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Great Heads 23: Childhood
Months After That..Kaleb Back there at Rocain, we never celebrated. That was except the death of the war heroes who had served in Rocainian army as warriors. While we trained to be those warriors the other Rocainians had aspired us to be, to follow their lead, we would hear father say to us that that honourable salute was what all Rocainians looked forward to someday, and it was the respect one craved. But right now, when I actually gave it a thought, that was not what I wanted at all.Me and the old man stayed right outside the cottage here in Forestille, sawing a couple of woods to make a bed and the extra room he had promised me.“You seem real strong for an old man,” I said to Pa. “Were you some kind of warrior?”Pa gave a look at me with that grin of his that never vanished, then let out a hysterical laughter afterwards. “Well, you're too strong for a lad.” he said, carrying up heavy logs. “Those small hands of yours sure do know how to work.”I continued sawing the wood.
Great Heads 24: Growing Up
“Heads up Darla!” Beryl warned as she threw a bamboo stick at Darla. We were at a maize farm where at the end was a beach that was close to the Forestille River. This was where we secretly practiced. It was not really surrounded by many villagers, though we still were careful. This secret tutoring had been going on for months now, and I could not help but notice us grow, not just in height and in size, but also in skill. Even in this free land, there still was a problem there.You see, Darla had asked me to teach her the warrior's art of fighting and this was the land of the Forelenes, meaning there was no fighting allowed. According to them, no one was meant to wield a weapon, let alone use it on anyone. I noticed the other Forelene children seemed weak and all they did was sing songs, dance, and be friendly. They did work hard though, but most of the time played. Of course, they were hard-working with farm duties, chores…but permit me, defenseless!I was so glad that the Forel
Great Heads 25: A secret
Kaleb“We need to go,” Darla warned, deviating me from my thoughts. “I think someone's coming.” I turned my head backward, now alert, looking for anyone possible who was close by and who had followed us here. But I didn't see anyone. I assume she had just heard a noise.We decided to head back home to Beryl’s to have lunch.“So how was your morning?” Amila inquired, pacing around quickly with a tray of hot food in her hands. We were seated at the lunch table like a small family at Beryl's house. “It seems you children have something going up.”Her brows lifted inquisitively. Beryl gulped down her grape juice as it seemed to have caused a bit of suffocation there. She let out a cough, choking on her own drink. This I presume was Beryl's reaction to Amila's words. She feared she knew of our secret training sessions.“Hmm…” Amila showed suspicion. She stared at us with squinted eyes, sending chills up in our shuddering shoulders. Now changing from her suspicious tone, she said, “Well,
Great Heads 26: Gasp Of Shock
KalebWe walked by each other's side to the market to sell to the kind villagers.I know I had been here for months now, but the way some of the villagers still stared at me, made me feel like they knew I was a foreigner. They always complimented my looks, which really was what made me uncomfortable and I really didn't see it as something that was to my liking.I just normally made sure my face was devoid of any form of expression when they spoke about my face, to avoid them getting the wrong idea from me.It was fun anyway, walking and doing this trade thing I had grown fond of.I suddenly heard whispers coming from Beryl and Darla. I looked at them with my face that Darla had complimented to have started looking innocent- but I highly doubted that. I wanted to find out what they were mumbling about. Darla had probably told me that lie because she wanted me to feel like I appeared like them. Perhaps so I’d feel belong.“Should I tell him?” This was Beryl, mumbling to Darla.“Tell me
Great Heads 27: The Assemble
KalebI was being taken to a council hall because I had been summoned there by the elders, so suddenly. Though unnecessary, I would say they all were fools for thinking I’d even flinch a bit in their so-called ‘honourable presence’.It was an open place, crowded with nothing but bewildered Forelenes that awaited my trial. And according to one of them that I had heard mumbling, he said that a case of anyone fighting in Forestille was extremely rare if not impossible.I was walking in still having my pride intact. They believed they were kind and warm-hearted, and in their voice, they’d say that their blood was made of milk and honey. If I was right.It was the Rocainians that were cold-blooded to them. We were the cruel, evil ones they said.In the council hall, I sighted a few seats for the people and then high seats that were literally higher than the others with a raised long joined desk.I was being guarded by two men who seemed afraid of me. And if not for the respect I had for Mo
Great Heads 28: Boy In The Shadows
KalebI gave a chuckle at first, then a cackle, and soon I released the loudest hysterical laughter ever. People gasped at the way I chose to answer. The response I had thrown was quite the twist. I never wanted it to end, I just kept on laughing out loud and mocking their bemused faces. I mocked them through my laugh.Returning to my serious face, I let them know using my rude-sounding voice, the cold voice I knew I had, “You’re all fools!” Louder gasps were heard from the crowd after this. “Totally defenseless against war!”The council hall roamed with noises from every corner, whispers and mutters made it obvious that the said word ‘war’ was a taboo here to speak of. It seemed they feared the word more than its impact.Seeing the panicking crowd, Ebenboth tried bringing down his people, “Settle down, settle down all. There's no war, and will not since we're here. We will not experience such.”His voice carried uncertainty mixed with insincerity. It showed in his eyes.“Well, beli
Great Heads 29: A Secret Untold
Darla“Pa, please do something,” I begged Pa and had not stopped pleading ever since Kaleb had been taken away to the chief’s office. I couldn't help but feel sad. I felt like it was all my fault and wasn't his for forcing him to train me. That boy wouldn't have probably had the idea to fight here in Forestille if it weren’t for me. I was a terrible influence if truly anyone was. My craving for strength led me here. I had now seen the cause of my foolish act. It seemed like it was only Kaleb who really understood me here, it was like we shared similar thoughts concerning the world.I certainly did not want to be defenseless in battle, but surely I also didn't want my selfishness to inflict pain on someone else. I saw anger in Kaleb’s eyes when they took him away, but he didn't hurt anyone with that anger. And that I was grateful for.Some emotion gripped me tightly the moment Berylene’s father had spoken that Kaleb should never step foot near his sunshine again. Well, that was until
Great Heads 30: Broken Spirit
KalebI still stayed sitting next to my inmate, Bill, still inside the dark place the wicked man had put us in. Bill here, was a spy according to what I had been briefed on.He had finally managed to stand back up, and when I had gone closer before to set my eyes on him, I had observed a marking on his arm. It was the drawing of a snake, looking like a flying creature.“A dragon.” Bill narrated. “We’re called the Dragons. My people were once loyal warriors of a certain territory. My kind fought bravely in the past but were betrayed greatly, stabbed in the back by our own ruler. They were going to banish us all and lower our flag. The thing was that the Great King, the first, was scared we were becoming too powerful, so he let us loose into the world outside his kingdom. He was scared my people would be rebellious. We had no choice but to form our own nation. We’ve been gathering male recruits ever since. Including children like me. This all happened years ago before I was even born,