Atreyu Meets the New World
It’s been a little over a year now since
Zakarie’s impromptu hiring as a cabin boy. He’d learned and adapted well. Most
of the crew enjoyed the boy, finding him helpful and amusing. The rest
tolerated him, quick to admit his usefulness, only to moan about his ceaseless
questions in the next breath. Billings
was the only crew member who actually disliked the boy. He didn’t trust him
either; he was a thief after all. Never mind he hadn’t stolen a thing from the Black
Hawk and crew.
During this time, the Black Hawk took several merchant ships’ cargo. It was these skirmishes that Zak’s thief abilities became known and found a new outlet. Being a boy of eleven, almost twelve, he couldn’t really fight an adult with a weapon of any kind worthwhile. So, he took to assisting crew members against their opponents. A lost belt, causing pants to fall during a critical move. Pieces of rope twined loosely around feet, unnoticed until a step was taking, causing a stumble or trip. Back up weapons missing when reached for. Whatever Zak’s nimble mind could think up, his quick fingers executed. By the end of their first battle, the Black Hawk crew was fighting the urge to laugh hysterically at the boy’s antics and his victims’ expressions.
Now though, the Black Hawk approached a strange land. Zak was up at the Fo'c's'le watching the heavily forested area they approached. There was a river they were aiming for coming out of that forest.
As they entered and navigated up the river, Zakarie’s head kept snapping back and forth, trying to view both sides at once. Captain Jackson had come up behind him and spoke, nearly causing Zak to jump overboard in surprise. There was amusement in Jonas’ voice. “Soon we’ll be home, me boy.”
Zak turned and looked up at the Captain and noticed he had a joyful and excited expression on his face. “Home, Sir?”
The Captain nodded. “Aye. This is me home now. Have a coupla wives and six kids last counting.”
Zak blinked. Two wives? He looked back out at this strange new world. Two wives. Wow! How does he keep up? Suddenly he feels a hand on his shoulder; he looks back at his Captain.
“I hope you will come to think of it as home too.” Zak blinked again, as the Captain paused before continuing on. “It is simpler here. My wives’ people don’t use currency; they trade or give freely for what is needed.” Zakarie stared at him in disbelief. That he’d have to see for himself. Captain Jackson sighed causing Zak to look at him closer. “Zakarie….” His Captain rarely used his full name, so that really caught his attention. “If ye don’t mind… I’d like to adopt ye once we’re there and settled… Seeing how ye have no family… This way ye’ll have a sense of belonging… maybe…” He trails off and peers at the boy.
Zak was stunned beyond words. This man, his friend, wanted to adopt him?
At Zak’s quietness Jonas hastily added. “I don’t have to, and yer welcome to stay in my longhouse regardless.”
Zak was puzzled. Longhouse? What’s that? He shook his head. “No… I’m surprised is all. I-I’d be honoured to be adopted by ye.” He pauses a torn look on his face. “I-I’m not sure if I can ever call ye Father though.” He looks at Jackson pensively.
Jackson chuckled. “That’s fine. I don’t expect ye too. Though they’re gone, ye still had a Mother and Father.”
Zak nodded, relieved and turned back to continue surveying his soon-to-be new home. “How long will we be here?”
Jackson gave a shrug the boy didn’t see. “Six months, a year, more, less. It’ll depend on how soon the village needs supplies.” Just then the ship rounded a bend in the river and the village suddenly sprang into view.
Zak’s jaw drops. “Their buildings are… odd.”
Jonas chuckled. “I thought so too my first time, but ye get used to it. Odd though they be, they are far more sound and weather proof then those back in Port Royal.”
Zak snorted at that bit of news, wasn’t possible in his worldly opinion. Jackson just chuckled again, the boy would find out. They could both see sudden activity in the village they approached as the Black Hawk was spotted.
The Black Hawk dropped anchor mid-river right across from the village. Long log-like longboats were launched from the rivers edge and came out to the Black Hawk. Most of the crew greeted those manning the log boats not only cheerfully but also in a language Zak didn’t know. Only a small handful of the crew was like Zak, having signed on at Prot Royal and never been here before. To Zak they looked a bit ill at ease.
Unloading the Black Hawk was a frenzied and hurried process that took about two hours. The dugouts, as Zak learned they were called, could only hold so much, and it wasn’t a whole lot. Soon as the majority of things had been ferried over though, Zak found himself in one of those dugouts. Zak studied it curiously and avidly. When he turned to view the fella behind him though, the guy scowled at him, and Zak heard one of the sailors say. “Sit still Zak, ye upset the dugout with yer movements.” Zak immediately turned back around and froze in that position for the rest of the trip to land.
Once they reached shore, Zak still sat frozen as everyone but himself and the operator of the dugout got out. The same sailor chuckled. “Come on Zak, ye can get out now.” Zak exploded into motion, scrambling out of the dugout and onto shore.
As the operator got out and started tugging the dugout farther on shore, he said something to the sailor in his tongue. The sailor laughed and ruffled Zak’s hair, nodding, saying something in return with a sly grin. The other guy just grunts in return. Zak scurries over opposite the guy and helps him finish beaching the craft.
The guy stood up when they’d finished and eyed Zak appraisingly. In funny accented English the guy spoke. “Helpful child aren’t you?”
Zak frowned in concentration as he puzzled out the words through the thick accent. Then his face lit into a grin as he figures it out, changing again to serious as he replies. “Yes, Sir. At least I try to be, Sir.”
The guy grunts and walks off. Zak watches him perplexed. Then he hears his name called. When he turned in the direction it came from, he saw it was the Captain and that he was waving him over.
Zak observed the somewhat large group surrounding the Captain. There were two women on either side of him, joy and relief mingling on their faces as they gazed at him. Each had a toddler clutching their skirts, one looked to be a girl and the other a boy. There were four more boys ranging in age from six years to thirteen, and two more girls that looked to be about nine, maybe ten.
Zak finished trotting up and the Captain grinned at him. “This is me family, soon to be yers as well.” Then he proceeded to rattle off names while Zakarie looked to have just been gut punched through it all.
The oldest boy laughed. “Father, he will never remember them all until he learns our language. You should tell him our English ones instead.” He turns to Zak with a friendly grin. “I am called Swift Foot in English because I am the fastest runner.”
Zak grinned; he took an immediate liking to Swift Foot. The boy spoke perfect English which Zak found surprising, but he was glad he did; now Zak didn’t have to worry about communicating. “Well met, Swift Foot, and thanks.”
“Well met, Zak-air-ee. You were looking a little overwhelmed with all the People names. Father tends to forget that not everyone speaks our language as well as him and most of his crew.” He turns and gives his father an appraising look. “Though I am surprised he didn’t try teaching you our language while you were on ship.”
Jackson looked embarrassed, “I didn’t think to and only just decided to adopt Zak this morning.”
Swift Foot shakes his head. “That is no excuse, Father. You knew you were bringing him home at the very least, as well as your other new crew members. You could have taught them all.”
Jonas nodded hastily. “Yer right, yer right. Remind me later to talk to Hastings and Freemonte that they’ll have extra duty of language instructor on ship.”
Swift Foot rolled his eyes good naturedly. “Yes, Father. Now can we get Zak-air-ee settled so I can show him around the village?” He turned back to Zak and looked him over. “Where’s your things? Did not you bring them from the Black Hawk?”
Zak looked embarrassed. “My joining the Black Hawk was… sudden. I had nothing with me.”
Zak heard an exclamation from both the women and one was actually berating the Captain. He was not only shocked, but felt bad as well. “Ma’am it isn’t Capy-tan’s fault. I appeared unexpectedly and with nothing. If --”
She cuts him off. “We know what happened, Zak-air-ee, and that is no excuse. Boys need clothes and weapons and --”
Zak cuts her off. “But I do have those, Ma’am.” He plucks at his shirt and turns his hip for her to see the small knife sheathed at his side.
She is about to speak again when the other woman speaks up. “What is done is done. It matters not now. We will tend to what the boy needs now.” The first woman snaps her mouth shut and just nods. The second woman continues. “Swift Foot, take Zak-air-ee and show him around his new home. But be back in time to prepare for the feast this evening.”
Swift Foot nods. “Yes, First Mother, thank you.” Zak echoes the thank you as Swift Foot leads him off.
“Why did you call her First Mother?”
Swift Foot looks over at Zak. “Father told you nothing about us?”
“Just that the foul smelling and tasting herbs come from here abouts.”
Swift Foot sighs. “Figures. Ok, Morning Dove is my birth mother, while Chattering Squirrel is not, but since both are mated to my father, that makes them both my mothers. So, Morning Dove is my First Mother since she birthed me, and Chattering Squirrel is my Second Mother.”
“Oh.” It actually made sense to Zak, and he saw how it kept confusion down instead of a child just calling out Mother. It also showed a form of respect to the woman who birthed the child. “So, any born of Morning Dove call her First Mother, while those born of Chattering Squirrel call her First Mother.”
Swift Foot grinned and nodded. “You have it in one. Myself, Quiet Mouse and the baby,” he points to one of the girls carrying the girl toddler, “and Beaver,” he points to one of the younger boys, “all are born of Morning Dove. While Far Seer,” points to the boy his age, “Fox,” points to the other younger boy, “and Dancing Fawn and the other baby,” points to the other girl that was carrying the boy toddler, “all are born of Chattering Squirrel.”
Far Seer spoke then. “I guess you get to pick which you wish to be your First Mother.” He watches Zak with out expression.
Zak shook his head. “I already told Capy-tan that I wouldn’t be able to call him father. I won’t be able to call either First Mother.” He pauses thoughtfully. “Maybe Second and Third Mother…” He trails off and shakes his head. “No, that doesn’t work right. It would be saying that your Father had a third wife when he didn’t and doesn’t.” He sighed.
Far Seer raised his brows and looked at Swift Foot who mirrored his expression. Both looked back at Zak for the boy was obviously thinking seriously. They waited wanting to see what he’d say next.
“What… what do you call Aunts and Oncles?”
Both boys looked startled. Far Seer replies. “Besha Weniijaanid and Besho Dede (Near Mother and Near Father)”
Zak grins with delight. “I can call both Capy-tan and your Mothers that.”
Far Seer shook his head. “But they are adopting you, Zak-air-ee.”
Zak frowned. “So, if they were to all die, God forbid, and an aunt and oncle were to adopt you, you would call them Mother and Father?”
Swift Foot suddenly let out a howl of laughter and Far Seer glowered at him. The other children were even giggling. “He has you, Brother.”
Far Seer chuckles at Swift Foot’s words. “Aye, that he does.” Turning to Zak, he claps him on the shoulder. “You are right Zak-air-ee. We would still call them Aunt and Uncle. Even if they adopted us.”
At Far Seer’s gestures and words, Zak suddenly felt like he’d just passed some test he’d no clue he’d been taking. And it seemed he’d passed with colors as well, for suddenly the younger children were asking him all kinds of questions about his life before today. He now knew how those sailors and captains had felt when he’d pestered them with questions himself. Wonder none of them had ever just drowned me out of sheer frustration and aggravation. He did his best to keep up and answered the questions.
Soon they reached a longhouse. Zak looked at it oddly. It seemed terribly short and everyone but the shortest would have to bend over to walk around. Swift Foot stepped in. “This is our dwelling. We will show you where you will sleep, and then we can show you around the village.” Zak went to follow and nearly fell his first step in. He hadn’t realized that he had to step down. Half the longhouse was underground. He looked around in amazement as the other kids laughed.
“Oops, forgot to warn you. Sorry.” Swift Foot looked upset over his blunder. Zak just grinned and shrugged and continued to look around the longhouse.
Shortly, after a bit of arguing of who should get to sleep by him and who was giving him what for bedding, they had it settled where he’d sleep and they were all off exploring the village. As evening approached they returned to the longhouse and readied themselves for the feast.
At the feast, Zak was stunned and amazed at it all. There was tons of food, music, dancing, and different people got up and spoke. All in all though it was very relaxed, and Swift Foot and Far Seer were kind enough to translate everything said so Zak didn’t miss out on anything.
Before the feast ended Jonas Jackson rose and so did his two wives. Everyone hushed to listen to what they would say, the two boys translating for Zak the only other sounds. “I would like to let you know, my friends, my family, that in two moons’ time we will be adopting Zakarie as one of our children. He turned to Zak, speaking in English. “Stand up, me boy, let them see you.”
Zak coloured and did as he was told, as Jackson continued on. “The boy has lost both of his parents sometime back. And he has been misused from that time until his recent joining of the Black Hawk. He now has no family to care for him, and we wish to become that family now. He can no longer return to Port Royal for the time being or the ill user will kill him. We wish for this village to become his new home.”
Zak looked out at the sea of faces, firelight flickering across them. As Jackson finished speaking, he saw approval, acceptance, and welcome from all but Billings. By now, Zak knew he’d never get even acceptance, let alone approval, from that one.
He looked down when he felt tugging on his clothes, bringing him out of his thoughts. He realized that both of his soon-to-be older brothers were trying to get him to sit. He promptly did so at the sounds of quiet laughter.
Eventually the feast came to an end and everyone returned to their dwellings. As Zak lay down in his new bed, he smiled a contented smile. Soon he’d have a new family in a new home. Port Royal was becoming nothing more then a bad memory with a handful of good ones scattered through here and there. He drifted off to sleep with those pleasant thoughts.
During this time, the Black Hawk took several merchant ships’ cargo. It was these skirmishes that Zak’s thief abilities became known and found a new outlet. Being a boy of eleven, almost twelve, he couldn’t really fight an adult with a weapon of any kind worthwhile. So, he took to assisting crew members against their opponents. A lost belt, causing pants to fall during a critical move. Pieces of rope twined loosely around feet, unnoticed until a step was taking, causing a stumble or trip. Back up weapons missing when reached for. Whatever Zak’s nimble mind could think up, his quick fingers executed. By the end of their first battle, the Black Hawk crew was fighting the urge to laugh hysterically at the boy’s antics and his victims’ expressions.
Now though, the Black Hawk approached a strange land. Zak was up at the Fo'c's'le watching the heavily forested area they approached. There was a river they were aiming for coming out of that forest.
As they entered and navigated up the river, Zakarie’s head kept snapping back and forth, trying to view both sides at once. Captain Jackson had come up behind him and spoke, nearly causing Zak to jump overboard in surprise. There was amusement in Jonas’ voice. “Soon we’ll be home, me boy.”
Zak turned and looked up at the Captain and noticed he had a joyful and excited expression on his face. “Home, Sir?”
The Captain nodded. “Aye. This is me home now. Have a coupla wives and six kids last counting.”
Zak blinked. Two wives? He looked back out at this strange new world. Two wives. Wow! How does he keep up? Suddenly he feels a hand on his shoulder; he looks back at his Captain.
“I hope you will come to think of it as home too.” Zak blinked again, as the Captain paused before continuing on. “It is simpler here. My wives’ people don’t use currency; they trade or give freely for what is needed.” Zakarie stared at him in disbelief. That he’d have to see for himself. Captain Jackson sighed causing Zak to look at him closer. “Zakarie….” His Captain rarely used his full name, so that really caught his attention. “If ye don’t mind… I’d like to adopt ye once we’re there and settled… Seeing how ye have no family… This way ye’ll have a sense of belonging… maybe…” He trails off and peers at the boy.
Zak was stunned beyond words. This man, his friend, wanted to adopt him?
At Zak’s quietness Jonas hastily added. “I don’t have to, and yer welcome to stay in my longhouse regardless.”
Zak was puzzled. Longhouse? What’s that? He shook his head. “No… I’m surprised is all. I-I’d be honoured to be adopted by ye.” He pauses a torn look on his face. “I-I’m not sure if I can ever call ye Father though.” He looks at Jackson pensively.
Jackson chuckled. “That’s fine. I don’t expect ye too. Though they’re gone, ye still had a Mother and Father.”
Zak nodded, relieved and turned back to continue surveying his soon-to-be new home. “How long will we be here?”
Jackson gave a shrug the boy didn’t see. “Six months, a year, more, less. It’ll depend on how soon the village needs supplies.” Just then the ship rounded a bend in the river and the village suddenly sprang into view.
Zak’s jaw drops. “Their buildings are… odd.”
Jonas chuckled. “I thought so too my first time, but ye get used to it. Odd though they be, they are far more sound and weather proof then those back in Port Royal.”
Zak snorted at that bit of news, wasn’t possible in his worldly opinion. Jackson just chuckled again, the boy would find out. They could both see sudden activity in the village they approached as the Black Hawk was spotted.
The Black Hawk dropped anchor mid-river right across from the village. Long log-like longboats were launched from the rivers edge and came out to the Black Hawk. Most of the crew greeted those manning the log boats not only cheerfully but also in a language Zak didn’t know. Only a small handful of the crew was like Zak, having signed on at Prot Royal and never been here before. To Zak they looked a bit ill at ease.
Unloading the Black Hawk was a frenzied and hurried process that took about two hours. The dugouts, as Zak learned they were called, could only hold so much, and it wasn’t a whole lot. Soon as the majority of things had been ferried over though, Zak found himself in one of those dugouts. Zak studied it curiously and avidly. When he turned to view the fella behind him though, the guy scowled at him, and Zak heard one of the sailors say. “Sit still Zak, ye upset the dugout with yer movements.” Zak immediately turned back around and froze in that position for the rest of the trip to land.
Once they reached shore, Zak still sat frozen as everyone but himself and the operator of the dugout got out. The same sailor chuckled. “Come on Zak, ye can get out now.” Zak exploded into motion, scrambling out of the dugout and onto shore.
As the operator got out and started tugging the dugout farther on shore, he said something to the sailor in his tongue. The sailor laughed and ruffled Zak’s hair, nodding, saying something in return with a sly grin. The other guy just grunts in return. Zak scurries over opposite the guy and helps him finish beaching the craft.
The guy stood up when they’d finished and eyed Zak appraisingly. In funny accented English the guy spoke. “Helpful child aren’t you?”
Zak frowned in concentration as he puzzled out the words through the thick accent. Then his face lit into a grin as he figures it out, changing again to serious as he replies. “Yes, Sir. At least I try to be, Sir.”
The guy grunts and walks off. Zak watches him perplexed. Then he hears his name called. When he turned in the direction it came from, he saw it was the Captain and that he was waving him over.
Zak observed the somewhat large group surrounding the Captain. There were two women on either side of him, joy and relief mingling on their faces as they gazed at him. Each had a toddler clutching their skirts, one looked to be a girl and the other a boy. There were four more boys ranging in age from six years to thirteen, and two more girls that looked to be about nine, maybe ten.
Zak finished trotting up and the Captain grinned at him. “This is me family, soon to be yers as well.” Then he proceeded to rattle off names while Zakarie looked to have just been gut punched through it all.
The oldest boy laughed. “Father, he will never remember them all until he learns our language. You should tell him our English ones instead.” He turns to Zak with a friendly grin. “I am called Swift Foot in English because I am the fastest runner.”
Zak grinned; he took an immediate liking to Swift Foot. The boy spoke perfect English which Zak found surprising, but he was glad he did; now Zak didn’t have to worry about communicating. “Well met, Swift Foot, and thanks.”
“Well met, Zak-air-ee. You were looking a little overwhelmed with all the People names. Father tends to forget that not everyone speaks our language as well as him and most of his crew.” He turns and gives his father an appraising look. “Though I am surprised he didn’t try teaching you our language while you were on ship.”
Jackson looked embarrassed, “I didn’t think to and only just decided to adopt Zak this morning.”
Swift Foot shakes his head. “That is no excuse, Father. You knew you were bringing him home at the very least, as well as your other new crew members. You could have taught them all.”
Jonas nodded hastily. “Yer right, yer right. Remind me later to talk to Hastings and Freemonte that they’ll have extra duty of language instructor on ship.”
Swift Foot rolled his eyes good naturedly. “Yes, Father. Now can we get Zak-air-ee settled so I can show him around the village?” He turned back to Zak and looked him over. “Where’s your things? Did not you bring them from the Black Hawk?”
Zak looked embarrassed. “My joining the Black Hawk was… sudden. I had nothing with me.”
Zak heard an exclamation from both the women and one was actually berating the Captain. He was not only shocked, but felt bad as well. “Ma’am it isn’t Capy-tan’s fault. I appeared unexpectedly and with nothing. If --”
She cuts him off. “We know what happened, Zak-air-ee, and that is no excuse. Boys need clothes and weapons and --”
Zak cuts her off. “But I do have those, Ma’am.” He plucks at his shirt and turns his hip for her to see the small knife sheathed at his side.
She is about to speak again when the other woman speaks up. “What is done is done. It matters not now. We will tend to what the boy needs now.” The first woman snaps her mouth shut and just nods. The second woman continues. “Swift Foot, take Zak-air-ee and show him around his new home. But be back in time to prepare for the feast this evening.”
Swift Foot nods. “Yes, First Mother, thank you.” Zak echoes the thank you as Swift Foot leads him off.
“Why did you call her First Mother?”
Swift Foot looks over at Zak. “Father told you nothing about us?”
“Just that the foul smelling and tasting herbs come from here abouts.”
Swift Foot sighs. “Figures. Ok, Morning Dove is my birth mother, while Chattering Squirrel is not, but since both are mated to my father, that makes them both my mothers. So, Morning Dove is my First Mother since she birthed me, and Chattering Squirrel is my Second Mother.”
“Oh.” It actually made sense to Zak, and he saw how it kept confusion down instead of a child just calling out Mother. It also showed a form of respect to the woman who birthed the child. “So, any born of Morning Dove call her First Mother, while those born of Chattering Squirrel call her First Mother.”
Swift Foot grinned and nodded. “You have it in one. Myself, Quiet Mouse and the baby,” he points to one of the girls carrying the girl toddler, “and Beaver,” he points to one of the younger boys, “all are born of Morning Dove. While Far Seer,” points to the boy his age, “Fox,” points to the other younger boy, “and Dancing Fawn and the other baby,” points to the other girl that was carrying the boy toddler, “all are born of Chattering Squirrel.”
Far Seer spoke then. “I guess you get to pick which you wish to be your First Mother.” He watches Zak with out expression.
Zak shook his head. “I already told Capy-tan that I wouldn’t be able to call him father. I won’t be able to call either First Mother.” He pauses thoughtfully. “Maybe Second and Third Mother…” He trails off and shakes his head. “No, that doesn’t work right. It would be saying that your Father had a third wife when he didn’t and doesn’t.” He sighed.
Far Seer raised his brows and looked at Swift Foot who mirrored his expression. Both looked back at Zak for the boy was obviously thinking seriously. They waited wanting to see what he’d say next.
“What… what do you call Aunts and Oncles?”
Both boys looked startled. Far Seer replies. “Besha Weniijaanid and Besho Dede (Near Mother and Near Father)”
Zak grins with delight. “I can call both Capy-tan and your Mothers that.”
Far Seer shook his head. “But they are adopting you, Zak-air-ee.”
Zak frowned. “So, if they were to all die, God forbid, and an aunt and oncle were to adopt you, you would call them Mother and Father?”
Swift Foot suddenly let out a howl of laughter and Far Seer glowered at him. The other children were even giggling. “He has you, Brother.”
Far Seer chuckles at Swift Foot’s words. “Aye, that he does.” Turning to Zak, he claps him on the shoulder. “You are right Zak-air-ee. We would still call them Aunt and Uncle. Even if they adopted us.”
At Far Seer’s gestures and words, Zak suddenly felt like he’d just passed some test he’d no clue he’d been taking. And it seemed he’d passed with colors as well, for suddenly the younger children were asking him all kinds of questions about his life before today. He now knew how those sailors and captains had felt when he’d pestered them with questions himself. Wonder none of them had ever just drowned me out of sheer frustration and aggravation. He did his best to keep up and answered the questions.
Soon they reached a longhouse. Zak looked at it oddly. It seemed terribly short and everyone but the shortest would have to bend over to walk around. Swift Foot stepped in. “This is our dwelling. We will show you where you will sleep, and then we can show you around the village.” Zak went to follow and nearly fell his first step in. He hadn’t realized that he had to step down. Half the longhouse was underground. He looked around in amazement as the other kids laughed.
“Oops, forgot to warn you. Sorry.” Swift Foot looked upset over his blunder. Zak just grinned and shrugged and continued to look around the longhouse.
Shortly, after a bit of arguing of who should get to sleep by him and who was giving him what for bedding, they had it settled where he’d sleep and they were all off exploring the village. As evening approached they returned to the longhouse and readied themselves for the feast.
At the feast, Zak was stunned and amazed at it all. There was tons of food, music, dancing, and different people got up and spoke. All in all though it was very relaxed, and Swift Foot and Far Seer were kind enough to translate everything said so Zak didn’t miss out on anything.
Before the feast ended Jonas Jackson rose and so did his two wives. Everyone hushed to listen to what they would say, the two boys translating for Zak the only other sounds. “I would like to let you know, my friends, my family, that in two moons’ time we will be adopting Zakarie as one of our children. He turned to Zak, speaking in English. “Stand up, me boy, let them see you.”
Zak coloured and did as he was told, as Jackson continued on. “The boy has lost both of his parents sometime back. And he has been misused from that time until his recent joining of the Black Hawk. He now has no family to care for him, and we wish to become that family now. He can no longer return to Port Royal for the time being or the ill user will kill him. We wish for this village to become his new home.”
Zak looked out at the sea of faces, firelight flickering across them. As Jackson finished speaking, he saw approval, acceptance, and welcome from all but Billings. By now, Zak knew he’d never get even acceptance, let alone approval, from that one.
He looked down when he felt tugging on his clothes, bringing him out of his thoughts. He realized that both of his soon-to-be older brothers were trying to get him to sit. He promptly did so at the sounds of quiet laughter.
Eventually the feast came to an end and everyone returned to their dwellings. As Zak lay down in his new bed, he smiled a contented smile. Soon he’d have a new family in a new home. Port Royal was becoming nothing more then a bad memory with a handful of good ones scattered through here and there. He drifted off to sleep with those pleasant thoughts.