Osidian was advancing. Fern plucked Krow from the Master's side and pushed him away into the crowd.
The old women cowered when the apparition came to stand in front of them, so tall they hardly reached his waist. Carnelian saw the contempt in Osidian's hands as they unwound the uba that concealed him.
Gasps gusted from mouths as the Ochre stared with gaping disbelief at the immense white man.
THE ELDERS
As youth has vigour age has wisdom so, is it not natural the aged should rule the young?
Loskai strode back and forth before the crowd shouting repeatedly: 'Why do you fear these Standing Dead? They are two, we are many.'
Carnelian could feel their mood already turning to anger, when Loskai stabbed a finger at Osidian.
That one murdered Ranegale. Because of them we lost Stormrane, Thunderskai, Talan, Thunderwing, Windcrow, Fether, Crowskai.'
The Plainsman kept jabbing his finger all the time as he spat out every accusation he could imagine to transform fear into murderous anger. Carnelian glanced at Osidian standing amidst the tumult as unconcerned as if he were alone on a seashore. Carnelian looked around desperately for some escape. Noting where the aquar were, he saw how he and Osidian might pull two riders down and take their place. He glanced back to the outer ditch, imagining riding out onto the plain. But then where? Could they eke out an existence in the wilderness?
A woman cried out, another. Men were roaring. The mob's voice was swelling to a pounding clamour. The veins beating at Carnelian's temples seemed to be making his head shudder with each pulse. He let his gaze range over them. Hatred reddened their faces. Mouths were slavering for blood. Their rabid stares fell on him like blows. He could feel how close their fury was to bursting free.
'You lie,' a familiar voice cried out, thin in the uproar. Fern was advancing on Loskai.
'You lie. You know they're blameless.'
Loskai retreated a few steps. 'Is the blame then yours?'
Fern turned on the baying crowd, his face distorted by rage as he bellowed. They're as much victims of the Standing Dead as are we.'
Loskai pulled on Fern's shoulder. 'You were never truly of the Tribe.'
Fern threw himself at Loskai and they crashed together to the ground. Soon they were rolling among the ferns, crushing them as they pounded each other.
Fern's mother strode forward barking commands. As if to listen, the crowd quietened until Carnelian could hear her voice carrying clearly over their storm.
'Stop this now!'
She thrust her hands between the brawlers. They separated, glaring at each other. Carnelian saw that her hands and arms were filthy as if she had just come from digging in the earth.
'Get up,' she cried.
Fern and Loskai staggered to their feet, heads bowed, sneaking glares at each other, growling challenges. Other women came forward to draw them apart. Fern's mother took her son from them, scolding him in a low voice. Trying to listen, the crowd fell silent. Fern was nodding, agreeing with what he was being told. Glancing across the distance, he locked eyes with Carnelian, who could see that his friend was still listening to his mother. He gave one more nod and limped towards Carnelian, wiping blood from his mouth with the back of his wrist.
'Follow me,' he said addressing the Standing Dead, then moved into the crowd. As Carnelian made to follow him, he became aware Osidian was stone still.
Fern turned back. 'Didn't you hear?'
Osidian looked at him as if the barbarian were far away.
'My Lord,' Carnelian said in Quya, 'we should do as he asks.'
Fern glanced anxiously at the people surrounding him. 'Come on,' he cried hooking his arm violently to beckon them. 'If you want to live, follow me.'
For some moments, Osidian regarded him before, impassive, he strode through the crowd towards the Plainsman. Sighing his relief, Carnelian followed him.
He kept his eyes fixed on Osidian's back. The glowering faces of the Ochre formed an avenue on either side. Carnelian could feel the heat of their hatred. He hardly breathed until he walked free and, even then, his neck was too stiff to allow him to turn his head to see their escort.
Fern maintained a furious pace that forced the other, smaller Ochre to jog to keep up. Carnelian saw how careful they were to keep their distance from him. Saddled aquar were ambling after them. Fern was leading them alongside another tree-lined ditch, inside whose curve there lay another swathe of ferns which washed its green to the edge of the darker massing of cedars upon their hill.
He leaned towards Fern. 'What's going on?'
Fern came to a sudden halt and turned on him. 'Couldn't you tell?'
Carnelian saw the blood in Fern's nostrils, the blue bruising round his eye. His friend was looking past him, back towards the crowd. Carnelian turned. Even at that distance he could hear the commotion.
Feeling Fern move off, Carnelian said nothing more, but followed him until they came to where the ditch forked. They walked along the edge of the left fork until they came to a crumbling earthbridge. As Fern took them across, Carnelian saw that here and there the walls of the ditch had collapsed, exposing cages of tree roots. Below, pools glinted among lush scrolling ferns. He saw their escort had remained on the other side of the bridge and were regarding him with unconcealed hatred. Fern opened another gate and Carnelian and Osidian filed through to find themselves at the corner of another expanse of fernland, all edged about with magnolias.
'Stay here until I return,' said Fern.
Carnelian felt an initial stab of panic at being abandoned, but fear for Fern quickly replaced this.
'What are they going to do to you?'
Fern was clearly taken aback by the question. 'Do to me?' He read Carnelian's eyes and then smiled grimly. 'Soon the Elders will sit in judgement over me, but now I'm returning at my mother's command to talk to her.'
His voice was still tight but he seemed more like the Fern Carnelian knew.
Fern indicated the gate they had come through. The men back there have been told to stop you crossing that bridge.'
'Weakened as I am, do you think they have the power to do that, barbarian?' said Osidian with a feral smile.
Fern sagged. 'Look, I've brought you here for your own protection. Didn't you see what almost happened to you back there? If my mother hadn't calmed the Tribe…'
'Your mother?' said Osidian growing pensive.
Fern glared at him. 'We've all lost loved ones to your child-gatherer. Don't expect anything but hate.'
Carnelian wanted to thank his friend for having saved them from the mob, but to his annoyance, Osidian was speaking again.
Then why did you bring us?'
'I'm not sure any more.' He glared at Osidian. 'If you escape from here, where do you think there is to go? The nearest koppie is at least two days' walk from here. Even if you knew the direction you'd be sure to miss it.'
'I'd find it.'
Fern scowled. 'Perhaps you would, but do you really expect another koppie would give you a warmer welcome?'
Osidian turned his back on Fern and gazed out over the ferngarden.
'It's your choice,' said Fern, using his chin to indicate the curve of magnolias marching along the outmost
