CHAPTER 109: THE DEPARTURE- Excerpt from Surefoot

Kindly note that Surefoot is a fantasy interactive adventure game book where each decision you make takes you on a different journey.

This book has multiple endings.

Play this game wisely, o game player …I’m referring to you dear reader.

Now you may begin…

The drums were beating far into the night as the entire village prepared for a special Omahi Fire Dance Celebration. The celebration happened on rare occasions like this one. The villagers were expected to sing and chant prayers for you, asking the spirits to guide you safely on your way. Your mother came into your hut as you lay on the bed, waiting for the celebration to begin.

“They are ready for you,” she said and watched as you stood up and accompanied her outside. 

Two women wearing white wrappers tied on their chest smiled at you and bowed as your mother stepped aside to let you pass. The women led you into the heart of the celebration. You watched the entire village filled with women, children and men standing in two lines and allowing you to pass through their center. Everything appeared to happen in slow motion and you watched the faces in the crowd. The women and children looked on with a sense of pride and joy. In the eyes of the men, you sensed surprise that you would attempt such a feat. Your eyes met Nadum and this time, he did not look away. You wondered what he was thinking but you had to focus on the celebration.

Ahead of you roared the large bonfire and the sparks erupting from the flames leaped up to the sky. The drummers beat their drums in unison and a frenzy, their faces serious as their sweaty palms hit the drums in a beat that is known to summon the spirits. The seer stood in front of the flames and beckoned on you to come closer. You walked towards him.

As you got closer, the two women held your hands on both sides and led you to the seer who stood tall and regal, with a faraway look in his eyes.

“Andogun, we seek you this night,” he screamed, his hands lifted to the sky, as you came closer. 

The women let go of your hands and stood beside you, as you watched him closely.

“Andogun, the fire god, we come to you and present our daughter Surefoot to you. Guide her, great spirits, on her quest to the Mountain of Lanogoza,” he yelled, his hands high up in the air.  You could see his eyes whiten and protrude as he stared at the sky.

The bonfire crackled and the flames split into two as a sign that the spirits had responded to his call and everyone screamed and started chanting.

“Protect her,” the seer screamed.

“Protect her, protect her,” everyone chanted.

The seer looked down at you and pointed at the flames and the two women held your hands. You knew what was expected of you. You had seen it done once or twice before. If the gods did not protect you, the flames from the bonfire would kill you. The women held your hands and led you to the bonfire and you raised your head in defiance as you felt the heat of the flames before you even got closer. The women gently pushed you into the bonfire and you fell in, closing your eyes in anticipation of the pain, but the flames engulfed you like a blanket of protection.

 The flames crackled and roared in your ears and you suddenly went into a trance. Images leaped at you, and they seemed so real that you could even touch them – snow-capped mountain peaks, tall edifices, pale-skinned people reaching out to you and then you suddenly came back to the present. To the sound of singing, clapping and the flames. You opened your eyes and smiled. Your eyes met those of your mother and she smiled in relief as the seer cried out.

“Andogun the fire god has accepted our petition and sacrifice. Surefoot will go in peace.”

The entire crowd erupted in shouts of happiness. They started dancing around the bonfire and the seer asked you to come out of the flames and join in the celebrations.

A while later, the shouts of warriors mixed with laughter from the women and children faded away into the night, like the dying embers of the bonfire. You were now in your hut and proceeded to pack your pouch with everything that you needed to embark on the quest. The room was very simple and bare and you looked around at all the items of clothing neatly arranged there. A single, small bed at the side of the only window. A large bundle of fur lay on the bed, a relic from the bear you had fought and skinned some time ago.

Your mother was beside you, watching with eagle eyes as you packed, ensuring that you left nothing of benefit. In true motherly form, she made sure she filled your pouch with dry meat and bread. 

“Thanks, Mother,” you said, watching her gently placing the food items in the pouch.

Now to the weapons, you thought as you held up your spear and tested it. The edges looked sharp and you examined it closely, looking at the small pieces of strings tied on it. Each string you had meticulously tied was for every person you had killed in battle. The colors of the strings mattered too. Red was for a warrior defeated in battle and green for every successful hunt. Over the years, you had a lot of green strings on your weapon and it was seen as a mark of respect for every Omahi warrior. 

After placing small knives and daggers in different hidden compartments of your belt and pouch, checking your arrows and the string of your bow, your mother spoke to you. “You have to go to bed, child. It is almost daylight and you will need to be strong when you leave.”

“Yes, Mother,” you agreed.

She gave you a warm embrace and left the hut. You lay on the bed for a while before drifting into a troubled sleep. You woke up to someone shaking you and looked up to see your mother smiling at you with sad eyes.

“Wake up, Surefoot. It is time to leave.”

You stood up and quickly cleaned up and changed to fresh clothes and joined your mother who was waiting outside your hut.

Two young girls wearing short wrappers tied around their chest were approaching both of you at the hut, leading your faithful horse. You thanked them and patted your horse which nudged his face towards you as you stroked him lovingly. Dusty you named him, when you first picked him out of eight other horses your father had brought, whilst trading with the neighboring Zanzu tribe across the plains, when you were just fourteen.

Dusty stood out with his gleaming black coat and you fell in love with the beautiful creature. Your father taught you how to ride this graceful horse and he had been your constant companion for a long time now. The horse had joined you in battle as you fought against raiders coming to steal from your land. Dusty never shied away from battle. The screams, slashing of knives, flying arrows and the sight of blood didn’t drive him away, like it did most horses. He stuck by you through thick and thin and would also participate in the battle by striking down your attacker with his heels, if he sensed you were in danger.

“Surefoot my daughter,” your mother said, snapping you out of your reverie.

You turned to look at your mother who seemed to have aged overnight. Her eyes had worry lines but she managed a brave smile and pulled you into a hug like she didn’t want to let go. After what seemed like a while, she detached herself from you, slowly put her hand to her neck and removed her necklace. Your mother had always worn this necklace for as long as you could remember and right now, she reached out and quietly put it around your neck. 

You shook your head. “Mother, I cannot take this. It was given to you by your mother and her mother before her.”

“Yes indeed, my child. And now, I feel the time has come for me to give it to you for protection,” she said smiling, and looking up at you with a sad look in her eyes.

“Thank you, Mother,” you replied, with a tear rolling down your cheek. 

You wanted to say something but immediately got distracted by the sound of singing and clapping. A small group of people had come to say goodbye and they were singing your praises and calling you a brave warrior. Some of the women you had grown up with, who had joined you in fighting battles. You hugged them and kissed some of the little children on their foreheads. Four other warriors started approaching on their horses and you could see Nadum in the lead.

You waited and the singing quieted down as the men got closer and Nadum said, “We are here to accompany you to the outskirts of Omahi Village.”

They nodded in greeting to Queen Cohahi, who acknowledged their greeting with a nod as well.

“As is our custom, we appreciate the gesture,” Queen Cohahi replied while you remained silent.

“I would like to see Father,” you said to her.

“I am afraid you do not have a lot of time … the chief…,” Nadum said and his voice trailed off when you looked at him.

Your mother held your shoulders and whispered to you, “I am afraid that he is right. Your father will be fine. I will watch over him. Just make sure you come back to me.”

You wanted to protest but the men were watching and you knew she was right. Instead, you hugged your mother tight and turned back to mount Dusty. A quick kick to the sides and the horse flew expertly away, as the crowd of villagers shouted praises and calls of goodbyes to you. In the midst of the voices, you could hear the shrill voice of your mother.

“Come back to me, Surefoot. Come back with the healing stone.”

With determination etched on your face, you pushed the horse forward and galloped away, accompanied by the four warriors, two on each side.

The healing stone was part of a legend told to children as nighttime stories under a bright, moonlit sky. People had journeyed there, lured by the promises of what the healing stone could give. Legend said that the stone was capable of curing any sickness and giving unimaginable wealth and long life to whoever found it. There were seven friendly tribes across the plains and each tribe had different stories about how several adventurers died in the course of trying to get the stone. Some versions said that the adventurers had never been seen again. Some stories mentioned that the adventurers had actually returned but people couldn’t see them, anymore. They had just heard their voices.

You remembered that your father’s younger brother, Strongheart had attempted the journey to make a name for himself. Everyone, including your father, had warned him not to go. It had happened six years ago. He had never been seen or heard from, anymore. 

You looked ahead with determination, and shook the thoughts of Strongheart from your mind as you listened to the sounds of the horses’ hooves pound the hard earth. Though no one had ever returned from the journey, you intended to come back. The life of your father and the future of the entire village depended on you finding the healing stone. 

As you rode away, you thought of the path you would take.

Will you go east?  Turn to Chapter 9.

Will you go west? Turn to Chapter 55.

Will you go north? Turn to Chapter 37.

Will you go south? Turn to Chapter 24.

Find out more from the book Surefoot coming out this July 2024.