A World Found--Book 1

Chapter 10

Freya eyes fluttered open as the wolf stopped in front of a large opening in the side of the mountain. She stiffened and sat up. She grimaced at the thought of her leaning against Uzu. She stretched and blinked her groggy eyes. 

The men trotted their wolves through the crack in the mountain that led into a large carven. Large stables made of wooden beams stretched as far as the eye could see. One of the men's wolves' howls tilting its nose to the ceiling and echos of the wolves respawning bounced around the cave. 

Uzu slid from the wolf and motioned for Freya to do the same, then he led it to a stable and unlatched a leather harness from under its belly. He hung it on a peg by the gate.

 The men laughed as they did the same. "Sorry you had to have the talkative girl. Did she really talk the whole time?" one of the men sighed and patted a wolfs head. "Pretty much, she fell asleep an hour before we got back." Freya gritted her teeth. How dare they speak about Zoe like that!

One of the men smirked and pulled his hood down. "Did you see that girls scar? It makes her look like a Jarat." a few of the men laughed. Freya gritted her teeth, of course she was used to this. But it still stung.

Captain Uzu pushed past Freya and walked over to the man, grabbing him by the collar of his cloak, he pushed him against the stable wall. "Lord Menk said we are to treat are guest with respect. Understand?" 

The man gulped. "Yes Captain Uzu." Uzu turned around and headed for a door in the stone. "Come." Freya hurried after him. She pulled her jacket hood over her. she ran her hand along her scar. It wasn't even that noticeable.

 They passed through corridors till they came to the large cavern Zoe and Freya had seen only a few nights ago. But now it was silent and only a few fires were lit below them. Uzu walked around the ledge and turned into another hallway. 

He opened a door and motioned for Freya to follow. "You'll stay with my brothers' wife, there isn't any room in the woman's housing." three woman stood behind the door, they jumped back in surprise when Uzu opened the door. 

One of them giggled when her eyes met Uzu's and she looked away. Freya looked at them through her hood, just as excepted there were gasps as they saw the scar. One of the women, the oldest, Freya thought, walked through the door and took Freyas hand. 

"You look pale and tired, my friends and I have a cot ready, come dear." Uzu bowed his head then shut the door behind them. The wife led Freya into the large room, a huge bed stood in the middle and hundreds of carpets were laid over the cold stone floor.

 The wife interduces herself as Mary. What an English name. Freya thought. The other woman stared at her scar and whispered to each other. Mary coughed, and they stopped. "Your cot Freya." 

Mary led Freya over to a cot by the wall. "I'll be right here if you need anything." Freya nodded her head in gratitude and lay face down on the cot. These women wouldn't kill her in her sleep, right? She didn't have to think about it for long because she fell asleep not long after her face hit the pillow.

Freya groaned and rubbed her eyes; she was sore! "Good morning." Freya, startled, looked up. Mary sat in a rocking chair by the bed, sewing. Freya sat up on the cot. "Hello." She said nervously.

Mary smiled and set her sewing down. "Are you hungry?" Freya's stomach answered with a loud growl. Eating freeze dried food didn't count as a meal. Mary set her sewing on a small coffee table and stood. "Ready?" Freya ran her fingers through her long hair, she hadn't washed for a while.

They walked over the ledge that overlooked the large open carven, it had been empty the night before, but now it was once again filled with Algras people. They sat in a large circle, with plates in front of them, they ate food as they chatted. 

Mary pointed to the back of the circle. A table was laid with larger and more extravagant foods. Six men sat at the table. Two Freya realized was the captain Uzu and the old man from before. "Thats where the great warriors and Lord Menk eat. My husband sits beside Lord Menk, come you must be hungry." 

Mary led her to a large stairway carved from stone. Freya's eyes scanned the large room, Zoe sat in a group with girls her age. She was laughing like the past week hadn't happened. Freya grumbled and pulled her hood over her face.

 Mary chuckled and tapped on of the woman's shoulders who was sitting in the large circle. The woman smiled up at her and scooted to make room. Her face paled a little when she looked up into Freya's face.

 Freya bit her tongue as Mary pulled her down to sit with them. Plates were passed around the circle till they reached them. What looked like scrambled eggs and apples heaped the plate Freya was given. 

"Please, eat Freya." Mary held her plate in her lap, and daintily ate with her hands. The noise was deafening. Freya took a slice of the apple looking thing and bit into it. 

A burst of sweetness and fruity flavor burst on her tongue. She chewed and swallowed before shoving more in her mouth. Suddenly the voices in the cavern stopped, every eye was turned toward the table. Freya lifted her head and followed the gazes of those around her.

Lord Menk, the old man from before stood up in his seat. He cleared his throat. "Hmm, as most of you already know, we have guests with us. Human." whispers and hushed voices echoed through the room.

 Lord Menk raised his hand. "Silent, like our last guest we will treat them fairly." An angry voice rose from the circle. "The last humans doomed are planet!" Others grunted in agreement. Freya groaned inwardly and pulled her hood tighter around her as the Algras looked around the circle trying to locate the Humans among them. 

Lord Menk slammed his fist on the table. "Silent! They may have given the Yeth a way to breed, but they have returned, and they have brought weapons. Weapons unlike ours, weapons that kill the Yeths, without putting us in danger." 

A sharp gasp broke out through the circle of Algras. Lord Menk turned his head and looked at Freya. "So, we treat them with kindness, that is an order." Lord Menk nodded "Thats all, you may return to your breakfast." The chattering grew louder every second, and Freya felt the eyes that were cast at her. She picked at her food. Mary patted her hand. 

 Freya eyebrows knitted together as she looked Mary over. "How do you know English? You all seem to speak it well." Mary smiled and rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Algras adjust to are surroundings, when there Americans came, we simply listened and learn."

 Freya ran her finger down her scar. "Cool." she said thoughtfully. She felt someone grip her shoulder and she jumped, turning her head. Zoe giggled and nodded at a group of girls behind her. "they're going to show us around!" 

Freya sighed and shook her head. "I rather lay down." Zoe face dropped. "I know your sad, but I'm trying to cheer you up Fey." Freya grumbled and stood to her feet brushing dirt off her clothes. She felt awkward in her dirty street clothes.

 The Algras woman all wore colorful dresses made of flowy fabric. Even Zoe seemed to fit in, she wore a dress made of a light blue and pink fabric. Zoe caught Freya looking and twirled around. "Like it? Luna gave it to me." One of the girls behind Zoe blushed making her bright red scarf blend into her face.