Journal: Entry for LaSombra

I think I should start this out with a new chapter. I posted it on wotmania but perhaps I should post it here also For anyone who's read my Khali book, this will be part of it. I'm still editing but this will be the new chapter 6. It's an introduction to Mari, the one survivor at the end.

Mari slit the chicken’s throat and quickly inserted the knife into the bird’s mouth, gave a quarter-twist and removed the brain. Attaching a weighted hook to its beak, she moved on to the next bird, letting the blood drain into a large can while she worked. The weight would keep the dying bird from flapping around and making a mess. A dozen chickens were tied upside-down by their feet awaiting butcher.
When the last bird was killed, she returned to the first, untied its feet and sat down to pick the feathers. She’d gotten fast at the picking as it was her job even as a kid, filling a large basket with the feathers as she quickly removed them from the wings and tail and then worked down the bird from head to rump. Working down the line, she could successfully pluck the whole dozen in less than an hour. If she took any longer, they would begin to stiffen, making her job more difficult.
Next, Mari dressed the birds and packed them for the market, washed up and collected the day’s eggs, also to take to town. As she filled her baskets, she made a mental list of all the items she would need to pick up while in town. She needed grain, yarn, spices and some new indigo powder to dye her hair. Preferring to avoid the advances of the young men, she removed the auburn streaks out of her hair by dying it all black with indigo.
Men made Mari uncomfortable. She’d never had a good experience with them. Her father was abusive in every way and her one dating experience only reinforced her contempt. She disliked even thinking about her past and blocked out much of it, looking only toward the future. She would remain an old maid to the end. She had no need for a man, could take care of herself, and had no desire to take care of anyone else. There would always be people needing to buy chicken for their evening meal and she could feed herself quite easily with what she raised on her land.
The first stop in town was the market. She sold her chickens to the butcher there for two coppers a piece and the eggs at two dozen per copper. She had plenty of eggs. Each day, she collected at least ten dozen from her over two-hundred hens. The bakery would buy the rest.
Pushing her cart to the back door of the bakery, Mari pulled the cord to the bell and waited for an answer. As she waited, she wiped the front of her grey and black apron and skirt, making sure she didn’t have any stains from the morning’s chicken blood. The door pulled open and Nin greeted her with a huge smile, as always.
“Come in, Mari,” Nin stepped aside and motioned for Mari to push the cart inside, “I was hoping you’d come by soon. I’ve been wanting to make some meringue pies today and cinnamon rolls for the morning. Will you be going to the wedding this week?”
Mari pulled the cart to the work table and began trading her full baskets with the empty ones from the bakery, “I… I hadn’t thought about it. I suppose… yes, I might go.”
“Oh, you should! I hear the blacksmith will be quite the sight to see!” Nin giggled, “Elena is a lucky woman.”
Mari blushed and nodded, unsure of how to respond to that. She didn’t think being tied to any man for the rest of her life sounded like good luck.
“I can’t wait to see Khali have fun again. She’s been so confused lately. I really hope she has a good time. Have you had a chance to see her yet since she woke?”
Khali had had an accident and fell into an early life dream several weeks before. Mari had seen her in town from a distance a couple times, but hadn’t spoken to her. She didn’t really know her any better than she knew anyone else. Most people in town were a passing acquaintance. “I haven’t, no.” Mari cleared her throat, “Well, that’ll be three coppers, thanks.”
“Of course.” Nin handed her the coins and walked with her to the door. “I hope to see you at the wedding! Have a good afternoon.”
When the door closed behind her, Mari breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t know where Nin got all the energy. She always managed to be in a bubbly mood, talking practically non-stop. In Mari’s case, it was a good thing since all she really had to do is answer questions, not carry on much of the conversation. Pushing her cart back toward the market, Mari finished up her shopping and turned to head toward home, only to find her least favorite couple. The parents of the one boy she’d dated were walking toward the market as she walked away. It was inevitable that she would run into them now and again but this close, she had to actually nod her head.
“Good afternoon, Mariana.” Cold eyes stared into hers for a moment before Mari dropped her gaze.
“Hello, ma’am, sir.” Mari forced herself to look up and face Kiernan’s parents. She knew they hated her. They blamed her for spoiling his reputation after his death and preventing what they would have considered justice to the poor girl who killed him in self defense. It was all several years in the past now, though. They needed to move on with their lives. They still appeared to be young and could probably start a new family again. Kiernan’s mother was a beauty. There was no question as to where his good looks came from.
“I see you are still alone, dear. No doubt, any normal man would not want anything to do with the likes of you.” Kiernan’s mother huffed, obviously feeling righteous with herself.
“Yes, ma’am. I am quite self-sufficient. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get home to my flock. They’ll be hungry soon.” Mari shoved past the couple, hearing snide remarks from the two of them as she pushed her cart hastily down the road.
Her eyes began to burn behind her lids and she willed herself to be strong. Could she never be happy? Someday, she hoped she could be at peace with herself, live how she wanted to live with nobody to remind her of her lack of worth. Perhaps she could move somewhere far away where nobody knew her, be a hermit in the forest, and never have to talk to anyone ever again. No, she could never bring herself to leave the island or even her land.
Looking up to the great hall, Mari saw the priest pass through the door and decided that she should go talk to him for a while. He was the only person she ever felt she could talk to and hoped he would have some kind of advice for her. Parking her cart outside the door, she went inside and found him sitting on the dais cross-legged in his usual dark red robe.
Without opening his eyes, he sensed her presence, “Hello, Mari. I’ve been expecting you. Come, sit with me for a while.”
Mari stepped lightly across the floor and sat across from the priest, resting her palms on her knees just as he was.
“You are sad.” His eyes opened and he looked directly into hers. Raising his hand, he motioned to a lamp across the room and it floated through the air, landing on his outstretched palm. He set the light on the dais between them and grasped her hands lightly in his. “Mari, I know that you have been through many difficult things in your life. I don’t expect you to recover from that kind of thing easily or quickly. Your father was not a nice man, I know. When you first began to come talk to me as a child, I tried to make him understand that what he was doing to you was just plain wrong, that he would never be given a life dream if he were not good to his own flesh and blood in this life…. He was a tormented soul. Most men do not behave in the manner in which he or Kiernan behaved toward you. You must understand that.
“What I do think you should do, though, is try to be more confident in yourself, face your problems instead of trying to shy away and hide from them. You will remain just as unhappy if you don’t confront the things that hurt you.”
“Father, I had words with Kiernan’s mother. Just now, I saw her on the street and she insulted me… again. How can I possibly face something like that head-on without looking like I’m mocking her pain?” Mari was so confused; she wished she were linked with someone like most girls are, someone who could help her understand her emotions.
“One step at a time, really. You need to make friends, talk with people, let them get to know the real you. Just by being around those with whom you feel comfortable, you will begin to gain confidence in who you are as a person.” The priest paused and gave her hands a light squeeze, “Can you understand what I mean?”
“I… I think so, Father.” She really did think she ought to try to talk to Nin a little bit more when making her rounds, and maybe attend the next few weddings.
“Good. Now, I need to begin making some new robes. It seems that I’ve misplaced some of my best ones. Perhaps I’ve used them as rags and forgotten in my old age.” He gave a light chuckle and stood, motioning for the lamp to float back into its original position. “I hope you will remember our conversation after you leave today, Mari.”
“I will, Father, thank you.” Mari turned toward the door.
“Mari, God has a plan for you, too. Nobody can claim that they know His plan, but I have a feeling that you will not be inconsequential in your life. Good day.” He turned and disappeared through a doorway in the back of the great Hall.