His captors led him along the wooden bridge for some time, surrounded by the bedlam of clicking and drumming. His breathing heated up the bag on his head, moistening his face. Soon, voices rose above the percussion, chanting in low tones.
"Hey ya hey! Hey ya ho! Hey ya ha! Hey no no!"
Achan's guides stopped. His wrists were freed. The sack slipped from his head and cold air engulfed his sweaty face.
A man's hairy, familiar face looked down, framed by fat, black, frizzy braids and curly sideburns. A small bone ring looped through the top of his left ear.
Shung Noatak, a man Achan had fought at Esek's coming-of-age tournament, grinned and slung a cape of furs around Achan's shoulders, blanketing him in warmth. He held out Eagan's Elk. "Little Cham. We have been expecting you."
22
Achan gripped the log railing and took in the scene. An entire village lived in the trees, built on branches and platforms. Wattle and daub huts perched at a myriad of levels, connected by rickety split-log staircases and narrow bridges.
Two levels down, a wide, round platform had been built into a clearing of tree trunks. A log banister edged the platform, forming an outdoor great hall. In the center, a low, circular stone hearth held a bonfire. People dressed in fur and leather danced around it. Smoke curled up from the flames, drifting out of the clearing in the treetops above. In the surrounding trees, blazing glass balls of colored light in red, blue, green, and yellow dangled from branches, railings, or lampstands that stood along the bridges.
Achan pointed at the nearest glass ball. "What is that?"
"Come. Shung will show you."
He led Achan along the bridge, down a short staircase, and across another gangway to a blue ball that hung from a lamp stand on a chain like a lantern. It had a round opening that let out heat and smoke from a blue torchlight burning inside.
"We call luminaria. Pleasant, no?"
"Aye. Very."
"Let go of me!" Sparrow's voice carried from the trees across the platform. "I can walk myself!"
Shung chuckled. "The small one did not like lift."
Achan scanned the staircases and bridges but did not see the boy. Stop making so much noise, Sparrow. You'll call the chams.
These fur men nearly killed me, yanking me into the trees like a bag of meat. And those, those…singers are making more noise than I am. "I said, I can walk myself!"
Shung started back down the stairs. "Another little cham?"
Achan followed. "Naw. That one's a fox."
"I heard that!" Sparrow called out.
"Little Cham has come to Berland. Shung is glad."
Achan looked into Shung's dark eyes, recalling their sword match at Esek's tournament months ago. Shung had won, technically. He'd also promised if Achan ever came to Berland, he'd take him hunting. "Are we going to hunt a cham?"
Shung grunted. "Not this night, Little Cham. Come. The celebration awaits."
Shung guided Achan down a maze of stairs and bridges to a wider staircase that led to the center platform. Three thrones were arranged on one arc of the perimeter, facing the bonfire. A young man sat in the throne on the far left. He was as hairy as Shung, but slimmer. His tunic and trousers were made of short brown fur. Red fox tails hung around his neck like edging on a robe. It also circled around the tops of his deerskin boots. He wore a necklace dripping with at least two dozen cham claws.
The center, and largest, throne was empty. A matronly woman sat in the throne on the far right. She wore a tunic of white fur with matching boots and dark leather trousers. A white fur hat tied under her chin. Long salt-and-pepper braids spilled down into her lap.
The dancers and drummers were still chanting. "Hey ya hey! Hey ya ho! Hey ya ha! Hey no no!"
The young man stood and held up his hands, palms out. The drums trilled, voices warbled, all sounds increased. Achan shrank into himself at the noise level. The young man clenched his hands into fists and the noise stopped. He stared at Achan and spoke in a commanding voice. "Prince Gidon Hadar, also called Achan the Cham of Sitna. We welcome you to Berland, we do. We welcome you, our future king."
The man went down on one knee.
Beside Achan, Shung went to one knee. All around him fur-clad men, women, and children knelt. Across the platform, one boy still stood, looking lost. Sparrow.
Achan didn't bother hiding the grin in his voice. Still trembling after your flight?
Sparrow jumped, eyes darting everywhere but Achan's direction. Where are you?
The young leader stood and approached Achan. They were about the same height, but this man was several years older. He wore straight spears of white bone through each ear that looked to have been stabbed through and forgotten.
"I am called Koyukuk Orson. I am heir to Berland and Therion Duchy, I am. My father, Duke Orson, has not yet returned from Mahanaim where he attended Council." Koyukuk gripped Achan's shoulder and steered him before the matronly woman. "Please, meet my mother, Duchess Crysta."
Achan bowed. "I am honored, my lady."
The crowd cheered.
Koyukuk led Achan to a slender young woman standing beside his throne. "Please, meet my betrothed, Kumna Attu."
The woman curtsied. She wore a creamy suede tunic and trousers. White fur fluffed out of her neckline and cuffs. Dark braids twisted in a pile atop her head. She had wide eyes and full lips, yet a small loop of bone through the center of her nostrils gathered all Achan's attention.
"Kumna will be your first dance, she will," Koyukuk said. "In this you will show me honor."
Dance? Achan had never danced a day in his life. Gren had never been willing, afraid of getting in trouble. Achan tore his eyes away from Kumna's nose ring and took in the pretty woman. How fortunate for Koyukuk that all the women in Berland didn't look like his foreboding sister, Lady Gali, who had been among Esek's prospects to marry. Achan steeled himself. Did that mean Lady Gali was now among his prospects? The woman was as broad as a Kingsguard soldier.
Achan bowed and said, "Thank you," because he could think of nothing else to say to the gift of a dance.
Koyukuk led him to the center throne, cham claw necklace clacking. "Our guest of honor will sit in my father's chair."
Achan froze. Koyukuk wanted him to sit on a throne?
"You honor us to do so," Koyukuk said.
Achan reached for Sir Caleb's mind but guessed what the knight would say. He spit out a flowery response. "Thank you. You honor me with your offer."
Koyukuk smiled and gestured for Achan to sit.
Achan stared at the wooden throne. Could he really do this? Play king? It still felt like a game.
Sometime tonight, Your Highness, Sir Caleb said.
And here I thought you'd deserted me, Achan said.
You were doing fine until now.
Emphasis on "were"?
Sit.
Achan turned, lowered his eyes, and sat.
The forest filled with cheers. The drumming and chanting commenced. "Hey ya hey! Hey ya ho! Hey ya ha! Hey no no!"
A cluster of men wearing painted, wooden masks skipped out in front of the throne and began to dance and sing.
We come from land of forest,
Where kuon and cham roam free.
Sun fled far and took our stars,
And night will always be.
The Darkness tries to catch us,
And cause us all great fear.
No matter how it blinds us,
Arman is always near.
"Hey ya hey! Hey ya ho! Hey ya ha! Hey no no!"
The dancers scurried away, and the crowd formed a circle around the platform from one edge of the thrones to the other. Kumna pulled Achan from the chair. Her hands were small and warm, and the white fur on her cuffs tickled the tops of his hands. Achan's fur cape slid off his shoulders and landed in a heap by the throne. Cold air crept up his tunic. He tensed as Kumna drew his trembling form into the open space.
Everyone watched.
Kumna lifted their ha
nds above their heads, stepped close, and stomped with one foot. Her dark eyes met his and she drew back, released his hands, and danced around to his back. He tried to turn, but she set a hand on his shoulder. "Stay."
She shimmied to his right and stomped her right foot, shimmied to his left and stomped her left foot. She danced her way around him until they faced each other again.
Achan merely had to stand still? No trouble there. But the couples pairing off around them proved the dance more complex. Not only did Achan have to stomp when Kumna did, he had to shimmy the opposite way, and when they finished the sequence, had to take the lead while she stood still.
Achan stumbled through the routine several times. Would this "song" ever end? Koyukuk appeared with a sweet-faced girl with wide, sparkling eyes and fat braids.
Koyukuk placed the new girl's hand in Achan's. "Yumikak is Kumna's little sister, she is. Very beautiful, yes?"
Achan bowed and met the girl's mischievous eyes. "She is indeed."
Yumikak rewarded him with a wide smile and slid her other hand into his. She started moving immediately as if she'd invented the dance. By now, Achan knew enough to keep up.
The tips of Yumikak's braids whipped Achan when she spun-a move she must have added since no other dancers were spinning. She also stomped with style. A double stomp. A stomp in slow motion. A stomp where both feet danced a jig. Achan tried to keep up, curious what she might do next.
Though he sensed no change in the drumming, Yumikak began a new dance. She twirled and rocked back and forth, whipping him repeatedly with her braids. He didn't mind-it didn't hurt-but could think of nothing to do but stand and watch.
Having fun?
Sparrow! Achan's gaze swept the crowd. Are you dancing?
She looks a bit young for you.
Does she? Achan smiled at Yumikak. I think she's charming.
Sparrow snorted. Of course you do.
Are you jealous? Sparrow didn't answer. Admit it, Sparrow: you want to dance with Yumikak, don't you?
I never dance with people whose names I cannot pronounce.
Achan gripped Yumikak's shoulders and yelled in her ear, "We must find my friend. He needs to dance but he's shy."
Yumikak's dark eyes widened. "Your friend? Some are over there, they are." She pointed to where Sir Gavin, Inko, and Sir Caleb were dancing with some older Berland women.
Achan laughed. "No, another boy. Short. Round face."
Yumikak grabbed Achan's hand and towed him through the mob of dancers to the perimeter. Sparrow sat on the bottom step of the main stairs. Yumikak abandoned Achan and dragged the wide-eyed Sparrow into a dance.
Achan sat on Sparrow's step and chuckled as Sparrow stood, blushing like a girl, flinching each time Yumikak's braids struck. Another young woman seized Achan's hand and pulled him back into the circle. Not long into the dance, Lady Gali interrupted, giving Achan the pleasure of dancing with a woman taller than him. More of a soldier than a lady, really. Her face was fierce, concentrating. Bone bangles circled her entire neck and she seemed… stretched.
The drumming slowed as did the chanting. Softer. Up down, high low. "Hey ya. Hey ya. Hey ya. Hey ya."
Lady Gali curtsied awkwardly and stalked away. Seconds later, Yumikak sidled up. She pulled Achan through the crowd, bobbing backwards in slow motion to the beat. Achan couldn't help but smile at her almost hypnotic movement. Feet from the bonfire, she put her hand against his chest to stop him, then pranced around him, trailing her fingers along his chest, his arm, his back, his other arm. When she faced him again, she flashed a coy smile, then strode away, leaving him standing before the blazing fire. His eyebrows sank as she approached Sparrow and pulled the boy over.
She performed the same little dance with Sparrow, strutting around him. Sparrow turned red as a beet. Achan folded his arms and smirked, hoping to make the boy more uncomfortable. You stole my dancing partner.
What is she doing?
I think she likes you.
But Yumikak danced her way back to Achan. She danced around him and sang in a soft, haunting voice.
View not my face, I am undone beside you
The beating of my heart will not cease
Whilst I am near you, whilst I am near you
Pity on my heart, from the day I first saw you
Your pleasing face burns my memories
Whenever we're apart, whenever we're apart
Though I am nothing to you, I love you, I do.
How shall I make it known, that I love you?
Yumikak leaned in and touched her nose to his cheek. Then she slinked toward Sparrow and sang the song to him, looking at Achan the whole time.
What in all Er'Rets?
I think she's trying to make you jealous, Your Highness.
But Achan didn't get to discover whether Sparrow spoke true. Koyukuk tapped his shoulder and escorted him back to Duke Orson's throne. A servant stood beside the chair with a platter of steaming food. Achan's stomach growled.
Koyukuk patted the throne's arm. "You have danced well, you have, and now you must eat."
Achan sat and the servant handed him a small knife. Achan helped himself to the food. Cedar-smoked salmon with maple sugar and cranberry sauce, slices of seasoned mushrooms, flaky pies filled with rich gravy and minced cham.
Koyukuk sat as well. "I have a gift for you, I do. Shung!"
Across the mob, Shung danced and laughed with Lady Gali. The hairy man bowed to Lady Gail, then weaved his way to Koyukuk's throne. He bowed to Koyukuk then Achan.
"I understand you have only knights to watch over you," Koyukuk said. "You must have shield. Shung is excellent swordsman. He also speaks blood voice. My gift to you. Shung. You honor me to accept."
Shung banged his foot on the floor, then went to one knee before Achan. "No man will touch you in Shung's presence."
Shield? Achan stared at Shung's shaggy braided head and swallowed the bite of mushroom still in his mouth. He couldn't take a man as a gift.
"Shung is old friend, he is," Koyukuk said. "I wish he remain in Berland until my wedding. Sir Gavin tells me you will go to Mitspah after Tsaftown. Shung will meet you there. Does this please you?"
"You spoke to Sir Gavin about this?"
"Sir Gavin says Shung will be great help to you."
Achan must have misunderstood. Shung would be joining their army, not serving as a slave. Achan bowed his head. "Thank you. This honor pleases me."
Koyukuk jerked his head to Shung, who bowed and darted back to Lady Gali's side. He swept her into the dancing crowd. Achan continued to eat, watching Shung and Lady Gali, amused at how fond they seemed to be of one another.
The drumming switched to a new beat and the dancers scattered, forming the outer circle again and joining in the chant. "Hey ya hey! Hey ya ho! Hey ya ha! Hey no no!"
A young man who resembled Koyukuk approached Achan's chair. He clapped to the beat then started to sing.
My name is Kotlik Orson.
I hunt the cham to eat.
They give us fur for clothing,
And much delicious meat.
Our land is dark and dreary.
Do not get lost out there.
If chams fail to roast your hide,
Charmice will take their share.
A cheer rang out. Achan clapped as well. Another man entered the circle and sang. This went on through ten or more men and women. Then Yumikak skipped into the circle, braids bouncing.
My name is Yumikak.
My homeland's very cold.
I should go to bed, I should,
And do what I am told.
But here's a mighty king,
A very handsome man.
I'll dance all night with him, I will,
If Father says I can.
The crowd went wild. Achan's temperature rose with the volume. Yumikak curtsied, eyes sparkling brighter than the luminaria. He grinned and hoped Sir Caleb wouldn't think he'd encouraged her affection. She skipped to a grey-bearded man and
pressed her nose against his cheek.
Koyukuk danced his way before the throne next, his cham claw necklace swinging and clicking.
They call you Achan Cham.
You come from land afar.
You bear the mark of stray,
But your name is Hadar.
Chams bears are fierce and mighty.
They breathe chains of fire all day.
So will you bring back the sun,
And set the sky ablaze.
The cheers broke out again, so loud Achan's ears rang. People flooded back into the center of the platform and began dancing. Achan continued to eat.
A hand on Achan's shoulder jolted him awake. Sir Caleb stood before the throne holding a white luminary ball attached to a wire handle like a lantern. Shung stood beside him. Beyond, the platform was deserted and silent. Achan couldn't guess how long he'd been asleep.
"Let's find you a bed, shall we, Your Highness?" Sir Caleb asked.
Achan stood. Shung wrapped Achan's new fur cape around his shoulders and led them through the labyrinth of staircases and bridges. They creaked and swayed under their feet.
Achan yawned. "I don't suppose chams climb trees?"
"Only cubs," Shung said. "Sorry we will not hunt cham. Perhaps in Mitspah?"
"How do you kill one?" Achan asked.
"Pierce with arrow behind front shoulder, straight to core."
Achan frowned. "Is there no other way to hunt one? I've never used a bow."
"Sword could be thrust same place, though man so close to cham would fare better cutting off head."
"Why?"
"Chams thrash about and breathe fire when pierced. Man too close will burn."
That would make hunting more difficult. "Shung, why do you speak so differently than Koyukuk?"
"Shung is Wilderman."
"Berland was built by your ancestors, Your Highness," Sir Caleb said. " Koyukuk's accent is a combination of original Wilderman and the king's tongue. But many Wilderman still live in the forests."
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