Kii rolled over to see what all the commotion was about and laughed at the look of consternation on Jon’lan’s face, she had politely offered her blankets to Mar-ee but the little girl would not budge. Taikiuu and Jon’lan only laughed, knowing that they would have time in the future to be together as husband and wife.
Taikiuu felt the little girl wiggle in her arms and realized that perhaps the child needed to relieve her bladder. Mar-ee rolled over and smiled at her mother and Taikiuu returned the smile as the child stood on tottering legs and pointed at the nearest bush. Taikiuu could barely make out its leaves and so she woke Jon’lan whispering that they would take care of morning matters and return.
Jon’lan was immediately alert. Throughout the night he and Anaay had taken turns keeping watch. Jon’lan had been able to sleep during the last four hands of time and it had revived him. He stood now to relieve Anaay being careful not to wake Kii who was snuggled deep into her bedding. Jon’lan found Anaay at the edge of their camp and he whistled a greeting so that the young man would not mistake him in the dense fog.
“I remember this fog, how it would greet our band every morning before the rising of the sun and then fade away as if it had never been.” Anaay uttered these words in his own tongue. Jon’lan was growing more adept at his language and he answered him comfortably.
“In my travels I have seen many things, but never a fog like this that covers the land, usually this is something that is seen only on the water.” Jon’lan’s words seemed to drift in and out of the mist as he spoke; soon he and Anaay were talking as if they had always known each other. They talked of many things, the land, the valley, and the warriors that they hoped no longer pursued them. Jon’lan smiled to himself as he listened to Anaay speak. They were slowly developing a friendship that only a few days ago he could have never imagined.
As the mist began to clear Taikiuu was able to make out the figures of Jon’lan and Anaay as they sat near each other, each claiming a large boulder as their seat. Mar-ee had decided that she preferred riding on her mother’s back over walking on her own two feet and Taikiuu who had immediately been charmed by her new daughter found it difficult to deny her anything. Mar-ee knew that her mother loved her and would give her anything, yet the child was sweet natured and did not ask for much. As time went by she lovingly bestowed kisses and hugs to both of her new parents, making their hearts rejoice.
Kii woke only to find that she was all alone by the dying fire. At first her heart beat in fear that she had somehow been abandoned in the night, yet she quickly abandoned that thought. The reassuring voices of Jon’lan and Anaay tickled her ears and the soft footsteps of her mother whispered to her from the distance, followed by the tinkling laughter of Mar-ee. Kii smiled at her own foolishness and said a quick prayer of thanks to the One before rising.
She slowly banked the fire until a few bright flames emerged and set about making something for the morning meal. Soon the smell of the cooking fire drew the attention of the men and Jon’lan motioned that he would keep watch as Anaay went to soothe his hunger. Anaay approached the fire carefully, watching Kii as she worked diligently over the morning meal. She pulled her hair back from her face, making quick work of tucking the errant strands behind her ears, nibbling at her lower lip as she worked.
Anaay felt his cheeks flame as she looked up at him, finding him watching her and quickly lowering her eyes. Anaay lowered himself to the ground near Kii and as she set about adding items to the cooking pot, he waited patiently. When she took a serving dish and asked him to have first taste, his eyes lit with joy. He waited for her to gently dip the serving dish and hand it to him. He blew gently over the stew that she had warmed and seasoned and then took a sip, grunting appreciatively at the taste.
Anaay took pleasure in handing her a stirring stick that was just outside of her reach. Kii continued to smile as she went about her work. She was not used to being noticed by anyone, let alone a young man. Anaay seemed to want her attention and he went out of his way to show her how much he appreciated her efforts. Kii felt out of sorts when he looked at her so deeply, as if she were the only girl that he had ever seen. She did not understand the feelings that Anaay’s attentions brought to her but she though perhaps it was a good thing.
Taikiuu played nearby with Mar-ee while keeping a close eye on Kii and Anaay. If not for Kii’s position as a servant to the Ada’na she would have been ill treated by the People of Hetmos. Kii was a beautiful young girl, with wide round eyes and high cheekbones, although her features were not like those of the Hetmos people, she was still beautiful in comparison. Still had not come into her time as a woman and until then, she could not be married. Taikiuu didn’t know for sure if Anaay understood such things and she would make sure to mention this to her husband when next they were alone.
She felt a thrill in her belly as she thought of Jon’lan as her husband. Just then she looked up to find him watching her and he laid his fingers to his lips and lifted a hand to her. Taikiuu blushed prettily and smiled at him. Mar-ee noticed her father and began to jump up and down while waiving until Jon’lan laughed and opened his arms to the little girl who went scampering towards him.
Kii and Anaay watched as Mar-ee raced by them to throw herself into Jon’lan’s waiting arms giggling as she ran. Jon’lan caught the little girl and lifted her above his head as she chortled happily and he brought her to his chest while giving her a gentle squeeze.
Mar-ee laughed in delight as her father held her and swung her again into the air before gently setting her on her feet. The little girl lifted her nose into the air and gently scented the wind before announcing to everyone that the food was ready.
Anaay could just make out the form of Brother Cat as he patrolled the nearby area. He was never far away, yet he needed his space to hunt and run. Anaay would never deny him his freedom by tying him and so the panther remained a brother to him instead of a pet. Still the naming ceremony had giving him an idea and he spoke his words aloud to his band as they seated themselves around the fire.
“I thought perhaps that we could honor my brother with a name.” Anaay spoke softly yet firmly waiting for a response.
Jon’lan who firmly believed in naming his own animal nodded in consent. “It would be for you to name the panther, for you know his true nature.”
Anaay said, “I would like to know if he approves of his new name. But I am not sure how I will know. I spent most of the watch last night thinking of names for him and I have finally decided on the proper one.”
“If he comes to you when you call him by this new name then perhaps that will reassure you that he chooses to be named.” Kii spoke softly as if she were unsure that her opinion truly mattered. Anaay quickly responded by saying that it was a fine idea and what better time to test it out.
Standing, he raised his arms as Jon’lan had done the night before and speaking loudly he said, “I honor my brother with a name. I call this one Rhea, which means spirit, for he is truly a brother of my spirit.” Everyone stood expectantly as Anaay shouted “Rhea come!”
As if called by the name since birth the panther was a dark streak as he raced towards Anaay. Taikiuu caught her breath as she watched the animal leap over the bolder that Jon’lan had been sitting on only this morning. The animal bounded into camp sliding to a halt as he saw Anaay. Finally settling into a sitting position it seemed that he waited with expectation.
Anaay seemed startled that the animal had come to him so quickly and at a loss for words. Jon’lan spoke, “This one has been named Rhea.” His words finished the naming ceremony for Anaay. The young man nodded his thanks, dropping to his knees to lovingly stroke the animal. Finally each person returned to their meal, each grateful for all that had befallen them both good and bad that had brought them to this place, leading them to these people who had become their family and their own band.
Yaa waited patiently, hidden away from the trail by brush and sticks, just as her brother had requested. Giad had asked her to
do this one thing and he had been so kind to her. She struggled to remain still and silent. Giad had stopped her in her tracks as the dawn sun began to rise, saying only that he wished her to hide herself here and wait. Yaa did not question her brother’s motive for several reasons, but one of which was because she had not yet found her voice.
It seemed to her that she had last spoken as she watched her father and his wife, a woman not her mother but mother still, perish into a crater so deep that Yaa could not even see the bottom. She remembered standing by her father’s side straining to see as the trader had challenged Doud, the fiercest and mightiest of their warriors.
A great roaring sound filled the air and the mountain that the villager’s both feared and worshiped suddenly erupted. The mountain spewed burning hot lava and ash even as the ground shook in obeisance. Large craters opened in the ground and the villagers screamed in terror as they were carried down into the bowels of the world. The mountain became a living and breathing entity, destroying all in its path as it sought to feed its insatiable hunger. Yaa stood frozen, screaming because her people screamed, crying because her people cried. Her father grabbed her brutally in his panic to flee something that she could not see, throwing her out of the way as if she weighed next to nothing.
He held on to the young wife that he had chosen to bring to his hearth, she was a shrewish woman, though prettily made, she cared nothing for Giad or Yaa, seeking only to secure her position by giving their father a son, whom she now clutched to her breast as she clung to Yaa’s father. Yaa screamed for her father as the ground shook, begging him not to abandon her, but he did not spare her even a glance as he raced past, seeking to escape the thing that she could not see.
As her father had thrown her aside Yaa landed on her belly and the wind was knocked out of her. She fought to breathe so that she could regain her feet and follow after him, but as she stood she was finally able to see why her father ran.
The land trembled as craters opened up beneath the people where they stood. The screams were horrendous as people fell to their deaths. As Yaa watched the ground split and ruptured and she froze in stunned dread as a crack opened up to her left as she stood staring at the fleeing back of her father and his wife. Before she could yell out a warning, before the sound of her screams could even fill the air they were gone, sucked into the belly of the world as it opened beneath their feet.
Yaa fell to her knees and peered down into the gaping hole, but through the heat and the sulfuric smell all she could see was boiling lava. Not even a shred of her father or his wife remained, by the fire and lava they had perished. As Yaa lay on the ground careful not to make even a sound that would betray her presence she allowed the memories of that day to wash over her. Since that day she had lost her voice and been unable to find it. Sometimes when Giad held her hand or hugged her she thought that she might be able to speak again, but each time she had tried her voice had failed her. Yaa knew also that as her father fought to live, had also shown his true feelings for her, a daughter that had only wanted his approval and love.
Though she was only seven summers, she realized that her father had thrown her aside not to save her but to make his own escape from the mountain that hungered for his blood. Tears did not fill Yaa’s eyes nor fall to splash upon the ground as she allowed herself to remember, because none of it mattered anymore. Giad had returned for her and he promised that he would always take care of her and never allow anyone to hurt her and Yaa knew that her brother did not lie. So she waited patiently as he had asked her and she kept quiet and watchful.
Giad skirted back the way they had come, careful not to make even a noise. He did not know what made him do so, some instinct, some sense that told him he was being pursued. Giad barely remembered his mother, but the one thing he did remember was her telling him that he should always listen to his senses. If they told him that someone pursued him, he should listen. If they told him that danger was near, he should listen.
Giad remembered the words of his mother now and they gave him confidence. He was doing his best to protect his sister and his mother would be proud of him were she alive to see him. As the dawn had descended upon them all of Giad’s senses went on alert, he began to feel as if they were being watched, pursued, and followed. For a while he ignored the feeling until finally he could not deny it anymore.
Ushering Yaa into a hiding spot that would keep her safe he skirted back the way they had come, careful to keep his movements slow and his steps hidden. Almost immediately the feeling of being watched had left him. He once again circled back towards Yaa, reading the ground for any sight of pursuit, what he found stopped him where he stood, holding him in thrall.
Footsteps that were not his or Yaa’s were on the path, no attempt had been made to cover the tracks, no efforts to lead a false trail. From the size of the footprints Giad could tell that it was a woman, or a young boy. The prints were not Yaa’s or his own, he could tell this simply because whoever followed them walked barefoot, whereas Yaa and Giad wore moccasins.
Giad winced as he saw stains upon the ground, blood possibly from a cut or scrape, the path they walked was sandy, but there were many shards of stone that could cut into unprotected skin. Even as he followed the tracks Giad realized that the person was heavy, or heavier than himself, for the prints told him that the person he tracked carried too much weight yet they were small of stature.
Giad no longer had to use his eyes to follow the trail, now he could use his ears and the sound he heard surprised him, for it was the sound of a woman humming. Giad crept forward careful not to break even a stick in his passing, he peered through the brush and trees and he was just able to make out the shape of a woman. As her face tilted up to look into the sunlight he recognized her, her name was Star Feather, the foreign wife of the warrior Roark. She had often been kind to Giad offering him food and water when he served as runner for Roark on occasion. So Giad could not help it as his feet carried them to her of his own accord.
He stopped when he was only a few feet behind her, shuffling in his steps unsure what to say to her. As he watched she gathered the bundle she carried more securely in her arms lifting it over her shoulder and Giad was not surprised to see that she traveled with her son. Finally finding his voice he spoke.
“Star Feather, why do you follow me?” Giad would not willingly reveal that Yaa traveled with him. Perhaps the woman followed the trail and did not know how to read the signs that marked Yaa’s passing.
The woman jumped as if Giad had shouted instead of spoken gently in a near whisper.
“Giad!” she said breathlessly as she stood, “Oh Giad, I am so glad that you found me.” She pronounced his name as his mother and sister making it sound like "Ry-ad" instead of pronouncing it with a “ge” sound. Giad felt himself swell with pride as she looked at him as if he were her savior.
“Why have you followed me?” He made himself sound stern, but he knew that he was only a boy of eleven summers and she was an honored warrior’s wife.
“I am seeking Roark.” She said simply, watching him now with hope. “I have come to join him, we cannot return to Hetmos.” She spoke slowly, her tongue still unfamiliar with the cadence of the Aztlan language.
“I do not go to him.” Giad realized that he had said too much as soon as the words left his mouth. He cursed himself for being a fool but it was too late now. He could not cover his words with a lie.
“You do not seek the warriors and my husband?” Star Feather was astonished. What else could the boy want? She had followed him all night, walking and running whenever the child at her breast slept. She had been hard pressed to keep up with the young boy, but he had not covered his trail, sticking to the path that lead from the island village over a land bridge that was rarely used and then to the mainland where she had followed him into the forest. She looked at him patiently waiting for a response.
“I will no longer be led by Sirion. I will no longer be lead by Marad. Your husband follows both!” Giad had
not meant to speak so forcefully, neither had he known what he would say to Star Feather until the words came out of his mouth. They both looked startled by his declaration. Giad watched as the woman bowed her head, kissing her son’s downy soft hair. Giad felt a yearning for his own mother quicken in his soul, but this he did not allow himself to dwell upon. Star Feather thought quickly as she held her small son. If Giad did not wish to return to the warriors she could not force him to do so. She knew him to be a smart boy, reliable and trustworthy. Perhaps he could point her in the right direction or help her to find her husband first before going upon his way. She suggested as much to him and he quickly said he could not do so.
“My sister Yaa is with me, I am all that she has. I cannot afford to take her anywhere near Marad and his men.” Giad answered, wondering at the same time how he could leave Star Feather who had been so good to him defenseless in these woods that teamed with predators of every sort. Thinking quickly he decided that it would be best if she came with him until he could think of a solution.
“Come with me, I must return to Yaa, as I have left her as long as I dared and she has not been herself since I found her.” Roark motioned for the woman to follow him.
Star Feather needed no further prompting and her heart went out to the young boy who wanted only to protect his sister, thinking of her welfare before his own. Still she wished with all her heart to be in her husband’s strong arms again. She knew without a doubt that she must go to him, for the place that he had called home was no more.
Chaos had erupted so quickly and the people that had not easily accepted her would not do so now as they mourned their dead and tried to salvage whatever they could. Giad lifted her pack with effort and settled it upon his back, he did so without asking, realizing that a woman who carried a child in her arms would appreciate the help. Star Feather sighed in relief, he was a good boy and she hoped that they could come to a solution that would help them both.
Keeper of the People (Book One) Page 15