by Helen Fields
‘Who is that with you, child? We need to make sure that everyone is back in camp before we sleep. It is too dangerous for anyone to be left out there alone.’ If I were discovered now it would risk everything. Ellette had made it clear that Anousk could not bear to lose Zora and I wasn’t here to cause more pain. I grabbed the arm of the other girl next to me who I thrust forward. She recovered her senses just in time to stop Anousk’s curiosity in its tracks.
‘They are attempting to cross the river tonight, Anousk. They believe they can track Zora on the other side. They have headed for Tormund bend where the river is narrowest.’ She walked forward and took Anousk by the arm. ‘Come, let me tell you about it in your tent where prying ears cannot overhear. All our party is safely returned. You do not need to be concerned tonight.’ Anousk allowed herself to be led away to hear the details of the day and I finally stole a glance at her.
It was like looking at myself in the future as I hoped I would be. Her hair had kept its deep red tones, cheekbones a little higher than mine, skin with a slightly more colour from the wind and sun. But her face was pinched with fear and sorrow. I could see the exhaustion from maintaining her public composure but there was no mistaking the underlying grief. I was desperate to comfort her but I knew the sight of me, right then, would do more harm than good. This society was no different from mine, there was good and bad, coveting of power and unacceptable prejudices. I watched until she disappeared into the shadows then made my way to the tent. It was dark but warm with a bed roll on the floor and fresh water, vegetables and fruit had been left for me. I forced myself to eat even though I had no appetite and lay down. There would be a signal to rouse the Vilya in the morning, as it would still be dark when the family had to make their way to the Rock.
As I drifted asleep I heard Zora crying again. I tried to reach out to her in my mind but there was no blood tie and it didn’t work the way it had with Ellette. I had only a few hours left until I did something that might change me and my future forever. I hoped I wasn’t making a dreadful mistake.
At the sound of the horn in the small hours I quickly put my hood back on in case anyone entered Ellette’s tent unexpectedly. There was little I could do in readiness since we’d left our backpacks in the mountain shelter. After a few minutes a voice whispered to me and the tent flap pulled back to reveal one of Ellette’s companions from yesterday passing me fresh water and what smelled like sweet porridge. I took it gratefully and she stayed with me as I ate. The camp was quiet apart from the sound of scurrying feet. There was still no word from Ellette. The Vilya were about to face the dawn with no first born to take the throne. I suspected the atmosphere was very different in the Perelesnyk camp.
A hand thrust more clothes into the tent, a long white gown, too large for me but it would have to do so that I could look like one of the Vilya women for the ceremony. I put it on and wondered how I looked. I had a pang of missing Naomi, imagining what she’d say if she could see me now. I wasn’t sure I’d ever see her again. Leaving Manitu may not be an option, given what I had to do. It was still pitch black outside although there was increasing candlelight and if you listened carefully you could hear the sound of many feet treading through the forest, making their way to the valley of the Rock of Ages to prepare for the ceremony. The ascension was supposed to happen at first light and there was little time to spare. I had to stay well hidden from the Perelesnyk so I put my hood back on over my robe and waited until we were last to leave our camp. I kept thinking that any minute James would appear, bringing Zora with him, saving the day. Behind us, though, there was silence.
What I saw when I reached the clearing stopped me in my tracks. The valley was filled with tiny torches, the light a strange yellow green from the surrounding trees, and the shadowy movement of thousands of bodies. It was remarkably peaceful given the numbers. I could see a central spiral of flat boulders making what looked like a prehistoric snail shell on the ground. Over the next few minutes, while the Vilya took their places, I hung back behind the tree line. One by one, the stones were claimed as seats by the elder male from each family. The Council was gathering. I could see my mother towards the front of the Vilya, a shawl over her head, not talking to anyone. By now she must have been fearing the worst and I didn’t blame her.
I’d had a glimpse yesterday of the amazing diversity here but that hadn’t prepared me for the sight this morning. Perun had told me that we were often referred to as demons, at least that seemed to be the closest generic term humans had and I could see why. There was skin of every colour and texture, hands that looked almost webbed, people so tall they appeared stretched and others with faces that were closer to animal than man. Yet here they were, sat together peacefully, waiting for a process that they had agreed upon to create a fair society where no one family dominated and everyone had a voice. Superficially it seemed idyllic and yet I knew that the Perelesnyk had plotted Zora’s downfall with military precision and I couldn’t help but wonder how many other families would do the same to hasten their path to power.
A chorus of wailing started. Thousands of feet up on the edge of the summit I could see an enormous torch being lit to mark the start of the ceremony and the calling of families to order. The song, if you could call it that, lasted no more than two minutes and immediately afterwards an absolute silence descended. The members of the Council stood as one and starting at the outermost end of the spiral each man bowed to the centre of the circle. The effect was hypnotic and reminded me of toppling dominoes. At the end, they held up their individual torches and a young woman rose at the centre. This must be the current ruler, little more than a teenager but holding herself with tremendous dignity. She was dressed in midnight blue robes representing the end of her reign. Her family were the Polevoi, field spirits, who’d made it their mission to slow ecological deterioration in the human world and they were popular rulers for it. There followed a lengthy section of the ceremony where the Polevoi ruler went to each Council member, starting at the centre and moving outwards round the stones, extinguishing his torch and saying a few words to each man in turn. When she finally reached the outer edge of the spiral a cry went up from one group of watchers. I could just make out the similarity of their features to the outgoing ruler and realised that this was a mourning sound to mark the end of their reign.
I heard rustling in the bushes behind me and could feel the presence of one of the Vilya. Ellette, I thought, she’s finally coming. I spun round to greet her, stopping myself calling her name out loud. It was lucky I did not; my own wishfulness had fooled me. It was one of Ellette’s companions, Serenta.
‘Still no news?’ I asked. She shook her head and held a finger to her lips to caution me to be quieter.
‘This is it,’ she said. ‘For the next few minutes whilst the Council are given new torches Manitu is without a ruler. Unless Zora appears for mother to present her to the Council the Perelesnyk will move to offer their Matriarch’s first born.’
I held my breath. I had no reason to believe it and yet in my heart I was sure that James and Ellette would appear to put the balance right. A girl’s voice rang out among the crowds.
‘According to the tryst of peace sealed with the blood of every family I pass on my crown.’ I realised that all the families were starting to stand. Word must have passed that Zora was missing and everyone was straining to see what would happen next. I took the opportunity to move through the trees and stand behind the Perelesnyk. I didn’t have much time. I saw Perun crane his neck in my direction and was sure he could sense my presence. He looked disoriented but then seemed to shake it off. I enjoyed the irony that he’d convinced himself it was just his imagination playing tricks.
‘Come forward, Anousk, matriarch of the Vilya, and give your first born to serve Manitu.’ I watched Anousk rise to her feet. She was less steady than I had expected and her head was bowed low. A lump rose in my throat and I wished there was something I could do to help her but it was more important than ever that
she had no idea what was about to happen. She stood alone before the Council and there was an uncertain pause. Whilst everyone knew what was supposed to happen next, it had never come to pass that the oldest child was absent. Anousk turned to the crowds and raised her head to speak.
‘My daughter Zora is not here to take the crown. The Vilya will not be...’
‘The Vilya will not be represented by Zora,’ I cut in, years of speaking in court coming to the most unexpected use. ‘I am Eve, first born daughter of the Vilya. Anousk is my mother.’ I walked through the centre of the Perelesnyk family. ‘Perun of the family Perelesnyk told me of my true heritage and showed me the way back to Manitu to take my proper place amongst you.’ The crowd parted to allow me access to the spiral stones where the Council stood open mouthed. I stopped as far from my mother as I could to avoid any chance of touching her. ‘Thank you, mother, for presenting me. You may step back.’
I wanted everyone to believe that Perun had brought me here so that the Perelesnyk would be unable to argue my ascension. If they did I would have no hesitation in accusing them of taking Zora, something that was too much of a risk for the rest of my family. I, on the other hand, had nothing to lose. I needed my mother’s shock to be genuine and she really did look as if she’d been struck by a thunderbolt. The outgoing ruler recovered her composure before anyone else and held her hand out to me.
‘Eve, daughter of the Vilya, you must approach each member of the Council to validate your ascension.’ I walked forward and tried to ignore the gasps of shock running through the crowd. I was surprised I got as far as I did before Mandalina protested.
‘The child Eve was sacrificed as a babe in arms by Anousk. She has lived a lifetime in the human world. She cannot be allowed to ascend to the throne here. She does not share the values of the families of Manitu. It is the right of the Perelesnyk to put forward my first born to rule.’
The first Council member on the edge of the spiral stood on his stone to be heard and seen more clearly.
‘Do you deny, Mandalina, that you brought Eve of the Vilya back to us?’ Mandalina paused for a split second too long to make a lie credible and she knew it.
‘I do not deny it but surely we should debate what the right course is for every family’s sake. I had no way of knowing that Zora would not be here to ascend. We brought Eve here to take her place within the Vilya, away from the poison of the human world. We did not foresee these events.’
‘But she is the first daughter of the Vilya and I see no-one rising to claim that she is anything other than a full blood child. In truth, you would have had more reason to challenge Zora’s ascension than you do Eve’s. Present yourself to me, child.’ I stood before the Councillor with a confidence I didn’t feel. ‘Do you accept servitude of the families gathered here to witness your ascension?’
‘I accept,’ I replied.
‘Then light my torch, Eve of the Vilya, for I acknowledge you as ruler.’ A flaming stake was thrust into my hand and I lit the Councillor’s torch with it. He indicated for me to move round the circle and each councillor asked me the same question. I went around the circle until each man had acknowledged me and every torch was lit. By now the sky was streaked with light and the torches looked bright white in the coming dawn. I was taken to the plinth at the centre of the spiral where a necklace of different stones was placed around my neck. Each stone represented one family and the circle reflected the joining of them all in unity with their new ruler. Looking out at the faces of the Perelesnyk, and some of the other tribes around the circle, I wasn’t entirely sure that unity was the right word for what they were feeling at the moment.
The innermost Councillor stood on his stone and raised his torch.
‘A new reign begins,’ he cried and threw his torch on the damp ground to burn out. The other Councillors rose together and did the same. With the torches out and the new dawn upon us, I was ruler of Manitu. Cries went up throughout the valley and I could hear the sound of wood knocking on wood and stamping. One by one the tribes began their own strange song, some sounding close to animal cries and others almost choral. One of the Councillors took me by the hand and kissed my cheek. I was welcomed home and embraced as ruler whilst the valley erupted into celebration. Ellette’s companions came to my side as quickly as they could to guide me through the masses. The Vilya greeted me coldly and with suspicion. I had replaced their beloved Zora at the behest of the Perelesnyk, they thought, and for all they knew I was responsible for her disappearance. It hurt me to deceive them in this way but I wanted to avoid reprisals by the Perelesnyk against my people. If the Vilya were seen to have nothing to do with my presence it might just protect them.
Last of all I stood before my mother. She stared at me hard showing no sign of her earlier grief. She dismissed those around us but we could not create enough distance to stop prying ears, everyone wanting to hear our first exchange. She bowed formally.
‘I am here to serve you, ruler.’
‘You do not have to bow to me,’ I said. ‘That’s not why I came.’
‘I have no idea why you are here. Ellette told me you left Manitu the first time unwillingly. She did not think you would return.’ Her coldness was like ice and the reunion I had played over and over in my mind seemed like a ridiculous fairy-tale now.
‘I came because the Vilya should not lose their time to rule and because I believe that under your guidance all can be protected,’ I reached my hand out to her then dropped it again quickly. ‘I wish no harm to Zora.’
‘I know that, child, but if you have come at the bidding of the Perelesnyk then harm will follow whether you want it or not.’ She was upset and letting her guard down. Others had come closer to hear what she was saying and I had to stop her before anything could be construed as an accusation against the Perelesnyk. I was saved by one of the Councillors requesting my attention. There was a great feast planned for the first breaking of bread after the ascension and I was expected at the table. My mother made her excuses and I saw her disappear into the bushes. It was just as well, otherwise she would have been sat next to me at the table and avoiding physical contact with her would have been nigh on impossible. The last thing I wanted was to inadvertently expel Zora out of Manitu and into the human world, if that wasn’t where she was already. I took my place at the table, smiled as genuinely as I could and asked endless questions about the traditions of the Council and the different families. I ached to be able to tell my mother the truth, to tell her that James was looking for Zora and that I wasn’t here to take her place. For the next few hours the celebrations went on and there was no way I could disappear to find her. She needed to know that everything I’d done was for the good of the Vilya. I looked into the sea of strangers and felt my heart sink. I hadn’t planned for the eventuality that James and Ellette wouldn’t return.
Twenty-two
The revelries went on throughout the day. There was dancing, music, each family having its own traditions and members of the Council were given gifts by the Polevoi to thank them for their service. It was never ending and I wished I could have been there as a simple observer rather than the centre of the attention. I was able to rest in the early evening as part of a ritual where the first born of each family had their hands decorated laying on pelt beds. It was a preparation for the evening. As dark descended tiny lights appeared in the trees around the valley. Oil was burning in shells hung from the branches and the effect was mesmeric. Everything was illuminated and the colours of the shells were extraordinary. It was truly beautiful and for a minute I stopped obsessing about Ellette and James, until I wished they were here to share the moment with me. Even if they hadn’t found Zora, I’d expected them to come back sooner than this. Ellette would have to hide James first but soon her absence was going to cause serious concern.
Slow dance music started as the darkness was complete and I felt a familiar hand take my arm. This was one moment I’d hoped to avoid. Perun pulled me to where people were gathering to dan
ce. I agreed with all the pleasantness I could muster. There was an audience watching and it wasn’t worth ruining the illusion I’d created. I let myself be swayed to the music in his arms.
‘Well, that was unexpected,’ he murmured. ‘Do you have any idea what you’ve started?’
‘I’m here because you came to find me. It’s you who started this, not me. If you’re not pleased with the consequences you only have yourself to blame,’ I pulled my head far enough back far enough to see his eyes. ‘Anyway, I thought this was what you wanted. You worked so hard to get my attention: Angela Smyth's rape, back in Krakow, that was all your doing, knowing I would get involved. It was a bit crude, really, but it worked.’
‘A rape? It never fails to astonish me how human women delude themselves. She was begging me to violate her and when I finished she was on her knees wanting more. I left her sobbing at the depths of her own depravity and when she couldn’t comprehend her own behaviour later she cried rape. The story is always the same.’
‘I don’t understand why you despise humans so much, when your race cannot procreate without them. You should be grateful. And anyway, everything you did brought me here in the end, so why the bitterness?’
‘I did not bring you here this time. You did that all by yourself and after fighting it all that time. I just cannot understand the sudden change of direction.’ His fingertips were pushing hard into my side and I forced myself not to flinch.
‘Seeing Nate with that girl, the girl you sent, I felt nothing. I realised I had no reason to stay there any longer. Your little charade may not have got the reaction you expected but it achieved the same result. It just took me a while to figure out how to get here. I hadn’t realised my appearance would deprive you of the chance to take power. I apologise.’ He laughed, enjoying the pain he was inflicting with his nails, knowing that I wouldn’t dare cause a scene.
