'You see?' said Osidian. They will plague us until they have their Ladder back.'
Carnelian thought it time he said something. 'Why do you need to go down there with the Maruli?'
Osidian gazed at Carnelian for some moments. To make sure they believe that there is no need to send another force.'
Carnelian could not fault this. Osidian continued.
'Enough has been said. Now you must decide what is to be done.'
With that, he turned his back on them. Carnelian pushed his way to Fern's side. His friend recoiled. 'What if he sees us together?'
'We'll have to take the risk. Too much hangs on this decision.'
Fern saw the truth of it. 'Why is he doing this? Could it be as it seems that he does not want the Marula to interfere with his plans?'
Carnelian glanced over to the ladder Osidian and Morunasa had descended earlier. 'I cannot believe that is the only reason he brought us here.'
Fern spoke in his ear. 'We could kill him now.'
Carnelian considered that, then made sure before he spoke he was not doing so for emotional reasons. 'No. If we did, we'd not only have the problem of controlling the different tribes but there would be no way of reassuring them we knew how to deal with the Marula threat.'
Fern frowned. 'Combined, we could defeat anything they threw at us.'
'Combined, perhaps…'
Fern grimaced, knowing that such unity would be nigh impossible to achieve using any methods other than the Master's.
'And besides, we'd have to leave men behind in the koppies for the Sky knows how many Witherings.'
Fern nodded, wearily. He looked around him. 'As long as we control this Upper Reach the Marula are powerless against us.'
'So we go along with him?'
Fern glanced up to where the looming baobab had swallowed the Master and the Maruli. He leaned close to Carnelian. 'And kill him when he returns.'
Their eyes met in agreement. They parted, and Fern moved among the Plainsmen giving the Master's proposal support where it was needed. When Osidian asked what they had decided, grudgingly, the Plainsmen gave his plan their assent.
They camped upon the summit of the knoll. The Plainsmen huddled gratefully round the fires they had made with the dead wood they had found lying everywhere. Carnelian sat chewing djada with Fern, Krow, Ravan and others of Akaisha's hearth. Looking round at the familiar faces helped ease his anxiety about the decision he had made. Even through his brooding, Carnelian felt he and they, even Ravan, belonged to each other.
Two shadows forming out of the darkness made them all jump.
'We shall sit with you,' one of them said. Osidian's face came into the firelight followed by Morunasa's. Osidian chose to sit between Fern and Carnelian so that the Plainsman had to move away round the fire. The Maruli found a place on Osidian's left. Carnelian fixed his gaze deep into the flames and busied himself with chewing. A waterskin was passed around. When it was Carnelian's turn he put his lips to its spout, but had to tip it so much, that he did not feel he could take more than was essential to moisten the djada. He passed the skin to Osidian who drained it.
'We need water,' said Ravan, daring to glare at the Master.
There is plenty in the river.'
His words produced a mutter of discontent in Ochre. 'What are they saying?' Osidian asked Carnelian. Carnelian told him without taking his eyes from the fire.
'If they fear to fill their skins from the Blackwater,' Morunasa said through a sneer, 'they can drink from the caches the pygmies kept in these baobabs.' He lifted a chalky hand to indicate the giants looming round them in the dark.
'I saw no jars,' said Carnelian.
'Did I not say, in the baobabs?'
They're hollow?'
Chewing, Morunasa gave a nod.
Carnelian remembered the openings he had seen in the charred trees. Osidian looked around the fire. 'All of you go and search these out.'
The Plainsmen were reluctant to leave their fire, but they obeyed. Fern gave Carnelian a glance before disappearing into the night with them.
Carnelian felt a touch on his arm and turned to look at Osidian.
'We need to talk, you and I,' he said in Quya.
Carnelian was reluctant, but gave a nod.
'While I am gone it shall be your paramount task to rebuild the Ladder.'
Carnelian remembered the mess of the ropes he had seen so far down the chasm wall. 'It will be a great labour.'
'You can use aquar to lift it.'
Carnelian looked out over the camp. 'Still, men will have to be sent down somehow to attach ropes to the Ladder. It will be dangerous work.'
'I do not wish you to risk them.'
'Who else?'
'Sartlar,' said Osidian, a strange light showing again in his eyes.
Carnelian gawped.
Osidian patted the ground with his hand. 'Yes, they are here beneath our feet. They infest caves gouged into the wall of the chasm.'
The other ladder,' Carnelian said. The one you descended with Morunasa?'
Osidian nodded. He leaned forward to capture Carnelian in his gaze. 'Listen to me and listen well: the Plainsmen must not descend that ladder. If you have need, go there alone. If you do, you will understand why it is I say this. You hear my words?'
Carnelian nodded, staring, confused. Something occurred to him. 'How shall I summon them?'
'Strike the cables of their ladder thrice and they will come.'
Carnelian returned to his fire-watching. The sartlar were there beneath his feet as they had been in the bowels of the ship as oarsmen on the voyage to the Three Lands. He wondered what they were doing in the Upper Reach and what it was Osidian was so determined to hide from the Plainsmen.
'When I return it will be with Manila Oracles and their pygmy slaves.'
'And then you shall give them back this place.'
Osidian glanced at Morunasa, who frowned. 'We shall see.'
Fern and the others appeared, looking frightened. The trees are all filled with children dried like huskmen.' 'What did he say?' asked Morunasa. Carnelian translated.
Morunasa gave a snort. 'Not children, Flatlander, pygmies.'
'But they're dead,' Fern said.
Morunasa showed his pointed teeth. 'It would be strange if they were not; it's the tradition of the forest people to place their dead within the hollowed bellies of trees.'
Carnelian felt Osidian's hand grip his arm and turned to look into his eyes.
'Once, Carnelian, I knew in my heart you would give your life to save mine.'
They regarded each other with a sadness that made Fern and Krow both ask what was the matter. Osidian's gaze did not allow Carnelian to say anything to them and they stepped back, silent.
'Now it has become necessary for me to say to you that on my return, should the Ladder be not repaired, or should I receive any impediment to my ascent, then I shall offer myself to the Manila to lead their next attack on the Earthsky. If that should come to pass, be sure I will annihilate the Ochre.'
Hatred rose in Carnelian. Could Osidian manage nothing without threats or terror? He almost thanked him for making it easier to kill him.
