The Forbidden by Lori Holmes

Author:Lori Holmes [Holmes, Lori]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2020-04-18T22:00:00+00:00

14

The Truth

Nen was pacing up and down, her stride fierce. Rebaa eyed the entrance to the cave that had become her haven in the worst time of need. Now it was a closing trap from which she needed to escape. She wondered if she managed to flee, Nen would just let her go. She had just saved the Thal woman from the Cro after all.

“I’ll leave, Nen,” she said in a placating voice, though it sounded more like a plea. “I’ll take the curse with me and go back to my own people. I never wanted to put you at risk.”

Nen stopped pacing and stared at her, askance. “You not go!” she snapped. “I not let you! Bad. Bad!”

“Nen, please!” Rebaa begged as she tried to edge towards the opening. “I’m sorry I lied! I’m sorry. Just please let me go!”

Nen shook her head, hollow eyes haunted but determined. “No. Can’t let what happened to me happen to you. No. You no go back. Bad.”

Rebaa was caught off guard. These were not the words she had expected. “H-happened to you?”

Nen jabbed a finger at one of the pictures on her walls. The picture where a lone figure was being chased by those hurling rocks. “Me.” She said angrily. “I birth Forbidden child.”

“B-but…” Rebaa stammered, sinking heavily back to the ground, her escape forgotten as her head swam. “How?”

“Cro,” Nen spat. “They took everything. My life happy. Daughter of Sag Du, Thal chief. People live well. Great Ones plenty. I loved strong man. He promise choose me when kill his first Great One.” Nen’s eyes were filled with pain. “Then Cro come. Their spear better than our. Throw longer, kill lots of Great Ones. None respect. Take what they like.

“Our people get hungry. Then Cro came for people, too. Cro marked with bear.” She turned her face away. “They kill father. I tried to stop them. I angry.” A mocking smile twisted the wide lips. “Better to have run. I failed. They beat me, then they hold me down.” Her hands balled into fists. “Many men.”

Rebaa’s breath hitched as she listened to Nen’s words. She had been so lucky to have been captured by Juran. If she had not fallen under his protection, she could have suffered the same fate.

“People saw,” Nen continued. “They no help. Alok, my chosen one, turned his back. I dirty now. Our mighty Eron forbid breeding with the Children of his sisters and brothers. Strongest lore. Forbidden act to breed with those not of people.”

Rebaa nodded. Her heart rate was beginning to slow. Perhaps she wasn’t in danger after all. Tentatively, she reached out to lay a comforting hand upon Nen’s arm. “Ninmah taught this to my people, too,” she spoke, her voice hoarse. “It is the worst trespass.”

Nen put her hand over the top of Rebaa’s and squeezed. “Cro no care. They turn backs on gods. I had no people now. Bear Cro took me as slave. Nowhere else to go. Lived to do bidding.” She jabbed a finger towards the mouth of the cave and the bodies that lay outside.

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