The Open Book Chapter 2
1.
“There’s going to be trouble if the heads of two major houses are in my home.”
“There’s enough space. You could comfortably fit them.”
“Servants included?”
“Well…”
“Exactly. I should just tell them no.”
“Well, what should be happening is you should be there…. I know! I know, don’t look at me like that. I wouldn’t leave my girl behind, for any reason.”
Aphiwe’s eyes battled their way open only to find her face covered, not with goggles but with leather, thicker than any she’d ever felt. Her face was covered too, clean, but strong air forced itself against her nostrils. She reached for it and immediately regretted it, like a strong wind on fading embers, pain burst up, dotting her every muscle, making her grimace, creating a domino effect. She shuddered but fought through.
Aphiwe’s eyes battled their way open only to find her face covered, not with goggles but with leather, thicker than any she’d ever felt. Her face was covered too, clean, but strong air forced itself against her nostrils. She reached for it and immediately regretted it, like a strong wind on fading embers, pain burst up, dotting her every muscle, making her grimace, creating a domino effect. She shuddered but fought through.
“Aphiwe? You waking up? Mom!”
“Chuma?” She slurred out.
Rocking back and forth her hands hit upon her face. She pulled, mixing with the sway and the mask came off. Her muscles burned, pulling, recoiling against her will. They locked into place when the giant Jokai appeared, staring and using Chuma’s voice.
Aphiwe screamed her lungs out, everything thrown into her howl. The image of the Jokai stared, terrified, before it started to weep. The sunflower of bone shattered becoming fur. The tails becoming one, hugging itself. It broke apart, turning into Chuma. Orange fur, tall for her age, thin from picky eating, large eyes, wet with fright and sorrow. The door burst, literally as Thato ran through, door handle in hand. She jumped the bed, sliding on pure momentum across the sheets into Aphiwe, clinging onto her until Aphiwe’s screams faded, slowing and disappearing with her breath.
Rocking back and forth her hands hit upon her face. She pulled, mixing with the sway and the mask came off. Her muscles burned, pulling, recoiling against her will. They locked into place when the giant Jokai appeared, staring and using Chuma’s voice.
Aphiwe screamed her lungs out, everything thrown into her howl. The image of the Jokai stared, terrified, before it started to weep. The sunflower of bone shattered becoming fur. The tails becoming one, hugging itself. It broke apart, turning into Chuma. Orange fur, tall for her age, thin from picky eating, large eyes, wet with fright and sorrow. The door burst, literally as Thato ran through, door handle in hand. She jumped the bed, sliding on pure momentum across the sheets into Aphiwe, clinging onto her until Aphiwe’s screams faded, slowing and disappearing with her breath.
“Sindiswa, Roli, one of you get a doctor. Someone else, Chuma.”
Sindiswa, also orange furred slapped her husband on the head and he took off. She scooped Chuma up.
Sindiswa, also orange furred slapped her husband on the head and he took off. She scooped Chuma up.
“Are you okay?” Chuma nodded, “Do you want to go home?”
Chuma didn’t move for what must have felt like a lifetime before finally shaking her head.
Chuma didn’t move for what must have felt like a lifetime before finally shaking her head.
“Okay. She’s fine, just a little rattled, how’s Api?”
“I don’t know. She’s still breathing and is calming but her heart is beating its way out her chest. You still think a noble house should come?”
“It’s because of your care that they want to come.”
“I already risked her life on it. I’m just over excited her by having one of her friends over.”
“Don’t blame my child!”
“I’m not blaming your child! I’m blaming myself… It was my name she called out. I wasn’t the first person she saw when she woke up.”
“You have one of the most vital roles in the entire god tree, having made one of the biggest changes in your race’s history. You were going to be busy. If it had happened any other day, you might have not seen her at all.”
“I know you’re trying-”
Chuma jumped out of her mother’s hands and stepped in front of Thato, who without trying just towered over her, bone shadowed by silver muscle. Still Chuma reached out, her long tail wagging around, trying to stop her from reaching out, swatting at her wrists. Chuma withstood and despite herself. Thato pulled her in, holding both girls with arm room to spare. Chuma’s tail hid behind Chuma, not touching Aphiwe who’d stopped shivering altogether.
Aphiwe’s eyes opened and found her mother asleep next to her. She shuddered, covered in a cold sweat. Her eyes darted, but there was only her mother. What was left of the door, shifted and her breath held. A tale, unknotted was moving, picking up splinters, feeling its way forward. It held onto the most solid object it could and pulled, the object held but Chuma appeared butt first a trail of drool dragging across the floor until she stopped. Aphiwe tried to lift her head but barely any part of her moved.
Chuma jumped out of her mother’s hands and stepped in front of Thato, who without trying just towered over her, bone shadowed by silver muscle. Still Chuma reached out, her long tail wagging around, trying to stop her from reaching out, swatting at her wrists. Chuma withstood and despite herself. Thato pulled her in, holding both girls with arm room to spare. Chuma’s tail hid behind Chuma, not touching Aphiwe who’d stopped shivering altogether.
2.
Aphiwe’s eyes opened and found her mother asleep next to her. She shuddered, covered in a cold sweat. Her eyes darted, but there was only her mother. What was left of the door, shifted and her breath held. A tale, unknotted was moving, picking up splinters, feeling its way forward. It held onto the most solid object it could and pulled, the object held but Chuma appeared butt first a trail of drool dragging across the floor until she stopped. Aphiwe tried to lift her head but barely any part of her moved.
“Chuma!” she whispered, her eyes widening when it dawned on her what the girl’s tail was trying to do as it reached over the bed, tapping its way forwards.
It wasn’t a new thing. It happened.
It was why the rule was, Chuma slept on the ground with everyone else. The girl’s tail caught her ankle.
It wasn’t a new thing. It happened.
It was why the rule was, Chuma slept on the ground with everyone else. The girl’s tail caught her ankle.
“Chuma! Chuma!” she tried a little louder.
All she had to do was squeeze Chuma’s tail, it would back off.
It was all she had to do, but the embers had already started their fiery rebellion. She was stuck as her ankles were tied and Chuma’s tail pulled, dragging her off the bed and dropping her on top of Chuma, waking her up. They were nose to nose, wet black to dry silver, sharing breath.
All she had to do was squeeze Chuma’s tail, it would back off.
It was all she had to do, but the embers had already started their fiery rebellion. She was stuck as her ankles were tied and Chuma’s tail pulled, dragging her off the bed and dropping her on top of Chuma, waking her up. They were nose to nose, wet black to dry silver, sharing breath.
“Can you move?” Chuma asked.
Aphiwe shook her head as much as she could bear.
Aphiwe shook her head as much as she could bear.
“The doctor was here. They say it’s an after effect of the Jokai. But they don’t know what will happen. No one has even taken as much as you and not died.”
“Where’s”
Aphiwe had to catch her breath.
Aphiwe had to catch her breath.
“Lesa”
“She’s okay, she’s actually here. She found your bow.”
“Where.”
“The bow?”
“No,”
“Oh, she’s next door, do you want me to call her?”
For reasons unknown her heart began to flutter, not racing but tiptoeing at speed. She shook her head. Chuma’s blurry face formed a weak smile and her tail locked them together.
For reasons unknown her heart began to flutter, not racing but tiptoeing at speed. She shook her head. Chuma’s blurry face formed a weak smile and her tail locked them together.
“I was really scared.” Chuma breathed, trying to contain herself.
“All we saw was Lesanda on Bae Bae who was howling the whole time. They took Lesanda. Your mom was so quick, she called up as many people as she could to look for you. It was more people than I’d ever seen. When Lesanda woke up. She didn’t know what happened. You had Bae Bae jumping up and down and, before anyone could get ready to go. Your mom and Bae Bae took off. I stayed with Lesanda but Langa took off with her whole family.”
“She here?”
“No, she wasn’t allowed.”
“But?” Aphiwe asked, catching the look away.
“I dunno, think Langa and Sihle are scared of coming.”
“Why?”
“I dunno.”
“What does your tail think?”
Chuma pulled a face but sighed.
Chuma pulled a face but sighed.
“They don’t want to see you weaker than them.”
“What?”
“I know.” Chuma said rubbing foreheads, her fur prickling her skin.
“You’re gonna get better you know.”
“Not, sick, just sore.”
“You should tell your mom.”
There was barking outside and Chuma sat up, taking her with, which was no easy task, but there was clearly no hope of her being let go.
There was barking outside and Chuma sat up, taking her with, which was no easy task, but there was clearly no hope of her being let go.
“Aphiwe!”
It made both girls jump, her mom wide-eyed in terror immediately scooped both girls in burly arms.
It made both girls jump, her mom wide-eyed in terror immediately scooped both girls in burly arms.
“You’re awake. Oh my God, can you talk?”
“A few words at a time,” Chuma said before her tail covered her mouth.
“Does it hurt to talk?”
Both girls nodded, Chuma’s tail taking the hint and covered Aphiwe’s mouth.
Both girls nodded, Chuma’s tail taking the hint and covered Aphiwe’s mouth.
“Does it hurt to move?”
Chuma nodded.
Chuma nodded.
“Baby, it’s okay. That’s actually a good thing. They’re just sore, not dead. That’s so good. I love you so much.”
The barking grew more intense and there was a knock on the door, heavy, arrogant, frightening and angering. She could tell by the look on her mother’s face. She marched, both girls in arm, and stood and Chuma’s tail opened. There were over a dozen faces in front of her, forming two lines and at the end was a woman in bright silver skin which reflected against the torchlight, making her sparkle. She wore a fur coat, the tails held by two burly men. Upon the door opening her walk began. The pure appeal, the confidence and air of control was so deep Aphiwe was sure she’d be the size of their home by the time she reached the stairway. The line formed behind her when she reached the bottom step.
Chuma was pushed up and, on her own accord, climbed onto Thato’s head. Aphiwe couldn’t help but notice all the light around them. It was absorbing, it should have been the door but windows were open, reflecting light on the powerful woman in front of her. Aphiwe knew the custom. There was a newcomer at the door. It meant her mom, more specifically the home matriarch was supposed to pull her up the stairway for ‘safety’. Thato hesitated, taking two steps down but stopping.
The barking grew more intense and there was a knock on the door, heavy, arrogant, frightening and angering. She could tell by the look on her mother’s face. She marched, both girls in arm, and stood and Chuma’s tail opened. There were over a dozen faces in front of her, forming two lines and at the end was a woman in bright silver skin which reflected against the torchlight, making her sparkle. She wore a fur coat, the tails held by two burly men. Upon the door opening her walk began. The pure appeal, the confidence and air of control was so deep Aphiwe was sure she’d be the size of their home by the time she reached the stairway. The line formed behind her when she reached the bottom step.
Chuma was pushed up and, on her own accord, climbed onto Thato’s head. Aphiwe couldn’t help but notice all the light around them. It was absorbing, it should have been the door but windows were open, reflecting light on the powerful woman in front of her. Aphiwe knew the custom. There was a newcomer at the door. It meant her mom, more specifically the home matriarch was supposed to pull her up the stairway for ‘safety’. Thato hesitated, taking two steps down but stopping.
“Good evening, my matriarch.”
“I came to see if the rumors were true. That someone poisoned by not one but three Jokai, repeatedly survived. As I’m sure you know, a cure is beyond our wildest dreams and yet a child, from a lesser branch of the Ndlovu house had done it. I could not leave such a thing to messengers. That’s her, the one? I heard you only had one daughter, well, of blood anyway.”
She reached out.
It was her mother who recoiled but only for a moment. It was enough to make the strange woman’s eyes flash, but her mother had already flung herself forward, taking the woman’s hand.
She reached out.
It was her mother who recoiled but only for a moment. It was enough to make the strange woman’s eyes flash, but her mother had already flung herself forward, taking the woman’s hand.
“Madam matriarch. It is such an honor. To think, word of my little girl would reach, words cannot express.”
Aphiwe had never seen her mother acting so ‘jovial’, she didn’t let go, the grip so tight it caught the matriarch by surprising.
Aphiwe had never seen her mother acting so ‘jovial’, she didn’t let go, the grip so tight it caught the matriarch by surprising.
“Yes, well I glad-”
“Can I help you in? It would be such an honour.”
“Well if you insist-”
Aphiwe’s eyes widened, up the women went, nearly dropping the two men still holding the coat. In one hand, she lifted and carried her in, patting her shoulder as though she’d just been dragged across a hall.
Aphiwe’s eyes widened, up the women went, nearly dropping the two men still holding the coat. In one hand, she lifted and carried her in, patting her shoulder as though she’d just been dragged across a hall.
“Um, thank you.”
“Tis a pleasure. May I get you tea?”
“Yes, that would be best.”
“Chuma?”
Chuma jumped, backflipping of her shoulders. At that moment, three armoured women entered, making even Aphiwe gape, especially at the woman in the middle in chain mail, and was a full head taller than Thato, there was a javelin in her hand, there was also a bow that Aphiwe could barely make out. Chuma retreated, disappearing into the kitchen.
Chuma jumped, backflipping of her shoulders. At that moment, three armoured women entered, making even Aphiwe gape, especially at the woman in the middle in chain mail, and was a full head taller than Thato, there was a javelin in her hand, there was also a bow that Aphiwe could barely make out. Chuma retreated, disappearing into the kitchen.
“Remember to use the good stuff.” Thato yelled before looking back to the matriarch.
“My best is not that amazing.” She whispered almost bowing.
“I’m positive you’ll surpass my standards. You’re okay with that?”
“A Lehare child making the tea?
“But of course, she’s one of the most helpful and talented girls on the god tree.”
The matriarch smiled.
The matriarch smiled.
“That’s one of the reasons I love children. I’m already on my fifth. Try to aim for a boy, they’re rarer stock. And our family needs to collect the best, just as we do for the trees.”
They rested inside her smoker’s lounge, thick cushioned chairs, all well used and sat on. She picked a spot and sat carefully.
They rested inside her smoker’s lounge, thick cushioned chairs, all well used and sat on. She picked a spot and sat carefully.
“I’m sorry. I never got the name of your angel.”
“Her names Aphiwe.”
“Nice to meet you Aphiwe.”
She moved to shake her hand but the girl shut her eyes, burying her face into Thato’s neck.
She moved to shake her hand but the girl shut her eyes, burying her face into Thato’s neck.
“I’m sorry, sorry. Even though she survived, the effects were deep. For two weeks she was in a deep sleep and has been struggling to win back her own body. It’s why I carry her.”
Her face pressed against her mother’s large bossom she gaped. Two weeks?
Her face pressed against her mother’s large bossom she gaped. Two weeks?
“I see. And are you alone in helping?”
“Yes, her father died in the battle with Nongoma.”
This made the matriarch sigh.
This made the matriarch sigh.
“It’s a shame what those houses have tried to do to us. Stealing what we made fairly, when they could have joined. But that is a conflict, for my children to win not us.” She stopped there, looking away, thoughtfully savoring some unknown.
Aphiwe looked across to lock eyes with the matriarch who probed her, she could feel her heart start to race. Finally, it ended and shifted to her mother.
Aphiwe looked across to lock eyes with the matriarch who probed her, she could feel her heart start to race. Finally, it ended and shifted to her mother.
“I must ask. If that’s okay, about your work.
She snapped her fingers and the smallest and only of their species stepped ahead passing a book tied with metal in a manner Aphiwe had never seen. The matriarch read.
She snapped her fingers and the smallest and only of their species stepped ahead passing a book tied with metal in a manner Aphiwe had never seen. The matriarch read.
“There’s a great deal of information on you as a Grounds Keeper. You’re the youngest to ever be even considered for a promotion and judging by the overview we are given, it’s the reason you weren’t.”
She thought on this a moment.
She thought on this a moment.
“Which is, of course, is a shame. But…” she sat up, ’looking around”, “Judging from your home, most of it is, if I am correct… missing.”
Aphiwe cringed, suddenly sitting up, her every muscle tense. The matriarch hadn’t moved but behind her the larger one seemed to loom further, javelin in hand. Aphiwe’s gaze bounced to glare to glare, the muscles in her neck aching but she wouldn’t ignore the tension surrounding her.
Aphiwe cringed, suddenly sitting up, her every muscle tense. The matriarch hadn’t moved but behind her the larger one seemed to loom further, javelin in hand. Aphiwe’s gaze bounced to glare to glare, the muscles in her neck aching but she wouldn’t ignore the tension surrounding her.
“Not… that it matters, it’s just an observation. I’m good at that kind of thing, I must be if I’m to make quality selections. And…”
She got up, pulling out a random scroll from a stand, and sitting back down.
She got up, pulling out a random scroll from a stand, and sitting back down.
“You… are quality.”
She opened it to a show a detailed sketch of a Jokai skeleton. The detail was immense, there were names and symbols for every bone. Aphiwe instinctively pressed into her mother, the warmth wasn’t there. She was essentially being held up by steel beams.
She opened it to a show a detailed sketch of a Jokai skeleton. The detail was immense, there were names and symbols for every bone. Aphiwe instinctively pressed into her mother, the warmth wasn’t there. She was essentially being held up by steel beams.
“You’ve been thinking of fighting nature. Our culture doesn’t exactly approve.”
“Our way of life speaks of being partners, that means resilient, not just defensive.”
“There’s always a trade-off.”
“True and death hanging over my daughters head is no trade at all.”
“And how, may I ask, did you manage?”
“Jokai venom. I fed it to my child since birth. The smallest amounts within the boards of reason, of course. I’d read of journals where a disease at a young age could be fought. But I also believed poisons would be more preventable as with some rare diseases, where only a fraction of a fraction is needed to enter one’s blood and they will die, propagating constantly. A poison is not like a plant. It will contaminate but will not grow and change. Only the maker can change. Knowing this I took a risk, no. I decided to have faith and succeeded. Though,”
Her mother softened to a pillow and kissed Aphiwe’s temple.
Her mother softened to a pillow and kissed Aphiwe’s temple.
“It likely wasn’t a strong enough dose or wasn’t frequent enough. Either way I wasn’t going to take anymore chances with my only daughter.”
“Is it safe to assume you have, records?”
Her mother remained silent, simply looking at the matriarch to whom they were insignificant. A spec of dust, her mother standing out, becoming a spec that could blind a queen.
Her mother remained silent, simply looking at the matriarch to whom they were insignificant. A spec of dust, her mother standing out, becoming a spec that could blind a queen.
“I heard something interesting a cave inside of a tree. Silver, gold but also many scrolls, much like these. Now the silver and gold was received but no mention of a single note, no king’s message that might have been lost...”
“Yes, these are some of the most meticulous notes that have ever been written….”
“And once I retire, my child’s will be more so.” Thato said.
“Well, I can’t help but feel that what I’m going to ask next is clear.”
“Whether you can have them? For the sake of the clan?”
The Matriarch tilted her head to the side, a smirk on her face.
The Matriarch tilted her head to the side, a smirk on her face.
“That needed to be asked?”
Aphiwe could physically feel her mother retreating. She took a breath, her muscles softening.
Aphiwe could physically feel her mother retreating. She took a breath, her muscles softening.
“True enough I apologise for being presumptuous.
“It’s perfectly fine. My question is this. Are you trying to build your own house?”
Aphiwe found herself terrified. At that moment, half a dozen cups on a tray held by Chuma appeared, a large pot floating in her tail. Chuma wasn’t asked by accident. She was good at food, but there were scones, jam, bamboo butter and thin cuts of meat, freshly smoked that her mom would not bring. There was even milk! She poured and retreated when Thato reached out, snapping her fingers. Chuma lay next to them. Both girls stared at each other Aphiwe never so grateful. There was a hybrid of toughening muscle and a rise in height as she took a sip.
Aphiwe found herself terrified. At that moment, half a dozen cups on a tray held by Chuma appeared, a large pot floating in her tail. Chuma wasn’t asked by accident. She was good at food, but there were scones, jam, bamboo butter and thin cuts of meat, freshly smoked that her mom would not bring. There was even milk! She poured and retreated when Thato reached out, snapping her fingers. Chuma lay next to them. Both girls stared at each other Aphiwe never so grateful. There was a hybrid of toughening muscle and a rise in height as she took a sip.
“No. I have a house. The Ndlovu-sana house. And beyond that, this home, my daughter, her future.”
“Isn’t that hers to decide?”
“A tree’s life is its own, but it thrives by moving towards the sun that birthed it.”
This made the matriarch smile. She passed each woman a cup and pointed to the seats around her. They sat around her, backs up straight, tight lipped.
This made the matriarch smile. She passed each woman a cup and pointed to the seats around her. They sat around her, backs up straight, tight lipped.
“And that’s all?”
“I’m disappointing you.” Her mother said, lowering her head.
The Matriarch didn’t speak, her mother’s eyebrow raised.
The Matriarch didn’t speak, her mother’s eyebrow raised.
“I don’t know you, so I don’t know if I should be disappointed and the more important question is, ‘can I be disappointed?’ You’ve meticulously put years of thought into a theory, and that idea. Is something you have put so much faith into you sacrificed your only child. You deserve to and will be rewarded under the banner of the head Ndlovu house and the Ndlovu-sana house. But, where the initial formation of the thought. Fine, but watching your child…one child should not a cure make, and yet… but even then…”
She trailed there.
Aphiwe’s mind eased, unsure of what was happening until the Matriarch suddenly brought her gaze upwards. Glaring with the deadest eyes Aphiwe had ever seen, she didn’t so much as breath, she looked up to see Aphiwe’s mother’s eyes exactly the same. Sparks were almost expected to burst from the pair.
She trailed there.
Aphiwe’s mind eased, unsure of what was happening until the Matriarch suddenly brought her gaze upwards. Glaring with the deadest eyes Aphiwe had ever seen, she didn’t so much as breath, she looked up to see Aphiwe’s mother’s eyes exactly the same. Sparks were almost expected to burst from the pair.
“Even then, their should have been more time, more effort. More space to consider other means.”
“I will, happily send my motes and journals.”
“And I am sure they will be as, well written, as these. So well written that if it was me, it would have been a copy the original notes. Original notes, which would be so comprehensive that there would be notes and thoughts that no one would see. Maybe I’d just be a more questionable person. Maybe.” She said shrugging.
“Perhaps it would be best if we call it a night. We mentioned your daughter being too tired to speak?”
“Well,” She turned towards Aphiwe who’s eyes widened.
“I don’t know.” Her mother said.
“She says she isn’t tired.” Came a voice from inside her head.
Aphiwe’s eyes widened. The woman in the helmet, sitting up. She pulled the helmet off to reveal a heavily scarred face, the palest skin, white hair and pure white irises. She was, unbelieve more built than her mother and aunty. She was stunning, but there were parts of her missing, no jaw, nose and mouth. There was just skin there. It was rare to see an Abesante Cold Stepper face. Almost all were covered.
Aphiwe’s eyes widened. The woman in the helmet, sitting up. She pulled the helmet off to reveal a heavily scarred face, the palest skin, white hair and pure white irises. She was, unbelieve more built than her mother and aunty. She was stunning, but there were parts of her missing, no jaw, nose and mouth. There was just skin there. It was rare to see an Abesante Cold Stepper face. Almost all were covered.
“You’re a reader?”
The women nodded.
The women nodded.
“My name is Liyema. I am the Matriarch’s head of security.”
“And confidential conformant.” Thato said.
“You know you said that out loud, right?” Liyema said.
Thato grinned, “Did I?”
The Matriarch burst out laughing.
The Matriarch burst out laughing.
“I brought her, for fear of your daughter being unwilling to speak.”
“Is there a means for Liyema to speak to my child alone?”
The Matriarch turned to Liyema, who sat up, sinking a bare finger into her tea,
The Matriarch turned to Liyema, who sat up, sinking a bare finger into her tea,
“That’s very good. You know your Abesante technology. There are an incredible few who can isolate their voices in a crowd, none at my age. Also, what could I say to your daughter that she wouldn’t say to you? Is there any threat that could be made that would be believed? You should be proud.”
Her mother sighed, stroking the girl’s hair.
Her mother sighed, stroking the girl’s hair.
“You have me there…”
3.
Before Aphiwe knew it she was surrounded, on her mother’s lap. Chuma on her mother’s shoulders.
“I’m scared.” Liyema said, blasting out words that had yet to solidify in Aphiwe’s mind.
“I wish, Lesanda was here, she needs to see this.”
The Matriarch coughed awkwardly.
The Matriarch coughed awkwardly.
“Yema. Maybe, be a little discerning.”
“Sorry marm.”
“It’s fine, shall we begin?
And so, it began, Liyema recited the day. The morning, mother making a ‘heavy breakfast’, extra bacon, along with honied bacon, extra cheese, tea in a grown-up mug and then Lesanda showed up, there was to be a practise for the next archers game before the next Archers practice, which would be with the rest of the girls before finally fire walking with the girls and the boys from the chain makers.
And so, it began, Liyema recited the day. The morning, mother making a ‘heavy breakfast’, extra bacon, along with honied bacon, extra cheese, tea in a grown-up mug and then Lesanda showed up, there was to be a practise for the next archers game before the next Archers practice, which would be with the rest of the girls before finally fire walking with the girls and the boys from the chain makers.
“And what does this matter.” Her mother asked.
The Matriarch sat up tilting her head staring.
The Matriarch sat up tilting her head staring.
“Every detail matters. Upon looking at the cave work in the Jokai lair. Theories have grown that the hunting patterns may be deeper than what were actually thought, for all we know your daughter and her friend have been stalked for a week. And yet, there appears to be a divergence in the routine. So the Jokai may have been passing through. Which would explain why there were multiple.”
“You’re getting ahead of the tale.” Liyema said.
Both women shut up.
Liyema winked, Aphiwe realized, despite her lips being sealed how loud she could be and let a weak smile escape. There were still so many questions.
How scary was the matriarch? How scary was Liyema? But most important, how scary was her mother and how were people so drawn in? Why did she matter so much?
Both women shut up.
Liyema winked, Aphiwe realized, despite her lips being sealed how loud she could be and let a weak smile escape. There were still so many questions.
How scary was the matriarch? How scary was Liyema? But most important, how scary was her mother and how were people so drawn in? Why did she matter so much?
Entry for WorldEmber 2019
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