off into the air, away from the terrible place were the
creature had killed my child. I can't explain it, I just have this
feeling that I must go with him."
"Well, this is a turn I did not expect," pondered the
Elder. "But you must follow your instincts and feelings. If you are
sure you wish to risk death, then that is your decision."
"I must go."
"Very well then. I shall talk to Capac."
* * *
Ashian shivered as he stepped through the cool mists
of the forest. A pale light of dawn cast a ghostly illumination
over the camp, the night chills still present in the air. He was
dressed in hides and furs instead of his city robes that were
ripped beyond repair. At his belt were several small pouches
containing healing herbs that the Elder had given him and shown
briefly how to use. He carried no weapons.
He squatted low as he washed his hands in the icy
cold stream near the bathing pool. Shivering, he sipped from a
wooden mug.
Capac came down to the pool.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
Ashian nodded, and polished off the rest of his
drink. Noticing Capac's curiosity he explained.
"Its amaroli. The wise men drink it to increase
visual imagery, vitality and also gives pain relief."
"Where did you get it? I have never heard of such a
concoction."
Ashian laughed. "Get it? Why, it is the mid-part of
my urine."
The Eloprin hunter recoiled in shock. "What?!"
"Why are you so surprised? Amaroli is a long
tradition."
Capac shook his head. "And you say we are the
savages! Come on, its time to go now."
Ashian stood and collected together his pack, then
followed Capac away from the clearing.
"Are you sure you know how to use that thing?" asked
Ashian as he noticed Capac carried the fire weapon. He had taught
Capac how to use it, or, at least, as much as he knew. Neither knew
what the digital readout showed rounds remaining and the array of
coloured buttons were for auto targeting.
"I know how to make the fire work," grinned Capac.
"That's all I need, isn't it?"
Ashian nodded as he recalled the deadly hail of
bullets that had torn the practice target into shreds. Few of the
villagers had been able to sleep with Capac practicing his aim with
the strange weapon.
They arrived at the village clearing where the Elder
awaited. Alongside him stood a female Eloprin covered in
camouflaging sap and paint. Capac raised a palm in greeting.
"We are prepared, Elder. Where is Huso?"
As if on cue the large burly Huso emerged from a
tent, his study axe in one hand. He came and joined Capac and
Ashian.
"Who is the third hunter to accompany us?" asked
Ashian.
"I am," said Myshia.
Ashian gasped. "You? Elder, she is a female! How can
she hunt the Sunlords?"
All within earshot were taken aback. Myshia's eyes
narrowed, her stance moving subtlety to become suddenly
threatening, one hand upon the knife sheathed at her side.
Ashian looked around in confusion. He noticed the
Elder had fallen into silence, his brown eyes raised to the sky as
if judging the time of day. "What are you doing, Elder?"
The Elder brought his eyes back to the Currach. "Oh,
I was just seeing how long you were going to survive. Not many
outlast five seconds after insulting Myshia."
"Its just that in the city the women simply attend
the men," Ashian defended. "They hold no high positions in the
Council - it is written that they shall not take part in such
matters. Their task is the rearing of young..." He died our as he
saw how weak his argument sounded.
"Myshia is a very skilled hunter," growled Capac.
"With her knife she could slit your guts with one sweep."
Ashian signalled acquiescence, his eyes lowered. "I
am no judge. I'm sorry, my city views have no place here."
Capac seemed appeased, but the Elder wasn't quite so
sure.
"Are you sure you must go?" he asked of Myshia. "If
the Currach doesn't trust you..."
Myshia nodded firmly, her large green eyes set. "He
will soon have to learn my trust."
Capac slung his pack over one shoulder, the Sunlord's
fire weapon
creature had killed my child. I can't explain it, I just have this
feeling that I must go with him."
"Well, this is a turn I did not expect," pondered the
Elder. "But you must follow your instincts and feelings. If you are
sure you wish to risk death, then that is your decision."
"I must go."
"Very well then. I shall talk to Capac."
* * *
Ashian shivered as he stepped through the cool mists
of the forest. A pale light of dawn cast a ghostly illumination
over the camp, the night chills still present in the air. He was
dressed in hides and furs instead of his city robes that were
ripped beyond repair. At his belt were several small pouches
containing healing herbs that the Elder had given him and shown
briefly how to use. He carried no weapons.
He squatted low as he washed his hands in the icy
cold stream near the bathing pool. Shivering, he sipped from a
wooden mug.
Capac came down to the pool.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
Ashian nodded, and polished off the rest of his
drink. Noticing Capac's curiosity he explained.
"Its amaroli. The wise men drink it to increase
visual imagery, vitality and also gives pain relief."
"Where did you get it? I have never heard of such a
concoction."
Ashian laughed. "Get it? Why, it is the mid-part of
my urine."
The Eloprin hunter recoiled in shock. "What?!"
"Why are you so surprised? Amaroli is a long
tradition."
Capac shook his head. "And you say we are the
savages! Come on, its time to go now."
Ashian stood and collected together his pack, then
followed Capac away from the clearing.
"Are you sure you know how to use that thing?" asked
Ashian as he noticed Capac carried the fire weapon. He had taught
Capac how to use it, or, at least, as much as he knew. Neither knew
what the digital readout showed rounds remaining and the array of
coloured buttons were for auto targeting.
"I know how to make the fire work," grinned Capac.
"That's all I need, isn't it?"
Ashian nodded as he recalled the deadly hail of
bullets that had torn the practice target into shreds. Few of the
villagers had been able to sleep with Capac practicing his aim with
the strange weapon.
They arrived at the village clearing where the Elder
awaited. Alongside him stood a female Eloprin covered in
camouflaging sap and paint. Capac raised a palm in greeting.
"We are prepared, Elder. Where is Huso?"
As if on cue the large burly Huso emerged from a
tent, his study axe in one hand. He came and joined Capac and
Ashian.
"Who is the third hunter to accompany us?" asked
Ashian.
"I am," said Myshia.
Ashian gasped. "You? Elder, she is a female! How can
she hunt the Sunlords?"
All within earshot were taken aback. Myshia's eyes
narrowed, her stance moving subtlety to become suddenly
threatening, one hand upon the knife sheathed at her side.
Ashian looked around in confusion. He noticed the
Elder had fallen into silence, his brown eyes raised to the sky as
if judging the time of day. "What are you doing, Elder?"
The Elder brought his eyes back to the Currach. "Oh,
I was just seeing how long you were going to survive. Not many
outlast five seconds after insulting Myshia."
"Its just that in the city the women simply attend
the men," Ashian defended. "They hold no high positions in the
Council - it is written that they shall not take part in such
matters. Their task is the rearing of young..." He died our as he
saw how weak his argument sounded.
"Myshia is a very skilled hunter," growled Capac.
"With her knife she could slit your guts with one sweep."
Ashian signalled acquiescence, his eyes lowered. "I
am no judge. I'm sorry, my city views have no place here."
Capac seemed appeased, but the Elder wasn't quite so
sure.
"Are you sure you must go?" he asked of Myshia. "If
the Currach doesn't trust you..."
Myshia nodded firmly, her large green eyes set. "He
will soon have to learn my trust."
Capac slung his pack over one shoulder, the Sunlord's
fire weapon
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