by Kevin Ashman
The cavern system was immense and spread through the entire mountain range. Kraiach confidently led the way and though they carried the blue fat lights, Golau was sure this was for his benefit and they could easily find their way in the dark. Occasionally, they encountered dead ends and retraced their steps in the darkness, and they had to swim across at least one subterranean lake before the tunnels opened out.
They ate as they walked. Gradually, Golau became aware that although there were countless twists and turns, they were definitely travelling downhill through the bowels of the mountain range. Occasionally, Kraiach would stop and raise his light to the walls, examining ancient drawings and symbols left there by unknown people thousands of years earlier. Clear outlines of handprints, surrounded by spit-blown paint, left powerful signatures of long dead individuals and pictures of animals, both recognizable and unknown, adorned the walls of this sacred place.
They passed into a cavern and stopped dead in their tracks, enthralled at the remains of an ancient campsite spread out before them. Long cold fireplaces lay dotted around the cave, and desiccated animal skins, lay in neat piles, unused for many generations. Small groups of bodies lay in peaceful poses, as if they had simply fallen asleep, and never woken up. The remnants of their mummified skin were tight against bone, and their lips were drawn back over exposed teeth in the grimace of age-old death.
They paused and took a little food and water in silence. Kraiach separated from the group and knelt at one of the mummified bodies, chanting the now familiar sounding words as he paid his respects. He reached beneath his cape, took something unseen, and placed it at the foot of a dried out corpse as tribute.
After a while, Kraiach returned to the group and picked up his spear.
‘Are they your people?’ asked Golau.
Kraiach looked back over to the sad scene.
‘No,’ he said, ‘they are a very old people from the time before. They no longer live in this world. We call them the ancients.’
Without another word, he walked into the darkness. Golau and the rest of the Neanderthal followed him out of the last resting place of this long dead people.
----
After what seemed like days, Kraiach stopped dead in his tracks and listened carefully. Dropping to all fours, he crawled along a side tunnel and Golau took the chance to eat some dried meat in the blue tinged darkness.
‘Golau come,’ whispered Kraiach and Golau crept forward to join him in a tiny cavern. Kraiach pointed up and Golau, struggling to see in the dark, finally realized that there was an opening in the small cave roof, sealed with a wooden cover. He put down his spear and bracing his shoulders against the small logs, used all his strength to force the timbers upward into the space above.
----
Chapter 17
For two days, no one ventured out of the Long-tooth cave, until it was clear the Baal would not return. Eventually, Gafr took the risk and followed their tracks for several miles to ensure they did not double back.
‘They have gone,’ he said to Tan.
The chief was laid back on a bed of furs, carefully attended by Keera, the stress and strain clear on his face. The death of his daughter and granddaughter had clearly taken its toll.
‘What of the Shaman?’ asked Tan weakly.
Keera answered gently.
‘The wise one was killed, great Tan;’ she said, ‘there is no sign of the handmaiden, so she may have been taken with the others.’
‘How many have we lost?’ he rasped, his lungs straining for breath as his weak heart struggled to pump the blood around his system.
‘Eight hunters, three women and two children, all sit with the Sun-god. Six more women, two hunters and twelve children have been taken by the Baal.’
Tan leaned back in the furs and sipped from a horn of water, as Keera recited the names, each of which they all knew closely.
‘Has Golau returned?’ he asked.
‘There is no sign of him, Tan,’ she answered fearing the worst, ‘he has been gone now for a full moon’s cycle.’
Tan took a deep shaky breath.
‘Help me up, Keera,’ he said.
‘You are too weak, Tan,’ she replied gently.
‘Keera, I am your chief. Help me up, there is much to do.’
Keera sighed and lifted Tan to an upright position, packing some skins behind his back. Tan turned to Gafr.
‘When you are rested, take Afon and follow their sign,’ he said. ‘Find out where they are taking our people and report back to us. No matter how long it takes or how far they go, find out where they take our children.’
Gafr grunted compliance and left the cave, climbing over the ripening corpses at the entrance.
‘Neifion!’ Tan called.
The hunter ran over and crouched at his chief’s bed, his young handsome face visibly aged.
‘Take the young boys and drag the scum bodies from our presence. Leave their rotting flesh for the pigs in the forest. While you are there, gather wood and prepare a great fire in the valley. Go now, and have the fire ready by dark.’
Neifion grunted his understanding and turned into the cave to gather the young boys who were strong enough, but had not yet earned their names. As they left the cave, Alid came running up.
‘Neifion, I can help,’ he spluttered, his tear stained face lit up with eagerness.
‘Not this time, Alid,’ said Neifion, ‘these are grave times and the Baal may still be out there. Stay and help Sky.’ With that, he led the boys out of the cave and up into the hills. Alid stared after them. Even though he had earned his name, it would seem that nothing much had changed.
----
‘Well, old woman,’ Tan said softly to Keera, ‘it seems I am not yet to be allowed to die.’
‘We have been through many hard times, old man,’ she said quietly, ‘we will see our way through this one.’
‘I don’t know, Keera,’ he said, ‘I am tired and my bones ache for the warmth of the Sun-god’s pastures.’
‘You will outlive us all, Tan,’ she said adjusting the furs.
‘Keera,’ he said, ‘gather all who are left, I will address the clan.’
‘I am yours, great chief,’ she replied, and went about her task as Tan laid back to catch his breath.
----
The remainder of the clan gathered silently around the chief’s bed. The old man looked sadly around the group. Five hunters remained, including the two wounded. The rest of the clan, about half of the original number was made up of women, children and the elders.
‘Fire-clan,’ he said, ‘we have endured a test such as we have never had before. The Baal are surely demons from the other world, yet we survive. They have killed our families, but we owe it to them to live. Now is the time to work harder than we have ever done before.’
A murmur of agreement whispered around the group.
‘Old men, unwrap your spears and sharpen your skills,’ he continued, ‘we need meat. Women of the clan, gather our fallen brothers and sisters, and prepare them for the fires.’
Gasps of astonishment crept around the group as understanding dawned. Fox-tooth spoke up.
‘Tan, why do we burn our families? They should have the soil ceremony.’
‘I share your pain, Fox-tooth, but the ground is hard and we have too few men to dig so many graves. I will not stand by and watch the flesh fall from their bones as we scratch holes in the ground. Their souls have gone on. We burn only empty husks.’
More murmurs abounded, but this time in discontent. Sky stood forward.
‘This we will do, Tan,’ she said loudly cutting short any dissent, ‘and at the fires, we will ask the Sun-god for his guidance to help them find their way.’
Tan nodded agreement. The whispers were silenced, unhappy, but accepting the compromise.
At the back of the group, the children peered past the adults to hear their leader. One of the younger girls, hearing a slight noise at the back of the cave turned to peer into
the gloom, and let out a piercing scream of terror.
----
Everyone spun around to meet the unseen danger, and following direction of the terrified girl’s outstretched hand, saw a figure emerging out of the floor and into the cave.
Ceffyl grabbed his spear and with a roar charged forward as the rest of the clan scattered around the cavern to retrieve their weapons. The attacker rose to his full height from the floor and Ceffyl drew back his arm to launch his already bloodied spear, but at the last moment, the intruder screamed out his name.
‘Ceffyl, no!
At the point of release, Ceffyl’s shock at hearing his name, affected his aim just enough to alter the flight of the deadly weapon, and the hunter watched the flint spearhead shatter against the cavern wall, less than a hand’s breadth from the sweat-stained face of Golau Lion-heart.
‘Golau,’ stuttered Ceffyl, ‘I nearly killed you!’
‘Lucky for me that your aim is still poor,’ answered Golau and smiled widely.
Ceffyl stepped forward and both hunters grasped the forearm of his colleague, the greeting of equals within the clan.
‘How is this strange thing, Golau?’ gasped Ceffyl. ‘You rise from the ground like smoke from a fire. Are you a spirit now?’
‘There is much to tell, Ceffyl,’ stated Golau, ‘but first, hold still your weapons. I have brought friends, though they are strange to our eyes.’ He called over his shoulder.
‘Kraiach, come!’
Ceffyl and the rest of the clan watched nervously as four strangely clad men with flat features clambered out of the hole to stand alongside Golau. Murmurs of fear rippled around the group as they stared at the Neanderthal, and many hands sought a fresh grip on spear or knife.
‘Who are these people?’ asked Ceffyl
‘We will speak soon,’ answered Golau. ‘First, I must speak to Tan; I fear the clan is in danger.’
‘You are too late, Golau,’ said Ceffyl quietly, ‘the danger has been and gone, many have died.’
‘What do you mean?’ asked Golau.
Before he could answer, Tan’s voice echoed weakly around the cave.
‘Golau, is that you?’
Ceffyl stood aside and the group opened for Golau to walk through, while Kraiach and his fellow tribesmen squatted down to wait.
‘I see you, Golau,’ stated Tan weakly.
‘I see you, great chief,’ responded Golau, astonished at how much the old man had aged in a few weeks.
‘We thought you were dead, Golau,’ said Tan, ‘you have been gone many days.’
‘I was injured, Tan,’ replied Golau, ’and those people saved my life. They have brought me through the mountain to fight at your side. What has happened here?’
‘These are bad times,’ Tan sighed, ‘and I am too tired to tell of them. Keera will be my voice.’
There was a murmur of surprise amongst the gathered clan at the honour Tan bestowed on the lowly woman.
‘Tan,’ interrupted Golau, ‘I have guests, I would see to their needs first.’
Tan nodded and caught Sky’s gaze with his.
‘Sky,’ he ordered, ‘make Golau’s friends welcome. Treat them as you would me.’
Sky nodded and disappeared into the gloom. Golau grunted his appreciation and turned to Keera.
‘Tell me everything, old woman,’ he said, ‘leave nothing out.’
For the next hour, Keera recalled all the events of the previous few days. Golau listened intently, only interrupting to clarify a description of a weapon or a tactic. His expression only changed when Little-bear’s name was included on the list of names taken as slaves. Finally, Keera told Golau of the arrangements Tan had made to honour their dead.
‘Is there more?’ asked Golau
‘I have finished,’ answered Keera.
‘Golau,’ whispered Tan hoarsely, ‘your return is well timed. I am not long for this world. You must take up Hell-farch and lead the clan. Now more than ever, they need a strong leader.’
Golau sat in silence. The role of clan chief was one everyone knew he would one day take up. Indeed, he had often longed for the day he became chief, but not in these circumstances.
‘Great Tan,’ he said, ‘I will take food and then I will address the clan. There is much to think about.’
An hour later, the clan squatted on the floor near the rebuilt fire. One of the old men kept watch at the cave entrance and the Neanderthal were curled up asleep on their capes at the rear of the cave. Golau stood before the clan, waiting for the whispers to die down.
‘Fire-clan,’ he started eventually, ‘I, Golau Lion-heart, stand before you and see pain and fear in your eyes. Great Tan has asked me to take up Hell-farch and lead the clan.’ Murmurs of approval filled the cave. Golau paused. ‘But this is a burden I cannot take.’
The murmurs of approval changed to astonishment.
‘This is your right, Golau’ shouted one voice from the rear.
Golau raised his hand. Again, silence filled the room.
‘Though I share your sadness, I did not share your fear or spill any blood. I do not deserve to lead.’
Tan raised his own hand to silence the renewed protests and attention turned to the chief.
‘This is your burden, Golau,’ he said, ‘only you can lead this people through the trials ahead.’
‘I am honoured to be your choice,’ replied Golau, ‘but there is a task I must undertake before I can take up the great spear.’
Tan and the tribe waited for him to continue.
‘I have to find Little-bear,’ he continued, ‘I cannot be chief until my son sits again at my hearth.’
There was a silence around the camp. Tan struggled to his feet aided by Keera and again silenced the raised voices.
‘Golau speaks true,’ he said. ‘A chief must be with his people. But as chief, it is my responsibility to pass the Hell-farch onto the one who must lead before I travel to the realm of the sun. Golau, you are clearly the one to lead and this clan needs you more now than ever before. Yet, I cannot stop a father seeking his son.’ Tan looked around the gathered remnants of his clan. ‘Step forward, Ceffyl,’ he ordered. The surprised young hunter did as he was bid.
‘Ceffyl,’ stated Tan, ‘my light is failing and I fear we have no time for ceremony. Will you carry Hell-farch and lead this clan?’
Ceffyl looked around the gathering, pausing to stare into Golau’s eyes. Golau nodded imperceptibly, and with a deep breath, Ceffyl turned to speak to the tribe.
‘Hear me, Fire-clan’ he said loudly. ‘I will be proud to bear the spear of our ancestors, but know this; Golau Lion-heart is the true leader of our people by right and choice. I see the pain in his eyes and how he yearns to pursue the filth who stole his son. I would do the same.’ He turned to Tan, ‘Great Chief, I will lead the clan in your name before and after your death. This, I will do until either I die or Golau returns to claim what is his. These are my terms.’
Tan paused only briefly, before grunting his acceptance, and turned to Golau. Golau stared into Ceffyl’s eyes, the strength of their friendship stronger than ever.
‘Ceffyl,’ he said, ‘I am honoured by your offer, but this is not a just arrangement. You will never settle into your role, knowing that I may return. Therefore, I have terms of my own. I know not how long I will be gone or if I will succeed, so I accept your terms. However, if I have not returned by next winter, then whether I live or not, you will take up the role permanently. This way, the clan will know they have stability. These are my terms.’ All eyes returned to Ceffyl.
Again, the mutual stare was exchanged, until Ceffyl held out his spear arm to grasp Golau’s forearm for the second time that day. Ceffyl turned, took the Hell-farch from Keera’s arms and addressed the tribe as a chief for the first time.
‘Fire-clan,’ he said, ‘the winter is ending. There is much to do and our first task is to pay tribute to our dead. Golau goes forth to seek our children and if the Sun-god wills it, then he will retu
rn to us before next winter. In the meantime, we will concentrate on those who still live. We will stay in this valley this summer and not go east to the hills. We will wait for Golau’s return.’ The clan listened solemnly as he turned to Golau.
‘I hold your spear until your return, old friend,’ he said, ‘I wish I could come with you.’
‘You are needed here, Ceffyl,’ responded Golau, ‘and if I do not return, you will make a great chief. You already do.’
‘We will wait until the first of the white feathers fall,’ responded Ceffyl. ‘On that day, we will go south to seek the Clan of the water and seek to join with them. If you return after that, seek us there. You will always have a safe place at our hearths, Golau. Is there anything you need?’
‘I will need winter furs and boots, food, water, and arrows for my bow,’ he said, ‘and supplies for my friends for their return home.’
Ceffyl nodded and the group split up. Sky stepped forward hesitantly to speak to Golau alone.
‘Golau,’ she said.
‘There is no need to speak, Sky,’ he said gently, ‘I know our match was not requested by you, but decided by Tan.’
She looked up shocked
‘You knew?’
‘Yes, I knew, and like you I was not happy about it at first, but you are no longer a young girl, Sky, but a beautiful woman. Over the winter, I have had time to think and if I survive this, and if you consent, then I will ask for you at the next gathering. I do not expect an answer now, Sky. All I ask is that you wait until next winter, as does Ceffyl. When the white feathers fall, if I am not back, then I release you from this bind.’
She stared at him for a long time. Over the winter, she too had time to think about the potential match. Eventually, the thought had grown on her. He was a fine man and he would provide well for any children. Finally, she nodded slowly in agreement.
‘Then it is agreed,’ he said and turned to walk away.
‘Golau!’ she called him back.
‘If you find Little-bear, will you also look for my mother?’
Golau opened his arms in a rare display of affection. In his obsession with his son, he had completely forgotten that Sky’s mother had also been taken.