Read Online The New World (The Last Delar) by Matthew Cousineau - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Matthew Cousineau
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she lays him down in his bed, pulls the animal skin blankets over his body and moves the hair from his face. She stares at Taeau for a while and kisses his forehead. Her face begins to wrinkle with apprehension as she looks down at her adopted son, shaking her head at how much he has grown. She begins to think of the words spoken to her by Mia-Koda: "I will be back for him when he begins to walk the path of a man."
Meadow knows the time with her son is limited. She dreams about stopping the seasons or defying Mia-Koda when she comes, but she knows she will have to face that challenge one day. Meadow lies next to Taeau and falls asleep still playing with his hair.
CHAPTER FOUR
Dirty Hands wakes to an empty bed. He turns over and sees Meadow sleeping next to their son. He smiles because no matter how many times she falls asleep by Taeau's side, it brings joy to his heart. He gets up, puts on his clothes, and approaches his son. He kisses his Meadow and wakes Taeau.
"Come, son, let us leave your mother to her sleep." Taeau gets up and throws on his clothes. The sun is just beginning to shine through the trees, lifting the morning's mist. "Taeau, did your mother tell you about what I am doing today?"
"Yes, Father. Why have they asked you to join the meeting? They have never done that before."
"True, they have never done that before," Dirty Hands says, as he puts his hand on his son's shoulder. "Yes, I was surprised myself, but I hear that there were a few other farmers asked to attend as well. This is why I am worried. The last time I heard of farmers attending a big council was when my father was summoned to fight in the Border Wars."
Taeau looks up at his dad, "Wasn't that when you lost your dad?"
"Yes, your uncle and I grew up quickly after that. We had to take care of both our mother and ourselves at around your age. Black Claw joined the wars, and I took care of the family farm. It was a tough time for the both of us." Dirty Hands kneels down to his son.
"The future is never clear, son. Sometimes you must stand for what is right even when it means hard times and sacrifice. I want you to stay here with your mother today, and not go to your fort in the woods or play with your cousin. Stay here the entire day and evening, do your chores, and keep your mother company."
"Ok, Father. Whatever you say." Taeau knows he is lying.
"Good boy . . . I am off, then." Dirty Hands rustles his son's hair, and Taeau watches his father walk away. Once his father is gone, Taeau runs off to find Carn and begin the morning's adventures.
"Come on, boy, we have to get away now while we still can."
Carn licks Taeau's face, and they set off toward the unspeakable. Just before they are out of sight, Meadow catches sight of her son and runs out the door. She moves quickly despite her plump figure and begins to scold Taeau.
"Where do you think you're going? Your father said for you to stay and do your chores!"
Taeau looks at his mother and does his best to fake a whine. "I am, father told me to take Carn to get firewood. We're all out, you know."
"Oh . . . okay . . . well, don't be long now, you hear?" Meadow turns back towards the hut, but she notices that the woodpile is already full. She stares at it for a moment and realizes she has been tricked.
"Taeau!" Meadow yells as she spins around, but her son is long gone.
At the same time, Ven has just pulled a similar trick on his mother. She awoke from her sleep to check on her children and found her oldest son's hammock empty. She runs to the door and bursts it open. Blinded by the morning sun, she is barely able to see Ven scampering away.
Taeau and Carn reach the unspeakable first. They stop and wait a moment behind a tree to make sure no one has followed them. "Come on, Carn! To the fortress so we can arm ourselves against our enemies," exclaims Taeau, as he skips toward the fort. Taeau approaches the fort
Meadow knows the time with her son is limited. She dreams about stopping the seasons or defying Mia-Koda when she comes, but she knows she will have to face that challenge one day. Meadow lies next to Taeau and falls asleep still playing with his hair.
CHAPTER FOUR
Dirty Hands wakes to an empty bed. He turns over and sees Meadow sleeping next to their son. He smiles because no matter how many times she falls asleep by Taeau's side, it brings joy to his heart. He gets up, puts on his clothes, and approaches his son. He kisses his Meadow and wakes Taeau.
"Come, son, let us leave your mother to her sleep." Taeau gets up and throws on his clothes. The sun is just beginning to shine through the trees, lifting the morning's mist. "Taeau, did your mother tell you about what I am doing today?"
"Yes, Father. Why have they asked you to join the meeting? They have never done that before."
"True, they have never done that before," Dirty Hands says, as he puts his hand on his son's shoulder. "Yes, I was surprised myself, but I hear that there were a few other farmers asked to attend as well. This is why I am worried. The last time I heard of farmers attending a big council was when my father was summoned to fight in the Border Wars."
Taeau looks up at his dad, "Wasn't that when you lost your dad?"
"Yes, your uncle and I grew up quickly after that. We had to take care of both our mother and ourselves at around your age. Black Claw joined the wars, and I took care of the family farm. It was a tough time for the both of us." Dirty Hands kneels down to his son.
"The future is never clear, son. Sometimes you must stand for what is right even when it means hard times and sacrifice. I want you to stay here with your mother today, and not go to your fort in the woods or play with your cousin. Stay here the entire day and evening, do your chores, and keep your mother company."
"Ok, Father. Whatever you say." Taeau knows he is lying.
"Good boy . . . I am off, then." Dirty Hands rustles his son's hair, and Taeau watches his father walk away. Once his father is gone, Taeau runs off to find Carn and begin the morning's adventures.
"Come on, boy, we have to get away now while we still can."
Carn licks Taeau's face, and they set off toward the unspeakable. Just before they are out of sight, Meadow catches sight of her son and runs out the door. She moves quickly despite her plump figure and begins to scold Taeau.
"Where do you think you're going? Your father said for you to stay and do your chores!"
Taeau looks at his mother and does his best to fake a whine. "I am, father told me to take Carn to get firewood. We're all out, you know."
"Oh . . . okay . . . well, don't be long now, you hear?" Meadow turns back towards the hut, but she notices that the woodpile is already full. She stares at it for a moment and realizes she has been tricked.
"Taeau!" Meadow yells as she spins around, but her son is long gone.
At the same time, Ven has just pulled a similar trick on his mother. She awoke from her sleep to check on her children and found her oldest son's hammock empty. She runs to the door and bursts it open. Blinded by the morning sun, she is barely able to see Ven scampering away.
Taeau and Carn reach the unspeakable first. They stop and wait a moment behind a tree to make sure no one has followed them. "Come on, Carn! To the fortress so we can arm ourselves against our enemies," exclaims Taeau, as he skips toward the fort. Taeau approaches the fort
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