by C. J. Haines
The owl looked at Samana who stood ready, and backed away from the Mother, the sound of apology in his voice. “Sorry…I should not doubt you, Mother.”
The Mother Dhahn whispered back to her friend. “There is nothing to forgive, my friend.”
Turning her attention to the young girl before her, who was fully ready to learn, the Mother swung the stick left and right, and spoke in preparation of the coming training. “Now, Samana, get ready…push as hard as you can.” Nodding understandably, for she knew that the Mother held great skill and power for her title and duty, Samana pulled her short blade from her waist.
The blade left a rustic, gold sheath. It was sharp and shined in the fading daylight as Samana held it at the ready to fight, the blade only reaching a good length of two and a half feet.
Henk was sitting with Amen at the wall side as the healer, Maela, an older woman, a little over forty years of age, with long gray hair and of a thin build, checked a small bump that was under Amen’s jaw from when he had landed on the ground while practicing with Samana, only moments ago.
The healer poked the bump as Amen didn’t move at all in reaction, Maela speaking to Henk who was trying to hold back tears, due to the thought of Amen being hurt. “Don’t worry your head off, young Henk, there’s barely a little scratch or bump here. This one’s pretty small, you should be glad.”
Henk looked at the elderly woman and then to Amen, who stared back at her with a smiling kerchief on his face. “I guess he looks fine…”
Maela smiled at the worried girl, and while keeping her concentration on Amen, put a soft, moist towel to the bump to reduce any swelling as she gestured with a nod over to the figures of the Mother and Samana. “I wouldn’t be so worried about Amen, right now, young one. I’d be more worried about Samana.She’s going against the Mother in combat, practice or not, she’s sure to get smacked.”
Henk looked out at the two standing among the harvest trees and thought to herself. “Come on, Samana, you can do it.”
Samana stood at the ready as all were silent in anticipation, all but the hussy, Mensh, who had to break the silence. “Oh, come on, she’s going to get her butt kicked. I bet…” An apple had gone flying and hit Mensh on the hand, silencing her.
Amen sat next to Henk and was tossing another apple at the ready, when Henk pushed his hand aside, the spectacle-faring girl gesturing for him to stop as both soon watched ahead as the Mother was to put Samana to the test.
The Mother spoke one word, start, and then practice began.
Samana side stepped, making the first move as she slashed forward with her sword. The Mother dodged the blade, moving in an unseen manner as she appeared out of the way of the blade, and then swiped the stick outwards, sending Samana rolling backwards as the young girl was struck in the stomach with the hardy stick.
The Mother spun the stick in hand like a baton, as Samana held her stomach, rising from the ground with a sturdy stance as she looked the Mother up and down for an opening.
The Mother stood silent and then leapt into the air, spinning like a top, and then swung the stick once more. Samana dodged the broken tree limb and slashed upwards with her sword, and missed the Mother, who landed on the side of a tree, and then gripped a hanging branch, looking at the young sword wielder from where she hung. “Very good, Samana, you are pretty fast, but I bet you can be faster. Let us try something simple, like this!”
The Mother leapt from her place on the tree and swung the tree limb, furiously. Samana guarded every blow, but one that was directed for her hand, which sent her blade flying into the side of a tree behind her, penetrating the bark thoroughly.
Samana held her hand, feeling the pain pulse, as the Mother stood before her with the branch at her side. “Pretty good, let’s try this, now.”
Samana removed her attention from her hand and onto the Mother as she brandished the stick, swinging right for Samana’s head.
Samana dodged the blow, jumping up to grab a tree limb, reaching for her sword as she started to pull it from the rich bark as the Mother’s advancement hit the tree, and caused a few leaves to wisp away from the fruit bearer.
Samana pulled hard, and the sword was released. Throwing her legs forward to gain speed, Samana flung herself from the tree limb, and landed on the ground after doing an aerial somersault, with the Mother at her back.
The Mother broke the sturdy limb into two pieces, a separate piece in each hand. She stood watchfully as Samana held her sword at the ready, her stance sturdy and concealed.
The Mother noted the stance, as she also noted Hoosun watching from the upper wall with a look of worry.
Ready for the next attack, Samana stood ready as the Mother unleashed it. Jumping high into the air, the heavily clothed figure fell down upon Samana, delivering blows with both pieces of broken tree limb, but Samana was ready as the Mother hoped she would be.
Blocking the blows with her blade, Samana deflected every blow, and then, upon the Mother reaching her body, dodged sideways and then attempted to trip the Mother up upon her landing, and failed.
The Mother saw the ploy, and landed on one hand, and then jumped the sweeping kick, landing on the ground in a crouching stance. Samana spun her blade and leapt forward to the Mother, and swung her sharp blade, madly, cutting each piece of wood from the Mother’s hands on allowance, and then thrust forward with the deadly blade.
The Mother sidestepped the stroke, and then grabbed Samana’s arm, and dealt a good, sturdy blow with her elbow to the young one’s stomach, sending her back a foot or two with her blade still in grasp.
Hoosun watched as Samana looked beat, hearing others about the Order walls creating a raucous choir of conversation to the imminent defeat of Samana.
Henk and Amen watched closely, awaiting the next move and the conclusion of practice.
Samana breathed in deeply and then concentrated on the Mother, and closed her eyes. The Mother smiled and awaited the next move with interest.
Samana leapt forward, her eyes still closed, and dealt several fast and steady swings of her blade. The Mother dodged each with ease, but felt impressed at the speed and precision Samana dealt out, especially with her eyes closed. Having decided training was over, with the last stroke of the blade, the Mother leapt onto the top of a tree and looked down upon the stripy-haired girl with great impression. “Well done, Samana. You have great skill with a blade. I’m sure in the coming week we can increase that skill, tenfold.”
Hoosun breathed a sigh of relief, and walked down the wall steps to give his congratulations on a job well done, to the young one.
Amen clapped as Henk cheered wildly, Samana smiling at her friends from afar and then looking up at the Mother, who leapt down to stand before her. “Thank you, Mother. I’m willing to learn anything I can be taught, so that I can fulfill my duty to my best ability.”
The Mother put her hand on Samana’s shoulder and nodded approval. “I know you are, and I know you will grow your skills quite well in the coming days.”
Samana felt a wing wrap around her, and found Hoosun patting her back. “Well done, young one, you are truly a wonder at that.”
Samana ruffled the owl’s feathers and laughed. Mensh and her friends left the scene to go inside, disappointed, but speaking of some interest the event held to them. “Well, at least we got to see Samana get hit a little bit, though I would have liked to see a little more blood.”
The trio wandered off, as Amen and Henk went over to their friend. Amen rushed away from Maela, as she held a warm cloth to his bump, leaving the elder holding it to empty air as she watched him run away.
Henk patted Samana’s back, and then was joined in doing so by Amen. The two stood side by side with their friend as the Mother spoke. “I will help you practice more with your sword tomorrow, and Amen, with your hand to hand. Today will be an example of our routine in the coming days. For now, eat, rest, and get up early when the day rises. There is much to do.”
Samana nodded agreeme
nt and then walked off with her friends. Walking up some wall steps that led to a small entrance into the innermost walls, they conversed about Samana’s prowess that had been tested before the Mother.
Hoosun and the Mother ushered everyone back to their chores, housings, and lives, and then walked the grounds, side by side, conversing back and forth. “She seems to show quite a skill with that blade, Mother.” The owl said while looking around the green walls.
The Mother spoke, as she stared at the fading light above. The sky was purple and yellow as the sun said its goodbye, once more to the day. “Yes she does. The coming days we can have her practice with Amen more, and also practice with her blade technique as well. We must get her prepared for the dangers she will face on her travels. The world is a dangerous place.” The owl responded with agreement. “Yes it is, Mother…yes it is.”
The trio of friends, Samana, Henk and Amen had entered the innermost wall and walked into a small room that was the threshold of what was once a library, as the entrance to the library through the chamber had caved in long ago, leaving only the entrance room as a tease to what knowledge lay buried ahead. The girls talked amongst themselves as they picked spots on cushioned seating in the small room.
Samana stretched out, and yawned tiredly. “That was so tiring. I couldn’t imagine anyone going against the Mother if she was going full force. She was holding back so much and it was still impossible to come even close to hitting her.”
Henk agreed fully, and removed her hood, feeling really warm. “I know. I can’t even imagine that amount of power. It must be crazy holding that much strength within you.”
Samana slumped as her eyes teased sleep, and began to droop heavily on the furniture she was on. “It must be incredible…”
Henk got up from her seat and went over to a book shelf behind an old counter and looked up at some books on the top shelf, stomping her foot on the stone floor. “Why do they always have to put things so high up? I can never reach them.”
All the sudden, Henk felt herself being lifted upwards and looked around to see Amen lifting her up, enabling her to grab the books she wished to read.
Blushing uncontrollably with Amen lifting her by the waist, Henk grabbed the books from the top of the old, wooden shelf, and then was lowered down.
Henk looked at the books, trying to avoid eye contact as she stood before the silent one, and spoke quietly. “…Thank you, Amen…that was really helpful.”
The silent Amen nodded, accepting her thanks, and then the two went back over to where Samana was sitting amongst the seating of the dusty room.
Picking a comfy, padded bench by the wall, Henk looked about the room as she opened one of three books that sat on her lap. The room was lit with but a few colored lanterns, green, blue, red, and yellow. The walls were green stone, but grayed a grand amount by the dust of long ages. The cushioned seating about the room opposite the counter was blue, and was made of a nice dark wood.
Henk smiled at the surroundings. She loved the feeling of the library, it was calm, quiet, and the atmosphere just spoke to her. She felt it a great shame that the actual full library had caved in ages ago, and was currently unable to be entered. As she looked around the room, Henk caught Amen sitting next to her, staring. She returned his stare with a smile, and then both turned as they heard soft snoring coming from a sleeping Samana, on the bench across from them.
Feeling rather tired and in need of comfort, Henk leaned her head on the sturdy shoulder of Amen, as she held the book before the two of them to read.
In the far wilderness, the three travelers sat together. The young boy slept as the elder two were awake, and conversing with one another. “Every day the eclipse grows nearer, yet, I cannot help but think of what Rartyr told me before he left…”
The old one shook her cloaked head at the younger Satthias, the aged wolf skull mounted upon her hood forming a grim picture as she began shaking her bracelet bearing arms. “Do not worry, Satthias. Do not think of what he said, for it is against our very whole to do such a thing, or even think of doing it. After all, you sent Rartyr away when he proposed it and even tried it himself. It is against our laws to kill our own, especially the one that will carry on our blood, and populate a new world with our people.”
Satthias looked at his child as they slept, and nodded his head in agreement. “I know it is wrong, but there still remains a feeling inside me that won’t leave…I keep thinking that maybe the world doesn’t deserve the extinction that our people faced. Who are we to condone the slaughter of innocents?”
The old one placed her hand on Sattthias’ shoulder and spoke assurance to her leader. “It is destiny. We cannot change it, for it must take place. Think of the future of our people and you will know it is right.”
Satthias ruffled his son’s hair as he slept, and smiled upon his son through his scarred features. “It is right. I don’t doubt it…”
Runa accepted the answer, but from this moment on she planned to keep a wary eye on her leader. It seemed that he might try to do something against their laws, and against their future, for his mind was troubled and seemed it could change at any moment and decide upon a course of action that would lead to results that Runa did not desire.
-Chapter 2-
Past
It was a hot day in the Sharp Sands. Sofius was grinding dry vegetation in a wooden mortar. Sitting outside his tent, decked out in his full cloak, he watched as two small children were seemingly playing with each other, one trying to grab a good-sized bone from the other, tugging hard to take ownership of the object.
Sofius smiled upon the young ones at the center of camp. It was not unusual for young ones to be playing roughly and arguing over possession of something unimportant.
Many other members of the clan were outside their tents, wandering the sands. Some watched the scuffle of young ones, while others enjoyed the serene wind, as the day was one not as wild as some. Sofius had finished grinding the dry weed, and got up to enter his tent, and gave the mortar to his wife, who was laying down on her back, resting. “Here, take this, Moira. It’ll help with the pains.”
Accepting the weed with a smile, Moira added some water from a small canteen to the dryness, and drank it like soup. Sofius watched her, beautiful to his sight, but was distracted as he heard a yelp of pain from outside.
Leaving his tent, Sofius burst out and went over to the two young children that were at play. One standing up, holding the bone in hand, while the other was holding their hand, blood squirting onto the sandy ground as they cried out in pain. “He bit my finger off! He bit my finger off!”
Sofius tore a piece of cloth from his waist, while others gathered around the scene, watching as the hunter wrapped the boy’s hand tightly to stop the bleeding, and held him close, trying to calm him. “Don’t worry. Hold still. Let me wrap it. It needs to be wrapped or else it’ll bleed you out!”
As Sofius was taking charge over the young one, he couldn’t help but take a good stare upon the standing boy. Blood was dripping from their open mouth as they held the bone at their side. Sofius spoke furiously to the boy. “What have you done? What were you thinking? Why did you…”
Sofius stopped in speech, as he stared upon the bone in the boy’s hand. There was something strange about it. Sofius was about to speak further questioning of the boy when Grede left his lead tent and parted the crowd, taking the bone from the young boy, speaking as he shook his head. “What have you done? You are going against sacred law, to not kill or harm another of our clan. What do you have to say for yourself? What is this…a bone from an already eaten beast? This should be tossed away to stop the likes of you fussing over it!”
Sofius had gazed upon the bone as it was tossed from Grede’s hand and to one standing in the crowd. Grede called out an order, as he cast his eyes to Sofius and then to the young biter. “Get rid of that, bury it. I don’t care where, just some place it won’t be found, and as for you, young biter. I suggest a good punishment for you
.”
The young one with blood dripping from their mouth made a look of horror as Grede spoke, Sofius rising with the wounded child in arms. “Let’s have you chained up out here for a little while, with no coverings…it should teach a good lesson to you!”
Grede gestured two adults over to grab the young one and take him away as Sofius went to the side of Grede and spoke in a whisper. “It’s as I told you, Grede. The taste of flesh is getting to the clan. It’s only a matter of time until things get worse!”
Grede put his arm around the back of Sofius, as the crowd scattered back to their own doings, leaving the two to talking with each other. “It’s only children being children. Don’t read too much into it. They were only fighting over something that was like a toy to them.”
Sofius watched the cold face of Grede, a glimmer of suspicion in his eyes. Not caring to stress the matter further, as Grede seemed rather fixed on his opinion, the hunter left his side, speaking as he did so. “It’s as you say, Grede. I’m going to have this one fixed up. He’s passed well out, now. Better stop the loss of blood before it’s too late.”
Grede let his hunter take leave, and went to his own tent, two of the clan following him as he did so.
Sofius entered his tent with the child and let them lie before his wife, telling her of the incident. Moira took a concerned look upon the young one, as she treated the wound with water and some herbs that had been crushed into a powder, speaking to her husband as she fixed the wound. “His finger was bitten off by another child, you say?”
Sofius paced the tent and looked out from the entrance, seeing two figures entering the lead tent, having followed Grede. Closing the entrance, Sofius kneeled to his wife and spoke in a concerned manner, as Moira was finishing the fixing of the unconscious young one.
“I’m worried, Moira. Something just isn’t right. They don’t act like this. This isn’t just playing…and that bone they held, Grede wanted it buried and forgotten. I feel that there’s something up, that bone wasn’t just any bone…”