The Flame of Destiny
Where there’s Smoke

Taymur lurched forward. The thorny bushes that protruded from tiny cracks on the cliff cut into his bare arms. Yet he persevered. The last stretch of the climb was the hardest. It will surely be worth it, he told himself, I’m almost there and I’m not giving up now.

He stretched his arm as far as he could but there was nothing to grasp. He almost lost his balance and felt his stomach contract for fear of falling down. He rested a while, until he heard the jeers of his clan members down below. I can do this, he told himself and made a jump towards a ledge. Somehow he found grip and managed to hold on. Just a few more steps…

A little while later, panting and sweating, he heaved himself on the small platform on top of the needle-like rock.

[Picture Taymur Climbing]

“There are no eagle eggs here!” he cried in utter disappointment. Azra had assured him that there was a black eagle’s nest on top of the rock and only a real Tanisha, a descendant of the Narts, would be brave enough to climb so high. And he could take the egg, let it hatch and then raise the chick to become the best hunting eagle in a generation. He imagined himself proudly handing over the eggs to his brother. But no, there wasn’t even a nest!

Loud laughter rose from below. “Little brother,” Bhaltu shouted cheerfully, “never trust your aunt.”

Taymur felt like a fool. He angrily kicked a rock over the ledge. I should have known. He sat down, sulking.

“Come down now” Bhaltu shouted impatiently, “we have to go.”

“Come and get me,” shouted Taymur stubbornly.

I might as well enjoy the view he thought and sat down arms crossed. He looked south and shivered when he saw the snow-covered peaks that loomed like a giant wall in the distance. Then his attention was drawn to something closer by, perhaps only a few miles away. With a jolt, he sat up straight. That’s weird, he thought. “Bhaltu, I see smoke in the distance!” he exclaimed excitedly, “there’s a big fire.”

The happy chatter beneath him stopped at once. The others looked skeptically at the boy. “This is no time for games,” Bhaltu said, “come down now!”

But Taymur looked as serious as could be expected from a young boy and Bhaltu realized his little brother was telling the truth. In a few seconds, he scrambled up the rocks and witnessed the smoke for himself. “This area is uninhabited and travelers don’t wander here,” he said gravely, “these have been our hunting grounds for generations. This ain’t good. Come down, we must consult with the others.”

A fierce discussion ensued. “We should not go looking for problems,” said an older hunter, “let’s just go into another direction. There’s plenty of space.”

Bhaltu objected, “we need to know what’s going on,” he said, “if someone is inadvertently hunting on our domain, we have to chase them away. If it’s a hostile tribe, our camp could be in danger.”

“Very well,” Azra said, “we can take a quick look and then we leave. We’re not looking for a fight. We’re too few.”

The hunters left the valley and cautiously rode towards the smoke.

They rode an hour over terrain so craggy even their tough horses struggled until they saw the source of the smoke nearby. The hunters scanned the area from behind a large rock. It was only a small fire, but it produced a thick white smoke. Someone had just thrown green branches as if he wanted to signal something.

Between them and the fire was what seemed like an entrance to a cave but it was closed by a thick, ragged blanket. They didn’t see a living soul, but even on the hard rocky soil Bhaltu easily discerned a whole range of strange tracks that all led to the cave.

“This fire was meant to lure us here,” said Bhaltu, “but by whom and why? Who’s hiding in a cave during the day?”

“I don’t like this one bit,” Azra said. “It could be a trap. Let’s get away before anyone see us.”

“I agree,” said Bhaltu, thinking about the weird tracks, “something is very off. Let’s get out of here.”

“Where is Taymur,” Azra hissed, “don’t tell me he is…”

The young hunter crouched beside the dirty smelly blanket. I will show them I’m not afraid, he thought, determined to make up for his earlier humiliation. Ignoring the horrible smell, he put his head very carefully under the blanket, making sure that no light could enter with him. Inside it was almost pitch dark and it took a while for his eyes to adjust, but then he saw her …

He would never forget the sight and he did not know how fast he had to walk back.

“Are you really, really sure,” Bhaltu asked for the third time.

“Yes,” said the boy, still breathless from what he had seen, “at least ten of those skinny ugly monsters with long nails and a nasty snout. They must be Gulla. I’m not making this up!”

“And they’re asleep,” Bhaltu asked, “’all of them?”

Taymur nodded emphatically.

“And the girl,” Azra asked, “can you describe her?”

Tears welled up in his eyes when he thought of her. Standing in the middle of the cave, she rose like an angel above the snoring monsters that littered the floor. Alas that position was not a sign of strength. The poor girl was tied up so firmly to the rock that she could not even let her head rest on the hard stone lest her breathing be cut off.

She wore a shiny silk dress in the colors of the evening sky. She had an amulet that shone like gold even in the feeble light that filtered through the blanket. She had the most beautiful face he had ever seen. Her skin was white and smooth like a boiled egg. She had to be a princess, a malika, or at least a merchant’s daughter, Taymur was sure of it.

Despite her torment, she didn’t sob or cry. Yet her big, sad eyes were filled with tears and looked empty and pale, as if all life had already left her.

“She’s burned in my memory,” he replied, “these vile creatures are holding a princess captive. We have to free her!”

“We will decide about that,” Bhaltu said sternly, “first tell me how many of these so-called Gulla you have seen? Were they armed?”

“I told you, I counted a dozen, one was very large,” Taymur replied, “they have knives and spears, but no bows… When do we attack?”

“Tamo-kun,” snapped Azra, “we’re only four and we’re facing twelve of those dangerous creatures. We’re far away from our clan. What can we do?”

“We are five,” Taymur said stubbornly, “you have to count me too, I’m a hunter now and I’m not scared. These Gulla aren’t much bigger than me. We have to free her!” He begged his brother but he saw the doubt in his eyes. Azra and the others were even less convinced. “I will be like Soslan, the smallest and bravest Nart who defeated the big dragon to save the princess.”

Azra shook her head, “these are just stories,” she sighed.

Taymur looked at his brother, “please.”

The hunter’s eyes twinkled mischievously, a grin appeared on his face.

“You have to think of your own sisters,” Azra hissed, recognizing Bhaltu’s change of mood, “and forget about that girl. She’ll bring trouble, no matter what happens.”

“Listen, I have a plan,” Bhaltu said, getting up. He spoke quickly and the fervor dripped off his every word when he explained what he wanted to do. “Come on, take the war arrows, we’ll teach those vile creatures a lesson!”

One of the hunters still hesitated, “shouldn’t we first try to negotiate with them? We don’t even know for sure what they are?”

But Bhaltu was unstoppable and the other hunters were quickly persuaded by his passion. “When we negotiate, we lose our only chance to defeat them,” he explained. “We’re hunters. We must strike first - and strike mercilessly, that is our way. Come on brother, you’ll be our Soslan, just like you wanted.”

Moments later, little Taymur lay flat on his stomach above the cave. He trembled all over his body and his teeth clattered. His job was to cut the blanket loose. The opening of the cave was to the west and they had waited until the sun was shining straight at it. He had to cut it off in one go and bathe the Gulla in the bright sunlight. Bhaltu had figured out that sunlight was their weakness, they were creatures of the night and dark caves. Why else would they hide and sleep during the day?

It sounded easy enough but with all eyes on him and these dangerous monsters below, doubts and fear crept over his heart. Was their ruse enough to be able to make up for the difference in numbers? And what would the monsters do to the princess if they were under attack?

The carpet was held in place by two thick ropes. He cut the first one to about two-thirds, just as Bhaltu had asked. Then he went to the second rope and started cutting it. It took too long, his trembling fingers could barely hold the knife and the rope was tough. The blanket rippled from his work and he feared it would wake the monsters. In the distance, Bhaltu made wild gestures for him to hurry.

One more slice and the rope was cut. The carpet fell down on one side. As the full weight pulled on the already partly cut rope on the other side, it broke too and the entire screen came tumbling down in one go.

Before the carpet had reached the ground, he heard the first arrows whizz through the air. It was the most beautiful sound he could imagine. The hunters of his clan were excellent archers, they practiced every day from when they were children. They could shoot a running hare from a galloping horse and a bird from the sky with their light and fast arrows. But for these, monsters they chose their heavy armor-piercing war arrows with two-inch-long iron triangular heads that could penetrate three inches deep in a pine tree.

Bhaltu had already shot his second arrow before the carpet touched the ground on both sides. The screaming began immediately after. Terrible, inhuman screams of pain and fear. But the clan just kept on shooting. Taymur saw no pity on their faces, for the clan, this was no different than slaughtering a herd of deer.

One Gulla came out and rushed at the hunters with a spear, but it was shot in the throat before it could take two steps in the sunlight.

But the fight wasn’t over. Taymur screamed as a massive horned Gulla came out of the cave and rushed straight to his brother. The monster held up a massive shield and blocked Bhaltu’s arrows. There was nothing he could do.

The monster swung its huge club with a force that would have killed a horse. Just before it was close enough to hit Bhaltu, the beast faltered. It stumbled and fell on its knees. Azra had shot him in the ankle, just below his shield.

Bhaltu quickly pulled his knife and leapt forward like a panther. Skillfully dodging another swing of the club, he thrust his knife into the Gulla’s chest.

But the monster wasn’t finished and prepared for another strike.

Again, Azra was faster. Before the monster managed to raise its club, she had jumped with both feet on its muscular arms holding him down with all her might.

The War Gulla cursed and let go of the club. It closed a large claw around Azra’s thigh and held her in an iron grip.

Bhaltu struck again with his dagger, this time he aimed directly for the heart. He pushed the knife deeper and blood gushed out.

The life started to drain away from the monster. With a furious last roar, the War Gulla tossed Azra through the air as if she were a doll and the poor woman rolled against a rock. Then the beast collapsed.

“Are you hurt?” Bhaltu asked worriedly.

Azra slowly struggled to her feet. “It’s okay,” she said, “but what a monstrosity!”

The other hunters were still firing their deadly arrows in silent determination. The screams of the Gulla slowly subsided and all they heard now were weak moans between the dry throngs of the powerful Sarmatian bows. At Bhaltu’s signal, they drew their knives and went inside to finish their grim work. More screams followed, then silence.

Taymur clambered down and waited at the exit of the cave, his heart pounding. Would the princess be hurt?

Bhaltu came out and carried the girl on his arm. She had wrapped her slender arms around him and looked scared and confused. She buried her sensitive eyes against his chest.

Taymur followed his brother who carried Samira all the way to his horse and gently placed her on the saddle. He saw a first timid smile form on her lips as she stretched out her hands and grabbed the manes of the big horse. The boy felt as if the sky had just opened and his heart soared. He walked over to her.

“I rode that horse too,” he said hoarsely. It was the most sensible thing he could think of at the time. She looked at him in confusion with her big, brilliant blue eyes and smiled. The young hunter felt warm inside.

“It looks like she’ll be fine,” said Bhaltu happily.

Azra was busy gathering the arrows and didn’t even look up. “We should bury that vermin,” she remarked dryly.

“There’s no time for that,” Bhaltu objected, “we must be far away from here before dark. Who knows how many of these creatures are hiding in the mountains?”

“Thanks to you, there are no survivors to ask” Azra remarked sarcastically, “oh and you’re welcome.”

“Thank you, auntie,” Bhaltu said hugging Azra who managed a painful smile, “without you it wouldn’t have worked… I wouldn’t have survived.”

He didn’t let his brush with death affect his good humor and jumped on his horse. As he pulled Samira on his lap, he spurred his steed forward. “Come on princess,” he said, “let’s go home.”

The hunters rode off and disappeared as quickly as they had come, leaving nothing behind.

Samira looked back one last time and saw Fionn standing above the cave. In his gray cloak, he was barely distinguishable from the rocks around him. The young Gnome waved to her and she smiled and waved back, throwing him a kiss.

Bhaltu turned quickly, but Fionn had already disappeared.

[Picture Samira and Bhaltu]