Arakim's Legacy(#Wattys2015)

Chapter 15

"I am hungry too,'' said Arakim, breaking the silence their leaving left behind.

"I can eat,'' agreed Talor. 'Anything here to eat?'' scratching his shaggy face.

"Yes, but no meat.'' Arakim answered, with a straight face.

Edum snickered while Talor burst into laughter. Mena snorted.

"Adani's work, eh?'' Talor still laughing.

Arakim shrugged and left to procure the food for them, taking the basket and pitcher from previous night with him.

"Told you he likes you.'' Edum said, joining Mena on the bed.

Dark blond eyebrows lifted. "Nobody likes a know-it-all, Edum.'' Mena said, irascible.

Talor chuckled.

Edum shrugged, unconcerned when Mena's glittering eyes levelled on him, warning him off. "Am just saying.''

"Just saying what?'' asked Arakim, back with the basket filled with food and a pitcher of palm wine.

"Nothing.'' Snapped Mena, still glaring at Edum.

Talor sat on the floor across from the bed when Arakim dropped the basket in front of Mena, and took a seat beside her, thighs pressed against each other, ignoring the sidelong look she gave him.

"Why didn't you make mud chairs?'' asked Talor, taking out a jar of honey and bread from the basket.

"Wasn't expecting company.'' Shrugged Arakim peeling the rind off a banana from the basket, and took a big bite of the soft sweet flesh inside. The four slowly ate their meal while mulling over their thoughts, drinking the palm wine.

"This is good palm wine. Adani's?'' asked Talor, after taking a sip and at Arakim's nod, 'that little girl sure knows how to survive in the forest.'' Proudly, remembering the fish pond and the other delicacies Adani had fed them.

Arakim waited a bit till Talor had taken a gulp of the wine before saying. "When will you tell me about the god brother?'' glancing at all them.

Talor swallowed the wine hurriedly, spluttering and choking when it went down the wrong way. Edum stiffened beside Mena, eyes widening slightly. And Mena glared at Arakim reproachfully, only to see his innocent expression.

"Why did you tell him about the god-brother?'' asked Talor, voice hoarse with tears in his eyes, the little skin above his beard flushed and wine dripping from said shaggy beard, all from his choking ordeal while wiping dry his mouth and chin.

"I didn't,'' snapped Mena, turning to face him.

"Then how did he find out?' confused, knowing that she was telling the truth. Mena never lied.

"He took it from my head.'' She bit out growling under her breath.

"What?'' Near shout, Talor's eyes darting to Arakim, who stayed silent and watchful.

"Mind-speak,'' said Edum softly, understanding.

"You can mind-speak?'' demanded Talor.

Arakim shrugged and lied. "With Mena.'' Not wanting to lie.

As he was still getting used to it. So far he could only pick up surface thoughts from most of them except Edum and Izumi. Izumi's like a stormy void while Edum thinks of meaningless things repeatedly while still making meaningful conversation, obviously an action perfected over the years. Mena had instinctively been blocking him from her thoughts and succeeding too. His feline was very intelligent and resourceful, smiling inside where the three people staring at him could not see. People like Djou and Myra were like open books and the young ones too, probably had not learned how to shield themselves yet. Which was why he would have killed Djou himself for the thoughts running through his mind anytime he looked at Mena. He might yet still kill him, who knows. The day was still young.