Chapter 34

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‘Deep breath in… deep breath out’ I remind myself constantly as I circle my opponent. Making sure to keep my fists squarely in front of me while peering through my guard, I scour his form for any lapse in his defence.

The sizable crowd completely encircled my adversary and I. Jostling, yelling boisterously, and spilling their cheap grain juice as they vied for a good view of the fight.

The fight master, who stood in the middle of the two of us, hollered, “ARE YOU READY FOR A SPECTACLE?!?!” The crowd roared a resoundingly positive response.

A impossibly large smile stretched upon the fight master’s face, “ARE YOU READY TO MAKE. SOME. COINNNN?!?!?” he asked again. This time, those who’d won a place nearest to the action whooped as they held up their coin pouches, and handfuls of note-worths.

Splaying his hands to his sides in an act of showmanship, the jubilant announcer asked a final question, “AND ARE YOU READY TO SEEEEE BLOODD?!!” The screams and cheers reached a fever pitch, crescendoing into the announcement to commence brutality as I moved forward fiercely toward my opponent.

He threw a straight punch at my chest, a prodding move. Strafing to the left and ducking my head behind my guard I continued to close the distance.

Throwing a testing blow of my own towards his chin, I devour even the slightest twitch of his muscles, trying my best to predict his next move and act accordingly. As the enemy assailant Registered the incoming blow, he panickedly took two steps back.

‘There’ I thought, a weakness, one that I had full intention of exploiting. Not giving him any time to properly regain his balance, I tucked my head towards my shoulder as I brought my arm up and covered the right side of my head. After effectively turning my body into a ram, I darted forward and directly into the poor man who was already off balance, sending him cascading to the ground.

I saw the look in his eyes as the air was pressed from his lungs due to the impact. Followed by the dread as my shadow overtook his form, a harbinger of my body’s imminent approach as I landed squarely on his upper stomach and lower chest, pinning him to the ground. “Wait! I yiel-” before he could finish enunciating his surrender, I was upon him.

Thumping sounds reverberated, and the cheers and roars faded to the background, and I heard someone calling my name…

“..er, …ther, … Father! Are you okay?” a worried Thamil-ty asked.

As I shook the grogginess and cold sweats away, I braced my body for the ebbing pain that would surely follow after. “Yes son,” I said “What seems to be the matter?”

…

Thamil-to POV:

Joining my son outside of the main tent, I was met by a torrent of activity. De-lah led some of the younger sparklings as they piled smooth stones, likely from the nearby creek, in a growing stack. The women were busy wreathing together vines into some form of rope, although it seemed far too thin for any of the usual maintenance around camp. Lastly, Pino and Attila, Attila was busy hacking away at some of the smaller surrounding trees, and Pino used his axe to… shave it?

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Curious, I meandered over to them. “It’s good to keep everyone’s hands busy.” I hailed, “Keeps their mind off of the coming danger, but having everyone’s hands full is no way to solve this feud.” I continued, “I love Colada just as much as anyone here, but to risk the entire tribe for one sparkling… I urge you to see reason. You’ve won the women’s hearts, and you’ve set the boys' sparks aflame with your speech. However, you know as well as I, our chances against two bands of nine and one men!” I finished my statement, my face slightly flush from emotion.

I continued on to explain how running was likely for the best, and that we could gather more people and hopefully return to settle this blood debt one day. It was slightly humiliating, an elder having to explain his thoughts to a flame as young as him. However, the game had changed swiftly, he’d garnered a lot of support with his show of strength over De-lah, and his fatherlike need and wish to protect Colada and bring her home safely.

As I spoke, Pino only listened, bobbing his head from time to time in acknowledgment. Once I’d finished my short oration, he caught my eyes and held them with that… strange gaze. Eyes that blazed with impetuous youth, yet also simmered with knowledge and wisdom far beyond what his young face would imply…

“Akii, we aren’t simply keeping their hands busy, we are going to fight the Lakri, and we will win.” He grunted as he quickly looked at his work, making sure no mistakes were made due to his lapse in concentration.

“I’ll ask you a few questions, and just answer the best you're able, agreeable?” He asked. After I nodded in confirmation, he began to charge me with questions, while I answered with as much knowledge and history behind it as I could muster. He continued to say words I’d never heard and described their functions. As he spoke more and more, my eyes lit up and the flame that was slowly withering with age and injury roared once more. Maybe… just maybe, this was possible, we could win.

“It’s interesting that the Golden Plains have invented coins but no form of metal weapons… How- and why did society develop that way? In all likelihood, with their advantages in civilization and food output, they should be dominating this continent…” He said contemplatively.

Deciding to interject at that moment, I offered a few words, “Most of the Salnirocks we acquire from traders and wandering tribes, within Bantii city at least. As far as we know, the precious metal is found in rocks, and it's amazing fortune to find a few rocks on your travels. There was a legend about a famous trader who found an entire field of Salnirocks- or… silver as you call it. He became a wealthy man, but after the rock field was cleared, he had to look in different places. All in all, there truly isn’t much Salni in the Golden Plains, rather note-worthies are what we use for trade, if not just outright bartering.” I breathed deeply after the prolonged explanation.

He looked at me quizzically, likely having more questions than answers after my small lecture.

Before he could dive deeper into Golden Plain history, culture, and trade, I quickly changed the subject to something that interested me more. “So, what’s the difference between a combat axe and a regular hatchet? They cut wood just the same, no?”

Shah-mi POV:

“Elder Shah-mi,” a young sparkling said bashfully. As I looked up she pushed forward a long and relatively thin rope so I could look over it. I silently grabbed the rope, turning it over once or twice before pulling and tugging upon it. Finally I brought it close to my eye to inspect the braiding. After I was finally done scrutinising the work, I allowed a smile to broach my face.

“Good work little one!” I exclaimed while rubbing her small head. The child smiled, indulging in the motherly touch that she’d likely never experienced much of in her short life.

The smile slowly vanished and transformed into a sad grimace, “Elder Shah-mi… will Colada be okay… will we be okay?” She asked, tears on the precipice of erupting from her eyes.

My heart shook, I wanted so badly to assure her that everything would be all right, that we’d get Colada back and all would be fine… but I knew this world. I knew the cruelty of the Lakri, and experienced it with my own body. As I recalled the memories, I couldn’t help but to shudder.

Resolving to stay strong, at the very least for this sparkling in front of me, I peered deeply into her eyes. Then cupping her face, and bringing her close I whispered, “You heard Lord Pino… as long as we stand united and listen well to what he commands, he will help us weather this together. We beat the Lakri once, and with the new weapons we will surely beat them again!” I exclaimed while sporting a mischievous smile.

The child smiled back before laughing, “Okay mama-” the words caught in her throat, a look of surprise… and bracing,perhaps for a reprimand, Instead my smile only widened. “Okay my child, stop making bowstrings, and go help the others with the shafts and arrowheads, but be careful! Don’t cut yourself!”

“Okay Mama Shah!” the girl shouted daringly as she ran to help the other children in their diligent war preparations.

As the smile slowly faded from my face, I took the bowstring, and fitted it to the predetermined notches on the sturdy stick, before pulling the stick backwards and making a bridge. The bowstring a line that connected the top of the stick to the bottom.

Looking over the latest creation, I tested it by pulling the string back a few times before carefully placing it on the hide that held five bows just like it.

“Two akigi left… I hope this works.” I muttered.