The Giving: Chapter 3
She counted four of them. They were all male and dressed very primitively. Unsure if she was among friends or enemies Beka chose to feign sleep until she could figure out where they were taking her.
She had been awake for about an hour before they approached a village. There were large fields with crops. Livestock roamed the fields at will. About three-dozen small cottages lined the single road that ran through the village. Several people came out of the cottages and joined the procession. As the men reached the center of the village square Beka noticed the silhouettes of several large buildings off in the distance. They appeared to be part of a city of quite a large size.
The men placed her down on the ground, jarring her bruised body. She groaned slightly at the impact raising her hand to press against the gash on her forehead.
"So much for pretending to still be unconscious." She thought.
An elderly woman approached Beka and knelt beside her. Reaching out her hand she gently turned Beka's head so that she could examine the cut. She motioned to a young boy who quickly came forward carrying a bag and a basin. The woman took a wet cloth from the basin and began washing the wound on Beka's head. She took some herbs from her bag and applied them to the cut. She then expertly bandaged the wound.
Not knowing if she would be understood since not one person had uttered a word the entire time, Beka spoke anyway.
"Thank you for helping me," she told the old woman.
"You are quite welcome." the woman replied.
"You can talk," Beka was stunned by this turn of events.
"Yes," replied the woman, " As a matter of fact most of the villagers say I should learn to hush up occasionally." A chorus of nervous laughter followed this statement.
"I am sorry. It is just that I have heard no one speak since I woke up and I was a little shocked that I could understand you" Beka said with a smile.
" It would have been considered inappropriate for any of us to speak before you spoke to us.
"Why?" Beka asked.
"It is not right for lowly villagers to speak before the Sky Goddess gives permission." The woman stated.
"The Sky What?" Beka choked out.
Onward To Chapter 4!
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