There have never been secrets between Iano and his twin brother, Miano. But that changes when his brother marries an heir of the most powerful fief of the village. With such power comes the right to see the face of the Goddess. Only, Iano's twin mus...
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As Iano observed the campsite of the barelanders, Mito let out another series of sharp gibbers from overhead, three ripe mangos splattered on the ground, projecting yellowish juice over old bark and dirt. The green capuchin monkey bounced back and forth between branches, baring his fangs.
"Mito!" Iano called through gritted teeth, leaning further behind the line of shrubs in front of him. "Mito, cut it." In response, the agitated monkey sent another flurry of mangos that hit the ground's humus like boulders.
Iano had never been this close to the barelanders. And at this rate, Mito would take Iano out with a fruit square in his skull. Or worse: attract their attention to them.
The strange visitors with light brown skin, hair cut short, and braided hairdos had arrived in the forest by ship- a giant wooden structure of tangles of ropes and rectangular sails that had cut through the waters of the Uluh River four days ago. The protective wall of river trees had kept them from navigating past the banks lining the Northwest Fourth of Forest Anuka.
As the tracker of the Northwest Fourth of the forest, Iano had been charged to watch them closely and report his observations in his perimeter to the leaders of the council of the Central Jango, who reported to Mother Forest. The foreigners kept advancing inside Anuka and Iano reporting it all to the village. But nothing had changed ever since. He couldn't help wondering if the messages he had transmitted to the fiefleaders had reached Mother Forest's ears. Because if The Goddess had been sent to Anuka to keep the barelanders away, this was the moment to act.
Iano had done a good job remaining discreet so far and wouldn't let Mito ruin it. The ship of the settlers had remained stalled alongside the Uluh's right bank. But the settlers have been advancing southeastwards from the stalled ship, deeper into the tropical heart of Anuka, on horseback and with black feral dogs that Iano knew better not to approach. They were unlike any dogs Iano had ever seen in his life. Unlike the Anuka dogs who had a mixture of black, brown, and white fur and ears turned up, these dogs were stout and furless, with ears barely visible and always turned down.
