The Standing Dead - Stone Dance of the Chameleon 02 (41 page)

'And
this
you
do
out
of
some
sense
of
debt
to
your savage?'

'Fern
saved
our
lives.'

Carnelian
watched
Osidian
frown,
then
lose
his
gaze
in the
sky.
He
dared
not
breathe.
Osidian's
eyes
fell
on
him. 'I
shall
work
with
you.'

Carnelian
imagined
Osidian,
weak
as
he
was,
labouring
among
the
flies
and
heat.
His
head
shook
of
its
own accord.

'Akaisha
will
find
you
something
else
until
you
have regained
your
strength.'

'Strength
is
not
in
the
body
but
flows
from
the
will.
I shall
share
this
penance
with
you.'

Carnelian
did
not
care
to
argue.
At
that
moment
there was
only
one
victory
he
sought.
He
pushed
the
spoon
to Osidian's
lips.
'Eat
then.'

Osidian's
trembling
hands
took
the
spoon
and
bowl from
him
and
began
to
eat.
As
he
did
so,
Carnelian hurried
to
fetch
water
from
the
jar
against
the
tree. When
Osidian
had
drunk
enough,
he
refused
any
help and
lay
back
in
the
hollow.
He
was
instantly
asleep. Carnelian
watched
him
for
a
while.
Osidian,
sleeping, seemed
whole
again.
Carnelian
stooped
to
kiss
his
forehead,
then
crept
away.

At
the
hearth,
he
sat
down
in
his
usual
place.
When Poppy
brought
him
a
bowl,
he
made
sure
to
thank
her.
It was
Ravan
who
asked
him
the
question
everyone
wanted to
ask.

'How
is
he?'

Carnelian
knew
that
Ravan
would
find
out
some
time. 'He's
decided
to
come
and
join
me
beneath
the Bloodwood
Tree.'

Ravan
gaped.
'No!
You're
lying.'

Sil
looked
startled
at
the
violence
of
Ravan's
reaction.

'Of
course
he
can
join
us
tomorrow,
Carnie,'
said Akaisha.

Ravan
turned
his
gape
on
his
mother.
'You
must
forbid
it.'

Akaisha
raised
her
eyebrows
as
a
mutter
of
unease went
around
the
hearth.

Whin
stood
up.
'Ravan,
have
you
forgotten
who
you're speaking
to?'

Ravan
scowled
and
looked
around
him
as
if
he
were being
assaulted
from
every
side.
Jumping
to
his
feet,
he stormed
off,
knocking
over
one
of
the
children's
bowls
as he
went.

Akaisha
called
after
him
but
he
seemed
not
to
hear
her. Concern
mixed
with
anger
as
she
looked
at
Fern.
'What's the
matter
with
your
brother?'

Fern
looked
bitter.
The
Master
has
turned
out
to
be
a poorer
replacement
for
his
father
than
he
had
hoped.'

THE CHALLENGE

Beware of forcing a locked door unless you know what lies behind it.

(A
Chosen
proverb)

Carnelian
woke
to
find
someone
lying
warm
against
his chest.
Only
half
awake,
he
assumed
it
must
be
Osidian, but
realized
he
was
lying
against
his
back.
Carnelian allowed
the
confusion
to
sit
unresolved
in
his
mind
as
he turned
to
regard
the
dark
morning
sky
through
the branches
of
the
mother
tree.
At
last,
he
found
the
will
to sit
up.
Whatever
it
was
curled
up
against
him
grunted
as it
adjusted
its
position.
Gently
he
put
his
hand
out
and felt
a
small
head.
Peering,
he
saw
it
was
a
child.
Poppy. He
stroked
her
hair,
drawing
comfort
from
her warmth.
He
could
just
make
out
Osidian,
his
breathing fitful.
Carnelian
wondered
whether
Osidian
would
have the
strength
even
to
stand
up,
never
mind
to
labour
in
the heat
under
the
Bloodwood
Tree.

Taking
care
not
to
wake
either
of
them,
he
rose, dressed
silently
and
then
picked
his
way
across
the
roots towards
the
hearth.
Several
of
the
women
were
already gathered
in
the
pale
light
filtering
down
to
the
hearth.
Sil saw
him
coming
and
smiled
brightly.

'Breakfast?'

He
nodded
and
watched
her
count
out
enough
fernroot cakes
for
two
people.

'My
hollow
seems
to
have
acquired
another
mouth
to feed.'

She
looked
at
him
surprised.
When
Carnelian explained,
she
looked
thoughtful.

'It
was
obvious
yesterday
she'd
taken
to
you,
Carnie.'

'Will
anyone
mind?'

'I
can't
see
why
they
should,
do
you?'

Carnelian
shook
his
head.

She
beamed.
'Well
then.'
She
plucked
up
another
cake and
gave
it
to
him.

He
thanked
her
and
returned
to
the
hollow.
In
his absence,
Poppy
had
snuggled
into
Osidian.
Carnelian wondered
how
Osidian
would
react
to
the
girl.
He
woke her
gently.
Poppy
yawned,
rubbed
her
eyes
and
then came
suddenly
awake
in
a
stare.
He
thought
of
welcoming
her,
but
then
considered
he
should
not
do
so
until
he was
sure
Osidian
was
not
going
to
reject
her.
To
reassure her
he
gave
her
a
cake
with
a
smile.