Death Rites

By M.A. Dunham

A young boy witnesses his tribe's forbidden sacrificial rites.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.A. Dunham
• Release date: Jan 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301523009

M.A. Dunham

A freelance writer since 2007, M.A. Dunham now lives in Australia, where her house is ruled by a cat overlord. An American wandering the bush, she writes fantasy and mystery.

Book preview

Death Rites

M.A. Dunham

Copyright 2012 by M.A. Dunham

All rights reserved

Death Rites

Adjit peered from behind the leafy foliage at the shaman in the clearing. Sweat trickled down his nose; he silently brushed it away. Watching the death ritual was forbidden, and his discovery would do more than forestall the ritual--it would banish him from the tribe.

The clearing stood atop a steep hill. The trees, covered in child-sized leaves, guarded their inner circle. Both ensured the ritual’s privacy, as any approaching person would be noticed. The shaman stood with his legs splayed and his arms held wide as he ushered in the setting sun. His ritual garb—a dark leather loincloth—absorbed the sun’s rays. Black paint streaked across his face and torso, giving him the appearance of a skeleton. The shaman took beeswax from a small bag and plugged his ears. A man writhed before him, bound to a pole. The captive’s eyes gave away nothing as his arms strained against the ropes holding him.

He was the sacrifice that ensured the season’s continuation. The gods marked one person at year’s end with a special sign, and the Godmarked was then trussed up to await death. It was an honor to be chosen.

Adjit didn’t know why it was an honor to die, nor did he care. What he did care about was the look on his friends’ faces when he came back from the deadly ritual they dared him to watch. When he won the bet and lived.

Vithya, Adjit reminded himself, eyeing the sacrifice.