shoulders ached. In an attempt to stretch her legs, Atamoda shifted in the bottom of the boat, careful not to disturb Su-gar lying asleep at the other end of the small reed boat. Little Ba-tor cuddled between the young woman’s legs like a newborn. Seeing them helped calm her nerves.
Atamoda needed sleep, too. Days of relentless demonic onslaught weakened her defenses. But, at least for now, the demons were quiet.
She turned right and looked south. Like a forest in the dead of winter, naked masts and rigging filled her vision. She hoped to see her oldest child, Kol-ok, approaching across the lashed decks that formed the floating island. Across the Lo flotilla, blanket-covered mounds crowded the decks where families huddled for warmth. Weary eyes, shrouded in misty breath, peered out from beneath the blankets.
The men cower with the women and children . Atamoda knew it wasn’t from cowardice, but from the realization they could do nothing to protect the flotilla.
Spears meant nothing against the enemy which tormented the remnants of the Minnow and Crane Clans. Only two women stood between the festering schools of demons and what remained of the Lo nation.
Here we are on the crest of our doom, the curse Setenay foresaw.
Su-gar groaned as if in pain, stirred and shook her head.
She’s still fighting the demons in her sleep.
Neither of Su-gar’s parents was known for their physical beauty. However, something about the combination of Ula and Ood-i, created a striking beauty in their daughter. Thick, black, and slightly frizzy hair framed a pleasingly round face. Her deep brown eyes, framed with lush eyelashes, topped generously pouting lips. Her pale, unblemished skin and ample bosom completed a young woman sought by men from across the Lo Nation.
Now Su-gar mourned. Her father accompanied Aizarg on his quest, trying to turn back the wrath of a nameless god and save the world. Her mother, Ula, fell to the demons the first day of the flood.
Su-gar stretched and bumped against Ba-tor between her legs. Her eyes flew open and darted about.
“Mother!” Su-gar screamed and shot upright in the boat. “Demons! Demons in the water!”
“Shhh!” Atamoda leaned over and stroked her hair. The girl’s deep, soulful eyes made Atamoda’s heart ache. “We fell asleep. It is dawn. The demons are quiet for now.”
“I am sorry, Atamoda. I did not mean to fall asleep!”
“You could not help it. Neither could I. Fortunately, the enemy did not strike. Dawn appears to halt their torments, at least for a little while.”
“Xva has not returned?” Su-gar arched slightly higher, peering out over the flotilla. She swallowed hard, voice cracking. “Did we lose any more last night?”
“I don’t know,” Atamoda whispered.
Su-gar adjusted her sitting position, trying to get comfortable, while doing her best not to disturb Bat-or.
Atamoda insisted Ba-tor stay by her side and not with the rest of the children huddled in the center of the flotilla. She wanted her little one close to her, nearest the source of her protective magic. With Aizarg gone and Kol-ok helping Xva protect the flotilla, Atamoda needed reassurance. She needed her baby boy next to her.
“Get some sleep, Atamoda. If the demons return, I will wake you.”
Atamoda did not hear her, her mind wandering over the terrible events since that day Ula died.
Kus-ge and boats from the Minnow Clan had arrived shortly before dawn the day after the marshes vanished under the flood. Enormous islands of ice, borne by the deluge, plowed under their arun-ki. Kus-ge led the survivors on rafts and boats to the Crane Clan.
They found Atamoda and her people already in boats and rafts, tied off to the submerged köy-lo-hely, the meeting platform in the center of their arun-ki. The slithering demons began to assemble in greater numbers, but had yet to attack the boats and rafts. The Minnow Clan and Crane Clans quickly lashed their boats and rafts together, creating a flotilla
Atamoda needed sleep, too. Days of relentless demonic onslaught weakened her defenses. But, at least for now, the demons were quiet.
She turned right and looked south. Like a forest in the dead of winter, naked masts and rigging filled her vision. She hoped to see her oldest child, Kol-ok, approaching across the lashed decks that formed the floating island. Across the Lo flotilla, blanket-covered mounds crowded the decks where families huddled for warmth. Weary eyes, shrouded in misty breath, peered out from beneath the blankets.
The men cower with the women and children . Atamoda knew it wasn’t from cowardice, but from the realization they could do nothing to protect the flotilla.
Spears meant nothing against the enemy which tormented the remnants of the Minnow and Crane Clans. Only two women stood between the festering schools of demons and what remained of the Lo nation.
Here we are on the crest of our doom, the curse Setenay foresaw.
Su-gar groaned as if in pain, stirred and shook her head.
She’s still fighting the demons in her sleep.
Neither of Su-gar’s parents was known for their physical beauty. However, something about the combination of Ula and Ood-i, created a striking beauty in their daughter. Thick, black, and slightly frizzy hair framed a pleasingly round face. Her deep brown eyes, framed with lush eyelashes, topped generously pouting lips. Her pale, unblemished skin and ample bosom completed a young woman sought by men from across the Lo Nation.
Now Su-gar mourned. Her father accompanied Aizarg on his quest, trying to turn back the wrath of a nameless god and save the world. Her mother, Ula, fell to the demons the first day of the flood.
Su-gar stretched and bumped against Ba-tor between her legs. Her eyes flew open and darted about.
“Mother!” Su-gar screamed and shot upright in the boat. “Demons! Demons in the water!”
“Shhh!” Atamoda leaned over and stroked her hair. The girl’s deep, soulful eyes made Atamoda’s heart ache. “We fell asleep. It is dawn. The demons are quiet for now.”
“I am sorry, Atamoda. I did not mean to fall asleep!”
“You could not help it. Neither could I. Fortunately, the enemy did not strike. Dawn appears to halt their torments, at least for a little while.”
“Xva has not returned?” Su-gar arched slightly higher, peering out over the flotilla. She swallowed hard, voice cracking. “Did we lose any more last night?”
“I don’t know,” Atamoda whispered.
Su-gar adjusted her sitting position, trying to get comfortable, while doing her best not to disturb Bat-or.
Atamoda insisted Ba-tor stay by her side and not with the rest of the children huddled in the center of the flotilla. She wanted her little one close to her, nearest the source of her protective magic. With Aizarg gone and Kol-ok helping Xva protect the flotilla, Atamoda needed reassurance. She needed her baby boy next to her.
“Get some sleep, Atamoda. If the demons return, I will wake you.”
Atamoda did not hear her, her mind wandering over the terrible events since that day Ula died.
Kus-ge and boats from the Minnow Clan had arrived shortly before dawn the day after the marshes vanished under the flood. Enormous islands of ice, borne by the deluge, plowed under their arun-ki. Kus-ge led the survivors on rafts and boats to the Crane Clan.
They found Atamoda and her people already in boats and rafts, tied off to the submerged köy-lo-hely, the meeting platform in the center of their arun-ki. The slithering demons began to assemble in greater numbers, but had yet to attack the boats and rafts. The Minnow Clan and Crane Clans quickly lashed their boats and rafts together, creating a flotilla
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