Becoming chieftain

As I stood there watching her go, I knew I wanted her. There was no other reason for this Ceremony to go on. I surveyed the great hall, I noticed Dunn standing with a big bellied Siva. 

    I walked over with my head down trying to avoid the stares as I made my way through the crowd, I heard whispers of me and my powers. I heard whispers of the strange girl. I knew they're talking about Mera. It pissed me off a little to hear the words they said about her.

   “Quite a commotion” Siva teased.

 I grabbed the woman that has been like a sister to me in a tight hug. She beamed up at me with one of her breathtaking smiles 

 “let go of my mate” Dunn laughed pushing me away and

placing an arm around Siva.

  “Where did your brother run off to?” Asked Dunn.

I covered my face with my hands, and  gave an exaggerated sigh.

Dunn narrowed his eyes at me, 

“There is no excuse for what the two of you did tonight. We're trying to win allies and you two are running around like unmarked males,” He boomed.

  I knew deep down my best friend was right,  all i could think of was the look on Mera’s face. She looked so vulnerable standing in front of Kai, that I had to act. I broke a vow that I would never use any of my powers against anyone for my own personal gain especially not my brother. I know what it feels like to be powerless and wouldn’t wish that on anybody. 

   “I have to apologize,” I decided.

 looking over my shoulder avoiding eye contact with my two best friends, I didn’t want to see the judgment on their faces. 

 Siva grabbed my hand with a knowing smile 

“So I take it, that you have found your mate?” Siva raised an eyebrow up at me.

I blushed. I didn't want to admit that I was considering Mera. She wasn’t from my tribe, but it was something about the warrior woman that drew me in. I shook my head. I knew the consequences of choosing a mate from another tribe, I could lose the respect of my people. But it’s not as if I had all of their respect, anyway. 

  “ugh” Dunn cleared his throat looking at me expectantly

 “Go talk to your brother make up before the meeting with the

War council. We do not need him to be pissy during a meeting. Last time that happen he almost skewered a messenger,”

I chuckled.

Kai’s hot temper got us in trouble most days. I sighed 

“I have to go make things right with my brother”.

Dunn nodded his head in approval. 

I made my way through the crowd after saying my goodbyes to Siva and Dunn. I was in deep thought. I knew my brother's anger held no bounds. When we were younger our disagreements usually resulted in me with a couple of bruises and a scolding from our parents. We were too old for that now. 

  “Excuse me,” a delicate voice whispered. 

 A pretty young woman who was maybe three years younger than me.

 “Hello” I  blurted, giving her an once over, she was very small and petite. 

She wore a gold gown with white trimmings; the gown was beautiful; it shimmered in the light; the dress showed off her entire back showing that she’s unmatted. 

“How may I help you?” I asked, studying her.

She looked up at him through her lashes.

“I'm Elle,'' she said breathlessly, while extending her hand. 

I pursed my lips. I knew where this was headed, it’s been happening all night.  

Women from all over my tribe from daughters of farmers, and soldiers, to wealthy merchants, young women kept falling over themselves to get introduced to me but every time i came face to face with a female. My mind kept wandering back to the girl with the warrior tattoos.

“Look, Elle, I'm kind of in a rush,” I hinted. 

Hoping she'd let me go, instead she walked up, placed her hand on my chest, leaned in close and whispered. Her warm breath made goosebumps rise on my skin.

   “We could skip the Choosing Ceremony and go straight to your rooms for the Mating rituals”

 I was taken back a bit. I looked down wide eyed at the woman who so desperately offered herself up and felt disgusted. I removed her hand from my chest and took two steps back, giving myself room.

   “I’m sorry but I have to go find my brother,” I confessed. 

“Ohhhh” was her reply. 

“Tell your brother I said hi,” she said with a wink.

 I turned away to make my way to Kai’s room. I grabbed a bottle of red fruit wine that my brother loves, off of the buffet table by the doors. I walked up 2 flights of stairs until I made it to the third floor that's designed for me and my family. Sometimes I can’t believe that Netta once roamed these halls as chieftess and all of her descendants. I walked to my brother's door and knocked.

  “Knock knock”.

I waited for him to answer, hoping he didn't answer with a flying dagger. With my brother sometimes,

you'll never know.

“WHAT?” I hear him shout from the other side of the door.

“Open the door, I'm sorry about earlier. c'mon don't be like that, I brought fruit wine”.

 I plead to get Kai to open up the door. 

The door creaked open. Making a sound that irritated my ears like the wails of batflys, I cringed.

“Won’t you get someone to fix that,” I suggested. 

  While walking in. There were weapons thrown everywhere Kai's rooms could match the armory I looked around for a place to sit moving two Broad swords off of a wooden chase.

 “I like to know when someone enters my room,” Kai replied. 

Walking towards me, snatching the bottle of wine out of my hand. I flop down on the wooden chase that's covered in furs and lean back. I watch Kai as he pours himself a glass of wine.

    “So do I have to apologize to your chosen or not?” Kai

hissed.

    It flabbergasted me at how well Kai knew me. Kai handed me a glass of wine and I gulped it down. I look at Kai over the rim of my glass, trying to gauge his expression. I already knew my father didn’t approve of Mera, but my brother has yet to voice his opinion. 

  Kai’s eyebrows knitted together his expression concerned me a little

 “She has fire in her, that might be what you need. Someone that challenges you other than me,” Kai remarked.

 I rolled my eyes at that.

  “When the time comes, you'll have my vote,”. Kai proclaimed

I nodded my head; I was grateful that at least I had my brother's support.

“How did you know I was considering her as my mate?” I asked.  

“Everyone knew, your eyes followed her as soon as she walked in the Great hall, you ignored every other female, you barely spoke to her, but your eyes couldn’t lie,”. 

   “So I went over to talk to the woman who made my brother forget a room full of unmatted females all night. But the moment she turned her back on me and didn’t show me the proper respect for my station, I lost it. Kai said,” turning his head away. Feeling ashamed. 

“Kane you were right, my temper could have started a new war tonight,”. And in a voice barely above a whisper

 Kai also said softly 

“I think that's why I wasn’t chosen as chieftain.” 

  There’s sorrow and pain on my brother's face as those words leave his mouth. It must be hard being the oldest brother that's both prized for being a great general, but was robbed of being  the next chieftain. I feel that same pain, this is not what I wanted. I look down at the gold tattoos that mark my skin and

feel nauseated.

   The sight turns my stomach; I look away. Being the chieftain wasn’t something I planned; it was thrust upon me. By the Goddess herself. I remember the day like it happened yesterday,

   It was my sixteenth moon cycle and the day Kai would start the rituals to become Chieftain. I awoke to darkness, my eyes were open but I could not see, I panicked. I was thrashing around, blankets and furs thrown from my bed in a big heap on the floor. The air was cool but i was hot.

   A female voice singed out, telling me to calm myself. I couldn't. It felt like my skin was on fire 

“Calm yourself; my son,” she roared.

   “This will only take a quick second,”  

The pain subsided and my vision became blurry. I saw a shadow overhead, the silhouette of a woman with long flowing hair as my vision cleared. I noticed I was alone in my room, no woman, just me. I looked down at my skin because from the pain, I just knew that my skin would be charred black no more

beautiful indigo skin. 

   What I saw took my breath away, instead of burnt skin I saw gold patterns carved into my skin, the patterns told stories of my people; it held words of power. The gold ink went from my arm, to my chest, down to my legs.

    I stood on wobbling legs, my knees buckled, but I was determined to get to the looking glass. I had to see my reflection. I stumbled across the room, knocking things over as I went. The reflection in the looking glass wasn’t what I had expected to see. My eyes were different, they weren't the silver eyes I had grown up with, these eyes that looked back at me showed bright gold. I gasped,

   This couldn't be right. I told myself I looked like past chieftains after the ritual.  No, No, No   shook my head, Today is the day Kai becomes Chieftain my father already chose him. 

   That night I hid from everyone, sitting in the back of the gallery during the ritual while my brother lay in the Sung Tree pool.

    I watched as our Rector spoke words of power over Kai,

Waiting for Netta’s blessing. The Rector looked around nervously. He bit his lip and spoke again 

“Tau Kou ye lay lee” 

“Tau Kou ye lay lee” he spoke the words he chanted. 

  “Why isn’t this working?” My father demanded 

 He walked up to the Rector, grabbed him by his cloak, the Rector lowered his head

  “I’ll try again,”  

   When he spoke again golden light blasted from his mouth he was lifted off the ground, floated above us. wind gushed, Sung petals blew through the air, his cloak was thrown back. Gold light shown from his eyes.

  “You do not have my blessing as chieftain, my son,”. 

an angelic voice sang.

 “That honor goes to another. Stand My Son,”, the voice said to Kai.

 He stood under her. Her light brightened the room, and she smiled at Kai. 

“You will lead our warriors to greatness, with many victories under your belt but not as chieftain. 

My dear Son,” the voice said. 

It wore a sad smile as she stroked Kai’s face. Tears streamed down the Rector's face. The gold eyes searched the crowd, and I knew they were searching for me.

    “Step forward My Son, the voice encouraged,”. 

Those eyes penetrating deep within me. I pulled the hood I was hiding in, up over my head, letting it fall to my shoulders. The crowd gasped, I walked to the floating Rector with the eyes that matched mine for the moment and bowed.

 “Tau Kou ye lay lee”  "I give you my blessing,"

“To govern these lands, to protect your people, to spill blood, when it’s necessary, and talk of peace when the time comes

and know the difference between the two,”. 

   “Tau Kou ye lay lee” I wailed

To the crowd, to the voice that was no doubt in my mind, Netta, and to the heavens. 

   “I accept your blessings,”

 “I vow to protect our people, to spill blood, when necessary and talk of peace when the time comes, and know the difference between the two,”. I cried out for the crowd to hear. 

“Rise My Son and face your people as chieftain,”

 I stood and turned towards the crowd. 

The people chanted “Tau Kou ye lay lee”  

“Tau Kou ye lay lee”

 They have accepted me as Chieftain. I smiled, feeling proud,    As I looked throughout the crowd my eyes landed on my father who did not chant with the rest of the crowd. 

   He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. He looked at me

with disdain, My father turned and walked out of the Gallery, slamming the doors as he went.