Return to the Fierce Land

by N C Bolton

  Enmin said, “Let’s hurry and eat before we continue on. I miss our village. How joyous they’ll be at the report of such a miracle.”

  Vinnt nodded, a wide grin on his face. Rikk carried Myla back to where Anek built a small fire. While his hands moved with ease in their task, Rikk could see Anek’s pain in the subtle clench of his jaw when he used his injured hand. Rikk stifled an offer of help, knowing it would yield a sharp rebuff.

  Oh, Uncle, if you’d only let yourself see.

  Over the course of two uneventful days of travel, Rikk watched Anek’s boundless energy begin to flag. His normally bronzed skin developed a grayish undertone and his face grew haggard. The swollen flesh of his left hand appeared shiny and taut and when he dressed Myla’s foot, he let his right hand perform most of the motions.

  At dusk on the second day, they halted and Myla said, “Uncle, won’t you use some of the herbs for your hand? It looks painful.”

  “No. Those are for your healing. I don’t want to run out and have you suffer.” He glanced at his hand. “It will be better soon.”

  Myla switched her concerned gaze to Rikk. He shook his head. Anek had proven himself to be a much more volatile man than he remembered. This uncle was not a man to be reasoned with or entreated. So different from the easy-going cheerful man Rikk had known in boyhood. Sympathy for Anek swept through him.

  Later, sounds of distress intruded on the peaceful night. Someone moaned nearby. Rikk peered in the moonlight, a shadowy nearby shape twitching along with the moans.

  Anek.

  Rikk’s heart yearned toward his uncle. He hurried to his side and dropped to his knees. “Uncle, will you let me pray for you?”

  A hard blow landed on his jaw, thrusting him back on his heels, stunned. He subdued the sharp blast of fury inside.

  “I don’t need your useless prayers,” Anek growled. “Get away from me.”

  His throbbing jaw clenched, Rikk returned to his place. Residual anger faded at the sounds of his uncle’s misery. Tears fell.

  Please help him. Ease his suffering.

  A firm hand gripped his shoulder and he opened his eyes to see the shadowy face of Enmin. “This must continue as it is.”

  Vinnt slid down next to Rikk. “We’ll wait here. For now we can do nothing.”

  Rikk listened to his uncle’s increasing agony, unable to remain calm. He had to do something. He stood and paced while each second stretched into oceans of misery.

  Please, please, please.

  Myla woke and sobbed for Rikk to take her to Anek.

  “No, Myla,” Anek boomed. “Don’t come near me.” A loud groan followed. Rikk rose and gathered Myla in his arms. He had to calm himself for her sake.

  She pleaded, “Do something. Can’t any of you help him?”

  Vinnt said, “When the time comes.”

  Her voice rose. “The time is now. Can’t you hear?”

  “We do.” Enmin cleared his throat. “We’ll wait.”

  She shook her head. “This is cruelty. If you can help him, do it now.”

  Another series of moans and Myla’s sobs broke Rikk’s heart.

  Please, lift this pain from my uncle. I’ve told him You’re merciful. Please have mercy on him. And Myla and me.

  As if he’d heard his prayer, Enmin said, “Don’t doubt, Rikk. See beyond it.”

  Vinnt nodded.

  Exasperation at himself and the situation flooded through Rikk. Though he was desperate to do something, he made himself sit and hold his crying sister.

  Please give me the strength to wait. Help me do what I should. Help me know when to act and when to be still.

  Anek cried out. “Rescue me, jaguar spirit, and help me flee the pain.” A spasm shook him and he screamed. “I call on you, my chosen one. Rescue me. Have regard for my years of offerings, and my own blood and flesh I gave you. Help me now.”

  The remnant of the night passed in agonizing slowness, the clear air pierced repeatedly by Anek’s pleading between bouts of moaning. Myla rocked and sobbed while Rikk held her. He forced himself to remain calm and watchful. Near dawn, Anek became motionless and quiet.

  Myla stiffened and rasped out, “Is Uncle dead?”

  Vinnt rose and hovered, a palm over Anek’s nose and mouth. He walked back to the others. “He lives.”

  Myla trembled. “Why do you do nothing and let him suffer?”

  Enmin said, “He must come to the end of himself before he can be helped.”

  “You mean he must die first? I don’t understand you.”

  Rikk smoothed her hair back. “Not die. He must stop resisting, as I did with the bearer. Then he can receive.”

  Peace seemed to fill the air and wash through Rikk. Enmin began a quiet morning song. Rikk and Vinnt added their voices.

  “Night has faded, daylight grows. And so we give our thankful praise, for light and strength throughout our days.”

  The hum of prayers was followed by spreading silence. Sound diminished into quiet.

  Enmin stood. “It’s time.”

  Rikk rose, and Myla clutched his hand. “I want to be near him. Please?”

  He scooped her up and followed Vinnt. After he set her down, he knelt with the other men. Anek lay still, face almost ashen. His left hand and forearm were swollen more than double their size, the skin showing an angry red. The men placed their hands on Anek’s head and shoulders and began to sing in a low tone. Rikk’s closed eyes poured out tears, but not of pain. Relief and release washed through him in waves. Time ceased. His body vibrated as power swept through and around him.

  A cry from Myla prompted his eyes open. He blinked and glanced at her. Her shaking finger pointed at Anek. His face, arm, and hand were their normal color and the swelling was gone. Even more amazing, the small finger had been restored and where once a scarred eye socket and half an eyelid had been, now there was a normal eye visible under the mostly closed, whole eyelid. Rikk had to blink again, first in disbelief, then awe.

  Myla’s hands covered the sides of her face before she dropped her head into them and wept. Enmin and Vinnt, heads back and palms raised, shouted praises, as did Rikk. Joy erupted and the three men hopped up and danced with glee, laughter rippling out of them.

  Anek continued to lie still, his breathing even. Rikk picked Myla up and danced with her in his arms. “Praise the One with us, Myla.”

  Her grin matched his, and she shouted, “Praise be to the One who heals, who restores, who shows mercy. Praise be to the One forever.”

  He whooped out a shout of joy and twirled around with his laughing sister. When the celebration calmed down, they dropped onto the ground, intermittent laughs still sounding while they gazed at each other.

  Rikk asked, “Did you expect that? I only asked for his swelling to go down and the pain to stop.”

  “Do you think the One is limited?” Enmin raised an eyebrow.

  Rikk stared a moment, searching his thoughts. “I must have.” He scratched the stubble on his scalp. “Perhaps it’s me that’s limited.”

  “That’s right.” Vinnt gave his shoulder a friendly slap, and laughed. “It’s we who are limited. But I did ask that he be completely healed of all his afflictions. Even so, I didn’t think of asking for restoration.”

  Enmin stood and walked over to Anek. “I did. I want him to know it is the One who creates, who is pre-eminent. He can have no doubts now.”

  “Uncle is very stubborn.” Myla scowled and shook her head. Then her brows lifted and a smile brightened her face. “But even he must understand after this.”

  They turned their attention to Anek, who continued in peaceful, relaxed slumber.

  Enmin stretched his arms. “None of us slept much. It’s still early morning. Let’s rest for a time.”

  Chapter Nine

  The bright sunlight of early afternoon accompanied by his friends’ grins greeted Rikk’s opened eyes. Vinnt pointed to Anek, who lay in the mid-day sun, staring up at his own upraised left hand. Anek’s color h
ad lost its pallor, and he appeared to be flushed with health.

  Myla still slept, but Rikk wanted her to see, so he nudged her and whispered, “Sister, wake up and look at Uncle.”

  She sat up and turned her attention to Anek. Tears formed in her eyes. Myla laid her head on Rikk’s shoulder, and they watched their uncle pass his right hand across his line of vision then run a finger across the restored eyelid. He studied his left hand again and wiggled the smallest finger, then felt the skin of his arm.

  He stared up at the sky and remained still for a time. When he turned and noticed their collective gaze on him, he bolted upright. “Why do we sleep in the day? What has happened?”

  Rikk’s heart rose in anticipation of the good news he bore. “You cried out all night in pain and when you were still, we prayed for you. And you were restored and continued to sleep, so we took our rest also.”

  Anek shook his head. “I remember crying out to the jaguar. I remember no prayers of yours.”

  A stab of pain slowed Rikk’s breathing.

  “No, Uncle,” Myla cried out, “I watched it happen. You were asleep as one nearly dead. And your hand and your arm were red and swollen. And, Uncle, your eye. It all changed while they prayed for you.”

  His head tilted up, jaw firm. “The jaguar sent his strength to me as I asked. Because I offered him part of my blood and flesh, I have received it back. And my eye, too, which was wrongly required of me because of my brother’s disobedience to the Devourers and the headman.”

  Rikk’s shoulders slumped, and Myla shot him a stricken look.

  Enmin said, “You make a grievous mistake, Anek. The One has restored you. Jaguars have no power to heal or to restore flesh and bone. They rend, they don’t make whole. You’ve been shown mercy and still you won’t see?”

  “I do see.” Anek’s voice rang with triumph and he pointed to his new eye. “I see because of the jaguar, my chosen Devourer.”

  A slight sigh escaped Enmin, and he pressed his lips together. “You’ve been given a great favor. We’ll pray that your pride and lack of thankfulness be forgiven.”

  “Perhaps it’s you who need my prayers,” Anek scoffed. “But you’ll not have them. You deny not only the jaguar, but all the Devourers.”

  Vinnt stood and stepped forward. “You’ve been taught lies, and you hold to them despite the miracles you’ve seen. The One is kind and merciful, but you prefer to give your regard to ruthless beasts.”

  A sly grin spread over Anek’s features. “If this One made these beasts, as you say, why did He make them ruthless?”

  “Perhaps to teach men like you, who love death instead of wisdom.”

  Anek sliced the air with his hand. “You’re a fool.”

  Vinnt crossed his arms. “The writings say a fool’s way is right in his own eyes but a wise man listens to counsel.”

  “What do I care what your writings say? They carry no weight with me.”

  While Rikk listened to the exchange, heart grieving for his uncle, Myla whispered, “Don’t despair, Brother. I believe in the One now. I know He watched over me when I was sick as a child. And I saw what happened today.”

  His heart flew higher than the clouds, and he shared a joyful hug with his sister. When he pulled back, he saw his glee mirrored in her face.

  Anek’s voice broke through their elation. “Has no one tended Myla yet?”

  He stalked over and lifted her away from Rikk. Kneeling near her, he unwrapped and studied her wound.

  He glared at Rikk. “You know why she received no restoration and I did? I’ll tell you. Because it was the jaguar spirit and not your One. If she turns back to the Devourers, she can be healed, too.”

  Myla shook her head. “No, Uncle. You’re wrong and I know it.”

  “How?”

  Myla touched her eyelids and then laid a hand on her heart. Anek shook his head and muttered while he dressed her wound. “You’ve caught their illness now. Foolish. Perilous. You’re all in danger of attack by the Devourers.”

  The other men gathered the supplies while Anek bound her foot.

  He straightened and stared down at Myla. “I will pray to the jaguar and to your Devourer the hawk. Your wound will heal, and if you make an offering, perhaps your foot will be restored as my finger and eye have been.”

  “No, Uncle. Don’t pray to them for me. Believe what you will, but I’ll never pray to them again. They’re false.”

  Rikk grinned at Vinnt.

  Anek’s visage turned solemn. “My niece, I’ll pray for you to be spared the consequences of unbelief.” He flashed a hard stare of hatred at the men. “As for the rest of you, I’ll pray the opposite. Then Myla will know the truth.”

  “I already do,” Myla answered in a calm tone.

  A sudden idea struck Rikk. “Why don’t you prove it then, Uncle? Prepare a sacrifice and offer it. If what you say is true, then the Devourers will heal her wound so she’ll return to worshipping them.”

  “And so I will.” Anek’s face brightened. “When I return, you’ll see.”

  He removed his short bow from a pack and hurried off among the rocks.

  Enmin said, “I’m glad you framed the test as you did; only concerning the conduct of his false gods. Without guidance, we cannot speak for how the One wants to bring things about.”

  Vinnt nodded. “The One acts to achieve His outcomes. I’m interested to see what happens.”

  “So am I.” Myla smiled up at Vinnt.

  Rikk knelt next to his sister. “I think we should pray while he’s gone. I want us to be sure of how to proceed.”

  “Yes.” Enmin and Vinnt knelt down.

  “Before we begin,” Enmin said, “let’s focus on prayer for Myla’s new faith to be increased and for Anek to open his mind and heart to truth. He’s still wounded inside and has need of a bearer.”

  Eyes closed and hands clasped, they began to pray. The air seemed to settle into a quiet river of peace. The sun’s afternoon heat climbed while their peaceful communion continued. As though from a distance, Rikk heard his uncle’s laugh and shifted his attention with reluctance. He opened his eyes, smiled at Myla, and lifted his head.

  Anek stood before them, two limp rabbits dangling from one hand, bow in the other. Triumph and satisfaction filled his expression, smoothing his often-scowling brows and lips. “Leave your prayers. I will show you how to truly pray.”

  Please forgive my uncle for his mockery.

  Anek hurried to the fire pit. Moments later, flames leapt up. He laid a large flat stone in the center of the flames.

  Voice raised, he held one of the rabbits above the stone. “Receive this offering mighty jaguar. May its substance please you and its strength be added to yours.”

  A quick cut to the rabbit’s throat and its blood dripped onto the stone. Anek did the same with the other while he entreated the hawk. He laid the rabbits on the stone and added more wood.

  “Now I ask you to heal my niece’s injured foot and return her affections to the Devourers so she will worship you again.”

  Myla let out a sigh and shook her head. She turned tear-filled eyes to Rikk. “The One will not be offended in me now, will He?”

  Rikk shook his head. “I don’t think so. This is not your doing, not your words or actions.”

  “The One knows your heart, Myla.” Vinnt patted her hand.

  “All of it?” Her face grew pensive, gaze down. “I don’t think I know all of it.”

  Vinnt chuckled. “Sometimes you’ll wish He didn’t, but it’s the only way to allow it to be changed.”

  Anek grabbed a stick and pushed the charred rabbits off the stone and directly into the flames. The fire darted up and Anek yelled, “Devour, fire. Devour, oh chosen ones. Grant my plea.”

  He shot a look over his shoulder at the four watching him. An eyebrow flicked up. “Soon, you’ll see. Once all is devoured, you’ll see.”

  A half hour passed in silence while he fed the fire and watched the rabbits turn to ash.
>
  Anek stood, strode to Myla, and removed her dressing, exposing the half-healed wound. When he lifted her, Vinnt stretched a hand out as though to stop him. Myla gave a gentle smile and shook her head at him. Vinnt’s arm drifted down. Anek nodded at Myla with a pleased expression, as though confident the state of her heart matched his.

  At the fire, he lifted Myla higher, while her turned head and steady gaze remained trained on the three men behind her uncle. Anek boomed, “The sacrifice is devoured. Now, oh great ones, show Myla your power.”

  Silence stretched, unbroken except for the slight sound of the breeze and various birdcalls. The sun shone off Anek’s shaved head, which stayed fixed in the direction of Myla’s foot. Time crawled and when his arms began to shake, he lowered Myla to the ground and straightened up.

  He drew in a deep breath. “The sacrifice wasn’t good enough. I must offer them something better. A Devourer. Or a high sacrifice. That will show my dedication, since they’re the hardest to kill.”

  He patted Myla’s head. “I’ll return with a more worthy offering to the Devourers. Then we will offer a high sacrifice and you will be restored as I was. And we will be free of these people.”

  Myla remained silent, and Anek dashed off, energy almost bristling from his focused, speeding body.

  Chapter Ten

  A sensation of doom chilled through Rikk at his uncle’s words. He understood too well what Anek’s intentions were. Enmin and Myla shared a look of shock. Only Vinnt’s expression remained untroubled.

  “Go after him,” Myla pleaded, “Stop him.”

  Enmin shook his head “Stop him how?”

  Vinnt turned a puzzled face to Myla. “Why do you want him stopped? He’s a practiced hunter. Surely he will be unharmed. And what will his useless offerings do other than show him that the Devourers are nothing?”

  Myla’s voice cracked as her eyes filled with tears. “You don’t understand. He means to bring back a Devourer alive, and offer it . . . and then . . .”

  She twisted her hands together, desperation etched on her face. “Please go after him now. Tell him I refuse these offerings and sacrifices.”