Read Online The Invisible Chains - Part 3: Bonds of Blood by Andrew Ashling - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Andrew Ashling
Tags: Fantasy
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walking naked with the others, but Rannimosh gave as good as he got. He returned every abuse with rude gestures and insults. After some while his brother and the young frishiu made him walk between them to keep him out of sight.”
“You know the name of this kid?” Anaxantis asked.
“Ah, yes... His actions were so exceptional for such a young boy that his name was remembered.
“Once on the square, the frishiu stood in the middle and crossed his arms. By midday more than five hundred naked youngsters had gathered. When the old quedash came, surrounded by his court, the frishiu went to the front and stood before his people. With a face of stone he heard how the old man cut them out of the tribe, greeted him as the quedash he had become, and at the same time declared them brezzonmàhai and ordered them out of the city and off the territory.
“Without a word he turned around and led the new màhai out of the city gates. When all had passed the great gates he turned around, made the niaràm, and—”
“The niaràm?” Anaxantis interrupted.
“The niaràm is the sacred sign only a quedash can make. He raises his right fist high above his head and it is believed that the power of the Gods streams in him, that he speaks in their name... So, facing the city they had just left, he made the niaràm, and in a loud and clear voice shouted ‘Shorringgah veh.’ You are non-humans. His first act as quedash was one of utter defiance. As the naked leader of a small group of equally naked youngster he effectively said: ‘If you fall into our hands we will not treat you as former family and friends, not as humans, not even as cattle but as slaves who will live only as long as we have any use for you.’ It was unheard of. It had never been done before.
“Hollow as the threat might have seemed, yet nobody laughed. On the contrary it was so quiet you could only hear the wind in the trees. And so the new tribe took to the road. But, like I said, Mukthar customs evolve.
Some ten miles out of the city they came upon an enormous stack of wooden rods, thick as a wrist. There were enough for all the guys and most of the older girls. The new tribe had made its first acquisition. They now had at least something to defend themselves with.
“Just when they were about to exit a patch of wood they saw in the plains before them three wagons, each pulled by four horses. At the back of each was tied a regular riding horse. Three men, their faces covered by some kind of scarf, were sitting by a fire. Which was strange, because, as these wagons were usually used for trade, you would have expected a lot more people running around.
“The quedash called the oldest boys and girls to him. He ordered the younger ones to take cover, deeper into the woods. Minutes later the three men at the fire saw a few hundred naked youngsters, brandishing rods, come running at them, shouting their lungs out. They quickly untied their riding horses at the back of the wagons, mounted and rode away as fast as Eldosha and the Seven Brothers.
“Almost drunk with joy over the tribe's first easy victory they sh joy ry rs.tarted inspecting the wagons. The quedash had to hold them back. In their frenzy they would have demolished them. Two of the wagons contained food, enough to keep them going for a few weeks if they rationed it. In the third was a shipment of clothes, sturdy boots and weapons. One of them found a small box and brought it immediately to the quedash. Once opened a shirma was revealed. The quedash recognized the box as it belonged to his mother.
She had obviously made the shirma, the intricate set of ribbons that only the quedash or a frishiu may wear, herself. His friend fastened and arranged it in his hair.”
“No coincidence there,” Anaxantis smiled.
“No, obviously the parents, or some of them at least, had organized this easy catch and the very useful content of the wagons.”
Rodomesh paused. He seemed to be lost in thought.
“What
“You know the name of this kid?” Anaxantis asked.
“Ah, yes... His actions were so exceptional for such a young boy that his name was remembered.
“Once on the square, the frishiu stood in the middle and crossed his arms. By midday more than five hundred naked youngsters had gathered. When the old quedash came, surrounded by his court, the frishiu went to the front and stood before his people. With a face of stone he heard how the old man cut them out of the tribe, greeted him as the quedash he had become, and at the same time declared them brezzonmàhai and ordered them out of the city and off the territory.
“Without a word he turned around and led the new màhai out of the city gates. When all had passed the great gates he turned around, made the niaràm, and—”
“The niaràm?” Anaxantis interrupted.
“The niaràm is the sacred sign only a quedash can make. He raises his right fist high above his head and it is believed that the power of the Gods streams in him, that he speaks in their name... So, facing the city they had just left, he made the niaràm, and in a loud and clear voice shouted ‘Shorringgah veh.’ You are non-humans. His first act as quedash was one of utter defiance. As the naked leader of a small group of equally naked youngster he effectively said: ‘If you fall into our hands we will not treat you as former family and friends, not as humans, not even as cattle but as slaves who will live only as long as we have any use for you.’ It was unheard of. It had never been done before.
“Hollow as the threat might have seemed, yet nobody laughed. On the contrary it was so quiet you could only hear the wind in the trees. And so the new tribe took to the road. But, like I said, Mukthar customs evolve.
Some ten miles out of the city they came upon an enormous stack of wooden rods, thick as a wrist. There were enough for all the guys and most of the older girls. The new tribe had made its first acquisition. They now had at least something to defend themselves with.
“Just when they were about to exit a patch of wood they saw in the plains before them three wagons, each pulled by four horses. At the back of each was tied a regular riding horse. Three men, their faces covered by some kind of scarf, were sitting by a fire. Which was strange, because, as these wagons were usually used for trade, you would have expected a lot more people running around.
“The quedash called the oldest boys and girls to him. He ordered the younger ones to take cover, deeper into the woods. Minutes later the three men at the fire saw a few hundred naked youngsters, brandishing rods, come running at them, shouting their lungs out. They quickly untied their riding horses at the back of the wagons, mounted and rode away as fast as Eldosha and the Seven Brothers.
“Almost drunk with joy over the tribe's first easy victory they sh joy ry rs.tarted inspecting the wagons. The quedash had to hold them back. In their frenzy they would have demolished them. Two of the wagons contained food, enough to keep them going for a few weeks if they rationed it. In the third was a shipment of clothes, sturdy boots and weapons. One of them found a small box and brought it immediately to the quedash. Once opened a shirma was revealed. The quedash recognized the box as it belonged to his mother.
She had obviously made the shirma, the intricate set of ribbons that only the quedash or a frishiu may wear, herself. His friend fastened and arranged it in his hair.”
“No coincidence there,” Anaxantis smiled.
“No, obviously the parents, or some of them at least, had organized this easy catch and the very useful content of the wagons.”
Rodomesh paused. He seemed to be lost in thought.
“What
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