Chapter 9. Morning

Sister got up, reached out and grabbed Nisreen’s left hand. They followed Granny to her room. The room smelled of cinnamon and ginger. From floor to ceiling there were shelves like the ones in the garden shed. On them were bags and bottles of prepared potions, salves and teas. A single candle cast the room in dancing shadows. Granny drew back the covers of the round hay mattress. Still holding Nisreen’s hand Sister pulled her into the bed. Even as they laid down, Sister didn’t let go of her. Nisreen was grateful for her sister’s grip. It grounded her and kept her mind from spiraling. Once Granny got into bed beside Nisreen, she slipped her hand into Nisreen’s right hand. While Sister’s touch grounded her, the power of Granny’s love spread over her and encompassed her. Granny wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. In truth Granny was stronger than Papa, stronger than anyone she knew. Between these two females, Nisreen felt safe. In time she began to drift into shallow dreams.

When morning came, Nisreen was alone in the bed. From the kitchen came the smell of bone broth soup. Another day of soup, yay! The fish Atticus had thrown at her last night had not been a gift it had been a violation of natural order. While smaller creatures were allowed to sup from the deaths of larger creatures, the large hunters weren’t allowed to eat of the small ones. If their hunters could be sated with the easy task of felling the small, the lives of all larger creatures would be in jeaporday. Also Atticus knew she a nd her family were hungry. Since Vince’s family was observing a fortnight of fasting in accordance with their ritual of grief, that meant his family hadn’t made any kills and thus, their hadn’t been any carrion for Nisreen’s family to consume. Did Atticus really think she would foul the Natural order just because she was hungry? Carrion Eaters did not consume the dead of small creatures. Her kind needed the robust flesh, blood and infection of creatures their own size. The flesh of the small didn’t nourish Carrion Eaters. It weakened them and made their sturdy digestive tracts ineffective. The gods had done this on purpose to keep them bound to their calling whether they liked it or not. Often, Nisreen didn’t like her calling. Sometimes she hated it. A chill ran through her because Atticus has somehow detected this weakness in her. It also made her wonder, how many times had he been watching her, studying her while she was unaware?

The voices in the kitchen were all low hisses. They must be talking about her and her situation, otherwise, Sister would still be asleep beside her. Weary, she got up and went to the kitchen. Everyone was at the table and all eyes turned to her. Papa came to her. His strong arms went around her. He held he for a moment then released her. Inside her chest, Nisreen’s heart began to thump. What ever Papa said next, she was sure she would not like. Her eyes returned to those at the table. Every expression except Uncle Possim’s was worried. He on the other hand was smiling. He told her, “You are going to get to meet the Counselor.”

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“What? Why?”

Mama said, “You will be safe there.”

“I am not leaving home because of that stupid creature. I’m staying here. I am grown and I get to choose where I live.”

“Dear,” Granny began. “It will only be for a little while.”

Nisreen shook her head. “No. Atticus has run amok too long and no one has stopped him because he only troubles those who can’t kill him. I will kill him before I go anywhere.”

Sister protested, “Don’t say that.”

“I’m not leaving home. NOT.” Nisreen turned her attention to Malik and said, “It is apparently your job to dog me. I’m going for a walk. Now.” Nisreen stomped out of the house. The morning sun revealed the fish body, well what was left of it. The lesser creatures had been given a night feast thanks to Atticus. In the sky she saw the flicker of small yellow feathers. Cadence. In her tiny foot was a tightly rolled leaf. A message from someplace? The Counselor? Nisreen didn’t stop to find out. She was headed for the stream. Behind her, at a safe distance, Malik followed her.

Once she reached the stream, she sank down to the ground. Tears were threatening to fall, but she would not let them. Malik joined her. The nearness of him sent a prickle through her. She whirled to face him. “Do you think I should be chased out of my own home?”

His eyes grew wide and she could literally she his brain scrambling to come up with an answer. After several silent moments he said, “No.”

This surprised Nisreen. She asked, “Why?”

“Because, you don’t want to go”

“What if I’m wrong?”

“Then you are. You are old enough to make your own decisions.”

Was he just telling her what she wanted to hear? She asked, “Why did you agree to watch over me.”

A spark of light flickered in his red eyes. Those eyes steadily met hers. Because “I am in love with you. I will do whatever I can to help you.”

This was not what she expected. She knew he was attracted to her, but this! She grunted, “Why?”

This time he smiled, and said, “I just am.”

“For how long?”

“A while.”

For a moment Nisreen was silent. A single question zinged in her brain, “Have you told Papa about this?”

Malik nodded.

Confused and strangely pleased, Nisreen asked, “Will we be joined in spring?”

“Only if you want to be.”

Did she? There were worse mates. In fact it occurred to her that of all the available young males, Malik was the only one who didn’t put her off, but he was not Vince. Vince was never an option for her and he was dead. Not wanting to continue this topic. She asked, “Will you teach me how to shoot a sling shot. Papa won’t do it.”

“Yes. I will.”

She asked him,“Do you think its possible to kill with a sling shot?”

His eyes grew wide with surprise. He faltered for a moment before he answered, “All our creeds say it is impossible for us to kill. It is a creed, that I have not yet tested, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t try if you were threatened.”

Nisreen said, “That is kind of you.” Though that was good of him, she was not asking for his protection. Her focus was on self protection and what it would mean to be able to kill.