Chapter 22
Cili sighed as she and Abe watched Omi pace the room in the healer's hut.
"He had to inherit pacing from you." Cili teased, punching Abe lightly in the arm.
Abe sighed and shook his head. "Son." he said," Please sit down, you're making us dizzy."
"Sorry." Omi said with a worried sigh as he sat down and leaned up against the wall.
Zig, seeing the dismal mood, decided to try to lighten things up. He went over to the area where Omi was pacing and pretended to fall in to the 'trench' he had left behind.
"Ah help me! I've fallen in and can't get out!" Zig cried.
Cili and Abe both burst out laughing, Omi managed to crack a smile.
"Sheesh, yer a tuff one to get to laugh." Zig said.
"Sorry, I can't help it. I'm...worried. Kila was so badly injured." Omi said, fighting back tears.
"We know son," Abe said, "Please try to be patient."
"I'm trying, I'm trying."
Just then the door opened and Steinix and the local healer walked out, chatting happily. At first the healer apprehensive, when Steinix offered, no insisted on helping with Kila, but now they seem to have become best buds.
"Your stitch work is the best I have ever seen." the healer said.
"Why thank you. Your knowledge of the local herbs is astounding." Steinix said.
"Um excuse me," Omi said, sick with worry,"How's Kila?"
"Oh sorry." the healer said, turning his attention to him, "She'll be just fine. You can go see her now if you like."
Omi quickly got up and ran into the room Kila was in. He gasped slightly at all the bandages on her. She looked like a mudokon mummy. She looked up at him with a smile.
"How are you feeling?" Omi asked as he gently took one of her hands into his.
"'Bout as well as can be expected." she said, then she looked sad for a moment, "Omi, I'm sorry the dress you gave me got ruined."
"Silly girl, it's you I care about. Not some dress. A dress can be replaced. You, however , can't be." he said as he leaned over and kissed her.
Chapter 23
Omi and Kila walked beside the river holding hands and just enjoying each others company. Kila had made a full recovery from the injuries she had received two months ago and Omi had managed to get her a new dress very similar to the last one. Kila with a mischievous grin, bent down suddenly and splashed Omi with water.
"Yipe! Hey that water is cold!" Omi said.
"So?" Kila laughed as she splashed him again.
"Ok two can play at this game." Omi laughed as he started to splash her as well. They splashed each other until they were both sopping wet. Omi give Kila a mischievous look.
"You look good all wet." he purred.
"Pervert." Kila laughed, then she shivered when a breeze came up,"Ok, now I'm cold." she said as she wrapped her arms around herself.
"Let me warm you up then." Omi said as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply. She welcomed it and they continued on like this until someone behind them Cleared their throat.
Omi looked back annoyed at a mudokon warrior who was standing behind them, "Do you mind? We would like to be alone." he growled.
"Are you Kila?" the warrior asked, completely ignoring Omi.
"Yes," Kila growled, "What's it to ya?"
"The council has decreed that you stand trail for you crimes." the warrior said as several more surrounded them,"You will either come with us peacefully or we'll take you by force."
"No way!" Omi cried as he put himself in-between the warrior and Kila, "You will not take her!" Suddenly with one swift motion the warrior knocked Omi to the ground with his staff.
"Omi!" Kila said as she knelt down beside him, "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," he growled at the warrior, "What the f*** was that for!?"
"A warning." the warrior said as two other warriors grabbed Kila, "If you interfere further with the council affairs you will suffer a much worse fate."
Omi got up an started to charge, but Kila stopped him.
"No Omi," Kila said as they started to lead her away, "I don't want you to get hurt."
"My father will hear of this!" Omi howled in fury.
"Go ahead tell him." one of the other warriors said, "He may be the mudokon savior, but he has no power in the council."
That doesn't mean I won't try. Omi thought, shaking with anger.
As it turned out, they were right. Abe couldn't do anything to keep the trial from going ahead. Despite their testimony in her defense she lost the trial and was sentenced to die the next day. Omi managed to convince the guard at the jail hut she was in to let him see her for one last time.
Despite the intense passion they shared with each other at that time, there was a lingering sense of depression and doom.
"Omi...I love you." Kila said, choking back a sob, as they embrace each other tightly.
"I love you too Kila." Omi said, tears streaming down his face, "It's too bad...that we'll never know if...anything would've come from what we..."
"No Omi." Kila said putting a finger on his lips,"Lets not talk about what might have been."
"You're right, let just enjoy the moment."
Unfortunately, that moment was too short.
"Um Omi? You should leave now, you've been in there too long as it is." they heard the guard say.
Reluctantly, Omi parted with her and left.
The next morning a crowd gathered in the village center. Kila was brought out and tied to a small post in the center, she looked at the ground the whole time, tears in her eyes. Omi was on his knee's sobbing. Abe and Cili were trying to comfort him, but to no avail. The head of the council started his speech, one Omi did not care to hear. He did look up when he said:
"Is there anyone here today, other then the members of the defense, that disagrees with this execution going forward.?"
Omi looked and listened hopefully. But there was nothing but silence and his heart started to sink. Then, from somewhere in the crown opposite of him, a voice said:
"I do!"
The crowd parted to let an old mudokon through into the center. Cili stood up in shock.
"It can't be." she muttered, "Irun?"
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