That challenge met, Adia resigned herself to face the problem of finding one of their own females to take over nursing Oh’Dar. She knew that in her position of Second Rank, she could order one of the females to accept the offspring. That would be the way Khon‘Tor would handle it, that’s for sure. But using her authority to enforce her will was never Adia’s way.
She realized she needed a stepped approach, rather than a direct one—like throwing a pebble in a body of water and letting the ripples expand. She thought of the females who were closest to her, her strongest supporters; females who themselves were in a position of influence within the community.
Adia also realized this meeting with the females could go very wrong. If they have the same first reaction as Nadiwani, I might never get their support. I need to set the stage to convey to them the importance and reverence of this event.
“Nadiwani, please go and find Donoma, Lomasi, Mapiya, and Haiwee and bring them here,” she said.
“Donoma and Haiwee will probably be out in the preparation area. I do not know about Lomasi and Mapiya. But until you have all four gathered, do not bring any of them here. I want to address them together, at the same time,” Adia directed.
Nadiwani shook her head a couple of times. “Here?” she asked. “Here in the Healer’s Quarters?”
It was an unprecedented move because of the sanctity of the Healer’s Quarters.
“I mean,” Nadiwani stammered, “It’s never been done before, bringing anyone here from the community.”
“Yes, here,” nodded Adia. “Here to my quarters.”
Nadiwani shook her head again but did as Adia said. After all, Adia had just brought one of the Brothers there.
She had no trouble rounding up the first two, directing them to wait in the Great Chamber until she had the others collected. Finally, having found all four females, she asked them to come with her and not to ask any questions. The females looked at each other, acknowledging the unprecedented honor of being called by Nadiwani.
The Helper led them from the Great Chamber through the expansive stone tunnels to Adia’s quarters. She turned back to check and saw the females were not following her. They had stopped at the entrance of the tunnel that led to the Healer’s Quarters. Nadiwani went back to them and again asked that they come with her. The first in line, Mapiya, looked back at the others as if checking they had all understood the same thing. Finally, Nadiwani beckoned them by swooping her hand into the tunnel to simulate their entering, and they followed her through the opening.
Once inside, the females looked around furtively. Nadiwani imagined their curiosity must be overwhelming—after all, the chances of them ever being here again was virtually non-existent—once in a lifetime was even outside their wildest imaginings.
While waiting, Adia had prepared for the females' arrival. She placed Oh'Dar out of sight, praying he would continue to be quiet. She had not prepared a speech but instead spent the time in meditation, counting on her connection to the Great Mother to guide her in what to say.
Everything within her still said that Oh'Dar had a role to play, an important role, in the future of her people—maybe even that of the Brothers also. Though she had ultimately saved him based on an overriding motherly instinct, the sense of his importance had reinforced her decision to rescue the offspring and bring him here.
Standing, Adia motioned them to please sit in front of her and signed to Nadiwani and Arina of the Brothers to stand beside her.
Adia was not the tallest female in the community, but she was of above-average stature. Now that the four visitors were all sitting, she realized she was towering over them—not the atmosphere of collaboration she wished to foster for this meeting.
Adia lowered herself to the ground, sitting cross-legged in front of the females, not more than five feet away. She reached up to Nadiwani and Arina and pulled them down to sit next to her—the three of them now facing the other females. Adia sat close enough to the four to bring them into her personal space. There was enormous goodwill among this group of four females, but none of them was on the familiar standing with Adia that Nadiwani was. The fact that the Healer and Healer’s Helper were including the visitors in their inner circle—at least for the moment—was meant to demonstrate that Adia was placing great confidence in them.
It was a good thing Adia started to speak shortly after that, as the females seemed no longer able to contain their excitement. She continued in Handspeak, first introducing Arina.
Handspeak was a graceful language that the People used at will and interchangeably with spoken words. It was particularly useful on hunting parties when speech was the enemy of stealth, and any sound could alert the prey. It was also frequently used during the early and late periods of the day when they did not want to disturb others. Lastly, it was the first language taught to their offspring, as motor skills preceded the development of verbal skills. Mothers and caretakers had discovered they could communicate with their offspring through Handspeak long before the offspring mastered the spoken language. But to use it in the quarters here, when there was no real need to keep the silence, lent a formality to her message.
“I know you are wondering why you are here. I know that on some level, you are aware something important is about to take place—for me individually, and for the People as a whole. I know you have faith in me as your Healer. I hope I have always demonstrated to you by my actions that I have only the best interests of our people at heart. My father passed on to me the love he had for all the People, and it runs through my veins now.”
Adia paused for a moment, stopping short of asking them to trust her based on their esteem for her renowned father. It would have been an easy move, but she felt they might perceive it as a critical reflection on their Leader, Khon’Tor, and even more so with him away. No, Khon’Tor and I may have our differences, but he is still the Leader. I will not do anything to discredit his authority. Well, if this one small violation of the Second Laws by bringing the Waschini offspring here does not count.
She continued, “Long ago the Ancients foretold that great challenges would come to the People in the far times. So far, we have lived in peace with our neighbors the Brothers, and the multitude of forest souls with whom we share this world. We have enjoyed generation after generation of freedom and protection, not only in raising our young but also in sharing our joys. That is not to say there have not been trials, but the challenges we have faced individually and collectively as a People are nothing compared to the times to come; times that will test our resolve and our commitment to our culture, to the Brothers, and to each other,” she signed.
The females never took their eyes off her. The air in the room was still charged but changing, no longer filled with anticipation but with a sense of reverence.
“Each of you is also connected to the Great Mother through the seventh sense, so you already know there can be deep-running currents which do not ripple the surface. And often only the passage of time and unfolding of events will reveal the hidden deeper truths.”
Adia had lost all feelings of concern by now. She was in the flow of her connection with the Great Mother, and the words spilled effortlessly from her hands. She had surrendered to what would be, trusting that a great power was in control of Oh'Dar’s destiny as well as her own, and the role they would play together in the future of her people.
Adia took a deep breath before continuing, maintaining eye contact with the group, but softening her gaze. Her hands moved fluidly, but slower now.
“I have committed a grievous sin against the laws of the People. I do not involve you in this sin. It was mine alone, and I accept full responsibility for it, just as I will accept the consequences of my actions,” she continued.
The four females exchanged quick sideways glances with each other.
Adia stood up, went to a corner of the room, and came back carrying the offspring.
She stood before them holding Oh'Dar, his tiny, frail body cradled in her arm
s. The females did not make a sound. They looked at the offspring, taking in the light fuzz on the top of his head, the tiny arms, the tinier fingers. Just as she had not, Adia was confident they had never seen a more fragile creature in their lives. Then he turned his head and looked at them with those brilliant blue eyes, at the same time making a little bubbly cooing noise.
For a moment, nothing was said. Not a hand moved. All eyes were on the Waschini offspring in front of them. Almost all the People had heard stories of the White Men—of their cruelty and their cowardice. Some of them knew only that Whites existed. Either way, the enormity of Adia’s act was unprecedented.
Slowly, Mapiya stood up and approached Adia. She put her hand out slowly, gently, and gingerly placed it on top of the offspring’s head. She looked up at Adia and with her other hand asked,
“How can we help you?”
With that, the others also stood and joined them. By now, Nadiwani was in tears. Tears also welled in Adia’s eyes. She felt the connection between all of them, and with the Great Mother, deepen and quicken. At that moment, she knew they were all bonded together in this – no matter what might come.
Understanding having been established, Adia sat back down, now with Oh'Dar in her lap. The other females followed her lead and sat around her in a semi-circle. Under different circumstances, if an offspring were introduced, there would have been light-hearted chatter about names and training, and the offspring would have been passed around to be cooed over, with many words of congratulations for the new mother. But this was a solemn event with no place for levity or empty chatter.
It was as if no one wanted to break the mood. Finally, the oldest of the four females, Mapiya, spoke up. “Arina cannot stay with us forever. He needs a wet nurse from the People.” It was a statement, not a question. Adia and Nadiwani both nodded. The older female raised her hand as if to say, “No problem, it is done.”
Based on what had just taken place between them, Adia had no doubts that Mapiya would come through in producing someone to nurse the offspring; though it would be no small feat to find someone built small enough for this tiny mouth to latch onto.
At that point, Nadiwani spoke up and took over the conversation, speaking to the group about the offspring’s needs for food, clothing, and care. Adia took the opportunity to get up and place Oh'Dar back in his protected area where he could stay warm.
She turned back to look at the females, her new inner circle, all talking at the same time, excited and energized. The barrier had been cracked; he was no longer so much a Waschini as he was simply an offspring.
Several days passed. Khon’Tor had not yet returned and had sent no word that he was on his way. Adia used the time to her advantage, strengthening the connection between her and the other females, arranging logistics for the care of Oh’Dar.
True to her word, Mapiya had found a wet nurse for him.
“This is Pakuna. You remember her; she was paired three years ago,” said Mapiya. To her credit, the young female did not flinch when she saw the offspring. She took him in her arms and helped him latch on. Pakuna had produced her first offspring not very many days before. New mothers generally had more than enough milk for several offspring, and as tiny as Oh'Dar was, she would hardly notice his draw on her supply.
Adia reflected on this first step. True, it was only a small group of females—but they were influential in the rest of the community. She believed she had chosen well, though the real test would occur when the Leader returned and it was time for Adia to face the consequences of her actions.
Chapter 5
The mighty Khon’Tor was silent as he returned from his trip. He had traveled easily four days on foot to meet with the High Council. Almost every one of the High Council members had been there, nearly thirty in all. It had been a special meeting, called to address growing concerns about the Outsiders and their encroachment on both the People’s and the Brothers’ territory. But his silence was not from physical fatigue; the trip there and back was nothing for a male of his strength and build. He could easily have covered three times the distance and not been taxed; it was the mental strain that had drained his reserves.
The High Council members had shared more stories of the White Man’s cruelty and ignorance. The Waschini demonstrated abject disregard for the gifts of the Great Spirit. They showed no consideration to using only what they needed and to leave the rest to fulfill its role in the natural order. They had no reverence for the forest creatures, no respect for the value of animals’ lives. They hunted creatures to extinction.
The High Council members questioned whether the Waschini possessed a soul; they seemed cruel and heartless, showing no mercy and giving no quarter. Of this, they all agreed; the coming of the Outsiders promised nothing good for the Brothers or the People.
The People had always moved freely throughout the vast expanse of their land. They had no fear of the forest, the rivers, the animals, or any of the other tribes. They had respect for and lived in harmony with the Brothers. But the Outsiders seemed to have no laws, no conscience, no heart to which to appeal. They seemed to lack an internal stop, which meant any limit to their destructive power had to be forced on them externally.
Neither the People nor the Brothers were afraid of conflict. It was never their first solution, however. They preferred to live in peace. Whether they were able to defend themselves and their communities was not the point. But they had learned that once conflict started it only escalated. If there was no will to avoid the conflict in the first place, there was very little chance of achieving the greater task of stopping it. And this meant that on all sides everybody—community, family, friends, mates, offspring, resources—ultimately lost.
The High Council had spent days discussing the ancient concept of Wrak-Ayya. The fall of Wrak-Ayya would make the lives of all much harder.
There were tales that in the oldest of days the Ancients had all possessed the extra sense—the males as well as the females. The ancient stories handed down told of the males’ ability being stripped from them as punishment by the Great Spirit, though the details were murky as to what their crime had been. But in those times, whether the vision came to the females only, or to all the People, they foresaw that changes would come to their communities many generations in the future. Wrak-Ayya, the Age of Shadows would usher in changes which would create hardship for everyone. Though the warning of the Age of Shadows had been given by the Ancients, the details had not. They had not foreseen the particulars of when or why the shadow of Wrak-Ayya might descend. Or, if they had, these were not shared outside of a select few. It would not be the first time information had been withheld from all but a small, protective circle.
In preparation, the High Council members had roughed out four levels of Wrak-Ayya. These levels provided a stepped system, with the intent to contain hardships at as low a level as possible. In each of their hearts, the High Council Leaders hoped never to have to evoke any of the levels—let alone the higher, most restrictive ones.
Before they adjourned, they had agreed they should share these decisions about Wrak-Ayya with their communities at the time each Leader deemed most appropriate. For those in the outer regions, the communities of the Far Flats, the Great Pines and High Red Rocks, the time to invoke Wrak-Ayya was not close at hand—might not come for centuries still. Khon’Tor was afraid his people, the People of the High Rocks, might not be as fortunate.
Khon’Tor turned their situation over in his mind with each step of his return. He knew the path well, so he walked on, deep in thought, his heavy footfalls and slumped shoulders reflecting the burden he was carrying.
Ogima Adoeete, Chief of the Brothers, and their Second Chief, Is’Taqa, walked with him in silence. Since their territories bordered each other, they often traveled to and from the High Council meetings together. Having made most of the journey along the underground passage bordering the Mother Stream, Ogima Adoeete had asked that they surface and cover the rest of the way above ground. T
he Brothers were not as accustomed to being underground as the People.
Were it not for his High Protector Acaraho, Khon’Tor would have borne all the weight of his responsibilities as Leader alone. He could, and would, seek the counsel of the Healer and of his mate, Hakani, who were respectively second and third in command. There was not, however, an easy alliance between the three. Some level of tension, even bordering on animosity, was always present. He understood it well enough from his side—but as a male, he did not have the females’ seventh sense so he could not read the reason for his mate’s dislike of the Healer.
Whatever conflict had taken place between Hakani and Adia, Hakani had never confided in him. He only knew his mate bristled when Adia spoke and that her eyes followed the Healer with a dark, low-burning glare.
The sun had set, and the moon was high in the sky by the time the three neared the edge of the People’s cave. It had been a long trip. Khon’Tor had slowed his pace to meet Ogima Adoeete’s, and in turn, Ogima Adoeete had increased his. Though Khon’Tor was not physically tired, he knew Ogima Adoeete surely had to be close to exhaustion. As well as being far smaller, as all the Brothers were, the Chief was considerably older and in less ideal physical condition. Khon’Tor could easily have carried the Chief, but they were equals, and Ogima Adoeete would never have put Khon’Tor in a position of subservience. Khon’Tor, his own Leader’s Staff in his hand, noticed Ogima Adoeete used his Chief’s Staff as support for quite a bit of the trip.
“Ogima Adoeete,” he addressed the Chief. “Your trail is long yet. Come in and let us keep you and Is’Taqa for the night. It might also be beneficial for us to speak together tomorrow before you return to your people.”
To Khon’Tor’s surprise, Ogima Adoeete nodded, taking him up on his offer for a night’s place of rest.
The moment the three walked into the Great Entrance, the guards on duty and a small collection of community members jumped up and ran over to greet them. Khon’Tor explained that the High Chief and his Second would be staying with the People for the night, and they quickly went about setting up hospitality. Ordinarily, Acaraho, Khon’Tor’s High Protector, would take care of such matters, but he was not on duty at present.
Khon'Tor's Wrath Page 4
