding it to be a much bigger challenge than we expected.”

“That’s understandable,” Tani said.  “But I can teach the women.”

“Yes, I know,” Steel said.  “But it’s a big undertaking, Tani.  If you begin, then leave, there will be no one to finish.”

“That’s not an issue,” Tani said, and his heart leapt.  “I’ll begin with the simplest, most basic weapon available.  In just a few days they’ll be able to use it with confidence.”

“Oh,” Steel said, his hopes hitting the floor with an almost audible thud.  “What weapon is that?”

“A hand laser.”

“Those are dangerous,” Steel warned.

“That’s the point,” she said, smiling wryly.  “I’m afraid that harsh language just isn’t going to work any better for the women than it would for the men.”

Steel rolled his eyes, making her laugh.  “Why hand lasers?” he asked.

“Because most of the women are still weak and may remain so for some time,” Tani said.  “A hand laser is relatively small, easy to learn how to use, can be used by a person with limited strength and manual dexterity, kills and recharges quickly allowing the user to defend against several attackers at once, and does not require that the user get too close to her attacker.”

Steel nodded.  They were all excellent reasons.  “We should have enough hand lasers for everyone since we emptied the Nomen’s armory.”

“I was hoping that was the case.  Don’t worry, Steel.  I’ll teach them the dangers, as well as the benefits of the weapon.”

“That’s more than we men had,” he said.  “I wonder, do you think you might be willing to give some of us men a few pointers?”

“Of course,” she agreed.  “I won’t be able to begin working with the women until the hand lasers have been gone over thoroughly.  That’ll take time, but it’s unavoidable since those weapons came from the enemy camp.  So, if you like, I can spend some time with the men today.”

“I’d like, very much,” Steel said.  “I’ll get some men started on the hand lasers right away.”

“They know how to field strip and check them?”

“Yes, that much we do know, thanks to Khurda,” Steel said.

“Tani, do you think you could tell the women that you’ll be teaching them?” Astra asked.  “I think it would help their spirits.”

“Yes, of course,” Tani said.  “I’ll do that first.”  She looked at Steel.  “What do you think the men will want to learn most?”

“There are about fifty of us that have developed some skill with hand lasers and projectile weapons,” he said.  “Those are the simplest to use, of course, which is why we’ve started the new men off with them.  I know some of the men would like pointers on long range shooting, and on shooting moving targets.  Most of us would like help with edged weapons, especially the
shuriken
and throwing knives.  Personally, I’d love to learn how to fight hand to hand, like you did in that alley on EDU-12.  I never imagined being able to do anything like that, and now I can’t think of anything I want to learn more.”

“It takes years to become truly proficient in the martial arts,” Tani said.  “I’m happy to teach you, but I think we should begin with some basic maneuvers designed to disable your opponent as quickly as possible.”

“That sounds great to me,” he said.  “I’m going to go get some men started on the weapons, and let them know we’re going to get some training from an expert.”

“They won’t mind learning from a woman?”

“No, they’ll be thrilled,” he said confidently.

“All right, I’ll come up to the armory when I finish speaking with the women,” Tani said.  Steel leaned over and kissed her quickly, then practically leapt to his feet.

“See you soon,
Khalute
,” he said, then waved at Astra before leaving the cave.

Astra arched a brow at Tani, who just shrugged, smiled, and got to her feet.  “I better go get dressed now.  It looks like it’s going to be a busy day.”

Astra watched her leave the room smiling wistfully.  It was so wonderful to see both her cousin and her friend happy.  She just wished she could have a little of that same happiness for herself.  She’d meant to follow Tani’s advice about Khurda, but she’d gotten side tracked with caring for the women and children who’d been freed from the mine.  All of them were eating solid food now, so long as it was cooked well first, and they were slowly regaining a little strength, due mostly to Tani’s healing efforts.  Maybe it was time to focus on herself, and her own happiness.  She just had to figure out how to go about
seizing the day
like Tani had suggested.

***

Tani sat on a stool by the fireplace in the women’s cave, with all of the women gathered around, facing her.  Most of them were still quite weak, though they were all improving.  Ruya and the other six women who’d been in the worst shape of all were no longer in their beds.  They’d recovered so quickly after Tani’s healing that there were already strong enough to help with the care of the others.

Tani had immediately wanted to help all of the women, but Astra had objected, strongly.  Instead, she encouraged Tani to help only those who needed it most, and those just enough so that their bodies could easily accept the nourishment they so badly needed.  Tani wanted to heal all of the women of all of the damage caused by their long bout of near starvation, but she recognized her own limitations, and knew that if she wasn’t careful she could end up killing herself.  Then she could be of no help to anyone.