The Grits
Year of the Lilies
Torrid Season
Unknown Place
Altsas
Isla
I WAKE UP ON THE MAT I WAS GIVEN to sleep on the previous night. My arm aches and throbs with dull pain, reminding me of why and how I got here. I was bought by a goldsmith, he's a short wiry man. He was rather curt with me but he managed to ask his wife to spared me a bowl of onion gruel. I ate the awfully bland food and ran outside to throw up. His wife — a tall, overweight woman followed me outside with fear that I might run away but she covered her nose with her hand and went back inside the hut.
Their huts are built differently from ours at Kintil. Theirs is built from stone or sunbaked bricks while ours were molded from mud.
&n
The Prayer Year of the Lilies Torrid Season The Hut. Altsas Isla I CRINGE WHEN I GET TO THE KITCHEN. The dirty dishes are piled up in a basin at the corner, flies buzz around the dishes excitedly. Waving the excited bugs away, I pick up the basin and leave the kitchen. I pass a cooing mistress who cradles the child on her lap and sings to her in a shrill and off-key voice. She doesn't spare me so much as a glance, it's clear that she is totally besotted by her daughter, Mye. From the glimpse I've had of the girl, she has no resemblance to her parents. While they are ugly, she's pretty in the meek way only children can be. She looks alot like Mavli. I shake the thoughts away and carr
The Bath Year of the Lilies Torrid Season The Hut Altsas Isla MY HEART WARMS UP TO MYE almost immediately. Maybe it is because she looks like my sister, maybe it's because she's sweet and innocent. I don't know the reason why but I grow fond of her almost immediately. Like I've been placed under a spell. Mye is the kind of child that will make you want to protect her, that will make you go out of your way to do anything for her. That's the same effect Mavli had on me the first day I laid eyes on her; she made me go out of my way to protect her, she made me want to give her everything. I have a vivid memory of the time I tried to catch a peacock for her. I wanted to give her that peacock and everything other thing in the world. But the peacock escaped, and we had a good laugh about it. I had
The Dagger (1) Year of the Lilies Torrid Season The Cabin Altsas Mavli I DON'T KNOW IF I'M DEAD OR ALIVE. I can't tell the difference. I'm body is numb and unfeeling but I'm breathing and my heartbeat is strong. The tears have dried up on my face, the tight sensation is the only evidence that I have to proof that there were tears. I'm certain my eyes are bloodshot and swollen from crying and from the slaps I had received. The taskmaster rolls off my body and rises to his feet. I can't see him properly, I don't want to. My vision is blurred and cloudy because I have made it this way. I hear the rustling of his clothes as he pulls them on. I lie unmoving on the ground. I'm supposed to be hurting, I'm supposed to be in tears but I don't cry and I don't feel th
The Dagger (2) Year of the Lilies Torrid Season The Streamlet Altsas Mavli I AM NOT ONE TO LOSE CONTROL, but I do when I see him. The onyx ring burns the ring finger of my left hand. An unknown emotion charges my insides. "Cirok." It can't be. "What are you doing here?" My fingers are trembling, my heartbeat is frantic. Something I can't decipher flickers in his eyes. "Aren't you glad to see me, Mavy?" I wince at the sound of the nickname. He takes a shaky step forward, his eyes don't leave mine. "I was looking for you, I was so glad when I saw you." I can't stand t
The MareYear of the LiliesTorrid SeasonThe StreamletAltsasMavliI LAY SPRAWLED BENEATH HIM. Totally vulnerable to attack, he stands staring down at me like the angel of death. His lips are curled into something crooked and twisted.The plead escapes my lips before I can help it. "Cirok. Please."He surprises me, throws the dagger beside me. It's blade is still coated with blood — his blood. "Rise, Mavy. I have not come to hurt you."My blood is pounding in my ears, my heart is galloping like wild stallions. But I rise shakily like a young calf, his eyes don't leave mine, they gleam like a dark jewe
The MobYear of the LiliesTorrid SeasonThe HutAltsasIslaIT'S LATE IN THE EVENING when the goldsmith returns home. Mye runs into his arms, clearly very happy to see him. He scoops her up in his arms, throwing her up and catching her again. Her bubbly laughter bounces off the walls, reverberating in the house. His overall is dirty and stained with grime, and his yellowed teeth flashes as he grins at his daughter.Mistress isn't exactly pleased to see him, her conte is as indifferent as can be. She does send me a chilling look. Maybe she is still angry that he criticized her cooking earlier."Go make some soup for your master," she snaps.
The TornadoYear of the LiliesTorrid SeasonStreets of AltsasAltsasIslaI'VE NEVER BEEN MORE PETRIFIED IN MY LIFE. I can't believe that I'm in the middle of a wild mob. A hand flies through the air and lands on my jaw, giving me a teeth shattering blow. I taste blood.Another hand slaps me hard across the face and my eyes sting with tears. Zaps sizzle in my veins reminding me of who I am; reminding me I've healed enough to unleash my power upon these people so I can be free again.I will myself, probing inside me to allow the power inside me to break free. A sharp pain erupts in my stomach as someone punches me hard. Grunting, I fall to my knees and a hard blow sends me reeling as someone hits my back
The CellYear of the LiliesTorrid SeasonDungeonAltsasIslaMY HEAD THROBS AND MY BREATHE SMELLS FOUL. I'm totally disoriented and chained to the wall of this stone prison, this leaky cell of the dungeon. Though tomorrow is New Year's Eve, the new year marks the beginning of a new season — the Floral Season but the air is still thick with humidity of the Torrid and my skin is sticky and clammy with sweat.Next to me is a bowl of a creamy watery broth and though my tummy churns and grumbles, I won't give in and eat that disgusting looking broth. It has a sour stench, and it seems like it has been here since the last prisoner. The spoon that lodges in the broth is coated with white crusty something, just lo
EPILOGUE: THE SUNYear of the BougainvilleaFrigid SeasonThe PalaceAltsasIslaI AM SO EXCITED. Today, I'm expecting mother and father's visit as well as Mavli's. It's been ages since I saw them.Throwing off my blanket, I jump off the bed and to my feet. A shiver runs down my spine the second my feet touches the cold ground. I slip my feet into slippers and huff out a breath which floats as a thick cloud of fog in front of my face.I'm not surprised to see that Kyan isn't on the bed, he has always been an early riser. I'm sure he is already getting the orchard ready for my parents' arrival breakfast.
The Sound of the WindYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe HighlandsAltsasKyanIT'S BEEN A WEEK since my marriage to the woman of my dreams. To the woman who's thoughts move the Earth. A whole week was kept aside for the wedding feast before I was permitted to take my bride away on the honeymoon.Now, I sit under our favourite tree weaving a flower crown for my bride. The cold pendant, a gift from Isla which also happens to be the heirloom of her family is pressed to my chest underneath my shirt on a gold chain.Osar flashes me a wide grin. "I have finished, Kyan. Let's see how Lyza will like it."It wasn't
The EndYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe HutKintilIslaI'M OUTSIDE WITH MOTHER and Mavli plucking pumpkin leaves for soup when a deafening thumping of hooves against the Earth is heard. Frightened, we rush inside and hide only peeping out through the windows."It could be them again!" Mavli's lower lip starts to quaver.Mother's lips move wordlessly with silent prayer.Carriages come in view, hundreds of them. Some of the carriages speed by and some stop near our hut. Valri is bleating with fright outside, Mother is whimpering with tears and Mavli clutches my arm, her nails digging into my flesh.
The ReturnYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe MarketKintilIslaIT'S BEEN HOURS.It's been hours since we laid Nadhat to rest among the reeds but still Mavli hasn't said a single word. I'm afraid for her but I know better than to say anything that might upset her more. Let her grieve, she deserves some time to grieve.Our mares trot carefully into the extensive land that was once our market. I take in all the destruction, the broken and burnt stalls. And far away,,I see a rotting corpse, I shut my eyes and turn away not wanting to see another body having seen Nadhat's.Nadhat.
The ArrowYear of the RosesFloral SeasonRoad to KintilRoad to KintilMavliTHE SUN HAS RISEN.We are almost there.Almost.We have been riding all night and day. The sun rays are peering through the clouds and threatening to end the cover of night, we dismount the horses and trot side by side with them. The smell of livestock and vegetables is over powering as we enter the Altsas market. Even if it is so early in the morning, the market is already as bustling as a bee hive. We have to elbow, duck and push our way through. My stomach churns loudly when my eyes dart to a stall of a fruit seller; the pyramid
The GirlYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe throne roomAltsasKyanMY FATHER'S EYES grows dark with ire. A large vein throbs frantically at his temple, his large hands form fists on the arms of the throne and he snarls bestially. Lyza chokes a sob, large tears pooling in her eyes. My mother doesn't say a word, she is the most collected of us. My Aunt and Rakar pace up and down the throne room. It is Rakar that breaks the silence with a growl."That harlot left you? You let that harlot escape?" He walks towards me with a glare, "I don't believe that you let a mere woman outsmart you!" He yells pointing a finger at me.I'm not angry, not at all. I'm heartbroken, for
The ReunionYear of the RosesFloral SeasonBynin VillageAltsasIslaTHE WORLD FREEZES. I'm consumed by something strong, something strange. It's happiness. It's shock. It's tension. It's tears.And I start to cry. I cry so hard it comes out in choking gasps. The woman appears at my side instantly and rubs my shoulders, concern mares her face. "What's the matter? Did you know her?"I nod, my face is dredged by the salty waterfall from my stinging eyes. "Mavli... Is my sister."The woman gasps, her hand flies to her mouth. "It's you. She mentioned looking for you!"
The RunYear of the RosesFloral SeasonBynin VillageAltsasIslaI'M STARVING and tired. I've been riding since yesternight and sunset is near. I can already see the tease of light at the horizon. Lady Gin-Gin whines softly probably as hungry and as tired as I am. I do my best to ignore her. Our pace has slowed down greatly and now, we are trotting down and unfamiliar road.But I have hope because at a distance, I can see a small flicker of light. I'm approaching a village and that gives me hope so I go on. No matter how hard my belly groans or how heavy my eyelids are or how painfully my heart aches, I'll continue. And if Lady Gin-Gin decides to stop, I'll walk.I see ad
The Promise and the HurricaneYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe HighlandsAltsasIslaWHEN THE SUN SITS high up in the sky and the fullness in my stomach I got from eating the rabbit dissipates, I lose my patience and turn to Kyan who is lying face up on the ground. "I want to have a bath." I jump up from my favourite spot under the tree. I grab my bag and start tramping through trees, leaving footprints in the soft earth and scaring of birds from their perches as I go.Kyan's heavy footsteps follows closely behind, he doesn't say anything but follows humbly which I'm utterly surprised at. When I stop confused on which path to take, he drapes his arm around my waist making me flinch and he steers me to the right path