Amir fidgeted.
The dwelling talks disturbed him, increasing with Sagina’s
worried looks.
He was loath to leave their only home, the world outside baffled
his simple mind.
‘Did he have a choice? He had sworn to the tree spirits to
protect his sisters with his life.’
‘Go check on her. Keep your tongue coiled.”
Sagina frowned; silent words betrayed her open mouth. She was a
Bora woman, never speaking their minds.
He was ashamed of the leaders, all save his father.
She had been a barter of risk for the expensive, useful
gifts her father sent every full moon. Two such moons had passed. The gifts
didn’t arrive nor word from the river clan. They debated sending her back or
selling her off to another tribe.
He unsheathed his new
scimitar, slicing it through invisible enemies. They hadn’t made much headway
with her lessons. Mastering the letters had seemed fair exchange for self
defense techniques, sadly turning out as one way assimilation.
The sounds of running feet had him colliding with his sister and
servant as he lifted the flap.
“Can’t find her anywhere…she’s gone.’
“Get a grip, search thoroughly.”
“No one's seen her at the breakfast langar, master.”
“Must be with the children.”
“Hasn’t visited them in the last three days.”
“Ready my horse. I leave immediately.”
“Where to?”
“The forest, she wanders into.”
“Pack our bags before we return, a long journey awaits us.”
“And mine, brother?”
“No, your place is here.”
The lonely figure trudged its way into the forest. The footfalls
unwittingly leaving a trail behind. She had been abandoned twice. The memories
of her biological family a blip, that of her foster home painfully fresh.
‘An orphan's life would have been better.’
The overhead words rebounded among the strange looking trees.
‘Was it true? It’s obvious; I am no tribeswoman but a clan
member…’
Her curiosity had her following impressionable Sagina last
night. Suspecting a lover’s tryst, she had chosen to gather proof Amir would
need before he believed her. The soft, jingling steps ahead, falling on the
gravel in front of the green columns of men’s tents intrigued and scared her.
The poisonous sentences
lent weight to her recurrent doubts. Her world turned on itself.
Born to the clan whose magic resided in the names of the
children, the one written in the runes cast, made her
dangerous. Her father and the seer had tried in vain to protect her secret. A
betraying uncle, three raids on the outpost had the council scurrying to get
rid of the abomination.
She was sent off to live as a six year old with the Boras, the
warrior tribe that lived on the fringes of the old forest. They treated her
better than their women. She had a tutor.
‘Must have been the gifts.’
The Boras never ventured into the forest, beyond defined limits.
The tree spirits they worshipped lived deep inside. The feared Maitri, the
mages of the wild made it their abode.
She began to catch the change in landscape; scarred, broken
trees like her spirit filled her vision. Seductive voices whispered and pulled
her to the clearing. Before her was a stone dwelling with three chairs in stone
carved with human bones, a red stool near one.
“Turn back child.” a voice warned.
“Fear not, little one. Join us, embrace your destiny.” crooned
one of the earlier ones.
She stood still, while the voices battled until one was silenced
forever.
Amir galloping fast, reached, only to watch in horror as
ghostly, gnarled hands nudged her forward.
“Stop, come with me.”
“Leave now; the Boras will live to see another day.”
“Not without her.”
He rushed forward, to be
thrown back by the magical barriers.
“Kali, listen to me. They are dangerous, they are the Maitri.”
She turned around, awakening from a dream. Stared at the
grey figures, then at him. Sad eyes appealed to him.
“Go, brother, before they hurt you.”
“Before I truly become – Kali the destroyer.”
He inched forward, unheeding, hacking at the invisible walls.
Only to find; an empty square and earth scorched to the darkest black.
‘He wouldn’t rest. Would search the ends of the world till he
found her.’
The clan would be the first stop. Despite his contempt, he
needed them.
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