The Shamans at the End of Time, page 25
“Did you kill it alone?” Darn glared at Vlad.
“No.”
“Who helped you?”
“An occasional friend.”
“Was he Vlahin?”
“No.”
“You hunted with a Kalach in our lands.”
“I never said that he was a Kalach.”
“Then?” Darn gestured nervously, feeling that Vlad was mocking him.
“I was helped by a bear,” Vlad said and, with Darn’s exception, all the people in the council burst into laughter. “Look,” Vlad said, half annoyed, half amused. “It doesn’t matter how much I wanted to prove myself as a hunter, I did not kill that stag. I snatched it from a bear. I was lucky that the bear attacked the stag, as I did not see him, even when it was quite a large male. Shaman or not shaman, I am done with hunting. In two weeks, I was not able even to come close to an animal. Hunting is not for me. I am sure that you realized that long before me.”
“Why should I believe you?” Darn recovered.
“You may challenge me, if that’s what you want. I am ready.”
“There will be no fight,” Moira said. “Vlad is a man of honor, and ... I don’t want to lose our Chief Hunter.” Her last words hit Darn, and he swallowed hard, not knowing how to react. “As there is nothing to judge, the council is dismissed.”
One by one, most of the people walked away. The shamanes and Rune stayed, and Moira gestured at Vlad to stay too.
“It’s improbable, but Darn may ask for a Truth Communion, to see who killed the stag,” Edna said after a while.
“It should not be a problem, Nara is not here, and I already did it with all three of you,” Vlad shrugged, then he realized that he included Mina in the circle of trusted persons. He frowned slightly. Can I really trust her?
“I am so glad that you did not kill the stag,” Mina whispered, tears running down her face. She embraces him and, without realizing it, Vlad rounded his arms around her waist. Edna embraced them too, and they stayed like this, in complete silence. It felt strangely comforting to him.
That evening, for the first time, Mina joined Vlad inside his sleeping bag before he was already asleep. He pretended of not feeling her body, leaning against his back.
“Vlad,” she whispered while her left arm embraced him, “there is something important I want to tell you. I am with child. I carry your daughter.”
Involuntarily, Vlad turned, laying now on his back and, before he could react, Mina rolled over his chest, leaning her head on his shoulder.
“We’ve made love only once...”
“Yes, but my seed was already started. I am sorry for not telling you earlier.”
“You planned to have a child.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Women always want children from their mates,” she said jokingly, and her palm caressed Vlad’s face.
“Is there more that I should know?”
“Yes,” Mina sighed. “I will not lie to you. Nara helped my body to prepare the seed in time for our mating.”
“What interest has she in this?”
“You are a strong shaman.”
“So she wanted a daughter who...”
“I don’t care what she wanted. I care that we will have a child.”
“Well,” Vlad said, and involuntarily, his arm surrounded Mina, who nested in his arms, and fell easily asleep. Vlad could not.
His mind went into the past, recalling the most important things, starting with their High Communion and, this time, he felt Mina’s subtle interference, both in the Communion and when Nara tortured him. A thing that his unconscious mind was always aware. Mina helped me, but she also helped Nara subvert Selma. I am in such a strange position. I love one woman, and I am mated to another one. How strange it sounds mated. I would like to say married, but they don’t have such a word. Three weeks ago, I hated Mina. He listened to her even breath, then rubbed his forehead, and his move was gentle, as he did not want to wake her up. I no longer hate her. I ... like her. Is this because she helped me, or because of the mating? Edna has told him that the mating is more than simply making love for the first time, it makes unbreakable the bond between two people. But I was not bonded to Mina. Slowly, Vlad moved his left arm which was still surrounding Mina, and placed his palm on her shoulder. Pleasant warmth moved between them, but he felt more than that. This is not only physical pleasure. I can’t love two women. It’s more that I like Mina. I wish I could kill Nara, but she is the Grand Shamane. There is nothing ‘grand’ in her. Apart of her powers. The thought alone recalled all the pain she delivered to him. He shivered and, trying to run away from those bad memories, his mind focused on Mina. It helped him recover. I am mated to a woman who I hated, but I may like now, he recapitulated. She carries my child. I am responsible for the child. I am responsible for the mother. Moira was right, it depends on me, how these six months will pass.
“So, you are a responsible man now,” the Head said, suddenly, and Vlad swept the room, searching for him. He found nothing.
“Are you ashamed?”
“Why should I materialize all the time in your poor mind?”
“I can handle a boring excrescence of my own mind,” Vlad grinned. “Why did you play that game with the Cupid’s frescoes in Torrechiara castle?”
“I tried to warn you.”
“It was only a coincidence. You can’t have more premonition skills than I have. I have none and you have none.”
“Then?”
“That’s what I am asking. Why did you play that game?”
“Did you like the castle?”
Vlad raised one brow, and stayed silent for a while. “Maybe. Show your bastard face.” The Head popped in front of him, arms crossed over a missing chest. “I never saw that castle. Is there any way to see my world again, through the Mother’s Web?” The lines of the Web appeared in front, linking him to the Head. There were only three lines, each of a different color: red, blue and amber. Past, future and present, Vlad suddenly knew. My Shaman Heart is amber... This may not be the world and life I would have chosen, but it was not my call and, at some point, we all have to decide for ourselves what we do with what was given to us. It could have been worse. Catalin’s memory came to him like an afterthought.
“Old worlds die and new are born. The chain of life is never ending.” The Head flashed a gleaming smile, his teeth growing two inches long.
Their transformation reminded Vlad of some cartoons from his previous life, and he saw too late that the Head vanished. “Wait!” he shouted, and his angry voice woke Mina. “I am sorry.”
“Forget the bad dream,” she said gently, touching his forefront. “Sleep.”
It was not a dream, he thought, and fell asleep.
Chapter 24
Two months after Selma mated with Maduk and left the village, Edna was both bitter and longing for her daughter; she knew that nothing could be done - both Selma and Vlad were mated now. After some long negotiations, Darn brought her the news that she could visit the Kalach village - Maduk had invited her.
“Something is wrong,” Moira said the evening before Edna would leave.
“I have the same feeling, but also I have the feeling that Selma needs me there. I am her mother. At least I can negotiate her initiation as shamane. Maduk has promised to allow it.”
“Yes,” Moira said, reluctantly, “there is a link between your visit and Selma’s initiation, but I am not able to learn it.”
“Then I have to go. Even with Maduk’s protection, I suppose that they will inflict some humiliation on me. I am a woman, and in the Kalach world women have a small place. I will survive. You have to prepare Vlad for Selma’s initiation. He may try to avoid it.”
“Do you hope to come here with her?”
“It may happen. We must be prepared.” Edna remained silent and, feeling her inner struggle, no one tried to speak. Why have I the feeling that I will not return soon? There is no violence in my path, yet something is wrong. I am a shamane, and I should not fear my future. What’s a premonition without the courage to confront it?
On the southern shore of the Great River, Edna found Alma and Tohar waiting for her. She knew Alma from previous negotiations, but Tohar was new to her. The twenty-year-old Shaman of the Kalachs got his role only a few years ago. Edna knew his father, and while he was an enemy, he was a shaman too. Tohar is not a shaman, she thought. He has only one Amber Stone. That’s nothing. There is no man or woman without at least a stone. In their world, a real shamane or shaman had at least three Amber Stones. There was no way to initiate them without having at least three stones.
“Maduk and Selma are with some southern Kalach visitors,” Alma said. “They sent us to greet you. You will meet them in the village.”
Selma had no say in this. She would not have let a stranger to greet me. That’s the Kalach way. “You may go back, Darn,” Edna said. “You should return to take me back in five days.”
“Five days, Darn repeated and turned way. Edna’s eyes followed him climbing into the boat, then she turned too, to face her hosts.
“Follow us,” Tohar said.
“I know the road, Tohar, and I knew your father well.”
The Shaman ignored her, and walked toward the village. Edna followed him. There was not much distance from the shore of the Great River to the village, and Edna did not find many changed things from her last visit. Last time, my mate walked with me, she thought. I wish he would be here too.
Tohar walked directly into his hut, and Edna stopped, then turned toward the hut which she knew that belonged to Maduk.
“We go there, first,” Alma said, pointing at the Shaman’s hut. She took Edna by the arm, and thinking that Selma and Maduk were there too, Edna followed her.
“I will return soon,” Tohar said when both women entered in the main room of his hut.
Alma walked toward the only table in the room. “Have a seat,” she said, and sat on one bench. Edna seated herself on the other bench, across the table. “We need to talk before Selma and Maduk come here.” Edna stared at her, but said nothing. “I will be brief. Tohar wants you as his mate.”
“It won’t happen.”
“You don’t have much to say in this. Any Kalach can take you as his mate. It’s our law.”
“Are you still a Vlahin?”
“No. My mate was a Kalach Chieftain, and my son is a Kalach Chief.”
“That’s why did you agree with this?”
“I will agree with everything that helps my son consolidate his position.”
“I had Maduk’s word that I will be a guest here.”
“And you are. Nobody will harm or kill you. Mating is a different issue. It’s an honor.”
“I did not ask for this honor,” Edna said, acidly.
“And you will not be asked. Here, you must forget the Vlahins’ way. You must learn the Kalachs’ way.”
“I won’t be forced.”
“There was nothing you can do, apart to agree. It will make things easier for both you and Selma.”
“What has Selma to do with this?”
“She will not be initiated as shamane, if you don’t mate Tohar willingly. Selma and Maduk must know that you agreed.”
“You are working against your own son.”
“You are mistaken. Everything I do benefits my sons, even when they are not fully aware of what happens here.”
“Maduk and Nara agreed on Selma’s initiation.”
“Yes, but there was no agreement about when that would happen. To make things clear, the initiation will happen after you mate with Tohar and make him a child. There is no need to wait until the child is born, you will show me that you are pregnant. As I know, you will be aware in a few days after conception, but it may take a month until I will be able to see the child inside you. The faster you fulfill your part, the faster Selma’s will be initiated. Be aware that Maduk doesn’t know what happens during the second part of the initiation, when a man is involved. Let’s keep it like this; he will never agree, once he knows it. One word to him, and Selma will remain like me, a woman who could have been a shamane. She is a bit old, and has only one year left to be initiated. One year passes fast.”
Edna closed her eyes for a few moments. Both Moira and I were right, bad things happen and they are related to Selma’s initiation. At least Alma doesn’t know that Selma may die without having her initiation. “Why is Tohar eager to mate an older woman?” I must be strong.
“He wants his son to be a real shaman.”
“There is no guarantee that my child…”
“I know, but there will be a second one and a third one. Once you make a new family, you will find to be in your own interest to protect it. Because of your first child, you will even protect Tohar. You don’t believe me, but I know it better. I hated my mate, but once I gave birth to Ragun, I helped my mate to become a Kalach Chieftain. And, after a few years, I saw him like a real mate, not one who kidnapped and raped a fourteen years old me. You are an experienced woman, and you will adapt faster than a young scared girl.”
“And if I refuse?”
“You can’t refuse the mating, as no one will ask you. Of course, you can refuse to make children to Tohar, but you know the consequences for Selma, and you should also know that a Kalach is allowed to kill his mate and take a new one, if children will not come in three years.”
“You agreed that I will not be harmed or killed, if I come here. Maduk gave his word.”
“Nobody will remember this in three years from now.”
“Well, Maduk word has not much value, these days.”
“He is the mate of your daughter. As me, you have no interest to harm him and his family. There is not much time left. Tohar is coming,” Alma pointed at the door. “Selma and Maduk will come soon after. For the moment, they should not be aware of this small arrangement.”
“Well?” Tohar asked, seating on the only chair at the end of the table. His black eyes bored into Edna’s
Edna remained silent, waiting for Alma to speak, trying to gain more time. “I accept,” she finally said, when the silence became too long. At least until Selma will have her initiation, and then we will see.
“Good,” Tohar said. “I will make the announcement when Maduk and Selma arrive here. I suppose that Alma told you more about what means to mate a Kalach.”
“You want a shaman child from me,” Edna said. “You must learn what means for the child if you don’t learn some parts of the Vlahins’ way with a woman.”
“I am not a weak Vlahin,” Tohar growled. “I am a shaman of the Great Bull. It seems that you’ve learned nothing from Alma. I will be your teacher, and you will learn it fast what means to be a woman here. I am not a patient man.”
“Alma, I want to talk alone with … my future mate.” Edna stared at the other woman, who frowned, but left the room. “You must learn patience, and you are not a shaman,” Edna said to Tohar when they remained alone.
“I am the Shaman of this Kalach clan.” Tohar’s fist hit the table and stood up, looking ready to jump on Edna.
She ignored the physical threat, and smiled coldly. “You are the Shaman of the village, but you are not a shaman. You can deceive the Kalachs, but not me. That’s not my problem, but that may be a problem for our child. You father was a three Amber Stones shaman, and your brother too. You are nothing. That nothing may go into our children, if don’t play your part well. Alma is not aware of that either. Outside, you are the shaman, inside the family, I am the shamane. If not, you will never get a shaman son, doesn’t matter how much you menace me. It will not be possible. And I have ways to fight back, and make you the joke of the clan.”
“I can kill you.”
“You may, but there was an agreement that I will not be harmed here. Maduk gave his word. And, let me show you something. Your father was a three stones shaman. I have five and a half Amber Stones.” She stood up, walked behind Tohar, and settled her palm against the back of his neck. “Are you afraid?” she asked when the man started. Without waiting for an answer, she entered the first River of Thought. I never did this with someone who is not a shamane without using at least one of the three sacred mushrooms. With a Kalach it will be even harder. If I fail… I can’t fail; Selma’s life depends on it. She connected to his mind, and pressed herself inside it as fast as she could. The faster the connection was done, the easier to enter in the other’s mind was. The white net of the Mother’s Web appeared in front of her, and she pushed them around the red flame which was Tohar’s presence into the Web. Slowly, the net surrounded him, and she tightened it until the flame was fully contained. It’s link with the Web was now done through Edna’s mind. “Listen to me, Tohar. Like this, I can make people believe that you are a shaman or I can expose you as a lie,” she spoke inside his mind. “Are you listening, Tohar?” she asked, worried that no answer came from him.
“Yes,” Tohar finally spoke.
It worked. She forced herself to stay calm, and broke the link with the first River and his mind. “This is a small part of what a shamane can do. In time, you will learn more. You are not able to lead a Bull Dance.” That was the Kalach equivalent of the River Dance. “People feel it, as they know what happened when your father led the dance. I can lead the dance from behind you, and now one will know it.” She looked at Tohar, who was too baffled to talk. Even his father, who was considered a strong shaman, could not speak inside his mind.
What else can this shrew do? But if she can help me with the Bull Dance... “You are the shamane in our house,” he tentatively said. “I am the Shaman, and you will behave like a Kalach woman when someone else is present.”
At least he is not stupid. “Why should I make my mate look weak in front of the Kalachs?”
She is not stupid, and if everything stays hidden… “How fast will you be able to make your seed? I need our child as soon as possible.”
He knows about that we are fertile only when we want it. One day, Alma will pay for this. “In one month.” He can’t know that I can do it in two weeks, and I need to know more about how well Selma and Maduk are going together. Once I become pregnant, I will lose some leverage. That moment, for the first time, she became conscious of her fate, and that she will have a child with a Kalach man she hated. She felt nauseous and lost, but she steeled herself. I have to do it for my daughter.
