Sand Castle: English Excerpts

From Chapter 26:

Ririn rubbed the brown-red fabric again before lifting it from the water. She sat on the grass, by a pond in the forest, and sighed to herself while she washed the dried mud out of her clothes. It was weird, how she had developed such a carefree attitude in such a short time. Normally she never would have let dirty clothes lie around for days, if she had an opportunity to wash them.

Ririn had begun the journey wearing knee-length dresses, which had been comfortable for travelling in the winter, but this time she had grown tired of the heat, and the decorative cuts and excess fabric of her clothes, as the sunlight increased. The summer was unusually hot, so Ririn had started borrowing Evangelica’s short-sleeved tunics in just a couple of weeks of travelling. She had gone through a short crisis, because she thought she looked like a 12-year-old boy, but was surprised to find she grew used to it in a couple of days.

For the past few weeks, Ririn had been tailing after Evangelica or Leco when they hunted, to pick up everything she could from them. She didn’t feel like she had learned much yet, except that she probably wouldn’t have been able to shoot her own head with an arrow, that she had a terrible balance and shaky hands, that she got out of breath faster than anyone in the hilly forests, and that she could not move silently. Somehow, Ririn had still kept up the motivation to try her best every day.

And there were some things Ririn could do well enough. Leco had learned to use simple spells to assist hunting, and Ririn had been able to replicate his tricks with some success. Leco sometimes shot pre-prepared explosive smoke veils, carried by arrows, to block and direct the game’s escape routes. That wasn’t too difficult for Ririn either, if there was no need to shoot particularly precisely or too far away.

Ririn knew no one had enough time to spare, to focus on her teaching. She didn’t really have to participate in hunting, the lighter work would have been enough, and no one would have thought less of her because of it. She was in the same boat with Zahran, their healing powers brought safety to the others, and the others would protect them if the group faced any danger. Even so, Ririn did visualizing exercises every day, to remind herself of the few self-defence skills she had learned from Leco over the spring. Ririn still kept daggers in her boots and had even bought a light sword on the way. She carried it on her belt.

At the moment, their camp was located in the forest, so close to the pond, that Ririn heard when someone started to prepare the fire. Ririn hoped someone had caught fish, because she was fed up with dried meat. They hadn’t hit good hunting grounds for days.

Ririn rinsed the last tunic in the water, dried it the best she could, picked all her laundry up, and headed back to the camp. She almost couldn’t believe her luck, when she saw her wish had come true. Sofie sat by the fire, gutting big roaches, and Zahran was adding sugar beet to the pot above the fire.

– Wonderful, Ririn said with a sigh, and stopped to hang her clothes to a tree, close to the fire.

– You said it, said Leco, who had just appeared behind Ririn, carrying a bunch of dry branches. He put them by the fire, and said:

– It was supposed to be Zerin’s turn to cook, after all. So glad to be spared from that.

Sofie grinned.

– I said I wanted to cook, because I caught most of the fish, she said. – And Zahran the rest.

– Is it my fault, if you aristocrats don’t know to appreciate good old pepper soup? sounded a voice, and then Zerin hopped down from a nearby oak tree, with a thump.

Sofie shrugged, and said:

– I might still be a bit green in the kitchen, but I think pepper is a spice, not a main course.

Zahran tried to cover a laugh with a cough, Leco didn’t bother, and Ririn just smiled while she finished hanging her clothes.

– What did you do up there? she asked Zerin. He sighed loudly and tried to use his shirt as a fan.

– Was trying to nap in shade. It’s damned hot in here. No idea how that lot can stand hopping around the hills and tussocks out there. We haven’t even seen a squirrel in a week.

Ririn herself had been surprised by Hart Mikia’s energy, especially. He rarely had time to hunt in Solumea, but during the journey, their chief had looked to be in top shape. On the other hand, Ririn figured that Hart probably needed something to distract himself, because he was not used to free time, and he was thinking about Hemer. At least, Ririn was.

– I bet a turn doing the dishes, that Olborn will buckle first today, Zerin said then, pointing at Zahran, who almost flinched. It was hard to say, because his dark hair always covered his eyes. Then he gave a tiny laugh and continued to chop the pumpkin in front of him.

– I’m a Patron of Light. We don’t do betting.

Zerin pursed his lips in confusion.

– Is anyone really that serious? It’s not like, a real gamble.

– Sorry, Zahran said quietly.

Zerin looked at him for a moment, but Zahran didn’t lift his gaze, so Zerin just shrugged.

– Sofie? Zerin asked hopefully.

Sofie smiled while she pulled the spine from a roach.

– Why would I bother? I’m cooking, so it’s not going to be my turn anyway.

– Boring folk, Zerin said.

– Alright, said Leco. – I bet Evangelica will be back first. She looked so tired earlier.

Zerin grinned with a gleam in his eyes.

– Let’s shake to that, he said and spit on his hand.

Leco raised an eyebrow.

– Sometimes you’re disgusting.

– Sometimes you’re a candy-ass, Zerin said with a sweet smile.

Leco rolled his eyes and gobbed loudly. The moment they slapped their hands together, Zerin’s smile grew wider, and he said:

– Prepare yourself to scrub.

– You prepare yourself. Take a head start with the chopping boards. Everything seems to be in the pot now.

Zerin just smiled and shook his head.

– Weily’s not going to be back first, no matter how tired she is. Her pride would shatter.

– Bah, said Leco, in a way that might mean he thought Zerin was probably right.

– Ahem, boys, Ririn said gently while she stepped from her laundry tree towards the fire. – If you two have exchanged enough saliva, we could start putting the tents up.

Zahran was trying to cover up another laugh, and Sofie and Leco were laughing as well, but Zerin just raised his brows at Ririn.

– Har har har, he said and pointed at her. – You shouldn’t start a war of words with me.

Ririn smiled innocently.

– If your best attack is “har har har”, then I think I can manage.

Zerin’s finger was waving around, he opened and closed his mouth, trying to conceal his amusement, but then he stepped toward Ririn and started tickling her.

– I’ll show you ”har har”!

Ririn screamed.

– S-stop! I can’t handle tickling!

– Will you keep your smart jokes in your pretty mouth?

– Y-yes! I promise! Ririn said, giggling and snickering, after Zerin had already let her go. Zerin looked satisfied, and Ririn stood there panting for a moment, holding her sides, but managed to say:

– At least for one night.

Zerin laughed, and was going to say something, but then they all turned their heads, as footsteps came from the bushes. First, Seo and Hart came into view, but after them the whole group followed: Jale, Olborn and Evangelica.

Leco glanced at Zerin and shrugged. Zerin frowned.

– The bet stands until the next time, he said.

Leco sighed.

– As you wish.

– Is everyone alright? Did something happen? Hart asked, half-running towards the fire. His eyes moved from one person to another. Apparently he didn’t realize every member of the group was around the fire now.

– Yes, Chief, Zerin announced with a twinkle in his eyes. – Ririn tried to pair me up with Leco, so she almost had an accident.

Hart stopped to stare at Zerin. It seemed to take him a moment to realize he was joking. Then Hart sighed deeply.

– Alright, he said with an eye roll. – In other words, I don’t want to hear or understand more. You youngsters keep your jests but, please, try not to scream.

Ririn blushed.

– I’m sorry, she said. – I was only tickled.

Hart nodded, and waved his hand to say “let’s leave it at that”, but Ririn felt a pang of guilt anyway. Hart, and everyone else, was already on edge for various reasons. They could be attacked at any moment. Ririn should have realized how far her scream would carry.

Zerin noticed her expression.

– Sorry, Rinsky, he said and patted Ririn on the shoulder. Ririn shook her head. Then she glanced at Evangelica, who had stopped at the firepit and took her bow and quiver from her back. And something else.

– Hey, ducks!

Evangelica smiled at Ririn’s joy.

– We found a small lake on some wetland that wasn’t in the map, she said and thrust the birds into Zerin’s hands. He took them instinctively, but then turned them around as if he didn’t know what to do with them.

– Skinning is your job, said Evangelica.

– Meh. Why me?

– Because you’ve been lazing around all day.

Zerin wrinkled his nose, but then his face lit up.

– Rinsky already booked me for putting the tents up.

Evangelica rolled her eyes.

– Nice try, Ririn said. – I’ll take Evangelica for that.

She took Evangelica by the arm and pulled her towards the carriage and the horses. Zerin stopped whining. He sat on the ground, away from the fire’s warmth and pulled a knife from his belt. Sofie put the fish in the soup and stayed with Zahran to watch over it, while the others got the tents out.