he
said softly.
The baby’s eyes
sparkled with curiosity as she looked upon the elf. Suddenly feeling awkward,
Galen’s face reddened. He seldom held babies, but somehow it felt natural to
him. The tiny bundle was the most precious thing he’d ever seen.
“May the blessings
of the elves be upon you,” he said, doing his best not to stumble on the words.
This was a special moment to the Ulihi, and he didn’t want to spoil it.
“With all my heart,
I thank you,” Tashi said. “Both of you.” The arrival of these travelers could
not be a coincidence. Had Koli’s sacrifice brought this to pass? Or could it be
Annin, working to secure her daughter’s well-being, even after her death? Tashi
took comfort in the thought. Annin had been strong in life, and she would
certainly be strong in the life to come.
“You’re glowing,”
Kaiya whispered to Galen.
He continued to
stare down at the child, a sideways grin on his face.
“You’ll make a
wonderful father someday,” Kaiya said without thinking. She and Galen had never
discussed his desire, or lack thereof, for a family. She had often expressed
the sentiment that she did not intend to bear children. He had never argued nor
expressed misgivings. His doting over the child only led to further confusion
on Kaiya’s part.
As if on cue, Galen
said, “I think I’d make a better uncle.”
A cry ripped
through the silent village, startling the visitors as well as the priestess.
They looked at each other as the scream sounded again. Something was
desperately wrong.
Every male Ulihi
grabbed a spear and ran toward the source of the disturbance. The ground shook
beneath their feet, but it was no tremor. This was not a constant rumble, but rather
a heavy stride. The footsteps approached, the warriors showing no sign of fear.
Frozen in place,
Tashi said, “They come for vengeance.”
“Who?” Kaiya asked.
“The gods,” Tashi
replied, her eyes full of terror. She had brought this upon her people.
A form came into
view as Kaiya strained to make it out. It was jumbled, loose pieces of rock
held together by some force. As it stepped nearer the village, Kaiya couldn’t
believe her own eyes. Gray stones, amassed more than seven feet high in a rough
quadrupedal shape stopped at the edge of the village and rose to its hind legs,
preparing for an attack. Though it had no mouth that Kaiya could see, it bellowed
a deafening roar.
Turning to Galen,
Kaiya said, “Take the child and protect her with your life.”
The elf opened his
mouth to speak, but Kaiya refused to hear him.
“Keep her safe, and
under no circumstances are you to approach this creature or attempt to fight.
Do this for me.”
With a single nod,
Galen clutched the baby to his chest. Glancing at the beast, he turned and ran,
the doula following close behind him.
Turning back to
Tashi, Kaiya asked, “You’ve seen these things before?”
“Never,” she
replied, shaking her head.
The rock monster
entered the village on massive stone feet, rattling the Ulihi as they scattered
for cover. Two warriors charged forward, spears in hand. Their war cries echoed
in Kaiya’s ears as she watched them fall, crushed by the weight of the beast,
who continued forward without a thought for the lives it had taken.
Raad darted forward
as the creature passed, grabbing a spear from one of the fallen warriors.
Running to join the other men, they positioned themselves into a battle
formation. Standing behind them were the majority of the village’s women, the
warriors shouting for them to flee. To their credit, most of the women refused.
They grabbed loose rocks and burning torches, ready to defend their homes. Only
the oldest among them fled to safety.
Tashi ripped the
bottom from her staff, dropping the top to the ground. Kaiya looked at her in
confusion until she realized what the priestess actually held. Placing the
bottom end of the staff to her lips, she blew inside it, sending a dart
speeding toward the rock
said softly.
The baby’s eyes
sparkled with curiosity as she looked upon the elf. Suddenly feeling awkward,
Galen’s face reddened. He seldom held babies, but somehow it felt natural to
him. The tiny bundle was the most precious thing he’d ever seen.
“May the blessings
of the elves be upon you,” he said, doing his best not to stumble on the words.
This was a special moment to the Ulihi, and he didn’t want to spoil it.
“With all my heart,
I thank you,” Tashi said. “Both of you.” The arrival of these travelers could
not be a coincidence. Had Koli’s sacrifice brought this to pass? Or could it be
Annin, working to secure her daughter’s well-being, even after her death? Tashi
took comfort in the thought. Annin had been strong in life, and she would
certainly be strong in the life to come.
“You’re glowing,”
Kaiya whispered to Galen.
He continued to
stare down at the child, a sideways grin on his face.
“You’ll make a
wonderful father someday,” Kaiya said without thinking. She and Galen had never
discussed his desire, or lack thereof, for a family. She had often expressed
the sentiment that she did not intend to bear children. He had never argued nor
expressed misgivings. His doting over the child only led to further confusion
on Kaiya’s part.
As if on cue, Galen
said, “I think I’d make a better uncle.”
A cry ripped
through the silent village, startling the visitors as well as the priestess.
They looked at each other as the scream sounded again. Something was
desperately wrong.
Every male Ulihi
grabbed a spear and ran toward the source of the disturbance. The ground shook
beneath their feet, but it was no tremor. This was not a constant rumble, but rather
a heavy stride. The footsteps approached, the warriors showing no sign of fear.
Frozen in place,
Tashi said, “They come for vengeance.”
“Who?” Kaiya asked.
“The gods,” Tashi
replied, her eyes full of terror. She had brought this upon her people.
A form came into
view as Kaiya strained to make it out. It was jumbled, loose pieces of rock
held together by some force. As it stepped nearer the village, Kaiya couldn’t
believe her own eyes. Gray stones, amassed more than seven feet high in a rough
quadrupedal shape stopped at the edge of the village and rose to its hind legs,
preparing for an attack. Though it had no mouth that Kaiya could see, it bellowed
a deafening roar.
Turning to Galen,
Kaiya said, “Take the child and protect her with your life.”
The elf opened his
mouth to speak, but Kaiya refused to hear him.
“Keep her safe, and
under no circumstances are you to approach this creature or attempt to fight.
Do this for me.”
With a single nod,
Galen clutched the baby to his chest. Glancing at the beast, he turned and ran,
the doula following close behind him.
Turning back to
Tashi, Kaiya asked, “You’ve seen these things before?”
“Never,” she
replied, shaking her head.
The rock monster
entered the village on massive stone feet, rattling the Ulihi as they scattered
for cover. Two warriors charged forward, spears in hand. Their war cries echoed
in Kaiya’s ears as she watched them fall, crushed by the weight of the beast,
who continued forward without a thought for the lives it had taken.
Raad darted forward
as the creature passed, grabbing a spear from one of the fallen warriors.
Running to join the other men, they positioned themselves into a battle
formation. Standing behind them were the majority of the village’s women, the
warriors shouting for them to flee. To their credit, most of the women refused.
They grabbed loose rocks and burning torches, ready to defend their homes. Only
the oldest among them fled to safety.
Tashi ripped the
bottom from her staff, dropping the top to the ground. Kaiya looked at her in
confusion until she realized what the priestess actually held. Placing the
bottom end of the staff to her lips, she blew inside it, sending a dart
speeding toward the rock
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