When Summons Echo

Chapter 3

Ryenaè sat grumpily with her arms and legs crossed watching the clan camps from afar. Her mother had seen fit that their tent and themselves were hidden well enough to make sure they are not found.

Not happy with her mother's scolding and punishment, Ryenaè huffed her hair out of her face. She watched sourly as a group of individuals made their way over to where she was sitting. One of them was draped in a loose sky-blue cloak that was tied around the man's waist. He had a neatly trimmed grey beread and kind, determined eyes. Between his eyes was a red tattoo of an eye, the iris was a spiral that ended in three dots on the out skirts and three triangles both pointing separately north and south of the eye. The four that accompanied him reminded her of the officials at the Alkem Transport Centre.

Then she realized what was going on, just before they got to her. She looked up at the man in front of her, who spoke softly as not to stare her. "Good day, my dear. I am Sharwan, Kimay Sharwan if you will. Do you know what a Kimay is, my child?"

Ryenaé pushed her bottom lip out. "No sir, but I know I am not your child. I also know who they are." she said motioning to the officials behind him. Sharwan glanced over his shoulder at the officials, who waited impatiently. Sharwan then smiled softly at Ryenaé as he carried out Vi-Kimishay Ciray's scheme.

"Then you know that your mother has committed a terrible crime. If she can pay the fee for all four of you, all will be forgiven. Do you think she can do that?"

Ryenaé looked down to her outstretched legs as she swung them, tapping her shoes together. "No..." she answered solemnly, "We have no home, and momma can not keep the place we have in Damatu. The land owner is a bad person. Say we have to leave two months after Phoexmuss. Momma just wanted us to see at least one Phoexmuss. I over heard them talking and saying a lot of nasty things, sir." Ryenaé finished looking up at Shawarn with sad eyes. Sharwan clicks his tongue as he shakes his head at the ground. "Adults... they can be bad people or sometimes life can be hard on them."

Sharwan becomes intrigued, knowing that Damatu is the capital and safest place in the Wolvar Kingdom. Both clans live in a semi tolerant harmony, however outsiders are not usually heard of there.

Sharwan sat down next to Ryenaé against the tree. "Can I tell you the secret to helping your mother?"

Ryenaé stiffened, "No. There is no secret. I must just pull my own and help momma get money by working in the fields with Garnrath."

Sharwan smiled, he was slowly becoming tried of this task. "Yes that is a good idea too, but my idea will help your mother far better."

Becoming intrigued Ryenaé sat up eager to hear if the stranger's idea was better then hers. Sharwan glanced up to see an orange haired young boy stop in his tracks and watch them. Sharwan then leaned in and whispered to Ryenaé, "Is that your older brother...Garanth as you said?"

Ryenaé whipped her head around to see. Seeing that it was Garnrath she nodded and then beckoned Garnath to join them.

Garnrath was hesitant. He felt both the urge to protect his sister and warn his mother that they have been found all too soon. At last, with eyes screwed shut praying that he was not making a mistake, Garnrath walked over to where his sister sat with the stranger. Surrounded by alkem-officials that had their cold gaze locked on him. As he got closer, Garnrath recognised the stranger from his studies at home.

He was a Kimay, one of many. All were of high stature in Kemaki. Gifted with the past, present and glimpses into the future of others. These three points in time they were sworn to protect with their lives. The stranger was not just any Kimay. He was High Kimay Sharwan himself. The right hand man to Vi-Kimishay Ciray, who is rumored to be very soon taking the crown of High Kimishay. Garnrath bent his knee to Sharwan, bowing his head as he rested his hands on his knee. "It is an honour to be in your presence High Kimay Sharwan."

Sharwan chuckled at the display, "My dear boy, you are making me feel as if I am the High Kimishay herself. No wonder your mother wished for you to get acquainted with Kemaki and the gods."

Taking Ganrath hands, Sharwan urged him to stand. "Come let me teach you how to greet a Kimay. We are not as high up as the Kimishay, but yet there is still a way to greet us."

Sharwan positioned Garnrath's hands in front of his chest with the palm side of his fist against his open palm of his other hand. Shawarn nodded, "And then you bow and address the master in front of you."

Garnrath glanced to the side knowing that he has stayed too long.

Garnrath bowed as Sharwan had taught him, "Thank you High Kimay Sharwan, forgive us but we should be leaving to meet with our mother."

Sharwan nodded as Garnrath forced Ryenaè to her feet, despite her protests and questions.

Sharwan got to his feet too as Garnrath managed to hush his little sister, holding her hand tightly in his.

"I will come with you then. I have a message for her fro-" Sharwan had begun, but Garnrath cut him off. "No sir. I can't let you follow me. We must be going now."

Sharwan frowned. Not expecting to be or not used to being interrupted by someone below him, let alone a boy. One the alkem-officials slapped Garnrath across the face with the back of her hand. "How dare you interrupt the High Kimay."

Ryenaè glared at her as she blared, "How dare you hit my brother, you gutter-snout!"

The alkem woman, feeling the anger pulse through her veins, raised her hand a second time to strike Ryenaè. A hit she would never forget.

The alkem woman's hand slapped hard on the skin, the sound echoing as Ryenaè flinched.

Sharwan withdrew his hand from preventing the attack. "That is quite the strength you have there, but hitting these children will get you nowhere."

He stated shaking his hand that had developed a red mark in the shape of her hand.

The alkem woman looked in shocked and took a moment to process what she had just done. Falling on to her knees as guilt washed over her she forced the words out of her dry mouth. "Of course, high-master. Forgive me. The strike was not intended for you."

As she rose back to her feet, Sharwan forced a smile. "I know, child. Now all of you should stand down before I lose my patience."

The alkem officials echoed a, "Understood, high-master." As Sharwan returned his attention to Garnrath who was pulling his unwilling sister, who'd much rather fight, away from the five of them.

Sharwan stepped forward. "I believe your name is Garnrath, young man." Garnrath glanced over his shoulder with a blank expression, shook his head and then plowed on forward. Sharwan's voice finally got through to him. "Ignoring me will only make your situation worse. I am here at the request of High Kimishay Ciray to help your family out of your debt."

Ganrath for a moment doubted that the second Vi-Kimishay was already anointed High Kimishay.

Sharwan chuckled as he saw Garnrath half turn and his sister at last break free from his grasp. "Of course, she will be the High Kimishay. Not yet, though. I apologise for confusing you, we have all just become accustomed to addressing her with that respect."

Garnrath chose his words carefully as he began to talk, "That... that should be against the law, no matter how long ago it was written. Also, I can't take you to her. I won't betray the only mother who ever loved me."

Ryenaè hit Garnrath on his arm making him jump, "What?!" He exclaimed, only to see her stick her tongue out. Garnrath watched as Ryenaè suddenly sprinted off. He began bounding after her as they weaved through the standing boulders. Sharwan sighed as he smiled at the scene. The four alkem officials looked at him wanting him to do something.

He glanced at all of them, and then he nodded.

The alkem officials left him in a whirl of cloth, chasing after the two kids towards the location where others were already arresting their mother.

When Garnrath and Ryenaè finally reached the tent, it was abandoned. They ran back outside calling for their mother and little brother, Enu.

But it was silent. Only the touch of the wind spirit, Vynt, could be heard in the trees and the birds were silenced by a sudden crying. Ryenaè and Garnrath turned on their heel at the cry. It was their little brother. They peered down into the dugout hole where little Enu had just woken up from his nap. Garnrath fished him out of his make shift cradle and hugged him close. He swung gently from side to side.

They both shared a look of bewilderment and hope. Hope that their mother had not disappeared and confusion at where she had gone. They looked up to see the four alkem-officials had caught up to them through a portal, as well as High Kimay Sharwan. Who stepped gracefully through the swirling blue mist. "Do not think I did not warm you. However, your mother is still alright for now. Although I can not make any promises in case, you do not corporate."

Ryenaè was fed up with things beating about the bush and never getting to the point. She stood up catching Sharwan's attention. "Fine. We will go with you as you wish, but if you hurt any of my family. I will gladly grant your request and send you to the depths of Hellma!"

Garnrath cringed, closing his eyes as he got to his feet, holding sleepy Enu against his chest.

Sharwan nodded impressed at her spirit, which was quickly followed by an amused smile. He directed with an open gesture of his hand to the portal one of the alkem officials opened.

Everyone entered through the swirling blue mist and had come out near the Sacred Library. Where everything you would wish to find could be found in the original texts and the new. They all followed the High Kimay into a little house in the corner from the Sacred Library. As they entered, they saw their mother signing a document as tears slowly traveled down her round middle aged face. A woman stood at the table watching her. Her loose robe and deep hood as well as the gold embroidery around the hem caused Garnrath and everyone else to stop in the wide door way. Except for Sharwan, they all got onto their knees and bowed low.

Garnrath glanced up to meet her emerald gaze beneath the shade of her hood, quickly returning his eyes to the floor. Ryenaè couldn't care to know or realise who she had the honour of being in the presence of. Screaming in a burst of joy, "Momma!" She ran underneath the table and popped up on the other side beside her mother. Who quite frankly was only the person who had adopted her and her two brothers from separate orphanages. Her mother chuckled and beamed at Ryenaè who crawled into a hug on her lap.

When the reunion was at last concluded, Ciray crouched down a little to meet the eyes of her most prized alkem. "You must be little Ryenaè. Your kind mother has told me so much about you. She says you are a violet rank, that is quite powerful for someone so young."

Ryenaè shrugged, "I can be powerful, but Garnrath says that an alkem power is only as strong as the mind of the mortal."

Ciray smiled, enjoying herself, "Aye, your older brother speaks the truth. The more you grow and learn the stronger your magic will become."

Ciray stood back up as she looked at Ryenaè's mother, her tone changing completely. "This would be a wise time to say your goodbyes. I will consider you request for the agreement to only be valid after Phoexmuss, but I can not promise that I will grant this wish. It is best for her to start as soon as possible with little to no distractions."

She thanked her as she sniffed back her sadness, "Thank you, Vi-Kimishay Ciray. I understand." Ciray retreated out of the way to speak with Sharwan. Ryenaè's mother wiped away her tears as Ganrath entered carrying little Enu. Who eagerly wanted to be in his mother's arms.

Their family reunion was bitter sweet, one that will not last long enough.