by C. S. Bills
Meavu was sitting outside Rusik’s shelter later that afternoon, talking with Tingiyok. Her clear laugh echoed back from the trees as Attu approached. He smiled.
“You have come to speak with me, or with your sister?” Tingiyok asked as Attu stopped beside them. “If you have come for your sister you must wait one more moment. Our lesson isn’t done yet.”
Attu looked his question at Meavu.
“Elder Tingiyok’s woman had Gifts similar to mine,” she smiled up at Attu, motioning for him to sit beside her. “She Saw into the future. Not exactly as I do, but Elder Tingiyok has agreed to teach me all he learned from her over the seasons. He’s been a big help to me already.” Meavu smiled at Tingiyok, and he nodded his head to indicate what he’d done was nothing.
“I thank you, Elder Tingiyok. I’m glad Meavu has someone with Gifts to help her.” Attu tried not to sound jealous, but knew he’d failed.
Tingiyok patted him on the leg as if he were a child needing comfort. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you with more than the mind speak. I talked with Keanu. I’d thought she’d be able to help, but–”
“She promised to keep trying.”
Meavu looked concerned, but said nothing.
“I will speak with her again,” Tingiyok said. “You need help, and she’s the only one who can give you any. Maybe together we can think of something.”
“She thinks you will go into the mind of an animal and not be able to come out again, doesn’t she?” Meavu was studying him.
Attu thought of his earlier conversation with Rika and Keanu. Rika had said it – “She knows things, and she doesn’t dream them to know them. She just knows them.” He smiled at Meavu. “She doesn’t want to be held responsible for that happening to me while she’s trying to teach me how to use this Gift I’ve suddenly acquired.” He tried to sound like it didn’t matter to him, as if it weren’t important whether he got help from Keanu or not. “Don’t worry, little Kip,” he added playfully. “I’ll work it out.”
Meavu gave him a look from their old days, clearly unimpressed with his need to still try to protect her.
Attu sat back for a while, listening as Elder Tingiyok reviewed the basic steps of how Meavu should first evaluate what she had Seen if it was farther into the future than a few heartbeats. He finished with, “Remember, things will not necessarily come to pass exactly as you See they will. Knowing and sharing what you know can change how future events unfold. I have seen this happen.”
“So knowing something is going to happen may give the Seer a chance to change the future?” Meavu looked with awe at the Elder.
A powerful tool, indeed, Attu thought.
“Yes. Sometimes. But that is another lesson. We will discuss it further tomorrow.”
Tingiyok waved them both off. “She’s done enough for now. The waves have subsided. Time for fishing.” Tingiyok grinned his nearly toothless smile and stood, moving easily down the beach to the skin boats as if he were a much younger man.
“That is amazing,” Attu said. “Changing the future?”
“What did you need to talk with me about?” Meavu asked, avoiding his question as she turned her attention away from the direction Tingiyok had gone and back to Attu.
So, you don’t want to talk about what Elder Tingiyok said. At least not yet. I understand. It must be overwhelming...
“What did you want?” Meavu asked again.
“Oh.” Attu pulled his attention back to the reason he’d sought Meavu out. “I wanted you to be prepared for the discussion that’s going to happen tonight around the fire,” he said. Attu rested his hand gently on his sister’s shoulder. “I didn’t want you to be surprised.”
“I say we tell these Nukeena where the Raven camp is, and they tell us where the camp to the north is. We don’t need guides. We go our separate ways and that is that!” Suka stood in the middle of the large group gathered around the evening fire, his eyes hard. Gone was the storyteller who’d had them all laughing that morning.
“We’re going to help them find the Raven settlement and the women that were taken from them,” Attu said, “and in exchange they’re going to help us find the bay to the north that the Nukeena think would be a perfect settlement for us.”
“I don’t think you’ll find the place I’m speaking of, at least not easily,” Cray said through Farnook. Once again, the slight Nuvik was translating for everyone. Suka hadn’t seen his woman working to communicate between the two groups until today, and he’d seemed at once impressed by her ability and concerned. It had been another long day of translating for her, and Farnook looked exhausted.
Suka moved to stand closer to Farnook and looked to Attu. “Haven’t you learned to speak enough of each others’ tongues so Farnook doesn’t have to do the talking for all of you?” He took Farnook’s hand to pull her away from the others, but she didn’t move. Instead, she rested her other hand on her man’s chest and whispered fiercely to him.
Suka pulled away from her, scowling. He looked between the gathered Nuvik hunters and the Nukeena. “We don’t have the time to show you where the Ravens’ settlement is. We need to get our women north before it’s their time to deliver.”
Farnook began translating his words. Suka’s scowl deepened. He glared at them all as she spoke.
So much had happened in Suka’s absence. Attu could see Suka was struggling to come to terms with these Nukeena and what he considered to be excessive demands, rather than two friendly Clans helping each other. And Farnook was showing herself to be capable in yet another area, growing confident in her ability to understand the Nukeena language as she listened to Cray and rapidly repeated his words.
Instead of being proud of her, Suka is acting like we’re not respecting him. I need to take him aside and talk to him when we have the chance.
The campfire was crowded tonight. Attu thought every Nuvik was there, and it looked like every Nukeena as well. Decisions needed to be made. Everyone wanted to be a part of it. There would be no time soon to speak with Suka.
“I think we need to look at this differently,” Yural said. “There is no reason why two groups cannot go out at the same time. A few hunters moving quickly could explore north and find the place the Nukeena are speaking of, with the bay, the hills, the nearby caves, the place where there are still enough trees yet the Great Ocean freezes solidly in the winter. If we can travel there easily with women and children in one moon, couldn’t you make it there and back in one moon without us?”
“Ai,” Cray said, after Farnook explained.
“But what about going back to the Raven camp?” Suka said. “We shouldn’t even consider going back there. It’s an evil place.”
So Farnook hasn’t said anything to Suka yet. Attu took a step closer to his cousin.
“I agree,” said Rovek, and he shot a look at Meavu. She shrugged as if it didn’t matter to her one way or the other.
Attu knew that gesture. Meavu had told Rovek, and Rovek had disagreed with her. Now she was playing a waiting game...
“Meavu and I will not go near that camp ever again.” Now Rovek was blustering. “We’ll stay here by ourselves if we have to, or we’ll leave and go north on our own. I think–”
“Rovek, there is no need for such talk,” Ubantu interrupted Rovek. “We know you won’t let Meavu near any of those women, ever again. We understand.”
“But someone has to show the Nukeena where the camp is,” Attu said, even though he knew his words would agitate Rovek and Suka even more. “It has weighed heavily on my spirit that we left the Raven women there without hunters, even though Farnook said they’d be all right and probably happier without their men.” He looked around at the others. “Still, it isn’t right, leaving those women to fend for themselves and their children. It is not honorable. It is not the Nuvik way.”
He glanced at Farnook. She seemed at ease, even though it was evident Suka was now furious. When Attu looked at her again, Farnook arched an eyebrow at him, and Attu decided t
o do as he’d promised and let Suka’s woman handle his cousin. I hope she knows what she’s doing.
“I agree,” Meavu said. A few lips popped. People were surprised to hear Meavu’s opinion, and Rovek scowled at her, but remained quiet. “I will not go,” she continued, “but others need to. These men deserve to get their women back. I know those women will want them back. They’ve given up hope, but a miracle of the spirits is on its way to them as their men return. This is a good thing. But they must not just walk into the Raven camp expecting a warm welcome.”
Heads nodded. Meavu flashed the tiniest smile at Attu before she stepped back into the shadows.
“Meavu is right,” Farnook said. “These women are suspicious of every man. And their whole Clan revolved around each leading man ordering his own hunters and women to do things, who in turn ordered the men and women below them in status to do all the work. The lead women will have taken charge when their men didn’t return. These women are lazy. That won’t have changed. They won’t want the Nukeena women they treat as slaves taken from them, nor any other captive.”
Meavu snorted. “Then they’d have to do the work themselves, or starve. They won’t let that happen.”
Farnook looked to Cray and rapidly explained the conversation to him. Attu caught a few of the words, and realized Farnook was doing more than translating.
She’s unfolding her plan. Oh, Suka, you’re NOT going to like this.
Cray and Farnook continued talking as the others broke into small conversations around them.
Soantek and a few of the other Nukeena hunters joined Cray and Farnook. Suka moved to Farnook’s side, putting his arm around her as if to draw her away, but she stopped him, turning back to speak further to the Nukeena. Suka dropped his arm and stood beside his woman, frowning. Attu watched Suka. The last thing he needed was for his cousin to start a fight with the Nukeena.
“Farnook has a plan,” Attu said to Suka, pulling him a few steps away from the group, “and we’ll all hear it in just a moment. Let her explain it to the Nukeena first.”
“You knew about this?” Suka stepped back from Attu. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Attu said nothing, but before he could stop himself, he glanced back at Farnook.
“Farnook was supposed to tell me, wasn’t she,” Suka looked at Farnook, accusation in his voice. “Why didn’t she?”
“Just give her a moment.” Rika had stepped up behind them, silently as usual.
“You knew Farnook was up to something?” Suka asked, glaring at Rika.
“No, but I know enough Nukeena now to follow at least some of their conversation. And since Farnook knows the Ravens better than anyone, and she’s one of the smartest women I know, I think we should all listen to her plan.”
Suka seemed a bit mollified by Rika’s praise of his woman. Attu could see his cousin was working to calm himself.
A few moments later, Farnook turned back to her people and explained her plan.
“What do we care what the Nukeena want?” Suka scowled after they’d all heard Farnook out. “Why should I risk your life to help these strangers? You save them and then they hang around, eating our food and making demands on us? I won’t agree to it.” Suka crossed his arms and glared at the rest of them.
A few of the other hunters nodded their agreement with Suka. But as unusual as Farnook’s plan was, Attu was surprised that most of their own people and the Nukeena hunters thought it might work. Farnook had explained her reasoning behind every step, and it made sense.
“I’m helping Caanti. And you would too, if she were your friend,” Farnook said, her hand now gently resting on her man’s. “My plan is the Nukeenas’ best chance at getting their own Clan’s women back and maybe gaining a few more.”
Around the fire, lips popped.
“And besides, it’s not like that,” Attu said. “You weren’t here when they came. These men have been through some terrible times, Suka. They’re good hunters. Brave. They’ve never given up on finding their women again. Give them a chance.”
“We want to help them,” Rika added. “And in turn they’ve agreed to help us.”
Suka looked unconvinced.
Chapter 13
“I will go north to explore with the others.” Tingiyok and Attu were walking along the beach, watching the tide turn and making plans for the hunters heading north to find the place the Nukeena had spoken of.
“Rovek wants to go also, and of all our hunters, he’s learned more of the Nukeena language than most. He’ll be able to communicate with them,” Attu said.
“And he’s a strong paddler. Others would find it difficult to keep up.”
Attu chuckled at the truth of the old man’s words. Elder Tingiyok could out-stroke everyone except Suka. “Bashoo is going. He says there is one other hunter from the Nukeena who wants to go. He is older and says he will take any woman the others bring back for him.”
“And Bashoo?”
“He says he wants no Raven woman.”
The four hunters leaving for the north stood as Yural prayed the traditional traveling prayers to protect them. It was barely first light, but still most of Attu’s people and many of the Nukeena had come to see their hunters off. Attu had been surprised to see Suanu standing with the other women, Brovik nestled in a carry strap at her side.
“No need for that look of concern, leader of mine,” Rika said. “Suanu is fine. Since she awoke from her fever two suns ago, she has gotten stronger.”
“And she remembers nothing of her near drowning? Of almost losing Brovik?”
“No. The fever spirits had her so confused, she remembers none of it. But I have been telling her, bit by bit. She knows Bashoo saved them both and that he came several times to check on them while she slept. He came last sun as well, held the baby, and sat with Suanu. She insisted on coming to see him off.”
Tingiyok made the last preparations to his skin boat, straightening a loop of rope, checking one of the seams of stitching. Rovek worked at his side. The other Nukeena was ready to go and stood waiting for the others. He was an older, capable-looking hunter whom Attu had seen around the camp but never spoken to. Tingiyok said he was Cray’s elder brother.
“And not their leader?” Attu had wondered.
“No. Cray says he wants no part of leadership. He just likes to hunt.”
And he gets to do what he wants. Lucky man, Attu thought.
Bashoo, who was using one of the family-sized skin boats Ubantu had rigged for him, looked up from his own preparations and saw Suanu. He set his paddle aside and moved up the beach to stand by her.
The giant dwarfed Suanu as he stood there, not moving or speaking to her, just gazing down into her eyes. She slipped Brovik out of his sling and Bashoo held the boy, who squirmed to tug at his single braid, his hair pulled aside to reveal his cut ear. The poolik seemed fascinated by the edges of the ear and grabbed at it.
Bashoo laughed a deep rumble, and tossed Brovik up in the air several times. Brovik squealed his delight at the game, flailing his arms as if he were trying to fly. Handing the child back to Suanu again, Bashoo continued to rest his hand on Brovik’s back as his mother held him. “Ai?” the Nukeena asked searching Suanu’s eyes again.
“Ai,” Suanu replied.
Bashoo grinned, an ear-splitting grin that broke his face into one great smile of delight. He turned and jogged the few steps back to his boat.
Several of the women popped their lips, and Suanu blushed furiously.
Attu felt a sudden rush of anger. Isn’t it too soon after Kinak’s death for Suanu to find herself another man? But even as he thought it, Attu brushed that feeling aside. That was a Seer tradition, not a Nuvik one. On the Expanse, a woman who lost her man when she had a child needed to search immediately for a new hunter. No family could survive in that harsh place without a strong man to protect and hunt for them. He was happy for Suanu. Keanu had said she was devastated when Kinak had died. So much that she’d insisted on leaving, on
returning to her own people. She hadn’t thought through how difficult it would be to make that journey on her own. She’d only thought of her grief, and, Attu had to admit, that there were no unbonded men in the Seer Clan for her to join with.
Attu thought about how Suanu had always relied on Kinak, almost as if she lived in his shadow. And once alone, she’d made what had seemed like a perilous decision by leaving and coming to them. But the spirits seemed to have had another plan.
Attu couldn’t help but think that somehow, Kinak’s spirit had been in on this as well. He would know what it would take to reach into Suanu’s grief-torn spirit and begin healing her again: another mighty hunter proving himself to her. And Bashoo had certainly done that.
“Dran, you can’t go with the others; you’re just not strong enough yet, and you know it.”
Attu walked to where Rika was speaking to the Nukeena’s healer. He was arguing with her, although Attu could see Dran was barely keeping his feet. Attu grabbed the man’s shoulders, easing him down as Dran’s legs collapsed beneath him.
Dran scowled then sat, his head in his hands. He looked like he might throw up.
“We haven’t been able to stop the dizziness Dran experiences every time he stands up.” Rika looked with compassion on the Nukeena, who had closed his eyes now and was resting back on some rolled furs.
“Is he going to be all right?” Attu asked. Dran looked awful.
“I think so,” Rika said as she moved away from Dran, picking up her bag of potions as she walked with Attu down the beach. “Soantek said he thinks Dran went without the last days of water, or at least gave himself less than others, to keep the others alive longer. His Clan respects him so much because he is so caring and so selfless. I think Soantek is right, but I’m surprised Dran didn’t die because of it.”
“Perhaps their spirits blessed his self-sacrifice. You would have done the same thing.” Attu lifted a strand of hair from Rika’s cheek, blown there by the fresh air coming off the ocean.
“You are going with the others to rescue the women.”
