Before You Go

(Swords with Souls)

Cover by Darren Joy

(Adult content)

In the centre of the court is a stone and mortar well with a sloped sod roof. The herbal house has its own cellar. People had asked her grandfather why the mushroom-shaped roofs. She remembers him looking down at the person with a great big grin and replying that it was as close to a dome shape as he could get.

She sees the side of her diminutive grandmother’s mouth twitch. The old woman’s aquamarine eyes shine with relief.

Aminah halts before the old woman and nudges her with a wet nostril.

“It is done Grandma Celima,” Lara says in a parched voice.

“Unsaddle Aminah then come inside to rest,” her grandmother says as she strokes Aminah’s cheek.

Inside the curved wall flicker with shadows made from numerous scented candles. She can just make out the ribbing that holds the roof in its convex shape. Her grandfather is sitting in his padded wicker chair with a quilt covering his thighs. His body shivers even though the fireplace is roaring. Beside the fireplace is her sister Gwen and her nephew Ganesha. Ganesha is playing with a toy in the shape of an animal she has never seen in real life. An elephant her grandparents called it.

“Grampa Stian,” she says before going onto her tiptoes to kiss his forehead. His skin is cool and thin against her lips.

“Lara,” you have returned he says in a raspy voice.

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