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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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The nation Chapter 26
As the darkness wrapped itself around the clearing, Harden was finding the whole scene very overwhelming. His vision quest was still fresh in his memory. The fires constantly shifting light, the music and now the dancers, were making Harden nauseous again. Davyn lay on the platform behind the dancers, who had an area free of obstacles to dance, Harden could see the torches that marked the boundary behind the platform. The sights and sounds still driving deep into the souls of The People.When the dancing was done the music also slowed to a dirge. The drums thumped and vibrated in a deep low pitch that was perfect for the next performance. The flute played a mellow harmony as Sokonan stepped into the clearing that the dancers used. She started to sing a sweet melody in the old tongue, few of The People there knew the words or their meaning, but the intention in the song was obvious. Sokonan was singing the same song that the ancients sung after their dead. For the people who didn’t kno
The nation Chapter 27
“Have you spoken with Erek lately?” His voice was unsure now.“No, why?”“Well, he sounded strange at the council meeting. He said, I dunno, he just sounded strange. Like I have never heard him before.”“Did he embarrass you?” Fire again from Lilly, this time it was in her voice.“No, no, he did make a bit of a scene though.” Rog remembered how the whole meeting screeched to a halt after Erek spoke.“I dunno why you don’t let him live on his own, he is twenty-eight winters...”Erek walked in, interrupting Lilly in mid-sentence.“Good evening step-mother, father. I’ll be heading to bed; it has been exhausting the last few days with all of the travel and work.”Erek walked right passed his parents, he went straight to his bed pulling the curtain down for privacy. Lilly put her hand to her mouth, she had goose flesh marching up and down her spine.“You can put your hand down now, that is the same thing he did at the meeting. I have no idea,” Rog said shaking his head, “none, I don’t know
The nation Chapter 28
Callum was lined up on the opposite side of Vardon Rig and he was nervous. His hands were sweating so bad, he wouldn’t be surprised if they dripped onto the ground. Vardon did not talk bad like some of the players did, they did that to distract their opponents, keeping them off of their game. What Vardon was doing was worse, he was staring at Callum, staring right into his eyes, it made the younger man self-conscious. He began to worry he would screw up right away and be taken out of the game. Then the judge threw the ball up in the air and the crowd screamed. Callum got ran over by Vardon, it took him a second to get up, but by then Vardon was running towards his keeper.Marx watched from the sideline with the other spectators, she had her eyes on the men. Erek was out there looking big and scrumptious, Temple was always delectable, Vardon had his shirt on but that would come off soon, she thought. Then she thought, I hope I’m not drooling, and wiped her mouth as nonchalantly as she
The nation Chapter 29
“Watch the late man!” Coach bellowed, no one heard him, “watch the God’s damned trailer...” he screamed.Erek was back on defense in his proper position as left roamer. He heard Coach the second time. Erek saw Vardon running like some unnatural creature, one single thought on his mind, kill. Or rather score. Then the play slowed down, Erek could see the two roamers from Eagle company, one with the ball and the other one causing havoc so the first player could advance the ball. Instantly, Erek knew it was a distraction, Vardon was the intended target all along. So Erek cheated out a little, staying with the play but ready for a back pass to the trailing roamer.Then the ball carrier glanced quickly back to see where his trailer was. Vardon was there and ready to snipe the ball right between the keepers padded legs. The keeper sewed two large and long pillows to cover and protect his legs from considerable damage. Being the main target and all. As Erek watched, the ball carrier, a shift
The nation Chapter 30
Callum was skilled with a bow, and had proven it recently on successful hunting trips, but he was still a child in his heart. Now though, he was feeling something inside, a flame deep in his belly was a flicker, now it grew into a blazing fire.“Ok,” Coach said, seeing something in Callum’s eyes, “ok my boy, sit and rest for your next shift.Callum sat next to Kaya, she was sweating and breathing heavy, they watched the game continue. The action was intense and entertaining, but the score didn’t change.“This could be a long game.” Ossie said to Kaya, who nodded.Callum sat quietly, he was focused on the game and the new feeling in his belly, he gripped his stick tight wringing it in his hands. I will score the next goal, he thought.The game continued with an exhausting pace. The warrior’s laid everything out on the field, running till fatigue made them useless, then they would rest. Each team had chances to score, the Eagles were better tactically but the Badgers never quit attitude
The nation Chapter 31
Erek stood facing Indra when she abruptly turned back. He had his arm out and his hand open towards her, as if he expected her to take it. She just stared at him, not knowing what to do, the moment they were stuck in seemed to last for a very long time. Then Indra fled out the door. Erek watched as she left, standing with his hand out, he wanted to go after her but then that would be too suspicious.When Rognvald heard Erek call Indra’s name, he turned around to see what was happening. Indra looked upset; she was leaving quickly heading towards the door. Erek was standing with a pleading look on his face, then Indra turned, and Rog got a good look at her face. There was something there that he could not guess, it puzzled him as Indra turned back and fled out the door.Sokonan watched the whole scene with a distant but focused attention, something was happening with Indrasena. But what, that was the question? And why was Erek looking after her? Sokonan had heard rumors about Lady Utpah
The nation Chapter 32
Lilly kept brushing her hair, first she was thinking about Erek and now she was thinking about Indra. Indrasena, she thought, Lady Utpahl, who did she think she was? She continued brushing her hair with more force than necessary, nearly pulling it out in large clumps. What in the world was happening with Erek? First, he gets smart and acts like a proper man, not that he was improper before. It’s just that Erek was stupid, and everyone knew it, simple Erek, she thought. Now though, his speech was articulate, and he was thoughtful to everyone, even Lilly. Why was, or better yet how can Erek suddenly be smarter?Now Rognvald was talking about Indrasena, how Lilly despised Indra, she had never liked lady Utpahl’s pretentious demeanor. Lilly had always thought better of herself; she was not below anyone especially not Indrasena. She always had to smile and pretend to enjoy Indra’s company; she loathed her company. Always preaching about helping others and being moral. Lilly had been wonder
The nation Chapter 33
“I am as well as can be. How are you young Erek, you appear...” the man paused to look at Erek, “mature.” He finished after carefully choosing the right word.“Thank you, Aurelius, I am well, and I feel wonderful.” Erek smiled.That eroded Aurelius’ placid face, his eyes widened, and his cheeks rose up just a touch below a smile. And then he cocked his head.“Well said young Erek, well said.” The old man nodded as the two walked past him, feeling almost proud that Erek knew his name as if the old man helped Erek to heal somehow.In the past, the Erek everyone knew would have to ask their names two or three times a day, each and every day. He was just part of the village culture that way. Not that Erek was the village idiot or anything equivalent, he was more a part of village life than that. His presence and behavior were a part of the culture, like the changing of seasons or the sun rising in the east was part of nature, he was normal and reliable.Erek nodded to Aurelius as he passe
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- The nation
Chapter 141
“Alright,” Rognvald said, “that was a good walk.” He pulled Lilly towards his chambers, she wanted to resist but she was ready for him, her body waited excitedly.Oren walked over to the wailing wife of Hastiin, he knelt down and put his fingers in the cooling blood on the ground, he never looked at the woman. Her wails fell on his deaf ears, as well as the rest of the caravan’s, after the commotion was over the people simply went about their business. Oren’s fingers felt the stickiness of the cooling blood, he rubbed them together feeling its viscosity. The urge to taste the man’s blood was too strong for Oren to resist, it tasted of iron and a touch of salt, he swirled the taste around his tongue to reach every taste bud. He didn’t put his whole finger into his mouth, just the tips touched his tongue, his eyes lit with some knowledge he didn’t understand. It gave him ideas, thoughts on how to do what he was born to do, rule. He thought about how to kill his father, for he knew that
- The nation
Chapter 140
Thewolf from the trees saw the one it wanted, it ran as fast as he could, but a two-leg gave his stealth away. He did not stop, he had to kill now, there would be no other opportunity. When the woman’s words registered in everyone else’s mind, they turned to see the wolf coming for them, they had all heard of the animal attacks but they had never been a part of one. Lilly and Claudia froze, Oren waited to see who would get eaten, Oscar and Hastiin looked for an out. The wolf leapt up and into the air, the man he landed on was bitten cleanly in the throat, the sound of his wind pipe being torn out was sickening. The wolf had torn out the wrong throat, Hastiin lay bleeding from a throat the was not whole anymore, a gasping whistling sound came from his opened neck wound, the man’s hands felt the deadly damage. The wolf looked quickly around, there was the one he needed to kill, the wolf moved so fast. Rognvald’s smile never once faded, the wolf charged at him, he stood, waiting.The wolf
- The nation
Chapter 139
“Thank you mother.” Said Talia.“Thank you as well,” Kaya’s eye’s pleaded for something, some miracle to save her friend. “Leave him here with me,” Sooleeaway said, she held an open palm towards Bram, “Talia will stay and help with his care. Let me look at you child.” But the healer paused before inspecting Kaya.Kaya did not flinch when Sooleeaway reached towards her face, she stood and respected the older woman, even after she was referred to as a child. Kaya’s younger self would have tried to correct the older woman, there by reaffirming her status as a child, on this day she merely stood and waited for the healer to look her over.“Pardon me,” said Sooleeaway, “you are grown now, Kaya Tasso Flistedt. You have changed, you are a child no more.” The healer spoke no more.Sooleeaway inspected Kaya, she found cuts healed, bruises, blisters, and a nearly mended heart. The heart was not spoken of, but her physical injuries were treated. Kaya left Talia with Bram, there was nothing for
- The nation
Chapter 138
“We have to get him to the bend in the river.” Talia told Kaya.“Can he travel?”“He will have to, we need to settle before the winter and Bram needs to heal, the best thing for all of us is to get to the bend.”Kaya knew Talia was right, she felt the urge to settle for winter the same as Talia did, Bram was a concern and she had no idea if he would make it. He remained unconscious fighting for his life.“I feel it to,” said Kaya, “we should go this morning, will you let everyone know that we are leaving?”“Of course.”“I’ll stay with Bram until you get back, then I’ll harness old Percy and we can get going before noon.”When Talia left Bram’s tent, Kaya looked at her friend, the burly man was lying on a buffalo skin blanket, sleeping fitfully. She watched his breathing, it was still labored and shallow, Talia said the venom attacked the victims muscles, making it hard to move or breathe. Kaya didn’t want to remember Bram as he was now, she wanted to remember him like he was in Ondu,
- The nation
Chapter 137
The force like no other was the will of the Land, it used the storm to discourage the travelers from continuing any further, the Land was exasperated by the nerve of these humans. The storm surged over the long butte, it tried to retain the water like the force instructed, but it began to rain while crossing the long butte. The water washed away all of the small animals on the ground, the animals in the trees did not fare much better, some fell and were also washed away. Then the storm saw its target, it was aimed for the humans on the ground, the Land did not like these humans, they were too far from home. The purple cloud roared with thunder and rained heavily on its course towards the humans. Everyone in the caravan raced to find the best shelter they could, they scrambled into the trees because there was nowhere else to go. The Land offered them no shelter, nothing strong and stable, some people sat under there carts, some went into the trees, others found a nook they could climb
- The nation
Chapter 136
Kaya ran after the girl, she was faster than Kaya and as she watched, Lisbet sped away towards the edge of the desert. Who was bit, she thought, who was bit that would make Talia want me? That thought led her mind to the worst possible scenarios. Was it Rollins? Or Erek? The last thought chilled her, what if it was Arun? Kaya ran as fast as she could after Lisbet. As she ran thunder echoed across the plateau, she turned her head towards the long butte, what she saw made her glad she was not in the north with the caravan. A humongous purple cloud rolled over the buttes flat top, it drug rain with it, Kaya could see the sheets of water pouring down as the titanic cloud crested the edge of the butte. So much water, she thought as she ran towards death.“Talia,” Kaya was out of breath by the time she reached the healer. Two men were carrying a third on a hastily crafted stretcher, “who was bitten?”No sooner than those words left her mouth she saw who it was, her hand went to her mouth.“
- The nation
Chapter 135
The horses pulled carts and wagons like they had for the last three years, they were thralls to these travelers now, the animals knew nothing of the Path of Life. All the animals knew was the cycle of life, and how nature gives and takes, without mercy. Now they were lashed to these heavy carts, they were penned up while not moving, something they never experienced before. Normally they were free to roam and came back to The People willingly, now they would most likely bolt at the first chance, a few had and the horses that were left had to work harder. It was miserable work but they endured, they pulled the future of the Land towards a place where a city will be built, it won’t be the one in Rognvald’s dreams, it will be tainted and immoral. These horses would not see the wickedly beautiful city of lust and greed, they would be spared those memories.The caravan stopped at a few sites that were indeed good places to settle, each time Rognvald baulked, he would not stop until he reach
- The nation
Chapter 134
“Only a few more days Percy, a few more days, then we can live for a while by the bend in the river.” She rubbed his cheek; he made no sounds only looked back at her and waved his tail.Over the last three weeks Kaya had worked at putting closure to that part of her life where her parents lived. She had their memories now and no one could remove those, she came to terms with their deaths, it helped that she knew what happened to them. When Erek told her what he heard his father say she was angry and hurt but that to was fading, she was not as angry with the big man now, his father was another story, Kaya prayed that she would never see Rognvald again. Kaya finished unhooking the horses from her cart, normally Percy would buck around for a few minutes before relaxing into grazing not today though, Gerard went right to grazing, Percy joined him without any fuss. How things change, thought Kaya, she watched the two horses feeding as most of the weight from her grief floated away on the e
- The nation
Chapter 133
Kaya’s hair had grown back over the last three years of travel, it reached down to the middle of her back now, she kept it braided in one long braid while traveling. The braid reminded her of her mother, of the time they shared together, just the two of them. It wasn’t that they had something that was better than anyone else’s mother daughter relationship, it was simply there personal relationship that Kaya remembered. When her father was hard at work, making one of his fanciful pieces of pottery, or out making deliveries, they would be together. They lived in the back of the pottery shop that had been in Tombold’s family for generations, it was one of the more permanent looking structures in Ondu, having poles that had been sunk into the ground over two hundred years ago. The poles in the center of the shop were so round that Kaya couldn’t reach all the way around them until she was twelve. The shop always had a fire going, whether in the kiln or not, the friendly smell of wood burni
