The Standing Dead

Osidian muttered and Ravan spoke. 'It isn't something that can be described but only something he can do for you. If you -'

Whin cut in. 'Your price?'

Once he had her words, Osidian gave Whin an angelic smile. 'There's no price, merely a question of means.'

Carnelian watched resignation and defeat come over the faces of the Elders as Ravan began relaying conditions.

The Master says that he must be given authority over the Bluedancing women. Additionally, for a period of up to two moons, he must be allowed to lead the men of the Tribe as he did in the battle against the Bluedancing.'

'But not into battle,' Akaisha said quickly, fear stiffening her face.

Osidian promised they would merely hunt.

'And how shall we be fed during these two moons?' asked Whin, clearly outraged.

The Master will make sure the Koppie is kept supplied with meat,' said Ravan, failing to conceal his triumph.

Galewing rose and surveyed the Assembly. 'I for one say we should let him try.'

Many grumbled but none opposed him. Galewing offered to go with the Master to keep an eye on everything he did. With a heavy heart, Carnelian witnessed the Elders bowing their heads as a sign they were giving Osidian their mandate.

As they walked under the cedars, Ravan grinned as if he had helped the Master win a famous victory. Sick with foreboding, Carnelian saw Osidian was walking blind, his inner sight occupied with some vision.

‘I will not go with you,' Carnelian said.

Osidian took a while coming back from wherever he was. That is fortuitous, since I had intended to leave you behind.'

Carnelian had not expected that and felt cheated.

'I need you here,' said Osidian.

'Why?'

'I shall show you.'

Unhappy, Carnelian followed Osidian round the Crag, down the Blooding rootstair and out into the ferngardens. They reached the Bloodwood Tree, which seemed strange without its ochre-faced women, and walked on into the fernmeadow beyond. Osidian fixed Carnelian with his green eyes.

'All I ask of you is that you should supervise the work of the Bluedancing here.'

'It depends what kind of work you want them to do.'

'Digging, my Lord. Nothing more offensive to your sensibilities than that.'

'Show me where you want them to dig.'

Osidian traced a wide circuit through the air. The ditch all around this meadow must be cleared and cut to its full original depth. Its walls must be beaten hard and strong. All the earth you dig out should be piled up in a rampart on the outer edge.'

Carnelian surveyed the meadow. He saw that, apart from the earthbridge they had used to cross to it, the Horngate was the only other entrance. He looked at Osidian.

'You wish for me to make a bottle into which you are going to drive a herd?'

Osidian smiled. 'It was the way my forefathers provisioned their hosts when they campaigned down on this plain more than seven hundred years ago.'

Carnelian gave a nod, appreciating how it might work. He walked over to the ditch with Osidian and Ravan following him. Standing on the edge, he peered down. Where tree roots did not buttress the walls, they had crumbled. Mud and weeds clogged the ditch along its whole length.

This is no trivial labour.'

'You shall have the use of all the Bluedancing. I will send messengers back to bring me news of your progress. If it be not fast enough we shall see if we cannot bend the Ochre to the task.'

Carnelian looked at him. 'And where will you be?'

Osidian looked away to where the plain could be seen shimmering green. 'Out there,' he said with a jutting of his chin, 'training the hunters.'

'If he chooses to help me, I'd like to use Fern as my assistant,' Carnelian said.

'Oh no, Carnelian,' said Osidian with a shake of his head and a feral grin. That one will come with me.'

Fear gripped Carnelian. 'Do you intend to hurt him?'

Osidian shrugged. 'Hunting involves an element of risk.'

'Do you forget that you owe him your life?'

Osidian controlled anger. 'He will risk the hazards with the rest.'

'I will not aid you unless you promise to keep him safe.'

Osidian chuckled. 'Do you imagine you are that essential to this project?'

'I shall reveal to the Elders the true goal of your schemes.'

Osidian smiled. 'A crude manipulation but one Chosen in mood. Do you believe those decrepit savages even have the imagination to see my plans are possible? They will laugh at you, my Lord.'

'I will make them believe me.'

Osidian threw up his hands. 'Enough. I shall not touch your precious savage. Is that enough?'

Carnelian considered trying to get Osidian to swear a blood oath, but he feared pushing him too far and so he gave a nod.

That night Akaisha's hearth were disturbed by a succession of women visitors saying they had come to see if it was true the Elders had given the Master command over all their menfolk. Over and over again, wearily, Akaisha had to confirm it, but Carnelian could see the visitors were hardly attending to what she said, but rather sneaking sidelong glimpses at Osidian, whose face the firelight was making brighter than the moon.

Later, men began to come in twos and threes to talk to the Master. Ravan at his side, Osidian received them away from the hearthlight near the rootstair.

When Fern and Sil left the hearth, Carnelian followed them. Both turned to face him.

'Be careful,' Carnelian said to Fern.

Sil frowned. 'You will be going with Fern tomorrow, won't you?'

Carnelian shook his head. 'He wants me here.'

Sil glanced at the Master. Fern was examining Carnelian's eyes and saw from where the danger might come.

Sil smiled at Carnelian and then led her husband away to their sleeping hollow. Unhappy, Carnelian watched them go. He felt someone near him and saw it was Akaisha.

'Has the Master told you his intentions, Carnie?'

As he told her what he knew, her forehead creased into an ever deeper frown. 'I don't like it. It has a smell of impiety.' She gripped his arm. 'Are we doing the right thing?'

'What choice do we have?'

She looked up at him, probing his face, then letting go, she looked away. Following her line of sight, Carnelian saw the black shapes of two men nodding as they received a mutter of instructions from Ravan, beside whom loomed Osidian's immensity.

Carnelian saw how much she was struggling with doubt. 'I must start tomorrow. Will you help me?'

She tore her gaze back to him. 'You'll need quite a few of us to oversee the work.'

The next morning Carnelian took Poppy down to the Newditch with the rest of the Tribe to watch the men ride away. Osidian rode at their head with Galewing and his son, Hirane. Ravan and Krow were close behind. Searching for Fern, Carnelian found him further back. He watched until Akaisha and a score of other women came for him and, together, they went down to the Bluedancing field.

Their camp had trampled all the ferns into the earth. He saw the attempts they had made at forming hearths. These were so close to each other that the scatter of sleeping bodies formed a single mat of grubby cloth and flesh which reminded Carnelian, uncomfortably, of the way their men had looked lying on the battlefield.

'Poor creatures,' Sil said in a low voice.

They brought it upon themselves,' Akaisha snapped to a nervous nodding murmur of agreement.

Before they reached them, the Bluedancing began coming alive. Carnelian could see their dirty faces gaping. They stumbled to their feet, clutching their children to their hips. A deputation of their Elders came out to meet the Ochre. Akaisha brought her own people to a halt. The salt bangles of the Bluedancing hung loose with their skin on the sticks of their limbs. Most had made an attempt to brush back their hair, but their faces were grimy, and their robes and head blankets filthy. They stank. It was clear that however much water they were being given, it was not enough to wash with.