love, the way you should not!’
‘It’s easy for you to say! The one you love is dead and she’s not coming back. I saw our daughter! Do you expect me to just give that up because some foolish old man told me to? If this plot of yours fails and we both die, what will it accomplish? We’re living in a destroyed world with no hope; let us have these moments of happiness while we still can!’ Kai shouts back at him.
There is a sudden silence. I hear Kai breathing heavily.
‘If you truly saw it,’ Papa says, quietly now. ‘Your marriage to Arys... your daughter, then you’re right, it may be a vision. It could come to pass.’
‘The Tribe burns,’ Kai says viciously.
I hear him weep.
‘Then this is a warning. Don’t worry, Kai, everything will work out.’
I hear footsteps coming, and creep backwards. I watch Kai leave our tent and return to his. I follow him back, keeping a safe distance. I wait until he enters before clearing my throat to let him know I’m there.
‘I’m... sorry for putting a dagger to your neck,’ I say pathetically.
He invites me into his tent and seals the entrance.
‘Don’t be,’ he says, a slight smile appearing on his face, ‘You pinned me down exceptionally well.’
‘Ha! I would agree with you, but I think you’re just an easy target!’ I laugh, glad that at least our old friendship still stands, if the love isn’t there anymore.
‘Oh and that “easy target” didn’t just save your life last night,’ he says. ‘I have a little present for you, now I mention it.’
I watch him as he picks up a long object, wrapped in blankets. He hands it to me and I unwrap it carefully. A sword falls out into my hands. More specifically, the sword the Hunter carried last night. I pull it from its sheath, examining the design. It’s a basic weapon with no markings. The sword is a dark colour, almost black and the hilt is bound tightly with leather, comfortable in my hand.
‘You said you wanted training, and as little as I think you need it after your quite marvellous display of strength and agility earlier, I think no good warrior is without weapons,’ Kai says.
I know swords are rare for us to obtain. This Tribe only has one – two now. Malc is the one who owns the other. Kai owns a long curved knife, but that’s no sword. I thank him for the gift and for saving me, and hug him tightly.
‘I need some sleep now,’ he says. ‘You know how tiring saving damsels in distress are.’
‘Oh of course I do, it’s part of my daily schedule!’ I joke.
He winks at me once, before diving face first onto his pile of blankets and pretends to snore.
I laugh at him, and then take the hint and leave.
After a quick breakfast of wild berries, I sleep for a short time in my tent and wake up with a start late into the morning. The sound of people laughing carries from outside my tent. As I remember everything that happened last night and this morning, I realise the task I’ve yet to face. My heart leaps at the thought of speaking to my father later, but I choose to pack before seeing Papa. I pick items that I need carefully. I get up and take my bag which is hanging from a pole at the entrance to the tent. I take enough food for three days, wrapping the dried fruit and cold meat in leaves. By the time I run out, we’d definitely have hunted some animals. My water skin is empty, so I make a mental note to refill it from the supply near the fire before leaving. I hide my favourite bone knife in my boot, and pack another two. I also pack several blankets, rolling them up tightly and stuffing them into my bag. Finally, I fasten my belt around my waist and attach my newly acquired sword to it. I take a moment to look down at myself, barely recognising myself already. Only two days ago, my life had routine:
‘It’s easy for you to say! The one you love is dead and she’s not coming back. I saw our daughter! Do you expect me to just give that up because some foolish old man told me to? If this plot of yours fails and we both die, what will it accomplish? We’re living in a destroyed world with no hope; let us have these moments of happiness while we still can!’ Kai shouts back at him.
There is a sudden silence. I hear Kai breathing heavily.
‘If you truly saw it,’ Papa says, quietly now. ‘Your marriage to Arys... your daughter, then you’re right, it may be a vision. It could come to pass.’
‘The Tribe burns,’ Kai says viciously.
I hear him weep.
‘Then this is a warning. Don’t worry, Kai, everything will work out.’
I hear footsteps coming, and creep backwards. I watch Kai leave our tent and return to his. I follow him back, keeping a safe distance. I wait until he enters before clearing my throat to let him know I’m there.
‘I’m... sorry for putting a dagger to your neck,’ I say pathetically.
He invites me into his tent and seals the entrance.
‘Don’t be,’ he says, a slight smile appearing on his face, ‘You pinned me down exceptionally well.’
‘Ha! I would agree with you, but I think you’re just an easy target!’ I laugh, glad that at least our old friendship still stands, if the love isn’t there anymore.
‘Oh and that “easy target” didn’t just save your life last night,’ he says. ‘I have a little present for you, now I mention it.’
I watch him as he picks up a long object, wrapped in blankets. He hands it to me and I unwrap it carefully. A sword falls out into my hands. More specifically, the sword the Hunter carried last night. I pull it from its sheath, examining the design. It’s a basic weapon with no markings. The sword is a dark colour, almost black and the hilt is bound tightly with leather, comfortable in my hand.
‘You said you wanted training, and as little as I think you need it after your quite marvellous display of strength and agility earlier, I think no good warrior is without weapons,’ Kai says.
I know swords are rare for us to obtain. This Tribe only has one – two now. Malc is the one who owns the other. Kai owns a long curved knife, but that’s no sword. I thank him for the gift and for saving me, and hug him tightly.
‘I need some sleep now,’ he says. ‘You know how tiring saving damsels in distress are.’
‘Oh of course I do, it’s part of my daily schedule!’ I joke.
He winks at me once, before diving face first onto his pile of blankets and pretends to snore.
I laugh at him, and then take the hint and leave.
After a quick breakfast of wild berries, I sleep for a short time in my tent and wake up with a start late into the morning. The sound of people laughing carries from outside my tent. As I remember everything that happened last night and this morning, I realise the task I’ve yet to face. My heart leaps at the thought of speaking to my father later, but I choose to pack before seeing Papa. I pick items that I need carefully. I get up and take my bag which is hanging from a pole at the entrance to the tent. I take enough food for three days, wrapping the dried fruit and cold meat in leaves. By the time I run out, we’d definitely have hunted some animals. My water skin is empty, so I make a mental note to refill it from the supply near the fire before leaving. I hide my favourite bone knife in my boot, and pack another two. I also pack several blankets, rolling them up tightly and stuffing them into my bag. Finally, I fasten my belt around my waist and attach my newly acquired sword to it. I take a moment to look down at myself, barely recognising myself already. Only two days ago, my life had routine:
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