The Standing Dead

'Are you sure, Master, they will not raise the Tribe against us?' whispered Ravan.

They will do nothing,' said Osidian. 'Now go and steady the men.'

Ravan gazed at him for some moments, before he too left.

Left alone, Carnelian looked at Osidian. Their eyes met.

'If they do nothing it is only because they love their people.'

Osidian smiled. That, of course, formed a part of my calculations. Come, Carnelian, are you not even a little relieved I have survived this attempt on my life?'

Carnelian was not sure what he felt. He himself had been given back his life, but at what price? There was triumph in Osidian's beautiful face. Carnelian became possessed by a need for light and air. He pushed past Osidian and out from the room of bones. The Tribe in turmoil at his feet was receiving the first of the Elders into their midst; panic already spreading.

Armed youths did not stop him reaching the steps. On the ground, the crowds parted before him and he moved swiftly into the shadow of a mother tree. He picked up speed, until he was almost running down a rootstair, his gaze fixed on the brightness of the ferngarden. He did not look to either side until he had left the cedars behind and was walking waist-high through rusding ferns, dizzy in the sun.

He went down to the Eastgarden where the Bluedancing were working among the fires and tresdes. He allowed himself only a glance over to the Killing Field with its heaps of bones. When he neared the Blooding Ditch, his pace slowed. He crossed another bridge into the inner ferngardens and, from the shade of the Old Bloodwood Tree, regarded the Grove where the Elders were spreading the news of their overthrow. His eyes ranged over the delicately shifting cedar canopy. There lay what he now called home and yet he had allowed it to be destroyed as he and his father had allowed the Hold to be pillaged by Aurum and Jaspar. Was he cursed to be involved in the destruction of everything he loved?

He imagined Akaisha's pain and wanted to go and beg forgiveness for what he had brought upon them.. He looked up at the cedar hill and his stomach churned. He overcame shame, fear of the rejection that might await him, and forced himself to begin walking towards it.

People turned away from him as he climbed the hill; from fear or hatred, Carnelian could not tell. He did not allow himself to hesitate when he came within sight of Akaisha's mother tree. His hearthmates were there, under her branches, gathered near the hearth. Approaching, his spirits lifted as he saw Poppy gazing at him and Fern alive and well.

'You can stop pretending now, Master,' Fern said.

The tone as much as the form of address wounded Carnelian.

Fern turned to his mother, it's clear now that this one's been working with the Master all along.'

Akaisha looked at her son with puffy eyes, confused. 'But he betrayed the Master's schemes to me.'

'Wasn't it that very betrayal that led the Assembly to make the decision which more than anything made the men give the Master their support?'

Fern turned on Carnelian with hatred in his eyes. 'Did you imagine us too stupid to work it out?'

Poppy pushed between them and glared at Fern. 'You leave Carnie alone.'

Carnelian vaguely tried to calm her, shook his head, i don't know what… it can't be…'

'How else could the Master know the Elders were going to try to kill him today?'

Appalled, Carnelian tried to imagine another explanation.

Sil's eyes widened. 'You're not denying it, Carnie.'

Carnelian felt Poppy's little hand slip into his and gripped it. 'If this is true then the Master used me. I swear on my blood I acted in good faith.'

Fern snorted. 'You Standing Dead are better at using people than keeping promises.'

Poppy cringed at every word.

'How could the Master persuade so many of our people to turn against us?' said Whin, still in shock from what had happened in the Ancestor House.

'For two moons he has filled our minds with the proofs of his invincibility,' said Fern. 'Many have come to believe he will make the Ochre feared and respected among the tribes. After all, did he not win the battle against the Bluedancing, against the Woading? Did he not bring us the meat he promised?'

Carnelian felt sick as Fern's words forced the pieces to form a mosaic in his mind. He saw it all. How easily he had allowed himself to be manipulated. He shook his head, trying to disbelieve it. 'I thought he did it from spite, but it was policy, calculated to break up the cohesion of the Tribe.'

Fern frowned then continued. 'He chose to site his earthwork camp near the lagoon at the best crossing into Woading territory. I believe he only burned the Bluedancing mother trees to frighten and provoke the Woading and our other neighbours. He judged that our absence during his heavener hunt would give the Woading a chance to explore the earthwork.' He regarded Carnelian through slitted eyes. The Master knew very well that every Woading who had done his service in the legions would recognize it to be a military camp. Frightened we meant to strike against them, they struck first and when they did, he was ready for them.'

He looked at Akaisha and Whin. 'When we saw your signal, he claimed the Skyfather had come in a dream to warn him; jealous of his successes, fearful their power would pass to the warriors, the Elders had determined to treacherously murder him.' Fern's face showed disgust. 'Ravan dutifully stirred up the men by listing all the Master had done for us; instilling fear of the revenge the Woading would take once they knew we no longer had him to lead us.'

Whin ignited. 'You knew all this yet didn't act.'

Fern confronted her. 'What could I do alone against the others? My great mistake was to have faith in the wisdom of the Elders.'

The people round about gasped. Poppy's second hand joined the first and held on to Carnelian's fingers. Fern ducked an apology to his mother, then to Whin who seemed to subside.

'I can't deny we acted foolishly.'

'Can it be true that the Skyfather spoke to him?' said Fern.

The glance he gave Carnelian was filled with misery.

Akaisha was gazing at her son, aghast. 'I no longer know what is true and what is not.'

Whin gave her a look of concern. 'Go and rest, dear. I'll handle this.'

Akaisha nodded and Whin sent one of her daughters with her. The hearth watched the two move away with dismay. Carnelian understood. Like them he had come to rely on Akaisha's strength.

Sil regarded Carnelian tearfully. 'If you have betrayed us, Carnie, then there is no hope, for you have seen how weak we have become.'

Reaching out with his free hand, Carnelian clasped Sil's hands and looked her in the eyes. 'If it is all as Fern says, then I have been a fool, an instrument in the Master's hand.' He let her go, freed himself from Poppy's grip and spun round looking at every face. 'He made you slaughter heaveners; can you not believe it possible / could be used without my knowledge?' . Carnelian saw with relief that even Fern was no longer certain of his guilt.

'Do you still believe the Master intends to attack the Standing Dead?' asked Whin.

'I'm sure of it, my mother.'

'You believe he cannot win?'

Carnelian considered the changes Osidian had wrought upon the Ochre. 'I have only one certainty; if he is not stopped, the Master will bring disaster on the Tribe.'

'How do we free ourselves from him?' said Sil expressing the general feeling. She caught a look in her husband's eyes and her face grew pale. She grabbed him.

'He'd kill you!'

Fern pulled himself free.

Carnelian understood. 'Listen to her, you'd never get close enough.'

Fern grew enraged. 'What do you suggest?'

Examining his friend's eyes, Carnelian knew there was only one way. 'I'll do it.'

Fern narrowed his eyes, judging him.

'What will you do, Master?' said another voice.

No one had noticed Ravan approaching. People looked at each other, fearing he had heard everything. Ravan frowned, sensing a conspiracy.

'Why've you come?' Whin asked, coldly.