SciFi and Fantasy Stories: Unhinged: Chapter One

Karn had been without rain for months. The land was parched and as dry as a desolate waste. All the animals had long since migrated to lands more humid and green. No songbird’s soothing croon had been heard in what seemed like an eternity to the town’s people. The loss of the birds heartening songs stolen the last drop of hope left in the farmer’s hearts. The city was declining into a depression. The rest of the nation watched on with no hint of rescuing the little wedge of Erith named Karn. Erith might even view Karn as a stumbling block rather than an assistance, as the town had been having trouble keeping it’s own for decades. Karn was abandoned. The farmers were beginning to get desperate and sending milk, barely and meat to Erith’s neighboring country Riyandor, instead of keeping the profit inside of the nation. Merchants had stopped coming through Karn weeks ago, not leaving the towns people in much dismay, as they had no money to buy the merchandise anyway.

Green-eyed Falina stood in line with the rest of the town to get the clothes Riyandor had sent to keep the little town going. It was beginning to seem as though the bordering country cared more about Karn’s well being than Erith itself. Week after week the people had gathered to distribute what the wagon of Riyandor had brought. Usually sandals, clothes, metals, tools, soap and the like. The shipment of new tunics and leggings were a privilege. As Falina approached the front of the line she peered over the shoulder of the man in front of her. The tunics were very simple looking with plain rectangular bodies, and sleeves that didn’t even narrow at the wrists. There was a choice between green and brown. Falina accepted a green tunic with brown leggings along with an extra outfit for her mother. Muttering an embarrassed but gracious thanks, she moved aside to allow the rest of the line to progress.

"Fal!" she heard a familiar voice calling to her in the distance. "Hey, Fal!" Falina searched around aimlessly, unable to locate where the voice was coming from. Suddenly, two strong arms locked around her waist and heaved her down into the dirt. The tunics and leggings she was formerly holding went cascading through the air in a brilliant display of auburn and jade material; only to end up in the sun warmed soil beside her. She angrily brushed the debris from her short sun bleached hair and glared up at whomever dared to perturb her. "Matt!" She vocally realized, bouncing up from the dirt and wrapping her arms around his neck in a friendly embrace. Matt returned the affection, only drawing the girl in a little bit closer. "I missed you." She murmured into the fabric of his shirt. He smiled down at her golden tousled hair, giving her a slight squeeze. Falina, realizing the physical inappropriateness of their embrace abruptly pulled away, a slight flush glowing across her tanned cheeks. She awkwardly remembered the discarded outfits and avoided the boy’s warm brown-eyed gaze by inelegantly falling to the ground and collecting the clothing. "I thought you and your father were finding work in Makita." She tried to say carelessly as she stood up. Matt took a pair of the leggings from her and attempted to fold them as he spoke, dusting off the filth in the process. "Land is costly."

Falina nodded compassionately. The price of farmland was the main reason most of Karn hadn’t already moved on. "Well, I’m glad you’re home." She admitted.

Matt deftly avoided responding to her by concentrating on the tricky procedure of folding a pair of pants. There was a moment of silence.

"Here, let me do it." Falina reasoned, seizing the leggings. "Fal, I can do it." He countered, refusing to let go. "Think I’d know how to fold a pair of pants in all my twenty one years." Falina snorted. "Fine. Have it your way." Matt cast her a disdainful glare and tore the pants out of her fingers.

Following this was yet another lengthy silence.

"You’ve gotten an accent." She smiled. "I don’t." He disagreed. Falina sighed. Matt had always been difficult to befriend in all the years she had known him. They had miraculously connected more over the past two years though. All of Karn expected their marriage. Falina didn’t. Most of the time she didn’t know what the boy was thinking. She thought that too often she had come on too strong. That wasn’t desirable in a girl, being in such a tradition-focused town. "You would like Makita." He said offhandedly, accenting the words ‘you’ and ‘would’, blending them together instead of pronouncing them separate. "Would I?" She asked curiously. She had never been anywhere else besides Karn. He nodded and handed her the peculiarly folded pair of pants. "It’s very different than here. Even saw some mages there." Her eyes widened at the mention of magic. The only people she had seen whom were educated in a professional guild were just bards travelling through town. "Did you speak to any of them?" she asked. He shook his head, grinning at her noticeable frustration at his lack of care. "Naw. Mostly just spoke to the gypsies and the Makitan maids." His grin broadened, anticipating the reaction he would get out of her. Falina’s emerald colored eyes swirled with jealousy, but she bit her tongue. A girl had to be really exquisite to become a Makitan maid. That on it’s own she might be able to handle, but they had to have charm as well. It wasn’t the most respectable job, but it was said to pay well. Falina wouldn’t have a problem living the rest of her life cleaning and having boys gawk over her. She flushed and felt convicted merely at the thought. "Well, I hope you treated those girls with honor." She heard herself say in a voice that was not her own. Actually, it more resembled her mother’s. "Have you become my mother?" he echoed her thoughts arrogantly. "Nay." She murmured, dropping her gaze. He realized how uncomfortable he had made her, as his mother had passed only a few years ago. He made up for it by unexpectedly pulling her close to him once again, this time holding her a little bit more mannerly. She could hear his heart thudding lightly in his chest. "I missed you too, by the way" He admitted quietly. Falina unwillingly pulled away, although having appreciated the intimacy. "Will you leave again?"

"I don’a know."

"There’s that accent again."

"I wasna away for long enough to catch an accent."

"Eight months is plenty of time." Falina longed to be back in his arms again, wishing she had not so quickly pulled away. "I better be going, I have homework." She reluctantly muttered, hoping that he would offer to help. He had often tutored her with her maths before he had left. He didn’t offer to help this time though. "Aye. I should be going too." Falina looked down at the clothing in her arms to hide the dismayed look that had managed to shadow itself upon her face. "Will you be at the festival tonight?" He inquired. "A festival? It’s hardly the right time to be celebrating." She said with an eyebrow raised. Matt only shrugged. "Maybe it will bring the town’s spirits up?" Falina nodded. It would be good for Karn to let themselves relax for a night.

Everyone had been so disheartened lately.

"I’ll come. Will you save a dance for me?"

"‘Course." Matt replied, ruffling the girl’s hair. She glowered at him playfully. "I’ll see you later tonight." "G’luck with your homework." He grinned almost in jest. Falina turned from him, waving goodbye as she began to return home.

It was not a long walk her mother’s small rosewood crafted cottage. After her father had left to the quickly diminishing Erith army, Falina’s mother had moved them into a smaller home closer to the town. The house was quaint and homey, always smelling of baked breads and different types of spices. Her mother provided a small sum of money by selling her spices to the baker in town. Falina herself worked a few hours a week at the bakery. She didn’t thoroughly enjoy it, but it helped her mother pay the taxes. They hadn’t heard from her father in over three years. No doubt he was still living, as Erith had not been in any battles in over decades. Her mother had seemed to accept the loss almost with open arms. Falina wondered if she enjoyed being a widow. Her mother spent long hours reading, or tending the herbs in her garden. She seemed to be content.

The girl entered the splintered cottage door slowly, afraid of catching anguish for taking so long with retrieving the clothing. As expected, her mother sat tranquilly in the kitchen with a large yellow paged book propped open upon her lap. She gazed over the top of her wire-rimmed glasses absently taking notice of her daughter’s presence.

‘I see that Matt stumbled upon you quite easily." She smiled lightly. Falina reddened. "I don’t think he deliberately went out searching for me." Her mother regarded the comment with perceptive gaze, causing Falina think that she knew more than she let on.

"The new clothes are rather plain." Falina griped. Her mother shook her head at her daughter. "You should be thankful."

Falina knew that she was right. She was just tired of living in poverty. It would be nice to wear decent clothes for once. Then again, she didn’t know if she would feel comfortable in them. She wouldn’t want to stand out in such a plain town.

‘How did you know that Matt is back?" Falina asked nonchalantly.

"He came by looking for you earlier."

Falina felt herself smile without intending to. He had been looking for her!

Sometimes she hated so easily being drawn towards the boy. He was ruthless and arrogant. At times she was certain that he had no sensitive bone in his body! At other times she thought that he wasn’t merciless enough to keep his composure and not be so cruelly intimate with her. Yes, cruelly. How was she expected to resist his charm? To keep her honor? His warm golden colored eyes were enough to make any girl’s heart melt, but the way his russet tinted hair hung over his brow so carelessly was more than a mere advantage for the boy. Ah, and the way that the edges of his lips curled up into a playful smirk when he thought she was doing something foolish... Foolish! That was another thing. The boy thought she had no brain! She was sure of it.

She had to question his motives if he was seriously interested in a girl who was as dimwitted as she thought herself to be.

"Falina." Her mother spoke, breaking her train of thought.

"You have your maths to finish."