Sephtis

2. Midday nightmare

( Sephtis's normal/unwinged form above )

~ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.~ Marianne Williamson.
~~~

The night was far gone by the time I lowered the bronze baited hook into the fishing hole. I sit back on the grassy bank and wait, looking across the still blue waters edged with the subtle brown of the vast marshlands, my mind wandering back to the orders that resulted in me being here. 

" I desire for a special meal to be made for your King tonight," Morag, the mighty queen had said, the ugly red flush spreading up her neck and across her face as she tried to remain 'regal like'' her eyes had been cold as she continued to speak. " I desire that he have fish. Go to the fishing place on the far side of the lake and catch three."
I had stood in stupefied shock, my mouth opening and closing, much like a fish. "But my lady," I had signed, my movements jittery " it is late in the night already and the fishing place is a long walk from here. It will be day time by the time I get through the forest, and dangerous-"
" Do it!" She had said, " don't come back until you have caught them all. " The queen had waved her hands around, mocking my sign language.
" I do not have to do this. Even the men do not leave our village during daylight. " my signing had been more confident, my mouth a straight line as my eyes burned.
" you must do everything you are commanded," Morag had yelled at me hashly, " you are nothing, but whatever I say you are. "
" A fisher woman?" I had savagely signed, the tears now threatening to spill over, " Is that what I am now-a hunter for whatever food you have a hunger for?"
Morag's face had been split by a slow, evil smile as she replied " oh no, not a hunter, you are not as special as that. Now get some bait and get going. " she had started walking away, only pausing to speak over her shoulder " oh and Sephtis, remember- if you are lost in the mire you are on your own. Our men will not waste their time and strength looking for a slave. "

I scowled, looking beyond the waters to the thin, pearly grey columns of smoke that rose from my village, disappearing into the midday sky.
Along the shore from me is a stretch of grass sloping down from the forest. The shadows are dark between the trees and I shiver with longing to be wrapped in their soothing coolness, instead of out here in the burning sun.
I lean closer to the water, the line held tightly in my hand, and start singing quietly. It is a song of woman-power and fire, and by it I defy the spirits of the day. I enjoy the sound of my own voice, here I can speak, unbound by the slave laws that dictate I can only speak through signing.
The line jerks, pulls taunt; and after a short, fierce fight I pull in a small salmon. I drop the hook again, and am about to continue my song when there is a movement in the grass further down the shore.