The Standing Dead

Skai looked at Carnelian over his brother's head. 'But you are going out with Father Crowrane's hunt tomorrow?'

'I haven't decided yet,' said Carnelian.

Sil's eyebrows rose and she looked up and down the men's bench. 'Isn't Father Crowrane supposed to be warding tomorrow?'

'I heard he's swapped with Father Kyte,' said Whin's husband, Ravenseye. Tomorrow, his hunt is to fetch water with Father Galewing's.'

'Why the swap?' asked Sil.

'Apparently, Loskai persuaded him,' growled Fern.

His wife regarded him with puzzlement, thought a moment, then looked up to the head of the hearth. 'Mother Akaisha, if Carnie goes, I don't suppose there's any chance you'd allow Fern to go with him?

It would be just one day away from his punishment.'

'Although I set the punishment, I acted on behalf of all the Elders and can't set it aside on whim.'

'Could you not ask the other Elders?'

Fern glanced at Carnelian. In his eyes Carnelian saw not only his friend's embarrassment, but also a yearning he could not read.

'I've said all I'm going to on this matter, child.' Akaisha's gaze fell on Carnelian. There are others, perhaps, you should be challenging, others who made commitments they now seem happy to set aside.'

Carnelian hung his head. It was true that to go with Osidian, he would be reneging on the promise he had made to Fern to share his punishment until its end. It did not matter if what she had said to Sil was true or not. Carnelian knew that Akaisha would do anything she could to stop her son becoming embroiled. Carnelian lifted his head. Ravan was looking past him to Osidian. The flicker of the fire showed the bones underlying the marble of Osidian's face. Carnelian remembered the question he had read in Osidian's eyes before the fight. A direct appeal to the love they had sworn to each other. There really was no choice. How could he let Osidian go into danger alone?

'Ravan dear,' said Whin. 'Do you think you could stay and help us tomorrow? We are going searching for herbs in the Eastgarden and need an escort.'

Angrily, Ravan shook his head. 'My place is with my hunt.'

Poppy approached Osidian, offering her bowl. 'I've left some for you.'

Osidian's gaze did not move from the heart of the fire and the little girl's face fell. Carnelian reached out, took her arm and drew her to him. He pushed the bowl gently towards her. That's kind of you, Poppy, but he's eaten his. That's yours.'

She gave Carnelian a piercing look and mouthed: 'But he's so thin.'

'So are you,' he mouthed back sparking several chuckles. It pleased Carnelian he could no longer so easily see Poppy's bones. Her eyes were bright and the bruising under them was now only the merest shadow. He had been avoiding considering the impact his decision would have on her. How hard would it be for her if he were not to return?

Poppy sat down with her back against his legs. Peering over her shoulder, he watched her dig her spoon into the bowl. When he lifted his eyes, they meshed with those of Sil, who was smiling warmly. He thought perhaps she might be prepared to adopt Poppy. He looked past Osidian at Fern. His friend liked the girl and might be prepared to be her guardian. Fern's jaw betrayed the anger he was suppressing. Carnelian decided it was too much to ask. He glanced up past the fire at Akaisha. He would ask her. Besides, he owed her an explanation as to why he felt he had no choice but to go with Osidian.

When he saw Akaisha leaving the hearth he waited a little while. Eyes watching him rise, quickly lost interest as he slipped into the darkness.

When Carnelian's vision adjusted to the dark, he saw Akaisha moving towards the rootstair. When he caught up, he reached out to touch her shoulder. She jumped.

'It's only Carnie, my mother.'

She pressed a hand to her chest. 'What're you doing stalking me in the dark?'

'I wanted to talk to you alone.'

'I'm going to relieve myself, child.'

Carnelian did not know what to say.

She sighed. 'I suppose you could walk some of the way with me.'

He remembered to put his shoes on before they left the rootearth. As they climbed the rootstair, he ordered his thoughts.

'Mother Akaisha, if I were to go tomorrow with Crowrane's hunt, would I go with your blessing?'

The night was very black so that, although Carnelian had made this journey many times he still did not know the steps so well that he was free from the fear of stumbling.

Akaisha did not speak until they had reached the Crag. 'You must not go.'

The path round the Crag was lit by starlight. 'I know it is likely to be dangerous.' 'Well then.'

'My brother is determined to go.' Their footfalls were no louder than the sighing of the cedars.

The party of the Elders who wish you dead daily dwindles,' Akaisha whispered.

'If it was up to me, my mother… but my brother will not be swayed by me or any other. For him it's a matter of honour.'

Akaisha gave a snort. 'Honour? Why does honour so often serve only to turn men stupid?'

Carnelian could think of no reply.

'What if I forbade him?' asked Akaisha.

'You'd have to be prepared to restrain him with force.'

They had reached the top of the Westing rootstair. Without hesitation, Akaisha plunged into the blackness beneath the mother trees.

Then I can only pray the Mother will protect you.'

Akaisha had to slow her pace to allow Carnelian to find his way safely down the stair. Though he had to concentrate his mind in his heels, he was still aware of the illuminated underside of the cedars that made it seem as if shadowy halls were laid out on either side.

At last they reached the flat ground before the Westgate, where he knew he must part from Akaisha. The stretch of the Homeditch the women used lay off to the left along the Homewalk: that which the men used, to the right, towards the Childsgate, overlooking the strangely barren rectangle which the Tribe called the Poisoned Field.

Akaisha brought them to a halt. 'It will be hard for my son to work under the Bloodwood Tree without your company.'

'I cannot abandon my brother.'

She clasped his arm. 'Harth may be behind this; Crowrane certainly is or he would have returned with his hunt. That he did not and that Loskai made his challenge when poor Mossie was on duty seems altogether too much of a coincidence. You have one narrow hope. Their plan was certainly to take you out hunting. That they agreed to the Master's counter-challenge has forced them to change the rota. It takes two hunts to fetch water and so you will be going out with not only Crowrane, but also Galewing. When the Assembly voted on your fate, Galewing was the only man who supported me.'

Carnelian pondered this.

Her hold tightened on his arm. 'Do what you can to keep Ravan from any trouble that may arise.' Carnelian put his hand over hers. 'I will.' They let go of each other.

'I'm relieved Fern isn't coming with us,' said Carnelian. 'I wouldn't have been able to stop him getting involved.'

'I'm glad some good has come to him from his punishment. When I imposed it on him, it seemed just, but now I can only see that it is wasting much of what little time he has left.'

Carnelian became confused. Time left?'

He could sense her surprise. 'Surely… surely you can't be unaware of the collar round his neck?'

The collar…?' Coldness flooded his stomach. Fern had deserted from the legions.

'When the Gatherer comes next year, Fern's life will be forfeit.'

'I hadn't imagined…' He remembered the anger Sil had shown him which he had not understood.

'You hadn't imagined the vengeance of the Standing Dead would seek him out?' she said with incredulous anger.

That they could find him.'

'You yourself revealed to us our name pricked into the palms of our service men. How do you think it got there?'

They give it over when they are recruited,' Carnelian said. He stared into the night. 'I just didn't… I'm so stupid.'