excerpt
…Yamka arrived, out of breath, Fire Maker told them, “When there is no place safe to
stop, it is always best to keep moving. Were I travelling alone, I would be much closer
to home by now. You may stop and rest a bit.”
“We’re fine. We only stopped for Finten and Ailan. They’re coming.” Ula didn’t
like anyone thinking she couldn’t keep up. Neither did she want Fire Maker to think
the chatter of the three friends slowed them down.
Father Finten and Brother Ailan were always last to arrive. This time Finten
thrashed his way out of the bush. Ailan was not with him.
Fire Maker and Keallach looked at Finten but said nothing.
Finten shrugged his shoulders. “He had to stop for a moment.”
When everyone was finally well rested, Ailan had still not arrived. Fire Maker,
ready to carry on, was annoyed. “One of the most important rules I gave you was
always to stay together, three to a group, especially when we are following a trade
route.” Then he spoke directly to Ari and Rordan, “One of you should have been with
Finten and Ailan.”
Rordan and Ari remembered Fire Maker’s rule that the group could not wait for
stragglers. They knew they were both responsible for Ailan, as neither had wanted to
be stuck with the slow walkers and both wanted to be with the two girls. They both
decided to turn back for Ailan. Ula volunteered to go back with them. When they
found Ailan, they would follow Fire Maker’s trail to where he intended to stop for
the night.
Fire Maker gave one final direction, “Do not call out. This is not a friendly place.
Be careful.”
There wasn’t much time so the three set off quickly. This time Yamka walked with
Finten and Keallach, and Fire Maker and Bjorn led the way.
Rordan, Ari and Ula hurried back down the trail in silence.
As they followed at a short distance behind Fire Maker, Father Finten and Brother
Keallach welcomed the opportunity to talk to Yamka without her father or Rordan
or Ula to answer for her.
“What do you three chatter and laugh so loudly about while you’re walking?”
Keallach said, grinning.
Yamka shrugged but walked quickly on in silence.
Finten hurried his step to keep up to her. “Since we are supposed to walk in threes,
I would like you to walk with Brother Ailan and me from now on and Ari should
walk with Brother Rordan and Ula.”
Still Yamka said nothing but walked on quickly ahead to catch up to her father.
The three searchers walked fast, retracing their steps through thickening brush.
Despite Fire Maker’s order not to do so, Rordan called out softly, “Ailan. Ailan, where
are you?” He stopped and whispered to Ari, “He must have stopped to squat away
from the trail, then lost his way.”
Ula hurried past the other two. “That stupid Finten could have waited for him.”
“Why the hell could they not both have kept up with the rest of us?” Ari was
suffering his own pangs of guilt for not having remained with Finten and Ailan.
“Rordan, you should have walked with them sometimes. Why should I have to listen
to his preaching day after day? Ailan didn’t seem to mind, why should you?”
