Broken Rock Bay (Clan of the Ice Mountains Book 3)

by C. S. Bills

  “Did I ever see Caanti?” Rika asked.

  “I think so. Those times you went with Limoot to treat the sick in the camp, did you see a beautiful young woman with a deep cut on her arm?”

  “Yes. She had a severe wound and bad spirits had gotten into it.”

  “That was Caanti. Limoot made her rest the arm for a moon, and it was a miserable time for her.” Farnook looked away, tears in her eyes. “The women were mean to her, calling her lazy and stupid. They called her ugly again, like they’d done when she’d first been taken. All for getting cut, when the truth was it had been her man’s second woman’s fault.”

  “Why?” Attu asked. He joined them at the fire.

  “They’d been working with hides, and Caanti had been holding a narrower strip tightly to the skinning board while the second woman worked on it. The second woman was careless, and the skinning knife slipped in her hand, cutting Caanti instead. Caanti told me about it afterward.”

  Farnook frowned. “I feel so bad I couldn’t tell her when I left with Suka. She thinks I’m dead. Who is her friend now?” Farnook grabbed a stick and stirred the fire, sending sparks skyward while she brushed away tears with her free hand.

  They sat in silence for a time before Rika spoke again. “There’s something I don’t understand. This woman, Caanti, was unusual. Her skin was too pale, like some of the Seers, but her hair and eyes were dark. The effect was striking. You would not have forgotten seeing her, Attu, if you had. No man would. Were the women jealous of her unique beauty? Why did they say she was ugly?”

  “I wondered that, too,” Farnook agreed, “and it took a long time before Caanti herself explained it to me. She showed me her Clan markings, or rather, where parts of her ear had been cut away or slit–”

  “Cut away?” Attu asked. “Her Clan cut parts of their ears off?” He winced at the thought of such a tradition as permanent disfigurement. His Clan tattoos had been painful when they were first done, but they healed and never bothered him again. I still have my whole arm. Attu flexed his bicep, thinking about it. But cutting parts off. That is another thing...

  “I know, and it was startling to see, at first,” Farnook explained. “On Caanti’s right ear, several pieces had been taken out of the top of her ear, cut off in an intricate pattern. In some places along the side and bottom of her ear there were slices, left to heal apart so elaborate decorations could be slid between them or intertwined from them. The cutting was done to girls in her Clan as infants, but for boys it was part of an elaborate ritual to become men. In her Clan, ear cuts were a sign of beauty and belonging for women. They pulled back their long hair to show the right ear. The number of cuts, their shape and depth into the ear, all had meaning to everyone. It told who the person was related to, how they belonged in their Clan, and the women took great pride in the valuable decorations they wore from their ears. Caanti tried to explain it to me one day, but it was complicated.”

  “And the women saw her ear and belittled her for it,” Rika said. “The one thing they considered ugly on that beautiful woman’s body.”

  “Yes.”

  “She hid it well. I never noticed it.”

  “Two other women were taken from her Clan the night the Ravens attacked. They were also marked, Caanti told me. But you’d never know their ears were cut. They hid them under heavy braids. And no one ever called them ugly because they bore sons to the Raven hunters, and so were accepted into the Clan. The Raven women seemed to forget about their past. But not Caanti’s. We avoided talking in her language whenever those two were around. They were mean to Caanti, too.”

  “Women of her own Clan?” Rika popped her lips in dismay.

  “Fear of the Ravens made the captured women behave in ways they never would have in their own Clans.” Farnook hunched her shoulders and stirred the fire again. “It was a horrible life.”

  Gathered around the fire the next evening, Attu and Rika were talking with Farnook and Suka when loud voices erupted behind them.

  “I said I don’t want it, and I don’t think you should be drinking it, either,” Meavu was talking with Veshria. Both women looked angry.

  “But the root is good for toothache, and the tea for sick stomach,” Veshria replied.

  “What are you talking about?” Rika stood and moved to where the two women were arguing.

  “Oh, no. Have you been drinking tea made from this root?” Rika snatched the root from Veshria. She broke off a small piece and sniffed it, frowning.

  Veshria stepped back. “Of course. I need it because of my bad tooth.” She pointed to her right cheek.

  “Did the Seer healer give you this?” Rika asked.

  “Yes, the first time. Keanu gathered most of the healer’s herbs, and she gave me another bag before she left with the others. You put the root directly on your tooth, and you use the ground root in tea.”

  “I know what it’s used for, Veshria.” Rika’s voice was sharp. Apparently realizing she needed to get control of herself, Rika paused a moment before adding quietly, “You must not use this while you are with child, Veshria, or while nursing the poolik afterward. It’s not good for the baby growing within.”

  “Did Keanu gather the wrong roots?” Veshria’s eyes were wide now. “I should have–”

  “No,” Rika interrupted. “This is the same root, from the tall white-flowering plant. And the Seer healer was right to have you use it for your toothache. But weren’t you told not to use it if you thought you might be with child?”

  “There might have been some warnings...” Veshria looked down. “I don’t remember.”

  “How many times have you used the root or drunk the tea since you realized you were growing a child?”

  “Just once or twice,” Veshria said. Her eyes refused to meet Rika’s.

  Attu caught Meavu’s slight sideways headshake.

  I’ve seen her drinking that tea many times. Farnook mind spoke to Attu and Rika, then whispered to Suka.

  “Don’t use it anymore. I’ll give you something else that is safe to use if your tooth bothers you again.” Rika reached out to take the bag of roots from Veshria’s hand, but Veshria grabbed the root Rika was holding instead and stuffed it back into the bag with the others.

  “I won’t use them, but I want no more remedies from any healer, either. And my child will be fine. This will be my fourth baby. I know more than anyone here about growing healthy babies within. You are talking nonsense.” Veshria turned her back on Rika and Meavu, her shoulders hunched as she hurried away into the darkness toward her shelter.

  Rika and Meavu stepped back to where the others were sitting.

  Rika looked to Farnook, her face stricken.

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Farnook said, rising to follow Veshria.

  “Thank you,” Rika said.

  “She was trying to get me to make tea with it because my stomach was hurting. I told her she shouldn’t be using any remedies without talking with you first...” Meavu’s words drifted away, her eyes filling with tears as she sat down with Rika near Attu. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

  “Farnook told us she’s been drinking tea made from it regularly,” Rika said. “That’s probably why she hasn’t had the sick stomach like most of us.”

  Rika turned to Attu and Suka. “Pray she hasn’t harmed her child. Veshria’s a stubborn woman, and I know the pain of her tooth is great sometimes. I’ve tried to get her to let me pull it, but she won’t do that, either. She just might be tempted to make the poultice for her tooth again if it flares up. She does have a lot of experience in child bearing, but in this, she is wrong.”

  “What could happen to her baby from using it?” Attu asked.

  “I don’t know. The root is a strong remedy for tooth pain and sick stomach, but the Seer healer warned me to never let a woman with child or nursing a child use the root. I never had the chance to ask why, but if the Seer healer warned me about it, I’m sure Veshria was warned as well. She should not have been usi
ng that root.”

  Attu clambered among the rocks the next day, headed for a spot far up the river where he could see Ubantu and Rovek spear fishing. As he walked, the sound of fresh water tumbling down the river rocks gradually overcame the sound of the pounding surf on the other side of the peninsula.

  “Ganik!” Attu turned to see Veshria moving along the path toward an area of rocks about a spear’s throw high. Perched on top of them and balancing near the edge, Ganik looked as if he would fall at any moment.

  “Ganik, get down from there!” Rusik was coming up the path from the opposite direction. “Why are you climbing instead of fishing with the other boys?” he asked as he neared the spot where Ganik was scrambling down the rocks.

  Rusik had just reached the spot below his son when Ganik lost his grip and slid the last two spear lengths down the rocks and into his father’s grasping arms.

  “Is he all right?” Attu called, turning to help.

  “He’s fine,” Rusik said. Ganik did appear to be fine. Rusik scolded the child for a moment before handing him off to Veshria.

  Veshria took up where Rusik had left off, after glaring at Attu and turning her back on him. Attu could still hear her angry voice when the two were far down the path toward camp.

  Attu walked on, wondering how Ganik had gotten so far away from his father before being discovered climbing where he should not be, and how Veshria had made the mistake of drinking the tea made from something that could harm the growing child within her. It made him think of the dangers they all faced. We found this place just in time, Attu thought as he considered how dangerous it would have been for the Clan if they’d found themselves out in their flimsy skin boats in the huge waves now crashing against the rocks on the north side of the peninsula, sending spray many spear lengths into the air.

  Attu clutched his spirit necklace for a moment as he thought of the horror that could have been, but Attu could think of no words to say that would be adequate thanks for their good fortune in finding this place when they did. He inclined his spirit toward gratitude for all they’d been given thus far in their journey and hoped the spirits knew how deeply thankful he was.

  Several other hunters were fishing on the opposite bank, and Attu passed them as he walked. Tingiyok and Rusik waved their spears from the other side, and Attu waved his newly sharpened fish spear in return. Tingiyok and Rusik were good friends. Attu was glad, for Tingiyok had no family, and Rusik and Veshria welcomed him to their fire. They had two other children besides Ganik, an older boy named Kossu, and a younger girl, Tishria. Although Kossu was nearing his time to be declared a hunter, with such a large family, Rusik could use another hunter’s game to supply his family’s cooking skins with meat. Attu found himself hoping Tingiyok was satisfied with the decision he’d made to come with Veshria and Rusik into Attu’s Clan, rather than follow the Seer Clan into the grasslands to hunt the tuskies.

  Tingiyok raised his spear again in Attu’s direction, and Attu paused when he heard the old man’s words in his head.

  I am, Tingiyok mind spoke to Attu. To share a fire again is most welcome to this old hunter. I didn’t mean to hear you, but your thoughts are very loud this day.

  I’m sorry– Attu began, embarrassed to have been heard while thinking about Tingiyok. It had been so long since Tingiyok had communicated through mind speak, Attu had almost forgotten the old man’s Gift.

  I am honored you are concerned about my welfare and my happiness, Clan leader, Tingiyok interrupted Attu’s apology. With Ashukat gone, I have no one still holding my spirit to my old Clan and old ways. I am very happy to be a part of your Clan now. And Rusik is my friend. His family has become my family. But something else is troubling you?

  Yes. Attu was not surprised at the old man’s skill at knowing the minds of others. Tingiyok had been solemn since his old friend Ashukat’s death, holding himself apart from the others. The Clan had respected the older hunter’s need to grieve. Recently though, Tingiyok had turned to Rusik and his family again, and their boisterous children seemed to be helping his spirit heal.

  May I speak with you later, Elder Tingiyok?

  The old man nodded his agreement before turning back to his fishing. Tingiyok had taken Ashukat’s place in mentoring Attu, Rika, Farnook, and Meavu in knowledge of the Gifts, and Attu knew he could look to the man for advice about the dreaming.

  Attu sensed Tingiyok was pleased with being called “Elder” and decided that from now on he would do so. Others would follow his lead and give the older hunter and true Seer the respect he deserved.

  Attu continued walking up the side of the river, balancing on the rocks and thinking of his dreams, of Kinak’s death, and the strangeness and beauty of flying with the falcon. Just thinking about it again filled him with intense yearning and a profound sense of loss.

  Keanu was so angry when I flew with the falcon in the dream. But it was such an extraordinary experience. She says it’s dangerous. But it didn’t seem dangerous to me. It was amazing! The falcon is such a beautiful being of Nuvikuan-na. I learned so much from being in its consciousness. And it was wonderful to fly...

  Attu looked to the sky and saw a bird the Seers had called gulls riding on the currents of the wind. His mind reached out to it of its own accord, and Attu felt himself being drawn up, up, out of himself. At first, all he felt was the rush of excitement as his spirit lifted. But another part of him began screaming an alarm into his mind. You didn’t direct your spirit to this gull and it’s going there anyway, taking your mind with it. Stop yourself!

  Attu struggled against the pulling he felt as his mind and spirit continued their upward journey toward the bird. He felt his heart hammering in his chest as panic overtook him.

  I can’t stop it! I can’t stop it!

  Attu felt his spirit returning to him, but his mind slid into the gull’s body. Now he was looking down at his own body below, much like he had done when he’d been attacked by the ice bear, as if he were out of his body watching himself. He was not yet the bird, but soon he would be...

  No!

  Attu heard the fierce whisper in his mind, and his mind fell back into himself. He reeled, throwing his arms out to keep himself from falling among the rocks.

  Attu spun to face Tingiyok, but the old hunter was talking to Rusik, his toothless grin wide in a joking smile.

  Who was that? He mind shouted. How did you stop me?

  What? It was Rika, Tingiyok, and Farnook, their thoughts anxious as they questioned him.

  What is wrong, Attu? Rika added.

  It’s nothing. I’m sorry to have startled you all. We will speak of it tonight, all right?

  Attu felt, rather than heard, Rika’s reluctant agreement. He glanced back at Tingiyok, who was watching him. He nodded his head to the Elder, and Tingiyok waved a hand in agreement before turning away, back to his fishing. Farnook said nothing more, but he sensed her concern.

  Attu scuffed his spear butt on the loose stones in his path, scattering them ahead of him as he chastised himself for what had just happened. Keanu had made it plain to him in the dream that joining with the mind of the falcon had been dangerous. Now he’d experienced what it felt like to lose control of his own mind in the Here and Now just because he’d looked at the gull and let himself long for the experience of being one with a bird again. He’d immediately lost control of himself until that voice had stopped him. Who was that who stopped me? Brought me back to myself? Could it have been Keanu?

  But that was impossible. Keanu was two moons away, on the other side of the mountains. Attu had seen her there in the dream. Still, someone had stopped him, saved him. All it took for my spirit to rush with my mind to that bird was just thinking about it... and with that thought, Attu’s legs gave way, and he sat down hard on the rock behind him. I could not have pulled myself back on my own. I know it.

  And on the heels of that thought came anger. Keanu talked with animals all the time. Didn’t that mean she allowed her mind to travel with the an
imal? Why could she apparently do it with safety, but not me? And why did she appear in my dream in the first place? And now I’m being pulled toward the minds of birds against my will.

  But Attu knew that wasn’t true. He’d looked to the bird, longed to fly with the gull, longed to be one with it, soaring over Nuvikuan-na as he had in the dream. And then his mind had slipped out of his control, taking flight with his spirit like the bird they were trying to reach.

  Attu stood. He needed to move. Walking always steadied him. He’d wanted to share his dream with Rika last evening, but after everything that happened with Yural in the morning, Rika had been called from one task to another, and Attu had gone hunting with Suka and a few others. That evening, Rika had fallen asleep almost as soon as she sat down and leaned against him near the large fire. She hadn’t awoken even when Attu carried her to their shelter and rested her on their sleeping skins.

  “I’ll talk with Tingiyok, Rika, and Farnook tonight, before it gets too late and the women grow tired,” Attu said to himself.

  “Good fishing!” Rovek exclaimed as Attu came near. Rovek pointed to the large net, half-full of sunset fish, dangling from a nearby tree limb.

  “Tell the other fish not to fear.” Ubantu was holding a small fish he had just caught and was looking it in the eye. His voice was serious as he spoke to it. “Since there are so many of your larger brothers in the water today, and your wound is slight, I will put you back to grow bigger and have many more fish sons and daughters before I may come again to hunt you.”

  Ubantu rested the fish in the water for a moment, letting it take in water through its gills, checking to make sure it could maintain its balance, but not letting it go. He leaned close to it, his own face a hand’s breadth from the fish, almost touching the water. “Tell the others of your Clan we are honorable hunters,” Ubantu said to the fish. “We will be thankful for their sacrifice if they are caught, and we’ll make use of their bodies to feed ourselves and our young. We will send their spirits back to the Between with care, so they may be reborn in another body and once again swim in this clear water. It is the way of the Nuvik to do this, and fish of your Clan honor themselves if they are taken by our spears this day. Please tell the others, so they will not be afraid and swim away.”