Avarice Unfortunate Sons

Jilaiya

During the latter part of the day, the clouds had steadily built to mask the sky. The moon was no more than an obfuscated smudge that glowed in the heavens, and the stars were almost impossible to see. It didn't take long before the loose and often treacherous dune country became firmer beneath the animals' feet and the wheels of the heavy carts. Smallish red elevations began to appear, littered with salt bush and the occasional stunted tree that dotted the once flat terrain. As they progressed further west, the small mounds that were barely hills became a succession of larger hummocks, and they had to thread their way in between them.

The undulating landscape filled the travelers with fear. They had no idea what lay beyond each winding valley as the hills grew successively larger. Aurianne had made a deliberate bid to drive this evening. She sensed Jhary had questions, and she had hoped to avoid them by sitting in the cart with so many passengers within earshot.

To her annoyance, Jhary had sat next to her this evening. Usually, she would often turn to look at him and smile. Tonight, though, she avoided his eyes. Keeping her gaze tightly trained on Isabou's bobbing rump.

"Are you sure about this?" Jhary whispered into her ear almost inaudibly so as to not alarm the passengers.

"Yes. I am." Aurianne answered confidently, making no attempt at quiet. She wanted anyone who overheard their exchange to feel comfortable that water and relief would be in sight by morning.

Jhary's ensuing silence felt somewhat awkward to Aurianne. As he gazed at the increasingly larger hummocks that they were winding their way through. Dale, Bryn, and his warriors had gone on ahead to scout the winding track for both obstacles and potential threats. So far, though, there had been no sign of either.

Internally, Aurianne was unsettled. She knew what Kario had told her. She believed him, and yet there was this sense of nagging doubt. What if there was no river nor water to be had by dawn? She had sent them west on no more than Kario's advice, to a place she had never seen nor traveled to. Her lie bothered her, and she dearly hoped that she would not have to explain herself by morning. He had changed into a hawk, she had seen it with her own eyes! Yet doubts gnawed at her, fraying her usually calm nerves.

They had traveled some hours on their winding course. The animals were moving slowly, but at least the carts were sufficiently lightened with the depletion of most of the remaining water stores.

Aurianne looked up. It appeared that Dale was returning from the destination where they were headed. He was jogging, and by the time he reached them, he was out of breath.

"We found something. I mean someone."

There was an excited clamor from everyone in the cart and those close by who had caught Dale's breathless words.

"I hope they are friendly." Aurianne heard Jhary mutter under his breath.

The carts halted at the group of warriors who appeared to be crowded around someone or something lying in the sand. Aurianne handed off Isabou's reins to Jhary. Dropping to the ground gracefully. Curious to see just what it was that had caused all the commotion.

"Dat ain't no human." Bryn expostulated with finality. As Tobias leaned on his longbow, looking over Bryn's shoulder, wordless.

Aurianne strode up to the ring of warriors, and they parted to let her through. She was a good head taller than many of them. Dale was just behind her.

Stephan was gingerly attempting to get down from the high dray. He, too, wished to see what they had found. Anna and Lissa were assisting him. Renard, of course, being too injured to make the short walk, had to be content to remain behind.

"Here, let me," said George Hanson.

Anna stared at George for a moment. There had always been such a deep division between her husband and the lay preacher over the years. However, she rescinded her hold and stepped aside.

George took Stephan's weight, guiding him down safely and handing the elderly leader his cane.

"I know we have had many disagreements in the past, Stephan, but let us go forward together." Those were the words of reconciliation and peace, and they surprised everyone around them.

"I would very much like that, George," Stephan replied, absolute sincerity in his tone. As both men walked together toward the discovery.

Aurianne bent down to better view the tiny body that was clad in dull brown rags. Shrouded in the still warm sand. It was barely breathing. The warriors all moved aside to give Aurianne space as she inspected what appeared to be a tiny, unconscious child.

"What's a babe doing out here?" She announced with great pity, as she peeled back the child's cowl. The assembled crowd gasped as she did so.

"That's a damn subhuman cub. Look at its blotchy and decayed skin." One of Bryn's men gasped. Some of Bryn's men cussed.

"Kill it, no good will come of such a creature!" Another warrior added.

"We best be on our guard. Its parents will surely be nearby. They eat any kind of flesh, you know." Tobias muttered in his quiet baritone.

"We will not be killing anyone," a familiar assertive voice came from the rear of the crowd. It was none other than Stephan. "Here, let me see?"

Undaunted by its apparent deformities, Aurianne, with careful compassion, gathered up the ailing child and presented it to Stephan.

Stephan, with a look of deep empathy, peeled the layers of dusty brown fabric back from the child's face to reveal the unmistakable blemishes of the subhuman ones. "Poor thing, I wonder why it was abandoned? Nonetheless, it still breathes."

"Perhaps it got lost?" Jhary who had now left his place in the dray, surmised.

Kario was standing behind the crowd. As the group argued back and forth about what to do, it occurred to him that perhaps the village he had seen from the air was occupied by the subhuman ones. Inwardly, he groaned; he hadn't meant to bring these people within reach of their enemies. However, water must be taken on if they were to survive.

Many voiced that the child should be euthanized. It was a kinder, more delicate term to describe murder. Jhary was one of those voices.

Aurianne had finally had enough. "Damn you lot! This is a child, a living, breathing child! What you are speaking of doing is disgusting! I will not abide by it!

Everyone ceased their chatter at Aurianne's angry flare-up. All eyes were on her. She bundled up the child and held it protectively against her breast.

"You should be ashamed, all of you. I say we help her and return her to her people!"

"Are you freakin mad, woman!" Bryn had the nerve to retort. "Its parents would eat ye fer breakfast!"

Aurianne spun about sharply on her heel. She glowered down at Bryn, who was significantly shorter than every man present. Yet he was not intimidated.

"I will not be tantamount to murder, and especially not that of a child." She replied hotly, her blue-gray eyes glistened with emotion. She again turned and strode through the crowd as the chatter about whether she had done a bad or noble thing surfaced among the travelers.

Maya, Lucy, and Raissa had been standing at a distance behind the assembly. Aurianne spotted Raissa and handed the infant to her. "I know out of everyone here, you can help this little one."

Raissa peeled back the worn brown cloth to reveal the small infant, and then she looked at Aurianne. "You once did me a big favor, and I will do my best to do as you ask, sister."

"No one is to touch her, or you will have to reckon with me," Aurianne announced fiercely to the group. Before making her way back to the dray to check on Isabou's welfare.

The discovery of the small babe lent Aurianne the confidence she needed to forge on. Kario had not bewitched her with a fabricated story. The settlement, even if it was a subhuman one, existed. She knew in her heart the water source would too.

They had not pushed on terribly far before they found the slain parents of the child. Their blood staining the surrounding sands. Aurianne was torn as she looked around the site of the grisly murder. She wanted to stay and give the couple a decent burial, but she had already pushed her altruistic agenda very hard. The people and animals were thirsty, and they could not afford to spend another day out in the hot sun without water.

As Kario had promised, the ponds in the dry riverbed appeared as the sun rose on a new day, and all were filled with a deep gratefulness. As they set up camp, George Hanson could clearly be heard reciting a prayer.

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him."

Everyone felt the same.

While the group was making camp, Kario approached Aurianne as she was leading her mare to the deep pond. His dark eyes scanned the environment for other potential listeners to their conversation. As he could see none, he felt confident that they could speak candidly.

"You were right." Aurianne greeted him with those words.

"Of course," Kario chuckled. "I know what a leap of faith that was for you, though, but we do have a problem."

"Yes, I figured we did," Aurianne looked toward the south. "The subhumans are just over that ridge."

"Yes, unfortunatley."

"I don't know what that means for us, but tonight I am going to try to return the child."

"I understand. I will come with you. Until that time, though, we had best be careful. We should be safe enough by day. Come night though... I am not so sure."

"Well, let's go at sunset." Aurianne was still looking south as she absently stroked her mare.

"Yes, let's." Kario acknowledged.

*****

Aurianne returned to the camp as the sun grew higher in the sky to find that the child looked much better. She had taken water and nourishment. Though she seemed to abhor the bright light, constantly shielding her eyes from the sun. Raissa was a very attentive nurse, and unlike many in the camp, she didn't make distinctions between subhuman and human life. She was by late afternoon very much recovered. Though no one could understand her babbling. The group of women also found her rows of jagged, pointed teeth rather disturbing.

Kario was sitting nearby, resting in the shade of a gnarled tree. He would need to be at his best by this evening should his skills be required. He was quite sure they would be. A subhuman settlement was not exactly a safe place to stroll into. He expected the worst, but he would use everything in his power to protect Aurianne.

His attitude changed from one of mild disinterest to heightened awareness as the child began to speak. He rose from his place to sit with Raissa, Lucy, Maya, and Aurianne. He could, as he listened, hardly believe what it was he was hearing. At first, he was sure his ears had lied. Then he realized that he could understand the vast majority of the child's words.

"She is still thirsty and wants her parents." Kario finally said to Raissa.

"How can you know that?" Aurianne questioned him sharply.

"I believe, I understand her."

"You do!"

"Yes, she seems to be speaking a form of low Grishak."

"I'm not sure what you are saying, but I believe you." Aurianne was swift to respond. "Why don't you ask her where she lives, or how she got lost?"

Kario commenced to speak to the child in an incomprehensible language, and the little one's dark eyes sparkled with recognition. The orphaned child became very vocal and began gesturing to the south.

"What did she say? Aurianne had to know.

"She said her parents told her to run away when they were ambushed. Her name is Jilaiya of the Red Hills Clan. Her family was attacked by a band of slavers. I know that slavers do not take subhumans captive, but they will slay them on sight. I assume this is what happened. Then she became lost."

"She knows a lot for one so small," Raissa said, puzzled.

"Subhuman children and subhumans in general are very small. She is a lot older than she appears, probably ten."

"Oh...my bad. I had thought she wasn't much more than a toddler." Aurianne said.

All the women had to agree that little Jilaiya did not look anything like a ten-year-old.

*****

It was growing late, and the intense heat was finally subsiding to a level where food could be prepared and more water hauled. The refugees made ready for the evening, pitching tents and preparing meals. Tonight, they would tell stories and be thankful for this respite. The explosion of shaggy grasses fueled by the now-dormant river, meant that there was reasonable grazing for the animals. Stephan had suggested that they should linger for a time in this place of plenty to let the animals recoup. All had unanimously agreed.

The white haired leader had been sitting with his son, content to spend quality time with Renard while he recovered. As Stephan took in the vista of the wide riverbed and the rolling slopes before him, he experienced a deep sense of dejavu. His settlement had looked just like this in its raw, undeveloped state. When they had first fled there years before. He realized that this valley was indeed a mirror of the past. At that remembrance, a smile crossed his creased face beneath his white beard.

"What is it, Dad?" Renard, too, had not missed his father's satisfied grin. Even if at times his pain numbed him.

"Just good memories, Son." Stephan pat his son on the shoulder and left to tend to other matters in the camp.

Aurianne made her way from the group of women she had lounged with all day and went toward the center of the camp. She unfortunately knew she would have to reveal to the leaders at least, that the subhumans dwelt close by. Men must be be posted on watch tonight to ensure the people's safety.

"There you are!"

Aurianne turned about to see Jhary striding purposefully towards her.

"Where have you been all day?" he asked.

"With Raissa and the little one." She replied, barely slowing in her pace.

Jhary followed, plucking insistently at her arm.

Aurianne stopped and turned to face the smiling-eyed musician. She cared for Jhary deeply, but lately they had seemed to be diametrically opposed on just about every action to take. She didn't really want to reveal what she knew; however, she felt it best that she did.

"I know you are not going to want to hear this, Jhary, but we are going to have to be on high alert tonight. There is a sizable subhuman settlement just over that way."

"A what! My god! How far!" Jhary's usually kind, brown eyed gaze was full of daggers. Without letting Aurianne further elaborate, he digressed into a tirade. "Jesus! Why, why, did you lead us here? He's been in your ear hasn't he? That black witch?"

Jhary's hatred of Kario was visceral, and it saddened Aurianne that he felt in any way threatened by their friendship. Aurianne didn't reply; instead, she just pointed at the deep life-giving ponds. Their only reason for being here. Water trumped everything. She didn't have the heart to tell Jhary that tonight she was going to travel to that settlement and attempt to return Jilaiya to her people. So she didn't.

Jhary was upset, to be brought within striking distance of a subhuman settlement by someone he harbored such love for felt jarring."This was all his work wasn't it?" He prodded as Aurianne was walking away. "You have never been here in your life, admit it! He led us here, and honestly, you believe him? He's a lunatic!"

Aurianne did not respond to Jhary's accusation but kept walking. Once in the camp's center, she quietly pulled Stephan aside and apprised him of the situation. Fortunately, he was calm and knew what to do. The warriors were informed, and a watch was set. The leaders worked hard to not alarm the people.

Stephan put his hand on Aurianne's arm as she turned to leave. "You have a leader's heart, Aurianne. Though what you do comes at great risk, I do commend you."

Aurianne accepted Stephan's high praise, blushing slightly. She was never good at receiving accolades. Preferring to continue unnoticed. She nodded her thanks and went to retrieve her weapons and meet up with Kario. Jhary was thankfully nowhere in sight.

"Hey, you?"

The deep, familiar voice made her turn. It was Darius, axe in hand, chasing her down.

"You don't think I'm gonna let you do this alone, Aurianne."

Aurianne smiled at her friend. "Thank you, I could sure use the help."

*****

Raissa seemed somewhat sad to rescind little Jilaiya as the night began to bloom in the heavens. Kario bent down on one knee and looked the little girl in the eye, communicating to her that they were taking her home. She seemed to have a lot to tell him in return. Darius and Aurianne waited patiently, eager to get on with this perilous endeavor.

The night was once again suffocatingly warm as they set off over the sands. Little Jilaiya sometimes walked, and at intervals insisted that Kario carry her. The slight child being very little of a burden.

Before long, they noticed the blackened and jagged silhouettes of houses where not a trace of light shone. Aurianne felt the hair rise up on her skin. She had to admit she was afraid and felt that her two companions were too. If Kario had not been a bridge between their languages, she probably would never have been this brazen.

On seeing her home, Jilaiya wriggled from Kario's grasp and ran toward the dark buildings.

They were all having the same thoughts. The child had been delivered, and perhaps they should turn and hightail it out of here immediately. No one spoke, but they looked at one another for long, fear, filled moments. Then before they could agree to leave, there was an eruption of sound from the settlement.

"Fuck," Darius muttered under his breath, as the many small beings swarmed toward them.

Aurianne was transfixed in horror. Her usually decisive brain had ceased to reason. All she wanted to do was run. Surely they would be eaten alive...

Kario was on some level afraid, too, but the idea that somehow these people understood and spoke low Grishak drew him. Perhaps, these people held the answer to his return to Narkeem'ezet. He realized at that moment that none of the subhumans were armed and that little Jilaiya was out in front, gesturing wildly. Her hand was in the hand of what appeared to be a bent and ancient crone.

The ragged procession reached the three travelers and stopped. The loud cacophony of unintelligible language also ceased. To be replaced with the desert's usual silence. Then it was just Jilaiya and the crone who spoke.

Aurianne had this preconceived notion that these people would smell vile, and yet she detected no such stench, as slowly, the crowd of short beings completely surrounded them.

The crone came forward, her glittering black eyes seeking Aurianne's clear gaze. She reached out her mottled and clawed hand, crowned with long yellow nails and rested it on Aurianne's own hand. Then she began to speak.

Kario was quick to interpret. "She is Onanta-noy, of the Shadow Clan. Leader of this village. Grandmother to Jilaiya of the Red Hills Clan. She says she is grateful that you brought Jilaiya home safely, and she owes you a great debt. She wishes for us to be her guests and to tell her of the fate of her son and daughter."