Spear's Reach: Spears of the Lel'ult, #3

By A. A. MacConnell

Lebna and his spear-sister Lulu are two of the Lel'ult Talei's most trusted spears. Talei takes them with her to witness a union of two women - one of them Yigdu.

But to make sure this union goes smoothly, Talei leaves Lebna and Lulu in charge in Badjeba.

And they wait for the return of their Lel'ult from Masiwava.

Of course, everything must go wrong. Masiwava send people to try to chase away the Yigdu in Badjeba. Lebna learns of an illness the Yigdu experience here by the desert, which requires certain medicine to combat. Medicine Masiwava does much to make sure they cannot have. Then, one night, the Yigdu bride disappears into the desert. Lebna and Lulu struggle to determine what the right course of action is, as their Lel'ult trusted them with the safety of all Badjeba.

All the while, Lebna dreams of his dead lover, long after he had thought himself accepting of her loss.

Lebna hasn't been a warrior for long.

He must find a way to fight better.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A. A. MacConnell
• Release date: May 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393767152

A. A. MacConnell

A. A. MacConnell is thankful for all time and emotion spent imbibing creative endeavors, being personally familiar with the process. Living in the woods with noisy nature and dogs, this author thrives in the fantastical, the psychological, and introspections of relations between people. Go to aamacconnell.com to read more drabbles, poetry, ideas, other books, and updates of future releases.

Book preview

Reem

This was not real.

Lebna lay on the ground. This was not his hut in Hirka. This wasn’t even where he slept right now, during his current journey. This place didn’t exist anymore, not in this way. A familiar warmth pressed up against his side, arm slung over his chest. Lebna felt like he had woken up, not that he still slept. If that were true, then everything was fine. Slight shadows crept against the wall from the sunlight outside making its play at the start of the day. The warmth beside him stirred. Could this be real?

There you are.

Reem looked as he last remembered her. Beautiful as ever. Her eyes were as brown as her skin, making the whites of them stark in their contrast. She had always sheared off all her hair, showing more of that gorgeous freckled skin, including scars and other marks she had gathered over her lifetime of bettering herself.

Her spear leaned against the wall, the cover off and spearhead shining somehow.

Because this was not real. She reached out, stroking the side of this face.

Calm yourself.

Lebna turned his face away. His throat felt choked, though that did not stop him from speaking. Not in a dream. I am calm. I have accepted this. You are dead.

Reem hesitated. Then she sat up, drawing her feet to her chest. Exactly as he remembered her doing. As if it hadn’t been years since that time. I died.

Reem said more after that, but Lebna missed the words. Her lips moved and he watched, but no sound reached his ears. He remembered something else she had said instead. Before he had lost her, not what this figment said now.

We’ll have more time together soon.

More than just her nights. That was what she meant. He had the feeling what she had planned to ask him. He felt it in every beat of his heart.

Have you found happiness? Reem asked instead. The figment of his dreams, Reem. Still here to comfort him, not mock him. Always sweet to him, his Reem. The occasional tease, but never cruel...

Happiness? I have found purpose.

That is important, love. But any happiness?

Lebna wondered. Had he? He didn’t want to lie. I am working myself out. My future. I have the Lel’ult to support. My spear-sister to back. I want these things.

Was he happy? The softness in her expression, that he and only one other person ever drew from her.

Lebna awoke slowly, blinking up at the brightening sky. He knew he was truly awake now and it burned at him to have the comparison. He should have known better.

Where had these dreams come from? When had they started? They had come to him, on and off, for so long now. He could not escape them, not that he wanted to. But this was important right now: she wanted to know if he was happy. If thinking about her constantly during the night made him happy.

It was hard to say. The pain of losing Reem had not dwindled. He knew he was not the only one. Anyone who had known Reem still suffered her absence. Especially Reem’s spear-sister. Lebna wouldn’t lay sole claim to that hurt, it was shared amongst more than the two of them. He refused to let it drag him down. He refused to consider sleeping like that forever.

Because he didn’t really want to, not at all. But there was always a moment when he saw her in a dream when he wondered what it would be like if the dream was the only real thing. Him and her inside that hut.

He reached up and stroked the feather at the side of his face. Lulu had set it in his hair well (she had an excellent gift with weaving hair, despite only doing her own for the most part, and not even recently). Long strands filled with coloured beads, Lulu had completed her look a long time ago. She helped him with his and after the Lel’ult’s Yigdu coming of age journey, this Eagle’s feather was now the highlight of his decorations. A gift from his Lel’ult.

There was something about the feather, stark white as it was, that comforted him. He didn’t know why, considering the Eagle had tried to kill his Lel’ult and Adanech. He had not felled the strange beast, so it was no true trophy. And yet.

Lebna?

Blinking sleep from his eyes, Lebna turned to see Lulu, arm against the tree he had slept under. He was the only one still laying there. The rest of the Lel’ult’s party he could hear moving about in the morning light.

Are you all right? his spear-sister asked. You’re the last one up.

Lebna swiped his fingers over his eyelids and sat up. Yes, I’m fine. Sorry for sleeping in.

When he pulled his hands down from his face, he saw Lulu’s frown. Are you sure? Are you feeling unwell?

He shook his head. While he didn’t feel as rested as he had wanted, he knew he was not sick. He wouldn’t hold anything up. Not at all. I’ll be ready to go. In a moment.

Lulu nodded. Very well. It’s not as though either of us are going to hold up our departure!

Lebna smiled. Not at all. I’ll be right out for our stretches.

I’ll be waiting!

Lulu ran down to grab breakfast. She could eat at any time. Lebna preferred after his morning stretches. Getting up, he checked his pack and everything he had brought for this journey south. He had gotten everything prepared for every eventuality before going to sleep the previous night. His armour was still clean. His spear had been tended to after the last hunt. His quiver was refilled.

He had looked forward to this. Everyone had. Ever since the news had come from Badjeba. Perhaps this news was what brought on his dreams of Reem. Lebna wouldn’t let this hold him back.

A union that would become a step forward for their people. All the Lel’ult’s people. Lebna would do his part to make sure it all went smoothly.

THE JOURNEY THROUGH the drylands would take a month. They were well prepared for this, however, because their path was well traversed, the direction well known. Their destination? Badjeba. It sat right on the edge of the desert, at the last consistent source of water to be found before one disappeared into the sands. Lebna had never been this far south before, but he had seen Badjeba in the distance once or twice.

Occasionally Lulu would exclaim, A union! Her enthusiasm for it all would be infectious if the rest of them weren’t already thrilled about the celebration.

The drylands described themselves. The lands became dusty and the grasses browned. Plenty still grew, but it was nothing like the green of the Geresu, the forest near Hirka. The land didn’t have many hills, but it was far from flat. Their path went up and down in rapid succession, within a few steps. The trees of the drylands had grown tall somehow without the water one would imagine necessary for such heights.

And during the day it became much hotter than Lebna was comfortable with.

Lulu threw an arm around Adanech’s shoulders. Can you imagine?

Adanech smirked. I can imagine half of it.

I don’t even know what Yigdu have in their traditions for a union. The Lel’ult was deep in thought. Since her coming of age, the Lel’ult had been like that more often. Stewing in consternation about what she didn’t know about her Yigdu heritage.

But it wasn’t just the Lel’ult and her people taking part in this union. The Yigdu from the Basin in the north, those who advised the Lel’ult Talei on their customs which she hadn’t had a previous opportunity to learn, accompanied them. The Chieftain’s First Husband Oringo usually did such things, but not this time. He couldn’t always be with the Lel’ult, Oringo had family up north. He had given the Lel’ult more than enough as it was, and would continue to give more. But right now he spent time with family.

This meant Yahim was the man to take Oringo’s place. Lebna wasn’t sure about him, because Yahim spent half his time teasing the Lel’ult as much as he did advising her in anything.

Yet they all wanted this reconciliation to continue. Eventually there would only be Emperor’s people - whether with Yigdu heritage or not. Lebna wondered if there would be a better way to differentiate them by word when that came to pass.

It is all typical things. Yahim put his hands behind his head, acting as though he said nothing of great importance. I can’t imagine that any of you could have messed up a ceremony for a union. After all, all it means is that people have come together.

The Lel’ult scowled, turning her head to the side to hide it from Yahim. The boy was cheeky. Lebna knew Yahim was a man now, but he still acted like a child. Well, both he and the Lel’ult were still young. Lebna supposed one still did seem childish in some ways despite becoming adults. Just because one’s body decided they were ready did not account for one’s mind.

Walk me through it anyway, said the Lel’ult. I’ve never been at a union.

Celebration, lots of beads, and receiving your blessings from the ancestors.

Only Yahim could have found such a nondescript way to talk about that. Lulu’s mouth twitched as she kept herself from laughing.

We have the celebration and beads in common, Lebna said. What do you mean by receiving your blessings? The ancestors always smile upon us, it is why the celebrations start in the evening and go through the night.

That is also the same. In one breath, Yahim sounded so much more polite (now that he didn’t address the Lel’ult). But those involved in the union will take a moment to offer a trinket they have gathered on their own to the ancestors to ask for their blessing. Sometimes a message comes. I hear it’s a very meaningful process, but obviously I’ve never seen it first hand.

Lebna once was offended on his Lel’ult’s behalf for Yahim’s tone. Lulu pointed out he might have a crush on her. He didn’t think that was a good reason for it, but Talei didn’t tell him to stop or ask anything to be done about Yahim. So Lebna would support her with other measures. She could handle Yahim on her own.

Then Oringo would have been much more helpful here, the Lel’ult agreed smoothly, because of having unions before.

Lebna looked over to his spear-sister. Adanech raised an eyebrow at the Lel’ult, who stared back innocently, while Lulu hid her laughter against Adanech’s shoulder.

Likely. Yahim couldn’t have missed the insult, but he didn’t seem to care. Should have asked him more about it before he went back north.

It doesn’t look like there will be any problems with integrating both sets of traditions, said Lebna. He decided if there would be a calm and rational one here, he would have to do it as Adanech didn’t seem willing to step in and speak just yet.

If you people don’t have anything that would get in the way of the rest of that, then definitely not, said Yahim. Such things don’t tend to clash as much as people think they might.

The Lel’ult’s expression brightened. It’s about time!

The first official union.

Lulu, can you even say anything else? Adanech asked.

What are their names again? Lulu asked someone behind them, ignoring Adanech’s words.

The woman who had come up from Badjeba, with the news and the Lel’ult’s invitation, cleared her throat. My sister, Azmera. She is marrying Zauditu. Zauditu has lived with us for many years now. Not many Yigdu come and stay this far south, not even on their own.

I’ve heard that, Adanech mused.

The Lel’ult mouthed the two women’s names.

Lulu dropped her arm from Adanech’s shoulders and returned to Lebna’s side. Starting to think you might forget me, he said.

How could I? She tapped his nose. You’re so obvious.

The weather had been kind to them in everything other than the heat. Each day they made great progress. No animals bothered their group, too large to be an easy hunt. Halfway through their journey they stopped for a larger hunt of their own, collecting enough and preparing it, staying put for a few days. They cooked and stored the meat as others gathered roots and berries. Azmera’s sister let them know that hunting and gathering wasn’t hard by Badjeba, but further from their water sources it would be as difficult as those not used to such little water could imagine.

Lebna and Lulu stuck close together, close to where their Lel’ult’s stood unless she asked them elsewhere. Lebna tried not to laugh as Lulu repeated herself again.

After all this time... they are actually settling down with us. And we’re letting them! Lulu grinned, a dreamy expression on her face.

Somehow she still kept an eye out as the Lel’ult and Adanech joined Tinotende and Adjoa in collecting figs. That the four of them ate them as they went along wasn’t as productive as they could be, but Lebna couldn’t fault them for enjoying it.

Look how far we’ve come!

It’s hard to believe how little time it’s actually been. Since the Cleansing, Lebna meant, but he knew neither he nor Lulu wanted to say the word out loud. The implication of it was enough, his meaning understood, without being distasteful about it all. Finally. We’re... Lebna considered what he wanted to say. Closer.

Closer like Adanech and our Lel’ult, no? Lulu nodded at the two.

Lebna didn’t think the two of them could be closer. Adanech had once been the younger sister. Reem’s spear-sister. She had grown so much since Reem’s death, now the elder one.

Stronger and closer, he agreed, wrapping his fingers around the shaft of his spear. He focused on the hide which tied his spearhead to the wood. I hope I have grown even half as well in my abilities as our Lel’ult.

Lulu scoffed. Don’t put it like that! You have grown so much!

He trusted Lulu’s word. Much like Adanech, Lulu had grown up with the spear. Not like Lebna, who had only picked one up after the loss of his lover. He couldn’t deny, no one could, that he still flagged far behind Lulu’s capabilities. He had been surprised when she had asked him to be her spear-brother. Never a day passed that he wasn’t grateful for it. He wouldn’t have made it this far without her, that was for certain.

His learning of the spear had started out trial by fire, almost literally.

Perhaps I bring it up because it always makes me feel better to hear you say that.

Lulu sighed. I’d think you were teasing me, but unfortunately I know you’re being completely honest. You know I will say it each time. I’ll tell you when you’re doing something wrong. I always have. That’s how it works.

I’m grateful.

"You’ll get bette- You’ll improve. I promise.

Better.

The word caused something inside of him to tighten. Sometimes he felt like Adanech was the only one who could say that word without making him react. He could tell Lulu felt it too. Her lips pursed together and she didn’t look at him, as if there was anything wrong with what she had said.

Even after all this time. Sometimes it was more obvious than other times, Lebna supposed.

Yahim had joined the fig collecting party. Lebna watched Talei brush off one of the Yigdu’s comments before searching the distance.

He saw the group even before he believed he should have been able to. Without turning his head, he moved his spear to the right, tapping it against Lulu’s shoulder. He had her attention, but from the corner of his vision he could tell it took her longer than she wished to see the same.

I wonder where they are going.

Lebna couldn’t count the number of the party out there, but he could tell it was more than a few. He gave off a low but sharp whistle, gaining everyone’s attention. Adjoa took the figs from the Lel’ult as she jogged over to him, Adanech right behind her.

Lebna pointed so the other two women would catch it. The Lel’ult frowned until she finally spotted them. Should we greet them?

That would be your call, Talei, said Adanech.

They appear to be heading south as well, Lebna said. If we continue on, we might cross paths with them without losing any ground.

You think they are also headed for the union? Lulu asked.

Lebna didn’t know why Lulu sounded surprised about that. He couldn’t be certain from this distance, but he believed the people in the distance were Yigdu.

LEBNA HAD GUESSED CORRECTLY.

The Yigdu were ecstatic to see their Lel’ult. Lebna and Lulu kept at their posts as the Yigdu spoke with her. Azmera’s sister recognized a couple of them, even before they confirmed they also were headed for Badjeba. It didn’t sound as though they knew Azmera all that well, but they were all friends of Zauditu. They wanted to be there to celebrate her finding the person she wished to spend her forever with.

How did you find out? the Lel’ult asked.

A Yigdu with brown hair almost too light to make sense, and markings which covered the upper parts of her face and arms, lifted a hide. Lebna didn’t know what that meant, though the Lel’ult did.

Care to accompany us? There is more safety in numbers.

These numbers, most definitely, said another Yigdu. We would be honored to travel with you, Lel’ult Talei.

Lebna was pleased to hear those words, but the warrior’s instincts he had honed over the last several years kept him observant. Not all of the Yigdu were as excited. There were ten of them and three were either too tired to show any pleasure, were less happy with the Lel’ult’s offer, or only on this journey for a different purpose. Maybe because someone else wanted them to come with.

It could be nothing. Lebna hoped so. Of course not everyone, Yigdu or no, would think a union between their people was the same wonderful promise for their future as the Lel’ult did. He and Lulu had to make sure no one else might want to stop it,