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I held my bag close to me as I made my way to the trader’s tent, and tried to ignore the camp’s permanent residents as they glared at me with suspicion. I thought they would calm down after traveling with them for several cycles, but it felt like some were growing more restless the longer I stayed. Their worries were understandable, but that didn’t make them fair. I hadn’t harmed them or their homes.
Yet.
I tapped on the side of the trader’s tent and entered when she rang her bell. I lowered my hood and released my messy red braid, tugging on it nervously as I sat on the mat in front of Farda. She had an expressionless look as her indigo eyes scanned me.
“Well? What have you brought me, Outsider?” Anger flared inside of me when she used the title, but I held my composure while I dug the kabettle shells from my bag, placing each on her table. She picked up the smallest, turning it over in her hands. “Hm, not terrible quality for its size. This will be a fine cup. The markings are lovely. Wild-caught, I presume. It doesn’t bear the markings of the domestic breeds some camps raise these days.”
I nodded with a cautious smile. “I always catch them wild. No need to risk killing a camp’s personal herd. I’ve seen some out in the desert, but I avoid them just in case someone is looking for them. I don’t need help to be hated.”
She picked up the largest shell and put her ear up to it, knocking on the top and sides. “Nice and thick. You really know how to pick them. You should think about being a Wrangler.”
I shook my head with my sickly green eyes lowered. “No, I couldn’t take a job away from a real person.”
“You are just as real as I am, dear. Just less liked. You will find your place one day.” She spread the various black and tan shells across her table. “So, what are you wishing in trade? Food, kabettle milk, some new clothing, perhaps. I’m not sure I’ve seen you in anything else since you arrived.”
My face heated, and I tugged on my braid again. “I have to travel light. I only own one other set of clothing, so another would be nice if you can spare anything that fits me.”
She looked me over with a small nod. “I have some children’s clothing that will fit you.” Ferda moved the three smallest shells aside. “You still have more to barter.”
I stared at her in shock. “Are you serious?”
“Why would I say it if I was not serious, Kindred?”
I looked down so I could hide my tears that accompanied Ferda using my actual name. “People take advantage of me. I’ve just grown accustomed to that.”
The indigo eyed woman shook her head as she dug through a basket next to her. “Well, those people are still very backward. You may be an Outsider, but trading is a holy tradition and should not be used against you.” She pulled out a set of traveling wear meant for a child and nodded. “These should do. Now, what else can we trade for your efforts in catching such fantastic specimens?”
“Stop right there, Ferda.” My heart sank when I heard the gruff voice of Dalig as he entered the tent unannounced. I turned to face him, preparing to make my escape from the man who had harassed me since my arrival.
Ferda glared at him and stood, placing my clothes on her table. “Why do you interrupt our trade?”
He loomed over the old woman, though his intimidation had little effect. “Those aren’t Kindred’s shells to trade. I caught those kabettles a week ago. Kindred stole them from my tent last night.”
I lept to my feet, my fists clenched. “Liar! Don’t you dare call me a thief! I harvested these with my hands.” I held up my bandaged fingers, proof that I’d fought for my goods.
Dalig rolled his brown eyes. “Why should we believe an Outsider? There’s no way someone your size took down kabettles that big. If you didn’t steal them, how did you accomplish that?”
I could feel my rage rising in my chest despite my best efforts to keep it down. “Just because you can’t catch the best kabettles on your own doesn’t mean I can’t catch them. Maybe if your over inflated ego wasn’t so big you could sneak up on them.”
Careful.
Dalig took a step forward. “What did you say to me, freak? Come say that to my face.” He grinned at me. “I’ll even kneel so we can be similar heights. You might need to stand on the table.”
Ferda sharply hit the burly man’s shoulder. “Enough. You do not come into my tent and begin a fight with my customer. Get out. Now, or you will not be welcome for a multi-cycle. Good luck getting your supply of kabettle milk.”
Dalig glared down at Ferda before he turned his furious eyes on me, pointing menacingly. “This isn’t over, Outsider.” He stormed out of the tent and I sank into my seat again.
Ferda shook her head, mumbling in the Old Tongue. “How that fool has stayed alive this long with that attitude is beyond me. Adulthood has done him no good.” She settled in her seat again. “Now, where were we?”
———
I thanked Ferda for her overwhelming kindness as I packed my things in my bag, and she shooed me out with a smile more genuine than I had seen in many ultra-cycles. I slipped through the camp to avoid having another run-in with Dalig, my anger still boiling inside of me as I settled in my minuscule tent. It wasn’t much, but it was mine. It was the only home I had known since being banished.
“Hey, Outsider!” I stopped unpacking my supplies when I heard Dalig. “Get out here! Got a bone to pick with you.”
“Rather not, thanks.” I put my hand to my forehead.
Why would you go and say a fool thing like that?
Dalig sliced my tent open with his kukri and tore the side clean in half, grinning at me maliciously. “You sure don’t know when to keep your mouth shut, do you? Now, I think you have some goods that belong to me. Hand them over and I’ll leave you be.”
I moved my bag behind me as I crouched and attempted to mask my fear. “Go rot in the Pits. You’re a liar and if you take my things, a thief as well. Please don’t push me.”
He twirled his weapon with a scoff. “Oh, I’m so threatened by the little Outsider. You can’t hurt me if you tried. I’ve killed groundhawks bigger than you. I won’t ask again. Hand over the goods.”
I shook my head, tensing my muscles. “And I won’t tell you again. No. These are mine. You have plenty and I have nothing.”
Dalig tsked and took a step forward. “I’ll take what I like, freak.” He lunged at me with his blade and I rolled out of the way, flinging sand in his face. He growled as it blinded him. “You’ll pay for that, Outsider!”
My entire body shook with rage. “Stop calling me that! I have a fucking name!” I was losing grip on my control.
One.
He turned and wildly slashed in my direction, my small size paying off against my much larger opponent. I punched Dalig in the solar plexus and sent him stumbling as I knocked the air from him. He recovered faster than I expected and his next swing grazed my arm. I dashed away from Dalig again, circling behind him while he still lacked sight. I lept onto his back, scaling him and wrapping an arm around his neck in the hope I could end this conflict.
“Get offa me!” Dalig tightened his neck muscles and whipped around to throw me off. He grabbed my hood and ripped me off of him, flinging me into a neighboring tent. The Fire in my Spark ignited from the pain, but I managed to keep a handle on it. I couldn’t validate their prejudices, no matter how much I wanted to set Dalig ablaze.
Two.
I scrambled to my feet when Dalig ran at me, his eyes red from the sand I’d thrown. I discarded my cloak so he couldn’t use it against me again. He tackled me and wrapped his massive hand around my throat, a cruel grin plastered on his face.
Three.
“You really should have let me have those goods, Outsider. That’s okay. Dead people don’t need food.” He touched his kukri to my face, slicing open my cheek just for kicks. The edges of my vision darkened as I struggled to breathe. I could feel the Magic bubbling inside me, threatening to boil over. I clawed at Dalig’s hand, desperately trying to warn him of the danger he was putting himself and the entire camp into.
Too late now.
Dalig screamed and tore his hand from me when it burst into flames, burying his hand in the sand to put the fire out. To his horror, the sand melted into glass around his fist, which fused to his flesh when the fire snuffed out. He whipped his weapon at me and the blade embedded into my shoulder, but I was beyond feeling pain. I was beyond any emotion but rage.
Dalig’s anger had become terror, and he crawled away in a desperate attempt to escape. “S-stop! No! I’m sorry!”
Even if I wanted to spare him, the situation was out of my control. I was an unwilling passenger in my body. All I could do was watch as the flames engulfed Dalig, his screams barely registering.
“By the Deities! Stop them!”
I raised my eyes to the warriors making their way toward me. I held up my hand and gave them a warning glare, but they didn’t heed it. Fire consumed the tents around the warriors and the flames spread across the sand like serpents, wrapping around my targets. The entire camp was a flurry of panicked screaming as the fire spread from one tent to the next.
I wanted to stop the chaos rapidly spreading through the camp. I didn’t wish harm on people who allowed me to live in their camp when no others would. Sure, they hadn’t welcomed me with open arms, but they didn’t deserve this. Not because of one cruel fool. I couldn’t stop myself. I did not control my Magic, it controlled me. The massacre became too much for me to handle and my world went black.
“Kindred.”
My eyes shot open when Ferda said my name, the old woman kneeling next to me. For a moment I had hope I hadn’t ruined the lives of multiple families, but the smell of burning flesh and fabric made quick work of my hope. I sat up and stared at the horrors I had brought on these people.
“Deities... what have I done?” Tears streamed down my face while I tried to process my monstrous act.
Ferda grabbed my chin and turned me to face her. “You were surviving.” She looked over her shoulder. “At the cost of others.” She shook her head before looking down at me again. “You must leave. They do not know I saved you and it needs to stay that way.”
I stared at her as though she were mad. “Why? Why would you save the person who murdered your people and burned your homes? You should just put me out of everyone’s misery.”
“I am not a killer. It is not in my nature. I do not think it is in yours either, Kindred.” She held up a hand when I started to argue. “We do not have time for this. I have seen your Fate, and it does not end here. You must survive, Kindred. You must learn control.”
“What if I don’t want to learn control? What if I want to get rid of my Powers?”
She gave me an annoyed look. “If you want to take that path, I cannot stop you.” She pulled me to my feet and shoved my bag and a new cloak into my arms. “Those supplies will get you to the nearest city. Go. Find a mentor to teach you control, or find a Breaker to shatter your Spark. I would not advise it, but it is your Fate, not mine. Now, go before they discover us.” Her expression made it clear there was no room for argument.
I pulled my cloak on and turned to begin my journey, but looked over my shoulder. “Tell me one thing. Are you like me?”
Her indigo eyes developed a glow to them which I had only seen in my reflection. “Yes and no. I do not have time to explain. When our paths cross again, I will tell you more.”
I tilted my head. “When, not if?” She turned without another word and made her way toward her burning village as I started my journey into the unknown.