"The next thing I want to talk to you about is about your man..."
Tiny left the chief's home with a lot on her mind. Before the day ended, Madeline had woken up. By the next morning, the crew was ready to continue on their journey. The chief came out personally to see them off. There were already not so far from their destination.
As soon as there were gone, the chief went back to his home. Opening a hatch that lead underground, he lit up a lamp and walked down its stairs. At the end of the stairs, he opened a door. On entering the room, there were eggshells everywhere on the floor-too many and far too big to be poultry eggshells. At one corner of the room, piles of meat were layered on top of one another to form a small mountain. The colour of this meat was stained with tried pinkish blood. At the end of the small mountain of meat lay two creatures-a miniature versions of the generation before them. They munched on the meat so greedily that one would wonder where it alIn front of them was a buzzing market. It was in a hall with a ceiling so high they couldn't see the top because the lighting system did not reach that far. There were stalls here and there with shop owners and customers of different species. The goods they sold ranged from consumables to surprisingly magic carpets. The sight of it all was amazing. There were children playing a game of tag and they hit down the goods of a stall owner in the process. That stall owner removed her shoe and chased after them. When she was gone, some other kids popped out of different hiding spots to steal her goods. Aesir saw this and laughed haughtily. That strategy brought him memories."Welcome to the Ignotus Bazaar! It means an unknown or hidden market. That's what places like this are called. Everyone, please put up your hoody!" Lydia moved forward and the rest followed her instruction and her steps as their eyes enjoyed the beauty and variety of the place. Even Derek that had seen a similar s
Meanwhile, information about a writer entering the market had reached certain ears. An old man begging for food had secretly whispered certain words about Derek and his friends into a ring with a small crystal ball on it. This small crystal ball was not like the others. The symbol that showed on this one is that of House Nathifa.At the Fort behind the curtains of the kalandula waterfalls, Ellen had been bored these past few months. Since the attack made by Mr Walter, she had not been allowed to leave the fort to have some entertainment for herself. She laid lazily on her couch with her goblet in one hand hoping to find some semblance of interest in the sweet-sour nectar of its wine.Nobles were the only Writers allowed on the central Mesis humus, therefore the only Writers in the Fort were currently Herself, Vera, Lord Erugard that had currently assumed himself lord of the fort by force and his guest from the Thembeka family, Aaron who was here because the prisoners hel
Erugard sat in his office, but it felt like that comfortable office chair was on fire. He kept reviewing the documents on his table over and over again. They was also another explanation for the probable reason for Jiri's personal visit. That was if he wanted to do something personally. Could it be releasing the prisoners? he thought. But immediately rejected that reason. The Jade throne was already aware of the two fugitives. Even Lord Jiri would not dare go against the will of the Jade Throne. He can't possibly be that foolish.Ellen showed Jiri and his small entourage of pretty women to their quarters. She bowed her head and was about to take her to leave when Jiri stopped her."So it was you who captured the Thembeka prisoners or at least that's what I heard."She turned back to him, "I only captured one, your grace. And it was in accordance to the will of the Jade throne.""Hmm!" Jiri stroked his cleanly shaved jaw as he pretended to be deep in thought, "D
Erugard took to the prison cells beneath the fort. He needed an activity to take his mind off of things a little. Maybe a little venting of his annoyance would let him think a little clearer. The fort at the moment only had two prisoners, both of which were considered very important and not just to the family but to the jade throne itself, but a little play around to extract information is usually permitted. As long as he didn't break their minds.But on getting down to their cells, he discovered an acquaintance had beaten him to the prey. The screams of their intense agony reached his ears even before his arrival. This excited him a bit. He wanted in on some of the fun too, but when he finally laid sight on them, he had to stop Aaron from going any further or else he broke them.What had happened was that the arrival of the patriarch of the Waceera family had also triggered suspicion of sorts in him. Except that he was more of panic and fear. Everybody who was anybody
"Are you sure this is the place?" Madeline asked Derek. She took a look at his face and shyly hid her face that was starting to feel hot with embarrassment. Derek on the other hand really did not understand. This was probably the tenth time she had done that. He was starting to think that there was something on his face. Then again it was possible, after all, they stood in the middle of a tropical forest. But after checking several times, he found nothing.They stood in front of a tall big mangrove tree. It was a tree far unlike the one that lead to the 'market' place. This one looked older and was crowned with a treehouse. "Yes, I am sure it is." Derek put a hand on the tree, "I can feel that runes have been used here but the method of usage was very crude. Like trying to start a fire with the primitive methods of using stones instead of the ease of a lighter."While the others prepared for the assault on the enemy's fort, Derek needed to bring in the old man that was u
"Are both of you dumb or something? I said drop it! and get on your FREAKING KNEES!!!" The old man shouted at the two young invaders. But instead of both of them complying and diving to the ground in fear, Madeline only took a look at him and continued enjoying her view of the waterfall with his binoculars. Derek on the other hand gently put down the journal. All the while the expected fear attributed to a person with a gun in his face did not register on either of the youngsters."Do you think I won't do it? HuH!? Are you daring me!?" Now even the old man was starting to feel like something was wrong. Who the heck were these kids? Did youngsters no longer watch movies these days, or are they just dumb to what I am holding? "Hey! Do you think I am holding a banana?""No! I don't. In fact, I want you to shoot. Yeah, shoot, right here." Derek pointed to his forehead as he put up a very cocky smile. At first, Derek wanted to calm him down and explain who they were and why
"Why!? I know it was not your fault, but you could at least have told me." As Tiny talked, her pressure on Lydia reduced until it was practically non-existent. Even though Tiny had resided her pressure, Lydia felt as if the weight on her had significantly increased and her other knee also touched the ground. The pressure she felt was not that of strength, but of guilt. The intensely heavyweight of guilt. She herself did not know why she felt guilty. She shouldn't feel this way. Besides, she was the person that was taken advantage of. But when she felt those drops of tears on her skin, she felt as if she had betrayed her friend even though she had done it to save one. This was a completely complicating feeling.Tiny looked at her and then she threw her halberd away and walked out of the sparring ground. As she left, she cleaned her teary eyes as she called to Aesir. "Hey! Dum dum come, let us go take a walk in the market. Aesir pointed to himself in surprise. Although he did n
The old man reached into a cabinet on the floor and brought out a bowl. A whole lot of things were thrown into it. Even the half spoilt can of sardine was thrown in the mix. Then he opened a battery and poured the mixture of zinc and manganese dioxide. Then he went out of the treehouse and after waiting for a few moments, he came back and took the bowl with him. "Come! come!!" He invited Derek and Madeline. They followed him down the treehouse. He went into the bushes and came back with a trap and a very unlucky bush rat that was still helplessly struggling for its life in it.He carefully released the rat from the trap and slaughtered the poor thing with a knife. He drained the blood from its neck and into the blood. After a little more mix, he used the blood as paint and drew simple runes on the ground. As he did, each rune immediately glowed on completion. Both Madeline and Derek looked on in surprise as the runes he had drawn came together, weaving within one another unti
"Welcome Madeline, we have been waiting for you!" A voice whispered and she turned about to the sound of the voice.There stood a very tall slim woman. She had on a white crop top that revealed her very slim waist leadingdown to her white blouse. She had a pair of glasses on, and she smiled sweetly to Madeline."Where I'm I!?...And who are you!?" Madeline asked."Follow me! I'll explain" she said, gesturing to Madeline a path that opened up in front of them.Madeline frowned and at first did not want to, but still followed behind the woman taking gentle steps.Through a yellow path in-between trees that surprisingly had both carrots and cabbages growing on them, to a hut on a hill side. Madeline followed, while her eyes examed her environment with nothing but wonder and surprise.At the small hut, the woman entered, and then she gestured for Madeline to follow. Although she did not want to, she had no choice and followed.Madeline thought that her sense of reality was warped because
Aesir willed and his sword acted as an assist as it went straight for the bird's other wing.*Caw!*The eagle screamed in pain. Manila ran straight for it. And mounting it's back, she delivered a crushing blow to its neck.*Caw!* It screamed again. However, she did not stop for a bit and after the fourth blow, the eagle passed out. Derek and Aesir stared at her in surprise as she slowly stood from the eagle's back. She made fierce eye contact with Derek and then looked away. Aesir turned to Derek with a brow up, and Derek raised his hands in surrender, "what I'm innocent. I swear!" "Of course you are." Aesir smiled and walked away.Manila began work immediately. The plan was to use the bird as a distraction for the scorpions so that they could pass.The best way to do this would be for them to make sure that the beast could no longer pick up flight.Manila was unsurprisingly skilled at this. She cut out the feathers of the beast.Aesir and Derek also joined her and helped. Soon eno
"Exactly! So if you can't solve them, why bother about them? Yet, before you lies a problem that deserves you immediate attention which you can or at least try solving. But you are too concerned with the rabbits in the wild to realize that you should first deal with the one on your plate." Priestess Ada adviced.She smiled and walked away, "Don't forget, listen as a passerby and it will flow naturally." Madeline watched the back of the old lady leaving as the words she had just spoken played again and again in her head. She sat crossed leg once more as she continually told herself to let go. Her eyes closed tightly and suddenly the thoughts as expected came once more.This time around, she decided not to quiet it or silence it. Rather she let it flow naturally.At first she couldn't help but be swept up in the thoughts and the different scenarios they played. Some even ended in tragedy. And this made her ache in worry. This was a disadvantage of over active thinks. A disadvantage t
Derek could not help but look at them and observe them. These were not like the scorpions he knew from earth. For one, they produced webbings from their tail end. Also, there seemed to be very organized and particularly busy.Some of them were bigger, but those big ones were few. And from the looks of it, they monitored the activities of the smaller ones. These creatures were hard at work building it seemed."Scorpion colony! We will have to navigate round them." Manila spoke."Navigate?" Aesir asked, "how far are we talking of?"She pointed to the hill far in the distance. "That far? But that will take at least an extra day off our schedule." Derek added."Yeah! It will. But it will be far better than to have those things have our scent. Cause ones they do, they will follow us for a very long time." Manila advised."Hmmm. Is there no way to distract them?" Derek asked."Well, there are a couple of ways that could work. However, we don't even have the necessary materials to make tha
Madeline nodded her head in understanding to Chief Sasha's words."So what does this have to do with aura?" Madeline asked."Well! Every thing." She picked up another stone from the ground, "according to your definition of aura, then aura is this object in your hands. And has stated earlier, it weighs you down over time." Chief Sasha turned and threw the stone into the water, then she turned once more and slowly released her aura, "However, if you understand that all it is, is an extension of your body, then behold the weight is gone. After all, your hands have always been attached to the rest of your body and you don't hear them complaining."Those words suddenly stroke difference to Madeline. She felt like she was at a state where she wanted to understand. In fact, the enlightenment was just Infront of her, however, it was a yard bit out of reach.She even sat on the ground as she tried to think hard on Chief Sasha's words. However, for the first time in a while, her brain was una
"huh!?" Madeline could not believe what she was hearing."Don't worry! I am not as weak or fragile as you think. I am sure you noticed that we are a small tribe. Yet, we have survived for so long with terrible neighbors such as the Kaka tribe. Although we rarely bring out our full force, we are definitely not weak." Chief Sasha smirked a bit.Madeline nodded and then she commanded the Cerberus to attack. The beast used one of its paws and a heavy blow landed on the chief. *Bam* Some where within the carven, Priestess Ada was attending to a pregnant woman when she heard the boom of the attack. She raised her head and sighed, "So the the training has started."She pretended not to hear it and continue with the pregnant woman in front of her.....Meanwhile, Madeline was panicking. There was a lot of dust and it was difficult for her to see what had happened. As far as she was concerned,she had crushed the chief."Chief Sasha!" She called out in a low tone. Afraid that her eyes might m
A few hours later, Derek ,Aesir and Milan said their good byes as they started their journey to the Gaka tribe.However, before they did Priestess Ada had come to see Derek one more time."Please take care of yourself properly Repono. And if there is absolutely anything you need, do not hesitate to contact me. I maybe far from you, but some of the things I can do will very much amaze you."Once she said this, she touched behind his ear and Derek clearly felt another radio rune added to the one he already had.Radio runes were special but not ominipresent. One had to be within a certain range for it to be used.Derek knew that If she was giving him one, then it meant that she was sure of reaching him as far away as even the Gaka tribe.A sudden realization hit Derek. One that he had not thought of before. Priestess Ada was a Familiar. Which meant that she could also weave runes.He remembered his experience at the cave when he first came and the one that had happen during the fight aga
"And what might the main dish be?" Milan asked with raised brows. Chief Sasha did not exactly know how to have this talk with her daughter. But she knew that she had to. "Erm... Milan how old are you now?" "I am nineteen now!" Milan replied, "but in a couple of months, I'll be twenty." "Oh! That's nice. That's around the same age I was when I had you. Oh, how I remember it like it was only yesterday. That was the happiest day of my life. You were so little and so adorable. Your butt was not this big and chest this full then. It was all so..." "Mother!!!" Milan stopped her. Her cheeks had become red from embarrassment. "Just go straight to the point. Please!" Chief Sasha laughed a bit, "okay! I understand you are a big girl now." She sighed and then laughed some more. Apparently, she was still rolling down memory lane. "So tell me. What do you think about that Master Writer?" Chief Sasha asked. "Huh!?" This question had taken Milan off guard. "What do you mean mother?" "I mean
Meanwhile, back at the mountain that belonged to the Waka tribe, Derek sat crossed legged in a cave assigned to him. This cave was by far a better one than the one he had and his friends had been sharing on first arrival. Also it was decorated appropriately and it even had a bed in the middle made of several animal fur. Derek had already given out instruction that he would loved to be left alone for a while, if not the entrance to this place would have been crowded by people. With rumours of the tribe having a writer as a guest, every body wanted to meet him. Also, tales of his marvelous feat from the battle earlier in the day had reached their ears.He was as good as a god to them at this point. At the entrance of the cave already lay all sorts of gifts for him. However, Derek was not all that interested in playing messiah at the moment. He just had too much on his mind. Too much problems that needed his attention. One of which was the pressing matter that both his women were mis