by Reece Dinn
When it was dark the Lial returned and made a fire, to Beroz relief. It'd grown quite cold once the sun had vanished, and his sleeping fur did little to keep him warm. The Lial had burnt his old furs, they'd been too sticky with blood to wash properly, and he'd instructed one of the clothes-makers to make new ones for him. After nearly a moon though he'd still not gotten any.
'How're you?' asked the Lial, dumping a small sack of something by the fire and filling the cooking pot with the remaining water from the bowl.
'Sit all day. Try to heal. Not happen. I still hurt,' said Beroz, rubbing his scarred hand.
'Hand hurt again?'
'All time.'
The Lial grunted.
'You see my Mal?' asked Beroz.
'Yes. She say she not visit. Next day, maybe.'
Beroz nodded. His Mal had kicked him out of her furaz a couple of moons before he'd left on his Cubsoz because he'd beaten up her lover for roughing her up. Beroz'd broken her lover's arm, nose, and several ribs. He'd have killed him, but then he'd have had to fight the Lial, which, back then, had meant certain death. His Mal's lover had since left the village, but his Mal was still furious with him, it seemed. It'd hurt Beroz that she'd chosen her lover over him, her own flesh and blood, and it confused him as to why she'd done so after her lover had beaten her. He'd vowed that if he saw the man again he'd finish him.
'When can walk, will go see her,' said Beroz.
'She understand, I think,' said the Lial. 'Love confuse people. Blind them. Not think she know what to say.'
Beroz grunted. 'You make broth?'
The Lial flashed him a half. 'Yes. Can make other person cook if you don't like my food.'
Beroz lay back down. 'It good.' If have no tongue.
A moon passed.
Beroz spat out the still frozen cahedid nut he was attempting to chew. They were all the Lial had left for him to eat, but no matter how long he kept them by the fire they wouldn't defrost. He booted the sack away in frustration, wincing at the pain in his leg from the movement.
Near two moons. Still sore. His wounds were healing, and his muscles didn't hurt half as much as they had; they'd recovered from overusing Hakah, and the bruising had faded. His many cuts were healing well also, some had fully healed, but most were scabbed over, still painful however. He found that he could strengthen his Brubah more each day without exhausting his mind. It wouldn't be long until he was fully healed, he hoped. Not want stay one more day in this furaz.
At least he wasn't naked any more, the Lial having finally gotten him some new furs and boots. These ones were almost as white as snow, and were very warm, soft too. They made resting all day a little more pleasurable.
Grabbing the furaz's central pole he hoisted himself to his feet, his head swimming from the movement. Every day do this. Hard each time. His legs shook from bearing his weight, though not as much as the day before. Slowly, he walked around the edge of the furaz, strengthening his Brubah to combat the pain, creating healing energy with his Raiz, then drawing it back in when expended to reuse it. He kept his mind focused on the task and not the effort of walking.
Two laps he did of the furaz, by the end he still wasn't tired. He parted the flaps of the furaz and glanced outside. The sky was overcast, but the day bright, the air calm and cold. I can walk without falling. He pondered for a moment whether to take Mutumuz with him, then realised he was in a village and had little use for it. Extra weight not help.
On shaking, weary legs he stepped out, his eyes stinging from the brightness. Oaraz hadn't changed much while Beroz had been away. The furaz were scattered around haphazardly, packed close together with little room to manoeuvre through them. He hadn't been in so crowded a place in a long time, it was suffocating. Oaraz was a bigger village than a lot of the others he'd encountered on his travels. Lial protect it well. Ludenez not kill people easy.
He recognised a couple of the faces he passed by, or so he thought. These days he recognised people by their scars, scar-less people all looked the same to him. He sighed. Everyone he remembered, except his Mal and the Lial, were gone. He'd seen enough villages to know that Oaraz was nowhere special. There was just a lot more furaz and people crammed together. Still there were things he liked about being in a village. The smell of cooking food as he passed by furaz. The sight of huntman bringing home the day's catch. Clothes-makers repairing furs and stitching together animal pelts to fashion new ones. Tree-tenders picking nuts and berries from the gola and surrounding bushes. The distant shouts and cries of training Sehnal.
Beroz was forced to stop, his mind tired from maintaining Brubah. He sank to his knees with a groan, fatigue setting in once more. He had no idea where he was. All around him were furaz, spread out in every direction as far as he could see. There was no way of knowing how far he'd walked, he could've been on the other side of the village for all he knew. Kak. Not think well. Without Brubah his body felt heavier and more painful, and he found that he couldn't feel his Raiz. Kak.
'Why you out here?' said a familiar woman's voice, the voice sharp and lingering.
He glanced behind him. The woman looking down at him he only vaguely recognised, but the voice was impossible to forget. 'Mofar, Mal,' he said.
His Mal folded her arms. 'I say “why you up?”'.
Beroz stretched a weary limb. 'Need to walk. Hate resting.'
'Lial beat you bloody. Lucky you can walk.'
'I win.'
She snorted. 'You draw.'
'Same. I Apochal.' Beroz puffed out his chest, but instantly regretted it as pains shot through it. 'Not know where I am. I lost.'
'You near my furaz.'
Beroz smirked at that.
She held her hand out to him. 'Come. I cook you meal. Good meal.'
Beroz scoffed down the second steak his mother cooked for him, the steak roasted over the fire on a spit. It tasted better than anything he'd had in a long time, seasoned with salt so that the flavour was even stronger, a rare pleasure. For the first time in what felt like his whole life he wasn't just sated, but full. He sat back and stretched his body, enduring the pain it caused
His Mal sat watching him, her expression unreadable. Her face was different than he remembered. Dark circles hung under her eyes, and the rest of her features were plainer. The Mal in his head was a much stronger, striking woman with a fat nose and hard eyes. The woman sat in front of him had neither of these things. I think of other woman? How? How not know face of my Mal? He rubbed his eyes. It didn't change the image before him.
'That good,' he said, smiling with satisfaction.
'Glad,' said his Mal. 'Not cook like that since he leave.'
Beroz grunted. The mere mention of him filled him with anger. His was a face he remembered all too well. That snub nose of his had crunched under his fist. Those small, dark eyes had shrunk even more as he'd pounded on his face to remove that smug expression that only a man who was fucking another man's Mal could have. It'd given Beroz great pleasure to do so.
'I sorry,' said his Mal.
He stared at her, unsure that he'd actually heard her right.
'You defend me,' she said. 'I blame you. He the wrong one. I sorry. Feel shame. Why not come see you. Not know if you forgive.' She looked down at her hands, her face screwing up. 'Love make me stupid. I see that.' She wiped her eye.
Die. His scarred hand throbbed. He didn't bother to rub it.
'I forgive,' he said.
Her head shot up, big smile spreading across her face. 'You do?'
He nodded.
She crawled over to him and hugged him tight, his body throbbing where she squeezed him.
'Off me,' he groaned.
She released him. 'Sorry.'
'You have lover?' he asked.
'No. Men trouble. Better on own. If find nice man, maybe.'
All men bad. 'Good.'
'Want more food?'
He shook his head. 'Stomach full. Sick if eat more.'
She grinned, a sickeningly sweet e
xpression on her face. Think like her more when hate me. 'Body heal well? You hurt?' she asked.
'It heal.'
'Rest. I say to Lial you here. Stay with me.' She grinned again.
Suddenly Beroz longed to be back in the Lial's furaz.
The Lial visited early the next morning to bring Mutumuz. Beroz's Mal eagerly took it from him and placed it beside Beroz, smiling all the while as she did so. Who this woman? Not my Mal.
'Your Mal say you walk here,' said the Lial.
Beroz sighed. 'Need go out. Inside of furaz makes me mad.'
'Think can walk today?'
'Think can.'
'You sore. Need rest,' said his Mal. 'Open up wounds if go.'
'I good,' said Beroz, firmer than he'd intended. His Mal mothering him was even worse than being alone.
The Lial offered his hand to him and Beroz took it, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. Beroz used Brubah, sighing in relief as the pain faded almost immediately.
The Lial nodded and headed outside. Slowly, Beroz followed.
'You be safe,' his Mal shouted after him.
'You make it right with Mal. I glad,' said the Lial as Beroz ducked out of the furaz.
'Wish not do,' he said. 'Not like how she fusses.'
'She want be good to you. Live with it.' The Lial turned his back to him. 'Come. We go to training ground. Watch my Sehnal train. Help, if you want.'
Beroz smiled. Anything is better than rest. He followed the Lial through the village, the Lial walking slow to match Beroz's pace.
'Think what do when you Apochal?' asked the Lial, after a moment.
Beroz shook his head. 'Join danaz, maybe. Not know.'
'What of hand?'
Beroz rubbed it instinctively. 'Not know.'
'You need to cut it off,' the Lial said flatly.
'Can't.'
'Why?'
'Not lose hand. No. Find way to heal it. Must.'
The Lial paused for a moment. 'Only place think can help you is Nam-Laftoz.'
'Nam-Laftoz?'
'Need be Lial to go there though?'
I not ready to be Lial. Trial kill me. 'What think should do?'
The Lial grunted. 'Could ask to make journey. Say reason why. Hope Ro-Lial say yes.'
'If not?' asked Beroz.
'Take Trial. Try to pass.'
Beroz grunted. Not happen. He rubbed his scarred hand again.
'Cut it off, you free,' said the Lial.
No. Not be one arm man. Be weak. Hand makes me strong. He clenched his hand, it was almost like it wasn't his. There was no feeling in it at all. Lial can't pull staff from hand when I grab it. If learn to live with pain, ignore whisper, I good.
'If Enemy not touch me again, I fine. Can live with this,' said Beroz.
'Not think should risk. What if Enemy claim you slow? Spread through body. What do?'
Beroz shrugged. Kill self?
'Hand problem,' said the Lial. 'Need ask your help. Hand make me not want to though.'
'Problem?'
The Lial glanced around nervously before continuing. 'We in trouble. Apochal come. Bring warning. Big ludenez horde up in Mir-Ru. Will attack any day. Need all Apochal, all Sehnal I have. Need train them. Need be ready.'
Beroz stopped. 'Why not say? Why let us fight? Risk me killing you?'
The Lial flashed him a half smile. 'Try say no. You challenge me, I must fight.'
Beroz grunted. Ludenez horde? Bad. He'd never seen more than two ludenez at any one time. A horde of them? Just the idea sent a shiver down his spine. One ludenez tough. Horde? How fight a horde?
'There more,' said the Lial. 'With horde there three ludenez men. Apochal ludenez.'
'Apochal ludenez?' exclaimed Beroz in disbelief.
'Need prepare fast. Little time left. We need help.'
This bad. Apochal ludenez? How that happen? I should stay. Defend village. His hand throbbed again. Die.
The two walked on in silence for a short distance.
'I stay. Help you,' said Beroz after a while.
The Lial grabbed Beroz's scarred hand. 'If stay, lose hand.'
Beroz pulled himself free. 'I fight good. Better with two hand.'
'Not risk Enemy claiming you.'
'It won't.'
The Lial stepped in front of him. 'Not risk it. Not fight four Apochal ludenez. No.'
Beroz placed his scarred hand behind his back. 'Can't stay. Not lose hand. Will go then.'
The Lial nodded. 'Good. Keep hand, good you not here. No risk to village. Keep what I say to you quiet. Not want village to know.'
'Yes, Lial.' Need tell his Sehnal though. How prepare if not know?
'Will make you Apochal,' said the Lial. 'Must go see Ro-Lial. Heal hand. Yes?'
Beroz nodded. 'Yes, Lial.'
Melonaz watched the Lial and the Apochal return from the training ground. Apochal heal? Lial beat him hard. He is strong. Maybe he train with us. Show us light attack.
'Beroz looks good. He limps. Surprised he can even walk,' said Tenalkz.
'Beroz? That's his name?' asked Melonaz.
'Yes. Say that already. You listen when I talk?'
'What?' Melonaz flashed his friend a cheeky grin.
Tenalkz smirked, but his gaze remained on Beroz. 'How he heal that fast?'
'Strong Brubah, I think. He trains hard,' said Beroz. 'Wounds not as bad as think, maybe?'
They watched the two men walk by until they were out of sight. The two men didn't seem to notice them on top of the large stack of firewood.
'Lial different, you think?' Tenalkz asked. 'Angrier? Looks like he's worried?'
'Not know.' He worry about village. About the attack. Think village in danger. Ludenez kill all. Not know why I not worry.
'He quiet all the time. Eyes have distant look. Has more temper than normal,' Tenalkz continued.
'Maybe you anger him,' said Melonaz, jumping down from the stack of firewood.
'Think you confuse me with you,' said Tenalkz, following him down.
They set off in the direction of Tenalkz's furaz.
I can ask Beroz. Ask how he does that light trick when he's on his own. 'Need do something. See you at training tomorrow, yes?' said Melonaz.
Tenalkz's eyes narrowed. 'What you do?'
'Not matter.'
'Liar. Know that look in your eye. You want to do a stupid thing. What is it?'
Melonaz huffed. It was impossible to hide anything from him. 'Have to know how do light trick.'
Tenalkz shook his head. 'He not tell you.'
'Need try. Have to know.'
'Why?'
Melonaz didn't answer.
'Ask Lial first if can,' said Tenalkz.
Melonaz shook his head. 'Lial say no, know it.'
'Not do it. You make him angry.'
'Have to.'
'Then I go with you. Lookout for trouble. You too stupid. Lial catch you.'
Sitting down was considerably harder than standing up for Beroz. Gently, he eased himself to the ground, all his aches and pains intensifying as he did. He rested his back against the centre pole.
The furaz's interior was dark, the fire having reduced to embers, a bitter chill now setting in. He gazed up at the evening sky through the hole above, then closed his eyes. The walk had taken far more of a toll on him than he'd thought it would. Him insisting on walking back on his own hadn't helped, twice he'd had to stop and rest because of pain and tiredness. To his surprise he was glad to be back in the Lial's furaz. His mind drifted.
Hushed whispers,
Snow crunched. The footsteps were too slow to be someone just walking by. They were trying to be quiet, but failing miserably. Beroz grabbed Mutumuz on instinct. It not Lial. Not Mal. She not creep. Mutumuz's blade glinted in the light shining down through the furaz's top as he raised it up.
Shadows shifted across the small cracks of light that broke through the furaz's entrance flaps.
A boy burst into the furaz.
Beroz lowe
red Mutumuz, relaxing. Though it was dark, enough light shone on the boy's face to make out his features. His braid marked him as Sehnal. Beroz actually recognized him. He was one of the two that had been sat on the stack of firewood watching him and the Lial walk by earlier.
'He......hello,' stammered the young Sehnal.
Beroz didn't answer, just stared at him.
'Want ask question,' said the Sehnal, doing his best to sound confident.
Beroz said nothing.
The young Sehnal shifted uncomfortably on his feet, clutching one hand with the other.
'What want know?' asked Beroz, finally.
The young Sehnal puffed out his chest a little, gaining confidence. 'How you do the light trick you use on Lial?' He bowed his head. 'Well done for winning, I should say.' He raised his head. 'Try learn it on my own. Not get right though.'
Beroz burst into laughter. Try on own? He no more old than twelve years. 'That funny.'
The Sehnal frowned, clenching his fists.
'Train hard. You learn,' sniggered Beroz.
'Teach me. I learn faster.'
'No.'
The Sehnal angered. 'Why? Have something else to do?'
Beroz waved the comment away. 'You young, weak. Waste of my time.'
'I not weak,' the Sehnal growled. His Raiz suddenly swelled and strained, the spot of heat in Beroz's mind growing warmer, as if he were about to attack.
'Want to fight?' Beroz laughed. He raised his palm towards the Sehnal.
Instantly the Sehnal's Raiz returned to normal, evidently nervous.
Beroz lowered his palm. 'Who you, Sehnal?'
He didn't answer.
Someone whistled outside. The Sehnal panicked, glanced outside, then back to Beroz. He seemed conflicted with what to do for a moment, but then ran out of the furaz.
Beroz rested his head back against the pole. That funny. I like that boy. He not weak. Has big Raiz. Want to know who he is. Lial will know.
'Where Lial?' asked Melonaz, in between panicked breaths.
'Sorry. Think see him. Didn't,' said Tenalkz.
Melonaz was shaking all over.
Tenalkz smirked. 'He not teach how do it? No surprise.'
'No. I anger him. Near fight him.'
'What?'
Melonaz shook his head. 'Not matter. It mistake. We need to go.'
