It was a week before her brother's murder. Sharalla sat at the long table in her father's hall. Her long black hair was plaited down her back and this time her face was in plain view. She was in her late teens and very beautiful. She had high graceful cheekbones set in a narrow oval face. Her features were almost symmetrical. She had a gentle rosy tinge in her cheeks, fine dark lines for eyebrows and red lips, which were delicate and fitted perfectly into her face. Her stunning violet eyes only added to her beauty.
     She rose elegantly when two men entered the room. One was little more than a boy, he seemed only a few years younger than Sharalla. He shared her raven hair, but he wore his short. His face was free of the hair that characterised the older men of the tribe, making him seem younger still. His eyes were not violet, but a soft grey which undoubtedly darkened when he grew angry. He was Tianas, the son of her father and the one who would be murdered.
     The man who walked beside him was a few inches taller. He also had black hair, although his was streaked with grey, and eyes of grey. His beard and moustache were also grey. His face bore the look of wise years. He walked beside his son and nodded across at his daughter.
     Makra, leader of the Sekra, sat down at the head of the table. His daughter sat on his right, as was proper for the eldest child of a tribal leader. His son sat opposite. A smile passed between them. Makra also smiled, his two children were as inseparable as twins, despite the two years which separated them.
     Soon he would have to choose which one would succeed him, but for now he was content to love them both equally and leave it at that. The other council members filled the other chairs round the table, Makra rose and the meeting began.

     Sharalla laughed and pushed her brother over. Her new deep velvet dress was momentarily forgotten in their play. Her raven hair fell in waves down her shoulders and was tossed around by the wind.
     They were in a meadow surrounded by tall grass and wild flowers of every colour under the sun. Tianas had a slight height advantage over his sister, but she used her wits, not mere brawn to win these mock fights. They chased each other round the meadow several times before finally collapsing into a tired heap in the grass.
     "We'll be together until we die, won't we?" Sharalla asked, the smile on her face, making her seem even more beautiful.
     "Of course", Tianas answered, "Nothing could ever tear us apart!" He had no idea then that those words would come back to haunt him. Within a week there would be an irreparable breach between these siblings, one which would eventually lead to his death.
     They linked arms around each other's waists and walked back to their father's hall laughing.

     Sharalla lay in her room a few days later. She was very nearly asleep when a scream ripped through the halls. It echoed round and soon was replaced by the sounds of people frantically getting up and running down corridors to find the source of the disturbance. Sharalla joined them. She ran down corridors with fear clawing at her heart and her insides feeling like they had been turned to stone. Something was dreadfully wrong here and a part of Sharalla knew that her whole world had been changed permanently by that scream.
     She ran into her brother on the way and together they headed down the passage which led to their father's room. He lay on the bed quivering and shaking. This sight was a far cry from the father they knew. The one who manipulated the other council members into agreeing with each other when all they wanted to do was quarrel.
     In silence they turned to each other and held on. United for an instant in their troubles. The room around them was in chaos. Council members were running around the room and a healer was trying to get everyone else out of the way. In the end he turned towards the grief stricken siblings, "I need your help. I cannot attend to your father's condition if there are so many people in this room. Either of you outranks the council members as you are your father's heirs. Please, I need some room here."
     They looked at each other in astonishment as if they had suddenly realised something. Sharalla stepped forward into the centre of the room and clapped. Immediately everyone stopped what they were doing and paid attention to her.
     "Everyone here will leave now, except for the medicine man, my brother and I. If I see anyone else in here after I count to twenty then they will suffer. Now GO!"
     Her tone was authoritative and commanding and they all obeyed her. Something flickered in her brother's eyes though, a streak of jealous anger. The way Sharalla had handled the situation made her the perfect candidate for the leadership if their father should die. That would leave him weak, something he could not do. He was Makra's only son and he deserved to be leader, to be called Tianra, his sister did not.
     When the others had cleared out, Sharalla knelt down by her father's side. The medicine man attended to him. Something inside her told her that there would be a new leader soon. She would be called to take her father's place, as was her right as the firstborn child.
     She was so busy helping the shaman and attending to her father's condition that she was unaware that her brother had left. Drawing all her strength together she finally turned to the shaman and asked the question whose answer she dreaded, "Will my father be alright?"
     The shaman turned to her and looked into her eyes, "He has a bad sickness. I can make him comfortable, but I cannot cure what he has. Your father will join the sky spirits. I am sorry for his loss. But Sharalla, daughter of Makra beware. You stand on the edge of a great darkness. If you allow anger and jealousy to overcome your judgement then I fear for you. Take care."
     "I don't understand. What do you mean?" But Tiri, the healer had left. It was then that she noticed her brother had left. With tears running down her cheeks, she leaned over her father. Her world had collapsed in on her and she felt as if she could hardly breath. Her mother had been carried off in childbirth and now she was to lose her father as well. A pang of hatred for her brother ripped through her. Why was he not here to comfort her and watch over their father? It was as though he didn't care anymore.

     The council was in emergency session a few days later. "You all heard what the shaman said, our leader is dying and we must select his successor." One of the council said standing up. He was very agitated.
     Another member from across the table stood up, "But who will it be? That is not an easy decision. Sharalla is the eldest and shows promise in leadership. Tianas is a warrior and would be good for battle. Makra is in no condition to choose and he has never named either as his successor. We will have to choose fast because Makra will be with the spirits before the moon is full. I suggest that we have a vote on it."
     "I second Mralla's motion. She is right, a vote would be best. BUT, only after they have spoken to us. We should see them first and then decide who is to led us."
     An outburst followed that comment and there was a lot of shouting. People stood up and yelled across the table at others. Since they had no leader, there was no one to call them to order. The situation was deteriorating fast.

     That evening two of the council members were talking, "You must see that it is the only way, Krata. If Sharalla becomes leader, all our hopes will be dashed. She is too political. If we propose a war to her then it will never happen, she has too much of her father in her. Tianas is a true warrior, if we say war, he'll agree. We are going to have to persuade him to stand against his sister for leadership. The factions of the council are split almost equally. If we can get him to start acting like a leader, the way his sister did the other night, then the council can be swayed to choose him over his sister."
     "It shouldn't be too hard to persuade him, Mutak. I saw the look on his face when his sister did her leader thing. I think our young heir wants to be leader badly. Badly enough that he would destroy his own sister to get it."
     "Good. Only one thing remains then. We must keep his sister out of the way until Tianas is firmly established as the main candidate for the leadership."
     "That shouldn't be too hard, she spends all her time with her dying father."
     "You know, that poison worked better than either of us suspected."
     "Yes, not only will it carry off our noble leader, but sow dissension between his children."
     "Come we have much work to do."

     "Well?" Mutak asked, a sly look in his green eyes.
     "You don't need to persuade me. I want to be leader and I will be. If Sharalla stands in my way then I will crush her." It was Tianas who spoke now, his grey eyes were hard and cold.
     "Good. We need you to make an appearance to the people. We will then present your case to the council members, privately. If all goes well then your sister will not have a chance of becoming leader." It was Krata who said that. His amber eyes glowed like a fire when he spoke. This would be their greatest triumph.
     "Fine. Let's get to it." At that, they all left the room. Mutak and Krata smiled at each other. This was all going as they wished. Soon they would have their own puppet as leader. It would be they who ruled the Sekra, and that was exactly what they wanted.

     Sharalla was at the bedside of her father when her brother entered, flanked by two council members. Her father was much worse. She knew that he would die soon and then she would have to assume the responsibilities as leader of the Sekra tribe.
     "I am glad to see you brother. Our father is nearing death. Where have you been for so long? Don't you care anymore?"
     "I care. However, there is more at stake here than just our father's life. I must think of the whole tribe. That is why I am here. I am challenging you for leadership before the council. You will present yourself there immediately."
     "WHAT! Have you lost your mind? You are challenging me!"
     "I have that right."
     "I know. It's just... I thought we were siblings, almost as close as twins."
     "We were, but that changed when you decided that you would take MY leadership from me."
     "Even so. I cannot leave father now. He is very close to death." She chose to ignore her brother's comment about it being his leadership.
     "That is your choice, Sharalla, but you will be giving up the leadership." It was Mutak who spoke then. His face bore a grin that unnerved Sharalla. She knew that it was he and Krata who had subverted her brother. She glanced over at her father's body and sighed. She had no choice but to leave. Her brother would be ruled by those two alone if he became leader and she owed it to her father to make sure that was something that never happened.
     "I will come."

     After they had gone, Makra lifted his head. His eyes were filled with tears but open. "Sharalla" he whispered. "It would have been you. Tianas must never rule. Mutak and Krata will then rule. They will cause..." Makra never finished. His words died with him. No one was with him when he died and no one heard his choice for leader or the beginning of his warning about Tianas.

     Tianas and Sharalla stood before the council. Tianas had already talked to most of them and a lot of those were already on his side. He felt as though he had already won. Sharalla would never be leader and he would finally get what was owed to him.
     They had both presented their cases to the council and now they awaited their decision.
     Slowly, Mralla stood up and faced the children of their leader. "We have chosen. The decision will be final unless the warrior challenge is called for. The decision was not unanimous but there was a majority. Our next leader will be..."
     The door was flung open at that point and a messenger entered. "Makra is dead! Our leader is gone! All must come!"
     Sounds of shock rippled through the council chamber. Mralla rapped on the table with her knuckles. "Enough!" she said, "This meeting is adjourned. The next leader will be announced at the full moon. Until then, we are in mourning. Everyone will leave."
     Sharalla sagged to the floor weeping. "No. He should not have died alone. I should have been there with him! A curse on this council who brought me here! A curse on my brother who has so dishonoured my father's memory! You have chosen. I only hope your choice was wise. If not then I hope you will life long enough to regret it!"
     "Was that a threat, daughter of Makra?" A councilman asked.
     "No, it was a prophecy." With that she left the hall, still shrouded with her grief. The council members looked at each other. Something bad was coming and they knew there was no way to escape it now.

     The funeral of the once great leader Makra was very solemn. Sharalla led the way, she wore black and her violet eyes were bright with tears. Her brother came behind, his eyes were a steel grey and he didn't seem to care about his father's death. The fire from the pyre lit up the sky. It was a way of returning his spirit to the sky and earth from which it had come.
     The next night would be the night of the full moon. The whole council already knew the decision and the fact there was no way to revoke it. They were stuck with their choice no matter what the consequences of it were.

     The full moon shone bright on the circle of power. Sharalla and Tianas stood in the centre. Soon one of them would have to step out of the circle and the other would remain as the leader. They would be given a new name and a new life. They would then be sworn in and be blessed by the spirits.
     Mralla stood at the edge of the circle in a white gown. In her hands was a silver circlet. It was for the new leader. Her face was serious and seemed sad. It was almost as if she was upset by what she had to do. "Sharalla, daughter of Makra step forth. You have failed in your bid for leadership. Leave the circle or face the spirits' wrath."
     Sharalla's face fell, although she kept her head high as she walked out of the circle. Then she ran off into the night. Her anger burned like a torch. They would all pay for this. That was a promise!
     "Tianas step forth. Receive this circlet as a symbol of your power. You are no longer Tianas son of Makra, but Tianra, leader of the Sekra. Lead us wisely and well. Follow in the ways of your ancestors. Tiri, shaman of the tribe, will you bring the spirits' blessings upon this our new leader?"
     Tiri drew himself up tall and stepped into the circle. As a shaman this was allowed. He was a holy man so his presence would not cause the spirits' anger.
     "I will give no blessing to your leader. He is leader on this earth only. His spirit is not of my world and my spirits will not bless him. You have chosen poorly and you will pay for that mistake. I will have no more part of this tribe while he rules." With that, he left the circle. A stunned silence remained. In all the thousands of years of the tribe's history, no shaman had ever refused. This was not what was supposed to happen and it was an ill omen. Their shaman had disowned them, there was no one to stand between them and the darkness now.
     "He can't do that! I am leader now! I say he cannot do that!" Mralla faced their new leader and spoke "Yes he can Tianra. Our fate is sealed. The spirits have left us!"

     Sharalla searched her room until she found it. Almost religiously she lifted the box out from under her resting place. She lifted the lid and took out her knife. It was a hunting knife with a wide blade and a curved end. She would challenge him to the Maj'ta, it was a fight to the death. The winner would be leader.

     The circle was empty except for Tianra. The council had left. He didn't move. This was supposed to have been his night of triumph, now it was a disaster. He was so deep in thought that he did not hear Sharalla approach.
     "I invoke the Maj'ta, Tianas. Let knives decide the leader."
     "I see no need to fight you Sharalla. I have already won. You have lost, face it and move on. I see no need to have to kill you as well."
     "Well I do. You are supposed to be a warrior! Fight me or die a coward!"
     "No. Now, I order you to leave me alone. I am Tianra, the leader, you will obey me."
     Sharalla's violet eyes went dark with anger. She pulled the knife out of its sheath and charged at him.
     "Sharalla, stop!" It was the shaman Tiri who shouted. He came running in, but too late. Sharalla's dagger slid into her brother's body. It went into his ribcage and pierced his heart. He was dead before his body hit the ground.
     Tiri came up just as Sharalla slumped to the ground beside her brother. Tears ran down her cheeks, "What have I done, Tiri? What have I become?"
     "You have stained your innocent hands with blood. You must purge the blood with other deeds before you can return to your people. You are outcast now. The darkness that overcame you must be atoned for with good. Leave now before the council finds you and kills you."
     "I must leave?"
     Tiri lowered his blue eyes. His black hair fell over them. He was only a few years older than Sharalla and had loved her a long time since. "You must leave and you must go alone. Five rotations of the sun must pass before you return. Remember though, you cannot purge your spirit with your own blood, that is not the right way. Please, go now, before they find you. For the love of heaven, GO!"
     Sharalla ran off towards the woods, the knife still clasped in her hand. She glanced back at Tiri. The young shaman stood and watched her go. His face bore a deep sadness. She was now an exile and it was likely that she would never see him again.

     The tale has come full circle. We see a girl standing in the woods with her brother's blood on her clothes and spirit. By order of the shaman, she must redeem herself before she can return to her tribe. Her journey would be long and hard. This would be a test of the highest magnitude.
     Her brother had betrayed her and her father, but she had done something even worse. She had betrayed herself, her tribe and her shaman. She had committed murder. She had stained herself with blood. Now she was tainted and must be washed clean before she could return.
     Slowly she walked off. The knife dropped from her hand. She had no need of weapons. Hers was to be a journey of the soul. She must find a way to wash the bloodstain clean and to return to lead her tribe. Her journey was not behind her; the real one had only just begun.

Next Story

Original Stories by Me

My Fan Fiction

Index