Varied Stories:
29
DEC/20
New Chapter: Raam on Fire
Pakku heads back to Raam:
Pakku watched the horizon. As a Flying Guard he knew to watch the sky as well. He positioned himself on a dune ridge just above the camp. It was his turn to be on watch. He was mostly under the sand. He had created a hidey hole in the same way the desert thugs do. A thick tarp was propped over a small dugout. He covered the top with sand to disguise it. He was one of the best among the guards at making these hiding spots. Even his own companions often couldn’t find him.
Behind him he could hear the Pegasi moving around. They were being placed in a large tent to protect them from the hot dry sun. They had decided to camp for the bulk of mid-day. They could travel during the day without issue, but it was easier on them and their mounts to rest through mid-day. The mounts were moving around way too much. Pakku wished they would stop shuffling around. That movement could draw in a great worm. Pakku wanted them to calm down.
As Pakku scanned the horizon and sky he started to smell lunch. His watch would be over soon. He would be relieved and eat. Lunch would be welcomed by his stomach even if it was not going to be by his mouth. It was Badnik’s day to cook. He was the worst among the squad. Pakku wondered if being named after Badna himself made him just evil enough to cook terrible food. Maybe the Black essence of Tiamat hates food. It did not matter, it was Badnik’s day and Pakku would suffer that meal like the others.
The shadows started to shift. Pakku drew his daggers. Initially he presumed someone was coming up on his position from behind. The squad knew to whistle as they moved. They sounded like small birds. The shadow continued to move. It was all the shadows. Pakku started to move so he could pounce. The shadow movement could not be just one person, but many. He tweaked his head to listen. One person might be able to sneak up on him, but a group never could. All he heard was his squad, “What the hell is that?”
Pakku peaked his head out. He looked up to the sky. The sun was rolling backward through the sky. In his head her heard words. This reminded him of Mar’iya. He had the ability to speak within other’s mind. Pakku hated it. It always felt like a violation. This was bigger and more powerful. For some reason it did not feel like a violation. It felt calming and made Pakku feel slightly safer. The words boomed as if they were intended for others, “You may control the night, but it is not night. I control the dawn again.”
Pakku jumped out of his location and watched the sun roll back to the mornings dawn. The sun stopped for a moment and the day restarted. Pakku thought to himself, “The day of two Dawns.” This seemed like so much of that stuff Oni always talked about. Oni had never talked about a day with two dawns, but he talked about how the dawn was about rebirth and renewal. Something was reborn this dawn, this second dawn.
By the time the second dawn started to move forward again the camp was in chaos. Pakku had been so within his own thoughts that he did not see, but Badnik had drawn a dagger and tried to stab one of the mounts. He had moved in to kill it for some reason. The mounts had all worked together and kicked Badnik to death. The other guards saw what happened. They were removing all of Badnik’s gear. Pakku did not like his food but could not think of a reason he would attack the mounts. Maybe fear.
The squad was breaking down. Commander Sandini yelled up to Pakku, “Keep watch while we break camp. We are going to rush back to Raam.” Pakku rarely wasted moisture on words and just nodded a yes back to his commander. He stayed on watch but broke down his hidey hole as he did. Pakku had never seen his squad so panicked. If this was happening here, what was going on in Raam. He looked out to the north hoping to see it.
They did not even eat lunch as camp was cleaned up. Sandini yelled out for the team to have food, “Make sure you grab some hard tack for the flight back to Raam.” Pakku knew they were going to fly hard towards Raam. Under normal situations they were two days out, but if they push it, they would be in Raam today. Pakku thought about all his friends. Oni, Mar’iya and his former tribesmen. He wondered all of sudden what happened to Selise. He thought he saw her once in Raam but he could not know for sure. He thought about his new friends, Niki, Wink and the others. He hoped they were okay. They should be in the clubhouse by now.
Pakku ran down the sand dune, jumped onto his mount and took flight. He was the last to launch that morning. It was the job of the one on watch to guard the overs into the air and be the last to join them. He hated being the first to land but liked being the last into the air. Once up and with the others he finally placed his crossbow into its saddle bag. He pulled out a small chunk of hard tack and started to sweat it in his mouth. He would slowly chew this chunk for the next half hour.
They pushed hard. They passed several oasis’ under conflict. These had been very peaceful places just the day before. They were in total chaos now. It looked like half the people were attacking the other half. Supplies were burning. During the new mid-day, they had to stop. They found an oasis that was currently calm. Pakku was the third to land. He came down. It was calm now, but it had been chaos. They were six people resting in the shade of a big palm. They did not even move as the squad landed. They were covered in blood. Ten people laid dead around the oasis. Pakku could tell they were in shock. He waited on his mount until given orders
Sandini: “Pakku, check on those people. Karnd take the mounts to the water.”
Karnd: “Yes Sir.”
Pakku: “You got it.”
Sandini: “What!”
Pakku: “uh sorry, Yes Sir.”
Pakku jumped from his mount. Karnd grabbed the reins and led the mount over to the water. Pakku slowly approached the people. He had one kind hand out in front of him. His other was behind for balance and to be close to his dagger. He was not sure if he was in danger. He wanted to approach with kindness, but ready to defend himself. Sandini liked using Pakku for these tasks. Pakku could sound kind as he approached but with this smallest movement a dagger can be out and fighting. Pakku hated it. He liked to fight from a hidden location. This placed him at risk. He had seen too many friends die in close combat and stayed as for from it as possible.
Pakku approached: “Are you all okay?”
One human spoke: “No”
Pakku: “what happened here?”
The human: “Not sure. The sun moved. It became a new dawn.”
Pakku: “Yes, a second dawn.”
The human: “about half our group just went crazy. They pulled weapons and started to attack.”
Pakku: “you defended yourselves.”
The human: “We killed them. We killed them all.”
Pakku in a calm voice: “you defended yourself. You are okay now.”
The human: “really?”
Pakku: “you are safe now.”
The human: “My wife was one of them. I killed her with our unborn child.”
Pakku had no answer for him. He padded him on his shoulder. He backed away, making sure to keep an eye on them until he was back to where Sandini was standing. He was taking this time to brush his mount. It was good to make sure you treat your mount well. Pakku came up to him but waited to be talked to. Pakku was knew to the Flying Guard command structure and still learning about it. He knew he should not speak until his commander told him to speak. Sandini slowly turned to look at Pakku. Pakku stood at attention. This was what Sandini wanted, for his men to treat him as their superior.
Sandini: “report.”
Pakku: “they killed each other. Some went crazy like Badnik and attacked the others. I think we should hurry to Raam. Sir.”
Sandini: “thanks for the advice, next time keep it to yourself unless I ask for it.”
Pakku: “Yes Sir.”
Sandini waving the squad in: “water and brush your mount.”
Pakku: “Yes Sir, should we do anything with them.”
Sandini: “Did I tell you we were doing anything for them. No.”
They watered the mounts, ate a quick lunch and took flight. Pakku could tell his mount was struggling a little to stay high in the air. The strange second dawn had laid a cool wind across the desert. It was not hardly noticeable, but the heat waves that helped keep them afloat were gone. Once in the air the Pegasi could fly with very little effort, but not today. Pakku looked across the entire squad and all of them were having the same problem. Their normal crisp formation was off. Sandini grumbled orders all day about the sloppy formations. He either did not notice the change or simply did not care.
As Raam came into view smoke cones could be seem. As they approached closer, fires could be seen all over the city. The smell of oil and burning flesh became strong in the air. Sandini ordered that they all cover their mouths with a cloth. Pakku shifted his bolts to a become easy to grab. They came from the south side of town, but they turned and approached from the east. Sandini was from house Whitehall and wanted to check on their main house.
As they flew over the main wall, chaos could be seen all over the city. Pakku instinctively pulled his crossbows from their holders. He was going to be ready to fight. They flew over the main Whitehall house. The Black Guard had made barricades in the street. There was a small battle raging. Slaves and Townsfolk were attacking the two groups of guards. They were in serious risk of being overrun.
Sandini flew up to Pakku, “Get on that building down there and give them cover fire.” Pakku looked down. It looked like a suicide mission. Sandini looked at him directly, “I know what it looks like, but you are the best shot with those things. We are going to the barracks and see how we can help.” He flew around to the over side Pakku, “once done head to the barracks.” Pakku did not shift his mount.” A stern look came across Sandini’s face, “that is an order.” Pakku moved the reins and his mount started to dive. To Pakku’s horror some bolts and arrows came flying his direction.
He and his mount had practiced this move. He had his backpack on, two hand crossbows and 25 bolts. His mount dove towards the roof. It pulled up and stopped in mid-air for just a second. During that second Pakku leaped off and rolled as he hit the roof. His mount continued beyond the roof and took flight. That moment of stoppage would hardly be noticed by anyone else. He landed perfectly. He came to his feet and watched as his beloved friend made it back into the air. He looked back to see Sandini diving down his direction. He never slowed but dropped a bundle right next to Pakku as he took flight again.
Pakku grabbed the bundle. Sandini had left him another 40 bolts. Pakku loaded his crossbows and headed to the edge of the roof. From this spot he could support both groups of soldiers. He looked down and was not sure who he should shoot. Who were the right ones here? His orders were to defend the guards, but they protected the nobles. They protected those that oppressed the masses. His orders were clear. The house looked secure. One of the guards stepped back from the other guards. Pakku could see several guards that had been killed by the other guards. He looked over and saw many of the townsfolk fighting among themselves. Chaos was on both sides.
The guard continued to step back. He shook his head. Pakku could see some change in that guard. The panic that had been on his face drained away. It was filled with anger. His eyes seemed darker. He looked at the two guard groups defending their small position. He moved forward to stab one in the back. His sword moved back to swing down. A crossbow entered his back and protruded from his chest. He looked down only long enough to know he was dead, or about to die. He fell dead.
Pakku saw the crowd differently. He did not defend the guards as much as remove the traders in the groups. He sought out those that attacked their own kind and started to kill them. They mostly appeared on the town side, so he was following his orders. Ever once and while he saw a guard turning on his own friends and took him out. He shot bolt after bolt. Within minutes he was down to his original 20 bolts. He knew it was time to move. If he was going to make it back to the barrack, he needed some of his bolts. With his help the guards re-enforced their own position.
Pakku ran. He leaped from his current rooftop on to another one. He continued to run leaping from roof to roof for several blocks. He found a good spot to head down to the street. He started to move towards the barracks. He worried about his friends that were likely in the clubhouse, but he had orders and it was not time to disobey. It was not time to disobey yet. using the alleys as much as possible he made his way back to the barrack. By the time he reached it, he had used all of his bolts. He had to switch to his daggers. He entered the barracks to find it in chaos as well. They closed the main entrance as he ran in. He heard the great beam slam into place, barring the door.
Sandini and his fellow fliers were taking care of the mounts. They were gathering supplies as if they might need to leave forever. Sandini was giving them orders. Pakku ran up and stood still until Sandini came to him.
Sandini: “I am glad you made it. How is house Whitehall?”
Pakku: “They were holding their own when I ran out of bolts.”
Sandini: “We are preparing to fall back to the outer barrack. Just in case.”
Pakku ran to gather supplies and gear up his mount. He made sure to resupply his lost bolts. He grabbed extra, just in case.
Nikini Quintus (new Character):
Niki lounged on a set of through pillows. He was in his room with the door locked. He had his one family heirloom. It was the one thing he could grab. If the Tri-king had known about it, he would be dead just like his grandfather. It was a book to some against god called Selune. He was never sure how it was possible for this to be true. Why would the Tri-king and the priests of the Five be so afraid of it, if it was not true? He read this book almost every day. He could barely understand the meanings behind the prayers and blessings. His grandfather believed in this and many other gods. He read it to be closer to him more than anything else.
Niki remembered staring at his soon to be dead grandfather. He wanted to run out and save him, but he could not. His grandfather, Artellius Quintus was tied to a pole. They placed a wetted wool robe on him. It was going to be a long burning death. The Tri-king wanted the screams to warn others. All of Artellius’ books had been piled all around him. He would be burned by his own books. The smell of oil was everywhere. They had Artellius tied to that pole all day, making him watch as his funeral pyre was constructed around him.
They made him wait all day. The fires at night were more spectacular. Niki had grabbed a few possessions and one book. The very book he was reading today. His mother stood next to him. She had convinced him that it would be safer for him to travel to Raam. She had a cousin there and hoped she would house him for a short time. As the family they had to take a place on the stage. His mother, Father and several other family members had to start the fire that would kill their patriarch. They had all seen this in the past and knew anyone that refused would be killed. Artellius knew this and never cursed any of them.
Two men walked up to the podium on the small stage. The Grand Inquisitor stepped further out and began to speak to the crowd. Niki tried to look down but kept looking at the second man. He knew this templar. They all knew this templar. Lord Vashir Tenewrath, stood feet from Niki. Could he charge across and kill that monster before he gained control. Niki had heard he could read thoughts, so he filled his mind with hate for him. He thought about his desires to kill him, but his fear of action. He knew he would die. Vashir smiled from one end of his mouth and thought to Niki, “go for it. If you dare.”
The Inquisitor Spoke: “You Artellius Quintus have been found guilty of For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. You are now FUCKed. You will be burned until your death. May the screams of your crimes convince others to avoid suck dangerous activities. As your library was so immense, we are going to burn your family’s homes to the ground and exile them.”
This was unusual. In four or five places around the city fires burst into the sky. Niki knew his home was burning. Artellius’ face had its first reaction. With this news he seemed sad. He was not afraid of his fate but forcing his entire house into exile and likely slavery was more than he had wanted. A tear rolled down his face. The Inquisitor raised his hand and Niki’s family set the books a flame. Artelius’ eyes found Niki and he mouthed, “it is all true.”
Niki made his way off the stage. He wanted to place as much distance between Balic and Raam.
Do to the moist woll vestments they placed on Artellius, he suffered for 20 to 30 minutes before his last breath. He never cried out. He suffered in his own silence until his death. The smell of oil and burning flesh filled the city.
As Niki read the book, knew understandings flowed into his mind. A connection of power came into him. The book had been in tatters as he had read it a thousand times. Many had read it before him. The book barely held its pages. Niki reached out to pray to Selune. He felt connected for the first time. He quietly prayed, “please great Selune, fix your book.” The book mended itself and became the book it was several thousand years ago. It held the pages like it did on it first day again. It still looked worn, but it was whole again.
Niki picked up the book. He stashed it in his backpack and stepped up to the window. The sun had been up for several hours. It was starting to heat up his room. Her Ladyship Meshah Gardiward had given him a small room, but it was shaded most of the morning. It was a very cool room most of the day. She had been amazingly kind to Niki. Giving him a room. The only cost was the stories he would tell her. She wanted every detail of the Tri-King and his agents like Vashir. He went into great detail about Vashir. It hurt as he told the stories.
Niki had been free to move about the house, most of the time. He could come and go as he pleased. Again, most of the time. Right before he met Pakku, her Ladyship had asked him to stay in his room. He was brought food and drink as he needed, but it was a cell for a short time. The window and small patio were on the third floor making it nearly impossible to leave. He had been treated so well up to that point he ignored the disgrace. All he heard from the slave was that her Ladyship had two guests. Once they left, he was free again. She never explained and he knew it was not wise to ask. He noticed that her favorite guard Sora and court Psion David were both gone. None of the slaves really understood.
He looked up to the Sun. It rolled back to the dawn. Niki wondered if he should be afraid. He was not. This seemed to be the sign Pakku had talked about. Pakku was a young flying guard that he met in the marketplace. Pakku was a great drinking friend. They both placed Five-Dice. They often played as partners with others in whatever tavern they were in. Pakku was not in town a lot. When he was the two of them hung out.
Pakku had after some time convinced Niki that change was coming. He told Niki about the heroes of the desert that were going to bring life back to the them. Niki had heard stories like this his whole life. His grandfather had talked the same way. His grandfather’s stories always seemed like change in the far-off future, that would bring the gods back. Pakku’s stories were more concrete, more present. He never named these heroes, but he talked like he knew them. Niki closed his eyes and felt Selune with him. Pakku was correct, the change was now.
Niki grabbed his stuff. Ever since fleeing Balic he always had a bag ready to go. Even when he traveled into the marketplace he took his bag. Someday he might come to the Gardiward house and it would be burning. He headed down the stairs and out the main entrance. The Gardiward guards were locking the door. They knew him well. One of the guards warned him as he left. He looked up to the sun that had moved back to a second dawn, “Once out of the house, I am not sure we can let you back in.” Niki smiled to the guard, “No worries my friend. I will make do.” Niki knew he would be able to get in. His patio was nearly impossible to get in, but he had spent the last month making it easier. He had made little secret hand holds. Only he knew the path. With those thoughts Niki was given a new set of thoughts. He knew this to be Selune, “you will not be back today.”
Niki ran out into the street. He heard an explosion off in the distance. That was the first of many that would happen that day. He looked up to smell the air. It was filled with smoke. He could not see it, but he could smell smoke in the air. This was just like the day his grandfather died. As he ran, he started to cough from time to time. Breathing in the smoke while running was becoming hard. He knew many were going to be killed and harmed this day.
Chaos was in the streets. People were moving in every direction. Guards were out in force trying to maintain the peace. They were not doing a good job. They were likely making it worse. Niki wanted to make it to what they called the clubhouse. He turned a corner and saw a woman holding her child. The child, a little girl had been knocked down and trampled a little. She was unconscious. She did not look good. Niki could see even in her mother’s arms her breath was becoming slow and rare. He walked over to her. He had remembered a prayer of health and laid his hands upon the little girl. Life poured into her. She opened her eyes. The mother looked at Niki with shock. He smiled towards them with his kindest smile, “Tell no one.”
Niki turned a corner away from the market. He entered a well shaded alley. He moved from the chaos of the market into an almost complete quiet of the alley. He checked behind himself to see if anyone had followed him. No one was there. He moved into the old sewer. It had not worked as a sewer in generations, but it was a great place to find small safe places to hide and train. Pakku had one and shared it with Niki. In the clubhouse they would often train. He loved sparring with him. They practiced other skills down here as well. Pakku would just tell him that he needed to be ready. Ready for what was never clear, until today.
He slipped into the clubhouse. He had hoped Pakku was there, but he was not. He knew to wait here for him and the others to arrive. He thought they might be leaving the city soon. He started to gather supplies. They had been gathering travel gear and supplies for months. He made sure his waterskin was filled and placed some rations in his pack.
Oni, David, and Mar’iya Heading back to Raam:
They ran. They ran until they could not run anymore. Oni and David had dirt streaks all over their faces. They had both cried until no more liquid came from their eyes. Only the dust from the desert left in streaks make it clear what had happened. Mar’iya did not cry. He was stoic and processing his and their next move. In this state he was the one thing that might keep them alive today. David and Oni were spent. Only taking commands at this point.
Mar’iya told them to stop. They did, panting in the heat of the day. Mar’iya told them to drink and eat something. David and Oni just followed his commands. Mar’iya knew he might need to tell them when to pee. He was panting as he spoke, “wait here. I will be right back.” Mar’iya left them standing in the sand, as he ran over the last dune. He came back after about ten minutes hiding their tracks. He took out his water and drank as much as he could. He needed to think if they were going to survive today. Tomorrow will be tomorrow he just wanted to survive today. A god was now tracking them.
Mar’iya: “okay, for here on for the rest of the day we move slower.”
David and Oni did not respond, they just nodded. Mar’iya felt alone even with his best friends within feet.
Mar’iya: “Oni, you lead that way. Walk about an hour and stop. Keep your eye to the horizon. David, you follow Oni and try to use his very footsteps. We need to make little in tracks. I will follow and clean up what tracks we make. Move slow and steady.”
David and Oni still in shock mostly just stared at Mar’iya, “go!” They started to move into the desert sand again. Mar’iya used everything that Leo had taught him. He had Oni lead, but he readjusted them every hour. They were heading to Raam. Mar’iya was not sure how far it was. He hoped they could get there in a couple of days. They had food and water for ten days. Beyond that they were in trouble. They had to move during the day now and that would use their supplies fast.
Mar’iya stopped them hours before dusk. He was needing to do everything for these two. He felt like Oni had saved him so he could save Oni now. The three had stopped, just like Oni was commanded. He stood there in his own footsteps, making no new tracks. Mar’iya came up to them wiping all their tracks as he did. He looked at the two of them, still just standing. He had hoped the forced march through the desert would have fixed them, but he was still alone with the three of them. His thoughts went out to Naga. He mourned for him. He knew that David was mourning Sora, and Oni was mourning Selise. He decided to think about Naga. He deserved mourning as well. He had given everything he had, for them. Mar’iya wondered if they should go back and find the vampires, Sora and Naga and give them peace. Mar’iya would think about Naga the entire day.
Mar’iya: “Oni. David. Go up on the dune ridge. Dig out sand big enough for the three of us to sleep. I want you to dig it out about two feet deep. Now go.
Oni and David moved to the ridge and started to move the sand. They both dug out the sand. Mar’iya told them to stop digging. He started to setup their camp. He used the purple worm plates and thick tarp to form a cover over their dugout section. He had them roll out their bedrolls. He gave them both water and little food. He ended up staying up much of the night on watch. Neither of them was fit for a watch. David and Oni ate, and curled into balls for sleep. Mar’iya needed some sleep too.
He hoped this would work, “Herman can you come out and do the watch.” Oni’s little friend came crawling out of Oni’s sleeve. He did not know if the little creature knew what he wanted but he had to take the chance. He looked at the little beetle, “Herman, I do not know if you understand but I need you to take most of the watches tonight. Please keep an eye out and hum loudly if something comes.” He could not tell if he understood. As he drank water and ate a little food, he continued to talk to the little bug for hours before finally going off to sleep.
Oni woke. David and Mar’iya were still sleeping. Herman Was sitting on the sand just on the edge of their dugout. Oni could not remember how he got here. Herman slowly walked over to Oni, grabbed his own piece of dung and headed into his sleeve. The only thing his tired little mind told Oni as he did was, “finally.” Oni would figure that out later. He took in several breaths and stepped out of the dugout.
Oni felt physically drained. His body barely moved as he moved out into the light. He was dry. His eyes hurt as if they were filled with dirt. Selise had turned on him. His heart seemed to pump clumps of thick blood through his body. Even Herman did not talk to him. He walked several steps from the dugout. No one was one watch. Oni scanned the horizon. Looking for threats. Above all he looked for the White Rider. If she was here, he knew they were dead.
After making sure they were safe, he sat in the sand. His staff started to feel warm as he laid it in his lap. His breath became calm. He started to meditate for the dawn. He had to cleanse his soul. He brought in his breath through his nose. His ki came in with each breath. He washed this ki through his body. His heart was weak and in pain. He surrounded it with this fresh ki. He pushed the dirty ki with breath out through his mouth. His attachments with the ground were broken. He stretched out his mind’s eye. He was searching for his new self. His breath came in stronger. He could no longer feel the ground below him.
The Dawn entered his body with his breath. He could feel the dawn like never before. He was in pain. He knew the Morninglord had tried to warn him. He started off angry as much as hurt. His thoughts went to, “why did you not tell me.” As the dawn and his breath entered his body he started to understand. He was not even willing to hear the warning. He would have never heard the truth. The truth had to come to him as he understood it. He knew some of the truth now. Selise had been corrupted and she had let the corruption happen. His very sister had been on the other side. He hoped he would not be faced with her again.
He was stronger. He reached out to his two friends, feet away. Mar’iya was in pain but was going to be okay. David had been destroyed. Oni tried to give him strength. They would need each other if they were to survive. He reached out with his ki. He started to force it in cycles through David. He was now forcing healing ki from himself to another person. As if David was connecting to him, he felt a connection with David. He could never make him forget Sora, but he could console him. David had been hurt as much as Oni. This quest has a terribly cost on those that survive.
The dawns prayers came to him. He felt them flow through him. He could understand the words but not the meaning. He needed to write these down. He needed to make them available for others. He now had a new quest among the many quests. He would use the empty sections of his book to write them down. He would create the first book of Lathander in over 2000 years. Next to the prayers was a message. It entered his mind, but the message was for him, and not a prayer for all followers. “Let them be reborn.”
Oni opened his eyes. The dawn was glowing through him. The staff was a glow in his lap. He moved his hand up and light glowed from it. He was the dawn. He was reborn. He started to hear David and Mar’iya stiring behind him. It was time to move. Oni did not feel healed, but he felt better. Strength had reentered his body. He stood and walked over to the dugout. David opened his eyes. Oni could still see his pain. He looked better and stronger. David looked up to Oni, “do you have some water.” It was good to see David wanted the life-giving liquid of the desert. Oni smiled as he handed him a waterskin. Oni thought they would be okay.
Oni grabbed some food. He pulled his book out of his pack. Mar’iya started to sweep the sand from the top of their tarp, “what are you doing, we need to break down camp.” David drank, like had not had anything to drink the day before. Oni looked up, “I must write these before they leave my mind.” He started to write, “can you and David break down camp.” David with his mouth mostly full, “yeah, we can do that.” Mar’iya seeing that Oni was taking care of some other task started to undo the tarp.
David and Mar’iya broke down the camp. David was feeling better but still not good enough to talk. They worked without saying hardly a word. As they placed the final pieces in their backs Oni closed his book. He moved it into his pack and faced towards the sun, “I guess we had to Raam.”
David still not speaking a lot: “what’s in Raam.”
Mar’iya: “your freedom.”
Oni: “and her freedom too. We need to buy Soro’s and Naga’s freedom.”
David: “they deserve to be free in their death.”
Oni: “we should bring freedom to many others too.”
David: “any idea what is next?”
Oni: “No. but I feel it will be revealed in Raam.”
Mar’iya: “the next gem, freedom, protection. These will all be revealed in Raam.”
Oni: “I do not know what it will look like, but it is there. This is all starting now, and we need to help it start.”
Mar’iya: “we have a hundred other things to do in Raam as well. We will need to do them all. We can talk and make plans as we go.”
Oni: “we can not do all this alone. We need others.”
Mar’iya: “of course, and we need to learn to trust some.”
They started to head north towards Raam. Mar’iya now took the lead. Oni took the last position in the group. He cleaned up their tracks as they headed out. Oni marched. Hours turned to days as they moved towards Raam.