“Come on,” kDira urged. “Let’s see what else they have here. What is this place, that they have so many things all in one area?”
“This is called a mall,” Miss Davis replied. “All of these shops had something to sell to people for money. Oh, how I dreamed of visiting a mall one day. I have seen videos of people shopping in malls. What fun it must have been!”
“Money?”
“Money was something that represented something valuable. Instead of trading items, like chickens, eggs, meat, they traded money for goods.”
“I don’t understand what this money thing is.”
“It’s a difficult concept to understand if you have never used it before. Perhaps when we get settled down permanently, I can teach you all about it.”
“I would like that. We have so much to learn.”
“Here is a dress shop,” Miss Davis said. “Let’s see if we can find some nice dresses.”
The girls went into the shop with kDira and Miss Davis and began looking at all the colors and patterns, styles and sizes.
Ari stayed outside in the passage. She watched the girls fawn over all the pretty things, and kDira and the Director acting as though they had been friends forever. Her heart felt hollow. She did not feel sad, but rather rejected, unneeded – and it hurt.
Benithan and his half-sister Abadella, accompanied by Cayban and his own half-sister Nissy, with Tuviast tagging along, set out on their own, away from the other explorers that went into the massive building with the mall.
Making their way to a strip of buildings that lined the street and seemed to be in very good condition, the two girls, both younger than Benithan and Cayban by a year but two years older than Tuviast, found stores that caught their interest and were quick to go inside to look around for treasures.
The three boys continued down the street to look for something just a bit more to their tastes. When the street buildings began to thin, looking down a side road, across a large open area, they could see a complex of many larger buildings, seemingly built side-by-side. But then, they all noticed something that disturbed them: On top of one of the buildings was a larger-than-life brownber.
“Run!” Cayban yelled, turning tail and heading back the way he had come from, followed quickly by Tuviast.
“Wait!” Benithan called out to them. “I don’t think it’s real. Look, it’s not moving, not a bit.”
Cayban and Tuviast stopped and looked back at the brownber. They studied it for a moment before and determined that Benithan was right.
“How did they make such a thing? That is magnificent!”
“I wonder what’s in that building?”
“Let’s get our sisters and check it out.”
The front door was locked tight and appeared as though no one had ever tried to breach it. Cayban rattled the door back and forth trying to break it free but to no avail.
“It’s pretty solid, Beni.”
“Why do we want to go in there anyway?” Nissy asked, looking bored as she always did.
“Because, sister,” Cayban said, “it’s an adventure.”
“It’s dull.”
“Maybe there are real brownbers in there, like the one up there,” Benithan said, pointing to the giant faux bear overlooking the entrance.
“I think they would have starved to death by now,” Abadella said, picking up a broken brick she found lying near the structure. “Stand back.”
The others looked at her, then did as she asked. Once the door was clear, she wound up and threw the brick as hard as she could at the glass of the door, shattering it.
“Nice throw, kreb!” Benithan said, enthusiastically.
“We would have died of boredom waiting for you to figure something out,” Abadella retorted. “Are we going in?”
“I hope the owners aren’t home. They will be mad we broke their door.”
The five youth stepped through the broken door, the inner chamber lit only by window around the upper rim of the building. There were rows and rows of items, dusty but apparently undisturbed since the Great Cloud had swept over the world.
“Look at all the stuff!” Benithan said, eyes wide at the treasures before them. Slowly they walked down the main aisle of the complex, gawking at and touching everything they came across.
“What is all this stuff?” Nissy asked. “These coats look very warm.”
“Look way back there!” Benithan exclaimed excitedly, pointing toward the rear of the building. “I see bows back there!”
“We could always use more bows, if they are any good after all this time.”
“I am going to pick out a new bow for Winter!” Benithan said, breaking into a quick trot toward the back of the building.
“I don’t need a bow,” Tuviast said. “I am going over here.” He headed to a part of the structure that had a large wall of glass display cases showcasing some strange items, unlike anything the young boy had ever seen before.
In front of the tall glass cases were smaller cases filled with other items that he could not identify. Some black, some shiny silver in color, each of the smaller items had what appeared to be a handle. On the wall was a large picture of several men, some holding the larger items, others with the small ones.
Tuviast didn’t know what the purpose of the items was, but he knew he wanted to take one with him. He picked one of the hand-held items that caught his eye. It was a nice silver color, with a wooden handle that appeared to be just the right size for his hand. He went around behind the cases and looked for a way into them, but they all seemed to be locked with a mechanism preventing the doors from opening.
Tuviast looked around the building and saw a display close by that was full of what appeared to be long clubs with thin shafts. He walked over and retrieved a club that appeared to be made from hickoring wood. He walked back over the case with his silver-handled thing, hefted the club over his head and brought it down on the case. Glass shattered in every direction, making a loud racket.
“Are you okay?” Benithan yelled from across the building.
“I’m fine,” Tuviast replied. “Just testing out a new club.”
“Be careful. I don’t need your mum coming down on me for letting her little brother get hurt.”
“I’m fine; relax.”
Tuviast peered into the broken case, focusing on the silver, wooden-handled item he had lusted for. He reached in and picked it up, surprised at just how heavy it was for its size. He examined it closely, flipping it around to see every detail. He had no idea what he would use it for, but he wanted it. He held it in his hand like the man in the picture. He knew it had to do something important, considering there were so many of them, but no arrows were coming out of it, no bow, and no strings. He decided to put it into his small pack and study it later. For good measure, he kept his club as well.
Everyone that was able to walk had spent the day exploring, most accompanied by at least one warrior. Many discovered little treasures to take back to the tribe with them; clothing, blankets, trinkets, or toys from a bygone era. kDira, Charlomine, and Star all came back wearing colorful dresses; others came back wearing jackets, scarves, or hats. The men tended to bring back more utilitarian items, such as tools, knives, and axes. Miss Davis was particularly happy to find a map.
kDira made the decision to let everyone bed down in Mojave for the night, and the mood became cheerful and happy, as everyone was ready for a break from traveling.
Near the end of the evening, several in the group gathered flammable items made of wood, paper, or cloth, and constructed a large bonfire in the middle of what Miss Davis called a parking lot. Chairs and benches were found and placed around the roaring fire, so everyone could sit and talk. The Survivors told stories of what they knew of the olden days. It was the first time that the Blackhorn and the Survivors really had a chance to get to know each other.
As the sky grew darker, one by one the weary travelers laid down and went to sleep. All accept Ari, who stayed awake not
to keep watch, but to consider her place in the tribe, to consider her place under kDira… never beside kDira. She looked over at the Queen Mother who was lying on her side with Agis’s arm over her, holding her tight. Ari thought back to the trip she and kDira had taken long ago to meet with the Provitos and realized that she had truly enjoyed the time she kept kDira company. And now the thought of what could never be weighed heavily on her. She got little sleep that night.
cHAPTER 5
In the cool desert air of the next morning, the Blackhorn headed west out of Mojave and toward a pass through the Sierra Mountains. The sun was just cresting the eastern horizon, lighting the very peaks of the mountains ahead. Though the old road was narrower than the Great Highway, it was sufficiently wide enough to make easy going for the donks pulling the carts. They passed many abandoned villages and towns that Miss Davis located on the map; towns like Buckhorn and Fillmore. They stopped when they needed to rest, but the mood was growing dark due to the days on end traveling and lack of fresh meat.
The party was getting weary, and they were beginning to run out of food when they entered the city of Santa Paula. Much nicer than Mojave, everyone was awestruck at the density and preservation of the city. They pulled off the main road and onto a grassy area called ‘Veterans Memorial Park’ to make camp and relax.
There had been fewer and fewer conversations as everyone was beginning to grow numb to the travel and only the sound of children crying from time to time broke the silence. It was only when a small pack of rock-goats was spotted wandering among the buildings in Santa Paula that the mood shifted to excitement.
Dozens of warriors grabbed their bows and went stalking after the prey. It was as though a fire had been lit in their souls again, and everyone was excited at the prospect of having fresh meat for their evening meal. The non-hunters were instructed to stay put and keep quiet, lest they scare away the evening’s meal.
It wasn’t very long after the hunting party left that they returned, hauling plenty of rock-goats to the cheers of all present.
While several tribe members and elders began to prepare the harvest for their feast, others set about exploring the nearby buildings and shops. By the time the rock-goats were beginning to roast over fires, many warriors and Survivors returned carrying jugs of liquid.
“We found water,” Lucas Brown declared. “Gallons and gallons of bottled water. We must go back and get more; there are shelves full of water at what used to be a market not far from here.”
“Is it still safe to drink?” kDira asked. “It is over one-hundred seasons old.”
“I think given our situation, we don’t have a lot of choice but to trust it,” Lucas replied. “I don’t see anything growing in it. Certainly, the donks need to drink.”
“We could try it on a couple of our rabbits,” kDira suggested. “If they can drink it, then I will try it myself before anyone else does, that way only I will get sick if it is bad.”
“kDira, we cannot allow you to put yourself at risk,” Elick interjected. “Perhaps one of the elders…”
Without warning, Ari grabbed a jug of water, cut off the top with her knife and took several swallows of the air-temperature water.
“There. By the time everyone got done arguing about who would test it, we’d all die of thirst.”
“Ari…” kDira started. “What are you thinking? We can’t have our finest of warriors getting sick!”
“That’s all I am, aren’t I? A warrior. I’ll let you know if I start feeling ill or not.”
With that, Ari turned and went over beside the fire where two of the rock-goats were roasting.
“What’s gotten into Ari?” Elick asked.
kDira knew the answer but didn’t want to offer it. “I will go talk to her.”
kDira walked over to join her friend. Ari looked at her and offered an insincere smile as a greeting.
“What’s wrong, Ari? You seem distant lately.”
“I’m fine. Don’t trouble yourself about me.”
“I told you there is nothing between Miss Davis and me.”
“It’s not just that. All I am to you is a warrior, the Chief of the Guard. That’s all I will ever be to you.”
“That’s not true. You are my dearest of friends. I don’t offer that to any other. I want you to be happy, but I am not… cannot… be what you want me to be.”
“I know. I know, I get it.”
“I wish you would find someone to be happy with the way you need, but I just can’t give that to you. Remember back when we were younger? No one took a mate for more than a day. It never happened. What has happened to us?”
“Can I have this time alone now? I would like to be alone.”
“Of course. I need to check on Agis, anyway.”
“Say hi for me.”
“I will. Are you going to be okay?”
“I will be fine.”
For a long moment, kDira looked into the face of her friend who just stared at the fire, not returning the gaze. kDira's heart ached as she turned and walked around the fire to where Agis was lying on a blanket, his head resting on a pillow that one of the Survivors had gathered for him in Mojave. He looked comfortable, but kDira knew his pain was great.
“How are you holding up, kreb?”
“You take a lot of pleasure in calling me kreb, don’t you?”
“I do enjoy it. How is your knee? I see they fashioned a brace around it.”
“Several of the Survivors have looked at it, and though none are healers, they all think I will be walking again, that I just need time to mend.”
“That is good news. I need my best warrior back on the job.”
“I thought Ari was your best warrior?”
“Don’t get me started on that. Ari is having some issues with all of that. I don’t think she is very happy with me right now.”
“What did you do?”
“It’s not what I did, it’s what I won’t do.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Do you?”
“Yes, I do. She wants you. I don’t blame her.”
“That doesn’t help.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t envy the position you are in. Twenty seasons ago we wouldn’t even be having this discussion, but for whatever reason, we’ve changed now. I am loyal to you and you alone, and I cherish the idea that you are loyal to me. I feel bad for Ari. She is not getting any younger, and she sits there, all alone.”
kDira let out a sigh. She had never needed to deal with anything like this. She wished it was the Karn – she knew how to deal with them. But this was somehow much harder to deal with. She took a deep breath before she spoke again.
“I see they are taking some meat from the rock-goats. Do you want to try to walk over there, or shall I bring you some?”
“I would appreciate it if the Queen Mother would bring this old cripple a morsel of food.”
“Okay, you lie there and milk this for all it’s worth.”
“You could have one of your krebs bring me some,” Agis said with a smile.
“My main kreb is lying on the ground with a bum leg.”
“Ouch. Kick a warrior when he’s down, I get it.”
kDira chuckled as she stood up and walked over to the spits. Agis stayed cheerful for kDira, but in his heart, he felt that he was worthless. The damage didn’t stop at his knee, it went deep into his soul.
“Father, can I get you some food?” the voice of young Star called from behind.
“Star, my precious young warrior,” Agis said, holding his arm up to embrace his youngest daughter. “Mum is already getting me some food, but I could use a hug from my beautiful daughter.”
Star embraced him warmly, laying her head on his shoulder. “I know you are sad because of your knee, father, but to me, you are the mightiest warrior that ever lived!”
“Thank you, Star. That means a lot to me. Did you eat?”
“Not yet, but I’m going to get some now. That’s why I asked if I could get you s
ome.”
“Thank you for thinking of me. You are so special, just like Charlomine and Winter.”
“I’m special just like you and mum!” she said, getting up and trotting over to the fire to get some supper for herself.
And just like that, Agis forgot about his troubles.
As Star went to get herself some food, Agis could see Tuviast sitting alone on a makeshift stool, lost in concentration, his plate of rock-goat getting colder every minute. Agis studied him a moment and began to feel his loneliness.
“Brother Tuviast, come join me in the evening meal.”
Tuviast considered objecting, but the option of remaining alone in his self-pity didn’t appeal to him. He stood, walked over to Agis, and sat back down, crossing his legs in front of him.
“You have never called me brother before, Agis.”
“I think now, more than ever, we must embrace our family. Times are changing, and the tribe is taking on a new life. Twenty years ago, you would have been just another kreb, as would have my own daughters, at least until they proved fertile.”
“Do you think my father is all right?”
“Your father is a brave and strong warrior. I think once he has taken care of Princess Jilleane… your mother, he will go on about his life.”
“So, you don’t think we will ever see him again?”
“It didn’t sound like he would be with us again, but I wouldn’t count him out. He may show up one day.”
“I want to see him again. I miss him.”
“I am sure he misses you, too.”
pART 2
Ravengard
cHAPTER 6
The following morning, Ari announced that she felt no ill effects from the water and that everyone should get their fill before they headed west once again. kDira, though hesitant, agreed. She assigned Omiroe the task of seeing that the water was distributed and that the animals were well-watered before they started back out. He also was to ensure that all the extra water and leftover rock-goat was stowed onto the carts for transport.
As they pulled out of Santa Paula, kDira was at the front while Ari drifted toward the rear. It unsettled kDira that Ari was feeling the way she did, but kDira had to consider the whole tribe. Getting somewhere they could settle in and call their home was top priority.
The kDira's World Anthology Page 47
