by Sandra Lang
Two days after the celebration, our belongings are packed and we begin the walk to the summer village. It will take our tribe half of a moon cycle to get there. The path from our winter camp to the mountain pass takes four full days of walking across the ice. The days are short as the sun gathers his strength for the spring and summer ahead of us. After we reach the mountain pass, it will take another ten days to cross the mountain and then walk down into the sheltered valley toward our summer village. Because each of us is laden down with our personal belongings and items from our huts, the mountain pass is the most treacherous part of our journey home. One misstep could bring a person down with broken bones.
Every night when we stop to make camp, Tarok and his father Chief Narot walk amongst the tribe to help with anything and to make sure everyone is all right. This night is no exception; however, Narot moves along while Tarok stays behind.
“Do you need help, Yakon?” Tarok asks.
My father readily agrees. Two women are little help compared to Tarok, who is over six feet tall and stronger than my mother and me combined. My mother raises her eyebrow at me and I merely look in any other direction. It takes less time for the two men to set up the tent than it does for my family to do so alone.
My father claps Tarok on the shoulder, jostling him slightly. “You must stay for dinner.”
I open my mouth to protest, but Tarok opens his before any words come from mine. “I would be honored. Thank you, sir.” He bows respectfully to my father.
My father’s grin widens. “There is no need to thank me, Son.” My mother and I shoot each other a questioning look. Son? “It is the least we can do after you have helped us. Mina, you should prepare that stew.”
“Yes, dear.” Mother says as we walk into the hut to start preparing the meal.
“Akari,” my mother says quietly to keep the men from hearing us. “I think Tarok means to ask you to become his intended.”
The wooden bowl in my hand falls to the ground with a clatter, causing the dried nuts to spill onto the ground.
“Is everything okay in there?” My father calls as he steps inside with Tarok not far behind.
My cheeks flare. “Yes, I just dropped the bowl.”
My mother and I kneel to pick up the nuts while Tarok and my father start the fire. I am still wide eyed and my mind is racing. We barely know each other and have spoken only twice this winter. He has always mostly avoided me. … No, he cannot want to ask for me to be his intended. He is just being polite because we are… what are we? Friends? What is he still doing here? Why does he keep coming around?
“Akari.” The sound of my name draws me away from my thoughts. I look up, my hands still holding the nuts I dropped then picked up.
“Yes?” I ask.
“Tarok asked if you were going to join us at the Trade Summit this summer,” my father says. I can hear the scolding in his tone for not paying closer attention to the Chief’s son.
“Am I supposed to?” I ask in return looking from Tarok to my father.
Tarok offers a small smile. “The Shaman goes with us every summer. Perhaps you will go with him or in his place.”
“I would be honored,” I say quickly dumping the nuts into the pot over the fire.
Tarok leaves at the end of the meal, thanking us thoroughly for it. My father offers him an open invitation in return. After he is gone, my father sits on his sleeping platform and crosses his arms happily.
“I think that boy means to ask for you to be his intended, Akari.”
“No, Father, I think you want him to ask. He is just being helpful. He is going to be the next Chief, you know.”
My father waves his hand as if to dismiss the comment. “He cannot be Chief until a child is born to him.” He smiles proudly as he looks at me. “And who better to do so than my very own daughter? The Wise Woman of our village and the most beautiful woman my eyes have ever beheld.”
Mother shoots him a warning look so he quickly adds, “All of my women are the most beautiful creatures I have ever been blessed enough to lay my eyes on.”
This seems to satisfy my mother because she sits next to him and allows him to kiss her cheek.