The Standing Dead - Stone Dance of the Chameleon 02

by Ricardo Pinto

  Glancing at father and son, Carnelian was sickened at the thought of delivering himself into their hands.

  'Do you accept?' demanded Galewing.

  Osidian shrugged. He was gazing off towards the brightening plain. Carnelian searched his eyes for any sign that he was aware of the danger they were putting themselves in.

  'Answer Father Galewing,' barked Loskai, making Carnelian jump.

  Carnelian saw there was going to be no backing out and so gave Galewing his nod.

  The Elder turned away, bellowing. 'Mount up.'

  As aquar sank to the ground, Carnelian's attention was attracted to one being walked towards him by Krow. They exchanged smiles.

  'It's good to see you, Krow.'

  'And you, Master.'

  Carnelian would have liked to talk but it was not the time. He was soon preoccupied trying to get comfortable in the narrow saddle-chair. Its sides cut into his thighs. His legs, hooked awkwardly over the crossbeam, were forced almost against his chest as he angled his feet onto the aquar's back. Glancing over, he saw Osidian was having the same problem. He used his feet to make the creature rise and immediately had to turn her onto the path towards the bridge the first riders were already crossing.

  Notwithstanding the discomfort, Carnelian managed to manoeuvre his aquar safely across the bridge and was soon being jogged down an avenue of magnolias to the outer ditch. He was shaken into a more natural position and was soon, in spite of his fears, enjoying the ride.

  Crossing the final bridge, he looked down into the Newditch and saw it was filled with baskets and mattocks. Its inner wall was striped with the ropes that dangled down into it from the trees all along the edge. Craning round, he saw riders accompanying a group of women through the ferngarden towards the workings.

  A judder in his saddle-chair forced him to look where he was going. Riders were milling in all directions.

  'Master.'

  It was Krow, pointing to where he should go. Carnelian thanked him and saw the riders had formed up around a solid centre of perhaps two dozen aquar yoked to drag-cradles stacked with empty waterskins. He took up a position near Osidian and Ravan who were squinting into the far distance. Only some acacias gave the view any scale. All around them were riders with unhitched javelins, with bull-roarers ready across their laps. Carnelian ran his hands along the outer surface of his saddle-chair, but could find no weapons. This discovery sunk him back into despondency.

  A high warbling cry rose up and, as one, the aquar lurched forward. Carnelian attempted to settle into the rhythm of his aquar's pace, snuffling the musky breeze, trying to lull his unease by listening to the chatter of the riders, the hiss of ferns along his aquar's flanks. Every so often he had to adjust his position to alleviate the discomfort. He looked back to see how much the Koppie had receded. The air had grown hot enough to make it waver like a mirage. He thought of Fern already labouring among the flies under the Bloodwood Tree. When he lost sight of the Koppie altogether, a stab in his stomach was the realization he might never see it again.

  Their shadows were short by the time the land ahead began to pool with fire. The incandescence of the lagoon twitched and flickered as herds slid before it. Soon Carnelian could see its full horizontal stretch and the creeping mass of saurians. The riders had fallen silent, their shoulders and arms tense as they made slow scanning turns with their heads.

  As the hunt drew closer to the water, the herds resolved into the individual boulders of backs; into necks that stretched to the very tops of the acacias. Several times the hunt curved a detour round what appeared to be rocks nestling among the ferns. When one of these lifted a head larger than a man and grinned a mouth packed with dagger teeth, a trickle of sweat ran down Carnelian's spine. It made him understand why his aquar was holding her head so high, shifting it nervously from side to side, hardly blinking her huge eyes.

  Entering a herd, Carnelian began to feel as much as hear their lumbering thunder. Horned heads were everywhere cropping the ferns. Sometimes one would lift dull eyes to watch them pass. On occasion, this lifting would cause so many heads to rise it was as if a host lying hidden in the ferns sprang up in ambush.

  The herds crowded the lagoon margin. Out from the shore, the water was dulled by drifts of wading birds. Islands rose here and there that Carnelian might have imagined to be cities except their towers were shifting more than they should in the melting air.

  Crowrane led them parallel to and at some distance from the shore. When they spotted a thinning in the herd, they slowed to a walk and began veering in the direction of the water. Carnelian gaped at an assembly of mountainous heaveners, their heads reaching far out over the lagoon. He watched one rising, leaking water, climbing so high he had to crane to see it swaying black in the blinding sky.

  As they neared the shore, Carnelian saw how nervously the riders were spreading out, javelins and bull-roarers hanging from their hands. Some dismounted and, looking round them all the time, led the aquar with the drag-cradles to the water.

  No one seemed to be looking at him. Carnelian allowed himself to relax a little. It was hard to believe all these preparations were an elaborate attempt on his life and Osidian's.

  Locating Krow, Carnelian rode towards him. 'What can we do to help?'

  The youth pinched his lips together with his fingers, which gesture Carnelian read as meaning he should speak more quietly. Krow caused his mount to kneel and climbed out. Carnelian waited for Osidian and Ravan to dismount before doing the same. Standing on tremoring earth, he glanced at the heaveners. It seemed madness to walk so near such giants. One detonated a snort. Its hide rippled as the water made the journey down its throat. Its musk weighed the air.

  Krow took Carnelian's arm and pulled. 'Come on,' he whispered.

  Carnelian and the others followed Krow to a drag-cradle from which men were distributing waterskins. Carnelian was given one. Making sure Osidian was close, Carnelian returned with Krow to the lagoon. Earth began softening to mud. They waded out into the lapping water and Carnelian sank his waterskin as he saw Krow was doing. He narrowed his eyes against the swaying dazzle. Warm water licked up his body. He opened the mouth of the waterskin and it began to swallow. Shadow slipped over him as if from a cloud. A wave surging up his chest made him lose his footing for a moment. A glistening wall was rising from the lagoon as a heavener lifted its leg from the water. Wading deeper, the vast arch of its back eclipsed the sun. Fear mixed with wonder as, riding the surge, Carnelian watched the monster lead a procession of heaveners away from the shore.

  His waterskin was drowning and so he drew it up, folded its neck, secured it, then hefted it round onto his shoulder. He plodded back to the drag-cradle where he swung it into the arms of a man who was stacking them. Carnelian took an empty waterskin. Other drag-cradles were being loaded nearby. A rising falling whistling made him whisk round, his heart hammering. Three riders were arcing bull-roarers round their heads, focusing on an earther which was ambling towards the cradles. The creature made Carnelian remember the Bloodwood Tree. The bull-roarers spinning faster opened the whistling to a moan. The bull swung away and they chased him from the drag-cradles.

  Carnelian became aware Crowrane and Galewing, standing together, were watching him while speaking to each other. He was sure they would not make their move until they were far from the dangerous shore.

  Osidian and Ravan were still in the lagoon filling waterskins. Wading out to them, Carnelian saw Osidian was gazing at a nearby island crowded with crested saurians. 'Are they nesting?'

  'Yes, Master,' Ravan replied.

  Their eggs would make good eating.'

  'Such roosts are impregnable.'

  Aware of Carnelian's presence, Osidian turned and acknowledged him with a frown. 'What's wrong?'

  Still brooding over Fern, Carnelian did not answer quickly.

  'My Lord seems distracted,' Osidian said. 'Is it that he fears the saurians, or perhaps, the savages?'

  The shift into Quya
was shocking. 'Both are unsettling,' Carnelian said in Vulgate.

  'Is my Lord missing the blood and gore of his previous employment?' Osidian said, insisting on Quya. 'Is it then your savage friend you miss, Carnelian?'

  Carnelian groaned. 'Why do you even now persist -?'

  That some matter is perturbing my Lord can easily be read from his face.'

  'If you must know ...' Carnelian was aware Ravan was there trying to glean what was being talked about. 'I discovered last night that when the childgatherer comes, his brother,' he indicated Ravan, 'will have to be handed over for punishment.'

  'You are being melodramatic, Carnelian.'

  Carnelian flared into anger. 'He saved your life not once but several times.'

  Osidian grew pale. 'How often do you intend to throw that back in my face? The savage broke the vows he swore of service to my father. Crucifixion is the price the Commonwealth demands for such sacrilege.'

  Carnelian's anger cooled to ice. 'You knew this was going to happen?'

  Osidian raised an eyebrow. 'You did not? One would have thought it common knowledge even among exiles.'

  Carnelian's dislike of him at that moment must have showed in his face, for suddenly Osidian discarded his waterskin and began wading back towards the shore.

  Ravan looked horrified. 'What did you say to him?'

  Seeing Osidian already leaving the water and striding into the midst of the Plainsmen alone, Carnelian became frantic. He discarded his waterskin and bounded back to shore. Osidian was already mounted and guiding his aquar away through the perimeter of Plainsmen riding guard. Carnelian raced for his own beast, threw himself into her chair and made her rise. He aimed her along the shore in pursuit.

  Perimeter guards rode to intercept them. 'Where in thunder are you going?'

  Crowrane's voice came floating from somewhere near the drag-cradles. 'Let them go.'

  The men scowled, shrugged and moved their aquar out of the way. Beyond their protection Carnelian felt exposed. The raised voices had disturbed the herds. Carnelian became aware another aquar was shadowing him and saw it was Ravan's.

  The ground was being shaken by immense footfalls, the air was wafting thick with the stink of the saurians and rasped by their cries. He and Ravan skirted the denser clumps of them keeping as close as they could to the shore. When they caught up with Osidian, he did not acknowledge their presence. Carnelian feared the anger he had provoked was going to get them all killed.

  'Let's ride back, Osidian. Out here, we're vulnerable.'

  Osidian spoke without taking his gaze from the island roost. 'I have faith in my God.'

  When the roost was perhaps only a javelin cast from the shore, he brought them to a halt. Flamingos were an undulating pink commotion obscuring the water. Beyond them rose the island upon which Carnelian could clearly see the saurians with their swept-back scarlet crests.

  'Bellowers,' said Ravan, his eyes round.

  Osidian turned. 'Are they noted for their ferocity?'

  They'll defend their nests against even the most malevolent raveners.'

  'Excellent.'

  Bewildered, Carnelian and Ravan followed Osidian back to the relative safety of the drag-cradles.

  'What did he say?' Osidian asked Carnelian, all the while regarding Loskai with a look of amusement.

  'Something along the lines of, you must be mad.'

  'Ask him if he's afraid.'

  Carnelian did, somewhat reluctantly.

  There's a difference between wanting to stay alive and being afraid,' said Loskai.

  At that moment Crowrane approached demanding to know from his son what was going on. As Loskai explained, his father frowned, all the time keeping his eyes on Osidian.

  'Well, I'm going to get myself an egg and anyone else who isn't afraid can come with me,' said Osidian in Vulgate to the younger men who were gathering round.

  Osidian looked at Ravan. 'You at least aren't afraid to come with me, or are you, son of Stormrane?'

  'I'll go ... I'll go with you,' the youth answered, his face shiny with sweat. He took it upon himself to translate the Master's words for those who had no Vulgate. Krow, among others, moved to stand with Ravan at Osidian's side. The rest looked for guidance to Crowrane, who was surveying the roost as if he were calculating the odds. He brought the men of his hunt into focus.

  'Shall we allow one of the Standing Dead to slur our manhood?'

  The older among them shook their heads slowly, regarding the Elder in puzzlement. The youngsters declared their bravery noisily. Their commotion brought Galewing, accompanied by several of his hunt.

  He cowed them into silence with a glare. 'Are you lot trying to get us trampled?'

  Crowrane encouraged the Elder to move away with him. Carnelian could see Crowrane explaining. When Galewing grew angry, Crowrane calmed him. Carnelian did not like the glances they gave him as they talked and approached Osidian.

  'You must not do this,' he said in Quya.

  'It is no longer possible to turn back,' Osidian replied.

  Carnelian glanced off to where the Elders were still in discussion. 'You are putting us in their trap.'

  'On the contrary, I am turning their trap against them.' He smiled, fire in his eyes. 'Will you join me?'

  Crowrane returned. 'Father Galewing will make sure the water gets back safely to the Koppie. Those of you who wish should return with him.'

  No one moved.

  'Well, then, let's go and get ourselves some eggs.'

  Grinning, excited, the youngsters ran for their aquar. Crowrane followed them, frowning. At his side, Loskai was giving him an anxious look.

  Carnelian became aware Osidian was still waiting for an answer. Carnelian's unease turned to irritation.

  'Do I have any choice?'

  As Osidian cantered into the lagoon, flamingos rose like a sudden dawn. Carnelian was mesmerized by their flashing wingbeats. The cloud cleared to reveal dazzling water stretching to the island. Many of the bellowers there were turning to watch them.

  'What now, Master?' Loskai cried, hanging back with his father.

  Osidian ignored the Plainsman. He swung his arm round, his hand tracing a bright arc in the air. At this signal, Ravan, to whom Carnelian had earlier seen Osidian giving instructions, waded his aquar off into the deeper water on their right leading some of the youngsters. Carnelian watched them curve round towards the shore of the island, wondering that they were so readily prepared to obey Osidian. As Ravan and his party drew nearer to the bellowers they rose up alarmed, rending the air with a trumpeting that set aquar plumes and Carnelian's heart to fluttering. The brazen cries rose and fell in angry fanfares as more and more of the bellowers came down to the water's edge. The riders continued wading parallel to the shore until they moved out of sight, drawing the bellowers away.

  Without a backward glance, Osidian sent his aquar forward at a lope towards the island. Carnelian could feel the general hesitation and sent his aquar after Osidian, hoping to encourage others to follow. Even before he had caught up with Osidian, Carnelian could hear the water behind him being churned to foam by the feet of many aquar. Carnelian did not dare look to either side, lest he should break the spell that was drawing them.

  At its deepest, the water came up to the high ankle of Osidian's aquar. Soon they were coming up out of it, riding along a ridge that swelled up to form the island. A few bellowers trumpeting madly defended the passage to the roost.

  Osidian swung round and addressed Crowrane's hunt. Throw as quickly as you can.'

  Leaning back with a weapon Ravan must have given him, Osidian hurled it whistling through the air. Soon others were being thrown from all around Carnelian. For a moment, Carnelian imagined Osidian might be their target, but the volley was falling among the saurians. Though the javelins scratched harmlessly off their hides, the bellowers dropped forward onto all fours and brought their narrow flaring crests down in front of them like shields. All the time they kept up a furious, deafening caco
phony and lashed their tails. Spotting a gap in their line, Osidian crashed through. Carnelian swore under his breath, gritted his teeth and followed him. A bellower rose, falling back so heavily onto its haunches that the earth shook. Carnelian's aquar veered wildly and it was all he could do to keep her running. He rode into the shadow of the towering monster, into its musky stench. He felt it begin to avalanche towards him and threw himself forward even as it punched the ground with an impact that shuddered up through his chair and whiplashed his head against his knees. Then he was through and hurtling into a landscape of cratered mud.

  Osidian's aquar slid and almost lost its footing as he forced it to a halt with his heels. Carnelian's veered just in time to avoid a collision. He swung in the saddle-chair for a moment, his heart pounding, his forehead aching from the impact with his knees. Then he became aware no one had followed them.

  To one side, more bellowers were surging up out of the water lifting their long muzzles into the breeze. Others were mobbing the rookery's further shore, drowning the warcries of Ravan's diversionary force with their screeching.

  Seeing Osidian staring back the way they had come, Carnelian incandesced with rage. 'Where's your God now? Are you happy?'

  The line of saurians they had broken through was fragmenting as the creatures saw the tiny intruders among their nests. Suddenly, another volley of javelins fell among them and screeching, they turned aside. Riders came pouring up through the gaps, Krow at their head.

  'Crowrane commanded us to retreat!'

  Osidian knelt his aquar and vaulted out onto the mud.

  Stunned, Carnelian was hardly aware of dismounting. Nests lay all around; craters gouged into the mud. Plainsmen were descending on every side. Osidian led some of them to face the trumpeting with their bull-roarers and javelins. Carnelian saw a volley glancing off a heaving wall of mottled hide and then saw the men around him gaping.

  'Eggs,' he cried, overcoming his anger, remembering why they were there. He ran to the nearest nest and reached over its curving embankment. He burrowed his fingers into the warm rot of vegetation and touched a smooth hard shape. Quickly he scooped the stuff off to reveal a spiral of long narrow white eggs. He lifted one out. It slid in his green-slimed arms. It was three spans long and as heavy as if it were made of stone. He cradled it as he ran over to his saddle-chair.