Deep Secrets (Exploring The Deep #2)
Prologue
TALLY - TEN YEARS OLD
My legs ached as I followed my Father across the greenery, barely listening to what he’s telling me at this point.
I want to go home and eat dinner with Mama. My belly rumbles with the thought.
Bubbling soup over the open fire– the smell always has me drooling.
My belly rumbles louder, resting a palm over my stomach to silence the ache as I let out a grumble.
“Tally darling, are you listening?” My Father’s calm tone bursts through my thoughts of dinner.
“Sorry Papa, I’m hungry.” I pout.
He chuckles and ruffles my hair. “We’ll go back for food shortly, but I need you to hear this, okay?”
I nod, eager to get this over with.
He chuckles again, and walks over to the edge of the clearing. Also the edge of a cliff with a huge drop that Mama and Papa have told me I wouldn’t survive if I was to fall. My footing is careful as I step behind my Father, putting my feet in the foot prints he left behind.
With a swoop of his hand to beyond, he starts, “This here is all ours, darling. This land belongs to our people, we serve the land as it serves us. Your grandfather was the leader of our people before passing it to me and when I pass, the role of leader will fall to you. It’s our duty to protect our people and our land. ”
He bent down on one knee, resting a hand on my shoulder before continuing. “It's a huge weight to bare. But you are strong and we’ll have time before you become leader. Even when you do you will never be alone, your family will protect you, the land will protect you.”
Looking away, I spot a small boat gliding over the soft waves that has me grasping for adventure. It must be wonderful to explore on a boat, at sea all day. I want that. Not to be a leader. Did I even know what a leader did?
No.
“What if I don’t want to be leader, Papa?” My voice is small, scared to disappoint one of my favourite people on this island.
His smile is soft and his hand gives my shoulder a soft squeeze. “When the time comes and you still don’t want that title, then there are others who can stand up. But for now we’ll still train you because you may change your mind. You’ve already got the strength of a leader, darling.”
“Okay, Papa.” My stomach rumbled again, restless in its pursuit of soup and bread. “Can we go eat now?”
He chuckles again before standing to his full imposing height before me, towering above me. Even at ten I was tiny compared to my relatives, my cousins of seven and eight stood taller than me. Was I always destined to be tiny?
“Come on, let's get you some food. Piggy back ride back to Mama?”
My ears prick up and my hunger all but forgotten, as I squeal and launch myself on my Father’s back.
He lets out a quiet huff as I flop about, attempting to fit my small frame around his broad back.
Shoving my face into his neck, I let his long hair tickle my face as he carries me back home.