Marooned on Tashoo, Chapter 37

XXXVII

Preparations
(Day 369 on Tashoo)
(Afternoon)

    As the three of us walked back to Ara’s house, Naka asked me, “I cannot believe you succeeded in getting the Ka'yno to challenge you.  That was your plan from the moment you walked into the Ishoo'se Choko Aka'ny, was it not?”
    I smiled and said, “My Ka', whatever do you mean?”
    Naka took a deep breath before he continued, “What are you going to do tomorrow, Mvilu?”
    Thanking the Great Being for the change of subject, “What do you mean, Ka’ Naka?  I have the Trial by Combat with the Ka’yno.  I have to prepare for that.”
    “That is what I am talking about, Mvilu.  What are you going to do about that?”
    “I am going to do my best.  I have no desire to kill the Ka’yno, but I am not going to let him kill me, if I can possibly prevent it.”
    “You could pack your belongings, take Chy and Tyarza and find her home village.  Perhaps they will be so happy to have her back, they will let you stay and keep Chy.”
    “My Ka’, I know I keep repeating myself about my past, so I will not say it again.  But, for some reason, I cannot imagine myself running away from danger, especially if doing so might allow a bully to gloat that I was afraid of him.  No.  I will not run away like a Koshyna(1) with his tail between his legs.”  
    “You are a brave Uany, Mvilu, or a foolish one.  I told you how Nachoo became Ka’yno.  Just because his chorothy, Tamoo, was killed a couple of years ago does not mean that he will fight fair.”
    “I know, but it is a chance I have to take.  Am I allowed to choose a second?”
    “Yes.  Who will you choose?”
    “My closest friend, of course.  Rora.  I want him there because I have something to tell him that I believe he has a right to know.”
    “Just be careful how loudly you tell him.  If it is what I think it is, he may be forced to do something Ara does not want him to do.”
    We had arrived at Ara’s by this time.  I answered him by saying.  “Do not worry, my friend.  I will not do something that stupid.  I would be honored if you would stop by TaJoola’s home and invite her and her family over for the nakymoty tonight.  Please accompany them.”
    “Do you believe Ara will not be upset with this invitation?”
    “After I tell her of my Trial by Combat, I believe she will not complain a bit.  She may even be happy that I did invite all of my closest friends.”
    “Perhaps you are right.  I will give your message to Joola.  We will be here by the ninth hour.”
    He turned and left.  I turned, knocked on the door and entered.  As I entered, I saw Ara had just stood to answer the door.  When she saw me, she gave a bit of a cry of surprise and a look of relief crossed her face.  She practically ran up to me and gave me a big hug.  She was so happy to see us, she even knelt down and gave Chy a big hug, as well.  Chy returned the hug, as hard as that may be to believe.
    Ara’s cry brought Rora out of his room.  He had been relieved of his guard duties until my situation with the Aka’ had been resolved.  I guess they had thought they had seen the last of us.  Ara and Rora asked me why Chy and I had been forced to go to the Suala Ka’ynony.  I relayed to them the reason and result of the trial before the Ishoo'se Aka’ny.  When I mentioned the Trial by Combat, and who my opponent was, Ara nearly cried in anguish for me.  She was fearful that I could not best him because she remembered how for most of her life whenever Nachoo was involved in a Trial by Combat, his opponent always seemed to have bad luck of some kind.  She worried that the same thing would happen to me.
    I said, “Ara, I cannot make any guarantees other than to guarantee that I will do everything I can to overcome any potential bad luck that could possibly occur.”
    She said, “I am still worried for you, Mvilu.  I remember TaJoola once told me how the former Ka’yno, Ne-Raro, fell victim to a thrown rock and Lo-Nachoo killed him afterward.  I do not want the same thing to happen to you.”
    “I will do my best, Ara.  By the way, TaJoola, her family and Ka’ Naka will be here this afternoon to join us for the nakymoty.  Please do not be angry that I invited them without having it okayed with you first.”
    She smiled and said, “Do not worry, Mvilu.  I had already invited them over.”
    After I looked at her in shock, she said, “Do not be shocked.  It was going to be either a memorial meal or a celebratory meal.  Now, it turns out to be a good luck meal.”
    I smiled and said, “Thank you, Ara.  I appreciate the thought more than you could ever know.”

    At the ninth hour, Joola and her family arrived, along with Ka’ Naka.  After they entered, Tyarza came directly up to me.  I could see there was sadness in her eyes and the redness in them told me she had been crying.  I guess Naka had told them about my Trial by Combat.  She was standing close enough to me that I could feel her body heat.  She had her arms crossed over her chest.  I knew what she wanted, so I took her into my arms.  I held her gently as she cried on my shoulder.  I looked around and saw that everyone else in Joola’s household was extremely sad, almost to the point of doing the unthinkable and crying themselves, even Kyna.
    I asked, “Why is everyone so sad?  I am not dead yet.  Save your sadness unless and until that happens.”
    Tyarza said, “But, you are having a Trial by Combat tomorrow.  You will be fighting the most unscrupulous warrior in Talo-Vy, perhaps even all of Tashoo.  By this time tomorrow, you probably will be dead.  When you are killed, who will help me return to my home and confront the warrior to whom I am promised?”
    “Tyarza,” I said, “I could have simply allowed the Ka’yno to kill me in the Ishoo'se Choko Aka'ny; I could have followed someone’s suggestion and taken you and Chy and left Talo-Vy.  I chose Trial by Combat to prove to the Aka’ that I believe the Great Being is on my side in this situation.  If I win the trial tomorrow, perhaps the Aka’ will change the Dangerous Animals Law to where it makes more sense.”

    Dinner was finally ready and we all sat down to eat.  Normally, Ara wouldn’t allow Chy to eat in the dining area, but, since he might not be here tomorrow night, she relented and let him join us.  Chy was as obedient as any dog would be and was probably more obedient than most.  He ate his meal, which Ara prepared especially for him, a couple of meters away from the table.  After he finished, he walked over to my chair, lay down behind it and started purring loudly.
    The conversation around the table was about everything but the Trial by Combat.  I knew it was on everybody’s mind, but it was like an Oocholefala in the room.  Everybody knew it was there, but nobody wanted to acknowledge it for fear it might bite them.  I tried to assure everybody that I wasn’t afraid but, they wouldn’t hear it.  I guess they thought that if I wouldn’t be afraid, they would be afraid for me.
    After dinner, we retired to the living area.  Once again, Ka’ Naka and I walked away and talked over things.  He was still concerned about the combat tomorrow.  He once again brought out his bottle and we partook of a drink.  He was always mildly amazed that I could drink the alcoholic beverage and seem to enjoy it.  He even told me that he had never seen a Uany who could handle the liquor that the Mory distilled which made me laugh.  
    After a few minutes, Kyna joined us.  I felt sorry for him.  Even though he was now allowed to continue living in Talo-Vy and mating with the anohachy of his choice, the Ka'yno kept him so busy that he had not had an opportunity to find a nohachy to bear his arothoo.  I had a feeling that this was the Ka'yno's plans.  Kyna had only two choices, defy the Ka'yno and refuse to follow his orders or go to another village and risk injury or death trying to mate with one of their anohachy, neither of which was very palatable to him.
    I kept looking back toward where the anohachy were congregated.  I saw Rora talking to Kyta and I decided I needed to ask Naka and Kyna a favor.
    “Ka’ Naka,” I said, “Are there any laws that would prevent a Mory from granting a slave freedom without permission of the Ka’yno and/or the Ishoo'se Aka’ny?”
    He looked at me in surprise.  Then, I saw him playing the numerous Mory laws through his mind.  After several seconds, he said, “There are no laws preventing such a situation from occurring.  As a matter of fact, there are laws that allow it.  However, there are specific requirements as to how it should be done.  Why do you ask?”
    “I have been thinking about tomorrow’s Trial by Combat.  Even though I am fairly certain that the Great Being is on my side in this matter, I want to prepare for any eventuality.  A long time ago, when I first met her, I made Tyarza a promise.  I promised her that I would do everything in my power to get her back to her home village.”  
    Turning to Kyna, I said to him, “If I fail in my attempt tomorrow, I want Rora to take her home immediately.  Therefore, I need you to grant her the freedom she wishes to have, Kyna, tomorrow after my death.  Will you do that for me?”
    “I would be honored to grant you that dying wish, Mvilu.  You are as good a friend as any Mory could hope to have.  But, I do not know my requirements.  Ka’ Naka?”
    Ka’ Naka thought and then he said, “You will have to take her out of the village to a place where you cannot see the village or the gardens.  You will have to blindfold her, make her kneel facing away from the village and toward where you want her to go.  She, then, has to remain there for a minimum of five minutes before she, and only she, can remove her blindfold.  If she does not see you, then she shall be considered free and no longer a slave.  However, if any other warrior should find her, he can claim her as his slave.”
    I asked, “What if a warrior finds her before her five minutes are up?”
    “He may make her his slave.”
    “So, in other words, let’s say a warrior happens upon a slave that is being freed yet hasn’t removed her blindfold.  This warrior can claim her as his slave?”
    “Yes.  He may.”
    “What if he does not want her to be his slave?”
    “He states to her that he does not wish her to be his slave.  When she hears this statement, she is completely free and can no longer be a slave to any warrior in the village she has just been freed from.  What are you planning, Mvilu?”
    I turned to Kyna and asked him, “Do you know the clearing about three kilometers west of the village, the clearing where Rora and I made our first kills together?”
    “Of course.  Why do you ask?”
    “I am going to ask Rora to do something for me should I die tomorrow.  I am going to have him kill Chy before the Ka’yno has a chance to do so.  Of course, I doubt very seriously that Chy would allow the Ka'yno anywhere near him without attempting to harm him.  After he kills Chy, he is to go to that clearing and wait for you, Tyarza, and Kyta also, I hope.  We all three know how Rora and Kyta feel about each other.  Why not allow them to leave Talo-Vy and find a place to call their own and raise their own arothoo?”
    Kyna said, “That sounds like a great plan, Mvilu.  I can think of no warrior I would rather see Kyta mated to than Rora.  I will do as you ask.  Cho—Ka’ Naka, will you assist me in this endeavor?”
    Ka’ Naka looked slightly shocked at what Kyna almost revealed, but he said, “Of course, Kyna.  Mvilu has done so many things for the village, I would be dishonorable if I refused to help him.”
    “There is one more thing.  I am going to tell Rora to leave the village immediately after killing Chy.  Since the akatooeka guards will be at the duel, he will need the two of you to lower the draw span on the katooeka and reopen it.  So, I want the two of you to assist him.  I am certain that the Ka'yno will be too busy gloating to the village about how he killed me, so he will not be overly concerned with Rora for a short while.  Will you do that for me, please?”
    They both replied, “Most assuredly, Mvilu.”
    After this short conversation, Ka’ Naka and Kyna started plying me with questions about my hunting techniques and swordsmanship.  Finally, after a few more minutes, Rora joined us.  Before long, the four of us were joking and kidding around with each other as if tomorrow was just another day instead of the day I might die.  It was hard for me to believe that one of the most powerful warriors in Talo-Vy could be just a “regular guy” with us.  
    Occasionally, I would look back toward the ladies and I would see them doing pretty much the same things the guys were doing, chatting, laughing and kidding with each other.   I would look at Tyarza and imagine how she had acted and spoken on the first day I ever actually talked with her.  She has made such a change in her attitude toward Joola and her family.  While I was looking toward her, Tyarza suddenly looked toward me and smiled.  It was a loving, sad smile.  I know it was sad because she thought that by this time tomorrow she would be mourning my death.
    After a couple of hours, Joola announced it was time for her family to head back home.  As they passed by me, Joola, Kyta and Tyarza each gave me a hug.  Tyarza punctuated her hug with a tear on my shoulder and a tender kiss on my lips.  Naka and Kyna each showed me the Mory symbol of great friendship.

    After everyone left, Rora, Ara and I were left alone in the house.  I sat in the living area, thinking.  Rora and Ara had gone into the kitchen and were cleaning up the dinner dishes.  I wanted to join them and help, but, for some strange reason, I couldn’t bring myself to go into the kitchen.  I worried about what they were thinking, but I still couldn’t bring myself to go.  I had something I wanted to tell them, something important, and I wanted to be sure I worded it right.
    When they finished in the kitchen, Ara and Rora came into the living area.  I sensed their arrival more than heard or saw it; I was that deeply into my thoughts.  They stood there for a short while before Ara spoke.  “Mvilu, I believe that is the first time you have ever let me clean the kitchen without pestering me to let you help.  Are you all right?”
    “In a manner of speaking, Ara, I am fine.  I have just been thinking.  I would like to speak to you alone in my room for a few minutes, if you do not mind, Ara.”
    The solemnness of my demeanor worried her.  In my whole time in Talo-Vy, I had always been relatively happy and never morose.  Ara knew I had something important to say to her.   I stood, called Chy and headed to my room.  Ara followed me.  As I passed him, I assured Rora that I would be speaking to him in a few minutes.
    After we entered my room, I closed the door behind us.  I walked over to my bed, sat and patted the bed beside me.  Ara sat and Chy climbed onto the bed and lay between us.  I sat there in silence scratching Chy’s head for a few seconds before I spoke.
    “Ara, I have spent most of the evening thinking since TaJoola left.  Do you remember back when I told you I had figured out who Rora’s father was?”
    “Yes, I do.”
    “You begged me at the time to not tell him until the right time.  Remember?”
    “Yes.”
    “You also told me that I would know when it was the right time.”
    “That is correct.”
    “Tomorrow is the right time.  If I die, Rora will be expelled from the village very shortly thereafter anyway, assuming the Ka’yno doesn’t decide to kill him for harboring a ‘dangerous animal’.  You and I both know the biggest reason he has not been expelled yet is because I have prevented the Ka'yno from doing so.  So, I am going to tell him.”
    Ara thought for several seconds before replying, “I agree with your decision, Mvilu.”
    “I am also going to tell him about his norothu and chorothu.”
    “How do you know that information?”  She asked, shocked.
    “Do you not believe The One would be able to learn those things?”
    “I do believe that, but you have always denied being The One.”
    “Maybe I have decided to accept the possibility.  Whether I have or not, I do know your rothachy, Ara, and I intend to make it public as well as how your norotha died.”
    “You know how my norotha died?”
    “Yes, Naka told me recently how he suspects that she died.  Revealing that information should unnerve the Ka’yno enough to make it easier to defeat him.”
    “I hope so, Mvilu.  I know that more than nine out of ten of the residents of Talo-Vy despise Lo-Nachoo.  They would rather have Lo-Katoo as Ka’yno.”
    “I will do my best to grant their wish tomorrow.  Would you go and ask Rora to come in, please?”
    She opened the door and called Rora.  When he came in, she started to leave.  I said,    “You can stay if you wish, Ara.  I have nothing that I am going to say to Rora that I wish to hide from you.”  She returned to the room and sat beside Chy.  Rora picked up a chair I had never seen before, brought it beside the bed and sat in it.(2)
    I looked at Rora for a few seconds trying to decide how best to word what I wanted to tell him, before I spoke.  “Rora, I asked Ka’ Naka if I could name you as my second tomorrow.  He said, ‘Yes.’  So, I want you there tomorrow.  I want you to hold Chy’s leash.  He trusts you and I need that trust.”
    “Why, Mvilu?”
    I paused, thinking.  What I wanted to say now was perhaps the hardest thing I had ever had to say.  Finally, I swallowed hard and said, “Because, if I should fail tomorrow, I want you to kill Chy the instant that I fall dead.”  
    I felt Chy's eyes on me.  I looked at him and saw both trust and sadness there.  “I want the Ka’yno to see you do it.”  I said as I reached over and stroked Chy's head gently.  Once again, I swallowed hard and continued.  “I would rather Chy die at the hand of someone he knows, loves and trusts, than by the hand of a dishonorable, sadistic, Santoonthydo(3) bully.”  
    Rora looked at me, then at Chy, with sadness in his eyes.  Then, he said, “I would be honored to fulfill your dying wish, Mvilu.  You are more than a friend to me; you are, as I said on the day we found Chy, a brother.”
    “Thank you, Rora.  After you kill Chy, you need to sneak away from the Atasho Chyzakoo'do and go to the closest katooeka.  Naka and Kyna will meet you there.  The guards will be at the Trial by Combat.  Naka and Kyna will lower the draw span and allow you to cross.  After you cross the katooeka, go to the clearing where we made our first kills together and wait.”
    “Wait for what?”
    “Within two hours, Kyna will bring Kyta and Tyarza there.  He will blindfold Tyarza, make her kneel and she will have to wait for five minutes like that.  After five minutes, she can remove the blindfold and only she is allowed to remove the blindfold, if she does not see Kyna, she will no longer be his slave.  I want you there to protect her from any potentially dangerous animals or warriors.  You will have to be the first warrior from Talo-Vy she sees.  Then you can make her your slave or refuse to take her as your slave.  If you refuse to take her as your slave, no warrior from Talo-Vy can make her his slave.  After this, I want you to fulfill my promise to Tyarza and take her home.  Will you make me that promise?”
    Sadly, Rora replied, “Yes, Mvilu.  I will make that promise for you.  But, I hope that I do not have to fulfill it.”
    “Me, too, Rora, but, I have to plan for any eventuality.  Now, I wish to spend some time with Chy.  I do not know what the future will hold and I want him to know how much I love him.”
    Ara and Rora both stood and Ara said, “Yes, Mvilu.  We will pray the Great Being is truly on your side in this matter.  We have learned that perhaps the Mory attitude toward the Akootona is incorrect and needs to be changed.”  Then, they left my room, leaving me alone with Chy.  That was the first time since I arrived in Talo-Vy that I actually heard the word pray used by anyone.
    I reached over and scratched Chy’s furry head.  As I scratched his head, I noticed that a mane was starting to grow.  He turned and looked at me questioningly, then he churred.  I put my arms around his neck and gave him a hug.  He responded by licking my neck and face.  His tongue felt like 80 grit sandpaper, but I didn’t complain.  I lay on the bed and coaxed Chy to stretch out beside me, which wasn’t too difficult.  As I lay on my back, Chy placed his head on my chest and, closing his eyes slightly, purred loud enough to vibrate the bed.  Finally, after about ten minutes of lying there, the two of us were fast asleep.

(1)-The best way to describe a Koshyna is to think of a medium sized puppy.  They look just like a canine, down to the paws, ears, muzzle and tail.  The only differences are color, which is dark blood red with black tick marks placed irregularly all over the body and two horns that grow directly back over the neck to where the shoulders would be.  It has olive green eyes and round pupils.  It is covered with reptilian scales instead of fur.  All these differences make it look more like a miniature dragon than anything else.  It is also considered one of the most timid of all carnivorous animals on all of Tashoo.

(2)-My surprise at the sudden appearance of articles of furniture was never ending, until I learned that, somehow, the trees sense when a wooden article was needed.  The trees seem to somehow have some rudimentary form of intelligence and manufacture the wooden item in a matter of seconds, no matter the complexity of the item.  During my entire stay on Tashoo, I never figured out how this occurred.

(3)-do added to the end of a word is the equivalent to adding –ing to the end of an English word.