Kale: The Dryad Chronicles, page 2
“My Da is different,” Emma said. “He is a good man.”
“I don't care,” Kale said. “These people took me in and gave me a place to stay. All they want is peace, please don't tell anyone.”
“You are crying for nothing Kale,” Emma said as she got up. “That is a lot of food to waste. I have to go get my father.”
“Emma!” Emma could hear Kale cry out as she bolted back the way she came.
Emma had been following him out of curiosity. She wanted to see where he slept at and wanted to sneakily bring him a bowl of cabbage when her mother was finished. He lived in a horribly overgrown area of the forest where the brush was so thick she was hardly able to move. Kale was stronger than she was but Emma was faster. Emma could hear him crying out her name as she ran, she needed to make it back home to tell her father. Emma had been running for thirty minutes trying to get through the deep plants when she heard Kale break off and start wailing. It killed Emma to hear him cry but that was a lot of food and he was living with goatmen. Her Da would save him and get the food to the people that really needed it.
Emma was finally out in the open field after running what seemed like forever. She was out of breath when she flew through her open door and fell out on the floor. She could see her father jump up and grab his favorite stick. They couldn't afford a sword so that stick was what he protected the house with. Her father ran right out the door and then walked back inside with an odd look on his face as Emma caught her breath.
“What is wrong with you sweetie?” Sam asked. “I didn't see you at work today and now you fly in here like the pit itself is after you. Are you okay?”
“Father,” Emma said catching her breath. “I have something to tell you.”
“What is it baby?” Sam asked as he picked her up off the ground. “Is it about the cabbages and the turnip? You did real well baby. I have already shared all we can.”
“Da I want to tell you something but I don't want you to get angry,” Emma said.
“I could never get angry at my little girl,” Sam said.
“Da I just made a friend of mine cry and I feel really bad,” Emma said as she started to tear up.
“What is wrong baby?” Sam said seriously. “Maybe I can make it better. What did you say to her?”
“It is Kale,” Emma said. “I made him cry and he was crying when I left him.”
“The boy who helps you find vegetables?” Sam asked.
“Yes Da,” Emma said. “He was crying and begging for me not to tell you something.”
“What did he do to you!” Sam said angrily.
“Nothing Da,” Emma said. “I just know a secret of his. He doesn't want anyone to know about it and begged me not to tell. He tried to swear me to it. I just ran and left him crying when he knew I was going to tell you.”
“Well what could be so important?” Sam asked as Miriam got close to listen in.
“I want you to promise me that you will not hurt my friend or his friends,” Emma said.
“Has any of them hurt you?” Sam asked.
“No,” Emma replied.
“Then I promise,” Sam replied.
“Kale was really upset Da,” Emma said. “I feel like a horrible person just saying anything.”
“You can trust your Da baby,” Sam said.
“And you can trust me,” Miriam replied. “You already know I like Kale and if he hasn't done anything to you then we will not do anything to him.”
“Da he was crying when I left,” Emma said as she started crying. “I have never made someone cry like before. I don't want to feel this way.”
“I will make it better,” Sam said. “There has to be a reason why you wanted to tell me. I will not hurt your friend or his friends and family.”
“Kale has a lot of food father,” Emma said.
“That boy is rich?” Miriam asked.
“No,” Emma said. “He is good at growing food.”
“Well so what,” Sam said. “We cannot just take his food. Kale has been a good friend to you.”
“Father you don't understand,” Emma replied. “Kale was upset because I saw him watering his plants. He didn't have a skin, he said he is something called a dryass.”
“Dryass?” Sam said confused and then his face went still. “Do you mean dryad? Did he say the word dryad?”
“That is the word,” Emma said. “He has a bunch of food that he or the strange women with leaves in their hair didn't seem like they would eat.”
“Wood dryads…” Miriam said and then looked at Sam.
“You need to tell me everything Emma,” Sam said nervously. “Mary, you stay here. Miriam I am going to need your help.”
“I found him talking to a goat man,” Emma replied. “The goat man was mean. I thought they were here to take your job but now I am not so sure.”
“Where did you see all of this at?” Sam asked.
“Deep in the forest,” Emma said.
“We are going there right now,” Sam said as he held his stick.
“Don't you want to get some of the other men to help you carry the food?” Emma asked.
“No!” Sam said quickly. “We don't need anyone. All I need is your mother.”
“Mother can barely walk though father,” Emma said worried.
“I will be okay,” Miriam replied.
“So where is this dryad at now?” Sam asked. “Lead the way.”
“He is scared of you father, so scared that he begged and cried,” Emma said. “I told him my Da is a good man. He may not come out if he sees you.”
“He will come out,” Sam said. “How many goatmen did you see?”
“Two and Kale told me to be quiet or they would kill me,” Emma said. “I felt bad about all the yelling I did. Kale just looked horrible the last time I saw him.”
“Well lead on,” Sam said.
Emma thought the way back was rough but it was easy to retrace her steps. She had torn her dress along with her arms and legs to shreds as she knocked down everything in front of her. It left a clear trail back to where she saw Kale at. Emma noticed her parents seemed weird. Her father wasn't joking like he always was and he just seemed tense. Her mother was limping and Emma wanted to ask why did her father have her way out here. He must have his reasons, Emma thought. Emma still wished her mother was at home. Her mother had found a decent sized branch that she was walking with and seemed like she was wielding it like she was scared something was going to get her. It was the goatmen Emma thought. Kale had told her that they would kill her and her parents were nervous. Why didn't they just bring more men then to grab the food. They would be better at digging it out and they could protect themselves. Emma had another problem.
She would need to make it up to Kale. The way he screamed for her to stop and started crying stuck with her. Emma thought she could still hear his wails and she felt like a horrible friend. He kept asking her to keep her voice down and she was screaming. She had seen the goatman attack Kale and Kale was trying to save them both but she was loud and angry. Emma sighed for being so stupid, she could have gotten them both killed. Kale was just trying to protect her and not only did she almost get him hurt, she had went and told his big secret. Emma knew the food was needed though. Maybe Kale could stay with her and her parents and things would be better for him. He could make water for father and father would never have to carry another heavy bucket. Emma still felt horrible now her adrenaline was coming down. She had made someone scream out and cry.
“It is close,” Emma said as she noticed where she and Kale hid from the goatmen.
“How close?” Sam said.
“Real close,” Emma said. “Promise me you will not hurt him father.”
“Just bring him back here,” Sam said. “Did any of the other dryads come out this far?”
“No,” Emma replied. “They stayed by those trees over there. The food is right by it. It is rows of things that can feed us. I just noticed you didn't bring a sack father.”
“I don't need a sack, go get him,” Sam said.
“How are you going to carry the food?” Emma asked.
“Emma listen to your father and stop asking questions,” Miriam said. “Bring the dryad over here and don't let him know that we are here.”
“Why?” Emma asked.
“Just do it girl and stop asking dumb questions,” Sam replied. “Do you want the goatmen to hear you?”
“Oh,” Emma said whispering. “You don't want the goatmen to hurt him. They kicked him Da, they kicked him hard. I told him that you were a good man and he could trust you.”
“Just go get him,” Sam said. “Whenever you see him or anyone else, I want you to run back here. Run past us, maybe fifty paces. If it is a goatman, maybe I can take him by surprise so he won't hurt you.”
Emma walked out into the small clearing at the first place she saw Kale. The plants were still there and there were a lot of them. Emma bent down and started digging out a carrot as she looked around. This was a big carrot, not as big as the turnip but it had some size. Emma just about had it out when she heard a twig snap. She looked up and saw Kale coming towards her. Someone had punched him in the face, his eye was black and it looked like he had been crying. Emma made him cry and it was probably that stupid goatman that punched him. He hated Kale for looking human and the evil goat man said all humans were evil. Emma wanted to go to him as he came closer and say she was sorry for making him cry. Emma remembered what she was supposed to do. If a goatman was close by, he could snatch her and Kale and beat them to death. Emma went ready to run.
“You didn't betray me,” was all Kale said in a soft voice. “I thought you were going to get your father to beat me.”
Emma wanted to tell him how wrong he was about her father as she ran. She could hear Kale tell her to wait and soon heard footsteps behind her. Emma flew through the area her parents were hiding in and stopped to turn around. Kale was about to pass her parents when Emma saw her father Sam stand up. Her father had the stick and swung it hard. The thick stick took Kale right in the stomach, knocking the wind out of his small frame. Sam grabbed him by the hair with one hand and started punching him hard in the ribs with the other.
“Father what are you doing!” Emma screamed as she ran over to stop her father by grabbing his punching arm.
“Miriam get her off of me!” Sam said as he tried to break free.
“Come on Emma,” Miriam said as she tried tugging her daughter.
“LET ME GO!” Emma screamed as she wiggled away and grabbed her father’s arm.
“Miriam what in the pit are you doing?” Sam screamed. “Can you please stop being worthless and get her off of me, right now!”
“I’m trying,” Miriam said as she wrapped her hand around Emma’s mouth and started dragging her backwards.
Emma could see her father get into a rhythm. He had hit Kale six or seven more times and the small boy vomited from the abuse. Emma bit down hard on her mother’s finger causing the woman to let her go and cry out. Emma rushed over to stop her father. She wrapped her entire little body around his arm and prevented him from hitting Kale again. Sam wriggled and shook his arm, finally he let Kale go and pushed Emma off and then backhanded his daughter down to the ground.
“Dammit Miriam,” Sam bellowed. “You are worse than worthless. I need your help and you are not doing anything to help me. All you are doing is standing around and doing nothing. If you want out of this marriage just say so. Please stop being worthless when I need you. I never asked you for anything except right now.”
“I am trying Sam,” Miriam said.
“Then try fucking harder!” Sam said. “You can't hold a girl less than three times your size? We need this Miriam and we will not get another shot. Look at what this stupid dryad made me do to my baby. Look what you made me do by being worthless and no help to anyone.”
“Get up,” Miriam said as she wrapped her hands around Emma’s hair. “If you run away from me one more time I am going to tan your hide.”
“Get up,” Sam said as he kicked Kale in the head.
Emma screamed as she saw Kale just lay there and take the blow. Her father was angry and picked Kale up and started making his way back through the forest. Emma wriggled but could not free herself from her mother’s grip as they went through the forest. Emma looked around and could see two goatmen. They didn't make a move but it was obvious they had seen the whole thing. Once they got a bit deeper into the forest, Miriam had let her go. Emma had stopped being dragged and had stopped walking.
“What are you doing Emma?” Miriam said we have to leave.
“I am not going anywhere with you,” Emma said.
“Miriam,” Sam said and looked back. “Really Miriam? I am sorry about all the mean things I said back there but I am stressed out. I have been killing myself to take care of us and it seems like when I need you, I don't get your best. I get your worst.”
“Sam I tried to stop her,” Miriam said.
“No you haven't,” Sam said. “You might as well not be here. I am not trying to hurt your feelings but you know I need you. This entire family needs you and you are not giving me your best. If there was a man with a knife who threatened to cut Mary from ear to ear if you don't bring Emma out of the forest, would you give this level of effort?”
“Well no,” Miriam replied.
“Then what are you doing right now that I could not have done by myself,” Sam said. “We are supposed to be a team, are you doing your part? This whole thing was mostly your idea. I can drop this boy right now and carry my daughter out of here. When your kids cry of hunger I want you to remember your level of effort right now.”
Sam dropped Kale hard on the ground and picked up a struggling Emma. He tossed her over his shoulder as she beat on his back and started walking. Emma could see her mother look at Kale and try to pick him up. It was too tough for her and she limped as fast as she could to stop Sam.
“Sam wait,” Miriam said. “I am just in shock about everything.”
“I don't have time for you to be in shock,” Sam said. “Let's just go home, this trip was for nothing.”
“Get the dryad,” Miriam said.
“What for?” Sam replied. “I am not leaving my daughter out here and you refuse to bring her along. Not worth arguing about. My daughter hates me and for nothing, let's just go.”
“Stop Sam,” Miriam said. “He is worth a lot of money.”
“I know he is but you refuse to do anything except stand around and give minimal effort. Now please let's just go home.”
“I’ll take her,” Miriam said as she grabbed Emma. “That is too much money and I know you work hard for us. I can't look at my children while they starve, not while knowing I didn't do everything possible to stop it.”
“Now you are sounding like my wife,” Sam said as he gently let Emma down.
“You promised me,” Emma cried as Miriam grabbed her by her collar and marched her home.
“I’ll see about your face when we get home sweetie,” Sam said. “Your Da didn't mean to hit you that hard. I didn't want to hit you at all but you kept coming and I had zero help. Sorry Miriam, I don't want to tear you down. Emma you will understand when you get older why this had to be done.”
When they finally made it home, Kale had woken up. Emma could hear the heavy thuds of her father hitting him again and again. She could hear Kale cry out that Emma lied to him as the hits got harder and harder. Emma and her sister had to wait outside of their home. When the crying and yelling finally stopped, her father walked out with his hair and clothes soaked in sweat. He was carrying Kale over his shoulder wrapped completely in a blanket.
“Alright girls you can go in,” Sam said. “Your ma is cleaning up the blood. I have softened him up enough so he won't give me any more trouble. It is a little wet inside since I made it show me its power. I am going to sell him as quick as I can and I know just who to go to. I will not be back until tomorrow. Miriam watch our girls.”
“I will Sam,” Miriam replied. “Go feed our family.”
CHAPTER 3
KALE
Kale could barely move, he was so sore. Emma’s father had beaten him worse than he had ever been beaten before. Silenus was right, humans were evil and he had led one right to the secret grove. Kale tried to sit up, he was on a mat on a floor. The action took a lot out of Kale and he flopped back down. Kale could hear footsteps, someone was in the room with him. Kale tried to open his eyes but they felt swollen shut. Kale wanted to cry but figured now was not the time.
“How is my dryad doing?” came a sharp feminine voice. “Answer me!”
“He is still weak, Lady Margaret,” came a meek female voice. “He just tried to sit up.”
“That stupid commoner worked him over too much,” Lady Margaret said. “He was in bad shape when I saw him and had to be beaten some more to use his magic. This is the only water dryad I have ever seen out of the water. He is worth more than any three of you Charla. You better see to his care. I am having my doctor come in to see him, he only wants one thing as payment.”
“Yes, Milady,” Charla said.
“I don't know what he sees in your kind,” Lady Margaret said. “Give yourself a few extra bags of fertilizer for your tree or whatever else it may need. The next trimming is supposed to be next week. I will make sure you are off of it this time. Or maybe not. Have you had a seed yet?”
“No, Milady,” Charla said softly.
“Well maybe this dryad can help you all become mothers,” Lady Margaret said. “You have been doing a good job here for a new dryad. I honestly expected for your tree to be down a bunch of branches before you started acting as you should. I am not bad to my Menials, You do your job and I will take care of you the best I can. You just have to do your part and have a seed. It cost me fifty gold to buy you and that was only because Duchess Charley owes me. That stupid commoner got paid fifty gold and a bunch of worthless forest land for this dryad. If he was smart, he would know that he probably could have gotten close to five hundred gold these things are so rare. I may parade it around for a few years and sell it for two thousand. Do you know its name?”
