Page 75

Chapter 2

Shuree spent several hours training the women how to shoot a bow and arrow quickly and with accuracy. It was the safest thing for them to learn, so they didn’t have to get too close to any raiders. Badma had difficulty pulling the bowstring back far enough so the arrow would fly a decent distance. After the third failed attempt to hit the target she huffed. “What am I doing wrong? The warriors make it look easy.”

“They’ve had years of practice,” Maidar said, taking the bow from Badma. “I used to watch my husband,” she continued, wrapping her gnarled fingers around the bow. “He would never let me try though.” She aimed, released the arrow, and it hit the target with a satisfying thunk. She beamed and handed the bow to the next woman. “Not bad for an old nag.”

Shuree grinned.

When they finished, she ordered the bow maker to make each woman her own bow, and the fletchers to make more arrows. The next time someone raided their camp, they would have far more fighters to contend with.

The warriors hadn’t returnedby the time the sun sat low in the sky. Shuree hesitated outside her yurt. It was her duty to prepare dinner for when her father returned, but the thought of food made her nauseous. Something had gone wrong. Though it was bad luck to think such things, she knew it to be true.

How many men had been killed this time?

She wandered over to the edge of the camp to gaze in the direction of the Erseg tribe. In the dusky light, the steppes were empty. She yearned to mount her horse and ride out to find them, but she was in charge of the tribe and couldn’t leave.

Vachir joined her. “They should be back by now.” His voice seemed loud in the evening quiet.

She nodded. Neither of them needed to voice further concerns.

“Want me to ride out?”

The warriors would view it as a lack of faith in the outcome and the women in the tribe would worry even more. “Not yet.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Have faith.”

She wanted to, but Erhi’s warning echoed in her head. Something moved on the horizon. “What’s that?” She shielded her eyes as if it would help her see further.

“Horses,” Vachir said. “I’ll go greet them. If you hear my horn, they need help.” He jogged over to the herd.

Shuree stayed where she was as the riders came closer. In the fading light it was impossible to tell how many or who they were. Vachir galloped towards them and she prayed they were the warriors coming home. They weren’t riding fast, so it was unlikely another tribe attacking them.

Vachir reached the riders and a few moments later his horn blasted into the air. She flinched. They needed help.

People ran out of their yurts, frantically looking around. A couple of mothers were already herding their children away. “I need healers!” Shuree yelled. “The warriors are home.”

Koke and two other elders ran for their horses, Badma and Maidar hurried to set up the healing tent and still more women gathered around Shuree, looking towards the approaching party, fear on their faces. Her sisters-in-law stood either side of her.

“Can you see who’s at the front?” one of them asked.

Shuree shook her head. It should be her father or one of her brothers, but it was too dark to tell. Someone brought a couple of torches to light the way. It seemed to take an age for the warriors to arrive. She scanned the men at the front for her father.

He wasn’t there.

All the men were bloody and exhaustion lined their faces. She counted, recognising Amar, but not her father or her other brothers. At least twenty men were missing.

Her chest squeezed. Now was not the time to panic. She helped Jambal from his horse, the devastation on his face all she needed to know they hadn’t rescued Yesugen and Tegusken. She took his horse’s reins. “Go, clean up.”

He left without a word.

“Sube,” she called. “Gather your friends and take the warriors’ horses back to the herd. Make sure they’re well groomed.”

Sube ran to do as she asked.

Shuree turned and almost bumped into Amar. She didn’t need to ask the question. Grief covered his face and he shook his head. “Father and our brothers didn’t make it.”

Stabbing shock pierced her and she caught her scream of anguish before it escaped. Her sisters-in-law weren’t so restrained. They wailed and Shuree battled the urge to join them, pushing it hard down into her stomach and inhaling long breaths to calm herself. She was Tribal Mother, she had to lead her people. When she was certain she could keep the scream at bay, she said, “See to your men, and then we will hold council.”

He nodded.