And the cowardly man was choking, coughing.
Leyman thought he would not survive unless he left the Last River as soon as possible.
And so, with the feeling of his aching body crumbling, Leyman slowly rose to his feet. And then limping towards the forest on the other side.
When he was about to reach the edge of the forest on that side, Leyman fell because the rock he was stepping on was quite slippery.
Leyman slammed his forehead against a fairly large rock, suddenly he fainted. He rolled into the shallow stream of the river. And the stream, which was only a feet depth, carried Leyman downstream slowly.
***
In the morning, the Vashara people who are close to the forest on the east side of the large and dry area carry out their activities as usual.
Their previous worries did not come to pass. The soldiers of the two different kingdoms no one returned instead of the war they feared, it didn't happen at all.
There were only two possibilities that they could think of. First of all, it was possible that the soldiers were able to penetrate the Forbidden Forest and now they were nowhere to be found. And secondly, they had all died becoming prey for the mystical creatures within the Forbidden Forest itself.
And yes, most of the residents of Vashara think the second possibility is what happened to the 400 soldiers and their two commanders.
That is exactly what Munra was thinking.
The middle-aged man was standing in front of his hut holding an old sickle. The better scythe he had left in the forest where he and Aryan had met an old hermit. So he had to use the old scythe. Maybe later he'll get lots of fresh grass, so he can buy a better scythe.
Marni emerged from the front door of the hut along with Aryan.
"What are you doing, my husband?"
Munra smiled, then shook his head. He kissed his wife's forehead tenderly.
"Nothing," he said. "I was just thinking about the soldiers from yesterday."
"Leave it," said Marni while rubbing her husband's shoulder. "There's no need to think about them. There was no war, I'm already grateful to the gods for this. So just leave them alone, please."
Munra smiled, he caressed his wife's cheek. It was still clear to Munra that yesterday afternoon Marni was so scared.
But thank goodness, Munra thought. All of that did not happen or he did not know where he would go if the war they were afraid of happened and spread to the area where they lived.
"All right, my wife," said Munra then while the wagon was waiting with the female buffalo. "While it's still early, I'm leaving now."
"Am I not coming this time with you, Dad?" asked little Aryan.
Munra bent down, rubbed his adopted son's head and cheeks.
"Aryan," he said, "you stay at home with your mother. Can you do that for me?"
Aryan looked quite sad, but he still nodded his head.
"All right," Munra got up again, and once again he kissed his wife's forehead. "I'm leaving now."
She does not know why, but Marni felt so heavy-hearted to let her husband's leaving go this time. Marni is not sure what caused it all, for sure, she still prays to the gods and goddesses in Swargaloka for the safety of her husband.
Munra had left on his wagon pulled by the female buffalo while Aryan looked sadly at his father on the other end, Marni pulled Aryan into her arms.
Marni knew, Aryan would want to go with his father and was reluctant to stay at home, playing with friends his age. Yes, Marni knows all too well that in the end, Aryan will only be made fun of by the kids around there.
After all, she and Munra had promised to do their best so that they could find a teacher for Aryan. That's why Munra decided not to take Aryan with him anymore, so he could find some fresh grass in an area further away from Vashara itself.
Yes, this again reminded Marni of the merchant whose house and big shop are dozens of steps on the left side of the front of their hut.
Marni has made a deal with the merchant. Although this was a very embarrassing thing for her, she had no choice. All these efforts were only for Aryan's sake. And Marni is not the kind of woman who breaks the agreement she has made with the merchant, although, this also means that she has betrayed her husband's love for her.
"Come on, Aryan," Marni bring her adopted son back into their hut. "Are you willing to help me, honey?"
Aryan looked at his mother's face, then nodded and smiled.
"Then," Marni brought Aryan to the back. She then grabbed a basket made of woven bamboo, inside the basket were some dirty clothes. "We're going to the river on the back, and you'll help me wash up there later. Will you?"
"All right, Mom."
The mother and son came out of their hut through the back door, leading Aryan in one hand and the other holding the basket, Marni walked towards the murky little river where they used to wash their clothes.
***
A girl about 16 years old was walking among the bushes on the west bank of a large river. That river is none other than the Last River.
The girl had long, loose hair, the straight black hair swaying with her footsteps. She carried a small basket which she held in her left hand.
As she walked she mumbled softly as if she was singing a song that sounded cheerful rhythm.
She stopped in her tracks when she saw a pile of ferns with new shoots rising.
While smiling and continuing to sing the rhythm of the song without lyrics, she squatted down and plucked the shoots of the ferns, then put the young shoots into her basket.
The girl smiled broadly when she saw some mushrooms flourishing on one tree trunk. She immediately approached the tree.
Her face was so cheerful and happy when she picked the mushrooms. Yes, it looks like this afternoon there will be better food for her.
TO BE CONTINUED ...