New Land

Chapter 8 — New Land

The council hall was lit by cold moonlight falling across the walls and the stone statue. Drop by drop, the vessel in its hands filled with water, and the heavy stone palms slowly sank lower and lower.

“Boooom.”

The vessel filled to the brim, lowered down, and overturned, spilling water into the stone channels.

The stream ran with a rumble into the depths of the cave. Splitting farther and farther, it disappeared into cracks in the walls, giving birth to a familiar vibration.

“Tssssss-eeeee.”

A long whistle spread through the Ravens’ settlement.

No one flinched. After the Khemar attack, the settlement still had not fallen asleep. People continued walking through the streets, the guard had already changed for the second time, and more torches burned at the gates.

Only the people born in Green Grass still twitched at that sound. For them, it was not yet different from the alarm signal they feared so much.

The whistle pulled Sarah from her thoughts too.

Standing on the balcony, Sarah silently watched as the settlement gradually returned to its usual order.

She had noticed where that strange wave had come from. It seemed the source was somewhere near Michael’s house.

— Not now… — Sarah whispered quietly under her breath. — What kind of leader am I? I need to check how my people have settled in.

Sarah quickly began descending the slope, trying to remember Luka’s words. He had told her something about where everyone had been placed, but back then she had barely listened.

The only familiar people here were Michael, Olivia, and Pavel. And even Michael’s house Sarah remembered only roughly.

— Somewhere over there, I think… — Sarah muttered, peering into the torchlight, and kept walking.

The stonework under her feet still felt foreign. Her soles caught on the protrusions, and her body could not get used to these roads after the soft earth of Green Grass.

The Ravens’ looks irritated her too.

Heavy. Studying.

As if they saw something alien in her.

Though without their pendants and face paint, the Ravens were the same people.

And that was exactly what angered her most of all.

She did not have to search long for Michael’s house. People and several guards had already gathered near the walls.

Among the crowd, Sarah immediately recognized the elderly woman from the council — the very one whose voice had carried weight during the vote. But now Neira looked different. Simpler. Almost domestic, if such a thing could even be said about her.

— Why are you crowding here? — Neira threw sharply, sweeping her gaze over the guards. — Move along. Don’t create panic.

The guards understood the hint at once and began dispersing the onlookers.

— Michael! My dear, you finally came back. You could have warned your old friends. I had already imagined all sorts of things, — Neira wailed loudly, as if she had truly come only to visit an acquaintance. — At least treat me to tea. I didn’t walk through the whole settlement for nothing. You’ll tell me about the road.

Michael was barely listening. His head was still humming, and his back was beginning to burn with pain again. It seemed the wounds had opened.

Catherine, after laying Sam down, came outside and took Michael by the arm.

— Can you walk? — she asked quietly.

Michael only nodded.

— Then come in. Tea will be ready soon.

The crowd gradually dispersed. The guards let no one approach the house, sending people back. Sarah got caught up in that too — no one explained anything to her, and she was not given the chance to explain herself.

Inside the house, Neira’s face changed at once.

— Now tell me, old friend. What happened?

She lowered herself heavily onto a chair.

— Should I bring something hot? — Catherine asked cautiously.

— No, leave us for now, — Neira answered calmly. — Better keep an eye on the boy.

Then she turned her gaze to Michael.

— And now turn around. Let’s see how your wounds are. I know you — you’ll die before the Oxis finish eating you.

Michael silently lifted his shirt and turned his back.

The torn stripes on his skin were bleeding again.

— Catherine! Hot water and clean cloths! — Neira shouted, already rising.

She ran her fingers near the wound and frowned.

— I can see the boy came to himself. What happened?

Michael breathed out heavily and began telling her. About Sam’s strange behavior. About the wave.

Neira listened silently, without interrupting.

— Hmm… — she finally drew out. — I have heard of such things. Long ago. They said people with powers like that used to appear more often. They were feared, revered… sometimes hunted. I thought they were only old tales.

Michael grimaced from the pain in his back.

— And what do we do with the boy now?

— I wouldn’t say he is such a boy, — Neira answered calmly. — But as for what to do with his power… that I do not know.

She thought for a moment.

— Let him stay with you until morning. After something like that, he is frightened enough already. In the morning, we will gather the council and decide.

Neira rose heavily from the chair.

— And I will go. I am too old for night walks.

She slapped Michael on the shoulder and smirked:

— And you’ll owe me for the back. I didn’t think you would survive a direct blow from a Tumarg. You’re not as decrepit as you look.

Neira washed the ointment from her hands and headed for the door.

Opening it, she threw loudly one last time:

— Thank you for your hospitality! Get better!

There was no crowd outside anymore. Only Sarah sat by the stream on the low stone railing, waiting for the conversation to end and the guard to leave.

Neira noticed her at once.

— And you’re here too? — she snorted. — Well, walk the old woman home. We’ll talk.

Sarah silently rose and carefully took Neira by the arm.

As they walked through the torchlit streets, Sarah asked simple questions: where her people had been placed, whether there were enough spaces, whether there had been any problems.

Neira only waved her off.

— Calm yourself. We’re not beasts. We gave what we could. Show your use — and they’ll accept you as their own.

She stopped at a large house.

— Well, here we are.

The door creaked, and Pavel stepped outside.

— This is my grandson. You seem to know each other already, — Neira said. — Pavel, greet her properly. Stop flying in the clouds.

Pavel immediately straightened.

— Good night, Sarah.

— And now quickly throw something over your shoulders and walk the girl home. Everything here is still foreign to her.

Pavel nodded and immediately ran back into the house for a cloak.

Sarah finally exhaled a little more calmly.

— Thank you… truly. I will try to justify your hopes.

Neira looked at her more carefully.

— Child, I know what it is to answer for people. Rest. Tomorrow will be a hard day.

She was silent for a moment and added:

— The council has already decided to settle your people in the old part of the Ravens. The houses there are not in the best condition, but the roofs are whole. If your people have hands, you’ll put everything in order. At least you’ll be near one another. That will make it easier for you to settle in, and easier for you to look after your own.

Neira smirked.

— And the forge there stands empty. After the hunger, many people were lost. There will be enough work for everyone.

At that moment, Pavel appeared again. Already in a warm cloak. He stood straight, trying to look more serious than he really was, though his thoughts were already far away — somewhere near Olivia’s window.

Neira understood everything from his face at once.

— Now then, young Nightingale, — Neira snorted. — Walk the girl home and then straight back. Don’t even think about wandering around at night.

Pavel coughed sharply, pretending he had not understood the hint.

Sarah involuntarily smiled as she watched Neira go.

For the first time in a long while, she felt lighter. The tension was slowly letting go, leaving only exhaustion behind.

— Well then, will you show me your settlement? — Sarah called to Pavel, who was still drifting somewhere in his thoughts.

Even in the night haze, in the light of the moon and torches, the Ravens’ settlement seemed alive. People still walked through the streets; voices sounded somewhere, along with the creak of wood and the ringing of metal. Only the guards passing by more often than usual reminded her of the recent attack.

Pavel did not immediately understand where to begin, so he started talking about what he knew best.

— According to my grandmother, our tribe moved here more than a hundred years ago. The Ravens used to live in the forest, right in the trees. It sounds beautiful… but winter there was hard. Cold. And dangerous.

He waved his hand ahead.

— Then our people found this place. An old quarry. They say it once belonged to the Mountain settlement.

— And where are they now? — Sarah asked. — I’ve never heard of them.

Pavel shrugged.

— Udgal knows. Maybe they left. Maybe they died out in the mines. Or maybe the Oxis dragged them off. They like nesting in the mountains.

He smirked:

— Traders from the Wolves sometimes say that some of the people still reached their lands. But what became of the settlement itself, no one knows. And few would dare go into the mountains now.

“Tssssss-eeeee.”

The familiar whistle rolled through the settlement again.

They had just come out onto the stone bridge.

Pavel stopped, looked somewhere into the distance, and sighed heavily.

Sarah understood everything at once.

— All right, I can get the rest of the way myself, — she said quietly. — And if anyone asks, I’ll say you were showing me the settlement.

She smiled slightly.

— And it will remain a secret.

Pavel seemed to come alive.

Not even knowing which way to run faster, the young man gave a short nod and almost tore off from the spot.

Sarah only smirked after him.

Not so long ago, she too had been young. And boys had gathered outside her house in the evenings too.

A cold wind blew, tearing cherry petals loose and carrying them across the whole settlement.

— Beautiful… — Sarah said quietly.

Tears unexpectedly appeared in her eyes.

While Sarah returned home, Michael, in his own house, was trying to gather his thoughts into one whole.

Catherine listened silently, standing beside him.

— Where did I manage to anger the spirits of Udgal so badly?.. — Michael muttered tiredly. — Everything piled on at once. The swamps… Sarah… and now the boy too. And the council… Seems I’ve been stuck in someone’s throat there for a long time already.

He sat down heavily at the table.

— Those herbs were supposed to help me settle here peacefully. I thought a place on the council would give me a chance to step away from hunting and trade… but it only got worse.

Catherine came up from behind and gently embraced his shoulders.

— But now we have Sam.

Michael gave a heavy smirk.

— Exactly… the boy.

He lowered his gaze.

— I don’t want you to get attached to him too quickly. I know how much you wanted a child. But tomorrow’s council can turn everything upside down again.

— Michael.

He fell silent.

— Yes… I know, — Michael said quietly. — And I’ll do everything so he stays with us.

Catherine carefully took his hand.

— It’s already late. There’s no sense filling your head with fears at night. In the morning, even birds find it easier to spread their wings.

She kissed him and led him to the bedroom, her gaze lingering for a moment on Sam, sleeping by the fireplace.

— You’ll still have time to look after the boy later… — Catherine said almost in a whisper. — And I haven’t seen you in a long time.

She extinguished the candles.

“Tssssss-eeeee.”

The long whistle rolled through the settlement again.

Michael did not even notice when he fell asleep.

He woke abruptly. His hand automatically reached beside him, trying to find Catherine, but the place was empty.

— Ooooh… — Michael groaned hoarsely, squinting against the bright morning light.

— Michael, are you getting up in there? You have to go to the council! Food is already on the table! — Catherine’s voice came from the other room.

— I’m getting up… — Michael muttered, lowering his legs heavily from the bed. — Can’t even lie peacefully in my own bed…

He grimaced from the pain in his back and slowly rose.

— And Sam?.. How is he?

— Everything is fine. I got up several times during the night to check on him. In the morning he was as if nothing had happened.

Catherine took a wooden bowl of water and went outside. The noise of the waking settlement immediately burst into the house.

Michael heavily pulled on his trousers and shuffled to the table.

On a wooden plate lay a piece of game, several boiled potatoes, and fried mushrooms.

Michael actually stopped.

— Whoa… I’ve already forgotten the last time I ate potatoes. Kate, where did you get them? Our stores were finished.

Catherine returned to the house and put down the bowl.

— Sit, or it’ll get cold. The neighbors brought a little at a time. In thanks for your herbs. They said you should recover faster.

She smiled.

— Eat. Sam and I have already eaten.

Michael smirked, stuffing food into his mouth.

— And how is he?

— A little strange… — Catherine said thoughtfully. — He already looks almost grown, but behaves like a child.

— And where is he now?

— Outside. With Olivia and Pavel. They came to check on you.

She was silent for a moment and added:

— And Pavel asked me to tell you that Neira does not like it when people are late to the council.

Catherine came closer and laid her hand on Michael’s shoulder.

Her eyes shone with quiet happiness.

— You know… I’m so glad he appeared in our lives.

Michael covered her hand with his own.

— I remember yesterday’s conversation. And I will do everything so he stays.

At that moment, Olivia stopped at the door.

She had already been about to knock, but froze.

Every word could be heard too clearly.

Something heavy tightened inside her chest.

It hurt.

And for some reason, it felt insulting.

— Olivia? — Pavel called to her, noticing how she had frozen by the door. — What’s wrong? Were you calling Michael?

Outside, Sam and Pavel were kicking a small stone back and forth with their feet, as if playing ball. Sam was still clumsily copying Pavel’s movements, but he was already laughing.

Olivia seemed to wake up.

“Knock-knock-knock.”

— Come in! — Michael’s voice came at once. — Ooo, Oli, it’s you? Glad to see you! Wait, I just need to finish chewing.

He smirked, looking at her.

— Look at you, what a beauty you’ve grown into. We’ll have to start looking for a groom for you soon.

— Keep chewing, or you’ll choke, — Catherine threw in with a smile.

— Mm-hm… — Olivia answered quietly, lowering her gaze.

She truly was glad to see Michael.

But the feeling inside was new. Unclear. And that only made it heavier.

Olivia quickly went back out into the yard.

As she passed, her shoulder accidentally brushed Sam. The little stone flew aside.

Sam looked after her in surprise.

— Hey, Olivia… what’s wrong?

She only waved her hand and silently sat down in the very same place by the stream where Sarah had sat during the night.

Michael came out of the house.

Passing by Sam, he ruffled the boy’s hair. He stretched, immediately grimacing from the pain in his back, but did not show it. He only scratched his beard and breathed out heavily.

— Well then, feathered ones, — Michael smirked. — Did you at least pass your trial properly? Because I don’t see any new feathers on you.

Pavel immediately perked up.

— I can hit with a bow at a hundred Casts now! Right on target!

He deliberately said it louder, throwing a quick glance at Olivia.

Michael smirked even more.

— Whoa. Careful you don’t get too full of yourself too early.

Pavel only squared his shoulders proudly.

— Are we going to the shooting ground today?

— Not today, — Michael shook his head. — I’m Sarah’s helper now. And the council is soon.

He turned his gaze to the youngsters.

— But if you want, come with us. You can get properly acquainted with Sam too.

Pavel’s eyes lit up at once.

Olivia, however, was still torn between the strange hurt inside and joy that Michael had finally returned alive.

— Sam, come on, — Michael called.

They moved together toward the waterfall.

On the way, Michael was already telling Pavel something:

— I once met a Tetu…

He smirked.

— Stubborn beast. Reminded me of you in a way.

Pavel immediately protested, and Michael only laughed louder.

— But Tetu doesn’t taste that good, — he smirked. — You, Pavel, would be tastier.

Pavel practically choked from indignation, and Sam could not hold back and laughed softly after Michael.

Michael turned his gaze to Olivia.

— Oli, what’s with you? What Oxis bit you this morning? How’s your mother? Better?

Olivia immediately came to life a little.

— Yes… today she even went outside. She’s much better.

When they reached the waterfall, Michael pulled out several Lagerents and shoved them into Pavel’s hand.

— Right, feathered ones. Take Sam and pick out some clothes for him. He can’t keep walking around in my old things.

Sam looked at the coins in surprise, then at Michael, as if not fully understanding that all of this was for him.

Michael only waved his hand.

— And behave yourselves. No stupidity.

After that, he headed toward the wooden lift mechanism.

But he did not even manage to take hold of the lever.

The lift slowly began descending from above on its own.

A couple of minutes later, the platform stopped.

Sarah and Luka stepped off it.

Sarah’s face had again become the way Michael had seen it at their first meeting in Green Grass — confident, collected, hard.

Michael involuntarily frowned.

She had recovered very quickly.

Or maybe he himself had gone soft.

Before he could say anything, a strong blow landed on his shoulder.

Sarah did not even try to hide her irritation. Her face clearly showed that she wanted to hit him again.

— Late! — she threw sharply. — I already got scolded because of you.

Michael only grimaced, rubbing his shoulder.

— You were supposed to make up for your guilt, not lie around at home, — Sarah continued. — On the road, you looked much more reliable.

With a snort, she immediately turned and went up the road toward the old part of the settlement.

Luka remained standing nearby, slowly closing his mouth after what he had seen.

— They’re waiting for you at the council, — Sarah threw over her shoulder. — And after that, come to the rise. Where the old abandoned houses are.

She did not even turn around.

Michael only smirked, stepped into the lift, and pulled the lever.

The platform slowly crawled upward.

He drew a deep breath of cool air, looking at his native settlement spread among the cliffs and waterfalls.

And again, he involuntarily smirked.

— She’s still just as lively…

The council was already waiting.

From the elders’ faces, it was immediately clear — few were pleased. But Caleb, as always, kept order and did not let the discussion turn into a scandal.

— The fact that you are no longer on the council does not give you the right to be late, — Caleb threw loudly when Michael entered.

He looked at him closely.

— I hope the reason was worthy.

Neira immediately came up to Caleb and quietly said something into his ear, briefly explaining Michael’s condition after the night attack.

Caleb breathed out heavily.

— Fine. While you were absent, the council already discussed the situation.

He swept his gaze over the others.

— Some suggest taking the boy under the control of the Grey Wing. Training him, making him a guard, and studying his power.

An approving hum immediately passed through the hall.

— But there are also those against it, — Caleb continued. — Neira convinced me to hear you out first.

Michael straightened.

— The boy behaves strangely. As if he is not seventeen, but only ten. He has gone wild.

Several elders frowned.

— If we force Sam into strict limits now, it will only get worse. And then you will get neither a loyal person nor control over his power.

He paused.

— He needs what he did not have in the ruins. A home. A family. A reason to protect the people near him.

Michael spoke calmly, but confidently. As if he had been thinking about it all night.

— I will train him as a hunter and watch over him. And Catherine will give him the warmth he never had.

Neira smirked from the corner of her mouth.

— Look at that. After Sarah’s blow, he even started speaking more confidently.

Laughter ran through the hall.

But Neira almost immediately became serious again.

— And if his power breaks loose again? Like last night?

Voices of support sounded behind her at once.

Michael slowly looked over the council.

— Does anyone here know what to do with it?

Silence.

— If you did, you would have made the decision without me.

He held Caleb’s gaze.

— I survived a Tumarg’s blow. I’ll survive this too.

Then he added more quietly:

— As you yourselves said earlier… I brought him here. So I answer for him.

The council began humming again, discussing what they had heard. Not everyone was satisfied, but no one wanted to risk it. Nor did they want to miss the chance.

A few minutes later, the voting began. One by one, the elders lowered their feathers into the bowls while Caleb silently watched what was happening. Finally, he stepped closer, counted the votes, and raised his gaze to Michael.

— The boy stays with you. But if something happens, you will answer for it. And this does not free you from helping the people of Green Grass.

Caleb paused briefly, as if making sure once more that no one intended to argue, then waved his hand:

— The council is over.

He and Neira went deeper into the hall, already quietly discussing something between themselves.

Michael stood in the council hall for several more seconds, trying to understand why everything had gone far too quickly and calmly.

And that was what he liked least of all.

Stepping outside, he went to the waterfall, scooped cold water in his hands, and washed his face, trying to come to himself.

— What are those old people planning?.. — Michael muttered under his breath. — Where’s the catch?

The cold water sobered him a little.

— Did the ones who have it out for me really just back down?.. Or are they waiting until I stumble again?

After standing a little longer, Michael breathed out heavily and headed toward the old part of the settlement Sarah had spoken of.

He knew this place all too well.

An old friend, who had died on a hunt many years ago, had once lived here.

But now the abandoned district was coming back to life again.

People were carrying boards, repairing roofs, sweeping trash from the streets. Somewhere, hammers were already knocking. Children ran between the houses.

Sarah stood beside Sam, who was curiously looking around at everything.

Meanwhile, Olivia and Pavel were explaining to people where the tools lay, which materials could be taken freely, and what would have to be bought from the settlement.

Sarah noticed Michael first.

— Well, finally, — she smirked. — And I thought your beard was only because of the road. Looks like you’ve decided to keep it.

Michael automatically ran a hand over his beard.

— Haven’t decided yet. But I seem to have gotten used to it.

They stood side by side, watching as the old part of the Ravens slowly returned to life.

— So how can I help? — Michael asked. — What did the elders decide?

Sarah immediately became more serious.

— The forge has almost collapsed. No one looked after it properly. Frost and rain badly damaged the smelting furnace.

She waved her hand toward the houses.

— But that’s only half the trouble. There are almost no tools for working the land. And the ones you do have… how did you even work with them?

Michael smirked.

— Somehow, we survived.

But Sarah was no longer listening.

— Sowing will begin soon, and the land is not ready. And there are almost no seeds.

She turned to Michael, now completely bewildered.

— How do you people even live here?

— Glass, — Michael answered calmly. — We don’t only hunt. Meat, hides, fat — that’s one thing. But the main harvest of the Ravens is glass from the ruins.

Sarah frowned in surprise.

— Glass?

— Our people go into the ruins in groups. Then we trade what we bring back with the Wolves. They should be coming with goods soon.

— And what will they bring?

— Potatoes for planting.

Sarah actually froze.

— Potatoes… and that’s all? What about beets? Corn? Herbs?

Now Michael looked at her with interest.

— Let’s go to the fields. You’ll understand everything yourself there.

After they went down, Michael and Sarah waited a little while longer for Sam, Olivia, and Pavel to descend by the cable.

— So did you come to help, or to entertain yourselves? — Michael deliberately made a serious face, looking at the three of them.

Pavel only snorted, and Olivia rolled her eyes.

The settlement gates opened.

As soon as Sarah stepped from the stonework onto ordinary earth, she breathed out in relief. After constant stairs and bridges, her legs were already humming.

— Come on. It’s not far, — Michael waved toward a narrow path and a small bridge over the stream. — A couple of Casts and we’re there.

The path ran along the forest.

Between the trees, small plots of land cleared for sowing could be seen.

At first, Sarah was silent.

Then she stopped.

— No… this is a complete nightmare.

Michael looked at her in surprise.

— What’s wrong now? Fields are fields.

Sarah sharply swept her hand over the forest around them.

— Half this land is dead! Roots, shade, dampness. Nothing will grow properly here.

She came closer to one of the plots and kicked a thick root with her boot.

— And the forest is too close. People will work while constantly looking over their shoulders, wondering whether someone will jump out of the thicket.

Now Michael frowned too.

Sarah continued faster and faster:

— Where are the fences? Where are the ditches? Where is proper clearing? A beast comes out at night and it will trample everything.

She grabbed her head.

— With land like this, you won’t get a decent harvest by winter.

Michael listened silently.

— The forest needs to be cut back farther, the land cleared, plowed… — Sarah breathed out heavily. — And you need people set aside just to guard the fields.

Then she suddenly turned to Michael:

— Have you ever actually worked land properly?

Michael only shrugged.

— We are hunters, Sarah.

For a second, she simply fell silent.

As if only now she had fully understood what she would have to work with.

After that, Sarah and Michael went farther to inspect the plots.

Sam, Pavel, and Olivia stayed by the stream.

Sam had already grown a little used to them and was trying to speak on his own more often.

He sat by the stream and threw small pebbles into the water.

— It’s a pity Sarah got upset, — he said quietly. — She’s good. Like Michael and Catherine.

Pavel looked at him in surprise.

— And the fields… are interesting.

Sam said this more confidently now. As if something inside him was gradually waking up and beginning to fit together into a single picture.

“Uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh.”

A bird fluttered up from the forest, and Sam immediately became distracted, following it with his eyes again.

For some reason, Olivia shivered.

And what irritated her most was that she was angry at Sam.

— Everything would grow well here, — Sam suddenly said, still looking at the sky. — If planted properly. And the shade would give the plants coolness.

He spoke confidently. As if he knew far more about land than he should.

Pavel even became distracted from gathering flowers for Olivia.

And something unpleasant tightened inside her again.

And before Olivia had time to think, the words slipped from her tongue on their own:

— Then suggest the fields above the waterfall to Sarah. There’s no forest there.

As soon as she said it, she bit her lip.

And worst of all — she herself did not understand why.

Was she really jealous of this strange, harmless boy because of Michael?

Sarah and Michael were just returning, still discussing what they had seen, when Sam suddenly raised his head and calmly said:

— The fields above the waterfall are better.

Michael immediately breathed out heavily.

— What fields there… — he waved his hand. — We’ll only waste time. It’s just grass and wind up there.

But Sarah had already stopped.

— What fields?

Sam shrugged as if he were speaking about something completely ordinary.

— Big. Clean.

Pavel raised his head with interest, while Olivia, for some reason, immediately grew tense.

In the end, they still went upward through the settlement. Michael grumbled the whole way that the Ravens had tried more than once to grow something there, but the earth dried out quickly and almost nothing grew properly.

But as soon as they climbed to the upper plain, Sarah simply froze.

Before them stretched a large open field. Flat ground, almost without trees, well lit by the sun. Only stones and rare bushes stuck out here and there.

The wind calmly moved through the tall grass.

Sarah slowly walked forward, crouched, scooped earth into her palm, and rubbed it between her fingers.

— You have got to be joking… — she breathed out quietly.

Michael frowned, not understanding.

— What’s wrong now?

Sarah turned sharply to him:

— Wrong?! This is the best land I’ve seen today!

She began speaking quickly, no longer hiding her excitement:

— There is enough sun here, the soil is dry, almost no roots. We only need to level the plots so rainwater doesn’t run down the slope. We’ll make stone embankments like fences and fill the inside with proper soil.

She waved toward the forest below.

— And the soil can be brought from there. Humus, leaves, soft forest earth. The harvest here will be several times better.

Michael looked around in confusion.

For him, all this time, this had been nothing more than an empty meadow above the waterfall.

Meanwhile, Sam was running nearby, trying to catch pale butterflies.

And as if by accident, he said:

— Ash from fires is needed too. Then the bugs won’t eat the harvest. And manure. That will make the soil stronger.

Sarah sharply turned to him.

— Now that is a good thought. I’ve heard that from people of the Creek. They sometimes mix ash with earth for planting.

She looked at Sam carefully.

— How do you know that?

Sam froze. The butterfly slipped from his hands and flew away.

— I don’t know… I just know.

Something seemed to prick Olivia inside again. This strange boy had turned out to be right again.

She sharply turned and went back toward the waterfall.

— Oli? — Michael asked in surprise. — What is wrong with you today?

But Olivia did not even turn around.

Pavel looked after her and almost immediately ran after her. He found her by the bench near the water. Olivia sat silently, looking at the stream below.

Pavel carefully sat beside her. For several seconds, they simply listened to the sound of the water, and then he slowly moved his hand closer to hers, which lay on the bench, but still did not dare touch it.

Olivia noticed the movement from the corner of her eye, but did not pull her hand away.

The wind from the waterfall ruffled her hair, while below the water roared, drowning out almost all the sounds of the settlement.

Pavel was silent for a long time, not knowing what to say.

— You don’t like him? — Pavel finally asked quietly.

Olivia frowned at once.

— Who?

— Sam.

She breathed out heavily and rested her elbows on her knees.

— I don’t know… He’s strange.

Pavel gave a weak smirk.

— That he is.

Olivia lowered her gaze to the water.

— First he appeared out of nowhere. Then Michael only talks about him. Then the council. And now even Sarah listens to him as if he were some old farmer from the Creek.

She understood herself how stupid it sounded.

But she could no longer stop.

— And it pisses me off.

Pavel looked at her cautiously.

— You’re jealous.

Olivia immediately turned to him.

— What?!

Pavel practically pulled his head into his shoulders.

— Well… of Michael.

For several seconds, Olivia simply stared at Pavel, then turned away irritably.

— I am not jealous of anything.

But her voice no longer sounded so certain.

Pavel smiled timidly.

— Uh-huh.

Olivia wanted to answer something, but instead unexpectedly laughed quietly at herself.

Only a little.

And the tension inside seemed to weaken.

Pavel carefully moved his hand a little closer.

His fingers almost touched her palm.

Olivia noticed it.

Above the settlement, the familiar whistle of the mechanism stretched through the air:

“Tssssss-eeeee.”

The water below continued to roar, and evening slowly covered the Ravens’ settlement.

End of the Chapter.