When morning finally came, Rafe was already up and dressed. He had checked his weapons and insured that he was ready to set out in search of Tiberius. The tribe was slower to prepare for the tasks of the day. Food was prepared, and many of the tribespeople lazed about in their shelters.
Rafe found Te’sumee, who was still asleep. Rafe felt guilty waking the man, knowing the Rogu had stood watch over the camp all night. Rafe guessed that Te’sumee had only slept a few hours, but he couldn’t wait any longer to find out what had happened to Tiberius.
“Sorry to wake you,” Rafe said as he shook the smaller man’s shoulder, “but we need to set out after Tiberius.”
Te’sumee rubbed his eyes and glared at Rafe as if he were a simpleton.
“We will search for Tiswanee once the tribe has found water.”
“What?” Rafe said in surprise.
“We need water,” Te’sumee said. “There is a place, not far from here. Once the tribe is settled, we shall look for Tiswanee.”
“No!” Rafe said angrily. “We need to find him now.”
“Settle your heart, Great One. We shall find him. Nothing is ever lost on the prairie.”
Rafe looked around. He could no longer see the mountains. With the thick cloud bank covering the sky and diffusing the sun’s light, it was impossible to tell what direction they were looking. The plains stretched from horizon to horizon, with no landmarks, just wide grassland as far as the eye could see. Rafe couldn’t imagine not being lost in the wide open expanse.
“Which way is the river?” Rafe asked.
“No, no, the river is much too far away. The Rogu will lead the tribe to water. There will be food and rest for the weary. We shall make everyone safe.”
“I appreciate your concern for the tribe,” Rafe said. “But I’m very concerned for Tiberius. He isn’t accustomed to life on the plains. He could be hurt for all we know.”
“The Swanee is a powerful Kuja. He will be okay, you’ll see.”
It was almost two hours before the tribe was ready to move on. Rafe paced. One of the women from the tribe brought him food. It was a thick stew and more of the flat bread. Rafe didn’t feel like eating, but he’d learned in his military training to eat when you had a chance. Battles could sometimes last all day and even late into the night. It wasn’t unusual for his father to send Rafe on training exercises without any sort of rations. He had gone days without food, and so he ate what he was given, doing his best to seem grateful.
“Why are you so agitated?” Olyva asked him.
“Because we need to be looking for Tiberius,” Rafe said darkly. “But his tribe is taking their own sweet time about it.”
“Can you blame them?” she said. “They’ve only known us a few days.”
“Still, shouldn’t taking care of their Swanee,” he said the Hoskali word with contempt, “be their first priority?”
“Actually, taking care of the tribe should be Tiberius’ first priority,” Olyva said. “This isn’t Avondale.”
“No, it isn’t and my friend is lost out there. Don’t you care about him?”
“Of course I do, but you aren’t helping anyone by being so angry. Calm down, look for ways to help.”
Rafe wanted to scream at Olyva, but at the same time he knew she was right. He needed to help, but instead he was being selfish. Olyva gathered their meager belongings and Rafe went to where Quntah was seeing to the animals. The tribe had a dozen oxen, and four horses. When the tribe traveled, the oxen carried most of the heavier items. Quntah walked among the large beasts, talking to them each by name and laying blankets across their wide backs.
“Can I help?” Rafe asked.
“You know animals?” Quntah said happily.
“I know horses,” Rafe said.
“Yes, yes,” Quntah said. “Please, help.”
Rafe check the horses’ hooves. He backed into the first horse, bending low and taking hold of the horse’s cannon so that it bent at the knee and the hoof was raised up between Rafe’s legs. He squeezed the horse’s leg with his own, and then took hold of the hoof to inspect it. The tribe’s horses had no horseshoes, but the hooves were clean and well trimmed. Rafe started to draw his dagger to clean the hoof, but Quntah handed him a tool instead. It was a bone with an angled point on one end, and a tuft of coarse hair adhered to the other. Rafe used the tool to pry the soil from the horse’s hoof, then turned the pick over and brushed the debris away. He marveled at the efficiency of the simple tool. It worked just as well as a metal implement, but didn’t risk damage to the horse’s sensitive flesh inside the hoof.
Once all the horses’ hooves had been seen to, he helped Quntah arrange the horses and hitch them to the big wagon. The day before, the wagon had been full of supplies; now it was mostly empty.
“What happened to all the stuff in the wagon?” Rafe said.
“I gave it to the tribe, just as Tiswanee instructed,” the herdsman said.
“So what is the wagon hauling?”
“Nothing,” Quntah said.
“We could let some of the older folk ride in the wagon,” Rafe said. “Maybe some of the mothers with small children.”
“In the Swanee’s wagon?” Quntah said in surprise.
“Yes,” Rafe said. “Tiberius won’t mind, I’m sure of it.”
“It is not our way.”
“It will be now,” Rafe said. “The first priority of a Swanee is to see to the safety of the tribe, right?”
Quntah nodded, but the look on his face was one of sheer astonishment. Rafe quickly selected a dozen people to ride in the wagon, including a young girl with what appeared to be a club foot. The other children danced around the wagon, cheering for those who had been chosen to ride.
“It seems you’ve found a way to help,” Olyva said, coming up behind Rafe.
“It was common sense really. I didn’t know that riding in the Swanee’s wagon would be so special.”
“I think the whole idea is special,” she said.
They soon set out. The Rogu led the tribe, and most of the men and women walked, some carrying heavy looking packs. The oxen were laden with baskets made of woven grasses and the long flexible poles that supported the tent like shelters. The children danced and played as the tribe traveled. Rafe didn’t mind walking, but he missed riding his horse. He liked being up off the ground where he had a better view of his surroundings.
Rafe and Olyva walked side by side. At one point, Olyva took Rafe’s hand, and for a while he contemplated how much his life had changed. Everything seemed more simple now, but completely unfamiliar. He no longer sought to improve his rank in the Earl’s war band, there was no need to worry about ambition. With the Hoskali, life was lived day by day. Today they sought water; tomorrow they would find what they needed next. If not for his constant worry about Tiberius and the changes that were happening to Olyva, he would have found the change of pace to be refreshing.
It was well past midday when Te’sumee came running back to where Rafe walked. The tribe was spread out in a long line and Rafe had stayed near the wagon to ensure that the people he had picked out actually rode in the wagon. With Olyva walking beside him, he felt a sense of calm, and it was fun to see the looks of sheer joy on the faces of the tribe members riding in the wagon.
“I have news,” Te’sumee called out when he saw Rafe. “It is good, come and see.”
“Go ahead,” Olyva said, nodding in approval.
“Are you sure?” Rafe asked her.
He wanted to go, but he felt bad leaving her behind. He had thought that they would do everything together once their forbidden romance had been discovered, but it seemed like they were apart more than ever as Rafe did his best to provide for them and protect them.
“Of course,” Olyva said. “Go!”
He had to jog to keep up with Te’sumee. The small hunter could jog for hours without rest. Rafe on the other hand had to hold onto his long sword to keep it from slapping into his legs and tripping him up.
“What is it?” Rafe asked. “Did you find water?”
“Water and more,” said Te’sumee.
Rafe was sweating freely by the time they reached the head of the tribe’s long marching column. He had to brush the salty sweat out of his eyes to see. In the distance, he could make out horses and two people standing near a growth of small bushes. Rafe was surprised and at the same time relieved. It seemed strange to see anything other than open prairie, but finding a landmark of any type made him feel a sense of relief. Then it hit him—he could see four horses and two people.
“Do you think that could be Tiberius?” he said.
“It is Tiswanee, and his Sorwan,” Te’sumee said.
“Lexi,” Rafe said in disbelief. “He found her.”
Chapter 9
Tiberius
Ti had woken up in the night. It was impossible to tell what time it was. At first, he panicked in the darkness. He couldn’t see anything and he feared that Lexi had left him again. He sat up and remembered that there should have been fire nearby. He groped in the darkness until he found the pile of sticks that Lexi had gathered. They were hard and brittle, but dry. Tiberius knew they would be easy to set on fire.
“Ingesco Exsuscito,” he said quietly.
He felt the magic seeping from the pile of sticks, and saw orange flames springing to life. The light wasn’t all that bright, but in the total darkness it seemed to shine for miles. Ti saw the shadowy forms of the horses picketed nearby. Lexi was there too. She had fallen asleep across the small camp from Tiberius. She was sitting with her knees pulled up toward her chest. She had crossed her arms on her knees and obviously just laid her head down for a moment. The first rule of standing watch was never get comfortable, not even for a minute. It only takes a second to fall asleep; Tiberius knew that all too well. Still, he wasn’t angry at Lexi. No harm had befallen them and he couldn’t blame her for being exhausted. He stood up and stretched. He guessed it was almost dawn. He felt more rested than he had in days. He draped his blanket around Lexi’s shoulders and gently eased her to the ground. She mumbled softly, but didn’t wake up.
Morning came and went. The horses seemed content to graze on the lush grass around the oasis. Ti feared that too much time had passed and he wouldn’t be able to find the tribe of Hoskali he was supposed to be leading. The irony of his position in the blighted lands wasn’t lost on Tiberius. In Avondale, the place he’d always called home, he was little more than baggage. As the Earl’s third son, he had no real future. Yet in being banished, he’d found himself as the leader of a small tribe, with more prestige and responsibility than he would have ever had in Avondale.
When Lexi finally woke up, she was quiet. Tiberius guessed that she felt bad for falling asleep on watch, but he didn’t want to talk about it. He was afraid of making her feel worse and his mind was focused on finding the tribe.
“We should probably get moving,” he told her. “It’s past midday.”
“Why’d you let me sleep so late?” she asked.
“I figured you needed it.”
She smiled, but didn’t get up. She was nibbling some of the tough flat bread that she’d taken when she fled the tribe. Their rations were meager, which was another reason Tiberius wanted to find the tribe. He had no doubt that he could hunt for more food, but after seeing the way the Rogu had followed Lexi’s trail, he knew that providing for her on his own would be much more difficult and time consuming. If they could get back to the tribe, they would have a much better chance of survival.
“So how do we find the tribe again?” Lexi asked.
“I’m not sure,” Tiberius said, resisting the urge to look in every direction. The plains seemed endless, stretching away from horizon to horizon with no discernible landmarks.
“How did you find me?”
“The tribe has a group of hunters that followed your trail,” Tiberius explained.
“But you were alone,” Lexi said.
“The hunters stopped at the edge of the herd of Tamakas.”
“So how did you know to come searching for me in the middle of the herd?”
“I used magic,” Tiberius said, finally understanding what Lexi was driving at.
He turned and softly chanted the spell for far sight.
“Ultimus Conspectus.”
His vision zoomed into the distance. He could see the mossy grass clearly on the far horizon, but there was nothing more to see. Slowly he turned, looking intently for anything that might give him an idea of where the tribe might be. All he needed was a direction to start traveling in, something to move toward on the barren plain. He saw animals, mostly small creatures that he guessed burrowed into the soft soil at night. There was a pack of Graypees moving swiftly over the flat prairie, their fat bodies swaying as they ran.
He was about to give up when he saw the tribe moving toward him. At first, he thought it was just the group of hunters. He could only see the front of the long column of travelers, but then as he watched, the full tribe came into view.
“I guess we’ll stay here,” Tiberius said.
“What?” Lexi said. “Why?”
“The tribe is coming to us.”
It took another hour before the tribe came within normal sight of the oasis. Tiberius felt such a sense of relief when he saw Rafe that he almost cried. All the tension and worry he’d been carrying seemed to fall away then and he felt as if they really could survive in the blighted lands, perhaps even accomplish great things. He wondered if they would be welcomed back to Avondale someday. They could return and spread the word about all the wonderful things they had seen below the mists. But instinctively, Tiberius knew that his brother would never allow it. Leonosis was a stubborn man who disdained anything he didn’t understand or couldn’t manipulate. He would never welcome Tiberius back to the city, and Tiberius guessed he wouldn’t want to return. He would rather live free in the wide open spaces of the blighted lands than return to the sheltered city on the mountaintop.
“It took you long enough,” Tiberius called to Rafe as the young warrior came jogging forward.
“I can’t believe it,” Rafe said. “I thought you were lost for certain.”
“I had to save Lexi,” Tiberius explained. “She was caught in the middle of the herd of Tamakas.”
“Why didn’t you let me help you?”
“You were busy.”
“Ti, you can’t just run off on your own like that.”
“I know,” Tiberius said. “I’m sorry. I was rash. It won’t happen again.”
The Rogu were gathering around Tiberius now.
“See,” Te’sumee said to Rafe, “Tiswanee is a powerful Kuja. The Rogu had no worries for his safety.”
“Well, I know him a little better than you,” Rafe said. “And I’ve hauled his butt out of more than as few fires.”
“That goes both ways,” Ti said.
They embraced and the Rogu set about preparing the camp. The tribe spread out around the spring. They were all happy to see Tiberius and Lexi. In fact, his appearance at the watering hole made Ti seem even more powerful and wise to the tribe. Tiberius’ first job was to straighten out the whole situation with the group of women who had been Moswanee’s wives. They were busy setting up the large shelter and preparing food. Tiberius kept Lexi close beside him. He wanted her to see that he was serious about keeping the other women at bay.
The older woman of the group was directing the others, and Tiberius approached her first.
“Ah, Tiswanee, it is good to see you again,” she said.
Ti held up his hands. “I don’t want to give anyone the wrong impression,” he said. “I know that you were all married to Moswanee, but Lexi is the only woman for me.”
“She is your Sorwan,” the woman said.
“Sorwan?” Lexi asked.
“The Sorwan is a man’s first wife, his lover. She has great esteem among the other wives.”
“No, she is my only wife,” Tiberius said, ignoring
the look of shock on Lexi’s face at the word wife. “I don’t want any others.”
“That is good,” said the woman. “But among the Hoskali a man takes a wife for many reasons, not just love. A man looks after and protects a wife. She in turn helps the family.”
“It’s just...” Tiberius wasn’t sure what to say.
“What would happen if Tiberius rejects you?” Lexi asked.
“I would be shamed,” she said, lowering her eyes. “I would have to leave the tribe.”
“But there must be some other way for us to work this out,” Tiberius said.
“Sometimes wives are traded,” she said, “or given as gifts to other members of the tribe.”
“It sounds a little demeaning,” Lexi said. “You aren’t property to be bartered with.”
“No,” the woman said. “We are partners with our husbands, but sometimes we must be shared. If a warrior earns great honor, he must be given a wife. If resources are scarce, wives may be shared to ensure that everyone is cared for.”
“What is your name?” Tiberius asked.
“Filsa, it means graceful wind,” she said, looking down again.
“Do the other wives have intimate relations with their husbands, or just the Sorwan?” Lexi asked.
“That is up to the husband, but traditionally only the Sorwan fills that need.”
“Will the other women try to seduce Ti?”
Tiberius felt his face flush. He couldn’t believe the conversation he found himself in the middle of.
“No, not if the Swanee declares you to be his Sorwan.”
“I do,” Tiberius said quickly.
“I will inform the others,” Filsa said.
“Good,” Lexi said.
“Yes,” Tiberius added. “Very good.”
Filsa smiled and bowed, then turned away.
“I think that went very well,” Tiberius said.
“We’ll see,” Lexi said, but she sounded doubtful.
Chapter 10
Tiberius
The rain came just before sunset. There was no warning, no movement of dark clouds across the sky. The rain clouds were high above the mist that covered the blighted lands and the cold rain fell in soft fat drops that refreshed everything they touched.
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