The Ritual: Tales of Mentara, #2

By Ashley Uzzell

Five children stranded in a strange world continue their adventures in the land known as Mentara. Twelve-year-old Charlotte feels the weight of her mistake in bringing her friends here. The local tribe of children who call themselves The Orphans are in a constantly warring state with a neighboring tribe, The Bomen. Drawn into this fight because of her magical abilities, Charlotte struggles to keep her friends safe while defending a group of strangers she is starting to see as family.

Tomas, the leader of The Orphans, is drawn to the kind and motherly Lena, impressed by the strong and intelligent Fred, and bewildered by the ever-moody Charlotte. He has his own personal issues to deal with while he prepares for a ritual that will change his status in the eyes of his people forever. But is this path he has chosen, this future he has worked and planned for what he really wants? Is it too late to change his mind and explore these newfound feelings of wanderlust?

• Language: English
• Publisher: naturechild02
• Release date: May 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386450979

Ashley Uzzell

I'm an avid reader and mother of four. I enjoy writing poetry, short stories, and novels of varying genres. I love to write, sew, play games, and watch anime. Most days are spent chasing the kids and cats around, snuggling with a book, or yelling at my computer screen.

Book preview

Prologue

Is he dead? Daniel asked. He had caught on quickly, despite the language barrier.

Charlotte, still trying to catch her breath, shook her head at the boy. I don’t know. We have to get back and find out.

Her words had Daniel’s brows rising in fear, his brown eyes shining with unshed tears. No, he can’t be dead. It can’t be true.

We don’t know yet. Charlotte grabbed his thin shoulders and leaned over until she was nose to nose with him. If only she could shelter him from the harsh truths of the world. If only this small boy hadn’t been exposed to such ugliness and pain so early in life. No use freaking out until we know.

Yeah, right. I know you’re freaking out inside. You just hide it well.

She said nothing, unable to deny it. Her heart was still racing with fear. There has to be a mistake. Something was lost in translation. He can’t be dying. He can’t be injured that badly. But even her own inner denial was hollow. We, we need to get back. They need us.

But what can we do?

Charlotte eyed him for a minute while the other two spoke hurriedly in their native tongue. Her gaze fell to the waterskin in his hand. Ayda’s concoction. Daniel, maybe this will save him!

The boy’s face lit up at her words. Maybe that’s why she gave it to us. Let’s do it, let’s go.

Charlotte could only hope he was right. She remembered Ayda’s parting words about the herbal mixture she had given them. It might save their friend, or it might do nothing at all.

Chapter One

Twigs and sharp leaves snatched at Charlotte’s arms and new shirt as she raced through the forest. Tomas was right behind her, just barely able to keep up with her speed. They had to slow down once they reached the denser area that Charlotte thought of as the jungle. The trees and plants here were so close together, so numerous, that moisture clung to everything, hovering in the air like a thick fog. Charlotte tried some of the moves Daniel had shown her, kicking off of trees trunks, leaping over bushes, and swinging from low hanging branches to get through the area quicker.

Meanwhile, the shrill sound of whistles seemed to echo all around them, each lookout relaying the message to the next in line. Birds plummeted from branches, diving, speeding through the trees, doing their best to escape the sound. As if they knew what it meant.

How close... do you think... they are? Charlotte called out between breaths.

Tomas didn’t answer her, though she heard his quiet footfalls close behind her. She wondered if he didn’t understand her. Deciding to let it go for now, she winced in pain as she miscalculated and scraped her arm on a rough tree trunk. She faltered, but didn’t stop, continuing on even as blood began to ooze from the wound.

I don’t have time to worry about a little cut. I have to get Lena, Mindy, and Daniel away from the Orphan village!

As if reading her thoughts, Tomas touched her arm and she slowed to a walk. They took a few moments to catch their breaths before he met her gaze.

Others go Tara.

What others?

Mindy, Daniel, Lena, Fred.

Charlotte tried to sigh in relief but only managed to suck in another lungful of much-needed air. When?

Tomas wrinkled his brow at her and she mimed people walking with her fingers. Go now?

Understanding washed across his features and he nodded. Sukit take when hear- He whistled, apparently not knowing the word in English.

Charlotte nodded back, a grin tugging the corners of her mouth. Even sweaty, Tomas sure was nice to look at. The knowledge that he had already planned to send her friends away to safety at the first sign of trouble was a point in his favor. Then she remembered their earlier conversation and her grin vanished. He’s just using you as a soldier in his little war. He’ll say what he thinks you need to hear to get you to fight. Well, I said I would, but it doesn’t mean I have to be friends with him.

Turning her back to him, she raced off toward the village again, the sight of a green tree with purple leaves an indicator that they were close. Jogging up to the main hut, Charlotte was momentarily stunned by the commotion around her. The Orphans were racing about, collecting weapons, storing food away in secret holes in the ground, and pulling up vines that hung from their huts in the trees. Everyone was silent, using only hand signals to communicate. Tem was braiding Sobo’s hair up and away from his shoulders before signaling Tomas to approach. Charlotte took a moment to watch the quiet boy put six tight braids against Tomas’s scalp, his fingers quick, the rows perfectly straight.

So, this is how they prepare for battle. Entering the main hut, she was immediately relieved to find it empty. He was telling the truth after all. Good. The others shouldn’t be here for this.

Hurrying back outside, Charlotte lifted her chin at Tem and mimicked pulling a bow taunt. The teen was just finishing up his leader’s hair, so he inclined his head toward Sobo. Oh great, I have to ask the guy who hates me.

Sobo was handing out weapons to the others as they walked by hauling baskets of food to hide. Though most of the children carried a knife with them at all times, bows, quivers, and spears were kept in one of the other huts for emergencies. Charlotte had borrowed from Tem to practice, but she hadn’t realized that they had as many weapons as they did. Makes sense. They are a warrior tribe, after all.

Straightening her spine and lifting her chin, she strutted up to Sobo and held her hand out. Charlotte expected him to ignore her or sneer at her even, so she was surprised when he handed her a knife, bow, and quiver without a single word or dirty look. Huh.

After blinking dumbly at the older boy for a minute, she turned to find Tem gathering the group together around Tomas. The leader spoke in hushed tones until Charlotte approached. Once he spotted her, he quieted and snatched a stick off the ground. Motioning for everyone to crouch down close, he began to draw in the dirt. Charlotte was caught off-guard yet again. He’s doing this to include me in the battle plans. That’s pretty considerate. Had she jumped to conclusions earlier about Tomas? Had he only seemed to be pushy about her fighting with them because of the language barrier?

After drawing the usual map of the area that Charlotte recognized from previous chats about the geography of this land, Tomas drew small figures representing their group in various locations. A lone figure to the north stood just this side of Tara Village.

Sukit, he said, pointing.

Charlotte wondered about the tall girl being their last line of defense, but she said nothing. For all she knew, Sukit was the fiercest fighter of them all. Een and Tem were to take up positions east of Orphan Village, Sobo and Brayen to the west. That only left two people.

Guess I’m stuck with Tomas. She had mixed emotions about it. She wanted to like him as a person, but he was always a bit distant and preoccupied. A part of her wanted to show that she could help them, that her time training had not been wasted. And yet, she was still a bit nervous around him because of his good looks. Attractive people made her nervous, especially boys. They were too distracting and usually full of themselves. She didn’t know enough about this boy to know if he thought too highly of himself. I can’t allow myself to be distracted by trying to impress him. I have to stay focused.

Tomas clapped his hands and the children stood and rushed off, disappearing into the trees as silently as ghosts. Then he stood up slowly, giving Charlotte a nod before he, too, was running to their shared position to the south, back by the river.

She took a moment to inhale a deep breath, attempting to calm her racing heart and jumbled thoughts before following him.

Chapter Two

Sukit was too fast for them. She knew the forest and darted between trees and around bushes with ease. Even though they weighed less and could move faster here, being unfamiliar with the territory had Fred, Lena, Mindy, and Daniel lagging behind. Geez, she could try to give us a break here. Fred clutched the knife in his hand, his palms sweaty. Charlotte had left her old buck knife behind and Sukit had indicated that he should take it. I imagine she thinks we might be attacked on our way there.

Though Sukit glanced back every few minutes to check on them, she never slowed. The older girl’s cold demeaner as she hurried them along didn’t inspire any confidence. Does she even really care if we make it? Is she just following orders? Fred might be a big guy who enjoyed sports and lifting weights, but he was not a fighter. Not in the least. The idea of them being attacked in this part of the jungle forest that he was not at all familiar with terrified him. Don’t be a pansy. Just concentrate on getting the others there.