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Reya

Reya seethed as she marched towards the mountain. I am a woman of the Clan. I shouldn’t be sent away. Councils were rare, and as an adult it was her right to attend and speak and be heard. She kept replaying the conversation in her head, thinking of all the things she should have said.

“Reya, I want you to go with Armis to the mountain. He will need your help.” Korak had said while Armis was gathering the group together.

No. My place is here with the other adults of the Clan – what she should have said. But instead, all she could say was “But I want to stay here with you.”

“This is a tedious, sad affair. You won’t enjoy it. You will have more fun with the other – with the children.”

You were going to say with the other children. You still think I’m a child. But no, she had said “You don’t think that this council will be important?”

Korak had shaken his head. “No. This will be the most unpleasant and difficult councils in some time.” She had stood there nodding, when she should have thrown it back in his face. If it is difficult, it sounds like it will be very important.

Korak had continued. “I don’t even want to attend this council, but I must. You, however, do not.” If you didn’t want to attend, you should have gone with Armis, and let me stay behind. “I want to stay here with you.” She had sounded so weak and pitiful.

Korak had shaken his head again. “No. please. Go up to the mountain. For me. There will be other councils. This one…” He trailed off, and stared at her, shaking his head sadly.

And she had backed down, nodding meekly, hiding her disappointment, turning to join the Armis and the others.

Later, after he had stepped away to talk to Roggo had she remembered that she was his wife, his equal, and she could have forced the issue. Turning, she stared angrily back at Red Cave, cursing her own foolishness, but her home was lost against the afternoon haze.

Apart from the moment with the wolves, the trip was terribly dull. The surge of energy she had felt since the passing of the morning sickness had sustained her through most of the long trek, but now, struggling up the hillside, she was gasping for breath,sweat running down her back. Her sister and the girls flocked around her, encouraging her, helping her through the difficult parts, but even so she was red-faced, itchy and miserable by the time they reached the summit. Wearily, she plopped down on a large flat rock and watched the others busily setting up the supplies. Above, she watched the stars twinkling in the night sky, asteady stream of multicolored sparks flying past them, leaving brief trails of gold and red as they passed.

She smiled and leaned back against the rock, enjoying the show, letting her aching legs slowly relax. For the last three years the sky show had been disappointing, heavy clouds blanketing the mountain, the air cold and wet, dampening their spirits and their clothes. The celebration had been different as well, with many adults to help and direct the planning. They had brought decorations, soft skins stained red with ocher, strung taut between poles, flowers by the basket full, and several torches and fires to light the top of the mountain in a great show.

Closing her eyes, she remembered last year’s celebration – the women dancing gaily around the fire, singing and chanting and carrying the skins, twirling and laughing as the men tossed flowers into the air above them, raining down to be crushed underfoot, or burned in the ritual fire. The ritual of presentation, as Reya had removed her clothing, standing naked before the Clan, just as a new child entered the world naked, so did a new adult. The women brought forth bowls containing crushed berries and roots and other pigments, and had gently painted her skin from head to toe with wonderful pictures and swirls of color. They had placed flowers in her hair, and sung songs to the spirits, asking for Reya’s good health, happiness and wisdom as an adult. And lastly, with all the children gathered behind her, and all the adults before, Roggo had laid down a long smooth pole, and she had stepped forward, over it, leaving childhood behind. Then the men brought her a new outfit, bright red from recent staining, her first outfit as an adult of the Clan. Then they had feasted on the fruits and berries and meats, and laughed and danced even longer, until everyone had sunk to the stone in exhaustion.

When she awoke the next morning, she could hardly move, sore from dancing, stuffed with food. But still it had been a–

“Hey, are you awake?”

She blinked in confusion, and shook her head to clear her thoughts. Looking up, Armis was standing over her. “Oh good, you’re awake. I need your help.”

She blinked again, and sat up, embarrassed at being caught napping. “What?”

Armis looked around uneasily, and grimaced. “I forgot to get wood for the ritual fire. I need to go get some.”

His face was already growing pale in the waning light. “What, now? Isn’t it a little dark.”

He shrugged. “My father will be very disappointed if I do not have a fire ready when they get here. Can you watch over everyone while I go fetch some wood?”

“Okay. But where will you go? The nearest tree is more than halfway down the mountainside.”

He shook his head. “On the western face, yes. But on the southern face, there are some small trees just a little bit down the side. They’ve been dead for a while… They would make a good fire.”

It took a moment for her to realize what he was saying, and her eyes flew open. “That’s much too steep.” She protested. “You’ll fall and die.” She said the last too loudly, and Lam and Pak looked up from their labors, staring at them inquisitively.

“Get back to work.” Armis said, and turned back to Reya. “I will not disappoint my father. I need to do this.”

Will he be disappointed if you die? She closed her eyes. “Ok.”

Armis glanced at the fast fading light. Already the base of the mountain was bathed in darkness. “They will be here soon.”

Reya sighed. “At least take someone with you, to help.”

“What’s wrong, Armis. Did you forget something again?” Barak approached from the far side of the fire, grinning insolently.

Armis turned and swept past the tall boy. “Shut up, Barak.” He said, and pointed at Lam. “Lam. Come help me.” The boy nodded and jogged over to Armis’s side and the two of them started down the south side, angling their bodies and stepping carefully as they descended.

“He thinks he will be chief.” Barak laughed.

Reya looked at him. Physically, Barak was quite impressive, tall, well built, fast and strong. But what the spirits had given him in strength, he lacked in personality. Petty, cruel and obnoxious, he made Reya’s skin crawl anytime she thought about him. But there was one good thing about him. He was younger, and still a child, at least until he stepped over the pole. She could speak her mind freely with him.

“I suppose you think you deserve to be chief?”

He smiled. “Yes. I am stronger, faster and smarter than he is.”

She looked at him appraisingly, standing up to stretch her legs. “Barak, if you think that, you’re even stupider than I thought. I wouldn’t trust you to keep me safe from a wolf-pup. I don’t even think you’ll ever be lead hunter, let alone chief. I can’t see anyone follow–”

Her cheek burned from his hand. “Shut up.” He said.

She brought her hand to her cheek, eyes burning, fear and rage battling furiously inside her heart. Tell him what a snake he is.

No, he’ll just hit you again. Wait. Get your revenge at a time of your choosing.

She stared at him, and he stared back, smirking, arms crossed. Pak stared wide-eyed at her. She tried to find something to say, something that would hurt him, but nothing came. Finally, she turned away and walked stiffly across the mountaintop, shame and anger burning in her heart, until she stood at the northern crest, staring down into the darkness.

Korak.

No, Korak would not dare harm the son of Murg just for hitting her, if he even believed her. She jerked her head back and forth, punching her hand repeatedly with her fist, tears streaming from her eyes.

“Are you okay?” Mika asked quietly.

She whirled, quickly wiping her eyes. “Hey”, she said, snuffly. “I’m fine.” Mika handed her a hollowed gourd, filled with berries and bits of fruit. She tried to smile, snot bubbling in her nose. “I’m not hungry.”

“I will back you up if you want to tell Korak. Barak deserves a good beating.”

“So you saw it?”

Mika nodded. “We all did.”

She thought about that. “Maybe, if we could find a couple of the others who would also admit to seeing it.” A spark of hope flared. She smiled, tears gone. “If enough people tell him, Korak would have to believe me.”

Mika nodded solemnly. “I will talk to Shara.”

They returned together to the ceremonial camp. Shara and Oola were putting the finishing touches onto the food spread, while Armis had already built the fire, and was knocking his fire stone against his knife, trying to get a spark. Din, Pak and Kito were sitting nearby, watching his efforts, chatting with each other.

After a few moments a spark leapt out and landed in the dried grasses and leaves. Almost immediately, a small flame danced merrily in the tinder and he scrambled to feed it. Losing interest, Reya turned away to check on the rest of the group. Lam and Tohm were lying on the ground, staring up at the heavens. Barak stood on a pile of rocks, spear in his hands, scanning the western slope. She assumed he was searching for wolves or perhaps the rest of the Clan. Anger ran both cold and hot in her stomach as she stared at him.

It would be fun to watch Korak lay into him. Barak was fast, and tall, but he lacked strength and experience. Korak was old enough, in fact, to be her father. As a girl, she had often watched as the men had engaged in friendly wrestling matches and other contests of strength and agility. Korak was often well-placed, although Murg usually won. Once Barak had been beaten down, he would think twice about hitting her again.

Where is Mika? For that matter, where were Shara and Oola? She glanced around the top of the mountain, but didn’t see them. Curious, she walked across the mountaintop searching for the girls. A quick circuit of the top didn’t find them. Where did they go? Turning, she rounded the top a second time, searching more carefully. By now the fire was in full blaze back at the camp, and all of the boys were staring at the sky.

“Armis, have you seen Mika?” He looked up, frowning, and shook his head. “Do you need help?”

Ignoring him, she turned away. “Mika!? Shara!? Oola!” Nothing. A little ball of fear grew in the pit of her stomach. She shouted again. Running across the mountaintop, she called for them. Where did they go?

“Reya! Over here!”

Mika was waving at her from behind the Watching Stone, a huge, flat rock that topped the northern edge of the mountain. As she walked over to them, she realized why she had missed them on her two passes – they had hidden in a pit beneath the great stone, hidden from casual view.

“Why didn’t you answer when I called?”

Mika looked at her. “I did.”

“Now, yes, but what about before?”

Mika shook her head, long black hair dancing in the night air. “We didn’t hear you. Sorry.”

The other two nodded.

Well, they were all here. “Did you see Barak hit me? Will you back me up to Korak?”

They exchanged uncomfortable glances. “What?” Reya said, suspiciously/

Oola spoke up. “We all saw him hit you, and it was a nasty thing to do, but he’s still a boy. Only his father and mother can punish him.”

“And the chief.” Shara said, absentmindedly.

Reya stared at them in dismay. “What do you mean?”

Shara shook her head. “We could tell Korak, but he can’t do anything. Today he is still a boy. Tomorrow, or tonight, he will be a man, and he can’t be punished for the things he did as a boy. Don’t you remember?”

She could feel the anger and fear and humiliation boiling up again. “You’re just afraid to talk. Why won’t you help me?”

Now it was Mika’s turn. “We can help you. We will help you. But what’s the point?”

“You are all useless!” She stormed away, leaving the three girls staring after her.

He will be punished. He has to be.

But how? How to get past the customs. If he had only been a man already.

Tomorrow he will be a man.

She paused, a smile playing across her lips. If he hits me after tonight, Korak can respond. She could easily antagonize him again tomorrow. And if he hit her again… She smiled again, imagining Korak’s rage at the insult to his wife. Nothing more to do about this tonight. But tomorrow? Tomorrow would be most interesting.

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Wednesday, March 1st, 2006 at 12:22 am.
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