by Marius Thue
“But, Father, one man has all the blood outside him, while the other only has some on his face. When Barthek died, there was no blood on him, I think.” Rhekir never asked a question, Thoke notes, but still understands there was supposed to be one there. Thoke thinks for a moment. He can't be too honest but doesn't want to lie either.
“Well, your little friend Barthek died from the shaking sickness. These men died in another way,” Thoke finally musters. “Come now, we must cover them up. Even bad men have to be respected in death. They won't do anyone harm now. We must give them a worthy burial. Come help me with these stones.”
Rhekir bends down and drags his finger across the bare chest of one corpse. A thick layer of coal sticks to his finger. He looks up at his father with his big brown eyes but says nothing. Thoke and Rhekir cover the bodies with stones. Then they get the fish and head back to camp.
Everyone is gathered around the campfire, ready to eat. Thoke could hear laughter from across the island, a sign that the mood has picked up. The tribe hasn't had a meal such as this in a long while, which would be enough to raise their spirits any day.
They all seem to be in fine shape, and luckily no one has gotten hurt. Only Hiro tends to his wounds from the earlier battle. Now they are ready for a true feast. Seal meat, fish, mushrooms, and some odd berries have been prepared. Thoke can smell it and picks up the pace.
The sun has begun to crawl down toward the horizon. Even though it never grows completely dark this time of year, it's time to get the children inside their huts for sleep. The fog lies lightly still, making it a bit darker than it would have been however.
Adults and those as old as twelve get to stay up a bit longer to chat around the campfire. Renai has withdrawn like she always does, and no one ever knows where she goes. Usually she stays away for a while if she's shaken up about something. Her eyes were locked on Thoke as they ate, which only Garnek and Neera seems to have noticed. Garnek knows something is wrong for sure now. Renai will be back in the morning, she mostly does.
“Mekar, how did Terot do today?” Garnek asks.
“He dropped more fish into the sea than he did into the boat. No fisherman, that boy,” Mekar replies.
“Gerak and Serk also caught quite a bit of fish I see,” Neera remarks.
“It's important that the young ones learn how to fish early. It's the easiest way to feed yourself,” Mekar states.
Hiro stands up and looks at Garnek. He then nods and begins his rounds around the island, limping as he goes.
“What's wrong with that one?” Horvag asks, gesturing toward Hiro with a nod. It's all he can do with his hands tied up.
“Come on, Father, tell us the story about Uncle Hiro again,” Serk urges.
Those who sit furthest away come closer to Mekar. It's a story everyone has heard before, but as it is with most stories, they get told over and over.
“Very well.” Mekar clears his throat. “During one freezing cold winter, before any of you kids were born, the tribe was crossing a mountain. A blizzard raged all around us, and Hiro disappeared into the whirling snow. For days he wandered the mountain alone, having nothing to warm himself with and no one to warm himself on. Some days in and it was still snowing, Hiro had to make a horrible decision. The toes and some of his left foot had gone blue and black, and it was spreading fast.”
“The frost death,” Sernak murmurs, like he always does at this point in the story.
“Yes, and Hiro had seen this before, of course, knowing what had to be done if he wanted to survive,” Mekar continues. “It was his foot or his life. I've seen Sernak cut off fingers and toes for people with the frost death in them, but for a man to do this himself, he must be truly desperate. With his jagged flint dagger he worked it for an entire day. One can only wonder how he finally got it done. We didn't find him until the following summer, skinny and unmoving, by a small stream. Over the years I've tried to talk to him about it, but this is all he ever told me. Truth be told, Hiro was never the most talkative. Ever since he sprouted out of our mother, bald and sickly, never as much as a whimper came out of him. After the incident, he hasn't spoken to anyone but me and Sevi. Even to us, it's only grunts and simple words. His foot hinders him so he cannot hunt well. Garnek gave him some tasks fit for him, though. He watches over our fires and patrols our camps.”
“What happened with his hair?” Horvag wonders.
“It's been that way since he was born. Pale, bald, silent, and now limping as well. That's Hiro, I'm afraid.”
“Didn't Janeg’s woman disappear in the storm also, Father?” Serk asks, realizing immediately he shouldn't have.
Mekar looks at Janeg, who nods in agreement.
“That's right. But that's a story for another time,” Mekar determines. No reason to reopen that wound now. “Renai disappeared too, but luckily she found her way back fast.”
Hiro has made it almost across to the other side of the island. He arrives at the site where the two mountain folk have been buried under some stones. Some of the stones must have rolled off as the ones meant to cover their faces seems to be gone. He knows Thoke is very careful about these things. Could someone have messed with them? Damn kids, he would have said had he cared to speak. He places some stones back over their faces. It doesn’t matter who did it.
As he places the last stone, he hears someone talking. Two it seems, and one is definitely Renai. He cannot distinguish the other’s voice, but it's a man for sure. The fog has lightened some more, but it still makes it darker than usual, so he cannot see.
As he approaches them, the voices become clearer. He attempts to catch some words, but it's still just noise to him. Near the center of the island, he sees their figures at least. Their voices suddenly turns to fast whispers. They must have discovered him.
The man walks away quickly, while Renai steps toward Hiro. He has heard people say they feel their hairs stand up in the back of their necks when faced with dread. He wonders if this feeling he has is the one and same. It's cold back there at least. No one frightens him more than Renai.
She puts one finger over her mouth and makes an angry face.
“Shush now, baldy,” she whispers while walking past him. “You know what happens if you talk.”
Hiro can feel his entire body clenching. His heart pounds beneath his chest, and he can barely catch his breath. She's a head shorter than me, perhaps if... No, he thinks, full of despair. He stands there frozen for a while, but in the end he decides to finish his rounds.
Toward the shore, he sees two men getting into a boat, rowing out to sea. He runs down to the water, the pain in his foot shooting up his leg. There he sees the man in the back of the boat clearly as he faces the shore. The man smiles at Hiro, behind a face covered in black stripes of coal.
CHAPTER 10
The morning after, the fog has released its grip on the island, and the sun peeks out from behind some light clouds. Thoke is striking some flint for a new dagger and some arrowheads. Rhekir sits next to him in full concentration.
“How do you do that, Father?” he asks, having finally managed to muster up the courage.
“Come here, I'll show you,” Thoke says. “First I take this head-sized piece of flint. It's smooth where I've knocked some off. Here the crust has been removed.” Thoke grabs Rhekir's finger and lets him feel the stone. “Now I hit the flat side of the flint with this hard rock here. Then we get these small splinters. See? I can make arrowheads from those among other things. Now watch your eyes. The splinters are going to fly everywhere.” Thoke smashes the rock, and Rhekir covers his eyes with his hands.
Thoke has kept a watchful eye over his son these last few years, even more so than usual. He wonders if his son could have some of his father’s strengths, as Skarn and Larii both have the light hair and bright blue eyes his mother had. So far, it seems not to be the case. Every time Rhekir gets a cut or bruise, it takes a regular passage of time for it to heal. No heightened strength or senses seem to have shown themse
lves either. Maybe Larii will someday, though. He must keep an eye out for that in her as well.
“Why are these stones so strange, Father?” Rhekir wonders.
“It's called flint, boy. It's easy to work with and can be used for most things. Sernak says the flint came with the great ice many years ago, and when it left it scattered the flint around these lands. Especially down here by the coast, you'll find plenty,” Thoke explains.
All Rhekir heard was “the great ice” it seems, which probably sounded scary to him, Thoke gathers from his son’s low whispers.
Garnek gathers the tribe around the campfire, so Thoke and Rhekir have to finish up and join them.
“Everyone to me, we need to talk!” Garnek shouts. “It's time all of us realize that these bloody mountain folk, mountain demons, mountain tribe, or whatever you bloody like to call them are a great threat to us.”
“Ravages,” Neera blurts out, making everyone stare at her. “I've always thought of those who killed my tribe as ravages.”
Garnek grows still, looking warily at Thoke and Neera. He clears his throat, obviously uncomfortable.
“Right.” He nods. “The ravages. They probably will come back, and we must be ready to greet them. We've been in more fights than I can remember, but if Horvag, the man of shit here, is right, this will be our toughest one yet. Diseni stands at the island’s highest hill as we speak. We need to have eyes up there at all times.” Garnek turns to Mekar. “Where's your brother?”
“He's in a boat, rowing around the island,” Mekar answers. “He's at his tenth round already, I think. He's been acting strange since last night. Even stranger than normal. At least he takes guard duty seriously.”
“Well, he's not stupid, that one,” Garnek says. “But we need someone to patrol on land as well. Renai and Thoke, go east to north then double back and keep a distance from each other, but keep the other within sight at all times. Gerak and I will walk west to north. The rest of you will make clubs, arrows, and spears.” Garnek's commands will keep the tribesmen busy.
Horvag begins to laugh hysterically. He laughs so hard the little tree he’s tied to cracks, and he rolls over on his back.
“Something I said?” Garnek snarls.
“You can send everyone, even the children, out on patrol,” Horvag says while gasping for breath. “You can make more clubs than there are trees in the woods. It makes no matter. You're too few to hold the island. I had fifty strong men, and double that in women, but still we would have had trouble.” Horvag struggles to his feet. “The demons of the mountain...” he begins.
“The ravages,” Garnek interrupts, seeming surprised by his own words coming so quickly.
Horvag spits.
“They have probably killed every child, woman, and old ones left on the mainland. All those who were meant to protect them you've killed.”
“We killed two of your demons this past day, and we'll kill the rest if they come any other day,” Garnek says.
“You truly are a fool.” Horvag sits down. His gaze grows distant. “It's not the strength of one or two that makes them unbeatable. If you kill one, two more come crawling back from the grave as well as the one you killed. They are relentless in their attacks. They never run out of fighters and have no fear whatsoever. Death can't scare them any more than it can defeat them. We were all told the stories. No one survives their attacks but for a few stupidly lucky ones. I've only ever heard of one getting away. Well, two now, I guess.” Horvag looks at Neera. The tribe members again begin to come closer. “In the darkness they come. No one hears them coming until they're right there with you. Then come the screams. Their screams, your families’ screams, and your own. There's always one more of them than there are of you, and if their numbers alone don't get you, then the beast will.”
“B-b-beast?” Rhekir stutters, hiding behind his father’s leg.
“Yes, boy.” Horvag remains distant and hollow. “They say he's the size of two men merged with one and is more moose than man. He comes stomping across the heather with hooves for feet. In his hands he wields the biggest club you've ever seen. As if that wasn't enough, his head is the shape of a moose with giant antlers, ready to skewer anyone in its path. I've heard of men dying where they stood just looking at it.”
Neera grabs Thoke's hand, squeezing it tight. It's just like she told him all those years ago.
“Ha.” Garnek spits. “What nonsense.” Then he begins to laugh. Mekar and Janeg feel compelled to laugh alongside him yet somewhat nervously.
“It's true,” Neera cuts in. “I've seen this beast with my own eyes.”
Silence follows. The tribe members’ eyes glide from Neera back over to Horvag, who now has gotten back to his feet.
“No one can survive such a thing,” Horvag says.
“I fear no moose, human-like or no,” Garnek growls.
“Oh no, not you. Of course not,” Horvag continues. “But if you get free of the beast, there's someone much much worse still. He doesn't look like much to fear, but if you knew who he was, you would empty yourself at the sight of him. With short, ragged, brown hair and a face free of any stubble, the women will most likely throw themselves at him rather than a spear, it's said.”
Suddenly Renai twitches in her seat. No one seems to notice but Thoke. She rises and walks slowly down toward the strait.
“The one I'm speaking of is the demons’ chief,” Horvag continues on. “The demon of the mountain himself. It's said that people have stabbed and cut him a hundred times but never so much has seen a drop of blood fall from his flesh. Most never get a chance to try, though. The demon is so fast. Most lie dead and covered in their own blood before they even notice they’ve been cut. Let me loose and I will help you in this fight, even though we stand no chance.” Horvag raises his hands, suggesting someone to cut him free. Garnek walks over to him, pushing him back down to the ground.
“You'll stay here.” He takes a look around at his frightened tribe. “They may not even come back, and if they do, this is the best place to be. Now get back to work.”
Thoke looks down toward the strait and spots Renai rowing across to the mainland.
“Where do you think she's going?” he asks Neera.
“Renai does these things. Suddenly she's off. Let's do as our chief commands now, my love.” She grabs his hand and drags him with her.
The tribe gets to working. Neera does the rounds instead of Renai. She walks some distance in front of Thoke, but he never loses the sight of her. The children have to play within the camp, as they're not allowed to wander far today. The sun creeps behind a cloud, and Thoke can feel rain coming soon.
Day turns to night and the sun is descending behind a thick layer of clouds. Light rain dribbles on Thoke, who stands guard on the island’s highest hill. From there he can see Hiro completing yet another circling of the island. Not even once has he taken a break, remaining in his boat at all times. He disappears around some rocks, escaping view. Thoke sees Mekar making his rounds, though, seeming bored as ever. The sun is about to set where Hiro is rowing. It shines through a crack in the clouds, blinding Thoke in that direction.
Mekar hates this. This constant walking around a treeless island must be some of the most boring things one could ever do. He sees his brother disappearing behind the rocks. Not another step now, he thinks, and sits down at the edge of a sheer rock face. It cuts down into the black depths below. This is the boys' fishing spot, he realizes.
He looks down and sees Hiro, who has stopped rowing. The sun shines right above his bald head, making it gleam while the boat slowly bobs up and down in the calm waves. It seems like he's spotted something. The sun beams straight at Mekar, so he cannot attempt to see what it is. He holds his hand up, but it's no use.
After a while, the sun dips further below the horizon and enough so that Mekar can now see. Way out there, on a small island, a fire is burning. It's so small he can barely see it. Hiro looks up at him. How long has he been doing that? he wonders.
Then his brother starts rowing toward the fire.
“No! Hiro! Stop!” Mekar shouts. But it's no use. Hiro just keeps rowing.
In a moment of madness, Mekar jumps into the water, landing right next to the boat with a splash. Hiro keeps rowing, as if he didn't even notice. Mekar grabs the side of the boat and drags himself in. Luckily the water is warm enough and Mekar hasn't yet put on his furs for the night. They would have dragged him straight to the bottom of the sea.
“What are you doing, Brother? That could be the savages!” Mekar twitches his nose. No, that didn't sound right. What did Neera call them again? He thinks, before shaking the thought away. “Turn around now!” he begs.
Hiro shakes his head and keeps rowing. Mekar tries to rip the wooden board from his hands, but that just makes the boat rock violently, so he gives it up. Hiro just simply refuses to let go.
“Fine, if you won't turn back, fine. I'll join you, but only if we land on an island next to the one with the fire,” Mekar says. Hiro nods again.
Up on the hill, Thoke listens to Larii running around with the other children. There's more warrior in her than any he's ever known. The children are running, cheering, and screaming, and Thoke can't stop himself from smiling.
Suddenly he can hear something that sounds like arguing, but from where? He looks down to where Hiro was rowing, but the sun still stings in his eyes. He could swear he heard a splash down there earlier too but had just thought it was a wave crashing against the rocks.
“Neera! Come up here!” he shouts, and she comes running up from the campsite shortly after.
“What is it?” she asks, trying to catch her breath.
“I heard a splash down there and people arguing over something. Take my place, and I'll run down and check it out.”
He runs down toward the rocks, when a flash of lighting springs down from the clouds. Instantly the thunder cracks, making it feel like Thoke's head is about to burst. He falls down limp, hitting the ground several times before coming to a halt.