Where the Waters Turn Black (Yarnsworld Book 2) by Benedict Patrick

Author:Benedict Patrick [Patrick, Benedict]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2016-11-15T18:30:00+00:00

A tale from the Crescent Atoll

Fainga was the chief of an Atoll island. He was well loved by his people and he tended to his island and lands well. Because of this, his farms were fertile and provided well for his people.

Fainga’s island was a large volcano. This volcano was nothing compared to Leinani’s home, but it was still an impressive sight, and provided Fainga’s people with the rich soils that allowed them to thrive.

The chief’s favourite sport was lava running, and he would challenge all on the island to this activity whenever their volcano was active. He had his wood smiths carve him a thin sledge that was capable of making the sharp turns needed to manoeuvre down flows of molten rock, and he thrilled at showing off for his people. Fainga’s lava racing was well known throughout the Atoll, and people travelled for days to watch him compete if they heard that the volcano was flowing.

One summer’s day, Fainga was challenged by his rival, Ekewaka. Theirs was a friendly rivalry, but one that had lasted for many years. One year, Fainga would get to the bottom of a lava flow first, and on the next Ekewaka would be the victor.

On the eve of this competition the two relaxed together in Fainga’s hut, joking about tomorrow’s challenge. It was at this time that Ekewaka was visited by a strange woman with fiery red hair.

“Give me your sledge,” the woman demanded of Ekewaka. “Give me your sledge and tomorrow I will best the chief of this island upon the fiery slopes.”

Ekewaka laughed at the stranger, but Fainga looked thoughtful.

The red haired woman repeated again, “Give me your sledge.”

Ekewaka turned to Fainga and grinned, “What do you say, friend? Instead of a true competition, would you rather humiliate this woman who has too high an opinion of herself?”

Fainga stroked his beard and spoke. “What will be our bargain? What do you want of me if you win?”

Without hesitation the woman said, “That you promise to never again race the volcano. That you shall leave well enough alone that which should not be tamed.”

Fainga raised his eyebrow. “And if I win?”

“You will not win,” she replied.

“So, I can name my prize then?”

The fiery woman nodded.

“I claim you. I shall own you for one week and a day, and will parade you around my island in victory, bound to the sledge that I shall best you upon.”

The woman grinned and nodded, then left with Ekewaka’s sledge.

The next morning, both competitors met at the foot of the volcano. They nodded at each other and climbed the mountain together, silently.

The local priest waited for them at the top. There he gave the signal to go, and both took off at high speed.

Fainga had to admit that the woman was fast, much faster than he had anticipated. She appeared to know exactly which patches of the molten rock would carry her at speed, and she had an uncanny ability to avoid the slower moving, cooler patches of lava.

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