The Thin Line

“What”, I screamed in my father’s face. “They is no way that I’m marrying that stupid trader so I can be his slave. Over my dead body”

  I thought my father knew me well. He is the one that had taught me to hate and fight the traders. How could he do this to me?. For crying out loud he even taught me how to fight with a sword even though it was against our culture.

  To hell with him being the king. I would rather sly my own neck open than marry one of those filthy traders. Doesn’t father get it?. He can’t be that ignorant. Ever since the traders came all they did was cause pain and trouble.

   I get it before they came we weren’t exactly a happy kingdom we had our own ups and downs, but the coming of the traders resulted in more warfare and increased rebels.

   “Young lady you are going to do as I say, do you hear me? I’m the King and get that in your thick head”, I could see the fury and anger in my fathers eyes. Everyone normal knew better than to talk back to the king, but I’m a special case.

 Someone behind me cleared their throat as a warning gesture, that’s when I realized that I was standing nose to nose wit my father. I could see the stunned and shocked faces of the elders. Idiots. To think that they can decide my life like that.

 “Are you trying to disrespect my judgment?”, my father spoke again in a some what calm voice. Disrespecting the king resulted in whipping and the king could do it himself if he chose to. I know my father doesn’t want to whoop me or make anyone else do it.

  I find myself saying words that I never thought I would say to my father, “No. I don’t mean to disrespect you but with all due respect I would rather you execute me before I marry a trader. My whole life you taught me that they are the enemies. Aren’t you the one who is always telling us to kill ourselves before they capture us. You know what happened to mom. I’m telling you if you marry me to a trader I will kill myself. What would mom say if she was still alive today. Well not much since woman are inferior in this council…”, before I finished a sharp pain cuts trough my cheek and sends me flying before I fall on my butt. could feel the anger rise inside me. How dare he? Maybe he would want to whip me after all.

 When I look up into my fathers eyes my own anger subsides and is replaced by fear. It seems like my fathers already dark hair has grow darker. If it is possible he seems to have grown an inch taller and is shoulders wider, but what scared me was the murderous look his eyes had adopted.

 “Now go to your quarters and let the ladies attend to you . The wedding is tomorrow evening and I expect you to be on your best behavior. The next time you stand to me I promise I won’t hold back and you better be prepared for the consequences. Understand?”

 As much as I wanted to say anything I was too dazed and confused a word. I quickly stood up and bowed to my father before I bolted away from the council. The only question on my mind as I ran to my quarters was ‘How could he?’

  When I walk in my room I grab my bow and arrows because hunting is the only activity that can calm me down. Like all houses in our tribe, my room is built out of stone and the roof is patched out of grass. The stone walls are supposed to adapt to the temperatures, but in the summer they adapt too well and it gets really hot inside the houses.

  In our tribe the woman build the houses, plant food and take care of the young kids. Lately some woman started to secretly train on some fighting skill, because although the traders tended to kidnap man, from time to time they capture woman for their own sexual pleasures. Just the thought of being one of those captured woman makes my skin crawl. I clench my fists and hold tighter to my arrows. I have never killed a person, but I have no doubt if the time comes I won’t hesitate.

  Like always when I go hunting I stop by the young warriors quarters to get Razi my best friend. He is the only person that really understands me. His mother is the one that took care of me when my mother died. I cannot remember a time in my life that I felt like I didn’t have a mother, because Razi’s mother was always there for me. No wonder why Razi and I are inseparable.

  “Here to meet me ma lady?”, a voice squeaks from behind me. Without even turning around to look I know it’s Usa. Usa is kind of a joker, but he always manages to make me laugh. Like always I decide to play along to his game only better. “Of course Usa, I’m to take you so I can shove my boot up your butt”, I say already smiling. See he always manages to make me smile.

  Good one but you break my heart with your smile. Anyway I had you stood up to the big bad wolf”, Usa says in a whisper. “What kind of a tribe is this? Don’t people have lives than to go around talking about other peoples business”, I respond a little too louder than I intended.

“So it is true?”, Usa starts jumping up and down, which looks weird since he is six feet tall. He looks like a giant kid awaiting some berries. The thought makes me smile.

“Someday your big mouth will get you in trouble. I got to go. Where’s Razi anyway?”I ask him already walking to the spot were I always find Razi. “Sorry to disappoint you but Razi hasn’t returned form his night watch duty, but I wouldn’t mind going with you.” his eyes lighten up as he says the last part, which we both know is not going to happen.

“No offense, but I would hate for you to slow me down and with the way you move your feet you will scare game that is a mile away. Bye go to go” of course I know he is offended, but I’m too overwhelmed about what happened earlier to care.                                                                                   

“Okay have fun” he waved a he turned his back on me. I couldn’t help but notice the disappointment in his voice. I quickly stride to the nearest gate, which is the Northern gate. Like most villages and kingdoms, ours is surrounded by fortifying wall to help deal with invasion.    

The northern gate leads directly to the forest. Suddenly I realize that I haven’t washed in over two days. As much as I enjoy hunting I decide to go bath instead, besides hunting is no that fun without Razi.

To avoid some peeping boys I walk deeper into the forest to the Mani river. I come to a halt as I hear some deep voices near me. I am certain they are not speaking my language, which makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I’m curious of who they are so I decide to crawl towards the voices. They are less likely to notice me if I crawl.   

I forget to breathe as I notice at least a dozen traders swimming and bathing. As much as I try to take my eyes of them, my eyes don’t respond and I just keep staring. “What if one of them is my husband”, I clench my fists at the thought.

Before they notice me I turn around and start crawling. I wonder if what I did is considered peeping. I am so caught up in my thoughts that I don’t look at where I am going when I stand up. When I stand up I come crushing into what I can only describe as a soft wall. I fall back on my but for the second time today. I look up only to notice it isn’t a wall I crushed into after all, but a young traders glistening chest. “See anything you like” he asks with a cocky smile. Before I can even inhale my next breathe, I sand up and run to the village as if I’m on fire.

**Hey Guys****** if you Like the story drop me a comment or two I would be happy to upload the next chapter :)