Stone King - Chapter 11 - Children of the Stone

"I could feel the stone speak last night."  Kivi said quietly while he laid between his wives.  Thea lifted her head.

"Is it upset about what you had to do?"  He shook his head, then turned towards her.  He marveled at how easily she accepted his words.

"No.  That thing wasn't human, and his blood wasn't innocent."  He looked to the young girl curled up on a pile of furs he had pulled together for her.  She wouldn't leave the room that Thea and Gita slept in, and she wouldn't sleep in their bed either.  She was deathly afraid that her life would return to the dark things that lived in her heart.  "The stone had tasted her blood, and last night, their deaths washed it clean of the stain.  It spoke to me of the stone men I would soon meet."

"Stone men?  Like the golems?"

"I don't think so."  He frowned.  "I didn't feel any concern, just a feeling of completeness.  Like a cycle that continued to move forward.  I didn't really understand, but there are many things I don't understand about the stone, and why I am the only one who can feel its life force."  Gita traced his stomach gently.  She sighed softly as she thought about their new charge.

"Cally is quite scarred, and scared, love.  She needs a bed, and a safe place to sleep."  Thea smiled.

"I like her, but I think your mother wants her to stay with her.  She would like the opportunity to mother and love a child again."  Kivi stayed quiet for a few moments.

"I want Cally to decide her future."  Thea lifted her head.

"Why, Kivi?  She's still so young, and quite fragile.  Your mother would love her, and protect her, and never let any harm come to her."  Cally lifted her head slightly, and listened closely.

"Cally has not had a life of her own, from the time her real mother died, and that impostor took her in, until now.  She had no choice.  Ever.  I want her to make her own decision, but have guidance from those who love her.  Both of you would love her, and help her, and so would my mother.  Even Jaana would like the chance to raise her, and teach her all the things she needs to know to survive and protect herself.  And none of us would ever feel badly that she didn't choose us, because she would be living right here in our area.  We could all still protect her, and help her when she needs us.  I just want her to know she's not forced to do anything she doesn't want to do.  Nothing will be withheld from her.  She'll be fed, clothed, kept warm, and have a roof over her head, with no obligation.  Whoever she chooses to raise her until she feels like she wants her own home, husband, or wife, and family, will not affect what she is due."  Thea smiled down at him, then kissed him softly.

"You thought about this a lot, haven't you?"  He nodded.  "Do you love her as a daughter, Kivi?"  He blushed, and turned away.

"She doesn't know what that means, Thea.  Jaana and Mena can teach her, but I can only teach her from a son's perspective.  You can teach her because your own mom loves you, and protected you through many hardships.  I worry about her.  She looks at me, and is frightened.  I don't want her to be scared to go to sleep anymore."  Then he sat up and looked over to Cally's still slender form, and didn't realize she was awake.  "I want her to know that whenever she sleeps, she will wake up without fear, or pain.  I will kill all her demons, and chase them into the nightmare realm, and slaughter them there!  Cally will be safe, no matter what!"  Then he closed his eyes, and let a few tears roll down his cheeks.  "I could feel her fear from so far away."  He said softly.  "It was palpable, terrible, and I could do nothing to help her.  I won't let her down anymore."  Gita sat up beside him.

"You take too much on your shoulders, husband.  She's here now, and safe, for the first time in such a long time.  She has plenty of people around her who will protect her from anyone, and everyone.  Even your sister, Mena, feels strongly towards her.  She looks at Cally like she looks at Jaana.  Like she's a sister."  Then they heard a small voice speak.

"Poppa?"  Kivi shot out of the bed like he was an arrow fired from a strong longbow.  Both Thea and Gita smiled at his protective ways.

"Cally, are you alright?"  He knelt down beside the pile of furs.  She looked up at him, and saw that sad gentle look she yearned for from a male figure in her life.

"I'm a bit hungry, and chilly."  He gently scooped her up and took her to Gita.

"I'll go get her something to eat while you get her warmed up."  He turned and left the bedroom, while Gita hugged her.

"Still testing, Cally?"  The girl snuggled in.

"I don't have to, cause I see his eyes, but I want to make sure.  He gets scary when he gets mad." Thea giggled.

"I know, the Stone Man does get scary when he gets mad, but did you notice he doesn't get mad at you, or me?  Or mom?"  Cally nodded.  "That's love, Cally.  And I think you'll notice something else tonight.  Did you want to bet where he'll sleep if you're here with us?"  Cally bit her bottom lip.

"I think I already know."  She pointed to her pile of furs.  Gita smiled softly, and hugged her again.

Cally trusted her poppa.






When Cally woke up in the morning, her instincts were correct, and then not, all at the same time.  He didn't crawl back in with his wives, or try to put her back in her own bed.  Instead, Kivi was more comfortable on the stone then he was in the bed.  When he laid down on the furs, it wasn't long before he rolled off in his sleep, stretched out, and sighed happily.

"Stone Man."  Gita said softly in his ear.  His eyes opened slowly.  "Time to wake up."  She drawled again.  Cally appeared at her shoulder.

"Poppa slept on the floor?"  she asked.  "Why?"  Gita smiled.

"You might see him do that from time to time.  Sit, or lay down on a rock, or the floor, and act like there is nothing wrong.  I don't know how he does it though."  He chuckled.

"Feels like home, little one."  He said to Cally.  "But if its time to get up, Cally must be hungry."  She bit her bottom lip and lowered her eyes.  She didn't want to admit it, but she felt starving.  She had once been used to being hungry, but now that hunger hurt more then it did before.  Thea took Cally's hand and giggled.

"Come on, Cally!  Time to get some breakfast ready for everyone!  Oh, its cold in here!"  She looked down at Kivi and wagged her finger.  "We need some wood for the fire pit, Kivi."  He stood up and pulled Gita along with him, but she wasn't sure how he stood up in the first place.  She was right on top of him, but he moved her like she was nothing more then a feather.

"We'll need to get some chickens from the village in the spring.  Eggs are a good morning food that I miss from being in the south."  His eyes took on a faraway look, so Gita knew he had stopped to listen.  "Mother and the family are on the way over.  I can feel her concern for Cally from here."  Cally cocked her head.

"Feel, poppa?"  He smiled down at her, and his eyes reflected the sadness, and the gentleness he felt towards her.  It made her feel happy to finally see someone with such a look in their eyes, instead of the one that made her skin feel dirty.  Gita smiled and spoke for him.

"Our Stone Man can feel things, emotions, in the air as though it were a taste on your tongue.  He can also hear things you wouldn't believe!"  She rolled her eyes.  "Never try to tell the bad words with him around!  Even to make him feel better because he'll know!"  Thea giggled while Cally looked confused.

"The bad words?"

"A lie, Cally."  Thea said, and pulled her along.

"She needs to wash up, Thea!"  Kivi called after her.  "I'll get the fire started to warm up some water while you two go let out your water."  Thea giggled.

"He can never say while we need to pee!  He's so modest that its a hoot!"  Cally smiled, but cleared her face quickly.  It was never a good thing to let others see you smile, at least from the way she was brought up.





"Hello, mother."  Hella smiled, and though she had not gained all her weight back, she did feel stronger now, and it was because Kivi called her that.  Then her face dropped the smile as she looked around.

"Where's Cally?"

"Thea took her outside.  I'm getting the fire going so they can have a bath while they wait for breakfast."  Then her eyes stared hard at him.

"Are you sure?  I saw Thea, but not Cally!"  Kivi listened to the wind carefully, and didn't taste any foulness in the air, or worry.

"I don't taste any wrongness in the air, mother.  Cally might have hidden in Thea's shadow."  Hella pursed her lips.

"Why would she do that?"  He smiled.

"You're an imposing figure, mother, and father is a big man.  She'll grow more comfortable around you both, then you can fuss over her more when she does."  She frowned.

"If you weren't my son, boy, I swear that I would....."  Cally ran in front of her, turned towards her and put her hands out to both sides to keep Hella away from Kivi.

"Don't hurt my poppa!"  Hella's mouth fell open, while Kivi smiled, but there was a sad look in his eyes.  Hella didn't know what that look was about, but it felt significant.

"Cally."  He called softly, and lowered himself to his knees, that way she could look a bit down at him, and not feel so intimidated.  She turned towards him.

"Poppa?"  He held open his arms, at which point she rushed into them.

"Thank you for trying to protect me, Cally, but this is my mom.  She would never hurt me.  She would actually hurt other people if they tried to hurt me."  His voice was soft, gentle, and a soothing balm to the girl's tattered nerves, and battered soul.  "Cally?"

"Yes, poppa?"  She said in a small voice.

"I'm going to walk with you, and prevent anyone from hurting you, but I want you to do one thing."

"What's that?"  He smiled, and when he said what was on his mind, Banus barked out a hearty laugh.

"I want you to punch my father."





"Why on earth did you tell her to do that?"  Hella asked after Cally sat at the table.  She looked more comfortable, and didn't seem like she wanted to bolt from the room.  Banus was still laughing, while Jaana and Mena looked quite confused.

"Did she hurt him?"  Hella frowned and shook her head.  "Did he hurt her?"  Hella's face cleared.

"Of course not.  He never would hurt her, no matter what she did to him.  She could pick up a sword, and all he would do is take it from her.  Which is what you wanted her to know.  Sneaky, Kivi."  Cally looked up from her plate, her mouth crammed full of meat and potatoes, but the innocent look in her eyes told them mountains of things.  She had been hurt terribly by those who should have protected her, but in spite of the scars, she was still a girl who could be hurt, and needed protection.

She looked down at her plate, and was unable to stuff any more into her mouth, so she pushed it away.

"Cally?"  She looked up at Kivi.  "Wait until you finish swallowing your food, and if you're still hungry, keep eating."  A fresh round of tears flowed down her cheeks, at which point Thea looked hard at him.

"You just had to be nice, didn't you?"  Cally looked up at her and saw the gentleness return as she turned towards her.  "Your food is your food, Cally.  No need to eat it so quickly.  No on will ever take it from you without your poppa saying something."  Cally slowly cleared her mouth, then asked a question no one expected.

"Poppa?  Who are the people under the ground?"





Cally looked around the table, and hugged her plate to her.  She felt a little bit fearful that they might take away her food as everyone sat down and stared at her, all except for her poppa.  He knelt beside her, and looked up at her, so she could feel more comfortable.

"Cally, what do you mean?"  He asked gently.

"I listen real hard, poppa, and I hear things.  The ground makes noises.  Sometimes, I hear voices.  I used to hear a voice from real far away, one that said I would find a real poppa and momma some day.  I found you."  She smiled.  "It didn't lie."  She looked down.

"Go on, Cally.  I'm listening."  She smiled again.  No one ever said they were listening to her before.

"Well, the voices underground said they were looking for him, that soon it would be time."  He frowned.

"Did they say anything else?"  She lowered her eyes.

"I couldn't hear much.  Just lots of noises.  Kind voices sometimes.  Sad ones.  Happy ones.  It felt confusing."  He smiled softly, and couldn't keep the sadness out of his eyes.  It still hurt him to realize that the fear he felt was hers, and he could have done something about it months ago.

"Could be memories, Cally.  Sometimes, the stone remembers those who lived there before."

"Memories?  Of the children of the Stone?"  She asked innocently.  His mouth dropped open, and his eyes reflected the shock he felt.  "Don't you hear them, poppa?"  She put her hand on his cheek.

"They hear us too."

Stone King - Chapter 10 - You Reap What You Sow

"Did you listen to the wind this morning, mother?"  Hella lifted her eyes.  She had concentrated her eyes on the snow covered ground, and tried to imagine what kind of power could break that ground, rip stone from its icy grip, and make a stable foundation for a fortified wall.

"I....well, I did, but I'm not sure what I heard.  It sounded sad, angry, and forlorn all at the same time.  There was a darkness there as well.  Unfocused.  And fear."  He nodded.

"You heard what I felt then.  The king in the southeast, with his keep on the eastern sea, has sent his soldiers to the farm directly to our south."  She frowned.

"How can you know this, son?"

"The stone tells me."  She shook her head, but decided not to ask him the obvious.  How could he hear the stone speak?  She knew the answer.  He didn't know how he could hear the stone, but he could.

"So, does that mean the people there have been driven out?"  She asked, a bit concerned for a family that has to travel in the snow.

"Yes, the ones who drove out my wives have also been driven out."  He spoke coldly.  It wasn't a simple detail.  That family had wronged his family horribly, and it angered him.  "But something tells me that it isn't as simple as I would like to believe."  She looked at him from the corner of her eye.

"What is it that you believe about them?"

"They hated the Mirri, and saw Gita and Thea as easy prey.  The emotions that I sense say different things though.  Fear and anger.  The fear bothers me.  Its not directed randomly, but they are too far away for me to get anything other then general emotions."  Hella smiled slightly.

"You would not have taken the time to consider all the details in the past.  You would have reacted.  Especially when it concerned danger to Mena."  He nodded, and didn't try to deny it.

"She was my family, mother.  The first girl I knew.  You were my mother, so you were the first woman, and Banus the first man.  Cornerstones of my life.  I reacted because no one could shake my life and not pay for it."  She could hear a deep anger in his voice, something she didn't expect.  She thought he was finished with Mena completely.

"Is that why you're not reacting to the danger you sense?  You're not as close to Gita and Thea?"  He shook his head.

"That is the only reason I'm not reacting, because I can get no closer.  We are two families, and melded together like no one else I know."  She frowned at his words.

"I don't understand.  If there might be danger...."  She left the obvious unsaid again.

"Thea is tenderhearted.  What would she think if that family needs help and we turn them away?  What if they had no choice?  Its their actions now that will determine their fate."  His mother smiled a bit.

"You reap what you sow.  Remember that, Kivi.  Their actions of the last few years also show how they will react in the future.  It also writes their fates upon their souls."  He cocked his head.  "Think about it.  The Creator has specific requirements of us.  Live well, and hurt no innocent person.  If they harmed the innocent, like your family, who else have they harmed?  And if it was only aimed at Gita and Thea, how would you feel if you saw a strong man, with a child and wife, drive another mother and child away, one without a husband or father?"  He closed his eyes.

"I would be livid.  They picked their target because of perceived weakness."

"And that is what the Creator would perceive.  They reap what they sow.  If they sow weeds, they should expect weeds.  If they sow good things, like wheat, they should expect wheat to grow."  She turned away.  "I think I'll do a bit of hunting."  He turned towards her.

"Thank you, mother.  I will consider your words."  She picked up her bow, and heard something low in the wind.  A threat left hanging in the wind.

"If they harm my family...."  And the whisper was gone.





"Why do you want us to hide, son?"  Banus asked him.

"They are almost within sight.  They will see the land, the improvements, but I want them to only see Thea and Gita.  I want everyone to hide as they approach, but keep your weapons easy."  He pinned Jaana with a firm hard stare.  "I want an arrow locked onto that man though.  If he raises a bow, or a sword, put it in his heart."  She nodded, her eyes blank, but her emotions ran ragged.

"Doesn't he trust me anymore?"  She asked herself.  Her answer came quite quickly.

"Love, please, do not look at her like that!  She will not fail you!"  He relaxed as Thea took his hand.

"I know, little one.  She never has."  Gita laid an arm over Jaana's shoulders, and whispered in her ear.

"He trusts you with our lives, and so will we."  Jaana's eyes filled with fire again.

"I will not let you down, Kivi!"  His eyes flared to life again, without the cold chill of the stone in them, and a smile sprang to his lips.

"Watch them closely.  There are things here I don't understand, but they have the information I need.  The king's plans, why he pushed them north, and how much of an army he has stationed at their...our farm."  Gita turned and looked at him.  "Those are still Mirri lands, and will once again feel the gentle touch of Mirri farmers and traders upon her soil!"  She chose to say nothing more, unsure if the cost of retaking the farm was even worth the price anymore.

He could read her though, of that she was certain.  Then his eyes turned cold again.

"They are here."




"Rotten ingrates!  After all I did to make that farm a success, and they steal it from me!"  The woman looked at her fat and lazy man.  Her anger at him grew.  There were no blisters on his hands.  Those who only raised a mug to their lips, or a hand to bully those he was supposed to protect, seldom lost the softness of a child's flesh.

"But we took that farm from that mother and child!  It was growing good when we got there!"  He turned back and quickly struck the girl.

"Be silent!  Children are to be seen, not heard!"  She huddled into the woman's skirts, but she moved to the side to see what was ahead of them.  The older woman voiced her own thoughts.

"Are you sure we're going the right way?  This looks like a castle being built!"  He frowned, but his greasy face smiled such an evil smile when he saw the two female Mirri women he chased off from the farm they had been forced to flee.

"Its the right one, alright.  Look."  She looked up the hill, but this woman was a cautious person.  She had to be with a man like him.

"Its them alright, but....where are the builders?"  He sneered.

"Its just the Mirri whore and her brat!  Who would....."  A hard eyed man stepped out of the shadows between the man and the women.

"I would."




The sight of this man sickened him.  The fear was from the child, and the anger from the woman.  The fear was directed at the fat thing who stood in front of him, but the anger was unfocused, and strange.  Kivi needed no more information about his character.  He did need to know what drove them north though.

He would tolerate his presence only as long as it was necessary to get that information.  He almost had to laugh at the false bravado when the bloated pig puffed up and tried to intimidate him.  Kivi was a few inches taller, and far more muscular.

"Get off our land, boy!  The king has seen fit to cede this land to us!"  Steel grey eyes pinned him to his spot.  Even though the pig wanted to move forward to make a show of strength, his own cowardice betrayed him.  This man showed no fear whatsoever.

"Just as he stole the land from my wives, and has now stolen from you?  Your king is not my king, and he holds no sway over MY land!"  The woman chose now to speak up.

"Please sir!"  She said quickly.  "Its winter!  We have no place to go!"  Almost as an afterthought, she turned to the girl.  "My girl will freeze to death!"  The girl went back to her mother's skirt, though she looked around her to keep him in sight.  He was a powerful sight to a young girl who had never seen such a man.  She shrank back in fear as her father turned on her mother.

"Silence, I said!"  He lifted his hand to backhand her again, only to feel it caught in a grip that felt like a steel trap.  "Arrgghhh!"  He screeched, then was thrown as though he were only a toy.  He looked up from his place, but he didn't see the hard eyed man standing over him.  It was a much larger bear of a man, and the steel sword he now drew from its sheathe put more fear into his cowardly heart.

"Father, I could have....."

"I know, son, but you know I couldn't stand and watch!"  The woman and child watched as others came within sight.  A giant of a woman with her bow at her side, an archer with her bow trained on the fallen pig, and another archer, an arrow notched but at her side.  These were experienced warriors.

"Momma?"  The woman hissed in displeasure as she heard the girl call her mother.  The hard eyed man caught the anger, so she quickly cleared her face.  The girl still hid behind her, only to see the two Mirri women come towards them.  "Momma!  Its them!"  She said innocently.  "The cat people!"  Thea giggled, while her mother smiled.

"Come.  The fire is warm inside, and after such a trip, I think you could use some warmth."  Thea took the girl's hand.

"I'm going to take her to the river to get some ice for this bruise on her cheek."  Thea said sadly.  "What is your name?"  The girl smiled, as she now understood that these two women meant her no harm.

"Please, don't hurt my girl!"  The woman tried to pull her away from Thea, but Gita's hand intercepted hers.  Gita felt something strange from the woman, a slew of dark emotions, but they felt disconnected, and some were focused on the young girl.

"Go on, Thea.  I'll explain things to her.  Just be sure to hurry back.  That girl looks starved."  She turned a sour gaze to the slob on the ground.  "Unlike some people."

"Why you Mirri whore!"  He scrambled to his feet, his courage restored in his anger, only to find the hard eyed man between him and his family.  He tried to puff himself up again but he was lifted as though he were nothing but a pebble, and the rage within his eyes made him wish he had fought to keep his farm, instead of running as soon as the soldiers told him to leave, or fight.

"That is my wife you're calling a whore!"






"He really cares for you."  Jaana said to Gita when she got back inside the house.  Gita smiled up at her from the table.

"Of course he does."  She shivered slightly.  "His anger towards those who try to harm us is...."  Jaana nodded.

"Frightening.  I've known him for years, and seldom seen him show anger, but when he does show it, he almost scares me."  Gita sighed, but smiled when she saw Thea enter the house, with the girl in tow.

"How is she, Thea?"  Thea smiled.

"Hungry.  The bruise will fade, but I think she has a few more bruises that she won't show me."  The woman lowered her eyes, but again, Gita could feel something strange from the woman.  Even darker emotions directed at the girl.

"She's a good girl, but girls....."  Gita put her hand on her shoulder, and felt it again.

"He won't hurt her again."  The woman lifted her eyes.

"How can you be so sure?  We've lived with that foul man for so long, that it almost felt like it was normal!  How can anything or anyone like that be normal?"  She lifted her hand and felt like she wanted to wash it.  She looked back to the girl, and to the woman, who fairly bristled with barely held in check anger.  Now she understood.  It was plain cruel jealousy.

"Hella, can I speak with you for a moment?"  Hella lifted her eyes, and did a few finger twists, along with a few hand movements.  It was the unspoken language of the Mirri.  Gita's eyes almost bulged.

I see it.  Jealousy.  Don't scare the girl.

"I see."  She looked at the girl, and smiled softly.  "What is your name, child?"  She looked up at her and smiled.

"Cally."  She looked so innocent, though Gita could feel that something dark rested within the child's heart and mind.  It was not just the pig her husband was about to slaughter.

"Cally, we have a house just down the hill a bit.  We can make you a hot bath, so you can wash up and feel clean.  Does that sound nice?"  The girl smiled brightly.

"Really?"  The woman looked ready to speak, but felt a point press against the nape of her neck, and decided to stay quiet.

"Yes, really.  Thea, why don't you come with me and help her get clean?  She needs a few friendly faces around her."  Jaana kept the dagger hidden until the girl left the room.  Hella sat at the table right across from her, and she kept her hands folded loosely in front of her.

"Now then, why don't you tell me who you are to this girl, and who that pig is?  If I find any lies within the words you speak, and I can feel the lies as they are spoken, then I will have my daughter over there,"  She pointed to Mena, "put an arrow through you.  Don't worry.  It won't kill you.  She's very good with her bow.  She could put ten into your body, never miss, and you would not die.  But living through that would be quite painful."

And as the filth poured forth from that woman's mouth, Hella realized that some monsters looked human, but were anything but.





"Oh no.  Momma?"  Thea turned to her mother in horror.  The girl stood there before them, and she tried to cover her ravaged flesh.  She looked ready to cry, but so did Thea and Gita.

"I didn't think anyone could treat a child this way!"  The girl let her tears fall.

"Did I do something wrong again?  Is he going to...."  Gita folded her into her arms and held her lightly.  She didn't know if she should even do that as the skin on her slender frame looked far too thin for a girl her age.

"My husband would never allow him to hurt you again!"  She turned to her daughter.  "Thea, get some food, please.  And make some tea as well.  Use the dried herbs along with the barks to get something stronger."

"Food?  I can eat?  Have I been good enough now?"  And Gita knew what it felt like to have her heart ripped out with that plaintive voice in her ear.

Thea stepped out of the house, saw Kivi clench his hands, then walked towards him.

"Husband."  He turned towards her.  "Make his death painful."  Banus watched the girl walk away, and put his hand on his son's shoulder.

"You reap what you sow, son.  Time to teach this foul beast that lesson."  Kivi knew it would be a death well deserved, especially if the soft heart of his wife would pronounce such a judgement on him.

"Aye, Father.  Its time for this thing to learn just how hard the stone can be when it has innocent blood spilled upon it." The slob began to crawl away, desperately trying to get to his feet so he could run.

The monster that followed him had eyes that turned from a dark brown to steel grey, and the stone in his hands shattered to dust from his grip alone.  The soldiers would have run him through, but this man looked ready to crush him with his bare hands.  How he wished he had stayed and fought the soldiers instead.