Scavenger Girl: Season of Toridia

by Jennifer Arntson

  We inched our way forward as Reinick emerged from his carriage. The crowd kept behind the guard’s horizontal spears went berserk. They shouted profanities, shook their fists, and threw stones at him. I winced in anticipation of being hit, but we were not the targets of the assault. The children clung to me and Marsh, making it impossible to move. Huddled against the sides of the wagon, I signaled to Marsh to retreat and get to the other side of the wagon by the back end of it.

  “Stay close!” I shouted. “Don’t run! It’ll be all right.”

  I hope.

  Reinick gave orders, and more men fell by the tips of his men’s spears along the perimeter of “them and us.” From where we stood, the side of the wagon’s wall hid it from the children’s view.

  “Don’t worry,” I yelled over the roar of the crowd. “They’re not angry with you.”

  Marsh watched the Authority take control of the area. “What now?” he shouted, still holding tight to armfuls of children.

  “Wait for Reinick to get on the stage. Then we’ll go.”

  Or maybe we’ll wait here.

  I got everyone’s attention. “Stay close, and don’t run! Just stay with me and Marsh, and everything will be fine!” Aria buried her face in my skirt. “It’s all right, sweetheart,” I said, stroking her hair.

  Reinick strode toward the platform, attempting to wave at the crowd. His efforts at grace failed. Apparently, walking, waving, and dodging stones was more difficult than he thought. Try as he might to keep a smile on his face, he seethed in disgust at his own people. The jeering reception nearly spiraled into chaos when Noran took matters into his own hands. He lifted the operator’s end of the Great Horn of the Gods (present at every event of this caliber) and took a deep breath. He blew into it with all his might, causing a commanding tone to ripple across the valley.

  According to legend, when the High Priest uses the Great Horn, he calls upon the gods to observe and intervene as they feel compelled. Anyone they find displeasing is punished greatly for the disruption.

  Some people covered their ears while others watched the sky, curious to see if the heavens would strike.

  Although I thought it a drastic move on Noran’s part, it did manage to settle the attendants. Noran cradled the ceremonial horn back into its resting place then ordered the band to resume playing. The crowd grumbled as the Authority officers pushed them back from the stage.

  “Lady Una, please follow me.” An official man waved.

  “Let’s go. Everyone hold hands.” I smiled and took Aria’s, and she took the hand of another child in our group.

  “I’m sorry, my Lady,” he said, looking at the children. “You cannot bring them. They’ll have to stay here and wait for you.”

  Aria tightened her grip.

  “I will not leave them.” I glanced up at Calish.

  He adjusted his hat and furrowed his brow.

  I nodded toward the children.

  The man tried to convince me to obey, but I didn’t listen. Calish had already grabbed the attention of one of the men on stage.

  “Give it a moment,” I interrupted.

  Calish pressed his lips together and dashed down the stairs in our direction.

  Now, he’s coming for me.

  With a jog in his step, he closed the distance between us, and with every footfall, I breathed a bit easier.

  The man in front of me continued to apologize. “I don’t have authorization for all these people, only you, my Lady. Please hurry, we cannot delay any longer.”

  Calish touched his shoulder, and the man turned quickly.

  “Is there a problem?”

  “Um, no, sir.” He stood at attention. “She won’t obey.”

  Calish laughed then greeted his brother with a nod as he came to my side.

  “He wants me to leave the children here,” I pleaded. “There’s too many people here. I can’t.”

  Calish’s hand rested on the small of my back. “It’s all right, my love.” He kissed me. “We can bring them with us.”

  “Maybe we should just wait here for you,” I said nervously.

  “Not a chance.” He took the hands of two children, and together, we headed for the platform. The guard who tried to prevent us then offered his help to lead our group to the stairs.

  How are they so calm?

  Calish led our new family toward the stage like a father leading baby ducks. I felt such pride walking in his wake. Our father would be proud even if none of this worked out as we had planned—not that we made plans.

  As we followed Calish, the crowd fell silent, more silent than when the Great Horn sounded. The band trailed off in a sloppy ending as we climbed the stairs as a family. Standing together, we took up a quarter of the stage.

  For a moment, I thought they quieted because of the number of children we had, but the people weren’t looking at us. They were looking at where we were.

  A green trail of grass, like carpet, led from the wagon to the shadows beneath the stairs.

  “What is that?” Calish asked.

  I gathered the children closer to me. “I don’t know.” As we huddled closer together, the growing quickened and circumference widened. Small screams and yelps escaped the Citizens as vegetation grew under and around their feet. Like a stone dropped in a lake, ripples of people jumped at the sight. Thick, strong vines cracked and popped as they climbed up the sides of the stage and into the beams holding the drapes. They raced against themselves, twisting and curling around the supports, donning bright white blooms as big as dinner plates. Gigantic leaves unrolled, providing shade for the band, who, by then, stopped playing entirely. Within mere moments, the front frame of the Temple was engulfed in wild growth and brightly colored pompons.

  Fearing what I didn’t understand, I squeezed my eyes shut, praying it would stop.

  Someone shouted from the crowd, “It’s Mother Una! She’s doing it!” The rumor spread, and people dropped to their knees and bowed.

  “No!” I stood with my hands open to show them, shaking my head adamantly. “It’s not me,” I squeaked. Noran and Reinick stared at me, both with different expressions. “I swear! I don’t know what this is!”

  Color left Calish’s face. “Nothing like this has ever happened before. There must be another explanation.”

  Noran smiled deviously. “Yes, there is.” He took center stage and lifted his arms high into the air. “Citizens of Ashlund! Greetings!”

  The people sat upright upon hearing his voice.

  “We are honored to have you here for the instatement of our Governor and newly commissioned Lord of the Authority!”

  Hawk climbed the stairs of the stage, gawking at the growth. He greeted Marsh with a tip of his hat, slipping between the children to get next to me. “Who did this?” he whispered.

  “I don’t know!” I hissed as the High Priest addressed the crowd.

  “I’m glad you made it.” Calish, obviously distracted by the foliage, extended his hand to Hawk. “I wasn’t sure you would be notified.”

  “Nik told me,” he said as he touched the vines behind us.

  “Nik?” Calish asked.

  Noran continued, “…the gods, summoned by the Great Horn, are pleased with the rebuilding of the Temple and our gathering today! Welcome to the Coronation, as we celebrate the instatement of Lord Reinick as your new Governor! The gods have made their blessings known!”

  The people cheered loudly in agreement.

  “Or someone on this stage is a Grower,” Hawk mumbled. He plucked off a bloom and smelled it before handing it to me.

  Noran led Ashlund in prayer, asking the gods for healing, prosperity, and “blessings beyond measure” before introducing Lord Reinick Bartold to the people. Noran listed off all of Reinick’s years of service and various positions he’d held during his time in the Authority. He noted his accomplishments, including famous criminals he’d brought to justice and the innocent families he’d protected, and reminded the people of the laws created
and upheld under his jurisdiction over our society.

  Reinick suppressed his glee as his life’s achievements were highlighted by his accomplice. My stomach turned as he put his hand on the Sacred Text and swore to uphold the Five Principles as the essence of the gods, encourage peace among the people, and sacrifice for the good of the land and all its riches. When his oath was complete, Noran removed a medallion from his pocket, and Reinick held out his hand, palm up. Noran removed the protective backing from the medallion and pierced it into the center of Reinick’s hand. Although his teeth clenched from the pain, his pride and entitlement never left his face.

  Noran held Reinick’s hand high into the air for all to see. “His blood is confirmation of his commitment to you. Do you accept his offer of leadership?”

  The crowd roared, but their cheering abruptly ended as Noran licked the blood from Reinick’s hand.

  My throat slammed closed against my contracting stomach.

  He did that on purpose.

  Once Noran pinned the medallion on Reinick’s lapel, Reinick dismissed the Priest and made his long, monotonous acceptance speech. It lasted so long and was so boring, I finally gave permission to the children to sit down until we were permitted to leave.

  Calish took my hand, and the senseless words of a rambling man suddenly seemed further away. His touch did funny things like that. I don’t know how he seemed so comfortable standing in front of thousands of people, knowing he would be the focus of their attention once Reinick finished gloating. Add the unexpected vegetation, the backlash of the Citizens, and the curse branded into my arm—he should have been at least a little worried!

  Calish’s eyes laughed at my expense, which made me want to smack him. Still, his gaze wandered comfortably from my eyes to my lips, to my neck, down, down…

  I looked away, sure someone would notice me blushing when I should have been utterly bored if not so terrified and confused.

  “You look beautiful, by the way.”

  “You can thank Qarla for the alterations.” I cleared my throat.

  “I wasn’t talking about the dress.” He laced his fingers between mine, reminding me he had no regrets.

  The corners of my mouth pulled against my will as I gave in to his quest to ease my anxiety a tiny bit.

  “There she is. My wife.”

  My smile grew, and his had an air of satisfaction. His index finger stretched out to discreetly tickle the side of my leg, and it was all over. My lips parted, as did his.

  One quick kiss.

  I’d almost forgotten Reinick hadn’t finished talking, “…and that is why I’m overjoyed to present to you my nomination for the position of the Lord of the Authority, my only grandson, Lord Calish Bartold!”

  Calish pulled away before our lips touched.

  Lovers caught.

  He bit his lower lip as his cheeks turned a light shade of pink. Although he stepped away, his fingers held their grip. His time had come, and in that moment, I accepted I could no longer be the center of his life.

  I didn’t need saving. Neither did he.

  I let his hand fall free from mine and watched him claim his fate.

  The crowd roared as Calish walked across the stage to stand next to his predecessor. He bowed and waved, but the people wouldn’t quiet down.

  Reinick tried several times to hush them. Cheers continued as he attempted it over and over again. “Enough!” he shouted more forcefully. Still, the crowd celebrated.

  Calish looked over at me and whimsically shrugged.

  I laughed at his innocence.

  Of course, they love you.

  Chanting started, but not his name. Thankfully not mine either. The air pounded, growing stronger with each syllable.

  “Sca-ven-ger! Sca-ven-ger!”

  The cheers gained speed and energy as Reinick threatened his grandson to make it stop.

  Calish raised his hands, and the people erupted in a storm of support. Not even he could quiet them.

  The chanting wound up. “Sca-ven-ger! Sca-ven—”

  Noran, visibly upset, grabbed the horn and blew hard into it. The sound caused everyone to crumple as they cupped their hands over their ears in an attempt to muffle the tone.

  That stopped them. So far, the gods seemed pleased with their efforts, but chanting in support for one of the cursed…? Probably not the best idea.

  “Lord Calish is fairly new to the Authority, so his accomplishments are not many”—Reinick patted Calish on the back with excessive force—“however, he has proven himself a man of the people. He is smart and somewhat clever, if I do say so myself, and then there’s the side of him you see!” Reinick laughed at his own joke although he was the only one. “Ahem—” he cleared his throat “—I have never been prouder of my family than I am at this very moment,” he lied. “People of Ashlund, do you accept my nomination of—”

  A boom of acceptance knocked the newly appointed Governor back. This time he did not try to calm the crowd; instead, he gave the stage to Noran who swore Calish in using the Sacred Text.

  No one heard a single word over the applause. It was only by their actions we knew it had been completed. With the medallion taken from his breast pocket, Noran ceremoniously jabbed it into Calish’s palm, raising it high into the air before the crowd. As he lowered it, Calish snatched it from the Priest’s hand, using a handkerchief to clean the blood from his hand himself.

  The Priest took a deep breath, narrowing his eyes. I was not sure if he was supposed to or not, but he handed the medallion to the Governor, who pinned it on Calish’s lapel. Once secure, Reinick hugged his grandson. Nothing about the display looked affectionate. His rigid posture held him tight long enough to whisper something in Calish’s ear.

  Calish nodded.

  Unrehearsed but no less planned, they turned toward the crowd with their punctured hands raised high for all to see.

  Reinick took a seat, giving Calish the full attention of the people to make his acceptance speech. While I would never be accused of being a fan of the Authority, pride filled my bosom for him. It wasn’t his title but the endearment of the people that made my eyes water. Each time he tried to start, the people would cheer, making him stop and begin again. His bashfulness would have been complete if the little curl had fallen playfully on his forehead, but the Authority hat held it back. Still, his likeability won over and let him share a quick chuckle with his constituents. Finally, he put his hands in the air and signaled for them to stop, and in time, they did.

  “Thank you, thank you, everyone.” He paused. “Governor Reinick called me ‘a man of the people.’ The truth is I’m just a man. Many of you know my history and know I am not a man of status—”

  “Sca-ven-ger! Sca-ven-ger!” The chant dissipated as Calish turned back and looked at me.

  “I’m simply a man who fell in love.”

  The crowd cheered and whistled.

  I blushed, but he didn’t rush the moment. He took his time before addressing them again. “You see, what I learned is this: no matter who you are, or where you come from, there is a spirit that runs through us all, connecting us together as one. Some would say it’s faith, others duty—”

  Reinick and Noran shifted in their chairs.

  “—and while these are paramount, there is one that supersedes them both. Without it, the others can and will fall.”

  A voice called from the crowd, “What is it?”

  Calish sniffed then itched the underside of his nose with the back of his finger. The land hushed into eerie silence. He stared down at his boots and shuffled his feet. When he looked back to the crowd, a single tear fell from his eye. His head bobbed as his face reddened with emotion.

  “There is one thing connecting us,” he continued. “The spirit of love.”

  The people cheered, and he let them.

  He held his hand to hush them, and they calmed. “The spirit of love leads into a deeper sense of community. A community that seeks justice and equality among its people
no matter their start, no matter their name. A community where we use our strengths to support our neighbors’ weaknesses. A community where we strive to make a better future for our children with the work of our hands and will of our minds. A community that builds each other up when it is so easy to tear each other down.”

  The crowd unequivocally agreed.

  “The ability to truly love transcends all other pitfalls and handicaps, but only if we hold on to the truth of love in its purest form. Love demands us to be patient with each other. Love encourages us to be kind. It gives a passion for justice when it seems so hopeless to find. It limits our tolerance for selfish pursuits or gains obtained at the expense of others, especially those who lack the ability to defend themselves.” Calish smiled at our brood of children who listened with intensity before giving credit to Reinick. “It is love and love alone that caused me to accept my grandfather’s invitation to reinstate my birthright.”

  Reinick accepted the compliment, though he didn’t deserve it.

  “It is love that will give us hope. That hope will unite the people of Ashlund. Our people will build a future for our sons and daughters. Some people think my motivation is naïve, others think it foolish. I have only one question.”

  The people waited the pause he provided.

  With his arms extended out to his side as if ready to receive an arrow for his ideals, he asked, “Are you with me?”

  The crowd cheered so loudly I had to cover my ears. I wasn’t sure he was finished; nevertheless, the speech ended there. Not even the Great Horn would silence them.

  Calish left the podium, but not his audience, for me. His gait, his smile, everything about him glowed, not with pride but with humility and promise. He reached for my hand, and I gave it. Pulling me close, Calish touched my belly and kissed me long on the lips.

  The stage rumbled with the vibration of their approval, and I feared it might collapse as a result.

  “Come here,” he yelled into my ear. Together, we walked to the middle of the stage. He put his arm around my waist and waved. At first, I thought people were bowing, but then I saw blades of grass tossed into the air as if it were confetti. I glanced over at the children, also jumping and cheering, reacting to the unbridled energy of the Citizens. Hawk smiled and bowed slightly, not at all upset that Calish had hijacked his future. I waved for him to come to my side and held his hand tightly.