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

by Karah Quinney

  He caught sight of Makiye as his brother drove his spear through the side of a buffalo with a cry that was ripe with triumph. Anuk stood beside him as a large male bore down upon him. Cahil’s breath caught in his throat as he saw that Makiye was focused completely upon making his kill and Anuk would surely be trampled. He ran with the full strength of his legs, but he knew that he would be too late. He shouted and several of the men threw their spears as the buffalo bellowed in agony. Anuk finally regained his senses as Cahil reached him, while the rest of the herd thundered past as the men combined their efforts to bring the giant buffalo down. It took several spears along with raw strength to subdue the large animals and the work itself was bloody and strenuous.

  They spent the rest of the day butchering the buffalo and dividing the meat amongst the men. Cahil worked to skin one of the buffalo with the help of several men. He used his full strength to cut along the back of the animal to get to the tender meat beneath the surface. The other men worked without speaking, honoring the life of the buffalo as they removed the legs and shoulder blades. Steam rose into the air as the internal organs were exposed and a collective sigh of appreciation came from the men as Makiye called their attention.

  Cahil turned to see that his brother was the first to hold up the bladder as a great cheer came from the other men. All together they took three buffalo from the herd and it was more than enough to satisfy the people of their village. The skins of the buffalo were invaluable in a land that was often filled with snow and ice.

  At midday, Cahil led the men back to their village as his heart pounded in triumph. He saw that his brother’s chest rose and fell with pride, for they would be well praised for the success of the hunt. As the distant mountains came into view, Cahil thought of the calamity that could have befallen Anuk if the other men failed to step in.

  Unbidden, anger arrowed through him as he thought of the risks that Makiye had taken so that they would return to their village triumphant. He would have been angry if his younger brother risked his own life, but he was furious because Makiye put someone else in harm’s way.

  “Our father will be well pleased.” Makiye hoped to quiet the anger that he sensed in his brother.

  Cahil glanced over his shoulder with a grimace. “Our father will be well pleased, but what will he say about the actions that you took this day?”

  “He will say nothing, because you will not tell him.”

  “You are a man fully grown and yet your selfishness has become a burden that you wish to throw upon the other men.” Cahil narrowed his eyes as Makiye struggled to find a response. “Do you deny it?”

  “I know only what I can see, touch and feel. Look at the burden of meat that we carry, fresh meat that will be cooked over the fires by the women of our village. Kusug will hold his head high and strength will return to his limbs. Strength given to him from our hunt.”

  Cahil shook his head as his brother’s words whispered on the wind, like oil and water; they did not mix with all that they learned at their father’s knee.

  “You should be glad,” Makiye continued, despite the dark look upon his brother’s face. “You will offer Delak’s parents a portion of the meat brought in from our hunt and they will allow you to take her as your lifemate.”

  Thoughts of Delak swirled within Cahil’s mind even as he recognized that his brother sought to manipulate him. As a strong hunter of their band, he took his time choosing the right young woman as a wife. Delak stirred his blood and she incited his male hunger with the lowering of her lashes and the coy glances that she tossed about. He enjoyed the scent of her hair and the sensuous way that she moved, as if she floated over the ground.

  He did not share his plans to take Delak as his wife, but as always, Makiye was observant. He must have watched them sneak away from the village fire after the hunting ceremony, which took place only a few days ago.

  Cahil never laid claim to Delak’s body. She would allow him to touch and stroke her when they shared a blanket, but she would not allow anything further until they were joined as husband and wife. While he understood her hesitant nature, he wondered if she feared the mating act or simply lacked the burning desire to join their bodies as one.

  When he mentioned his concerns to her, tears formed in her eyes and her full lips turned down as she looked up at him. If she was not pleased with his actions, her tears always ripped an apology from him. It was simply the way of things between them.

  “You cannot persuade me to avoid talking to our father about your behavior. Anuk could have been killed. You are a skilled hunter and yet you take unnecessary risks, Makiye.” Cahil spoke of the way that Makiye rushed into the buffalo herd, eager to spear one of the largest males. It was obvious to all that the fatherless boy would do anything to win their approval and Makiye always found a way to force Anuk to prove his loyalty. It did not matter to Makiye that the youth was like a younger brother in Cahil’s eyes.

  “I would not do anything to purposely harm Anuk.” Makiye cast a glance over his shoulder toward the youth in question.

  Anuk carried a large burden of the buffalo meat upon a travois. Earlier, he waved away their offer of help, once again seeking to prove himself to them.

  Cahil took several steps forward, so that his brother was forced to keep up with him, while the other men gave them space, easily sensing the discord that existed between them. “You are wrong, Makiye. Anuk is willing to follow you wherever you lead, that is a burden that you must learn to bear. If not for the other men, Anuk would have been crushed by the charging male that targeted him because of your inability to exercise patience.”

  Cahil’s eyes darkened as he speared his brother with a seething glare.

  “I will not always be able to watch out for you, whether it is during a hunt or in a skirmish with other men. You must learn to evoke loyalty from the men that we lead.”

  “We?” Makiye scoffed, having heard nothing of Cahil’s warning except what he wanted to hear. “You are our father’s eldest son and as such, it is your responsibility to lead our village.”

  “Our father still lives. Even in his old age, he is strong.” Cahil did not like to think of the time when their father would not be present to hold tight the bond between his two sons. “You and I have been burdened with the responsibility of leading the men on the hunt. You will either learn to put others before yourself or suffer the agony that comes from being responsible for the death of another.”

  “I am not like you, Cahil.” Makiye’s dark brown eyes were shadowed as he held Cahil’s gaze before turning away. “I no longer wish to hear your words of doom. Our father will be delighted with our efforts and he will not want to hear talk of guilt and death.”

  “Makiye!” Cahil called after his brother as Makiye walked ahead, but his brother would not turn back. The other men carried most of the burden while Makiye walked free, except for his hunting spear and other weapons.

  Concern over his brother’s unwillingness to listen weighed heavily upon his shoulders as he went to help the other men. He knew that Makiye wished to be the first to enter their village with the good news of a successful hunt.

  His brother would reap the glory heaped upon him by their people and he would forget all that passed between them this day, but Cahil would not forget. He was determined to speak to their father as soon as possible. If he failed to do so, then he alone would be responsible for those that suffered because of Makiye’s reckless behavior.

  “Yi! Yi! Yi!” The call of triumph carried to the men as they entered the Ula’tuk village. With tired smiles and aching backs they handed over the fresh meat that would feed their village for many days to come.

  “Makiye has told us of the success of your hunt! You are to be honored over the village fire at sunset.” Women, young and old, rushed forward to help with the meat brought in by their husbands, brothers and sons. Several of the men would rest and return to the hunting site to recover the necks and heads of the animals, which was removed intact. T
heir village held ten hands of people and they were still growing in size. Naked children ran underfoot, eager to win a raw scrap of meat from the hunters before it hit the cooking fires. The women discussed how they would make use of the buffalo skins and the men teased and accepted the praise that came their way.

  A soft voice from behind caused Cahil to turn in heady anticipation. He was not disappointed to hear his name spoken by the woman that would become his lifemate.

  “Cahil, you have returned from a successful hunt.”

  He took in the sight of Delak as she watched him knowingly out of shining eyes. A fur trimmed deerskin dress displayed her curves to perfection and her dark hair swung free, gathering around her shoulders as she walked toward him. She bent to speak to one of the village children and her motion drew his eyes to her hips and trim waist.

  “Delak.” He opened his arms as she returned her attention to him and stepped lightly into his embrace. Her lips brushed over his cheek and she stroked one hand over the long braid that hung down his back.

  “You should sheer your hair so that you look more like your father.” Delak chided as she glanced over her shoulder toward Kusug.

  Cahil saw that his father and brother stood with their heads bent close together. It was obvious to him that Makiye was the image of their father; both men were lean of form with dark eyes, sloped noses and wide mouths. Kusug’s back and shoulders were bowed from the passage of time and he often walked with a limp as a result of an old injury, but Makiye stood just like their father, though his stance was enhanced only by the proud bearing of his youth.

  Cahil was slightly taller than his father and brother, while his angular features were much sharper, as if cut from stone. He preferred to wear his hair long and uncut and even as a young boy he never allowed anyone to cut away the length.

  Most of the men of their village wore their hair sheared above the shoulders, but this was not his preference.

  “Cahil.” Delak pouted prettily as he returned his attention to her. “Will you speak to your father? He has been ill in your absence and he will need you now more than ever.”

  Concern arrowed through Cahil as he removed his hands from Delak’s shoulders and walked over to his father.

  “Father.” Cahil waited until his father turned to face him and he was rewarded with an approving glance.

  Kusug spoke in a voice that was aged and worn. “You have been successful in your hunt. Makiye told me that it was not easy. The buffalo herds have begun to shift from their former trails. You have done well, my son.” Kusug nodded approvingly as his gaze slid back to Makiye. “You will be honored at the feasting ceremony tonight.”

  Cahil did not know why he felt as if his father often weighed his actions against the bond that they shared as father and son, but it was simply the way of things. He brushed aside the swelling emptiness that often caught him unaware as his father continued speaking.

  “Makiye has already told me how he acted bravely, saving Anuk from almost certain injury. He said that your attention was with the men, as it should have been, but he remained focused on his young companion.” Kusug’s eyes gleamed with pride as he slapped one hand upon Makiye’s shoulder.

  Cahil inhaled sharply as Makiye looked at him in silent challenge. He could remain silent or tell his father that Makiye not only lied, but sought to cover over his rash actions which almost brought injury to another. Cahil expected his brother to seek glory over the hunt, but he never anticipated this unlikely turn of events. Makiye’s foolish actions placed him in an untenable position. If he denied his brother’s words, it would become a matter that their entire village would need to review. The deep, echoing cough that racked his father’s frame caused him to lift his head in concern.

  “Father?” Cahil immediately placed his hand upon his father’s back, but Kusug continued to cough without let up. Makiye’s brow furrowed in concern as his father struggled to catch his breath.

  “He has been ill, just as I have said.” Delak stepped between them and ushered Kusug toward his lodge. Their father leaned heavily upon the young woman as he struggled to catch his breath.

  Cahil started to join them, but Makiye placed a bracing hand upon his shoulder. “I can see in your eyes that you thought to tell our father about your concerns.”

  “I would have told him the truth and let him judge the matter for himself.”

  Makiye’s wide smile was at odds with the anger shimmering in his eyes. “I thought that you were my friend as well as my brother, but I see that I was wrong.”

  “I am your friend, Makiye, but you will kill an innocent man if you do not change your ways.” Cahil did not look away from the glimmer of anger that he saw in his brother’s eyes.

  Makiye’s anger shifted into a triumphant smile. “Have no fear, Cahil. I will be more careful in the future. For now, let us enjoy the celebration that is to take place. We have heaped honor upon our father’s name, have we not?”

  Makiye walked away with his shoulders thrust back in undisguised pride as their people deferred to him. He left Cahil staring after him, wondering how often his brother manipulated others with such apparent ease. Concern for their father overrode everything else as with a last glance, he turned his back upon his brother.

  Click here to read The Seeking Star (Book One) – Available Now

  KENNEDY PUBLISHING

  TITLES BY KARAH QUINNEY:

  Series

  The Keeper

  The Guardian (Book One)

  The Chosen One (Book Two)

  Dreamkeeper (Book Three)

  The Whale Hunter

  Pillar of Fire (Book One)

  Sacred Fire (Book Two)

  Sacred Path (Book Three)

  The Great Land

  The Seeking Star (Book One)

  Shadow of the Moon (Book Two)

  Light of the Sun (Book Three)

  Sundancer

  Legend of the Sundancer (Book One)

  The Last Sundancer (Book Two)

  Warrior

  The Warrior’s Way – February 2014

  Table of Contents

  All rights reserved.

  Copyright © 2011 KARAH QUINNEY

  Kennedy Publishing

  PILLAR OF FIRE

  PILLAR OF FIREKarah Quinney

  Before written history, the people of

  Thousands of years ago...

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO Sunflower

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEENSitu

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TwentyTalon

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREETalon’s

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVESunflower

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Author’s Note:

  Excerpt fromSACRED FIRE (Book Two)

  Excerpt from The Seeking Star (Book One) – Available NowCHAPTER ONE

  Kennedy Publishing