A Nest Full of Vipers

I awoke to the sounds of banging. I looked around the room and noticed I was still in Kai's rooms. There were wine bottles and glasses everywhere. I lay on the floor propped up against the wall by the fireplace, my head spun. I could barely make a coherent thought. 

 I looked around the sitting room for Kai. He wasn't here but the door that led to his bed chambers were closed. I staggered to my feet, feeling queasy. I looked for anything to spill my guts in. There's an empty flower pot to my left. I tried to make my way to it.

“Please don't,” Kai grumbled, leaning against the doors to his bedchambers. 

Kai rolled his eyes

 “The washroom is right through here,” he gestures, pointing to the door opposite his bed chambers.

I stumble through the doors and barely make it before I empty my stomach contents in the washbasin.

   My brother stood over me. He was already washed and changed from the night before.

“You need to get yourself together,” he barked. 

Tossing me a towel and walking out of the room, he shouted over his shoulder.

 “We have a meeting with the war council in two hours, father would be pissed if you showed up like this. Go clean yourself up and make it snappy. Being late is a sign of disrespect and if we're looking for allies, disrespect is something we can’t afford,”.

 I grab my ceremonial robes off the lounge chair and make it to the door. Kai grabs me by the shoulder and says 

“I heard you talking in your sleep, Kai looks up into my eyes, Kai eyes burned with determination, Netta was right to choose

you,” he says, patting me on my shoulder. 

Tau Kou Ye Lay Lee, he howled.

 Placing a hand over his heart, I'll follow you to the end, Brother. 

   It was rare for Kai to show that there was more to him than warrior tattoos and weapon mastery. I lifted my chin and threw my shoulders back and closed my eyes to fully appreciate this rare occurrence. I took a deep breath and walked out the door, ready to face this day. 

 I stand here in the shower, water running down my head and back, one face kept coming to the forefront of my mind. I tried to ignore her, place her as far from my mind as possible. I had more pressing things to worry about. But my mind kept replaying the way she looked at me before running out of the choosing ceremony. She looked frightened, but she also looked like she wanted to run right back to me.

    I slid my hand down my tired face and sighed.

 Out of all the females I met the night before, there was no doubt in my mind that Mera was the one i will choose as my mate. The problem was she was soon to be Chieftain of another tribe. I grabbed a towel wrapped around my waist and walked out into my sitting room. There sitting in my room was my mother, head bowed in deep thought, 

“ahh” i yelped, jumping two feet in the air.

 I wasn't expecting anyone to be in my sitting rooms, least of all my mother.

“Mother,” I gasped. 

 “Sorry didn’t mean to startle you,” she says. 

Coming to stand in front of me  

“I just wanted to talk, she says. 

“Can I get dressed first?” I ask. 

Feeling a little uncomfortable standing in front of my mother in nothing other than a towel. I Can feel a soft breeze so I clench my legs together.

  “I've given life to you and your brother, helped many other women bring forth life, I have helped heal the wounded, and guided lost souls to their ultimate resting place. So your nakedness is of no bother to me, now sit,” she scolds.

 I take a seat and cross my legs. Whatever needs to be said must be important. My mother sits in front of me placing her hands in her lap, all the strength from the moment before leaves her and she’s left looking tired. I reach over to grab her hand. She gives me a weary smile that doesn't reach her eyes. 

   “Strange things are happening here in our tribe. I hear whispers of deceit, she says.

 Not looking me in the eyes. Something terrible is brewing. My mother grabs my hands tight and holds them in hers. 

“Be aware, be cautious. You can trust in your brother. He has what's best for Sung in his heart.

"What are you talking about mother," i ask feeling uncertain this was not like my mother.

"Trust in yourself, and in your

abilities,”. she contuined while staring in my eyes

 “I Will leave with Guii. I have family in the Adey tribe, I'll leave in a week,”

“Why mother, tell me what's going on,” I asked bewildered.  She smiled and cupped my face. 

“Our nest is filled with vipers, my son. I wish I could explain more. She says, “But I have to go”.

I stand with her, reaching out my hand to hold on to my mother. She steps out of my grasp and walks to the door. The strongest woman, I know, seems frail in this moment and all I want to do is hold her and protect her from whatever is coming.

 I slowly dress after my mother leaves, a black robe,  and black breeches I throw on a gold tunic. What my mother warned me about has left me shaken.  I fasten a dagger gifted to me from Kai to my waist and make my way to the council room. 

  I walk through the halls feeling uneasy. I feel like I'm being

watched, I turn to look behind me, but nothings there. I lower my head and pick up the pace and place my hand on the dagger. I round the corner, a few more steps to the council room. The feeling of being watched has turned into being followed, and I don't know if it’s my mother's message that has me shaking, but I take off and run the rest of the way. 

   I run right into Kai who stands with a group of his men; He pushes me up against the wall and searches my face. He pulls out his sword.

 “What happened” he says looking deep within my eyes.

      “Someones Following me,” I barely get out.

 I'm completely out of breath, my chest heaves up and down. Kai motions with his head to the right, Where I just came from, and four of his soldiers take off down the hall.

“Breath deep,” Kai says, trying to calm me. I try breathing in slowly.

      “Have mother visited you lately?” I questioned.

 Looking up at my brother through my lashes. Kai gave me a knowing look and turned to the remaining soldiers

 “give us some privacy please,” Kai commanded. 

The soldiers hurried out of the corridor. I titled my head to get a better look at Kai, Kai trusted his warriors completely so what would make him send them away. I waited for what he would say next. Kai let out a lengthy sigh

“There's been break-ins in the Manse, someone is getting past the protection barrier you put down. They know our weak spots and when to strike, they make it inside totally undetected,”

I looked up, mouth agape

 “That means” i say looking at Kai in disbelief

  “Yes, Brother” Kai nods in agreement. 

“They must have help from the inside,”, 

I'm in shock. I lowered myself to the floor. “I was trying to figure out who, before I brought it to you,” Kai seethed.

“When I catch the traitor, he will come face to face with the tip of my sword, blood and vengeance is what I’ll have,” Kai promised.

 The look in Kai’s eyes was frightening. I had to look away.  

“What’s that?” I ask.

  It sounds like a group of horses are bounding towards us. I stand and reach for my dagger to remove it from its sheath. The four soldiers come right for us. 

“What did you find?” Kai demanded.

  “Nothing sir, No one was there,” the soldier stuttered.

 Another soldier stepped forward, holding out a piece of parchment. Kai read the letter. Blood drained from his face, it was replaced with fury.

    I walked over and snatched it out of his hand, it read;

 “DEATH IS UPON YOU,”

            “SUNG, WILL FALL,”

                  - Kurron -