The Standing Dead - Stone Dance of the Chameleon 02

by Ricardo Pinto

  Carnelian had already come to the same conclusion. Glancing at Osidian, Carnelian could tell his mind was made up. 'Nevertheless, I will have to go with him.'

  Fern clasped his hands over his head. 'Can't you see they're just trying to get you away from my mother's protection so they can kill you?'

  At that moment, Poppy appeared, all eyes and concern.

  Carnelian picked her up and reassured her. 'Everything's fine. Really.'

  He regarded Fern over her shoulder. His friend looked miserable. Carnelian shrugged and put Poppy down. 'Look, I've gone and covered you in blood.'

  He sent her off to wash herself. Carnelian saw the bruise already developing on Fern's jaw and indicated it with a grimace. 'Did I do that?'

  'It doesn't matter,' said Fern, morose.

  Osidian was already returning to the drag-cradles. Brooding, Carnelian followed him.

  At the hearth that night, Carnelian was agonizing over whether he should go with Osidian or not when he felt a tugging on his robe and saw it was the boy, Blue, wide-eyed. 'Carnie, is it true you almost killed Loskai today?'

  Fern leaned out past Osidian. 'All he did was make him lose a couple of teeth, Blue. Loskai had it coming, he started it.'

  'Yes, he started it,' said Poppy fiercely, making Carnelian laugh.

  Skai looked at Carnelian over his brother's head. 'But you are going out with Father Crowrane's hunt tomorrow?'

  'I haven't decided yet,' said Carnelian.

  Sil's eyebrows rose and she looked up and down the men's bench. 'Isn't Father Crowrane supposed to be warding tomorrow?'

  'I heard he's swapped with Father Kyte,' said Whin's husband, Ravenseye. Tomorrow, his hunt is to fetch water with Father Galewing's.'

  'Why the swap?' asked Sil.

  'Apparently, Loskai persuaded him,' growled Fern.

  His wife regarded him with puzzlement, thought a moment, then looked up to the head of the hearth. 'Mother Akaisha, if Carnie goes, I don't suppose there's any chance you'd allow Fern to go with him?

  It would be just one day away from his punishment.'

  'Although I set the punishment, I acted on behalf of all the Elders and can't set it aside on whim.'

  'Could you not ask the other Elders?'

  Fern glanced at Carnelian. In his eyes Carnelian saw not only his friend's embarrassment, but also a yearning he could not read.

  'I've said all I'm going to on this matter, child.' Akaisha's gaze fell on Carnelian. There are others, perhaps, you should be challenging, others who made commitments they now seem happy to set aside.'

  Carnelian hung his head. It was true that to go with Osidian, he would be reneging on the promise he had made to Fern to share his punishment until its end. It did not matter if what she had said to Sil was true or not. Carnelian knew that Akaisha would do anything she could to stop her son becoming embroiled. Carnelian lifted his head. Ravan was looking past him to Osidian. The flicker of the fire showed the bones underlying the marble of Osidian's face. Carnelian remembered the question he had read in Osidian's eyes before the fight. A direct appeal to the love they had sworn to each other. There really was no choice. How could he let Osidian go into danger alone?

  'Ravan dear,' said Whin. 'Do you think you could stay and help us tomorrow? We are going searching for herbs in the Eastgarden and need an escort.'

  Angrily, Ravan shook his head. 'My place is with my hunt.'

  Poppy approached Osidian, offering her bowl. 'I've left some for you.'

  Osidian's gaze did not move from the heart of the fire and the little girl's face fell. Carnelian reached out, took her arm and drew her to him. He pushed the bowl gently towards her. That's kind of you, Poppy, but he's eaten his. That's yours.'

  She gave Carnelian a piercing look and mouthed: 'But he's so thin.'

  'So are you,' he mouthed back sparking several chuckles. It pleased Carnelian he could no longer so easily see Poppy's bones. Her eyes were bright and the bruising under them was now only the merest shadow. He had been avoiding considering the impact his decision would have on her. How hard would it be for her if he were not to return?

  Poppy sat down with her back against his legs. Peering over her shoulder, he watched her dig her spoon into the bowl. When he lifted his eyes, they meshed with those of Sil, who was smiling warmly. He thought perhaps she might be prepared to adopt Poppy. He looked past Osidian at Fern. His friend liked the girl and might be prepared to be her guardian. Fern's jaw betrayed the anger he was suppressing. Carnelian decided it was too much to ask. He glanced up past the fire at Akaisha. He would ask her. Besides, he owed her an explanation as to why he felt he had no choice but to go with Osidian.

  When he saw Akaisha leaving the hearth he waited a little while. Eyes watching him rise, quickly lost interest as he slipped into the darkness.

  When Carnelian's vision adjusted to the dark, he saw Akaisha moving towards the rootstair. When he caught up, he reached out to touch her shoulder. She jumped.

  'It's only Carnie, my mother.'

  She pressed a hand to her chest. 'What're you doing stalking me in the dark?'

  'I wanted to talk to you alone.'

  'I'm going to relieve myself, child.'

  Carnelian did not know what to say.

  She sighed. 'I suppose you could walk some of the way with me.'

  He remembered to put his shoes on before they left the rootearth. As they climbed the rootstair, he ordered his thoughts.

  'Mother Akaisha, if I were to go tomorrow with Crowrane's hunt, would I go with your blessing?'

  The night was very black so that, although Carnelian had made this journey many times he still did not know the steps so well that he was free from the fear of stumbling.

  Akaisha did not speak until they had reached the Crag. 'You must not go.'

  The path round the Crag was lit by starlight. 'I know it is likely to be dangerous.' 'Well then.'

  'My brother is determined to go.' Their footfalls were no louder than the sighing of the cedars.

  The party of the Elders who wish you dead daily dwindles,' Akaisha whispered.

  'If it was up to me, my mother ... but my brother will not be swayed by me or any other. For him it's a matter of honour.'

  Akaisha gave a snort. 'Honour? Why does honour so often serve only to turn men stupid?'

  Carnelian could think of no reply.

  'What if I forbade him?' asked Akaisha.

  'You'd have to be prepared to restrain him with force.'

  They had reached the top of the Westing rootstair. Without hesitation, Akaisha plunged into the blackness beneath the mother trees.

  Then I can only pray the Mother will protect you.'

  Akaisha had to slow her pace to allow Carnelian to find his way safely down the stair. Though he had to concentrate his mind in his heels, he was still aware of the illuminated underside of the cedars that made it seem as if shadowy halls were laid out on either side.

  At last they reached the flat ground before the Westgate, where he knew he must part from Akaisha. The stretch of the Homeditch the women used lay off to the left along the Homewalk: that which the men used, to the right, towards the Childsgate, overlooking the strangely barren rectangle which the Tribe called the Poisoned Field.

  Akaisha brought them to a halt. 'It will be hard for my son to work under the Bloodwood Tree without your company.'

  'I cannot abandon my brother.'

  She clasped his arm. 'Harth may be behind this; Crowrane certainly is or he would have returned with his hunt. That he did not and that Loskai made his challenge when poor Mossie was on duty seems altogether too much of a coincidence. You have one narrow hope. Their plan was certainly to take you out hunting. That they agreed to the Master's counter-challenge has forced them to change the rota. It takes two hunts to fetch water and so you will be going out with not only Crowrane, but also Galewing. When the Assembly voted on your fate, Galewing was the only man who supported me.'

  Carnelian pondered this.


  Her hold tightened on his arm. 'Do what you can to keep Ravan from any trouble that may arise.' Carnelian put his hand over hers. 'I will.' They let go of each other.

  'I'm relieved Fern isn't coming with us,' said Carnelian. 'I wouldn't have been able to stop him getting involved.'

  'I'm glad some good has come to him from his punishment. When I imposed it on him, it seemed just, but now I can only see that it is wasting much of what little time he has left.'

  Carnelian became confused. Time left?'

  He could sense her surprise. 'Surely . .. surely you can't be unaware of the collar round his neck?'

  The collar... ?' Coldness flooded his stomach. Fern had deserted from the legions.

  'When the Gatherer comes next year, Fern's life will be forfeit.'

  'I hadn't imagined ...' He remembered the anger Sil had shown him which he had not understood.

  'You hadn't imagined the vengeance of the Standing Dead would seek him out?' she said with incredulous anger.

  That they could find him.'

  'You yourself revealed to us our name pricked into the palms of our service men. How do you think it got there?'

  They give it over when they are recruited,' Carnelian said. He stared into the night. 'I just didn't ... I'm so stupid.'

  'It seems the Standing Dead are unaware of much of the suffering they inflict upon the world.'

  Carnelian burned with shame. 'Couldn't we hide him?'

  She gave a hollow laugh. 'If we did, they'd take a child in his place.'

  How small was the mesh of the net the Masters had cast over these people. 'Will they ... punish him here?'

  'Most likely they'll take him to Makar where, as an example to others, they'll hang him, mutilated, upon a cross.'

  The flat resigned tone of her voice was chilling. 'If that's all?' Akaisha said.

  Carnelian saw her shape begin to turn away and reached out and fumbled in the darkness for her hand.

  'Perhaps, my mother, while I'm away you might take care of Poppy for me.'

  He felt some tensing in her hand and then it was gently pulled away. 'You shouldn't care for her so much, Carnie.'

  'I don't share your prejudice against her,' he snapped.

  Akaisha took him by the arm. 'It's not that... It is only that when the Gatherer comes she might be selected for the tithe.'

  Carnelian felt he could bear no more pain. 'Fern told me the same thing. But surely she's Twostone.'

  'She ceased to be that when I accepted her into my hearth.'

  Then why did you risk her by ... ?' He paused remembering Ebeny. 'You don't want to lose more of your kin?'

  'My grand-daughter is my heart.'

  Carnelian knew it was cruel to say more but could not help himself. 'And Poppy has the kind of prettiness the Gatherer likes.'

  She snatched her hand from his arm. 'I'll look after her for you,' she said and walked away.

  When Carnelian returned, he did not want to go to the hearth where he would have to face Fern and made his way instead to his hollow. Osidian was there already asleep with Poppy. Carnelian lay down between them. Poppy moulded herself into his side. Her warmth stirred a panic in him that she might be taken away to Osrakum. Panic turned to anger. How could Akaisha be so selfish? She was no better than Harth and all those others who hated him and Osidian.

  Carnelian's heart beat faster as he imagined the dangers the next day would bring. Above him stars twinkled in and out of existence as the breathing night stirred the branches of the cedar. He saw again Osidian breaking Ranegale over his knee. Loskai had had to witness that. How could he judge him; judge his father and mother's desire for revenge? Plainsmen had to endure, repeatedly, the rape of their people. It tore at him that, in spite of this, Akaisha had taken them both in. How could he think it was she who threatened Poppy? Was it she who forced countless barbarian tribes to pay a tithe of their children to become the playthings of the

  Masters in Osrakum? What right had he to blame any of them when it was his own kind who were the root of the world's evil?

  Shame cooled to despair as an image of Fern crucified thrust into his mind. Struggle as he might, he could not dislodge it. He turned in to Osidian desperate for the comfort of their love. Feeling him coming awake, he mumbled into his neck: 'I'm afraid.'

  'And you accuse me of cowardice?' Osidian said, his body unyielding.

  Carnelian edged away, as chilled as if he had been embracing marble, and lay as far from the warm comforts of the world as any of the Wise.

  BREAKING EGGS

  Everything begins with an uncurling.

  (a precept of the Plainsmen)

  Carnelian woke feeling ragged. He lay listening to the Grove coming awake, glad to lie in the hollow as long as he could. He was reluctant to face the day. He wished he could go back to not knowing about Fern's impending fate. A desire came over him to stay behind, to go down to work under the Bloodwood Tree as usual. But he knew that, even if it led them both to death, he could not allow Osidian to go alone, curse his pride.

  It was Osidian rising that flushed Carnelian from his warm hiding place. As he drew himself out from under the blanket, he took care not to disturb Poppy. There lay another goodbye he was not looking forward to. He pulled on his robe and made for the hearth. As he approached its mutter, he found the smell of smoke and breakfast comforting. He took his place on the rootbench. Around him, people were scratching, yawning. Mothers were kissing the children that appeared tousle-headed, rubbing the sleep from their eyes, grinning at gentle teasings. Carnelian looked round at Osidian, whose gaze was already fixed on the fire. Fern appeared. As he came to sit down beside him, Carnelian watched the light run

  along his brass collar. Carnelian had never noticed how tightly it clutched his throat. Fern was aware of where he was looking.

  'Forgive me for not working with you today,' Carnelian managed to say.

  Fern leaned close. 'Just make sure you take care today.'

  'What're you two whispering about?'

  They pulled away from each other, guiltily, and looked across at Sil. The smile on her face faltered. Disturbed, she looked from one to the other.

  'I'll tell you ... later,' said Fern.

  Sil put on a smile for him.

  Carnelian became aware Osidian was watching him. The look in his eyes intensified Carnelian's feeling of guilt. He was glad Akaisha chose that moment to begin passing out the gruel.

  'Carnie, you and your brother make sure you eat well.' Her face was smiling but her eyes were filled with concern. Even Whin seemed troubled as she looked at him. This only served to make his stomach churn with anxiety. He was not sure he was going to be able to keep anything down. He stirred the gruel in the bowl that was passed into his hand. Something cast a shadow over his feet. Glancing up he saw it was Poppy. She sidled up and was soon sitting on his knee cradling her own bowl. He watched each spoonful she put into her mouth as if it was the last time he would ever see her eat. He had to resist the desire to hug her hard. He put off speaking to her until she was finished. At last, he nudged her with his chin and she turned to look up at him.

  'I'm going away today.'

  Her eyes widened with alarm. 'I'm going too.'

  He shook his head. 'You can't. I'm going to fetch water.'

  'I can't see why I can't go with you.'

  Someone stood over them making them both look up. It was Akaisha. 'You know well enough, girl, that fetching water is men's work.'

  Poppy's lower lip began trembling.

  Akaisha cracked a smile. 'Today, you can come with me instead.'

  Poppy looked at Carnelian and he could see she was on the verge of tears.

  'You want me to be proud of you, don't you?'

  Poppy gave a slow nod.

  'Well then, Poppy, thank Mother Akaisha.'

  When the little girl did, Carnelian planted a kiss on the crown of her head and then rested his chin on her hair. He looked into Akaisha's eyes and smiled his gratitude.
/>
  'About last night. I'm sorry -'

  Akaisha stopped his lips with her fingertips. Carnelian could see the warmth in her eyes. She crouched to look Poppy in the face.

  'Do you want to come with me now and sit at the head of the hearth?'

  Poppy lit up and wiggled her way off Carnelian's knee onto the ground. Akaisha offered a hand and Poppy took it. Carnelian glanced up at Akaisha to thank her and found she was looking down the length of the hollow. Ravan was there standing in the gloom. At first Carnelian thought the youth was looking at him but he quickly realized his attention was fixed on Osidian.

  'Come and have your breakfast, my son,' Akaisha called to him.

  Ravan shook his head. 'I've come to get the Standing Dead.' He stared even more intensely at Osidian. 'If they're still coming, that is ...'

  'But you should eat before you go.'

  'Are you coming, Master?' Ravan said in Vulgate as if his mother had not spoken.

  Osidian rose and passed in front of Carnelian, who had no choice but to join him. People grumbled as they looked from Akaisha to Ravan. Osidian loomed over the youth, both of them waiting.

  Carnelian saw the upset on Akaisha's face but could think of nothing he could say. He glanced at Fern and they exchanged nods, then he left the hearth and did not look back once.

  Every one of the men waiting with aquar at the earth-bridge turned to watch the approach of the Standing Dead. A group came out to meet them, among whom Carnelian could see Loskai with his swollen lips. As they came closer, Carnelian recognized Crowrane and Galewing, both of whom he remembered from his appearance before the Eiders. Galewing seemed much younger than the other Elder.

  'My fathers,' Ravan said bowing his head and Carnelian did the same.

  Galewing regarded both Standing Dead with a frown. Without taking his eyes off them he turned. 'You're sure you want to risk taking them with us?'

  'Yes,' said Crowrane, his face wooden.

  Loskai's eyes were burning with a malicious hunger. A fixed grin showed his missing teeth.

  Galewing looked into Carnelian's eyes and then into Osidian's. 'You ride out of the Koppie under the authority of Father Crowrane,' he said, in Vulgate. 'If you disobey him, if you try to escape, you will be killed. You understand?'