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The nation Chapter 54
Kaya sat on her parents’ bed, on the side where her mother lay. The sound of the winter winds blowing and the distant crackle of the hearth fire, were the only sounds as her conscious mind processed what her sub-conscious mind already understood. Her mother was gone. A panic gripped her after the realization. She jumped up, pushing on her mother’s side, shaking her, and screaming. She was in shock. She shook her mother intensely praying that she would wake up. Kathryn did not wake up, Kaya screamed again. No one heard her wails; they were instead carried away with the wind.When her mother didn’t wake up, Kaya raced around to the side of the bed that her father lay on. She touched his hand after she uncovered it, she was too afraid to pull the blanket back too far, his hand was frozen too. Her eye’s burned, her throat went dry as a pit formed in her gut. Her heart thumped heavily in her chest; tears fell freely.“Dad?” She called out.She continued to shake her father’s body, she lost
The nation Chapter 55
Callum was sitting on a hay bale in the stables where his father kept their horses. Marx was brushing a mare as Callum watched. Callum was not the best horsemen, sure he could ride, but it often was at his own peril. His father told him that the animals were smart and intuitive, they could pick up on the emotions of their rider. Callum wasn’t afraid of the horses, per say, but they did unnerve him most of the time. Callum rarely rode because of this and that was why Marx was brushing the horse now. Both Callum, and the horses of Ondu, had an unspoken agreement; they only shared company if they had too.Marx was brushing the flank of Callum’s father’s horse. Everyone in Ondu knew that Callum and the horses had a tenuous relationship at best. She was only there to be with Callum, the horses were only slightly annoyed. She also knew that standing out in the cold talking to Kaya through the wall of her room was something she wouldn’t do. Marx and the cold had a hate, hate, relationship. S
The nation Chapter 56
When Briaunna awoke she was still tired. Her eyes felt like they were filled with sand, the gritty feeling kept her from blinking. Her mouth was dry from sleep, her nose was stuffed up and it was impossible to breathe through it. The chill from winter hung low, lingering close to the ground. She was warm under the blanket but knew that she had to get up. Reluctantly, she flung the covers off her and was immediately attacked by the cold, the bitter air made her skin feel raw as her body heat was quickly wicked away. When she put her feet down, it was so cold that she pulled them right back up. Then she sighed and put them back on the ground.Briaunna was responsible, she was diligent and intelligent, most people underestimated her. She quietly took in everything she could, her studious eyes watched the world around her with interest. Interest that always led to understanding, she wanted to know everything she could, she looked to understand why things were the way they were. She also h
The nation Chapter 57
“You’re almost there Indra, one last big push!”“C’mon mom, one last push.” Echoed Briaunna.“I can’t. I have nothing left.” Indra said in a weak voice.“Yes, you can!”“I can’t, I, can’t.” She gasped.“Brie, keep holding her while I get some water.” Talia rose and fetched some water for Indra to drink. “Drink this honey. Slowly, take some small sips.”Indra did as she was told, she couldn’t argue anyways, she didn’t have the energy for it.“I’m here mom, here, lean on me.” Briaunna cradled her mother’s weight, she held her tightly. “You can do this.”“No, I can’t, not anymore.” She was breathing heavily into her daughter’s chest.“Yes, you can, and you will.” Talia said with finality.The last contraction struck. It was as strong as all the earlier ones, but with Indra’s exhaustion she was almost limp when it started. It was the last contraction; her limp body offered no Resistance to the contraction. Her body did what it did naturally, her tiredness kept her from bracing herself for
The nation Chapter 58
Indra remained sheltered in her room, she rarely revealed herself to anyone, even her family seldom saw her. She refused to feed her son, the first night Talia had stayed to breastfeed the newborn, Harden had to have two other mothers help with the feeding of his son. Indra wouldn’t care for the baby in any capacity, she flat out refused. She stayed in her room, and in her own head, she beat herself up with the thoughts of her horrible actions and how they changed everything in her life. She felt so depressed, so worthless, she cried frequently. Harden had given up trying to convince her of his love for her and the baby, he said he would raise the child as his own, but that just made Indra want to vomit.This winter also marked the first murders in the history of The People. Rognvald Aa Scandiniv had become so convinced that his son Erek’s affair with Indrasena would ruin his chances of becoming chief, along with his reputation, so he acted. Erek had told his father that Tombold Flist
The nation Chapter 59
“Let’s keep the insults to a minimum, please and thank you.” Leland had the tone of a parent in his voice, “we need to discuss what is actually happening here, in Ondu, and not fantasize about unfamiliar places to live. We have people here who are hungry and without some basic necessities because of the flooding, how do you propose we handle that, Rognvald?” He let a little disdain carry the last few words across the hearth.“Yes, let’s get back on topic here. We have food shortages, damage to homes, livestock and horses missing or injured. The pens and stalls have also been looted by the rushing waters; how do we recover from that?” Sokonan walked over and sat in her usual spot.The rest of the council members all strolled back to the hearth when they saw Harden walk in. He was late but everyone knew that Indra was pregnant and having a tough time since her delivery. Harden had been doing all he could to care for the infant, it showed on his face like the sun on a clear summer’s day.
The nation Chapter 60
“Wondered about what?”Pause.“Briaunna, did you go to sleep or something?” “No,” she said, her hands fidgeted. “You know how people talk about things that they really don’t know about?”“Yeah, like gossip.”“Right!”“What does that have to do with your mind?”“My mind, what?” She was confused.“When I sat down you said that your mind was wondering something, I asked you what it was because you stopped in mid-sentence.”“Oh yeah, I remember now, but I’m not sure if I should say it.”“Is it hurtful?”“Maybe.”“Is it true?” Erek asked.“Yes, all of the evidence points to it being true.”“Then how can it be something you are unsure to say aloud?”“Erek, what happened to you?”Now, Erek paused, his thoughts screeched to a halt. He really didn’t know, he knew he was different now, somehow better than he was. Everyone had remarked about how thoughtful he was now, and how well he understood things. Had he not understood things before? Erek remembered having trouble understanding things befo
The nation Chapter 61
Her husband had done and said things to her that made her sick. Harden promised to raise the boy as his own child, he said that he forgave her and that he didn’t care who she had been with. He never told her that the reason he hadn’t made love to her wasn’t because he didn’t love her anymore, it was because he carried so much stress that he could not perform in bed. Harden wanted to explain everything to her, but they weren’t able to have a civil conversation. These days they just avoided each other.When night came, Indra had gotten up from her bed. She moved like she was sleep walking, but she was fully awake. The ache in her gut had grown to an overwhelming pain that was unbearable, so unbearable that only one thought persisted in her mind. She walked around the room looking for a little pouch that her father had given her when she was thirteen winters old. The pouch had something in it that she needed, she had no idea where it was, so she searched the room.Harden and Briaunna did
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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
