Haven’t Read chapter 2? you can find it here
Achkai Tournament
By Jordan Miller
Days went by, then weeks, months, years. The Inoka village grew at an amazing pace. Good weather led to bountiful harvests. The streams teemed with more than could be fished. Life was peaceful, and the Inoka were thankful for all that the forest provided.
There was a nip in the air as Tela looked out over the village from the front door of her hut. It was midday, the crisp fall air pushed through her ever-graying hair. She could see farmers bringing large baskets of grain, potatoes, carrots, and other various vegetables to their farm stands. The fishers and hunters were gathered in their huts cleaning and preparing their yield of the day. Builders were hard at work finishing a large structure in a clearing at the center of the village. She felt at peace most days watching her people work, but today she felt a pang of nervousness. She was tired, and she had known for sometime that she would not make another pilgrimage. Today she had an important job to do, and she recalled the last conversation she had with the spirit of nature.
“I’m nervous, how will I know the right person to choose?” she asked.
“You will know,” replied the spirit. “Your village is full of bright Inoka, with love for their village. There is among them someone with the cunning to navigate the pilgrimage. You’ve told me yourself of the games they play in your honor. A worthy Inoka will prevail.”
Tela heard drums as she watched the villagers gather in the structure the builders just finished. From high up in the balcony seats, she could see there was not an empty spot in the stands. She could see the center of the arena, peppered with various trees, rocks and other obstacles. From here she could see all the action. Each competitor had a different style, and each battle played out differently. Some liked to stick to the trees, only jumping down to strike. Others, like her, preferred to remain low and block until their opponent ran out of energy. She even saw one big Inoka charge straight into his surprised opponent as soon as the match began, completely shattering their shield.
Each match was more spectacular than the last, as the field of competitors was whittled down to the final two: the large, strong Inoka from earlier, and another who favored speed and precision over strength. A few lightning fast clashes and it was over, the large Inoka toppled over on his shield. The young, quick Inoka stood victorious, holding her spear above her head. The late afternoon sunlight reflected the triumph in her face, all the way up to the balcony.
“You look like her, Ino, don’t you think?” Tela said. Ino suddenly became aware of herself, realizing that she was seated next to Tela in the balcony. The elder Emissary took a long look into Ino’s eyes. “You seem happy now.”
“I remember what that was like, the feeling of winning my final match,” Ino said “I never felt so proud”.
Tela smiled with understanding. “Well, it’s time for me to meet the new Emissary,” Tela said as she got up from her seat. “I knew she would be the one, as soon as I saw her.”
“How did you know?” Ino asked. Tela could sense the apprehension in Ino’s voice.
“Just something about her,” Tela replied. “There’s something about you too.” Tela turned to Ino and took her by the hand. “It’s not always the biggest, fastest, or strongest Inoka who make the best Emissary. The right one has balance and an open spirit. I’ve been gone a long time, and I’ve seen off a lot of Emissaries, so you can trust me when I tell you, you’re gonna do fine.”
“Thank you.” Ino said.
“It’s time to go now,” Tela said, with a touch of sadness in her voice. “Will you do me a favor?”
“Of course,” said Ino “anything.”
“When you make your pilgrimage…” Tela paused. “Will you tell the spirit I still miss our talks?”
Ino’s eyes opened. As she sat up, the Shaman was standing at the table, still holding the totem, quietly humming. The Shaman finished singing, opened her eyes, and spoke in a ceremonial tone: “Ino, daughter of Ina, having proven yourself today in the ancient tradition of Achkai, just as I did many years ago, join a long tradition of Inoka. Today you embark on a journey, both spiritual and physical.” The Shaman placed the totem in Ino’s open hand and closed her fingers around it. The Shaman looked into Ino’s eyes and whispered, “It’s time.”
To be continued…
