by S E Turner
'Artemisia, we have guests,' hailed the leader.
'I can see we have new arrivals, dearest. And I heard that Thorne sent you all.'
'Yes, he did,' answered Hagen.
'Well, like Laith has already said, any friend of Thorne is a friend of ours, and we extend the hand of friendship to welcome you into our clan. Please, all of you, join us for some refreshments.'
Chapter Fourteen
A heavy curtain of aurochs hide covered the opening, which was high enough for Hagen to walk through comfortably. The arched doorway led to a roomy area where a large fireplace sat in the centre with a massive cauldron of water over it. A range of chairs and tables were scattered around and eating bowls sat stacked on shelves and other utensils dangled from hooks on the walls. It was warm inside the timber hut, and the occupants didn't need to wear layers of heavy clothing. There was a hole in the top of the roof that let out the smoke. And extending out from the walls, around the sides, were wide benches with thick furs piled on them. Underneath were the sleeping arrangements, all very plush and comfortably attired, befitting the stature of the clan leader.
'Please, sit wherever you like. You are my honoured guests. Thorne knows I am establishing a new clan, and I expect that's why he sent you.'
Hagen smiled beneath a look of uncertainty. 'He didn't mention that this was a new clan.'
'Yes, we are a very new settlement and haven't been here long ourselves,' Laith said.
Artemisia was pouring some mugs of tea for the new arrivals and handing them out generously. Eujena warmed to the woman who stood before her. She was slightly built with a good bone structure, firm jaw, rounded chin, high cheekbones and deep-set eyes framed with long dark lashes. Her glossy dark hair was piled high on her head and she wore a smile that would melt the heart of any man. Laith took the mug and his smiling eyes thanked her.
Ajeya was still wrapped around her mother and slept soundly against her breast. Keao sat between Eujena and Hagen, rigidly observing the fine youthful leader who looked a good ten years younger than his father.
'So, where have you come from then, Laith?' asked Hagen, fully aware that this man was his junior.
'I grew up in a place far different to this. We both did.' He looked at Artemisia fondly. 'But we shun the trappings of wealth and prefer to live off the land.' He took a slurp of tea.
Eujena took a gulp of breath. 'What sort of place?' she asked, realising that they were indeed more akin to each other than she had initially realised.
'I grew up in a castle dear lady, alongside my wife to be.' He looked at Artemisia. 'A huge grand fort where the only decision I had to make was what I should wear that day.' His smile was thin as he reminisced. 'But I respond to the wild and surviving off the land, living with my own choices and making my own decisions.' He pondered for a moment as he recollected his calling. 'But I soon realised that starting a community on one's own poses its own risks and dangers, from all ends of the scale. So, I invited a few people to join us, and gradually we have built up a small settlement.'
The sense of familiarity continued for Eujena. 'Do you ever regret leaving the castle and all its luxury, Artemisia?'
'Not at all,' she answered. 'Not once have I ever yearned to go back, I have never felt afraid, and I have never felt alone. My life is here, and it gives me everything that I need.'
Laith took her hand and continued. 'In the Clan of the Mountain Lion, we encourage our children to learn early on, so young girls will learn about plants and their life giving properties while the boys will begin to hunt small animals and learn how to use a spear.'
'Can the girl's hunt and use spears?' she continued, looking at Laith.
'To be honest with you, most girls prefer to weave baskets and learn how to cook alongside their mothers, relying on passed down family recipes, and making a home. But if a young girl wanted to hunt with the boys and learn how to use a spear, then I would have no problem with that.'
'How old is your little girl?' asked Artemisia, feeling a stirring in her belly.
'She is three and a half now,' said Eujena proudly, noticing the swell in the woman's girth.
'She is so very beautiful.' Artemisia noticed.
'Yes, she is, I am truly blessed.' Eujena pulled Ajeya closer into her embrace and kissed the top of her head.
'Our first child is due in another six full moons,' announced Laith, noticing the subtle exchange.
'And we are to be married in the month of June, when the day is at its longest, for that is sure to be a lucky day for all of us,' continued Artemisia.
'So, only another three full moons till your wedding day,' said Hagen observing the small time scale. 'There will be much work to do before then.'
'That there will, dear friend. So you have arrived just in time.'
The two men laughed and clinked their mugs together.
'I thought we had new arrivals,' said a kindly voice coming into the room.
'Zoraster, where have you been? We've been making acquaintances without you.' Laith teased his friend and stood up to greet him. 'This, good people, is my oldest friend and we go way back.' Laith put his arm around the young man. 'He is our physician, our teacher, our medicine man, our healer and what Zoraster doesn't know isn't worth knowing. If you need the answer to anything, then this is your man.'
Hagen stood up to shake Zoraster's hand and introduced his family. 'I am Hagen, this is Eujena, this is Keao and this small sleeping child is Ajeya.'
'We welcome you,' said the healer. 'We always like to welcome new travellers and as this is a very special year for all of us, you are most welcome.'
'We have told them our news, Zoraster,' said Laith. 'But do you think a little celebration is in order to welcome our new guests in true Clan of the Mountain style?'
'What an excellent idea because there is always something worth celebrating in clan life,' he agreed.
'Come, you probably need to rest a while and freshen up,' offered Artemisia. 'Let us show you to your new accommodation. We have a lovely little hut just a short walk from us where your wagon can be kept under the lean-to and your horse can go in the adjoining field.'
'This is indeed very gracious of you all,' said Hagen, appreciating the hospitality.
'Nonsense, like I said, Thorne sent you to help us in preparation for our busy year ahead. If you treat others how you would wish to be treated, then kindness will be repaid two fold. That's what I have always found anyway.' Laith held the hide open for them.
Artemisia led them along a well-trodden path to where a vacant hut stood. 'It might be a bit stagnant in here after the long winter, but a few baskets of pine-cones will freshen it up nicely for you.'
'Thank you so much,' said Eujena under a wave of emotion. 'This is more than adequate for our needs and so very kind of you.'
A drape of thick leather hung over a long wooden pole and the entrance led into a room very similar to the one they had just left. It was smaller of course, and much more sparse with a hearth full of logs and straw on the floor, but with a little bit of thought it could easily be made into a beautiful home. Two palettes full of sheep wool were at one end of the hut and two feet above those were benches covered in furs and animal pelts. On the adjacent walls hung more animal skins and a small wooden table was near the door.
'I love it,' said Eujena. And with her hands on her hips, she started to mentally arrange their new home.
'We will leave you good people to settle in, and when you are ready, join us for some food, and maybe a little singing and dancing.' Laith hooked an arm around his wife-to-be and disappeared back to their own dwelling to prepare.
Hagen came in from settling Coal in the field, and with the help of Keao, brought in their belongings from the wagon. They both looked around with wide open eyes and were obviously both thinking the same thing about getting to work making a few more essential items: a couple of substantial beds, a few more shelves and at least four comfortable chairs.
'This is grand isn't it,
Eujena?' Hagen said, putting down the bags.
'It really is. We are so incredibly lucky.' Eujena's voice was bursting with pride.
Ajeya sat on the palette and asked for some food. Keao gave her a wedge of bread and a flagon of warm water, meagre as it was., That was all they had.
'I think a feast is planned for tonight. You will get a lot more food then,' he assured her.
And that night was indeed a feast with such food that they had never seen before. Course after course, menu after menu. There were great haunches of aurochs roasted with carrots, joints of venison braised with leeks, grilled bacon and flat mushrooms, roasted mutton with mint, peppered boar with cranberries, and stewed goose with barley. And for afters, baked apples in wine, wild pears in honey, cinnamon cakes, spiced wine, chilled ale, weak mead, iced lemon, and honeyed beer.
The huge outdoor fireplace burned hotter and hotter as more ash and wood were added. It formed a centrepiece as the clan began to move away from the tables full of food and into the centre to celebrate with song. A drum began to beat rhythmically, and people began to tap on anything that was near: the ground, a mug, a knee. Then the wind pipes joined in, a haunting melody that was lifted by the breeze and transcended around the camp like a plume. Women began to hum a high octave while the men thrummed a deep guttural sound. A woman's voice began to sing out with passion and the beating got faster and faster. Then the same woman put an instrument to her mouth and began playing on a jaw harp. The most incredible haunting sounds seemed to connect all of nature and the surrounding cosmos in a staccato of octaves.
The harp trailed off as the drum took over, and in a burst of exuberance, Laith landed in the centre of the group with his feet thumping and his hands clapping. He pulled Artemisia into the centre and together they danced in perfect time with each other. She moved forwards and backwards with him, meeting together, then out again, taking a turn round the edge of the circle, skipping and jumping, but laughing most of all. Round and round they went and then started the whole thing over again.
Laith lifted her into air amid a cacophony of shrill excitement and then put her down gently to make her exit. But then Zoraster entered and, in an amazing display of high kicks and long leaps, began to weave his way round Laith. The crowd was shrieking with laughter as the two men linked arms, and in a series of acrobatic moves and dare devil antics, entertained the throng with their much-admired theatrical displays. There were shouts of joyous approval, feet stomping, and hand clapping. Those who still had a beer in their hand, slurred it all over the dance floor in unrivalled appreciation. Women began to join them, the children were dancing as well, and as the music changed tempo again. Everyone by now was moving in time to the beat. Keao was dancing around a tree with Ajeya; her shrieks and howls could be heard above the other children who had joined them. The light from the fire pits lit up their joyful faces and not one person even noticed the child's disfigured face. Eujena was laughing and singing with the rest, she was swaying in time to the infectious music and letting her body move as if no one else was watching. Only Hagen noticed the beautiful temptress with the engaging smile, swirling her hips and twirling her arms to the rhythmic chants. He sidled up behind her and put his arms around her waist and nuzzled his face into her hair. He began to match her body and sway in time to the music. She tingled within his warm embrace and held onto his strong arms tightly.
'It's intoxicating, isn't it, Eujena?' he whispered into her ear.
'This is truly wonderful, Hagen. I have never been so happy.' She reached up to caress his face, but then someone grabbed her loose arm and dragged her into the centre of the ring. Hagen still had his hand on her other arm, so he, too, was snatched in. The stranger who had interrupted their moment of passion, immediately left the two of them in the middle, and they had to suddenly improvise their own form of wild exotic dance to the sound of the beating drum and the loud intoxicated voices.
The north had turned pitch black now and the stars were hanging in a clear sky; and as the moon looked down on them with her own graceful smile, Eujena felt the tears of laughter running down her face and felt that she never wanted this night to end.
Chapter Fifteen
Ajeya picked up a few handfuls of pebbles from the edge of the stream and gave them to Keao. He had positioned a range of utensils on some tree stumps and took out his catapult to get some practise; a V shaped piece of wood, born from the branch of a maple tree, which he could manipulate to hit whatever he chose, over any distance. The stones were placed in a leather pouch attached to either side of his apparatus; and with extraordinary accuracy he pulled back on the leather strap and hit each of the utensils in quick succession. The little girl jumped up and down excitedly and ran to put the targets back on their plinths. Again, in the speed of an arrow, the targets were toppled from their positions.
'Ajeya, let me try something else.'
She ran up to him, eager to please.
'Let me hit something that sits on your head.'
He placed a small metal mug on the top of her crown and walked away. She stood perfectly still and didn't take her eyes off him.
'Don't move. You must not even blink. You promise me.'
She didn't say a word. She trusted him. Even at that young age, she knew he wouldn't hurt her, and he knew that she understood. From several feet away, he sized up the target. He steadied his left hand that held the shaft and pulled back on the sling with his right hand. He held it there, closed one eye, and then, with the accuracy of a hawk that was diving at full force, the stone hit the centre of the mug and knocked it cleanly from her head.
'Again, again!' she cried out excitedly.
'Ha ha,' he laughed out loud. 'Come on, it would be better if I teach you how to hit a target, not become one.'
Using a sophisticated form of stick, he had engineered this basic device to suit his requirements and had constructed a potentially lethal weapon. He lined up the utensils once more, and with unsurmountable amounts of patience and confidence, he began to teach the young girl his craft. Ajeya watched Keao intently and listened to everything he said. She was fascinated by his skill, and even though she never hit a target, she knew that she was learning, and that by experimenting and practising, with his help, she would improve.
'Everything is an illusion. See the butterfly with its dappled wings? They have those to blend in with the different colours of flowers and leaves so they are not eaten. And this insect here, see how it changes colour to camouflage itself in the undergrowth. Look how those deer in the meadow flash the white of their tails to evoke a sense of size. Everything in nature is an illusion to outwit and outmanoeuvre. Remember that Ajeya.'
'Is it pretending?' she asked with a small wrinkled up nose.
'Yeah, it's kind of pretending.' He smiled at her analogy.
'I can pretend that I am beautiful, then.'
He was sad that she even thought that. 'You don't have to pretend, Ajeya. You are already beautiful.'
She looked happy with his response, and he noticed the delight in her eyes.
'Son, what are you doing over there?' called out Hagen, coming into the clearing.
'Just teaching Ajeya a few survival skills.' He winked cheekily at the little girl.
'I need you to help me now, son,' coaxed Hagen. 'We have got a few bits of furniture to make, remember?'
'Yes, coming father.' He tucked his catapult into his belt and bent down to the small girl. 'You run off now, my beautiful. We will do this another time. Your mother will have some work for you to do now.'
She ran back through the tall golden grass, bent with the weight of ripened seed heads, a cool breeze chasing her heels. In her mind's eye, she was carrying a catapult. The wind brushed a strand of hair over the disfigured side of her face, but still she remained focused. Nothing would impede her illusion. Then, searching for the balance point, and steadying her aim, she released the stone into the air and hit her target full on. She jumped about with joy and did it again and again. By
the time she got to the hut, she was slightly out of breath and fell into the room where she found her mother sweeping the floor.
'Ajeya, darling, there you are. Where have you been?'
'Practising with Keao.'
'Practising what?'
'With a catapult and I'm really good at it.'
Eujena laughed softly. 'I'm sure you are, my love. But now it's time for boring stuff, and I need some help getting this place in order.'
'Keao says I'm beautiful.'
Eujena stopped what she was doing. 'Well that's because you are.'
Ajeya found herself grinning again and took the broom from her mother to sweep the floor. All the while she thought about and memorised what Keao had told her.
'Look to the skies to see where the eagles are hunting, smell the change in the air and feel the pace in the breeze that brings the storm. Watch the habits of animals for they are more in tune with nature than any man. And observe the weather at all times, for the skies rule everything.'
Even at this young age, she knew that he was teaching her how to feel the outside world through smell and touch. Raising awareness of the different sounds around her through listening and noticing the ever changing colours that morphed with the seasons. But more than anything else, he was teaching her how to survive.
After several hours of cleaning, sweeping, beating the animal hides and getting a fire going, a welcome visitor appeared. 'Am I interrupting anything?' said Artemisia, peering round the doorway.
'No, not at all, Artemisia. We were just about to sit down and have a break, weren't we, Ajeya?'
The little girl nodded and went to sit down on a bench.
'Would you like some dandelion tea, Artemisia? I also have some cinnamon cake that was left over from last night.'
'That would be lovely, Eujena, thank you, but I just wanted to see how you are settling in and if you all enjoyed last night.'