Carnelian turned back to Osidian. How much did his behaviour stem from jealousy? Carnelian felt wretched. 'Please come with us?'
Osidian seemed asleep. Carnelian tried to find an argument that might bring him back, but Fern's presence was making that impossible.
'What's the matter with your brother?' the Plainsman asked.
Carnelian turned on him. 'Nothing!'
Fern's shock at his tone upset Carnelian. Knowing Osidian was listening made Carnelian reluctant to apologize. He felt trapped between them. Unable to speak, he pushed past Fern and made off in the direction of the hearth.
Ignoring the stares, Carnelian marched up between the rootbenches towards the fire. There was a gap in the line of men and boys where he and Fern had sat the night before. Reaching it, he sat down and focused his gaze on his hands. Grime still clung to the fine cracks in his skin. He felt Fern brushing against him as he sat down. Carnelian busied himself prising rinds of dried blood from under his nails. The smell of iron evoked Osrakum; spilling into his mind the usual horror and yearning.
'Fern. Carnie.' His name was charming in Akaisha's accent. Carnelian raised his eyes and looked past Fern to the head of the hearth where she was smiling at them.
'We were told you worked hard today.'
Carnelian gave her a smile. Whin at her side was stony-faced.
'It's only the first day of many,' said Fern, gruffly.
Carnelian glanced round at him. A blush of ochre lingered on Fern's face. Their eyes locked. Carnelian was the first to disengage. He knew he could not explain his anger to him. A bad end to an otherwise promising day.
Across from him, Sil was regarding them both with a fixed concentration. Carnelian feared she was seeing how he felt towards her man. She looked weary. Traceries of red earth incised her arms and hands.
He tried a smile. 'You seem to have been working hard yourself.'
Sil stared for a moment, but her face softened to a lovely smile that made Carnelian warm to her. She gave a nod, then looked shyly down at her hands and then up at him. 'No doubt you'll find out yourself in time… Carnie.' She flashed a bright row of teeth. The repair of the ditches is a task the men share with us.'
Sil's friendliness smoothed some of the tension out of Carnelian's shoulders. He sank back into the domestic comfort of the hearth chatter as food was passed down the line. He saw again the thin Twostone girl and smiled at her.
When the girl had passed on, Carnelian leaned across to Sil. 'What's her name?'
Sil shrugged. 'She's not said a word since we found her living wild in her koppie.'
Fern interrupted them by putting the first bowl in Carnelian's hands. Turning, Carnelian offered it to Ravan. The youth scowled at him.
The Master's not eating?'
This was the last thing Carnelian wished to discuss. 'He's still recovering from his fever.'
'How's he going to get better if he doesn't eat?'
Carnelian offered the bowl again. 'Go on, take it.'
Ravan continued to scowl at him. Fern leaned out to look at his brother. Take the cursed thing. What's wrong with you?'
The youth turned his scowl on Fern.
'Ravan, do as your brother says,' Akaisha said, loudly. In response, her son snatched the bowl so violently it spilled half its contents over Carnelian. He jumped up, scalded. Fern leapt up.
'You stupid, little -'
'Sit down, all of you,' cried Akaisha.
Carnelian sat down and, glowering at each other, Ravan and Fern did so too. The passing of the bowls resumed. When Carnelian got his, he ate, wondering how long he could conceal Osidian's utter rejection of the Plainsmen.
Carnelian awoke gripped by fear. He struggled to order his thoughts. He had been dreaming he was with Fern watching Osidian die. Carnelian's hand found Osidian's body warm beside him. He listened for his breathing, but could hear only the sighing as the mother tree sifted the breeze through her needled canopy. Her voice was comforting. Through her roof there was a hint of dawn in the colour of the sky. He became aware of the sounds of the Tribe waking. He slipped out from under the blanket, being careful not to disturb Osidian. Carnelian sat for a moment with his arms crossed, rubbing his shoulders, peering at him lying in the hollow. He denied the memory of his dream. He assured himself Osidian would soon give up his fast. As he blew warmth into his hands, he smelled yesterday's blood. He had to go to work. He rose, his body aching all over, dressed, then padded towards the huddle of shapes around the hearth to share their warmth and to have breakfast.
It was Akaisha who led them down to the Bloodwood Tree with Whin at her side, with Sil and the others of their daughters and grand-daughters following on behind. Carnelian was further back with Fern. Three girls walked behind them, one of them carrying a baby. The little Twostone girl brought up the rear.
The earther lay beneath the tree, most of its bones now exposed.
Akaisha wrinkled her nose up at the stench. 'We'll have to finish her today.'
'We'd have to anyway,' said Whin. 'Crowrane's hunt is supposed to be bringing in another earther today.'
After everyone's face was painted, Akaisha asked Whin to marshal them to the boulder tables and to make sure the knives were sharp, then she turned to Fern and Carnelian. 'You two know what you have to do.'
Carnelian removed the new shoes Akaisha had given him before they set off and put on the makeshift ones already stained with gore.
Sil was standing nearby rocking her baby in her arms. She looked up. 'I'll help them, my mother.'
Akaisha put a hand on her arm. She shook her head. 'No, Sil. Fern must see this through to the end, alone.'
She registered Sil's glance at Carnelian and smiled at him. 'I never imagined that any man would choose to share Fern's punishment.'
Both women smiling at him made Carnelian embarrassed. 'I owe him.'
'I don't need your gratitude,' said Fern.
Those were the first words they had spoken to each other that morning.
'Nevertheless, I will work at your side until you are released.'
Fern shrugged. Carnelian yearned to re-establish the easy friendship of the previous day, but remembering his dream, he decided it might be better to leave matters as they were.
Just before midday, it was Sil who brought Fern and Carnelian food and water as they took their rest with everyone else. Carnelian saw she had the thin Twostone girl to help her. The waif walked behind Sil taking small steps, her whole being focused on the bowl of water she was carrying.
Fern made a lunge at his wife. 'Come here, let me kiss you.'
Sil eluded him, grinning. 'Look at the state you're in. I'm not letting you anywhere near me until you wash.'
Suddenly, water exploded everywhere. Carnelian, who had been watching the play between Fern and Sil with mixed feelings, saw the little girl staring appalled, the bowl lying empty on the earth near her feet. Carnelian went cold. The last time he had seen the expression the girl had on her face was on his brother Tain's face, when Jaspar had deliberately unmasked in front of him so as to ensnare him in a threat of blinding. He followed the girl's unblinking stare to Fern, his dark skin marbled with gore.
'What's the matter with her?' Fern demanded, clearly unsettled.
Sil crouched beside the girl. 'Why did you drop the bowl?'
The girl did not seem to be aware the woman was even there. Carnelian thought he understood. He looked Fern in the eye. 'Most likely she witnessed her people being butchered by Manila.'
Fern's face blanked with understanding. Pale, Sil had turned to look at him and now turned back to the little girl. She gently stroked some hair from the girl's temples. 'It's all right, little one,' she said gently, but the girl just kept on staring.
'Make her stop,' Fern said.
