Mama, Hold On

Chapter 7

With half as many men, I noticed that the group seemed to drag behind Wavu and I much less often and it felt as though we were covering more ground. In just one day, we'd made it through the gulf and were galloping comfortably through the outskirts of Districts Five and Six by sunrise of the next. Though, along with the benefit of speed, leaving behind half the crew came along with a few downfalls. One of them being that they still had a portion of our supplies. A few mistakes were even made while rationing and more vital weapons that I'd wanted to keep were later on reported to have been abandoned.

Also, an issue that really just affected me personally--I'd gotten rid of Q-Tip. At first, it honestly didn't bother me. But soon, the basic tasks I'd usually ask him to do became difficult because either I had to d it myself or get some other inexperience Lentie to do it. Soon, I started to worry about him a little bit. But I managed to calm myself with reminders that we'd pick him up after I found my mother.

Soon, the Lenties started getting restless. Food and drinks were becoming scarce and not one of them had had a drink in two days, which was an issue since every single one was an alcoholic who was used to drinking their lives away. Someone suggested raiding Kingston, the most populous Lent Town in District Thirty-Two. So, we spent the day heading right for it and set up camp by the entrance.

I left behind five men to watch over the materials we already possessed while the other nine and I snuck through the border claiming we were peaceful trading merchants. When I first glanced inside Kingston, I was amazed. Thirty-Two was a second youngest District, made up of the land that used to be Seven until it was overthrown, unfairly ruled, and its people rebelled against Eight. With the country being so young, Thirty-Two's ruler, Charmeine Sax managed to obtain an insane amount of sympathy points from nearby rulers. This gave Sax access to an impressive amount of technology and money which she cleverly invested to the point where even the Lent Towns were incredibly modern and advanced. 

Stepping into Kingston was like walking into the future. Technology was everywhere and our horses and bandit nature felt so out of place. Small children looked up at me sitting atop of Wavu and marveled at us as though they'd never seen a horse before. And looking around, it was more than possible that this was the case.   

Slowly, a white andalusion trotted up to Wavu and the lithe blonde man who rode it leaned it and muttered to me, "Our pistols won't stand a chance against them and I doubt the funds we have will afford sufficient weapons." Stroking Wavu's mane, I nodded.

Abruptly, I jumped off, "I got this." I said it loud enough for not only the blonde, but for everyone within proximity to hear. I reached into the sack of poems I'd tied to a bag on Wavu, and pulled out the most powerful poem my mother ever wrote. It was so dangerous, I'd only ever used it once, and I wasn't even sure the protection spell I had could do anything against it for my crew. 

Boldly, I stepped out into the middle of the street. I took on a wide stance I held my head up high and raised one hand up. The other held the paper which I read Sundae off of.

Long, flowing, blood red hair

Dark brown eyes that bring out each shimmer

My life, my joy, my world

No one else

But her, Jeyaprash and Fijeral

Were behind me on anything

No one wanted to even look at me

After I left Eighteen

And I struggled

I struggled so much

Because Reja already threatened

to take her away from us