The Sleeping City

Chapter Three: Eye of Eyes

The differences between an alpaca and a horse are as definite in feeling through the earth and stone as they are to the eye. Ketua had never experienced a horse before and had only seen them in books. The crowd that had gathered of villagers preparing for the festival covered much of the beast from her sight, but she could look at the men who were mounted on them.

The leather jerkins they wore were dark as her hair. She had not seen anyone wearing black before, to wear it was to invite evil, or so she had been taught. They sat with straight backs on their horses, their thick arms drawing her attention. They were strong all of them healthy looking except for one scrawny looking youth, who seemed tired compared to his companions.

Ketua made a face at them knowing they could not see her and put her hand over her sling. It did not matter how dark their leather armor was, or how thick their arms, she could take them down each with one well-placed stone, spook their horses with one tremor. Her aunt caught her arm and shook her head, not taking her eyes away from the strangers as she left the safety of the bushes.

Her aunt spoke in a gesture of the hand which Ketua understood to mean "I need to be sure." She followed her in silence.What she needed to be sure of Ketua did not know. She was more than happy to turn away outsiders. Her hand reached into her pebble pouch and began shaping the bit of stone in her pocket her eyes hard on the pale-haired man talking.

He darted his eyes over the crowd as he spoke."We have come for the child who is not born of your lands. We have come for the infant who was delivered with the eye."

A male mousekin start shouting.His deep voice rolling out from between his needle-like teeth."There are no people here like that."

A human female called in response."It is our way to turn away strangers."

Another voice joined the conversation "The only eyes here..." Ketua recognized Whillion and wanted to break through the crowd to him, but stayed fastened close to her mouskin aunt's side. ,"... are those in our heads and those in our ancestor's heads.", Whillion pointed to a large Atual standing nearby.

The man did not balk at the jeers he received or hard words."We have information to the contrary. You can comply and be searched peacefully. We have only come for the child who is not even of you, and the eye she bears. This does not need to be violent, but be assured we will kill every last one of you if we must."

The crowd erupted with yelling .Her aunt drew a soft circle and then a quick tap on the ground with her bare foot sending a tremor along the ley line beneath them and spooking the horses.

If their riders had been less expert they would have been thrown for sure and the horses broken out into the crowd as it was it only created a momentary distraction which her aunt used to lead Ketua away from the group, past the bush line and to a narrow path leading through the wood to the old Atual Ketua had secretly feared her whole life.

Ketua hissed at her aunt."Auntie why not go back, we can take them!"

"No, Ketua we can not. They are more than they seem. They are sure that what they are looking for is here.There is no stopping them."

"I do not understand Auntie. There is nothing here anyone from the outside could want, other than our crops, and something tells me that this time it is about more than rice and Yunna roots.", Ketua's brows knit in confusion.

Her aunt's voice turned sever."You are correct child. This time it is about more than rice and Yunna roots. It is about the sleeping city and the eye that will wake it."

Ketua interjected."Stories all of it."

Her aunt turned to look her in the eyes." No, Ketua it is all true. Unfortunately. The world outside of ours is a dark place, and I am more sorry than I can say that I must send you out into it."