“He threw you in prison!” Marsh yelled. “I want to strangle him myself!”
Holding him back from the farmer took every witness we brought. Even Lark jumped up to intervene.
“Una, I believe your witness deserves an explanation,” Nik suggested.
They pushed my brother to the far side of the tent but made sure to obstruct the path to his intended target. His eyes bore into Blue as he paced in the small space they allowed him.
“His grandmother threatened my life because she thought I lied about my receiving my Womanhood. Blue’s only options, or what he considered his only options, were to allow her to kill me or have me verified.” I kept myself small, still avoiding stares from those in the room.
Blue gasped. “How did you know that?”
“Because I saw it, just now.”
“Oh, Una.” He stood and pulled me up into his embrace. “I’m so very sorry.”
“I know you are.” Still, I couldn’t bring myself to hug him back.
“Do you believe she is a Seer now?” Nik asked.
“I don’t know what I think,” he confessed, stroking my head.
“Shall we rule?” Oyal asked the Council Members.
“Wait,” Blue stopped her, “her offense is against me, correct?”
“Yes.”
“What if I don’t want her judged?” He kissed the top of my head and released me. “Shouldn’t I be the one to decide if her actions require retribution? I mean, she didn’t hurt anyone else. Honestly, she didn’t even touch me.”
“Her intention, her motivation is the issue here,” Nik responded.
“But you heard her, she thought I tried to harm her. Now she knows differently. Her intentions were misguided, not malicious,” he argued.
“You don’t want her actions punished?”
“No. No, I don’t.”
“Very well.” Hawk grabbed his gavel. “You are dismissed.” Whack!
I turned to leave, but Nik stopped us.
“What now?” Blue sighed.
“Did you want to stay as a resident here?” he asked.
“I’m taking my wife home.”
“She’s not your wife,” Marsh growled, and the circle of witnesses closed in on him to keep him still.
“Tell me,” Hawk spoke up, “have you completed your marriage duties?”
“The forms have been filed, yes,” Blue answered.
“Have your marital duties been fulfilled?” Hawk reiterated.
“She’s pregnant,” he replied.
“That was not the question.”
Blue paused uncomfortably. “No, we have not completed our marriage duties.”
“Then you are not married!” Marsh yelled over Ino’s shoulder.
“According to the laws of our land, we are betrothed.”
“This is not the village. As you can see, things are done differently here. Nevertheless, your marriage isn’t legal there any more than it is legal here. It’s based on a lie,” Hawk proclaimed. “Una, do you wish to stay?”
“Yes.”
“Have you been approved?”
“Yes.”
Hawk turned his attention back to Blue. “Do you wish to stay?”
“I’m not leaving her here with you!” he raised his voice.
“Do you wish to stay? Yes or no.”
“Yes, I want to stay!”
“Have you been approved?” Hawk asked, knowing the answer.
Blue enunciated every word, his voice growing louder with each one. “I don’t know what that means.”
Nik approached Blue.
“Good gods, not this again.” Blue held out his hands, irritated by the process.
“Do you give me permission to see your past, present, and future?” he asked.
Blue leaned forward, coming nose to nose with Nik. “Whatever it takes for me to protect Una from all you crazy people.”
Nik barely touched his hands before he released them. “Your assignment will be in the Community Gardens. You and your gift will be welcomed.”
“Gift? Oh, I see; everyone is gifted here. You have a strange way of screwing with people’s minds.”
“You will report right away,” Hawk said. “Hainen, will you take him to the gardens, please?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, and find him residence. Away from number forty-four,” he added.
“Yes, sir,” he agreed. “Come on, Blue, I’ll show you around.”
“Una,” Blue stepped toward me, “I’m sorry. I really am.”
“I know you are. Just give me a little time to work this out, all right?”
He nodded begrudgingly and followed Hainen outside.
“Next order of business,” Oyal announced.
I took Marsh’s hand and turned to leave the tent.
“Wait.” Hawk stood. My witnesses and I turned, surprised to be stopped. “May I have an appointment with the Council?”
“Who have you wronged?” Paw asked.
The panel was stumped, everyone but Nik.
“Marsh.” With his hands on his hips, the Junior Lord of the Authority kicked his toe into the dirt like a kid making a confession.
Marsh furrowed his brow. “Me? What have you done to me?”
I glanced over at Nik, who nodded. My suspicions were accurate. Firming my grip on Marsh’s hand, I led him to the chair I had been sitting in.
“What is this about, Una?” He sat with a defensive posture.
Hawk took the seat next to him and stared at the edge of the Council’s table. “There are no papers about what I’ve done. It was too long ago. Even so, I deserve to be judged.”
Chapter 19
The next morning, despite the wake-up call, I opted to stay in bed. Given all the drama at yesterday’s Council appointment, and that everyone in our tent knew more about our family’s secrets than I ever expected, I felt I earned an exemption. It was not a restful evening, not that we spent the night chatting away. In fact, none of us felt the need to talk after we left the meeting. Marsh, furious that I hadn’t warned him about Hawk, didn’t come back last night. I had no idea that Hawk planned on confessing his sins to him. I certainly didn’t think he’d present it before the Council.
At least now, with all of the relationship history out in the open between them, we could work on it. Unfortunately, my brother had some choice words for Nik and his failure to tell him about Hawk when we first arrived.
“I thought we were supposed to become friends! You’re a piece of shit,” he spat.
No one had the slightest idea how to handle the situation and said that they would have to review it in private and reconvene at a later date. In the meantime, they asked both men if they thought living in the same camp would pose a problem, and each said it wouldn’t. Marsh warned Hawk to steer clear of him, and he obliged. I’m sure Lark would help mentor my brother through it outside on the line, but my brother had a thick head and would probably be more stubborn than expected. Hawk didn’t take his pony; he had a hand in murdering his family and tried to execute him. It didn’t seem fair or right to ask Marsh to ever forgive an event like that. Hadn’t he suffered enough?
Hawk should have kept his mouth shut.
Truth be told, I didn’t only want to avoid them but everyone else we spent the day with yesterday. I felt embarrassed, ashamed, angry, and sad all at the same time. I’d give anything to be able to turn back time and just stay home.
Listening to the rain on the tent’s pitched roof, I thought about Calish. Touching my stomach, I felt the changes happening in my womb. It grew firmer, not loose and fatty, but a hard expanse just beneath the surface of my skin. Closing my eyes, I gently rubbed my abdomen, wishing I discovered them with him by my side. It had been almost three full moon cycles since I’d seen him.
“Did you think you could stand me up?” Nik pulled back the canvas door and stepped inside my tent.
“I don’t want to train today.”
“Rough night?” He too
k off his raincoat and hung it next to mine.
“Please leave. I’m not feeling well.”
“Of course you’re not.” He sat on the bed across from me.
I rolled over to face him. “Seriously, I’m not well.”
“Then let’s go to Oyal.”
“Ergh.” I rolled back to face the opposite direction.
“I need your help.”
“No, you don’t.”
He sighed. “Fine. I don’t. I want it.”
“Ask me tomorrow.”
“No,” he turned me over, “not tomorrow, now.”
“Why? Haven’t I passed your little test?”
“Ha! Test? No,” he shook his head, “but today we will have some new applicants, and I want you to help approve them.”
“Put them in the cage, then. I’ll do it in the morning.”
Nik stood. “Stand up, you lazy child,” he joked. “I promise, you’ll feel better if you’re not lying around all day.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“No.” He tapped his head. “I’m a Seer. I know these things. Now get up. I’ll meet you at my tent.” He put on his coat and ducked back out into the rain.
I stretched out in my bed, strongly arguing against myself about following him. I could stay here, where everyone would assume I’d be, or I could go where some volunteer guard would keep out any unwanted guests. Considering the options, I decided to change my clothes and do as my mentor requested. Practicing on strangers had to be easier than what I’d done yesterday. Even so, I needed to take better care of myself than I did the last few days.
I changed, tied my hair up with the scarf, and threw my rain cloak around my shoulders. When I arrived at Nik’s tent, I walked in on him having breakfast with Lark and Marsh.
I should have stayed in bed.
Nik held up his hands defensively. “I swear, I didn’t know they were coming.”
What possible excuse could I give to leave? Part of me wanted to simply turn and walk out. Whatever I came into didn’t seem like a joyful gathering. Having thought about it too long, I didn’t greet them. When I took off my cloak, I found all the hooks used by the men’s coats. Choosing one at random, I dropped it on the floor and hung mine in its place.
“See, I told you she’d come, eventually.” Nik grabbed the coat off the ground and threw it onto his bed on the other side of the curtain, returning with a fourth chair for me to use.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
My brother chomped on a piece of bread. “My mentor is interested in the vest we made.”
“He said you and your brother came home with bushels of Nobu-wood a couple of seasons ago.” Lark chewed slowly. “Is that true?”
“Yes, although he was supposed to keep our discovery to himself.” I snatched a sausage link for myself.
“How much was there?”
“I don’t know. A lot. For all we brought home, you’d never know we’d taken any at all.”
“Nik, you’ve got to see this vest. Marsh, show him.”
He stood and lifted his shirt, revealing the woven mesh that protected him.
“How did you learn about this?” Nik’s eyes widened.
“Two of my men had a little confrontation outside the gate,” he vaguely admitted.
My brother shoved his shirt down over his stomach. “I’m not doing that stupid Council thing! I forgive him; it’s over.”
“Marsh said something; the other guy hit him in the gut.” Lark chuckled., “And then he ran off to the Healer to fix his hand.”
Nik shot his security officer a disapproving look. “Lift your shirt again, please.”
Marsh did as asked while the two men studied the chestplate.
“You wouldn’t even know.” Nik’s fingers touched the hardened branches braided down Marsh’s abdomen in an effort to find a crack.
Knowing he wouldn’t find one, Lark smiled. “Wonderful, isn’t it?”
I wonder who’s gonna ask about the forest first.
“Una, how far is the forest where you found the Nobu?” Nik asked.
That didn’t take long.
“A day’s journey from my house, so two days if we get an early start. But returning with the load will take longer. Three days back, maybe more.”
“The wood will harden before that,” Marsh said. “The pieces you and Calish brought home nearly dried the day you harvested it.”
Calish. Hearing his name hurt.
The men fell silent, mulling over Marsh’s objection.
“We went out there during Atchem. Won’t the rain keep it pliable on our way back?”
Lark avoided my eyes. “I know a farmer who might know the answer.”
“I’m sure you have someone other than Blue,” I growled.
Nik intervened. “Yes, we do. Lark, go do some research.”
“Either way, I want this wood for my team.”
“I agree. We’ll get you ready so you can head out after the morning call. Of course, Una, you’ll need to show them where to find it. Can you do that?”
“On one condition.”
Lark couldn’t hide his eagerness. “Name it.”
“I want to visit my parents, let them know we’re all right.”
“And I’m going with her,” Marsh insisted.
“Fine by me.” He shrugged. “I’ll assemble the team.”
Nik stopped him. “Take Paw and whatever animals you need to carry the loads back.”
“Done.” Lark stood. “Thank you, Una.”
Once they left and we finished our breakfast, Nik reviewed what we’d be doing when the new residents arrived. He gave me an overview of the process, what we’d say, what we’d search for in their past, and what he hoped to find in the time to come. In any memory we’d see, we’d determine their intentions, not what happened as a result. He would conduct the assessment of the newcomers’ futures (since I’d not practiced that skill yet), and he’d judge only their outcomes. While they may be well intended, the result of their actions would prove most important for the ongoing mission of the camp. Above all else, we had to protect the people within our walls. Nik confessed telling someone they weren’t welcome topped the list of difficult tasks. “But, if the plan to change our culture is the ultimate goal, we must remember that eventually even those who were turned away will benefit from our efforts.”
Although we expected them to arrive and we prepared all morning for them, I felt no more ready to meet them than I did when I woke up that morning. Sitting next to Nik on his side of the table, I tried to appear confident and hoped they’d fall for my attempt. The security team brought in a middle-aged couple, obviously married and thankfully more nervous than me.
Ino popped his head inside. “Oh. Hello, Una.” I replied in kind. “We have four new residents for your approval, sir. Two adults and two children.”
“Good afternoon,” Nik greeted them. “Have a seat.”
They sat cautiously, never letting the man who escorted them in slip from their periphery.
“Please don’t worry, no one here has any intention of harming you.”
“Can you tell me why exactly this man delivered us here?” the stranger asked.
Nik replied, “Your family entered our security area, and anyone who does is brought here to me. You’ve done nothing wrong. We know that. You are guests in a very unique community. We call ourselves the Resistance. This, what we are doing now, is called the Assessment or Approval. We will talk for a while to get to know each other, and then you will decide if you’d like to be assessed for residence here.”
“Are you their leaders?” the fair-haired woman asked.
“My name is Donik; most people call me Nik. I am a member of the Council, and this young lady is Una. She is a citizen here and is being considered for Council Membership. She will be helping me with the assessments for the time being.”
Wait. What?
I tried to hold my expression, but anyone in my family will testify I
’m not good at masking my surprise.
When did he plan on telling me about being considered for the Council? Has he seen my future and let this slip? What about free will? What if I don’t want to be part of the Council?
As much as I wanted to stop him to dig into his comment further, I decided to wait until these people were approved.
“What are your names?” he continued.
“Oh, sorry, I’m Kayton Umberbill, and this is my wife, Sissy. Our children Chance and Kasish are outside.”
“Ino, will you go bring them in?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How did you find us?” I asked, curious since I had to chase a wolf pup to find it.
“We seek a new start. In doing so, we stumbled upon your guards in the woods.” Kayton smiled.
“Why did you leave your home?” Nik asked.
The husband and wife glanced at each other as Ino brought their children in. I got up and offered them my chair to share, but the boy sat next to his mother while the daughter clung to her father’s side. Both were pretty young. I’d assume the girl had years before Womanhood, and the boy, not much older than her, still had several seasons before he’d be Coined.
“We just got tired of our old lives,” Kayton answered vaguely, brushing back his daughter’s hair behind her shoulders.
“This will only work if you can be honest with us,” Nik said warmly.
A long stretch of silence fell in the room before Sissy spoke up. “We’ve found ourselves in a bit of trouble,” she confessed.
Her husband hushed her. “Excuse my wife, she’s…nervous.” He glanced at Ino again. In fact, his eyes moved around the room so much, it didn’t take all the training I had to know he wanted to run.
“Una, why don’t you tell these nice people about our gift,” Nik suggested.
The woman’s eyes darted between us.
“Have you ever heard of a Seer?” I asked.
“Sure,” the woman said, “but it’s just a myth. Oh, no, you’ve made a mistake, we’re not Seers.” She reached fearfully for her son’s hand.
“No, not you. Us.” I felt terrible for making her so uncomfortable. “He and I are Seers. Everyone has some sort of talent, skill, or gift that can be used to complement the community. This is ours.”
Season of Hytalia Page 22
