Part 20 (1/2)
”Heavier than a man!” someone called, taking one hand from the rope to wipe his forehead.
”Either pull or let one who will take your place!” Seyganko snapped.
The man looked ready to quarrel, then seemed to think better of it and returned to his work.
If what rose from the pit that yawned where the hearthstone had stood was a man, he was larger than any Seyganko had ever seen, save only Aondo.
A closer look told the warrior that the newcomer's skin was pale under its coating of filth, his hair straight, and his eyes an eerie blue.
There were tales of lands to the north that were inhabited by such blue-eyed giants, a race considered human for all that. Here, no doubt, was such a one.
”Now will you tell us your name?” Seyganko ordered.
”When I have drunk, and you have brought up my woman,” the giant replied.
”Your woman?” someone asked.
”You think I travel this forest with no comforts?” the man said, laughing. His teeth were very even and none of them filed into points.
”Also, if you want more of these-” he pointed at the fallen jewel ”-they are down there.”
Someone clutched at Seyganko's arm. It was Emwaya, staring at the jewel as if it were a cobra about to strike. Seyganko put a hand on her shoulder and turned her around so that the giant could not see her face. Then he waved to the men to lower the rope again and shouted to the nearest hut for women to bring water.
”What is it, woman?” he whispered when he was sure that none paid him and Emwaya any attention.
”Those are Fire Eyes of the Golden Serpents,” Emwaya said. Her breath seemed to come quickly, as if she had been running. ”The man says they have more of them.”
”So? They are fine to look at, not as fine as you when oiled and lying on a pallet, but-”
”The Golden Serpents bred in Xuchotl. The tales of the city say the folk adorned themselves with the Fire Eyes.”
”Then-”
”It could be that we have taken the destroyers of Xuchotl among us!”
”We have done no such thing,” Seyganko protested.
”You think we can put them back in the hole and cover them up easily if you are wrong?”
Seyganko studied the man's heavily muscled limbs, his iron weapons, and the easy, alert way he stood. ”No. If they are spirits, they would not go. If they are human, they might not go and it would be unlawful to force them.”
”Then what-”
”Have your father summon the spirits to the dance-drum. At once, before these folk have spent a night among us. The man knows the True Tongue.
He may know our ways as well.”
For the first time in Seyganko's memory, Emwaya obeyed one of his orders without hesitating, let alone disputing him. She ran off, for this was no message to be given to one who might take it to others than Dobanpu.
Then Seyganko stepped forward to greet the woman who rose from the pit.
She was even fairer than the man, with hair the color of fresh grain and a form that a G.o.ddess would not have disdained.