Hello there people. Hope you enjoy my story. All reviews are welcome, praise, constructive criticism, even flames (I need a good laugh now and then).
Now to the story…
To Touch a Stone
Chapter 1
The morning sun's beams began a new day in the Edoc'sil Clan. The wind blew softly across the grass. The dew was starting to disappear. The horses started to neigh for their morning breakfast. The village of dear skin tents started to rustle with activity. The children were running around sleepily doing their morning chores, such as bringing water from the local village well to their mothers so she can start cooking breakfast. The elder children were feeding the stock of horses, chickens, a few cows and their family sheep.
Kai woke in her family tent to the sound of the village, and her twin brother Kain yelling at her to get up so she can make breakfast for him. "I'm up, I'm up" Kai said sleepily with a yawn. She slowly got out of her rough wool blankets and pulled on her buck skin breaches and purple tunic, all the time muttering about how the day is to long and the night too short. She yawned one more time and quickly combed her frizzy black long hair with a carved bone brush and put it in a high ponytail. She glanced at Lailee her one year old sister in her blankets and decided to let her sleep until breakfast was ready.
When she was done she pushed her wool curtains, which divided her space from the main room, and entered the family room. It was a large tent that is a in the shape of a square. The tent is thirty-five feet by thirty-five feet. In the middle of the tent is a thin pole that holds up the deer skin ceiling. On each side of the four sides of the tent there are four seven foot poles holding up the walls. In the front there is a deer flap door and in the back there is a fire pit with a hole in the roof above it so the tent won't catch on fire.
On each of the corners there are curtains hanging from the ceiling to make separate bedrooms. One is for Mother and Father, one is for Jamin the oldest of the children. Another is for Kain and Carpin. The last is for Kai and Lailee.
Kai quickly went to the fire pit and made a fire with the coals from last night's fire. Just as she was putting the pot on the fire Carpin came in with the well water. "Good. Now you can go play for a bit, but come back in five minutes" said Kai.
Kai quickly poured the water in and then put the grain in too. Father, Kain, Jamin and Carpin came in just as the food was ready. Kai smiled at them empty heartedly and took down the bowls and spoons from the wall hanger. She took the ladle and spooned in some the mush into each bowl. "Hurry up woman" yelled father. Kai bit her lip at this remark. Last time she said something back she got beaten and starved for two days. Once she gave her father his bowl she glared at him at his back. Only Kain said thank you to her.
Before she ate she went to get her little baby sister. Once she got Lailee she put her on her lap and fed her with a little bone spoon. She looked around and sighed. Her life was full of disappointments. All the men looked at her not as an equal but as a young woman of fifteen that is almost ready for marriage. Her father didn't care for her at all he just sees her as an investment. Once she gets a suitor the suitor will have to pay money for her to marry. The money always goes to the father of the girl.
She hated her father. All he cared about was his sons and money. He could care less about Lailee. All he sees Lailee for is something annoying that wakes him up in the night. Ever since Mother got sick from giving birth to Lailee father has been treating his daughter's worse. He ignored Kai's needs, made her eat less so she can stay 'skinny'. The only time he talks to her is when he needs her to do something for him or to tell her to stop acting like a boy and be more ladylike, but even he couldn't make her trade breached and a tunic for a dress.
"So what if I like horseback riding more then carding wool" she thought to herself bitterly. She looked at Lailee. "She's so innocent" she thought. She felt terrible that this perfect little girl is going to grow up in such a sexist world.
She looked up at her family. She looked up to see her father leaving without a word. He was of tall build and blond hair, now speckled with white. He had tan skin and had a deep voice. His whole appearance screamed "respect me because I'm better then you".
She saw Jamin who was leaving after Father. Jamin looked liked a younger version of Father but age seventeen. Jamin looked up to Father as if he was the sky. You could tell all he wanted to do was please him. Although a complement from Father was as scarce as water was in the desert. Even for Jamin his prized son who will one day take the role of head in the family.
Carpin was next to leave. Carpin was a younger replica of Jamin but only in looks. Carpin was a good person at his age of twelve. He was more interested in playing then in proving himself to people. "Let's just hope he stays that way" she thought, even though she knew that wasn't going to happen.
Kain was the last to leave. Kain was her twin brother. He was white like her with black hair, but Kai was almost so skinny that it was unhealthy. It wasn't a pretty skinny either. They took after their mother not their father. Her mother was a gorgeous woman but Kai seemed to not get her looks. "You'll grow into them when your older" she would say when she was well. Kai never believed her. Her brother Kain respected her and they are more then brother and sister but best friends.
Kain gave her a small smile and left to do his daily routine of working and learning from his personal teacher, while she stayed home and worked. Since Mother is sick and with the healer Kai has a lot more to do then regular girls her age. When she is done with her chores she has some time off until the men in the family come back demanding dinner. Instead of the usual woman pastimes of sewing and weaving she always visits her family's horses.
Her favorite thing to do is ride horses. There is just something about the feeling of the wind on your face and the exhilaration that makes her feel free, like there isn't a problem in the world.
Once she was done cleaning up breakfast, mending some clothing, washing the clothing, working on a new basket for carrying things in and some other chores she was free to do what she wanted.
Kai picked up Lailee in her arms and walked through the village. The village was bustling with woman outside knitting or weaving. Some were softening clay to make a pot. People stood around in groups talking. The women were wearing dresses made out of wool and the men tunics and breaches. The men ignored her completely and the woman gave her and Lailee respectful smiles as they passed.
The girls her age would stand in circles and do the same thing the women did, but then as they passed they would snicker at her about her attire and tomboyish ways.
The boys would just stare at her or even worse give a teasing cat-call. She knew they were just making fun of her for her sad appearance.
Once she reached her mother's old friend's tent she went inside to see Miawin her mother's friend on the floor knitting what looked like a sock. She was a small woman with gray hair tied into a bun. Miawin looked up and smiled at her. "Hello there dear. Come to drop Lailee off?" Kai smiled. "Yes, thank you for watching her again" Kai said thankfully. "No problem. The little child is an angel compared to my little boy when he was young as her." Miawin gave a small laugh.
"How is you mother dear?" Kai's smiled disappeared completely. She stared down at her feet. "Not so good. She's getting worse. She won't eat and she's so weak. I fear she might come to pass soon." Her eyes started getting watery. She quickly wiped her eyes. Crying was frowned upon in her village.
A look of deep sadness crossed Miawin's face, but she soon covered it up. "I have to go now but I will see you later on when I pick Lailee up. Thank you again" Miawin smiled again and waved her off.
It didn't take her long to go to her family's horses since the village is small. Once she got to the horse pen she saw twelve horses. Her family's trade is horse breeding. So it is only right that they have the most horses in the village.
She leaned on the fence. She stared at the beautiful horses for a minute. She couldn't help but think what it would be like to be a horse. "It would be wonderful to gallop in the grass going miles without tiring" she smiled at the thought.
Coming back to reality she clicked her tongue against the top of her mouth producing a clicking noise. One of the horses turned its head to look at her. She grinned. "Come here Fireheart" she yelled. Fireheart was the color of chocolate and as he walked you could see his strong muscles move. He was a good size horse and when you looked into his blue eyes you could feel his strong will and power.
On his chest and forehead you could see white. Not just white but the whitest of white. You could tell this was a great horse. Once Fireheart reached her she rubbed his forehead. The horse neighed. Kai took her hand away and jumped the fence. Once she was over she walked to the gate on the other side of the ring. On the gate was a saddle made of leather and bridle. Kai picked them up putting her hand under the saddle to make sure it wouldn't fall.
She then went to the fence and climbed up one board. Fireheart followed. He knew the drill. Once he got close enough she gently put the saddle on his back. She tightened the girth under his stomach. When she was satisfied it wouldn't slip she turn to the bridle. Once that was on she was ready. Kai jumped one more board on the fence, and jumped onto Fireheart.
Once she was on she kicked his sides telling him to run. He didn't need to be told twice. Kai leaned forward, her hair blowing in the wind. The exhilaration was making her giddy. She felt free.
I know this chapter is kind of boring but it will pick up. I was trying to introduce Kai and her life so I knew it wouldn't be that exciting in the first chapter, but hang in there!
Reviews are welcome! Don't be shy, I don't criticize my reviewers because they are what keeps me writing )
See ya…
As Ever,
JustMyLuck