4

Several days later, Kaval and Aja arrived in the area of cave dwellers. The Others stared at them curiously.

"They may not have had dealings with out kind recently," Aja murmured. It was possible. The Others often sent groups off when their clans became too large. If these were descended from such a group, their knowledge of the People might only be legend.

Kaval raised one arm and chanted and motioned the greeting as he had done with the hunters. From the cave came a graybeard, leaning heavily on a staff and accompanied by a young woman. All that Aja saw were covered in scraped and tanned animal skin. On their feet were strappings of the same material. Their garments were decorated with small shells and quills.

The graybeard stopped before them and chanted the words of welcome. Kaval smiled. "He knows of us."

Aja said nothing. Instead she watched the eyes of the armed men about the encampment and judged their skill by their movements. Their spears were not so large and rough-hewn: they were smaller, slimmer, and no doubt swifter. Clay pots were about the campfire and a woman sat weaving grasses. Indeed, she saw many of the same skills of the people in this group of Others. Perhaps they are learning, she thought. If so, this might bode well for the future of the world.

That night about the fire, and a meal made up of bread, roast tubers, a berry-nut concoction sweetened with honey, and meat… which neither Aja nor Kaval touched… the old man spoke of tales told by his mother's mother long ago of the tall hairless ones of beauty. He had never thought to see such come to his campfire.

Aja shifted uncomfortably. There was a hint of worship about the old man, as if she and Kaval were messengers of some higher power… one that required that hospitality be shown. While she was certainly thankful for the meal, the shelter, and the welcome… there was something wrong about being worshipped… even slightly. Especially considering what she'd done. Kaval seemed at ease with it, though. He took their deference as something that should be.

That night they lay amongst the Others near a small fire. She'd noticed the scraped animal skins on frames earlier… and now she saw their purpose. They were dragged out and the cave interior was divided into private sleeping chambers. From within the chambers, she could here the sounds of rutting and the snores of sleeping.

She lay on one side, staring at Kaval… who likewise stared back at her. Then he rolled onto his back with a great sigh. Obviously the sounds from the Others were bothering him. Aja rolled to her other side and finally slept.

When she awoke the following morning, she felt his arm thrown over her. He'd also moved closer to her. She had to admit that she liked the feel of his warmth behind her and over her. She had been alone too long. On the far side of the screens, she could hear the sounds of daily life beginning. She knew she should rise and assist the Others… but it was pleasant to feel Kaval close to her. Perhaps that is why she'd not dreamed last night. Perhaps at last her dreams of what she'd lost… of what she'd destroyed were over. Perhaps it was time to face the future.

Kaval's breathing changed slightly and she knew he was awake. His hand lifted and then began to trace the patterns on her shoulder. Unlike with Havron… she did not feel the unity of their touch. But just the feel of him… the touch of him made her weep silently. She turned so that his arms encircled her and their faces were only inches away.

"We are guests in this place," she finally whispered. He nodded. "We should arise and help. We are the guardians of tomorrow." Again he nodded, his fingers traced "creation" on her shoulder.

Aja shook her head and sat up reluctantly. "I am not ready for this."

Kaval sighed. "I once knew Assia, the first daughter of our tribe. She had hair almost as white as the blanket of frozen water that covers the far mountains. Her eyes were like the sky on a clear day."

Aja drew her knees to her chest and lay her head on them as she gazed at Kaval… listening to his story.

"During one of the changing festivals… I approached her. She was soon to choose her mate and the elders had suggested she couple with different males to be certain that her choice was correct. I asked and we spent a pleasant night. She greeted me the following morning with a smile and said that Marran, my mate was very lucky."

"How did Marran spend the festival night?"

"With another, I assume," Kaval shrugged. "It is the way of it at festival. You said you had known none but he whom you joined with." He gestured toward the scars of unity on her neck. Did not your elders suggest you know others?"

Aja looked away, her eyes unfocused on a far distance that only she could see. "Yes," she finally said. "But we always sought one another. Neither of us wanted another."

"Then you joined without knowing?"

"We joined because we knew. The elders were uncertain of our choice… but after we entered the life and remained steadfast in our choice… they allowed it."

Kaval shook his head. "That was likely unwise. It is best to know many before choosing only the one." He ran one finger across the scars at his own neck. "I miss Marran a great deal, but life goes on."

"Yes," Aja agreed, "but I cannot couple with you, yet. My heart and soul still cling to Havron."

Kaval's shoulders sagged slightly. "Then I will wait," he finally said quietly.

Without further discussion, Aja rose and slid one of the screens to one side and rose to join the Others in their activities. But the discussion had stirred her memories once again.

In the Before Time:

Although Leila grew, as all the small ones did, she still seemed so very tiny and many of the People commented on it.

"But for the promise of tomorrow within her, she could pass for a child of the Others."

Aja smiled at their words, knowing they were ones she'd once thought as well. But Leila was a delight to raise. She seemed to find all of creation interesting and intriguing. She laughed and clapped her hands and danced about… sometimes chasing the small winged ones that fluttered about blooming plants. Her laughter made Aja's heart light.

She clasped the tiny one's hand as she sauntered confidently through the hovels of the Others, noting that some of the children waved at Leila, who waved back and laughed. She evidently had a way even with the Others. Perhaps it was well that Aja had at last given her the name that had whispered in her mind when she first held the child… a name unknown among the People, but a name like those the Others used… Leila. "You are my joy," Aja whispered to the small one whenever she could.

Havron also adored the girl. They'd raised several small ones through the years, but this one touched him in ways no other had. She seemed a small version of Aja with her wild tangle of black hair and the green eyes that were so like Aja's. He carried her on his shoulder when he trekked about the land. He'd found a few shells for her, which she wore about her neck, much as Aja had done as a child.

When she'd asked him why, he'd shrugged. "She bears our hopes for the future. If the remainder of the small ones including her grow into the life… then our time will come. We will journey to a new place and take charge of an area where we will aid in the balance of the world."

Aja had nodded. She'd almost forgotten that plan, so settled had she been in this place. Staring at the horizon, she wondered what sort of land they'd inherit. She'd known only the shore and was content to stay near where she could hear always the pounding surf of ocean, the source of life. Havron, though, she knew, ached for the day to travel. She'd once feared he'd leave her and journey with D'Jann to find the answers… but he had remained, saying he would never leave her and pressing his lips to hers while his fingers had traced the patterns on her arms and back. Her fingers had answered his in thankfulness that he remained… that he loved her… that he had chosen her as she had chosen him.

Even now, long lifetimes of the Others later, he still turned to her with great eagerness. In the ceremonies, when they could couple with others, they yet remained with one another, unwilling to be without one another.

"You are always with me," Havron had murmured after their unity had been allowed. "We are one in body and soul."

Aja had sought to understand how others who were joined could couple with others.

"It is the way of it," Gael had said. "D'Jann is one with me and I with him. But after he left to journey, being alone was not a choice I was willing to make. This way, I am not alone." Morannon had recently moved his sleeping mat into her hovel.

Others of the People said much the same. "It is the way of it. We must know each of us to truly understand the great purpose of the source of life and the unity of all creation. All are one."

But Aja and Havron had continued to choose only one another. Aja could not imagine just coupling with someone when her heart and soul would be with Havron and his with her. Even now, his thoughts and his emotions accompanied her on her daily chores, even as hers accompanied him. She could know his strongest emotions and his innermost thoughts with but a thought. They'd known they could erect mental barriers for privacy at times… but neither ever had.

Even now as she moved amongst the Others she could feel him breathe on her neck so that the unity flared and she could sense his longing for her again. She followed his thought back to where he sat teaching some of the small ones the symbols. One of the females had made clear her wish to couple if he so desired.

"She is lovely," he thought back at Aja. "But she is not you. It is you I want."

Aja had laughed, sensing his physical changes that meant he was aroused. "Leila and I are headed to the Standing Stones. Meet us there," and she'd withdrawn. She'd scooped the tiny one into her arms and taken off running, already feeling her own need for him swell and grow within her.

Leila laughed in her arms as she ran. He arrived almost as soon as she did. She settled Leila among some flowers that grew near the circle and instructed her to make garlands. Then she and Havron had withdrawn into the stones and coupled in delight… still amazed at the wonder of each other, and in exploring one another as they had that first night so long ago.

In the afterglow of their love, they'd lain in one another's arms and stared at the clouds in the sky. Leila, hungry and bored had at last sought them out and she sat between them, pointing at the overhead clouds. Life was in perfect balance… and joy had filled them all.

On the way back to their hovel later that afternoon, Aja had sensed the return of D'Jann and the others, and eagerly gone to greet him. D'Jann had brought the answers to their questions and had much to tell the People. About his waist was hung a long cold thing that whispered to Aja about justice. She shivered. There was cold menace to the thing.

"It is a sword forged from the life's blood of the earth," D'Jann had said, drawing it from its covering and holding it aloft in the sunlight where it gleamed redly. "It will guide our destinies for all our tomorrows. It is the justice of the People."

It was later that night… that the slaughter began.

Once, as the night was leaving
Into us our dreams were weaving.
Once, all dreams were worth keeping
I was with you

from Fallen Embers, lyrics by Roma Ryan