Tendrau Epics:Volume One; One Day We'll Die

Book One

The First Chapter

Hazel was six years old and three feet tall. Her chocolate brown eyes were wide in her slightly lighter brown face as she took in the sights all around her. The whole family were moving from their old home in the port of Ugeko's capital city, Ugeko, to Bartramsport in Saltland. Saltland was a country where sea and land came together into a saltwater marsh that stretched from the coast to the border with Leyland and Coastfields. Bartramsport was a town built on a few largish hills jutting up out of the marsh. Most of the residents lived on houseboats in the shallow pools of water that sat  between the hills. This was a whole new world for Hazel who was used to the arid climate of Ugeko.

She stared at the many different peoples they passed. Her former home had traded mostly with Saghan and the other countries on the south half of the Behelen continent. The traders who had come to Ugeko had been black- or dark- brown- haired, blue-eyed and with dark skin, different to hers, more like a very deep tan. This was the typical race of Behelen nations. In Bartramsport the merchants came from all over the world. There were people from Ugeko, Saghan, the Northworld, the Broken Isles and more places than Hazel even knew of. They were black-skinned, fair-skinned, brown-skinned, Oryent, olive-toned, red, orange, yellow or Behelenese. The collage of different peoples and colours stunned Hazel.

Overwhelmed by this new and wondrous place she huddled closer to her mother. Nanette smiled down at her little girl clutching her leg. Laughing, she picked her up and turned to her husband, Garth, who was leading the zegen, a strange six legged reptile from the Skaleskin Realm. They had replaced horses and donkeys in some places as work animals. This one was a red and bronze striped draught creature. It was pulling the wooden cart carrying their possessions and Hazel's two younger sisters, one  aged four and one six months. They slept, one on a pile of blankets, the other in a rush basket. In the hustle and bustle of the prosperous trading town they were paid little heed.

They had been dropped at one of the "dry docks" , as the docks surrounding the hills were known, by a ferry boat. Her father had already arranged for a houseboat and would make the payment for it once they found the seller. Anders Saltbeard, as the man was known, was living in another houseboat close-by to his old boat. Hazel had been ill for much of the journey in the ship over from Ugeko and wasn't entirely keen on the idea of their accomadation. The zegen, Aelaro, would provide the family's livelihood from now on. Her father would work as a cab driver in the city while her mother worked as a midwife. She and her sisters would play with the other children on the boats and travel to school three days in the eight day week.

Aelaro, gave a sudden hiss of excitement as they passed a stable. From inside the stalls came answering hisses as the zegens within called back. Garth grunted a chastisement and tugged the halter. Making their way through the city was tough in the dense crowds but they kept pushing until finally after an hour and a half of walking they reached the moorings. Houseboats jostled for space on the water and Nanette took on a look of despair. The houseboats were so many and so similar it would be almost impossible to find theirs.

Garth frowned and swept a look across the surrounding area.

"Where's Saltbeard? He said he'd be waiting. From what people have said of him I would have expected him to keep his word."

 A man in his late forties ambled along the dock towards them. He had the dark skin, dark hair and blue eyes of a Behelen man and a weathered look, with frown and laughter lines creasing his face in equal amounts. On his face he sported a thick beard, well-combed and peppered with grey and white flecks.

 "Garth Zegenmaster? I'm Saltbeard, pleased to meet you." The two men grasped hands. He turned to Nanette who balanced Hazel on her hip. Grasping her hand as well he continued, "Welcome to Bartramsport. It's a pleasure to meet the new neighbours. You can just call me Anders, most people do."

The adults continued to chat as Hazel gazed around at her. She watched as families lived their lives oblivious to her and her kin. Children swam in the water and clambered around on the houseboats, diving off and shrieking. Their mothers glanced out occasionally to check on their offspring then returned to whatever task they were at beforehand. A redheaded boy of an age with Hazel pulled himself up onto a nearby houseboat shaking his long tangled hair like a dog.

 "Get off of my house!" roared Saltbeard, causing Hazel to jump with surprise. The boy made a rude gesture and sat on top of the cabin ignoring Anders completely.

 "That boy's more trouble than he's worth," muttered the Behelen man, grumpily.

Shaking his head despairingly he turned back to them. He grinned, revealing teeth in surprisingly good shape for a man his age.

"This way." He led them to the end of the dock and hopped down onto a largish houseboat, dark blue painted wood. It had a small cabin where the steering was and a broad deck. There was a stall for Aelaro and a chicken coop. There was a set of double doors set into the deck which Saltbeard opened.

"Come on. The living area's down here. I know you lot would have lived on dry land before but once you get used to it no other place will seem so sweet as here." Garth  followed his lead and leaped down. He turned back around and reached up to lift Hazel after him. He held her hand as they took the stairs to the belly of the boat. Nanette stayed with the cart.

Below deck it was dark but dry enough. The soft lapping of waves against the outside of the boat could be heard. Saltbeard proudly displayed the bunks that would serve as their sleeping area. Any cooking would have to be done in the communal cooking areas dotted about Bartramsport. There was a separate cabin for Garth and Nanette. It was snug but comfortable. Hazel immediately claimed the bunk she wanted and prepared to defend it from the advances of her four year old sister, Acacia. Cinnamon, the baby, was still young enough that she would sleep in their parents room. But the boat still had ample room for when the time came for her to move.

Anders stayed only a while longer, collected his payment, then bade them farewell. Garth and Nanette started to unpack their belongings. Acacia tried to take Hazel's bunk but was promptly warded off with a shove and a twisted arm. They had sold much of what they owned to pay for their journey and property in Bartramsport so it didn't take long to finish. Within two hours Hazel found herself expelled from the house to go explore the neighbourhood. Acacia wasn't trusted enough quite yet to be allowed the same freedom.

She got back onto the docks and wandered around for a while but didn't like the way she was jostled. Uncertain of where to go she headed back to the houseboat. Just as she was about to jump down she heard a voice. 

" Oi! You there!" The red-haired boy from earlier was winding his way along the busy walkway to where she was poised. He reached her, grinning good-humouredly. "You're new here," he said.

 "And?" Hazel replied warily, not sure what to make of this lad.

 "Well, it's my duty to welcome you then. I'm someone most people know of pretty soon after they arrive. What's your name?"   

Hazel scrutinised him carefully, " It's Hazel."

 The boy beamed back at her, "Unusual name for a Ugekoan girl."  

Bristling she snapped back, "My name has a story behind it and makes perfect sense if you know it."

"I didn't mean it in a bad way. I've an odd name too. You want to hear why?"  

"Not really." She had made up her mind to dislike him.

His friendly smile had vanished, replaced by a puzzled and slightly wounded expression. Hazel jumped down off the dock onto her boat and refused to glance back at him. Her mother looked up as she entered.

 "Did you meet anyone? Find anything interesting?" Hazel ignored the question.

 "I'm hungry. When is dinner?" 

Nanette rolled her eyes, "All you seem to think about is food, girl. Saltbeard invited us to a small celebration later, our welcoming feast he called it. We'll be going to one of the cooking areas in about an hour. Does that suit m'lady?" she asked, giving a mocking bow. 

"Yes, servant," Hazel replied loftily.

"Servant? I'll give you servant!" Nanette threatened, a wicked gleam in her eye. She snatched at Hazel, who shrieked and dodged. They ran round the houseboat and onto the deck, joined by Acacia, playing a form of tag. Their laughter and shouts rang out in the cool evening air...colouring the fading light with joy.