by J. H. Hayes
Azaria did little that sun or the next other than sit with her mother. She made sure the rag on her brow was kept clean and refreshed with cool water. She also took to rubbing her mother's limbs between her hands, trying to entice some warmth and color to return. The hunting party returned that evening, but Azaria was in no mood to greet them or reclaim what was hers. Their bounty was brought to their shelter, but when the men asked her specifically what she wanted done with them, she had no answer. Her father ended up directing them to leave it right outside the shelter, explaining he’d find someone to take care of the meat. Normally, he would expect his daughter and mate to perform the hard work of slicing up, drying and preserving all of the meat from their kills, but it was apparent Azaria was not up to the task. It concerned him that she’d lost interest in everything but her mother.
Dogahn stopped by late that evening and offered to help. Azerban thanked him profusely and gladly accepted any assistance he was willing to give, but Azaria didn't even acknowledge the favor. Dogahn tried to talk to her, to express sympathy and to console her, but she appeared to be in a daze. After a while he gave up and simply sat with her, holding her hand. When he said his goodbyes that first night Azaria nodded acquiescence and when he kissed her goodbye, she didn't turn to smile. He left worried he'd done something wrong. He wondered if she was angry with him for not returning with her when they first heard of Zephia's relapse. He would have, but thought hauling her things back would help more.
Little changed the next sun. Dogahn spent its entirety chopping and salting the meat from Azaria’s kills and setting it out to dry on racks. His mother Miryan worked on the carcasses he and his father had brought back and Azerban found a couple of women who agreed to work on his own meat in exchange for a good portion of it. Zephia's sister Shaledar was over often and helped as she could, but she also had her mate Tobit's share to manage. All of the meat had to be prepared quickly, before the summer heat spoiled it.
Azaria was no more responsive than she had been the previous sun. In between his work, Dogahn prepared mid-sun and evening meals for her family. In fact, the only thing Azaria did do that sun was prepare more broth for her mother and tea for Fahim. Dogahn left that evening feeling confused, frustrated and a touch annoyed. Azerban sensed the young hunter's vexation and assured him not to worry. "She's lost in her grief, Dogahn," he told him. "But she’ll soon return to you. She loves you and appreciates what you’re doing, even if she doesn't now show it."
---
A few suns later, after spending the morning by Azaria's side, Dogahn decided to stop by the practice range to throw some spears at the targets. He needed to relieve his stress and knew of no better method. He came upon Yumineh giving some of the younger boys a clinic in how to properly throw a spear. He smiled upon approaching the scene, noticing not all of the boys were so young. A couple of the newly minted hunters were also there.
Yumineh had her back to him and didn't notice his arrival until he was well past her. "Dogahn!" she called upon sighting him. She hadn't seen him away from Azaria's shelter since their return from the hunt two suns ago. She was enjoying the attention and acclaim she'd received since her triumph on the steppes, but even for her, it was getting to be a bit much. Young boys had taken to following her around wherever she went. She even had to shoo them away when she stepped into the forest to relieve herself. There were also the more mature hunters. Some of them were shadowing her almost as closely as the children and she'd received a plethora of advances and solicitations to tie from aggressive suitors. Her response had evolved from flirtation, to indifference, to agitation, and was verging on almost straight-out hostility. Ironically, the one man from which she would've welcomed the attention had so far stayed away from her. It was disappointing, but she dismissed any doubts of his fidelity by reasoning he couldn't very well abandon Azaria with her mother on her death bed. It would just be too unseemly.
However, now Dogahn had come to her, and he was alone.
"I'm showing some of these young hunters how to properly throw a spear," she explained when he turned around. "Join us. I'm sure they'd appreciate any thoughts you might have." She addressed the group she was tutoring, "Dogahn is a well-respected, skilled hunter. He is already one of Boar Camp’s strongest."
The older boys humphed at this, but the younger ones looked at Dogahn with increased respect, taking Yumineh's description to heart. Flattered by the compliment from his beautiful and suddenly very popular friend, Dogahn was happy to help. "Sure!" he answered, smiling as he drew one of his throwing spears. He addressed the group of boys, "The most important point to remember while aiming is a balanced stance. If you are off balance, your spear will not go where you mean it to. Plant your back foot firmly. Strength comes from the back leg. So planting firmly is essential..."
Yumineh stood back, admiring him as he went on. She stood with her chin raised, taking pride in the fact he mostly echoed points she'd already made. She smiled as he directed his comments toward the two newly-minted hunters, as if they needed the very basic instructions. She recognized he was playing a sort of mocking game with them. They didn't belong in the group with the younger boys. It was obvious they were only pretending to need the instruction to get close to her. Dogahn was simply calling them out on it. She could also see they didn't appreciate his game at all. As Dogahn went on, they grew more and more agitated.
Finally, the taller of the boys had had enough. "Get out of my way, Dogahn. I'll show you how to throw a spear." Stepping in front of him, the boy looked at Yumineh and smiled. "Watch this!" He aimed for the farthest target, planted and threw. The spear went well past its mark.
"Oooohhh..." some of the younger boys cooed, impressed with how far his weapon had flown.
"That was a good throw, Tsikasi. You have a strong arm," Dogahn said. "But remember we were talking about precision, not strength. Why don't you try again with one of the closer targets? Maybe that first one there."
Yumineh giggled when she saw Dogahn point at the closest target. His quip was delivered with such an even, patronizing tone she couldn't help herself. She saw the boy Dogahn had called Tsikasi blush and heard his friend guffaw. Embarrassed and annoyed, he threw one of his spears at Dogahn's feet. "Piss off, Dogahn! I don't need your pathetic instruction. I'm more of a hunter than you'll ever be."
"Really?" Dogahn retorted, stepping on the spear stuck in the dirt in front of him, smashing it into the ground. "How many kills did you make during the last hunt?" He stopped to wait for the boy's answer. When he didn't immediately reply, Dogahn continued, "Because I made two. And Yumineh made four. So how many did you get?"
Tsikasi was irate with embarrassment, his face a fierce shade of scarlet red. Yumineh thought for a moment he was going to attack and began to regret laughing at him. She didn't mean for it to come to this. But Tsikasi chose a different tact. "You might have gotten lucky once, Dogahn. But everyone knows you don't control your spear."
Yumineh quickly grasped the meaning of his words. It was a common taunt among young men. Apparently, Dogahn wasn’t getting everything he desired from Azaria. She turned to see his reaction.
Dogahn's face was reddening now and the younger boys were murmuring again. A couple of them had started to call out under their breaths, "Fight! Fight!"
Dogahn didn't need much encouragement. He knew exactly what Tsikasi meant. Just as he’d feared, Luzon must have told all the other young men about his problems with Azaria. The thought sent rage coursing through his limbs. Throwing his spear down, he lunged at the other boy, rearing his fist back and swinging for his head, sending Tsikasi sprawling onto his back although he managed to block the blow.
Dogahn jumped on top of him, placing his knees on the other boy’s shoulders, raining his fists down onto Tsikasi’s unprotected face.
Tsikasi was badly bloodied before a couple of the older boys broke it up. Dogahn stormed off, Yumineh following him. She was shocked by his horrific display.
"Dogahn, are you okay?"
she said, running after him.
"I don't want to talk about it, Yumineh," he growled, still livid but also ashamed he’d let his ire get the best of him.
She slipped her hand within his. "Okay. That's fine. Let's just walk. We can talk about something else," she said. She squeezed his hand inside hers.
Dogahn turned to meet her admiring gaze.
She smiled. "He's an idiot."
Dogahn returned the smile and looked down at the hand within his. Tsikasi might be right about Azaria, but I’m the one holding Yumineh's hand.
They walked for a long while in silence, Yumineh not sure she wasn’t dreaming. It was what she'd most wanted for as long as she could remember. She wanted to stop him, place her lips on his, but was afraid of doing or saying anything that might ruin the moment. So instead she continued on, happy to at least have his hand. It was enough for now. Very soon, she knew he'd be hers alone.
Dogahn had suspected Yumineh had a crush on him since the Matrimonials, and now knew he'd been right. The girl every man in the three camps wanted to be with wanted him. He wished everyone could see them together, walking hand in hand. Especially Azaria. If she could see how much Yumineh liked him, then maybe she'd be more willing to consent to his needs.
He stopped. Azaria! Fantasizing about her seeing him with Yumineh brought a sharp pang of guilt. She needed him right now. He had to return to her. "Thanks for the walk, Yumineh," he said. "But I have to get back. Azaria needs me."
Yumineh's heart dropped. Suddenly holding hands wasn't enough. If she let him go back to Azaria now, she may never get another chance. She had to let him know how she felt. Yumineh stepped in front of him and took his other hand in hers. "Okay," she said, "but you should know one thing. I know you control your spear, Dogahn." She reached her lips up to his ear and whispered, "I would never hold out on you. If we were together, you could use your spear right now." Then she lowered herself back down and peered into his hazel eyes. He was staring back deeply into hers, his mouth slightly agape. Unable to hold off any longer, she raised herself up again and placed her lips on his. Dogahn's response was immediate and powerful. He cupped her head in his palms and kissed her hard. Yumineh offered no resistance. She tightened her arms around his neck, relieved he hadn't rejected her advance. She couldn't believe she was kissing him. It was all happening so fast, she could hardly take it all in. She felt his tongue inside her mouth and tasted it with hers. And then she felt his hands slip underneath the back of her deer skin and on to her buttocks.
She pulled her arms away from his neck and stepped back.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Dogahn said.
"No, don't be sorry," she said. "I was only..." Yumineh reached back behind her neck and untied the cord. Her red deer skin fell down to the grassy floor as she stood in front of him, fully bared. "I was only showing you I'll always give you whatever you desire."
---
Azerban made his way through the dark forest to a secret Ta'araki gathering. In preparation for the pivotal meeting, his thoughts turned back to two conversations he'd recently had with Fahim. Initially, he'd been most concerned with the first conversation, the one on the night of the Matrimonial Celebration, when she'd admitted to wanting a Natu subject for the ritual. He realized now it hadn't really been an admission. An admission required some level of resistance in surrendering the information. It was a preparation. She was planting a seed.
That was a mistake, Azerban told himself. All she achieved was tipping me off to her designs. She should’ve known I’d never consent to such a thing. How could she expect me to?
It wasn't until he'd almost reached the hidden, pre-determined spot that he finally recognized the totality of her strategy - and the significance of the second conversation. He recalled back to when he and his daughter had just returned from the aurochs hunt. After they'd seen his mate, Fahim had asked to talk with him alone. He'd been too distracted by the shock of Zephia's sudden turn to pick up on it then, but now he realized she'd been subtly encouraging him to skip the meeting. Perhaps then, their first talk was meant to size him up, to gauge his reaction. If that was true, then his enraged response was more than just a personal embarrassment. It had served to tip her off, to confirm her suspicions that he'd be a definite source of opposition. And that was why she didn’t want him at this meeting.
Now Azerban knew what to expect - what he was about to walk into. It would be a battle. She'd have her defenses aligned. Squeezed those that required a firm hand. Bribed those who needed a bit more.
Still, he had some hope. Fahim had taken a risk in attempting to keep him from the meeting. She would know such a strategy would have a low probability of success. She was worried. Not sure of the outcome of the vote.
More alarmed now than when he'd first set out, Azerban approached the center of the serene wooded grove, cloaked by dense oak. He counted the collection of Ta'araki already gathered talking quietly amongst themselves. All but two of the members from the three camps were present. Attempting to exude confidence and authority, he strode into the center of the group, taking Takur's hand in his. "Good evening, old man!" he boomed. Then he turned to his co-Ta'araki mate and greeted her similarly.
"How is your mate?" Fahim asked with a wry smile.
"The same," he replied. He spoke loud enough for all to hear. A bit of sympathy wouldn't hurt his cause any. "Not improving, but at least no worse."
"Well, that is something," Takur offered. "All our sympathy is with your family."
"Thank you, Ta'araki," Azerban replied.
The others had quieted as he arrived and drew close, murmuring their blessings. Azerban accepted each graciously, taking note that some were having trouble holding his eye.
When the last two members arrived, Fahim spoke, "Thank you all for coming. As you know, we have a matter of dire importance to discuss. A matter which will have serious implications for the future of all three camps. For all Natu." Some vocalized their understanding and others nodded. A few stood stone-faced. She took care to look each in the eye before continuing. "We have a grave decision in front of us. A choice none takes lightly and, I'm sure, all of us would rather not make."
There were several nods of agreement. Azerban noticed the high levels of anxiety amongst his colleagues. The Ta’araki of Swan Camp were shifting weight from one foot to another, clearly uncomfortable. He felt the same sense of unease, but made sure it didn’t show.
Fahim went on, "But difficult decisions are the realm of the Ta'araki. If any of you were not capable of making these decisions - and living by the will of this Council - you would not be here." She paused before continuing, letting her words sink in. "The Autumnal Equinox will soon be upon us. As tradition dictates, we’ll be performing the sacrificial ritual. Our task this evening is to determine what gift shall be offered." Again she paused before speaking, "We’ll now hear your recommendations."
Azerban spoke immediately, before any other had a chance. "A great bull," he said. "A symbol of our strength and of that which we cannot live without. We could not survive without the bounty these lands provide. It will demonstrate to the Ta'ar how much we appreciate Their gifts."
"Perhaps..." Izyl replied. "But we need an offering in two suns. We could not devise and execute a plan for capture by then."
Dikshar, the First Ta'araki of Swan Camp met Fahim's eyes before speaking, "The Fox Camp Second is correct. Perhaps in the future we can attempt such an ambitious feat, however it is impossible now. Anyway, I would argue a beast will not do for our current needs. The Natu face grave challenges. We need the blessings of the Ta'ar now more than ever. An offering of more consequence is required."
Azerban glared at him furiously, but the elder man would not meet his eyes. So Dikshar is with Fahim. He wasn't surprised. The two were close and often saw eye-to-eye. He looked around the group and wondered who else Fahim had bent to her will. Surely Umar, Dikshar's Second, whom Fahim had personally hand-picked. Azerban had never thought much of the middle-aged man, although
he'd often tried to gain Azerban's favor. In fact his overzealous attempts were one of the things that made him most suspicious about the man. He tried to gain stature through compliments and slippery talk, instead of principle and courage. He had one quality that mattered most though - his loyalty to Fahim.
Azerban looked over to the three Fox Camp members. Gishim, the first, was not as easily pigeon-holed. She'd risen through the ranks just after Fahim and Takur, before they had a chance to consolidate their power. As such, she felt little loyalty to them. Gishim had once challenged Fahim on nearly every point, almost as a matter of principle. However, old age had begun to take its toll on her mental capacities over the last few winters. Now she was easily swayed.
In effect, Izyl, Gishim's Second, held the most power in Fox Camp. Despite their occasional disagreements, Azerban respected her. She was intelligent, dedicated, kind-hearted and strong-willed. She too had Fahim to thank for her current position, but Azerban had always felt she would have made it on her own. Izyl shared his opinion. In filling the power-vacuum created by Gishim's decline, she’d made it clear there were limits on how thoroughly Fahim could influence her. She often opposed her when she felt it was in the best interest of Fox Camp. He wondered if she was aware of the lead Ta'araki's current designs. Did Fahim bend her also? He berated himself. He should have talked to her. At least to find out what he was up against. Gishim's other acolyte, Eufrat, would follow Gishim and Izyl. Her loyalty was to them.
The only member present he had full confidence in was Hadir, the fourth Ta'araki of Boar Camp and his closest colleague. He'd encouraged the younger man to join the Order and acted as a mentor, preparing him for the many trials required of aspiring Ta'araki.
