The Serpent and the Crown by Sam Puma

Author:Sam Puma [Puma, Sam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy Novel
Publisher: Starpuma Press
Published: 2020-04-05T22:00:00+00:00

Sukuwasi

The Galdeans confined Ixtlayo in his familiar cage adjacent to the arena. He was far too incapacitated to protest. After a long night of cleaning the excrement and vomit that poured from Ixtlayo, Jankaro collapsed in a heap on the cold stone floor. The smell was so foul it gave Jankaro a screaming headache. His resolve was shaky but he forced himself to stay by Ixtlayo’s side. He needed to be there when his companion awakened.

“Now that we have him in captivity, we can suit him in the yanigo armor.”

Orion leaned on the bars from the arena side. He slowly side-stepped between two vertical bars and entered the large, cavernous chamber that had cut Ixtlayo off from his former life.

Jankaro couldn’t bear to look up, his head hurt so much. He tried to move his fingers but couldn’t remember why. “Go on, get some sleep. Get yourself cleaned up.” Orion grabbed Jankaro’s arm and pulled him up to standing. Jankaro walked slowly through the bars onto the arena floor. The dawning sun cast its beams on him. He squinted as he felt the heat of the sun on his face. His headache started to recede. A wave of nausea came over him and he vomited all over himself. “Drink water and get some rest,” said Orion. “We will send someone to check on you later.”

Jankaro turned to look into Orion’s eyes. “Protect him,” he muttered as he stumbled away, out of the arena.

He lied on his bed on his back and sang to himself, recalling Anhael’s advice from the night before. Anhael told him to pray to Sagaya and sing his mother’s song into Ixtlayo’s ear. He gave him a bag of smoke and a pipe and told him to blow it on Ixtlayo. Jankaro had prayed, sung, blown smoke and cleaned Ixtlayo’s messes all night.

He fell asleep for a time. His body ached when he awoke to the sight of Janesa’s face and the sound of her calling his name.

“Wake up,” she said, and poured water on his head. The smell pleased him. He sat up and looked over at her. She handed him a jug of water. “Are you there?”

He had to take a moment and drink. He was covered in sweat. He remembered a dream of a black snake wrapped around his leg, threatening to bite him. “What happened?”

“Can you walk?”

Jankaro was shaky as he stood up and drank water again. “Yeah.” He rubbed his head. His body was aching but he was happy to be out of his armor. He picked up the armor and hung it on the railing outside as he followed Janesa and kept his eyes averted from the afternoon sun.

“Anhael summoned you, follow me.” She led him down the corridor and up the stairs.

“Did he find medicine for Ixtlayo?”

“He tried. He is sick in bed. He will explain.”

“Seems like you fared better than the rest of us who tasted that poison.”

Janesa stopped at a doorway and turned to face him. He saw dark circles under her eyes and her face was pale.

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