Alda'hirakam ghar Ara; Chapter 84

  • The High Shaman observed the fallen one who let out the whimpers of pain. It seemed, Gnimmum deemed, that he was fighting the poison with his entire being. She sensed something had happened to him as the poison would have killed him hours ago. But not, the fallen one struggled on while he remained unconscious.  And she could do nothing else to help him.

    “Maa…” Gnimmum sighed, gripping her staff. This was a battle that the fallen one would have to endure alone, and for that the High Shaman felt bad. The scented candles and boar furs helped only so much. She looked to Riiwak who shook his head.

    As the night crawled on, a sudden scream had startled the Rieklings. The High Shaman had hurried to see if the fallen one was alright, but she sensed the struggle was changing. Gnimmum knew the mind of a riekling - most would give in and die during the struggle. She was not sure about her charge.

    Riiwak approached her. “Kooova mook.”

    The High Shaman looked to her assistant as he gestured; the folks had began to believe that if the fallen one died they’ll be punished for it. Their gods were watching.  A frown latched on her small forehead. Grunting she gestured that it was out of her control and that she had done all she could.

    “Tel…dryn…”

    Gnimmum turned almost instantly toward the weak voice. Stepping closer to the table, she reached out to touch the fallen one’s arm, and poured assurance into her voice as much as she could.  “Safe.” She noticed the beads of sweat - he still had a fever. And fever brought nightmares. It troubled her.

    The fallen one shifted and turned his head. He let out a short whimper before he fell into a deep sleep.

    With a sigh, The High Shaman observed him for a long while.  Although she did not know about the tall people, but she sensed that the fallen one had suffered in numerous ways - some physical and some mental. This too worried her.

    “Teel-drinn?” Riiwak pondered as he rubbed his chin.

    The High Shaman turned to her assistant and nodded thoughtfully. “Erelaya.” She acknowledged that it had sounded like a name, but Gnimmum wasn’t sure to who it belonged to. Had the fallen one had a companion before his fall? She looked to Riiwak and gestured to him to stay and guard her charge. For herself, she needed answers.

    Riiwak nodded and watched the High Shaman strolling toward her own hut.

    In her hut, Gnimmum set away her staff, and then she prepared her personal altar with several candles and a bowl. She picked small a cup of grounded mammoth bone powder. With some uttered strange words she began to sprinkle the powder into the small brazier at her side.

    The High Shaman breathed the fumes as they floated around her and she closed her small eyes.

    The world  became smudged and took a different shape.

    Many, many events had the land gone through, and yet it thrived. Right now, it was being contested by higher beings that frightened Gnimmum. She still shifted as the world shifted into a winter land, toward some ruins.

    And within the wind came words.





    His dreams were feverish. Shadows danced at the edge of his sight. When Ciel’nn blinked something disappeared or appeared. Shapes and figures, he didn’t recognize them. Whispers reached him, but he did not understand them. The ever-shifting plane was frightening and he didn’t know where he was.

    A sharp slash of pain ravaged through his body, making Ciel’nn winced a whimper, and he huddled down against a strange rock looking like formation and hugged himself. He closed his eyes and rested his head on his knees.



    Am I even alive?

     

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