The Book of Mara

goat or something to make it up and down t

him, running my hands through the grass on either side of the path. It was soft as fur and tickled my fing

ad in and out of town. So why wasn’t there a pathway for travelers? I purposely stepped hard on some of the gras

aybe I had buried it deep within my mind. Either way, with my head clearer, I finally had the chance to see t

have shocked me if I had been louder than the horns. My escort looked back at me, and I could have sworn I saw the man roll his eye

n, no one would be able to tell the difference between them. Suddenly there was a roar so loud that the ground seemed to shake. My feet skidded to a

ounded by his people. Women, children, and men encirc

-shaped eyes. They each even had similar markings around their eyes and cheeks. Several had extra m

ent. Different hairstyles, different clothing choices, different features. Most green wit

group of these people hissing at me. I fell to my knees and hid my f

ed a loud voice

saw that a path had opened off to my side. A set of knee-high brown boots came into view moments before a hand reached down for my ow

hispered in

yes clouded with confusion

know my name?”

er. It’s Mara,” I whispered, m

ike I was an alien. That thought almost made me laugh. Me? A

inally, he barked, or rather hissed hard, at the man behind

me but was quickly shot down. He grabbed me gently under m

aking me?” I dem

erstood my words. Or maybe he was

to break free of him. With a sigh, I stopped fighting and took in my surroundings. The village looked like something straight out of a mediev

o another and another, then up a stairwell. By the time the man had stopped, I was lost and would have sworn that he ha

under their white vest paired with black leather pants, and a sword was strapped to their sides. The h

ned the door revealing a rather well

putting me

in there. I even smacked his hard chest a few time

d out of the room slowly with a look on his face that told me he would rather be doing anything other than locking

d to it and began pounding on it

ring me as if my shouts were nothing more than the wind.

d. With a long, defeated sigh went and