Azaria (45 page)

Azerban was surrounded by bleak expressions staring down at the severed pillar. When he finally raised his head, he saw many stony Ta’araki faces trained on him. He shook his head grimly, returning his gaze to the destruction, finding it less disconcerting.

Takur was the first to speak. "It is evident we have much to discuss, my friends. I understand the rest are to arrive soon. We’ll let them take in the scene themselves, have some refreshment and then the Council will meet after midsun."

Most nodded and chose to return to their tents. Azerban trailed Takur, unwilling to allow him any opportunity for mischief.

The Council of Ta'araki was held outside, since none of the tents were big enough to contain all present. Takur suggested they gather on the floor of the Great Temple instead, surrounded by the monumental pillars. Azerban guessed Takur meant to keep their minds focused on the desecration as he urged them to join Boar Camp in their revenge against the Kebar.

There were many camps represented. Ta'araki had come from the north, east and south. Azerban greeted colleagues from Red Deer Camp, Fox Camp's neighbors to the north. Ta'araki from Wolf Camp, whose summer dwellings lay northwest of those of Red Deer, had also arrived. From the direct east travelled members of Aurochs Camp and also their northeast neighbors, the Ta'araki of Leopard Camp. From the south came representatives of Falcon Camp, Lion Camp and ironically, Mammoth Camp.

Mammoth Camp's previous summer dwellings had once been far to the north, above a body of water almost as endless as the southwestern Great Mother Sea. Not too long ago they’d relocated south. Their primary means of nutrition and resources, the majestic mammoth, had become hard to find. It had been a struggle to make the adjustment to a new location and to, more devastatingly, give up their traditions hunting the legendary beasts. But eventually, with the assistance of the other Natu camps, they adapted to new sources of survival. They clung to their heritage fiercely however, choosing to take the name Mammoth Camp. When asked, every one of their members would answer their true hearths were in the old northern lands and swear to return there some sun. It wasn't hard to find those volunteering epic songs or tales concerning the great hunts for the massive beasts, stories which were among the most favored at Summer Gatherings.

It was occasionally discussed whether Mammoth Camp was really Natu, or more of an adopted camp. The subject was not brought up for any nefarious reason, but out of general curiosity. The common belief was that the Natu had once lived along the mild coasts of the Great Mother Sea. They had migrated away from that area after the Watchers had warned them of an impending great flood. As they settled on higher ground in the eastern regions, some of the indigenous tribes, impressed with their advanced technology, had accepted their intrusion into their lands with open arms, helping them identify the local flora and fauna and crossmating with their sons and daughters.  Some tribes eventually joined their ranks as full-fledged camps. Mammoth Camp’s origins were thought to be similar. Indeed, some of their members looked so different from those of other camps - having paler skin and hair and lighter eyes - that Azerban always found himself easily convinced by the common line of reasoning.

With all gathered, Takur - now considered First among all Ta'araki - began solemnly. "Thank you all for coming. It is good to have so many present. It’s been too long since I've seen many of your faces." His words carried more meaning than just a simple welcome. Some of the more distant camps avoided participation as much as possible in the activities concerning the Great Temple, seeing little use in it. They made excuses for skipping certain rituals and sent only token work forces in the summer, even though most were within a sun’s journey. In fact, there seemed to be an inverse relationship between a camp's intensity of effort and their distance from the Temple, with the closer camps exhibiting more pride in the undertaking and the further out ones viewing it as little more than a burden. Takur was making sure everyone present knew he was keeping track.

"It is good to look into your old eyes again too, Ta'araki," responded a junior Ta'araki from Lion Camp whose name eluded Azerban. "But I'm curious as to what trouble you’ve brought us." Azerban inwardly flinched at the man's sarcastic tone, but was pleased to be reminded that Takur's influence had its limits.

Takur glared at the impertinent speaker, but chose not to respond in kind. He didn't want to start this meeting off with angry words. "It’s true that unfortunate circumstances greet us. We have much to discuss. As you can all see for yourselves, we've been attacked." He waited as those gathered affirmed the fact with acknowledging grunts and nods. "This is not the first occurrence. I'm sure you are all aware, but for those who aren't, last autumn, as the frozen moons neared, Boar Camp suffered a full scale attack."

Takur looked out and was met with an audience of stoic stares. "Let me be clear, this was not one of the typical skirmishes many of our camps have endured. This was well planned. The Kebar set their dogs loose on our western side, while they swung around and attacked our unguarded southern side. Skirmishes have always served to test a camp’s strength... and for the hunters to gain a little glory. I’m sure many men here can testify to the thrill of rushing forward, casting a spear and then retreating back while dodging a salvo of enemy spears."

He was interrupted by a flurry of acknowledging grunts. "And a few women!!" shouted a broad woman from the back, one of the junior Ta’araki from Leopard Camp.

"Ha! And a few women, Ajia kindly reminds me. Who can forget her skill with the spear!? It’s what the young do and has never been regarded seriously. But this attack was different, was designed to inflict the most possible damage. Many of our shelters were burned and some of our hunters wounded. Azerban's own daughter faced off with the leader and only narrowly escaped harm."

"Your daughter, Ta'araki?" the Lion Camp man who’d spoken earlier interrupted again, directing his question to Azerban, but now sans the harsh tone.

"It is true, Meltek," Azerban responded evenly, finally remembering his name.

"Is she not the one we’ve heard about? The one Boar Camp calls Bird-Runner?" Meltek said.

Azerban sighed. "She doesn't prefer that particular moniker, but yes, she is the same," he acknowledged.

"Ahh. It seems your daughter has a penchant for trouble." As a few laughed at his characterization, Meltek continued, "How old is your little one now anyway? Her face evades me."

Takur's anger grew as Meltek continued to interrupt, but he let the conversation proceed a little longer. Azerban wondered why Takur tolerated the lowly Lion Camp Ta'araki's disruption. Perhaps his status had grown since he'd last seen him. Certainly his confidence had. "She's seen fifteen winters now," Azerban said, allowing a slight annoyance to build in his voice.

Meltek might have detected it, for he ended abruptly, "Very good, Ta'araki. Give her my best, and your other child as well. I beg forgiveness for the interruption, Ta'araki. Please continue."

Takur was somewhat startled at having been directed so boldly by the Lion Camp man. He too had noticed his newfound confidence and was curious as to how it arose, wondering if this was a man he should pay more attention to in the suns ahead. "Yes, as I was saying," he continued, "we have suffered many attacks over the seasons from the Kebar. We have mostly tolerated them. Last summer in fact, after the attack on our camp, we captured one of their men. In good faith Azerban negotiated and eventually we released him, unharmed and in good health. We hoped a new sun had arrived in our relationship with them, but what you see here in front of you has put that promise of peace to rest. There can be no ignoring this evidence. We must respond."

Murmurings rose up. Azerban watched the different reactions carefully, and saw mostly nods of agreement. Only a few showed some objection in the way they held themselves. His hope for avoiding full scale hostilities rested with those few, but was withering.

One of those not nodding her head was a junior Ta'araki from Wolf Camp. Azerban remembered her well - a short, plump woman with a rather plain face. She’d always seemed nervous about something or other. He was surprised when she spoke up, as he recalled her usual preference to hide in the shadows. Perhaps she'd taken lesson from Meltek's overstepping his place without consequence. "Ta'araki," she said. "It seems the problem is Boar Camp's. No one else has experienced any major trouble from the Kebar."

Her comments evoked consternation among the group. Some seemed to take her point and looked to Takur for his counter argument. Others shook their heads in disagreement or voiced a grunt of disapproval.

Azerban didn't expect Izyl to speak for Takur. "That is not completely true, Siryah," she said. "There have been other occurrences. Some of our women have been harassed over the seasons and even some raped. Some of our young men have been bloodied up too. And of course the young couple who disappeared from Swan Camp several summers ago never turned up."

"That is true, Izyl," Siryah responded. "However, there’s no evidence the Kebar had anything to do with that disappearance, as tragic as it is. They may simply have been swept away by a strong current, or devoured by cave lions or hyenas, their bones scattered wide and far. Disappearances are not that unusual. Nor is the occasional rape or beating. All the camps have suffered such cowardly attacks - and not only from outsiders. Our own men have been accused by our women. Aggression is becoming more and more common it seems. These new generations have little respect for the Great Mother, or for the old ways. But that is a complaint that can wait until later. My point is that I don't see anything unusual happening to any of the other camps that would provide justification for significant action against the Kebar."

Azerban was impressed with the middle-aged woman of Wolf Camp. Many had also been swayed, nodding their heads in concurrence. Her argument was sound and convincing. But he knew it had one deep flaw, which Takur was quick to stress. "Siryah, normally I would agree to your most reasonable points. However, I bid you turn around and look again at the evidence before you. This is not Boar Camp which has been attacked. This is an aggression against all of us, against every camp. It is an affront against all Natu. Can you deny that point? Does what you see in front of you not sway you? All of you. Look at it. What possible justification can excuse this vile act?"

Those who had nodded agreement to Siryah's arguments now stayed mute, their heads bowed. Azerban had one other objection to make, but hoped someone else would make it, wary of always being the one opposing Takur.

"I take it by your silence then," Takur continued, "that everyone here agrees we must respond to this provocation."

Disappointed, Azerban began to speak, but at the last possible moment, Izyl spoke instead, "There
is
a valid justification for their actions, Ta'araki."

Sudden murmurs echoed through the gathering as all eyes again turned to her. "And what would that be, Izyl?" Takur gazed at her harshly, but responded softly, resigned to hearing the words he knew she would speak.

Izyl explained, "This drawing on the fallen stone. It clearly shows a Kebar. Is it not possible they were trying to tell us they know about the sacrifice of last summer's Solstice?"

More rumbling rose up among the attendees as this new information was introduced, but it was obvious many didn't know what she meant.

"What sacrifice?" Azerban heard the lead Ta'araki of Wolf Camp ask.

Takur hadn’t called attention to the other details of the drawing when he mentioned it earlier, hoping they would be overlooked. By his expression, Azerban knew he feared it would eventually come up.

"Yes, what sacrifice?" another woman asked. "Is that why the Kebar has his head off? Was one of them made an offering of?"

Takur sighed before answering, knowing there was no avoiding the subject now. "Last summer," he explained, "a Kebar scout was found spying on the Great Temple. Those who caught him were young and looking for a fight. They roughed him up more than necessary. He wasn't going to survive for long. Instead of returning him to his people, those present decided the best course of action was to eliminate him. It was hoped we would avoid new hostilities. Since we needed a sacrifice anyway, the attendees decided he would serve."

A great commotion swept through the group as those who’d been unaware of the Kebar sacrifice reacted to the new information. Takur held up his hand to quiet them, but it was a long while before everyone settled down. "He was treated with the same respect any Natu would be," Takur explained. "He was released from his flesh and allowed to journey to the Ta'ar."

If he had hoped this would ease the minds of those present, Takur was mistaken. Shouts of protest were now ringing out from every direction.

"Why weren't we made aware of this?"

"Why would he care about traveling to the Watchers? He's Kebar!"

"He should not have been sacrificed in the first place."

"On whose authority?"

Knowing he was quickly losing control and unsure how to regain it, Takur was losing his composure. Attempting to answer each question as it came, he stumbled over his words and before he could correct himself was inundated with the next protest. He grew visibly frustrated and then angry.

"None of this matters anymore," he finally shouted. "What's done is done. The sacrifices were performed under Fahim's direction. She is gone now. We cannot go back and correct her mistakes. All we can do now is decide how to respond to this threat."