AKLESH (Under Strange Skies) (21 page)

All conversation stopped as he made his way through the beaded curtain of the hut. Those gathered regarded him as he took his place in front of them. Their expressions did not necessarily express any ill will towards him as far as he could judge. Still, Kai couldn’t put to rest the feeling he was in trouble, which made his stomach rise into his throat a bit.

“I was asked to present myself to you,” he said with as much composure as he could muster.

The usual elders were assembled. They sat cross-legged in a broad circle around the room, their faces under lit by the fire. With them were several of the warriors, many of whom had been a part of the rescue party sent after him…Vol included.

These people were mostly on the right side of the room, some sitting, some leaning.

All watching him.

The battle had been a lucky one. The weapons that had been used by the others had only stunned some of the warriors, and their surprise attack had prevented any further injury on the side of the Aklesh, although the same could not be said for the other side. Had Gar not warned the warriors of what they were dealing with events would have played out to a much more tragic end.

High Mother Sala ‘vhal was the first to speak.

“Kai’thal, we have delayed bringing you before the council due to your injury and the time needed for recovery. But now we feel you are well enough to stand before us,” she said. “First off, I wish to say that it was foolish of you to leave the Keep knowing full well the danger of traveling alone during these hazardous times.”

Kai resigned himself. So, it was to be a lecture after all.

She went on. “Several of your fellow tribesmen were injured during the rescue and the whole Keep was thrown into disarray due to your reckless behavior. We’ve lost countless man hours and precious time in the Rasclaan harvest. Our yield will be diminished by at least a third this year.”

“I am very sorry, High Mother,” said Kai. “I only left the Keep because-“

“There is no need to explain why you left, young one. The result is still the same. You went off on your own, let down your guard and got abducted.

You didn’t think. You were lucky this time. Your actions over the past month in regards to many things have been rash and hazardous.” It was obvious she was referring to the extreme measures he had taken in order to save Gar. He was still uncertain why it had worked or even how he had known it would have.

The Healer, on the other side of the room, cleared her throat. There was a pause. Sala looked at the other older woman for a moment and then over to the gathered warriors.

“It has also been brought to my attention that without you our people would certainly have perished in battle. Because of you, and the stranger known as Gar, the Others’ attack was thwarted and you ridded us of their menace once and for all. For this the council owes you a great debt.”

“You mean, I’m not going to be punished?” Kai asked, confused about whether he was brought there to be admonished or praised. As the High Mother had been talking he’d imagined months of shoveling Phonta manure or some other equally odious task. Some of the council and warriors laughed at his question, although Sala’s face remained stern.

“There is another who has something to say,” she said, nodding to Vol who stepped forward. The warrior looked Kai directly in the eyes with a steely glare and he couldn’t help but be a little intimidated. He’d seen what she been capable of doing to men twice his size.

“You brought back to our family a beloved brother, husband and warrior. You were with him as he passed and you have allowed us to bury him by tribal tradition and honor. The Z’hal clan also thanks you.” Her delivery was as gruff as ever, and it was obvious she was not good with sentiment, but her words rang with sincerity. She stepped back into her group

Kai was blown away. But, then came the bad news.

“Since you have been wounded the council feels it would be unwise to allow you to continue with your hunting party for the next few weeks,” the High Mother said. Kai’s heart sank as he heard these words. This meant he’d be stuck with the Healer, not that he didn’t love her, but participating in the hunt was far more exciting.

His disappointment was visually apparent even though he tried not to let it show.

“There is another task we would like you to perform while you are taking time to heal,” said the High Mother. “It has become clear that the stranger named Gar is going to be with us for a while. The council looks to you to help him learn our ways and customs. You must help him integrate into our tribe. Do you accept this task, Kai’thal?”

“Of course,” he replied.

Although the feelings he was receiving in regards to Gar’s personal opinion of him were presently confusing at best, it beat shoveling manure any day.

“Then the council places the stranger into your care. He is your responsibility.”

Kai nodded and turned to leave. Many of the members had already resumed discussing other matters, the current one being settled.

“Kai,” called the High Mother just as he was about to go through the door. He turned back, expecting Sala to have changed her mind about the shoveling.

She gave him a smile, which was rare for her, and said, “The Thal family would have been proud of you.”

Those words made Kai heart almost burst out of his chest. There was also a mixture of sadness, since he was the last of the Thal family line there was no one to share his triumph with.

Still, he had been proven right; every time he’d gone in front of the council he had come out a different person, and this time it was for the better.

***

Gar decided he liked the nighttime best on the strange planet, although it was with mixed emotions that he felt this.

He walked around on the small balcony where the four huts sat away from the main platform and leaned out over the railing. The summer breeze was warm and the view was phenomenal. He could see all the little huts below glowing with small cooking fires that were slowly being put out, one by one. Tyro’s family was already asleep.

When almost every hut had grown dim he turned his sights to the sky above.The darkness was lit up by a cascade of stars. It came as close as he could get to the views on Orestus. His world, if such a word was accurate enough to describe it, was just through an access portal that drifted lazily in orbit around the planet. But, it might as well not exist all.

There was no chance he would ever get to it.

To say he was homesick was a gross understatement. It was hard for him not to let bitterness take hold of his feelings. Exploring the Keep had offered him some distraction during the day, but when everyone went to bed there was nothing to stop him from becoming lost in solitude, thinking about all that he was missing. The creature comforts aside he missed his sister, his missed Janphor. He missed being carefree, although on Oresetus that feeling was almost gone anyway now that he was an adult.

He had visited civilizations similar to the Aklesh, ones that lacked technology and modern necessities. But, during those times he had still been the crown prince of the Orestian Dynasty.

Everyone knew who he was and gave him the respect required of that title. But on a galactic protectorate he was nothing, or worse than that, an inconvenience.

Gar kept scanning the heavens, waiting with a full knowledge of the odds against it, to see a shuttle from the royal fleet descending from on high to rescue him from his exile. Then the natives would be in for an impressive show and perhaps then they would understand just how important a person he was. He knew he didn’t exactly have it bad among the Aklesh, but straw mats and furs were nothing to the luxury of the palace.

At that moment what he missed most was a hot bath.

It did feel good to be clean and without stubble.

Although the process of shaving had left him with a few nicks and scars, but nothing terrible. It had taken him a while to explain to the middle-aged tribesman at the bathing area that he wanted him to use the bone tool on his
face
and not his scalp.

Then there was increased difficulty to the execution of this since the man was not used to shaving such a delicate area. Heads are nice and round…chins and noses, not so much.

During the process Gar actually began to get comfortable being naked in public as he sat with the other tribal members down by the river. For him nudity had always implied something sexual.

But, of course, none of the old men sitting by the water were going to be making advances. It was a stupid notion. They didn’t even care about how they looked. This made his own sense of apprehension just feel silly. After a while, Gar even enjoyed the freedom of it. Lack of clothing was a great leveler of ego. He began to wonder how differently parliament meetings would go if everyone was forced to attend them without clothes.

And Gar’s comfort might have been longer lived but unexpectedly several tribes people, mostly women, came to the cove to do clothes washing.

The children had really gotten a good laugh out of his reaction to that situation.

Gar chuckled quietly at himself as he thought of his day with Kai. Having had time to dwell on it all he realized, quite to his own surprise, that he’d had fun.

As he pondered this and the day’s events he slowly became aware of something else.

He could hear it ever so softly, but he wasn’t quite sure where the sound was coming from. As he listened, he thought he could make it out.

It sounded like someone sobbing far away.

It clearly wasn’t a child. It had a fuller sound, like that of a mature woman. The large twists and turn of the great tree wreaked havoc on the general acoustics. Voices could be heard from people who were not standing close if they happened to be facing a good sound pocket, tree wall or corner.

For a moment he though it might be coming from another platform, maybe just below where he was standing. There were so many huts tucked into different places that were accessible only by small ladders or ramps and every time he turned a corner, he was surprised by how living compartments had been structured into the natural growth of the tree.

But, this quiet crying noise was coming from near by, he was sure of it.

He turned around to face the four huts on Tyro’s family platform. At first he thought maybe it was Seema. But, she was the last person to have any cause for crying. Gar was certain that whatever or whoever was making the noise was close. There were huts above them and below. He stared at these intently then turned his attention to the fourth, the empty one. He’d never given it much consideration since he’d been living among Tyro’s family.

Gar’s thought went to the hut and he was about to approach it when he was interrupted.

“Are you alright?” asked Kai’s voice suddenly. He stood on the ramp facing him with a puzzled expression. Kai had been so quiet that Gar hadn’t even noticed his approach.

Immediately the sobbing sound stopped.

“Huh?” Gar stammered, startled by the young tribesman’s

appearance.

Annoyed

by

the

distraction Gar put up a hand to quiet his friend.

Kai looked concerned but played along.

“Shh! Did you hear that?” whispered Gar.

Kai listened as well. There was nothing at all but the soft, summer wind caressing the leaves and the night sounds of whatever creatures were living in the branches with the tribe.

“I hear nothing unusual. Are you sure there was a sound?” asked Kai, who added. “Are you feeling well?”

“No, there was something, I know it,” said Gar insistently. The two of them stood in the quiet for a while longer, Gar straining to hear the noise again while Kai watched him intently.

“Gone,” said Gar, eventually giving up.

“I’m sorry,” said Kai. “I didn’t mean to distract you.”

“No. It’s fine. Really.” Gar sighed and leaned against the railing, letting the memory of the ghostly crying slip from his mind for the time being.

“I just came to tell you that Cho and the twins have a surprise for you tomorrow morning.”

“What? No shell class with the Healer?” Gar asked with slight sarcasm. “How will I survive?”

“No,” said Kai, laughing a little. “There’s going to be less of that.”

“A surprise, huh?” said Gar playfully. “It’s a good surprise? I’m going to like it?”

“I believe so,” said Kai.

“What is it then?” asked Gar. “A great big Wetchberry? Tilo will be so excited.”

“You’re just going to have to wait until tomorrow,” said Kai, raising his eyebrow as he had seen Gar do. The prince was amused to see his own expression mirrored back at him.

“I suppose I could just read your mind and find out.”

Kai laughed loudly, then quieted himself, making sure he hadn’t woken anyone up any one in the neighboring huts, especially Seema and Tyro.

I don’t think so
, he sent with assurance.

But, I did well today, didn’t I?
Gar sent back.

With the whole shell thing?

Yes
.