Book of Remembrance: The Forgotten Gods: Book One (61 page)

Myria giggled at his big talk. Lilana shook her head with a
small smile curving her lips. She walked over to me. “I see Myria idolises her
big brother. Much like I had when we were little.”

I put an arm across her shoulders. It was good to be back in
the familiar woods of my childhood. It brought back many memories of learning
the Navitas and my first encounters with Markai. It all still seemed like
yesterday.

“Look at this, Popa!” Myria motioned me over to where she
was standing and pointed down to the ground. “There has been a wolf here!”

I looked down at the large track and bent down to see it
more clearly. A strong gust of wind picked up and blew dust into my eyes. They
started streaming and I scrubbed away the tears. When I was able to see again,
the print had been nearly completely blown away. I frowned. The glimpse that I
had gotten, had seemed too large for a wolf, but then what other creature
around here could have made it?

“We haven’t had wolves in this close to Predaki for a number
of cycles-of-the-seasons,” Lilana said. “Not since I was younger than you,
Myria.”

“You are all making too much noise. I will never be able to
get something now,” complained Riaph.

“Not to worry. It is time to go back now anyway. It will be
dark soon,” Lilana said reasonably.

“Fine,” he replied with a sulky huff and he shouldered his
bow. As we walked back, I was happy to see Riaph cheer up again and start
playing chase with his sister.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

We stayed another day in
Predaki before deciding it was time to leave. The Kichwa arranged a feast in my
honour for our last night. I tried to dissuade him of this, but he could not be
turned.

Riaph went out with the hunting party. He was determined to
be the one to fell the first antelope. I had no doubt about his ability, but
sometimes his own eagerness worked against him. If he could steady himself and
apply patience, he would be a better hunter than I was. They had asked me to go
along as well and one of the other huntsmen had even casually asked if I could
get Markai to hunt with them. As if I would make a spectacle out of her. I
firmly, but not unkindly, declined.

 
I spent my day
working on Moma’s house. There were a few things that needed fixing and
although I was sure that Jench would have happily done all of it, I wanted to
do it myself.

It was late afternoon when the hunting party came back.
Riaph’s face was dejected. “No luck?” I asked him.

He looked at me with his blue eyes narrowing in tightly
controlled anger. “Luck has nothing to do with it,” he said. “I did fell a
deer, but I was only third to get one and mine was not even as big as Flinn’s!”

Flinn was the youngest of the men on the usual hunting
party, but still a good six turnings older than Riaph. I saw myself in his
frustration. At his age, I too had thought I needed to be the best at
everything I did.

“Better…” I caught myself before saying ‘better luck next
time’ and his mouth pulled into a thin line. “You will do better next time.” I
ruffled his hair, but he shrugged out from under my hand.

“I need to go help prepare the deer for tonight.” He was
halfway out the door before he was finished speaking.

Thaya walked in as he left, but he stormed right past her.
She looked a question at me. I shook my head. “He did not win.”

Comprehension dawned on her face. The corners of her mouth
quirked up in concealed mirth and she shook her head. “Remind you of anyone you
know?”

I laughed.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

That evening, four roasting
spits was set up in the middle of the town square. Flower wreaths hung around
tall wooden display poles.

It appeared as though most of the town’s people had come
out, all dressed in their best finery. I chose to close my eyes to these sorts
of things, as it would seem they were honouring some lord or lady.

An excited little girl of about five turnings bounded up to
me before turning scarlet when I looked at her. She hesitated and looked back
at who - I assumed - was her mother. She turned back to me and shyly said, “We
made these for you.” She gestured to the colourful wreaths.

Her mother walked up behind her and placed her hands on the
child’s shoulders. “The children wished to do something nice for you.”

“Do you like it?” she asked with sparkling eyes.

“They are beautiful. Thank you.”

She beamed and ran to a group of her friends close by while
hollering, “He likes them!”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

I enjoyed the feast a lot more
than I had thought I would. Although, there were times when I had to grin and
bear the ingratiating smiles, bows and dry washing of hands from members of the
council and even from the Kichwa himself. I did not know what they hoped to
achieve by trying to curry my favour. I managed to avoid most of these displays
by surrounding myself with my brothers who were very adept at excluding anyone
like that.

Riaph had recovered some of his good spirit and with a
smile, even pointed out his deer. It was a sizeable animal and I could not
believe he had been disappointed with it. He was soon running around again with
some of the Predaki boys.

“When last have you seen any of the Alliance members?” Prea
asked. “You had not known about Dhillion so it must be several
cycles-of-the-seasons.”

I grimaced at the truth of that.
“Too
long.”

Thaya and Aliana came walking up to us at that moment.
“Kadin, I have been thinking. We should go see Seran and Trissa. We have not
seen them in such a long time. It would be nice to meet their daughter as
well,” she said.

I nodded. “I was starting to think the same thing.”