Chapter 21 and a little more of Madenia and Joanne.
But this innocent platitude only seemed to add to Joanne's frustration, and in a tone laced with more than a little apprehension she said, "That's just it, Madenia. What if everything isn't all right? What if I do remember everything and discover that I don't want to? I haven't said so up until now, but from what little I do remember, Madenia, I'm afraid that wherever I came from isn't a very nice place at all."
Joanne's proclamation effectively closed the conversation she and Madenia had been having; Madenia had no idea what to say or even what to think. Instead, they returned to the business of choosing suitable outfits for the night and, after surprisingly little deliberation came up with two they thought would serve.
Madenia hadn't brought what she considered a lot along, but she had found that the horse let her pack far more than she would have carried on foot. That being the case, in addition to the Sharamudoi matrimonial tunic, too special to wear, there were a few others to choose from but not many. In the end, Madenia chose for Joanne, at her insistence since she claimed to have no idea what was appropriate, a particularly dark brown tunic made of roe deer hide.
It was cut long and at a slight slant, creating the effect of a knee-length skirt when tied at the waist with the matching braided leather belt that came with it. As well, it was decorated with intricate beadwork in a number of materials and colors and dyed quills also. For footgear, Madenia lent Joanne a set of knee-high soft-skinned boots of a similar color with lacings that had been dyed a creamy yellow and crisscrossed from bottom to top where they were tied.
Normally, Madenia would have offered Joanne something for her hair as well; she'd brought a few strings of beads and whatnot with her for just such an occasion. But Joanne's hair was far too short to take any real ornamentation, she realized belatedly; it was probably no more than half the length of a finger on the top of her head and not much more than a short stubble on the sides and back. No, Madenia had nothing to offer Joanne that would compliment such a hairstyle, and so she simply refrained from mentioning anything and moved on.
For herself, Madenia chose a somewhat lighter colored outfit, more toward tan in color but with a subtle red overtone. It was an experiment of hers in leatherworking, one that she'd liked the results of; it hadn't failed to elicit comments every time she'd worn it so far, and she figured it'd do for the night ahead.
The garment was made of soft doe's skin as well and, like the other, cut as a short skirt, though with a more even rather than slanted hem that sported a fringe of brown fox tails all around. It too held its share of beadwork, in this case an interesting combination of polished amber and ivory dyed a number of colors and the whole arranged in pleasing geometric patterns over the torso and around the waist. Because of this arrangement, the garment was worn without a belt, but was slit down the back and equipped with a crisscrossing lace that provided a corset-like effect when tied. As well, it was cut somewhat low in the front, exposing a fair amount of cleavage, and this was fringed with foxtails like the hem. On her feet, Madenia wore a set of calf-length indoor boots made of the same leather as the tunic and laced with thongs dyed the same color.
For her hair, Madenia chose a string of beads she'd made the previous winter, one of those projects undertaken mostly to combat boredom but that had turned out well. It was made up of animal's teeth, small freshwater shells and a number of rather unusual rounded blue-green stones that she'd polished to a high luster. She'd arranged these materials in a regular alternating pattern down the string which was tied at each end to hold its contents rather than joined to form a circle, and the overall effect was rather pleasing. With a bit of help from Joanne, Madenia wound this through her wavy, somewhat kinky brown hair in what they both agreed was an interesting way and complemented the rest of her outfit well.
Madenia had brought a few pieces of jewelry with her, bracelets and earrings for the most part, but decided to forego these for this evening at least. After all, from what Talut and Mamut had said, it was to be basically an informal gathering, really just an excuse to eat and drink and tell stories. Madenia figured that she'd do best to hold something in reserve for a more formal occasion.
Once their preparations for the evening were done and all of Madenia's extra things packed away again, there was little else for the two to do except step out from behind the drapes around Madenia's bedding platform where they'd been working. As soon as they did so, their eyes confirmed what their ears had already told them; most of the Camp was already at the Mammoth Hearth, and most of the preparations for the feast were already laid out.
There was a momentary lull in the din of conversation that had been going on for some time when the two emerged, and both were immediately self-conscious. But the talk quickly started up again, and neither of the women could miss a number of appreciative comments and looks directed their way. Apparently, Lion Camp as a whole approved of what they saw.
Everyone seemed to take the two women's appearance as a final signal for the festivities to begin, and all began to line up near the long tables that had been erected to hold the various dishes prepared for the evening. Madenia noticed, however, that no one made a move to begin serving themselves and, remembering the instructions she and Joanne had received beforehand, moved to the head of the line, Joanne falling in behind her.
Talut and Mamut had told them that it was their custom to serve guests, especially female guests first under such circumstances, but there had been a moment of uncertainty when it came to which guest would be first. It had been quickly resolved, though; Joanne had simply said that, so far as she was concerned, Madenia could head up the line. Not only had she saved Joanne's life, she argued, but she had a far better idea of the proper etiquette to follow and Joanne would be just as comfortable shadowing her moves.
This had made sense to all concerned, and so that was how it was done. Madenia looked around the gathered camp before she began serving herself, noting the various types of finery everyone had donned for the occasion, and, finding Talut, quickly met his gaze. Talut gave a barely discernable nod as Madenia did so, confirming that she should proceed and so she did.
Madenia had brought along her own personal eating dishes and utensils, of course, to include an eating knife, and she used these as she moved efficiently but without haste down the table, taking small samples of most of the dishes. They all looked enticing, but she figured that she'd never have room for one of everything, either on her plate or in her belly and besides, nothing said she couldn't come back for more later if this proved not to be the case.
Madenia also saw with a small pang of guilt that someone had made sure that her own dish, made up largely of thin sliced spiced meats with a sauce that incorporated horseradish and a few other things, had made it to the table. She'd essentially finished it before she and Joanne had been called in by Talut and Mamut, but had more or less forgotten about it in the rush to find suitable clothing afterwards. She was glad that it hadn't been abandoned, but she did wonder just who she owed for this particular favor.
Behind Madenia, Joanne followed closely, watching what the other woman did and the selections she made. She'd been lent eating utensils, to include a personal eating knife even before they'd returned to the Camp, and she used those now, careful to imitate the manners of the young woman in front of her. Though she couldn't remember, she had the feeling that she'd dealt with situations of etiquette in the past, and she wanted to make as good an impression on these people who'd been so kind to her as she could.
Once the two women began to make their way down the table, the rest of the Camp followed suit, arranged in whatever order their traditions dictated. A part of Joanne registered this, and she realized that this was familiar as well. Again, she couldn't quite wrap her mind around the memories, but she suddenly felt very out of place so near the head of the line. It struck her that, wherever it was she came from, the higher one was ranked, the farther back in line one normally was; senior leaders were supposed to make sure that their subordinates ate first and think of their own needs only when everyone they were responsible for was taken care of. This was, she realized, how things had been for most of her life; it was that ingrained. But this wasn't wherever she'd come from and these people had their own way of doing things…
It didn't take long for everyone to serve themselves and once they had they quickly sorted themselves out into small groups to eat. Very soon after this, Talut disappeared briefly into one of the lodge's storage areas, re-emerging soon after with a large water skin under his arm. He began to circulate from group to group then, making rounds of a sort, and poured a bit of whatever was in the water skin for whoever was willing to take it, basically every adult member of the Camp.
When he reached Madenia and Joanne, he held the bag out, an eyebrow cocked wryly in a silent question. Both women looked at each other briefly, shrugged, and then looked to Talut. Finally, raising her cup a bit warily, Joanne said, "So what's in the bag, Talut?"
The big man cracked a grin at this and said, "Why, nothing but happiness and bliss of course."
At this, a voice that Madenia recognized as belonging to the dark skinned carver Ranec called out from nearby, "And a whopping headache in the morning if you should decide to get a little too happy tonight!"
The headman's grin widened at this and he said, "Well, that too of course. But it's worth it every once in a while and besides, Nezzie still remembers the recipe Ayla gave her for her miraculous morning after tea. With that to look forward to, you needn't fear a little headache, let me tell you!" Then, seeing the still dubious expression on Joanne's face and the knowing one on Madenia's, he added, "It's just a little fermented drink that I call bouza. I enjoy making it, and it offers a little… relaxation of inhibitions for an occasion like this. Surely you're both familiar with such things?"
Madenia nodded and said, "Yes, Losadunai have… similar drinks. I not drink much, though; not like to lose control of self."
For her part, Joanne thought for a moment and then said, "I think my people call drinks like that 'alcohol'. And I don't think I did a lot of drinking where I came from either; I don't think it was encouraged and… well, for some reason I just don't think it was that popular. I don't think alcohol does much for my people…" There was a cryptic note in her voice for this last comment, as if she were unsure of what she was saying, but in her mind it rang true.
Finally, shrugging once more, Joanne raised her cup to Talut and said, "Well, either way, there's no reason to refuse a little hospitality, I guess. Fill 'er up, please!"
"That's the spirit," the older man said with a chuckle, filling her cup up to the rim. And then, turning a far too innocent glance toward the other woman he said, "Madenia?"
With a sigh and a sheepish grin she raised her cup as well and said, "I guess it rude to say no, but I really not want much, Talut. I like to keep… wits about me."
The red haired man chuckled again at his and, filling her cup as full as Joanne's said, "A very sound idea, my dear. And you'll need those wits, too; you're going to be first pick when it comes storytelling time, you realize!"
Madenia just smiled to this, already knowing that that would be the case, and took a sip of the beverage she'd just been served. She swished it around in her mouth briefly and then raised her eyebrows appreciatively as she swallowed. Aloud she said, "This good. Stronger than it taste, I think, but it not… bite back so much. I like it."
For her part, Joanne had sampled her drink as well and, nodding slowly said, "Not bad. I only wish I could remember what I had to compare it to."
Talut took these comments as high praise and, beaming said, "Glad that you ladies appreciate the fruits of this headman's humble hobby. And, rest assured, you'll get the chance to sample more before the night's through!" With this he moved on, dispensing both drinks and conversation as he went, the very incarnation of the jolly host.
Once a majority of the Camp had eaten their fill and were beginning to put their plates aside, someone decided to move things along to the next level and a drum began to play. A couple of other instruments joined in almost immediately, to include a high pitched flute of some sort. The arrangement was obviously impromptu and evolved as it was played, but both of the newcomers found it both pleasing and evocative.
Soon the music began to pick up speed and energy, as if the musicians had found their pace, and then the dancing began. As he often was, even in his advancing years, Talut was the first to take the floor. His dancing was both athletic and energetic and involved a fair amount of outright acrobatics as well as many maneuvers that were obviously crafted purely for humor's sake.
Talut was the first to dance, but he wasn't alone for long. Not surprisingly, he was soon followed into the limelight the first to follow being the son of his hearth, Danug. This wasn't unusual; the young man often followed after the man of his hearth on such occasions, knowing the effect this had on others. It was always a novelty to see the two men, so nearly identical except for their age, dancing together and then, invariably against one another in a friendly but nevertheless intense contest.
The younger man knew that the older man's skill was still superior to his, but he tried to make up for that in sheer enthusiasm. That and he knew that he had the other man in endurance; they were almost equally matched in strength and agility, but Danug knew all he had was outlast the older man who was finally slowing down ever so slightly in his later years. For his part, Talut knew this as well and so simply did his best to outdo the younger man with sheer panache while his stamina lasted.
Both men took great delight in this game and there was never really a 'winner' or a 'loser'; the entire Camp won as far as everyone was concerned and they all experienced a side-splitting good time watching the two men cavort and prance and caper so energetically. Not only that but of course such action was contagious.
Within a matter of minutes, most of the Camp had joined the dance, even many of the children, and Madenia and Joanne could only exchange another cryptic look. Then, everything that needed to being communicated by this and the shrug that followed, they both hastily set their drinks down and leapt into the fray, a matched set of childish grins splitting their faces.
The dancing seemed to last forever, and both women found themselves enjoying it far more than they thought they might; the general merriment was infectious, and the sheer physical exercise gave them both a warm flush. Madenia, of course, was familiar with such things, though the music and the steps themselves were exotic to her. But that was half the fun of a long Journey, after all and she soaked it all up enthusiastically.
Joanne, on the other hand, was quite sure she'd never experienced anything like this before. Certainly she was familiar with the concept of dancing, and even knew dimly that she'd danced before, but never anything like this. This was more visceral, more raw somehow than anything she could've imagined previously. It was as if this were the primal essence of dancing, the very root of the activity, and whatever she'd experienced in her past was just a washed out reflection of it, though she sensed that the trappings had been far flashier. No, this was much more immediate and she felt a connection with the people around her that she doubted she'd ever felt while engaged in such activity before.
Eventually, though, the dancing did wind down; people began to tire and, individually, in couples and in larger groups they dropped out, settling themselves in for what they knew would come next. After a time, the Camp as a whole had called it a night so far as the dancing was concerned, and they all sat in their various places with expectant looks on their faces. Expectant looks that were, Madenia quickly realized, directed mostly at her.
About that time the red headed headman, who'd bowed out of the dance some time ago and had been simply been observing the frolic from the wings came forward. Taking measured strides, he nonchalantly made his way to the two newcomers, who'd moved away from the limelight by now as well. Placing a hand on Madenia's shoulder as he reached them, Talut said, "Well, my dear, I believe it's about that time. I think everyone here would like to know of your Journey and just how you came to be here in Lion Camp."