'Will you let Melcorka do your fighting for you?' Bradan lifted a spear as sudden worry flooded him. 'Come on! Support her! Come on, you men of the Taino! Help Melcorka defend your village!'
Striving to repress his fear, Bradan leapt over the flimsy barrier and ran toward the Kalingos. He hoped that his example would inspire some of the Tainos to follow him, for any one of the Kalingo warriors could kill him in seconds. If the Tainos did not come, well, he had no desire to be stuck so far from home if Melcorka was killed.
That prospect chilled him.
'Come on!' Bradan yelled.
For a moment or two, the Kalingos stared at him. Perhaps they thought he was one of the inhabitants of the village, until they realised he was clothed and knew he was a stranger. An arrow thrummed past him, missing him by a handspan. Another thudded into the ground at his feet.
'Melcorka!' Bradan yelled. 'I'm coming!'
What a place to die, thousands of miles from home on an island whose name I do not even know.
Bradan saw a mass of Kalingo warriors close around Melcorka, clubs rising and falling as they tried to penetrate her defences. Dodging a third arrow more by instinct than by skill, Bradan lunged at the flank of the Kalingos, thrusting his spear beneath the shoulder-blade of a brawny, tattooed warrior. The man stiffened at the unexpected agony, and half turned toward Bradan, who twisted the point to enlarge the wound and tried to withdraw.
The suction of the human body held the spear point fast. Cursing, Bradan wiggled the shaft as his screaming victim struggled to escape, and cursed again as he saw a yelling Kalingo running towards him with his war-club held high.
Bradan grunted. 'That serves me right for acting the part of a warrior. I never was any good at fighting.'
'You never said a truer word.' Melcorka stepped over the body of a man she had just gutted, thrust Defender through the chest of the charging Kalingo, ducked and hacked the legs off another warrior. 'What are you doing in this slaughterhouse, Bradan? I told you not to get involved.'
'I came to help you.' Bradan at last succeeded in freeing his spear.
'That was very kind of you.' Melcorka fended off the attacks of the screaming Kalingos that surrounded them. 'Foolish, but kind. Did you think I had forgotten how to fight?'
'I thought you were on your own against a multitude.' Bradan ducked as an arrow whizzed overhead.
'I was never alone,' Melcorka said.
Bradan winced as another Kalingo charged forward, swinging his great club. 'Who is with you?'
'Why, you are, Bradan. I see you as plainly as I see these savages.' Melcorka parried the swing of the Kalingo's club and hacked off the man's arm. Blood spouted scarlet. 'And you've brought some help.'
'Which help?' Bradan asked, and smiled as the Taino defenders finally struggled over their barrier to run at the Kalingos. 'Well, they took their time.'
'They followed the example of the bravest man I have ever known.' Melcorka began to walk toward the now withdrawing Kalingo ranks.
'Alba!' Increasing her speed to a charge, Melcorka yelled her war cry. 'Alba!' Seeing this blood-spattered woman with the blood-dripping sword running at them from one flank, and the totally unexpected sight of resistance from the Taino defenders on the other, the Kalingos broke. One minute, they were a horde of fierce warriors hoping to kill and eat all they came across, the next, they were a panicking mob of frightened men, all eager to escape.
Only a single Kalingo stood her ground. The lone woman faced the attackers, a female rock in an ebbing tide of Kalingo males. She pointed two fingers at Melcorka.
'Run, you fool!' Melcorka yelled. 'All your friends have gone.'
The woman remained standing. Melcorka slowed down, curious to see why her adversary did not run.
The woman stared directly at Melcorka. Tall and dark, the woman wore a loose cloak that failed to conceal her magnificent physique, while a single white stone gleamed in the golden band that encircled her forehead.
'Who are you?' The woman's voice was clear and calm.
'I am Melcorka nic Bearnas of the Cenel Bearnas,' Melcorka answered at once. 'Some call me Melcorka of Alba. Others know me as the Swordswoman. Who are you?'
'I am a kanaima,' the woman said.
'Why do you not run?' Melcorka was genuinely curious. 'You can see that your warriors are defeated, you can see that your spears and war-clubs are no match for my sword. Your battle is lost, Kanaima. Turn and run. You will not have this village with its peaceful people.'
Kanaima stretched out her arms, pointing the forefingers of both hands at Melcorka. 'You are wrong, Melcorka of Alba. Our battle is only beginning.'
Melcorka hefted Defender. 'I do not like to kill without reason, Kanaima. Go now. Do not give me a cause to end your life.'
In return, Kanaima took a single step forward. 'I curse you. I curse you in your body and in your mind. I curse you in your possessions and your strength. I curse you in your travels and your weather. I curse you until the balance of the world is restored…' She got no further, as Melcorka neatly cut off her head.
'I warned you,' Melcorka said, as Kanaima's head rolled seven times on the grass and came to a stop with the eyes still open, still dark and still staring at Melcorka. 'You could have escaped, Kanaima.'
The laughter inside Melcorka's head mocked her, and for an instant, she thought she felt something long and rubbery slithering around her shoulders. She shook off the feeling. Imagination.
'Let the survivors go,' Bradan called to the now courageous Tainos. 'You've won. There's no need for any more killing.'
I was going to grant them quarter, Melcorka said to herself. Not now. There will be no more mercy.
'Follow them!' Melcorka countermanded Bradan's words. 'Teach them not to come here! Make them so afraid of you that they never come back.' Chasing after the fleeing warriors, Melcorka swung
