The Archer's Heart by Astrid Amara

Author:Astrid Amara [Amara, Astrid]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Romance, Glbt, Royalty
Goodreads: 8422838
Publisher: Blind Eye Books
Published: 2008-07-31T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

AS THEIR SECOND YEAR OF EXILE DREW TO A CLOSE JANDU TOOK Keshan’s advice and played Zandi while begging. Although it did not increase the generosity of many pilgrims, it made those who gave him something happier.

One morning, Jandu came across a magnificent black buck grazing, his twisted, striped horns and black and white body so beautiful, Jandu hesitated killing him. But he thought of Suraya, about to give birth, and how much he could sell the horns and hide for in town. Jandu reached for an arrow.

Zandi’s splendor looked out of place in the lush greens of the forest. Her shimmering gold danced in the rays of light as Jandu silently strung his bow, watching the buck carefully, his hands deft and knowledgeable upon the brace. He drew back the string to its full release and let loose the arrow, the high-pitched whistle his only warning to the deer. Jandu shot him straight in the eye, and the buck collapsed immediately, twitching for several seconds.

Jandu sighed. He unstrung his bow again and hooked it behind his quiver, and pulled out his belt knife. Jandu gutted the deer, and then grunted as he slung the heavy animal over his shoulders. In seconds, the flies found him. He made his way home, filthy, distracted by insects, and inexplicably saddened by the death of the buck.

He left the skinning and cleaning of the animal to Baram, and plunged himself into the lake to bathe. When he went into Suraya’s hut to change clothes, he noticed that she still lay in bed, unmoved since Jandu left early that morning.

“Suraya?” Jandu shook her shoulder. Her face was white. Cold fear gripped his heart.

“Jandu…” She reached beneath their thin sheet and pulled her hands back out, smeared with blood. “Something’s wrong.”

“Baram!” Jandu bellowed at the top of his voice. Jandu searched the room for something, anything to help her, but realized he had nothing. He knew nothing.

Baram and Yudar both barged through the door, dusty hands caked in earth.

Baram rushed to her side, falling to his knees. He took her hand as she started to cry.

“She needs a midwife,” Yudar said, hovering in the doorway.

“I’ll go to the village!” Jandu ran for the pilgrim’s trail.

Jandu sped as fast as he could down the path, brushing past pilgrims without stopping to pay respects. Even running as hard as he could, it was nearly dark by the time he reached the village. The muddy main road through the center of the congregation of homes was nearly vacant, and only a few merchants still tended their booths at the market. Jandu asked one of them where the midwife lived. When he reached the midwife’s house, her husband answered the door, a stout, elderly man who glared at the intrusion.

“Please!” Jandu was out of breath, and leaned his hands against his knees. “I need the midwife. My wife… there’s a problem with her pregnancy. She’s bleeding.”

The man nodded, and shut the front door on Jandu. Jandu heard voices inside, and a moment later, the man returned with his small wife by his side.

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