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narrans · 9 months ago

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The Orion's Daughter : To Lands Beyond | Chapter Twelve : On The Horizon

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Chapter Twelve | On The Horizon

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“Positions seven, thirty-two, twenty-nine, forty-five, three, three, one, seventeen, fifty-five, fifty-six, fifty-four, one, nine, nine, change, sixteen, twenty-one, thirty-one, seventy-four, forty-seven, and eighty-three. Go!”

Steele was drilling me on all of the form combinations he could think of. It was a bit of a game, and it was something I enjoyed doing. The positions were numbered from one to one hundred thirty-six, and I needed to be able to maneuver and combine them as fast as possible without making mistakes.

It was a test of physical ability, mental awareness, and accuracy.

I loved it.

Sword in hand, I let my body fall into the motions of each and every position, performing them with the desired speed and accuracy of a knight or warrior from all of those stories I grew up reading.

I started with my blade in the appropriate position and stabbed it into the ground during certain maneuvers in imitation of striking down an enemy as I rolled and tumbled in the fields. I twisted and kicked, snagging my dagger from my ankle sheath and switching hands as I lashed out and punched with as much ferocity I could muster.

My voice rang out as I shouted from time to time in an attempt to sound intimidating. The wind picked up, making my flowing shirt billow and flare. My auburn hair flowed like flames of a fire off of my head. I charged forward and lunged, spinning on my heel and slashing out with my sword before tossing it into the air, rolling forward in a tumble, and catching the blade at the end as I stood and thrust once more.

Steele, watching me closely, made no movement as he watched me. I could see his keen, militaristic gaze on me. I could practically see the wheels turning in his head as he evaluated each and every movement I performed.

I had to be perfect.

There was no way I wasn’t spot on with every position!

I knew better than to open my mouth prematurely to protest, but there was some part of me that was getting antsy. Still, I held my stance in that lunge, sword outstretched and threatening to get heavier every moment.

Then, a contagious smile spread across Steele’s face. He raised his immense hands and, very lightly, began to clap, pride shining in his features. Only now did I know it was alright to break position, and so I did, exiting my exercise through the right poses and taking a deep breath. My heart was racing. Every part of me felt powerful and strong.

I did it!

Once my heart calmed, I charged forward toward Steele, my feet unable to carry me fast enough. Instinctually, he lowered his hand and let me slam into his open fingers. I wrapped my arms around his fingers as they closed around me. I was weightless as Steele lifted me into the air, propping his hand up on his leg as he sat with one leg crossed and the other propped up.

I spun around and faced him, seeing the flecks of violet in his eyes practically glowing with unspoken praise. As he spoke, he addressed me in his tongue, speaking in his native language.

“Terrilyn, you have done so well! Every movement was executed perfectly. Your stance and your energy matched our finest warriors. You would be welcomed in the Orion’s ranks as a true warrior for certain,” commended Steele. With that, the Orion leaned forward and tenderly pressed his forehead to mine.

It was a simple gesture, and it was one we had done a million times, but this time somehow felt different. This time, it felt like some kind of acknowledgement of equality. Was that some kind of test he just put me through? Some kind of warrior training test that only the Orion would be familiar with?

I wasn’t going to soil the mood with too many questions now. For the present, I was here with Steele enjoying the warmth of the sun and a job well done in my training.

When the moment ended, Steele glanced toward the ocean and then back to me, a youthful grin playing at his lips.

“Care for a victory swim?” he asked. I knew exactly what that meant, and I crouched on his palm, bracing myself for what was to come.

“Let’s go!” I shouted. With incredible speed, Steele spun from a sitting position to a standing one, giving my head a harsh, swirling sensation as he leaned forward and charged toward the water, running as fast as he could. For being older, he knew how to move quickly.

Steele’s strides shook the earth far below. I dared to lean forward and lean partially over the edge of his hand to watch the blur of bright greens and colorful flowers below. Step after step jostled my entire body, but I had practiced enough with Steele to know when to brace for each step.

The cliffs were just ahead. I felt him accelerate, and for good reason too. Steele needed to time this perfectly if he wanted to jump onto the beach and then leap into the water. His stride lengthened and then in three strides, two strides, and then one, he lowered his shoulders and cleared the edge of the cliff in a single bound.

He made one massive step on the beach, his stability wavering only for a moment, before he leapt out as far as he could. Steele’s hand clutched me to his chest, and I braced myself for the impact of the water.

The sound of Steele’s body impacting on the water was like that of an avalanche, the roar of the waves erupting out from under him as he created a whole new pattern of waves using only his torso. The water encased his fingers, and me with it, within seconds. Together, we sank down a short distance before Steele raised his hand up, breaking the surface of the water and letting me take a breath as he regained his footing and stood on the ocean bed.

I wiped the water away from my eyes and watched as Steele’s face and head emerged from the water, droplets the size of my head clinging to his hair. Playfully, he shook his hair free from the water, splattering me with a round of rain, before we both burst out in a round of chuckles and laughter. Sopping wet, I pushed myself up to my feet before glancing down over the edge of his hand and, taking a big breath, leapt into the water far below.

I plunged into the refreshing water and forced my eyes open to look into the blue abyss around me. The endless ocean extended far below to where I could barely make out Steele’s toes from where I was swimming. Maneuvering through the water, I cupped the water and kicked my legs up and down as I dove further down.

I loved being under the water. It was like I was being suspended in space, moving in three different ways instead of just two. Being completely weightless, I tried a couple of the maneuvers I did on land before I needed to come up for air.

Just as I came up for air, I saw Steele duck beneath the waves, making us eye-to-eye for a moment, before he snagged a handful of sand and followed me to the surface. The waves made it difficult, and my clothes were not helping, but I managed to make it over to the side and onto Steele’s hand where I sifted through the sand to find more shells and teeth.

We did the same thing for nearly an hour before we decided to go and dry ourselves in the afternoon sun’s light. Steele waded through the water, setting me down on the edge of the shale cliffs as he hoisted himself out of the water and onto the grassy ledge.

Happiness.

Fun.

Training.

Educating.

This is everything a life should be.

I laid backward into the grassy hill behind me, staring up at the flowers and, just for a moment, pretending that the flowers were immense, and I was small.

What a fascinating perspective.

I must have dozed off because the sun was much lower in the sky when I opened my eyes next. My momma’s voice calling for Steele and I is what caught my attention. I was about to call back when I heard some twinge of something in her voice. Worry? Concern?

Like being jolted awake by a sudden splash of cold water, I was upright and on my feet, hand on my sword, in an instant. Steele evidently heard the same thing in my momma’s voice too because he was also upright and had turned her attention toward our home.

She was running quickly from our home, her red hair bouncing and flying behind her, giving her an odd ethereal look about her as she ran.

“Mom! We’re here! What is it?” I called, looking down the road and across the fields for anything that might be the reason for her alarm. When she finally made it up to me, I glanced over her in a frenzy. She wasn’t injured. There were no bruises on her face or her body. Her clothes weren’t torn.

What happened?

“Mom?” I asked, catching her light, bark brown eyes with my own. “Take a breath and calm down. What happened?” I felt a calm settling over my body as I prepared for the worst. In reply, momma handed me a spyglass she had bartered for the last time the gypsies came to town. She pushed it into my hands and pointed to the horizon.

Confusion settled over me, but I obeyed her silent command and turned the spyglass to the horizon. I traced back and forth methodically, trying to spot what my momma had spotted. Was she looking for us and see something from home? I swept over the horizon again, much slower this time.

That’s when I saw it.

Sails.

Massive, beautiful, impossibly white sails.

I pulled the spyglass from my eye and glanced back to my momma, but noticed Steele’s reaction first.

His entire body was completely rigid. An odd tenseness settled over him, and there was an anxious energy radiating from his body.

Why was Steele nervous?

“Steele? What is it? What do you see?” I asked as I held the spyglass to my eye once again. I looked to the mast of the ship to see a crest on a white flag. It looked like four odd red crosses against a bright gold background, three on top and one beneath, while the bottom third was a smattering of white and blue triangles. I looked back to Steele, whose eyes had not shifted from the ship in the distance. Even at his age, he could still see and detect so much at such a great distance.

“Steele? Do you know what that means?” I asked.

“Yes,” said Steele, his voice low in a borderline growl. “That is the crest of Iothea – my people – and I suspect I know why they’re here.”

Iothea? Steele’s homeland?

So… that meant…

I looked back to the ship, jaw slackening ever so slightly as the realizations hit me.

That ship was from the Orion – was filled with Orion.

But why were they here?

Steele said he suspected why, but now I felt curious.

Why wasn’t he saying why he thought they were there? I looked at the ship through the spyglass and realized that we would find out soon enough. The sails were furling, meaning whoever was on that ship was coming ashore.

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Continue

Beginning

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Book One: The Orion’s Factotum

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narrans · 10 months ago

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The Orion's Daughter : To Lands Beyond | Chapter Eight : I Am My Father's Daughter

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Chapter Eight | I Am My Father’s Daughter

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My feet pounded against the ground. Every breath filled me with a new sense of strength and life. I knew I was fast before, but this almost felt unreal. The sun beat down against the ground. When did it rain last? I didn’t know, but the sea of golden fields and harvests around me said that the seasons had finally changed, and it was time to go and do and explore new things.

For the past few moons, Steele has been teaching me everything he knows. Sure, Mehlein has done wonders for my learning the common tongue, but Steele’s knowledge has put me in a whole new world of learning. From history, languages, earth sciences, diplomacy, and combat, I felt like an entirely new person. Even the strength training he has been putting me through has made me stronger and faster than before.

As I sprinted down the dirt roads, my bare feet pounding the ground like drums of war, I felt faster and more precise. I glanced down at the path as I ran, remembering the last time I made this trek.

I had been back in town only a couple of times since that day when Steele took it upon himself to start training and teaching me. I mostly went with momma to Kendel’s shop and then back again, Steele waiting for us in the distance. There was no opportunity recently for me to go and listen to story time at the school, but I didn’t really think I needed it with Steele and Mehlein’s lessons.

As we were there, I could have sworn I felt those boys’ eyes on me, waiting for a new opportunity to strike. I didn’t like staying away from the town. It made it feel like that gang of punk thugs had won or something. They probably spent time bragging about “driving the Illy out of town,” but I was ready this time.

If they provoked me, I wasn’t defenseless this time. I was ready to defend myself if necessary. I wouldn’t start a fight. Steele told me that there was no honor in starting a fight unless it is to protect someone who needs it; and, even then, the other person provoked the fight in the first place by picking on that other person.

I didn’t need to slow my pace as I ran into town today. I didn’t feel winded in the slightest, which was another testament to Steele’s training regimen he had me on.

There were groups of families out and about enjoying the warmth and finding ways to keep cool for the day. Many of them congregated by the town wells and the watering troughs for the animals. I remembered Steele talking about him possibly digging and setting some kind of area for everyone to go and wade in the water, but he also told me that would be something he did in the spring.

As I ran, some of their comments reached my ears. It was nothing new. Many of the statements were the same, though there was an added statement as I sprinted past their critical eyes, their disapproval practically coming off of their bodies like waves of heat from the stones in the street.

“What is she doing running around like that?”

“Where is her mother?”

“What in the heavens is she wearing? Are those… britches?”

“Pants? On a little girl? How uncouth!”

Yes. Maybe it was “uncouth” for me to be wearing the garments of a little boy, but they wouldn’t be so bold in their statements if they tried it for themselves. Running in a skirt always made me feel like I was going to trip and eat a face full of dirt in the process. Plus, with Steele’s recent regiment of training, pants just made more sense. I practiced in skirts and dresses, but my recent attire involved me wearing an oversized button down and a pair of pants that came to the middle of my shin.

Momma had recently taken to wearing pants as well. Her position as the Orion’s Factotum back in the city actually had her wearing pants of sort under her skirt, which I supposed was the appropriate combination for a woman who was involved in physical labor.

I let their statements roll off of me like water off of a duck’s back. After spending so many hours with Steele, talking to him and hearing his thoughts, I realized that everyone else’s opinion didn’t really matter. If it was from someone whose opinion I valued, I needed to heed the information they provided. Otherwise, the snide comments from everyone else didn’t matter.

All I could do was live my life as happily as I could, and no one had the right to take that away from me, just as I had no right to take their happiness away. Only when physically confronted or publicly criticized did I have the right to defend myself.

And I was okay with that.

Besides, I had more important things to do today.

All of the herbs and stones I collected and exchanged for coin finally amounted to something. Steele and I spent some time expanding my collection, drying certain herbs and learning their uses, but now I wanted to learn more. Steele’s knowledge of herbs only expanded so far, and I needed to learn more.

So, I decided it was time – I was going to go buy a book.

I had learned just enough from Mehlein to sound out and read on my own, but we did not have a lot of books at home for me to practice with. The retired bookman and scholar let me look at his books when I was over at his house, but I was not permitted to take any of them back with me, Mehlein cherishing the books in his collection.

It was okay though.

I knew which book I wanted.

The cobbled stone streets burning my feet, I continued my sprint down road after road, dodging glances and families until I finally made it to Kendel’s shop. The moment the door swung open, the smell of warm herbs and spices invaded my senses. The air felt alive with scents lingering through the air.

I walked across the squeaky wooden floorboards until I made it up to the counter where Kendel was sitting quietly and counting beans to put into his measured jars for fall harvests. The moment he saw me, his soft green eyes brightened from behind those oval spectacles on the edge of his nose.

“Well! Sprout! Good ‘ter see ye’,” he said with a smile and a twinkling wink. “Wha’ brings ye’ by the shop t’day?”

“Hello Kendel,” I said, feeling my spirits brighten. I hoisted my pack onto the counter and fumbled with the leather latch for a moment before opening the pack. “I have a new collection of goodies for you.”

“Oh? Well, I’d better ‘ave a look see,” said Kendel as he quickly wrapped up his current project and tilted the contents of my bag out onto the counter. Several bundles of dried wood sorrel and yarrow tumbled out as well as three wrapped cloths of scarlet moss. A few stones were in the mix as well as two small jars of seashells and teeth from our few excursions to the ocean and the beach.

Kendel’s eyes widened when he spotted the scarlet moss.

“Ah! Sprout! Wher’d ye’ ge’ dis?”

“A field in the sun off of the glade by the cliffs. There was a whole field of them,” I said, beaming with the impressed gleam in Kendel’s features.

“Well, I will ‘ave ‘ter go an’ find it for myself. Dis’ is some quality,” stated Kendel as he began fishing out various coins and setting them onto the counter. “An’ ye’ even saved da’ roots!”

“Steele showed me a few tricks,” I said with a smile. “I thought you would want a few to plant in your window since you don’t have any.”

“Aye’ sprout. Yer’ right ‘bout ‘dat,” smiled Kendel. He continued to set coins onto the counter until he gave me what was owed. “Well? Is ‘dat all?”

“Actually, not yet. I saw your book over there,” I said as I pointed to one of five identical books on Kendel’s shelf. It was one of the finely pressed books from the city, pressed in leather and fine lettering. Mehlein had a book exactly like that, and he let me read through it a few times. It had useful herbs, sketches, and descriptions of the plants and where to find them as well as their uses. Though Mehlein was reluctant to part with his copy, I now had enough coin to purchase one of my own.

“Dis’?” asked Kendal as he pulled one of the books from the shelf as he brushed those few pesky wisps of brown-white hair away from his eyes. He eyed the coins on the counter and then looked back at me. “Dis’ ‘ere is seventeen Dalers.”

I felt like I had just shoved a cotton plant in my mouth. Twenty-seven? Yikes! That was horribly expensive. I only just broke thirty that I have saved up. Granted, I haven’t been trying very hard to earn coin, but that is still more than half of what I have.

Still… this is important. I can use this to collect more plants and herbs. I can practice my reading.

I need this.

I bit my lip and forced myself not to wince as I divvied up my coins. I fished out my fifteen Dalers and then, painstakingly, I counted out every single one of the seventy Mons, which was two Dalers.

I was still walking away with other coins, but my bag certainly felt lighter than before.

As I worked, I noticed Kendel looking back over his shoulder from time to time toward another shelf where I had seen him writing many times before. I wasn’t sure what he was looking at, but I understood after a moment when he set down the book of herbs as well as a small journal bound in leather and a coal-stick.

“‘Ere ye’ are sprout,” he smiled. “Plus a lil’ sometin’ extra for te’ one ‘yer gonna write. Use it well.”

I looked up into Kendel’s soft green eyes and saw him beaming with pride. Absolutely giddy all over, I carefully took the journal in my hands and splayed the pages. It was absolutely stunning from cover to cover. The book itself was aromatic and the pages were perfect and deckled along the edges.

“Oh, Kendel. This is beautiful. Did you make this?” I asked. Kendel nodded.

“Perhaps I’ll show ye’ sometime ‘ow ter’ make one of yer’ own,” stated the shop owner.

A book? More learning?

I could have been walking on clouds!

“Thank you so much!” I said, raising my voice a little too loudly in excitement as I bounced on my toes, carefully wrapped up my new treasures, and fastened my bag onto my body, making sure it did not interfere with my belt with my knife affixed to it. “I promise I will put it to good use. And I want to know how to make these very soon.”

“Tha’ is a promise to ye’ sprout,” said Kendel with a wink. I waved good-bye to him and headed back out into the blazing heat of the day. Part of me wondered if story time was going on, but the other part was anxious to start reading my brand-new book. I never had one new before, and I was going to make sure this one stayed in pristine condition.

Sadly, that would have to wait. I had a few errands to run while I was in town, and then I would have a chance to sit and delve into the book.

I made my way to the market, picking up a sack of potatoes, some fresh vegetables, and even a bit of meat with the allowance momma gave me. I even had a few spare coins to get her some ribbons and spare cloth fragments as well as a few new needles and some thread I thought she would like.

With my haul in tow, I shoved everything into my bag, potatoes in the satchel by my side, and headed back toward home. Running with the bag was a bit awkward, and I needed to take a few breaks while I ran through the town, but I was managing for the most part.

As I slowed for the second time, catching my breath and readjusting my bag, I heard them.

Jul and his thugs.

He emerged from around the corner, just like before, and the others were not far behind. I glanced toward my back and saw the three others starting to surround me. My heart started to pound as my senses set me on high alert. I gripped the potato bag a little tighter and placed a hand on my bag that carried our food and my precious books.

“Hey Illy. What are you doing here?” asked Jul as he sauntered up within a meter of me. I tensed my core and continued glancing out of the corner of my eyes to make sure I wasn’t being snuck up on. I didn’t shy away from Jul’s glance this time though. This time, I stared into those dull eyes of his as I braced myself for whatever encounter we were about to have.

“Go away and leave me alone, Jul. It’s none of your business what I am doing here. I have every right to be in town, just like you,” I said with a spit.

“Oh, that’s cute,” teased Jul.

“Please,” I said, trying to stay neutral and calm. “I don’t want to hurt you. I just want to go home. Now, let me pass.” At this, the boys roared with laughter.

“Really? You think you have a right to be here, Illy?” sneered Jul.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” jeered another.

“Do Illy even need things here?”

“You have a home?”

I repeated my momma’s phrase over in my mind as I listened to the chorus of taunts.

Water on stone. Beat me to the bone. Your words run right over me.

I remembered Steele’s words as well. I needed to tell them I meant business without my words sounding like a threat.

“Leave me alone, Jul. I’m not helpless like last time. Let me pass and we won’t have a problem,” I said, daring to take a step toward Jul, closing the meter distance between us to a third of the distance.

Then, something odd happened.

Jul’s eyes widened and he backed away a single step. Confusion set in his features, and I felt mine do the same.

Was he just… intimidated… by me? I wondered. I pushed that thought away from my mind as I maintained eye-contact with him.

“I-is that so?” he asked, trying desperately to regain his composure.

“Yeah, that’s so,” I said, not daring to blink. My heart started pounding harder and faster. My entire body felt like it was tingling, but I stayed focused.

“Are you threatening me?” he demanded. I felt a bit of a smile curl onto my lips, which only made his eyes widen a little more.

“No, I am stating a fact. You will regret it if you and your boorish friends don’t get out of my way and stop pestering me,” I said. I don’t know what was possessing me. I felt empowered and terrified at the same time. It felt like I was faking, bluffing my way out. At the same time, I knew more – and I could probably take them this time.

Jul, to my complete and utter shock, dared to take a step back again. Then, I heard it. A bit of a shuffle behind. The others were trying to close the distance.

“You’re just saying that to be brave,” spat one of the boys boldly.

“Yeah, you can’t take us all.”

“Who’s gonna stop us if we don’t stop pestering you? Your dad?” teased another.

“No, she’ll probably go crying to that oaf giant Orion of hers. He’s basically your pet, right? Doing what you say and stuff?” said another boy.

I couldn’t even help myself. I whipped around, breaking eye-contact with Jul, and deadpan stared down the boy who just spoke. I thought his name was Ashon or something like that. He was easily taller than me by a head, and he was twice as broad too. Still, I felt completely unintimidated as I stared into his face.

“Don’t you dare insult Steele like that,” I snarled.

Immediately, like a cloud covering the sun, the boys’ demeanor shifted from uncertain to knowing exactly where I was weakest.

“Oh? Don’t like us talking about your giant fool father?” barked one of the skinnier boys.

“Yeah, tell us how that even works since you’re so small.”

“Ittle bittle Illy doesn’t like us talking about her giant daddy.”

“Shut up!” I roared, whipping around to glare at all of them. “You think you’re so tough insulting him when he’s not even here. You don’t know him!”

“Aww you hear that? It sounds like she’s about to cry.”

“Orion’s pet.”

“No! Orion’s daughter. Giant’s little girl,” teased Jul.

My back was to him, and I should have seen it coming. I suddenly felt a nudge on my shoulders from behind, making me stumble a few steps forward.

This was their mistake.

This was my chance. This is what I was waiting for. I tried using my words and walking away, and now it was time for more. I wasn’t running this time. I was tired of running.

As the big boy, Ashon, raised his hands to push me, I felt myself moving instinctually, my body molding into the right forms as I needed them.

I dropped the potatoes reached out and, using my forward momentum, let it carry through to Ashon as I pinched his pinky fingers and bent his wrists backwards. He cried out in pain and crumpled to the ground, kneeling in front of me. I leaned forward and glared into his eyes.

“I told you not to. Remember that.”

Everything after was a complete blur. I managed to raise my foot and kicked Ashon in the chest hard, throwing him off balance and onto the ground. I took my first position stance and snagged the next boy’s wrist, using his own momentum as I twisted his arm around, kicked out his leg, and smashed him into the ground.

He rolled me over, smashing me against the cobbled stone streets, but I ended up on top and managed to twist his arm behind his back, making him cry out in agony. I could feel the bruise on my face forming and the cut on my cheek starting to form beads of blood.

I was suddenly grabbed from both of my arms and dragged back as Jul boldly stepped forward and landed a punch in my gut. Then two more. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from upchucking my breakfast.

He grabbed my face and forced me to look at him. I was ready for it, but he wasn’t ready for what I unleased on him. As he reared back for another hit, I kicked him in between his legs so hard that I swore I heard a pop. He roared in pain and collapsed instantly on the ground, clutching what was left of his dignity.

I didn’t have time to worry about what was going on with him. I needed to get out. I raised my foot and stomped down hard on one of the boy’s toes, which slackened his grip. Slipping out, I gave him a harsh backfist to his nose. Again, I heard a crack as blood spurted from his face.

The other tightened his grip on me, but I needed him to do that. I spun around, shoving my back against his front, and bent over harshly. The shock on his face was priceless as he was hoisted up through the air, over my shoulder, and slammed onto the ground. He groaned and tried to roll over, but stopped when he saw me standing over him in third position.

“Stay down!” I snarled.

Suddenly, I felt someone else grab me from behind. I whipped around and saw that it was an adult, not one of Jul’s goons, who had a firm grip on my elbow.

“What is the meaning of this?” demanded the man, a thick man whose head was as shiny as an ocean smoothed stone. He had a mustache that curled at the ends, and it took me a moment to realize that this was one of the cow keepers. He must have been in to trade some of his slaughtered cattle.

I didn’t even get a chance to get out a single word.

Jul, who managed to recover from the kick I gave him, spoke up first.

“She… attacked… us…” lied Jul. I felt my body seize and somehow managed to gain pinpoint focus on Jul, feeling a swelling hatred in my bones for him.

“Liar!” I shrieked as I thrashed against the cow keeper’s grip to try and go after Jul again. This time, I wasn’t going to go easy on him. Sadly, I couldn’t get away. The cow keeper’s grip was a little more than what I could handle at the moment.

“That’s enough! You are coming with me,” barked the cow keeper as he dragged me away from the group of crumpled boys. I barely managed to snag my bag of potatoes as he led me several meters away where, all of a sudden, the town constable was approaching.

“What just happened?” he asked, stepping quickly toward the havoc I left behind. The portly man glanced at me, with a cut on my cheek and a bruise on my face, and then looked at the crumpled group of boys behind.

“I don’t know, but I just turned down this street and saw this little brat beating up on these boys,” said the cow keeper. I felt my jaw hit the ground. What a bunch of nonsense! What a swayed point of view!

“Well? What is the meaning of this?” asked the constable as he looked to me. He practically towered over me as I looked up into his soft round features.

“I didn’t do anything, sir,” I said firmly. “They were calling me names like Illy, insulted the Orion, and then shoved me. I was defending myself; and this isn’t the first time they’ve teased and tormented me. I asked them to stop and to let me go home, but they surrounded me.” I glanced around at some of the other people in the square who witnessed everything that happened.

A loathing hatred seethed in me as I looked at them. They let this happen. They chose not to help me even though I was horribly outnumbered. This was not the first time this happened, but I had a feeling this would be the last time it did. I could only hope they would choose to help me now.

“It is true, sir,” piped up one of the little flower ladies who tend to little boxed gardens in front of their shop. “I watched as those boys surrounded this little girl.” I glanced over at the dandelion white puff haired woman and mouthed “thank you” as she gave a single, firm nod.

“Is that so?” asked the constable. “Wait… I know you…. You’re Terrilyn Lun, right? Raina Toro’s daughter?”

I bit my lip and looked away for the first time, nodding and replying, “Yes, sir.” It was easy to spot me in the town. There were no others who had mine and my momma’s features in town. He nodded a sighed.

“Well then, you can let this one go. I believe her words to be true,” said the constable. “But mark me, young lady. Don’t make starting fights a regular occurrence, or we’ll have issues. Understood?”

I had to bite back a snarky retort. Of course I would be the one in trouble. Of course I would be the one with a warning instead of the boys, who mercilessly taunted me for so long.

“Yes, sir,” I said. I took my supplies once the constable nodded toward the road and began the long trek home.

I still felt everyone’s eyes on me as I walked down the cobbled stone streets. Somehow, their looks felt different. I did notice, however, that their mutterings stopped.

Good.

The trek home felt shorter than the run coming into town. Maybe it was because my mind was distracted by things that the boys said. Maybe my mind was preoccupied with how I was going to tell my momma about my injuries. One thing kept coming up though, and it was what Ashon said.

The Orion’s daughter.

Steele… as my dad…

Sure, Steele was an Orion – a giant in our land – but only when Ashon said it did I actually start to think about what it was that he said.

I had grown closer to Steele for quite some time now, and I did think about him and how much I wished my own father could be the one explaining these things to me.

Was… that how I saw Steele now?

As some sort of father to me? A dad?

All thought came to a halt when my momma spotted me and saw the cut and bruise forming on my cheek. All rationalization and evaluation stopped dead in its tracks as I explained to Steele, who was working with my momma on making some additional raised beds for our own garden, and my momma what happened.

I told her about the boys’ taunting me and how they have been taunting me. I explained how they started the fight by pushing me and by being insulting, and that it was me who the cow keeper dragged away.

“The absolute nerve! Well… I! I am going right back and… ooohhhh….” Momma, when she got flustered, sputtered her words and didn’t speak in complete sentences. It was where I got it from, but it really showed me she cared when she got worked up like this.

“No, Raina,” stated Steele as he leaned away ever so slightly to speak.

“No?!” demanded my momma. “I need to go back there and give those people a piece of my mind!”

“Raina,” said Steele gently. “They will not bother Terrilyn again. She has proven herself to them to be a formidable foe, and they will not trouble her again.”

Momma didn’t like it, but she moved away to get some more moss and to gather some herbs to make some healing tea for my bruises. She had some plant called arnica with these beautiful yellow flowers that was supposed to help.

When we were alone, Steele bent over a little lower to look me in the eyes.

“What were they saying today?” he asked softly, his warm, peppermint breath ruffling my hair gently. I bit my lip and glanced away, feeling my cheeks burning. Did I tell him the specifics? Especially when my mind was churning over and over with Jul’s thugs’ statements?

Yes… I should… because I wanted to know something too….

“Well… they,” I took a breath, feeling my heart flipping nervously in my chest. “They started with their normal torments with calling me Illy and everything, but… then… they started calling you names.”

“Me? Names?” asked Steele, brow furrowing as he mulled over the words.

“Yeah, and they… they started calling me something… something new….” I said. Steele’s violet eyes turned to me, blinking inquisitively and silently inviting me to continue. I felt compelled by his gaze to speak, and so I did. “They called me your daughter.”

At this, Steele seemed genuinely surprised, but a hint of a smile played at the corners of his lips.

“My… daughter?” he asked quietly. I nodded.

“Yes. They said a bunch of mean things, but… that was the one that I… didn’t mind,” I said, wincing as I said it, afraid of what Steele’s reaction might be. There were butterflies all in my gut. Nausea swirled in my mind. Everything felt like pins and needles.

What was he going to think?

What was he going to say?

“You… didn’t mind?” asked Steele. I bit my lip and breathed deeply. My nerves felt like they were in a complete and utter wreck. Still, the tenderness that he used when saying those words made me hope that he was receiving it well. I reached down and fiddled with the edge of the piece of fabric my momma had used to wash the little cut on my cheek.

“No… I didn’t mind,” I said. “I… like it.” There were several, long seconds of tense quiet before I felt Steele’s index finger gently brush against my shoulder. I instantly leaned into the touch. I looked up to see how Steele’s violet eyes twinkled.

“I like that very much too,” he smiled. My gut felt hollow, and, at the same time, my heart felt so full it was getting ready to burst. As I looked into his eyes, I felt warm, salty tears lining my own eyes and one, final question came to my mind.

“Steele?” I asked quietly. “Could… I mean… would it be okay if I called you dad? From time to time? I mean… you… you’ve been so wonderful and good to me. You’ve taught me so much and care about me like how my momma cares about me. It wouldn’t be always… but… every once in a while? Could I do that? Call you dad?”

The expression of the older Orion softened beyond comprehension and description of words as he smiled at me, pressing the tips of his fingers against my side.

“There would be no greater honor,” stated Steele.

Tears slipped over the rims of my eyes as he rolled his wrist off to the side and let me crawl onto his palm. I could have sworn there was a glisten of tears in his own eyes as he carefully curled his fingers and laid them against my bruising frame.

Then, with the utmost care, he lifted his hand to his face and tenderly pressed his forehead against me. It took effort, but I twisted around and spread my arms as far as I could, pressing my forehead to his.

“Thanks dad,” I muttered, and I meant it.

Steele was everything I could have wanted in a dad, and I would endeavor every day to be worthy of being his adopted daughter.

Now we really felt like a family.

~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~

Continue

Beginning

~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~

Book One: The Orion’s Factotum

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narrans · 10 months ago

Text

The Orion's Daughter : To Lands Beyond | Chapter Six : Family Day

**~~~~~**

Chapter Six | Family Day

**~~~~~**

Two moons. It had been two moons since I began my tutoring with Mehlein Hohru, and I had to say that I was making leaps and bounds. From the beginning, Mehlein seemed like a stingy codger who had no interest in anything except returning to his life of being a hermit.

He constantly drilled me on things he taught me, repeating over and over that I needed to be able to recall everything at the drop of a hat without looking at my notes, which were not looking half bad. I learned the alphabet and how different words were supposed to be put together, so a lot of my scribblings were simple, but I would also make little sketches to jog my memory when I needed a reminder while studying by candlelight at home.

Mehlein refused to let me use my notes when he quizzed me though. He was viscous in his reminders that I needed to commit everything to memory. He had this menacing little sand glass that timed me and how fast I could write down different things. That device became the bane of my existence, forcing me to write faster and faster, making my letters wobbly and uneven, which would earn me another round of scolding and lecture.

It was only after when Steele reminded me that Mehlein was trying to not only teach me everything I would have already learned in school, but that he was trying to push me to surpass my peers and other kids my age, I suddenly felt a new form of respect for Mehlein and his teaching methods.

As frustrated as I became when I couldn’t remember something, I had to force myself to remember that it was because he was trying to make me better than the others. He was not doing this out of malice, as Steele said, but because he saw potential in me and knew I could handle the strain of work and pressure he was giving me.

That or he was able to make his cruelty seem like a helpful lesson.

I really wasn’t sure.

What I did know was that one day, while I was working, my mother came into the kitchen and wrapped her arms around me, sadly making my hand slip and smudge the letters I was practicing.

“Momma!” I cried, not meaning to whine. My mother immediately gasped, not realizing that I was busy working.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to mess up your practice. I just had a question for you, and then I’ll leave you be,” said my momma. She had on a light, flowy dress on and her thick, red curls were tied back into a low ponytail.

“It’s okay,” I muttered, scribbling through the letter I was working on, which happened to be “R” at the time. “What is your question?” There was one “R” in that sentence, and I smiled to myself thinking that I was remembering letters and was able to keep track of how many of them were in different words. It was a bit of a game Mehlein had me practicing, and it was working.

“Well, I know you have been working very hard recently, so I thought we should take the rest of the day today and have some fun. Steele made a very good suggestion and, once he is finished with his tasks, I am going to take him up on it and wanted to see if you wanted to come along,” said momma.

I looked at my countless tablets of pliable clay and leaf parchment where I was practicing my letters with charcoal. I thought for a moment about Steele and about what his sketches would look like if he were to use the same tools I was using. I thought about what a book his size would look like if I were to stand on it and how long it would take me to fill up an entire page with my piddly scratching and letter practice.

“Where are you going?” I asked her, tying back the thick hair my momma and I shared into a low set bun.

“The beach. He wants to walk along the sand and walk into the water,” said momma. The beach? The ocean? I couldn’t swim very well, but the thought of looking down into the bottomless depths and asking Steele if he knew what was really down there was too much of an opportunity for me to handle.

“Yes, I think that would be nice,” I said, smiling at my momma. “Do I need to bring anything?” She shakes her head, tossing her luscious red curls.

“Just change into some clothes you don’t mind getting wet and that won’t shrink when we dry in the sun,” smiled momma. She leaned forward, pressed her lips against my temple, and whisked herself away outside to undoubtedly collect something to eat later. I stared after her before turning back to my papers and tablets.

I decided to clean up my mess so that we could have dinner immediately when we returned and stashed everything away into my box that slid under the bed. I didn’t think I could learn anything else today anyway. The work felt busy, and I was just tracing the words and letters over and over to commit them to memory.

A break was going to be nice.

I slipped on a skirt and shirt that I knew would not shrink or weigh me down if I got wet and headed outside to wait with my mother by the garden beds. While we waited for Steele to return, I helped her weed and water the garden by going over to the well and drawing up water. I remembered what Steele said about leveling and pipes and, for a moment, thought about trying to draw up the water and making pipes like Steele did, but I would save that project for a later time.

Meanwhile, I watched as my momma used the same irrigation techniques as Steele did in the fields on one of the days I accompanied him to practice my lessons with him. She filled a barrel with water and, turning a tap on the side, let the pressure of the water in the barrel push out through pipes she created using rods and hollow reeds.

Brilliant. Ingenious. It was the kind of thing I hoped to learn how to do on my own one of these days.

*Thud*

I felt the vibrations in the ground and whipped around to see Steele approaching from the nearby field. He was being careful with each step, but seeing his easy stride and how relaxed his shoulders were made it seem like he was just coming back from an afternoon stroll. If he weren’t a giant, he would simply look like an older man striding by a field of low-cut grass.

He looked like he was so at ease – at peace.

It was an inspiring view.

Momma tapped me on the shoulder and gestured to the roof of our home. I knew what she wanted to do before she uttered the words, and I liked it. I liked being on the roof. It made me feel tall when I most certainly was not and gave a great view of the fields and distant ocean where our home was.

I scurried up the ladder quickly, grabbing one rung after the next and snagging my skirt with my shoes twice on the way up.

“Be careful sweetheart,” reminded my mother as she pinched the edges of her skirt and ascended gracefully. I wished I could be half as graceful as her on a good day. Although, what I wanted more was to just be able to wear britches or pants like the boys in the village. Wearing skirts and dresses were cumbersome and inconvenient at best, but that would be considered “improper.”

I carefully shimmied across the sides of the roof, the shingles under my hands and feet burning warm from hours resting silently in the sun’s light and secured myself onto the ridge as I watched Steele approach. As my mother joined me at my side, Steele approached and knelt, spotting us immediately.

“Good sun’s high, Steele. Did your jobs go well?” asked my momma as she stood and balanced perfectly on the ridge of the roof. Steele’s smile was broad and thoughtful as he extended his hand toward my momma.

“Very well,” he smiled. “The lake for the Deelas is finished, so their little cows have a place to drink so they will not be bullied away from the water. The fields to the east have been tilled under, so they will have good harvests and good dirt. Finally, the last of the creek rock has been moved, so there should be no other blockages when the rain comes.”

“Excellent. You have had quite the busy day,” said my momma as she carefully stepped up onto Steele’s finger, balanced there for a moment, and then stepped further onto his hand. Steele’s eyes then flicked over to me. There was a moment of quizzical curiosity before his violet eyes brightened.

“Terrilyn, are you coming to the ocean?” asked Steele. I smiled a bit more bashfully than I wanted to, but nodded and glanced down at Steele’s massive fingers, each almost twice as tall as me. Taking a quick breath, I jumped the short distance from the rooftop to the edge of Steele’s fingers, stumbling slightly over the edge of my skirts once again, but managing to make it without falling onto his palm.

“You okay?” asked my momma. I nodded, seeing both Steel and my momma’s eyes on me. I thought for a moment that I would feel annoyed that they were fussing over me, but I really didn’t have that feeling. Instead, an unexpected sensation overtook me – the feeling of being loved and cared for unconditionally by not one but two people.

“Yes, thank you,” I said, smiling and crouching down beside my momma before she gave the signal to Steele that we were ready.

“Then we’re off!” cheered my momma. Her light bark brown eyes sparkled in the sunlight as Steele stood and turned toward the ocean. I stayed close to my momma as I leaned forward into the breath of the wind. It whipped around me as we neared the horizon where the ocean waves kept up their consistent breeze.

As the horizon neared, I saw the water cresting into wave after wave and could hear the whooshing crash of the cresting waves. The smell of the ocean invaded my nostrils, filling them with the smell of salt and the pungent scent of kelp and other sea life.

When I stayed with the Finchs while my momma was working in the city as The Orion’s Factotum, we went to the ocean only once. Usually, the cliff sides are tricky to travers because they are made of shale and other fragile stones, but locals know of a better way. There is only one safe path down to the edge of the water, and it is along the shale steps. This path is safe, but it takes most of the morning to climb down and part of the evening to climb back up safely.

For the entire day with the Finch family, I walked down the steps, slipping only twice, and walked along the damp sand and even found a couple of small shells along the edge of the water which I was allowed to keep in my box of treasures.

I didn’t really get into the water, and I most certainly did not think I could dare venture out into the water beyond the edges of the cliffs.

Now, as we approached the edge, I found my heart pounding as I looked down past the cliffs and to the horizon. My excitement for what was beyond started to seize my imagination. Would I see anything like in the stories and tales of the deep that I heard about from the schoolhouse? Would I glimpse sea monsters or other fantastic creatures?

Now, as he approached the edge, I felt my heart starting to pound with excitement. Steele evaluated the edge, which was about his height, before crouching and laying his hand on the ground.

“One moment, please,” said Steele as he tilted his hand so momma and I could step off. He carefully stepped off to the side before making the small leap down to the ground. For him, it would be as easy as descending a short step. For us, it was a rocky cliff face that would surely lead to our end if we slipped. The crashing impact of his weight against the ground shook the ground like a small earthquake before he turned around and offered his hand for us to safely descend the side of the cliff.

“Thank you,” said momma as she once again resumed her position on Steele’s hand. I joined her, smiling broadly at him and catching the youthful gleam in his violet eyes as he met my gaze.

He turned toward the ocean and, glancing at us, asked, “Are you ready?”

I saw momma nod, and so I did the same, feeling nervous and jittery all at once. Steele turned his eyes not to us, but past us as he stepped carefully across the sand and entered the water. Feeling the ground give ever so slightly, Steele sank further and further into the water, pausing every once in a while to adjust to the temperature of the water.

My guess was that he barely noticed the waves rushing across his feet as he stepped further and further into the water. It wasn’t until he was up to his hips that his body began to sway ever so slightly with the rhythm of the water.

I was nervous, but also excited. I knew it could be dangerous, but I had to look. I laid my front against Steele’s hand and peered over the edge of his palm to the ocean below.

The water was like the color of my eyes, a deep, dark blue that I knew I inherited from my dad. I could see some of Steele’s torso in the water, but I could only see a little way down in the water before his legs completely vanished into the depths of the water below.

As Steele moved deeper into the water, he created a bit of wake on his own, the water creating little waves and crests as he moved from his hips up to part of his torso. I felt him give a little shiver as he continued into the water. Then, with his left hand, he pointed toward the surface of the water a little distance away. He extended his arms and lowered them, so we were only a short distance from the water.

The deep water became clearer and clearer as I gazed down into it. My momma crouched and laid beside me as she peered over the edge. Following Steele’s still pointed finger, I glanced out and watched as something leapt out of the water, spun partially in the air, and then vanished once again below the surface.

“Woah!” I exclaimed involuntarily, covering my mouth almost immediately as if whatever I just saw could hear me.

“Steele, what was that?” asked my mother. There was a sense of curiosity and awe in her voice. Not even a trace of nerves was in her tone.

“Eh… koonyardo vi… we know them as lophind, though these are small. Your size. They are… koonyardo vi… warm. They nurse their young but are like fish. They swim up and down, not side to side though, which makes them different than fish,” explained Steele. I couldn’t help but giggle at his explanation. I knew he was trying so hard to explain what he knew, but expanding his knowledge of our tongue sometimes left him speechless.

It was charming to me. Confusing, but also charming.

I leaned back over the ledge and stared at the water when, suddenly, I saw one of them – the lophind. It had an odd, long nose with eyes that set back slightly. It was a soft light blue-grey color, and I could have sworn that it had some kind of smile on its face. It swam up and down, just like Steele said, and barely broke the surface when there was an explosion of salty mist right in front of me.

I felt the spray against my face and leapt back in surprise, yelping as I fell back. My mother, also startled, managed a laugh as she leaned further over the ledge to catch a glimpse of it.

“Steele! Is that one of them? Tzakar frenmon kavee?” My momma, practicing Steele’s tongue, was able to say one phrase and then the other with such ease. I could only hope that I would be able to do the same one of these days. I watched Steele’s violet eyes brighten instantly at hearing my momma use his language, and he responded in the same language.

“Ken. Tzakar frenmon kavar,” stated Steele, pointing again to the surface as three more of those lophinds leapt from the water and into the air. My heart, finally starting to calm, now pounded excitedly. I crouched by the edge once again and peered over the edge of Steele’s palm, once again face to face with the lophind.

I watched as Steele’s movements in the water created waves that the lophind undoubtedly found amusing because they continued to jump and leap through the water. I watched them play in the water when, suddenly, Steele’s body was completely submerged. He kept the hand we were in aloft, but there was a brief moment where I thought we were going under. The cold ocean water splashed against the heel of his wrist, spraying momma and me with the refreshingly chilled water.

When Steele emerged, he kept his left hand clenched as he reached up and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. I looked up at the shining droplets of water in his hair and highlighting the gray strands in his dark blonde hair, which is lighter than when I first met him. Is it because he is older? Or is it because of all the time he is spending in the sun?

Steele, turns his left wrist over and unfurls his fingers slowly, revealing a mess of sand. I wasn’t quite sure what Steele was doing when I watched my momma step forward into the sand, slipping off her shoes before doing so, and began to sift through it. I stared, fascinated and curious, and watched as momma brushed away the sand until a small notch stuck out from the area she just brushed away.

“Found one,” she smiled as she grabbed the edge of the notch and pulled. I sat there in awe as I watched her pull out a massive seashell. It is a beautiful off-white color which fades into different shades of pink. Speechless, I leaned forward and felt something brush against my palm. I glanced down in the sand and saw a few shells right there by my hand, and one of them still had a resident in it.

I carefully snagged the shell and lifted it up to examine the pink crustation living in the shell. It had massive pinching claws, but it shied away when I held it up by my face to get a better look. For a moment, I felt an odd kinship with the creature.

Did crustations feel? Could they be scared? Was it experiencing the same things I did when Steele held me as I held it in my hand?

I didn’t know. What I did know was that it deserved to be let go back into its home in the water. I laid it gently on the ground and continued to help my momma sift through the sand, stepping onto Steele’s left hand as he calmly dipped his head back into the water, probably to cool himself off. We sifted through the sand, kicking what we didn’t need off of the side of Steele’s hand, and ended up finding two dozen excellently preserved shells, though none quite as exquisite as the one momma found. Some of them are maroon while others look pink and others blue grey.

What kind of creatures used to live in these? I wondered quietly to myself as we stepped back onto Steele’s right hand.

“We’re good!” called momma as she managed to catch Steele’s attention. He nodded, dipped his left hand back into the water, and then submerged again, grabbing another handful of sand so we could repeat the process. This time, I managed to find a dozen teeth that Steele said belonged to a creature he called peripisci, which were evidently dangerous sea creatures.

We collected shells and teeth for the better part of an hour or so before I watched momma pull out a couple of odd-looking headbands from her side bag. I watched as she hoisted up her skirt, tied it securely to her hip, and tied the headband onto her head. Part of the headband was see through, like glass, and had something wrapped around the rim. She looked a little funny with these things on her eyes.

Then, she looked at me and smiled.

“Alright, Terrilyn. I’m going to try something. You can try it with me or stay here while I do, but I will be right back, okay?” said momma. Maybe it was just the idea of her trying something dangerous, but I didn’t want to leave her side. Still, she has a determined look in her eyes that says she is going to do something, and no one is going to tell her not to.

I was conflicted. Did I go with her? Stay?

I wanted to be brave like her, and doing brave things was the only way I knew how to do it in this moment.

“I… I’ll come with you,” I said, feeling my own hesitation. I swallowed dryly as I watched my momma smile and slip a similar headband around my eyes, securing the odd lining around my eyes as she tied the other parts tight around my head.

“Okay, we are just about ready. Now, Terrilyn, what we are trying to do is see under the water,” said momma as she finished tying the final knot.

“See under water?” I asked. “But, how? The salt in the water will burn, right?” Momma nods.

“Yes, it will burn. That is why Steele and I made these. These should keep our eyes safe. He is going to lower us into the water just for a moment and we’ll get a chance to see if these work. Remember about holding your breath? We’ll need to do that. Okay?” said momma. I loved how confident she was, and I decided to mirror her behavior.

“Yes,” I said. Steele, listening the entire time, nodded and, slowly, began lowering his hands into the water. I felt my heart starting to pound harder and faster in my chest. My mouth felt extremely dry, but I took deep breath after deep breath as I felt the water come up over my ankles, up to my knees, and up past my waist.

The chill of the water is a welcomed relief to the blazing heat of the day. I saw Steele’s hands curl ever so slightly, cupping us in order to keep us from being bombarded by the waves. As the waves came up and splashed against my back and my sides, I looked up and saw my momma confidently take a deep breath, crouch, and submerge in the water.

She looked like she would have in the bath, suspended and effortlessly weightless. I saw her head glance around from left to right before she pushed herself up and looked over at me.

“Terrilyn, you have to see this,” she said. There is a youthful gleam in her eyes as her wild red curls sag and cling to her face. She takes another breath and ducks back below the water.

Be brave.

I held my breath, knelt, and dipped my face beneath the cool waves.

Immediately, I am plunged into another world. The surface of the water looked like a silver barrier as the blue extended farther than the horizon. The depth was further down than the sky was up, and it was filled with life. Far below, I watched fish and those other odd creatures that looked like pieces of cloth drifting far below me. The waves engulfed me, and I kept hold onto Steele’s hand to keep the waves from drifting me away.

I came up for air after a short while and sputtered out a little bit of water. A little got into the weird device on my eyes, but I managed to get it out before I delve back beneath the waves.

I am completely enamored with the world below the waves that I regretted the moments I had to come up for air. My momma pointed to different things she saw in the depths below, but eventually we resurfaced and met Steele’s curious eyes.

“Did they work?” asked Steele. Momma and I both nodded eagerly.

“Yes. Ken! Yes,” sputtered my momma, spitting out some of the salt water from her mouth, as she leaned back against Steele’s fingers as if she’s relaxing in the shallows. “Very well. A few adjustments and we’ll have it perfected.”

“Good,” smiled Steele. “Are you ready to go back? Or do you want to stay?” Momma looked at me, waiting for me to respond. I think about it for a moment before looking back up to Steele.

“Could… we stay? I want to see the water some more, please,” I said. Steele smiled broadly and nodded.

“Yes, and hang on. I’m going under,” said Steele. Momma and I barely had a chance to secure our devices onto our eyes before all three of us plunged under the water. Steele managed to open his eyes and, instantly, I’m captivated by his visage. He appears other worldly with the way little bubbles line his face and how the backdrop of the ocean blue enhance his violet eyes.

He squinted around before closing his eyes and remaining there for several more seconds before standing once again. The rush of water weighed me down like immense, heavy blankets. The water poured out from Steele’s slightly splayed fingers as he lifted us out of the water entirely, leaving me feeling like a drenched kitten.

I thought about ripping my clothes off just to my undergarments since my shirt and skirt felt so heavy, but I refrained. It was the only thing protecting my skin from burning, and me staying in the clothes probably was keeping it from shrinking completely.

At least, I hoped it would.

After we recovered, Steele had us secure ourselves to his shoulder as he waded all the way up to the edge of his shoulder so the water would splash us from time to time. Every once in a while and with an amused smirk on his lips, Steele will lower all three of us into the water. I found myself laughing and leaning into Steele’s neck and my momma’s embrace.

The entire day is, in a word, fun. Between the splashing and the later walk along the beach as well as the collection of shells and teeth, I had a wonderful, perfect day.

Suddenly, I was pulled back to that day with the Finchs and realized that, in that moment, I remembered seeing them this happy. I saw them laughing and splashing about in the water. I saw Mr. and Mrs. Finch hugging and kissing their children. I watched them enjoying their time together – a family.

Was that what this was? Was that what I had now?

I looked over to my mother, who was beaming and radiant in the light of the setting sun, and then to Steele, who had on a smile that seemed untouched by his years in prison.

Were we… a family?

I looked back at them and found myself smiling, hardly able to contain the warmth spreading in my chest. A fluttering thumped in my chest, and I realize I haven’t felt happier in a long time.

Yes.

This was my family. My mother, my Orion, and me.

~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~

Continue

Beginning

~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~

Book One: The Orion’s Factotum

8 notes · View notes

narrans · 11 months ago

Text

The Orion's Daughter : To Lands Beyond | Chapter One : Then and Now

**~~~~~**

Chapter One | Then and Now

**~~~~~**

*CRACK*

I keep my head low, begging whatever force that looks over me to keep me safe. My whole body is shaking uncontrollably. Why can’t I stop shaking?

Well… I know why…

I listen as the distant screams sound off in the distance. They echo and consume all of my senses. In desperation, I throw my hands over my ears. A whimper is somewhere in my throat, but it refuses to come out. All I can think is one thing over and over as the other kids beside me whimper and cry, their parents holding them tightly in a protective embrace while they reassure them that they will be alright.

I want my momma.

Why did she have to leave me?

I want my momma.

*BOOM*

The ground shakes violently with a rhythm that can only belong to one of them – the Orion.

I huddle down closer to the aged floorboards, breathing in the smell of years of family spills and stains. This place, this home, must have known so many wonderful things. Birthdays and dreams, laughter that I had a moment to share. Why did it have to be here and now? Why would the Orion want to destroy something so wonderful? What would a giant want with our homes? Or, rather, why would these giants want to destroy our homes?

I wish my momma could have spent more time here with me… before she left for the city to find work. I wish I had more time with her. I wish I could hear her laugh one more time. I would give anything to listen to her voice calling my name just one more time.

As the sounds, like distant thunder, close around me, I hear my momma’s words echoing in my mind.

“Be brave. Be strong for me, sweetheart.”

I know that’s what she’d say if she were here.

I know she isn’t here, but hearing her words in my mind soothes me. It makes me feel brave, like she is here beside me.

Then, I hear something outside. The pounding sounds get louder and louder, and then they stop. The eerie silence that surrounds me is ear shattering. The distant screams are gone. I don’t even hear the sounds of stomping and crashing anymore.

The hair on the back of my neck raises. I know something is close. I scrunch my eyes as tight as possible and wish with all of my might that my mom was here with me. Then, like some kind of strange magic, I hear her calling out. It is the sweetest sound I have ever heard in my life, but I know it can’t be real.

“Terrilyn! Baby? It’s me. It’s mommy. Please open up. Mr. Finch? Mrs. Finch? It’s me! It’s Raina. Please, open the door!” I know it is my mother. I know she is on the other side of that door, but how can that be? She is so far away. She is supposed to be in the city.

I hear my mother choke back a sob and I know it is her, but I still don’t know how.

“Mr. Finch? Mrs. Finch? Please! It’s me, Raina!”

I look up into the faces of the farmer family who has been taking care of me, and I only see terror as they look to the door. They do not look at me. They hold their children tight and keep the door closed.

I hear an engulfing voice from just outside say my mother’s name, which makes me shake in my shoes.

What was that? Who… was that?

Suddenly, the door to the cottage flies off of the handles and, a moment later, my momma is walking through the door. She says something that sounds like a made-up word before sweeping into the room, her wild red curls flowing behind her, making her look like she’s floating through the air.

How did she get here? Where?

“Terrilyn?” she calls to me. Despite my fear, I can’t help but run to her.

“Momma?” I feel tears dripping down my cheeks. She pulls me forward into her arms, but not before I catch a glimpse of a massive hand pulling back away from the door. I bite back a scream, too relieved to have my mother’s arms around me to be terrified of the Orion just outside.

“Keep quiet! The both of you!” spits the farmer, Mr. Finch. “The Orion is outside. Get down or you’ll get us killed!” The interruption of the farmer speaking to my mother brings my voice back just long enough to ask my momma if we were going to be okay. She smiles and it makes me feel like I’m standing in the light of day.

Everything that happens next is a complete blur. She tells me about how Steele is her friend. She tells me this Orion won’t hurt us. She says we’ll be alright. I look into her eyes and, all at once, I believe her. It doesn’t stop the tremble in my heart as I glimpse the Orion outside again, but I believe she will protect me and if she says the Orion won’t hurt me, then he won’t hurt me.

She leads me outside and, for the first time, I see an Orion in person. Momma tells me to not be shy, but I can’t help but shrink back as I look up into his violet eyes. I have never seen eyes like his before. It feels like he looks right through me. I swear he can read my soul with a glance, peering deep into me to parts I didn’t know I had.

I offer greetings and he responds in kind, speaking softly but still sounding like rumbling thunder.

The next thing I know, we’re running outside for our lives as one of the Orion fights off the other. I have never been so afraid in all my life, especially when momma says we have to go back to check on the Orion she says is her friend.

There is so much terror in the air. The fear is tangible, including my own, but momma asks me to be brave, and so I am.

I watch as momma saves the life of the Orion, standing in front of the whole town and declaring his innocents. I see her pleading, begging for his life to be spared.

What makes him so special?

What makes my momma care so much about him?

I didn’t know him, but I know one thing for sue – I have to help her.

I feel his coarse hair as I climb up and ask him to get better for my momma.

Everything is so blurred together.

I hear him speak his strange tongue and in broken fragments of our language.

I stay by my mother’s side, even though I am silently scared of the Orion. I do not think he will hurt me on purpose, but he is so much bigger than me. When we take time to sit together with him as he heals and after he agrees to help the town, I stay close to my momma wondering the same thing quietly in my heart.

Who is this Steele Veyne?

Maybe… with my momma’s help, she’ll tell me all about him.

~~~^*^*^~~~

I woke up with a bit of a start, body shivering slightly.

It was a dream.

Well… a memory rather. I remembered that night… when Steele arrived. It felt like it was just yesterday when it all happened. Hard to believe it has been just over six moons since that fateful day.

As I closed my eyes and rolled over onto my side, I felt the place where my mother should have been sleeping. The spot is made, so she is either up and working in the kitchen or helping Steele.

Instinctually, my guess was that she was helping the Orion. He needed help from time to time translating his words to ours, so momma would get up and help him when she could. Momma was always good like that – helping whenever she could. I envied her loving, giving heart and tried to do the same every day.

Still, I don’t know what makes her brave enough to talk to the Orion every day. I have tried countless times, but I don’t know how to talk to him. Every time, I either lost my nerve and retreated or things simply became silent, and he would watch me with those violet eyes of his.

Steele is kind. He helped momma any time she asked as well as the town as payment for staying here in Creewood with us. He’s never been unkind, and is so gentle around me and momma, speaking slowly and softly.

Still, for us, he is a giant.

Maybe… I just needed to get to know him better?

Maybe that would help these fears of mine?

“Terrilyn?” I heard my momma’s soft all from the bedroom door as she tapped on the frame. “You awake?”

I stretched under the covers and rolled over to face her.

She already dressed for the day, wild red curls tied into a messy bun, but she missed more hair than what was tied back, and a white blouse and brown skirt. The light behind her caught her soft, bark brown eyes as she gazed at me.

“Yes momma,” I replied as I sat up, my oversized night shirt falling slightly off of my frame. I stifled a yawn and pulled myself out of the bed.

“Wonderful. Well, come along. I have breakfast waiting,” said momma as she gracefully turned and left the room. How did she manage to have so much grace with a simple turn? It was mesmerizing watching her, especially when she danced; though, sadly, it has been a while since I’ve seen her truly dance.

I stretched again and yawned as big as I could before standing up, my toes touching the wooden floor of our home. I walked over to the wash basin and splashed some cold water onto my face. It practically vaporized the remaining sleep from my eyes. I went to the trunk with my clothes in it, floorboards squeaking under my light step as I went, and tugged it open.

I rummaged through the few articles of clothing inside and pulled on a fresh shirt, a dark green flowy one that puffed out and tied at the top, and a brown skirt like my momma’s skirt. The clothes engulfed me from head to toe, but I didn’t mind. They belonged to momma, and these were some of the few clothes she left with me before she left for the city all that time ago.

It was so nice to have her back. Not that my time with the farmers and their children was unpleasant, but I never quite fit in with their family.

Well… I never quite fit in anywhere….

I ran a brush through my tangled mess of auburn hair before stepping into the kitchen.

This place was a lot nicer than our old home. We had a stove, sitting area, and a separate bedroom. It wasn’t like before, when everything was in the same place. It had three windows, one in the bedroom, one in the kitchen, and one in the sitting area. It made it nice when it was a warm day, and we wanted a fresh breeze.

It was a perk of momma’s job as the Orion’s Factotum. She worked with Steele to make sure he had everything he needed and that he could translate his words into our language. It was a wonderful job, and momma enjoyed it. It was better than any of her other jobs at least.

I stepped up to the table, which had a fresh pot of wildflowers on it. Then, I smelled it before I saw it. There was a warm bowl of oats waiting for me, and there was even a sprinkle of sugar on the top too.

Was it some special occasion? I wondered.

I didn’t bother to mix in the sugar. I wanted the first bite with as much sugar as possible. I shoved the spoon into my mouth, sugar glistening like a geode on the surface of the steaming oats and savored the taste before mixing in the rest of the sugar. Maybe that first bite was a bit of a mistake. It felt like it was cooking my mouth, though I still chewed with my mouth closed. Momma taught me good manners after all.

Momma glided around the kitchen and joined me with a cup of tea laced in her fingers.

“Did you sleep well?” she asked as she took a sip from her cup. I nodded as I continued mixing my breakfast, hoping it would cool a little before my next bite. “Well, I planned to go into the forest later and gather some herbs and roots. I’d like you to come with me,” said momma as she took another sip. “We could use the stores we have for trade. But, first, I need to talk to some of the local farmers about the lake they wanted Steele to make for their livestock. So, you have the morning for chores.”

I dared not flinch at the mention of Steele and chores. Sometimes, my chores involved helping momma and him. I still couldn’t put my finger on why he made me uneasy. I guessed I just needed time to get to know him, which would take no small amount of bravery added to it.

“Which chores?” I asked, trying to keep my mind occupied.

“Going into town and trading the herbs and roots I’ve dried for coin from Kendel Bryhorn. You remember him, don’t you?” asked momma. My heart leapt into my throat.

Town? Yes! My excitement for chores tripled.

I smiled and nodded. I liked Kendel’s shop. There were crystals and stones that sparkled and shimmered in the light of the windows. The herbal smell of our kitchen was nothing compared to the aroma of the shop. Even the wood of the walls seemed permeated with the scents of thousands of flowers and trees.

Town not only had Kendel’s shop, but it also had the school and the books. I might not have been able to read, but it was early enough that the school would be having story time, and I loved story time. I loved the pictures and adventures of the characters. Their courage seemed endless, and the fights were riveting.

If I hurried, I could make it to town before the first chapter was done!

“I’ll go as soon as I finish,” I said, quickly snarfing down the rest of my steaming meal before snatching my satchel off of the nearby hook on the wall. The warm air outside wasn’t enough to warrant a traveling cloak, but I did slip on my belt with my miniscule dagger and herbs and stones I collected on my own.

“Here you are,” said momma as she gathered up the herbs in bundles to put into my pack. “My my. Eager today?”

“Yes momma,” I smiled, feeling anxious to go. She loaded up my pack with the remaining items, straightened my belt, and kissed me on top of my head.

The moment I was out of the door, I took a moment to enjoy the sun on my face as I gazed out into the fields surrounding our home.

In a word, it was stunning.

The fields of growing corn looked like the surface of an ocean when the wind whipped through it, fluid and flowing. I felt the sun on my cheeks and let the warmth spread through me. The dirt path that led into town passed right in front of our house, which made it easy for me when running to town. The warm dirt against my bare feet gave a feeling like no other.

I turned and looked at my momma again, calling a swift good-bye, before turning on my heel and starting my run into town.

My feet pounded against the ground, making crunching, powdery sounds against my bare feet. I felt like the wind as I ran, letting my hair fly and bob behind me like how the flowers do on the ends of long stems in the field.

Clusters of trees in the distance grow larger and larger as the buildings of brick, stone, and wood come into focus. The town, Creewood, was known for its harvests of grains and lumber from the Spireling Timberland, meaning our houses are sturdily built here by the ocean.

Of all the places I have lived, this one is my favorite.

I continued running until I felt my breath starting to come in shallower gasps. My muscles burned as they carried me closer and closer to town. I had come a fair distance, and I decided I shouldn’t be out of breath when I run into town and into Kendel’s shop.

I started walking, admiring the fences and the coolness of the breeze, when I heard something in the distance. It was a subtle pounding, followed by a tremor of the ground.

I knew immediately what – who – it was, but I turned and looked over my shoulder anyway.

There, towering above at his immense height, was Steele Veyne.

Momma mentioned he might need some help translating, but I didn’t think he would be so close to the city. An involuntary shudder shot through me as I gawked up at him. It was hard to believe that even after these six moons that I would still feel startled at seeing him.

He didn’t see me with those intuitive, violet eyes of his. Instead, he just stood and stretched for a moment before crouching down and beginning his work again. Even at this distance, I could pick out the gray flecks in his hair and the crow’s feet by his eyes.

If he were my height, he might look like a young grandfather, but he wasn’t. He was an Orion.

A friendly Orion.

Who, for whatever reason, terrified me.

I didn’t dislike him. I liked him very much actually. I liked that he made momma happy and that he was kind and gentle. Still, I didn’t know much about him. Maybe that was what made me uneasy about him? Was it because he won the affections of my mother? Was it an innate fear? Was it because of stories of these giants from another land terrorizing one another? Waging wars that made the earth tremble in fear? Was it the stories that some of these Orion had magic? Was that how Steele won over my mother?

I didn’t know.

What I did know was I was running late for story time, and I needed to get a move on if I wanted a chance to listen to those amazing stories. With that final thought, I continued to run into town.

~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~

Continue

Beginning

~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~

Book One: The Orion’s Factotum

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narrans · 1 year ago

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Hey there tall, small, and in the walls!

I have been working on this latest project for quite some time, and now I'm finally ready to reveal the new cover for The Orion's Factotum! I'm so excited for the projects to come and I hope you all enjoy them as well.

Cheers and, as always, stay awesome! ~Narrans

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narrans · 11 months ago

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The Orion's Daughter : To Lands Beyond | Chapter Two : Words Cobbled with Stone

**~~~~~**

Chapter Two | Words Cobbled with Stone

**~~~~~**

I ran as fast as I could through the cobbled stone streets, past the shops, and practically leapt through the door as two other female patrons were leaving.

“Sorry!” I called after them, to which the two mothers with children on their hips began muttering about unruly behavior.

Rude.

Anyway! Moving on!

I scurried to the counter past the beautiful array of dried flowers and rocks cracked open to reveal veins of nameless color. The smell alone had me hypnotized the moment I stepped into the stone building.

“Kendel?” I called, poking my head up over the counter to spot the middle-aged man trimming an aloe plant by the back of the counter. His smile had a youthful vigor to it and his eyes, hidden slightly by a pair of oval spectacles that perched on the edge of his nose, had a way of twinkling like geodes.

Yes.

I liked this place.

Unlike some of the other adults here in Creewood, Kendel didn’t care about my background. He never got that look in his eye like the others did when they saw me.

“Well, sprout, good ‘te see ye’,” he said, his odd accent giving him a twang of charm. I smiled, liking the way he called me sprout. “Wha’ brings ye’ in t’day?” He continued scraping the aloe from the plant into a thick, clear glass jar. The goopy, clear liquid plopped into the jar with a satisfying *thunk*.

“Trading some herbs and stones,” I said, hoisting my bag onto the counter. “And, if I’m lucky, I won’t miss a lot of story time at the school.”

“Ah! I see! Well, sprout, I’ll not keep ye’ long. Just le’ me nip ‘en tuck this right ‘ere. Now, what’ll ye’ ‘ave for me?”

I wasted no time in pulling out all of the things momma gave to me, and Kendel’s eyes widened when he saw some of those items.

“Oh, dis ‘ere is some quality product,” he smiled. “Le’ me fetch some coin.”

“Thank you,” I replied, suddenly remembering some of the things I collected. “Oh! Wait! I found a few things here too.”

Kendel’s soft green eyes latched onto my satchel as I pulled out the few stones and flowers I harvested.

“Oh! Mighty treasures indeed,” said Kendel as he gingerly took the stone from my hand and examined it, brushing back the few wisps of brown-white hair from his face that were not latched into his low ponytail. “Well, I’ll take the stones from ye’, but ye’ ought ‘ter keep those plants. Wood sorrel is good for cuts an’ scrapes. So is tha’ yarrow.”

I stared at the plants in my hand in awe. I learned something new! This was shaping up to be a great day.

Kendel gave me a sack of assorted coins, which I made sure to count like momma taught me, and waved good-bye before leaving the shop and heading back into the open air outside. The smell of fresh bread wafted through the air as did the scents of flowers and roasting meat. It was an odd combination, but it would have to wait.

I had places to go to.

As fast as I could, I raced toward the schoolhouse, toes burning on the sunbaked cobbled stones, so I could hear story time.

As I ran, I could feel the eyes of some of the townsfolk on me. They probably suspected where I was going, and I sensed their disapproval. I glimpsed a few of them shaking their heads. It made me angry and sad all at the same time.

Why?

Why did they have to treat me like that? I haven’t done anything to them. It’s like they’re mad I’m here – alive.

“There she is again, tearing through town like that. You’d think her mother would teach her that a lady isn’t supposed to run, especially in a skirt,” said one snobbish looking woman as I ran past.

Water on stone. Beat me to the bone. Your words run right over me.

It was something momma taught me to say.

Sad…

It used to make me feel better all of the time. Now, it is only some of the time.

I ran all the way up to the school, choosing to not let it bother me, and crouched low so that the teacher and other students didn’t see me under the windows. They’d close the windows if they saw me coming.

Closer and closer, I crept until I made it all the way to the tree that gave shade and cover. I ducked low, hoping my auburn curls didn’t give me away, and nestled down under the window to hear Mr. Lowran read.

“Chapter one, The Knight. None saw the darkness arise, but only one rose to fight it – The Knight,” read Mr. Lowran. I have heard this story probably a dozen times before, but it didn’t stop me from absorbing every word. While the boys in the school were supposed to do their work while these stories were read aloud, I made sure to make my assignment to memorize every story from front to finish.

I couldn’t read, at least not very much, and these stories spoken into the air were all I could cling to. I wished more than anything I could sit in there with them, but rules were rules – even if they were stupid. Have enough money for a tutor or be a boy.

Stupid.

Dumb.

I didn’t want to change who I was. I just wanted to go to school. I just wanted to learn. Was that such a crime?

I mouthed the words as they dispersed through the air.

“- and with a mighty swing of his sword, he cut down the wicked king. Even as the malevolent ruler drew in his last breath, The Knight felt pity. The king was slain not of malice, but of righteous justice, and The Knight was the sword. Should any other do such a thing, it would be revenge, which was wrong. Only one pure of heart could accomplish such a task and restore peace – and that was the soul of The Knight.”

I wanted to be that knight. I wanted to venture to far off lands, test my courage and strength, and then move onto the next adventure. Sadly, only boys could be knights. I could be a guard, but that wasn’t the same. It didn’t have the same ring to it.

If only.

I listened all the way to the end of the story before I listened to the bells chime their familiar song.

School was out, and I had definitely stayed too long. It was a constant battle.

Did I stay?

Or did I go?

If any of the boys saw me, I needed to leave.

If they didn’t see me, I needed to wait.

Sadly, the only way to know was to leave my spot under the shady tree – my sanctuary of stories and knowledge. I took the chance. At any rate, I was faster at running and grass sprints than any of the boys in Creewood.

I poked my head out from behind the bushes and glanced to one side and then the next.

Nothing.

Good.

I crept out, my skirt rustling behind me and tugging at what felt like every branch behind me and stepped out onto the main road.

I felt a breath of relief escape me. I was going to be alright today.

I barely made it to the corner when I heard them.

“Hey Illy! We thought we saw you lurking outside the window.”

I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Jul and his group of thugs.

My insides lurched and, all at once, I felt sick. I made it three steps before the other two emerged from the nearby alley.

“Hey Illy!”

“What were you doing at story time, Illy?”

“Didn’t your dad teach you it is rude to lurk under windows? Oh wait… of course not – Illy.”

My throat tightened. Every impulse in my body screamed to run, but I reacted too late. I was surrounded – encased by their taunts, and there was no good way out.

Not even momma’s phrase about stones and words would have helped me now.

~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~

Continue

Beginning

~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~

Book One: The Orion’s Factotum

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