Slaughter is the mother of new worlds.
The Tribe will not let you rule,' cried Harth.
The young men will,' replied Ravan. He smiled. 'Without us the Tribe will have no water and the Koppie will be exposed defenceless to our enemies.'
Ginkga looked aghast. 'You're prepared to threaten your own people?'
'It is the men who shall protect them from all want, as we have always done.'
Crowrane stood forward. 'We are the protectors of the Tribe.'
Mossie was crying. 'Our children will not turn away from us.'
Ravan opened his arms wide. 'Ask them.'
The Elders did, all at once, some petitioning, some threatening their grandsons. The youths standing behind Ravan went paler, but they held their place and nodded.
As they fell silent, Akaisha raised her voice. 'You, Ravan and this gang of boys might be prepared to betray your people, but we shall see how many of the rest will support you.'
Ravan glanced at Osidian then looked back at his mother. 'You should consider carefully before doing anything that might lead to bloodshed.'
Akaisha blinked and stared at her son as if she was seeing him for the first time. Around her, the other Elders seemed to sag and age before Carnelian's eyes.
'Go now,' Ravan said, harshly. 'Prepare the people for the new world.'
Some glared at him through their tears, but even they obeyed him. As they filed past, Carnelian felt ashamed. Akaisha looked at him, but he could not bear to see her face and turned away. He kept his gaze averted as they shuffled past him. Finally, the curtain fell and the gloom returned.
'Are you sure, Master, they will not raise the Tribe against us?' whispered Ravan.
They will do nothing,' said Osidian. 'Now go and steady the men.'
Ravan gazed at him for some moments, before he too left.
Left alone, Carnelian looked at Osidian. Their eyes met.
'If they do nothing it is only because they love their people.'
Osidian smiled. That, of course, formed a part of my calculations. Come, Carnelian, are you not even a little relieved I have survived this attempt on my life?'
Carnelian was not sure what he felt. He himself had been given back his life, but at what price? There was triumph in Osidian's beautiful face. Carnelian became possessed by a need for light and air. He pushed past Osidian and out from the room of bones. The Tribe in turmoil at his feet was receiving the first of the Elders into their midst; panic already spreading.
Armed youths did not stop him reaching the steps. On the ground, the crowds parted before him and he moved swiftly into the shadow of a mother tree. He picked up speed, until he was almost running down a rootstair, his gaze fixed on the brightness of the ferngarden. He did not look to either side until he had left the cedars behind and was walking waist-high through rusding ferns, dizzy in the sun.
He went down to the Eastgarden where the Bluedancing were working among the fires and tresdes. He allowed himself only a glance over to the Killing Field with its heaps of bones. When he neared the Blooding Ditch, his pace slowed. He crossed another bridge into the inner ferngardens and, from the shade of the Old Bloodwood Tree, regarded the Grove where the Elders were spreading the news of their overthrow. His eyes ranged over the delicately shifting cedar canopy. There lay what he now called home and yet he had allowed it to be destroyed as he and his father had allowed the Hold to be pillaged by Aurum and Jaspar. Was he cursed to be involved in the destruction of everything he loved?
He imagined Akaisha's pain and wanted to go and beg forgiveness for what he had brought upon them.. He looked up at the cedar hill and his stomach churned. He overcame shame, fear of the rejection that might await him, and forced himself to begin walking towards it.
People turned away from him as he climbed the hill; from fear or hatred, Carnelian could not tell. He did not allow himself to hesitate when he came within sight of Akaisha's mother tree. His hearthmates were there, under her branches, gathered near the hearth. Approaching, his spirits lifted as he saw Poppy gazing at him and Fern alive and well.
'You can stop pretending now, Master,' Fern said.
The tone as much as the form of address wounded Carnelian.
Fern turned to his mother, it's clear now that this one's been working with the Master all along.'
Akaisha looked at her son with puffy eyes, confused. 'But he betrayed the Master's schemes to me.'
'Wasn't it that very betrayal that led the Assembly to make the decision which more than anything made the men give the Master their support?'
Fern turned on Carnelian with hatred in his eyes. 'Did you imagine us too stupid to work it out?'
Poppy pushed between them and glared at Fern. 'You leave Carnie alone.'
Carnelian vaguely tried to calm her, shook his head, i don't know what… it can't be…'
'How else could the Master know the Elders were going to try to kill him today?'
Appalled, Carnelian tried to imagine another explanation.
Sil's eyes widened. 'You're not denying it, Carnie.'
Carnelian felt Poppy's little hand slip into his and gripped it. 'If this is true then the Master used me. I swear on my blood I acted in good faith.'
Fern snorted. 'You Standing Dead are better at using people than keeping promises.'
Poppy cringed at every word.
'How could the Master persuade so many of our people to turn against us?' said Whin, still in shock from what had happened in the Ancestor House.
'For two moons he has filled our minds with the proofs of his invincibility,' said Fern. 'Many have come to believe he will make the Ochre feared and respected among the tribes. After all, did he not win the battle against the Bluedancing, against the Woading? Did he not bring us the meat he promised?'
Carnelian felt sick as Fern's words forced the pieces to form a mosaic in his mind. He saw it all. How easily he had allowed himself to be manipulated. He shook his head, trying to disbelieve it. 'I thought he did it from spite, but it was policy, calculated to break up the cohesion of the Tribe.'
Fern frowned then continued. 'He chose to site his earthwork camp near the lagoon at the best crossing into Woading territory. I believe he only burned the Bluedancing mother trees to frighten and provoke the Woading and our other neighbours. He judged that our absence during his heavener hunt would give the Woading a chance to explore the earthwork.' He regarded Carnelian through slitted eyes. The Master knew very well that every Woading who had done his service in the legions would recognize it to be a military camp. Frightened we meant to strike against them, they struck first and when they did, he was ready for them.'
He looked at Akaisha and Whin. 'When we saw your signal, he claimed the Skyfather had come in a dream to warn him; jealous of his successes, fearful their power would pass to the warriors, the Elders had determined to treacherously murder him.' Fern's face showed disgust. 'Ravan dutifully stirred up the men by listing all the Master had done for us; instilling fear of the revenge the Woading would take once they knew we no longer had him to lead us.'
Whin ignited. 'You knew all this yet didn't act.'
Fern confronted her. 'What could I do alone against the others? My great mistake was to have faith in the wisdom of the Elders.'
The people round about gasped. Poppy's second hand joined the first and held on to Carnelian's fingers. Fern ducked an apology to his mother, then to Whin who seemed to subside.
'I can't deny we acted foolishly.'
'Can it be true that the Skyfather spoke to him?' said Fern.
The glance he gave Carnelian was filled with misery.
Akaisha was gazing at her son, aghast. 'I no longer know what is true and what is not.'
Whin gave her a look of concern. 'Go and rest, dear. I'll handle this.'
Akaisha nodded and Whin sent one of her daughters with her. The hearth watched the two move away with dismay. Carnelian understood. Like them he had come to rely on Akaisha's strength.
Sil regarded Carnelian tearfully. 'If you have betrayed us, Carnie, then there is no hope, for you have seen how weak we have become.'
Reaching out with his free hand, Carnelian clasped Sil's hands and looked her in the eyes. 'If it is all as Fern says, then I have been a fool, an instrument in the Master's hand.' He let her go, freed himself from Poppy's grip and spun round looking at every face. 'He made you slaughter heaveners; can you not believe it possible / could be used without my knowledge?' . Carnelian saw with relief that even Fern was no longer certain of his guilt.
'Do you still believe the Master intends to attack the Standing Dead?' asked Whin.
'I'm sure of it, my mother.'
'You believe he cannot win?'
Carnelian considered the changes Osidian had wrought upon the Ochre. 'I have only one certainty; if he is not stopped, the Master will bring disaster on the Tribe.'
'How do we free ourselves from him?' said Sil expressing the general feeling. She caught a look in her husband's eyes and her face grew pale. She grabbed him.
'He'd kill you!'
Fern pulled himself free.
Carnelian understood. 'Listen to her, you'd never get close enough.'
Fern grew enraged. 'What do you suggest?'
Examining his friend's eyes, Carnelian knew there was only one way. 'I'll do it.'
Fern narrowed his eyes, judging him.
'What will you do, Master?' said another voice.
No one had noticed Ravan approaching. People looked at each other, fearing he had heard everything. Ravan frowned, sensing a conspiracy.
'Why've you come?' Whin asked, coldly.
'Because the Master wishes to see this one here.' He indicated Carnelian with his chin.
Fern gave his brother a look filled with contempt. 'I thought it was the young who now ruled the Tribe?'
Ravan found he was enringed by his scowling hearth-mates. He blushed and walked away. The Master doesn't like to be kept waiting.'
Carnelian saw Poppy forgotten, crying. He pushed her towards Sil. Receiving nods of encouragement, he went after Ravan.
Carnelian quickly caught up with Ravan. As he fell in beside him, the youth moved his head to one side but did not look at him.
'Now we have the power, everything will be much better. The Tribe will soon come to see we were justified in what we've done.'
'Your mother doesn't see it that way.'
'She's an old woman and should be glad to be free of the burdens of rule.'
Carnelian watched Ravan from the corners of his eyes. 'Fern was right, it is not the young but the Master who now rules.'
'What if it were true? The Master will make the Ochre great among the tribes.'
'You fool yourself, Ravan. You must know by now he cares for nothing but himself: Plainsmen are nothing more to him than savages. If it suited his purposes, he would care no more about the Ochre than he did the heaveners.'
Ravan turned on him, eyes flaming. Though you look like him, you're nothing alike. You don't know what he cares about. Because you've betrayed him do you expect everyone to be as treacherous as you?'
That barb struck home. Carnelian found he was remembering the love he had had for Osidian; the part he had played in bringing him to the Earthsky. He suppressed all guilt. Now he had to steel himself to murder him.
Young men standing with spears at the foot of the Crag steps moved aside to let Ravan and Carnelian climb them. Reaching the summit, Carnelian pulled his uba up over his nose so that only his eyes were exposed to the withering sun. Ravan led him across the burning rock to where Osidian stood massive, shrouded black with Krow and some other guards.
'Go and make the preparations for immediate departure,' Osidian said.
Krow gave a nod. As he passed Carnelian on the way to the steps, they exchanged grim greetings.
Osidian gave the iron spear he was holding to Ravan and beckoned. 'Come, my Lord.'
Carnelian fell in beside him and they walked together in silence. He was aware Ravan and the others were following. He watched Osidian gaze out over the plain and saw how close he was to the edge of the Crag. A lunge, then a push and he would be over.
'Have you nothing to say, Carnelian?'
Carnelian looked up and was immediately transfixed by Osidian's jade eyes. Was there sadness there?
'I betrayed you.'
'Yes, you betrayed me.'
Carnelian had expected anger, dissimulation, but not this sadness which struck at his heart. 'Stop pretending. I know you manipulated me as you have everyone and everything since we came here.'
Osidian looked up into the sky. 'Did your barbarian friends help you work that out?'
The contempt stung, but it was fear for Akaisha, Fern and the others that possessed him. To protect them, he must kill Osidian.
As Osidian walked away, Carnelian followed.
'The overthrow of the Elders has been an exercise which the Wise would probably consider trivial. Still, I have never presumed to achieve their level of mastery, though I have gleaned many techniques from their treatises on statecraft.'
Carnelian's mind was fixed on getting Osidian between him and the edge. He spoke hoping to disguise his manoeuvring: The Elders have wisdom of their own.'
'Whatever wisdom the old may have pales before the beauty, the youth and vigour of the young. This fracture is present in all peoples but cuts deeper into the tribes of the Earthsky than most. It was not overly difficult to hammer some wedges in and so cleave the young from the old.'
Carnelian clutched at one last hope to delay the act of murder. 'People? You concede then that they are people? They love each other, their children, as the Chosen do; suffer pain similarly, loss. Even they have pride and beauty and honour.'
Osidian turned fierce eyes on him. 'I have borne this predilection you have for these savages long enough! I cannot understand why you are unable to overcome the deficiencies of your upbringing.'
Anger rose in Carnelian. 'Do you still delude yourself they believe us angels? They have seen we become weary, that we sleep, that we bleed as they do.'
Wrath set Osidian's eyes alight. 'We do not bleed as they do. Forget your blood if you wish, but I will not allow you to forget mine. In my veins, blood runs infused with holy fire.'
Seeing him there unrepentant, Carnelian was about to run at him, not caring that they would tumble together from the Crag when, shocked, Osidian moved away from the edge. 'You would slay me?'
He pulled the uba from his face and stared, gaping. 'I cannot believe…' He motioned Ravan and the others away when they began voicing their alarm.
Osidian's desolation struck at Carnelian's heart. Osidian moved further from the edge, never taking his eyes off Carnelian.
'Have you forgotten when I said to you that my blood ran in your veins?'
Carnelian recalled the night when they had made their vows of love to each other. It was the same night they had been captured in the Yden, just before they were cast into the outer world. He saw the long agony of time that had brought him to this rock where he wished only to see Osidian dead.
Osidian looked close to tears. 'Never once has my love for you wavered.'
Carnelian hardened his heart. 'Do you believe that excuses what you have done?'
He saw Ravan's shadow moving in the corner of his eye.
‘I tested your love, you know?' said Osidian.
'You mean you baited a trap for me!' Carnelian spat back.
'It was your choice to take the bait.' Carnelian was seeing him through tears. 'What else could I do?'
Osidian shook his head again as if he could not believe what he was hearing.
'What would you have done if I had said nothing to the Elders?'
Osidian shrugged. The truth is, I never for one moment doubted you would betray me.'
Tears were running down both their faces.
‘I should kill you,' said Osidian.
'You should. I will not cease fighting you.'
Osidian nodded, considering it.
'But you will not kill me,' said Carnelian, wiping his eyes. 'Seeing any Chosen die would diminish your glamour in their eyes.' He indicated Ravan and the others gaping at them.
Osidian looked as vulnerable as a child. That may not always be so.'
They gazed at each other, feeling the depth of what they had lost. Carnelian was the first to speak. 'What now?' i go to conquer,' Osidian said, his face turning to stone. 'You will remain behind and conduct yourself with due care, my Lord, or else those you seek always to protect will suffer my displeasure.'
Saying this, he broke through Ravan and the other guards and, sweeping across the Crag summit, disappeared down the steps leaving Carnelian impotently to contemplate his failure and his betrayals.
No one at the hearth blamed Carnelian for failing to rid them of the Master, but Sil was not the friend she had been and Whin was colder. Akaisha had grown suddenly old. Bent almost double, she never seemed to leave her place in the root fork by the fire. Gradually, Whin took on more and more of the duties and powers of hearthmother.
Tortured by guilt, Carnelian threw himself into the continuing struggle to cure the heavener meat before it spoiled. Great hunks were smoked until they looked like wood. Fires burning day and night were fed with the magnolias cut down from the margins of the ferngarden. The Killing Field had long been abandoned to the ravens. Drifts of them turned the carcasses into ivory ruins. When, rarely, a breeze would blow from the west, a sickening stench wafted over the djada field. But it was the east wind everyone feared most, for then the hill of offal soaked the air with its miasmas and Carnelian and the Bluedancing would be forced to slave even in the hottest part of the day with their faces swathed in cloth.
The men whom the Master sent to bring them water brought also news. The warriors of the Tribe and their allies the Woading were digging another earthwork, to the north-east, at the crossing of the lagoon nearest to the koppie of the Smallochre. From this earthwork they daily harried them when they came to fetch water. Scuffles had already broken out. It was only a matter of time before the Smallochre would be stung into giving battle.
Carnelian was down in the Eastgarden watching the Bluedancing braid the heavener djada into rope when, pointing, Poppy let out a cry. Smoke was rising from the Crag. Fern and the others returning, thought Carnelian, and began running towards the Blooding. Poppy's shouts pulled him up short. Turning, he saw she was running after him. He returned, scooped her up and ran on.
They found the gate to the Grove unguarded. They met Sil and some others of his hearthmates halfway up the rootstair moving at Akaisha's pace. Anxious as he was to find out if the signal really meant their men were back, Carnelian walked the rest of the way with them. He glanced furtively at Akaisha. He could not bear to see how fragile she had become.
When they reached the clearing before the Ancestor House they found many of the womenfolk gathered there and, near the Crag steps, many of the Elders craning to listen to a woman up on the summit. Her words were passed back.
The Master and Ravan.'
The woman on the summit was shouting something else. Her words came accompanied by a murmur of fear. They're bringing dead.'
People began to move to the opposite side of the clearing where a path led to the Lagooning, but Ginkga climbed the first few steps up the Crag and urged them to wait. Her face hardened when her words were ignored by many. Carnelian decided it would be better if he waited.
At last a massive figure appeared at the edge of the clearing repelling the crowd. It was the Master and, beside him, Ravan. Together they walked through the Elders to the steps and began to ascend them. Behind them came a procession carrying drag-cradles on which lay shrouded bodies. No one could tell who they were because their faces were hidden by ubas. As the crowd moved back to let the drag-cradles be set down, their murmuring began tearing into sounds of grief.
'Why do you mourn when you should be joyous and proud of your noble dead?' said Ravan from the porch of the Ancestor House. Behind him the Master was just a shadow.
'Fern?' said Carnelian beginning to move forward but Sil's hand stayed him. Til go.'
'See here,' cried Ravan and from his hands hung tresses of grey hair loaded with salt beads. This is the tribute the Smallochre pay you as the Woading did before them.' He shook the tresses and they could hear the beads tinkling. This salt and more like it means our men will never again have to go and serve in the legions.' He pointed with his fists at the dead. These heroes died to bring this blessing to the Tribe. Honour them.'
Sil returned pale from the women swarming the dead. She shook her head. 'He's not there.'
Carnelian, Akaisha and Sil shared the relief. A pale movement made Carnelian look up to see Osidian's hand signing.
Come up and talk to me.
Still worrying about Fern, Carnelian began moving towards the steps.
'Where are you going?' asked Akaisha. The Master summoned me.'
Akaisha looked from him up to where Osidian was climbing up to the summit. 'What sorcery could let you know his thoughts?'
'None, my mother.' He lifted his hands meaning to explain, but Sil caught them.
'Find out about Fern.'
Carnelian looked into her eyes and nodded, before he began pushing his way through the mourning crowd.
Ravan was waiting for him at the Ancestor House. He had transferred all the beaded hair to one hand. Carnelian examined it distastefully, almost expecting to see bloody fragments of scalp attached to the roots.
'Where are the rest of the men?'
Ravan smiled. 'You mean my dear brother?'
Carnelian searched the youth's eyes for Fern's death.
'Oh, he lives. The Master left him commanding a joint force of Woading and Ochre in the Woading earthwork.'
Carnelian caught some resentment in the youth's voice. 'Not you?'
Ravan scowled. 'He needs me as his interpreter.'
The youth lifted his empty hand towards the steps leading up to the summit and Carnelian took the lead.
Climbing up onto the summit, Carnelian saw the signal fire was still smoking. Osidian was there with some guards. As Carnelian approached him, the guards put themselves between Osidian and the edge. Carnelian ground his teeth, angry at that reminder of his failed assassination.
'So you have absorbed another tribe into your empire, Osidian.'
The first of many.'
They stood gazing at each other; only their eyes exposed. Carnelian felt Ravan standing behind him.
'How goes the curing of the heavener meat?' Osidian asked.
'Well enough.'
'If the slaves have been worked hard then the process should be nearly complete.' 'It is.'
'Good. I have other work for them.'
Carnelian waited, dreading it already.
They will cut a new ditch to annex more of the plain. The ferngardens must be greatly expanded if I am to pasture the multitude of aquar I intend to gather here.'
Osidian turned and swept his arm round, pointing out an arc as far from the Newditch as the Newditch was from the Grove.
'Surely you don't mean to take this ditch all around the Koppie?' Work on the margin of the Killing Field had taught Carnelian what a vast labour that would be.
Osidian nodded.
'But that would take for ever.'
T have calculated it will take four years if they work without ceasing.'
They are not to accompany us on the migration?'
That would be impractical.' Osidian sketched some gestures in the air. Aquar, the valley, many impediments…
'How do you expect them to stay here without water? The cistern would not hold nearly enough to give drink to so many mouths.'
'We shall dig new cisterns.'
There's not enough time.'
'You are in error.' He pointed out along the Lagooning. 'We shall dig them there where my men can most easily fill them. If we put them close to the path they will be in the shade of the magnolias.'
He looked back at Carnelian. The cisterns will hold enough for the Bluedancing but also for the warriors of the Ochre and the four other tribes I shall rule before the migration.'
Carnelian knew there must be reason behind this madness but he could not see it. The Tribe has to be escorted to the mountains. You must see that.'
'All my tribes will be escorted. Their warriors will take them as far as the mountains and then return here.'
'Why would you want…' He fixed Osidian with a stare. 'You fear that in the mountains their Elders and their women might work them free of your dominion.'
There, you see, you can think like one of the Chosen when you want to.'
Carnelian knew what was to come and raised his hand. 'Please, Osidian, spare me your threats. I will do as you ask.'
Thank you for being so understanding.'
Carnelian controlled his anger. Nothing would be gained at that moment from violence. He would bide his time.
The next day Carnelian began work on the cisterns. He had explained to Sil that the Bluedancing were going to stay in the Koppie during the withering. Once she had overcome her disbelief, then horror, she helped him find women to act as overseers.
By the end of the second day, the first cistern had been cut: a rectangular hole in the ground the bottom of which was bedrock. He had sent the men Osidian had given him to the lagoon and, when they returned, their drag-cradles were sagging under the weight of the clay they had gouged from its banks. This was tipped into the hole, where the Bluedancing used it to plaster the walls and floor. When it had dried, waterskins were carefully emptied into the cistern. All that day, drag-cradles arrived laden with more. Slowly the level of the pool rose brown and murky up the clay sides of the pit. When it had nearly reached the top, Carnelian laid over it covers of woven fernfrond strengthened with scouring-rush poles. The structure sagged a little but held. Days later, as the Bluedancing and the others were digging the next cistern, Carnelian had the covers lifted off the first. A sigh of relieved delight rose from his Ochre helpers as they saw the clay had settled, leaving the water clear.
When the mother trees announced the Withering with their cones, Poppy came to Carnelian eager to plant her seed. Though Akaisha had promised to ask permission from the other Elders, Carnelian was reluctant to ask her if she ever had. Besides, he suspected it was no longer their decision to make. He became anxious about what might happen to Poppy's precious seed once it germinated. In the end, he persuaded her it would be best to wait. A year was not, after all, such a long time in the life of a mother tree. Tearfully, she agreed.
Torrid days blazed in indistinguishable continuity. Each morning the men set off to fetch water to fill the cisterns. Each time they had to ride further as the lagoon shrank away.
'Most of its bed is cracked like old skin,' one of them coughed, resting his hand on the pole of a drag-cradle, trying to keep in his aquar's shadow. Their mouths and their eyes opened in faces caked with dust.
Carnelian reassured them they had enough water stored. He had himself surveyed the nearly forty cisterns that morning. The wall of one had crumbled. The levels in each had fallen, no doubt through seepage as well as evaporation. Still, after consulting Whin, he gauged that they had enough for those who were to remain behind, at least until the Rains came.
A morning after a full moon, the air began to haze with spores. Soon they so choked the day even the sun could not peep through. At night, hiding with Poppy beneath blankets, they could not sleep for the hissing. Seven days the storm lasted and on the eighth the whole world seemed to have rusted.
The weddings held during the next moon were not the joyous events they had once been. People were uncertain whether the old should preside over them as they had always done. Besides, the ceremonies were tainted by mourning.
When the Master came, he always brought dead with him. Never very many, he was a skilled commander, but enough to haunt the Grove with wailing. Ravan would talk to them of victories and show them the salt tribute they had forced their victims to pay. He and the Master would spend the night on the summit of the Crag and did not seem to mind sharing it with the corpses nor with the ravens that came to feed upon them. Carnelian shunned the Master, as did the rest of the Tribe, who had grown to dread his returns.
Even in the shade, each breath was toasting Carnelian's throat dry. He looked out past the Newditch to where the curve of Osidian's ditch was already cutting into the burning plain. He imagined the Bluedancing suffering there with only improvised hats to keep off the sun; ubas over nose and mouth to filter the air their digging kept always clouded with dust. They already knew their fate. They were to labour all through the Withering on the new ditch. Worse, Carnelian imagined, was the news that it was nearly time to fire the ferngardens. The Tribe would then leave for the mountains. The Bluedancing knew this was when their tithe-marked children were to be sent to the Standing Dead in place of the Ochre's own.
Carnelian wondered how the Wise would react once they discovered that the Bluedancing had not come to Osrakum to pay their tithe. Would this alert them to Osidian's presence? Perhaps the crime would be lost for a while in the ocean of their bureaucracy. This seemed a bleak hope. What was certain was that if Osidian continued to disrupt the Earthsky, one day there would be retribution. On that day, Osidian would have the war he craved.
In the cool of the night, the Grove was sometimes disturbed by the cry of some woman calling for her husband. In the day it was hard to believe any of their men would return from the torrid, shadeless plain. The heavener djada was packed onto the drag-cradles ready for the migration. The Tribe sipped water drawn from the cisterns. Even the men who had come to tell them the lagoons were dried up were long gone. So it was that when the messenger came to declare that all their men would be returning the next day, he was disbelieved. No one dared to challenge the Gods by feeling hope. The next day many dared the summit of the Crag, but nothing solidified from the wavering air. Despair saturated the shade beneath the mother trees.
Shouting raised Carnelian from fevered drowsiness. The greatest heat of the day had passed. When word reached them riders were approaching the Koppie, Carnelian joined the rest of his hearth running out along the Lagooning across the black deserts of the ferngarden to welcome them.
That Fern was there alive would have been cause of joy enough for Carnelian and the hearth, but that there were no dead at all stunned people to silence. Riding at the Master's side, Ravan announced that the Ochre were everywhere victorious. The Tribe burst into song, ecstatic that what they had dreaded had not come to pass.
The tension between Fern and Ravan had subdued the carnival atmosphere of the hearth. That and the demand the returning men had made that the Elders should give up their salt regalia so that the warriors could protect it along with the rest of the Tribe's wealth. Whin's and Akaisha's hair looked lank without beads. Even Sil's joy at the return of her husband could not withstand his moroseness. Carnelian was desperate to talk to him but he felt it was Osidian watching them through Ravan's eyes.
Something woke Carnelian. Taking care not to disturb Poppy, Carnelian sat up. Someone was moving towards the rootstair. Instinct made Carnelian rise and follow. The cold night air made him glad he had thought to bring a blanket. The figure was climbing to the Crag, its footfalls lost in the sighing of the mother trees. Carnelian went as fast as he could, but when he reached the path that hugged the Crag, he found he had lost the figure. He hurried on, guessing that whoever it was, was going down the Westing to the latrines. Suddenly, a shape appeared before him.
'Why are you following me?' it whispered.
Carnelian realized with relief it was Fern. He had hoped it would be him.
'It's me.'
'Carnie? High father, you frightened me. Why are you stalking me?'
T need to talk to you.'
Cursing softly, Fern pulled Carnelian after him. They said nothing as they descended the Westing. When they reached the Homing, they turned right and walked along it until they reached two cedars from between which a piece of rock extended out over the ditch. This was one of the men's latrines.
Fern turned to him. 'What do you want?'
Carnelian could not make out his face. He tried to find a question. 'Something needs to be done.'
'Why should I trust you?'
Carnelian grimaced. As well as he could, he explained what had happened on the summit the day he had intended to kill Osidian.
'Do you still love him?'
Carnelian bit back the easy denial he was about to make. 'A part of him, but the rest, I despise.'
Silence fell between them. The cedars on either side of the ditch creaked. Beyond, the burned ferngarden was a paler darkness.
'Don't worry. I'll do it.'
Carnelian was shocked by his friend's cold determination. 'You can't.'
Carnelian could feel Fern growing angry. 'Even now you try to protect him. Will you also betray me?'
Carnelian became angry too. 'If I'd wanted to do that don't you think I've had plenty of opportunities?'
He hesitated, then reached out and gripped Fern's hand, holding on to it when Fern made to pull away. 'He controls me by threatening you.'
The hand relaxed in Carnelian's grip. 'You must see we need him now. Who else will stand between us and the revenge of the conquered tribes?'
'You.'
'What?'
Take his place.'
'Would the men follow me?'
'Why not? One of the Standing Dead is very much like another.'
Carnelian considered it. He released Fern's hand. 'I couldn't do it.'
The men would follow you. The other tribes too.'
'I'm not the Master. I don't have his stomach for violence.'
'I've seen you fight well enough when you have to. Besides, if we're careful, there shouldn't be any need.' 'What would we gain?'
"The end of this madness. I believe the Master is possessed. Somehow, the spirit of the swamp ravener passed into him when he spilled its blood.'
Carnelian was chilled by how close this was to what Osidian believed. 'I could slowly undo what he has done. Eventually restore the Elders.' The very thought warmed him, but then he was pulling his blanket round him. It was one thing to kill Osidian in the heat of anger: quite another to plan it coldly. There was no other way. 'When would we do it?'
'Not now. It's too close to the migration and, with the other tribes involved, only the Master knows how it is to be arranged. We can do it in the mountains.'
Carnelian felt Fern's hand seeking his own and clasped it to seal their agreement.
Poppy insisted on going with Carnelian to the Crying Tree. They walked down hand in hand as dawn was breaking. People were dowsing their fires in preparation for leaving the Koppie. The Tribe's palpable relief they were not losing any of their own children was soured by the shame that they were putting others in their place.
Glancing round, Carnelian saw Akaisha, helped by Sil, following him with Whin and Fern behind them.
'At least we'll be off to the mountains,' Sil had said, smiling nervously, for the moment it seemed, having forgotten that her husband and almost all the men would be returning across the desert to the parched Koppie. Still people had smiled back though their eyes avoided contact.
The five Bluedancing children were there with their mothers beneath the Crying Tree. A forbidding circle of Tribe warriors stood nearby with Ravan as their commander.
Fern indicated the men. 'Did you really need to bring these?'
'We wouldn't want any of them escaping,' said Ravan. 'Have you come to gloat, brother, or to give thanks that, through his mercy, the Master will one day spare your daughter?'
Fern scowled. 'I've come to show respect to those whose sacrifice saves our own.'
Ravan frowned. 'I don't know why you're all so grim.' He indicated the tithe children with his chin. They would've all been sent to the Mountain anyway.'
'Ravan, if you've nothing kind to say, say nothing at all,' said Whin.
Ravan flushed. 'Who do you think you are speaking to me like that?'
'What're you going to do, nephew, have me killed?'
Ravan was unable to hold his aunt's glare and ended up glowering at his fist gripping his spear.
The Bluedancing mothers were taking leave of their thin children. All were crying, the tears smearing their dirty faces into fearful masks. Akaisha hobbled towards them. Her hair snaked out from under her head blanket and clung lifeless to her face. She lifted her hands shakily and then let them flutter down to her side. 'It's better… but then you must know. It's better to let them go quickly.' She was crying.
One of the Bluedancing mothers began shrieking at her and all Akaisha could do was nod her head. Ravan bellowed at the woman and, instinctively, she grabbed her boy and put her body between him and Ravan's lowered spear.
Akaisha flew at her son, snatched the spear from his grip, then flung it down. She spluttered something angrily. He stooped to pick it up and backed away. Ashen, Sil was holding Fern back. Poppy was watching it all through tears.
Whin took some steps towards Ravan menacingly. 'Where's the salt the Master gave you for their journey?'
The youth fished a loaf from his robe and handed it to Whin, whose eyes were stony. She gave the salt to one of the tribute bearers. They made sure the children were secure in their saddle-chairs. Then, without ceremony, the tributaries rode away.
They're the lucky ones,' said Ravan.
'What do you mean?' asked Carnelian.
The rest of them are staying. here with their mothers until the Rains come.'
Sil and her mother exchanged a look of misery. Akaisha was frowning while staring at nothing. Carnelian was imagining how terrible the coming heat would be.
'Where's the Master?' he asked Ravan, who shrugged, already busy bustling the Bluedancing mothers back to their digging.
That the steps leading up to the Ancestor House were unguarded made Carnelian certain Osidian was not on the Crag summit. He wandered around asking any men he saw, but none knew where the Master was. When he glimpsed through the cedar canopy men gathering by the cisterns, Carnelian went down there.
Osidian looked up as Carnelian approached. 'You have saved me having to send for you. Come walk with me.'
Osidian waved Krow and his other guards away and Carnelian fell in beside him as they sauntered up towards the Grove. Neither said anything until, with sighs of relief, they reached the cool of the cedar shade.
Carnelian found it strange Osidian felt safe to be with him unguarded. 'Are the cisterns what you wanted?'
They are functional,' Osidian replied.
'Why are we not taking the Bluedancing children with us?'
'You are not coming.'
Carnelian stared at him.
'You will stay here to oversee the Bluedancing.'
Carnelian realized that he should have expected this.
'You seem surprised.'
'Who will you leave with me?'
'Krow and enough men to make sure you can control the slaves.'
'It will be hard here.'
Osidian searched the canopy as if he were looking for holes. These cedars will maintain their leaves and you will have water. Use it sparingly. Remember I shall be returning here with the men of all five tribes.'
Carnelian realized his plotting with Fern had come undone and became terrified his friend might act alone.
'You seem distracted, my Lord.'
Take the Bluedancing children with you.'
Osidian shook his head. Their mothers will work better if they remain here.'
'In the mountains the children would act as a guarantee of their good behaviour.'
Silence deepened between them before Osidian fixed Carnelian with a cold smile. 'I will take the children, though it is transparent that you only seek to protect them.'
Carnelian would not look him in the eye.
'You will make sure the earthwork continues apace?'
Carnelian nodded. 'I had better go take my leave of Akaisha and the others.'
Osidian assumed the pose of a Master weary of the world. 'I suppose you had better.'
Carnelian walked away and only broke into a jog once he was sure Osidian was out of sight.
'Cisterns or no cisterns, anyone who stays here during the Withering will die.'
Carnelian was desperate to find Fern, but he could see Akaisha was getting upset and was reluctant to abandon her. She looked so wretched. Reaching up to stroke her hair, her hand hesitated when it did not find the familiar beads.
'Really, my mother, we've taken every precaution not to run out of water,' he said, reaching out to reassure her.
She threw his hand off angrily. 'You've no idea what it'll be like here.'
She turned away, wet-eyed, blind, her eyebrows raised. She gave a little shrug. 'Not that what I feel matters any more.'
Her dark eyes fixed on him. 'What about the huskmen?'
Carnelian knew nothing about that but supposed it unlikely the Grove gates would be sealed with so many people left behind.
'I'll be here to protect the Koppie.'
Akaisha made a face.
At that moment Poppy ran up. 'Carnie, it's time to go.'
Carnelian sagged. He had forgotten he would have to say goodbye to Poppy. 'Have you seen Fern?'
Poppy shook her head. Carnelian was in an agony of indecision. Akaisha hefted a sack. He disliked seeing her burdened like that.
'Is there no one coming to help you?'
'I can manage.'
Carnelian grimaced. He insisted on taking the sack, then, motioning Poppy to go round to Akaisha's other side, they proceeded towards the Lagooning.
On every side, under the trees, people were moving, converging on the Lagoongate. Carnelian, Akaisha and Poppy reached the crowd and had to wait until it was their turn to cross the earthbridge into the ferngarden. As they walked along between the cisterns and the magnolias, Carnelian kept scanning the crowd looking for Fern.
'Carnie,' cried a woman's voice. They turned and saw Sil pushing her way towards them.
Thank the Mother,' she said as she saw Akaisha. 'You were supposed to wait for us by the mother tree. My mother and I didn't know where you were.'
Akaisha scowled. 'I'm not a child, Sil.'
'No, my mother.' She and Carnelian exchanged glances.
'Do you know where Fern is?' he asked her.
She frowned. 'Ravan came for him. No doubt he's off with the Master.'
He must have shown his dismay because she said: 'What's wrong?'
'Will you tell him something from me?'
'Why can't you tell him yourself?'
'He's not coming with us,' Akaisha growled.
'Carnie?' cried Poppy, her eyes wide with panic.
He lifted her up and looked her in the face. 'I have to stay here, Poppy, to look after the Bluedancing.'
'You can't!'
'Don't waste your words, child,' said Akaisha. 'His mind's made up.'
Poppy's lower lip quivered. Then I'll stay with you.'
Carnelian shook his head. 'No.'
Poppy clung to him. 'I'm not going!'
'Oh yes you are,' he said with a voice that froze her. He forced a smile and kissed her. 'I'll be here when you return.'
'Sil will look after you.' He glanced round at Sil, who gave a nod.
Whin caught up with them and he stayed with them until they reached the Far Lagoonbridge and saw the Tribe gathering in the blaze of the open plain. Carnelian took his leave of them. He hugged Poppy, who had still not got over him shouting at her. He was thankful because he knew that if she began crying he might end up joining her. He put Poppy down and put her hand in Sil's.
Sil looked distraught. 'What did you want me to tell Fern?'
Carnelian thought. Tell him he must wait until he returns here with the Master.'
He kissed her lips to stop questions. She frowned, then turned to allow him to kiss Leaf. Akaisha took her bag back from him. He leaned in to kiss her but she turned her face away.
Krow had found him and together they watched the Tribe march away. Carnelian saw riders and was sure one of them was Fern. Dust rose in clouds to hide them but still he stood watching the dark shapes trembling behind the veils. Soon the plain had claimed them all. The few men who had come to watch began to slog back to the cedar shade. It was Krow's discomfort from the heat that made Carnelian leave. As they walked back, he glanced over to where he knew the Bluedancing were slaving in the sun. He was not feeling brave enough just then to go among them. At that moment, what he most wanted was to go and sit against his mother tree.