Children of the Dawn

by Patricia Rowe

  “They’re trails used by spirits, so we can’t see them. Only Moonkeepers know where they are. When many cross, like here, the land underneath is… ” It was hard to explain.

  “Blessed?” she said. “I can feel it. It has something to do with peace.”

  He nodded, glad that she felt it too.

  “But some people wouldn’t like living way up here,” she said. “It would be hard to visit their friends.”

  “It’s not far. I go to the village almost every day.”

  “Other people think too much time is wasted visiting that should be used for work.”

  Other people? Did she mean herself?

  He blurted, “Would you like living here, Gaia?”

  Laughing nervously, she looked at her hands.

  “Mmm,” she said.

  Hoping that meant “yes,” Kai El took his waist pouch from behind a rock. He fumbled inside with the pledge band he’d finished yesterday.

  Mixed with the hard work of digging dirt and carrying rocks had been the sweet, easy work of making a pledge band for his beloved: collecting bits of antler, shell, and stone; cleaning and polishing until they pleased the eye; braiding them in with the strands of his hair. Finished with leather ties that ended in a puff of hawk down, Kai El’s pledge band was every bit as beautiful as the one his father made for his mother to wear.

  Kai El walked slowly to Gaia and sat beside her. Glad for all the time he’d spent to make the pledge band worthy, he put it in her hand.

  She gazed at it with wide eyes, then looked up at him. Airy wonder lifted her voice.

  “This is the loveliest thing I have ever seen. Is it… a pledge band?”

  He nodded. “Shahala men have always made them.”

  “Who… who did you make it for?”

  “For you, Gaia. I want you for my mate.”

  “Oh, Kai El! Even though—”

  He touched his finger to her lips.

  “Even though. No matter what. I want to be with you forever. If you want me.”

  “Yes!” she squealed, throwing herself at him.

  His arms, loving the marvelous, new feel of womanflesh, took time enclosing her. Eyes shut, cheeks burning, breathing in all the scent her body could make, he whispered her name.

  She stopped him with a kiss… light, tentative, like a butterfly landing. They made one person in each other’s arms. Shooting stars raced through him. The kiss became an urgent pressing of lips that could never get close enough. His heart beat so fast it hurt and so hard it felt like it wanted out of his body. He never wanted to stop kissing, but she finally turned her face away, saving their lives by allowing them to breathe.

  She held him away from the second kiss that he wanted more than anything. Her voice was husky.

  “My passion is fierce, Kai El. I won’t be able to stop.”

  “We don’t have to stop, you know. We’re going to be mates. We can start right now.” His voice had a catch in it, like he’d just run to the top of a mountain.

  “I want to do it the Shahala way.”

  “Oh, please, let’s just do it! It doesn’t matter how!” He could no more control the choke in his voice than he could stop his desire.

  “It matters to me,” she said. “Since I was a little girl, I’ve watched the Mating Dance and pretended I was being carried into the night by my mate… by you, my handsome, brave Sun River.”

  He sighed. Defeated, his breathing evened.

  “At the Autumn Feast,” she said in a dreamy voice, “on the Night of Balance, with the spirits of unborn little ones gathered for moonrise, waiting to catch moonbeams to their mothers’ hearts… Kai El, that’s when I want to make love for the first time, like lovers have since the Misty Time.”

  She was right. More than that, she had a woman’s power of “no.”

  “We’ll do it your way,” he said. “But could we kiss again sometime?”

  She smiled. “Let’s try now. It may be dangerous, but we’re strong.”

  Their lips touched. He tried holding back, keeping it light, but the kiss grew of its own will. It threatened to engulf them, push them down on the sleeping shelf, force them where they didn’t want to go. How could this power be fought? Why should it be?

  Her voice was ripe with promise as she pushed him away.

  “Wait, Kai El. The cliffs won’t crumble if we don’t, but it will be so much better if we do. It’s already late summer. We can stop ourselves for two moons, can’t we? And then… oh, my love, we’ll belong to each other forever.”

  He didn’t say what he wanted to say, but what he had to say.

  “I’ll do anything for you, Gaia. Even wait.”

  He tied his pledge band to her upper arm, as his Shahala ancestors had done since the Misty Time, then stood back to admire her.

  “The best-made pledge band for the best-made woman, ever in all of time!”

  A blush lit her dark gold cheeks. Her eyes were like mist before dawn. She reached under her hair with both hands, and untied leather thongs. Holding out her beautiful neckpiece, Gaia spoke as no woman ever had.

  “This is my pledge band for you, Kai El. I want you for my mate.”

  Pledge bands were made by men. They promised not only love, but strength and courage—promises no woman could make. But these were the times and this was the place for new ways, even if their fathers and mothers might not understand.

  Kai El took Gaia’s offering, held it in his hands, gazed at every detail. He’d never seen another like it.

  Some people wore beads on a string long enough to go over the head, or a special stone on a thong. His mother told of a blue neckstone Kai El had had as a baby, carved by Tor with his namesign, somehow lost. Now he didn’t wear things that dangled. They could become snagged, get a man in trouble.

  Gaia’s neckband was different. It clung tight to the throat, held by leather thongs tied in the back. There were three rows of smooth-carved lengths of white bone, with polished beads of blue stone in between. A flat, round river stone rested in the dip of the throat. The stone’s polished black face was scratched with four pointed white lines—the symbol of the Four Directions.

  “It’s beautiful,” he said in awe, handing it back. “Will you put it on for me?” He leaned forward and lifted his hair.

  She put it up to his neck. It reached halfway around. She smiled and said, “It will never go around that huge neck.”

  Gaia tied her band to his upper arm. Kai El felt what men had never been allowed to feel, as the band of love and power became part of him, like his skin or his heart.

  That night in Teahra Village, people cheered to hear of the pledge of Gaia and Kai El.

  Only two moons till the Autumn Feast…

  CHAPTER 50

  GAIA KNEW SHE WOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW wonderful the rest of that summer was as she waited to become Kai El’s mate. The sounds, colors, and smells of crisp mornings and warm afternoons. The warmth inside her when they looked at each other. Their long talks—at the village, because she was afraid she’d give in to passion if they were alone. Awake or asleep, she dreamed of the life and love they would share: things she’d do for him; the comfortable place she’d make of their home; the little ones she would have.

  Kamiulka, the Autumn Feast, finally arrived—three days and nights for celebrating beginnings. Gaia cared most about the first night, and the mating ceremony.

  In the gray light before dawn, she had watched the First Warriors leave Teahra Village… a sight to steal the breath from any unmated woman. The seven best hunters, proud and skilled; handsome in red face paint that spoke of manhood; with spears in their hands, and bear claws hanging around their necks. Most handsome was Sun River, her Kai El. He was one of the youngest, but Gaia could see him telling others what to do—her almost-mate was that smart.

  The warriors would return with antelope for the first foods ceremony. The One Drum would begin the songs that people called the heartbeat of the rituals, and the ancient celebration c
alled Kamiulka, the Autumn Feast, would be changing people’s lives as it did every time.

  It was late afternoon. Gaia wondered if the First Warriors were home yet. She turned toward the village and listened for the drum. But the women’s washing place was too far away; all she heard was rivernoise and the laughter of her friends.

  Absently stroking the pledge band braided from Kai El’s shiny black hair—she never took it off, not even to bathe—she smiled, thinking about how she would look tonight.

  Gaia had never thought of her looks until three days ago. She’d dressed in her mating clothes, gone to the Great River, and stared into a quiet pool. She had made a short dress from a rare white cougar fur that Kai El had brought her. White leather fringe sewed to the bottom brushed the ground when she moved. A headdress of swan feathers trailed down her back. She wore knee-high moccasins with winter fox fur around the tops. White against dark gold skin and black hair… there was no denying the beauty of the creature who looked back at her from the deep water.

  Gaia thought about the mating dance, and her heart jumped. Her whole life had been leading to this night. All the men and women of the tribe would dance, but she and Kai El would see only each other. When the drum’s slow throb rose to a mad frenzy, Kai El would wrest her from the women pretending to guard her, and carry her to his home in the cliffs. They would make love. Finally… she would do what she’d been dreaming about.

  Gaia had a feeling that an unborn spirit was up there in the sky, just waiting to join the new lovers. Our baby, she thought, touching her stomach.

  “How lucky I am!” she shouted.

  Her twin flung a handful of water at her, laughing.

  “You’d think you were the only woman who ever got a mate.”

  Summer warmth lingered in the Great River canyon, as if the migrating geese barked lies. Downriver from Teahra Village, the tall willows that hid the women’s washing place were still in full leaf, though the leaves had yellowed. A large flat rock at the water’s edge was strewn with capes, skirts, and moccasins.

  Five almost-women of fourteen and fifteen summers played in the waist-deep water, being sillier than usual. They’d bathed together since they were little ones, but it wouldn’t be the same after this. After tonight, Gaia and Bree would be women. The others would still be girls.

  Sitting on a rock in swirling water, Gaia washed her toes. She was so warm from thinking of Kai El that she barely noticed the autumn-chilled water.

  Bree sat on Gaia’s rock and hugged her.

  “Oh, Gaia! This is our day! I thought I’d be too old to care before it got here!”

  “Me too!” Gaia said, as if she’d almost died from waiting.

  Bree dissolved in giggles. Selah splashed her, and the others joined in. The river exploded in sun-bright drops, the air in girlish shrieks.

  Splashing couldn’t silence the two almost-brides.

  “I’m the happiest woman ever born!” Gaia said.

  Bree said, “I’m so happy that pain wouldn’t make me cry!”

  Tahna said, “Am I the only one sick of these two?”

  Nissa yelled, “No!”

  Selah made a throwing-up sound.

  “They’re just jealous,” Bree said. “They wish they had men.”

  Tahna snorted. “I already take care of a mean old woman. Why would I want to take care of a man, too?”

  Bree gave Gaia a knowing look. “I expect better rewards from a man, don’t you?”

  They all laughed. They were only teasing. No one was really jealous.

  “Tahna, would you do my hair again?” Gaia asked.

  “Yes, little sister.”

  Water cascading from naked skin, Tahna stepped onto the flat rock at the river’s edge and took soap leaves from her waist pouch. Back in the river, she stood behind Gaia, rubbing mashed leaves into her wet hair, using a little too much fingernail on her scalp.

  “Owww!”

  Tahna dug harder. “You want to be really clean for Kai El, don’t you?”

  Feeling full of mischief, Gaia dived, curled under, grabbed Tahna’s ankles, and pulled her down. Tahna came up sputtering. Sometimes that would make her mad. Today she laughed, and they all laughed with her.

  Laughter changed to terrified screams as two men pounced from the brush, grabbed the girls, and threw them down, thrashing and choking in the churning water.

  Gaia ran on the slippery riverbottom. A hand seized her ankle. She pitched forward and cracked her head on a rock. Red light flashed behind her eyelids. She sucked in water. Yanked up by her hair—gasping, coughing—she was slammed into Bree. A rope whipped around their arms, and another around their waists, so if one fell, the other would too. Dragged through water and onto the bank, jerked to her feet, she was shoved forward in a jolting run—without ever seeing her attacker.

  In front of her, another man forced Selah and Nissa down the trail.

  Glancing back, she saw Tahna running away.

  “Tahna! Help us!” she screamed.

  Gaia was spun around, and punched in the face. She reeled, but the rope kept her from going down. With savage roughness, she and Bree were thrust after the others.

  The fear of beating stopped Gaia from screaming. Bree sobbed. Jerking her hair, the savage showed her a wad of leather. But Bree couldn’t stop, and he crammed it into her mouth. Branches whipped Gaia’s face and cut bleeding scratches in her naked skin. Rocks cut her bare feet. The savage pushed faster than they could go. She stumbled, taking Bree down with her. He yanked them up. She tried to slow them by limping, but he kicked her, making her run. He knew as well as she did that someone must be after them.

  On the trail ahead, Selah and Nissa were kicked and punched if they cried or struggled.

  Terror consumed Gaia. Where are they taking us? What will they do to us?

  Tahna ran for help, she told herself. Kai El is coming. He knows this land. These men don’t. He’ll catch them. He’ll save us.

  They came to a sandy beach. A large, flat thing floated in the river, made of trees lashed together with rope. Hope drained from Gaia. Her mother had seen these things. They carried men on water. Kai El would not be able to follow when it carried her away.

  Now she knew: These men were Masat. Instead of a bride, Gaia would be a slave.

  She yelled, “Fight!” Struck in the head, she kept yelling. “Fight for your lives!”

  The savages dragged the four screaming, struggling women to the raft, threw them down, beat them into silence. One hauled on a rope and brought up a rock that held the raft in place. The other pushed with a pole against the shore.

  Then they were out in the river, rolling and lurching. Gaia cowered on her stomach, stupefied with terror. Caught in an eddy, the raft spun round and round. The savages struggled to straighten it with their poles.

  So many times I thought I would die. This time I know it.

  With the thought, a strange calm settled on Gaia. Maybe they did not all have to die. Maybe she could save the others.

  The men were too busy to see her untie the bindings holding her to the unconscious Bree. She got to her knees, glanced at the blurred shore from the spinning raft, and almost lost her balance.

  Now what? The savages, used to traveling on water, stood on the raft with legs planted like tree trunks in a windstorm. She couldn’t kneel without falling off. How could she overpower them?

  The spinning of the raft slowed as the men pushed it out of the strong current toward calmer water near the shore. Once they got it under control, they’d be able to concentrate on the women. Gaia’s chance would be gone.

  She would give them something important to worry about—right now. She attacked the ropes that held the raft together—nothing but woven grass stems—working her fingers in, jerking, pulling, ripping them apart. A large piece of wood broke loose, then another.

  Struck from behind, she tumbled into the water between the pieces of wood. A man caught the rope around her waist and pulled. Her head, shoulders, and a
rms came up.

  But Gaia didn’t climb onto the raft. She took a huge breath, grabbed the savage’s neckpiece, and dived. Down he came, into a world with no air, a world Gaia understood.

  She wrapped her hand around a rope dangling from the bottom of the raft. The water churned as he kicked and clawed her, but she barely noticed the pain. She tightened her grip, twining fingers and wrist through the leather strap around his neck. His eyes popped with terror. Looking into them, she thought, I know about staying alive without air. Do you?

  She shoved under his chin, banging his head on the bottom of the raft. His thrashing in the roiling water became aimless, crazy. He didn’t have a chance. Panic would drown him.

  Just a little longer… I can do it… the Breath Ogre taught me.

  The raft thudded into a tree that had fallen over the river. Gaia saw black branches through dark water. She let go of the rope she’d been holding, and locked herself around a branch.

  The struggles of the drowning man weakened.

  Air, Gaia! Get to the air!

  She felt him being pulled from above.

  Dung! He was almost dead.

  Her body begged for air, but she held on tight.

  The pulling stopped. The other man hit the water. Through the branches, Gaia saw the river sweep him away.

  They pushed him in! We’re free!

  Under the raft, entangled in branches, she kicked the limp savage, but her hand was trapped in his neckpiece. She clawed at the strap—

  With her last breath, Gaia cried out in the dark water.

  “Kai El—”

  CHAPTER 51

  TEAHRA WARRIORS AT HIS HEELS, KAI EL BURST ONTO the sandy beach. He saw three women—crouched, naked, weeping loudly.

  “Gaia!” he cried.

  The women moved away. Gaia lay on her back, eyes closed, pale flesh battered and bruised.

  Kai El thrust his fists to the sky and howled.

  “No-o-o-o—”

  He fell to his knees, put his arm beneath her shoulders, and lifted her. Her head fell back. She was so cold. He ripped off his leather shirt and covered the nakedness that she wouldn’t want others to see. Clutching her to his chest, he rocked back and forth.