Peatükk 2
The Captain of the Hunt walked up to a large hunting lodge surrounded by snow covered woodland. The snow was crisp and fresh, and fell off the trees at the slightest wind, and gave their heavy branches an eerie beauty in the light of the morning. The weak sun shone through the snowy canopy onto pendants of snow, hanging from the branches, making them sparkle like diamonds. It had snowed for most of the night, and they had been delayed, getting back to Tullinn, and had arrived at nearly midnight. The Captain had been forced to head straight back in the direction they had come from in order to get to the lodge, but he too had been delayed. He had felt it was important that he accompanied the queen back the whole way to her Lossi, even though it meant going well out of his way, as he would have to return immediately to the wood.
He wanted to enter silently, but the entire hunt was already in the common room. It was an impressively stereotypical room, with log walls, a blazing fire and two stags heads, one above the door, and one above the fireplace, just for effect. It was warm and cozy, and the Captain could see why they prefered it to the official winter quarters in Tullinn. He was greeted with respectful nods and murmurs of „Juht". He could tell immediately that there was an issue. „What's wrong?" he asked. „Mis Vaga? What is it?"
The crowd parted to reveal a young man, no more than 22 or 23 years old, looking thin, tired and bruised, but resonably healthy and strong. His face was too rugged to be properly handsome, but his chiselled features held a beautiful quality about them; large, doe-like eyes and perfect proportions. „He says he wants to join," said a lean man at the natural head of the group. He was young, with sharply defined features and dark hair. The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for a response. The Captain was slightly confused at their reaction to the newcomer. „Well, what is the problem with that? I assume you've done the routine medical. Feed him up and he'll be alright." The men glanced awkwardly around at each other and at the Captain. The lean man spoke out again. „Yes, we've done the medical. No problems there." The Captain saw that an explanation was coming, and stayed silent, waiting.
The lean man shifted his position and continued. „There is a mark on his right arm." Then, addressing the man, „Roll up your sleeve. Oma varrukas." The man obeyed. The Captain saw now; a brand, a square with one of its corners cut off, so the third and fourth side were halved in length. An ancient baltic symbol meaning the bearer of death, branded on those that were so shameful they should be shunned from society. An allajääja. The Captain had only seen men branded with this symbol twice before in his life. For a moment he wavered, tempted to go with the men's judgement and distrust him, then the man pulled his sleeve down again and the Captain saw only a tired, misunderstood boy.
„It's not a problem," he said. „Our uniforms have long sleeves. No-one has to know." Murmurs of dissent ran around the room, but nobody challenged this. „This man will be treated as equal." The Captain continued, beginning to feel irritation rising at his men; a rare occurence. „He will be treated as any other newcomer." The murmurs grew louder. The Captain heard allajääja repeatedly. He felt a shiver of anger. „I say he can stay. I say he will be equal. Does anybody want to arue with me?" The lean man clapped a hand on his shoulder in a friendly but persuasive manner. „Just think what you are doing. Think about him. You don't get..." his eyes moved towards the man's sleeve, „- That - for nothing." The Captain brushed off his hand. „Thank you, Liam. But I have thought, and I can see, and I hope you will be able to see too." The Captain looked at the slightly mollified crowd, but saw no-one he knew he could trust to treat the boy as an equal. Finally, he turned to his lieutenant. „Liam, I know you are busy, but could you see..." he realised he didn't know the man's name. „What is your name?" he asked, „oma nimi?". The man looked at him for a second before replying. „Keegi" he said. He paused again before continuing. „And I speak the new language." Several people looked in his direction, for how could an allajääja know the language that was not yet native to their country. How could he have learnt it? But if the Captain was surprised, he didn't show it. „Liam, see Keegi to a dorm" he said. „The rest of you might as well start the chores rota, since you're up. Go on now. Minema!"
The crowd dispersed, starting various activites and no longer questioned their leader's decision, but still discussed the new recruit until he came out to work with them, when they assessed him silently, through sideways glances and catching of eyes. And they couldn't find fault in his work, or his character, or his attitude. By the end of the day, many had nearly forgotten he was an allajääja, but others remained bitter and suspicious. When he rolled up his sleeves to wash up after the evening meal every huntsman felt his eyes being drawn towards the line on his arm, and even the people he had been talking to fell silent and made excuses.
When the huntsmen gathered round the log fire in the evening to sing, he had a beautiful voice, like a bird who had been caged and kept silent and was finally free to sing.
AN:
Tullinn – the capital city of Estonia
Lossi – Palace
Juht – Leader/Captain
Mis Vaga – What's wrong
Oma varrukas – Your sleeve
Allajääja – Underdog/outcast
Oma nimi – Your name
Keegi - Noone
Minema - Go