9 Tales From Elsewhere 3

by 9 Tales From Elsewhere

  "I had to. He would have killed them all. Not like that, I mean, but slowly."

  "I was thinking the same. He’ll get better here, I know it." She kissed Yunis on the forehead, caressed his thin blonde hair, then departed. Neffa hugged him as well, then said to the floor, "I’ll bring the djak root later, when it’s done."

  "I don’t think it’s a good idea. Bardet is here a lot, to speak with my aunt. He’ll smell it for sure."

  "Well we made it, so I’ll put it in a gourd for you to hide. He can drink it in the Grove."

  "That’s a good idea. He’ll be safer here, alright?"

  "I’ll be over every day," she replied, so softly he could barely hear.

  Old Ways

  Feden had just sat down to work on a set of shoes for the garrison, when his aunt burst into the shop. "Feden, Feden!" You might want to see this, boy." He groaned, imagining what Captain Esvon would say about another delay. "Now what," he muttered as he stepped outside.

  As he entered the street the ravens watched him from every available perch. In the middle of Coerb Road stood Ao Dama, shouting with her arms above her head like rabbit ears. "…The Grove is waking. The ravens returned…!"

  In the cool morning air, Feden was sure her voice reached every ear in the village, including Ao Bardet. "No, not now," he muttered to himself. He asked his aunt to watch Yunis, then jogged toward Dama.

  She ignored his approach, and shouted to the sky, "they return! The Grove called them back!" Her hands shook and her thin lips quivered between shouts.

  "Ao Dama, hush. Please!" Avoiding his gaze, she turned her back and shouted again. Old words. Banned words. Feden grabbed her by the thin shoulders, and spun her around to face him. Her eyes darted wildly and she writhed in his grip.

  "Be still, Dama!" Other villagers were out too, and staring. He lowered his voice. "They can hear you, Dama. The korso." She stopped squirming. "You will be punished." For a moment she looked confused. "You must stop." Her gray eyes settled onto Feden’s and she slumped in his arms. She seemed fragile and insubstantial, like a bag of dried sticks.

  Dama's gentle face was eventually restored. "You’re a good boy, Feden." She mumbled softly. "A good boy of the Grove. Please take me home." He put an arm around her and slowly, with small steps led her to her overgrown home, a mound of crab grass surrounded by broken pottery and weeds.

  Once she was safely inside, Feden looked hastily down Coerb Road, toward Banner Fort. He expected to see Bardet leading a host of the Temple’s garrison with blood in their eyes. But no foreigners approached, and the villagers all went about their way as if nothing happened. A shiver rolled down his spine.

  When Feden returned home, Tahnin was there, talking quietly to Yunis. He seemed to recognize her, and his mind was at ease. Yet he still wouldn’t speak, though his eyes betrayed his desire and frustration. In Tahnin’s hand was the small gourd of concentrated djak root.

  "Do you think it’ll really work?" Tahnin asked.

  "I’ve never seen anyone in the Grove use it before."

  "Me either. But my Baba swore by it."

  "And my mother did too." Feden added. "It can’t hurt him right?"

  "I guess not." With his approval, she poured some between his lips, and Yunis cooperated. Just as Feden thought his mouth was full, voices carried from the doorway. Tahnin spilled a brown drop on his shirt, but got the stopper on fast. She quickly wiped his brown lips and with eyes wide forced him to drink some watered wine. As the noisemakers entered, their apprehension was clear through their fake smiles. It was Bardet and Leatos, the second and third worst persons to see while carrying a bottle of djak root. The only person worse was Captain Esvon himself, and he might be waiting in the yard.

  Feden expected Bardet to ask about the strange odor, but the elder quickly pointed to Yunis and asked, "How is, he, young man?"

  "Well, he um, recognizes us." Feden’s voice cracked.

  Tahnin added, "And he’s eating and drinking fine. We just ate now." She shrugged and issued a small laugh.

  Bardet noticed the disquiet and looked around for something to explain it all. He approached Yunis with an unusual sense of authority, emboldened by the elder’s presence. "I’d like to expose him to the Eye of Thanus, the long rite, so that we can see the true source of young Yunis’s sickness. I am afraid that your misguided folk remedies will only damage him further." Bardet held up Yunis’s chin and stared into his eyes. "Captain Esvon sees the boy's dementia as a mere symptom of the greater evil that has falling upon Raven Grove… along with the bird infestation. That evil is, of course, caused by the insistence of some villagers to hold on to antiquated and ultimately futile rituals."

  Feden’s mind raced. He couldn’t think of a single thing to say without incriminating himself. Tahnin saved him. "As you say, Ao Bardet. I believe that is the best thing for him." She stroked Yunis’s hair as he stared blankly at the wall. "I think he’ll do much better in your hands."

  "In the hands of Thanus, young lady. Thanus will heal young Yunis, and will save all of Raven Grove." With an uncharacteristic bit of flourish, Bardet turned heel and exited the workshop. The elder followed, but as he crossed the threshold, he turned back and whispered, "is that djak root I smell?" Feden blushed. Leatos smiled ear to ear. Before he turned away, Feden thought he caught a wink.

  PART 3

  Bounty

  Ravens announced the return of Det and Feden as they emerged from the northern forest. Hung across Det’s massive shoulders was full grown stag. Feden trailed behind with two unstrung bows, cleaning the flights of an arrow. Tahnin saw them first, and put her hand over her mouth. Her knees threatened to buckle with a mix of joy and fear. The first because she had never seen so much meat in her life. The second because hunting large game was reserved for the garrison. She knew the preparations must be made fast. With her head light she ran to gather the others.

  With the speed and cohesion of a pack of dire wolves the villagers dismantled and disposed of the deer, leaving no trace for the garrison to find. Using the broad leaves of the adjab plant they gathered all the blood and kept it off of the village green. With large stones they crushed the bones into indistinguishable shapes for various stock-pots across the village. The pelt was taken deep into the Grove to dry, and meat, of course, was grilled and eaten at once. Nobody was denied a morsel, and the sweetbreads were reserved for the old and weak of limb.

  But not all of Raven Grove shared in the bounty. Shortly after the swift event ended the grumblings began. Some spoke of demons. They stared up to the Eye of Thanus and regurgitated the mantras they learned at the Temple. Others damned the young men for risking an encounter with Esvon and his foreign invaders. But the watchers of the Coerb Road returned with no traffic to report in either direction.

  Bellies full, Feden and Det lounged under the eaves of the former’s outdoor kitchen. Det brought a gourd of good wine, and together they watched the wind roll the treetops of the Grove. Tahnin and Jamila had just departed after feeding Yunis, who slept contently within.

  Det said, "Maybe I’m going crazy too, but I’m beginning to understand some of his jabbering."

  "What’s he trying to say?"

  "I'm not an expert, but it sounds like the old tongue."

  Wine rolled down Feden’s chin onto his shirt.

  Det nodded slowly. "I don’t think it’s safe to let Bardet treat him. It’s not going to work, and he’ll accuse us of practicing the old ways. I hate to say it, but I don’t trust anybody but us. There are some in the village that know the old tongue but have abandoned the Grove in favor of Thanus."

  "The merchant’s family," Feden said.

  "Right. And unfortunately, your aunt."

  "She doesn’t speak the tongue, Det." Feden said. "And she’s more loyal than you think. As for Thanus, she just wants something to believe in. Something to be a part of. She didn’t abandon the old ways. They were stolen from her."

  "But not forever, friend," Det added.

 
"Not if we can help it."

  Beginnings

  For the first time since the festival, Feden was accomplishing something in the workshop. He had worked since sunrise, trying to make up for lost time. For the butcher he fashioned a leather apron, and for the garrison he finished three sets of boots. He had just started a saddle when Jamila joined him.

  Yunis was awake, so Feden had put him to work. With a wooden mallet he tried to open pecan nuts, but was easily distracted by what Feden though of as invisible imps. Jamila checked on his progress, and said, "Oh Feden, he’s smashing them all to pieces!"

  Without taking his eyes off of his work, he replied, "That’s okay with me, as long as he’s occupied. He gathered them himself."

  She pulled aside some crushed shells to pick out remaining morsels.

  "Do you think he’s getting better?"

  "Look at how he’s concentrating. He isn’t harming anybody. He wants to help, you know. Deep down he hates to be taken care of."

  "I heard the merchant’s wife's been talking to the Captain." Jamila took some brawnock roots from her apron and peeled as she talked.

  "Uh-huh."

  "She’s telling him that we’re performing banned rituals. She probably mentioned the stag."

  "Really?" He was trying to focus on his efforts.

  "He should have never married someone from Coerb. Wyeth, sure, but not Coerb. If he wasn’t so wealthy, he would have been cast out by now." The villagers of Raven Grove were suspicious of Coerb before the occupation, and it was now home to dozens outsiders from Dorthanion.

  "Uh-huh."

  She knew she had only a portion of his attention, but wanted to talk anyway.

  "Oh, and all the weavers are whispering about the old ways now. But they don’t know much, little bits and pieces that they overheard as children."

  "Good. We’re not the only ones who…"

  Just then Yunis cursed and kicked away his stool. After a loud shriek he collapsed into the corner with his hands to his ears. Between gibberish words, he screamed what sounded like an entreaty to stop.

  Feden slammed down his tools and yelled, "Not now, Yunis!" He was well past his deadline with the saddle, and now had to complete a week’s worth of work in just two days. For the first time since he took care of Yunis, he felt genuine anger toward his unfortunate friend. Yunis did stop yelling, and rolled into a smaller ball to rock back and forth.

  Feden saw that Jamila had shrunk inward too. Wetness formed in her dark brown eyes. A wave of guilt came over him.

  "Look, Jamila, I’m sorry I got mad. It’s just… I really have to finish this."

  "It’s okay, Feden. Maybe I can take him home to visit, or something."

  She sniffled back a tear and walked over to comfort Yunis. Calm returned, and just as Feden got back into his efforts, Both Tahnin and Neffa burst into the workshop short of breath. Tahnin nearly fainted, and could barely hold herself up. Feden jumped up to support her. Jamila audibly sucked in air and covered her mouth with both hands. Between heavy breaths, Tahnin broke the news.

  "One of the garrison disappeared."

  Feden asked, "How?"

  Tahnin laid beside Yunis and took him in her arms, still gasping for breath. Neffa continued. "We don’t know."

  "This is bad. Real bad. Are they coming here?"

  Neffa just shrugged.

  "What did Leatos say?" She shrugged again. "Answer me!"

  Neffa looked down at her toes and stepped back.

  Tahnin yelled, "Leave her alone, Feden. She doesn’t know, alright."

  Jamila put her hand on Feden's shoulder and motioned him to sit. "There's nothing we can do about it now anyway, Feden."

  "You’re right," Feden said. "But they’re going to come here and question me about it!"

  Neffa left without saying goodbye. Tahnin pointed to Feden. "You should apologize to her, you know how she is."

  He groaned. "I will. Just give me a moment to think."

  "Jamila, can you get her back, please?"

  "Sure."

  As Jamila jogged after Neffa, Tahnin beckoned Feden to follow her outside. When they were well out of earshot, her normally pretty face turned fierce.

  "Tell me the truth, Feden. Did you have anything to do with this?"

  His jaw hung open. "Of course not. What could I possibly do to them?"

  "I don’t believe that. Not after what happened to Yunis. Oh, and by the way, Det’s starting to hear them too."

  "Hear what?"

  "You tell me."

  She gave him her shoulder and marched home.

  Accusations

  "Det?" Feden searched the house, but nobody was home. A young neighbor of Det’s had come to him, panting, with the message that his immediate attendance was required. But the farm was silent. Even the ravens held their tongues.

  His unease was bolstered as he approached the shed. A slight wind blew by, in which he swore he could make out whisperings, as if he had taken the bluecap essence. He could feel that something important was happening this very moment. The Grove was certainly vying for his attention.

  From within the shed he heard familiar voices. As he entered, Det and Rohn stared at him as if he interrupted something. Rohn held a shovel and clay stains spotted their knees and elbows. Rohn nodded at Feden, and before he departed, he told his son, "You’d better get that cleaned up."

  Feden didn’t bother asking about the digging. "What’s happening, Det?"

  "They found the missing soldier."

  "Still alive?" Feden croaked.

  "You wish. He’s dead alright." Det talked to the dirt floor. "They found him in the ruins being picked apart by ravens." Feden was speechless. Det, who always inspired strength among the villagers, was flustered. "They’re coming now. They have to...and we’re not ready yet."

  "Now calm down, Det. The garrison can’t blame this on us, right?"

  "It doesn’t matter if we did it or not, because Esvon finally has the excuse he’s been waiting for. They’re coming, Feden. I can feel it. I can hear it in the wind."

  Feden swallowed a lump. "So that’s what it meant."

  "Then you hear it too."

  Feden slowly nodded. "Well everything’s hidden, right?"

  "Everything."

  "Then they can't blame us."

  Det started to respond, but was interrupted by the call of the wallowwink bird, a signal that foreigners approach by way of the Coerb Road. They wanted desperately to hide, but knew that it would be an admission of guilt.

  Det changed into his other clothes, then together they jogged to the village square as fast at Det’s bad leg could take them. They sensed the korso, like a buzzing in their sinuses, and stopped at the edge of the commons.

  Twelve Dorthanion soldiers were there, in full armament, led by Captain Esvon himself on a chestnut mare. He was young and smooth of skin, with long, straight hair in a braid along the right side of his face.

  Bardet groveled at his flank, nervously muttering the mantras. Most of the village had been lined up before the Captain. From his high perch he appeared to question the villagers one at a time. The village’s collective fear echoed off the Grove.

  Though the soldiers hadn't seen them yet, a neighbor caught Feden's attention with a hand signal, then looked toward the workshop. Feden got the hint, and without drawing attention to himself, retreated toward it. The door was agape, and within he could see two soldiers tossing his tools and materials about in a fury. As he entered, both paused to glared at him, then resumed their ravaging with greater intensity. Part of him broke inside as he witnessed his livelihood being shattered. But another part of him didn’t care, because his old life was already over. And he knew they would find nothing. He fought down his anger, and like a good citizen of United Dorthanion, waited for his turn to take the Captain’s accusations. He didn’t have to wait very long.

  Secrets

  With Yunis’s hand in hers, Tahnin plied the trails of East Playground. She wore the dress he had
bought for her in Wyeth, a gift that he had saved for two years to afford.

  "Come on, come on. We need more bluecaps, Yunis! Take me to where you found them. I know you remember."

  Her ploy seemed to work. Though he never acknowledged that he understood, Yunis had stopped following and led her through the Grove. He quickly abandoned the trails, and though she couldn’t tell how, it was clear that he knew the way. Tahnin wasn’t sure where he’d take her or what she’d find, but anything that could help her cure him was worth a few lies.

  "Slow down, sweet bean!" Yunis gripped her hand tighter and led her down a nearly vertical rock face, to a narrow saddle of springy pine needles. Around a pair of boulders was a small landing, overshadowed by a tall shelf of granite covered in baby ferns. The hooded chamber was surrounded by the green tops of ash trees rooted in the valley far below.

  In this sanctuary, littered with bluecap mushrooms, was a knee-high alter carved from soapstone. At its recessed center was a burnt hunk of unidentified flesh. On the stone wall behind it were crude paintings of deer, ravens and wolves in red clay. Yunis let her go and settled in immediately. Grinning like a flattered child, he sat in the chair-like roots of a massive chestnut tree like a lord in his high castle.

  Through the trees, in the valley below, were stumpy mounds of grass and toppled stones. When she realized what it was she gasped. It was the first time she’d seen the ruins of the old village. She nervously looked and listened for signs of garrison patrols, but found none. Yet despite the danger of trespassing, there were clears signs of recent activity in the high sanctuary. The faint smell of djak root. The pit of a nectarine. Cones of ash that yesterday’s winds would have certainly blown over. She knew Yunis hadn’t ventured out here since then, which meant there were others too.

  A feeling of unease washed over her. It was obvious she was being left out of something big. She held Yunis for comfort, which helped, even though he didn’t hold her back, at first. Slowly his arms wrapped her slender torso. In his familiar embrace she no longer cared about the secrets, or the garrison, or even about the old ways. Wordlessly she rested, enjoying Yunis's warmth. But her ease was tainted because it couldn't last. It could get much, much worse.