Will Of Infinity

Navigate - Part 1

Swatan was a picture of contradictions set against the backdrop of its cloud-kissing hills and dense woods forming Nature's enclosure for the animals left to roam in freedom. As the group from Jevadhi trotted up the crest of the border, Imay could see the stone monolith signalling the entrance of the village. Painted with a mongoose and a snake twisted around each other, the art was rendered in a thought alien to what was common. The dark snake, a wounded cobra etched in surprising detail, was coiled with its head ducked under the bulk of the mongoose that was facing away from it with eyes raised at the sky. Imay observed that the cobra looked tired at first glance but it's hood was drawn in a way that signalled alertness, eyes peering towards the ground.

It looked like they were guarding each other, he realised with dawning clarity, these two sworn enemies watching unprotected sides.

"Piba drew that," Tejo spoke up from where she was riding between the two leaders of Swatan, looking to her right as she seemed suddenly excited, "Isn't it Piba's birthday soon? Are we celebrating?"

"Should we?" Leader Gunshi smiled, glancing at Imay and Saakhi as he explained, "Piba is my nephew. The one who left early from Ujwi?"

"I thought it was the boy who met us at Torni," Saakhi mused, chewing on the piece of sweet grass she had snagged earlier, "What was his name - Ethil?"

"Ezhil," Saakhi looked inordinately pleased at having gotten the exasperated attention of the person riding beside her, "You know, the one you trusted a teenager with. A teenager you brought from a town you don't know."

"Oh, Nami's smart and Leader Gunshi here trusted the boy too, didn't he?" Saakhi grinned conspiratorially, leaning off her horse as she pretended to whisper, "I'm not bad with names all the time. Don't worry, Minar."

"Why do you keep calling her that?" Tejo demanded and Imay saw her shoot a mildly guilty look at the person she had revealed an unwanted secret about, "You know that's not what you should call her."

Their departure from Jevadhi had been awkward for the teenager, who had been surprised when she had been invited despite her gaffe. Imay could see that it wasn't as much of a mistake as Tejo perceived it to be but for her it was still a point of nervousness. He could see it in the way her eyes kept flitting between Saakhi and Minar.

Paher Minar. Imay was still processing that and he did consider calling her Saanjh but she hadn't made an issue of Saakhi constantly calling her by the other name. Not yet, at least. Even though Imay could see that Saakhi was using her name way more than any person would need to.

He really hoped they'd last at Swatan for more than one day, the way his sister was prodding at every available hornet's nest.

They weren't greeted by anyone at the arched entrance, the bent wooden gate unattended, but Imay saw Leader Gunshi get off his horse and walk towards the right side of the fence. As they watched, he removed a thin strip of wood from his inner jacket and pressed it in the gap that seemed the same as the others but accommodated the wood neatly. After being satisfied that it had locked into place, he led his horse through the entrance and the others followed.

"Is this a ritual?" Imay asked as he glanced over his shoulder at the fence they had crossed.

"Safety trip," Saakhi replied and he looked at her, following her finger to see the thin barbs of venomous thorns embedded under the arch, which he presumed would have dropped onto them if the key hadn't been set.

"That would have been a warm welcome," he muttered to himself and his sister ignored him to jump off her horse when the others did.

The actual village truly did look warm, masterfully built houses dotted with dyed art at entrances, fire burning at lamp posts to cast lively shadows. There were ramps of wood paved alongside the pathways, cloth lines strung across roofs and between them, sounds of metal and laughter echoing even as they came closer. There was someone jogging up to meet them from the sunken valley a few throws away, pottery clay smeared up long arms with dark hair half gathered in a top-knot and the rest falling down the nape. He wiped his palms on his shirt as he came near, a pleasant nod at Leader Gunshi before making a bee-line to Minar. His light eyes looked her over quickly before he joined his left thumb and index finger to make an enquiring gesture. Minar copied the gesture with a tired nod and it made his shoulders ease down before he pressed his palm against her forehead to gently push at it with a chiding expression.