I Shall Rewrite the Stars

Chapter 9

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A shrieking woosh rushes past my ears, drowned by the smack of Juba and I hitting the dock. I fall mostly against his chest, wincing from his tight grip around my waist and back.

As I push myself up, I notice the long cut in Juba’s once long, right sleeve. A familiar, dirt-splotched bandage is revealed, extending from Juba’s shoulder to the golden, bejeweled shackle at his wrist.

I shive against the hatred that swells in my heart, recalling the story Juba was meant to tell me about his concealed arm. And when Juba opens his eyes, noticing my line of gaze, I shake my head.

I know how important this secret is to him. How shameful it is for him. And I will not—will not, force him to speak of it, or let on that I know about it.

“Later,” Juba says. “We will speak of this, later.”

I nod, looking toward Helios as he shouts. Standing a few feet ahead, he brandishes Father’s sword against that of a man in a white tunic, whose face is concealed by a crimson mask, and whose crimson cape whips wildly at his back.

To the left, Mrunal holds off another assailant dressed just the same as the first. And to his left, yet another assailant is fended off by Raja, who is the first to send her opponent fumbling backwards.

She moves fast, knocking the man’s blade to the right with her dagger, before throwing her empty fist against his head.

The man staggers, falling to his bottom and drawing the eyes of Mrunal’s opponent.

The moment the man looks away, Mrunal kicks out at his legs. Sweeping in an arc, he topples the assailant to his back and stands. Sword to the man’s throat, Mrunal gasps in a deep breath and asks without looking away, “Are you alright, M’lady?”

“Furious as the sun is hot!” Raja snaps, glaring at her defeated opponent. “Who dares raise their blade against a guest to the coasts of Indrira? Who dares ignore the sanctity of the maharaja’s law? Speak!”

“Not a word!” the man fighting Helios shouts, forcing my brother’s blade down an inch. “Fulfil your duties, you rats, or else pay the price of failure with your lives!”

“Who are you to bark orders?” Helios demands, digging his heels in to push the man’s sword back. “If you’re their leader, then I’ve got questions—and I’ll do all it takes to make sure you answer them!”

The man snorts. “The leftover cub of a pathetic failure of a pharaoh, is no threat to me. Just submit already! You are nothing now that Kemet has fallen!”

“He’s baiting him,” Juba breathes, jerking to his feet and running forward. “Don’t listen to him, Helios! Keep your focus!”

“Shut up!” Helios shouts, sliding his blade across the mans. Sparks fly between them, flashing around my brother’s sword as he hefts it over his head.

Far faster, the assailant crouches. Sword aimed for a finishing blow, the man strikes!

And Juba throws himself into Helios’ side.

Tackling my bother to the ground, Juba and Helios roll. Father’s sword flies off to the side, whirling in circles. Helios reaches out for it, while Juba twists to block the assailant’s next attack.

Ripping a short-handled sickle from his side, Juba flips it so that the blunt side of the blade slaps into the man’s arching arm, forcing it up toward the sky. Then, just as fast, he sends the man flying backwards from a kick to the stomach.

“They are not the only one’s here,” Juba shouts. “We’ve got to run. Now!”

“Why run when we’ve got them on their knees?” Raja scoffs, interrupted by the whistling wooshes or yet more loosed arrows.

I look to my side as one beds itself deep into the stone just inches from my hand. Whatever its tip is made of, it is strong—fiercely strong. To be struck by such a weapon will prove fatal!

And from the sounds of it, dozens of such weapons are about to rain down upon us.

“Run,” I shout, catching Ptolemy by the wrist and pulling her along behind me.

From the corners of my eyes, I see Mrunal rush to Raja’s side and lift her, kicking and screaming, over his shoulder, before he races into the crowd of fleeing onlookers.

Trusting Juba to help Helios, I try to keep Mrunal in sight and follow his lead.

“Stop where you are!” Mrunal’s assailant bellows, reaching for my leg as I pass him. A swift kick to the forehead sends him sprawling onto his back, just as an arrow slams into the ground at his side.

Then another.

And another.

And another!

I can’t tell where they’re coming from, only that they are following after us so fast—too fast! I throw Ptolemy forward, following a step too late. An arrow scrapes my bare foot, and as I fall, I wonder why it is that Raja did not offer any to us.

“What do we do?” Ptolemy cries, throwing herself down at my side. Taking my arm around her shoulders, she lifts—no, she pulls me over her, like a shield. “Selene, what do we do?”

“Get up and run!” Helios shouts, kneeling beside us just long enough to drag Ptolemy into his arms. With one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, Helios spares me the shortest glance as Juba stoops to pull me to my feet.

“Can you run?” he asks, eyeing the thin trail of red seeping from my wound.

“I will try,” I reply, taking his hand before we follow after my siblings.

Stumbling, my teeth clenched against the shoots of pain slithering from my ankle to my knee, I search the crowd for Mrunal. Several feet ahead and to the right, he stands at the narrow opening to an alleyway, and nods toward it. All the while, Raja pounds at his back. Even from here, I can hear her demands that he let her down so they can fight.

“She should know when to run,” Juba mutters, catching me as I trip.

“She has a brave heart,” I say, righting myself. “I admire her audaciousness.”

“Of course you would.” At my look, Juba smiles. “You seem a rather audacious principessa, yourself.”

“You were meant to fault me for that quality, you know.”

Leading me on, Juba’s smile widens. “Cowering is usually the better option for one who wishes to survive. Though I admire those who will hold their ground when the time comes. If one is meant to fall regardless, I think it better to die on their feet versus their knees.”

“In the future, you were meant to tell me that I should prioritize living,” I say, as we enter the alley. “And that an honorable death is pointless if premature.”

“The me of your visions seems to have nagged you quite a bit.”

“That he did.”

“Then he must have cared for you very, very much.”

Peering over his shoulder, Juba hisses a curse. The whistling of arrows has halted, but the pounding of footsteps has taken its place. Our assailants are not going to give up easily, it seems.

“What do we do?” Helios shouts. “Where can we hide long enough to lose them?”

“Nowhere,” Mrunal replies, hanging a quick left. “There are few hiding places in a city as small as this.”

“Their archers were well hidden within the shadows, when we arrived” Juba notes. “Someone caught word that we were on our way to the port, and had ample time to set a trap.”

“So?” Helios huffs.

“So hiding is not an option. We need to run—to get beyond the confines of these streets. We stand a better chance of losing them in the wilderness than in a city they must have already mapped out.”  

Helios growls a curse. “Roma’s spies couldn’t have found us so soon. They must be your enemies, Raja!”

“Watch your mouth!” Mrunal snaps. “On Indriran soil, you will respect Her Highness properly-”

“As if you’re one to talk!” Raja scoffs, smacking Mrunal on the head. “Let me down this instant! If no one else wishes to stand against them, then I-!”

“Find a place for my sisters to hide, and I’ll stand with you,” Helios says. “No one will get away with insulting my parents. If that coward dares to show his face again, I’ll make sure he regrets it.”

“Perhaps better your skill with a sword before making such a claim,” Juba deadpans. “I would rather not have to swoop in and save you again.”

Helios’ ears go red, and ahead of him, Raja laughs with the loveliest blush across her brown cheeks. Had I not known any better, when she presses her elbows into Mrunal’s back and folds her hands beneath her chin, I might think her expression one of affection.

‘Selene.’

I whip my eyes to the left, following the whisper of my name to a tiny figure fluttering up and down. She is incredibly tiny, roughly the size of my hand if I had to guess, and near-translucent. With long, white hair drifting behind her, the womanly figure’s sleeveless, silver gown twists and twirls with her movements. And at her back buzzes a pair of ornate, silver wings.

“A nymph?” I whisper, tugging Juba to a halt.

‘Selene,’ she whispers again, her voice like the tinkle of a bell. ‘This way. Hurry!’

“Selene?” Juba asks, then shouts for the others to stop.

“We need to go this way,” I say, sensing a gentle, cool touch upon my forehead, where I was told the crescent lies.

Grasping Juba’s hand, I run with him, trusting the others to follow. My eyes locked upon the nymph, I curse my wound as it slows us. For our tiny guide flutters swiftly on the breeze, giggling as she turns corners and darts to the end of streets. Every time we seem about to catch up with her, she flies faster.

“Where are you taking us, Selene?” Raja shouts. “I think we’ve just gone in circles!”

“We’re nearing the edge of the city,” Mrunal says. “I can see the beginnings of Hennur Forest not far ahead!”

“A forest?” Helios asks. “What’s that?”

“A thick, dense area of bamboo,” I say. “Father told me about them, once. He said that the bamboo soars as high as some buildings, and is made of long, hard poles of grass.”

“That sounds impossible.”

“Because the thought of it frighten you?” Raja snickers.

“No,” Helios huffs, as said grass comes into view. “Because it sounds too amazing to be true!”

Slowing as we near the forest, I search for the nymph. She flitters among the high, swaying poles of bamboo with her arms spread wide. For a breath she spins round to meet my eyes and—

With a sharp gasp, she vanishes.

I stop, glancing back to watch as Mrunal finally sets Raja on her feet. “Do you know how to navigate this place?” I ask.

“Not really,” Mrunal says.

“I can lead us toward the capital once night falls,” Raja assures. “The stars shall be my guide, and will surely lead us to safety.”

“Not so long as Selene is with us,” Ptolemy grumbles, yelping as she thumps onto the ground.

“How many times do I need to say this?” Helios snaps. “Enough with the attitude, Ptolemy. If you keep this up, we’ll leave you behind!”

Though she bares her teeth, Ptolemy says nothing as she picks herself up. Somewhere inside, I feel bad for her. She was pampered and spoiled to the fullest extent, back home. Ptolemy has never had to worry or be wary before, and with so little time to adjust, it is no wonder she is lashing out at us now.

But deeper than this understanding, is a growing heartache. In my visions, Ptolemy wept incessantly until she grew ill and died, but she never blamed me for our misfortune. Now, it is as though she despises me—holds me accountable for everything that has gone wrong…and it hurts. It hurts so, so very bad.

Shoving the pain down, I notice Raja’s narrowed gaze.

“Your sister is a child still, but she does not look much younger than you,” she says, looking toward Ptolemy. “A child may pout and scream all she likes, and it will all be dismissed on account of her youth. But a woman will not be so easily forgiven. You need to begin setting aside your childish ways, lest they cost you in the months to come.”

“Are you truly the one who should be advising her of such things, Highness?” Mrunal asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

Raja lifts her chin. “I am a rajkumari—the only rajkumari in all of Indrira. It is my obligation to spread knowledge when I see fit.”

“You should heed such wisdom yourself, before you try professing it.”

“They bicker like siblings,” Helios says, walking to my side. Casting a narrowed look toward Juba’s bandaged arm, he frowns. “Were you injured before we arrived here?”

Juba turns away. “How surprising, to receive the concern of the most childish Son of Kemet,” he sneers. “I didn’t think you capable of such feeling for so lowly a swine as myself.”

“Why you—teach me to waste my concern! I-”

“Oh!” I shout, jumping back from a sharp pinch in my left foot. With a slap of my hand, a small, yellow insect rips itself away from my skin. Soon as it falls away, a roil of pain overwhelms me.

I scream, my shoulder taking the brunt of my fall as I curl into myself. Tears flood from my eyes, my cries turned to ragged gasps. It feels as if the sun itself has poured into my flesh, traveling up my ankle and into my leg. My arrow-wound pulses, furthering the agony, and as the world blurs, the darkness closes in.

“Selene!” Helios shouts. “Selene, talk to me!”

A blur of pink sinks down in front of me, and Raja says, “This looks like a scorpion’s sting.”

“They’re never seen around these parts,” Mrunal objects. “How could it have been-”

“Who cares?” Helios snaps. “Was it poisonous? What can we-”

“Move,” Juba says, bringing his face so close to mine, I feel the warmth of his breath brush my cheeks. “Selene, can you hear me?”

“I…” I try, unable to get the words out. My body is going numb, my senses fading.

“Keep breathing. Forget all else, and focus on breathing—you cannot stop breathing!”

I…I cannot stop…breathing. It is such a difficult order, for as my thoughts begin to scattered, my mind is rapidly going blank. How am I to focus on anything right now?

From the corners of my mind, a low snicker echoes. ‘This is the will of the stars,’ a mocking, feminine voice relays. ‘Accept your fate willingly, or else perish before your time.’

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