the revenge of the conquered tribes?'
'You.'
'What?'
Take his place.'
'Would the men follow me?'
'Why not? One of the Standing Dead is very much like another.'
Carnelian considered it. He released Fern's hand. 'I couldn't do it.'
The men would follow you. The other tribes too.'
'I'm not the Master. I don't have his stomach for violence.'
'I've seen you fight well enough when you have to. Besides, if we're careful, there shouldn't be any need.' 'What would we gain?'
'The end of this madness. I believe the Master is possessed. Somehow, the spirit of the swamp ravener passed into him when he spilled its blood.'
Carnelian was chilled by how close this was to what Osidian believed. 'I could slowly undo what he has done. Eventually restore the Elders.' The very thought warmed him, but then he was pulling his blanket round him. It was one thing to kill Osidian in the heat of anger: quite another to plan it coldly. There was no other way. 'When would we do it?'
'Not now. It's too close to the migration and, with the other tribes involved, only the Master knows how it is to be arranged. We can do it in the mountains.'
Carnelian felt Fern's hand seeking his own and clasped it to seal their agreement.
Poppy insisted on going with Carnelian to the Crying Tree. They walked down hand in hand as dawn was breaking. People were dowsing their fires in preparation for leaving the Koppie. The Tribe's palpable relief they were not losing any of their own children was soured by the shame that they were putting others in their place.
Glancing round, Carnelian saw Akaisha, helped by Sil, following him with Whin and Fern behind them.
'At least we'll be off to the mountains,' Sil had said, smiling nervously, for the moment it seemed, having forgotten that her husband and almost all the men would be returning across the desert to the parched Koppie. Still people had smiled back though their eyes avoided contact.
The five Bluedancing children were there with their mothers beneath the Crying Tree. A forbidding circle of Tribe warriors stood nearby with Ravan as their commander.
Fern indicated the men. 'Did you really need to bring these?'
'We wouldn't want any of them escaping,' said Ravan. 'Have you come to gloat, brother, or to give thanks that, through his mercy, the Master will one day spare your daughter?'
Fern scowled. 'I've come to show respect to those whose sacrifice saves our own.'
Ravan frowned. 'I don't know why you're all so grim.' He indicated the tithe children with his chin. They would've all been sent to the Mountain anyway.'
'Ravan, if you've nothing kind to say, say nothing at all,' said Whin.
Ravan flushed. 'Who do you think you are speaking to me like that?'
'What're you going to do, nephew, have me killed?'
Ravan was unable to hold his aunt's glare and ended up glowering at his fist gripping his spear.
The Bluedancing mothers were taking leave of their thin children. All were crying, the tears smearing their dirty faces into fearful masks. Akaisha hobbled towards them. Her hair snaked out from under her head blanket and clung lifeless to her face. She lifted her hands shakily and then let them flutter down to her side. 'It's better… but then you must know. It's better to let them go quickly.' She was crying.
One of the Bluedancing mothers began shrieking at her and all Akaisha could do was nod her head. Ravan bellowed at the woman and, instinctively, she grabbed her boy and put her body between him and Ravan's lowered spear.
Akaisha flew at her son, snatched the spear from his grip, then flung it down. She spluttered something angrily. He stooped to pick it up and backed away. Ashen, Sil was holding Fern back. Poppy was watching it all through tears.
Whin took some steps towards Ravan menacingly. 'Where's the salt the Master gave you for their journey?'
The youth fished a loaf from his robe and handed it to Whin, whose eyes were stony. She gave the salt to one of the tribute bearers. They made sure the children were secure in their saddle-chairs. Then, without ceremony, the tributaries rode away.
They're the lucky ones,' said Ravan.
'What do you mean?' asked Carnelian.
The rest of them are staying. here with their mothers until the Rains come.'
Sil and her mother exchanged a look of misery. Akaisha was frowning while staring at nothing. Carnelian was imagining how terrible the coming heat would be.
'Where's the Master?' he asked Ravan, who shrugged, already busy bustling the Bluedancing mothers back to their digging.
That the steps leading up to the Ancestor House were unguarded made Carnelian certain Osidian was not on the Crag summit. He wandered around asking any men he saw, but none knew where the Master was. When he glimpsed through the cedar canopy men gathering by the cisterns, Carnelian went down there.
Osidian looked up as Carnelian approached. 'You have saved me having to send for you. Come walk with me.'
Osidian waved Krow and his other guards away and Carnelian fell in beside him as they sauntered up towards the Grove. Neither said anything until, with sighs of relief, they reached the cool of the cedar shade.
Carnelian found it strange Osidian felt safe to be with him unguarded. 'Are the cisterns what you wanted?'
They are functional,' Osidian replied.
'Why are we not taking the Bluedancing children with us?'
'You are not coming.'
Carnelian stared at him.
'You will stay here to oversee the Bluedancing.'
Carnelian realized that he should have expected this.
'You seem surprised.'
'Who will you leave with me?'
'Krow and enough men to make sure you can control the slaves.'
'It will be hard here.'
Osidian searched the canopy as if he were looking for holes. These cedars will maintain their leaves and you will have water. Use it sparingly. Remember I shall be returning here with the men of all five tribes.'
Carnelian realized his plotting with Fern had come undone and became terrified his friend might act alone.
'You seem distracted, my Lord.'
Take the Bluedancing children with you.'
Osidian shook his head. Their mothers will work better if they remain here.'
'In the mountains the children would act as a guarantee of their good behaviour.'
Silence deepened between them before Osidian fixed Carnelian with a cold smile. 'I will take the children, though it is transparent that you only seek to protect them.'
Carnelian would not look him in the eye.
'You will make sure the earthwork continues apace?'
Carnelian nodded. 'I had better go take my leave of Akaisha and the others.'
Osidian assumed the pose of a Master weary of the world. 'I suppose you had better.'
Carnelian walked away and only broke into a jog once he was sure Osidian was out of sight.
'Cisterns or no cisterns, anyone who stays here during the Withering will die.'
Carnelian was desperate to find Fern, but he could see Akaisha was getting upset and was reluctant to abandon her. She looked so wretched. Reaching up to stroke her hair, her hand hesitated when it did not find the
