by Damon Glatz
But at least the tribe had one thing working in their favor. The shaman predicted they would be visited today. He spoke of a vision that the Thunder Mythic would bless their tribe.
Everyone was moving about busily. Preparing their water capturing and storage items. It was seldom the Mythic visited such a small tribe. Usually, their prayers get lost in the sea of the plains. But once the shaman received his vision, the tribe followed without question.
Johanna carried only a woven basket for herself. She could drain this into a sack for her to carry. The rest of the tribe kept their eyes on the heavens, waiting for the first dark clouds to appear on the horizon. Johanna, however, kept her eyes on the plains. There were some things more important to watch for.
The tunnel vision came to a sudden stop. For the past moment, the whole world was a bright blur of wind and energy to Ohitekah. The fast break of the horse's speed was enough to nearly throw him from the saddle. He managed to maintain his stature somehow and not hit the dirt. Blaze came to rest on a hilltop overlooking the village.
Ohitekah took a deep breath and stared down into the small community. The families were moving around and looked busy. It took him a moment to realize why. They were preparing to retrieve rainwater; the shaman must have predicted the Thunder Mythic was going to arrive today.
He let out a smirk.
Ohitekah rode slowly down the hill, a few heads turned at the strange new man riding his horse.
Johanna stared at the stranger with intense curiosity. It is seldom a lone rider approaches the village on his own. She squinted her eyes to gain a better look, still holding to hope. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Her husband? No. His spirit? She rubbed her eyes and looked again. It couldn't be. It was the spitting image of her lost husband. After fifteen years, he appeared again.
Other people began noticing the man approach their village. He was a loner; they could tell by the amount of gear he had. He was young and well built. Perhaps a warrior who was stranded from his own tribe lost after a battle. Maybe a spirit who came to warn their tribe about something. His horse was brick red, with a mane of scarlet. He carried a northern sword and a plainsman bow. This was no common man. It was rare someone traveled the plains alone. Unless they were on a Vision Quest...
A Vision Quest.
"Ohitekah!" The name escaped her lips before she understood their meaning. He was alive! He was coming home! After all this time!
She dropped her basket and ran. Her bare feet taking her up the hill. The rest of the tribe took a collective gasp. Johanna was right. Her son was not dead.
Unless this was his spirit.
Some of the villagers exchanged glances. A red horse. A month of disappearing. How could this be happening? Someone ran into the tent of the Elders to inform them.
Ohitekah dismounted Blaze and opened his arms. His mother ran into them and they embraced each other for a long moment. He could feel her tears running down his shoulder. There were no words for either to say.
He's real... He's home… her thoughts came in jitters through tears.
After their moment had passed, they took hands and walked towards the village, where a concerned crowd was beginning to gather.
“He’s done it.”
“Ohitekah actually returned.” They whispered to each other.
"How long does it take you to hunt a rabbit?" A low voice mocked loudly from the crowd. A large boy walked forward, Goleih. He was thought as one of the best up and coming warriors of the tribe. Ohitekah swallowed a lump in his throat, of all the people he was excited to see again, Goleih was not one of them.
He didn't wait one second to make a fool out of me. Ohitekah thought.
Ohitekah glanced his eyes to Goleih's side. Next to him was Mae, she locked eyes with Ohitekah and blushed, not proud of what was just said.
"Come on!" He held his hand out. "You were supposed to hunt the animal you saw in the vision. That is… if the spirits even bothered to give you a vision."
Why am I still afraid of him?
"I can only guess the spirits gave you a rabbit... Maybe a squirrel? Someone like you doesn't deserve a great spirit animal. You could never hunt it like a real man."
Ohitekah felt his mother about to step forward to defend him. He gave her a squeeze on her arm to stop her. She listened and relaxed, trusting him.
Nicholas would've challenged him to a fight by now... Lance would just have stabbed him through the chest without saying a word... And nobody talks this way to Red... What is wrong with me?
"It doesn't even matter what you had. It still took you weeks to hunt it. You're pathetic! Why did you even bother to come back? No one wants you here." Goleih wore a dumb grin on his face, satisfied with the lack of a challenge Ohitekah provided. The crowd behind him did not say anything to him, they just watched. They were probably still in disbelief that it was Ohitekah in the first place.
Mae pulled on Goleih's arm to stop him. He yanked his arm out of her grasp and took a step forward to Ohitekah.
Ohitekah stood motionless, staring down Goleih.
"I don't like fighting..." Ohitekah said softly. "It's something I learned about myself while I was away."
"Really? You just learned that? I could've told you that myself. You're a coward, Ohitekah. Did you even kill your spirit animal like you were supposed to?"
Ohitekah stared down at Goleih. He was well built and strong, but Ohitekah towered above him in height.
"I didn't want to... But I did. And it wasn't easy."
"Oh please. How hard can killing a rabbit be?"
"Hard. Taking any life should not be an easy decision. All creatures are sacred and should be protected. But there is a balance, and sometimes you have to fight for what is right. You will need to defend yourself. There is nothing glorious about killing. There is nothing to idolize about suffering."
Red really rubbed off on me...
Goleih frowned. Ohitekah reached into a sack on Blaze and pulled out a rabbit hide, one that he trapped a while back. He tossed it on the dirt at Goleih's feet.
Goleih let out a laugh. "I knew it!"
Ohitekah turned around, he gave his mother a wink. She smiled, understanding his deception.
Nicholas is rubbing off on me too...
Ohitekah walked past the crowd and into the village. The Shaman stepped out of the Elder's tent and waved for him to come inside. Ohitekah unpacked his gear from Blaze and followed him in without hesitation.
"Ohitekah." The Chief spoke slowly. "We have been awaiting your return for a long time. What kept you?"
Ohitekah took a seat on the cold ground. "I am sorry... I truly meant to come home sooner."
"Did you retrieve the artifact from your vision?" The shaman interrupted. Ohitekah paused for a moment. "Yes. The real one. Not a rabbit pelt." The shaman let out a coy smile.
Ohitekah gave a nod.
He pulled out a long rolled up skin pelt from his pack. The Elder's leaned forward to watch him unravel it. Ohitekah carefully unfolded the pelt. The Elder's eyes widened when they saw him reveal his trophy.
"How... How is this possible?"
Ohitekah held in his hands a long golden feather. The feather itself emanated a yellow aura that dimly filled the room with light.
The Elder's looked back to Ohitekah in awe. A feather from the great Mythic. The Thunder Bird. No feathers of it have ever been found before. It could only mean one thing.
Ohitekah opened his mouth to explain. The Chief raised his hand to stop him.
"No... This concerns the whole tribe. You will tell us your story at a feast tonight.” He took a pause before addressing him. “Oh, holy Mythic of Thunder."
Ohitekah was taken aback by the statement. He had no choice but to agree. He rolled his feather back up and placed it in his pack.
"Please. Do not speak of this to anyone beforehand. We do not wish to cause alarm." One of the elders said softly.
"I understand. Thank you."
He stood up and exited the tent without saying another word.
He could hear them whispering to one another inside as he walked away. He hesitated when he noticed Mae was waiting outside the tent. They stood in silence for a moment.
"I'm sorry about Goleih... He can be hard headed sometimes."
Ohitekah gave a smile.
"No, it’s alright... He's probably just upset about other things. Not his fault."
"Yeah." Mae glanced down.
Ohitekah looked around. Some of the villagers were still outside with their baskets, waiting for the rain to fall.
Should I do something? How do I make a storm?
"Well... I'll see you at the feast tonight. Everyone is really happy you came back you know." They exchanged smiles before she turned to walk away.
"Hey!" A voice yelled from his left. Ohitekah turned to see Goleih storming forward, he grabbed Mae by her wrist and jerked her closer to him. "What did I say about talking to other men like that?"
Mae winced “Ow, okay, okay I’m sorry.”
"Woah." Ohitekah took a step forward. "Take it easy, Goleih."
"You think you can talk to me or my wife like that Ohitekah? You’re so special now that you took a month to kill a rabbit? This is my wife and I can do with her as I please."
Ohitekah felt himself squeezing his hand into a fist.
"You’re hurting her."
"What are you gonna do about it? How can you stop me if you don't want to hurt me?"
"I will do what it takes to keep my friends safe. Now back off."
Goleih flexed his arms and let go of Mae. "Okay, big man. Let’s see what you learned while hunting rabbits."
Goleih took a step forward.
His stance is very open. He is about to strike.
Goleih swung his fist through the air.
Very poor form, he never learned how to fight properly. He's leaving his entire right side open for a counter.
Ohitekah calmly stepped to his side and let the punch pass by. Goleih turned and swung again with a wide hook.
Still no control. Goleih stumbled while his weight was thrown forward and fell to the ground. He stood back up quickly and resumed his stance.
"What are you doing Ohitekah? Fight me!"
"I don't need to. You're doing a good job beating yourself up." Ohitekah let out a smile. Goleih let out a pathetic series of jabs and Ohitekah dodged them all effortlessly.
"Goleih, please! Just leave him alone!" Mae begged from behind him.
"Be quiet or you're next!"
There was a loud crack as Ohitekah's elbow struck Goleih's chin. He fell to the ground and stayed there stiff as a board. Ohitekah stood over him and frowned. Mae covered her mouth in shock. No one had ever beaten Goleih before. He laid on the ground unconscious, some blood dripping from his mouth.
"I don't care what you say about me. But leave my friends alone."
Mae was frozen, she ran to her husband who was still on the ground and cried softly.
Why is she upset? I was defending her.
Ohitekah looked down and turned away from the scene. He walked away and secluded himself in his mother's tipi for a while. Not wanting to see anyone. He hoped he hadn't hurt Goleih too badly, it was a snap reaction. When he heard Goleih threaten Mae he lost control. He was perfectly fine before that.
He reflected for some time on the fight. Maybe he went too hard on Goleih. Maybe he should apologize.
Ohitekah glanced up when his mother stepped in through the entrance. She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Are you alright?"
Ohitekah paused. "Yeah."
"What happened?"
"Goleih was being obnoxious, and—"
"No. I mean what happened... to you. Out there."
Ohitekah looked away.
"I... um... A lot of things. I'm gonna tell the whole story at the feast tonight. For everyone to hear."
Ohitekah's mother sat beside him with a smile.
"Well... No matter what it was... It changed you. I can see that. You're different. Stronger. Braver. It must have been exciting!" She rustled his hair.
Ohitekah leaked a smirk.
"It was... I had no idea of the things I could do, I'm still surprised."
"I love you. No matter what you did, or what your spirit animal is." She looked him in the eyes. "Even if it was just a rabbit."
Ohitekah let out a chuckle and looked away.
"Yeah, I know mother..." He paused for a second, and without warning, Ohitekah broke out into a fit of inconsolable sobbing. He leaned into his mother and wept for a long moment. "I'm so sorry. I never wanted to take so long. All I wanted to do was come home. That’s the only thing I wanted. But things kept happening and all this stuff got in the way and it just took so long. I'm sorry I kept you waiting. I'm sorry for all those nights you felt alone. I never forgot about you. Never."
Johanna let Ohitekah cry for a while longer before saying anything.
"I never felt alone. I would know if you had left me. I could still feel you out there. Don't worry about me Ohitekah. Just do what you trust in your heart to be right, and you will always find your home again."
She lifted his chin and looked into his eyes.
"Let's get ready for the feast. You look horrible."
Chapter Four
The Collector
"Ahh, Chrysos... As magnificent as I remember." General Falko rode slowly on his brilliantly armored warhorse. His gilded chest plate reflected the bright morning sun. The golden spear he had become famous for was proudly held at his side. Behind him marched the entire might of the Orbis army; its ranks traveling back as far as vision would allow.
Every man, woman, and child who lived in the city of Chrysos lined the streets to watch his unannounced military parade. The gilded army snaked its way through the main street in a massive display of power. Falko’s power.
Chrysos, the capital of the Orbis Republic—. Otherwise known as the Gilded City, or the Capital City. Chrysos thought of itself as the peak of human development. Perhaps it was. The massive stone buildings that made up the city spread over an area larger than any of the Vatnic Isles. Marble pillars and high towers scattered across the skyline. Great gold covered domes marked the various religious and ceremonial temples. Intricately carved statues depicting kings of old marked the intersections of roads. The city rested on a cape overlooking the sea, a peninsula that marked the southernmost tip of the world.
In the distance towered an immense structure, The Lighthouse, the pride of the Orbis Republic, stood proudly over the capital. Like a sentinel watching over the land, The Lighthouse served two purposes, for it was also a library. The lighthouse was a symbol of knowledge in the Republic. In it housed copies of almost every written text recorded throughout history. A pool of all the knowledge of mankind. There was nothing else like it in the world. Scholars from all five kingdoms traveled here to study. The Orbis Republic prides itself on its science, mathematical, and historical education. Falko spent many years as a child studying the books the library had to offer. The fire of the tower itself burned in a brilliant orange orb at the peak, the flame itself was rumored to be the first ever sparked by man. Never dying out, leading the way for mankind’s future.
However, today Falko was not here to study history, he was here to make it. Books of the future would contain stories of the liberator, General Falko. Perhaps he would write his own personal accounts for the library to store.
The Senators lined the long marble steps of the Senate House. The white stone dome hosted the chamber hall where these old men would argue on how the nation should be governed.
Politics, as they are, was something even General Falko could never understand. The men in power wish to preserve their power. They know nothing of the people they represent. The Senators were fools. Fighting amongst themselves on small policies that were never fully completed. Their impotence had reached an end.
Falko led his army straight to the stairs
of the Senate House. He could feel the burning stares of the Senators. He smiled and gave a wave.
"Falko! What is this?" Senator Claudius stepped down the stairs to Falko's chariot. His ridiculous white robe trailing the stairs behind him. Falko removed his golden helmet and stepped down to the cobblestone street. His army halted its march at once.
"I have come to relieve the burdens of leadership from your shoulders," Falko said in a loud commanding voice, he had decided on that line yesterday and wanted to make sure everyone heard it clearly. He planted his spear into the dirt at his side, it was as tall as he was.
"You have no right!" Claudius shouted, "You have stepped well beyond your limits as commander of the armed forces! We disband you immediately from your position and place you under arrest for treason."
Falko stood for a moment and looked around. His unending mass of men trailed out of sight. He gave a slight laugh, amused.
"Claudius, you always had a twisted sense of humor." Falko made a motion with his hand. Two armed centurions broke formation and approached the Senator.
"No! You can't! The Senate has the power—" The centurion hit Claudius in the gut, knocking the wind out of him. They gripped his wrists behind his back and escorted him away.
Falko climbed the steps of the Senate House.
"Power belongs to the man with the biggest stick. That is how it has always been throughout history." He waved his golden spear tauntingly.
"We should have never made you commander." A sickly-looking Senator named Hector spit through his teeth.
"In fact, that may have been the only decision you ever made that benefited the people of this great country." Falko turned to face the man, he gave a nod. "Guards." He said calmly.
Two more centurions climbed the steps.
"No! It’s wrong!" The man tried to turn and hide in the crowd of senators. He was grabbed from behind and dragged into the ranks of the army, disappearing. The Senators stood aside, clearing a path to the Senate House. Falko ascended slowly to the top, reveling in his moment. He turned to face the robed men under him, the army stretching into the distance.
