Page 75 of Wind Rider

“Are there any rules we should know about the Saleesh? Anything we might accidentally do to offend them?” Mari asked.

“They’re patriarchal. Each of their villages is led by an elder priest they call Father.”

Sora narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t say anything about that before. Are they going to have a problem with the fact that two women lead ourgroup? Are we going to have to pretend to follow around behind you and Nik and the rest of our men?”

“No. We won’t be spending much time with them. We beach the boats and then travel through their village, and keep following the pathway along the river until we’re clear of the rapids and the ruins. We’ll do that several times in different villages as we continue upriver. And I didn’t mean to imply the Saleesh women are abused. As far as I’ve been able to tell, they are loved by their men and treated with care.”

“But they have no say in the governing of themselves or their people?” Mari asked.

“No. I do not believe they do,” Antreas said.

Sora snorted.

“What else should we know?” Mari said.

“The Saleesh are a deeply religious people. They have a distinctive greeting,” Antreas explained. “They will say‘Blessings be withyou,’ and the correct response is‘And also with you.’ It’s more than just ‘Hello, how are you?’to them. They literally are blessing their visitors and asking for the same in return. Also, don’t stare at the Teteplates. The backs of their heads are distinctively flattened, which they see as a sign of great beauty. I know that we’ve discussed this before, but remember that the Saleesh and the Teteplates exist together, as one people. Yes, they do have a caste system, but they say it works for them—forallOF THEM. Also, remember that they are a devout people. They worship Mother. You’ll see idols of her throughout the village. It is a sign of respect to leave an offering before an idol, so if you feel compelled to, the Saleesh will be appreciative, but it is not necessary. The worst thing you could ever do to one of the Saleesh would be to desecrate one of their Mother idols—so, keep that in mind.”

“‘Mother’? That is the name of their Goddess?” Davis asked.

“That is all I have ever known them to call her by. The idols are really quite beautiful. Oh, blue is a sacred color to them, but you’ll see that for yourself. Any other questions?”

“How are they with canines?” Mari asked.

“As long as you keep them from urinating on their idols, they’re justfine with them. I’ve led several small groups of Companions through their village with no incidents.”

Mari ruffled the fur on Rigel’s head. “You hear that? No leg-lifting on the idols.”

Around her, the Pack chuckled.

“Also, the Saleesh are great traders, known for their silver jewelry, their blue cloth, and their carvings. We aren’t going to linger in their village, but if you have anything you’d like to trade—like one of your woven baskets—be sure you take them from your boat and bring them with you as we walk through their village.”

“Are there any rules to the trading?” Sora asked.

“Only to be fair,” Antreas said.

Mari was just about to speak—to inform the Pack about what Dove had discovered last night—but the girl beat her to it.

“I do not have a question, but I would like to say something. Moon Women, might I speak?”

The Pack turned to stare at Dove. She stood beside Lily, her hand resting on her friend’s arm.

“Yes, of course,” Mari said.

Dove bowed her head slightly to Mari before drawing a deep breath and addressing the curious Pack.

“Last night I was visited in my dreams by spirits of the ancients. I am truly sorry that I disturbed everyone. That was not my intent, but I am new to communicating with the spirit world, and it was quite a surprise.”

Dove smiled shyly, and Mari thought, not for the first time, how truly beautiful the girl was and how strange it was that her beauty seemed enhanced, rather than marred, by her lack of eyes.

“Why did the spirits come to you?” Spencer called from her spot across the beach beside the boat she shared with Davis, Isabel, Dove, and Lily.

Dove didn’t hesitate in her answer. “To warn us.”

“Well, I was going to do that as soon as we passed Bonn Dam,” Antreas said. “The river is haunted. Or more specifically, the land on bothbanks is haunted. No one settles successfully here except the Saleesh and their Teteplates.”

“So, we aren’t in danger unless we try to settle along the river?” Wilkes asked.

“Correct, though I also wouldn’t stay in one campsite for more than a few nights. A storm trapped a group I was leading several years ago. We had to spend ten days waiting just a few miles upriver from a Saleesh settlement for the weather to clear enough for us to get back on the river, and by day ten my skin was crawling and everyone was more than eager to leave, though no one was harmed.”