ICE BURIAL: The Oldest Human Murder Mystery (The Mother People Series Book 3) (21 page)

Grudgingly
,
Zena
smiled. She must look very strange. To speak to the villagers this time, she wanted to look like herself.
“
You are right,
”
she told Lief and wrapped her arms around him for a brief moment
.
“
I could not manage without you,
”
she told him shakily.
“
You must stay near me always.
”

“
You would manage better than you think but I will stay anyway,
”
he responded, ducking her head unsympathetically into the cold water
of the stream
.

Her hair was still brighter than it usually was, and her arms still bore a few stains when she and Lief entered the village, but no one seemed to notice. Before either of them could greet the villagers, who were watching her curiously, Brulet came running up to them. Her eyes were reddened by tears.

Zena
took her hand.
“
What has happened, Brulet? Is it the infant?
”

“
No. It is Krone. She has died,
”
Brulet told her sadly.
“S
he was very old, but she was my best friend. She told me stories
of
all that happened before,
and of the Mother,
so I would know.
”

Zena
pulled the girl into her arms.
“
I am sorry, Brulet. To lose
such
a
good
friend is hard.
”

“
I do not know why she died so suddenly,
”
Brulet said forlornly.
“S
he was all right when I left her earlier.
”

“S
ometimes it happens that way,
”
Zena
comforted her.
“
And it is good
that
the Mother took her gently.
”

Brulet nodded.
“
Niva came and took me with her for the night. She was kind to me,
”
she added, looking surprised.
“S
he says I should go live in another village now that Krone is dead, that I might be happier somewhere else.
”

“
You c
an
come with us,
”
Zena
offered.
“
I would like very much to have you join my tribe.
”

“
I, too,
”
Lief agreed, smiling at the girl.

Brulet
’s
face lit up.
“
That would be good,
”
she said eagerly.
“
I do not think Pila needs me any more. Everyone is visiting her now that the infant has been returned.
”

Niva approached them. Narrowing her eyes, she stared accusingly into
Zena
’s
face.
“
You are the one who came to the Ekali, are you not?
”
she demanded.
“
You are the one who spoke of the Goddess as well, the one who took the child that had been promised to the Great Spirit.
”

Zena
took a deep breath.
“
Yes,
”
she answered.
“
I am called
Zena
. Perhaps long ago, you have heard that name?
”

Niva nodded, her face tight and angry. The news did not please her. The people were already upset, and to have the one called
Zena
in the village would not help. Still, this might be a solution for Brulet, if the woman took her away quickly.
That was vital, for everyone
’s
sake.

She
turned to Brulet
.
“
Here is some food I have prepared for Pila,
”
she said
in a gentler tone as she handed
the girl a deep bowl filled with broth and pieces of meat.
“
Perhaps you would take it to her?
”

Brulet nodded, surprised again that Niva was being so kind to her, and to Pila. Before, she had ignored them, or scolded them, seeming always to be angry.

When Brulet had left, Niva turned back to
Zena
.
“
Brulet must go with you, to your tribe,
”
she said abruptly.
“S
he is not...
”
Her face changed, and
Zena
thought there was a warning in her eyes.
“S
he is not happy here,
”
Niva finished, but
Zena
did not think that was what she had first intended to say.

“
I will gladly take Brulet with me,
”
she answered.
“
I thank you for your concern. Brulet has become very dear to me.
”

Niva nodded in satisfaction.
“
That is good.
”

“
You should leave right away,
”
she added, and now the warning in her eyes was clear.

Zena
hesitated.
“
First, I must speak to the
villagers
about the Mother’s ways,” she told
Niva.
“
That is why I am here
.
I would like to
attend
Krone
’s
burial too. Brulet told me that
Krone remembered the
Goddess
and taught her all she knew
of
H
er ways
.
To speak of the Goddess at her burial would be right.
”

Anger suddenly possessed Niva. Did this woman not realize the damage she was causing? Everything in the village had been fine until she had come, and now poor old Krone was dead, Brulet could be in danger, the people were all upset... None of this would have happened if she had not come.

“
We have no need of you here,
”
she said forcefully, thrusting her face close to
Zena
’s
.
“
You only cause trouble! It is not right!
”

Zena
took a deep breath.
“
It is not right that people
should live in fear
, either,
”
she
replied.

“
We are more afraid now,
”
Niva hissed.
“
You do not understand! How can you say you speak for the Goddess, tell us how kind She is, when to hear of Her again only makes people anxious? And if you are as wise as you say, why did you not think of Brulet, of what would happen to her, before you forced her to help you?
”

“
I did not force her. Brulet...
”

Niva
’s
angry voice interrupted.
“
Brulet is only a child,
”
she answered scornfully.
“
You should have thought of this!

“
You must leave us, take Brulet and leave!
”
Turning
abruptly
, she
stalked away.

Zena
stared after her, shaken by the unexpected attack. Niva was right, that was the t
rouble.
S
he should have thought of these things. She felt
still
more confidence drain out of her, and wondered how she would ever find the courage to speak to the villagers now. But she must. She could not let Niva stop her.

She turned to Lief, her face drawn with anxiety, but before he could
speak, another
voice interrupted.
“
You must not let Niva bother you,
”
the voice said
.
“
Not all of us feel as she does.
”

Zena
turned, startled. A young man stood there, smiling at her.
“
I th
ank you for
telling me this,
”
she said, trying to smile in return.

“
I, at least, would like to hear more of the Goddess,
”
the young man continued.
“I am called Wulf, and if you will come with me, I will take you to
speak
with
some of the others
who would also like to hear more.
”

H
e led them toward a group of villagers. They were greeted politely, but
Zena
could see that
some at least
were wary. Taking a deep breath, she
sat beside them.
Lief sat
quietly
by
her side,
and the touch of
his
warm
hand on her arm
seemed to
send strength back into her.
“I am
Zena
,” she
began
. “I have come to speak for the Goddess. I cannot tell you what you should think, but I hope you will listen, try to remember the ways of the Mother.”

“
We will listen,
”
an old man answered.
“
Yes, we will listen, and some of us will remember.
”
He nodded at her encouragingly, and she began to speak. At first, she stumbled with her words, but gradually they came more easily. A few faces were hostile, but most were interested, even eager, and she was pleased.

She continued to meet with the people for many days after that, telling them again and again of the ancient ways of the Mother, the ways of love and compassion and respect for all that lived upon the earth, of the wisdom of the circles and the wise ones who had taught it to their people.
She was able to speak of the Goddess at old Krone
’s
burial, too, and Brulet at least was comforted
.

Slowly,
her
confidence began to return. Whether her words had an effect that would linger long enough to convince the
villagers
to return to the Goddess, she did not know, but at least she had tried - and she had tried as herself.

She was also able to ask about Teran during these discussions, but no one had heard anything about her. She wished she could ask Niva, too, suspecting she was the person most likely to have information, but Niva
’s
closed face made it clear she had no wish to be seen speaking with the one called
Zena
.
She had not
been able
to visit the young woman whose infant she and Lief had saved, either. Niva did not allow anyone to go into
Pila
’s
tent without her permission, and to provoke another confrontation
seemed
disruptive
.

During those days
and nights
Lief watched over her with care, Brulet too, lest Korg or the Leader seek revenge. But to his astonishment, and Zena’s,
Korg and the Leader
did not confront
them,
did not come
into the village at all. They had gone to their hut in the woods, Brulet explained, and spoke only to those who came to them.
Lief
and Zena were
relieved
but
also worried about what would happen when
they
left. Would Korg and the Leader accuse some people of helping
Zena
, of betraying them? Would the villagers be able to resist the Leader
’s
mesmerizing voice, his persuasive words, urging them to return to the Great Spirit?

There was no way to tell, no way to prepare, except to take Brulet with
them
so she at least would not be accused.

On the day they were to leave, Hular came up to
Zena and Lief,
looking worried.
“
I cannot find Mara,
”
he said.
“
Have you seen her?
”