CHAPTER 12 The Week of the Marluk'nak'

Obi's tent woke to the sounds of the encampment behind them already being taken down. They rose and prepared quickly, then left the tent. This would be something they might not ever get to see again. They watched, seeing the women-folk and children for the first time out in the open. The women wore heavy clothing of multiple layers and hats with veils covering their heads, though their faces were uncovered save for the older grandmothers who had veils covering the lower part of their faces. The young girls had hats with veils as well. The young boys wore the same hats the men did and there was much calling back and forth and running to and fro. Obi grinned to see it and so did Justinian and Thayne. Petroi's small smile that equated to a contented larger one on most people was also present. He'd seen this before on his year long sojourn with Ilena and Leah, but not to go to the Marluk'nak'.

After they watched for a bit, Obi looked at the others. "Shall we go and offer to be extra hands?" They all agreed and headed towards the center, looking for at least one of the Seconds. They were put to work immediately and spent the next two hours working up a sweat with the others that felt good. It was an amazing thing to see all those tents bundled up on the backs of the horses, tied down with horsetail ropes. Obi shook his head in amazement. So many horses were pack horses it didn't look like there were going to be enough horses for the people to ride, but somehow there were enough. The smallest children rode with their mothers, but even the four and five-year-olds rode their younger horses they'd adopted.

For the first time, they also got to see one more thing: the clansmen grouped in their families - husbands with wives and children. In this clan, it was the majority that had one wife. A few of the clan heads and Seconds had two. For the men of Clarines, this also met with their approval. As they stood near their tent, the Clan Head and a few of his councilors rode up to them. "Have you recovered, then, Candidate?" he asked. Obi raised an eyebrow in question. "You're grief for your wife was evident to the entire clan, I'm sorry," he answered it.

"Ah, they spoke with me and strengthened me. I will last until they come now," Obi said. "Thank you for your concern." It looked like he'd confused the Clan Head a little. Obi tipped his head. "She is patient and that patience will help me. Master and Mistress also spoke with me."

"Ah, I thought you meant you had multiple wives and I was confused," the Clan Head said.

Obi shook his head, both hands waving in panic. "No, no. I cannot handle the one most days. And she would eat any others who looked at me that way. If I brought another home she would eat us both, then spit the bones out and crush them, and it would not be enough to calm her anger."

The Clan Head laughed. "Then I see why you refused any women last night."

Obi nodded violently and the others also nodded. "We also would receive the same treatment." Thayne said. "She has forbidden it of all of us. She has in mind her own Daughters for us, though we aren't ready yet. We are still hers."

"She has multiple husbands?" the Clan Head looked at them in some amusement.

"Ah…," Thayne turned slowly to look at Obi.

Obi looked at him, his lips pursed. Carefully he said, "It could be seen that way, however it would be incorrect. They are her Seconds." In Clarinees he said to the others, "It is getting so bad, having to leave her in the care of others, that it almost seems that way." He put his hand to his head and shook it, then sighed. "Though of course then that would make Justinian and Rio my wives. So we will not go there." Justinian blushed bright red and shook his head violently.

The Clan Head and his men looked at them with humored looks. "Well, we shall look for you at the Marluk'nak'. Most of the clans will arrive by tonight or tomorrow afternoon at the latest. The women are looking forward to the market, and many of the men have received hope at your words of yesterday. We will leave you with singing, and hope our joy will lift your own spirits."

Obi bowed. "My wife mentioned that was the proper way in Tarc to express joy, with the dance of the horse and song. It is a gift we will welcome and treasure. Thank you. We will see you at the Marluk'nak' and in the market, I am sure."

The Fox Clan Head turned away, his men following after with salutes to them, riding to the head of the clan. The Clan Head rose up in his stirrups and waved to the clan, then sat and his horse moved forward, paused, then stepped back, left, right and forward four steps. The others in the clan began to follow him and the pattern flowed forward. A baritone voice began the song and soon all of the male voices were raised in song. Then the children and women joined in with a counterpart, all of it working in harmony. Obi, Petroi, Thayne, and Justinian watched, and when the dancing horses were far enough away all of the surrounding Children also sat up and watched in amazement until they'd moved out of sight, then out of hearing.

"Astounding," Obi said. "Indeed, something to see once in a lifetime." He turned to the closest Child. "How far away are the others?"

"Mmm...about two hours now," he answered.

"Let's ask for the daily reports now," Obi said to his two assistants in the Department of Intelligence, who were the same two he relied on for everything else as well. "Once they've all gathered, we'll begin with the instructions and planning."

-o-o-o-

By the next day, the Children sent to keep an eye on the Marluk'nak' announced that it looked like all the clans had arrived. The Children sweeping the plains were only finding a few stragglers here and there, still coming in, and those they left alone. The special group headed to the passes in the west was closing in and just waiting for the order to subdue the small group of bondsmen left to keep an eye on the passes. They would attack on the same day Obi arrived at the Marluk'nak', though they were already preventing any who might come through the pass from crossing the plain, so that there would be none behind the group slowly descending on the Marluk'nak' itself.

The net was already in place from the east, up around the north, and down the west. Only the south was still open, but that was because Zen's group had only just begun to move. By the time Obi arrived at the Marluk'nak', a day behind the Fox clan, the larger part of the net had closed in on the market - enough none would escape, but not tight enough to be fully up to the temporary city.

And it was a city. Obi saw it from quite a distance off. In the center was a rounded roof, just taller than the tents, with a pennant on the top of it with the flag of Tarc flying. The tents set up around it stretched for some ways, each with their clan pennants flying. The herd feeding grounds were full of horses, set out from the city, but not too far that bondsmen couldn't come out to protect them. At the Marluk'nak' a truce was held between clans, but it was a time for the men who wanted to be Candidate Clan Heads to perform the T'lalac theft. Because this was a possibility early in the Marluk'nak' it was why Zen was coming to be there the last day, and the net had not been overly tightened. However, Obi had suggested that it might not be a problem this year. With the possibility of him being the Marluk' and their saying the Chaos and Change would be at this Marluk'nak', it would be a surprise if anyone would dare leave this year. There would be too much worry and interest in staying to see what happened. One more year of waiting...or waiting until the last day to perform the T'lalac if nothing did happen, might be more prudent.

Obi's little group arrived at the South end of the city and began to set up their tent as always, ignoring whomever was behind their tent, and keeping their horses near to hand as usual as well. They didn't have a separate herdsman to watch over them in the main herd area. Since the Fox clan was also at that area, and had been watching for them, the quiet cry went up they'd arrived before they even chose their area. Because they ignored everyone, they were respectfully left alone until their tent was set up, door open to the open field as always.

Once they were set up, they received multiple delegations, starting with the Fox clan head with each of the sub-clan heads with him. Obi was respectful but not overly friendly this time, careful to maintain his neutrality. He was just a little surprised when they respected it, and weren't offended. Neither the Lord of Tarc's clan, nor of the Snake Clan, nor the other who'd chased them off sent delegations, but of the other two allies of the Lord of Tarc he did receive cautiously courteous delegations, though not the clan heads.

When he asked the clan head of the Fox Clan why they'd come personally and weren't already in the council, he was told with a bit of a wink that everyone had decided to wait for him to show up first, except the three clans that already rejected him. Since that was a majority, those three were just sitting stewing. Obi smiled a tight, grim smile. He wasn't in a hurry to show up, and he casually let the others know it might be the next day before he made it. Most were in agreement with him, though they did go after the two other allies of the Lord of Tarc made their appearance. Once they were present in the council that would be a majority.

When the clan heads had all gone to the Marluk'nak' for the council, Obi and his men, including Justinian began to walk the tent city, to learn the layout and boundaries of each clan and the market. As they went, they talked to or whispered to members of each clan, learning with relief that enough of the restrictions were off that they could talk without fear of reprisal or incrimination. They were able to learn which clans had decided to be friendly or at least open to communicating with them, even if the clan heads weren't in agreement. Once they walked the whole circumference of the city, they left Justinian at their tent and walked through the city to the market.

At the market, they carefully learned how the purchasing worked, what goods were available and how the one solid building in all of Tarc was set in the center of it all. When they were satisfied with their explorations and internal map building, they returned to their tent for dinner and an early bed time, though Obi sat and spoke long with Ilena and Zen, giving them the intelligence they needed.

The next morning they arrived in the market and watched until nearly all the clan heads, with their councils, had entered the building. They went in just before the Fox Clan head so that he could teach them what was needful for them to know about being in the building and sitting on the council.

When they entered, the room was familiar to them. It was the arenas of Lyrias that Ilena had built. Six rows of steps separating seating benches leading down to a central circular area, a wide pathway at the top to go around to whichever set of steps you needed to get to. The only difference was the center did not have a raised platform. Each clan was seated in the section where their tents were pitched. As the door was to the west of the dome, Obi's group would be seated to the right of it one quarter turn. Obi gave Petroi a questioning look, but he only shrugged. As far as any of them know, Ilena hadn't ever been in the Marluk'nak' structure before.

"The Marluk'nak' is made up of two councils," the Clan Head was saying, even though they already knew it from their lessons from the P'rathna, "The lower council and the upper council. Those who have earned their Manak' and above may sit in the lower council, advise, and vote on the judgements. Those who are clan heads do the same and may vote also on the Law and changes to it. Those who have earned their P'rathna and are of wisdom and age sit in the rows surrounding the judgement stand," he pointed to the circle at the bottom of the stairs, "to ask the questions of testing and answer the finer points of the law and special cases to it."

"Marluk'nak' specifically means council of clans, but also refers to the spirit of right thinking and properly balanced judgement - the Marluk'," he gave Obi a significant look that Obi returned neutrally, "It thus also means 'seat of righteous judgement'." Pointing to the central area again, he explained, "It is set below so as to make those who are being judged or their words weighed feel the weight of their responsibility to the Law and the clans. Those who are innocent, or who are ready for their testing and judgement, will bear up with strength beneath that weight. Those who are guilty, or not ready, will bend under that weight."

Obi looked around. "Is that why the Saddle Clan Head sits in a special chair just for him at the top? So the weight of the room does not crush him?"

The room had been quiet and now it was tensely silent and every head was looking at them. Obi crossed his arms and stared at the Lord of Tarc calmly. "Oh, I see. This room also carries all sounds, does it?" The Lord of Tarc's face turned purple. Obi smirked and turned back to his guide. He already knew he was safe in this room until his test at the end of the week's time, the same as he was in the city as a whole, assuming one didn't come to assassinate him secretly. "Thank you for your teaching." He turned and walked with his two until he reached the seat he wanted, half-way down and directly on the south. He would have to look up at the Lord of Tarc, sitting directly across from him in an ornate chair on the second row down from the top as if on a throne, but he didn't care. He was there as balance and the center was just that.

One of the elder P'rathna below stood and and turned to look at Obi. "Candidate Clan Head, do you declare your Candidacy."

Obi sat up and looked at him respectfully. "I have already declared it to the clans, and we have declared the same for the clan head of the Seconds, however we will reserve the testing for the last day of the Marluk'nak' so we may continue to judge and be judged as the council of clans meets and debates until then." The P'rathna nodded and sat down. It was the beginning of a long and boring day that turned into a long and boring set of days.

There were judgements, a few, and the Lord of Tarc chose to bring in a few new laws that Obi listened to the arguments for and against. Once it looked like the arguments were devolving, he stepped in and gave his voice, and sometimes Petroi and Thayne did as well. Usually the vote was tabled at that point. It felt rather like the laws were only being presented so their voices could be heard, and not for real implementation.

One thing they learned was that it was okay to walk out whenever they felt like it. They weren't given the right to vote at this time anyway. They were only there for judgement. Once Obi understood this, he began to use it to keep his temper in check, and to keep from snoring, since that would be heard by everyone even if soft. And he did have to escape a few times because of his temper as the Lord of Tarc and his allies began to push him as the week went by. He pushed back, asking for explanations as to why rudeness was acceptable in the council chamber, particularly when it had no bearing on the case at hand. Since that made the allies mad, he would watch carefully both himself and them, and used 'wisdom' to remove himself from the chamber before either they or he blew up, though he would leave one of Petroi or Thayne behind for a time to let the allies know they did not have the freedom to use that to get real wrongful thinking work done behind his back.

He spoke to Ilena each evening with his reports, letting the wind and empty plain cleanse him from the stink of the council chamber while Justinian brushed his hair out and helped him relax. They'd gone to the evening braiding instead of morning braiding when they decided they might need to run in the mornings. Justinian would also report to the group as a whole what he'd learned throughout the day, and a few times he'd had to escape to the Fox Clan, hiding in the tents there until the people coming for him left, or Obi and the others returned. After two days of this, the other clans around them began to watch for men coming before they ever reached the southernmost tent. Justinian was popular among many of the slaves and they had fun being distractions, impediments, and warning voices, until he was finally left alone.

They did take Justinian into the market, but he never went alone or with another clan. He didn't mind it so much. They didn't have a way to purchase anything anyway. They were getting their food from the chain of Children that now reached from the advancing army of Wilant all the way up and around the city to all of the Children standing watch, and the Fox Clan was allowing Justinian to use of their wells for water, as each original clan had a well set around the city in their places. He only went into the tents of the clans that were close by and calm towards them as a whole, but on occasion he rode around the city to the north and met with the Usuri of the Naluk', as he was now being called formally, and taught and comforted him and the other people of the clan who could sneak out and hear him. Because that was dangerous, the Children of Chaos and Change guarded him on those trips.

He was surprised when, on the fourth day, other clans stopped him along the way and begged to hear his words as well. He only spoke briefly to them that time, but when he asked for permission, the Wilant council deliberated until they determined what he might say to any of the clanspeople. Then he was making regular rounds all the way around the city, staying less than an hour in most places. They made sure he made it clear that while he was speaking the words of the Naluk', he himself was not the Naluk'. Since none of them had admitted nor denied they were any of them, this held significance that he firmly stated he was not. Apparently word got around from the Fox Clan that he was a 'Son' of the Naluk', and they found a suitable nickname for him, the same as the nightwalkers had. He sighed and bore with it. He was fond of his name after all. It would have been alright to just use it.

-o-o-o-

On the fifth day, Obi, Petroi, and Thayne arrived in the Marluk'nak' and this time they didn't sit quietly. This time, they presented a request for several new laws and judgements, under the umbrella defense that they were now testing the clan council themselves.

"Unto the council of clans, I would ask a question considering a change to the Law of Subjugation," Thayne stood and said. The clans listened. "It can be seen by the decreased number of clan heads who can vote in this council that the voices of wisdom are not supported in the count of the vote. This has already led to great difficulty in anything of value being accomplished by this council, which was created in wisdom when the clan heads were many. Because the Law of Subjugation requires that all of a clan must become a slave without voice or vote, it has caused this imbalance which has brought slowly over time this council to be ineffective and the voices of wisdom to be silenced in effect, if not in actuality."

"I would hear the debate on changing the Law so that it allows for the clans to remain free so that the balance may be maintained in the clan council chamber. It could be that a number of clans be set as the permanent number of clans that must exist as a minimum to allow for new growth, or that a payment is made, similar to the bet, from the loser of a clan battle to the winner, the boundaries of which are set in wisdom in the law." He sat down.

"The question has been asked by an ally of a clan that would benefit from the change unreasonably," a clan head from the allies of the Lord of Tarc.

"Have I not questioned all the clans as we visited them about this issue in their own tents, and that clan last of all? How is this that I could have been in league from the beginning then?" Thayne asked calmly.

"There is no alliance," Obi added. "There is no recognized clan head to perform the pact."

"You tent with them!" he argued back.

"Is my tent facing their center? Have I become another clan head's Second? I have tented at the southern edge of every encampment equally, facing the South and my clan head's tents. I do not tent with any other." Obi responded.

"It has been a burden to all the clans for many years," another clan argued. "Many have suffered for this, both in the large number of deaths of bondsmen, and in the sorrows of our wives and children."

"What man can bear the weight of so many mouths to feed and persons to care for?" another clan argued and many eyes looked at the Lord of Tarc accusingly.

"One who is more than a man," he answered smoothly.

"No. One man can do it, who is merely a man," argued Obi and the room was stunned. " ...If he has the strength and support of many to help him do it. But he must have others who can carry the weight with him, and who choose to do so. This is how a clan head stands at the head of his clan. That is not the argument presented. If the council of clans is formed to discuss law and judgement and form them in wisdom and right thinking, how can that be done when the voices that act are too few for rational action to take place? This is the question. Correcting it for the purpose of relieving the suffering and sorrows of the clanspeople is a valid argument, for does not the All wish us to rejoice in the life we have been given? The clans today do not rejoice. I did not hear a voice lifted nor saw a hoof dance in joy until the day a clan turned towards this Marluk'nak'. I had thought all joy had fled from the plains entirely. This unbalanced law has caused this. What can be done to correctly balance it?"

The arguments against changing the law flew from the Lord of Tarc's allies, supported by the Lord of Tarc and were shot down continuously from the other side. Obi noted quietly to his two that the Lord of Tarc's men were very silent on the issue, not advising him at all, nor agreeing with the arguments against it. He finally nodded to Thayne who stood, interrupting the exchange. "We have heard sufficient arguments for and against it. I would now hear what the clans would propose as an alternative if the change were agreed to. I have already presented two options, but one man's mind is limited. This body was created so that many minds might present many options until the best one is ferreted out." When the room was quiet as the men thought, he sat and waited.

"The bet is already understood," an usuri cautiously said. "The payment, if set in the law, would be from a natural understanding. However, it must be set so that a small clan does not still lose everything it has, or the change has no value."

"It must also be set so that a large clan feels pain in clashing with many smaller clans."

"Could it be set based on clan size, say a percentage of holdings? Ten percent of a small clan and ten percent of a large clan will be felt equally, even though the resulting pile will be of differing sizes." Thayne suggested.

"Would not this make the smaller clans wish to fight more frequently with the larger clans, in order to grow more wealthy?"

"Mmm...good point," Thayne said. "This is why I asked for the wisdom of the council of clans. There are things I cannot see. But eventually they would also be wealthy enough that they would stop, for to lose would then be more expensive. Or am I thinking wrongly again?"

"It would not be more expensive, or the percentage would hold no meaning for equal value. It would however, I think, reach a point where the ten percent gained would have no real value because it is such a small percentage compared to what they already have."

"Maybe, maybe not. Rather than having it be a payment value like the bet, which only encourages clans to fight for value, I think setting a lower limit of how many clans are necessary for right thinking to prevail is a better suggestion," another commented. "Certainly nine is far too few for the numbers of clansmen that live on the plains. When there were twenty, it was a reasonable number, though the lower limit may be less than that. I also think that too many and it becomes just as impossible for the council of clans to be effective. If all of them must be convinced surely there is that limit as well." Many rubbed their chins at this.

"How many clans of horses can the plains support?" Obi asked. "When the numbers are reasonable within each of the clans, that is," he modified.

The clansmen looked at each other. Finally one answered, "Thirty at most, though often there are disputes and it is dropped within a few years to between twenty and twenty-three."

Obi and Thayne both nodded. "Then that is the upper bound, is it not?" Thayne said. "Say, twenty-five so that young clans may begin to grow as old clans disappear?"

One man frowned. "If we limit the clans to a number, then what cause is there to fight? What shall we do when the numbers of clansmen and bondsmen becomes too high? We also fight to keep the numbers of people reduced sufficient for the land. Our wives will continue to bear children until there is no room, even if there are only a limited number of clans."

"Do not many children die young? It is not so many that the growth will be so quick. And territory disputes come up often enough, particularly as wells dry up and new ones must be found."

"Um," Thayne raised a hand, "just a side question from a youth, but...why do you all assume that all of the children will always stay only in Tarc? The world is much more vast than this one plain. Are there none who ask 'what is beyond the mountain' and then go seek the answer?"

There was a pause, then a councilor seated below said, "There are some who do, but the numbers of them are few."

"Isn't it because it is not encouraged?" Thayne asked. "If the numbers of children became too high in a generation, might they not be encouraged to look for opportunities with other nations who might have a willingness to help them learn to live in them? Even if they were traders who took the products of the Marluk'nak' markets into those countries and returned each year with products your wives have not seen until this time, they would not need the land of the clans, and would return home yearly."

A number of the men shook their head, but some nodded thoughtfully.

Obi said, cautioningly, "In the past, Tarc has used war with other nations to meet this requirement, until in the last set, they depleted their warriors and clans to the point they had to rest within the confines of the plains for nearly seven generations to rebuild. This must not occur again. If death is the only way you can see to keep the numbers manageable it is a sad thing, but keeping it within the clans is preferable to taking it outside the mountains and the plain. My brother Second has suggested an alternative that does not include war and death." He kept an eye on the restless allies on the other side of the hall. They had not joined in yet. This would be the time they might.

"But war outside means gaining things of value, including better feeding grounds," one stepped up to his expectations.

"Trade brings value as well," Thayne argued. "While the clans might have an agreement on the plain, those who claim and own the lands outside of Tarc will argue with you strenuously that their ground is not better for you for it is already theirs. And battle with one small group in that land may bring to you more than you are ready to understand or face. ...In numbers and in size of land, the clansmen and the plain seem large and vast, but I have travelled over greater. It is not a thing to be considered lightly or with vain pride until it is understood."

"I will witness to that," a voice said further along in the hall. "I have just returned this Marluk'nak' from visiting the land to the south to see it for myself. I saw but a portion and that much was more than twice the size of Tarc with four or more times the number of persons, and it is a land we do not understand. Our horses might be able to graze on only a small portion of it, though the grass is lush, for most of it is trees, and bare rock. To think we can take it and use it is folly and true lack of wisdom and understanding."

The Lord of Tarc became angry. "It is ripe for the taking and should be ours. Even if only a portion is grass, it is sufficient for a number of clans and our growth could be assured for several more generations."

"It is not ripe for the taking," the P'rathna argued back. "They are men the same as we are and will defend it the same as we defend our own. They are strong of arm and long of reach and their horses are larger than ours, and more numerous to match their own numbers. Like us, they have their weak, but also like us, they have their strong defenders who stand ready. It is to walk in darkness to not understand your enemy before you face him. And it is not wisdom to make an enemy of one who is willing to live at peace when that one is stronger than you."

There was great muttering about the council chamber and Obi, Thayne and Petroi looked at each other. Petroi stood and walked to the closest clan member of another clan. "What has this wrought? Why is it that his words make the Saddle Clan Head angry?" he asked quietly.

"The Saddle Clan Head has said that we will go south when the Naluk' comes, to claim the lands to the south as our own to expand our feeding grounds. He has sent men who return with stories of the grasslands and the trees that we could use to build the tents. They say the men are weak and the women beautiful. This man has gone independently to see for himself. Many have wondered what would be said if not from a man of his clan or allies."

Petroi thanked him and returned with the word to Obi and Thayne. They sat silent. They had said it first, and would wait and see, but the commentary had stopped and only muttering could be heard. Obi sighed. "Let me mention the wars of six generations ago again. They were against that country in the south. They lasted for seven years, and in seven years the land was not taken, but seven generations were needed to rebuild. Can it be so easy to go into it again when they also have had seven generations to rebuild and to remember the pains brought against them by the Tarc clansmen of old? Rather, they might have forgotten just sufficiently enough, as you have, to be willing now to trade and to continue a peaceful relationship. It would be better to ask that question first, when you are looking for only a few of a generation to find homes when the clans become stretched beyond reason."

The Lord of Tarc growled and argued again, and Obi became impatient. "You have already gained Selicia to the west, yet you have not sent any children over, nor any horses, nor clans. Why should any of the clansmen today believe you will open up Wilant to the south to them? Are you not holding them for yourself only so you may say you are a Lord rather than a head? To what purpose? If you had wished to be a Lord of Selicia or Wilant, why did you not go of yourself and become one, instead of making many clansmen die for you for no purpose other than to title yourself High Lord of Tarc, which title does not exist in the Law?"

There was stunned silence, then many angry mutterings and growls could be heard the hall over, including - no more particularly - in his own allies. "Leave off your speaking of taking armies into the south, Saddle Clan Head," Obi said firmly. "The people of Tarc do not need your deviousness to devour them." Many voices of assent were heard, and the Lord of Tarc paled and held his tongue. Obi sighed again and looked at Thayne apologetically. He was going to have to bring the topic back again.

Petroi shook his head. Loud enough to be heard over the tumult, he said, "I call for a recess. Please consider the question my brother Second has brought forward. I have another one I would like to ask afterwards." The three of them stood and walked out of the Marluk'nak'. They were followed out and stopped by a number of clansmen.

"Yes?" Obi asked.

"Will you tell us how you know what happened six generations ago?"

"Are there any written records in Tarc?" Obi asked.

"The Law is written," one said.

"The history is written where I have come from and I have heard and read it. But more than that my own grandfathers in their generations fought against the Tarc at that time. It is still remembered and the men of that land still face north with hard eyes, set faces, and suspicion in their hearts. I am here to see that it does not happen again, lest all of Tarc is laid waste and barren save for horses who run to save themselves." He might have just set his death sentence, but he couldn't stop himself from saying it. They were certainly silent enough.

"Will you tell us how it is that the High Lord has already gained lands and not informed us?"

Petroi answered, "I was there at the time he was making the people of the land fight themselves because he could not convince enough clansmen to fight for him. He still is the force behind those who became the new clan heads and they follow his orders as if they are slaves of Tarc. If he has not explained his actions already to the clansmen, it is sad, but what it is to me? It is done and I no longer have a home to return to." Again, the people around them were silent, then slowly walked away in groups to their tents.

When there were none left to question or accuse them, they also returned to their tent for a time, and tell their own 'clan' what had happened. The clansmen desiring the Lord of Tarc to no longer say in their ears the words to go south to battle was good news, but the fact they had admitted their heritage was worrisome. They didn't know what effect that would have on their plans. They ate their lunch and rested, each one pulling out their statuettes of the lioness. Obi had given Thayne, Petroi, and Ilena each one before they left Wilant so they could remember one another and feel close to her when they needed comfort, and she them, and today was one of those days for all of them. When they were finally ready, and the blue sky and gold-green grass had calmed them, they rose and went back to the Marluk'nak'.

Those who'd left the Marluk'nak' with them, saw them coming back and also returned. The council chamber was quieter again, though they were not feeling so welcomed this afternoon. With quick glances, they left Thayne's question alone, and Petroi stayed standing until all who were returning were seated. "It is understandable that the horses of Tarc are necessary to the lives of the clans, but I fail to understand why men must behave as horses. Men have speech, writing, reasoning, that the horses do not have, though they are intelligent. If the horse did not need man, then they would not stay. Man does not have to have the horse to survive, though life is made easier for it. The bird is not the worm is not the grass is not the horse is not the man, though each makes up the All. He has given to some greater intelligence and to some lesser, and the greatest is the intelligence of man, when used rightly for wisdom and right thinking. This is why these are so important to the Lore. A horse does not question his right thinking, only man does, because man has that greater capacity to reason."

"Will you tell me why women are considered less than man and less than horse, when they will argue and reason with more strength and volume and wisdom than even man? Does not the lore teach that wisdom and warning come from a female? Is not the balance maintained by the man and the woman - the Maluk' and the Naluk' - together?" There were mutterings already and Petroi held up his hand. "I have heard the Saddle Clan Head argues for the one he calls the Naluk' to be accepted as if she is a man. I am not talking about that at this time." They settled slightly.

"I am asking about the Law of Wives. No man is a stallion to rut at mating season every mare in the herd. No woman is a brood mare to only be in heat at that time. No greater damage is done to a people than to damage the sensitivities of the woman who can be the man's greatest strength. There are those of you here who understand this wisdom. The Law of Wives is counter to this understanding. What man needs more than one wife to support him and provide for him heirs? And if she has trouble with it, how can more than two be needed, if the first is acceptable to it? If the clans have too many children, is it because one man has too many wives? If there are men who are unmanageable except by battle and war, is it not because they are created to be with a woman, but are denied it? Man is not a horse, nor the woman. Rescind the Law of Wives. I would hear your words." Petroi looked at the stunned men in the room and sat down.

"How is it that you will bring an even worse question to us this afternoon?" one complained.

"I support it. I witness to the words he has said."

"I also," was repeated throughout the room in many ripples.

The Lord of Tarc and his allied clan heads wore expressions of great distaste and anger, but the Lord of Tarc held his tongue for the time being. "Women are ours to use and give as we please," one said.

"When a man has earned a woman we do give him one, and there is the right to steal one as well."

Angry growls met that one, and Petroi nodded. "Yes, the law of T'lalac is also a law that needs rescinding, most particularly when it comes to women because of the damage the theft does to both the woman and the man or her family, but that is a separate law that breeds distrust which creates the hatred between clans that leads to the clan wars and the unnecessary sorrow we already discussed. Come to it another time. Return to the Law of Wives, please."

The room was stunned, then a tumult arose again, until one stood and said very loudly, "Will you question every Law and act as the All to judge it and bring the change?" The room fell still.

"No," Petroi said calmly. "I am not the All to judge and bring change. I only serve them as all of us do. I have brought a question to test you, to see if there is sufficient wisdom among the clans. It was not answered satisfactorily to me when I brought it to the clans individually. I wish to hear what the council of clans together can say to it."

"It is right to show that as a man you are capable of taking care of a woman and her children," one older man said. "To think to take one before you understand that is not wisdom." Petroi nodded and many of the other men who had married also nodded, including Obi.

"To have too many wives is to have a tent you do not wish to live in," another man said wryly and several nodded to that also.

"Then let them argue. As long as they please you, what does it matter?" one of the allied clan heads said.

Many heads with closed faces turned to him. "Then you have lost, or never had, the sensitivities of a man's heart, and no longer understand what it is to be human," one of the sub-clan heads of the conglomerate clan said flatly. "You have chosen to be lesser and become a horse or a shrew, and are therefore not fit to be a clan head."

The clan heads on that side became angry or paled again, save for one. "It is true, that to ignore the sensitivities of a woman and your own heart is to become less of a man. A true man understands that there is much to be gained from wooing a woman. However that does not mean that he must give up multiple wives if he understands how to woo each one individually," he said.

"And do you have their loyalty, all of them?" Petroi asked him. "Or do they find jealousy to be overwhelming when you are not present?"

The man frowned, considering the answer. "It takes time for new wives to become accustomed to it, and they will have an order, from the one who will give orders down to the one who must accept the orders of all the others."

"And do you remember that last one also has need of your approval and attention?" Petroi asked. "Or do you only see her when the one on the top deigns to reward her with your presence?"

The man looked peevish. "I do not like to interfere. It is too tedious. However, when it gets too far, I will intercede."

"How do you know when it has reached that point?"

The man was silent. Finally he said, "When I remember I have forgotten her and her face is covered in tears when I happen to walk by."

"Then you have too many," Petroi said. "A woman forgotten is a woman with a dead heart. A woman with a dead heart is not human any longer and is your worst enemy." He looked directly at the Lord of Tarc as he said it, and the man paled slightly.

"If I have earned them," another voice said, "then they are mine to do with as I please."

"I am arguing that you should only be allowed to earn one," Petroi said.

"If you do as you please with her, without her consent, she will be your death, eventually," another man said mildly.

"To have so many that they are like the pillows in your bed, is to miss out on the depths that a single woman can teach you, or two. The loyalty of one woman is worth far more than the casual relationship of many. If you have not taken the opportunity to understand this, you have not understood wisdom, nor have you chosen the full strength of a man, but have given up on yourself early."

"I can witness to that," Obi said firmly.

"It takes a strong man to please many women," another man claimed.

"In body maybe, but that is not the strength of mind and heart that you could have had." The first one answered. Obi nodded in agreement.

"This is pointless," the Lord of Tarc finally said in a bored tone of voice. "We will not rescind it, so it is not worth arguing. You are merely here to see to the incitement of dissent and discord, and that is not wisdom, nor right thinking."

"It is pointless to see if the clans are thinking rightly? It is pointless for a Candidate Clan Head to show wisdom before the testing and be taught wisdom so they may lead rightly? You are claiming that the entire council of clans is pointless. The entire point of it is to ensure that the laws are correct, whether they are old laws or new ones being proposed, and now you say that is useless?" Petroi stared shamelessly into the eyes of the Lord of Tarc, who looked at him startled, then looked like he wanted to scowl and couldn't for the force of Petroi's look. Petroi gestured at the Lord of Tarc and looked at the whole of the council with a surprised look on his face. "How has this man become a Clan Head when he does not understand the purpose of the Marluk'nak' and the wisdom of its formation? When he does not understand the purpose and wisdom of the clan council? Shall I become the clan head instead, unmarried, with no herd?" The Lord of Tarc made a choking sound. "Where is the Law that allows us to rescind the vote so that we may remove from him his wrongfully placed marker?" Petroi folded his arms and frowned at the Lord of Tarc. "Is there no wisdom in your clan at all?"

The Lord of Tarc went purple, then rose and stormed out of the council. Slowly his clan rose and followed him out.

That night Obi lay on his bed with his companions nearby and listened closely for steps of assassins. Their specific protectors were close by also, watching over them in rotation. He listened also to the whispers of the Children who were a greater distance away as they moved up from the south and in from all directions until they were just outside all of the tent city and the herds, penning them all in, letting nothing in or out. The net was closed, now for the drawing of it. His body trembled, knowing his wife was this close, only this night away, and he was hard pressed to hold still and not go and find her, until his guardians finally moved to sleep in front of the tent door so he couldn't leave. He curled into a ball and held on to both statuettes, one in each hand, to distract himself, until he fell into uneasy sleep.