Read Online Across the Face of the World by Russell Kirkpatrick - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Russell Kirkpatrick
Tags: Fiction, General, Fantasy fiction, Fantasy, Epic, Revenge, Imaginary wars and battles, Immortalism, Immortality
Ads: Link
around behind the black figure and his captive. His character did not have the strength to wrest the Falla from the powerful Snaer by force, so he had to use guile. Usually this was accomplished by simple stealth, sneaking her away while the snow-figure pretended not to look. Leith began to think. How could he show up this Snaer? After his humiliating fall, mere victory would not do.
He made it to the edge of the circle directly behind the Snaer without being noticed. Leith was not sure whether it was good acting by the tall youth, or whether he genuinely did not see the masked Sumar, but the narrow eyes of the black mask had not made any attempt to follow his progress. Stella was expecting the traditional end to the Play, and began gently to free herself from the grip of the Snaer. Leith went towards her but, instead of making to steal her away, threw himself to the ground in front of the tall figure of winter.
The villagers gasped. The Sumar was face down in the dirt, arms extended, pleading for the release of the Falla.
The move obviously caught the Snaer by surprise, as moments passed with no response. Leith lay prostrate on the ground, hoping the youth in black would react the way he expected.
Slowly the Snaer raised a black-booted foot and placed it on Leith's neck, uttering a great cry of triumph. The humiliation of the Sumar was complete.
But it was the move Leith had been looking for. He shot an arm out, grabbed the Snaer's other foot and pulled it hard towards him. The huge figure tottered, then fell backwards, scattering a group of villagers and crashing into the side of the tent. The alert Falla had pushed against the tall frame as soon as she felt the boy overbal-ancing, and had sprung free before she, too, was carried to the ground. Leith gathered her tenderly in his right arm and moved over to where the Snaer lay struggling to rise. The Sumar placed a boot on the figure's neck, and gestured for the Falla to do the same. Spring and summer had combined in a totally unexpected way to defeat winter.
Leith cleared his throat, then shouted the ritual words: 'Winter is on the wane; a new year is at hand!'
For a moment there was silence, then the tent erupted as the inhabitants of the Vale cheered and clapped their approval.
Leith was in a daze as he and Stella, still at his side, found them¬selves surrounded by villagers. They even applauded Lanka as he got to his feet, ruefully rubbing bruised elbows.
Leith could hear the Haufuth's booming voice over the crowd: 'If I hadn't checked myself that all three were kept apart, I would have sworn they arranged the whole thing.'
'You took liberties with the story, boy,' a familiar voice rasped at his side. In spite of his blunt words, even Kurr seemed to approve. Everyone seemed to have something good to say.
Leith and Stella took off their masks and looked at each other. There was something of laughter in her gaze, as though she knew what he had tried to do and thought it foolish. They both knew that it was she who had saved him from embarrassment and earned the plaudits of the crowd. Even so, he had to fight for control of his voice.
'Thank you,' he said. It was the first time he had spoken to her since the day, months ago now, when he had invited her to walk by the lake with him. She nodded and turned away. The look she gave him could have meant anything.
The youth wandered slowly back to the corner where his mother and brother were sitting. He could see a third person there, hooded and cloaked, in earnest conversation with his mother.
The set of the shoulders should have told him, but it did not. He approached, expecting more of the compliments that had made his head spin, but instead his mother motioned for him to sit with them in the dark corner of the vast tent, silencing him with a gesture when he made to speak.
The cloaked figure turned towards him and let the hood fall away momentarily. For a moment Leith could only think of a birch bark carving,
He made it to the edge of the circle directly behind the Snaer without being noticed. Leith was not sure whether it was good acting by the tall youth, or whether he genuinely did not see the masked Sumar, but the narrow eyes of the black mask had not made any attempt to follow his progress. Stella was expecting the traditional end to the Play, and began gently to free herself from the grip of the Snaer. Leith went towards her but, instead of making to steal her away, threw himself to the ground in front of the tall figure of winter.
The villagers gasped. The Sumar was face down in the dirt, arms extended, pleading for the release of the Falla.
The move obviously caught the Snaer by surprise, as moments passed with no response. Leith lay prostrate on the ground, hoping the youth in black would react the way he expected.
Slowly the Snaer raised a black-booted foot and placed it on Leith's neck, uttering a great cry of triumph. The humiliation of the Sumar was complete.
But it was the move Leith had been looking for. He shot an arm out, grabbed the Snaer's other foot and pulled it hard towards him. The huge figure tottered, then fell backwards, scattering a group of villagers and crashing into the side of the tent. The alert Falla had pushed against the tall frame as soon as she felt the boy overbal-ancing, and had sprung free before she, too, was carried to the ground. Leith gathered her tenderly in his right arm and moved over to where the Snaer lay struggling to rise. The Sumar placed a boot on the figure's neck, and gestured for the Falla to do the same. Spring and summer had combined in a totally unexpected way to defeat winter.
Leith cleared his throat, then shouted the ritual words: 'Winter is on the wane; a new year is at hand!'
For a moment there was silence, then the tent erupted as the inhabitants of the Vale cheered and clapped their approval.
Leith was in a daze as he and Stella, still at his side, found them¬selves surrounded by villagers. They even applauded Lanka as he got to his feet, ruefully rubbing bruised elbows.
Leith could hear the Haufuth's booming voice over the crowd: 'If I hadn't checked myself that all three were kept apart, I would have sworn they arranged the whole thing.'
'You took liberties with the story, boy,' a familiar voice rasped at his side. In spite of his blunt words, even Kurr seemed to approve. Everyone seemed to have something good to say.
Leith and Stella took off their masks and looked at each other. There was something of laughter in her gaze, as though she knew what he had tried to do and thought it foolish. They both knew that it was she who had saved him from embarrassment and earned the plaudits of the crowd. Even so, he had to fight for control of his voice.
'Thank you,' he said. It was the first time he had spoken to her since the day, months ago now, when he had invited her to walk by the lake with him. She nodded and turned away. The look she gave him could have meant anything.
The youth wandered slowly back to the corner where his mother and brother were sitting. He could see a third person there, hooded and cloaked, in earnest conversation with his mother.
The set of the shoulders should have told him, but it did not. He approached, expecting more of the compliments that had made his head spin, but instead his mother motioned for him to sit with them in the dark corner of the vast tent, silencing him with a gesture when he made to speak.
The cloaked figure turned towards him and let the hood fall away momentarily. For a moment Leith could only think of a birch bark carving,
Similar Books
