Fractured Past (A Talnarin Novel Book 1) Read online

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  I grind to halt in the early evening. I listen closely for the sounds I thought I’d heard. I hold my breath and expel it when the sound once again graces my ears. Too afraid to hope, I tiptoe in the direction the noise came from. When it steadily grows louder and more persistent, my heart soars. It’s the precious sound of life. Village bustle has never sounded so perfect. I rush forward, stumbling into a nearby tree, but that doesn’t stop hope from consuming me.

  I did it. I made it.

  My stomach growls loudly and I grimace. I have nothing to offer anyone in exchange for food. I have other options, I just need to attempt them. First, I’ll head into town and ask around for help. If they are amicable, I may get lucky and receive some bread. I can offer to work for room and board if that doesn’t work. If that doesn’t go either, I’ll steal some supplies when it gets dark.

  I trudge forward more slowly than before. Before long the outskirts of the village are within sight. The smoke rising from the blacksmith floats towards the clouds. Not many villages have the resources to build a smithy and create weapons with iron, but the ones that do make enough to trade with other villages on market day. That is how my village stocked up on metal weapons. However, all the wooden weapons, like bows, were made by someone in the village directly.

  This village reminds me of home. My chest tightens painfully and tears tumble down my cheeks. The village is small, but the layout is similar to my own village. In the heart of the village is the plaza where the meeting hall stands in near perfect condition. This is where the elders gather and the village holds their meetings. The currently empty wooden stalls sit under the awning in the plaza. These stalls are used during market day where traders set up their wares for an entire week four times a year. The homes are spread out in loose circles surrounding the plaza and hall, roughly fifteen in the first ring, and twenty behind them, with the dol trees trapping them in.

  The homes lying further back hold the farmlands and pasture in order to maximize the usage of space. All the homes and structures made almost entirely of wood and stone, each in varying states of upkeep. Those more well off, those with higher position, have the most pristine dwellings and reside closest to the plaza and hall.

  Without realizing it, I had passed over the boundary line separating the village and the surrounding forest. In a daze, I take a step forward and run right into someone. Startled, I stumble. I glance up to apologize when I’m shoved away. This time I go down, hard. Stunned, I struggle to gain back my lost breath. Slightly discouraged, I push my matted hair from my face and tentatively move on.

  At least the tears have stopped.

  Not long after, I come across another villager scurrying along. This man looks to be in his late forties with aged skin and graying hair. His appearance and demure suggest he is relatively well off. There are no tears or stains in his clothes. He stands tall with shoulders back. I hesitantly move before him and whisper an uncertain hello. He looks down his nose at me and I cringe and look away.

  I imagine I look horrible. Blood red hair matted and clumped with who knows what. Dirt and blood caked along every inch of my pale 5’4 frame. Bones evident under the scraps of cloth still connected to my skin. Bags under my glowing, ethereal silver eyes and a split lip. Open wounds on my arms, legs, and back.

  Gathering courage, I glance back up and say louder than before, “I need help please. Is there any food and water I could have?”

  With a disgusted look upon his face, the man spits out, “You’re not welcome here. Leave before I have you thrown in the cells for trespassing.”

  As he marches away, I call out to him in desperation. “Please, if I could get some food I’ll leave. I’ll even work for the food. I’ll do anything. Please!” Nothing I say seems to reach him. Too soon, he’s gone from my sight and I’m left alone once again. Tears prickle my eyes but I refuse to let them fall.

  Not knowing what else to do, I rush to find someone else. Finally, I discover an old woman sitting on her porch swing. She has a full head of gray and white hair. Her skin is wrinkled and her clothes are worn. Her stern expression causes my steps to falter before I right myself. Now is not the time to hesitate. I need to eat before I fade away.

  “Please, I need some food and water. Will you help me?” I manage to squeak out.

  Instead of responding, the old woman swiftly moves into the house. I simply stare after her my hope shattering and my heart breaking. I don’t understand why they shun me and turn me away. They don’t bother to listen to what I have to say either. Without permission, tears begin to silently roll down my face. As I move to turn around, a rough hand on my shoulder pushes my knees to the ground. I cry out at the feel of my bones hitting the rocks that litter the ground. In seconds my hands are tied painfully behind my back. Before I can utter one confused word of protest, I’m dragged away, my arms wrenched back. Memories surge to the forefront of my mind instantly.

  He strolls across the grass towards me. For a brief moment of time I forget about the horrible site I have just seen. He is beautiful, otherworldly even. Even from a distance I can see he is tall and lean. As he nears, I can see the glow of ebony hair in the moonlight and a spark of light in golden eyes.

  Golden eyes? No, there’s no such thing. Yet, even as my mind rebels against the thought, the proof now towers over me. The unnatural color shocks me from my daze. The horrors I’d seen but moments before now fresh in my mind once again. The terror in my veins grow as He smiles. For a creature with such beauty, a smile should enhance it, not stir awake every instinct I have to flee. I hold my breath as His hand reaches to stroke my face. My body is still not mine to command, otherwise I would have flinched as his frozen skin made contact with mine.

  “Well, what do we have here? A little bhria who seems to have lost her way. Seeing as you’ve come such a long way, I offer you my finest hospitality.” His voice is hypnotic and soothing as I stare up at him in rapture. There’s a nagging feeling in the back of my mind, but I can’t put my finger on what it is. Unconcerned, I push it away until I focus all of my attention on the magnificent creature before me. Why was I ever afraid? I’m drawn from my thoughts as his voice whispers over my skin.

  “It’s been so long since we’ve had a guest arrive to our front door. Everyone will be so pleased.” He places his hand gently across my back and directs me forward. Before I can dwell on the realization that I can move my body, his voice calls my attention once more. “We have so many fun things planned for you, Little Bhria. We even have a room already picked out for you. It’s secluded to give you privacy, away from all the commotion. There’s even top-class entertainment available if you manage to stay that long. And who knows, perhaps you’ll last a little longer than others, wouldn’t that be something?”

  That nagging feeling starts to swell and I falter. He notices and by the look on His face, I would say that pleases him, although I have no idea why. I resist with more force this time as he tries to coax me further. My emotions are no longer locked down and the overwhelming tide swipes me under. The terror is overpowering. My mind can’t comprehend all that has happened. I don’t understand why I was enthralled by this thing. What is wrong with me? What is wrong with this place?

  I notice I longer stand by the edge of town. Instead, I am standing a few paces from the steps leading to the house. A handful of people had stepped outside to see their new ‘guest’ and now stare at me in wonder. The weight of the stares makes my skin crawl. I glance up frightfully as He motions to someone behind me. Before I can blink, a hand on my shoulder shoves my knees forcefully to the ground. The jolt of my knees hitting the rocks rips a cry from my lips. In no time my hands are secured behind my back. I swallow the scream threatening to rise.

  “That willpower of yours in something. I think you’ll do well here indeed. I have high hopes that you’ll last a while; don’t let me down, Little Bhria.” He pats my head before glancing at the person gripping me. “Don’t hurt h
er. We need her whole… for now.”

  The air thins and my breathing labors. Panic grips me as his words penetrate. This isn’t real, it’s just a bad dream. I watch Him through blurry eyes as he turns away. My arms are wrenched back and my ass lands in the dirt. I whimper as I’m dragged away to the concrete prison.

  Even to this day I hate bhria’s. Those small, fragile, weak flying creatures. To be compared to a docile and shy creature like that angers me. I slam the door to my thoughts before the poison leaches further. This time it’s different. These people are humans. These people are my kind. Once I explain everything, they will help me. The will release me, I just need to stay calm and think.

  Too soon I’m tossed into a filthy cell underneath the town hall. As I land, the dust jumps to life and I hack and wheeze uncontrollably. Unable to catch my breath, I watch helplessly as the villagers take their leave. Knowing I may have lost my only opportunity to speak to them in my own defense, despair starts to creep its way into my heart.

  After what feels like a lifetime, I’m able to at last catch my breath. My eyes are bone dry and burn like I haven’t blinked in weeks. It’s as if I swallowed mouthfuls of sand and stones, the stinging in my throat beyond uncomfortable. My body aches from the fall and my arms are going numb. I crawl to the corner and rest my back against the wall. I pull my knees up to my chest and rest my chin on my knees as my mind wanders.

  Chapter 3

  Time crawls in this cramped cement prison. I manage to sleep in spurts. Only a tiny barred window above me denotes the passing of time at all. Through the narrow spaces in the bars I can see the clear night with thousands of tiny lights sparkling in the sky, and the moon stands proudly high in the sky. Even as bright as the stars appear, they aren’t enough to light my cell. I sit in completely darkness and strain to keep the shadow-like wraiths, or rayns, at bay.

  Only slight differences in my environment remind me that my reality is different from my nightmare. There was never a window in my nightmare, just a steel door that closed with a haunting finality. Sunlight never penetrated the deafening darkness of that room either. At least in my nightmare my body was free to pace around the small box of a room as I saw fit. As soon as I was locked away, the bonds that gripped me were removed. But in my nightmares, there was never any doubt that my freedom was gone for good. The Others made sure I knew that only my death would free me, and even that choice they took from me. Perhaps reality is worse, not knowing what these humans plan.

  I half expected myself to panic, to scream. I expected tears and shaking. Yet, I’m unnaturally calm. I’ve been here before, and I can weather it again. I’ll wait as long as I must until someone returns. Then, I’ll demand to know why they brought this injustice upon me. They’ll realize their error and treat me as an honored guest. I’ll have hot food and cold water. I’ll be given the best room and care, my wounds will heal, and my journey will begin once more.

  In the midst of my outlandish daydreams, I missed the approach of a young woman. She unlocks the cell door and stands before me, holding a lantern in one hand. Her straight dark hair reaches mid-thigh, and her eyes are light—maybe blue or green. I can’t tell in the dim light. She carries a large object across her back and a small bundle in her free hand.

  Automatically, my tired eyes zero in on the loaf of bread in her hands. My stomach rumbles and my mouth salivates. How long has it been since I ate bread? I know I’d last eaten proper at my village, but when exactly was that? The days all bled together when I was taken by Them. What I wouldn’t give for just a crumb of that bread she has. If I ask politely, she might give some to me. But before my words have a chance to leave my open mouth, she whispers, “They’re going to hang you as soon as the sun rises.”

  My mouth closes with a click, and I stare at her in disbelief. It snaps open again, but still no sound leaves my throat. I don’t understand. The hostile behavior, the restraints, the cell, the death sentence, none of this makes sense. I feel like I’m missing crucial information that can explain their extreme reaction.

  “What did I do?”

  She looks slightly sheepish as she states, “You entered town. The people in this town aren’t as… welcoming to your kind as other villages might be.”

  And suddenly, I understand. The villagers think I’m like Them. My ears. If my hands weren’t currently secured behind my back, I would reach out to trace them. Even without seeing them, I know what they look like now. The tips are long, narrow, and pointed—nothing like the rounded tips humans have. And my eyes. My eyes shine with an unnatural glow, and they’re no longer their original blue. Instead, a pair of unnatural, molten silver eyes shine like a cerla’s in the dark. The two tailed felines with saber teeth are fierce and free creatures, yet I’m trapped in this cage awaiting my death.

  How could I have been so stupid? It never crossed my mind to hide my ears because up until this moment, I had completely forgotten about them. I’m so stupid. Then again, with everything that’s happened, I’ve only been concerned with immediate survival. All other worries are shoved to the back of my mind to deal with later. When later will be, I have no idea.

  I can try to reason with them. I can explain what happened. The villagers will understand, I’m sure. No—who am I trying to kid? If they decided to execute me for my appearance alone I highly doubt they will listen to something They say. These people will probably sooner gag me then hear me fumble through an explanation. Besides, the other flaw to this ingenious plan, I can’t share my story. I refuse to let my thoughts wander to those memories. Not to mention the credibility of my story is shit. Fuck, if it hadn’t happened to me, I wouldn’t believe it either. So, I’m fucked either way.

  The woman shakes me from my mental ramblings, and I try to flinch away, but get nowhere with shackled hands. She is looking at me with concern, something I hadn’t seen in so long. Why would this women care? Is this a trick to get me to trust her before she does something horrible? And what’s that bag for? Is that a bow across her back, too? Why is she even here, to taunt me about the upcoming hanging, to torture me? How quickly the hope I had allowed to bloom inside my chest shrivels to nothing. How quickly my optimism turns to paranoia and pessimism.

  “Are you listening? We haven’t got much time before the guards out front come back. I’m here to help you but you also need to help yourself, I can only do so much. I brought some things to help you on your journey to Craforian. They’ll help you there, just tell them Lori sent you. You need to turn so I can cut the bindings on your arms.” When I just continued to stare in confusion, she sighed quietly before once more reaching out.

  Her hand froze inches from my skin when I burst out, “You’re helping me? Why? And what’s Crawforan? Why would I go there? Where is there anyway? Who’s there? And who the fuck are you?” I suck in a lungful of much needed and air and eye her suspiciously.

  She smiles at me softly. “Yes, I’m here to help you. My name is Lori and although human, I’m quite familiar with the talnarin. My recent return from Craforian, a town for both humans and talnarin, put me at odds with a very important man there. By helping you, I hope to gain favor with him once more. Your people are so wonderful and hospitable. But enough talk. I need to remove the binds and send you on your way. We don’t have much time.”

  Well, isn’t she honest? I don’t see how helping me will gain this man’s favor since I have no intention of going anywhere near where They are. I definitely won’t tell her how much I hate those monsters that she hopes to win over. I definitely won’t tell her what they did to me and my people. I definitely won’t tell her just what I think about her brainless opinions on ‘my kind.’ I need her help, desperately.

  Besides, she just admitted to using me for her own gain. If I didn’t prove to be useful to her, she wouldn’t have tried to spring me in the first place. Wonder what she did to piss off that guy, I’m sure she deserved it though.

  In a matter of seconds, the rope loosens behind me. I pull m
y arms in front of my chest and rub my wrist to urge the feeling back. All too soon, the uncomfortable pricks and needles stretch across my skin where the restraints left marks. I move to stand and falter. Still weak, my head sways as I attempt to stand once more. Lori reaches out to steady me but I push her hands away. She looks disgruntled and a little offended, but I shrug it off.

  Now steady enough on my feet, she silently backs out of the cell. She takes a series of turns that lead to a single door upstairs. I take a peek all around in search of guards but see no one. I’m about to open my mouth and ask but quickly shut it. Now is the time for stealth, and I just need to focus on getting out of here while I can still stand. We start moving again, still hypervigilant. Lori takes that last step and reaches for the handle. But before her hand touches the metal, the door swings open. Standing in the doorway is man armed with a sword and bow.

  Oh shit.

  Chapter 4

  I step over the boundary line and stumble to the gate. I’m finally home. With a pull, the gate swings open with a loud bang. The noise causes everyone nearby to glance up in surprise. I’m home. Gasps resound through the silent air. Before I can utter a sound, a rock is thrown my way. I flinch and raise my arms over my head in confusion. The rock harmlessly hits the ground near my bare feet.