Chapter Three - Deliverance

Caera and Takeri meet an old Medicine Woman and learn of a country offering refuge to the Lataeri people.

Caera kept his breathing perfectly even, with one eye closed and arm muscles tensed. He pulled back the string of his bow slowly, tentatively. After aiming perfectly, there was a violent whiz and snap as he let the arrow fly and it pierced the small dear directly in the heart. With a whoop he chased after it, leaping over rotted stumps and ignoring the sting of branches hitting his face. The deer dropped after about fifty feet, and was dead when it hit the ground. Caera stood above his kill proudly. He promptly tied a leather thong around its back legs and began the arduous task of dragging it back to the river, where Takeri was waiting.

 

The brothers had survived off of the small fish of the river for several days, but they couldn’t catch enough to sustain both of them. Caera, his hunger getting the best of him, succeeded in making a crude bow and arrow set. The ravenous burn in his stomach made his senses sharp and his physical movements catlike. He had only been stalking the forest, silently, for three hours before he shot the deer.

 

Takeri was waiting for him, with a small fire already burning.

 

“Wow, what a hulking beast.” Takeri commented ungratefully as Caera dragged the deer to the edge of the river. Caera replied with a glare and a shiny pebble that made direct contact with the back of Takeri’s head.

 

“You’ve no room to criticize, brother, with that measly spark under your nose.”

 

Takeri rolled his eyes. He and Caera had begun to joke again, though reluctantly. Both were suffering with the guilt of leaving their friends and family behind. Takeri’s mind constantly wandered back to what seemed like such a short time ago. Colorful and fleeting images flashed in his mind, as Koi and Maera’s voices rang in his ears. He missed them more than they thought possible. It was like a piece of him had been ripped away.

 

The security of the forest was healing both of them, however. Needing to care only for themselves, Caera and Takeri had a large amount of leisure time to explore the forest. They came across odd animals they had never even dreamt of, and sat quietly for hours observing the life. Birds with shockingly vibrant colors ornamented the treetops, tiny striped mice chewed seeds from the ground, and small yapping dogs dotted the forest. Caera and Takeri shared one thing they could not deny: they both loved this forest.

 

“I can’t believe we stayed in the desert our entire lives. We were so exposed there, what could Lokai have been thinking?” Caera said softly one day, watching as a large, yellow bug droned past his face. He was lying in the cool grass, enjoying his usual habit of observing the canopy of the forest. Takeri was silent. It still pained him to hear the names of the other tribe members. “We should have come here years ago…”

 

Takeri was quiet as he fed seeds to a small striped rodent. He was amused and enveloped by the little creature, who would approach cautiously, grab the seed, and then bounce away quickly, diving into it’s small den. Caera and Takeri became more and more awed every day as the encountered more of the forests animals, who were unusually brave. Unless the men snuck up on them, the animals were generally at ease with the presence of the brothers.

 

“Takeri…” Caera spoke, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Takeri’s violet eyes met Caera’s knowingly. “I know there’s something on your mind. Just tell me.”

 

“There’s a lot of things on my mind.” Takeri replied, a hint of bitterness on his tongue. “Greif, anger, guilt¾ shall I continue?”

 

“I know you’re angry at me for dragging you away from the fight.”

 

“It’s over, it doesn’t matter now.” The younger brother said angrily.

 

“I was acting on instinct Takeri.” Caera attempted to justify his actions to his brother, but Takeri was stubborn. Caera was worried that it would be a long time, if never, until Takeri forgave him. “I’ve been protecting you my entire life. I was there every time you were sick, and hungry, and hurt. I was the only one. You know what I would sacrifice to stop you being hacked down by an Arasin.”

 

Caera sat stubbornly, awaiting some kind of acknowledgment. Caera was not a person who enjoyed taking credit and putting himself on a pedestal; despite that, Takeri would have been dead long ago if it weren’t for his older brother.

 

Takeri opened his mouth to say something, but shut it quickly and jerked his head to the right as he heard a twig snap. Both of them held their breath and with animalistic grace became perfectly still. They could hear footsteps growing closer and closer. The steps were delicate, but loud enough to make Caera and Takeri know that the person had no intention of hiding their presence from the brothers.

 

Both were shocked as a petite woman stepped out behind a large tree. Both of their eyes widened at her appearance. Her skin was a deep bronze and shone in the spotted sunlight. Twigs and leaves tangled her hair and she had intricate body paint covering her face, arms and legs. She smiled at the boys, glowing with excitement.

 

“Mer ruk eih, mer ruk eih!” She said, waving Caera and Takeri towards her. The brothers eyed one another, and then slowly stood up to approach her. When Caera was close enough, the strange woman wrapped her small hands around Caera’s neck to bring his face close to his. She looked into his eyes for a full three seconds, and then let him go. “Aha!” She turned, and started bounding away, but stopped upon realizing that Caera and Takeri were not following her. The woman stared straight at them, and pointed to the ground in front of her with a rough motion.

 

Takeri took the first steps and followed her. She smiled, and set off again. This time, Caera followed as well, trotting to keep up with her.

 

After a few minutes of running, the trees began to thin and a strong smell of cooking meat met the trio. The woman inhaled deeply and sighed. Caera’s stomach clenched with a mixture of fear and hope. This woman’s tribe would either welcome he and his brother, or they would kill them. The girls mannerisms lack hostility, however, and he hoped for the first option.

 

They broke through the trees to find dozens of people, dressed and painted much like the strange woman. Caera and Takeri had discovered a forest tribe, but among the dark skin, Caera found two dots of white, and could not believe his eyes.

 

“Not in a million years…” Caera whispered, joy filling his entire torso. Sitting together on the edge of a tent was Maera and Amril. The instant Takeri spotted them he started running, and Caera was soon on his heels. At the commotion, Maeralooked up from his food.

 

The plate fell to the forest floor as he launched himself into the air, headed straight for Takeri. The four boys met in a tumble, acquiring amused gazes from the tribesmen and women. The reunion lasted a full six minutes until any of them were able to spew a logical sentence from their lips. Amril was the first to speak.

 

“How did you two escape? How did you get here? We thought you were dead! This is impossible!” There were tears running steadily from Maera's eyes and Amril smiled as he had not smiled his entire life.

 

“How did we how did you?” Caera was too excited to answer Amril’s question.

 

“These people,” Amril motioned to the dark men and women milling about the settlement, “they saved us. Maera and I were captured by Arasin soldiers, and they came after you and Takeri after the battle. They got off the trail, though and we ran into the tribe here. They’re like us¾ no strangers to the Arasin’s cruelty.”

 

Caera looked around, disbelieving. Tears blurred his vision.

 

“Wait.” Caera said, narrowing his eyes. “They captured you? Why?”

 

“Maera and I have been trying to figure that out for a long time. We don’t know.”

 

The thought put a knot in Caera’s stomach. The Arasin never, never took prisoners. They killed mercilessly and in cold blood only. No survivors was an idea they lived by.

 

“They seemed like they wanted Maera for a reason, though. My only theory was that they were going to use him and I as a bribe to get you out of the forest.” Amril stated.

 

Caera shook his head, deliberating silently. He looked over to Maera and Takeri, the two look-alikes grinning and shaking each other. Sometimes Caera thought Maera looked more like Takeri’s brother than himself.

 

“We’ll not worry about that yet, Caera.” Amril said, gently, putting his hands on Caera’s shoulders. “Are you hungry?”

 

Caera nodded, smiling, and the woman that had led them to the tribe walked up to the men with two plates full of vegetables, bread, and colorful fruits. Takeri took the plate greedily, wolfing the food down quickly. Caera ate his with more care, the knot still in his stomach from Amril’s news.

 

If the Arasin did not kill Amril and Maera, and had been looking for Caera and Takeri, there was something strange going on. Caera deliberated that the Arasin must want something from them, but could not begin to think what it was.

 

“Caera, we have good news.” Amril said with hesitation.

 

“Tell me.”

 

“One of the tribeswomen, the healer, knows our tongue. She has told us of a southern country that is welcoming Lataeri people. It’s called Télatourey. They have an army five times that of the Arasin. We can be safe there.”

 

Caera could not believe what he was hearing, and he looked at Amril, amazed. He didn’t want to believe something that sounded so good.

 

“Are you sure?” Caera asked.

 

Amril nodded. “She came from there.” He turned and pointed to an elderly woman that Caera had not noticed before. She was sitting behind a veil a blue smoke that was emanating from glowing embers sunk into the ground. She was a large woman, and her body was covered in beads, jewels, brooches and colorful rags. Her skin was black as night, darker than Caera had ever seen. Her most shocking feature, however, was her eyes. They stood out like jewels against her face, a sheer, pale, sparkling blue. Caera’s breath hitched.

 

“I’ve never seen anyone like her.” He breathed, momentarily forgetting his food.

 

Amril grinned at his friends reaction, and then spoke quietly.

 

“She will deliver us Caera. She can not lie— we will be free.”

 

 

Caera thought long and hard about the conversation he had had with Amril, and resolved finally to go speak to the healer herself. She was crouched in her usual spot, slowly chanting over a heavily smoking fire. It gave off a strong smell, something resembling lavender mixed with rainwater, Caera thought. He sat down quietly on the opposite side of the fire and gazed at the woman through the blue haze. He dared not interrupt her.

 

“You doubt me.” She finally said after a long while.

 

Caera was caught off guard, and stammered for a reply. “I-It’s- It’s not your fault. I’ve grown accustomed to disappointment.” He replied honestly.

 

She opened her shocking blue eyes and stared straight as Caera, as if looking through his skin and into his soul. He fidgeted uncomfortably under her intense gaze.

 

“It is natural for Lataeri living in such times. What Amril told you is true— the country I was born in and have traveled far from is offering refuge for anyone facing the cruelty of the Arasin. It is a long journey from here, however.”

 

“How long?” Caera asked.

 

“On horse back, four months. Between five and six on foot.” Something in the woman’s strange eyes told Caera she spoke the truth, but the fear in the pit of his stomach was dominating the hope. The Arasin could not be ignorant to the existence of this country. They would prevent as many Lataeri as possible from entering the free land. “You’re right, it is a dangerous journey. The Arasin stop many before they are able to cross the border. It’s up to you, Caera. How far will you go for freedom?”

Author's Note

Hope ya like it. Appreciate comments and feedback :)