The Iron Forest: Ancestor's Legacy

Sweat beaded on Sana’s brow from the warmer spring air. The late winter storm covered the ground in one last defiant stance against the changing season. Frozen creek beds that were once a calm trickle turned to rushing streams. Her sense of urgency grew with the realization that the Shankur and all other tribes no longer had winter’s protection.

She marched southwest through the Chomenu Valley. Villagers from the Atani paid her little attention as she passed through their lands. Most were women, seining for rainbow trout in the streams, while children played in the warm noonday sun, but few men.

The forest opened to reveal a clear blue sky atop the Yulian peaks. The snowcapped mountains signified the change between Atani to Shankur lands, but to Sana, they were the northern gates to home.

She followed the blue stream that snaked its way through the mountains, thinking of Victor. As she passed the ruins of the Ancients, she imagined asking him what they were. Like the church near Dirasha, he would know.

*****

After three days, trees and rocks started to become familiar as she neared the lands bordering Dirasha. The sweet scent of blue and violet columbine flowers and pine sap filled the air with birds’ singing. Sana breathed in deep to remind herself of a simpler time, before being thrust into the teeth of the Chotukhan.

The path turned around a rocky outcrop and headed back down the mountainside. She halted at the sight of a man sitting on a large granite boulder. His black hair, boiled leather armor, and dark skin could only be Rajin. He sat, facing away toward the horizon with his spear resting across his lap.

“Are you enjoying the view?” Sana asked.

Rajin turned, startled, but recognition soon put a smile across his face. “You’re back!” He jumped from the boulder.

They gave each other a warm embrace.

“I am. You surprised?”

“Yes,” he said. “Didn’t expect you back so soon. I figured you and Victor would still be in the Iron Forest.” Rajin glanced around, his smile diminishing. “Where is Victor?”

“We parted ways. He continued to the Iron Forest while I decided to come back here.”

Rajin’s eyes widened. “Alone?”

Even though he didn’t specify, she knew he was referring to Victor, and Sana chuckled. “Of course not, silly. I left him with a crazy Shainxu wizard to help guide him the rest of the way.”

“You what?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you on the way back to the village.”

They continued down the trail toward Dirasha, walking side-by-side. She told him of Eagle Mountain and their crossing paths with Jinlin. It wasn’t until the part of her story about her capture when he halted to better focus on her every word. He stood there with arms crossed.

“Thank the Ancestors you’re okay.” He paused. “So, Victor has the key?”

Sana hesitated before answering. “No. The Chotukhan took it. They now have the key.”

Rajin rubbed his forehead. “That’s bad. I mean, really bad.”

“I know. That’s why I came back. With the key lost, there was no reason for me to continue to the Iron Forest. I figured my place is better served here with my people.”

He nodded. “You made the right choice. Victor is a smart man, and I’m sure he will persuade the Shainxu into helping us fight the Chotukhan.”

“He will.” Her gaze drifted away.

Rajin chuckled. “Ancestors bless you. I’ve seen that look before.”

“What?”

“You love him.” He didn’t wait for a response, but grinned and continued down the path towards the village.

“So, what if I do?” Sana said, catching up with him. She felt strange, admitting it aloud.

“Nothing. I think it’s great,” he said, putting his arm around her shoulders. “He’s a wonderful man that will make you happy.”

“Thanks.”

He stopped. “Whoa!”

“What is it?” She gripped her spear tight, scanning for danger, but there was nothing.

“If you’re with my Sky-brother, then does that make you my… Sky-sister?”

She gave him a push then joined him in laughter.

The trail turned around one last corner before the village came into view. Rajin paused and turned toward Sana, taking her hands in his.

“What is it?”

“You’ll see.”

He gestured for her to continue ahead, toward the village. It didn’t take long for them to walk around the hillside bend that overlooked Dirasha. When it came into view, she gasped. What was once a quiet village tucked within the mountain became a bustling city of men and women preparing for war. There were thousands of people, armed with spears, bows, and almost every weapon imaginable. Warriors from the Shankur, Atani, and Totan tribes poured in from the mountainside. The masses, reached out so far into the distance, they appeared like ants.

“What do you do with a miracle?” Rajin asked.

Sana looked around. “You kill a king.”

“Yes.”

She strolled amongst warriors who busied themselves sharpening their weapons. On the forest edge, trees fell to the sound of chopping axes while people crafted arrows and shields from wood. A smoky haze blanketed the village from campfires and blacksmiths turning steel into swords. Dirasha became a machine of war.

Some bowed in reverence as she passed, exclaiming, “There she is! There’s the Queen! It’s Queen Sana.”

Others remained silent and dropped to their knees. The news of Sana’s return to the village spread like wildfire.

She reached out to one man with his head bowed low, knees to the ground, and lifted him to his feet. With a deep breath, she addressed the crowd that began to gather around her: “Please, there is no need for that. I am not who you think. I am a warrior, just like you, and nothing more.”

“No, my lady,” an old man in leather armor over rough spun wool said. “You are more than that. We believe the Ancestors have brought you to us to lead our people towards victory. Everyone here has heard the stories of your strength and will, despite being a slave to the Chotukhan.” He scanned the crowd. “It is true you are a queen, but not to Chotukhan. You are our queen of the Shankur, and the Atani, and the Totan.”

The surrounding men and women nodded.

One side of her mouth lifted in a half smile, thinking of what Rajin just said. The sight of all the warriors together, joining under a single banner was nothing more than a miracle. “Then we have much to do.”

Sana weaved her way through the crowd to the palace, with Rajin following close behind. Guards in leather armor over blue tunics saluted as she scaled the steps to the main door. In the Great Hall, Chief Batan poured over maps and ledgers surrounded by Lady Turesi and several elders.

“Sana, what a pleasant surprise,” Lady Turesi said, arms stretched out for a welcoming embrace.

Chief Batan seemed just as delighted to see her, but he searched behind her and frowned. “Where’s the Sky-Man?”

She suppressed rolling her eyes. “It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you later.”

Chief Batan turned to the elders. “That will be all.”

The elders bowed at both the chief and Sana before they departed the great hall.

“I’m sure you are starving after such a long trip. Please, we should retreat to the dining hall,” Lady Turesi suggested, pulling Sana toward the door leading to the dining room.

“Thank you, Aunt, but I have important information to tell Uncle, first.”

Lady Turesi nodded. “Yes, of course. Take as much time as you need. There’s roasted pheasant waiting for you in the kitchen. When you’re ready, I’ll have my ladies bring it out for you.”

“I would like that,” Sana said with a bow before shifting her focus to the map. “The Chotukhan have gathered an army southeast of the Talons. They plan to cross over the range and hold in the forest to the west.” She pointed to an image of mountains with small trees written in black ink on faded parchment.

Chief Batan glanced at the map. “Are you sure?”

Sana nodded. “While I was at their camp, I got a good look at their plans. The Chotukhan are building up their army, Uncle. If it’s anything like the attack on Saratan, they’ll be recruiting the elk lords to the south and Bison riders to the east.”

“You were at their camp?”

“It’s a long story.”

Rajin leaned over to get a glimpse of the map. “If you know of their plans, who’s saying they won’t change them?”

Sana hesitated, not wanting to sound boastful. “I killed General Balon, so it will take time to reinstate a leader before they are able to march.”

“You killed the Chotukhan General.” Rajin stretched his hand up high and stood on his tiptoes. “You mean the general that’s this tall?”

She grinned. “He’s much shorter now.”

Chief Batan pulled away from the map to pace, his hands clenched behind his back. “What are our numbers so far?”

Rajin glanced aside for a second to tally up the amounts. “A little over twelve thousand.”

Her uncle shook his head, still pacing. “That still puts us at a disadvantage. The Chotukhan forces are at least twice that amount.”

“Not with the Shainxu on our side.” Sana sighed. “Pray to the Ancestors that Victor can persuade them to join our fight.”

Chief Batan grimaced. “We can’t rely on the Shainxu. If Victor is unsuccessful, then we will have to fight on our own. Either way, it won’t be easy. Many people will die… I worry this battle will be for nothing.”

Sana stared at the map and all its lines and markers. Wooden blocks, some painted blue to represent the Shankur and the others painted black-and-white for the Chotukhan. It reminded her of the map she observed in the enemy camp. Except this one had two extra blocks; one yellow and one orange, to represent the Atani and Totan tribes. “They don’t know about the other two tribes.”

“What do you mean?” Chief Batan asked.

“The map at the Chotukhan camp only showed the Shankur. They will expect our warriors and our numbers, which will give them false confidence. We can use that to our advantage. After the fighting begins, we’ll bring in the Atani and Totan tribes to throw them off guard.”

The chief studied her idea for a moment, rubbing his chin. “In order for this to work, the battle will have to take place close to the Great Valley, just southwest of the Talons. That will give us plenty of forest and mountain ridges for the other two tribes to hide.” He nodded with a slight satisfaction. “We’ll have to take Tashimur first and quick, since it’s the only stronghold standing in our way. That will give us a good position for an attack and enough provisions to carry the battle to Gathal.” He paused, eyes sparkling. “By the Ancestors, this might work.”

Rajin looked like he was about to burst with excitement. “This is—”

“I don’t—” Sana started at the same time.

Seeing her frown, Rajin asked, “What’s wrong?”

“There’s one more thing you should know.” She expected sadness to hit her, but only anger surfaced. “It’s about Pavel.”

*****

The sun disappeared beyond the mountains to the west, leaving a sky painted in deep blues and purples. Sana leaned against the balcony rail, overlooking the sprawling camp filled with warriors. Campfires dotted the landscape in a black sea of twinkling lights.

If only Mother could see this, Sana thought, breathing in the evening breeze that fluttered her hair like a moonlit banner. Elen spoke often of gathering the tribes to take a stand against the Chotukhan, and soon it would become a reality. She had her army—her mother’s army.

“It has been a long time since I prayed to the Ancestors, Mother,” Sana said, looking up to the few stars against the evening sky. “To be honest, I’m not sure if they would have listened. I called them weak and cursed them for what the Chotukhan did to me. Now they have given me an army which scares me more than anything else.” She shook her head. “It’s not the fear of going into battle that worries me, but the possibility of success. If we defeat the Chotukhan, then they will make me a queen… and I’m not ready for that and may never be.”

Sana wiped her eyes. “Perhaps I’m not ready to take on the Chotukhan, with or without an army.”

“You’re not,” a woman said from behind.

Sana jerked around to see her aunt standing in the doorway holding an oil lamp. Her night gown flowed in the breeze with the bedchamber’s light shining through. She smiled and rested the lamp on a small table just outside the door.

“No one will ever be ready to march into battle. If they are, then they shouldn’t be the one leading. If you feel fear and uncertainty, then you are more ready than you think.” Lady Turesi chuckled. “You know? I never liked my sister-in-law.”

“You didn’t?”

“Oh, we got along, and I have no doubt she was a wonderful woman. But we didn’t agree on a couple of things. Her hatred and desire to defeat the Chotukhan bordered on obsession. After she got sick, she realized her mission would never become reality, so she passed it on to you… and only you. As your skill improved, Pavel’s existence diminished to the point he disappeared from the last few winters of her life.”

“But that doesn’t excuse—”

“I know,” Lady Turesi interrupted. “That doesn’t excuse him for betraying the Shankur, but you have to be honest. You can’t blame him. He grew up with no mother and an absent father, which may be why he sided with the people whom your mother hated.”

Sana still smoldered with resentment of the thought of him and his treachery. He had no excuse.

Her aunt continued. “The other thing we disagreed on the most had to do with what she taught you. Sure, she showed you how to swing a spear and shoot a bow, but she never taught you the most important part of war.”

“What’s that?”

“Nobody truly wins.”