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I trembled as I turned my hands over, studying the mess covering my palms. Gritting my teeth, I closed my eyes and placed my hands over my eyelids. The soft thud of the bowl hitting the furs by my paste-painted feet sounded, just before Pallen’s own touch landed on the back of mine.
Pressing harder than I had, coating my eyelashes in oil, she dragged my touch down, covering my cheeks, drawing a veil over my face that clung sticky and full of char.
Keeping her hands on mine, she murmured, “Repeat after me, Girl.”
I nodded beneath her hold.
“Flames I belong, Quelis I be.”
Licking my lips, tasting the bitter bite of acorn mixed with ash, I whispered, “Flames I belong, Quelis I be.”
“I request safe passage for your messages to see.”
“I request safe passage for your messages to see.”
“Keep me in your light for all of the night.”
“Keep me in your light for all of the night.”
“But release me the moment day breaks.”
“But release me the moment day breaks.”
Her fingers tightened over mine. “Do not try to trick me to be yours forevermore.”
I trembled. “Do not try to trick me to be yours forevermore.”
“I am merely a visitor, mortal at my core.”
“I am merely a visitor, mortal at my core.”
Dropping her touch, she waited for me to lower my arms and open my eyes. My lashes were heavy and thick with ashes.
“You are as protected as I can make you.” Looking at my painted form, she ordered, “Do not dress. Do not touch or smear the markings on your skin.”
I have to walk through the camp bare?
What if Aktor found me, naked and unprotected?
I shuddered as yet more memories of him forcing my legs open and choking me came swift and sick. I couldn’t remember my past, yet that...that I couldn’t stop remembering.
Pallen clucked her tongue. “No one will dare touch you while you wear the markings of fire.” She shifted closer so the others couldn’t hear. “And besides, it is not this life you need to be afraid of, child.” Stepping back, she raised her voice. “Now, be gone. Return to our Fire Reader. It’s almost dusk. He and the flames are waiting.”
* * * * *
The sun teased the horizon as I stepped through the Nhil camp.
Niya and Hyath flanked me with Syn prowling lithe and swift at my heels. Hyath carried my new clothing while Niya kept shooting me watery glances full of apprehension and tears.
I wanted to clasp her hand and promise I’d be okay. I wanted to soothe her worries, but with ash soaking into my skin, heating my bones with its ever-present warmth, and bleeding into my blood with its swirls and dots and designs, I couldn’t bring myself to speak.
A rock lodged in my throat full of fear.
I just want this finished.
As we stepped from the long grass and padded our way to the central fire, Tral and Tiptu appeared from their lupic, their eyes following me, their lips tight. Aktor and Kivva were nowhere to be seen, but the rest of the clan slowly gathered, drifting closer as I held my head high and fought every instinct to run.
A hushness fell over the camp.
No food was eaten. No purple wine or sweet-smelling pipe was passed around. No words or songs or drums.
Just heavy silence and taut seriousness.
Solin appeared from his lupic as Hyath and Niya guided me past the large fire. Syn growled low before streaking off, returning to the grasslands. Solin’s long furs were wrapped tightly around his trim waist, but he didn’t wear stringed teeth, feathers, or beads. He carried no lynx-skull staff as he walked stiffly toward Tral and Tiptu, bowing his head to speak to them.
My feet stopped, and I waited.
I didn’t know where the trance would take place or what was expected of me.
My heart skipped, and the symbols on my body remained sticky and hot.
Solin spoke to his chief and chiefess long enough for my breath to catch and belly to churn. Every moment that passed, the sun sank deeper into the horizon. The sky darkened with dusk but also with rain. The navy clouds from the distance crept closer, pressing heavily over our heads, promising a stormy downpour.
The central fire hissed as a single raindrop fell, landing in the flames and instantly becoming steam.
Solin’s eyes suddenly met mine from across the foot-trodden clearing, unreadable and supreme. Tral stepped forward, raising his hands to the storm-deepening sky and the quickly setting sun. His eyes touched each member of his large clan, lingering on the older men and women, softening on the younger.
He raised his voice with authority. “It’s almost dusk. When the sun dies for another day and the shadows gather thick, the ritual will begin.” Narrowing his gaze on his family, his tone turned gravely with importance. “Your task is to protect our Fire Reader as he shares the journey with our unnamed guest. Your silence must be absolute, so they remain unseen by the spirit world. Your focus on their wellbeing must be unwavering as they tread through a different realm before returning to ours with answers. Will you do this? Will you keep our Fire Reader and his chosen safe?”
