Return to the Fierce Land

by N C Bolton

  Vinnt said, “I’m not sure. Hill people on a hunt, I think. They were hungry and cooked some meat. They had deer and other game to bring home, and will not be back this way soon, I believe.”

  “Don’t you know anything else? Where are they from? Where are they headed?” Anek asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, what do you know? What are their names, where do they live?”

  “I don’t know.” Vinnt gave a small shrug.

  Anek flashed him a look of incomprehension, brows twisted upward. “Did you not even give your names?”

  A small helpless expression passed across Vinnt’s face when he glanced over at Enmin and Rikk. “I think so, but I’m not sure. I don’t know their language.”

  Anek and Myla stared at him, mouths agape. Anek raised his hands, palms up. “But we heard you talking for hours, even laughing, and yet you know nothing?”

  “It’s not easy to explain,” Enmin said, “But this has happened before.”

  “What has happened before?” Anek’s brows descended while a frown twisted his lips.

  “When needed, Vinnt can talk with people whose language he doesn’t speak. He doesn’t know what he says, but it’s given to him to communicate, so others won’t fear him as an enemy.”

  Anek gave a violent head-shake as if to deflect the information and continued to stare at Vinnt.

  Enmin said, “This is one of his gifts. It has stopped violence, as it did now. The hill people usually kill strangers or capture them, as is their way.”

  Anek scowled, “Shouldn’t they be stopped and fought against for having such ways? I know what they’ve done to my own people.”

  Enmin gave a sad smile at Anek and asked, “Don’t all people have ways that should be stopped? There are better methods than fighting. Now, we’ll leave this place.”

  All but Myla rose. Anek stepped back while his hand rested on the hilt of his dagger. “No. I will not travel with him.” He glared at Vinnt. “He speaks without understanding. Such as him can’t be trusted.”

  Myla stretched a hand up toward Anek. “Uncle”—

  “No, Myla! It’s enough.” His expression contorted with disgust and he spat on the ground. “They carry no weapons, they perform no offerings, and people they should challenge and fight are left to go free. Now, this so-called gift. To call an affliction of the mind a gift, this is too much. I refuse to continue with any of them.”

  Anek squared his shoulders and raised his chin. He placed himself between Myla and the others, poised and battle-ready. Tense silence stretched between them. Rikk extended his hands toward Anek. “My uncle, you saved me once. I wish to do the same for you and Myla. Haven’t we shown we can be trusted? Our ways are strange to you now, but there’s no danger in them.”

  “No danger? That’s yet to be seen. There will certainly be no help with ways such as yours. The farther I go with you, the less sense you make. My heart tells me to break with you.” He glared at Vinnt with his good eye. “That one is dangerous.”

  Rikk took a step toward Anek, who drew out his dagger. Myla screamed. Anek pointed the blade at Rikk. “Don’t test me. I will strike you.”

  Vinnt stepped in front of Rikk and dropped to his knees, head down. “If I’m the cause of this, you may do to me what you will.”

  Myla moaned and rocked, face covered. Rikk and Enmin stood frozen, their eyes trained on Anek. His face held a look of disgusted shock, his dagger poised near Vinnt’s throat. Vinnt remained motionless.

  “Stand up,” Anek commanded. Vinnt complied and fixed a steady gaze on Anek, who laid the tip of his blade on the side of Vinnt’s throat. “Now tell me why I shouldn’t rid this world of you.”

  “Tell me what harm I’ve caused, and I’ll answer.”

  A curt laugh barked out of Anek. “You’re brave, despite your strangeness.” He studied Vinnt’s impassive face. “I can’t charge you with harm, but you make no sense. You have the body of a warrior, but the heart of a child. What use are you?”

  “Whatever use I can be. I serve the One.”

  Anek scowled. “And I’ve heard enough about your ‘One.’ Why should I show respect to such a god?”

  “Do you respect the lion or the crocodile?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then you should respect the One who made them.”

  Anek shook his head. “They were spawned from the volcano, not from your ‘One.’ And if your ‘One’ is so strong, why does he not stay my hand?”

  “He has.”

  Anek’s jaw clenched and heavy silence filled the air. Rikk’s breath stopped as he waited, every nerve at attention. Please, his heart cried. Myla’s head lifted and her widened eyes stared at Vinnt. “Uncle, leave him. He’s done no harm. I trust him.”

  Anek’s fierce gaze ripped from Vinnt to Myla, though his dagger hand remained still. “And why do you trust him?”

  “I don’t know. But I do.”

  Anek’s good eye fixed back on Vinnt, whose relaxed pose remained unchanged. He lowered his dagger, sheathed it, and crossed his arms. “I’ll let you live out of curiosity. I wish to learn why my niece trusts you. But I’ll watch you.” His gaze traveled over the three men. “I’ll watch all of you. And these people you take us to.” He nodded his head toward Myla. “For her sake, I’ll wait.”

  Rikk resisted the urge to confront Anek, either to voice his anger at the treatment of Vinnt, or to find some way to reach through his uncle’s obvious distrust of him and his friends. He didn’t trust himself to know how to manage the tense situation, so he kept quiet. Enmin and Vinnt appeared to follow the same plan of action, gathering up their supplies in silence. Myla watched the men, her expression guarded.

  Rikk helped her into the sling, hoisted her onto his back, and followed Enmin and Vinnt. A quick glance at Anek revealed a harsh, yet satisfied expression on his uncle’s features, as though he were convinced his aggression had been justified. Rikk fought down a swell of resentment and a return of the strong urge to rebuke or challenge Anek. Yet he knew Vinnt and Enmin would not wish him to confront his uncle, and the elders would agree that they remain silent.

  The steep rocky slope commanded his physical attention while his heart questioned and struggled against the internal constraint. Why shouldn’t he either start a dialogue to make peace or confront his uncle? It made no sense to him. Some of the One’s ways were beyond comprehension.

  He hadn’t expected to travel unknowable internal journeys. The external ones were challenging enough. Part of a morning prayer favored by the elders touched his mind.

  Guide my very thoughts into Your paths.

  He sighed and stared at the terrain ahead. Vinnt moved with ease, mirroring Enmin’s steps. He yearned to know their thoughts and whether they battled inside as he did. If so, they gave no outward clue. He spotted a bird flying high overhead. It dropped into a lazy, circling pattern. Perhaps it watched him trudge along while it sailed above, unfettered, and free of perplexing questions.

  When they stopped to replenish their water, Rikk followed Vinnt to help fill the skins while the others sat down to rest. He handed Vinnt an empty skin and cleared his throat. “Aren’t you angry at what my uncle did to you?”

  Vinnt shrugged. “Not any more. He knows only Fierce-Lander ways. I did feel a rise of anger when he put the knife to my throat, but I yielded it over to the One, and the power of it left me. Then I was given the strength to do nothing.”

  Rikk stared at his friend. “Strength? Doing nothing comes from fear, not strength.”

  “Well, I wasn’t afraid. And sometimes taking no action does require strength. It did for me.”

  Rikk shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

  Vinnt handed Rikk the filled skin and reached for an empty one. “Your uncle would have welcomed a challenge from me. I could see that clearly. And I could also see the fruit of such an action. So the One gave me the strength to do nothing.”

  Rikk stayed quiet, finishing the task an
d trudging behind Vinnt as they rejoined the others. Of course he didn’t understand. That was because he didn’t belong. That was clearer than ever.

  Chapter Seven

  That evening, the sunset blazed out its last glory on the western horizon while the eastern sky dimmed with the approach of dusk. Enmin halted far ahead at the pinnacle of a towering hill. His cautious, vigilant stance alerted Rikk. He and Vinnt hurried to join him. When they drew close, Enmin motioned for them to follow. He stopped a short distance further ahead, behind scattered boulders. Anek ran up, sweat beaded across his flushed forehead.

  Before Enmin spoke, Anek announced, “I saw eight of them, down in the jungle clearing space where we stopped at mid-day yesterday.”

  Enmin nodded. “Yes. And well-armed. Probably a full day behind if we press on through the night. Though they could just be more hunters searching for game in the jungle.”

  Anek shook his head. “They follow our trail and track in the manner of my people. I doubt we can out pace them. I may be able to slow them if I take Myla back and we say you captured us. That may give you time to flee back to your home.”

  “No.” Rikk’s stomach clenched. “They’re likely to kill you. If not, you’d have to return to that place.”

  “We may be treated better now if they believe we were captured. Or at least our lives would be as they were.”

  Enmin said, “Even if we agreed to your plan, they won’t spare you without proof of your resistance to us.”

  Anek halted and turned toward Enmin who pointed a finger at Anek. “You know this. So does Rikk.”

  Anek averted his glance, and no one spoke. Vinnt broke the silence. “What proof?”

  After a deep breath, Rikk answered. “Someone’s head, heart, or liver. To be burned in sacrifice.”

  Vinnt’s brows drew down, and his jaw clenched. “Is this part of your plan, Anek?”

  “Perhaps.” Anek’s eyes hardened. “You offered your life before. Now you can save lives if you will offer again. You have time to decide.”

  Enmin opened his mouth to speak, and Vinnt thrust up a hand. “I don’t need to decide. I will not give my life to this. I offered it before to preserve peace and atone for the offense you took. I won’t offer it for this evil practice.”

  Rikk nodded and crossed his arms. “And we wouldn’t consider it.”

  “We’ll pray for counsel.” Enmin stepped over to a small area clear of boulders, and sat.

  Anek gave a derisive laugh and stepped to Myla. “We’ll leave you to your useless prayers. Give me my niece. She has more hope with me. While they follow you, I can perhaps evade them.”

  Rikk stood firm, his hands gripped around the sling straps. “Speak, Sister. What will you do?”

  Her face flushed, but her voice held resolution. “I’ll stay with you, Brother. Will the One hear my prayers, too?”

  Her bravery pricked his eyes with tears. He swallowed hard while relief flooded him. “Yes, they will be heard.”

  He eased the straps from his shoulders and placed her gently on the ground then straightened up to face Anek’s angry face. “She has chosen. Now choose what you’ll do.”

  Through clenched teeth, he said, “I won’t leave her. So take your foolish counsel. I must see to her wound.”

  Enmin nodded. “And we will pray.”

  Soon after they had joined in prayer, a low rumble sounded and grew in intensity. Hard rain splattered them, and they scrambled for shelter in the rocks. Rikk held Myla in his arms, soothing her trembles. Lightning blazed and a great peal of thunder shook the ground. Enmin and Vinnt laughed and shouted praises. Rikk stared in awe at the mighty display.

  Anek cowered back against the rocks and bellowed, “Only fools laugh at a storm. Cover your heads or the spirits of the Devourers will strike you.”

  Myla’s trembling increased. Her arms clutched around Rikk’s neck while her body startled at every thunder clap.

  Vinnt shouted to her, “Don’t fear. The One commands the storms. We won’t be harmed, and our tracks will be washed by the rain.”

  When the storm eased, Myla finally relaxed in sleep. Rikk lowered her and lay next to her, drifting into slumber as he breathed out thanks.

  A loud, grinding crack woke him. Unfamiliar sounds and motion surrounded him in the darkness. Another loud crack and the ground beneath him swayed and rocked.

  Myla screamed and located Rikk with clutching hands. “What is it, what’s happening?”

  The rumbling and swaying punctuated with booms, continued. He peered out at the darkness but could see nothing. “It’s not a storm.”

  Anek said, “There may be a volcano nearby. The Devourers will have their revenge on you and cover us with fire.”

  Enmin’s calm voice sounded near Rikk. “All things obey the One. Your Devourers decide nothing.”

  “Watch your words.” Anek’s voice growled. “I’ve seen how they mete out death, especially to the unwary, such as you.”

  Vinnt said, “They do only what hungry creatures have always done. Kill and eat. Or they kill to protect their lives or those of their children. To grant them any more power makes no sense.”

  “You dare speak about sense?” Anek’s voice rose to a furious tone. “A man who makes speech with no understanding? The Devourers do as they’ve always done. Their ways are clear. You’re the ones who are senseless, foolish.”

  After a pause he continued, “If not for Myla, I would sacrifice you to the Devourers and assure our safety. None of this silent praying to the air. What good has it done? We are about to be found by my people.”

  Rikk asked, “And if they find us, will you offer us as sacrifices to save yourself?”

  “Yes. If I perform the sacrifices, they would spare Myla and me.”

  Myla eased her grip on Rikk. “I will not be saved in such a manner. If Rikk will die, I shall also. They will surely spare you if you sacrifice me as well.”

  Tense silence reined, accompanied by a few slight shakes of the ground and distant booms.

  Anek’s solemn voice echoed in the darkness. “I can’t take your life, niece. If you choose death, then so will I. We have no more than a day to wait for it.”

  Myla laid her head on Rikk’s chest, and silence once again enveloped them. Even the intermittent booms ceased. He gave himself to prayer.

  If it’s Your will that I must die, I ask you to help me meet it with peace in my heart. But my uncle and sister, who’ve never had the chance to learn of You, I ask You to make a way to spare them. Guide them to the village and let them receive healing and learn of Your ways, just as I did. They need You. Please help them. I hope You can forgive my doubts and hear my prayer.

  Quiet breathing surrounded him. Did they all sleep, or did other hearts wrestle with what the morrow could bring? There was nothing more to do now but wait and hope. His eyes closed and his exhausted body melted into sleep.

  Chapter Eight

  Excited shouts echoed off the boulders near Rikk’s head. His eyes popped open, and he bolted up to hurry and join Vinnt and Enmin. Hands raised in the air, they jumped and laughed, facing the direction of yesterday’s long upward trek. Rikk gazed down at the land below them, and his mouth dropped open.

  Through the wisps of fog threading upward, a great yawning rift in the earth extended as far as sight could travel. It separated the jungle and the mountains, creating a barrier for their pursuers. Their tiny figures could be seen scuttling along the divide, appearing as tiny ants in the face of the large fissure before them. Even their tracking talents would be taxed by the unexpected challenge.

  Joy flooded Rikk, washing away many of his inner doubts. If the One would do such marvels, perhaps his own inadequate faith could be forgiven.

  Enmin’s voice rose in a song and Vinnt added his voice to it. “Let praises ring to the skies, for the One guides his people to safe paths.”

  Rikk joined the singing, his heart as light as the morning mist. The dreams and visions of the elders were true. Th
e travelers would be guided and protected on this journey. For the first time in his memory, he jumped with unbridled happiness. He shared delighted hugs with his friends.

  Anek hung back, a scowl on his face. His freshly shaved head reflected the sun’s early rays.

  Rikk rushed to Myla and picked her up. “You must see this wonder.”

  He strode past Anek, who remained in a stiff posture, arms crossed.

  Myla’s expression turned from brow-crinkled curiosity to amazement. Her eyes wide, she exclaimed, “Uncle, come see.”

  Anek walked in unhurried steps to Myla. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes before he looked away. Rikk’s sorrow at his uncle’s hard heart sparked a silent prayer. Myla’s bewildered eyes met his.

  She turned her gaze to Anek. “Is it not miraculous?”

  A short, harsh laugh escaped him. “The Devourers have decided to give us extra time. Last night, while you all slept, I cut off a finger and burned it with the blood to purchase our escape.”

  Anek held up his left hand. The smallest finger was gone, the flesh at the base blackened and cauterized by fire. He stared at Rikk. “So your praises are misguided, Nephew. Just as all of you are.”

  He stalked off.

  The sight of his uncle’s hand shocked Rikk, deflating his high spirits. An unwelcome thought flashed across his mind. Did the Devourers have such power? He’d never heard any report of such miracles from them, but his uncle seemed to believe it. No, it couldn’t be the Devourers. How foolish of him to even think it.

  Rikk stared after his uncle. Anek was further out of reach than he’d thought. Despair for Anek’s stubborn, angry resistance slashed through him, along with pity at the unnecessary, painful mutilation.

  He mustn’t let it dilute his heart of praise. Another gaze at the perfect miracle below him restored his glee, and he closed his eyes.

  My heart sings at Your mercy. Forgive my uncle’s pride in the Devourers. Help him see past the lies he’s been told.

  The touch of Myla’s hand on his shoulder returned his awareness to the others.