Kahlindha The Priestess

An excerpt from an ongoing novel - The Wolf Queen

Samina cradled her large belly in the water, smiling as her baby moved within her. Her sister rose up out of the water beside her, a smile on her own lips.

“Soon, Samina, you will be a mother.” She laid her hand on her sister's cheek, and smiled sadly. “Mother would be so proud of you.” A lone tear trickled out of the corner of her eye.

“When will she return, Sibylla? I miss her so much! I can't hear her song anymore, and I want my girl to grow up hearing her mother's song!” Sibylla shook her head.

“I don't know, sister. She left to fix the wrongness of men, but its been decades now.” She sighed. “She could hear the cries of the Orja women echoing throughout her forests, and she tasted their blood seeping into the soil. She could not bear to feel their pain any longer.” Samina looked down at her belly and hugged her child within her.

“What will happen to us?” Sibylla smiled.

“What has always happened. We will live, give birth, and listen to what our mother taught us. She is Maapera Aiti still, and her heartbeat sustains her people even now. Can't you hear it?” Samina shook her head. Sibylla cupped her chin.

“Listen, sister. Listen hard. Someone out there sings her song, and even now, they call to her.” Samina closed her eyes and really listened to the forest. She was unable to return to the water during this stage of her pregnancy. Her baby had to be born above the water until she was ready to return to the depths with her mother, and her people, the Merenne.

She listened, and was ready to cry out in frustration, at the loneliness she felt being above the water where her sisters could not stay long, and at not being able to hear what her sister obviously could.

Then she heard it. Low and evenly spaced, a deep beat that resonated loudly through the forest. It must have been quite a distance away, as the woods muffled most of the sound.

She laid over onto her side, and put her ear to the ground. She frowned in confusion.

“Not mother?” Sibylla shook her head.

“A woman. That way. She calls for mother.” Samina looked around, and contemplated a journey into the forest, but away from the safety of her sisters, and their strength. She wasn't sure she should risk it at this late stage of her pregnancy.

“Its safe, sister.” Another body jumped into the water and sighed. “A good distance off though.” She smiled as she dipped below the surface and swam a few dozen yards this way and that. When she came back to the surface, she was smiling. “Wow, that feels so good!”

“Janikka? Where.....” The Merenne smiled serenely.

“You should see her, sister! She's gorgeous! Deep black hair, dark stone eyes, and her skin is kissed by the sun! She sings mother's song each night, and is singing it now. I checked the path, and its safe.” Samina smiled, and hugged Janikka when she swam up close to her.

“Thank you, Jan. I'll be back in the morning.” Samina hugged and kissed her sisters warmly, and after walking a short distance towards the sounds of her mother's song, she looked back to the waters she called home. A dozen more heads appeared in the slow moving water, and waved to her.

Samina walked the unknown path, and though she felt fearful as she walked away from all she's ever known, she knew the forest, and its moods. There was no malice, or anger in its branches and leaves tonight.

There was excitement!

Samina stepped into the small clearing, and was immediately taken aback by the scene before her. Janikka did not do justice to the woman.

There, before a large hollow log with a deer skin stretched over top, a muscular woman beat out her mother's song, a discordant set of heartbeats that slowly moved into time, and finally, became perfectly in time with each other. The first beat was strong and powerful, followed by a weaker note. The third beat grew stronger, but so too did the fourth, although still weaker then the first and third.

Her left arm beat the powerful one, while her right beat the weaker one. Closer and closer, the beats started to overlap, and the second beat grew stronger the closer it got to beating in time. A tuneless mewl started to emanate from her throat as she continued to drum out her song, and the sweat showed on her arms, shoulders, and legs.

Samina started around the fire in the center of the clearing, and became more acutely aware of the drummer. A necklace of sun bleached wolf's teeth hung from her neck, while a similar one was woven through her hair. A wooden pendant carved in the shape of a wolf's skull hung just above her forehead. Her hair was intricately braided, and whipped back and forth as she continued her song, and picked up the tempo.

When finally the notes were one on top of the other, and perfectly in time, the drummer began to howl at the top of her voice, like a wolf under a full moon. Her powerful voice split the peaceful mood that had fallen onto Samina's nerves, and it sent a shiver straight through her heart.

She sat down heavily on the soft sand behind the drummer, and looked up at her in wonder. The beats slowly pulled away from each other, losing power, and becoming more discordant the further apart they grew. The howl turned back into the mournful mewl she first started with, until the song finally ended, and tears were running down both Samina's cheeks, and the drummer's.

“Oh! I didn't see you there!” The woman, who now looked like a priestess, had only just turned away from her drum when she caught sight of Samina. Her next words caught her off guard for only the briefest of moments.

“You sing to Maapera Aiti.” The smile that spread over her face was wide, and welcoming.

“Yes, I sing to the Earth Mother. Her song has been gone for so long, but she told me long ago that she would come to me if I sing to her. So I sing.” Samina cocked her head.

“She said to you? You are Orja, are you not?” The woman's lips twisted into a wry smile.

“We used to be the Irti. Freed from the cruel hands of the Raaka's of the old lands, and under them, we were the Orja. The slaves. Now, once again, women are the Orja in our own lands.” The woman knelt down in front of her, her muscular legs rippling with strength. She smiled warmly at Samina.

“But you are of the Merenne, aren't you?” Samina nodded. “What are you doing up here? Where are your sisters?” Samina patted her belly.

“It is my time. My child will soon be here. They can only leave the river for short periods of time, but being aiti grants me power to leave while she needs me up here.” The woman frowned.

“I didn't know that. Forgive me. I've forgotten to introduce myself. I am Kahlindha.” Samina smiled.

“Samina.”  She looked up at the priestess.  "Do you feel it?"  Kahlindha nodded.

"I have for the last year.  The excitement in the forest was almost as it was over thirty years ago.  She's coming home, Samina.  I don't know when, but she's coming home."  Kahlindha lifted her eyes as two fur clad figures strode into her clearing.  It was still late summer, so the fur was unusual.  One woman was extremely tall, while the other was just about Samina's height.  She stayed real close to the taller one.

"Hi."  Kahlindha gulped as the taller woman spoke.  She felt the power in her voice, and a rumble deep in her chest.  The younger woman stepped forward.

"We heard your song in the forest, and decided to investigate.  Its getting late.  Would you mind if we sleep here this evening?"  Kahlindha gulped again as the taller woman dropped a wolf carcass on the ground.

"I....I...."  She swallowed a lump in her throat.  She was face to face with someone who could physically kill a wolf without damaging the skin.

"We found some food outside your camp.  I think he was hunting you and didn't notice me behind him."  The younger woman giggled.

"I don't know how you do it, love, but you manage to outsmart those wolves every time.  Maybe Ginnie is right."  She shook her head.

"No, you're the Wolf Queen, love.  I just kill wolves.  And men."  She drew her close, and smiled down at her.  "You're a part of my heart."  Kahlindha cleared her throat.

Its her!  Its her!  They are here!  Aiti is here!

"I-if you don't mind, I can skin that wolf and chop it up for a roast."  She cleared her throat again as it clogged up at the possibilities.  "I have killed several over the years that thought I would make a good meal for them.  I'll have to go on the prowl tomorrow and see if any others would like the opportunity to become my bed fur."  The younger woman giggled.

"You sound just like Eerika!  Come on, I'll help."  She turned towards the much taller woman.  "Why don't you set up our bedding, love.  No tent though.  Its still too warm for that."  Eerika smiled, and put down her pack near the drum.  She looked at the still seated woman, and tilted her head quizzically.

"Is something wrong?"  She asked gently.  Samina shook her head.

"No...no, nothing is wrong.  I guess you just surprised me."  Eerika smiled and knelt down beside her.

"May I?"  She asked, and Samina nodded.  She laid her hand on Samina's belly, and smiled widely.  "She's excited, and healthy."  She leaned down and laid her ear on Samina's skin, another smile on her lips.  "I hear....Leta....strange.  I've never heard a name so clearly before.  Its like I can feel her eyes on me from out here."  Samina's cheeks became wet with tears.

"Only our Elders can hear the names of our girls within the womb.  And our Aiti."  Eerika tilted her head.

"Mom?"  She nodded.  "That's not surprising."  Then she sighed sadly.  "My own mother laid down when I was quite young."  Samina frowned.

"Laid down?"

"She means that her mother laid down to die."  Her lover put her hand on Eerika's shoulder.  "Its the best way for us to die in this evil world.  The will to live drains away over the years, and when they've had enough of the evil, enough of the abuse and slavery, they lay down where ever they want, close their eyes, and die."  Eerika put her hand over hers.

"Calla's mother died when she came of age, and was taken away."  Eerika took a deep breath.  "You should be wary, child."  She said softly.  "Men of this country have been corrupted.  Keep your daughter far from them."  Calla gripped her shoulder firmly.

"We'll fix it, love.  I know we will."  She smiled, but it was a shadowed one.  Those eyes have seen some horrific things.  Samina could feel the truth of it.

"I hope so, love.  Really, I do."




"What are you doing, love?"  Calla smiled.

"What I do every night, Eerika.  I'm listening to your heart beating.  Its strong beat lets me sleep.  I keep hearing another beat though.  Softer, but closer to your stronger beat now."  Samina's eyes opened wide, and she sat up.  "What is it, Samina?  Did you hear something?"

"No, I think I felt a chill in the air."  Eerika smiled.

"Come on then.  Calla would be upset if you were too afraid to get close and get warm."  Samina smiled, moved the fur she slept on close to the tall woman she was almost terrified of, and snuggled in close.

"Do you mind...if I..."  Calla smiled.

"Put your ear here."  She motioned to the center of Eerika's chest, nestled in her cleavage.  "She's a little more well endowed then us, but its easier to hear her heartbeat up here."  Samina blushed lightly, then laid her ear on her chest.  Tears started to roll down her cheeks as she heard a very familiar beat.

"What's wrong, Samina?"  She turned her head and looked up at Kahlindha.

"Come.  Listen."  Kahlindha frowned slightly, and looked down at Eerika.  She only smiled and nodded.  Calla made some room for her on her side, and snuggled in to her back as the priestess laid her ear against Eerika's chest.  She put her hand over her mouth and started to cry.

"Its true!  I've heard it at last!"  She whispered.  "Its been so long since I've heard it!"  She stood up quickly.

"What's wrong?"  Kahlindha looked down, her face streaked with tears, but her smile wide and happy.

"Nothing!  I just feel like celebrating!  No wonder the forest felt so excited!"  She went to her drum and started to beat out her song, but moved the beats closer together, and the tempo was excited from the start.

She beat it out in time to Eerika's heartbeat, but instead of the sad mewl near the beginning, she started with a low excited wolf's whine, that moved into the full howl as she put everything she had into the song.  Her sun kissed skin glistened with sweat as she swayed to and fro, her hair braids whipped back and forth as she howled again and again, until finally, she fell to the sand, and her song ended abruptly.

She laughed triumphantly, and in glee.  She held her arms out to the sky, and shouted loud and long.

"Aiti!  The Earth Mother has come home!"  She turned over, and her eyes became completely white.  The priestess was now blind.  Calla shivered, and snuggled in to Eerika's side, while Samina felt a strong arm hold her close. It was a comforting embrace she was once very familiar with.

"The Earth Mother has come home!  She shall have a Queen for company down through the ages, one whose heart beats and thinks like her's does.  The other piece of her heart.  The Blind King and the Blind Queen have forgotten the Earth Mother, and though she is a loving Vahti, she can not forgive their blind disregard for the people they have sworn to protect.  In her name."  She lowered her face to the sand once more, and smiled.  When she lifted her face, her eyes were back to normal again.

"Finally, she has come home."

Irti – free

Paastaa Irti – liberated

Orja – servants, slaves

Aiti - mom

Vahti - Guardian

Maapera Aiti - Earth Mother