Hand of Fire (The Master of the Tane) (11 page)

             
Rani stared in disbelief. Never in her life had she seen such stones. “Oh no, Helgar. I couldn’t.”

             
Helgar thrust them into her hand. “Just take ‘em and be off. This fog will be good cover fer ya.”

             
Rani stared dumbfounded at the gems and the dagger now resting in her hand. Turning slowly about, she loaded her canoe and then started to push it into the water. Helgar watched her in silence when she suddenly stopped and turned back around. Running to him, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Helgar,” she said softly. “I will never forget you.” She then turned back and quickly boarded her canoe pushing it away from shore and disappearing quickly in the haunting mist.

             
Helgar rubbed his cheek still able to feel where her lips had been only moments before. “Nor I ye, lassie,” he whispered. “Nor I ye.”

             
Turning to Bardolf, he kicked his companion roughly in the ribs. “Get up ye lug,” he growled. “Ye’ve slept long enough.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Thane entered the family hut just as DorMar’s father, TaqSagn, made a small cut along his forearm in preparation for the blood purification ritual used to heal the sick. Thane had received word in the fields that his father had been struck with the killing fever and had sprinted home to see if he might help.

              Thane moved to his mother’s side, putting an arm of comfort around her shoulders, as Taq looked up from his work. “Ah, it is good that you are here Thane. The curing process is much quicker and stronger when a member of the family is of the VerSagn Tane and can administer the healing.”

             
“No!” DelVen cried weakly. “I will not have his blood run through my veins. I will not!” He glared at them as if daring someone to challenge him until his eyes slowly rolled back into his head, the effort taking him to the edges of consciousness.

             
Thane cast a sad glance down at his father. Taq stared sympathetically at the young boy. “It really would be for the best if you did it, Thane,” he half whispered.

             
“I will not disobey my father’s wish,” he responded quietly. “Please continue.”

            TaqSagn slowly turned back to Del and then finally continued with the ceremony. Those of the VerSagn Tane were gifted with certain abilities, as were those of the other four Tane. The VerSagn Tane had a purifying affect on those who were sick and, in most cases, could cure illnesses by simply mixing their own blood with the one who was ill. Often, the patient
returned  to full health within hours.

             
TaqSagn made a small cut on DelVen’s arm similar to the one on his own and then, after a short prayer to TehraMae, placed the two cuts together allowing the blood of both to mix together. DelVen responded immediately. His body jerked slightly for a brief moment before he quickly fell into a sound sleep.

TaqSagn turned to Thane and lifted his arm, “Can you take care of these?” he asked referring to the cuts in his and Del’s arms.

              “Sure.” Thane stepped forward grabbing Taq’s arm and placed his hand over the cut. Taq grimaced in pain as a wisp of smoke rose between Thane’s fingers. The wound he had inflicted upon himself only moments ago was now scabbed over nicely and would be completely gone in a few days. This was a gift of the QenChe Tane that allowed those of its members to bring fire out of anything that was dead or without spirit. Because a cut in the flesh left a dead space that was void of spirit, as in DelVen’s case, the QenChe could draw fire from that space and cauterize the wound allowing the spirit to return to the once empty space and heal it quickly.

             
Thane did the same for DelVen, taking advantage of his deep sleep, and then rose to thank Dor’s father.

             
“I was happy to assist,” Taq said with a smile. “I think the blood was all that was needed. It appears to be working already so I wouldn’t worry about your father. I’m sure he’ll be back to his old self in an hour or two.”

             
Lyn and Thane looked at each other and smiled weakly as if communicating the same wish. Both wanted Del to recover but neither liked the idea of him being his “old” self.

             
“Well,” Lyn said trying to appear cheerful, “I guess you both need to return to the fields and continue with the planting. So I won’t keep you. Thank you again, TaqSagn.”

             
“My pleasure,” he returned with a slight bow. “Come along, Thane,” he said grabbing the boy’s shoulder. “Your mother’s right. We need to get back to the fields. Your father will be fine now.” 

With a nod from both, Lyn watched as they exited the hut before she turned back to Del. “I hope someday you can change your thoughts towards your son,” she sighed placing a cool cloth on her mate’s head.

              Taq and Thane quickly made their way back to the fields situated just north of town. The area was perfect for growing crops. The soil was rich and dark and close to the river. This especially pleased the MarGua Tane since it rested on them to keep the crops watered. The Chufa grew three main crops; wheat, corn and cotton. The forest provided other vegetation to supplement and give variety to their meals. Mushrooms, pine nuts, wild beans and berries were in plentiful supply throughout most of the Ardath as were onions and other tubers.

             
The Chufa considered all life sacred and therefore did not kill animals for meat or clothing. The trees of the Ardath were also considered sacred and were never cut down or trimmed for firewood. Dead branches that were scattered about the forest floor provided enough wood for cooking fires and to provide heat in the cool months. By collecting and setting fire to scattered deadwood the Chufa also fulfilled one of their sacred duties. The Chufa held that all things contain spirit. The rocks, trees, animals, the sky, all things are full of life because of the spirit within them. When something dies, that spirit is trapped within the body and cannot escape to the next world where it will be reborn to perfection. The only way to free the spirit from its imprisonment is to call fire to it and burn away the corporal prison allowing it to escape and pass on. By burning the forest’s dead wood, the Chufa not only create warmth for themselves and heat for cooking, but they also free the spiritual parts contained in the dead limbs and trees.

             
Thane joined those of the TehChao Tane who were spread throughout the fields planting this cycle’s crops. The Chufa did not plant crops in the traditional way by digging into their mother earth; this would create gaps in her spirit and bring death to that part of her body. Instead, the TehChao placed a seed just upon the ground. One from the VerSagn Tane then placed a drop of VerSagn blood on it to give it nourishment and another, blessed with the TehChao Tane, then called the seed to life by singing the Earth Song. With the life giving blood of the VerSagn and the song of the TehChao, the seed immediately took root. It then fell upon the MarGua Tane to water the crops until they were mature and ready to harvest.

             
The day was unusually dry and hot for the planting moon and Thane’s mouth became parched rather quickly from continually singing the song of life to the seeds he planted. His work also became tedious because there was no one to talk to. Since he had the gifts of all five Tane, Thane could plant by himself. This also made him much quicker. On average, Thane planted at least twenty-five percent more than any of the planting teams.

After the crops were planted he would also be required to join the MarGua in carrying the buckets from the river to water them. He didn’t think it fair that he should be required to do the work of three people just because he was cursed to have all five Tane and in some ways, he felt that it was as a punishment because he was different. It wasn’t that he really minded working to help feed and clothe his people, but at that moment he knew Dor was swimming at the lake waiting until he finished and could finally join him.

              He was glad of his MarGua Tane. If he were normal like everyone else and had only one Tane, the one he would most want was the MarGua. He could not imagine not being able to enjoy the thrill of staying under water for long periods of time, as only the MarGua could. Most of the other Tane didn’t even like to get into the water let alone go under. Thane loved the sense of freedom he gained while swimming with schools of fish or the long, thoughtful moments just relaxing on the bottom. He and Dor spent all of their free time in the water’s depths exploring the life that made its home there.

             
Finally, after what had seemed to be days, he finished with his bag of seeds and was now free to fill the rest of the afternoon as he pleased. It was actually still quite early with the sun just a couple of hours past its peak in the clear skies above. Thane quickly returned his empty sack to FelTehPa of the TehChao Tane and, after a polite word of departure, sprinted off towards the lake.

             
He practiced his skills of silent running as race along the pathway leading to the lake. He practiced the skill whenever he had the chance and had become quite good at keeping his steps silent and sure to the point that he surpassed the skill of many boys his elder. As with everything else he excelled at, his skills caused jealousy and animosity from many of his peers; especially the older ones. He had also become an extremely skilled archer, actually shooting better then many of the men, including his father, which only made things worse between them. It saddened him greatly not to have a close relationship with DelVen like Dor had with his father, but he would not let his skills as a protector weaken for it. He knew that since his birth Del had hated him just because of his TanIs, even though it wasn’t any of his doing. Just the fact that his son was different from everyone else made him an outcast to his father.

             
Thane ran swiftly through the trees, without the slightest sound, picking his way carefully and watching the path in front of him with great intent. He dodged through the pines and oaks with the agility of a fox enjoying the challenge to be silent as he honed his skills with each obstacle. Nearing the lake, he suddenly sensed that something was amiss but was not certain what it might be. He slowed and then finally stopped to examine the signs on the path he was chasing. He could tell that others had passed this way not too long before and had left the trail on either side just ahead. He smiled, unable to stem the small amount of pride that surfaced. He knew who it was and what they were up to.                            

             
He quickly jumped off the path without the slightest whisper of noise and darted into the thicker woods. It wasn’t too long before he came around the back side of PocMar and his friends who lay hidden in the bushes with a bag and rope waiting for an unsuspecting victim—most likely him. Thane swallowed a chuckle and then continued around in complete silence until he was far beyond his not so clever rivals. Returning to the path, he broke again into a sprint and closed the distance to the lake. He did not want to waste his free time on PocMar and his sycophants.

             
In no time, he broke through the woods and onto the grassy slope that dipped ever so slightly down to the edge of the water. The lake was beautiful in the late afternoons with the sun beginning its decent behind the Shadow Mountains and its rest from the day. The colors of deep red and orange were cast upon the waters becoming more brilliant with each passing moment. To the right, a group of ducks played and searched for food in the marshy areas by the river’s entrance while fish jumped for the bugs that swarmed the lake’s surface in a mad frenzy.

             
He stopped long enough to absorb the peaceful sights and sounds that he enjoyed so much and to take in a deep breath of fresh mountain air that seemed to revitalize him as it flowed gently through the trees and against his back. This was his favorite time of the day. Everything seemed so peaceful and fresh. Everything was so alive. All was as it should be.