'Make her stop,' Fern said.
Carnelian approached the girl and knelt in front of her. She looked right through him. He moved aside to let her see Fern again. 'He's a friend. He's your friend. The blood comes from there.' He pointed at the earther corpse stretching out from behind the tree, and she turned to look at it, then back at Fern.
Her eyes, so unnaturally large in her thin face, put a lump in Carnelian's throat. He smiled at her. 'What's your name?'
The second time he asked the question he was rewarded by her focusing on him. He indicated himself. 'You see, I'm just as filthy as he is. You're safe.' He would have hugged her if he had not been cohered in blood.
To everyone's surprise, the little girl said something. Carnelian did not understand and glanced urgently at Sil, who shrugged.
'I believe she's telling you her name. Poppy.'
Carnelian turned his attention back to the girl. 'Is that right? Is your name Poppy?'
The girl stared so deep into his eyes, Carnelian felt she was looking at his soul. When she surfaced, she gave him the tiniest of nods.
When they returned to their labours, Poppy sat beneath the Bloodwood Tree and did not once take her eyes off Carnelian. Any time he paused to glance back, he would find her there, gazing at him. At first he found it unsettling, but as the day wore on, he realized, with surprise, that if he had found her interest in him gone, he would have been disappointed.
He and Fern had, over the day, disassembled the remains of the earther, dragging the bones like logs. All that was left was the immense beaked head with its flaring crest and horns: clearly too heavy for them to move.
'What do we do with that?' asked Carnelian.
Fern frowned at him. 'We wait until they bring in the next one.' With that, he turned to walk towards the shade of the tree. Carnelian caught up and walked at his side. Glancing at Fern's gory, resolute face, Carnelian knew he would get nothing more out of him.
Sil came to the edge of the tree shade to meet them. 'Mother Akaisha says you might as well wash while we wait for the new earther to come in.'
Her husband acknowledged what she said with a gruff nod and walked on past her. Carnelian saw with what concern she watched him move away.
'Why's he so morose?' he asked her.
'He can't be brave all the time,' she snapped and looked at him as if had said something callous.
Carnelian was taken aback. He had sensed that Fern had reconciled himself to his punishment. Seeing the pain that lay behind her anger, Carnelian did not feel he could ask and, instead, went off to wash with Fern. Poppy eyed him as he walked sighing with pleasure at the cool relief from the sun. He smiled when he heard her creeping after him. When he turned, she froze.
'Could you please fetch us water to wash with, Poppy?'
When the girl nodded, he jogged to catch Fern. They walked together in silence.
'Poppy's bringing us water,' Carnelian said.
Fern turned, frowning. 'You mustn't get too attached to her. She has the kind of prettiness the Gatherer likes.'
When Poppy brought them water, Carnelian's gratitude made her look at her feet as she handed it to him. She stood and watched him and Fern washing each other. When they were clean, they went to sit with their backs against the tree, surveying the dazzling plain beyond the Outditch. Poppy followed them and sat herself near Carnelian. Remembering Fern's warning, he tried to take no pleasure in having her there.
Later, a dozen aquar appeared in the gate that was flanked by earther horns and that opened from the fern-meadow onto the plain. They approached, crushing the ferns in a wide arc. Ropes hitched to their crossbeams pulled taut radiuses from a common centre. The riders kept looking back over their shoulders. When they had come closer, Carnelian was able to see the boulder of flesh and hide with which they were ploughing up the meadow: another vast earther. Riders trotted up to the head of the butchered one and, slinging ropes over its horns, they made their aquar tow it away. The drag-cradles with their heaped rotting gore were hitched up and pulled away too. Soon the new earther was being tugged into position on the rusty earth under the Bloodwood Tree. The riders showed it off to the women, proudly. Among them he saw Krow and they exchanged smiles. Someone beside the youth scolded him. Startled, Krow looked round at two riders who Carnelian realized were Loskai and Crowrane. Father and son fixed Carnelian with a look of hatred that chilled him to the bone.
Poppy trailed after Carnelian as he returned with Fern, Akaisha, Whin and the others to their hearth. As he came within sight of the mother tree, anticipation of seeing Osidian filled him with dread. He put his hand on Fern's shoulder.
Tm going to see my brother.'
Fern nodded and Carnelian glanced round at Poppy, who had stopped a few steps down the rootstair and was gazing up at them.
'Could you please take her with you?'
Fern shook his head disapprovingly, but smiled. Carnelian crouched and beckoned Poppy. The girl came slowly up the steps. Even crouching, Carnelian had to look down at her.
'Will you go with Fern, Poppy?'
The girl looked up at the Plainsman and then back at Carnelian, then gave a solemn nod. Fern offered her his hand. She would only take it when Carnelian gave her a nod of approval. He let them go ahead of him. He could not help smiling each time she glanced round to make sure he was following. He parted company with them when they reached the rootearth of their hearth. He gazed off at his sleeping hollow, hesitated and, then, reluctantly, began walking towards it.
Even though he had anticipated finding Osidian weakened, what Carnelian saw shocked him. The body lying long and pale in the hollow did not give the impression of someone sleeping, but rather seemed a corpse lying in a sarcophagus.
Leaping into the hollow, Carnelian bent over it. He sought a pulse on the neck; the bony wrist. Unsure he could detect any life, Carnelian began shaking Osidian with ever increasing violence, until, coughing, he came alive. His green eyes swam. Carnelian felt himself being examined. Osidian's forehead creased.
'It's you,' he sighed.
Carnelian was shocked by how quickly he had deteriorated. 'You must eat,' he said. He leaned close and looked into the glass of Osidian's eyes. 'You must eat.'
Carnelian stumbled to his feet and almost broke into a run so that he might not hear Osidian forbidding him. People were gathering for the evening meal. He saw Akaisha with Whin and others of the women talking among the steam and smoke rising from the pots.
'Akaisha,' he said as he approached. 'Mother.'
The women all looked at him. He could see his fear reflecting in their eyes. Akaisha reached up to touch his face. 'What is it, Carnie? Why do you stare so?'
Carnelian calmed himself. 'Osidian, my… my brother, he is dying.'
Whin's face became leather. 'He's been keeping to your sleeping place, lying between the roots like one already dead.'
Carnelian searched Akaisha's eyes. He did not want to believe she wanted him to die, though he understood how it would rid her of a burden.
'He's not eaten since we arrived and was already weakened by the fever. You will let me take some food for him?'
Whin spoke: 'No one has stopped him coming to eat with us.'
Carnelian did not want to explain why Osidian had not. 'He's not like me.'
Akaisha nodded slowly, her eyes seeming to search deep into him. 'Even though you are brothers.'
Carnelian looked away ashamed of his lie and saw Whin, her lips pressing tight with disapproval. He looked down at the pots.
Take as much as you need,' Akaisha said.
Those not prepared to work should not expect the Tribe to feed them,' said Whin.
Carnelian grimaced.
Akaisha patted Carnelian's shoulder. 'Carnie has been working hard enough for the both of them. Go on, take him some broth.'
Carnelian looked for a ladle, a bowl. It was Sil who found them for him. She began to take food from a pot.
'Not so much,' he said. 'He'll not eat much
if he eats at all.'
She looked up, her face full of concern. She put some of the broth back, wiped the rim and then handed Carnelian the bowl. He looked her in the eyes, thanked her, glad they seemed to be friends again, then carried the bowl away as fast as he could, trying to avoid spilling it.
'Why does the Master refuse to eat?' pleaded Ravan, following him.
Carnelian kept his gaze fixed on the hollow. 'He doesn't want to live here.'
'I've promised him everything I could think of, but he won't even talk to me.'
Carnelian felt the youth was crowding him, threatening to jostle the precious broth onto the ground. 'He's one of the Standing Dead… being here… he can't… it's hard to explain.'
Ravan's face darkened. 'It's you, you're killing him. I've seen the way you've been working on my mother. How desperate you must be that you're prepared to humiliate yourself to impress her by working with Fern. The Master would never lower himself to that and so you're getting rid of him. If he dies I'll make sure you're thrown out of the Koppie.'
Stunned, Carnelian watched Ravan move away. The urgency of Osidian's need made him resume his journey to the hollow. When he reached it, he set the bowl carefully on the nearest root, climbed over and sank into a crouch beside Osidian, who looked no better. Carnelian dug an arm under him and struggled to make him sit. Osidian's eyes opened as Carnelian propped him against the root. Carnelian glanced at the bowl nervously, worried he might knock it over. He retrieved it, balanced it on his knee, dipped a spoon into the broth then held it up to Osidian's mouth. 'Eat,' Carnelian said.
Osidian's nostrils twitched as the steam rose from the broth. His eyes focused on the spoon. Slowly, wearily, he shook his head.
'You must eat,' Carnelian pleaded.
Osidian looked into Carnelian's eyes. 'Let me die. It's better that you should let me die.'
Carnelian was seeing him through tears. 'I won't let you.'
Osidian gazed at him.
'You are my heart,' Carnelian whispered, an echo of the vows of love they had made to each other on that terrible night they had been taken in the Yden. Again he offered Osidian the broth.
Osidian's lips smiled a little. 'I cannot be less than I am.'
Seeing the death rings around Osidian's eyes, Carnelian's fear for him heated to anger. 'And what is that? A Master? One of the Chosen? A Lord of the Earth, perhaps? Such claims sound splendid in Osrakum, but looking at you so easily defeated, they are revealed to be nothing more than empty boasts. Any man can be a god behind legions, behind mountain walls. Are you brave enough to be simply a man?'
Irritation sparked in Osidian's eyes. 'You bait me as if I were a child.'
'You have been behaving like one.'
There is no life for me here.'
Then make one.'
'Labouring like a slave; living as a savage?'
These people have no slaves, and though they are poor, they have dignity. If you were to open your heart, you would see they are even possessed of a certain nobility.'
Osidian looked disgusted. They live in such ghastly squalor.'
'Are you so much more delicate than they? Or is it fear, Osidian? Are you afraid that you might be less capable of survival here than are these barbarians?'
Anger had brought Osidian fully back to life. 'What labour do you perform?'
Carnelian described the work he did.
'And this you do out of some sense of debt to your savage?'
'Fern saved our lives.'
Carnelian watched Osidian frown, then lose his gaze in the sky. He dared not breathe. Osidian's eyes fell on him. 'I shall work with you.'
Carnelian imagined Osidian, weak as he was, labouring among the flies and heat. His head shook of its own accord.
'Akaisha will find you something else until you have regained your strength.'
'Strength is not in the body but flows from the will. I shall share this penance with you.'
Carnelian did not care to argue. At that moment there was only one victory he sought. He pushed the spoon to Osidian's lips. 'Eat then.'
Osidian's trembling hands took the spoon and bowl from him and began to eat. As he did so, Carnelian hurried to fetch water from the jar against the tree. When Osidian had drunk enough, he refused any help and lay back in the hollow. He was instantly asleep. Carnelian watched him for a while. Osidian, sleeping, seemed whole again. Carnelian stooped to kiss his forehead, then crept away.
At the hearth, he sat down in his usual place. When Poppy brought him a bowl, he made sure to thank her. It was Ravan who asked him the question everyone wanted to ask.
'How is he?'
Carnelian knew that Ravan would find out some time. 'He's decided to come and join me beneath the Bloodwood Tree.'
Ravan gaped. 'No! You're lying.'
Sil looked startled at the violence of Ravan's reaction.
'Of course he can join us tomorrow, Carnie,' said Akaisha.
Ravan turned his gape on his mother. 'You must forbid it.'
Akaisha raised her eyebrows as a mutter of unease went around the hearth.
Whin stood up. 'Ravan, have you forgotten who you're speaking to?'
Ravan scowled and looked around him as if he were being assaulted from every side. Jumping to his feet, he stormed off, knocking over one of the children's bowls as he went.
Akaisha called after him but he seemed not to hear her. Concern mixed with anger as she looked at Fern. 'What's the matter with your brother?'
Fern looked bitter. The Master has turned out to be a poorer replacement for his father than he had hoped.'
THE CHALLENGE
Beware of forcing a locked door unless you know what lies behind it.
(A Chosen proverb)
Carnelian woke to find someone lying warm against his chest. Only half awake, he assumed it must be Osidian, but realized he was lying against his back. Carnelian allowed the confusion to sit unresolved in his mind as he turned to regard the dark morning sky through the branches of the mother tree. At last, he found the will to sit up. Whatever it was curled up against him grunted as it adjusted its position. Gently he put his hand out and felt a small head. Peering, he saw it was a child. Poppy. He stroked her hair, drawing comfort from her warmth. He could just make out Osidian, his breathing fitful. Carnelian wondered whether Osidian would have the strength even to stand up, never mind to labour in the heat under the Bloodwood Tree.
Taking care not to wake either of them, he rose, dressed silently and then picked his way across the roots towards the hearth. Several of the women were already gathered in the pale light filtering down to the hearth. Sil saw him coming and smiled brightly.
'Breakfast?'
He nodded and watched her count out enough fernroot cakes for two people.
'My hollow seems to have acquired another mouth to feed.'
She looked at him surprised. When Carnelian explained, she looked thoughtful.
'It was obvious yesterday she'd taken to you, Carnie.'
'Will anyone mind?'
'I can't see why they should, do you?'
Carnelian shook his head.
She beamed. 'Well then.' She plucked up another cake and gave it to him.
He thanked her and returned to the hollow. In his absence, Poppy had snuggled into Osidian. Carnelian wondered how Osidian would react to the girl. He woke her gently. Poppy yawned, rubbed her eyes and then came suddenly awake in a stare. He thought of welcoming her, but then considered he should not do so until he was sure Osidian was not going to reject her. To reassure her he gave her a cake with a smile.
Osidian was next. Carnelian had to shake him. Osidian opened his eyes and for a while could do nothing more than gaze up into the branches of the cedar. When, at last, he sat up with a groan, Poppy looked at him as if he had suddenly come up out of the ground. Carnelian offered him a cake. Osidian's eyes fell on Poppy, who smiled winningly at him. As he turned away from her, Poppy's face fell and Carnelian reacted by cupping her cheek in hi
s hand. She backed into his leg, making sure to keep an eye on Osidian. Carnelian offered him the cake again. To Carnelian's relief, Osidian took it and bit into it.
The cakes were finished by the time Fern appeared. Osidian greeted him with cold eyes. Fern addressed Carnelian as if Osidian were not there.
'Are you sure he's going to be strong enough?'
Carnelian was not sure, but was determined he would not allow him to remain in the hollow. When it came time for them to leave, Osidian refused any help. Grimacing, he rose and then stood looking none too steady. 'Where's Ravan?'
'He'll be on warding duty around the Koppie today with the rest of his hunt,' said Fern.
Carnelian saw in Osidian's raised eyebrows that he had expected Ravan to join them. Osidian caught Carnelian's look and smiled.
'So our little friend thinks it too humiliating to work with us.'
Carnelian was half pleased that this might lead to a break between the two.
They moved towards the rootstair, Osidian tottering after them. Poppy would not leave Carnelian's side. Together they descended the stair with Fern. Osidian followed them, taking each step as if it were his last.
His face wet rust, Osidian stood naked beneath the Bloodwood Tree. His pallid skin could have been soaked cloth wrapped around the frame of his bones. Carnelian and Fern looked at each other. Neither could imagine where Osidian was even finding the strength to stand, never mind for the day's work. Akaisha called out to them. Bloodied, she stood by the butchered corpse, the black boulder of its liver bleeding at her feet. Carnelian saw her look of concern as she watched Osidian advancing with them. Sil could not hide her distress. Even Whin's forehead was creased with something like pity.
Carnelian decided to act. He took Osidian's stick arm.
'You're too weak,' Carnelian said.
Osidian pulled his arm free and continued his advance upon the liver. Soon he was wrestling with it. Its blood smeared all across his chest. Carnelian saw Osidian was intent on lifting the whole mass of it himself and rushed in to help. Fern was soon there beside him. As they heaved the quivering mass to the drag-cradles, they had enough of a struggle coping with its weight themselves to have any energy left over to worry about Osidian.
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