'We're helping them already,' she said, her voice unnaturally sharp. 'If it wasn't for them we'd have no need for the Master to involve us in this.' He saw the tears she was fighting as she walked away.
By order of the Elders, the Bluedancing were stripped of their salt. Akaisha and Whin stopped coming to the fern-meadow and gradually all but a few Ochre overseers began to stay away. Morose, Carnelian took to labouring in the ditch. He had the Bluedancing move their camp to the neighbouring ferngarden and made Akaisha force the Elders to send a demand to Osidian that more water must be brought to the Koppie daily for the earthworkers.
The men who brought water described the circular earthwork Osidian was making them dig near the lagoon. At night they had to light great fires to keep the raveners at bay. When asked what the earthwork was for, they would shrug and say they just did what the Master told them to. They seemed to Carnelian much grimmer than he remembered them.
These same men regularly brought with them not only water but a saurian carcass. The Tribe were beginning to feel hunger. Hearths sent people down to watch the butchering to make sure to get some of the fresh meat. It was Carnelian who insisted that the Bluedancing should at least be given the offal.
The day after the Tribe had celebrated the return of the tributaries, Carnelian was breakfasting when cries of alarm began sounding here and there in the Grove. Everyone leapt to their feet and some youngsters were sent to find out what was going on. When they returned they answered Akaisha's questions by drawing everyone to where a gap in the cedar canopy allowed them to see smoke rising in the south.
Whin exchanged an anxious look with Akaisha. 'It's too much smoke to be a beacon.'
Their koppie burns,' said Sil.
Akaisha shook her head. Their ferngardens wouldn't be dry enough.'
Poppy was clinging to him. Carnelian knew what he must be seeing was a fire in the koppie of the Bluedancing. Akaisha and Whin stared bleakly out.
'What is it that is burning, my mothers?'
Both women turned wild-eyed. Their mother trees.'
Leaving Poppy with Sil, Carnelian followed Akaisha, Whin and others of the Elders down to the Eastgarden. He sensed they were expecting trouble. The camp of the Bluedancing seemed much the same as it always did except that the women were all standing gazing to where the pall of smoke was hanging over the southern horizon.
'Imagine how they must feel,' whispered Mossie, and Ginkga shut her up with a glare.
They crossed the earthbridge and went down the Blooding, turning often to observe the motionless ranks of the Bluedancing. Akaisha took the path of barren earth to the camp. As the Ochre approached, the Bluedancing seemed unaware of them, but then some children cried out and the women turned.
'What're we going to say to them?' asked Mossie.
'Hush, dear,' said Akaisha.
The eyes of the Bluedancing, red from weeping, regarded the visitors with hatred.
'We must order them to their work,' said Whin.
'The work will make them forget,' said Ginkga.
'Would you so easily forget your mother tree?' asked Akaisha, her eyes flitting among the Bluedancing.
Carnelian could see how that thought was being passed between them with glances.
Compassion and fear warred in their faces.
Harth glared at them. 'I warned you not to trust the Standing Dead.' She advanced towards the sullen Bluedancing.
'Get to your work,' she commanded.
The Bluedancing made no move and continued to stare. Behind them Carnelian could see the smoke from the burning of their mother trees swelling the horizon.
Harth repeated her command and still there was no response. Carnelian was becoming aware of how many there were of the Bluedancing. So many eyes filled with grief and anger.
'We'd better go back,' said Akaisha, nervously.
'Shouldn't we try -?' began Mossie.
'Let's go now,' hissed Akaisha and, retrieving Harth, they retreated back over the bridge and made their way at speed for the beckoning safety of the Homeditch.
The Elders armed the Tribe as best they could and set them to guarding the two most easterly gates and the arc of the Homeditch which lay between. The Crag beacon was lit to summon back their men. Carnelian waited with Akaisha by the Bloodgate. All eyes were scanning the ferngarden, looking for the expected Bluedancing attack.
When he told Akaisha he thought they were overreacting, she flared to anger.
'What! You don't understand. How could you? If anything should happen to my tree, the grief…' She shook her head and resumed her look-out for the Bluedancing.
Carnelian felt like asking her if she imagined her grief could turn into murderous rage, but he said nothing more. Guilt at the way the Tribe had treated the Bluedancing was the true root of her fear.
Carnelian paced back and forth beneath the mother tree. When Galewing had appeared with many riders, Carnelian, fearing bloodshed, had spoken out in defence of the Bluedancing. He had declared them to be nothing more dangerous than frightened, dispossessed women and children. His words clearly had force for the Elder men though, unhappily, he sensed this was because he resembled the Master. Outraged, Harth had commanded him to be silent, saying the matter was for the Elders to decide. Akaisha had sent him to their hearth to wait for her.
His brooding was interrupted by a voice calling from the rootstair. Seeing it was Krow, Carnelian invited him into his hearth. Astride the men's rootbench, they faced each other. As Krow nibbled at his nails, he was smearing hornblack from his lips to his fingers.
Carnelian asked him how the men were, mentioning names, among which he included Fern so as not to draw attention to his concern for him. Without lifting his head, Krow told him everyone was fine.
Carnelian decided against asking more specifically. 'How goes the great hunt?'
Krow looked up at him. 'I know nothing of a great hunt.'
'Is his earthwork finished?'
Krow nodded grimly. His eyes unfocused as he saw it in his mind's eye. 'It parts the herds on their way to the lagoon. Even heaveners walk round it.'
Carnelian was surprised. Two moons and that's all you've done?'
Krow shook his head. 'He makes us ride against the herds in lines, in arrowheads. He divides us into groups and, with his spear, commands us to strike against earthers in waves.'
Carnelian narrowed his eyes. 'Why?'
Krow shrugged. 'Perhaps this great hunt you spoke of, Master.'
There was something in that shrug that suggested Krow was hiding something. It seemed to Carnelian obvious Osidian was training them for war.
'Why did the Master burn the Bluedancing's mother trees?'
Krow grew troubled. 'He told us that as long as their trees lived, the Bluedancing might hope for freedom and revenge.'
'It was cruel and impious.'
Krow sunk his head again and resumed his nibbling.
'You of all people should know how it feels.'
Krow's head jerked up. The Manila murdered my hearth and tribe.'
'As we did the Bluedancing men and, besides, made their mothers, wives, sisters and children slaves.'
'We showed them mercy.'
The Master's mercy was meant to force the need for this hunt so as to give him power over the Tribe.'
Krow looked away haunted. 'What choice do I have but to follow him?'
'Akaisha might welcome you into her hearth.'
Krow turned back fiercely. To remind her that her son is possessed by the Master?'
Carnelian had no answer to that.
'I'm sorry, Carnie, but the only place I have left is at the Master's side.'
Carnelian could not deny the plea in the youth's eyes that he should stop. He smiled at him. 'Why have you
