by Payne, Lee
The woman looked doubtfully at his companions. "Are you sure you want to take their honor as your own? It is not necessary. Two are of a race unknown to us and one is of legend. A white warrior. I could scarcely believe what my children told me of their meeting yesterday. If these beings hold you against your will, we will aid you."
"No, mother. They are truly my friends and I travel with them willingly. The unknown ones are from far away and as for the legends," he turned to glance at Leahn, "I have heard some of them but I do not believe them. If you cannot accept my friends, we will leave together."
She held his hands tightly. "We have never turned one of the people away before. We shall not do it now. Introduce me to your brothers and your sister."
Ohan called to his companions who dismounted and came to join them. "This is the Commodore, the leader of our group, a traveller through many distant lands."
Vardara took the Commodore's hands in hers. "My son, Ohan, has pledged his honor as your own. We welcome you as we welcome him."
The Commodore shot a quick glance at Ohan as he translated the formal speech. "Thank you, madam. The conduct of my associates, I can guarantee. It is only my own that sometimes goes awry. But perhaps you have rowdy children of your own and will not judge me too harshly."
Vardara smiled. "I have heard of lands beyond our own. They are said to be places of wonder. I hope you will not find us too quiet for your taste."
"In all my travels, I have yet to find a land free of wonder. That would be the greatest wonder of all." He looked deeply into Vardara's eyes. "I'm sure I shall find much of interest here."
"You're right," she laughed. "I have had children like you." She turned to the twins and hesitantly took each of their slim hands in hers.
"Erol and Elor are distinguished scholars from a distant land," Ohan explained. "They have come to learn what they can of the ways of the people."
Though she stood on a step above them, the forest woman found herself looking straight into the yellow eyes of the tall slender twins. "I have always lived among my own people," she said. "I cannot imagine what it would be like to travel to a land where every face is different from those I have always known. We will try to make you feel at home."
"We thank you," Elor replied in perfect forest dialect. "Kindness wears a familiar face wherever it is found."
"And this is Leahn, mother," Ohan said carefully. "A woman from the highlands. If any have a question, I will answer for her."
Vardara seemed a little surprised. "Will you?" She appraised Leahn coolly. "I think she may be able to answer for herself, though she seems less formidable without the horse." The older woman took the hands of the younger. "They say the highlands lie near our forest but you, I think, have come on a longer journey than any of the others. You are welcome, daughter."
***
There seemed to be around fifty adults and more than a dozen children in the community. It was similar in construction to the abandoned site they had already visited. A large room just above the trunk of the fallen tree was made available for the visitors. There were several families with young children who had built their rooms higher up in the branches. Most of the older women lived with them while a number of the older men and some of the teen-age boys preferred to live together down near the trunk in a communal room next to the one set aside for the newcomers.
A strong corral was made for the horses near the water hole to keep them from foraging among the crops. Though water was not as plentiful here as it had been at the lost city, Ohan assured his friends that there was enough for each horse to enjoy a couple of baskets full. The entire community turned out to watch in awe as Leahn and the twins washed the big animals, who snorted and rolled about as happily as they had at the water pit.
Leahn emerged, scabbard in hand, soaked and laughing from the muddy corral. Vardara met her at the gate. "I was raised on cat and horse stories," she said. "I learned them from my grandmother and I tell them to my grandchildren but to actually see five horses together quite takes my breath away. They're even bigger than I imagined. And to see them handled so skillfully by a woman is even more exciting. You must have lived with them all your life."
Leahn retrieved her boots from the rock where she had left them. "Yes, my family had several. I've ridden since I was a child."
"In the highlands?"
"Yes."
"Is your family still there?"
Leahn paused to look at the little headwoman. "Yes. Some of them. My parents are dead."
Vardara had guided them into the shade beside the fallen trunk away from the others. "My husband was the clan leader before his death. I did not want the job but I have good people helping me. You heard Ohan call me mother when you came here. And I welcomed you as daughter. Those are formal terms of greeting and acceptance among our people. But as headwoman to this clan, those terms have more than ritual meaning for me. You, of course, are not of our people but Ohan asked that you be accepted into our clan during your stay. How long have you been without your own mother?"
Leahn found she could not meet the woman's steady gaze. "A long time," she replied.
"May I try to stand a little in her place while you are with us?"
"Well, if you want to . . . sure."
"Good." Vardara stepped back and put her hands on her hips. "Just look at yourself," she said sharply.
Leahn was taken aback. She suddenly saw herself standing, sword in one hand, boots in the other, soaked to the skin, skimpy wet tunic, stringy hair, in mud to her knees. "How did you do that?" she stammered. "That's exactly how my mother used to make me feel when I'd ruin my new clothes playing in the yard."
Vardara smiled. "You'll get the hang of it one day." Then she turned stern again. "And where were you planning to sleep tonight?"
"What? Oh, well, I thought I'd probably just bunk in with the guys. I don't want to put anybody out."
"Just bunk in with the guys," Vardara growled as she hustled Leahn away. "Don't want to put anybody out. Good gracious, child. That's what mothers are for."
Leahn stopped short. She was staring at the topmost room high above the tangle of fallen branches. "Who lives there?" she asked.
Vardara followed her gaze. "What, way up there on top? That's for one of my granddaughters. Kind of a simple child. My son-in-law builds a room up there for her every time we move. Spoils her, if you ask me." Her face lit up. "Would you like to stay up there? That would be perfect. I'll have her out in no time."
"Oh no, no, no," Leahn implored. "I couldn't."
"Of course you could. The child won't mind a bit." Vardara was pushing Leahn down into a narrow passageway beneath the trunk. "Do her good. Stop her mooning about up there."
"Look, I really don't want to do that. Maybe we could just share the place tonight and I could find something else tomorrow."
Vardara paused. "Share? Well, it might be good for the child if you really don't mind." She hustled on down the passage and held aside the fiber curtain to a small room. "And best of all, her father, my son-in-law, will hate it. They pamper the girl too much. But first get out of those wet clothes, get cleaned up and have a relaxing steam bath."
She pitched a small gourd full of water onto some stones in the corner of the room. They began to sizzle and a cloud of steam rose up. "And give me that ridiculous sword. What a pretty girl like you is doing prancing around out in the forest with a bunch of men and a big old sword, I can't imagine. But you won't need it here. I'll give it to that Commodore fellow to keep until you're ready to leave."
"Oh, I don't think . . ."
"Of course you don't, dear. That's what I'm here for." She led Leahn firmly into the little room. "Now get in and clean yourself up. I'll bring you some suitable clothes." She closed the heavy curtain. Leahn heard her start off up the passageway. "And do try to do something about your hair."
The room was dug into the ground directly beneath the trunk of the water tree which served as its ceiling. The floor and walls were line
d with smooth, carefully fitted aromatic wood. The stones in the corner were heated by a fire somewhere outside. Leahn found a large basket of water with a gourd floating in it and threw more water onto the stones. The room filled with steamy fragrance. She unlaced her tunic and found some polished wooden scrapers to clean her mud off. Then she stretched out on the smooth floor. The truth that this was the first time she had been really alone for a long time caught up to her just before she drifted off to sleep.
***
Leahn woke to find herself curled in the corner near the stones. A thin young girl watched her from the far side of the room near the door.
"Oh, good. You're finally awake," the girl chattered brightly. "I was just thinking of waking you. We don't want to miss supper."
Leahn's tunic and boots were gone, though her knives were still there. The girl unrolled a length of beautifully decorated fabric. "Isn't it pretty? Grandma sent it for you. I'm to show you how it ties together. Isn't this exciting? We're going to room together."
She grew briefly shy. "I'm Neali. I hope you don't mind. Grandma said you liked my room."
Leahn rolled up onto her knees, pleasantly stiff after her nap. She saw that the girl was trying mightily not to stare at her smooth white skin. "I'm pleased to meet you, Neali. I hope you don't mind a roommate for a couple of days. My name's Leahn."
She indicated the dress the girl was holding. "How do I get into that thing?"
As she helped Leahn into the garment, Neali explained about the varieties of bark cloth and how, the longer you beat and rolled them, the more the fibers were broken down and the finer the texture of the cloth that resulted. The rough fabrics were used for curtains and wall hangings while the finer ones were stained in a number of traditional designs, usually in bold patterns of black with shades of brown and yellow.
"We girls have to do all the pounding of the stupid bark until you think your arms are going to fall off. And it's never enough, of course," Neali giggled.
"And all the old aunts get to do the decoration. I'm learning to do some of the simple patterns now," she said proudly as she gave a final tug and tuck to Leahn's outfit.
"Well, except that you're too tall, it's just about right. But we really should do something about your hair." She started to survey the problem from various angles.
"Now you're starting to sound like my mother too. Ow!"
Neali had a finely carved wooden comb and was attacking Leahn's hair with vigor. "We'll just pull it straight back and braid a ribbon through it for now," she said. "This evening we'll really work on it."
"I can hardly wait," Leahn said without enthusiasm.
The dress was a wrap-around affair that tied over one shoulder leaving the other shoulder and arms bare. It fell straight to Leahn's knees but would have gone down to the ankles of a shorter forest woman. It had a loose waistband, evidently meant for carrying things. Leahn stuck her knives in there. "OK, kid," she said reluctantly. "Let's go to supper."
Neali led her to the top of the trunk where a long communal area was being set for a feast. The sky showed twilight. Looking around her, Leahn could see why so much of the clan's living space was kept to the area nearest the fallen trunk and in its branches. This left all of the clearing available for cultivation. The neat irrigated rows filled nearly all the space between the trunk and the surrounding forest wall.
Leahn passed one of the twins talking intently with someone, then saw the Commodore at the center of a large group of older people. She smiled as she recalled the first time she had seen him in the tavern, there as here, the center of attention, mesmerizing a crowd of cronies with improbable and undoubtedly off-color tales of adventure.
He caught sight of her and rose in greeting. "Ah, my dear, you look refreshed and lovelier than ever. And that gown suits you admirably."
He caught sight of Neali hiding behind her. "And this, your shy handmaiden, must be Neali, our hostess' charming granddaughter." He kissed her hand and Neali, eyes shining, started to come unraveled. "I must restrain myself until I learn more about your customs," the Commodore whispered to her conspiratorially. "If I get too bold, we could find ourselves engaged."
As Neali collapsed into giggles, he turned to Leahn. "You do look splendid, my dear. Come meet some of my new friends. Your arrival this afternoon has them quite intimidated, what with a smooth-skinned Amazon packing a sword, riding a horse and all. Come smile and show them you don't breathe fire."
As she was led off to meet the clan elders, Leahn caught a glimpse of Ohan among some younger men. He was, she noted approvingly, staring at her in open-mouthed admiration.
The feast went on for hours and featured a wide variety of dishes, a number of unfamiliar vegetables from the nearby fields and even eggs from the clan's flock of ground birds.
Leahn found herself seated on the long mat near a pleasant little woman who Neali introduced as her mother, and a larger man who seemed to be watching her with stern disapproval. This, Neali confirmed, was her father.
Leahn went on the offensive.
"I really feel I know you already," she gushed, holding onto his arm and leaning close. "When I first saw that beautiful little room back at the abandoned camp, I just fell in love with it. Empty as it was, I could tell it had been built with care and love by a really sensitive and clever person. But I feel terrible about forcing myself on you and Neali like this. I merely mentioned the room in passing to Vardara and she insisted I share it with your lovely daughter."
She leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Just between you and me, I think that Vardara is the teeniest bit pushy and I feel awful about imposing on your generosity. I'm going to be sure she finds me another place first thing in the morning."
The poor man never had a chance. He and his wife spent the rest of the evening insisting that Leahn stay with them for the rest of her life if necessary, and making sure she got more than her share of their favorite delicacies from the bountiful table before them.
After the meal, Vardara and several of the elders gave short speeches of welcome. In response the Commodore got up and delivered a long talk that everyone, Leahn included, found immensely entertaining.
Without ever hinting that he was from another planet, he wove together a number of tales suggesting a far-off land where the orderly and sensible life of the forest had been turned almost exactly the wrong way round with the result that people there found themselves hilariously confused most of the time.
He concluded by congratulating his hosts on their wise decision to live a rational life in the forest, as if, Leahn realized, they had a choice in the matter. He sat down to a rousing ovation.
Then the singing began. It started with an old man and woman who sang in clear thin voices, taking alternate verses of a song they were apparently composing on the spot, for they were weaving a musical story of the visitors' arrival that very morning on their journey from the mythical land the Commodore had just finished describing. Leahn found herself being humorously included as an awesome being who was shrunk down in a steam bath to one of almost human proportions.
That verse and a few others were greeted with instant approval and were repeated and enlarged upon by other singers and finally taken up by the whole crowd which then, with counterpoint and harmony, went on to a whole repertoire of traditional songs. Leahn saw the twins set out their recorder as the entire clan filled the night with lovely tales of great hunters, beautiful maidens, lost love, sad parting, joyful reunion and old men who drank too much bark wine.
After a while Leahn found herself beginning to nod off and Neali's father insisted that his daughter take her guest up to bed.
The little room was a carbon copy of the other, but with fabric hangings on the walls and woven mats on the floor. Leahn's bedroll, washed and with a couple of the rips sewn up, was already there. She leaned out over the little balcony and watched the crowd of people below. She lay down and watched the Eye of God turn slowly above the clearing as the rich voices swept her into a dreamle
ss sleep.
***
Leahn awoke to find herself alone in the little room, the sun well up and a freshly baked roll with a pot of tea on a tray just inside the door. She could hear the sounds of the day out in the clearing and all around below her.
She decided not to participate but dozed again, then took breakfast in bed while she watched the sunlight creep slowly down the wall. She thought of getting up and found that she was wearing a loose white shift she didn't remember getting into. Her dress was hanging neatly on the door but she wasn't sure she could put it on properly and decided not to try.
Neali arrived eventually, looking disheveled and out of sorts. "Well, thank goodness that's done," she huffed, wiping a glob of green stuff off her apron. "You'd think when you had a guest, they'd at least give you a little time off so you could entertain her properly."
"Not getting up early is entertainment enough for me. What have you been doing?"
"Oh God, what haven't I been doing?" Neali rolled her eyes dramatically and plopped down beside Leahn.
"Let's see. We started off, 'we' meaning all the young unmarried girls, we started off by cleaning up after last night, gathering the eggs, starting the baking, cooking breakfast for everyone who wants it and taking it in to whichever of the old aunts are too lazy to come and get it. Then we feed the little kids and some of us try to teach them something while others do the laundry and stoke the fires and clean the place up and carry water and then," she took a deep breath for effect, "it's time to start on lunch.
"So we get to cook it and take it out to the fields and feed the little kids again. That's what this green gunk is. Mashed vegetables. They all hate it."
"Where are their mothers?"
"Oh, they're all off working in the fields, weeding, carrying water, chasing the birds away, grinding meal and picking stuff for supper."
"What are the men doing?"
"Oh sure, the men. The old ones don't do anything. They just sit around and tell stories and want you to wait on them and get in your way while you're doing it. Some of them, like my dad, are out working in the fields all day. He's really good at growing stuff. And some of the boys have to haul wood and strip bark and stuff like that. But most of them are out hunting and wandering around in the forest. God, they have it so easy. Sometimes I think I'd like to be a man."
