#weekendreader

Prelude

 Year 1295

 The northern wind howled within the trees who bow down to receive the thousand blessings that were coming. I stared at the girl in the water. Her bright eyes full of hope as a smile spread across her face. Today was the day I was going to be initiated into the goddess’ circle. The moon was about to rise and I needed to join the others. Running with the wind, I could feel the soil singing between my toes. I ran those woods millions times before but today was the first time we were in sync.  

I have been preparing for this day since I could remember. Every woman in my family was blessed by the goddess and it was my turn. After three generation of only boys, it was my purpose in life, my duty. 

“Child, it’s time. Go join the others” the high priestess called me when I reached the village. I quickly bowed my head and made my way to the hut where all the girls in the village were waiting.  

“Where were you? Why is your hair all messy?” my best friend reached out to fix the flower crown embedded within my curls. Her freckles formed a pattern as she crunched her face as her mane brown rested perfectly on her shoulders.  

Looking around the only difference between us were our hair colors. We all wore the same plain white sheets that covered our nakedness. Tonight was the night we were becoming hand maiden to the goddess. Tonight we would become women. Twenty four pair of eyes looked backed at me with anticipation. We were ready. 

As per the priestess instructions, we bound our hands and feet with ropes as a symbol of our future bond to the goddess.  

"What do you think it's going to be like?" I whispered to Mira. 

"Stand still, you don't want to be the last one to be picked" She whispered back as she straightened her back. We were total opposites. She was the best hunter of all of us and I was the slacker. I couldn't kill anything. My diet consisted of berries and corn. She would always discipline me whenever I would set the animals free when we hunted them. Everyone, including myself was surprised when the priestess picked me to be in the ritual to serve our goddess.  

"Stop daydreaming! It's about to be my turn" Mira nudged me on my side. I turned around to see that we were the only ones left.  

"Mira, my child come to me!" A voice vibrated around us. I quickly threw my arms around her and wished her good fortune. With her head high, she walked out. My heart was racing, an overwhelming fear sunk into me. This was the happiest moment in our lives, I shouldn't be scared. I should humble myself and be honored to be chosen.  

Every second felt like an eternity. Without thinking, I peaked my head out of the hut. A could shiver went through my spine. I had to leave. This was all wrong. I quickly untied my hands and feet and crawled out. I watched her sunk her ritual knife over and over again into my best friend's lifeless body. Before I could stop it, a piercing scream came right out of me, as everything was getting blurry. 

"Where do you think you're going little one?' She called out to me. "It's your turn" 

Two hands cupped my shoulders and dragged me to her. They were all there. Mira, Svana, Thova, Brydana and the others....floating around the priestess with fear frozen onto their faces.  

"How did you think it was going to work. You don't know how lucky you are to be the sacrifices that help our land flourish" 

"I don't want to be a sacrifice" I screamed as I struggled to fight my way out. She took me by the hair and plunged me into the water. The air in my lungs was leaving me. This is not the way I'm supposed to die.  

"Had enough?" She asked coolly as she pulled me out of the water. With all the strength that I had, I lunged at her and chew out a piece of her neck. She yelped as I struggled to free myself from her. With a slap across my face, she stole all my remining strength. "You were always the savage one. Savages don't get to be honored" 

Passend zum verlängerten Wochenende der Easter-Reader mit einer Vielzahl von spannenden Links:​

Heute nicht so Microsoftlastig wie Erich vermutet hat, aber mit spannenden Themen aus der letzten Woche und keinem Wettbewerb