Emaev crouched along the low brush. She moved swiftly through the brush, avoiding the royal guards combing the woods for their quarry. She knew they were unaware of her presence as they were tracking foot prints that had been tracked from the palace. The body of a freshly slain Zuli laid behind her. She remained concealed, her heart hammering hard in her chest. It had been years since she had to take a life, but it still felt natural. Baros, the "outlanders", were feared by all of the people who inhabited Suffering. Men and women alike knew the taste of battle. Their survival depended on it. Now a Zuli guard lay freshly beneath her feet, blood watering the brush. She tucked in the red shard that hung around her neck. She knew the moonlight, once it touched the stone, would betray her presence. The ten or more Zuli royal guards were looking for someone, but not the guard she killed. They began to retreat back to the palace. Emaev thought the letter she received from her brother was a trap, a message of urgency to meet him. That the Zuli learned who he was and baited her. It wasn't until she saw the baby. A very small and fragile baby boy compared to her own people. It wasn't until she saw the baby that she realized her brother truly had sent for her, but something had gone terribly wrong. Death lingered in the clearing, blood, scorch marks, broken branches. Her eyes continually danced between the baby, the retreating Zuli, and her exit. A path to the south, but before she could leave, she needed to bury the baby's mother. Or, at least who she thought was the baby's mother.
Emaev buried her, unmarked, she deserved to be at peace. From the looks of it, she was killed by her own people. More than likely from protecting the baby. Lightning burns, and sword slices, this was definitely the work of the Zuli. If her brother lived, he knew the path to the camp. She didn't have time to search for her brother. Emaev ran for the path as quick as she could. A day's walk to get to the Baros main camp. Maybe half, if she could keep a running pace. She ensured she could not be followed. Moving off the main path to ensure nothing led the enemy back to them. When she arrived back at the camp, the sunlight was just peering through the trees. She quietly moved to her tent. The Baros moved around too much to allow themselves to build homes. They constantly relocated to find more of the Ninji springs. Springs that held power to heal the sick, or cursed. Before she could make it in the tent, a familiar voice caught her. Her father in law, Dargos, the original leader of the Baros, he just recently stepped down and gave the control to his son, Dhutorn.
"Emaev, out late were you? Find something too?" Dargos said, motioning towards the fur blankets.
"I went to meet him, but found a baby instead." Emaev said, trying to walk further into the tent.
"A baby? Surely, you know we cannot keep the enemies' children. Dhutorn would order you to abandon it." Dargos said, moving closer to see the child. Emaev moved the blankets from around the baby. The cold morning air made the baby jump slightly. This was the first time she was able to get a good look at him. Small and fragile, his hair wasn't the typical dark brown or black of the Zuli, it was yellow and his skin was pale, not sunkissed like the Zuli either.
"He certainly does not look like a Zuli child." Dargos said, placing one finger into the baby's hand to test his grip. "Ah, not too bad for a little guy. Dhutorn should not fear this boy much. Baros men tower Zuli by four feet, but I doubt he will grow taller than the goats." Dargos chuckled, continuing to admire the boy.
"We have always wished for a child, boy or girl. And you a grandchild as well, Dargos." Emaev said, running her hand on the baby's chest to comfort him.
"Yes, I think he will be just fine here. Maybe a little on the runt side, but he should be quick." Dargos chuckling again.
"What is going on out here?" Dhutorn said, opening the flap of the tent. "What is this Emaev? Whose child have you stolen?"
"He was alone, in the Forest of Tears." Emaev answered, not removing her eyes from the baby.
"Interesting place to be for a baby. I assume--", Dhutorn started, but Emaev stopped him.
"I found the baby, no one else." Emaev said, looking her husband in the eyes.
"I see, now how will you explain this to others?" Dhutorn said, not moving in fear she may throw something at him.
"I won't need to. Give me a piece of your shard. I will make him a necklace, and apply the red mark to his eye." Emaev said without a second thought and motioned toward her husband's shard. It glistened in the morning light. Dhutorn didn't leave his wife.
"Very well." He said breaking a piece of his red shard close to his neck. "Still enough to keep me from the curse." He looked back into her eyes of determination. She had longed for years for a child, but she could not bear one. When the Elders would tell her she was with child, her body would reject the child from her within a few days time. Dhutorn thought he was cursed from Ogun for loving Emaev. She was a mixed blood, but she was welcomed after her own father sacrificed himself to save Dargos when he was a leader. Dhutorn was supposed to be promised to another, but refused after meeting Emaev the first time. They were much younger, barely in their teens. He remembered her dark hair flowing and eyes shining blue. He took her and the child into his arms.
"Then this will be our son."
A few years passed by, the tiny baby grew into a tiny child. His hair was still yellow like the day Emaev had brought him home. His skin, though he lived in the sun, remained a pale color. Many of the elders thought the boy might be sick. He was a runt for sure. All the other Baros children were a head or two taller than the child. Emaev didn't care, she loved this boy. Everyday she would bring the boy to the central camp where all the other women met to clean, mend, and prepare for the day's food, hunting etc. She took this chance to always glance toward the East, where she found him. If only her brother had returned, to give her some idea as to what was going on. He never did, she had even sent hunters to look while they were out, but nothing. One day she noticed another small boy playing with him. This had been unusual due to his small stature and the rumors that he was sick. Most of the other mothers tended to keep their young ones away, but not this boy. She recognized who the younger boy was. Little Bobon, his father, Hegar, was an ironworker, but due to his size, he was not respected like the other Baros Ironworkers. Kireth, Bobon's mother, was watching the two of them play as well. Bobon's father, Hegar, wasn't a great hunter. That made his family seem weak to the others, but not to Emaev. Emaev made a silent vow, to ensure Bobon and Relmus could play. That Bobon's family could always come to them when they were in need. She hoped Relmus would learn that no matter what others looked like, he could accept them.
"A friendship that I hope they never lose," Emaev said to Kireth.
"Yes," Kireth replied. "Ogun's will be strong."
And perhaps, in that moment, fate was listening.