The Queen With The Frozen Heart 8

Thursday, June 5, 2014

The Queen With The Frozen Heart 8

The prince buried his hands to the bear’s fur while he ran and drew comfort from the best. The earth flew under them and the air around them, the trees and plants bended softly to let them pass and the water carried their weight for them.

In that moment, while the prince ran, everything was right, everything was in balance.

It was night when the prince and the bear, drew closer to the meadow where they had agreed to meet with Iluku. The prince and the bear sat on the soft ground to watch the stars and the moon.

- What should we do, the bear asked, where will we get the men Iluku told you to find?

- Maybe we should seek them on the way, the prince said, after we have talked with Iluku and are ready to head to north to save my father. Or maybe they’ll find us?

- That would be an easy solution, the bear answered, but somehow I don’t think it will happen.

- So, what do you suggest, the prince answered exasperated.

- There is a village next to the river, the bear nodded; the path goes right over there, next to that big morete. You’re the prince, shouldn’t they follow you?

The prince sat in silence for a long time. Finally it was time for the moon to go to sleep and for the Kuyllur to appear to above the horizon to announce the morning.

- We shall go to the village, the prince sighed.

Warily he walked now. Feeling like the earth was against him, the wind in rebellion, and the trees set out to tear his flesh. It was a long and hard walk, even though the path was good, worn down by countless feet. But the prince was not used to walking like everyone else, moving unconcealed, without his magic.

Next to the river was a long field of plantains, they rose from the ground seeking heaven with their large leafs. Many had fruits growing from them. Further away the prince could see maniocs of different size planted next to a corn field. Alongside the river there were canoes and fishing nets drying out in the sun. It was a prosperous village, the prince could see it.

Around the houses there were little children playing and bigger one tending them and making sure that no harm would come to them. Most of the children were naked or only wear a piece of rope around their waists, wrists and ankles. Next to the big house made of bamboo and leaves there were womenfolk tending a fire and cooking something. The smell was heavenly for the prince.

He noticed the bear looking longingly the corn fields and heard his stomach growling.

There were no men at sight. Either they were resting in the big house or hunting outside in the jungle.

- Let’s go greet them, the prince said in a hushed voice.

- How do you do that, the bear asked.

- How should I know, the prince snapped, the people always came to visit me and my mother!

- Well, how would they behave, the bear answered patiently.

The prince looked at him surprised and blushed.

- They would make sure they were seen from a far, he remembered, and they would greet us shouting out that they had arrived, so we would know that they did not want anything bad for us.

- That sounds good to me, the bear answered, should I go with you or wait here?

- I think you should wait here, the prince answered; everyone else’s magic is so much smaller. Or maybe the men have bigger magic but I can only see little things like birds and monkeys and one child has a sloth. But I think that is the biggest one.

- There is one boy with a jaguar puppy; the bear looked around the village.

- Yes, he must be the child of kuraka, the prince nodded, and the future leader of the village. I will call you when everyone has calmed down better if you hide here for a little while.

The prince raised his hands above his head so everyone could see that he came unarmed and stepped to the sunlight.

- I have come well, he shouted as loud as he could, I have come well to your house.

The children stopped their game and stoop their mouths gaping at him. The women stirred and tried to see from the fire what was going on. Alarmed by the change in the behavior of the children they tried to see if something was threatening them. The biggest boys ran in from of everyone else holding their fearsome chonta spears, ready pierce the attacker’s skin and organs.

Sisa stood up, together with everyone else. Her long black, straight hair gracefully hanging on her back, dark and shiny, the crown of a young woman on her prime. She stood like a queen, wearing only her necklaces made from seeds and feathers and a decorative sash made from the same seeds and feathers around her waist.

- I have come well, she could hear a strange voice next to the jungle, at the edge of plantain field, I have come well.

The stranger stood strong and proud, his hands high above his head, empty, to show he had no malice and only meant well. His black hair was held back with a feathered headpiece and the skin around his eyes had been painted black with wituk seed’s juice. He was tall, and handsome, regal in his stature. His face strong and handsome, like a kuraka from another village, a man used to command.