Chapter Seven

Krinna lay awake listening to the storm. They spent most of the night talking to each other. After their evening meal, the children were put to bed. She excused herself early and went to sleep. If the weather permitted, she had to leave early to catch her mark. She slept well until the earth shook.

She jumped to her feet. The children began crying. The others awoke. Oro put more fuel on the fire. Frigid air from the ocean blew through the cave. Arah and Jinna comforted the children until they were quiet.

“What under god’s creation was that?” Arah exclaimed. Her eyes reminded Krinna of soup bowls.

“It sounds like a cavern opened up beneath us. I have never heard thunder in the middle city before,” Krinna said. “There is a cold wind coming from the coast. It wasn’t there last night. Wait here, and I’ll check it out.”

She took a long limb from the fire. Holding it aloft, she followed the wind current through the cave. A light! Daylight was in front of her. She walked to the mountain's edge and stared in disbelief as her mind struggled to comprehend what had happened. Overwhelmed, she sat in the opening and looked at the catastrophic mudslide. The cove she knew as Three Cities lay buried beneath the mud field extending into the sea. She stood and slowly walked back to the others. The ground cracked and shifted in front of her.

Krinna dropped her torch and jumped for her life as the earth fell away beneath her. As her foot hit solid rock, the ground rumbled beneath her feet, and the world shifted. Great riffs appeared on the cave walls. Without thought for her safety, she raced through the dark tunnel to warn the others. Fear gripped her heart as the cave continued to break away. Rock and dirt fell from the cracks forming in the tunnel’s roof.

“Arah! Hawk! Get out of the cave!” she shouted.

“Krinna, what is wrong?” Jinna called back.

“Jinna, for god’s sake, don’t ask stupid questions. Get everyone out of the cave,” she said, entering the camp. Throwing their equipment together, they picked up the children and ran for the entrance. “Wait here while I help Hawk with the horses.” She ran back inside to assist Hawk and Oro with the horses.

“I think we’ll be safe in the main entrance, but we must be ready to get wet. If we must leave the cavern, stay close to the right wall and low.” Krinna sat on a rock and listened to the rain. Another sound rumbled from the earth.

“Krinna, what happened?” Jinna asked.

“The cliffs slid down into the ocean. There is nothing left but rubble. The tunnel began to break under my feet. I think we are safe here, but be ready to move.”

“I’m so thankful he warned Oro to leave,” Arah said humbly.

“If it weren’t for him, we would all be dead,” Hawk interjected. “Krinna, you might want to reconsider what we were discussing.”

“No. This has no relevance to my contract. I will complete it. The rain is slackening. I’ll see you again,” she said, saddling her horse. Mounting, she rode out without saying farewell.

She traveled fast and far. All her days and most of her nights were spent riding. Her horse needed rest, but she was determined to catch Watermelon. Twice, he left coastal villages as she rode into them. She pressed harder to find him.

Physical and mental fatigue slowed her pace. On numerous occasions, she collapsed over the horse’s neck. Gravity finally won the battle, and she fell to the earth on the north road.

He waited on her. No other man had ever shown her such kindness and consideration. He had massaged healing oil all over her body for three long weeks. Did he enjoy it? No, he said not. She knew differently. Many men eyed her as she walked down the streets. He was no different. If she had the opportunity, she would have proven him wrong. He was in for the surprise of his life. She could make him her love slave and make him cook for her. Then, he would rub lavender oil on her while she was awake. First, she needed her mother to bathe her dirty, sweaty body.

Her mother scrubbed her face with a coarse, wet rag. She would never allow her to play outside with a dirty face. This one was rougher than the others. She added too much water. It ran into her mouth. Spitting and sputtering, she set up and bumped her head on the cow’s muzzle. Its long, rough tongue slurped her from chin to forehead.

“Get off me, stupid animal,” she cried, disgusted with herself for falling into the road. A well-placed slap on the side of the animal’s head caused it to jump backward and sent it running into a field. She wiped the slimy saliva on her sleeve and set up. She looked around to see if anyone had witnessed her embarrassing moment. She mounted her horse and rode north.

Krinna figured the time to be early in the day. She didn’t know when she fell out of the saddle, but it wasn’t good for her health. An enemy could have killed her in her exhausted sleep. She needed to get more rest and stop dreaming. Watermelon would have to wait.

Cresting a low ridge, she spotted a fruit orchard in the field to her left. She reined the horse off the trail. She approached it in hopes of finding adequate shelter for the night. Her dull mind warned her to be careful. An enemy could be hidden among the poisonous Elple trees.

A gentle southern breeze carried the odor of burning wood. No smoke rose above the fifteen-foot height of the tree line. Dismounting, she led her horse into the low-hanging canopy of leaves and ripe fruit. She peered between the fruit-laden boughs and looked diligently for the fire. Something moved to her right. Krinna dropped into a squatting position and pressed herself under the shadows of a tree.

A delicious aroma of roasting meat filled the air. Her stomach growled. She knew the unknown camper heard it.

“It is ready to eat,” the voice said from the shadows behind her.

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Krinna’s mind snapped alert. Controlling the rising anger in her voice, she snarled, “Watermelon, you sneak up on me again, and I’ll kill you.”

“I’m hungry,” he said and brushed past her.

She forgot her purpose and anger for being surprised. She asked, “What is cooking?” Staying close, she followed him to his camp. “It smells good.”

“There is pheasant and rabbit on the spit. A suckling pig is under the coals.”

“You jest. How do you manage all this in the field?”

Give me the reins,” he said, extending his hand, “there is grass over here for the horse.” Tying the animal near the forage, he returned to the fire.

“Are you playing games with me?”

“Explain what you mean.”

“You provided fodder for the animal. There is no long grass growing under the trees. You carried it here from the field?”

“Yes.”

“All the food you cooked would feed four for three days. I suppose you provided a live game for Gorga?”

“It is caged over there,” he said, pointing behind her.

“You expected me to follow you. Why?”

“I could say it’s because I gave you money. Your curiosity requires you to find the source, but you think I stole it, and someone is out to kill me,” he smiled across the fire at her.

“The thought crossed my mind. Don’t be smug about it. Where you earn your money is your problem. I have other reasons.”

“Let me guess. You enjoy my great looks and magnetic personality.”

“Not hardly. Your sensual, scraggly beard and mustache don’t excite me. Try getting your unkempt mop cut. I like manicured men.”

Laughing at her choice of words, he looked around the orchard and said, “I don’t see one.” He took a razor-sharp knife from his boot, sliced a portion of rabbit, and proffered it to her.

“I’ll have the pheasant breast,” she retorted, using her knife. Cutting half of it, she placed it in her mouth. She tried to remember her last meal. It didn’t matter. She felt famished. She chewed slowly—the tender, succulent flesh melted in her mouth. Shoving the rest between her white teeth, she cut another large piece.

“You may be the ugliest man in the orchard, but you know how to cook,” she mumbled around the chewed bird. She caught him looking at her. Hesitating, she asked, “You don’t mind, do you?”

“I fixed it for you. I thought pheasants suited your taste more than rabbits. We’ll save the pig until tomorrow.”

“It is delicious. This is the best fowl I have eaten. What did you use to season it?”

“Elple fruit.”

“Elple fruit is poisonous. It is deadlier than nightshade,” she said, and held the meat.

“It gives the meat a sweet, exotic flavor,” he smiled at her.

Krinna felt her heart grow cold. He caught her off guard. He knew what the fruit would do. Her time would pass soon. He defeated her without trying.

“You have that look again, princess. What is wrong?”

“Don’t call me princess. You have no right.”

“Krinna, what is the problem?”

“Don’t get personal with me.”

“Female, you have a problem.”

“The food is poisoned. You knew I loved pheasant. At least my last meal was a tasty one.”

“What are you babbling about? Why are you so afraid that I’m going to poison you? I cooked all the food with Elple fruit. Here,” he said, breaking off a leg. Holding it by the leg bone, he popped it into his mouth, stripped the flesh from it, and chewed vigorously. “Does this alleviate your fear?”

“I’m sorry,” she said, lowering her eyes.

“Why are you so afraid I’m going to poison you?” He asked again.

“Because I … I don’t know.”

“The green Elple fruit is poisonous. During its dormant season, one green Elple grows on the top of each tree. In the spring, when it flowers and the sap runs up into the trunk, the top Elple dispenses its poison to all the new fruit. As it ripens, it loses its toxicity and falls from the tree. The cycle repeats itself every year. I would use it if I wanted to poison you.”

“You look tired.” He stood to his feet and removed a blanket from the horse. Spreading it over a mounted grass bed, he said, “This is your bed tonight.” Reaching shoulder high, he plucked a ripe Elple from a tree and tossed it to her. “When you finish your food, eat the Elple. It acts as a sedative. It helps you sleep,” he said, responding to her raised eyebrows.

“Thank you,” she said, wolfing down the bird. “Do you mind if I eat the rest of it?”

“No, go ahead. I need to prepare my bed.”

She watched him move away into the shadows. Satisfied, he lay on his blanket. She removed the bird carcass and stripped the bones clean. Throwing them aside, she attacked the rabbit. Its bones joined those of the pheasants. She stood and quietly left the camp. Keeping her eyes fixed on him, she completed her toiletries and returned to the fire. She sat down, crossed her legs, and picked up the Elple.

Its sweet fragrance begged her to consume it. Without fear, she took a large bite; purple, acidic juice squirted between her teeth and past her lips. Except for the pheasant and rabbit, she had never tasted anything so good; the sweet flesh had no comparison.

Krinna believed only common people ate Elples. She never saw royalty eat one. Why should they? They were poisonous. She spat the large seed from her mouth and searched for another one. Spotting a previously unseen fruit near the fire, she reached forward to retrieve it. It whetted her appetite for more. Getting on her hands and knees, she crawled under the tree and found an overripe Elple. She wolfed it down and began a systematic search for more ripe fruit.

Gaining her feet, she staggered from one tree to the next, gathering ripe fruit. Each one was handled with the care that a mother gives her baby. Thirty minutes later, she added the last one to the mound near her bedroll. Plopping down on her bed, she quickly consumed four more Elples. She lay on her back and attempted to engage him in conversation.

“Snake Charmer, are you married?” She waited a disrespectful amount of time and said, “I’m not married. Will you marry me? Did you know I have never been with a man? I bet you didn’t know I am a princess. I guess that makes me the original virgin princess. Did you know I was a virgin princess?” Giggling, she said, “Come on, you can tell Krinna. I won’t be angry.”

He remained quiet, hoping she would fall asleep. Several minutes passed. He closed his eyes.

“Hey, Watermelon, I bet you have never seen a naked princess before.” Well, have you?” she insisted when he failed to answer. “No? Well, tonight, I will treat you to a glorious sight. Let me show you one.”

Krinna attempted to stand but fell to the ground on her face. “Ouch! That hurt,” she exclaimed. “Have you seen a naked princess before?” she slurred.

“Yes, if you are a princess, then I have seen you naked. Now, can we go to sleep?”

“Really,” she said to the grass, “Snake Charmer can talk.”

“Did it please you to see my naked body?”

“No, not at all. Go to sleep.”

“Is there something wrong with my body? You don’t like it. Isn’t it good enough for you?”

“You have eaten too many fermented Elples. You need to go to sleep.”

“No, I insist you see my body.” Lifting her hind end off the ground, she awkwardly pushed back with her hands and stood up. “I’m going to take my clothes off, and you are going to see a genuine naked beauty.”

He thought he had shown a little kindness, and this is what I got: “Princess, keep your clothes on and go to sleep.”

“Aha, you knew I was a princess. Who told you? Come on and tell Krinna. Now, you don’t want to talk. That’s all right. I’m going to give you a great big kiss.”

She staggered in his direction.

Her foot squished an overripe fruit, and her toes slipped on the large, round pit. She fell forward, losing her balance. Charging headfirst, she collided with him. To prevent any further injury to her ribs, he grabbed her, rolled her into his right arm, and in one smooth motion, he slipped his left arm under her legs. He stood effortlessly to his feet and deposited her gently on her blanket. He returned to his blanket for a much-needed good night’s sleep.