Lighting the Tinder, Kristen Rold [chrysanthemum read aloud .TXT] 📗

How could even a ruby compare to the deep red in these apples? Such a rare breed, yet there laid an entire orchard of the sweet, juice-filled fruits! Pelith thoroughly relished the lush gift from the earth presented to her by none other than her dear brother, Aroar, two years ago, right before the terrible accident. Her stomach muscles clenched from the memory of his body, first cut by rocks which he had fallen on from the collapsed wagon, and then shredded apart by wolves attracted to the sent of the blood. Blood might just be the one thing that’s color could ever be half as brilliant as that of these Ziatajie Apples.

Aroar had been favored, here in Moredien, for having organized and developed select trade routes to Qigondra, a rich country with a surplus of wealth. Their father, Horen, had originated from a superior, prosperous family of Qigondra and journeyed here to Moredien where he met his wife, Calioniel, and had fallen in love with both her, as well as the new country. His close relations to the regal and governing families of Qigondra have helped gain Moredien strong allies and friends, as well as good trading partners. Pelith’s family had become somewhat of a leader for this newly developed land, and through their efforts, Horen had nearly gained the title as the new King of Moredien.

Calioniel had begun the teaching systems around Moredian to institute better, more advanced education, as had always been her beliefs. She also set up small hospitals that were improving every day. All were impressed with this family’s triumphs in assisting in building a stronger nation. They all had produced great results that positively benefited Moredien.

All except Pelith. Try as she might, she could never succeed in becoming an equal to the other members of her family; in comparison, she looked lazy.Yet they willingly welcomed her into their own fame with arms open as wide as the seas stretches out. And, oh, how she loved them for that. How she loved them for their undeniable, unconditional love for her. But, still, she knew she should try to honor them and Moredien. She was only fifteen, but surely success would be expected of her soon.

Pelith was a swift huntress, and one of the few female hunters of her time. She had considered teaching other girls and women her skill, perhaps men as well, or maybe she could simply get a few of her closest friends to form a hunting circle with her to help provide food for the hungry. It would be a start, anyways. She gathered a small bagful of Ziatajie apples to snack on, though this was not her reason for visiting her orchard. It was a warm fall afternoon and the apples were in perfect condition. She had seen a few deer out her the day before at that time, so she headed out to see if another doe had returned.

She silently sat in a tree munching on a sweet apple when a movement caught her eyes. About twenty meters from where Pelith hid in her tree, a great majestic buck nibbled gingerly at the fallen apples at the ground, completely oblivious to her presence. Pelith notched an arrow into her bow and aimed. Just as the arrow let loose, the wind picked up as if it had been blowing that way for hours, rather than all of the sudden. The arrow veered just inches from the deer’s sleek body and hit the tree next to it.

Startled, the buck jumped forwards, in Pelith’s direction. A buck was a fine reward-not a prize one should risk losing. But Pelith did not have time to notch an arrow aim, and shoot, all while the creature was within distance. Some may call her a princess-to-be, but even if in the future she would be known as royalty, she did not yet have to act so regal. The buck was a few feet away, and Pelith yanked her dagger from its belt around her waist, hardly registering the actions. The time was right; now or never. She knew she was crazy, but it would bring the life back into her, make her feel more alive. So she pounced.

Pelith was lucky she hadn’t landed on the deer’s antlers, and she knew it. Her hand had been scraped on them, but at least she hadn’t landed directly on top of them. She had landed on his rough back, both legs on one side so that she was riding side-straddle atop the wild beast, now sprinting away from the orchard of Ziatajie apples and toward the forest. Pelith knew she would likely get knocked off by low branches if she didn’t dismount soon. She whistles a high tune, and in moments, her horse, Culia, was running next to the deer. Culia moved to the right just enough so that Pelith could leap from the petrified deer and mount her horse. She had landed so smoothly it delayed them only a few seconds, and almost immediately they were right beside the beast.

Pelith grabbed her small, useless cloak from her back, wrapped two apples in it for weight, and quickly flung it at the long legs and hoofs beside her. The deer took perhaps three more steps before stumbling and tripping. Pelith thrust the knife as agile as possible as they passed, and the blade flew true and pierced the deer’s side. Culia galloped a few long strides more before turning around and returning to the deer. Pelith jumped from Culia’s back and kneeled next to the dying buck. She gently pulled the knife from the bleeding wound to wipe it on the grass and slipped it into her sheath at her waist.

The deer heaved in a last few heavy breaths before going completely still. Pelith sighed, both relief and exhaustion. “Thank you, Culia,” Pelith managed through pants.

“Pelith! Your hand-we need to get you home immediately.” Pelith glanced down to her palm where she had been scratched from the sharp antlers. Blood streamed from the small gash, but it wasn’t too bad. Not so bad that she couldn’t first pull the deer back home with her before getting it bandaged.

“That’s alright for now. But would you help me haul this meat home?” She looked at Culia pleadingly.

“But this is a serious wound. You’ll need stitches for this, I’m sure,” Culia protested, though Pelith just waved her warning off.

“It really isn’t that bad. It stings a little, yes, but we must get this deer home before it attracts animals,” Pelith said. Culia nickered slightly. She had always admired Pelith’s ability to overcome even the most difficult of obstacles. This cut was nothing to her. Though Culia worried for her friend’s safety, she knew she would never win that argument.

Pelith grabbed some ropes from her bag and tied them to the dead animal’s antlers and then threw the other end over Culia’s neck. She walked beside Culia as she pulled the buck so as not to add to her load. It was nearing sundown by the time they returned home, and Calioniel rushed out, ready to scold Pelith for worrying her by being gone for hours. But when Calioniel saw the deer, she felt both angry and disappointed. “Pelith, dear, you must stop this recklessness. It is so improper for a woman to hut, and-” Calioniel got closer and ran her finger over the deer’s wound. “You didn’t,” she said, stone-faced. “Tell me you didn’t kill the poor beast with your knife!” She looked at Pelith, stunned.

Pelith just shrugged at her mother’s unnecessary fussing over so little.. “I didn’t want it to get away. The arrow missed and hit a tree next to it which startled him and he started to run my way. I didn’t have a chance to prepare another arrow so I just grabbed my knife,” Pelith explained, purposely leaving out the part where she had ridden the wild animal.

“Well...no matter. We don’t have time for this. Your father has just been-your head is bleeding!” Calioniel exclaimed. Pelith raised her hand to her head in confusion to search for the source of the blood. There wasn’t even a scratch.

“I don’t feel any pain and there doesn’t seem to be a wound….Oh! My hand. It got cut from the deer’s antlers. The blood must be from my hand. Culia, thank you for your help in bringing my catch home. You can return to the stables. I’ll be out shortly.” She scratched behind Culia’s ears and sent her away before following her mother into their house.

Pelith’s house was no shack or cottage. With her father’s wealth, they could afford a large house and maids and butlers and cooks, which in turn gave some of the people of Moredian well paying jobs. They had several horses and a few stables which were tended by horse trainers, grooms, stall cleaners, handlers and Dr. Evindel, a veterinarian who specialized in the health of horses. Their fields and vineyards and orchards were cultivated and managed by more people in need of jobs. When the total of the fruits of the harvest have been reaped, thirty five percent would given to the marketers so they might have more to sell. More goods allow them to lower their prices so that food is more affordable. Another ten percent of the crop intake would sent to their workers as rations as a bonus for working for Pelith’s family. Fiveteen percent would be sent to Horen’s parents and siblings back in Qigondra as a gift. Thirty percent would be traded with Qigondra and other countries for meat, seasonings, certain herbs, silk, cotton, and other goods, which were shared with Moredian. The  remaining ten percent would be kept for Pelith’s family or  stored for emergencies.

Calioniel led Pelith through the long hall and into the medicine room. “Wait here,” She instructed her daughter. “I’ll be back in a moment.” Pelith watched her mother slip through the door. The moment the door swung shut behind Calioniel, Pelith jumped up from the cushioned bench she had sat on and opened a cupboard. She grabbed a small clean rag and a jar made of dark glass labeled “Eucalyptus Oil”. She poured some water in a pan and put it over a fire that was already lit. While waiting for it to warm, she grabbed a bowl, set it upon a counter and poured about one tablespoon of the oil into it. She returned to the fire where the water had warmed, but was still cool enough to touch.

She added a couple tablespoons of the warmed water to the oil to dilute it and stirred it with a small spoon. Taking a corner of the rag with her left hand, Pelith dipped the small area of the cloth into the bowl and then brought it to her right palm where the deep cut was to help disinfect it. She gingerly applied the ointment and then set the rag back on the counter. She selected a box from the same cupboard the oil had come from, as well