A Poisoned Land (Book 1: Faith, Lies and Blue Eyes)

by Craig P Roberts

  I don’t need looking after, the Mother will protect me, Owin thought, but didn’t want to snap at him because without Baskie, he wouldn’t be able to follow the Mother’s call. “Stop calling them women. They’re goddesses,” he corrected his friend.

  “When we get to other places you’re going to have to keep an open mind. You know the island is the only place that believes in the Mother?” Baskie’s question was obviously leading somewhere.

  “Of course I do. That’s why we’re there. We are the only ones that know the truth and our true beginnings and purpose. The Mister, through the will of the Mother, saved each of us and brought us there.”

  Baskie looked like he was ignoring his words. “Most of you came from the Ten Kingdoms, yes?”

  “I think so. A few from other places I can’t remember but most were rescued from the false teachings of the Ten and chosen by the Mother for their pure seed,” Owin said, pointing at his blue eyes as he turned to face the questions. “But you know Corus? He’s the first boy to come from the Hidden Womb. He was born there and is the first of the New Order that will come from the true goddesses and the chosen brothers. You felt his strength from the day he beat you.” Owin didn’t mean his words as a dig at Baskie, more just as a point to prove what the Mother’s strength could achieve.

  Baskie shook his head. “Well the grass had something to do with that,” he mumbled then continued on with his point. “If you were left to be raised in the Ten Kingdoms, you would believe in their teachings—without any doubt in your mind. In the Land of the Old Ways, Arland and Dorland, you would believe in Jahanar, ‘the one true god’, that created the ball we live on and saves our souls from the fire.”

  “We don’t live on a ball though. The Mother holds us in Her hand.”

  “Are you serious?” Baskie burst out laughing. “I’ve never heard this one before! That Mister actually tells you that you’re in the hand of some giant woman…sorry…goddess?” It looked as if he couldn’t stop shaking his head and his lips were fixed in a curl.

  “She isn’t a goddess,” Owin corrected again. “She has no form.”

  “And yet you are sitting in Her hand?” Baskie raised an eyebrow with a coy smile on his face, mocking. “Most of the people in the Still Cities keep open minds. I traveled to New Haven once. I learned so much there…more there in ten days than I have in my entire life! They don’t believe we have a purpose, or that we were created by ten gods, Jahanar or a mother with invisible hands cradling the entire world. They test things. They come up with an idea and then test it, even if it proves they are wrong.”

  The boat bobbed up and down even though the water seemed still. Owin realized he had been clinging on tightly to the side of the craft ever since they got on. Now that he was growing used to its movements, he braved letting go. “How can you look at us and just think that we appeared?”

  “I don’t know, you’d need to ask them, but it makes sense and they don’t know all the answers yet. That’s what I love about it!”

  “About what?”

  “They call it the Knowledgeable Arts. The things they’ve found out are amazing! Right, how old do you think the Known World is?”

  “The Mother created the world and the first goddess four thousand years ago and then came the first brothers, one hundred years after,” Owin went on, “but they were just called males then because the Mother had not yet chosen the brothers and—”

  Baskie’s head continued to shake in disagreement. “When I was in New Haven they told me they found out that the Known World has been around for millions of years…maybe even billions.” Baskie went on about how ‘the globe’, as he put it, was formed from dust and that the animals all started small and, over millions of years, grew and became more intelligent and stronger. He even blabbered on about how brothers and goddesses used be hairy creatures that dragged their knuckles along the ground.

  And he thinks I talk shit! Owin thought angrily. “So one day we just lost our hair from our bodies and stood up? Don’t fill my head with your shit!”

  “Everywhere, people fill their heads with shit. Do you know what the people of the Green Islands believe? They worship the sun, which is actually more believable than your ‘Mother’, because at least it’s actually there! They worship the sun and the broken moon as their gods and believe that clouds are evil sky spirits trying to sever their connection to their two gods, which bring them light.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Clouds aren’t alive.”

  “Exactly!” Baskie looked relieved.

  Owin finally thought he was getting somewhere with Baskie. “They are the Mother’s breath, bringing us rain for the land.”

  Baskie shook his head and laughed. “Yeah, those crazy forest tribes, eh.” The scorn in his voice made Owin bristle. “Sky Spirits…Mother’s breath is much more likely—”

  “Shut the fuck up! If you don’t believe what I believe then why the fuck are you helping me find the Hidden Womb?” Owin wanted to get off the boat and away from the disbeliever but leagues of salt water hindered that plan. He couldn’t stop his body from fidgeting.

  “Maybe I’m not helping you. Maybe I’m testing my theory!” Baskie added with a smug smile.

  Fuck off, you want the goddesses as much as I do. “Well, we’ll see when we find it then—won’t we?”

  They rowed for hours, taking turns. The sun was nearing the horizon, with still no sight of land. Baskie did most of the work. When Owin attempted to take a turn, he would get frustrated within a few minutes because ‘his technique was all wrong’—as Baskie kept pointing out.

  Owin sat with his back to Baskie, who steadily sliced through the water with the oars. He stared at the unfamiliar mass of land getting bigger and more real by the minute. It stretched as wide as Owin could see, as if there were no end in sight. The Mother’s Island is like a dot compared to this place, he thought, as he marveled at the stretch of land they called the Mother’s Arm. The Mister talked of how this wide island stretched around the smaller Mother’s Island, to protect it from the corruption of the lands beyond. The Mister set up watch posts where older brothers (who weren’t chosen for a place on the Hidden Womb) stood watch and guarded the island. There was Redhorn (which Baskie told Owin they would be close to once they hit land), Far Point and the Nest. There was also Lonely Watch, which was on a smaller island to the south of the Mother’s Arm.

  After another hour, their boat lurched onto the sand of a strange new land. The pair hopped out into the cold lapping sea, pulling the boat further inland. Owin felt the sand between his toes and realized he hadn’t brought shoes with him. Baskie never wears shoes, so I’ll be fine. They climbed a small ridge leading from sand onto grass. Around a hundred steps away from them, was a round stone tower.

  “That’s Redhorn. I’ve snuck around it so many times I’ve lost count. There are only four men standing guard and normally only two of them are awake.”

  “Four brothers, you mean,” Owin corrected. “And it doesn’t matter how many of them there are because the Mother watches over us.”

  “Then why does the Mister bother having people stationed here? And how have I managed to sneak past them?” Baskie questioned, shaking his head with a smirk across his face.

  “Probably because the Mother wanted you to get past them. Without you, I wouldn’t have made it here.” Owin spoke with his eyes fixed firmly on the tall gray tower in the distance. He still sensed a scornful grin on Baskie’s face even though he wasn’t looking at him.

  “That must be it…” Baskie nodded with wide eyes and pursed lips. “She wanted me to get past. There was also that time She must have wanted me to get into the Nest to take a shit in one of their chamber pots…”

  His words were like water running over a rock. Ignoring him, Owin said, “I know one of the brothers posted here. His name is Airon. He shared my pod two years ago and I’m sure he’ll let us stay the night and tell us where the Hidden Womb is.”

  Baskie protested through
the short walk to the gray tower but Owin ignored him. The Mother was guiding him and everything was falling into place for his journey to the Hidden Womb: Baskie found him and got him across the water and now Airon would let him stay and help him on the next part of his mission from the Mother. He knocked on the large wooden door. The tower looked as if it had six stories—the tallest structure Owin had ever seen. The House of the Mother, back home, only had four stories. Laughter came from inside: four, perhaps five voices. The door creaked open and Owin felt his spirits lift as he saw his old friend, Airon, standing with a lamp. Owin pushed the door open further and grabbed his older brother and hugged him tightly.

  “Fuck the Mother, you grew up fast,” Airon said, using the Mother’s name in vain. His words made Owin pull out of the embrace and step backwards. “Have you been sent here from the island? I always thought the Mister would have sent you to his breeding place.”

  “Breeding? What do you mean? I’ve been sent on a journey by the Mother. I’m going to find the Hidden Womb. This is my friend Baskie. He’s helping me.”

  A grin grew across Airon’s face. “Fuck, your voice has gone deep too!” He turned to Baskie with a childlike smile that Owin remembered well from years ago. “Aw you’re the little shit who tries to sneak past us.” He laughed.

  “Told you they always see you.” Owin punched Baskie on the arm, noticing that his friend was staring down at the floor. “Can we stay tonight, please?”

  “You’re always welcome under my roof, little brother.” Airon smiled, placing a hand on Owin’s back, guiding him inside. The bottom floor was one large room and it reminded Owin of the communal areas in the pods. It had large soft seats around the outside walls. The fire was in the middle of the room and a twisting staircase wrapped itself around the hearth. Laughter and voices echoed from the floor above. Airon shouted up the stairs, “Janko, Seb, Peter, Lysa! Come down a second.”

  Lysa?! That’s a goddess’s name! Owin’s chest thudded. His fingers tingled. The Mister spoke of the three brothers who Airon had just called to. They left the island when Owin was very young and he had no memory of them. Surely there isn’t a brother called Lysa. He racked his brains, trying to remember if the Mister had ever mentioned a Lysa before.

  The laughing continued. Different creaks made it clear people were heading down towards the big round room. Owin stared at Airon while they waited. His face looked exactly the same as the day he left the island two years ago. Airon would have twenty years now, but still had a cheeky look on his face and the same short black hair. His body looked more filled out but he was still short. Owin was certain when he hugged him that he perhaps equaled him in height.

  Feet appeared around the coiling timber stairs. They belonged to three brothers, who must have seen twenty-five years each. One had a large face with stubbly black hair all over it. The next one looked the same but with lighter stubble and unkempt blond hair. The other had no hair on his head at all. Flames from the central fire reflected off the bald brother’s shiny scalp. Following them was one of the most fantastic sights. A goddess!

  Owin’s eyes nearly popped. But she has brown eyes, she must be a false goddess. Owin scrambled behind Airon, who stood facing the stairs as the four took their last few steps down into the round room. The false goddess had a round, pooching stomach but her face and legs didn’t look fat at all. She stood with her hands propped against her lower back. The three brothers walked over to Airon. They mumbled and pointed at Owin and Baskie. Although Owin wanted to hear what they were saying, he had to step back as the false goddess was getting closer. He shuffled towards the heavy wooden door, ready to make a quick escape if needed. She smiled at him like he was a helpless little furry creature. This is exactly what the Mister warned me of, he reminded himself. The false goddesses will try to tempt you, he would say.

  Airon popped his head out of their little group discussion to say, “Lysa, he’s from the island. So right now, you’re his worst nightmare, remember.” He chuckled and went back to talking to his brothers.

  “Aw they’re so cute,” the big-bellied fake said as she moved some of her long black hair away from her face. Her hands moved to hold her bloated stomach. Her voice sounded so sweet and her face was young and innocent. Owin placed her age to be similar to that of Airon.

  Just keep away from me, bitch, Owin thought, as he looked at the fake’s smooth legs slinking out of the bottom of the white silk robe. He could hear the mumbling of the brothers but only made out the odd phrase. “You can’t rip away his dreams like that. You need to break it to him gently,” he heard the fat blond one say.

  “You should do it,” said Airon, with a snort. “You helped me with all that shit. I’d still be scared to touch my own cock if you hadn’t explained everything to me.”

  Explain what? Owin wondered. What the fuck are they on about? There’s a fucking false goddess standing right there, probably planning to infect us all. His brain struggled to listen to the conversation and keep an eye on the cretin in front of him.

  The small huddle broke up and the three brothers and the fake stood in a line in front of the two new arrivals. Airon spoke with a blunt tone, saying, “Look, there’s a lot you’ve been told that isn’t true, okay? Basically, this is Lysa and we’ve been fucking for nearly a year now and I don’t have a disease and she’s got my child inside her. And I’m not going to end up in that fucking abyss place that the old cunt made up to scare us, just because I stuck my cock inside her.”

  Owin couldn’t believe what he was hearing. One of his brothers had lain with a false goddess. But if she is false, then how can she be with child? He argued with himself. That must be what the bump is in her stomach.

  “So you just need to get on with your life and don’t listen to the shit you’ve been taught.”

  The fat blond brother interrupted. “Well done with the ‘breaking it gently’, Airon,” he said, as he shook his head and bit his fingernails.

  “It’s better they just learn,” Airon continued, lifting up the false goddess’s silk robe. “So this is fine to touch. Nothing bad will happen to you,” he said, as he put his fingers inside her sacred place. She bit her bottom lip. “But Lysa is only for me. You have to get your own.” Airon winked. The other two brothers shook their heads and walked around to the other side of the hearth. The fat black-haired one nodded his head. Baskie and Owin followed him. Before they rounded the hearth, Owin saw that Airon still had his fingers inside the false goddess, pressing his lips against hers, as if he was trying to eat her face. She was doing the same back to him.

  Once they were around the other side of the large stone center of the tower that contained the hearth, they were guided up the spiral staircase. Down below, Airon was still rubbing his lips against the false goddess’s face and neck. At the first landing, they were shown into a bedchamber. A small hole at the far end gave heat from the fire running through the middle of the tower. Owin sat on the bed next to Baskie and the three brothers sat on the floor, speaking in turn in lowered voices. Baskie’s constant nodding and smiling at their false words was beginning to piss Owin off.

  “I don’t really give a shit what you have to say. You serve the Mother and I am on a mission from the Mother. All I need from you is a bed for the night and food for our onward journey.” Owin spoke sharply to the two fat ones and the shiny-headed one who was sitting on the floor in front of them.

  “Owin, I remember when you were first brought to the island and I saw you grow for two years.” The one with the shiny head spoke so calmly it was hard not to be comforted by him. “I don’t know what mission you think you are on but I promise, you will not find what you are looking for.”

  Baskie jumped in. “I fucking told you, Owin. Just—”

  Owin ignored his so-called friend, saying, “Are you going to help me or not?” He looked at the brother with the shiny head and tried to remember his face. I must have been very young when he was sent away.

  “Like I said, I consider yo
u my brother, whether the Mother is true or not. You are welcome here and we will provide you with anything you need. However, I urge you to stay here where it is safe.” The bald one turned to Baskie. “Where are you planning on guiding him to if you say you don’t believe in what he speaks of?”

  Although Baskie had been nodding and agreeing with everything the liars were saying, it was as if they were suddenly against him. “He wanted to find this made-up island so I was going to take him to Narscape,” Baskie told them. “If he sees everything that’s there, it will make him see sense. I want to free him from this shit he’s been brainwashed with.”

  The fat blond brother grabbed Baskie by the neck. “You’re taking him to fucking Narscape?”

  Owin dove across the bed and grabbed the fat man’s arm, pulling it away from his friend’s neck. He shouted, “Everybody just shut the fuck up! What is Narscape?”

  The fat blond brother stood up and walked to the far wall, shaking his arms. “It’s a place where people steal food from your plate, pay to drink poison, kick sick mutts in the gutter and fuck pretty little things like you up the arse!” he shouted, his words interspersed with short, sharp breaths.

  Baskie stood up with tight fists and said, through gritted teeth, “It’s a place where he’ll see what a load of shit he’s been taught his whole life! I’ll protect him! I have a friend there who’ll help us.”

  The shiny-headed brother brought some calm back into the room. “We can’t stop them, Seb. If we did, we’d be as bad as that cunt back on the island.”

  The Mister isn’t a cunt, you bald shit! “Exactly! You can’t stop us. It’s just up to you if you’re going to help us or not.” Owin’s hands were shaking. He stared at Baskie, wondering where it was he was going to take him. I don’t want to go to Narscape. I just want to find the Hidden Womb!

  The three brothers glanced at each other. The bald one said, “Owin, we’ll help you. Like I said, you have a bed here and perhaps by the morning you will have had time to think.”