Spear's Forgiveness: Spears of the Lel'ult, #4

By A. A. MacConnell

Lulu, Lebna, Adanech, and the Lel'ult Talei head to the east, searching for the fourth of the handed beasts. The coast is Lulu's childhood and she is excited to return and to find what the last beast is.

But there she meets Negasi, a Yigdu she does not remember.

 

He remembers her though. She was there during the Cleansing and is the reason he is alone.

 

Lulu isn't the type to dwell, which is why coming face to face with a life she has ruined catches her off guard. She wishes to prove she isn't the same foolish spear who followed the traitor Masozi, but Negasi refuses to give her that opportunity. Others, including Lebna, think she should leave well enough alone. But as Yigdu assassins who refuse Talei as Lel'ult close in, Lulu doesn't have the time to consider how she is right or wrong. And this cuts deep when it never had before.
Atoning is bigger than herself, Lulu doesn't want anyone to think Talei's bid for peace is wrong.

 

Lulu regrets ever having followed Masozi.

 

So she must prove herself better.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A. A. MacConnell
• Release date: Jul 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201346010

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

The Fourth

Lulu believed they spent more time in the Emperor’s Lake than they did in Hirka.

She and Lebna waited outside the Emperor’s house. The Lel’ult Talei and Adanech were inside, speaking with the Emperor. The Emperor’s spears waited with them, at their posts, probably wondering why Lulu and Lebna didn’t take a break while they had the chance. Lulu didn’t often wish to join the Lel’ult inside the Emperor’s house. At least, for any reason other than to support her. But today was different. She wanted to be in there to see the Emperor’s reaction. Lulu wanted to help, she wanted to explain that Talei’s plans were everyone’s desires, not just the Lel’ult’s.

Instead she had to wait. They could have waited anywhere else, but both she and her spear-brother preferred to do so right where they were. She hoped the Emperor’s spears were not offended, believing Lulu and Lebna didn’t find them capable of defending this place. It looked more likely they would be impressed by her and Lebna’s devotion.

There is the possibility that the Emperor will want the beasts investigated, but not want the Lel’ult to head the expedition herself, said Lebna.

Lulu made a face. Do you have to get my hopes up and down at the same time?

I’m sorry. I only wanted you to keep that in mind.

Lulu shook her head. Usually that would cause the beads in her hair to clack together, but they stayed silent in the long braid she had bound them with. She’d begun beading her hair a long time ago. Her first spear-brother joined her in that tradition. When he had died, she stopped adding more beads. This hair was her remembrance of him.

She had started doing the same for Lebna. He had great hair to work with, though she didn’t want to overdo it. The feather from the Eagle with the human hands was perhaps a better addition than anything she could offer.

I can’t believe that’s all true, and it’s not like I disbelieve you, said the spear standing outside the Emperor’s home. Her spear-brother stayed silent, but Lulu saw the interest in his eyes.

It’s one of those things you can’t understand until you see, Lulu said.

And even then, Lebna added.

Lulu studied the other pair. They looked good, evenly matched. She wondered who would win if she and Lebna sparred against them.

Lel’ult Talei’s father, the Lel’ul Yazid, had been widely known as having the best spears in the land. More talented warriors than his mother’s. Lulu had been included in that group, now serving his daughter. Yet it was a blanket statement. It didn’t mean a fight between her and this other spearwoman would be in her favour.

More than anything, Lulu wanted to prove herself. She knew it didn’t have anything to do with her. The Emperor’s choice right now rested solely on Talei’s words. It had nothing to do with her spears. If she felt like Talei could do this task, the Emperor would also trust her with the decision of who would accompany her. After everything they had gone through, Lulu knew she and Lebna would be chosen. Talei had made her confidence in them very clear.

If she doesn’t want the Lel’ult to go, Lulu continued, not wanting Lebna to think she sulked about it, she would still send people. It’s not something she can afford to ignore.

If the Lel’ult asked us to go without her, with others, would you want to?

Lebna’s question rankled. Lulu pulled her lips back in a grimace. That’s a tough one. If she told us, we would go.

"I know that. I asked if you would want to."

Lulu sighed. Of course. I want to go either way. But... I couldn’t leave her for any length of time. Adanech might be her best defender, but-

She always needs more than one.

It wasn’t that they didn’t trust others. It was simply easier to feel Talei was protected well when Lulu had her own eyes on her. Lulu couldn’t imagine how the Emperor felt, only hearing about her people and her lands, hardly leaving home to see any of it for herself these days. Even for the Lel’ult Talei, Lulu couldn’t imagine. She could go everywhere, see everything, but only one place at a time.

Lulu didn’t envy her at all.

The Emperor’s spears chuckled. Lulu glanced over. Sorry, said the woman, but that is typical of you.

Lulu grinned. It is, isn’t it?

There were dark reasons for that, but she wouldn’t broach it. Everyone knew what had happened to the Lel’ul. The truth had been out for some time.

I have a feeling that wasn’t how you wanted to end that sentence, said Lebna.

Of course! Lulu shouldered him. "I have the part of me that questions what I would do if she asked me to stay while other people handled the search. That would turn me crazy too! I haven’t stopped thinking about the Leopard since we left Badjeba. Not a single day has passed without her on my mind."

Lebna nodded. He had thought as much about it as she had. Perhaps more. He did have a piece of the Eagle with him, after all, the white feather standing out in his hair and against his eyes.

But the Leopard was different. Unlike the Eagle who had struck at them all. Yigdu or not, human or not, the Leopard only wanted to hunt Yigdu. How much damage they had pressed upon her, only for the strange beast to notice and pull away, but never retaliate. Perhaps it was because Talei distracted her too much. The Leopard only cared about her, and before the Lel’ult, the Yigdu woman Zauditu who Lulu and Lebna protected.

It did not make sense. None of it. And waiting for someone else to find the answer for her didn’t sit well.

If the Lel’ult cannot go, we will likely be sent, Lebna continued. Even as well as any of us might describe what happened, someone who hasn’t seen them like us, like the Lel’ult and Adanech, won’t be as prepared to catch sight of this fourth beast.

Lulu nodded. Exactly. Only the four of us saw the Eagle. Adanech and the Lel’ult saw the Jackal... along with those who live in the Basin. But only the two of them have seen all three of the known beasts.

And they had proof of a fourth. A dark cavern wall with a destroyed mural. Not much to go on, but it was more than nothing. And Lulu was nothing if not curious. There was no way she could let this go on by without her. They waited.

As usual, the Lel’ult and the Emperor’s conversation took a long time.

Lebna and Lulu played a game of stones, which Lulu lost. She grumbled a bit, though mainly in jest. She would get their meal. If the others came out while she was gone, she would miss out on the initial declaration. Lebna said doing something else would help her think less about it, but she noted he didn’t volunteer to go instead.

Are you two hungry? Lulu asked the other two spears.

Yes, said the man.

His spear-sister chuckled, nodding.

Then I’ll be back with four bowls.

Lulu rushed to get something prepared. Another gave her a choice of a proper midday meal and Lulu chose what would take the least amount of time to ready. While she offered to do more, the cooks waved her off. It was something Lulu had never gotten used to. Her position as the Lel’ult’s spear didn’t remove her use as a hunter or even another pair of hands in other places, just at the Emperor’s Lake. It perhaps said more about how they had to treat the Emperor’s spears. Lulu thought it made sense. As often as they were here she should have gotten used to it. She had not.

Midday meal?

Lulu turned to Yahim. The young Yigdu man had started growing facial hair, which he hadn’t let do so before now. She thought it became him, but at the same time wondered what had taken him so long to stop shaving his face smooth. Yes.

Does that mean that Talei is out?

The Yigdu of the Basin called her Talei, as she wasn’t their Lel’ult. Lulu was so used to Adanech being the only one to do so that only recently had she stopped hesitating when Yahim did so. Likely because she had spent a bit more time around the other Yigdu lately, especially Yahim. No. She and the Emperor are still at it.

Yahim sighed with a shake of his head. I can’t believe it takes them so long to come up with a simple decision.

It’s less like a simple decision for the Emperor. She hasn’t seen it, has only heard about them from the Lel’ult. We saw a lot more of the Leopard and the Lel’ult won’t want to let someone else deal with it all. She’ll want to go.

Of course she will! Yahim snorted. There is a lot of things I don’t understand about how things work down here and that the heir has to get permission from your Emperor to check something out, something important, is another thing entirely.

Lulu shrugged. You know, even if they had already come up with a decision earlier, we wouldn’t be leaving today to go anywhere anyway.

I know that. Yet how much can we start to prepare today if we don’t know that we are going to the coast? It would be wasteful to begin only to find out that we aren’t.

While Lulu nodded, another thought came to mind. Yahim wasn’t tied to the Lel’ult at all. May I ask a question?

Go ahead, Lulu. I don’t tend to keep information to myself.

It’s more personal than that, Lulu said, but took his permission. Why is it that you stay so close to the Lel’ult all the time? You are the only one from the Basin who insists on going with the Lel’ult when she goes elsewhere. Oringo and the others tend to stay in Hirka, or let her know where else they may be staying. Yet you always come with when able to. It’s curious that you feel you can’t go if she does not.

Yahim smirked. It is because I have a very different view about what it means to be here in the south.

The Emperor’s Lake was in the middle of the land, as far as Lulu’s mind associated it. Badjeba and the desert were past the drylands to the south. Yet this entire land was the south to someone from the Yigdu Basin. A place beyond the Arch, a place even more mysterious still to people - despite knowing others lived there - than the impassable mountains to the west. Than the confusing desert to the south.

How so?

The Second Husband and the others think it is their role to advise and to watch. But is that good enough? Perhaps not all Yigdu come under our Chieftain’s rule, but they are still our responsibility as much as they are your Lel’ult’s. While I respect the decision they’ve made to stay and advise from one sole place, I don’t think they have placed enough importance on one thing.

What one thing was that? Lulu could begin to smell the food.

Yahim looked at her, expression now neutral. That Talei wasn’t raised in the Basin. Or with any other group of Yigdu. She was raised in a house, alone except for her mother and father. She needs more than the occasional advice. She needs someone around who knows the Yigdu tradition. Someone so she won’t insult everyone or make a fool of herself. Ancestors know that would ruin a lot of the progress we have all made over the years.

It all made sense to Lulu, but for one thing. You do do that, true. But not very nicely.

Yahim smirked again. She isn’t my Lel’ult. I don’t have to show that same sort of reverence as the rest of you do. She is a young woman who doesn’t know enough yet. And she doesn’t have power over me.

She has a little bit. She could always ask for us to drive you away if she finds you pushing it.

He laughed. Okay, that is true. But she wouldn’t do such a thing. She is not that kind of a woman.

No, she is not. Sometimes Lulu thought Talei was a little too naive still, even after everything they had gone through. At the same time Lulu appreciated the optimism Talei refused to leave behind with childhood. Lulu wanted to be that optimistic as well. She strove for that.

It was important to her to be happy. For everyone to have the opportunity to be.

Yet there would still be ways to push her to do that to someone. She wouldn’t do it for no reason, but that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t do it.

Yahim thought about it for a moment. You think so? That would be a good thing, if she could.

The man Lulu had left her order with called out and Lulu went to grab the four bowls. Yahim followed, picking two of them up for her. This for Talei and Adanech as well?

Actually, it is for the other two spears at the house. I wouldn’t want to prepare something that might get cold before they come out.

He nodded, following her back to the Emperor’s house. As soon as the other buildings were out of the way so she could see the one by the water, Adanech came in view. She was tall enough to stand out in most crowds, let alone how she kept her head free of hair. Then there were the scars, coloured in blue, she had gotten as her punishment for killing the previous Lel’ult.

Lulu and Lebna had done similarly, but without as deep scars as Adanech’s punishment entailed. They had work to do and Adanech had spent so long recovering.

Adanech out of the house meant Talei would be too. Lulu rushed over, doing her best not to spill anything. She handed both bowls over to the other two guards before facing the other three. Did I miss anything?

I said you would be back soon, said Lebna. The Lel’ult wanted to wait until you’d returned.

Lulu grinned at Talei, who already could not contain her excitement. This told her all she needed to know. Talei had done it, she had convinced her grandmother to let her go. Or else she wouldn’t have waited. That Lulu was certain. Yet there had to be more details. Lulu wanted to hear it now.

Yahim handed a bowl to Lebna, but when he gave the last to Lulu she immediately handed it to Adanech before standing by Lebna. Adanech would need it after time with the Emperor. As did Talei, but she wouldn’t be able to do that and talk at the same time.

We will go to the coast, Talei announced.

Lulu rubbed her shoulder against Lebna’s, taking care not to jostle him too much.

Grandmother agrees that we should look more into these beasts, especially that we are now about certain there are four of them.

Perhaps more importantly in her eyes, Talei should go to the coast because she has yet to travel out that way, Adanech continued. It gets many birds with one stone.

You come from the coast, don’t you Lulu? Talei asked.

Lulu smiled. I come from Mazundu, a small place on the coast. I can’t imagine us spending all that much time there, but we can definitely stop by.

What is the name of the biggest fishing town there? Adanech asked after swallowing a mouthful of her food. It’s a little further north.

Of course Adanech would have known, somehow. Mirtuli will definitely be the place we will need to stop at. If just because it’s a lot more likely if someone has seen something, they will have been in Mirtuli to talk about it. In sparser seasons for other towns, Mirtuli lets others come by to fish in the waters near them. They always have plenty.

Have you been? asked Talei.

Lebna handed some food to Lulu, which she had begun, so she quickly swallowed to answer. A couple times, when I was much younger. I think everyone who was born on the coast must have done so at least once. It’s where I met Daudi, actually, before he came to live in Mazundu with us.

Adanech raised an eyebrow. I hadn’t heard that.

I was eight. We didn’t actually spend all that much time doing anything important for a few years.

It used to hurt when Lulu spoke of her first spear-brother. It used to hurt a whole lot. Yet she had refused to let it stop her from talking about him and had pushed through it, as though it would make the feeling normal. Lulu had felt horrible, in so much pain for so long after his death (after the Lel’ul’s death, after Reem’s death), but she knew the ancestors would not want her to grieve for a successful passing. For one receiving their place in strengthening the world. She had to imagine Daudi still did as much in death as he had in life, even if she could no longer see the immediate effects of his actions.

I can’t imagine that, said Talei. Not important?

Lulu shrugged. Well, not seriously enough. We will be heading out soon?

We’ll stop by Hirka and then head to the coast. If it is your suggestion, we should likely stop at Mirtuli as quickly as possible to see if we can find any information of the beast from anyone who might have seen her.

Very good! Yahim clapped his hands together. I have wanted to see the ocean!

Lulu couldn’t miss the look on Talei’s face, as it struck her Yahim was there. She had done a good job ignoring him. Her Lel’ult cleared her throat before addressing him. Are you certain you don’t want to remain in Hirka, Yahim? I believe Oringo must be back by now.

The Yigdu man rolled his eyes. Why does that mean I’d want to stay? The coast will be interesting, a very different kind of wet than the swamp. With a shrug, he gave a smile to Lulu and Lebna before leaving.

Talei made a sound of frustration. Lulu and Lebna looked at each other.

Well, it wasn’t anything new.

Oringo

They spent a great deal of time travelling through Geresu. That was just how it was when the places the Lel’ult and the Emperor lived in had the forest between them.

The forest used to feel so special to Lulu. Now it seemed like any other part of the wilderness. Perhaps because, in her mind, it had become yet another part of a collective of the two villages. Just a small obstacle in the way. It took several days of travel, but with the party the Lel’ult took with her, there was