Chapter Seven
Journeys
Six weeks of tongue kissing had made a difference. For the past two weeks Iris had called me ‘the master’, and Annie had bugged us both to try find out why.
‘Mum, do you know?’
‘I can guess,’ she winked, making me choke on my potato.
‘Tell me,’ she whined.
‘One day you’ll experience it yourself.’
‘Over my dead body.’ I muttered, making Mum laugh.
‘Your hair’s getting long; you’ll need it cut soon.’
‘I like it this way,’ I complained, ‘I’m sick of having it really short.’
‘It’s better in this weather.’
‘You have long hair,’ I pointed out, ‘And besides, it’s still barely enough for a decent fringe.’
‘Oh,’ she said, her voice teasing again. ‘Does a certain person like to run a hand through hair?’
My face heated up and I looked stubbornly at my plate.
‘If you like it this way it’s fine, sweetie.’
The front door slammed shut and Father entered, staring at us in disbelief.
‘You didn’t wait for me?’
‘Darling, be reasonable, I waited an hour longer to start cooking. Your food should still be warm.’
Father grabbed his plate, grumbling, ‘barely luke-warm.’ As soon as he sat down, his food was forgotten.
‘I have an announcement to make.’ He waited until we’d all reluctantly stopped eating before continuing. ‘Our family have been granted an incredible honour from Arŕ Wel. My Lord Ignatius has bestowed on me the duty to return to Aneller and prepare for the next immortal’s birth.
‘Although the birth won’t happen in our lifetime, our family have been chosen as the guardians of this ceremony. Dimitri may have failed to serve Ignatius directly, but he can still have honour.’
No one spoke for a whole minute; just stared at Father’s smiling face.
‘Dear…move?’ Mum spoke at last, ‘When? And why? Dimi and Annie have always lived here, I have always lived here. Aneller doesn’t have the same lifestyle.’
‘No, it doesn’t,’ Father said, ‘Those two have grown up spoilt.’
‘But-’
Move? I thought, trying to steady my breathing,
‘Dimitri and I are going. No arguments. You could act like a more respectable wife there, instead of working.’
‘I work because we need the money.’
‘Annie’s so smart she could be a teacher for the little boys until she’s old enough to marry,’ he continued, ignoring her. ‘It’s perfect! What is Dimitri going to do with his life here? He’s worthless to these people.’
Move and be trapped on an island, serving immortals forever? My children, trapped, their children…
‘Dimi! What’s wrong?’ Annie asked, shaking me. I felt nauseous.
‘C-can’t breathe,’ I wheezed, clutching at my chest. I couldn’t see properly. Not enough air. Not enough space.
‘Dimi!’ Mum’s voice. Someone touching my hand. I pulled away, falling.
My pillow felt soft, and I was comforted for a few moments. Then I remembered and had to open my eyes.
Lennie’s face slackened with relief. ‘How do you feel?’
‘Tired.’
‘Do you still feel scared?’
I frowned and shook my head. I tried to sit up, but flopped back down. ‘How did you know?’
‘Your mother explained, wanted my informal medical advice.’ He put a hand to my chest, ‘Can you take a deep breath for me?’
I did so without any trouble.
‘Your mother said this has happened before, since you began leaving the house.’
I looked away, biting the inside of my mouth. ‘W-what’s wrong with me?’
‘Don’t worry,’ he smiled for reassurance, ‘It’s just anxiety over the changes in your life.’ He turned, rummaging in his straw bag. ‘I’m going to give you this special herbal tea. It will help you relax. If you ever feel an attack coming on drink some, okay?’
I managed a weak nod.
‘Two small spoonfuls only, remember that.’
Mum entered as soon as Lennie stood up from the bed. He handed her the clear package full of grey powder.
‘Thank you,’ she said, her face stained with tears.
‘Let me know if you need anything,’ Lennie said, leaving the room.
Annie charged in, wrapping her arms around my neck and bursting into tears.
‘I thought you were dying!’ She sobbed.
‘I’m fine,’ I said weakly, ‘Just tired.’
Father came in, looking at Annie’s weeping form. His gaze landed on Mum, accusing. He wouldn’t even acknowledge me.
‘No one is to mention this again.’ He commanded.
Not even Mum dared talk back.
‘Are you sure you’re okay? You look pale.’ Iris said, hand going to my cheek. I was too conscious of the gazes around us to enjoy it. We were outside at the town’s entrance, family and strangers able to see.
‘I’m fine. Besides, I couldn’t miss seeing you off. You’ll be gone for ages.’
‘Only two months, it’s not long when we’re going to Tempit. It takes three weeks just to get there.’ She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. I winced at the glare Marge shot me a few feet away. ‘Besides, this holiday will be good for Mum. We haven’t spent much time together lately.’
I nodded, taking a step back. Iris knew me too well to get hurt by this, instead giving me a teasing smile.
‘I see your husband isn’t here, Lily.’ Marge said as we joined them. Iris grabbed Annie and moved a little apart with her, so I was stuck with the two mothers. ‘Off trading again?’
Mum shook her head, ‘No, he’s back to once a month with that now. Not enough profit. He spends all day at the fire caves, sometimes he sleeps there.’
‘You don’t seen too upset by that.’
Mum glanced at me; I pretended I was entranced by the mosaic floor.
‘It’s not what I’d thought it would be. He’s still obsessed with that immortal in the caves.’
‘And you plan to really move?’ Marge whispered. No one had told Iris yet.
‘I think if he leaves those caves he’ll get better, and if he doesn’t…me and the kids will come back. I have some money saved up in case.’
‘Just be careful.’ Marge hugged her. Mum laughed at how tight she held her.
‘We’re not leaving until after Dimi’s birthday. This isn’t goodbye.’
‘I promise I’ll bring you back a really pretty necklace.’ Iris reassured Annie as they came back.
‘What about you Dimi? What do you want?’
‘He’ll want beads, for the necklace he’s making.’ Annie butted in.
‘Annie,’ My face felt warm, ‘Shut up!’
‘I didn’t know you were making one,’ Iris half-teased, half-complained.
‘I doubt his father approves,’ Marge said.
I winced.
‘Well, I’ll bring you back the prettiest beads I can find.’
She gave me a quick kiss on the lips before skipping over to her mother. Marge let out a resigned sigh but said nothing more.
‘Bye everyone,’ Iris waved, as she and Marge passed under the archway.
I missed her already.
I was almost asleep when Father came into my room without knocking.
‘Good, you’re awake.’
I was thankful I was on top of the bed, not wanting to see how he’d react with me under it.
‘Is something wrong, Father?’
‘Actually no,’ he said, ‘That fellow who was here…before, the one you work for-’
I felt my face drain of all colour.
Of course, Father’s eyes…
‘I asked Lord Ignatius about him. He said he’s harmless and won’t interfere with us,’ His gaze narrowed, ‘But why didn’t you tell me?’
‘I-I…’
‘If I knew why you worked there I wouldn’t have given you such a hard time. Keeping an eye on this ‘Lennie’ can’t hurt; maybe we could even get him on our side.’
Side?
‘Good job, boy.’ He gave me an awkward pat on the shoulder and cleared his throat, ‘I’ve decided to bring you along on my next trading trip. We can pick up a good log and start those carving lessons I promised.’
My eyes swelled with happy tears.
‘Yeah, alright, don’t get all emotional,’ he grunted, heading to the door, ‘And you better bring that tea stuff, just in case.’
I felt like I’d been stabbed in the heart.
Two weeks later and I was the one at the town’s entrance being waved off.
‘For goodness sakes Lily, it’s only three days.’
‘But he’s never been away before. Look at him! He looks like he’s sleep-walking.’
‘That tea’s strong stuff. I can’t afford him to have a fit as soon as we step out of town, can I?’
‘Where does the trade route go?’
‘I can’t tell you that. Don’t you trust me to look after him?’
Mum bit her lip and said nothing. I watched, completely numb. It was a nice feeling.
‘Mum,’ I said, my voice slurred, ‘I’m fine. We need to go now.’
Mum winced and hugged me, before letting out a defeated sigh.
‘Okay, but only use one spoonful next time, okay? This can’t be good for him.’
‘Kay,’ I said, turning to go.
‘At least Annie’s at school,’ Mum muttered to Father, ‘And doesn’t have to see her brother drugged out of his mind.’
‘He’ll be fine.’ Father gritted out.
He didn’t try to get a goodbye kiss, and Mum didn’t offer one.
That day was a blur, my mind barely taking in the yellow scenery before it stepped out again. Father’s attempted conversations were met with stupid remarks, and he soon stopped.
By the time we’d set up camp for the night, my mind was clearing. I was still numb, but my brain was working again.
‘Where are we?’ I asked, Father was so surprised he almost dropped his dried meat rations.
‘Well, clearly we’re out of the desert.’ I looked and realised this was true, though it was still visible behind us. ‘It will take two days to reach Line Woods, and another half day through them to reach our destination.’
‘Line Woods, why are we going there?’
‘To trade,’ Father said, looking at me like I was stupid.
‘With who? I thought we were going to Jerbor.’
Father barked out a laugh.
‘You think we could reach Jerbor in three days?’
‘Cedron does.’
His expression darkened.
‘I told you not to mention that man again.’
I shrugged.
‘Your mother was right for once,’ Father muttered, ‘Only one dose for you tomorrow.’
By mid-afternoon the following day Father had clipped me over the ear four times for my insolence, with little effect.
‘I think it’s stupid the way you waste your money on alcohol; no wonder Mum won’t give up her job.’
‘So you do have a spine,’ Father said, trying to hide his smile, ‘I think I prefer you on this tea.’
‘You would.’
He shook his head with regret. ‘But you can’t be on it when we reach the woods, it would look bad.’
‘Drugging your child? Never.’
He clipped my ear again, enough to turn it red.
Father refused to give me the tea the next day.
‘I need to make sure you’ll be okay for tomorrow.’
I was so tense I jumped everytime our feet touched the ground. Father sighed.
‘Okay, Dimitri, I’m going to teach you a song. It’s what the Anellan priests sing in Arŕ Wel’s temple. It’s in Anellan’s ancient language. I know we haven’t had any lessons on it in a while, but you should be okay with this.’
His voice was deep, a little hoarse, as he sang:
‘Arŕ Wel lreeev Ee gŕtb, rŕnut pŕ gz
Oŕa osurbŕ elŕ ueisuroovŕ, rnubŕ larsurmo eer etlz
Grsurl pŕ pmo surarŕt rnuoi, pnufirŕ pŕ iŕo lrsuroŕ
Pnufirŕ pŕ iŕo rnuAmmo nug nu glŕa eŕl elsorte isurnuo
Oŕa pŕ rŕnut arŕeet bsureeevŕ gz surua
Oŕr surut bsureeevŕg larsureee nueov grsurua
Isurt sureerŕ Ee rŕnut arnu nueglŕtz evnuo
Ee firesurl ee leeo eŕbt inuo
Nueglŕt pŕ gsure, surut Larsurov, Arŕ wel
Nueov Ee grnuo greeeŕ oeefirŕ arŕ Anellan gue.’
‘It sounds like really bad poetry,’ I said without thinking.
Father hit me over the back of the head. Hard. I winced, flinching away from him.
‘Watch your mouth boy! This song is important to our religion. Don’t be getting too big for your boots because you couldn’t feel fear for two days.’
At first my voice quivered as I sang the lines to him, one at a time. Soon they felt so natural on my tongue I forgot my throbbing head and sang confidently.
‘You’ve a good singing voice, at least.’
I didn’t say anything. The more I sang, the more I could sense the magic behind it.
‘Appreciate it,’ Father said, ‘It’s a small power left to us by the dragons.’
‘Will you shut up!’ Father shouted, groaning, ‘I’m surprised your voice hasn’t run out.’
I stopped walking, surprised.
‘I could sing it forever, it makes me feel so-’
‘Yes, yes, I know. But it doesn’t have the same effect on others,’ he sighed, rubbing his face and starting to walk again, ‘How about a history lesson on the fire caves.’
I wrinkled my nose, but luckily Father didn’t see.
‘They used to be the home of dragons before the Great One Ignatius moved there.’
‘Dragons?’
‘They’re rarely seen now, most of them are dead. People slew many for their blood, which will heal the good and scar the wicked. Some believed killing dragons would give you the power of a dragon, but I’ve never heard of it happening. The last dragons seen were in Aneller.
‘This is why the town of Firo has its name. Firo was said to be the first, wisest and strongest dragon.’ He was pronouncing the dragon’s name different from the town. While our hot climate town was Fire-o, the dragon was Fear-o.
I shivered. Even the name sounded powerful, and it stirred the magic inside me I’d felt when singing.
‘Some believe she was the creator of our world Ombasa, and the original form of fire instead of Berthilda.’
‘What happened to her?’
‘She was the first to leave the caves when the Great One arrived, but unlike the others she never went to Aneller. She hasn’t been seen in ten thousand years…but the King thinks she’s alive, and there’s rumours that he seeks to find her and take her power.’
Father’s eyes were unfocused, full of longing. The small smile on his face was the most peaceful I’d ever seen on him.
Have you ever seen a dragon?
I opened my mouth to ask, but closed it again.
I didn’t want to ruin that smile.
Scribbled Thoughts 