by Thomas Rath
Despite the cold wind still coming off the mountains, Thane began to feel hot within his blanket as his anger suddenly clawed for the surface. “Now just one moment TamVen,” he said tightly. “I have been giving up my time, risking my skin if we’re caught, trying to help you learn these things and this is the thanks I get? Do you think it’s been easy for me to put up with your constant whining and complaining when you don’t get something right? And let’s not forget that everyone in the village keeps teasing me because they think we’ve chosen each other. Even Dor thinks we have!”
Tam suddenly looked up with wide, gleaming eyes matched by a broad smile, “Really?”
Thane stopped, not quite sure what she meant or how to react to her sudden change of mood. “Really what?” he said a little less angrily.
“Do people really think you and I have chosen each other?”
Thane looked at her quizzically as a nervous shiver shot up his back. “Uh, yes they do,” he said reverting back to his original dumb state, the anger gone. “And I’m sick of it,” he continued a little more forcefully than he had planned.
Tam’s face turned back to hard stone. “Sick of it, huh? And what is so terrible about me that it makes you so angry that people might think we have chosen each other?”
“It’s not that,” Thane stammered, not sure of how he got back on the defensive. “It’s just that...well, that would be ridiculous. I mean, you and me, together?” Thane forced a chuckle. “Well, it’s just too hysterical.”
Tam’s face became redder than an overripe Shue berry and Thane knew he was in for a tongue-lashing. But he was wrong. Tam pulled a knife that must have been hidden behind her back and then dropped to an offensive crouch.
“What are you doing?” he asked a little surprised. “Where did you get that knife?”
“Come on Thane, you pile of troll puke. We’re going to see how good of a teacher you really are.”
He started to object but Tam shot in low with an upward slice designed to gut her opponent in one lethal stab. Thane barely escaped with his life. Pulling his dagger with instinctive quickness he stopped her blade just as it began to pierce his skin. He jumped back and looked down at the blood that was beginning to run a trail down his stomach. His eyes opened wide in disbelief. “You could have killed me? What do you think you are doing?”
“Just that, you pompous bag of lake rat gas.”
Tam lunged again, this time passing to the right and then swinging around in an attempt to bury her blade into his kidney. Thane shot back with pure instinct, causing her blade to slip past harmlessly. He was off balance, still not believing she was actually trying to kill him. Tam reversed her momentum throwing her other elbow into his gut and knocking the breath from his lungs.
“Tam,” Thane wheezed gasping for air, “stop this right now before someone gets hurt.”
“I think someone has,” she sneered as she came at him again.
Thane fended her off as best he could barely escaping injury while trying to get his lungs to work properly again. Tam was coming at him with everything he had taught her and it was obvious that she had learned quite well. Long moments passed in desperation before he was finally able to regain his breath and balance. They now crouched facing each other in preparation for a deadly dance.
“All right, Tam,” Thane said, his breathing labored but finally filling his starving lungs. “You’ve proven your point. You have become quite good with the skills I’ve taught you.”
“That’s not enough!”
Tam lunged again coming in high for a shot to his face and then crossing it down at the last second for a slice at the chest. She was met easily this time by Thane’s own blade, which he then threw up high, taking Tam’s knife with it while extending her arm way above her head. Tam suddenly found herself thrown off balance. Then, with a little kick of his foot, Thane caught her leg and pulled it out from under her sending her crashing hard to the ground. He was on her in an instant with his free hand holding her dagger against the ground, his own blade pressed against her throat.
“Now that’s enough, Tam,” he said tightly, ripping the dagger from her hand. “You may have learned how to shoot a bow, use a dagger, and track in the woods, but you’ve still got a lot to learn, little girl.”
Thane wanted to scold her more but he was suddenly interrupted by a strange sound coming from the direction of village. He cocked his head to see if he could hear it better while Tam began to protest and squirm underneath him. “Be still Tam, something is not right.”
Again the sound came and this time he could make out the faint words of alarm. Immediately, he jumped to his feet dropping Tam’s dagger on the ground next to her. “You run to the fields and meet the other women there,” he said looking down at her. “And don’t argue with me.”
Tam grabbed her dagger and shot to her feet. “What is it?”
“Something is attacking the village.”
“The village? It’s the middle of winter! The raids won’t be coming for another moon or two when the sun warms. You know that.”
“I know it’s strange, but I just heard the warning cry. Now go! I have wasted enough time with you already.”
“I’m coming too,” she said replacing her dagger and facing Thane with pierced lips. “I’m as good as many of the other men at fighting. I’m coming.”
“Tam, we don’t have time for this. Go where you are supposed to and leave this to the men.”
“You listen to me, Thane of the five Tane,” Tam began pointing her finger into his chest.
“No, you wait,” Thane said quickly, fire igniting his green eyes. “There are other things you must learn before you are ready to use your skills in the open. If you use them now we will be found out and all that you’ve worked for will be for nothing. Do you want that?”
“Of course not,” she said disappointedly.
“Then take these blankets and go to the fields where you belong. I’ll meet you back here tomorrow for your final lessons. Then you’ll be ready.”
Tam hesitated for a moment and then sighed heavily in acceptance. Taking the two blankets, she ran off towards the fields to meet the other women while the men fought for the village.
Thane watched her go to make sure she didn’t stop or turn back before he headed with all speed towards the village. “I hope I can come up with something to tell her tomorrow,” he said to himself as he darted through the trees. “Or it may really be my life this time.”
He shot through the woods in silent ease pushing himself harder and harder trying to gain more speed. He was further from the village than usual because of the relative safety from attacks enjoyed by the Chufa during the winter moons. Plus, it gave him greater security from being caught teaching Tam. He could not remember any time in his life when the trolls had threatened his people in the winter.
He reached the river and, without missing a step, jumped into the freezing water and waded across. The sounds of battle were quite loud now as he exited the icy water and approached the village outskirts. He pulled his dagger knowing he had no time to seek out his bow and ran headlong into the center of the small town.
As he broke past the huts on the outer rim, he was suddenly overcome by what he saw. All around him Chufa men were in desperate battle wielding knives, bows and, in some cases, staffs to defeat the enemy that had invaded their home. But it wasn’t the enemy trolls Thane had expected. Never in his life had he seen such beasts. They were on four legs like the fox but much larger. They reached almost to the shoulders of the Chufa men in height, with thick, black and gray fur coats. Their muzzles were long and held huge, sharp teeth. He watched in horror as one swiped a large paw of dagger like claws across its opponent’s chest opening the skin and leaving a gapping wound. The blood splattered his face snapping him back from his watchful terror as the huge beast bore down with fury onto the wounded man. Within two steps he was on the beast plunging his dagger into its neck as it flung itself about in a rage of pain and desper
ation withdrawing from the downed Chufa warrior. In moments, Thane extinguished its life in a bloody mass of slashes almost completely separating its head from its body.
He ran quickly to the injured man only to discover in shear horror that it was Dor. “Are you all right?” he asked while checking his wounds.
Dor coughed and then grimaced in pain before opening his eyes and focusing on his friend. “Hey Thane, how’s Tam?” he waved, smiling weakly.
“Very funny,” Thane answered while placing his hands on Dor’s chest. With a small stream of smoke he quickly cauterized the gash marks. Dor grimaced for a moment and then passed out. Thane could tell that his friend was suffering from broken ribs and also a broken collarbone as part of it was poking through the skin. The beast had also put a large gash through his leggins and into his leg, which he quickly healed before carrying his friend to a nearby hut where he sat him up to help ease his breathing. Dor’s face twisted in agony as he opened his eyes.
“Looks like you robbed me from death again, my friend,” he whispered.
“You just rest here while I go help the others. And don’t worry about Tam, she told me to tell you that she loves you.” Thane smiled at his friend as Dor’s face twisted again, but this time not from any physical pain.
“Where’s my knife?” Dor wheezed.
“What?”
“My knife, rat gas. So I can cut out your lying tongue.” Dor broke off in a fit of coughing that almost robbed him of consciousness from the extreme pain it caused.
Thane hesitated. “Maybe I’d better stay here with you after all.”
Dor looked up and smiled. “Go on, you’re not my mother. I’m fine.”
Thane stared at his friend but finally just nodded. “I’ll come back when it’s over.”
Turning back to the fight, he was just in time to see one of the huge beasts leave the ground as it leapt for an unsuspecting Chufa’s back. Thane recognized the victim instantly. It was his father. The world went silent and time slowed to a crawl as he watched in horror, knowing he could not reach his father in time to save his life. All the pain of rejection and disappointment returned in an instant. The lack of his father’s love, the times he silently cried as his parents argued over him, missing the closeness he wanted so desperately. Fourteen cycles of life filled with an eternity of hurt because his father did not accept him as his own. And with all of that, he could still not understand or deny the love that filled his heart for this man who was about to die.
Everything inside of him suddenly reached a fevered pitch until he felt he would explode as the beast’s flight began to descend toward DelVen’s turned back. Thane felt his hand rise as if to reach out and grab the attacker away from its kill. And then, with all the fabric of his soul the lonely boy shouted in agony. “NOOOOO!”
DelVen looked up just as his attacker burst into flames and then fell at his feet in a mass of charred fur and flesh. Thane collapsed, the energy suddenly drained from his body, his mind a whirl of stunned disbelief at what just happened. Everything seemed to halt in mid action. The remaining attackers disengaged from their fighting to stare at the ashes of one of there own and then as one they all turned and looked at Thane. Silence overtook the village. Even the Chufa no longer seemed interested in the fight their accusing eyes falling on Thane as if he were the true threat. No one seemed to breathe until, as if by command, the attackers suddenly all lifted their heads to the sky and howled a horrendous sound. Then, as quickly as they had come, they raced back into the forest, away from the village, and disappeared.
The Chufa warriors stood in stunned disbelief, none of them moving. Thane lay in the dust, still without enough energy to rise, and watched as DelVen moved slowly towards him. Tears came to his eyes to see his father still alive knowing that things would certainly have to change between them now. DelVen had looked into the face of death and had miraculously escaped and now his heart would have to change towards how he felt about his son.
He reached Thane’s still lifeless body and, without hesitation, spit on him. “You green-eyed devil, how did you do that? I knew you were some kind of freak, but this is too much. You are no longer welcome in my hut. I want you gone by tomorrow.” With that, he kicked dust in his face and then turned away. Thane continued to cry.
The men slowly started coming back to their senses and began looking after their injured, all the time whispering to one another and throwing glances at the lonely boy still lying lifelessly on the ground. No one approached him to see if he was all right. No one came to his aid. So he just lay there on the ground numb from his lost energy and from what his father had just done. To be cast out of the family hut was akin to being disowned. He would not even be allowed to visit his mother. From then on he was on his own.
Thane’s energy gradually began to return and he was finally able to inch his way back to Dor to check on him. Dor watched him approach, trying, unsuccessfully to hide the terror that was clear in his eyes. Thane couldn’t help but notice that his friend seemed to try and back deeper into the side of the hut as he neared. “How did you do that Thane?”
Thane looked at him blankly, wiping the tears from his face. “I don’t know. It just happened.”
Dor rose painfully to his feet supporting himself on the hut and looked down on his friend. “I…uh…better go and get wrapped up,” he finally said and then turned and left without another word.
Thane’s heart groaned, feeling as if a boulder had dropped and crushed it. Everyone had deserted him, even his greatest friend who had stood with him through everything in his life. They were all gone now. He was alone.
He rested for a while longer allowing his body to regain its strength to the point where he could stand. He did not allow himself to think because he knew that in doing so he would only find pain and grief. He looked around at the others almost pleading for someone to come to him in acceptance and understanding, but he only found averting eyes and hand covered whispers.
There were five men though who did watch Thane, keeping well hidden from his view. They had all seen what had happened and now stood motionless and in silence scrutinizing the boy as if to see what strange thing he might do next. They stared, as Thane got to his feet and, with one final look of pleading, turned from the village and disappeared into the woods. One of them finally spoke. “There can be no mistaking it now. He must be destroyed.” All eyes turned to the man and then one by one they nodded their heads in agreement. “We will meet tonight at the usual place to decide on a plan to carry it out.” Then, as if by an after thought, he added, “Thanks to a certain little pledge, the question of ‘who will carry it out’ has all ready been decided.”
TanVerPa turned pale, as the eyes of the other four seemed to bore into him. Quickly gaining control of his fear he glared back at them in defiance. “I have not forgotten the words I spoke two cycles past and I will honor those words now. Until tonight,” he added and then turned and walked away.
Thane sprinted through the woods using every skill he possessed to keep his passing silent and without mark seeking to find comfort in his abilities. The trees passed him in a blur of motion as he distanced himself from the village cutting through the undergrowth without the slightest mention of his passing. Finally, he was forced to slow to a walk, no longer able to see through the tears that streamed like a river down his face. His heart ached to bursting as feelings of self-doubt and worthlessness crashed in on him. What use were his finely tuned skills if his peers didn’t trust him to use them to protect the people he loved? What use was his miserable life without the one he felt he could trust, Dor? Brushing the tears aside, he began to run again trying to find the answers in the wind that passed by his face in cool silence. Eventually he found himself at his once secret hiding place, the rock by the great waters. The tide was in barring easy passage into the hidden cove where he often sat in contemplation of life and its mysteries.
Climbing up the backside, he sat down on the rock’s peak and looked out to the va
stness of water that continued on until it met the clouded sky. His body began to cool and a shiver raced up his back escaping through the top of his head only to be followed by more. He did not notice the cold as he desperately tried to find the answers he sought.
Why is this happening to me? he thought as the mist from the crashing waves danced across his body. What was it that caused that animal to burst into flames? Could it have really been me? But, how? I did not touch it with my hand, it was far from me and it was not dead to allow me to call fire to it. Maybe they’re right; I must be a devil after all.
He looked around unsure of what to do. The wind and cold were quickly becoming realities so he slipped back down to the base of the rock to find protection from the breeze. Sitting against the rough stone, he pulled the dagger from where it rested by his waste and began drawing in the sand. His mind still raced through the events of the day and then drifted into his past. Thinking back through his life, the only fond memories he had were those times with his mother and Dor, the only friends he had. Now they were gone too. It was almost too much to bear.
He stared at the picture he had created in the wet sand. He was surprised to see that it was his TanIs. Five curved tentacles reaching out from an inner circle with one dot above each. What did it mean? Why was he cursed with it? He took his dagger and cut through the sand destroying what he had unconsciously drawn there. He sat motionless for a moment as a way to be free seeped into his mind. One cut, and it would be over. One slice from my knife and my soul would be released from this terrible life forever. He slid the dagger down across his TanIs just barely touching the skin as he contemplated this new idea. What would happen to his soul? Would it be worse? He thought it couldn’t possibly be worse than the life he was forced into living now. Death was the gate to freedom. Dor was not afraid of it when he faced it at the crushing hand of a troll not so many cycles ago. Dor. Gone like the others. Scared by what Thane did not even understand. It would be better this way, he thought. Nobody would miss him.