Aella (manxman) - ON HOLD - Chapter 41: Chapter 41

"So what are we supposed to do??"
Whispers
"I don't know, why are you asking me?"
Confused whispers
"Because you were supposed to explain the situation to them and get back with a decision!"
Angry whispers... I recognized the voices of the Aella hunters. Why were they fighting? Aella hunters never argue among themselves... they're always in harmony, always supporting each other.
I forced my eyes to open. I was in some kind of a pit. When did I get here? I let my eyes run along the walls surrounding me. This hole was dug quite deep. How did I get here? And how will I get out?
It was starting to get dark, maybe the sunset was close. I was on my back, looking up I could only see the shoulder of who I assumed was an Aella hunter.
"I explained it to them, many times. But it's very complicated-"
"What's so complicated about it, Emer!!!"
"You weren't there! The Aellas are impossible to calm down, Trin!"
"Are you kidding me?"
A third voice joined in, "I told you. That's why I didn't want to be the one to tell the Aellas about this whole thing"
"Shut up, Preeta! And you, your task was simple, report to them and bring me a final decision!"
"There's no decision, Trin! Everyone has an opinion. Even the other hunters, they're giving their opinions without a care about keeping order up there. And the Elders are a mess!"
"But the Leader-"
"Sosanbra couldn't even say a thing before half the clan went crazy. They refuse to let her decide anything before discussing the 'Leadership' problem"
"I thought we said that we'll deal with that AFTER the Agape!??"
Preeta sighed and interjected again, "Actually, not everyone agreed to wait. Many think that we must deal with this now"
"I can't believe this..." Trin added.
Emer continued, "The clan is a total havoc now. We tried to avoid this, but it's happening. The Aellas are hysteric, fighting and accusing each other. They're torn to different groups and none of them has the upper hand. The Elders are no help since all they do is whine and demand respect, and the hunters-"
"The hunters? What wrong with them!?"
"Well, they're also meddling which no longer makes them impartial"
"Meddling??"
"Yes, taking sides. With the Leader, against her, with the Elders, rooting for the hunters, and one is against all but Halina"
"Damn it"
"In Rhonwen's case, I think it's best if she stayed with the Aellas. She's guarding Halina since some of the Aellas are back to blaming her, and she's keeping her from descending the mountain to come find her son."
"She tried???"
"Can you blame her? Now that we wouldn't want to see happen. Even Sosanbra can't move freely now, and Halina is an Elder. We wouldn't want to have to discipline her."
"No one must descend the mountain!"
"All hunters agree on that, so don't worry. They are still guarding the clan and hunting, but they can't control the Aellas anymore."
Trin yelled at her, no longer caring about keeping her voice lowered. "The last we need is you idiots acting like children!!"
"Not all of us. I mean, we hunters are reasonable enough to carry our role. It's only a few who are interfering with other matters"
"This is getting out of hand", Preeta commented. And Emer agreed, "Indeed. This problem couldn't have occurred at a worse timing. I understand the need for justice, Trin, but I don't want all the Aellas to pay for the mistake of two Aellos, especially not these two. We took an oath to protect our own!"
"Aellas must come first." Preeta added, "This is bringing forth all the issues we've been having for the past months. We don't need this. We should just get rid of the problem before the Aellos' clan knows of it and things get even more complicated"
"We should kill them and end this issue. It's the best option we have", Emer announced. And the calm way they decided my death hurt me deeply.
They seemed to consider the plan. If I was wise and mature enough, I would've probably agreed to put the tribe's future before mine. But I didn't want to die. I DID NOT WANT TO DIE!!
What will my father think of me? Would he come back from his sail if he knew I was in trouble? Or will he sail even further?? Heavens...... I didn't even get to apologize for arguing with him...
And what about Ithel? What will happen to him?
Ithel...... Ithel, where are you??
Have you escaped? Did you go back or are you near?
"So, should we get this over with?"
After a moment of silence, Emer added, a bit hesitantly, "The decision is yours, Trin. I told them that you're keeping order down here until someone decides, whoever that is"
"What? Why am I in charge???"
"Because you're the one who stood to Rhonwen and Preeta earlier and told them to back off."
"Great. So I get to tell Halina that I killed the only offspring of her sister!"
"There's that. Also, I don't want to be in charge, Preeta is too inexperienced to know what to do and I don't believe Drita would care."
My skin crawled at the mention of her name and my foot felt numb, reminding me of what occurred the days before.
Trin mumbled, "Drita...... I need to know where she is"
"What? Why??"
"Just find her!"
"Is something wrong? If you need help here, I can get you a couple of hunters"
"That's not it." Trin answered. A moment later, she asked, "Emer, where are the rest of the hunters?"
"Still doing their duty. A few are with the Aellas, guarding Sosanbra among other things. The rest are either hunting or securing the territory. Although, we don't believe anyone would try to get in now. We're only two weeks away from the Agape anyway"
"Good", Trin commented, sounding slightly relieved. "Still, we need to keep our guard up. I know a lot of us are tired, but we can't rest yet. Also, I need you to send word to me as soon as you see Drita."
Preeta scoffed, "You love to order people around. But keep in mind that my status is no lower than yours."
"Maybe, but your brains and your height are. So keep your mouth shut!"
Emer ignored Preeta and continued to talk to Trin, "How about you go check the Aellas yourself? Maybe you can get them to make a decision or at least wait until after the Agape to deal with our main problem."
"I can't. I need to stay here in case......"
"In case Drita comes back?" Preeta continued.
They were all silent for a few moments, before Emer announced, "I'll go get you food for the night. Preeta, stay with Trin and don't antagonize her or she might beat you up again. And Trin, I don't care much about Drita, she always acted like a lonely wolf, but we don't need fights amongst us."
Emer left and I didn't know where Preeta was. I could only see Aella Trin from where I laid. She walked closer and our eyes met. She seemed deep in thought before she pushed something with her foot. A rope dangled and she used it to climb into the large pit with me.
I pulled myself to sit. I wanted to kneel and bow in respect, but my side and most of my body ached. So I only bowed my head to her.
"You got us all into trouble, kid"
I know... I'm so sorry, but I didn't mean to. Was I supposed to let her do all those horrible things and accept it??? I can't be expected to be weak! I have the right to live peacefully!!!
"Not talking, huh. Well, this time, we can't wait for you to stop shaking and we can't get Halina to translate your stuttering, so speak!"
I gulped. I must tell the truth. But...... All of it???
What if they don't believe me? Wait... what if they believe me, but still care more about their friend and the reputation of the clan?
And......... if the Aellos knew... what will become of me... would Alev still want to be my father?
I don't want to be fatherless again...
"Fine. You can choose silence. If you don't talk to me, maybe you'll talk to someone who had always protected you. I'll call for Drita to come-"
"NO!!!"
She narrowed her eyes at me and I felt my breathing accelerate just from the mention of her name
"P-please... anything b-b-but her, please d-d-don't let her take me!"
"Hasn't she always helped and cared for you?"
"Th-th-th-that w-was before! Th-that was be-before! Nghghgh..." my side hurt when I moved to face her, making me moan and flinch. I grabbed it and noticed something underneath the upper clothes that Ithel had given me. I lifted it and found a piece of leather wrapped tightly around me.
"You treated me?"
"We can still decide to kill you."
I looked down and saw my foot, wrapped in another cloth with fresh leaves and healing goo. I gulped as I remembered the moment she flayed my flesh.
"I can't believe she actually did that to you"
"................. Sh-she told you?"
She nodded. "She also said that you stole from her"
"Stole?? I-I never stole anything in my life!"
"Then why would she punish you so severely!"
"She........."
I couldn't tell her. Not when it could make my father abandon me. Not when it could make the Aellos not respect him or look down on him!
"Sh-she h-h-hurt me"
"What were you doing in our territory in the first place? And don't say Cailyn sent you because we know he didn't"
"No! I didn't know I was here when I woke up! I-I mean she came to my home"
"She went to the Aellos territory??"
I nodded vigorously, "I was waiting for I-Ithel, but she came into his den a-and choked me! I-I died. Then I-I-I-I.... I don't know, I woke up in a strange cave. And then she was really mean and angry! Sh-sh-she didn't want to let me leave. Then Ithel came to help me.
He was only here to take me home. He found me, b-but she found us again! A-a-a-and she-... she didn't let us go! P-please, Aella", I moved and kneeled despite the pain in my whole body, especially my foot that throbbed. I touched the ground with my forehead in the kneeling position and begged her, "Please, Aella, please spare Ithel's l-life. All he did was save me, he never intended to defy our laws. He's brave and kind and beautiful and strong! He's a good Aello, please don't kill him!!"
"What happened cannot be ignored. A punishment is inevitable, Ceri. No matter the circumstances, and you know that"
I looked up at her and bit my lower lip. Aella Trin wasn't being mean or unkind on purpose. She was being truthful. No matter the circumstances, two Aellos going into the forbidden territory and staying days there... Even if they had a good reason, pardoning them would entice other Aellos to take a chance.
As matters of the tribe, this was an offense to be paid for no matter the reasons. But what about me? What about Ithel??
"Then......... punish me. Please d-don't kill Ithel. A-a-a-and don't send him to Saeva, don't send anyone I love to Saeva!! Send Drita!"
She raised an amused eyebrow before she was serious again. "An Aella cannot be punished in such way, and especially not a hunter."
"But-"
"No matter what. Punishing an Aella isn't less painful, but it is different, and I advise you not to let anyone hear you suggest that"
I sat up to relieve some of the pain and lowered my eyes in defeat. Then I dared ask the most important thing right now, "Where's Ithel?"
She didn't answer me. She sighed and looked up. I followed her gaze to see Aella Preeta staring at us.
"I have food", she said, sounding not too happy about it.
Before I knew it, Aella Trin stood and climbed out using the rope, and then she pulled it outside the hole. She grabbed something from Preeta and walked back my way.
"You're going to feed him???" Preeta asked.
Tri threw some bread my way, "Unless the Leader orders to starve them."
Them? ...... They've got Ithel as well!! Or... maybe they caught Drita?
"Sosanbra wouldn't order such a thing. She's too weak and you know it. Everybody knows that now, and that's exactly why she lost our respect."
How could she say that? Why would she talk like that about Leader Sosanbra! She's a very respected Aella! Even Cailyn regards her highly, I think.
I grabbed the bread that fell right beside me. I was too hungry. But as soon as I took a bite, it was difficult to swallow. I felt too tired and depressed.
How could I eat in such a situation??
When I looked up again, they were both gone. But suddenly, Aella Preeta was yelling
"Wake up!"
My heart picked up its pace. It could be anyone, but my heart yearned for it to be him. So I yelled the best I could, which was still a weak hoarse voice
"Ithel....... Itheeel!!"
"Ceri? Ceri, are you alright?"
No... no, I'm not. I'm in pain and I'm dizzy and I'm scared Drita might get back and they want to kill us...
When I didn't answer, he yelled, "I'm so sorry I couldn't get you out in time!"
I felt like a heavy weight was pressuring my chest. Why would he apologize? I'm the one who caused this! He's risking his honor and his life because of ME!!
"Shut up", Preeta snarled, "You insulting vermin. You're not even taking us seriously, are you?
Thinking you can come and go as you please, and here you sleep like it's your own land! We're even feeding you!???"
"Stop talking, Preeta"
He's not being rude. He's very kind and respectful, but he's too tired. For Ithel to sleep in a situation like this... he must be really drained. Heavens, was he injured from the fight? Did D-Drita hurt him??
"You need to treat his wounds! His foot needs medicine and care-"
"We don't need to do anything!", Preeta interrupted.
"He's innocent in all of this! Hasn't he suffered enough?......... Talk to you Leader."
Preeta scoffed, but Ithel continued, "She's wise and she'll definitely see through this mess! If only she gets here, Ceri will talk to her! He did before, and Leader Sosanbra knows him. She'll put an end to this mistake!"
"There's no Leader to talk to", Trin said calmly, almost sadly
What????
"What do you mean th-"
"It means NO LEADER!", Preeta shouted angrily, "And we have Halina's kid to thank for that!"
Me? She can't be talking about Vreis or Epona. But I didn't do anything to Sosanbra! I only spoke to her twice and I was very respectful. I barely looked her in the eye!
Ithel sighed, and then said tiredly, "Whatever is happening in your clan, it has nothing to do with Ceri"
Preeta disagreed instantly, "It IS his fault!! He destroyed one Leader before and he's doing that again!"
One Leader? Halina... she's talking about when I was born and Halina gave up her title in exchange for keeping me alive. That wasn't just my aunt sacrificing something important to her. It was the whole clan losing a Leader they loved
Trin continued, and to my surprise, she also believed I was to blame for...... whatever problems they were facing in the clan.
"He may not have done it with malice, but he is linked to all the complications that led to today's situation."
"Linked??" Ithel said incredulously, "If this is about the situation with his father, Alev was sent to Saeva. He survived and the matter was closed-"
"Maybe to you, it was. But not to the Aellas. That Aello was pardoned after he caused the death of a good Aella, the ruin of a Leader, and the burden of secretly harboring a cursed child for seventeen years"
"He's not cursed!!"
"Look at where you are and tell me he has nothing to do with the death you're about to face!"
Everything went silent for a long moment and I wished I could bury myself under the ground.
Trin continued with a calmer, but not less angry voice. "Ceri was nurtured by our clan and kept safe for seventeen years. It may not have been the best life for a boy, but he is alive because we accepted to keep it this way. Yet he had come to an age where keeping him with the Aellas was getting disturbing to many, especially young girls. So Sosanbra agreed to release him. And what does he do?"
What did I do? Nothing! I harmed no one!!
She let the silent anxiety settle before she continued, "He gets himself used by Cailyn. Your Leader would NEVER be able to let an Aello set foot in our territory without receiving a severed head as a response. Your cunning Leader sent us the only grown man we wouldn't feel threatened by. And he used him to make us break our laws and traditions for the first time and send children to your territory. He even made his messenger here threaten our Leader and all the Aellas. So yes, he is linked to all that is happening now."
"It would have happened even without him!"
Preeta scoffed, "No it wouldn't! If we stopped him the second he set foot on our land, Cailyn would've been forced to send the message through us, hunters. And he wouldn't have sent threats because he knows we'd NEVER deliver such a message. He'd risk raging a war!"
Heavens...... what have I done?
Ithel hasn't given up yet, "That already happened and ended! You got all your precious kids back safely"
"The one who got truly harmed from that, was Sosanbra. Most of us couldn't bear to be ordered by Cailyn. And some of us knew him enough to figure out that this was just the beginning"
"The beginning of what???"
"Change", Trin stated. "Cailyn acted deviously. He set that event with the children to test our leniency towards his clan and to test our obedience towards him. Now he WILL want more. He will ask for more, and if we don't obey, he'll threaten us the same way he did last time. So now the Aellas believe Sosanbra should NOT have yielded. She should've been strong enough to stand to Cailyn's threats. She should've been wise enough to know that he won't simply back down after taking what he wanted and he'll come back for more!"
I gulped as I remembered Cailyn telling me the exact same thing. That the children's visit was nothing but the beginning of change. He was a dreamer, like Ithel said. But he told me that it was all for the benefit of the Aellas...
"Is that why your Leader didn't make a decision about us or even came to hear us?", Ithel asked sounding really tired, both physically and mentally
Trin was the one who answered him, "A growing number of Aellas have been calling to remove Sosanbra from her position for months now. The last thing we want is for the Aellos to know about it, so we decided to deal with that after the Agape."
Preeta interrupted, "And we were almost in peace until we found your tail from our side of the border"
Trin resumed, "Your trespassing into our territory proved our fears. It showed that the Aellos no longer respected the laws that kept us and the children safe all these years. And that revived the need for a new Leader. But the Aellas still can't agree on who should take Sosanbra's place. They're even calling for a hunter to be a Leader, which never happened before"
"A hunter????"
"Some believe a hunter will be strong enough and won't be easily swayed by the Aellos' threats."
Preeta looked my way and added spitefully, "Many are voting for Drita"
My whole body was taken by a creepy chill and I instinctively held my hurting side.
"You........ Are you serious?" Ithel asked in disbelief.
Trin shrugged, "She didn't seem interested in the title and she hasn't been around much lately-"
"That's because she was busy abducting an Aello!!"
Preeta immediately had her spear aimed somewhere I guessed was where Ithel was kept, "Don't spout such insolent accusations about an Aella hunter or I will kill you! Then we won't have to deal with the decision of ending you"
I whimpered and started breathing heavily. I shook my head in disbelief to the scene before me. Please don't kill him, please don't kill him, please don't kill him, please don't kill him, please don't kill him!
Ithel on the other hand didn't sound frightened, only exhausted, "At least call for Halina. Bring her here and let her take care of his injuries until this is all sorted out"
"Halina can't stop crying", Preeta announced. And I wasn't the only one shocked because Trin asked her anxiously, "She is?"
"Yes", Preeta confirmed, sounding as worried as Trin, "Emer said she was inconsolable when she heard the news about these two and the state we found them in. She even tried to climb down the mountain."
"Great, now we have to worry about an Elder as well"
"Not really. Rhonwen is keeping her safe."
I threw the piece of bread away from me and hid my face in the palms of my hands. What have I caused...
Heavens, please not my mother... not Halina
"Ceri, this isn't your fault!", Ithel yelled, "You did nothing wrong, and they know that! I...... I know that.... And you Aellas, if what you're saying is true, if you really have no effective Leader at the moment, then you need to take this matter to Cailyn-"
"Nice try, Aello. But we prefer not to get your friends involved." Tri said, and Preeta agreed, "If the wolves on the other side knew of our situation, they won't hesitate to use it against us. Heavens know Cailyn himself would stop at nothing"
Ithel groaned in frustration. Then he said, calmly, "I......... I may not like the Aellas or care about the Agape, but I deeply respect your clan, especially the hunters. Aside from that heartless one, the rest of you are pillars to your side of the island. You are the mothers, the sisters and the mates. It's only natural for you to protect your own with everything you have. Ceri believes in that. He cares about both sides of the border as he has family from both clans. He respects you highly and cares deeply about the tribe. And just like you, I care about my family. For years I had none of them left, but Ceri IS my family! He's my friend and I will do anything to protect him."
A moment later, he continued, "Aellas, you are not weak minded. You are strong enough to face reality as it is. And you know that we've been telling the truth. You know it in your heart that Ceri would NEVER sneak into your territory. He wouldn't even dare defy you! And I... I never even aimed to get close to your families. It is also absurd for me to step in here just to take the most laborious walk of my life!"
"You want us to believe your story?? And what, let you go?", Preeta asked sarcastically. And my brave Ithel answered confidently, "You already know it's the truth"
"It doesn't matter", Trin said, "You think our clan would survive if we simply kept forgiving those who break our laws?? You young Aellos and Aellas lived a secure life. You were never hurt daily by your mate for years, never slept hungry or cold. But that's how we used to live and it almost led us to extinction. That is our history until we Aellas decided to leave. The traditions protect us, they protect the survival of our clan and the dignity of the Aellas and the children. And for such traditions to be reinforced, those who stepped out of line were taken down and made an example of. Our laws are harsh, but they kept us alive."
"Are our laws more important than the truth??"
"Huh, Sosanbra looked for the truth. She wanted to be fair and to make everyone happy. She agreed to Ceri maturing amongst us, she protected Halina, she delivered Ceri to the Aellos and risked the honor of the whole clan, she forgave his father, welcomed the boy when he came back as a messenger of threats to the clan who fed him, and she backed down as soon as Cailyn threatened not to send medicine to the children for a whole winter! .......... We are the proud clan of Aellas. We do not aim to be fair. We aim to survive. And the only way to secure that is with strength and traditions."
I closed my eyes as my head swayed with dizziness again. Hopeless... no matter the truth, no matter my intentions, there was no way out for us
"Aella hunter. I respect your devotion to your clan. You said that you have no Leader to guide you for the moment. That isn't true. Even if you no longer consider Aella Sosanbra a Leader of your clan, there's still a Leader of the tribe."
Leader of the tribe...
Yes! We have a Leader to the tribe!!
"We told you. We won't involve the Aellos in this-"
"If you are truly faithful to the laws and traditions, then you have no choice. The law dictates that while both clans have separate Leaders, the Aellos' Leader is higher in rank. He is the first Leader of the whole tribe. You have to trust him and obey him, as do we. That is the law. So call for Cailyn.
Cailyn will decide if we're to live or die."