The village
When I started writing this book I never thought I would end up falling in love with him. So I dedicate this book to the love of my life. You know Fer that if we weren’t together I would be looking for you.
DISHA
I was late because I had fallen asleep at the foot of the stream. I love a good nap after a dip in Lake Orish. I tried to run as fast as my legs could carry me, ignoring the stitch I was getting for more than fifteen minutes of constant running. Again I heard Athena’s horn that the Queen’s command uses to call us all. It was clear that I was going to be punished for being late.
I came out of the thick forest and whistled as loud as I could. A thunderous noise rang through the air. I didn’t have to look to see what it was, because I knew perfectly well that it was Omite, the triffin that I had raised ever since I found a forgotten egg in one of the many outings I had made without permission. At first I thought it was a precious stone, in part because it was half buried but also because the triffin egg has the peculiarity of being oxford green in colour and its course rock-like texture. But when I took it out of the ground, I noticed that it was warm and seemed to emit a heartbeat, so without hesitation I decided to take it home. Of course I had to hide it at first, but when Omite was born it was unavoidable. The queen was furious when she found out that he had gone out without permission and then ordered me to kill him because triffins are wild animals and are not used to humans. But my beloved triffin had never known anyone but me and believed I was part of his caste. I flatly refused and so began my never-ending list of punishments. But our bond was already formed and it was impossible for me to do so. As a punishment I had to look after the stables for two years. It doesn’t sound like a heavy punishment, but considering that we are more than a thousand Amazonians and double the number of horses, it was a disproportionate punishment. So as well as watering and feeding them, changing their bedding and cleaning the water troughs and feeders a couple of times a week, I also had to worm them and keep their hoof trimming up to date.
This work helped me to become tougher and stronger. But most importantly, Omite and I were still together, and somehow my punishment made him grow closer to me. Those were hard years, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I would start work at dawn and finish late at night, totally exhausted. My wonderful friend would allow me to ride on his back and he would carry me home.
I never liked living in the village, with the rest of my companions. I always felt better living inside the forest, together with the trees and streams, in the middle of nature. Where Omite and I are free to run around, oblivious to everything. We have each other, like a curious family in which we are both unique in our species, and I say unique because, although I am the same height and build as the rest of my fellow Amazonians, I am the only one of them with green hair. And Omite is the only triffin we have seen to date. What does a triffin look like? Triffins have the same head shape as eagles, but a little wider. Its beak is blue and its feathers are like my green hair. Their legs are like a hen’s but immensely stronger.
Annoying cramps began to creep up my legs causing me to slow down. I expect Omite to fly over me shortly and grab me with his claws, to carry me on his back all the way to the palace. He calls me again, now he’s really on top of me so I raise my arm, let him catch me gently in his claws and soar back up into the sky in the direction of where the sound of the horn is coming from.
As we get closer to the village, I lift myself up, until I manage to get on top of his back. When I am fully settled, Omite starts to descend until he touches the ground. His way of landing has always been very funny to me because he does it as if he were a little goldfinch jumping up and down. But unlike the goldfinch, the triffin raises a lot of dust with the movement of its wings as well as with its legs.
Inside the Palace, in what we call the “Extraordinary Room”, they were all already seated. I tried to close the door as quietly as possible. Luckily the seating is in order of age, so the older women and the older warriors sit in the front rows. We only attend from the age of 15, after passing the initiation test in which we stop being girls and become young warriors. I went through the test two years ago. It consists of going out of the village, hunting an animal and coming back with it. Of course, not just any animal will do, it has to be one of the ones that we consider to be the most dangerous. As a general rule, it takes a week, and I say “as a general rule” because in my case it took me one day. I caught a Mercroksarcus, a kind of giant reptile that usually lives in swamps. It has sharp fangs and its mouth ends in a huge blue curved beak which I use as a helmet. I also wear one of its teeth on my chest and with its claws, I made myself a kind of bracelet, so that every time I punch my opponent, if I turn my hand downwards I can stab them.
I sit down without making a sound, while I notice how the queen, without stopping talking, keeps her eyes fixed on me. I look at the girl sitting to my right. She is one of the girls who passed the test this year. She is totally absorbed in watching the queen.
- Has she been talking for long? - I whispered.
- It has just started. She’s going to name all the girls who are going to the academy this year,” she replied annoyed without looking at me.
- Who did she name?
- Sssh, you’re going to get us punished if you keep talking,” she complained.
