The Desert Spear

room.
    “Enough,” Jardir said after a moment. The torturer stopped immediately, bowing and receding to the wall. The Tender hung limply from the shackles at his wrists. Jardir went up to him, looking at him sadly. “I am the Shar’Dama Ka, sent by Everam, who is infinitely merciful. Speak and speak truly, and I will put an end to your suffering.”
    The Tender looked up at him, and seemed to regain something of himself. “I know you,” he croaked. “You claim to be the Deliverer, but you are not him.”
    “And how do you know that?” Jardir asked.
    “Because the Deliverer has already come,” the Tender said. “The Painted Man walks in darkness, and the corelings flee from his sight. He saved Deliverer’s Hollow from the brink of destruction, and he will deal with you in your turn.”
    Jardir looked to Ashan in surprise.
    “This is not just one man’s word, Shar’Dama Ka,” the
Damaji
said. “Other
chin
speak of this warded infidel. You will need to destroy this false prophet, and quickly, if you are to secure your rightful place.”
    Jardir shook his head. “You sound like my wife, old friend.”

CHAPTER 7
GREENLANDER
    p.
326 AR

    “ ONE DAY , I WILL be Sharum Ka!” Jayan shouted, thrusting his spear at the rag-stuffed dummy Jardir had made for him. It swung lazily from a rope tied to a ceiling beam.
    Jardir laughed, delighting in his son’s energy. Jayan was twelve now, already in his bido, and never hungry in the food line. Jardir had begun teaching his sons the
sharukin
the day they took their first steps.
    “
I
want to be Sharum Ka,” Asome, eleven, lamented. “I don’t want to be a stupid
dama.
” He plucked at the white cloth he wore over one shoulder.
    “Ah, but you will be the Sharum Ka’s connection to Everam,” Jardir said. “And perhaps one day,
Damaji
to all the Kaji. Even Andrah.” He smiled, but inwardly, he agreed with the boy. He wanted warriors for sons, not clerics. Sharak Ka was coming.
    Inevera had originally wanted Jayan to wear the white, but Jardir had categorically refused. It was one of his few victories over her, but he wondered just how much of a victory it was. It was as likely she had wanted Asome to wear the white all along.
    The other boys clustered about, watching their older brothers with awe. Most of Jardir’s other sons were too young for
Hannu Pash,
and had to wait to find their path. The second sons would be
dama,
the others,
Sharum.
It was the first night of Waning, when the forces of Nie were said to be their strongest and Alagai Ka stalked the night. Nothing gave a warrior strength in the night like seeing his sons.
    And daughters,
he thought, turning to Inevera. “It would please me if my daughters could return home for Waning each month, as well.”
    Inevera shook her head. “Their training must not be disturbed, husband. The
Hannu Pash
of the
nie’dama’ting
is…rigorous.” Indeed, the girls were taken much younger than his sons. He had not seen his eldest daughters in years.
    “Surely they cannot all become
dama’ting,
” Jardir said. “I must have daughters to marry to my loyal men.”
    “And so you shall,” Inevera replied. “Daughters no man dare harm, who are loyal to you over even their husbands.”
    “And to Everam, over even their father,” Jardir muttered.
    “Of course,” Inevera said, and he could sense his wife’s smile behind her veil. He was about to retort when Ashan came into the room. His son Asukaji, the same age as Asome, trailed behind him in his
nie’dama
bido. Ashan bowed to Jardir.
    “Sharum Ka, there is a matter the
kai’Sharum
wish you to settle.”
    “I am with my sons, Ashan,” Jardir said. “Can it not wait?”
    “Apologies, First Warrior, but I do not think it can.”
    “Very well,” Jardir sighed. “What is it?”
    Ashan bowed again. “I think it best the Sharum Ka see the problem for himself,” he said.
    Jardir raised an eyebrow. Ashan had never been reluctant to give his assessment of anything before, even when he knew Jardir would disagree.
    “Jayan!” he called. “Fetch my spear and shield! Asome! My robes!”
    The boys scurried to comply as Jardir stood. To his surprise, Inevera rose as well. “I will walk with my husband.”
    Ashan bowed. “Of course,
dama’ting.
”
    Jardir looked at her sharply. What did she know? What had the cursed bones told her about this night?
    Leaving the children behind, the three of them were soon on their way, descending the great stone