The Cry of the Marwing Read online

  the

  CRY of the

  MARWING

  KAREN SIMPSON NIKAKIS grew up in the alpine region of north-eastern Victoria. She spent her childhood riding horses around the surrounding countryside, developing a keen interest in landscapes.

  After starting out as a teacher, Karen worked in adult migrant education, teacher education and business communications. Taking leave from work to spend time with her young children, she pursued further education, becoming interested in fantasy, mythology and Jungian theory. As well as doing a PhD on Joseph Campbell’s hero path, she wrote short stories, poetry and novels during this period.

  Karen lives with her family on acreage near the western edge of Melbourne and is Foundation Head of NMIT’s Bachelor of Writing and Publishing.

  Praise for the Kira Chronicles

  ‘An impressive debut novel which combines assured writing and well-paced storytelling. K.S. Nikakis is a welcome addition to the ranks of Australian fantasy authors.’

  Juliet Marillier

  ‘The Whisper of Leaves is fantasy supreme . . . an enthralling story with characters you care about.’

  Sydney Morning Herald

  ‘[The Whisper of Leaves] is strong on its arboreal setting, and promises further complexity. For the genre fantasy fans.’

  The Age

  ‘This excellent book is filled with adventure and mystery, tragedy and love, with power struggles, the thrill of success and the crushing weight of defeat. A definite recommendation . . .’

  Newcastle Herald

  ‘This is great fantasy.’

  Cairns Post

  ‘Here’s a strong new voice in Australian fantasy writing. It will be a pleasure to watch as this tale unfolds in future instalments.’

  Good Reading

  ‘Follow the lovely, vibrant Kira every step of the way in this fast-paced, epic story from a brilliant new Australian writer.’

  Toowoomba Chronicle

  BOOK OF THE

  KIRA CHRONICLES

  the

  CRY of the

  MARWING

  K.S. NIKAKIS

  First published in 2009

  Copyright © K.S. Nikakis 2009

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or 10 per cent of this book, whichever is the greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the educational institution (or body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) under the Act.

  Arena Books, an imprint of

  Allen & Unwin

  83 Alexander Street

  Crows Nest NSW 2065

  Australia

  Phone:

  Fax:

  Email:

  Web:

  (61 2) 8425 0100

  (61 2) 9906 2218

  [email protected]

  www.allenandunwin.com

  Cataloguing-in-Publication details are available

  from the National Library of Australia

  www.librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au

  ISBN 978 1 74175 250 2

  Internal design by Kirby Stalgis

  Maps by Ian Faulkner

  Set in 12/16.5 pt ITC Legacy Serif by Midland Typesetters, Australia

  Printed and bound in Australia by Griffin Press

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  To Louise Thurtell, for allowing Kira to begin her journey,

  and to Angela Handley and Louise for guiding her way

  The Tremen

  KASHCLAN

  Kiraon (Kira) – Tremen Leader and Healer

  Miken – Clanleader of Kashclan

  Tenerini – bondmate of Miken

  Tresen – son of Miken and Healer

  Mikini – daughter of Miken

  Brem – Healer

  Arlen – Healer

  Maxen (dec.) – Kira’s father

  Fasarini (dec.) – Kira’s mother

  Merek (dec.) – Kira’s brother

  Lern (dec.) – Kira’s brother

  Kandor (dec.) – Kira’s brother

  MORCLAN

  Marren – Clanleader

  Kest – Protector Commander

  Kesilini – sister of Kest

  Lis – Protector Leader

  Aris – Protector

  SARCLAN

  Berendash – Clanleader

  Therin – Protector

  TARCLAN

  Kemrick – Clanleader

  RENCLAN

  Sanden – Clanleader

  Pekrash – Protector Leader and Commander of the volunteers

  KENCLAN

  Tenedren – Clanleader

  Dendrin – Protector Leader

  BARCLAN

  Ketten – Clanleader

  SHERCLAN

  Dakresh – Clanleader

  Sener – son of Dakresh

  Bendrash – Protector Leader

  Tallien

  Caledon e Saridon e Talliel

  Roshai – Caledon’s sister

  Pisa – Roshai’s youngest daughter

  Mechtlin – Roshai’s husband

  Tain

  Beris (dec.) – former king

  Adris – King, son of Beris

  Aranz – Major Physick

  Terak Kirillian

  Rulership

  Tierken – Feailner

  Laryia – Tierken’s sister

  Darid (dec.) – Tierken’s uncle and previous Feailner

  Merench (dec.) – Tierken’s father

  Lyess (dec.) – Tierken’s mother

  Poerin – Tierken’s military trainer

  Marken – advisers to Terak Kirillian rulership

  Rosham – Farid’s father and head of the Marken

  Milsin

  Domain – Centre of rulership

  Farid – Keeper of the Domain

  Ryn – Horse Master

  Mouras – Room Master

  Niria – server and Marin’s wife

  Domain Guard

  Tharin – Guard Leader

  Daril – Guard Second

  Storsil

  Farsrin

  Terak Kirillian Patrolmen

  Marin – Commander

  Jonred – Patrol Leader

  Anvorn

  Arnil

  Nordrin

  Barid

  Ralin

  Sarim

  Serden

  Derkash

  Ayled

  Shird

  Vardrin

  Slivkash

  Jarvid

  Kessomi

  Eris – Darid’s mother and grandmother to Tierken and Laryia

  Thalli – childhood friend of Laryia

  Leos – Thalli’s husband

  Jafiel – Leos’s brother

  Kira – Thalli’s baby daughter

  Robrin – stable master

  Shargh

  Cashgar Shargh

  Erboran – Chief (dec.)

  Palansa – join-wife of Erboran Ersalan – baby son of Palansa – next Chief

  Arkendrin – younger brother of Erboran

  Tarkenda – mother of Erboran and Arkendrin

  Ormadon – allied to Palansa

  Erlken – Ormadon’s son – allied to Palansa

  Aronin – Ormadon’s kin

  Irslin – Ormadon’s kin

  Sansula – friend to Palansa

  Orsron – Sansula’s baby son

  Irdodun – allied to Arkendrin

  Irason – allied to Ark
endrin

  Orlun – blood-tie of Arkendrin

  Weshargh

  Orbdargan – Chief

  Orfedren

  Urugen

  Soushargh

  Yrshin – Chief

  Aukran – blood-tie of Yrshin

  Irmrin – blood-tie of Yrshin

  Ashmiri

  Uthlin – Chief

  Irlian – son of Uthlin

  Brishanda – wife of Irlian

  If Healer sees a setting sun

  and gold meets gold, two halves are one.

  Then Westerner with silver tongue

  will love and lose the golden one

  but bind a friendship slow begun.

  If horses graze in forests deep

  where trees their summer greening keep

  then fire will be the flatsword’s bane

  and bring the dead to life again.

  Deeds long past will hunt the Shargh

  and funeral smoke consume the stars

  until the thing that draws no breath

  devours the dark that feeds on death.

  1

  The stable door slammed in the wind, startling Kira. Her nerves were still taut after the journey from Maraschin, despite Marin’s patrol having suffered no attacks and the weather having remained fair, if cold. Perhaps it was one of the effects of having to leave Tierken and her kin without any proper farewell, but it was also the sense of having been watched during the trip, a tension that had been shared by the patrolmen.

  The plain had seemed empty, but there had been whole days when the men had ridden with their bows unclipped. Marin had been unusually taciturn too, and Kira suspected it was because he had been unable to find Tierken to confirm that Kira had permission to leave. She was sorry to have put Marin in a difficult position.

  Her cracked ribs had made the journey a nightmare of unrelenting pain, and the only thing that had kept her on the mare was the awareness that, given the coming battles with the Shargh, a Haelen must be established in Sarnia. Kira shuddered as she recalled the wounds that she and Aranz had laboured over in Maraschin. Many of the injured had died, but countless others had been saved because Maraschin had a place of healing. But Sarnia had nothing. When they’d finally arrived here, Kira had been so unwell she’d had to dose herself with sickleseed, and had slept almost constantly the following three days. And she still felt weak now, as she stood in the disused stable, trying to decide whether it could become a place of healing.

  According to Laryia, the stable had been closed up while she and Tierken had been in Sarnia, and it certainly smelled like it. Kira tried to wrest open one of the wooden shutters to get some fresh air, but the hinges were too stiff.

  ‘Don’t,’ ordered Laryia. ‘You’re just from your bed.’

  Kira sagged against the stall, and one of the Domain Guard came forward and struggled with the shutter. Soon there was a harsh screech as it gave way.

  Laryia’s face was full of concern as Kira made an effort to straighten.

  ‘It’s the right layout for a Haelen,’ said Kira. ‘The stalls could be divided with curtains and the harness store made into a Herbery.’

  There was water, too – provided for the horses – and the stable’s position under the city wall made it convenient for receiving wounded. All in all it was well suited, thought Kira, feeling heartened. But she wondered whether Tierken’s prohibition of the Haelen – healing having long been banished from the city of the Terak Kirillian – was at this very moment making its way north. There had been a constant flow of message cylinders from Maraschin, ordering the movement south of men and weapons. Farid, the Keeper of the Domain, had told her that reports of her safe arrival in Sarnia had been sent back to Maraschin too. And she also knew from him that there had already been a lot of fighting, which made the need for the Haelen even more urgent. Kira winced. The thought of wounds, even those the Shargh would suffer, filled her with dread.

  ‘I’ll organise for it to be cleaned out and scrubbed over the next few days,’ said Laryia. ‘And I’ll trade for the services of some woodwrights.’

  ‘Once the Haelen’s ready, I’ll need to gather,’ said Kira, as they began their trek back up to the Domain. ‘Are there herbs near the walls?’

  ‘The land there’s pretty well grazed,’ said Laryia. ‘And Tierken directed that you remain within Sarnia. He’s asked me to do the same.’

  ‘Tierken has directed?’ questioned Kira.

  ‘He wants to ensure our safety, that’s all.’

  ‘Tierken insisted that the Shargh wouldn’t come north, so there should be no risk in me gathering outside the walls,’ said Kira.

  Laryia’s eyes flashed but she held her silence until they reached the privacy of the Domain. ‘Why does Tierken’s wish to protect you anger you so? Don’t men in the forests care for those they love?’

  ‘I’m just anxious about establishing a herbal supply,’ said Kira, reluctant to argue with Laryia. ‘There’s no point in having a Haelen if I have no herbs to minister with.’ Laryia still looked doubtful as Kira turned towards her rooms.

  She collapsed onto the bed, feeling more tired than ever, but she’d already lost three days, so instead of resting she opened her pack and emptied its contents beside her. There was the pot of fire-weed Tresen had given her in Maraschin plus a half-used pot she’d originally brought from Allogrenia. The fireweed fingers she had gathered before the Shargh had seized her, had long ago turned to dust. As for the rest of her supplies, there was barely enough for even a beginner Healer’s kit.

  ‘Kira?’

  It was Laryia, poised in the doorway. ‘I’ve been thinking,’ she said. ‘We could get herbs from Kessom, although we’d have to do it soon. Once snow-melt begins, Glass Gorge will flood and the journey would be too dangerous.’

  ‘We’d need a steady supply, and some herbs are only potent when newly harvested,’ pointed out Kira. ‘And I don’t think there’s fireweed at Kessom – at least, I couldn’t find any.’

  ‘Is that what you were doing that last day there, when you came back so late – looking for fireweed?’ asked Laryia suddenly.

  Kira nodded.

  ‘Tierken was frantic when you hadn’t returned, even though he knew the Guard were with you. It was a night like that when my father drowned. I don’t remember him, or our mother, but Tierken does. We think our father was caught while gathering in one of the small valleys up in The Slopes. They’re narrow and fill quickly. His body was found in Glass Gorge.’

  Kira was silent for a while, finally understanding the violence of Tierken’s reaction. ‘Is there nowhere that isn’t stone in Sarnia?’ she asked in frustration, thinking of her need for herbs again.

  ‘There’s the Wastes in the Caru Quarter.’

  She had fled to the Wastes after the Mid-market banquet and yet another argument with Tierken, recalled Kira. It was full of alehouses and women who traded themselves, but there was also a place rampant with weeds, where the land dipped like a bowl.

  ‘Actually, its proper name is Kasheron’s Quarter,’ said Laryia.

  ‘Kasheron’s Quarter?’ said Kira.

  ‘When Kasheron and his followers deser– left, Queen Kiraon insisted that Terak put aside a quarter of the city for her eldest son and his followers, should they ever return. She even made a garden there, so they’d be reminded of Kessom. But they never came back. Ever since Tierken’s been Feailner, Rosham’s been badgering him to open it up to the other Quarters to build on. The city’s crowded and extending the wall’s costly. It seemed like Tierken was finally going to agree, but he appears to have changed his mind . . . Rosham was very annoyed,’ added Laryia.

  ‘Tierken’s left Kasheron’s Quarter open in case Kasheron’s people return?’ asked Kira, heart quickening.

  ‘I don’t know his reasons,’ said Laryia. ‘Tierken gets a little of his own back sometimes by goading Rosham. Probably not the best thing to do, given Rosham’s influence in Sarnia.’

  ‘If Tierken�
�s Feailner, why can’t he do as he wants?’ Her father had always gone his own way.

  ‘He can, but it’s easier if he has the cooperation of those who feed the thoughts of others. Sarnia accepts Tierken as the rightful Feailner, but he was raised in Kessom and carries Terak’s eyes – Kasheron’s eyes, too. Gold eyes still elicit ill feeling and mistrust,’ said Laryia looking at Kira uncomfortably.

  ‘Then the people of Sarnia will never accept me,’ said Kira, the realisation surprisingly upsetting to her. ‘I’ve got gold eyes and I’m a Healer. My very presence here must hurt Tierken.’

  Laryia’s hand closed over hers. ‘It’s not that clear-cut. After the long seasons of Darid’s childless rule, Sarnia is keen for certainty. Believe me when I tell you that many in the city would prefer to see the Feailner married to the woman he loves – even if she does have gold eyes – than living alone and childless. Sarnia wants an heir.’

  The notion of being part of the Sarnians’ plan for succession was almost as abhorrent as being rejected by them, thought Kira.

  ‘Don’t let it concern you,’ advised Laryia. ‘They’d like to see me married – preferably to Farid – and carrying, too, for the same reason. After all, if the Feailner won’t produce an heir then his sister should, so that the line continues. But I’ll choose the man and the time of my marriage. Of course, the city can’t see why I haven’t made the Marriage Walk with Farid already and, in some ways, neither can I.’

  Kira looked at her in bewilderment.

  ‘Well, don’t you think he’s handsome?’ asked Laryia.

  Kira nodded, remembering the stares of the other women at the Mid-market banquet.