Desolation begins at home
The young men left the old decaying church with a sense of uncertainty. Old men carrying long arched canes teetered behind them mumbling amongst each other about what had transpired in their hallowed church..
''Uncle Kirill is right, isn't he Sanzhar? We'll stop her before gets to the village?
''No one has laid eyes upon her in over a hundred years. We use her name to scare the brats at night. I don't think there's anything to worry about,'' interjected Aleksandr.
''Father is seldom incorrect, Artem. He was only but a child when the elders of his time had her last visit fresh in their minds.''
''So you're telling me that we are living in fear because of some folk story your father was told when he was an infant?!?'' questioned Aleksandr.
''It's written in the sacred scrolls, Aleks! It's in the sacred scrolls!''
''If I knew where Great Kirill hid the scrolls I'd add a few lines of my own!''
''Alright you two. Enough of this. Lets retire for the night. I have to go home to Diana,'' said Sanzher.
''Tomorrow we hunt!'' cried Artem with excitement.
''Hopefully we'll spot a few hare, throw some potatoes and carrots in there with it...''
''Your dear wife Alina certainly knows how to make the meat melt away from the bone,'' quipped Sanzher who receives a light punch on the arm from his best friend. ''Good rest, boys''
The door made its characteristic creak as Sanzher stepped into the home he shared with his wife. Diana was seated near their low bed brushing her mousey brown hair. it was long and had small curls at the edges where her hair was shortest.
Diana turned to face her young husband who had sat on the bed to remove his dirty workman's boots.
''I've made you something to eat, husband,''
Sanzher looked up at his young wife who looked a honest and pure in a white gown with delicate embroidery that she slept in. ''What is it?''
''fish and potatoes. I went to visit Alina earlier, she was kind enough to give me some herbs to bring out the flavour of the fish,'' she said as she removed a hot plate from the fire and set it onto the table near door to their quaint home.
Sanzher walked toward his wife and brushed the rogue strands of hair that had separated themselves from the knot she had tied, ''Thank you, my darling wife. You do love your husband,'' he said looking at her dotingly.
''I do love my husband,'' she looked down, defeated. ''I will do anything I can for you but the only thing you need I cannot provide you with Sanz!''
Sanzher raised her head by placing his hand on her chin, ''Dearest wife, do not fret for we still have youth on our side,''
''But your family, it needs an heir. Oh, how long have we tried? Great Kirill...''
''What of him? Are you married to him? No, you are MY wife and I married you not for the litter you would provide me but for the love I have for you. It is this love I share for you, Diana that gives the rhythm to the beat of my heart.''
The couple shared a passionate kiss followed by a tender embrace. Sanzher knew Diana was right. He knew that the bloodline had to continue. Had to survive. His wife could not provide him with a son. He knew it would only be a matter of years before Diana would slip into a deep depression caused by severing the historic bloodline that ensured the very existence of the people living in the foothills of the Alatau Mountains. Something anyone would find hard to forgive of themselves.
Great Kirill had not been informed of his son's barren wife and knew that his father would have him take another wife from the village. Someone whose love could never equate to the love he had for Diana but who said that the village was his only option?
Catch the continuation next Thursday for the next installment
No comments:
Post a Comment