The Raid
Year of the Lilies
Torrid Season
The River
Kintil
Isla
I LAY STUNNED ON THE WET GROUND, my fingers are digging into the dirt, my hair and dress are plastered to my body and I'm sobbing; the salty tears roll down my cheeks and some seep into my mouth.
I don't know how long I've been lying down here but I know that it's been long enough for the storm to be an ugly memory of a few moments ago. The soft wind that blows is icy and sends shivers down my spine.
The hair on my body stands on end and I feel goosebumps rise on my skin. My head is throbbing aggressively and my heartbeat has lessened to a numb thump in my chest cavity. And one name pulsates in my throbbing,
The Scars Year of the Lilies Torrid Season Unknown Road Unknown Place Mavli MY EYES OPEN SLOWLY and I immediately wish it hadn't. I want to sleep this nightmare away. I wish I'll woke up in the hut beside my sister like I did yesterday. Yesterday feels like another lifetime. It's funny how I took the simple bliss of being at home, of being with my mother and father and sister for granted. I'd give anything to be with them right now. I wish I can turn back the hands of time. The huge cart moves beneath me almost fluidly, its rhythm is almost comforting. I can hear the cantering hooves of the horses that pull me further away from the only life I've ever known.
The Thirst Year of the Lilies Torrid Season Unknown Place Unknown Place •Mavli• AS THE DAY PROGRESSES, the heat of the Torrid Season becomes more apparent. And the stench of our unwashed bodies becomes more unbearable. My nose burns and itches at the smell. What have we done to deserve this? The naked girl in the cage beside mine is still eating rigidly and staring at nothing ahead. Her slender fingers grab the bars of the wooden cage tightly. I wonder how she manages to sit with perfect posture when we are in so much pain. Swarm of flies buzz enthusiastically around us and a generous number of them hover around the scarred boy's face. He doesn't make any move to chase them aw
The Sale Year of the Lilies Torrid Season Market Altsas Mavli WHEN THE HEAT does not relent and the heavy stench in the air becomes unbearable, I feel bile rising up my throat. The churning of my stomach becomes excruciating. Can I hold on a little more? I lean exhausted in my cage, I'm so dehydrated and my tongue is dry and my teeth are gritty. When will we arrive our destination? As if on cue, stone towers appear at the horizon and I feel very uneasy. I suddenly wish we do not reach there so soon. From the shadow our cart casts on the ground, I can tell it's late in the afternoon. I let my weak eyes roll until they land on the li
The Deer Year of the Lilies Torrid Season Unknown Place Unknown Place Isla I PERSONALLY PREFER THE FRIGID Season. At least I won't have to deal with all this heat plus the pain I'm already suffering. I woke up when the sun was high up in the sky and burning the Earth mercilessly with its rays. Everything is blurry and the air is punctuated by the irking smell of unwashed bodies. My arm is aching dully, I turn my eyes to scrutinize it, the image of the protruding arrow fills my mind but I'm very surprised to find my arm heavily bandaged with a damp foul-smelling cloth. I remember the smell of the herb too well, mother used to use it on our wounds when we were much younger. I'm shocked that our captors had the heart to treat our wounds. They will probably want u
The Kingdom Year of the Lilies Torrid Season The Market Altsas Isla WHEN I WAKE UP, we are approaching huge towers that provides the soldiers that are guarding the Kingdom a birds eye view of almost everywhere. I catch myself staring at the towers in awe of the power of the people. This Kingdom must be very powerful to raid our home and cart us away like livestock. But unfortunately, I'm too weak to do anything. I'm too weak to use my mind. I won't even create a breeze even if I tried. The cart stops and as if on cue, the crying and wailing stops. Eerie silence reigns the pungent air. I'm beginning to lose my calm when flies begin to buzz actively around me. But from what I can s
The Peacock Year of the Lilies Torrid Season The Hut Altsas Mavli I'M USED TO THE HEADACHE NOW. I'm used to the rhythm of the throbs. The familiar throbbing and aching reminds me that I'm human. It reminds me that I'm alive. It reminds me that I still have a chance. Yesterday's events are just a blurry memory in my psyche. I don't try to recall, I don't want to. So I push all of them to the back of my head and lock them up in there. All I know is that I'm sitting at a corner in a tiny hut that is half the size of our hut back at home. Nine other people are lying or sitting here with me. None of them are sleeping though I'm sure sleeping is what we are expected to do with our night.
The Plantation Year of the Lilies Torrid Season The Plantation Altsas Mavli I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE STRAWHAT I'm given by the taskmaster. We all were given one and also a change of clothes which comprises of a calico long-sleeved shirt that's way too big for me and drawstring calico trousers which are big for me too. We are shackled by our ankles and chained together then the taskmaster leads us into the gated plantation. The land is very expansive and stretches out to the horizon. My fists clench as I stare at the acres of land, our farmland and at home is less than one-eighth of this plantation, why would one family own such wealth? My back is nudged hard by the stick the taskm
The Scream Year of the Lilies Torrid Season The Hut Altsas Mavli MY FACE FEELS TENDER. Like cooked meat especially my right cheek. My right eye is swollen and sore. My mouth is bleeding and I'm sobbing. I sit at the corner I sat yesterday night and early this morning. I rest my forehead on my knees and wrap my hands around my legs. I cry loudly not minding that there are nine other people in the hut. I cry till my throat stings and gets really sore and till my voice breaks. A calloused palm rests on my shoulder, I shrug it off but it doesn't stay away but reclaims my shoulder. "Plea
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