 |
| The Village Idiot |
When the villagers had gathered their dead and tended to their wounded, they finally got around to examining the bodies of their enemies. Five had lost their lives to arrows. The leader had taken a dagger to the mid-section. It was stuck in the bone, but Ninekur pried it loose. He looked at it but said nothing.
The next morning, Tobar returned to the village. He took the body of Natu and gave it a proper burial. He then checked on his grandmother. As he left her dwelling, Ninekur approached him. He held up the dagger he had recovered and offered it to Tobar.
"I'm sorry about Natu. I took this blade from one of the men who were here yesterday. But you know that, don't you? It's identical to the ones you make."
Tobar smiled. He put his hands across his mouth before lowering them to his sides. He rarely spoke, but he said, gently, "Keep it."
"Your secret is safe with me," said Ninekur. He nodded and went on his way.
Tobar missed Natu, but he was thankful for the man and especially for all the lessons that the old warrior had taught him out there in the jungle. For now, he was just glad that he knew enough to protect his people. Alone, he began to dance throughout the village.
The End
See more fiction here.
© 2024-2025 Lonestar Hobby Blog
