“She said you not Ravengard, you get none!”
“Stupid Boy! I’m gonna whip your sorry—”
“Where is it, old man? Tell us, or the only one getting whipped here will be you.”
“In there,” he said, pointing to a shiny silver door near the back of the kitchen.
“Acetec, go check it out, please.”
“Yes, Queen Mother.”
“Why he call you Queen Mother?” the boy asked. “Only real Queen is my Queen Lehentis.”
“Why do you call Queen Lehentis your Queen?” kDira asked.
“Because she is Queen. She put me to death if I did not call her Queen.”
“So, you are afraid of her?”
“Everyone afraid of her. You should be afraid too.”
“Shut up, Stupid!” the old man yelled.
“My tribe call me Queen Mother because they love me and respect me; they are not afraid of me. You don’t need to be afraid of me, either.”
“There are six rock-goat in here, already skinned!” Acetec called out from the cool room. “You want me to grab one?”
“No. We are taking all of them except the one on the table; you can keep that one. What is your name, young man?”
“My name Cliverly. Old man call me Stupid. I like Cliverly.”
The Blackhorn went into the cool room, grabbed two rock-goats each and walked out the door of the cool room.
“The old man needs to learn some manners,” kDira said. “Omiroe, Acetec, put him in the cold room. That way he won’t go running to the Queen and ruin our evening. He’ll be fine in there until someone comes looking for the rock-goat.”
Omiroe and Acetec put down the meat they were carrying and grabbed the protesting man by the elbows. They led him into the cold room and shut the door, blocking it from opening with a chair.
“That should hold him,” Acetec said.
“He goin’ be mad when he get out,” Cliverly said.
“I am sure he will,” kDira said. “Cliverly, if you would like some of this meat tonight, come with us now. We will eat good tonight.”
“Meat is for Queen. She will be mad at Cliverly.”
“She will get over it. This is our kill; we deserve to eat it and share it with whomever we wish.”
“Okay, but Queen goin’ be mad,” the boy said, reaching down to pick up the largest portion of the rock-goat on the table, leaving the few pieces that had already been cut off the carcass. “Queen goin’ be mad.”
cHAPTER 16
The common area between the main wings of the Blackhorn complex was filling with people. Goffer had spread the word of the feast, and everyone made sure they were early.
kDira had made the decision to make the rock-goat into stew so that all the people in the complex, Blackhorn and Ravengard alike, could participate in the feast. She also made certain that two steaks, cut fresh from the backstrap, were prepared especially for Charlomine and Star in celebration of their first kills.
The elders from the Blackhorn, assisted by several of the Survivors with cooking skills, worked hard to prepare for the evening feast. The complex was abuzz with excitement and anticipation, as everyone was beginning to sit down to their tables.
When the serving bowls were brought out, the compound began to erupt in cheers of joy and excitement. Along with the stew, sliced loaves of bread were offered to each table, and the mood was as happy as ever. No one was questioning where the food came from, or why: that there was an abundance of food before them was all they cared about.
When everyone had been seated and served, kDira turned her attention to her youngest girls, sitting on each side at the head of the table. Agis sat next to Star, and across from them, Winter sat next to Charlomine. Tuviast, Benithan, and Cayban were close by, as well as the rest of the Blackhorn and the Survivors. Charlomine and Star had their beautiful rock-goat steaks in front of them, and they both looked eager to dig in.
kDira stood and raised her hand to silence her tribe. Slowly, the silence carried over to the Ravengard workers at the opposite table.
“I just want to take a moment to say that I understand that you might have concerns about the Blackhorn future. These are uncertain times, and we must remain united to keep our strength as a people. I know that Queen Lehentis has hopes that we will merge with them. I am not so sure that this would be a good idea, so for now, I just want to say that I am still here for you, and I will do my very best to see that whatever happens, it will be with the best interest of the Blackhorn in mind.”
Cries of here, here, and long live kDira swept through the open area. Applause could even be heard coming from the Ravengard table, and then everyone began to eat the savory, tangy, rock-goat stew.
“Young hunters, eat up! Enjoy the fruits of your abilities and first kills. Meat always tastes best when you harvest it yourself.”
“Yes, mum!” the two girls chimed.
“kDira… Queen Mother?” a voice came from behind, just over her right shoulder. kDira turned and saw the smiling face of Cliverly, sheepishly holding a bowl of stew.
“What is it, Cliverly?”
“Thank you for sharing with Cliverly. Soup is ver’ good.”
“It is stew, but you are very welcome, young man.”
“Queen Mother?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Can I be Blackhorn? Can I join kDira and be Blackhorn?”
“You want to be one of us?” kDira said, smiling. “Of course, you can be a Blackhorn! I am sure you can find a seat at our table.” Turning back around to face the table, kDira announced, “Everyone, please welcome the newest member of our Blackhorn tribe: Cliverly!”
Cliverly walked down the side of the table, and as he passed, everyone took a moment to greet him and welcome him to the Blackhorn. kDira smiled. It was a small victory, but one she knew she would cherish.
“Maybe the Ravengard will all become Blackhorn in time,” kDira said to Agis and Winter. She sat down and prepared to eat. Her joy would be short-lived.
kDira and the others had barely had a chance to enjoy a couple tastes of the stew when she noticed that the common area, at least on the Ravengard side, had become strangely silent. She looked around, and at first, it wasn’t apparent what was happening, but when the Ravengard guests stood up and began to leave without a word, she herself stood to look around. It was then that she saw the Ravengard warriors moving in to surround the open area. They allowed their citizens to leave the area, but kDira was quite certain the same courtesy would not be granted to her or her people.
Within seconds, the Ravengard warriors began turning over the tables that their people evacuated, spilling stew and bread all over the ground. The Blackhorn and their guests began to stand, and kDira got their attention.
“Sit! We are here to eat, and we shall eat.”
Slowly they returned to their seats, though none were in the mood to eat another bite. kDira alone remained standing, ready to confront whoever was in charge.
She looked around as the Ravengard warriors closed in. There were easily twice as many Ravengard warriors as there were Blackhorn tribe members, and sadly most of the Blackhorn were made up of unskilled and unarmed Survivors.
“What is the meaning of this?” kDira shouted at the advancing Ravengard. “Who is responsible for this. You are interrupting our meal!”
“We are interrupting my meal, kDira, Queen of the Blackhorn!” a voice called from behind the wall of warriors. Queen Lehentis pushed her way through to the front and stood directly across from kDira. “You stole this food from our stores. You imprisoned our cook as well. You are lucky he did not freeze to death!”
“Oh, come now, it is not that cold in that room.”
“To steal from the Queen is punishable by death! I could have you all run-through this instant, and I would be well within the boundaries of our laws. But since you are new here, I might make an exception…”
“I don’t seem to remember you coming along on the hunt. Even Ari
failed to get a kill, so the way I see it, this meat belongs to the Blackhorn.”
“I tol’ you Queen goin’ be mad,” Cliverly’s voice could be heard from somewhere down the table.
The Queen cocked her head to the side and looked down the table. Upon seeing Cliverly there, she walked down to him. kDira followed quickly.
“Stupid boy, what are you doing with these people?”
“I am Blackhorn now,” he said, casually taking another bite of stew.
“Oh no, you are not!” the Queen barked, motioning for her warriors to grab him. Before anyone could react, they had him pulled up from the table and dragged back behind the front line of warriors.
“There is no reason to treat him like that!” kDira protested. “He has done nothing to you!”
“He will be whipped for being a traitor to the Ravengard. We do not tolerate our people going against us.”
“You mean going against you.”
“I am the Queen of the Ravengard. An act against me is an act against all Ravengard. Now, as for you, kDira, you and your people will pay for your sabotage.”
Within moments, just about every one of the Survivors was pulled from their seat. The Blackhorn jumped to their feet and drew their weapons but were quickly stopped by the overwhelming numbers of the Ravengard. kDira's eyes met those of Tina Davis as the Ravengard pulled the Survivor out of view.
“What are you doing?” kDira demanded.
“I am ensuring your future obedience. These people, the Survivors, will be working with our people on the docks until you agree to join us. They will eat and sleep when, and if, I decide. They will learn who is in charge here. They will learn that following you means pain and even death. When you come around to being good Ravengard citizens, then perhaps life will get easier for them.”
“You are evil, Queen Lehentis. We will never join you!”
“I think in a week or two, these people here will have different feelings about that. Until then, enjoy your soup.”
cHAPTER 17
“The Blackhorn have agreed to work with us, despite kDira's objection,” the Queen boasted as she poured herself some bryne. “They were surprisingly reasonable.”
“I find that difficult to believe,” Ari protested. “They are pretty loyal to kDira.”
“Do not question me!” The Queen took a deep breath and calmed herself noticeably before continuing. “They realized that we have a lot to offer and that they were better off working with us. They are smart people; they know a good thing when they see it.”
“If you say so, my Queen.”
“I sense an attitude coming from you this evening, Ari. What is wrong?”
“I have been expecting our feast, yet it has not been forthcoming. Is there something wrong?”
“Oh, that. I graciously agreed to let the workers have the meat. I had the cook make it into a stew to share amongst all the people. There was plenty to go around, and they were excited to get some of that precious… what kind of meat was that?”
“Rock-goat.”
“Yes, rock-goat. I am sure you have had plenty of that stuff in your lifetime. You can appreciate the joy of sharing with those that have not had rock-goat in a very long time, can’t you?”
“Yes, my Queen.” Ari sat in one of the soft chairs and stared blankly into space, her thoughts of having missed the rock-goat weighing heavily upon her, yet she was happy that the others got their fair share. Her thoughts were conflicted. She was not sure where her true feelings lay, and it scared her.
“Can you believe the nerve of her?” kDira said, pacing back and forth in her chambers, Agis watching her every footstep.
“What do you want to do?” Agis asked. “There are too many of them to attack.”
All the remaining Blackhorn were in the Queen Mother’s chambers. Most were standing, holding their weapons, ready to fight. Even the youngest among them were ready for battle.
Winter, sitting in a chair next to Agis, reached down and unbuckled her boot that kept her foot stiff so that her Achilles tendon could heal. She pulled the boot off and tested the movement and pain level of her foot by stretching it through its range of motion. She then stood, putting her weight onto her wounded foot.
“Winter, what are you doing?” kDira asked, ignoring Agis’s question.
“It looks like I will be needed to fight, and I can’t do it with that stupid boot on.”
“You can’t fight if your foot does not heal.”
“I am fine; it doesn’t hurt at all,” Winter said, though her face betrayed her testimony. “So, let’s figure out what we are going to do. This Queen needs to be taught a lesson.”
“Easier said than done,” kDira said. “Do you have any suggestions on how to get our people back, and get out of here without starting a war?”
“I don’t know, mum, but I do know you have faced worse odds. You have taken on huge armies with fewer people and come out the victor. It’s time to muster up that courage one more time and conquer the Ravengard.”
kDira looked at her daughter in amazement. Somehow, Winter had grown up to become bold and brazen, just like her. “I swear, Winter, you are becoming more and more of a leader every day. Are you ready to fight me for the position, or can I stay leader of the Blackhorn a little while longer?”
“I will allow you to be the leader for a little while longer, mum,” Winter said with a smile as she relaxed, just a bit.
Everyone in the room laughed. It was a desperately needed diversion from the stress that had brought them together that evening.
“All I am saying is that we cannot look away while they strip away our dignity, and our people,” Winter added.
“Of course, you are right.”
“They really hurt you, didn’t they?” Miss Davis asked, stroking the hair of the badly beaten Cliverly. The boy didn’t answer, but lay with his head on her lap, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Shhhh,” Miss Davis said, trying to calm him. They had been led away from their meal and forced into a barracks of sorts, dark and damp with the smell of fish, urine, and body odor. There were also many Ravengard, elderly and feeble, in the barracks with them. “You are okay now.”
There were beds, two high, running the entire length along both sides of the structure, with only a bench down the center of the large room for sitting and presumably eating.
“I will kill the Queen, and that will make ever’one happy!” exclaimed Cliverly.
“Now, now, brave warrior, we can’t be doing anything like that without a lot of planning. I am sure kDira is working on a plan to get us out of here and away to safety. We need to give her time to work all that out.”
“kDira nice.”
“Yes, kDira is nice. And very brave. She will not forget about you… or any of us.”
“Will she kill the Queen?”
“I don’t know. If she must, I suppose she will. I have heard that she has let worse enemies go without killing them, but you never know… Right now, you just need to rest up and worry about feeling better. I don’t think you have any broken bones, just a lot of bruises. Come, let’s find a bed for you to rest in.”
“What is your name?”
“My name is Tina. Tina Davis.”
“Tina?”
“Yes, Cliverly?”
“Tina nice.”
“Cliverly is nice too.”
In the early hours of the next morning, the barracks came alive much sooner than Tina Davis or any of the Survivors cared to be awoken. Several armed Ravengard warriors carrying clubs came through the center of the room, striking and banging anything that would make noise.
“Get up, you good-for-nothing bottom-feeders! Time to go fishing!” one warrior yelled as others yelled out similar insults and orders. “Get your clothes on; it will be cold out on the water.”
“Out on the water?” Miss Davis questioned quietly of Lucas Brown. “I guess that answers the question as to whether the Ravengard have learned how to use the wind for power,
unless they have some other power source.”
“I guess we will find out soon enough.”
Quickly they dressed and fell in line to be marched to the docks and the awaiting boat. Those that failed to snap into action fast enough was swatted across the back with a long switch of very flexible wood, resulting in an expected cry of pain. It didn’t take many such assaults for everyone to move faster.
“I never been on boat before,” Cliverly said, catching up with Tina Davis. “Always worked in kitchen. What if I fall in water? Cliverly cannot swim.”
“I will look after you, Cliverly. Do not worry, we will all see that you are safe.”
“Thank you, Tina Davis.”
“No talking!” one the gruff Ravengard warriors barked. “Next person to talk gets swatted.”
No one spoke after that. Not right away, at least.
cHAPTER 18
kDira was up early as well. Not because she was ordered to be up, but because she knew that sleep was a luxury she could little afford to indulge in right now. She had to figure out how to get her tribe back together and free of the rule of Queen Lehentis.
With Agis still sleeping, she eased herself out of bed and walked out to the main living chamber and stepped up to the window. Through the early morning light, she could see torches and movement to the east down the beach, heading toward the docks. kDira could only assume that it was the workers going to the fishing boat, which meant her people, the ones called the Survivors, were being put into slave labor at this very moment.
“What are you going to do, Queen Mother?”
Agis had managed to walk out from the bedroom without a cane, and to kDira's surprise, without making a sound.
“You still have some warrior left in you. I didn’t hear you come out here.”
“You are lucky I didn’t jump you from behind and have my way with you.”
“Not funny, kreb. How can you even think that way at a time like this?”
“Just trying to ease the tension. I know how grim this is, and how it weighs heavily upon you.”
The kDira's World Anthology Page 53
