The Standing Dead

The Woading crept here last night so they might treacherously attack us when we were gathered making djada. They've received only what they deserve.'

Carnelian was sure the Elder noticed Akaisha attempting to get his attention but he chose to focus on the crowd's roar of approval.

Galewing pressed his hands against their noise. 'Should we let them off so lightly?' 'No!' the crowd bellowed.

'Shall we seek compensation and a promise they'll never attack us again?' 'Yes!'

Galewing swung around in his saddle-chair. 'Who'll ride with me to the koppie of the Woading?'

For answer men vaulted back into their saddle-chairs and soon they were all aloft, seeming to float on the fevered applause of their women.

Carnelian saw Fern was there, taking his leave of Sil. He cried out his name until he was hoarse.

'We'll return tonight,' cried Galewing. 'Prepare a feast of thanksgiving.'

Fern saw Carnelian and his mother and, colouring with shame, he turned away. Osidian was mounted in their midst, Ravan and Krow beside him; then, with Galewing, they led the Ochre in a thundering mass across the ferngarden. Akaisha was gazing up towards the brow of the Crag, from which smoke was rising. She turned to look at him and he could see the fear in her eyes. As the women saw their men disappearing into the plain, Akaisha moved among them, sending the Bluedancing back to tending the curing fires while she, with some others, set about gathering the bodies of the Woading dead.

Carnelian was hiding from his feelings by labouring among the Bluedancing when Akaisha found him. She indicated he should follow her. They walked off together.

'I've just received news that riders have been seen heading here,' she said.

'Ours?'

'Most likely.'

'All of them?'

She shook her head. 'Only a handful.' They looked at each other. 'You think it might be the Master.'

She frowned, shrugging. 'An Assembly has been called.'

She looked up into his face. 'Carnie, you must tell them what you told me.'

He bowed his head nodding. There was no other way to stop Osidian.

Akaisha breathed her relief. 'Let's go then. We must hurry if we're going to make it before he gets here.'

Akaisha left Carnelian standing on the porch of the Ancestor House and went in. Shortly afterwards, Carnelian was told to enter.

It took a while for his eyes to adjust enough to see the Elders squatting round him. He looked for Akaisha and found her in her place. Their eyes met.

'Why're you here, Carnie?'

To warn you of the Master's intentions.'

'Why would you betray your own kind?' asked Harth.

To save the Tribe.'

Harth laughed coldly. 'You expect us to believe this?'

'Mother Harth, would you believe me if I told you there are people here I've grown to love?' He allowed himself a glance at Akaisha, then returned his gaze to Harth's face.

'A pretty speech,' she said through a sneer.

T believe it to be a true one,' said Akaisha. Tell us what you told me, Carnie.'

Carnelian steeled himself. The Master manipulates you. He plots to change your world, to put himself at its centre.'

'Why would he do this?' demanded Kyte. The lust for power is in the blood of all the Standing Dead.'

Though you, of course, are different,' said Harth. Carnelian grimaced. 'I was brought up by one of your own.'

Harth raised her eyes up to the ceiling as if to say, "that again", but she made no sound.

'You don't answer,' grumbled Crowrane.

The Master intends to conquer himself an empire in the Earthsky.'

The Standing Dead would not permit it,' said Kyte.

'It is the Standing Dead he wishes to defeat.'

The old men were frowning. To what end?'

To fight his way back into the Mountain.'

For a moment everyone looked startled, but then Crowrane burst into laughter and took with him most of the Assembly.

Carnelian endured the gale of derision.

Still chuckling, Crowrane spoke out. 'How many… how many Plainsmen do you think it would take to overcome a single dragon?'

'Have you ever seen one?' asked Kyte, grinning.

'From a distance.'

The man turned to either side. 'From a distance, he says.' There was more laughter.

'Have you seen the fortresses guarding the entrance into the Mountain?' asked Kyte.

Carnelian nodded.

'Well then. Do you believe that even if all the peoples who pay the flesh tithe rose up against the Standing Dead they could breach such defences?'

Carnelian had seen the Three Gates and knew them invulnerable.

Akaisha turned on the Assembly. 'Laugh away, but did you imagine our men could destroy one tribe or cow another?'

'Or produce as much meat in one day as we have never had in the best hunting season,' added Whin.

Carnelian watched the men lose their smiles as they considered this. 'Does it matter whether what the Master seeks is possible? Surely it is enough that he intends to try it and in so doing he will bring down disaster on the Tribe.'

Crowrane gave his wife a sly look. 'What then, Master, do you advise we do?' 'You must kill him.'

The Assembly stared at him. Harth cocked her head to one side.

'And what do you seek for this advice, your own survival?'

Carnelian looked at Akaisha sadly. 'You must kill me too. It was I who persuaded Fern to bring us here. In my heart I should have known the strife we would bring you. You showed us kindness and look how we repay you. The Master is like a ravener and must be destroyed, but still I have loved him and could not live on with my betrayal.'

The Assembly greeted his speech with silence. Akaisha had tears in her eyes. Harth rose, frowning. Her gaze lingered on Carnelian. She looked sidelong at Akaisha.

'I begin to see why you chose to give this one the protection of your hearth. Still, with his honeyed tongue he has condemned himself.'

Akaisha and Whin began speaking in Carnelian's defence but were interrupted by the curtain lifting to dazzle them all. A figure walked in which, once the gloom returned, they saw was Galewing. He had a rolled-up blanket in his arms.

'Has the Master come with you?' asked Akaisha.

Tonight he will remain at the earthwork by the lagoon.'

The sighs of relief made him uneasy. He frowned, noticing Carnelian.

'Why did you come, Galewing?' asked Harth.

The Elder smiled looking round the Assembly. ‘I’ve come directly here from the koppie of the Woading. They've accepted that from now on they shall be our children and have sent us a ransom in exchange for the bodies of their men.'

He kneeled, then laid the blanket on the bone floor and carefully rolled it out. When it was a flat rectangle like a hole, he leaned over to take the two corners furthest from him and, looking up expectantly, drew the cloth back. The Elders gasped. Laid out on the blanket were discs, pierced and whole, some rayed like suns; there were crescent moons, horned saurians in the round, lip plugs, a huge pectoral incised with figures. Every piece gleaming salt. Kyte crept close to lift a pendant from the hoard and turned it this way and that in his calloused hands. He licked it and turned, grinning.

When they questioned Galewing, he assured them the treasure was theirs.

'And our sons?' Akaisha asked.

They're spending the night in the earthwork. The Woading need time to choose the children they're going to send us to keep as a surety of their alliance with us. Until we have them here, the Master thinks it best we should protect ourselves against any reprisals.'

'Alliance?' said Akaisha.

Galewing opened his hands and looked at the faces of the Assembly. 'Subject of course to our approval.'

'Alliance for what purpose?' said Harth.

'We've promised that if they accept our rule, we shall, in time, return their children and obtain replacements for those marked for the tithe, as well as treasure to compensate them for this loss.' He indicated the salt jewels on the blanket.