Hello everyone I'm back with a Fresh Update!
I know it's not much but I've been so busy working at the play
Enjoy...
Chapter fourteen: Addicted to alcohole - part one
- What is it Maki? You've been so silent since we left Liana. Is there something you want to tell me, Stranger asked.
- It's nothing really... Maki stuttered.
- Are you telling me the truth now?
- Errr... Maki began while he saw his friend's annoying glance at him, well something... about Noka.
- C'mon tell me - ya know ya can always trust me - I'm your best friend.
- Well where do I start?... Stranger, Noka isn't a - what I would call - normal Steef.
- What do you mean? Is he sick or something?
- Not exactly, but... d'you remember what the Toicers told you about my uncle?
- Yeah, sort of.
- Well everything they told us was true. But there's a more advanced story behind thiers. Let me explain:
"For about five years ago my father visited Noka. They both were so exited to see each other that Noka and some of his servants had prepared a welcome cermony. Back then I was only 15 years old and my mother and I had followed father to meet our relatives. But when we got there my father discovered something about Noka that wasn't like him - he had started to drink. Fortunately, my uncle hadn't been drinking for so long, but the real problem was that the stuff he was drinking wasn't made by Steefs, but by Toicers. And who knows what they've used as ingredients. Anyway, my father tried to stop him from drinking, but nothing worked - Noka was like completely obsessed and did things he shouldn't have done.
This drink - or wine as he called it - was some kind of drug he used, not only on parties but also when he was depressed, happy or angry. Just to make him feel better. However, that caused a divorse between him and his wife, Ryna. When my family left the village my father decided that we - or at least I - shouldn't visit him again... until now."
- So you mean that your uncle has alcoholic problems?
- Big problems if ya ask me, but that was five years ago. He might have changed since then, who knows?
- It'll be another task for me to solve... How do you persuade a drunk Steef to leave his place as a Leader?
- I don't know... Just be yourself and he'll welcome and take good care of you - as his guest you deserve everything.
- Thanks Maki. We seem to get closer to the village and it seems like there are a couple of Steefs that are jus' coming to meet us.
- What...? You're right! It's some of Noka's guards.
The Steef guards wore a simple, but protective armour which covered thier shoulders, back and chest. They also had helmets with ancient Steef patterns to show that they were guardians of thier leaders tribe.
- What are your quest, Steef lads, one of them asked with a loud voice.
- We have come to see your leader Noka. And we wonder if you guys could take us to him, Stranger answered.
- I'm afraid we can't, the other one began, not before you show us that you're telling the truth.
- Excuse me if I interrupt your conversation; you guys remember me, Maki asked.
- Oh... wait! Wait! I know you're a... a cousine to our leader, right, the first one guessed.
- Close enough, but wrong. I'm Maki the son of Vivay - Nokas brother and my uncle.
- Maki? Oh dear Odd! You were jus' a little Steef boy since I saw you! What brings you here, the second asked in suprisement.
- Well my father sent me here to... get married and my friend and I want to see Noka as well.
- Sure why not follow us and we'll lead you to him, the first one said as they began to walk the last 80 metres to reach the village.