Alpha's Divine Commandments

Chapter 14

*Slight graphical content* 

The canopy broke as we pushed apart vines and slid between narrow paths of tree trunks and boulders. Sucking in my gut as I slip through the final gap. The wind sweeps my hair back as I step into the opening of a selection of tents. Blocking the harsh midday light with a hand, surveying the hustling gathering of bodies. So many people hurrying in and out of tents, carrying herbs, plants, and various colored candles. A collection of charms attached to wind chimes dangles from many tree branches.

"Fennel you're back," a man's voice bellows.

I dropped my hand, shying back to near the entrance as a group of three men jogged in my direction.

"As I promised and in one piece too," Fennel calls out as she jogs up in front to meet them.

"And you're awake before Grams! today really is full of surprises." She laughs, pulling one of them into a hug.

"Eden, it's safe to come closer," she turns her head back to me with a wave. "Be nice or I won't let you meet her," she says, looking back to the men as they peered over her shoulder to see me.

I shyly stroll over, holding down the tunic to cover more of my thighs. My pale legs blotched with dry mud and bits of green, I'm oomph forward as the wind pushes against my behind.

How did I get here again? I am drenched, half-dressed, and in desperate need of aspirin. I left dressed and pampered for an evening of dancing but awakened disorderly and awaiting answers just to get more questions in their place.

Stopping beside Fennel, I gather my thoughts and look at each of them in the eye. They didn't dare stray past my own as I reached out a hand for them to shake.

Three warriors? Three brothers? Three to befriend or foe?

No words, just a firm hand, and a nod from each before they pardoned themselves in the opposite direction back to the community.

Watching them pass through the flaps of a bigger tent. Fingers grasp around mine tight. Pulling my body along while I drift back into the awe of the place. A nature dome accommodating all these people over the weeks of the festival. I've wandered the gardens, but never once realized just how big the capital was to warrant this place.

The light cut off as Fennel released my hand, and the candle-lit insides forced my attention. I hovered over the room from left to right. The small space large enough to fit a small fire fit decorated with a ring of onyx to protect a dying flame. The dark stone sparking just as his iris had that moment he captured mine only days ago.

Markings and painting scrolled along the sides of the tent. A split dipped the space into two as three outlined shadows of the men kneeling before a smaller hunched one. The sudden slap and heave as the shorter shadow grew and moved into view. The aged individual small and stoop over, the clicking of a stick hit the ground with each step once she came into my line of sight. Her gray strands tangle down to her side in a braid-like mine but only neater.

"Ah, the stray child has finally awakened," I stumble closer to the elder as she took my hand and flipped it palm upside. "Strong heart, weak mind," she says, sweeping her thumb over my palm. Her eyes narrow into the grazes yet to heal. She pokes the flesh, squeezing into its sides as the clotted scab tears and reopens the wound. "This blood, it's ridden with disease," she pauses, looking to Fennel. "Plague and death await if left untreated, prepare the shallows. Fennel! Fetch manuka and echinacea and lots of it. You three out! Surround the oak sapling with blessed water."

I wretch my hand from her. Holding my bloody hand to my face as pale crimson pours down the wrist. My brows furrowed and my eyes narrowed. A thick black substance slowly oozed from the middle of the wound with each pump from the inflamed cephalic vein. What on earth was it? I've seen nothing like it or even similar. I thought before dropping my wrist.