It was Anaay who first realized that they were not alone, just as he had picked up on the women approaching he also felt the presence of these others that seemed to appear as if from the very ground itself. Taikiuu gathered Yaa and Mar-ee to her side, handing the baby back to Star Feather before turning to face the newcomers. She instinctively she took the lead standing in front of Star Feather and her baby with her legs splayed and her chest held high. She held her walking staff pointed toward the ground with her fingers loose around the shaft. She made a striking figure standing to face such a large group as if she could defend her band with the power of her staff alone.
I’naram looked upon the woman who stood so defiantly in front of him and he felt lust take hold of him. At his side he felt his woman She’teth grow stiff as she recognized the threat the other woman posed to her position as first wife. He did nothing to reassure She’teth as he calmly took in the scene in front of him. The two girls that peeked at him from behind the woman were young but their cheeks were rounded with good health and he could tell by looking that they were well fed and had not known hunger recently.
The woman that held a baby in her arms stared at him calmly, her chin tilted at a proud angle as she waited for him to speak. Her features were just as compelling as the woman who braced herself before him, however her face was shaped differently and her hair was curly where the other woman had long flowing hair that hung in a braid down her back. Finally he took in a young woman who was frozen in a crouch where she had been weaving a basket.
He looked at her carefully for a moment, sizing up an obvious prize until he heard a low growling which drew his attention to a young man. The youth stood where they had found him, but he had dropped his fishing line and fresh catch to make use of the bow and arrow. Only moments before the boy’s weapon had rested at his side but he moved with almost startling quickness in an effort to arm himself.
I’naram motioned with his hand for his own son to be still, knowing how quick the boy was to fight. There was something familiar about the young man who faced him with not a trace of fear in his eyes, it was in his stance and his bearing. I’naram could not place the young man’s face but he would in time. There was also something raw and half wild about the youth that drew his attention, the young man stood with his legs braced in a fighting stance, his bow was raised and his arrow was held steady poised to let fly.
Anaay felt a trickle of fear edge up his spine and cause the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. This man who faced him was formidable, but even more so were the fifteen people that stood with him. Their eyes were hungry eyes that took in everything with a glance and looked for the best way to take. Anaay could not be sure, but he guessed that he was looking at the remnants of what was left of his first band, his father’s people. He watched the leader’s son look Kii over with glowing eyes and he felt himself bristle with tension.
A growl left his throat before he could stop it and he noticed the leader’s eyes as they turned to him knowingly. Kii did not look away from the young man who stared at her openly; instead she stood to her full height, holding her woman’s knife loosely in her hand. Silence reigned over the two groups as they stood facing each other.
Everyone had half forgotten Rhea with the appearance of these strangers in their valley and all eyes turned to her as she raced into their midst taking her place at Anaay’s side before prowling forward with teeth bared to shield Taikiuu.
I’naram raised his hand holding off the stream of arrows that were aimed at the great cat. Surely this was an omen of some sort and as leader of his band he knew he must handle this properly.
“We mean no harm.” He spoke in a guttural tongue that was familiar to Taikiuu and Anaay.
“Leave.” Anaay spoke the word with menace in his voice and he felt only anger when the man laughed aloud showing teeth that had been shaped into pointed darts. I’naram did not show surprise that the young man understood his language. He looked at the woman and realized that she too had understood their words, although she still remained silent.
“You are one boy, with few arrows, standing against many.” I’naram spoke calmly, placing his hand on his son’s shoulder once again forcing him to remain still. When his son complied he said, “We mean no harm, we seek only for a place to shield us from the sun before moving on.”
“You will find no such place here.” Anaay spoke firmly, from the glint that shone behind the man he could just make out the appearance of Jon’lan and Roark back from their hunt. He knew that Jon’lan was already taking in the situation and would act decisively.
I’naram studied the youth before turning his attention back to the woman, “Surely one boy does not speak for all, have you no man?”
With this question a few of his own men made crude gestures and began to laugh amongst themselves. I’naram raised his hand once again calling for silence.
“We are more than you see here.” Spoke a voice in their language from behind I’naram. He turned around swiftly to be met by a tall stranger carrying his own bow and arrow. Jon’lan rested his kill from the hunt upon a log, leaving his hands free to hold his own bow and arrow. Roark did not show himself, though Jon’lan knew the man would be taking defensive action.
“That may be so.” I’naram was willing to admit that they had seen this small group at the stream and had thought to take advantage of the situation. “I am I’naram, leader of these people that stand before you and we wish you no harm. We are looking only for a place to rest before continuing on.”
Jon’lan studied the people, taking in the fearful glances of their women and the volatile stares of the men. There were two hands of men that he could see and five women of various ages. Jon’lan noticed that there were no children, although each woman seemed well within childbearing age. After a lengthy silence Jon’lan lowered his own weapon and raised his hand in a greeting customary to all. Stepping forward he said, “I am Jon’lan, a trader and this is our band of people.” He walked forward and clasped I’naram’s wrist even as the man returned the gesture.
Taikiuu watched as the two men sized each other up before finally releasing their hold. She kept Mar-ee tucked behind her and Yaa held tight to both her and Star Feather’s garments. Taikiuu could feel the trembling in Star Feather’s hand as the woman touched her arm lightly. She did not give her a reassuring smile; she asked herself how could she reassure Star Feather when they all sensed the danger? They were indeed few against many and Taikiuu did not like the look of this man who called himself I’naram. She did not like the way his women were burdened down with carrying baskets and sleeping furs or the lack of children in their band. She wondered why they had no children with them. If there were no children in a band it could be perceived as a bad thing. Surely there were enough men and women here to have produced a few children at least, yet there were none present. Star Feather seemed to sense the foreign women’s interest in her son and she quickly tucked him into his carrying strap, covering him with her parka.
Jon’lan decided that he would not show their cave to these newcomers. Taikiuu signaled that they had not found their cave and he preferred to leave it that way. Jon’lan noticed that Taikiuu made an effort to hide her hand signs from the foreign people and he put that aside for contemplation at a later time. He trusted his wife’s instincts.
He did not trust these newcomers and he believed in following his initial reaction. His inner voice called out to him and he looked at his wife while making a sign that asked if she were well. He waited as she mildly nodded her head from left to right. She too felt ill at ease with these newcomers. As Jon’lan stood at the ledge of the cave looking down at the stream he had only been able to make out the figures of too many people.
His heart leapt into his throat until he was able to see his wife and children standing unharmed by the water’s edge. He quickly urged Roark to take a defensive position where he could be of help if needed and made his way down to the river. Both men had quickly clasped arms an
d Roark asked only that Jon’lan safeguard his wife and children as he would if they were his own before disappearing into the foliage.
He had not waited for an answer, over the past few days the two men had grown as close as brothers, hunting together each day to provide for their families. Now as he stood before I’naram he refused to look away from the man and he wondered how he would get himself and his family out of harm’s way. He motioned towards the river and said, “The River does not belong to us, you are welcome to it.”
I’naram nodded, displeased that he had not been able to force the man to look away from his intense gaze. Jon’lan held out his right hand and said, “The women and the children are mine and I will not share these.”
I’naram once again nodded, wondering how many more of this man’s band could be hidden in the rocks above them. The man Jon’lan spoke with much authority and for now it was best to play along. I’naram hid the deceit from his eyes as he looked at Jon’lan and smiled. “I have women, I have a son,” he tapped his son’s shoulder and watched as his son straightened to his full height. “We do not need what is yours.”
“But father-” His son, Chogan, spoke in indignation, for he had seen the young girl from a distance and already laid a claim on her before any of the other men. I’naram cuffed him on the cheek which silenced him and then looked once again at Jon’lan.
Jon’lan did not approve of using force with children, but the boy was more man than child. His words had reaffirmed his instinct to be distrustful of these people of I’naram.
“Rest, eat and then you must tell us how you came to be here in this valley.” Jon’lan was thankful that he had taken the time to study and learn Anaay’s language. “I have just returned from a hunt and there is meat enough to share.” The women of I’naram smiled in relief and Jon’lan forced himself not to recoil at the sight of their sharpened teeth. Some of the women ventured forth to better see Taikiuu and Star Feather. Taikiuu noticed immediately that several women had surrounded Star Feather, even reaching out to lift her parka so that they could see and touch the baby. The other women were filthy, covered in mud from head to toe and a few of them had racking coughs that hurt the ears to hear. Yet they reached out to touch Star Feather’s child.
“Wait.” She spoke in Anaay’s tongue, though her words came out with a guttural sound holding a different accent. “Sickness.” She said as she gestured to Star Feather and her baby. She also encompassed Yaa and Mar-ee in the sweep of her arm showing that these too had been sick. The foreign women backed away as if she had cursed them. Star Feather lowered her eyes to hide her relief; she did not want these women who were covered in filth from head to toe to touch her or her children.
Anaay lowered his bow and motioned to the women and said aloud for all to hear, “There has been a sickness in our camp, so we have abandoned all things that the sickness touched. It would not be a good thing for you to touch the women or children until we are sure that the sickness is gone.”
Jon’lan nodded his head in agreement. Anaay had not told a lie and he looked at I’naram steadily so that the man could see the truth in his eyes.
“Here,” Anaay said as he grasped half the fish that he had caught that day and laid them at the feet of I’naram’s son, “I have caught fish for my family which you are welcome to share.”
Giad stepped forward, unable to believe that Anaay would give their fish away. It had not been easy standing in the sun most of the day catching fish that did not wish to be caught. Even now his fingers were sore and his shoulders ached from bending and lifting. Only the thought of sinking his teeth into as much fish as he could stomach had made the work seem easier. Anaay stopped Giad from moving forward with nothing but a hand on his arm in restraint.
“We do not need your fish.” Chogan spoke through pointed teeth with a sneer identical to his father’s. This had not gone the way he had envisioned; by now he should have laid claim to the young girl that stood with her woman’s knife still held in her hand. He looked again at the young woman expecting to see her eyes shining with admiration but she looked only at the man that had given them the fish.
Kii slid her knife into her parka, following the example of her mother and father. She read the hand signs given by her father to her mother and she understood that they must use caution with these people for they were outnumbered.
Mar-ee was scared; the mud people had mean eyes and scary teeth. They reminded her in some way of bad things. She held Yaa’s hand tightly and stuck her finger in her mouth as she peeked around her mother’s side. The mud women were no longer trying to touch her and that was a good thing.
She did not want her father to know how scared she was so she let go of Yaa’s hand and stood tall in imitation of Kii. Her sister caught her eye and signed to her the word “brave” and Mar-ee took her fingers out of her mouth and waited.
Taikiuu turned to the children and spoke too quietly for I’naram to hear, but from the cadence of her speech he recognized that she spoke a different language, even from the others.
Yaa and Mar-ee nodded and Star Feather gathered them to her side and walked them to the river where they all sat down.
Jon’lan once again drew I’naram’s attention saying, “Come we will make a fire and your people can refresh themselves.” Walking through the middle of the group he led everyone to a flat place close to the river and helped Anaay quickly start a fire. The foreign women settled themselves and began to unpack a few of their belongings. Jon’lan could hear them mention “children” and “babies” but he did not want it to be known that he was listening.
He hoped to gather as much information as possible while things were still peaceful. He observed the way the men looked at the females of his band and could only hope that he could avoid conflict until he could come up with a better plan. Anaay bristled with tension as the young man, obviously the son of I’naram, continued to watch Kii. When I’naram took notice of this he said to Anaay and Jon'lan, “Whose woman is this?”
“She is not yet a woman to be claimed by any man.” Anaay lowered his voice, not wishing to shame Kii with his words, “She should not be looked upon as a woman by any man.”
Anaay glanced at I’naram’s son and was disgusted to see that he was still staring at Kii. Anaay settled himself by the fire until he rested on his hunches and then he let out a menacing growl. The sound surprised the entire group and Rhea looked up from where she rested between Yaa and Mar-ee and let out a return growl of her own. She was at Anaay’s side before Jon’lan could stop her and she focused her attention on the threat that Anaay had identified to her.
I’naram clasped his spear and waited for the cat to pounce but Anaay put a restraining hand on the animal’s neck and stroked her midnight black fur until she calmed. I’naram’s son stood shaking by his father’s side until his father cuffed him on the back of the head and mumbled something unintelligible to the boy. Giad laughed when he saw how scared the other youth had been but when Jon’lan shot him a quelling look he was quick to hide his smile.
I’naram studied the young man that was called Anaay. It was not a name of the Sun People, but the youth clearly had the look of his people. Anaay felt the man’s eyes on him, but he did not look his way. He did not care to be recognized and he was uncertain of what would happen if his identity was revealed.
“You are the son of this man called Jon’lan?” I’naram asked the question loudly so that all looked his way.
Anaay did not answer; he only looked at Jon’lan and waited. Jon’lan stood and moved close to the fire circle kneeling across from I’naram. “This man is a son of my hearth.” His words were simple, yet they hid the truth of Anaay’s origins. From Anaay’s silence, Jon’lan understood that the young man did not want to reveal that he was originally from either this band, or one related to them by blood ties.
I’naram did not display a reaction on his face but he thought to himself how odd it was that the man found a way to answer around his question. He
thought quickly and said, “I wish only to know who is related by blood so that I can better understand your band. We are the Sun People and we travel as one band, following the ways of our forefathers.”
All was silent as I’naram’s words came to a halt; the women had stopped their noisy eating to look at both men. Jon’lan felt the rise in tension and chose his words carefully, “We are one band and one family.”
“How is it that you speak my language?” I’naram asked quickly not giving Jon’lan any time to gather his thoughts.
“I am a trader and a traveler of many lands. I know many tongues and have met many people on my travels.” Jon’lan did not see a reason to let him know that it was Anaay who taught him the language or that it was Anaay’s first tongue.
“Do you plan to leave this valley or settle here with your band?” I’naram gestured at the women and children that had settled themselves away from their group.
“I’naram,” Jon’lan said easily, “You are a man of many questions.”
I’naram chuckled at this, showing his sharp pointed teeth as he laughed making Jon’lan think of a wolf. “And you,” I’naram said through his laughter, “are a man with many wives.” Again he gestured to Taikiuu and Star Feather.
Jon’lan simply nodded, he was not one to lie, but he would be cautious until it was no longer necessary.
Chapter Twenty-One
After everyone had been fed I’naram once again approached Jon’lan and asked him about the sickness that had taken his band. Jon’lan had prepared himself for this and he did his best to repeat the symptoms that Star Feather had mentioned to them. He told of how the children and women were the only ones affected, remembering that Anaay’s band had also been struck with a similar illness.
Keeper of the People (Book One) Page 24