6 Secrets (2/2)

The spiritualist was his friend Kaph's little sister Enri, or as he often called her pipsqueak. The chief would probably be busy teaching this new kid, giving Haruki the time to socialize with the 'ladies'.

He already had his eye on Sumi, the innkeeper's daughter. Shale Village was home to over 400 villagers, hence it often received traders from nearby villages.

There were only 3 inns, but only Sumi's had the best food. Haruki was lazy and a Glutton. He would rather chow down on a boar then practice his earth spiritualist abilities.

After training finished, he was hoping to go and taste some of Sumi's Sand baked Rafa, but then he remembered she wasn't even in the village. She should be part of the group going to the Oasis, his elder brother Sappa should be the accompanying spiritualist.

Haruki didn't like his brother. Mainly because the chief would always use him as an example whenever they train.

Sappa was large in size and was muscular, even more so then regular sand warriors. While Haruki, was a little chubby glutton. However, whenever someone pointed that out, he would always say ”I'm a growing boy, I gotta eat”.

Haruki made his way towards the chiefs home, expecting to see the old man seated outside like always, blowing on his pipe. However, he wasn't there.

”hm, where is that old goat” said Haruki with some displeasure.

Just as he was about to leave, he saw the chief walking towards him from the direction of the village gate. He could see his brother, Lady Zena and her pipsqueak daughter Enri as well. There was also another kid, sticking close to his brother, roughly of Enri's age.

Haruki approached the Chief and just as he was about to say something the chief shut him out.

”Not now Haruki, I have an important matter to tend to” said the chief as he walked into the tent briskly, followed by his brother, who made sure to give him a glare of disapproval, as well as Lady Zena and the Strange boy.

”Haruki, this meeting will take a while, can you take Enri home for me, thank you.” Said lady Zena as she handed him the pipsqueak.

”Enri, who is that kid” asked Haruki as he led Enri towards her home. ”His name is Koren, Uncle Sappa found him.” Said Enri in her Pixie voice.

************

Sappa was seated next to the chief on his right, while the village Matriarch was seated on his left, followed by the Lady Zena and 2 village elders.

Sappa had already handed the sword to the chief, such an important object had to be handed over immediately. The chief's name was Ipnak, but everyone just called him the chief. Everyone except the matriarch.

”Ipnak, what is so important that you had to assemble everyone here, and who is this boy” asked Matriarch Hera in a bossy tone.

Chief Ipnak didn't answer instead he was looking at Koren who was seated in the middle. ”Little Koren , tell us your story.” said chief Ipnak in a serious tone.

Koren started to tell them what happened, he told them about his village, the attack and how him and his grandfather had to run. Lastly he told them about the sword, but left out the coin. He didn't tell them about what happened to him since.

”It is as I feared, they know the artifact is in the desert” said Ipnak in a grim tone.

”That's impossible, they should be searching in the icy mountains of the Luna Range. How can they possibly know its here.” Asked the Matriarch in a serious tone.

”I don't know, but the only possibility I can think of is someone betrayed us” said Chief Ipnak.

”Chief, Matriarch, I apologize for my intrusion, but can you tell us what you are talking about.” Interrupted one of the elders.

The chief looked at his wife who nodded at him and sighed. He looked at everyone in the room till his gaze came to rest upon Koren. ”Koren, do you want to know why your grandfather chose to run from the village instead of staying to fight?” Asked the Village chief of a befuddled Koren.

Koren always thought his grandfather was a very valiant individual. He would rather fight and die then run away. He thought that the reason he ran was to protect him, but he had to know that the chances of their escape were slim to begin with. So there must have been another reason, previously he thought it was Hope, but Hope told him that he was the first to awaken her. So his grandpa could not have known about Hope, for all he was concerned, the ring was just an ancestral heirloom.

'It must have something to do with the sword' thought Koren.

”Say Yes, I don't like to be kept in suspense” said Hope as she was floating above Koren.

Koren Looked at the Chief of Shale Village, whose gaze was filled with pity, not for Koren but for everyone in the room.

”Yes, I want to know” said Koren with zest and vigor.