The Scourge (A.G. Henley) - By A.G. Henley Page 0,70
live, how we live, is based on the belief that the Scourge is monstrous, existing only to consume us. And the framework of my life as well—the combined gift and curse of my Sightlessness, my responsibilities of stocking the caves and collecting the water—was defined by the flesh-eaters. It collapsed in one morning.
I reach the clearing. I can hear the stream bubbling over the soft thrum of rain on leaves. And I hear something else. Voices singing in the first language of the anuna. I stand under the canopy of a tree and listen, strangely soothed by the unfamiliar, discordant tune.
Footsteps approach, followed by the sweet scent of clove blending with the fertile smell of moist earth. I wonder how Nerang keeps his pipe lit in the middle of a rainstorm.
“Come in from the rain, young one.”
I don’t move. “Why are they singing?”
“It’s a song of celebration. The Myuna has not been as plentiful of late. Where is your friend?”
“Talking with Kadee.”
“Good, they have much to discuss.”
I turn on him. “How long? How long have you known who we were?”
“I suspected where you were from the moment I saw you. You were dressed so similarly to Kadee when she first appeared in Koolkuna. But I didn’t know who your friend was until Kadee told me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me what you knew?” And I don’t just mean why didn’t he tell me he knew where I was from, or that Peree was Kadee’s son, but all of it—all the secrets he’d been keeping. I don’t have to say it. He understands exactly what I mean.
“First, because you were close to physical and mental exhaustion when you arrived. You needed time to rest and regain your strength. Second, Kadee needed to be the one to tell you both. How your friend may be related to my friend is not any of our business, despite what Kora’s doll might have to say on the matter.” I crack a small smile at that. “And third, you weren’t ready to hear it. You needed your strength, and you needed your friend to mend first. Those needs coincided with the amount of time required for you to drink from the Myuna before we showed you the nature of Koolkuna’s protection.”
Protection. The word bounces around inside my head.
“Nerang, what is it about being Sightless that protects me?”
I catch another whiff of the sweet smoke before he speaks. “When Kadee told me about the protection provided by your Sightlessness, I was puzzled. Then the answer became clear. The illusion caused by the poison is powerful, but because you are Sightless, you’re less convinced. Your eyes don’t deceive you, if you will, as ours do. And, from the beginning you were told you could not be harmed. You believed you were protected, as much as others believed they were not. And so it was.”
I shake my head, boggled by the idea. “All my life Sightlessness has been celebrated as a gift to myself and my community, something to be grateful for. But it’s meaningless. A weakness after all.”
“Forgive me for making assumptions, but I suspect it has given you much.”
“Like what?” I scoff. “Other than more scars and bruises than I can count.”
“Bravery, strength of character, willingness to sacrifice for others. Even wisdom. You may be Sightless, young one, but you have more vision than most your age.”
I try to resist, but the corner of my mouth lifts again. “I bet Yindi couldn’t stay mad at you either.”
Nerang chuckles. “True.”
I comb my wet, stringy hair back from my face. “I don’t know what to do with all of this. It’s too much.”
“Give yourself time.”
“I don’t have time! I need to go home. I’m afraid to think about what’s happening back there. And now I somehow have to convince my people that pretty much everything they believe isn’t true.”
“Faith has been limited since the Fall,” he agrees. “At first we tried to simply tell lorinyas the truth, but we found we had to prove it to them by having them drink from the Myuna. Yet, you have one advantage we do not.”
“What’s that?”
“Your people know you, and trust you. You can use that.”
I think of Adder and Thistle. “Not all of them.”
“I didn’t say it would be easy, young one.” He puffs on his pipe. “Of course, there is another choice you can make.”
I wait, but he doesn’t say anything. “What is it?”
“You can stay. Create a life here in Koolkuna, as Kadee did. You would be welcome.”