The Ghosts of Blood and Innocence by Constantine Storm

Author:Constantine, Storm [Constantine, Storm]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Immanion Press
Published: 2012-02-21T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

The following day, they came to a valley with a river running through it. A small town clung to both sides of the valley, which had a relatively small community of hara who called themselves the Nemodilkii. They did not speak a language either Darq or Ookami could understand, and the only way communication could take place was through mind touch. The language spoken predominantly in Samway was Megalithican, since the Olopade were not originally native to this land. Although the mountain phyles of the tribe spoke other languages, Darq had never learned them. Phade had made it a requirement that all his hara could speak Megalithican too. Darq quickly found himself wishing he’d learned Anakhai before, but of course he’d never thought he’d have a need to know it. Mind touch was immensely useful, and in many ways eliminated the need to learn other tongues, but there was something in speaking aloud, face to face, that could not be replaced by any communication of the mind.

Darq and Ookami rode into the town square, which flanked both sides of the river. The water ran wide and shallow in that place and could be crossed on foot, although there were numerous bridges for carts and those who wished to keep their boots dry. Hara went about their business, and most made a gesture of greeting to the two strangers. In mind touch, Ookami asked a har for directions to the Nayati. He told Darq it was well thought of by hara if newcomers went to pay their respects at the community sacred building on arrival.

The buildings of the town were very old and apparently lovingly tended. The Nayati was actually the original church, once used by humans, and many of the ancient icons remained, now decked with the garlands of a gentler religion. Ookami said he also wanted to visit the place in order to acknowledge his gods, the dehara of Ikutama. He missed them when traveling in lands beyond their immediate influence. It was possible to speak with any dehar in a working Nayati.

While Ookami sat cross-legged on the worn stone floor, and composed himself for votive meditation, Darq wandered around the building, taking in details. The Nayati was empty but for its two visitors, and the atmosphere was peaceful, the air smelling of lilies. Darq stared at the brightly colored windows, depicting bearded men who raised admonishing fingers and looked stern. Every single one of them appeared about to give someone a severe telling off. Darq came upon a realistic life-size statue of a man hanging upon a wooden cross, and thought he looked quite beautiful, but for his hairy face. So sad a god, though. And how cruel of humans to have kept him like that. Darq thought that those who had worshipped the hanging god should have cut him down from his torment centuries ago. Darq was compelled to pick up a handful of flowers and twine them around the statue’s head and shoulders. It made the whole thing look more cheerful.

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