My Brother's Keeper: Prelude (part 2, part one begins on Oct 18 blog)
The distant sound of a boot against stone broke a silence that had become a part of Andreis existence. The sound betrayed a travelers fumbling incompetence in walking through the fog. No animal would be that loud. The question is, what hunter or traveler dared brave the mist? Even the hardiest of seal hunters seldom ventured further up the coast than the Lonely Oak and all would have left for warmer lands at least two or three weeks back. As the footsteps drew nearer Andrei sat back to wait. He leaned back in his sturdy chair just as a shrill whistle told him that Yvenna was heating water for tea. He smiled. She seemed to have a sixth sense at times. Usually it was when he was getting himself into trouble. She had a sense about what was coming eleven years back as well. If only he had listened then perhaps they wouldnt be where they are now.
What does this mean? Yvenna asked as she ducked and walked past the curtain separating the entrance from deeper parts of the cave. Formed from steam vents and changes in temperature and then expanded and made habitable through years of hard work, the couple had made a cozy home for themselves.
You know it was only a matter of time. Andrei said, When we left, everybody scattered. That was the only thing that kept us alive. They should have killed us for what we did. I would have killed us for what we did. There was too much Talent, too many Gifts, for someone not to track us down eventually.
Andrei lit a small twig at the lamp next to his chair. He then used that twig to light his pipe. This done, he lifted the lamp up and placed it on its wall mount. With the angled mirrors behind it, the extra light added to the cavernous rooms warm glow. Yvenna walked up behind her husband and put her hand on his shoulder. The physical touch helped settle the nerves of both. Andrei patted her hand. We sure made a nice run of it, didnt we, Yev?
Before she could answer a voice called out from beyond the entrance, Hello! Andrei looked back at Yvenna and raised a questioning eyebrow. She hesitated for a second then shook her head no. He gave a resigned shrug then called out, Come in! The couple waited as their visitor made his way through the low, winding entrance. The huge stranger had an imposing presence as he straightened up when he finally entered the room. For a moment he stood there in amazement as he took in the room around him.
Youve got to be dying underneath all those layers, Yvenna said. Why dont I help you out of that bear youre wearing.
Metope eyed the petite woman warily as he reluctantly allowed her to help him out of his thick bearskin cloak as well as the thinner cured leather wrap underneath. Despite her small frame the woman demonstrated a surprising strength as she effortlessly hung both wrap and cloak on hooks in the wall high overhead. As she did so Metope again stole an opportunity to survey his surroundings.
Behind him was the dark entrance he had just crossed. Above it was one of the three torches in the room burning away any remnants of mist that might wander in. To his left was an unnaturally straight wall almost twelve feet high that near the top domed inward bringing the center of the room to a height of about fourteen or fifteen feet. The room was about eight feet wide at the entrance bulging to about twelve feet just beyond center then tapering to around ten feet at the far end where another shorter tunnel led deeper in.
A torch burned above each entrance and Metope saw a third above the two chairs toward his left. There were mirrors behind each reflecting the light into a homey, uneven glow around the room. Behind the two chairs was a three tiered bookshelf containing about thirty well-worn volumes. Between that shelf and the far entrance were a narrow table and a stool. On that table were scattered sheaves of paper as well as a quill and ink jar.
Jutting from the other main wall there were various pegs and hooks from knee height on up as far as a hand can reach. Most stood empty but a few contained traps and there were some spears leaning against the lower ones. These pegs ran the entire twenty-five foot length of the wall and on a couple, next to where his had just been hung, there were some cloaks and wraps.
Over ten years to work at it, and this is all the home we have built. Although a couple inches shorter than Metope, the man who spoke would be considered fairly tall to most people. His reddish brown hair, thick mustache, light complexion, and thick build belied his origin as Kyevan birth and he would blend in from Novgra to Ursk.
The mans petite wife, however, definitely seemed out of place in these northern climes. Her tiny five foot frame, black hair and eyes, and dark almond skin pointed to a Mistren heritage or possibly from northern Mumbi if she had been upper caste.
Metopes gaze hardened as he looked Andrei in the eye. All he saw was a man, an average, normal man, and this frustrated him. He did not see the evil villain his mind had created. Neither did he see a couple bowed under and overcome with remorse. Here before him were the worst criminals in history yet all he saw was an ordinary man with a fairly attractive wife living in a rugged, yet cozy underground home.
Andrei saw his visitors gaze harden and said, If youre here to kill us, youd best get on with it. I dont think I could stand much chance of stopping you.
I only wish my Talents ran in that direction. Metope said. Im not an assassin, Im a messenger, and Ive been sent to give you this.
Metope swung the package off his back and let it clatter to the ground. At the same time he pulled a parchment letter from his breast pocket and dropped that as well. In three long strides he reached the wall where his cloaks were hung. Violently pulling the thick bearskin, he heard a rip as it was pulled free from the wall. He turned around to find that Yvenna had placed her small frame between him and the exit. Please dont. She said, Come nightfall youll freeze.
Metope pointed at her and said, I have a message for you of my own. Youre pregnant. Twins.
Yvenna put a hand to her mouth and took an involuntary step back. Metope bulled past her and headed down the tunnel to the caves mouth. The small woman, still in shock, watched him retreat until the darkness and the bend in the rock took him from sight. Impossible.
The distant sound of a boot against stone broke a silence that had become a part of Andreis existence. The sound betrayed a travelers fumbling incompetence in walking through the fog. No animal would be that loud. The question is, what hunter or traveler dared brave the mist? Even the hardiest of seal hunters seldom ventured further up the coast than the Lonely Oak and all would have left for warmer lands at least two or three weeks back. As the footsteps drew nearer Andrei sat back to wait. He leaned back in his sturdy chair just as a shrill whistle told him that Yvenna was heating water for tea. He smiled. She seemed to have a sixth sense at times. Usually it was when he was getting himself into trouble. She had a sense about what was coming eleven years back as well. If only he had listened then perhaps they wouldnt be where they are now.
What does this mean? Yvenna asked as she ducked and walked past the curtain separating the entrance from deeper parts of the cave. Formed from steam vents and changes in temperature and then expanded and made habitable through years of hard work, the couple had made a cozy home for themselves.
You know it was only a matter of time. Andrei said, When we left, everybody scattered. That was the only thing that kept us alive. They should have killed us for what we did. I would have killed us for what we did. There was too much Talent, too many Gifts, for someone not to track us down eventually.
Andrei lit a small twig at the lamp next to his chair. He then used that twig to light his pipe. This done, he lifted the lamp up and placed it on its wall mount. With the angled mirrors behind it, the extra light added to the cavernous rooms warm glow. Yvenna walked up behind her husband and put her hand on his shoulder. The physical touch helped settle the nerves of both. Andrei patted her hand. We sure made a nice run of it, didnt we, Yev?
Before she could answer a voice called out from beyond the entrance, Hello! Andrei looked back at Yvenna and raised a questioning eyebrow. She hesitated for a second then shook her head no. He gave a resigned shrug then called out, Come in! The couple waited as their visitor made his way through the low, winding entrance. The huge stranger had an imposing presence as he straightened up when he finally entered the room. For a moment he stood there in amazement as he took in the room around him.
Youve got to be dying underneath all those layers, Yvenna said. Why dont I help you out of that bear youre wearing.
Metope eyed the petite woman warily as he reluctantly allowed her to help him out of his thick bearskin cloak as well as the thinner cured leather wrap underneath. Despite her small frame the woman demonstrated a surprising strength as she effortlessly hung both wrap and cloak on hooks in the wall high overhead. As she did so Metope again stole an opportunity to survey his surroundings.
Behind him was the dark entrance he had just crossed. Above it was one of the three torches in the room burning away any remnants of mist that might wander in. To his left was an unnaturally straight wall almost twelve feet high that near the top domed inward bringing the center of the room to a height of about fourteen or fifteen feet. The room was about eight feet wide at the entrance bulging to about twelve feet just beyond center then tapering to around ten feet at the far end where another shorter tunnel led deeper in.
A torch burned above each entrance and Metope saw a third above the two chairs toward his left. There were mirrors behind each reflecting the light into a homey, uneven glow around the room. Behind the two chairs was a three tiered bookshelf containing about thirty well-worn volumes. Between that shelf and the far entrance were a narrow table and a stool. On that table were scattered sheaves of paper as well as a quill and ink jar.
Jutting from the other main wall there were various pegs and hooks from knee height on up as far as a hand can reach. Most stood empty but a few contained traps and there were some spears leaning against the lower ones. These pegs ran the entire twenty-five foot length of the wall and on a couple, next to where his had just been hung, there were some cloaks and wraps.
Over ten years to work at it, and this is all the home we have built. Although a couple inches shorter than Metope, the man who spoke would be considered fairly tall to most people. His reddish brown hair, thick mustache, light complexion, and thick build belied his origin as Kyevan birth and he would blend in from Novgra to Ursk.
The mans petite wife, however, definitely seemed out of place in these northern climes. Her tiny five foot frame, black hair and eyes, and dark almond skin pointed to a Mistren heritage or possibly from northern Mumbi if she had been upper caste.
Metopes gaze hardened as he looked Andrei in the eye. All he saw was a man, an average, normal man, and this frustrated him. He did not see the evil villain his mind had created. Neither did he see a couple bowed under and overcome with remorse. Here before him were the worst criminals in history yet all he saw was an ordinary man with a fairly attractive wife living in a rugged, yet cozy underground home.
Andrei saw his visitors gaze harden and said, If youre here to kill us, youd best get on with it. I dont think I could stand much chance of stopping you.
I only wish my Talents ran in that direction. Metope said. Im not an assassin, Im a messenger, and Ive been sent to give you this.
Metope swung the package off his back and let it clatter to the ground. At the same time he pulled a parchment letter from his breast pocket and dropped that as well. In three long strides he reached the wall where his cloaks were hung. Violently pulling the thick bearskin, he heard a rip as it was pulled free from the wall. He turned around to find that Yvenna had placed her small frame between him and the exit. Please dont. She said, Come nightfall youll freeze.
Metope pointed at her and said, I have a message for you of my own. Youre pregnant. Twins.
Yvenna put a hand to her mouth and took an involuntary step back. Metope bulled past her and headed down the tunnel to the caves mouth. The small woman, still in shock, watched him retreat until the darkness and the bend in the rock took him from sight. Impossible.