Jason and Aiyana spent the night in the old tent because Gaya forbade anyone to enter the new one until she had performed a cleaning ritual inside.
“I will never be able to sleep after this,” Jason said.
“Me neither,” she said.
“Do you think Michael was under a spell?” Jason asked.
“I don’t know. Let’s wait and hear what Gaya has to say later today,” she said.
Chapter 5
It was before midday when they went to check on Michael. He looked rather bleak but he seemed to be himself.
“How are you feeling this morning?” Jason asked.
“I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus,” he said struggling to sit up.
Gaya gave him more fluids to drink and said a few more incantations.
“It has left. Good,” Gaya said after looking in his eyes.
“What left?” Jason asked.
“I think she means the magic,’ Aiyana whispered.
“The magic?!” Michael asked.
“Gaya do you know what happened to Michael?” Aiyana asked.
Gaya took a deep breath and sat on a carpet waving her feather gently over the burning incense. She looked at them and smiled.
“You probably the world’s luckiest person. Escaping death not once but twice,” she said.
“Me?” Michael asked.
“No,” she said and pointed to Jason.
“Him? I’m confused. When did he have to face death?” Michael asked.
“It’s a long story. Let us concentrate on you getting better,” Aiyana said.
Aiyana quickly changed the subject because Michael was unaware of Umqy’s attack in the forest. And if Gaya started to talk… she would have to tell him everything including Aiyana being Gyrongav.
“I want to know what happened to me last night,” Michael said.
Gaya could see that the other two were nervous and she nodded her head acknowledging that they didn’t want Michael to know about Gyrongav.
“My dear Michael what happened to Camille was catastrophic but everything happens for a reason,” Gaya said.
“I’m lost,” Michael said.
“You see Omryn put a spell in the form of fine dust in the new yaranga. It was supposed to give the person symptoms similar to arctic hysteria. The first person to step into the yaranga would be affected. It should have been Jason. But you swopped and Camille was the first one to enter,” Gaya said.
“So it affected her,” Jason said in a broken voice.
Yes. You see arctic hysteria happens gradually increasing over a few days but in her case magic was involved and because this is not her environment it took her over completely in a matter of a couple of hours,” Gaya said.
“Wait a minute… why does Omryn want to put a spell on Jason? What is going on here?” Michael said.
Gaya sprinkled a little powder in a cup of water and told Michael to drink it. He had hardly finished the cup when he fell over and slept.
“Why did you do that?” Jason asked.
“It is better for him. It is too much information for him to digest. And don’t forget… Camille’s cremation is later today,” Aiyana said.
“I guess it makes sense… its better if he is out cold,” Jason said.
“I understand that she stepped into it by mistake but what about Michael?” Aiyana said.
“I suspect some of the dust that was left possibly transferred to him but it didn’t have the exact same effect on him. He was still able to think and have some control over himself,” Gaya said.
“That is why he took her to Omryn,” Jason said.
“Isn’t it wonderful how karma works? Omryn wanted to destroy Jason with magic but at the end of the day his own magic killed him,” Gaya said.
“What about Omryn’s death?” Jason asked.
“Nothing. There is not a person in the village that he did not do harm to some time or another. Believe me it is not a loss. Don’t worry about Michael… no one blames him. They know who is responsible,” Gaya said.
Chapter 6
Michael woke up disgruntled shortly before the cremation was supposed to take place. He left Gaya’s yaranga and went to the old tent. Shortly afterwards Jason and Aiyana arrived.
“How are you feeling?” Jason asked.
“Like shit but better than before,” Michael said scratching his head.
“It is tradition for Chukchi to put a gift with their loved ones before they meet the lord of Chukchi. Would you like to put something with Camille?” Aiyana asked.
Jason was taken aback by her request since he felt that Michael’s emotions were still raw but he was surprised at what followed.
“Yes,” Michael said and took a small red velvet box from his pocket.
Aiyana opened it. Inside was a teardrop cut diamond ring.
“I was going to ask her to…. to marry me,” Michael said and broke down.
Guilt filled Jason tried to console his friend but it was even too much for him. They cried together with an Aiyana sympathetically looking on.
“I don’t think he will be able to attend the cremation. I will stay with him,” Jason said after a while.
“Ok. I will give the ring to Gaya,” Aiyana said.
She left the two friends grieving.
After several hours Gaya and Gyrongav came to them. Jason’s was shocked to see Gyrongav. He tried to pretend that everything was normal but he could not keep his eyes off the snow white husky. She stared at him with her beautiful blue eyes.
“Would you like to say a few words and prayers from your traditions?” Gaya asked when she handed Michael a clay urn with Camille’s ashes inside.
“I haven’t prepared anything… I… I don’t know,” Michael said.
“Say whatever comes from the heart. It will help you to accept and make peace,” Gaya said.
“Ok. I will try,” Michael said.
He stared at the urn in his hands and tears ran down his cheeks.
“My dear sweet Camille. I have loved you since the first day I laid my eyes on you. Your sweet smile. Your laughter. Your ability to get excited over little things. We fought and argued… but every second away from you made my heart ache. I never thought that I would lose you…never…not like this… but I have…and nothing is going to bring you back to me…,” Michael said and broke down.
“It’s ok my friend,” Jason said putting his hand on his shoulder.
Gyrongav put her head on Michael’s lap and made as soft noise as if she was trying to console him. He gently rubbed her head with Jason looking on.
Chapter 7
The next day Michael was in a much better spirit. He was still heartbroken over the loss of his love but he seemed to be handling it better. He joined Jason and Luka for breakfast outside at the campfire.
“So how long do you think before we will be able to leave here?” Michael asked.
“I don’t know…we have to ask Luka here,” Jason said.
“To be honest there is no way to tell. We will have to wait and see. It’s no use you leave when the weather clears up slightly and when you’re halfway you have to turn back because it changed again,’ Luka said.
“It makes sense,” Jason said.
“So I guess we are stuck here until further notice,” Michael said.
“Looks like it,” Jason said.
“I’ve been thinking about Camille’s parents. I don’t know how I’m going to tell them the truth,” Michael said.
“We will deal with it when we get there. I’m sure it’s going to be a bombshell but it happened and we have to try and cope. Hopefully things will sort itself out,” Jason said.
“You’ve been very lucky so far… I think it is safe to say you two are protected by the spirits,” Luka said.
They kept talking when a beautiful young woman brought them a tray with freshly baked bread and cheese. She almost looked like Pocahontas with her long raven black braids. Luka laughed and turned red when he looked at her. The
girl looked at him with admiration in her eyes and smiled. She served them and left.
“Luka… if I didn’t know you I‘d swear you have the hots for that buttercup,” Jason said grinning.
“Her name is Galgan-gna… it means duckling,” Luka said and sighed.
“You sighed…I’m not sure how to take that,” Jason joked.
“She is the girl of my dreams and I want to marry her,” Luka said.
“I feel a but coming on,” Michael said.
“But… I do not have the time to sit here and tell you my love story. So if you don’t mind… please excuse me. I have work to do,” Luka said laughing heartily.
“That’s not right man leaving us hanging like that. Come back here and give us the scoop!” Jason yelled as Luka walked away.
“That duckling must really be under his skin. Since I’ve met Luka he never smiled or cracked jokes but he practically acted like an idiot when he saw her,” Michael said and for the first time since Camille’s passing he had a genuine smile on his face.
“Yeah you’re right… she most definitely is under his skin,” Jason grinned.
The two friends continued talking and it seemed like Michael was going to be ok. They didn’t know when they would be going home but it didn’t matter. Only time would tell.
After Jason saw Gyrongav the day before he didn’t see Aiyana again and he wondered where she could possibly be. As he took a sip from his mug he saw Aiyana walking towards them. Her hair whipped in the wind making her look like a figure from a fairy tale. He smiled and his heart felt warm.
Not far away Gaya stood at the entrance of her yaranga looking at the picture inside a burned locket.
“Anuk my love. How will I ever tell her,” Gaya said stroking the picture gently with her finger.
Other Titles You May Enjoy
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Copyright © 2012 Nathan J. Hawkins- All rights reserved.
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Other Titles You May Enjoy
Arctic Spring: Karma - Book 2 (Arctic Wilderness) Page 2
