«Under One Sky»

Chapter 10 — “Under One Sky”

The caravan slowly approached the Ravens’ gorge. The enormous wall, visible from far away, frightened and amazed with its grandeur at the same time. It was hard to believe that this was a creation of people from the past, people just like them. And it also stirred envy — the Ravens really had found such a place a hundred years ago. Behind a wall like that, even a dozen Khemars would not be frightening.

At first glance, the road along the mountain seemed safe, but it still kept the caravan tense. The swamps of Udgal were close by, which meant no one knew what might go wrong.

Only the young wolf cub named Reyn seemed to feel neither fatigue nor anxiety. He was full of energy and kept pestering everyone with questions. Was it true that the Deep Forest settlement now called itself the Bones? Was it true they had attacked Green Grass? What could be sold to the Ravens for the best profit now? And was it true that after all these troubles, prices for many goods had gone up?

He could not wait to see the settlement with his own eyes. Even more than that, he wanted to trade for something valuable on the cheap and then resell it at home for a profit.

The Ravens’ settlement drew closer and closer. From excitement, Reyn felt the need pressing harder and harder, and at some point he could not stand it anymore and rushed into the bushes.

— Reyn, not again! Stop marking every bush along the way already! Hurry up! — loud laughter rolled through the caravan, easing the tension that had built up. — And don’t forget to lift your leg!

— Very funny! — came from the bushes.

While the caravan approached the gates, guards and people who had been working in the fields began coming from that direction. Some were curious about what the Wolves had brought, others were already calculating what they could trade and how much they would have to pay for new goods.

Soon Reyn appeared from the bushes, tightening the belt on his trousers as he walked and muttering something unhappily under his breath.

— And don’t forget to lift your leg… Bleh-bleh-bleh, — he mimicked his companions. — We’ll see how you laugh when I earn my first red Lagerents and go train in our Hall of the Blood-Red Paw.

He was already about to catch up with the caravan when his gaze caught on something shining at the very edge of the path.

Reyn stopped.

Coming closer, he crouched down and picked up a small shard of a petrified Khemar heart. A little farther away, another lay among the grass.

A smile slowly appeared on the young wolf cub’s face.

— Now this is interesting…

He quickly looked around. No one was watching him. Then Reyn shoved both crystals into his pocket and hurried to catch up with the others.

— Finally… — he muttered to himself with satisfaction. — Now this is a real Lagerent vein. And it’s lying right under everyone’s feet.

Instantly forgetting his resentment toward his companions, Reyn straightened his shoulders and caught up with the caravan in a much better mood. He could not wait to get involved in the trading.

— Yes, yes, a sack of potatoes for a transparent coin! — he began calculating future deals aloud.

— Hey, pup.

A stern voice instantly brought him back down to earth.

— Don’t rush. First, we arrive. We hand over the goods according to the agreement. We learn the prices. We rest. And only then will you trade.

Reyn pressed his lips together unhappily, but did not argue.

— All right, everyone, move aside! Let us at least arrive! — the same Wolf shouted at the people gathering around them and guided the caravan toward the gates.

At that moment, a sound familiar to many came from the wall.

— Tssssss-eeeee!

A loud, drawn-out hum spread over the gorge.

Reyn flinched and involuntarily hunched.

— There we go. And a moment ago he was acting important, — one of the older Wolves smirked. — You’re still a pup. Get used to it. That thing whistles here all the time.

Laughter rolled through the caravan again. Not cruel, more habitual. The Wolves felt calm. They trusted the Ravens, and their walls inspired far more confidence than fear.

Meanwhile, while the rumble of the opening gates sounded everywhere, the fields also grew restless. Seeing the caravan by the gates, people were distracted from their work more and more often. Even Olivia and Pavel kept glancing toward the road, trying to make out what the Wolves had brought this time.

Michael wiped sweat from his forehead, leaned against a wagon loaded to the top with soil, and took a flask from his belt. Several greedy gulps of cold water quickly returned his strength. After that, he handed it to Sam.

— Hey, what are you staring at? The forest is in the other direction. Sunset is still far away. Don’t get distracted. Last thing we need is someone getting hurt. Sarah will skin ten hides off us afterward.

Michael smirked.

— Ugh… Just thinking about how she’ll yell already sends a chill down my back.

Several people laughed.

— All right. Let’s take a short rest and then continue.

He headed into the shade of the nearest tree and sat down on the grass.

— Sam, hungry? Catherine packed apples for you.

— No.

Answering with one word, Sam heavily flopped down beside him right on the ground. It was clear he had been trying with all his strength and was simply tired.

In such heat, the cool breeze and birdsong pulled at sleep, but it was still too early to rest. Sam raised himself a little, rubbed his face with his palm, and suddenly noticed Neira walking toward them from the settlement.

He immediately perked up, jumped to his feet, and ran to meet her.

— Aren’t you tired in this heat? Let me help.

Sam carefully took her by the arm and slowly walked her over to Michael, who was sprawled under the tree and trying with all his might not to fall asleep while lazily chewing a plucked blade of grass.

— I thought you were working here, — Neira said, stopping beside him. — And there you are, lying around.

— Oh, I only lay down for a moment, — Michael protested, reluctantly getting up. — The heat is unbearable. Let me catch my breath at least. Why did you come?

— What do you mean, why? To see how things are going. And to check on my grandson. Is he managing?

— Where would he go? He’s young, full of strength. And he already shoots as if you fed him with a bow from the cradle.

Neira narrowed her eyes with satisfaction.

— Then I didn’t feed him for nothing.

Michael smirked, but immediately grew more serious.

— Better tell me why you came alone. This is still beyond the walls. Dangerous.

— Alone? — Neira slowly turned her head toward him. — Did you just call me helpless?

— I said “dangerous.” Old wo—

He did not manage to finish.

Neira hooked his leg with her crutch, jerked sharply, and Michael, before he could even properly understand what had happened, crashed onto his back.

— Kgh!

— Who did you call an old woman? — Neira asked calmly. — I’m not old. I’m wise. People don’t get onto the council for pretty eyes, you know.

Michael lay there for several seconds, looking at the sky, then slowly raised his hand.

— Now I see who Pavel gets his liveliness from.

Olivia and Pavel were already running toward them.

— Anyway, I didn’t come here to chat, but on business, — Neira said. — Sarah came to me. She has not yet had time to inspect what the traders brought, but she asked you to hold the memorial rite this evening. At sunset. Beyond the walls, of course.

— And what do I have to do with it? And why beyond the walls, not by the waterfall?

— Don’t interrupt, listen. You know every people has its own customs. Beyond the walls because people must say farewell to their dead on free land, not among strangers’ houses.

Neira leaned on her crutch.

— I need only one thing from you. Convince the guards to stay until the end and keep watch. I know everyone wants to see what the Wolves brought, but there will be no trading until morning anyway. I’ll see to that. And you show respect. It’s hard enough for them already.

Michael only sighed.

— Fine. You convinced me.

— Good.

Neira slipped a hand under her cloak and pulled out four Akalu apples.

— And Catherine sent these.

One after another, the apples flew to the youngsters. Pavel caught his with one hand, Olivia with both palms, and Sam barely managed to press the apple to his chest so he would not drop it.

— Pavel, try not to disgrace me.

— When have I ever—

— Exactly, — Neira cut him off.

A satisfied smile flickered across Neira’s face.

— And I’ll go. It really is hot today. And there’s still enough work to do.

Michael bit into the apple and beckoned Olivia over.

— Walk the ol… ahem… wise Neira back to the settlement. And fetch water while you’re at it. We’ll be stuck here until evening. I’ll try to make an agreement with the guards. Sarah sure picked a fine time.

Olivia took the empty flasks and headed toward the gates together with Neira.

For a while, they walked in silence.

— How is your mother? — Neira was the first to break it.

— Much better. She’s already walking a little. But it’s still hard. She misses Father.

— Not surprising. They lived together for so many years.

Neira was quiet for a moment.

— And how are things on the heart front?

Olivia sighed heavily.

— Not that again.

— What do you mean, not that again? Young, beautiful. I bet you have no shortage of suitors.

— As if. I have no time to run after them.

— Uh-huh. And I notice how you and Pavel look at each other.

Olivia looked away.

— We look, sure. But what good is that? He’s good. Kind. But so indecisive he’s afraid to even take a step.

— What a sparrow…

— I need someone who can stand up for himself and for others. There’s no other way now.

Neira only shook her head.

— Oh, Pavel… He’ll wait until someone quicker comes along.

As they talked, they reached the settlement without noticing.

The Wolves’ wagons already stood in the yard, covered with large tarps. The traders were quenching their thirst at the stone reservoir, where cold water flowed through troughs straight from the waterfall.

Olivia quickly filled the flasks, washed her face with cool water, and loosened her hair.

After the heat, the shade of the great tree seemed like true salvation.

Under it sat a young Wolf, carefully studying a small crystal.

Reyn turned the find between his fingers and wondered at its purity. Usually such crystals were covered in cracks. This one, however, was almost transparent.

— First time seeing one? — Olivia asked with a smile, coming closer. — That’s a crystal from a Khemar heart. Funny that such ugly creatures have such beautiful hearts.

Reyn flinched and instantly hid the crystal in his palm.

Seeing the girl, he immediately straightened.

— First time? Of course not. I’m a trader, actually.

— Really?

— Of course. As if I wouldn’t know what a crystal is. And what do you want? The stones are mine.

From nerves, he even dropped one of them.

The crystal struck the ground and rolled along the roots.

Olivia calmly picked it up and handed it back.

— Here.

Reyn carefully took the find back.

— I never would have thought Wolf traders were so rude.

— I’m not rude.

— Uh-huh.

She sat under the tree and pressed the cool flasks to herself.

— Don’t worry. After the last Khemar attack, there are plenty of stones like that here. Out in the fields, they only get underfoot.

For several seconds, Reyn even stopped breathing.

— Plenty?

He quickly jumped to his feet.

— By the way, I’m Reyn.

Olivia smirked.

— Yes, plenty. And your name is nice, by the way. But you yourself are rude as rude can be.

Reyn immediately realized that with his sharpness, he had just spoiled an acquaintance with someone who might know far more about the crystals than he did.

— Well… I didn’t mean to.

— Of course.

She smiled from the corner of her lips.

— And what’s your name?

— You don’t need to know that.

Olivia stood and looked somewhere over the wagons.

From the direction of the square, Sarah was approaching. Even from there, it was clear how she was explaining something to people with annoyance, waving her hands.

— Oli! What are you doing here? Did Michael make an agreement with the guards? — Sarah called to her.

— I’ll find out now! — Olivia shouted back.

She picked up the flasks and headed toward her.

Reyn watched the girl go.

— Oli, then…

A pleased smile appeared on the young wolf cub’s face.

Not the most successful start to an acquaintance, but the meeting had clearly played into his paw.

Olivia came up to Sarah and told her she had just missed Neira. Neira had passed on her request, and Michael was already dealing with the guards.

— At least one piece of good news, — Sarah sighed. — These traders are worse than enemies. It’s impossible to agree on anything with them. The prices they demand…

She waved toward the wagons.

— All right. Go on. We’ll see each other this evening at the rite.

Sarah went on to argue with the traders, while Olivia ran back to the fields.

By that time, Michael and Sam were already helping load the last wagon with soil and drinking cold water with pleasure.

— Oli, you’re just in time. I think that’s enough for today. The guards turned their noses up, but agreed to stay. Now all that’s left is to wait for evening.

Meanwhile, Sam talked something over with Pavel. Both came up to Michael.

— Since it’s not getting dark yet… We wanted to walk a little along the stream. Cool off after work.

Michael looked at their tired faces and nodded.

— Go.

— Oli, are you coming with us? — Pavel immediately asked.

Olivia thought for a second. After the conversation with Neira, she had involuntarily been waiting for this invitation.

— Yes. Of course I’m coming.

— Just not for long and not far, — Michael immediately warned. — Dusk will start soon. We need to keep a close eye on the forest now.

He threw part of the gear over his shoulder and stayed at the edge of the fields, watching the work.

Watching the youngsters go, Michael involuntarily smiled.

Still children, after all. They needed to rest sometimes too.

At that moment, he sneezed and rubbed his nose.

— Ugh… Someone is clearly remembering me with words that aren’t quiet.

Meanwhile, the people of Green Grass began gathering dry grass from the fields and piling it into large heaps. Others went right up to the edge of the forest, picking up dry branches and fallen limbs.

Gradually, strange figures began appearing in the center of the field. Some resembled beasts, others people. Each scarecrow was made in its own way and did not resemble the one beside it.

Even the guards began glancing at them with curiosity.

Watching this, Michael unexpectedly noticed one useful thing. While people gathered dry branches and grass for the rite, the edge of the forest became noticeably cleaner. A few more rites like this — and the view from the fields to the first trees would be much better.

He had never thought that a foreign tradition could bring so much practical benefit.

After resting, Sam returned with the youngsters to the people of Green Grass. As usual, he could not stand silently for long.

— Why are you gathering dry branches and grass?

One of the farmers smiled.

— Why? This is how we help the earth and the forest breathe. And they help us live, feed us with their fruits.

Sam nodded seriously.

Then he pointed to one of the scarecrows.

— And what is that for?

— That is how we see off those who have left us.

The man thought for a second.

— In autumn, grass and leaves wither. But in spring, everything returns again. So it is with a person. We believe death is not the end of the path, but the beginning of a new one.

— O-o-oh…

Sam opened his eyes wide.

— How interesting.

He looked at the scarecrows once more, then suddenly rushed off.

— I’ll go tell Pavel and Olivia!

Full of new impressions, Sam ran to his friends, who were already standing guard by the forest. He could not wait to share what he had just learned.

Evening crept up unnoticed. The whole field, from the walls to the very forest, had been filled with strange scarecrows. Ravens had gathered on the settlement walls, wishing to watch the unusual rite. Even the traders from the Wolves climbed up instead of resting, wanting to see what was happening with their own eyes.

Michael, with Sam and the others, was still guarding the edge of the forest when Sarah came to them with food. For her and her people, this evening was important, and in this way she decided to thank the Ravens for their help and patience.

From the gates, the rest of the Green Grass residents began gathering — those who had spent the whole day repairing houses and working in the fields. From the outside, it now looked more like a celebration than a farewell rite.

But not everyone was pleased.

Some of the Green Grass people looked around unhappily. They did not like that the rite was taking place not on their own land. The Raven guards added to it too, openly not understanding the meaning of what was happening.

When the first scarecrows caught fire, the conversations grew louder.

— And what kind of rite is this? — one of the guards grumbled loudly. — I’m stuck here until night for this instead of resting at home.

— This is memory for the dead! — someone from Green Grass snapped back at once.

— Bonfires and memory are different things.

— And your feathers are better?

— Of course better! At least we don’t burn half the field!

— Why you…

The noise began to grow.

— Enough! — Sarah shouted.

But no one was listening anymore.

Michael sighed heavily.

— Well, here we go…

Sam sat by one of the fires, thoughtfully turning something in his hands. A strange word surfaced in his head again.

“Puzzle.”

Earlier, he had asked Pavel and Olivia to go to the storehouse for feathers and rope. Though they were surprised, they still brought what he had asked for.

— Are you sure you know what you’re doing? — Olivia had asked then.

— No.

— Very reassuring, — Pavel muttered.

Now before Sam lay dry grass, several twigs, feathers, and a coil of rope. He looked from the burning scarecrows to the Ravens’ feathers, until suddenly that very puzzle came together in his head.

Rising to his feet, Sam went to the nearest fire, lit a tied bundle of grass, and released the little winged thing he had made.

The hot air quickly caught it, and the small flame began rising above the field.

The noise around them gradually faded. People involuntarily raised their heads, following the glowing point with their eyes.

Sam came up to Michael, held out another little winged thing to him, then one just like it to Sarah, and silently pointed to the fire.

Michael frowned.

— And what is this thing supposed to be?

— Pretty, — Sam shrugged.

Sarah unexpectedly smiled.

— It really is pretty.

She was the first to light hers.

— If I set my beard on fire right now, it’ll be your fault, — Michael grumbled.

— You don’t have one anyway.

Laughter rolled across the field.

Michael rolled his eyes and lit his too.

Two little flames rose into the evening sky.

Then a third.

Then a fourth.

Neira came up to them and spent a long time looking at the burning scarecrows and the little winged lights rising into the sky.

— Look at yourselves. You survived one disaster, the same Khemars, and the same death. And now you are ready to argue about whose custom is more correct?

The field gradually fell silent.

— I am ashamed of you. Even a boy who still barely remembers who he is managed to see what adults did not.

She pointed her crutch at Sam.

— Here is the memory of Green Grass. Here is the memory of the Ravens. And up there, they no longer care which one is correct. What matters is that they are remembered.

One of the Ravens was the first to approach the fire. He took some grass, asked for a feather, and made his own little winged light. A second followed him. Then a third. Even some of the Green Grass people reluctantly repeated after them.

One after another, lights rose into the sky, scarecrows burned, and the waterfall roared. Sarah looked at it with relief. So did Neira.

Michael had been about to talk to Sarah about seeds and the trip to the Wolves, but he looked at the lights, at the smiling people, and at Sam, who was watching his first little winged light with delight.

Not today.

That conversation could wait until morning.

End of Chapter 10.