by S E Turner
Eujena busied herself preparing the tea and took three slices of cake from its muslin cloth. 'We had a wonderful time. I haven't laughed so much in all my life and I don't remember dancing so much, either.'
Artemisia chuckled. 'My sides were aching watching Hagen dancing around like a man possessed.'
'I know, he was so funny,' agreed Eujena, wearing a wide grin. 'It must have been the strong ale that disguised his inhibitions.'
'Yes, it always works,' smiled Artemisia. 'I swear they make it stronger every time.'
Eujena laughed. 'Please sit down.' And she guided her to a seat next to Ajeya and offered a mug of tea and a slice of cake.
'You've got a good man there, Eujena.'
The young mother smiled.
'Are you from the same clan?' asked Artemisia, eager to know more about her new friends.
'Not exactly,' Eujena stammered. 'He saved me one day. I was out collecting berries for Ajeya and myself and I was attacked by a boar. It inflicted a terrible injury on my leg, and I would surely have died if he had not passed by and seen me.'
Artemisia winced at the thought. 'So, where had you come from?'
Eujena allowed the fragrance of the tea to swill round her mouth for a few moments and let herself enjoy the warmth of a velvet smooth taste before she could answer the question. 'I don't know, Artemisia. I have suffered from amnesia ever since. But I was miles from anywhere so I must have escaped something.' She tried hard to camouflage the deception and felt dreadful having to lie to this special woman.
'Makes it even more remarkable that he was in the right place at the right time,' said Artemisia, sincerely.
'I count my blessings every day that he saved me,' remarked Eujena with the sting of tears in her eyes.
Artemisia refrained from asking any more probing questions that obviously stirred painful memories. 'And did you have a nice time last night, Ajeya?' she addressed the young girl.
She faced her and nodded, and for the first time, Artemisia noticed the disfigurement. She looked wide eyed at Eujena and nearly choked on her cake. 'I'm sorry, I must slow down when I eat.' She took a few sips of tea to regain her composure. 'I'm so glad you had a nice time, Ajeya. I saw you dancing with Keao, and he looked like he was looking after you.'
'Everyone was nice to me,' said the little girl with the glimpse of innocence in her eyes.
'We try to be nice here at the Clan of the Mountain Lion. We want to build friendships with everyone from all walks of life, and that's why we are so pleased that you chose us to come and stay with.' Artemisia's voice was kind and gentle.
'I like it here,' said Ajeya, tucking into her cake.
Artemisia leaned over to hug the child and kissed her forehead. 'I quite like it here, too.' She felt a flutter in her belly. 'I think my baby wants to say hello, I can feel her kicking. Would you like to feel her?'
She nodded eagerly and placed her small hand on the bump while Artemisia began to sing softly.
'The wild wind blows through valleys my love
The wild wind blows through the trees
The wild wind blows o'er the rivers my love
But will n'er get close to thee.
The wild rain storms through the valleys my love
The wild rain storms through the trees
The wild rain storms o'er the rivers my love
But none will get close to thee.'
She stroked Ajeya's hair when she had finished the lullaby. 'Did you feel her kicking?'
Ajeya's face lit up and her face was full of wonder. 'Yes, I did.'
'You know what? I hope my little girl is as gorgeous as you, because you are as pretty as a meadow full of flowers.'
The girl beamed up at the beautiful lady.
Eujena felt the tears spill over. At last she felt safe, at last her daughter was accepted, and she sat down to enjoy the afternoon with her new-found friend.
Chapter Sixteen
The long-awaited Spring Festival was a celebration of appreciation; it also welcomed new life with strong ties in the camp and promises of a good yield of crops for the coming seasons. With a joy and respect that could only come from those living on the edge of survival, this was the clan's most celebrated ritual.
After a long hard winter, the thaw was a welcome sight, and those that survived the brutal hostility of a northern hemisphere blast could only thank the spirits for their good fortune. To witness the vibrant green of the valley meant that life was pulsing through the land once again. To celebrate the new life that they needed so much to survive, the beginning of spring had to be blessed with a festival.
Everyone took part in the preparation; and groups of men, women and children had been out for days fishing, hunting, trapping and gathering buds, shoots, bulbs, roots, leaves and flowers of every description. Some plants were gathered for sustenance, others for flavour, and many were used for teas and medicines. The rivers were plentiful at this time of year and the clan’s most staple diet was a rich variety of fish. Though for a feast such as this, wild boars were hunted, stags were killed, and the newly laid eggs from every type of creature were collected.
But this time, there was to be another addition added to the usual proceedings.
All children of the clan had a totem as a guide, and as they were not clear about Ajeya's origins, Artemisia and Laith had decided that this auspicious occasion would befit such an honour; and it was after dinner one evening that they suggested this tribute.
'And that is why we offer this ceremony to protect our children, to give them a guide and extra powers. You do understand this custom don't you, Eujena?'
'Of course, I do, Laith.'
'We all need protection, every one of us, but children are so very vulnerable. Sometimes only the spirits can help.' Artemisia's words sat deep.
'Does Keao have a totem?' Eujena asked Hagen with a searching look.
'Yes, he does, just as Laith has said, all children of the clan do?'
'Well then, as Ajeya is a clan girl now, I think it’s only fitting that she has her own totem to protect her.'
'I think it's a very good idea, Eujena. All children need protecting. It's a very harsh kingdom out there.'
She touched Hagen's hand, grateful for his advice and nodded her head in support of Laith and Artemisia. The three onlookers tipped their heads in agreement.
'If it helps at all, she was born under a blue moon. I have always thought that was a sign of protection and strength.' Eujena looked at each of them in turn.
'Yes, that is very special sign,' said Artemisia, her voice uplifted.
'Indeed it is,' declared Laith. 'And there is only one totem that can befit such an honour.'
Eujena raised her eyebrows in anticipation.
'Ajeya's totem is the Hare!'
'The Hare?' Eujena's voice went up an octave.
'Yes, it is a very important symbol, especially during the Spring Equinox,' replied Laith, almost aghast at her response.
'It is a figure of independence and infinite wisdom,' said Artemisia, noticing the subtle exchange.
'With high expectations and heightened intuition,' said Laith.
'It's a fine totem to have,' heralded Hagen nodding his head in admiration.
'So, when will she be given this symbol?' Eujena asked.
'Tomorrow, of course. The Vernal Equinox. The first day of spring.'
The commanding words mingled with the wisps of smoke from the fire, and the waves of shimmering heat were sent as spiralling plumes through the roof and out into the cool evening air. Streams of grey particles weaved around the outside trees to cast their own powerful shadows, and the last dim afterglow outlined a hare in the wilderness, silhouetted in the hazy moonlight.
The same time, the following evening, saw the giant obelisk loom over them in a humble epitome of enormous power. And with the needle of the dome pressed high against the orb of a bright pink super-moon, the tribe filtered in with heads bowed low and hands pressed together, summoning the spirit
s to offer their guidance. There was not a sound, not even a quiver. A subtle gesture from Zoraster invited Eujena to move forward and stand with her child before the grand menhir.
In the silence, the sound of breathing grew loud, and the crackling of the fire intensified. Moving air was an invisible presence and a soft chanting honed in on the community. They didn't even notice when it began, how the humming monotone became a tool to beckon the spirits, and then a rhythmic chant evoked a further sense of power and fortitude. The woman with the jaw harp began to unite all of nature with its surroundings and hailed in the spirits of all those lives who were part of a distant past. The whole group began to feel like one entity and their hearts began to beat in unison. They breathed as one and had the same thoughts flowing through their subconscious. Soon the solitary standing menhir had control over every single person in front of it. The jaw harp faded and a drum beat softly and finally Zoraster held up his hands to welcome the spirits.
Laith waited patiently for the right moment to begin the ceremony. The bright full moon looked as if it would burst when the leader broke the tranquil silence and began the proceedings.
'Comrades, citizens, people of the mountain lion, we welcome a new child into our clan, and she and her family are very much welcomed into our community.' A wave of bobbing heads acknowledged the new arrivals, and Laith continued. 'We offer all of them our love, our protection, and other offerings of wealth in front of the menhir.' He bowed to the grand stone and took in a deep breath as he addressed the clan again. 'But this is also our celebration of spring to call forward the spirits and pray for continued sustenance in a rich and varied land. This is a special time for all of us to renew our own vows with Ajeya as we remember that nature is connected at an unseen level. That animals, birds, plants, and rocks all have lessons to teach us and messages to share. These messages are instrumental for us to survive; they have been passed down to us from the gods and our forefathers providing direction, protection and healing. Citizens, hold your thoughts within this circle and pray for continued good fortune as we feast with the spirits tonight and give this daughter her guide.'
As Eujena led her child to Laith, he continued. 'Each child is given the spirit of a chosen animal by the leader of the clan; this will protect and guide the bearer in this life, the next life and throughout eternity. The spirit guide and totem for this child is the Hare as it exhibits great courage with swiftness and speed. It has total awareness of its surroundings. But above all else, it represents love and infinite wisdom. The Hare will serve its bearer well.'
The jaw harp started up with a low vibrating drone as the tribe held their own thoughts, and then as the drums and reed instruments accompanied the melancholy sounds, the clan filtered outside of the menhirs to begin a night of celebration.
They filed out towards a spectacular spread of trestle tables where exposed plates of exquisitely presented food was waiting for them: wild boar and steamed fish, roasted venison with minted sauce, boiled eggs with pine nuts, potatoes glazed with honey, and carrots dipped in ale. And for deserts was a range of sweet breads, cinnamon cakes, apple dumplings and dried figs.
Then the first few notes of the reed pipes began to shiver across the dance area. At the fourth quatrain, the couples joined together and slowly began to move. Hagen held Eujena's face in the palms of his hands and kissed her gently. As he did so, they kept their posture graceful and their stance defined. They moved with subtle gestures as they circled around each other: seductive, passionate, empowering. He took her hand and pulled her into him. She felt his strong arms around her as she fell back, confident that he would not let her fall, and felt his beating heart as she rose again and pressed her breast to his chest. She spread her arms wide and he lifted her high into the air, and as she dropped to the ground, feeling almost weightless, the drumbeat started. Without conscious thought, they both slipped into the arise, parted, hands raised, meeting for the merest fingertip touch, parted again and then he lifted her high into the air before letting her slide down against his body till her feet touched the floor. They held the embrace until the music stopped and then wrapped their arms around each other as a final embrace.
The clan erupted with shouts and whistles of appreciation and the music and feasting started up once again.
Chapter Seventeen
The spring warmed, the days lengthened, and the weeks that followed were a haze of preparations. Preparing for a wedding, preparing a comfortable range of furniture for their home, and preparing a little girl how to defend herself.
Keao devoted his time to modifications to improve Ajeya's performance with the catapult, even making a smaller more adaptable version for her to use. He had assured her that even with a good working weapon, they would both need to practise for several hours a day. Though in the end, it was teaching her the way of the kingdom that filled most of their days.
'Why was I given the Hare as my totem?'
'Because it is a very special animal, that is why.'
'But it's so little.' Her face was one of disappointment.
'You don't have to be big to be powerful.' His words were monumental.
'What is your totem?'
'I have an Owl.'
'That's much bigger than mine.'
He got down to her level and looked her in the eye. 'Did you know that if you look into the sky when the moon is at its brightest, you can see the image of a hare in the moon. The hare is so much bigger than anything else, and it looks down from its highest position and sees everything.'
She smiled at the enormity of her totem and stood up tall and proud. 'It sees everything?'
'Everything.' He nodded with a serious face.
'So, what can the owl do?'
He sat back on his heels and breathed in deeply. 'The owl is the greatest predator of the forest. It has total awareness of its surroundings so it can hunt in the dark using sound alone to guide it to a kill. It will watch the movements of its prey for hours before choosing the right moment to strike. It has perfect patience and perception and its stillness makes it invisible.' He looked beyond the forest. 'Have you ever seen the bird behind the call?'
She shook her head.
'That's because it is special and can hide. But the hare can see it, the hare can see everything. It will be a very special guide for you because it will know where everything is, good and bad, and it will protect you.'
She thought long and hard, wrinkled up her nose and creased the fold where her eyebrows started. 'So, with me watching everything and you as a great hunter, we can work together.'
He laughed affectionately at her proposition. 'Of course, we can. Let's give it a go now.'
She watched him climb a tree and he wedged himself between a sturdy branch and the trunk. He looked down at her and put his finger to his lips. 'Be like an animal,' he told her. 'They slow their heartbeats to a near standstill so their body heat drops and their scent disappears. They become invisible.' So, when she saw his signal, she knew instantly to be quiet and conceal herself. Insects buzzed around her and landed on her face and in her hair, birds flew so close that she could feel the whisper of their wings. Red ants crawled up her legs and bit her, but she didn't flinch. To them, she was a statue. A roe deer nibbled her way to where she crouched: invisible, silent, unmoving. Only the leaves on the trees stirred and the boughs creaked. Animals knew those sounds. These humans couldn't be detected.
Keao spotted a buck rabbit chomping contently on the remnants of a healthy dandelion. The buck sat upright on its hind legs and sniffed the air. His nose twitched trying to detect any threatening odours while his long ears shifted, locating any sounds that would give him the advantage to disappear into the safety of his burrow.
Thud! Thwack! One after the other, two rocks hit him full pelt in the temple and he fell instantly to the ground. He wouldn't have even felt it. Ajeya looked up at Keao. His catapult was still swinging from the exertion. The Owl and the Hare had hunted, and a buck rabbit would make a fine stew tonigh
t, she thought.
Eujena had decided to start making clothes for each of them. The primary reason was so they would look their finest for their host's big day, but the second reason was so they had more than one outfit to wear. Therefore, with the long light evenings, and with Ajeya and Keao out for most of the day, she had ample time to do it. Artemisia had given her a bundle of old clothes to adapt, and she found the whole process so interesting and the garments so intriguing that she was able to match the elaborate beading and fine quillwork onto all of their garments. So good was she with the splint of a bone as a needle and the tendril of the mugwort as thread, she worked tirelessly and easily to provide a set of clothes for each of them. She even made bedspreads and curtains with the left over fabric. Artemisia made her promise that she would teach her skills after the wedding.
Hagen had chopped down trees and split them where they lay, then lathed them by hand, sawing and pummelling till well into the night. Hours of rubbing down to give a smooth finish and then carving out intricate patterns gave his work a personal feel. Two beds he made, complete with wooden slats and headboards, as well as four chairs with arm rests and two stools for milking the goat that they had been given. And as the weeks rolled into months, the shell of a building that they were provided with, soon became the epitome of a home, adorned perfectly to their tastes and somewhere that they could call their own for the very first time.
That evening, the sun was just going down when she arrived back from having supper with Laith and Artemisia. She knew that Ajeya and Keao were still out practising together and that Hagen was chopping up logs for the hearth.
It had been a nice evening with Laith and Artemisia. A rich meaty stew had been served with lashings of dumplings and legions of carrots. The meal was delicious and washed down with copious amounts of last season's wine.
'So, when are you two going to get married?' The alcohol had certainly distorted Laith's perception of etiquette.