THE GODS OF GARRAN
CHAPTER NINE
Sindke led the group away from Koshke, heading southwest. Molot, strangely quiet for once came up alongside Este. "She's taking us west, around the Eye of Innurlaan. This is a waste of time. We should go south, through Innurlaan. You can guide us."
It was never Este that guided them--it had been Molot. But he believed that somehow Este had stilled the wind. If it had been her, she had no idea how. Anyway, Sindke seemed very confident and sure of her path. Este was content to follow her and see where she led. "We'll try it this way," she said. Molot was displeased with the idea and dropped back a few paces.
Este rode ahead to Sindke. "Where will we go?" Este asked.
"I don't know," answered Sindke. "Where are the god-stones?"
Surely the woman didn't think Este knew. Este shook her head. "I don't know."
"Are they in the Hands of the Gods?" asked Sindke, meaning the mountain Este had been to.
"No," Este said, without stopping much to think. She didn't know why she was so sure. Sindke smiled.
Again Este saw the tacha skulking about behind shrubs and rocks as they passed by.
That evening they stopped for camp as it got dark. Molot's two cousins and Rouvidinn set up the camp. Molot began cooking. He was fond of food and had appointed himself to be in charge of it. Este gathered that his skills as a fighter were not as great as his skill for talking.
Jarvaine, though a fighter, looked richer than some of the others, like Molot. He must have more status in his clan, as he didn't offer to do any of the work. Instead he came over and spoke with Este.
"How did you like Noloon?" he asked. "How did you find the weather there?"
"I have not been to Noloon in many years," countered Este, "I have not thought of it much." He was testing her. This is what Este had feared--someone who could prove her story false.
"I've heard that Chief Foknach has fallen ill. That's unfortunate."
Este had no idea who was chief in Noloon as she had never been there before--and never really wanted to go. "My mother moved from there when I was young. I have no news of them."
Jarvaine studied her carefully. She hope he wouldn't notice how Chanden some of her features were.
"Odd that you never go there. Surely you have family there?" asked Jarvaine. He was baiting her.
"No. We left it. Don't tell me you find that odd?" she said. Noloon was very small and remote. It was no great place to be--she knew that much. Jarvaine grinned at this. Este left him and went over to talk to Molot, who was pleased and quickly launched into a long and complicated story about his brother's uncle's lost eke herd.
After dinner, Este settled down to sleep. Jarvaine had stopped questioning her but she felt that he was not yet satisfied with her answers. She would have to be careful with him.
They were now southwest of the Eye of Innurlaan but it was not far. Este had never been this far west--so many places were unfamiliar. There was much to think about and it took her awhile to fall asleep.
Este knew that the Chandens hadn't been completely fair to the Garrans. There were laws to protect their culture and preserve their resources and fairly compensate them and so on. But Garran was remote and the world was not rich in any kind of resource. The population was small. It was not a world that many were concerned about. Therefore some reports failed to get filed and some abuses went on without reprimand and those higher up in the Chanden government who saw the wrongs they committed were too concerned with bigger problems to concern themselves. It was too small a problem.
So the government on Garran continued with policies that favored the Chandens, fulfilled many requirements on a marginal level, and basically stole quite a lot from the Garrans all while paying them an unusually low rate for their resources and for their labor.
After all, they had civilized them--brought them technology--and that was valuable. Este had always believed that it evened out somehow. Now she wasn't so sure. She'd thought them to be savages but the more she got to know them, the more she realized that they were just poor, not necessarily savage. They had their own government and their own ways, which were not given the recognition that they should.
Este had become an enforcer because the pay was unusually good, especially for her line of work. These backward planets paid Chanden quite high in order to keep them from leaving for more civilized places. If Este had wanted--she could have made some good money in illegal trade and bartering of seized goods, but that wasn't something she felt right about.
Slowly, Este fell asleep but in her dreams she saw an old Garran city and heard the strange song again. She followed a strange man through the desert. He had something important but she didn't know what. She felt that if she followed him then it would become clear. The understanding of it was on the tip of her mind and so she went deeper into the dream--trudging through the endless desert sand in search of him.
As she woke, Este felt strangely chill as the wind blew across her shoulders. She had picked a spot out of the wind and wondered why the wind was blowing so hard that it could reach her. She woke in a sandstorm, for a moment disoriented. She couldn't see the others anywhere, nor could she see her pack or the animals nor the rock ledge she had been under.
Este stood up. She was wearing her cloak and her ooluk was girded about her waist but she had no memory of putting it there. It seemed to be full daylight--if she could have seen the sun but it was blocked by sand and clouds. Somehow, she had wandered away from the camp. This wasn't where she'd lain down. She called out to the others but got no response. The whole area was sandy, unlike the rocky place they had camped.
She panicked and began to run, in the direction she though would take her back but after five minutes she stopped. There was no change in the terrain--only sand. Was she going to the wrong way? She called out again and again--but there was no answer.
The sand swirled around her and she could scarcely see ten feet in front of her. She retraced her steps, at least she thought she did and tried walking the opposite way but again there was nothing but sand.
She stopped. Este would have to wait until the storm was over. There was no traveling in this. Surely the others would find her soon and probably think her silly. She looked around and found a small thicket of shrubs and climbed inside. They helped block the sand and wind a little. She found herself overwhelmingly tired and fell asleep. But this time she didn't dream.
When Este awoke again it was nearly nightfall. She couldn't believe that she'd slept so long and that the others hadn't woken her. But the storm had mostly passed and see could see the terrain again. For miles, there was nothing but sand. The terrain had completely changed. Este was miles from where they had camped.
A closer inspection of the terrain showed that she was now southeast of the Eye of Innurlaan. She must have walked all night to get here! The dream of crossing the desert was real--she had walked in her sleep, something she had never done before. Unless that is how she got from the middle of the mountain back to the front chamber--at the Hands of the Gods.
As Este scanned the horizon, she saw two riders approaching. Quickly she found cover and waited as they approached. It was Molot and Sindke--searching for her, no doubt. Este came out from the bushes and waved at them. They spurred their yithhe over to where she was.
"Este!" said Molot. "What are you doing?" He seemed genuinely distressed.
She shook her head. "I don't know. I woke up this morning--out here."
They stared at her.
"I must have walked in my sleep. I don't understand it myself."
Sindke looked around at the vast empty desert and at the mountains to the east. "Find the others," she told Molot. He nodded and took off, with a worried glance at Este.
Sindke dismounted and came over to her, noticing that Este carried her sword and nothing else. She seemed quite calm about the incident. "You are all right?"
"Yes," said Este.
"Where were you going?"
"I don't know," said Este. "I had a dream that I was walking through the desert--looking for a man but I don't know why. It makes no sense."
Sindke nodded. They waited in silence until Molot brought the others, along with Este's yithhe, back to where they were.
"It's not yet dark," said Sindke, "we will continue on for a few hours." She set her yithhe towards the southwest and began moving out. Hesitantly, the others followed.
"But Sindke," said Molot. "Why are you going southwest?"
"I don't know," she answered, "but I'd like to find out." She continued on the same course that Este had walked the night before.
As the sun began to set, Rouvidinn, who was scouting ahead, returned. "There are riders ahead--coming across the Desert of Desolation."
"Who are they?" asked Sindke.
"The Red Sun Clan," he said.
She nodded and continued towards them. She found a ravine and rode down it with the others following behind her. They rode out of sight for awhile, their movements hidden by the ravine. Then it widened and turned a corner. There in front of them was a small ragged group of hunters with swords held ready to fight.
There were five that Este could see. One was on the ground and looked wounded. Sindke stopped and the others stopped too, looking over the haggard people. They were not Red Sun Clan and Este didn't recognize them. She thought they would attack but they only stood ready. They looked as though they had already been through a battle and lost.
Sindke dismounted. "What are you doing here?" she asked. The others stared at her without answering. "You are pursued by the Red Sun Clan?" she asked.
From the side of the ravine, a man emerged from a rock. He was younger than some of the others and not strong looking. He came down towards them and stopped once he was on level ground.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I am Sindke--leader of the Clan Tribunal."
"Why are you here?" he asked.
"We are looking for you--so it would seem," she said, cryptically.
CHAPTER TEN
The air was still in the ravine. It was nearly dark. "Watch the east," said Sindke to Rouvidinn. He nodded and took two of the strangers with him. Moorhen nodded to Draihe and Gudhel and they followed them.
"The Red Sun Clan are not far," said Sindke. "Can he walk at all?"
"Not much," said Moorhen. "We've been walking almost two days without rest and little water."
"What happened?" asked Sindke.
Moorhen hesitated a moment. It was a shameful story. "Our clan is destroyed -- the Sand Plain Clan. Our father, Ashtan, grew angry at the Chanden and, in league with the Upper Steppe and the Red Sun Clan he attacked a Chanden village--but the other clans betrayed us. Ashtan is dead and we are all that's left."
Sindke nodded. "This will not go well for any of us--this action is rash," said Sindke.
This Moorhen knew and he said nothing, agreeing in his silence.
Just then Draihe called a warning and the Red Sun Clan was upon them. From the ravine, it was difficult to see all that happened. Moorhen had no bow now--it was lost--but he drew the Chanden laser. As the Red Sun Clan came over the ridge, Moorhen shot at them. But the weapon was odd in its aim and didn't balance the way he expected. He managed to wound one but found himself wishing for his bow. He stayed near Taglethe and Sindke to protect them, as did Crysethe. The battle did not go well but much better than it would have had the others not been with them.
Moorhen cursed as he saw Gudhel take a hit. He abandoned the gun and drew his his sword as three of the Sun Clan got over the ridge and came towards them. A woman, somewhat pale and with delicate hair raised an ooluk to take one on but another went after her as well.
Moorhen ran to her defense and fought the second clansman. Moorhen had done very little true fighting like this and was barely holding the man off when the pale woman finished her battle and came to his aid.
"Thank you," he said.
She scowled at him and continued on. She was beautiful and looked like he imagined one of the gods would. He noticed her sword was a sacred relic with god-runes on it. That she dared to use it impressed him. Moreover, she was a half-garr, he was sure. She had a slightly foreign look.
Though the battle seemed long, Moorhen was sure that it did not last long. Even Crysethe joined in. Soon it was over. The remaining Red Sun Clan gave up and withdrew, seeing that they had reinforcements.
Moorhen hurried up the slope to the others. Draihe was there, kneeling over Gudhel. She was crying and Moorhen saw that he was dead--as was Rollech. The loss of two more clan-brothers seemed unbearable after the losses they had already suffered. There were so few of them left. Moorhen truly feared for his clan. The newcomers--those of the Tribunal had lost men also. Moorhen went down to find out how bad it was.
Moorhen went up to Sindke who, while she was old still looked as though she could wield a dagger or ooluk with some skill. "We lost one but two are wounded--one badly."
"I'm sorry," said Moorhen.
"She was my clan-sister," said Jarvaine, sitting next to Koquim. "I can't stop the bleeding. Sindke--can you help her?"
Sindke went over to the woman. Moorhen felt that the wounds looked very severe.
Jarvaine rose to let Sindke minister to the girl. He paced about letting his displeasure show. "This was not our battle," said Jarvaine, glaring at Moorhen. "We fight their battles for them--after they start a war with the Chanden?"
Moorhen didn't blame him for feeling this way. Ashtan's attack was foolish and would cost the Garrans much, he feared.
"To hell with you!" said Jarvaine. Moorhen could think of nothing to say.
"Jarvaine--be silent," said Sindke. "We can do nothing tonight but rest. Set up a double watch and we'll sleep in shifts."
"I won't sleep," he muttered as he went off to do her bidding.
Moorhen, Draihe, and Sindke saw to the wounded. Este, the pale woman (as he learned she was called), sat apart from them and did not help nor speak. He almost thought her in a trance, she was so still. Sindke and the others made no demands on her and Moorhen likewise left her alone.
Moorhen wondered if Este were so pale on account of some sickness or if it were because she was partly foreign. Odd though, that she should ride with the Tribunal and carry a god-sword.
Then again, people also said that Moorhen looked pale. Doubts rose in him once again about his mother. He sought out Rheggi and sat by him. Rheggi was wounded, but not badly.
For a moment they sat in silence. Moorhen wanted answers but also didn't want them. "What my father said--about the Sand Plain Clan...." Moorhen was not sure how to ask it. "My Mother--he would never tell me...."
"She was not of the Sand Plain Clan," said Rheggi.
Ashtan had never said this. "What was she?"
Rheggi didn't look at Moorhen. "I never knew your mother, Moorhen, I'm sorry."
How could he not know Moorhen's mother--and he live his whole life in the clan? "She died in childbirth?"
"That's what I heard," Rheggi said. He got up and walked over to help with the wounded, even though his help wasn't needed. Moorhen mulled the answers over. Rheggi seemed ashamed and Moorhen believed that he knew more than he let on. Why would he be ashamed unless Moorhen's mother were Chanden? But how could that be? Why wouldn't she have lived with the clan until her death? Or was she dead?
Once everyone was settled and the wounds tended to, Sindke came over to Moorhen. "I've done what I can," she said. Then in a lower voice, "but I fear that the woman will not live out the night. I will stay with her."
Moorhen nodded.
The newcomers took the first several watches, allowing Moorhen and the others, who were thoroughly exhausted, get rest at last. Moorhen fell to sleep quickly but did not sleep very soundly, troubled by too many matters and the vague memory of strange dreams.
Moorhen took a watch near dawn and found that the woman, Koquim, had died in the night--as Sindke had said she would. That left Taglethe and Rouvidinn that were badly wounded still. At least the Red Sun Clan had not attacked during the night.
The pale one, Este, was awake and stood apart from them, restless. She looked worried.
"Sleep," he told her. "I'll watch."
"I cannot," she said, without further explanation.
"Are you all right?" he asked. The look of her was not good. She looked ill.
"I'm fine," she said but her tone was cold and told him that she wanted to be left alone--so he left her alone. She looked as though she had scarcely slept.
It was not long before dawn came and the others woke. Jarvaine's mood was dangerous. He said little but his eyes were angry and Moorhen sensed that not all that anger was directed at the Sand Plain Clan.
"Where now?" demanded Jarvaine. "What is our course?"
Sindke looked over at Este, who said nothing--remaining aloof.
Sindke turned her gaze to Moorhen. "Moorhen--tell us--what is our course?"
He stared at her, having no idea why she would ask him.
"We are on a quest for the god-stones and were headed to the Dead Knolls to search the firecaves. One held instructions on what to do."
The god-tablet. Moorhen felt a rush of guilt. He was no shahaek--yet he had entered the chamber. He had told no one that he had taken the tablet.
"The chamber was destroyed," said Draihe coldly. "Moorhen ventured in--and brimstone overran the chamber."
At this, Sindke looked a little startled--she looked over at Moorhen.
He hesitated, loathe to make this confession. He pulled the god-tablet out of his pouch. All eyes turned to him--his own clan surprised. "I took it when the brimstone rose," said Moorhen, handing it to Sindke--embarrassed, especially that he had not told his own clan and especially not even his own father. Draiha glared at him, angry.
Sindke took the tablet, with a glance at Jarvaine who now seemed pacified. "This stone will guide us," she said to Jarvaine. Then to Moorhen, "You've saved us a journey, Moorhen of the Sand Plains."
Moorhen nodded but still felt ashamed. He was surprised that she didn't reprimand him, though perhaps the gods would take their own vengeance on him in time.
Sindke studied Este a moment before she sat down to look at the tablet.
"It speaks of the god Gallo, one of the seven gods. He holds the next key," said Sindke. "There is a riddle here that even I do not understand. But Gallo is the god of the sea and the Kinsikk Sea lies to the east. Perhaps it is there that we will find the god-stones.
"And what of Rouvidinn and the others?" asked Jarvaine, referring to the wounded.
"We shall send them back to Koshke," she said. "Molot," she said. "You and your cousin shall take them back. We will stop and get animals for the others to ride and continue on to the east."
The others nodded. "I hope our journey bears fruit, after so many loses," Said Jarvaine.
"That is my hope also," said Sindke.
They packed up the camp and began the long journey to Koshke. At least they had help now--water, protection and animals for Taglethe to ride. Taglethe would not be happy about being left behind in a strange clan--but the Clan Tribunal was of the highest kind of Garran honor.
"The Gods of Garran" by Lareena Smith, (c)2004