Veyron by true.fantasy (best books to read for self improvement txt) 📕

"Yeira! You're so clumsy!!" Mother scolded
I laugh picking up the fallen berries. “Sorry ma. I was—”
“Daydreaming! That’s what you were doing.” She says crossly. “After you’ve picked them up—go wash them the creek and bring them to the village ground—carefully.” She says sternly.
“Yes ma.” I nod. She slipped a small smile before walking off shaking her head. Mothers.
Pushing my long plat behind me; I continued picking up the scattered berries. I had almost finished when a hand swooped down picking up the last of them. I looked up to see Garran—the boy bully of the village. He’d been terrorizing the village girls ever since he realized he could—his parents, if that’s what you’d call them, never stopped him from doing or saying anything.
“Hello Yeira.” He said in a mock cheery voice.
“Garran.” I say flatly.
“How are you? Long-time no speak. I’ve missed you.”
His few mates, Haran and Kefir started chuckling. Truthfully, none of these boys had, or I doubt ever will, grown up to be men. The men of the village, even those younger than the trio, chose to ignore them; unless they fell too out-of-line. Unfortunately most of the men of the village had gone off for the hunting season. That left boys like Garran thinking they know owned the place.
“I’m sure you did.” I say picking up my berry basket.
“Mm.” He smirked taking two steps closer. “Wanna chill at my place, Yeira? It’ll be like the old days. Two friends, one room…”
“I’ll have to pass.” I say. We used to be friends…like, when we were 5. I thought of asking for the remaining berries; but it’s best to avoid trouble where you can. “Enjoy the berries.” I reply simply, turning to walk away.
“Hold on there, sweetie.” He took my arm. I clutched the basket to avoid it tumbling over, I turn to glare at him—he’s going too far. As if realising this, or just so he could lean in even closer, he let go of my arm.
“Won’t you share with me…your other fruit?” He smirked. Disgusting.
But smack talk; I can handle. “With you? No.”
“Oh really?” He sighed. “Here I was thinking we had something, you and I.” He had a sickening tone whenever he talked to the girls.
“Sorry to shatter your dreams, but that’s the only place you’ll find that something; in your dreams. Now if you’ll excuse me.” I say taking a step back; the guy smelt pretty bad. Alcohol, sweat, weed and other filth.
“That dream, dear, will shortly become reality. I suggest you be ready for me.”
Rolling my eyes I walked off on the group—they weren’t worth any time I had.

***

Humming a local village tune, I set about washing out the berries in the nearby stream. It was only when the birds started flying past me in a hurry did I look up to see them. Sails? Peering closer I could make out the body of a few distant ships. Quickly finishing with the berries and cleaning my hands and face. I ponder what they could be doing here. Surly the merchants weren’t coming already. It was still a few weeks to harvest season. I frown; maybe they’re just some other ships passing by; but ships never come this way, unless for trade at the town. Curiosity and the will of exploration gnawed at my will. Biting my lip, I turn the other way toward the village common field. Mother would be so angry if I was late. Turning back to face the ships I bit my lip again. A quick peek won’t hurt. It would. Come on Yeira, I scold myself, just go tell mother and the others of the ships. I turned back to the sea and they were gone! Not a ship in sight. What? But they were just there—they couldn’t have disappeared or gotten anywhere this fast. The horns of the festival echoed out towards me. Frowning, I turn and head for the field.

Every colour imaginable was at this festival. Colourful food, drinks, clothes and the colourful and heavily designed tents. It was getting late and a few fires had been started. I lit a torch, binding cloth onto the end of a broad stick and setting it alight.
“Yeira!” My friend Tarrasa jogged up to me. “Wow, you’re looking great.”
I glanced down at my decorated green and top and long skirt with red flares coming up the left side of my skirt and top. I also wore the red and green pashmina and green glass bangles.
“You look great yourself.” I smile. She preferred saris, and she wore a beautiful blue one.
“Thanks.” She smiled back. “How’re things on your end?”
I shrug. “Okay enough. Just setting up torches around the place. Can’t eat what you can’t see.”
She nodded laughing. “So the food’s set up?”
I nod. “Mother and the other women are probably finishing up about now.”
“Mm…good. I’m hungry.”
“You’re always hungry.” I laugh, and she joined in.
“Come dance?” She asked. The ‘musically talented’ villagers sat there with their various instruments on the platform, playing the most fun-loving songs. Women stood in a circle clapping while two danced around each other clapping and jumping to the beat.
“Maybe later.” I shrug. It looked like so much fun—and I loved to dance. But women and girls of esteemed families don’t dance. It’s the pride of the family at stake. Well…we don’t dance in public.
“Come on Yeira, it’ll be fun.” She pleaded.
“Go on ahead.” I smile. “I need to light a few more torches.”
Making a face at me she marched off.
With a smile I continue to fix the torches into place around the open field. A large bang caught my attention and I whirled around to see shattered timbre lying everywhere. It was a ship—the ship I saw earlier. It was back? Large rough-clad men jumped down to the ground from the large ship—only a few meters away from where I was standing. They didn’t seem friendly. What would we do without the men here? The foreign men ran up towards us and the village women started worriedly locating their children or siblings and pulling them close. I could see mother taking hold of my younger brother and looking for me.
Some men came around our group—cutting any escape routes. While others walked through the crowd as if they owned the joint. One prominent figure glanced at me; as I gave him the most ‘what the hell are you looking at’ glare back. He stared back, I glared back. He was tall and broad-shouldered and very muscular and robust. Too bad he wasn’t going to last long. Seeming to be getting either amused or annoyed he walked over towards me. Joy. He came to a stop directly in front of me. I stepped backwards instinctively; but he pulled me back.
“Hold up.” He said. “Where’s the fire?” He smirked. I had a good mind of shoving the torch at him and saying ‘in ya face.’
“Yeira!” My mother had called out.
“I’m fine ma.” I say firmly.
“Yeira, is it?” The man spoke. “Mighty fine you are.” He waited for an effect—I gave him none. He reached out as if to touch my cheek; I wacked his hand away.
“Mm… Feisty.” He licked his lips suggestively. “I like ‘em that way. You’re mine.”
“In your worst nightmare.” I glower back. “What do you all want?”
“Hmm?” He moved a step closer. “We want your village goods.”
“They’re not yours to take. But if you mean to trade, then you’re early and you’ll have to wait a few weeks.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Trade?” He laughed. “No-no lovely. We don’t trade—we take.”
“Fine. Take yourselves off our land.” I say.
“I don’t think so.” He smirked. “Ivan!”
A man further down spoke up. “Yes sir?”
“Burn this joint.”
“Yes sir.” He turned as several of the men either took logs out of the fire, or the lit torches and then they headed towards the houses. The small crowd of villagers dispersed in chaos running around as the men struggled to round up everyone.
“No!” I shout.
“I’m afraid that’s life, dear Yeira.” He says taking my elbow. “It’s full of many surprises—and not all are good.”
Soon, the flames began swallowing up the front houses, the men started roping up some of the more pretty women and a few boys, while pushing the other women and children away and throwing more torches at the houses.
“No, please stop!” I turn to the man, teary eyed. This couldn’t be happening.
There was a flicker of something in his orange eyes before he released my arm and walked off. The devil! I had to do something; but what? Pray? Fight? Find some buckets of water? Just then, a tree that had caught fire dropped its branch on the ship—which also set ablaze. This caught all their attention and abandoning the burning village, they rushed towards their burning ship. If nothing else, I should at least use this chance to save others.
I jogged up to where my wheat coloured satchel lay. I pulled out my spare dagger. Without a second thought I quickly moved to where the girls and boys were tied up and began slitting the ropes that bound them together. As if just to slow things down my mother ran up to me pulling at my shirt.
“Yeira, get away. Go now, I’ll do this. Yeira!” She scolded—sounding on the verge of tears.
“Mother!” I say finally turning around. “For the love of god, please don’t hassle me now. Go with Osaka to the farm house—the fire won’t get there. Let me finish this; please.” I plead.
It took a while before I felt she had registered what I said and she looked stubborn on shielding me and my brother.
“Mother.” I repeat. “You brought me up to be brave; not a coward. Don’t turn against me now.”
She gazed back dead-eyed for a bit, then smiled with a nod. “God bless you. If you don’t get home within 15 minutes; I’ll come back, ok?”
I nod, turning back to the ropes.
She soon left with Osaka, as I snapped the ropes of the rest of the captives. Fires roared in the background, and I got up to look at burning houses in distress—oh lord, please help; I pray. I had to get home before mother came back after me. Woman and children were in turmoil, some wailing at the flames and crying—useless. The men were preoccupied splashing water at the burning ship—it wouldn’t last. I decide to rally up the women, so I start pulling at arms and calling for them to gather.
“Please listen—there’s no use of this.” I say over the flames and sound of falling debris. “We need to get to shelter. Those who have no farm house to go to are welcome to come to ours as a temporary shelter—but we have to get out of here!” There was a loud crash—thunder! Praise the Lord!
“T-the fire—” One woman stammered.
“There’s nothing we can do right now.” I counter. “Leave it to god. Come on, we have to go—now!”
The women, children and teenaged boys all nodded in agreement as some headed off to various farms and the remaining followed me on the well-worn path through the forest.
Hurrying down past a few fields, we finally reached home. Picking up my skirt, I ran to the door and rapidly knocked on it. The door cautiously opened, and to my surprise, Haran had opened the door. Frowning, I pushed past him into the house; followed by the four other families from town.