Back in our home, Mana was recovering from his sickness. I had made him a poultice of dandelion, goats milk, ginger and mint. Olei thoughtfully poked and prodded the fish while I avoided its blurry pink gaze.
“Its insides are all grey and black but otherwise, they look pretty normal. Aside from the tarry mucous on the outside, it seems like any other fish I’ve ever gutted.” Olei had made the best efforts to inspect the fish without dirtying himself, but I turned around from dishwashing to see Olei rubbing his eyes with a darkened thumb and finger. The effect was almost instantaneous. His eyelids got heavy and his tongue slackened. He couldn’t finish his sentence. Instead he just looked at me, stupidly.
“Good Kote, Olei,” I said aloud and rushed over to hold him. I wiped his hand off and felt his brow. He looked at me, gaping and sorry.
Using my strength, momentum and a chair, I managed to get Olei into bed and feed him some of the drink I had made for Mana, who was now awake. Except for being lazier than usual, the dog seemed rather unaffected. I hoped the same for Olei. As for the fish, I dug a big hole along side the goat fence, buried it, covered it with rocks and more rocks in the shape of an X. I would watch the plants around it to know if we were in deeper trouble.
Sleep came in pulses and I often jerked awake to check on Olei. He slept so heavily and soundly his snores were like rumbles of thunder while a stream of drool pooled onto the pillow. None of these things bothered me so long as Olei awoke the next morning. Thankfully, his breath stayed even and normal, his pulse did not flutter and he did not sweat, nor did his skin change color. As I lay in bed I wondered if I should’ve saved the fish to show Rhys and Papa.
The next day, Rhys showed little concern with what I was telling him. “It could be just a sick fish,” was all he said, which made me think I had done a poor job of delivering the full intensity of the situation. On second thought, I realized he was overly preoccupied by something more. So I asked.
“The Saans are a very powerful, very influential group, " he began with a sorrowful expression, "They are educated, intelligent and have the appearance of very wise, godly men. They have hold of some very powerful books and rituals that I doubt they always use in the best interest of the people they are charged to watch over. Here they are now, looking for another Great One. It might be silly of me, but I fear for Koyote. We are after all, the namesake village of Kote, Element of Earth, tended by Unmarked Ones and not yet ruled completely by the Saans. We might be in danger. ”
I was puzzled. The news from SaanSanti was weeks old. Why was Rhys still troubled?
"Do you think the Saans have to something do with the fish?" I asked.
"I don't know about this fish. I wouldn't be surprised if it came from them,” he paused for a moment, his tired eyes staring off into the middle distance.
“I’m afraid if the fish has been poisoned by the Saans, then their power and reach extends much farther than I dared think. Let us hope they think Koyote too insignificant to bother us. Aethan keep us safe."
Although I thought it silly, I offered Rhys what consolation my little life experience offered. It seemed only to amount to an embrace.
Chapter 10
Yossinda
It took a few weeks of probing, but I got some answers about the Eastern people. Yeidi had been right about only one thing—they claimed to be descendants of Terro’s people and they called themselves Terrans. Though the Saans had welcomed them heartily in several afternoon blessings the Great Five had also made it clear that the Terrans were only here to express their condolences and offer some of their young men as underlings.
But people still gossiped. Some people agreed with Loris, that the new Saan had come. Some were like Yeidi, convinced there was some sort of secret scheming happening in the Citdael. Yet the Terrans had come, they had gone, and there were no observable changes to the Saans.
I let it pass from my mind to focus on my work. Much of my time lately had been spent looking after Princess Eileen of the Domi, who had been especially unpredictable, making whimsical demands and then changing her mind shortly after. Normally she enjoyed things like gossip and cross stitching, but lately she'd want a puppet show or a banquet then decide she hated plays and wasn't hungry. It was terribly difficult to try to manage her without making her upset. Lillian, the head of us servants in the Keep told me to make it happen because the King said so. Never mind the waste, if the King said all right, they'd find the money. Tigus, the Master of Coin, always managed to provide.
"Where are my servants?" Eileen's high pitched voice called from an overflowing bath tub. "Get me out of this tub! I'm done with this." I had just spent most of the hour heating water for Eileen's bath and now after five minutes, she was done. I stepped forward with some great thick linens to dry her off.
"Stop, don't touch me with those yet. I want you to scrub my back. It is itchy," she demanded. I walked over with a brush and gently started cleaning her upper back.
"Ouch! Stop you cow! You're brushing too hard. Aethan damn you, Yossinda," she yelled, grabbing the brush from me and posing to strike. I cowered to protect myself. Normally I felt safe working in the Keep, but today I feared for myself.
"Eileen, put down the brush. Treat your servants nicely. They are the ones that take care of you," the Queen’s voice was loud but silky and it stopped the naked and fuming princess from hitting me.
"Give me that brush darling and lean forward." Eileen sloshed forward like a child while her mother sat down and gracefully moved the brush over her back. Eileen was a little older than I and had borne no children, though she had been married to her brother for more than five years now. It was only the two of them. There once was one more, but it was an ugly, deformed girl child that didn't live long, or so everyone said. I'd also heard that it was given away to a peasant family. Some people said she haunted the Keep.
Without warning Eileen burst into tears. Queen Myrah shushed her daughter sweetly, moving to hug her shoulders though it got the Queen's sleeves wet. Her touch was loving and kind. I had always admired Queen Myrah, she was intelligent and quick, yet so tender with her children and considerate of the people. She was beautiful but strong willed, thin as a rail and very fashionable. Queen Myrah led the family to the Domi's private House of the Saans every day and she rarely hit her serving people. She was perfect.
King Manuel, on the other hand was a monster of sorts. He favored Tinea, the same awful drug that had my sister leaving the house at night. He enjoyed hitting his servants and was prone to temper tantrums. I'd notice him looking at me through the corner of his eye, but I never knew if he was just stoned or if he was interested in me. I hoped it was the former. The King was more than handsome but he was mean. To be chosen by him to warm his bed was a terrifying experience I'd heard. Girls that were forced to sleep with him were never quite the same. They grew meek and scared, often they were dismissed.
Queen Myrah and King Manuel were complete opposites and had they lived in a world where they could choose their mate, I was certain they'd never have married. The Saans favored a pure Domi blood line, it was something that the first Kin of Aethan declared was the most righteous and necessary. Myrah was destined to marry Manuel, by will of the Saans and probably even will of the Elements.
I wished I had enough extra money to pay the Saans to read the heavens for my mate. The Saans were so intelligent and all knowing, they made pairings that were long lasting and full of love.
Eileen had calmed down some and leaned heavily into her mother’s arms.
"Yossinda, will you bring me those linens now please," the Queen asked without looking at me.
"Your Grace," I said as I handed over the thick creamy cloths. She embraced her dripping daughter with the linens and rocked her back and forth, whispering things I could not hear. I looked at my feet, waiting for my next task.
A knock on the chamber door brought me out of waiting. I peeked out to find Tigus, a portly man with no hair and a flaky scalp. H
e controlled the monies of the Domi, a chore that seemed daunting. I stepped into the hall to meet him.
"Lord Tigus," I curtsied.
"Servant child," he bowed his head slightly, his belly too great to afford much more flexibility, "Tell the Queen I need to speak with her as soon as possible, we have important matters to discuss. See to it that she receives this gift from the Saans as well. To calm her nerves."
One of the servant boys trailing Tigus produced a tiny gilded box with the sign of the Saans stamped on top. It looked like a Tinea box.
I nodded and curtsied while Tigus turned on heel to march back down the hall, a couple of servant boys close by his side. I put the box down and approached the Queen.
"Your Majesty, Lord Tigus seeks your counsel as soon as you find possible," I said to the Queen.
"Oh, Tigus," she sighed to Eileen, "I imagine the Saans have even fewer allowances for us this season. I have no idea what the Great Ones do with all of that money, but they certainly find it less and less in their hearts to help us along. We are the Kin of the First Great Ones, after all."
"Why don't we just break away from the Saans and collect taxes for ourselves?" Eileen asked indignantly.
"Well, this is how it's always been. I've brought it up in counsel before, but the Saans simply refused. They prefer to make all the decisions for us, like good fathers I suppose. I do respect their words and appreciate the protection they offer us. I'm afraid I must accept whatever their allowances are."
The Queen sighed heavily and stood up. Her expression seemed peaceful as she walked across the room and stepped out on the balcony. She must have been deep in thought for she didn't respond to the calls of Eileen, who was demanding help with brushing her hair.
I remembered the little golden box. Carefully, I placed in on a small silver platter and carried it to the Queen.
"Your Grace," I curtsied, "I'm sorry to bother. Lord Tigus brought this gift from the Saans."
The Queen looked at me with startled eyes.
"He said it's to calm your nerves, Your Grace."
Her expression turned to anger. Without hesitation, she picked up the box and threw it off the balcony, into the courtyard where a group of underlings mulled about.
I gasped, startled. Thankfully, the box only struck the ground before shattering. I'm sure the Queen would never have intended to hurt any of them. She continued to glare at their upturned faces, even after I excused myself to go help the Princess.
Chapter 11
Aneh
That morning, Mana’s bark was shrill and upsetting.
Fall’s chill lingered in the morning air. The leaves had finished changing into the warm colors that contrasted cheekily with the cold dew patterns on rocks and trees. Minutes passed. Through the window I could see the small twin shapes of a crow and its shadow dancing against the red canyon walls.
Mana barked again and the quiet beauty of the scene was quickly erased as a cloud of dust as tall and dense as the cliffside made its way towards our home and into the heart of Koyote. I pulled my tunic over my head and ran to the door. Olei hobbled to the road where Mana stood, arriving just in time to meet the barreling dust. At its apex ran a string of gilded riders on enormous horses wearing loud iron shoes. They carried banners with bright colors, their mounts patterned in sweat and lathe. They must have been traveling for days.
One rider slowed but none stopped. Olei lunged to grab Mana whose vicious barks were still audible over the clamor of armor and horse.
“What on Kote's land was that?” I ran to Olei much faster than he traveled towards me. Though his crutch was less necessary he still moved like a man three times his age. “Olei! Tell me, are you okay? Did they say anything? Did they hurt Mana? Did they threaten you?”
“Shhh. Calm down Aneh. We’re both fine! Look at me.” He grabbed my shoulders and shook me gently. I didn’t realize how frantic I had become.
“Aneh look at me. I’m fine, " Olei continued to reassure me, "Nothing happened. They said nothing, threw no weapons…Mana was just defending us. Did you see the size of those horses? Like something out of a story. Their armor was refined, deep blues I've never seen before. They were so unreal, so strange...," He trailed off, perplexed. "Aneh will you help me inside? If you are okay, I mean.”
Rather in shock, I took Olei inside to sit. I envied how calm Olei remained while I became so emotional and scared. He was kind and optimistic in light of the morning’s events.
“Do you think it was the Saans?” I asked him, remembering Rhys’ qualms and the story from the traveler.
“I don’t know Aneh, it’s possible but unlikely. But we don’t need to worry. They rode by, they are gone! We are safe, they aren’t coming back.”
I bent down to kiss Olei, loving him for his sweet positivity. I wanted to believe him.
“I think we should hide, just in case they do return.”
“Aneh, I really don’t think they will return. We can go somewhere, if you are truly worried. But to be honest, I think we will be just fine,” He said with a smile.
I stood there, Olei tenderly holding my hand, thinking about what to do.
“We’ll stay here,” I said, feigning content.
I shouldn’t have ignored my concern.
In the early hours of the evening the travelers returned with their war horses and their gilded jackets and heavy boots. I ran from the field as soon as I saw them turn towards our houses. "Olei!" I screamed. "Olei they're back!"
My heart was pounding as I raced inside.
Three men were standing on the porch, staring at Olei with hardened faces.
Deins and Khati ran breathlessly into the opposite door of the patio to witness the men gathered like the three darkest nights I can remember. Behind them came what seemed a fleet of dirty men on their giant horses.
Their presence was threatening and anything but friendly. These were not the kind of people that would gossip and drink lemon water with you on your back porch. I felt powerless next to these war-like men.
“We arrive here as a direct decree from the Saans, as part of our quest to educate, enlighten, and awaken. Our mission is of the most noble and Holy nature," one of them said with an accent I could barely understand. They were all unblinking, placid like statues. The one that first spoke continued.
“We arrive in peace, led by divine will and driven by inevitable destiny. We represent the Saans, tamers of the Elements, the embodiment of the Unmarked Ones. One of the Great Five has been lost, he has gone to walk with the Unmarked Ones in the next life. We are traveling from village to village, asking the good people and followers of the Saans to gift to us one of their own, as homage to the great SaanKote, the one who has just passed. We seek only men who embody this Kote, the Element earth, and request that you give us that which the Saans desire most. Thus, through the divinity of our quest, through great prayer and meditation, our search has brought us here and with certainty, has ended," He paused and stepped closer to Olei, so there was absolutely no mistaking with whom his search had ended.
"You are bidden by the Great Unmarked Ones, of whose nature we represent in the city where all the Elements are unified, the most Holy city Saansanti. Come with us in peace, brother."
Unanimously they crossed their arms, touching their hands to opposite shoulders. Then they bowed, showing the tops of their heads in submission and trust. Again, only one of them spoke. Upright his chiseled white face shown higher than the others, but he did not stand as tall as Olei. I watched as Olei’s height was whittled away by this ghostly man’s gaze until slowly enough, Olei was kneeling, looking up. For a thousand minutes it seemed, no one said anything. I felt as if I had been trapped in stone, looking through holes bored for my eyes.
My stone prison shattered when Olei turned to look at me. I ran to embrace him and held on. Heaving and sobbing into his neck. I had no choice but to scream as the man I loved was abruptly taken away from me.
The taller white
man nodded and motioned towards us, his ghostly skin had hues of green and yellow and purple.
“There is no time to waste,” he said. With his words he ripped apart a family, a star-guided pairing, and my life. As Olei was marched out the door, I was sure part of me had died.
A Reading from the Calling of the Faithful
The first Saan Obith journeyed much like his great fathers to tell the people the news of the Elements and the Unmarked Ones.
My Brothers and Sisters, he said, it is not without great sacrifice that we must live in this life. It is known that the greatest of givers, those who do not take but always lend, those who never ask, and never receive, will flourish in the eternity which is life after this death. Those who sacrifice will walk with the Unmarked Ones when the light from this life has been extinguished and a new bright dawn shines upon them. They will walk with the blessed ones and know the mysteries of the universe, forever more they will know no hunger, no lust, they will never tire and never feel pain. They will become one with the Elements and become as beautiful and powerful.
When a neighbor asks of you to help, accept his request. When an overlord is tiresome in his demands, do not falter or wander. In the life after this, those who sacrificed will be equal with the blessed ones, as ethereal as the Unmarked Ones, as ever present as the Elements.
Chapter 12
Yossinda
Sweeping was a never ending task in my fathers house. Even though I had swept the entirety of the home— from the bedroom to the kitchen to the front door—I felt as though I could see more dirt settling on the floor. I sighed as I pushed the pile of dirt, dust and crumbs out the door. I had used the broom so much that the oils from my hands had made the long wooden handle smooth.
Raini bounded through the doorway in the warm evening light. In spite of the late summer heat his nose was red and runny. Dear Kote, I thought, Grace this boy with your healing.