Pillar of Fire (Book One-The Whale Hunter Series)

by Karah Quinney

  Karah

  Quinney

  PILLAR OF FIRE

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  K/P

  Copyright © 2011 KARAH QUINNEY

  All rights reserved

  ISBN-10: 0985959266

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9859592-6-5

  KENNEDY PUBLISHING

  TITLES BY KARAH QUINNEY:

  Series

  The Keeper

  The Guardian (Book One)

  The Chosen One (Book Two)

  Dreamkeeper (Book Three)

  The Whale Hunter

  Pillar of Fire (Book One)

  Sacred Fire (Book Two)

  Sacred Path (Book Three)

  The Great Land

  The Seeking Star (Book One)

  Shadow of the Moon (Book Two)

  Light of the Sun (Book Three)

  Sundancer

  Legend of the Sundancer (Book One)

  The Last Sundancer (Book Two)

  Warrior

  The Warrior’s Way – February 2014

  PILLAR OF FIRE is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual or fictional events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Published in the United States by Kennedy Publishing.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Quinney, Karah

  PILLAR OF FIRE: a novel/Karah Quinney.

  Cover Art: www.brookegillette.weebly.com

  PILLAR OF FIRE

  Karah Quinney

  Copyright 2011 by Karah Quinney

  Kennedy Publishing

  License Statement:

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Before written history, the people of the primordial west coast region and alpine forests banded together as a means of survival and protection. The ocean was simply known as the Great Water. Men, women and children lived and died without passing on the knowledge gained during their lives except through well-cherished, spoken stories. This is the long remembered story of those that clung tenaciously to life with hope, strength and determination.

  Thousands of years ago...

  Talon knew that his sister was at risk of facing starvation if he didn’t find a way to save her. His grandmother’s burial pier still smoldered and the only thing that he could focus on was the hunger gnawing its way through his belly.

  Sunflower wouldn’t last long on the roots and berries that he had managed to find. Others scoffed at his efforts to provide for his sister, but he no longer cared about the pitying looks sent his way. At first, a few of the women sought to offer him what little food they could spare, but Talon’s pride forced him to refuse.

  When Sunflower began to wilt before his eyes, Talon quickly changed his mind. Instead of taking the food that they offered, he asked the women to show him where they went to gather roots and berries. At seventeen seasons of age, he was already considered a man of his village. By chance, he made his first kill and became a hunter of his village, as was his right.

  He remembered the look of hope in his grandmother’s eyes at that time. He had learned not to expect kindness from his grandmother, but she had been hopeful and full of pride. Yet, hunting was scarce and the forest that was once bountiful with game now seemed to be empty of life. Despite his best efforts, the traps and snares that he set were often empty.

  They lived by the Great Water and although Talon joined the fishing boats with the men of his village, their catch was pitifully small. It was too small to feed a hungry village and much too small to spare a larger share for him.

  Despite the difficulties that he faced, Talon loved the water. It was only in the depths of the ocean that he and Sunflower experienced true peace. She often found clams, abalones and mussels, which she raised high overhead as she silently cheered with delight.

  Talon knew that it was wrong to hide away the small portion of food that they found. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn’t think of another way to feed his sister. They were the lowest members of their village and as such, they would be the first to suffer deprivation and hunger.

  Umati led the Hokum Village, while his brother Sarnom oversaw many other responsibilities. Sarnom walked with the confident steps of a man of privilege and he expected each man to hand over any bounty taken from the Great Water. Umati was often caught up in the many rituals of leadership and he never denied his brother’s request, large or small. During the evening ceremony, Umati would say a blessing and divide the food amongst them, giving the largest portions to his immediate family and the men that he favored. Yet, Talon felt that this practice was unjust. Umati and Sarnom didn’t often hunt, but they partook of the bounty brought in by the village hunters.

  Talon and Sunflower always received the smallest portion of the meal. Although Talon was a hunter, he was ostracized because of Sunflower’s inability to hear. His sister had recovered from an illness that almost proved fatal, only to lose her hearing in the battle for her life. Never before had their village known anyone like her.

  Sunflower communicated with Talon in her own way and he understood her perfectly, though at times they were cruelly mocked. It was whispered that Talon’s mother was cursed and the rumors about his father were too fanciful to be believed. Talon craved knowledge of the man that had fathered him, yet it was as if he had never been.

  There was nothing physically wrong with him, but he stood out as different from the other young men. The villagers often turned their faces away in disdain when they happened upon his sister and he knew that each slight wounded her deeply.

  Talon ran his fingers through the sand as he considered the plight of his village. Each season it seemed that hunting, fishing and gathering food became more difficult. The Hokum people stubbornly insisted that they must keep the traditions of old, but in his eyes, many of the traditions that the people kept as sacred would eventually lead to their downfall.

  Umati continued to beseech the heavens for a blessing and the hunters were required to sit around the fire as the women danced. Yet, their fishing nets were often empty and there was very little hope for anything more. The forest surrounding their village was no longer rich with game and each time men were sent out to hunt, they were forced to travel farther and farther away.

  Talon looked at the smoking pier as he considered the woman that had lived her life under a shadow of regret. Green Leaf had been a hard woman and she never forgave his mother for joining with a man that had essentially abandoned them.

  Talon couldn’t remember a time when his grandmother had smiled at him or Sunflower in affection. He thought that perhaps if he had known more about his mother and father, he would have been able to understand his grandmother, but instead he was left with more questions than answers.

  Green Leaf died just as she had lived, angry and sullen. It was Talon that discovered his grandmother lying unnaturally still upon her sleeping furs. He quickly woke his sister and led her from the lodge that they shared with several of the families of the village.

  After seating Sunflower on her favorite rock by the water, Talon returned to the lodge and informed the village of his grandmother’s death.
He didn’t weep or cry, for he was a man of the village and a hunter. Instead, thoughts of his mother and father plagued him. What would they want him to do?

  He was now solely responsible for his sister and at times, he shivered at the looks that she received from Sarnom. She was still only a child, yet already the people talked about the day that Sarnom would take Sunflower to his lodge as a servant.

  Because of her inability to hear, Sunflower struggled with the thought that she was evil or cursed and he could see the confusion wrought by her disability etched upon her face, leaving shadows to cloud out the light in her eyes.

  If she became a servant of Sarnom’s lodge, she would never be granted the same honor that other women received. Some of the hunters had first and second wives, but Sunflower wouldn’t even be allowed the position of a third wife. What hope was there for his sister within their village? Talon didn’t want to contemplate the future that yawned, dark and unknown, like the vengeful maw of a hungry beast bent on devouring them both.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Sarnom watched Talon mourn his grandmother for one full day. The villagers were often given three or four days to sit in grief, but Green Leaf had been a solitary figure with no one to mourn her passing except for Talon and Sunflower. She had been a bitter old woman, cursed by association from her daughter’s poor choice of a lifemate and her granddaughter’s dire affliction.

  Sarnom thought of the light of innocence in Sunflower’s eyes and his mouth watered in eager anticipation. He licked his lips as if tasting a special treat, created solely for his enjoyment. Nothing prevented him from taking Sunflower to his lodge as a servant. It was obvious by their worn and tattered garments that Talon was unable to care for the girl by himself. Rumors circled the village, stirring interest and anticipation. It mattered little that the false utterings were further incited by his wives at his insistence. Before long, he would take the girl as a servant to his lodge.

  When he was in her presence, she watched him with wide eyes, surrounded by a fringe of black lashes that held him in thrall. Her skittishness around him only increased his desire to possess her.

  Talon glanced up as Sarnom approached and stood over him. He kept his eyes lowered as he tried to avoid Sarnom’s piercing gaze.

  “You grieve for your grandmother.” Sarnom spoke forcefully as was his way. Talon nodded once and glanced at his grandmother’s smoldering burial pier.

  “It is not good that you have been left with the burden of caring for your sister in these trying times.” Sarnom saw that he had captured Talon’s full attention as he continued speaking. “I have already told my brother that Sunflower is welcome in my lodge, as a servant for my wives. She will be well cared for and she will eat along with the rest of my family.”

  If not for the cruel twist of Sarnom’s mouth, Talon might have believed him to be a man of integrity. His clothing was finely made and he wore an open deerskin parka adorned with colorful shells, along with fringed leggings and a multicolored belt. He had the familiar squat, muscular build inherent to men of the forest and his long, dark hair had been sheared to hang over his shoulders. His gaze was direct, but the vast emptiness in his eyes held Talon’s attention.

  Talon forced himself not to flinch under the man’s cold stare. It was clear to him that Sarnom considered him a fool. If he gave his consent, his sister would forever hold the lowly place of a servant. He knew that this meant that Sunflower would never be allowed to marry.

  Talon felt sweat trickle between his shoulder blades as he struggled to respond in a way that would give him time to think, time to consider how to keep Sunflower at his side.

  “My sister and I need time to grieve together. We will observe the four days of mourning in honor of our grandmother.” Talon hoped that his voice sounded appropriately mournful, but his heart beat at a rapid pace. He felt a sharp pain blossom in his chest, like a newly formed ember set adrift.

  He couldn’t give Sunflower over to Sarnom, not when he feared for her safety and wellbeing. Talon knew better than to voice his concerns about Sarnom to anyone within the village. It was forbidden to take a girl, not yet a woman and mate with her. Yet, he was almost certain that Sarnom nurtured a twisted fascination for Sunflower.

  Talon knew that the villagers would side with Sarnom if he balked over losing Sunflower. It appeared that Sarnom thought that he could simply step in and take Sunflower away from him without a fight. He had the backing of Umati and those of their village. Talon silently acknowledged Sarnom’s words as the man made promises that he wouldn’t keep.

  “Your sister will be treated well at my hearth. She will be welcomed by my wives. However, if she is not at the entranceway of my lodge on the fourth morning, I will be forced to withhold your share of the hunt. This is for your benefit. You will see.”

  It appeared that Sarnom was content with their discussion, but as he walked away, Talon swayed unsteadily.

  He stared down at his clenched hands and exhaled with a ragged breath. Although there didn’t seem to be any other choice, everything inside of him rebelled over the very thought of allowing Sarnom to take Sunflower to his hearth. If Sarnom had bothered to glance over his shoulder, he would have found that the raw defiance in his eyes had shifted from a small ember into a blazing inferno.

  Talon returned to the lodge and found Sunflower weaving a basket. Her fingers were quick and nimble as they moved over the reeds with ease. When she caught sight of him, she set her basket aside and walked forward to greet him. Talon felt his heart lighten, if only for a moment.

  “Have you eaten?” He spoke in low tones even though he knew that she couldn’t hear him.

  He touched her shoulder and then touched his own mouth. Her bright gaze dimmed slightly as she shook her head back and forth.

  Talon looked behind him and saw that most of the families of the village were seated inside the cramped lodge. Their lodge was a dome shaped dwelling made of willow poles and covered with grass mats, which they sat upon when at rest.

  Most of the families in their village lived inside of one lodge. Umati kept his own lodge, as did Sarnom and his wives. Talon could have chosen to move into the hunters’ lodge, where the single men stayed once they were of marriageable age, but he would have been forced to leave Sunflower behind.

  Talon unwrapped a bundle that held edible plants and roots that he had gathered as he trekked through the forest. He handed the bundle to Sunflower and she nodded in appreciation as she examined the elk weed, thistle, bee plant and fennel with a critical eye. His sister enjoyed cooking over their small hearth fire.

  He watched as she quickly stripped the leaves from the plants, ground the roots into a paste and added a few slivers of wild onion. Talon didn’t know how Sunflower was able to make something appetizing out of the small scraps of food that he provided, but it was one of her many gifts.

  Their mother, Ivy, had been a small woman, finely made and delicate in appearance. She died of a chest sickness that had drained her strength day by day. Talon could still remember the sound of his mother’s hacking cough.

  Nothing took the sickness away. Ivy made Talon swear that he would always take care of Sunflower. His mother didn’t need to ask for his vow, simply because it was something that he would freely give. He swore on his life that he would provide for Sunflower and it was a vow that he meant to keep, even now.

  When he closed his eyes, he remembered living with his mother and father. He knew that they had once had a good life together and that there was life outside of the Hokum Village. In the quiet moments of the night, Talon often wondered if he should leave with Sunflower and try to survive in the forest.

  The Hokum Village had been established as the two families blended into one and others joined their band. A council of elders was formed over time and then later a leader was chosen, some said by right and others said by deceit.

  Yet, none of that mattered now. If he abandoned his village, he would become exactly what the villagers expected. He would b
ecome like his father who had left his mother alone with two children, never to return.

  Talon had fond memories of his mother. She had been kind and loving toward him, often praising his efforts and looking upon him with pride shining in her eyes.

  Talon’s grandmother once told him that his mother ran away as a disobedient daughter unwilling to bend under the expectations of their village. Despite his grandmother’s claims, Talon didn’t know why his father had chosen to abandon them.

  Their mother had tried to teach Sunflower how to speak with her hands, but Umati had forbidden it at Sarnom’s request. His mother said that refusing to allow Sunflower to speak with her hands was the same as rendering her mute.

  Yet, Sarnom insisted that Sunflower’s inability to hear was a curse upon them all and many of the villagers sided with him. Ivy beseeched their village leader for help, but Umati wouldn’t be swayed.

  His mother had been forced to obey Umati’s command or leave their village, taking her two children along with her. Although Talon told himself that he no longer cared why his father had abandoned them, he couldn’t forget that his mother had called out for her lifemate with her last breath. Talon shook the troubling thoughts away as he concluded that it was a worry for another time. For now, he readily accepted the meal that Sunflower prepared and he urged her to eat first.

  They sat with their backs to the rest of the village, not because they wished to ignore the others, but because the villagers chose to ignore them.

  “Sarnom has offered to take you to his lodge as a servant for his wives.” Talon voiced the words through a throat gone tight with barely constrained emotion.