Chapter 16
" ahem aunties uncles i a something I whisk to talk to you about. I want to know if it's ok that I clear and clean up the overgrown area by the drive. I want to plant some evergreens or flowering trees along there and need to clear it. Also with the new baby coming I would like to clear the area between here and the treehouse. " holding her breath knowing that anytime she wants to add or change anything most times they object. The Aunties agree right away especially to clean the area to the treehouse. If it had already been cleared Aisling would have notice someone living there. The uncles have no objections to clearing and repairing the treehouse especially after recent events. They all refuse the overgrown wooded area by the drive.
" why can't I clear it. You need to tell me why. I get a chill every time I walk by it. You have to tell me why?" She pleads with them.
The eldest Auntie who is her grandmothers sister speaks up.
" we cannot clear that area because it is a cursed area. When people first settled here there was a lush pond with large beautiful lilies and beautiful flowering trees that circled it. There was an old medicine man who lived near it. One winter the mountain was struck with a horrible fever. The medicine man offered to help. The people of the mountain felt like they would be going against G.o.d if they accepted. You have to remember that people then were very intolerant of anyone different. Though they respected him and often times gave him food and checked on him. They still felt him that G.o.d would be angry if they allowed him to use his magic as they called it. As you know my mother was a full blood Cherokee to her he was not strange or bad so when her youngest came down with the fever. She brought him to the medicine man. In a day her son recovered. So after hearing that others began
" ok auntie I understand I won't ask again. I'm sorry to have caused you any pain or discomfort of having to remember. Please forgive me." She kisses her auntie on the cheek and without another word she walks inside the house. Salali follows her. She finds her in her room looking at the area in question through the window. Hearing someone behind her she turns.
"Oh Salali is your room ok. Is there anything you need for me to get you." He voice is quiet as if in thought not really there
"No I love my room. I came to ask you if it will be ok for me and Edutsi Inola go explore the area you want to clear. You know my Edutsi is a great medicine man. I am not so bad myself I inherited his gift so did Astila. If we go we maybe able to find out why the pond had gone stagnant and why your grandmothers cleansing did not work. We maybe able to cleanse the land. We are not your direct family so the stipulation does not apply to us. I will talk with the commander also if you like. This is your property so I will do what you want. " Salali waits for what she has asked to sink in. Aisling turns to her.
" I have no objection if it will bring peace to Onacona though I will miss him appearing when danger is close by. I do not wish him to linger here if it is something bad. Please do not tell the others they already think I'm crazy. If they knew that I can see him they would put me away and take everything away from me. " she looks at Salali her anxiety shows on her face.
" will you tell me about him tonight when everyone goes to bed?" Salali smiles at her.
" I was actually going to wash my hair tonight when everyone went to sleep it takes hours for it to be brushed dry. It is supposed to be breezy tonight so it will be perfect. That is if you don't mind sitting on the balcony with me later." Aisling has a glint in her eyes now smiling hoping the girl will agree to join her.
" I would love to. It will be a girls night.