The Standing Dead

His waterskin was drowning and so he drew it up, folded its neck, secured it, then hefted it round onto his shoulder. He plodded back to the drag-cradle where he swung it into the arms of a man who was stacking them. Carnelian took an empty waterskin. Other drag-cradles were being loaded nearby. A rising falling whistling made him whisk round, his heart hammering. Three riders were arcing bull-roarers round their heads, focusing on an earther which was ambling towards the cradles. The creature made Carnelian remember the Bloodwood Tree. The bull-roarers spinning faster opened the whistling to a moan. The bull swung away and they chased him from the drag-cradles.

Carnelian became aware Crowrane and Galewing, standing together, were watching him while speaking to each other. He was sure they would not make their move until they were far from the dangerous shore.

Osidian and Ravan were still in the lagoon filling waterskins. Wading out to them, Carnelian saw Osidian was gazing at a nearby island crowded with crested saurians. 'Are they nesting?'

'Yes, Master,' Ravan replied.

Their eggs would make good eating.'

'Such roosts are impregnable.'

Aware of Carnelian's presence, Osidian turned and acknowledged him with a frown. 'What's wrong?'

Still brooding over Fern, Carnelian did not answer quickly.

'My Lord seems distracted,' Osidian said. 'Is it that he fears the saurians, or perhaps, the savages?'

The shift into Quya was shocking. 'Both are unsettling,' Carnelian said in Vulgate.

'Is my Lord missing the blood and gore of his previous employment?' Osidian said, insisting on Quya. 'Is it then your savage friend you miss, Carnelian?'

Carnelian groaned. 'Why do you even now persist -?'

That some matter is perturbing my Lord can easily be read from his face.'

'If you must know…' Carnelian was aware Ravan was there trying to glean what was being talked about. 'I discovered last night that when the childgatherer comes, his brother,' he indicated Ravan, 'will have to be handed over for punishment.'

'You are being melodramatic, Carnelian.'

Carnelian flared into anger. 'He saved your life not once but several times.'

Osidian grew pale. 'How often do you intend to throw that back in my face? The savage broke the vows he swore of service to my father. Crucifixion is the price the Commonwealth demands for such sacrilege.'

Carnelian's anger cooled to ice. 'You knew this was going to happen?'

Osidian raised an eyebrow. 'You did not? One would have thought it common knowledge even among exiles.'

Carnelian's dislike of him at that moment must have showed in his face, for suddenly Osidian discarded his waterskin and began wading back towards the shore.

Ravan looked horrified. 'What did you say to him?'

Seeing Osidian already leaving the water and striding into the midst of the Plainsmen alone, Carnelian became frantic. He discarded his waterskin and bounded back to shore. Osidian was already mounted and guiding his aquar away through the perimeter of Plainsmen riding guard. Carnelian raced for his own beast, threw himself into her chair and made her rise. He aimed her along the shore in pursuit.

Perimeter guards rode to intercept them. 'Where in thunder are you going?'

Crowrane's voice came floating from somewhere near the drag-cradles. 'Let them go.'

The men scowled, shrugged and moved their aquar out of the way. Beyond their protection Carnelian felt exposed. The raised voices had disturbed the herds. Carnelian became aware another aquar was shadowing him and saw it was Ravan's.

The ground was being shaken by immense footfalls, the air was wafting thick with the stink of the saurians and rasped by their cries. He and Ravan skirted the denser clumps of them keeping as close as they could to the shore. When they caught up with Osidian, he did not acknowledge their presence. Carnelian feared the anger he had provoked was going to get them all killed.

'Let's ride back, Osidian. Out here, we're vulnerable.'

Osidian spoke without taking his gaze from the island roost. 'I have faith in my God.'

When the roost was perhaps only a javelin cast from the shore, he brought them to a halt. Flamingos were an undulating pink commotion obscuring the water. Beyond them rose the island upon which Carnelian could clearly see the saurians with their swept-back scarlet crests.

'Bellowers,' said Ravan, his eyes round.

Osidian turned. 'Are they noted for their ferocity?'

They'll defend their nests against even the most malevolent raveners.'

'Excellent.'

Bewildered, Carnelian and Ravan followed Osidian back to the relative safety of the drag-cradles.

'What did he say?' Osidian asked Carnelian, all the while regarding Loskai with a look of amusement.

'Something along the lines of, you must be mad.'

'Ask him if he's afraid.'

Carnelian did, somewhat reluctantly.

There's a difference between wanting to stay alive and being afraid,' said Loskai.

At that moment Crowrane approached demanding to know from his son what was going on. As Loskai explained, his father frowned, all the time keeping his eyes on Osidian.

'Well, I'm going to get myself an egg and anyone else who isn't afraid can come with me,' said Osidian in Vulgate to the younger men who were gathering round.

Osidian looked at Ravan. 'You at least aren't afraid to come with me, or are you, son of Stormrane?'

'I'll go… I'll go with you,' the youth answered, his face shiny with sweat. He took it upon himself to translate the Master's words for those who had no Vulgate. Krow, among others, moved to stand with Ravan at Osidian's side. The rest looked for guidance to Crowrane, who was surveying the roost as if he were calculating the odds. He brought the men of his hunt into focus.

'Shall we allow one of the Standing Dead to slur our manhood?'

The older among them shook their heads slowly, regarding the Elder in puzzlement. The youngsters declared their bravery noisily. Their commotion brought Galewing, accompanied by several of his hunt.

He cowed them into silence with a glare. 'Are you lot trying to get us trampled?'

Crowrane encouraged the Elder to move away with him. Carnelian could see Crowrane explaining. When Galewing grew angry, Crowrane calmed him. Carnelian did not like the glances they gave him as they talked and approached Osidian.

'You must not do this,' he said in Quya.

'It is no longer possible to turn back,' Osidian replied.

Carnelian glanced off to where the Elders were still in discussion. 'You are putting us in their trap.'

'On the contrary, I am turning their trap against them.' He smiled, fire in his eyes. 'Will you join me?'

Crowrane returned. 'Father Galewing will make sure the water gets back safely to the Koppie. Those of you who wish should return with him.'

No one moved.

'Well, then, let's go and get ourselves some eggs.'

Grinning, excited, the youngsters ran for their aquar. Crowrane followed them, frowning. At his side, Loskai was giving him an anxious look.

Carnelian became aware Osidian was still waiting for an answer. Carnelian's unease turned to irritation.

'Do I have any choice?'

As Osidian cantered into the lagoon, flamingos rose like a sudden dawn. Carnelian was mesmerized by their flashing wingbeats. The cloud cleared to reveal dazzling water stretching to the island. Many of the bellowers there were turning to watch them.

'What now, Master?' Loskai cried, hanging back with his father.

Osidian ignored the Plainsman. He swung his arm round, his hand tracing a bright arc in the air. At this signal, Ravan, to whom Carnelian had earlier seen Osidian giving instructions, waded his aquar off into the deeper water on their right leading some of the youngsters. Carnelian watched them curve round towards the shore of the island, wondering that they were so readily prepared to obey Osidian. As Ravan and his party drew nearer to the bellowers they rose up alarmed, rending the air with a trumpeting that set aquar plumes and Carnelian's heart to fluttering. The brazen cries rose and fell in angry fanfares as more and more of the bellowers came down to the water's edge. The riders continued wading parallel to the shore until they moved out of sight, drawing the bellowers away.