by Alia Johnson
Poison? Odesha hesitated, feeling apprehensive. Esmerelda frowned and pointed at her nonexistent timepiece like she had somewhere else to be. Odesha sighed. She reached forward to grasp the glass vial swirling with the liquid. It called to her.
If it was poison, at least it would be quick…
Odesha held up the vial in a cheer to Esmerelda and gulped it fast. It burnt its way down her throat, dispersing through her body.
She vaguely heard Esmerelda sigh, “Time is running out, ma petite. Make them see.”
Gasping, the new knowledge Esmerelda had gifted her flowed down her throat, finding a spot to settle deep in her belly, causing her head to spin with dizziness. Falling to the ground, time passed slowly, the world tilting while her mind reoriented. When she looked up, vision settling, the strange pirate witch Esmerelda…was gone.
Groaning, Odesha tried to stand, her belly heaving as her mind felt like it had been split open. The dull light was painful, the softly falling snow excruciating to her sensitive ears. Words pounded through her head, the knowledge she needed so close she could taste it.
She tried to get her bearings. Kunchok was probably worried thinking a cow beast had attacked her. Odesha tried to form sentences with the yeti's language, but the fresh knowledge was still untouchable, the words disjointedly bouncing around inside her head. When she tried, it came out as a dull croak instead of the grunting tongue. She would have to hear his words to translate them. An idea formed in her mind. She would wait until she spent more time with the tribe before speaking and learn more about them.
The dizziness finally receded, her strength returning. She began a slow jaunt to the tribe. She needed to get back before they missed her or thought her dead. Kunchok had been livid when she had left, she hadn’t even told him where she was going. Confident she wouldn't tumble head over heels, she took off in a sprint. The cool air rushed over her and calmed her racing heart. This new chance with Kunchok was exciting. It made her smile with her whole heart. The kiss they had shared was so earth shattering she couldn't wait to experience it again.
Her mind returned to the past.
Vashti and Odesha watched Father on his gilded throne. His impressive might swallowed the already large chair. The largest demon she had yet to see. Alone in this room, she knew his words to be serious, his face lined with stress. “I have grave news, my daughters.” Vashti reached over, grasping her hand. He sighed, his head falling to his waiting hand to rub circles into his flesh. His always frazzled hair looked to need a good combing, but that could wait.
“Your mother passed during the night.” Vashti and Odesha stood frozen with shock, unable to speak. The king raised his head, focusing on their faces. He hesitated. “Your mother and I were close. But she wasn’t my fire. The other half of her soul. She knew this. We spoke of this.” He seemed to be lost in his thoughts. He added after some time, “But we had two beautiful daughters even knowing this. She had a drive to end the Blood War. And in doing so…she found her fire. And her fire betrayed her. The fire was something she couldn't withstand without him and she fell to her death.”
The pain of losing their mother was unbearable. They vowed to each other to never find the fire, even it meant their own deaths.
The memory had a sobering effect on Odesha's mood. She must be cautious still. The vow didn’t concern her, Vashti could be reasoned with and they were only children when they had made the promise, but she didn't know Kunchok’s feelings about being together yet. Maybe she could make him understand now that she knew his tongue.
The hunters ran through the market, gathering supplies. Her pale coloring helped her to blend with the snow to remain unseen. Kunchok held his giant weapon standing in the center of the group. He bellowed orders, “Look king bird land! Search! Find Odesha!”
She was finally able to understand him! Wait. What did he say? He was sending a search party to search for her? A funny feeling started in her chest. He cared about her.
His grunts came across as words filtered through her brain. The primitive words were easy to decipher. Odesha rolled the words on her tongue, wanting to speak, but stopped herself, remembering this was a perfect time to gather information. Be cautious. She owed that much to her vow to Vashti. She jogged towards him to stop the frantic search he was amassing with the hunters gathered.
One hunter turned, spotting Odesha. He shouted, pointing towards her, effectively pulling Kunchok’s attention to her. His nostrils flared out when he spotted her, firmly shoving through the group of hunters, sheathing his sword, his long legs shaking the very snow in his haste. The group of yeti watched their reunion curiously, waiting to see what the lead hunter would do when he reached her. Odesha stopped running, folding her hands in front of her, remorseful at the worry she caused him. Kunchok clenched his hands at his sides, stopping in front of her, eyes softening.
He grunted for the others not to hear, “Odesha run Kunchok?” Watching her reaction closely, his head tilted in thought, worried he had scared her in the meat shed, losing her forever when he had just found her.
Odesha tilted her own head, loving his gruff voice, and opened her mouth to reply, forgetting her plan for a moment. Instead she coughed, choking out, “Kunchok?”
Their eyes clashed, gray and aqua. He ordered gruffly, “Odesha no run.” His dark claws rose, while he ran them down her face gently. The slide of the sharp nails made her shiver in response. “Ice no safe.”
Kunchok walked off, calling for his hunters to follow him. The group moved through the marketplace towards the orik forest. Each hunter carried a small pack under their large feathered capes. A short trip to hunt for food in the forest was what the group hoped for. The large tribe required a lot of sustenance, but the dwindling food source made the hunts longer. She wanted to yell out for him to be safe and wish him luck, but the words stuck in her throat. She needed information before she could speak.
Hearing laughter, Odesha turned to see Sashi and her friend from before staring after the hunters. Odesha hurried away from their view, hoping Sashi hadn't spotted her yet through the marching hunters.
Sashi liked to talk. She would be the perfect yeti to gain the information Odesha wanted. Walking off in the crowd of the marketplace, Odesha kept Sashi in the corner of her eye. When Sashi turned away from the departing group to focus on her companion, Odesha ran inside the stall they occupied to crouch in a tight corner concealed by hanging fabric. Sashi's companion stared morosely at the departing hunters' backs, a look of yearning clearly etched on her face.
“Fanni say hunter go?” the companion asked. Both yeti were young, richly dressed in their tunics. Sashi stood shorter, slimmer than the other yeti, holding her shoulders back with confidence. Her companion had a pretty face with soft fur framing it, her demeanor shy.
“King bird land. No meat. No Ranna,” Sashi replied carelessly.
Ranna? Could this be their bonding ceremony she watched? Odesha strained to hear more about the ceremony. She eased out from the hanging fabric to hear better.
The larger girl sighed, clearly relieved. “No Ranna?”
Odesha pulled the fabric aside, wanting to see the yeti's face. Why did she sound so happy about Ranna being delayed? This yeti was confusing to Odesha. Sashi was easy to understand. She didn't think of other tribe members’ feelings and caused problems wherever she went. Sashi's friend clutched a pink fabric to herself, staring at the piece longingly, swishing it from side to side as if dancing. Sashi maintained her uncaring mood, throwing fabrics around, dirtying them on the snowy floor. They fell to the ground in a mess. Sashi never moved to pick them up.
Sashi whipped her head around and yelled, “Halana no Ranna Boni! Loud hunter. Father hate! Scare king bird. Boni no gift fabric Halana.”
Halana’s furry face melted at Sashi's words. Odesha's gut twisted. Halana had feelings for Boni, the curious male Odesha had met at the ceremony that tried to speak with her. It explained why she had been so sad they had been leaving, but why would
she not want to Ranna with Boni? Because he didn't have enough gifts for her? Or was it only Halana's father that stood in the way?
Halana tried changing the subject. She asked, “Sashi Ranna hunter?”
Sashi jerked her head back dramatically, angry face flashing as she barked, “Sashi Ranna Kunchok! Kunchok chief hunter. Father approve. Kunchok change. Hairless creature cause.”
Sashi twirled around, showcasing a dark red fabric mischievously to Halana. She nodded decisively. “Ranna next.”
Halana's eyes widened. “Sashi brave.”
Sashi pressed her face close to Halana. She grunted, “Best Ranna.”
“Hunters no find meat Sashi? Dek say meat gone. Hard feed tribe,” Halana whispered, worriedly twisting her hands. She looked afraid to be questioning Sashi. Odesha understood her fear. Sashi looked to be waiting to explode at any minute with her anger.
Sashi snarled, “Father say Dek lie! Tribe eat meat.”
Halana dropped her head, bowing away from the smaller yeti, silent. Halana wasn't confrontational. Her short hair brushed the side of her face, hiding her expression from Odesha's prying eyes. She longed to defend Halana from Sashi. She needed a champion.
The two girls continued to browse the cloth in the stall, lost in their own thoughts. Odesha took the chance to leave, sneaking out the doorway. When swallowed by the crowded marketplace, Odesha disappeared unnoticed. If Sashi tried to bond with Kunchok and he accepted, she would lose him. Could she choose him over her people? Over her family? Would the head hunter choose her over Sashi and the tribe? Or would it ensure her death…
So many questions raced through her mind. She returned to her room in the chief's keep. She didn't notice Fanni motioning for her from the large open room she passed designed as Dek's throne room. Instead, Odesha entered her own room, pushing the hide closed.
A sharp knocking on the wood surrounding her door startled Odesha. Fanni poked her head around the hide grinning at her. Odesha mimed the sleeping gesture. Fanni’s eyes softened in understanding, leaving her to undress and ponder what the future held in silence. She wouldn't worry about Kunchok; that would be unfair to him. The hunters were cloaked in darkness, helping them stay safe from the orik. He was obviously skilled to hold such a high position in this tribe. They would be back soon, she thought before she lay down to sleep.
Days passed as mundane tasks churned in the tribe. She visited the marketplace and watched Dek conduct tribe matters in his throne room. He was fair, like her father, but without the joviality. He was burdened by the food storage and by squabbles within the tribe. It hung heavily over his head. What he needed was a council to help delegate, but Odesha wasn't about to voice that yet. She would when it was the right time. One morning, Odesha wakened with a fresh chalice of blood on her table, signaling Kunchok's return. She drank the spicy blood and pulled a new gown on with excitement. The marketplace was crowded that morning as fresh food and wares were set out to browse. The early morning air felt refreshing, the cold breeze wafting through the tribe, stirring the snow in the air. It had stormed last night, a flurry of snow and ice, and many yeti were cleaning it from their stalls. Fanni stood at the side of a stall helping a merchant remove stone. She waved Odesha forward and gestured to the clearing. Several people were cleaning and setting up sticks that people had dragged. Odesha froze when she realized what they are preparing.
Ranna. The hunters must have found a large supply of meat. They were preparing for another ceremony. Oh goddess, there wasn’t much time. Sashi would attempt Ranna with Kunchok at the next full moon.
Odesha dragged an increasingly alarmed Fanni off to the side, floundering on what to do next. Clenching her hands together, she worriedly checked to see if anyone had followed them to their hiding spot. Odesha placed her finger against Fanni's mouth when she was about to protest Odesha dragging her about.
“Teach me Ranna,” Odesha blurted out.
Fanni’s mouth dropped open in shock, while her hand grabbed at her heart.
Odesha reached forward in alarm, hoping Fanni wasn't having the shock of her life. “Fanni, keep calm, I beg you. My name is Princess Odesha of Antiqua. I live far beyond the orik forest. Err…I mean… You call king bird land?” Trying to flap her arms to get her point across, Odesha hadn't tried to practice the language in her room, this was her very first time speaking it aloud. The words were rusty in her mouth. Occasionally, her own language leaked through to give the sentence more structure. The yeti's way of speech was hard to bring to a basic level and Odesha was so frazzled she couldn't concentrate.
Fanni nodded, speechless.
“I need your help. I'm…I'm falling for Kunchok,” Odesha whispered brokenly.
“Fall?!” Fanni looked Odesha up and down to check for bruising from her fall.
“No. No, not fall! Um… Ranna. I would like to Ranna with Kunchok,” Odesha clarified.
This language was blunt. Fanni’s eyes watered. The happy tears spilled over to her cheeks. Her furry hair stood on end, conveying her excitement. Kunchok was like a son to her since his parents had died so long ago.
“I have to go home, but I don't want to lose him. So that’s why I must tell you things. So many things that will change everything. I'm asking you for a private meeting with the chief. Will you help, Fanni?” Odesha threaded her fingers together to clasp her hands to plead with Fanni. She had no one else to turn to.
Fanni’s sniffled. She replied, “Fanni ask Dek meet Odesha. Ranna change. Fanni and Dek Ranna many moons back.”
Just as the dance styles at court changed, the dance of Ranna changed here as well! She didn't consider that. What she needed was someone who had learned the new dances.
“I'll find someone to help us,” Odesha promised. She knew who she was going to ask, but she didn't think that person was going to be happy about it.
“Start when?” Fanni asked, her excitement making her jump in the air. Her smile was contagious, blue eyes sparkling. Odesha knew why Dek had picked this lady to be at his side. She brought happiness out wherever she went, helping Dek's stress to lessen.
Odesha laughed at the yeti's exuberance, thinking for a moment while she relaxed. She replied, “Let's start tomorrow morning. I need a lot of practice in a short amount of time.”
Fanni rushed off to speak with Dek, thinking of everything she could teach Odesha. She didn't know if Kunchok would Ranna with a hairless princess, but it wouldn't be for lack of trying.
Chapter 10
Kunchok had heard Odesha had been well while he was gone but wanted to see for himself. He watched her walk towards the wooden keep by herself and knew this was the perfect time to get her alone to see how she felt. Did she like being with the tribe? Was their way of life too hard for her?
He worried Odesha wouldn't stay in the tribe if she knew how desperate they were for food. The king birds flew for days looking for meat for their young. They were close to starvation. The tribe was close to starvation.
The beasts of the ice they had hunted in the past had been diminishing. The sickly looking one that had attacked at last Ranna was the first he had seen in a whole year’s time. The ice was not a forgiving place for anyone. That was why he didn't want Odesha to run to the ice when he had just met her. He was curious about her and the pull she had on him, and he didn’t want to lose the feelings that came over him when she was near. He was starting to fall for the tiny female, he worried. Would she choose him over the other males at Ranna? He bared his teeth. There would be no other male for her. Only him. He would break every tradition to have her.
Odesha walked towards the wooden keep at a sedate pace. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the danger. A heavily muscled arm clamped around her waist. Odesha took a deep breath to scream, but a hand slapped over her mouth, cutting off her air. The tight squeeze made it impossible to fight back as the person pulled her deep into the ice she had been hiding with Fanni in. She panicked, flailing, pulling magic around her to use against her captor when the ye
ti released Odesha abruptly. He changed their position, lifting her into his arms.
Taking a deep breath, the scent of the yeti flowed through her, making him easy to identify. Kunchok must've been close when she spoke with Fanni, but not close enough to hear her speak or she would have scented him earlier. Her secret was safe for a while longer. She smiled shyly at the large hunter, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Odesha run?” he growled softly. A bushy eyebrow quirked in question, his hard eyes staring down to her intimidatingly.
Odesha shrugged her shoulders, pretending like she couldn't understand, her smile turning mischievous. She instead chose an easy word taught early to her. “Bulvo?”
Kunchok narrowed his eyes at her playfulness. He growled, “King bird bring meat. Meat hard find. Ranna soon.”
Odesha tried acting confused to gain more information, secretly wanting to see if Kunchok had an interest in Sashi. She asked, “Kunchok Ranna?”
He let out a giant gust of air, closing his eyes to nuzzle her neck, the bones of his necklace clacking against each other. She shivered, tickled by his soft hair. He answered, “Ranna. Yes. Vo lo cos suti ba suta.”
The last sentence whispered through her mind, jumping around like someone prevented her from understanding. That someone was Esmerelda, she was sure of it. Why wouldn't she let her understand this yet? What was his secret? He said he would Ranna next moon, but with who?
Odesha tensed in his arms. She whispered in her language, “I know you are my fire, forever, even in death. And I wish this was an easier choice for the both of us. I'm not sure what to do.” Kunchok's aqua eyes flared with heat when she recited her vow, the emotions flaring between them. He couldn't understand her, but he was still moved by her fervently spoken words.