Page 92 of Feast

Only Rolf seemed not to be at ease. His new companion Kate was with him, and they were trying to teach each other words in their own languages so they could communicate better. But every so often, Ika noticed Rolf glancing at her swollen abdomen with a pained look of concern on his face.

At last the dinner was served. They ate sitting or lounging on the comfortable furs spread on the ground.

It was a feast like Ika had never had in her life. Tender, perfectly seasoned krelk steaks slathered in a savory gravy and a side of vegetables and tender roots that had been slightly charred to give them a caramelized flavor. For dessert, they had a soft flaky pastry filled with tart darkberry jam and drizzled with a creamy ksh infused frosting. Ika was really impressed with all the different textures and flavors Krogg was able to get from simple ingredients and tools, and she was pleased to see that Muk was taking notes from the older cook.

Ika could tell that she was going to like it here. She had only been in this canyon for a few hours, and it already felt like home.

But eventually the laughter and pleasantries of dinner died down. Ravnar and Slaine took the little ones outside to play, and the tent grew quiet except for the crackle of the fire in the middle of the space. It was time for serious conversation.

It was Alyx who finally broached the topic.

“Ika, if you don’t mind, I would like to learn about your origins. I want to know where you came from.”

Ika blushed. She was uncomfortable being the center of attention.

“I would like to know that too,” Ika said. “But all I really know is that Rolf found me in his den when I was little.”

“Is this true, Rolf?”

The gray-bearded ukkur now looked especially nervous. His face was a stone mask of worry, and he couldn’t take his eyes away from Ika. He nodded silently.

“Would you mind telling us the circumstances of how you found her?”

Rolf’s shoulders slumped as he let out a long, heavy sigh. Ika had never seen him look so tired and worried before.

“I’ll do my best,” he said quietly. “It is not easy to explain.”

Ika’s pulse quickened. Rolf had always told her that he had found her in his den, a gift from the gods. But now it seemed there was more to that story.

Rolf began to tell his tale. He stumbled over his thoughts and struggled to find the right words to explain how it had happened. At first, Ika was upset that he had not told her before, but as his story went on, she began to understand. It was a very difficult story to explain, and she had trouble visualizing the images he described.

As Ika understood it, Rolf had returned to his den one night eighteen years ago to find two Ikas on the floor of his cave. One was a grown-up Ika, and one was a tiny little thing, even smaller than the smallest little ukkur they had seen. The little one had been attached to a long tube that was coming out of the bigger one’s hole. The big one had a nith marking on her hip, but the little one did not. The big one died, and the little one lived and grew up to be the Ika who was sitting there now listening to the tale. The ring which Ika wore around her neck had come from the one that had died.

Despite all the amazing things that Ika had witnessed in the past few days, the story was almost impossible to believe, but she knew that Rolf would never lie about such things.

Through it all, Alyx listened and nodded thoughtfully.

When he was finished talking, Rolf drew a deep breath, and he relaxed a little, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

“I’m so sorry, Ika,” he said. “I should have told you all of these things a long time ago. I just didn’t know how to do it. And I was worried that some day you would leave me, and I would be alone forever.”

Ika’s eyes throbbed and began to leak. She did not try to hide it. She crossed the tent and put her arms around Rolf’s neck in a tight embrace.

“You don’t need to apologize,” she whispered. “I’m just grateful that you have told me about it now. And I’m grateful for all the years that you cared for me and raised me.”

“I did a good job, didn’t I?” Rolf said. “Just look at what a strong woman you have become, Ika. I’m so proud of you. You are the greatest thing that ever happened to me.”

He touched her belly, and the little ukkur moved inside.

“But I’m worried,” Rolf went on. “I’m worried that when the little ukkur comes out of you, you will die, just like what happened with the woman you came from.”

Alyx had moved closer, and now she put a reassuring hand on Rolf’s shoulder.

“You do not need to worry, Rolf,” Alyx said. “Ika is not going to die. I promise you that.”

“How do you know?” Rolf asked.

“Because in my previous life, my job was bringing babies into the world. Little ukkur, I mean. I am an expert at getting them out safely, and I will help Ika do that when the time comes, which will be very soon. Tomorrow probably.”