Pillar of Fire (Book One-The Whale Hunter Series)

by Karah Quinney

  “Miche! The men are returning from the whale hunt!” Kahm called out to his brother, but Miche was too far away to hear his voice.

  All thought ceased as he counted the men that sat in the two boats. He struggled to breathe as he realized that one man was missing. The boats were too far away for him to identify the faces of the hunters, but a heavy stone settled in his stomach. Talon.

  Kahm’s face was devoid of expression as he ran into the water to help drag the boat to shore. The men on Talon’s boat wore somber, grief-stricken expressions. Farther along the beach, Sarnom’s boat was spotted and there was much shouting as the villagers looked between the returning men.

  “Talon was taken by the Great Water! I am the rightful leader of the Hokum Village.” Sarnom shouted as he coughed and choked. The men with him dragged him forward. “We almost died because of Talon’s folly!”

  Sarnom didn’t care that he spoke Talon’s name, he showed great disrespect by speaking the name of the dead. Kahm shook with rage as he turned toward the sound of his brother’s voice.

  “Kahm, we must leave.” Miche said.

  Grief wedged itself deep within Kahm’s chest, but he made himself speak over the anguish that sought to overwhelm him. “Gather Sunflower and make ready.”

  “You and your cursed brother will leave this village. You are not welcome here!” Sarnom’s eyes spit fire at them as his mouth lifted in triumph.

  Kahm was too angry to speak. He had not expected Sarnom to mourn Talon’s death, but the empty eyes of the villagers drew his notice. He could see that many of them had put their hope in Talon, but now all hope was lost.

  Miche came forward with Sunflower at his side. Kahm could barely bring himself to look at Sunflower. Her wide eyes seemed too large for the slender frame of her face. Her round cheeks were hollow with the first touch of grief and her lips trembled as she struggled to understand all that had befallen her.

  “Sunflower…” Kahm couldn’t find the words to express his grief for the loss of her brother.

  “Sunflower will remain here.” Sarnom’s decree stunned the villagers, but Kahm and Miche stepped forward in threat.

  “No.” Sunflower shook her head back and forth, as she backed away from Kahm’s outstretched hand. “No!”

  She shouted the word in denial and her wild cry of grief brought all eyes toward her. She stared steadily at Sarnom and Kahm saw her fear of the man in the shadows that filled her eyes.

  “You will not keep Sunflower here in a village where she is despised for her inability to hear.”

  “There is no one to stop me.” Sarnom sneered. “Make ready to leave our village.”

  “You must give them enough time to gather their belongings and make their peace with the death of Sunflower’s brother.” Ad’isi walked forward with the aid of a younger boy. “We must mourn those that have died hunting the whale or have you already forgotten the old ways.”

  Sarnom blanched as Ad’isi asserted the small amount of authority that remained with him only because of his advanced age. He caught sight of Matiye’s family, an elderly aunt and a young cousin. His eyes drifted to the villagers that looked on with haunted expressions.

  “Grieve if you must, but heed me when I say that if these men are not gone from my sight by the rising of the sun or their deaths will swiftly follow.”

  Sunflower sat on her favorite rock overlooking the village below. She lifted her hands to brush away stray tendrils of hair that had broken free from her braid and she saw that her fingers trembled. She clutched her hands together and tried to find the inner strength that had always been there to guide her.

  Her eyes filled with tears as she sent her spirit out with a deep exhalation of breath. In her heart, she searched for Talon and when she didn’t receive an answer, tears seeped from her closed eyes and trailed over her face as she gave in to ragged sobs.

  The silent world around her was forever changed by the events that had preceded this day. She watched the sun set over the water and she sobbed into her hands as raw pain pierced her heart.

  Down below, Kahm and Miche stood together, silently guarding Sunflower, though she was not aware of their presence.

  “She grieves deeply.” Miche found that he couldn’t look into Kahm’s eyes. The pain reflected in his twin’s gaze was unfathomable.

  “We all do.” Kahm clenched his fists in anger. The morning and afternoon had passed as the village mourned the death of Matiye, a young man that had befriended Talon and remained loyal to him, even to death. Sarnom made a show of grief over the death of his cousin, but there were not many to mourn with him. A pall had fallen over the Hokum Village. The men had not been able to hunt and there was very little food to share. “I failed him.”

  Miche felt that he had also failed in his responsibility to Talon. “We both failed him.”

  “We will protect Sunflower with our lives, just as he would have wanted.” Though the future was dismal, Kahm made a solemn vow.

  A startled cry from above sent both men scrambling up the steep embankment to reach Sunflower. They had remained silent through the worst of her grief, though she couldn’t hear her own cries, they heard every sound. Kahm was concerned that Sunflower had done herself some type of injury, perhaps in a show of grief for her brother. Miche was at his heels as they both gained their feet and caught sight of Sunflower standing upon the rock that she favored. She didn’t speak, but she pointed one narrow finger toward the Great Water and as they followed the direction of her finger, both men struggled to contain themselves.

  There at the edge of the lapping waves, was a large form, far larger than any fishing boat should be. The light began to fade from the sky as Kahm stumbled toward the scene unfolding before his eyes. Down below, a whale had washed ashore and a familiar form was draped over the whale’s body as the waves battered the beach below.

  “Kahm!” Miche’s shout sounded far away as Kahm’s heartbeat pounded in his ears. “We must go after Sunflower!”

  Kahm turned to see Sunflower scrambling down the embankment to reach the beach below. She ran like the wind, streaking over the sand toward the whale and the body of her brother.

  Kahm and Miche dashed after her, but they were stopped by several Hokum warriors.

  “Let us by! A whale has washed ashore and on its back lies Talon!” Kahm shouted at the men that stood blocking their view of Talon and Sunflower.

  “No!” Sarnom’s roar of fury was ignored as the men began to run after Kahm and Miche.

  Situ felt his entire body begin to quake. Dark stars clouded out his vision and one of the men slapped him on the back, bringing him back to the present.

  Suddenly, Kahm shouted Sunflower’s name, though she couldn’t possibly hear him. The entire village had been roused by the shouting voices of the men.

  Kahm’s first clear sight of Talon almost caused him to stumble. He appeared to be dead or very close to death.

  “He lives, but he is injured.” Sunflower’s voice was dire as she struggled to reach her brother.

  Talon wiped one hand across his face as he took in the sight of the men, women and children that stood staring at him with expressions of awe, uncertainty and hope.

  Every muscle ached, every part of his body felt pummeled by wind, rain and the salty residue of the sea. He shook violently with chills that caused the world to sway before his eyes.

  A wave of grief seized him as awareness returned and he remembered Matiye’s senseless death. He couldn’t find his voice as he blinked away the moisture that filled his eyes.

  He met his sister’s luminous gaze and she sobbed into her hands as Kahm and Miche reached him. Talon’s eyes were alight with triumph as he lifted his uninjured arm into the air and raised his fist for all to see.

  A resounding cheer swept over the villagers that had gathered around Talon and the whale. Even a few of those that had once opposed him raised their voices in triumph. Talon had no doubt that they would face difficult times ahead, but he firmly believ
ed that they would learn to survive together.

  “Talon has killed the whale!”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “Talon is the rightful leader of our village!” Ad’isi had been called upon to speak at the village fire before each person, old and young. He raised his walking stick high overhead and spoke in a strained voice. “The successful whale hunt has ended in Talon’s favor and this negates Sarnom’s claim of leadership.”

  Talon and Sarnom stood on opposite sides of the fire, encircled by the Hokum people. Kahm and Miche stood behind Talon in a show of solidarity. Due to the severity of his wound, he had allowed Sunflower to bind his injury, so that he could stand before the village and accept his place as their leader. He still shivered, no matter how he tried to contain the shudders that wracked his body. At Sunflower’s urging, he had stripped off his wet garments and donned a warm parka borrowed from Kahm.

  “Hear me! I will not remain within the Hokum Village, as long as Talon is your chosen leader.” Sarnom sneered as he tried to sway the people to his side once more.

  “Each man must cast a stone into the fire and then take a place behind the one that you have chosen to follow.” Ad’isi raised his hands high overhead as the men of their village stepped forward.

  Situ was the first to cast a stone into the fire and face Sarnom.

  “I stand on the side of the one that seeks the best interest of our village.” Situ walked toward Sarnom and then stepped past him, despite the outcry that arose from the assembled crowd.

  He met Talon’s gaze and held it without looking away. “I choose to stand beside you.”

  “Traitor!” Sarnom snarled as he clasped his spear in anger. Several warriors chose to stand with Sarnom, along with their wives and little ones. The men cast their stones into the fire one after another and went to stand behind Sarnom and his wives.

  “If I am a traitor, then tell me why you sought to kill men of your own village while we were in the depths of the Great Water? Explain to us why your cousin tried to kill Talon and lost his life in the attempt. Explain how it came about that Chumal killed a loyal young man with the thrust of his spear!” Situ spoke forcefully as all eyes turned toward Sarnom.

  There was a moment of stunned silence and then one after another, the rest of the men tossed their stones into the fire.

  “You will know only sorrow and death.” Sarnom faced the people that had betrayed him by choosing Talon’s side.

  “Sorrow and death were with us when your brother stood in the place of leader while you whispered words in his ear.” Talon’s voice was firm as the gifts of acceptance that each villager offered him were handed to Sunflower.

  The gifts were symbolic, but essential. There was an assortment of colorful feathers, shell bracelets, woven baskets. There was also a new hunting knife to replace the one that he had lost and multicolored beads that could be used for decoration, along with several long poles that would be used to build a new lodge.

  “I will take those that have chosen to follow me and leave this place forever!” Sarnom hissed, even as his eyes swept hungrily over Sunflower.

  “Sarnom has chosen to take his wives and the men with him into the great unknown!” Ad’isi called out to the assembled village, sealing Sarnom’s proclamation.

  “If you leave, then you have marked yourself an enemy of the Hokum Village and you relinquish your birthright and any future right to the position of leadership.” Talon didn’t ask Sarnom to stay, even though he knew that their people would be pained by the loss of loved ones, siblings and friends.

  All told, Sarnom had two hands of the villagers with him, mostly men that were loyal to the path he had chosen to follow. Chumal turned his back upon the very men that he had trained as he kept pace with Sarnom. It was a large loss for their village, but the emotional loss was even more severe.

  They watched in silence as Sarnom denounced those of shared blood and led the way back to his lodge.

  “Follow him.” Talon faced Situ and it was clear that he was at the last of his strength. “Ask the men that are loyal to you to watch and make certain that he does not take anything that belongs to another.”

  “You will allow him to take all that he chooses from his lodge?” Situ didn’t wish to question Talon’s authority, but he couldn’t hide his surprise. If Sarnom had been the victor, he would have ordered Talon’s death.

  “The women and children have no choice but to accept the decisions made by the men that follow Sarnom. I will not add to their burden.”

  Sunflower stood at Talon’s side without wavering as she watched Situ and his warriors follow Sarnom. She was a healer of sickness and it pained her greatly to see the shadow of death that hung over Sarnom and those that had chosen to walk at his side. Yet, she was more concerned over her brother’s health and his injured arm.

  There was no cry of victory as Talon accepted the burden of responsibility for his entire village. Yet, there was a telling rightness to the entire matter that settled into his bones.

  “Our village has been forever changed.” One of the men spoke to the others that milled about, while the women tried to comfort one another.

  “What will we do?” One of the women cried as another consoled her.

  “We will do as we must to survive.” Talon turned to address those that had spoken and there was a new air of determination in the set of his shoulders. “Together we will learn a new way.”

  “Talon!” Kahm lurched forward just as the whites of Talon’s eyes showed before he clutched his arm and slid in an unconscious heap to the ground.

  Light from outside beckoned Oi’yan to leave the cave that had become her home. Wolf whined in concern as she stumbled once before righting herself. He sniffed her palms and whimpered, but she ignored him as she lifted her face to the sun.

  Each day she forced herself to walk and stretch her limbs. However, the immense forest only increased her sense of loneliness and isolation. With her hands spread over her belly, she took a few short steps forward until she could brace her weight against the rock that had been warmed by the sun.

  She had enough drinking water to last another day. Kahm and Miche had left her with plenty of firewood and she kept busy with various tasks in preparation for the birth of her child. She gathered moss to use for swaddling and she felt the strength in her legs as she bent to the task at hand. She walked through the forest nearby the cave, whenever possible, sitting in the sun for its healing light. Each day she chanted the songs sung by her mother.

  “Soon, little one.” Oi’yan spoke to the child that had grown still inside her womb. The baby’s stillness worried her more than anything else, but she could only pray that the child merely rested.

  “If Sunflower were here she would place one hand upon my belly and tell me that the life within was strong and vibrant.”

  Oi’yan smiled as her thoughts remained with Sunflower. Wolf whined pitifully and she turned to shush him when a pain of intense agony struck low in her belly. Her breath rushed out of her lungs as she struggled to stand. Her legs trembled as she gained her feet and glanced wildly around. She needed Kahm; she needed her mother or any of the women from her village. However, there was no one to help her, no one to offer aid or comfort if her labor had truly begun.

  Oi’yan braced herself against the sun-warmed rock as she closed her eyes and sent her thoughts hurtling toward Sunflower. A song came to mind and she hummed the melody as she tried to comfort herself and the child nestled within her womb.

  “You must be brave and strong, Oi’yan.” These were the words that Sunflower would have spoken, had she been nearby. Oi’yan closed her eyes and focused upon one moment at a time. Her child wouldn’t come into the world when she was alone and unprepared to receive it.

  “Hush, little one.” Oi’yan whispered as Wolf stared at her out of wise, ageless eyes. “Not yet. Rest gently.”

  A sob caught in her throat as a seeping wetness bathed her lower legs and feet. She whimpered as another pain
seized her belly and the agony caused her to slide to her knees despite her renewed determination to be brave and strong. The distance to the cave entrance seemed to be farther away than she could ever hope to walk. She rested between pains as she took one cautious step forward and then another.

  “Kahm,” Oi’yan called out to her husband as her belly convulsed beneath her palms. “Hurry.”

  Sunflower’s hands trembled as she touched Talon’s left arm. The wound was held closed by binding that had been tied in two places, which effectively held the skin together. Sunflower could see that the skin needed to be mended, if at all possible. The cut on Talon’s arm was long and slightly jagged.

  She carefully inspected the wound where the throwing spear had entered her brother’s arm. The injury was deep and seeped copiously, despite her efforts to stop the bleeding.

  “I know that you are deeply concerned about your brother.” Kahm said.

  “He is lost in an unnatural sleep.” Sunflower struggled to form the words that would express her thoughts.

  She knew that Kahm couldn’t always understand her hand signs and yet, he continued to try. With that thought in mind, she turned her attention back to her brother and immediately noticed his flushed appearance.

  Her mother had spoken to her of such things, but Sunflower had never treated anyone so seriously wounded, other than Miche. Remembering the stories of the healing arts and actually putting those techniques into practice were two entirely different things. She closed her eyes as indecision and despair swamped her. Even as she helped Talon, concern for Oi’yan lanced through her heart like an arrow and she blinked as the world around her came into focus.

  “Kahm, you must return to Oi’yan, her time of childbirth is close.” Sunflower knew that she had shocked Kahm by speaking of Oi’yan even as she tended Talon’s wound.

  “Sunflower, how can I leave when I am needed here?” Kahm knew very well that Talon could still succumb to his injuries.