The New World (The Last Delar) (3 page)

              “Quite, horse, back to sleep!” she says half asleep.

              Mia-Koda falls back to her bed when she sees a shadow pass overhead.  She hears the flapping of wings and the sound of talons scraping against bark. Alarmed she jumps from her bed, staff in hand. Waving her staff to see the intruder a scarlet light begins to pulse from the staffs end. She steps towards Tib and nudges him in his ribs with her foot.  The bird does not flinch at the sight of Mia-Koda but rather stands tall and proud, squawking harmonically into the night. 

              “Wake, you lazy mound of smelly flesh! Fortunate am I to have a Wicker with such keen senses!”

Tib goes rigid and looks around in confusion, stumbling backwards at the sight of the bird.  Wickers fear large birds and Tib begins to panic, terrified of being swept up and fed to a nest of hungry chicks.  He scrambles for a place to hide, his markings rapidly changing colors as he streaks through the brush settling behind a nearby tree.  The bird stiffens, stomps around, and snaps its beak in Mia-Koda’s direction.  

              “An Uluani,” says Mia-Koda in amazement. 

              She knows that Uluanis, are rare, mysterious creatures but in all her days she has never seen one alive.  She approaches the bird slowly, awed by its appearance.  As she nears, Mia-Koda sees a child wrapped in furs, sleeping in the grasp of the bird’s talons. 

              “A child?”

              Mia Koda looks up at the bird in confusion.  The Uluani blinks showing the whites of its eyes and lets out a loud coo, filling the night with a harmonic call.  It then opens its wings, revealing to Mia-Koda the totality of its splendor. Then as quickly as it came the bird lifts itself into the night leaving an infant behind. Mia-Koda picks up the sleeping child.  She has never seen a man child of this breed.  Mia-Koda searches the child for a note or any sign as to why an Uluani would bring her this child.  She sees the necklace beneath the furs and takes it into her hand.  The necklace begins to glimmer at her touch, and an echo of a woman’s voice fills her mind.

             
“To the one who will understand what he is.”
The amulet then darkens and becomes cold and dull.  The baby opens his chestnut eyes and smiles innocently at the strange women staring down at him. 

              “Well, hello, little one,” Mia-Koda says as she instinctively rocks him in her arms. 

Tib emerges halfway from behind the tree, still looking up timidly. 

“Yes, Tib, gather our stuff.  We ride shortly.”

              Mia-Koda examines the necklace and once again ponders its meaning and significance.  Tib readies Broomay and packs the camp into a wagon.  Broomay grunts his disapproval at Tib by hitting the Wicker with his hairy tail.  Mounting the wagon, Mia-Koda holds the baby in her arms while Tib climbs onto the horse’s back by pulling himself up by the animal’s long hair. 

              Mia-Koda leans forward and speaks.  “To Menoli and the realm of the two Chiefs, my friend.” Broomay snorts, beginning their journey to the wooded city of Menoli. 

---

Mia-Koda, Tib and the infant have traveled for nine days on their quest to the forest city.  They have made camp near the edge of a forest meadow covered in moon flowers.  Mia-Koda hums, pipe in mouth, as she rocks the babe.  With each puff she contemplates her confrontation with the Chiefs and how she will convince them to let the child stay in their city.

Tib stares at Mia-Koda, and his markings begin to glow. Eating a large beetle he sits in silence scheming about the child’s necklace. Mia-Koda stands and speaks to Tib as she stretches, "Tib, watch the child while I step into the woods.  Make sure he does not eat anything he is not supposed to." Tib shakes his head and wobbles over to the child and sits down.  Waiting until his master is out of sight Tib hunches over the baby.  Now face-to-face, Tib stares coldly at Akelou.  The child stops playing with his feet and looks up at the Wicker's large reddish eye.

Tib grunts at Akelou and glances down at his mysterious necklace.  He takes the chain into his hands and looks for a clasp to untie it.  The child begins to cry, and Tib puts his hand over the baby's mouth.  He tries to slide the necklace over its head, but the chain is too small.  Frustrated, he grabs the amulet in his hand, shakes it, and pulls.  Tib begins to feel a warmth run through his body. He squeezes the necklace tighter and pulls harder, scraping at the baby’s neck.  Tib is desperate to claim the amulet as his own.  The light of the necklace goes red, and the comforting warmth is starting to burn. Now frightened, Tib tries to release the amulet, but his hand is cramped shut.  His markings begin flashing and he becomes increasingly alarmed.  Pain shoots up his arm and squeezes at his heart.  The baby's screams echo like trumpets in Tib's ears.  Tib yells out in pain, frantically trying to free himself, but a blinding light followed by a thunderous crack throws him into the air.  He lands on his back, skidding across the damp grassy meadow, twitching in an uncontrollable fit.

Mia-Koda rushes from the forest toward the sounds of the screaming baby.  She scoops up the child and rushes over to Tib, whose spasms have become worse.  In a quick motion, she waves her staff over his body and whispers a chant.  His markings cool as the curse lifts and his spasms calm.

"Get up!"

Tib gets up, trying to catch his breath and looks up at Mia-Koda.  He raises his hand to defend himself from a strike.  When nothing happens, he looks up from under his arm and sees Mia-Koda looking off toward the other side of the meadow.  She quickly gets to her feet and walks into the higher grasses, pointing her staff outward toward the darkness.  Tib rushes to Mia-Koda's side ready for a fight.

"Here they come! Take the child and go back to Broomay!" She hands the child to Tib and shoves the Wicker toward their camp.

Mia-Koda walks farther into the meadow, and Tib rushes to Broomay, clutching the child in his arms, ducking behind some tall grass.  Tib parts the grass with his small digits and sees Mia-Koda's staff pulsing with light.  The tall grasses sway, and her staff illuminates dark objects soaring toward her.  The creatures land steadily, surrounding her in attack positions.  Tib knows these are the Salali, tree gliders of the forest and night guards of the Menoli.  Once small, soft-furred tree dwellers, now they are large defenders of a great city. Six Salali surround Mia-Koda.  Then the last of the creatures lands with authority in front of her.  He is larger than the others, and unlike the first six who have grey and silver fur the leaders fur is a deep earthy color.  He wears an ornate helmet as well as thick arm and leg braces.  His name is Black Claw, named after his large black thumb claws.  He stands on his hind legs and his arms barely rise above the ground.  Black Claw speaks in the common tongue.

"Why are you lingering outside our borders, Owaga?"

Not appearing intimidated or amused by being called a witch in the Menoli tongue, Mia-Koda answers with a calm face.  "There is no need for insulting words, Black Claw.  I must say the guard of your city is far more aggressive than I remember."

"The forest is dark these nights, and there are outsiders walking its floor.  A small band of men have been spotted near our northern borders.  I imagine your footsteps travel a similar path." Mia-Koda lowers her staff, and the Salali relax. 

"Where is the child I saw?" barks Black Claw.

"He is in the arms of my traveling companion."

"You mean that filthy Wicker that I saw the child attack?"

Hearing these words of insult, Tib lays the child on the ground and runs out toward Black Claw, kicking up dirt and spitting at the ground.  Mia-Koda stops him with her staff.  Tib snarls at Mia-Koda, but after seeing her face, he turns and scampers back toward Akelou. The other Salali seem to be uneasy at the sight of Tib.  They do not trust outsiders, and begin clicking and snorting to each other.  Mia-Koda signals for Tib to bring her the child, and Tib quickly obeys.  Holding Akelou in her arms, Mia-Koda looks at Black Claw.

"Here is the child you speak of."

Black Claw bends down and sniffs Akelou.  He looks over the baby and lightly strokes the necklace he saw curse the Wicker.  "This boy is not normal, he has no business within our borders."

"This child has been orphaned.  I would think you more than others would be understanding of his situation."

This agitates Black Claw, who glances at his men with a look of embarrassment. "You are a clever witch, with your wicked tongue and twisted words."

"The only wicked tongue used tonight has been yours, Captain.  It is with the two Chiefs that I wish to hold counsel.  Now please permit us to enter the city."

Black Claw looks over Mia-Koda and her companions and snorts to his guards. "Gather your things, we will escort you ourselves.  The sooner you enter our city, the sooner you will leave."

---

Holding Broomay by his reins, Mia-Koda follows Black Claw into the forest.

"Your mate -- how is she faring?"

Black Claw looks at Mia-Koda with suspicion before answering.  "I have offspring now, a boy, but I imagine you already know this."

"Yes, I am always keeping an eye on you.  Good health and a long life may he live.  Word has also come to my ears of your promotion to Captain of the guard.  A great honor and something you have long desired, I feel.  Poeau …"

"That is no longer my name, witch! And as for that man-child, I know your mind.  You mean to leave him within our borders."

Lowering her voice, Mia-Koda leans into the Captain's ear, "I know you fear what you have seen here tonight, but do not forget that I once brought you as an abandoned youngling to this very city.  I named you myself, so do not tell me what is or is not your rightful name."

Black Claw looks around to see if any Salali can overhear their conversation.  He turns back to the road, and Mia-Koda continues, "You are right, this child is special, and only time will tell the extent of his powers. When the time comes, I hope you make the right choice as I once did, Poeau."

The morning's glow begins to fill the forest in a rising mist.  Approaching the city, Mia-Koda holds Akelou tightly, concealing his necklace under his fur blanket.  They come to the gate of the city and halt.  The changing of the guard has begun.  The Salali night guard salutes their Meno replacements.  Meno are men who live on the ground and guard the city, while the Salali, a race of tree gliders, sleep in the trees.  Both races depend on each other for survival.  During the day, the men farm, tend livestock, and hunt animals while the Salali sleep.  At night, the Salali gather valuable food, goods, and medicine from the trees where the Meno cannot reach.  The guards exchange weapons and embrace each other with words of friendship; they look uneasily at the visitors entering the city.

"I must give the nightly reports to the Chiefs.  Follow me," says Black Claw.

They follow Black Claw through the tree city and are met with many untrusting eyes.  They soon come upon the Tree of the Menoli, one unlike any in the forest.  It rises high above the canopy and is as thick as a hundred trees.  Legend tells of a powerful mystic that grew the tree from a seed in only one season.  He was the father of the Salali, the one who brought them enlightenment and gave them the tree as their home.  He taught them how to speak and how to fight.  It was during the first great war that united the Salali and the Meno.  In this war, many tales of courage and hardship tell of how the bond between Man and Glider was formed.  After the wars, the Salali invited the first Meno to live with them around the great tree.  When they agreed, the city of two Chiefs was born.

They all stop, standing at the base of the Menoli Tree.  "It's okay, Tib, the Salali mean you no harm, and the Chiefs will be fair in their counsel, I am sure," Mia-Koda says, sensing Tib's anxiety.

Mia-Koda is quickly escorted up the stairs by two Meno warriors.  Black Claw passes them with ease, climbing up the side of the Tree.  When they reach the top of the stairs, Mia-Koda stops outside the door that leads to the two Chiefs.  It is a round door made from black wood. The black door is always guarded by one warrior of each race.  On the door, symbols of Meno and Salali are carved into the wood.  In the carvings the Meno and the Salali stand proudly together on each side of the Tree.  The Sun shines above the Meno, and the Moon above the Salali, their arms encircling the tree signifying the unity of the races. Two guards approach Black Claw and bow.  He quickly signals for them to allow Mia-Koda to enter the hall.  The guards exchange a quick glance of distrust, but obey their Captain and allow Mia-Koda to pass.  Mia-Koda, walks confidently down the main aisle of the hall. The hall is quiet this morning, with only a few Meno and Salali inside.  Incense made from leaves and tree cones burn, filling the room with a pungent aroma.  The dome-shaped ceiling has two windows, allowing light to shine on the thrones of the Chiefs.  The path to the Chiefs' thrones is lined with fresh leaves and flower petals.  Each throne is carved into the shape of a forest deer.  The deer rest on the floor with their legs folded under their bellies, staring down at whoever stands before the Chiefs.  The horns of the deer form the Chiefs’ thrones.

Both Chiefs are widely known to be wise, proud, and respected by their people.  Grey Back, the Chief of the Salali, is a thick-bodied glider with silver fur.  Grey Back sits proudly, wearing the hide of a Feather Runner, the natural enemy of the Salali; he also wears a Feather Runner's upper jaw as his crown.  He has become blind in his old age, but his sense of smell is very keen, and to the Salali, this is a sense more trusted than sight.

The Chief of the Meno is Red Fist.  The little hair he has left is white, stringy, and long.  His chest is stout and bare.  He wears only a pouch filled with crushed smoking root around his neck.  His pants are made of animal skin and bone, and his body is covered in tattoos of red and black.  On his head he wears a crown of feathers that drapes to the ground.  He is a man of few words and stern action, and he is a great commander of men.  Knowing this, Mia-Koda has sought out his counsel several times.  Always honest and true, Red Fist's solemn words have proven to solve many issues.