Page 39 of Circle of Days

Clearly she knew little about the farmer way of life. Pia wondered how to put an entire way of life into a few words. “They need strong young people to cultivate the earth,” she said. “And they consider that women belong to men.”

“Belong to them?”

“Yes.”

Biddy was shocked. “Now I understand why you’re running away… even though you’re having a baby.”

Pia smiled. “Does it show already?”

Biddy nodded. “If you know what to look for. I think you’ve been pregnant for a quarter of a year. The baby will come soon after the Spring Rite.” She gave a modest smile. “I was the eldest of six children, so I watched my mother through five pregnancies.”

Pia had not had that experience. She was the youngest of three children, two of whom had died young, so she had always been an only child. She was fascinated by what Biddy had to say, and they talked about pregnancy and childbirth until the men returned.

Pia went outside to look at the cow. She was a young female, thin but strong. Han said: “Can you also let me have a piece of rope, so that I can tether her at night?”

“Of course.” Zad went into the house and came back with a length of rope, which he tied around the cow’s neck.

Pia was on edge now, eager to get away. She said: “Let’s go.”

Zad said: “I’m going to walk you to the path the woodlanders use. It’s north of here, not far. Then you’ll be on the right track all the way into the hills.”

“Thank you,” said Pia.

They said goodbye to Biddy and Dini and set off. The moon rose while they were walking, and the night was brightly lit. Wherever there was a stream, the cows had gathered. Zad said: “I won’t have to drive them to the river, at least not for the next few days.”

Han said: “I wonder if the drought has finally broken.”

“Let’s all hope so.”

Thunder was a herder dog, and stayed with the cow, making sure she did not fall behind or stray to either side.

Before long they came to a wide beaten path, muddy from the storm. “Here it is,” said Zad. “May the Sun God smile on you.”

Han said: “I’ll never forget your kindness, Zad.”

Pia said: “You brought Han to me, then you helped us escape. You’re wonderful.”

“I hope you’ll come back one day.”

So do I, Pia thought.

Zad turned and walked back the way they had come.

Pia and Han looked at the moonlit path ahead. Never in their lives before had either of them left the Great Plain.

Pia said: “Our new life has begun.”

She took Han’s hand and together they walked on.

The Autumn Rite at the Monument was a small affair, with nothing like the crowds that came at midsummer. This one, Ani thought, was even quieter than usual. People were trading flints and food, but no one wanted tanned hides.

The cloudburst of two days ago had been a hopeful sign, but the Great Plain needed a lot more rain before it could return to normal.

Zad came to the Rite. Ani had heard nothing about Han since the day he had left, heading for the western end of the plain and Pia.

Now Zad told her, speaking quietly so that no one else could hear, how Pia had escaped from Farmplace and, with Han, had headed for the Northwest Hills.

Ani was both thrilled and worried. She was glad they were out of Troon’s control, but she fretted about how they would survive winter in the hills.

The woodlanders always came back at the end of the summer.

A contingent of a dozen or so farmers had come to the Autumn Rite, she noticed as she walked around: all men, no women.

They did not seem to have much to trade, and Ani wondered if they were here on some other mission.

She saw Joia’s childhood friend Vee talking to a thin man with a bent nose, and she recognized Shen, the henchman of Troon.

Vee looked as if she would rather not speak to the man.

When the conversation ended and Troon walked away, Ani went to Vee and said: “What did that sly villain want?”

“He’s looking for Pia. I told him I haven’t seen her for a long time. Which is true.”

Ani was not really surprised, but all the same her heart missed a beat. Troon wanted to take Pia back, undoubtedly. He was nothing if not vengeful. Han would of course try to keep her from Troon. Ani just hoped there would be no violence. She said to Vee: “Did he ask you anything else?”

“He wanted to know if Pia had any friends here. I told him she used to play with Han when they were children but she hasn’t had friends here since then.”

Ani heard that with dismay. She wished Vee had not mentioned Han’s name. However, she did not say so. Vee had meant no harm.

A little later Shen reappeared and approached Ani. “Always a pleasure to see you, Ani,” he said.

Ani said: “What are these farmers doing here? They have practically nothing to trade.”

“Oh, well, in these times every little bit helps, doesn’t it? By the way, what’s happened to your son, Han? I don’t see him anywhere.”

Shen was following up on Vee’s indiscretion, Ani realized. He had guessed that the childhood friends might have become grown-up lovers. “Oh, Han’s here somewhere,” Ani lied. “You’ll bump into him sooner or later.”

“He’s hard to miss, being so tall,” Shen said insinuatingly. “Only someone said he’s gone to work at the western end of the plain.”

“No, he works here. What business do you have with my son?”

“Oh, nothing particular. I just noticed his absence.” Shen moved away.

Ani was disturbed. Shen was dogged. He might work out Han’s secret.

As Shen melted into the crowd, Vee’s mother, Kae, appeared. “I hate these farmers,” she said.

“What have they been doing now?”

“They’re such bullies! They’re questioning my family, saying we must know where Han has gone with his farmer girl.”

Ani was angry. She had to put a stop to this. “I’m glad you’ve told me, Kae. We can’t tolerate such behavior. I’ll deal with it right away.”

“Thank you.”

If herders had acted that way in Farmplace, the farmers would have reacted with instant violence. They needed to understand that the herders could be decisive too. She sought out Scagga, who was talking to the ropemakers, Ev and Fee. She took him aside and told him what Kae had reported.

“We’ll beat up the lot of them,” Scagga said immediately. “Break a few bones and crack a few heads. That’ll teach them.”

“I’d like to scare them off without actual violence,” Ani said. “Let’s bear in mind our reputation for peaceful gatherings here at the Monument.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Scagga said reluctantly.

“There’s a large empty house over by the river.”

“I know it. No one sleeps there because the roof leaks.”

“Can you round up twenty strong men and women with stone hammers and suchlike, and put them in that house?”

“Easily.”

“Tell them they probably won’t have to fight, just look mean.”

Scagga grinned. “You want to give the farmers a fright.”

“Exactly.”

“I’ll get it organized.”

It was not much later when Scagga returned and said: “All ready. Twenty strong youngsters, all armed.”

“Right.” Now Ani would see whether her scheme would work.

She sought out Troon. He was with a dozen other farmers, including his son, Stam.

They were gathered around a fire where an enterprising herder was roasting split cattle bones so that the delicious marrow could be scooped out and eaten.

In exchange the farmers gave him cakes made of grains and cheese, their usual traveling food.

Ani took Troon aside. “I’ve found your Pia,” she said.

He looked skeptical. “Really?”

“If you want I’ll take you to her.”

He said suspiciously: “Why would you do a thing like that?”

She had anticipated the question and she had an answer ready. “Because your search is distressing my people and we herders hate conflict.”

He feared a trap. “I’m not coming on my own.”

“Bring your men. Bring all of them.”

He looked reassured. “I will.”

The farmers finished off their split bones, wiped their hands on their tunics, and followed Ani. They went from the Monument to Riverbend, then through the village to the big house by the river. Scagga stood by the door and said: “She’s in here.”

Ani said: “This way,” and walked in ahead.

She was pleased with what Scagga had arranged. The place was dark but for the light from a small fire in a central hearth. Behind Ani, Troon said: “I can’t see a thing. Where’s Pia?”

The door closed with a bang.

Ani said: “Let’s have some light.”

A dark figure stooped over the fire, lighting a torch. It blazed into flame and the man held it high.

The farmers gasped and grunted with shock. Twenty young herders stood just the other side of the fire, all holding weapons, staring in silence. After a moment’s shocked hesitation the farmers turned to run. But the door would not open. Scagga had barred it from the outside.

Troon turned, scared and angry. He looked at Ani and said: “You’re going to murder us all.”

“No one is going to be murdered today,” she replied.

“But I will not have you and your thugs intimidating the people of Riverbend. You will leave now and go home. If ever you come back, you will behave peaceably while you’re here.

And if you break my rules again you will be killed.

Listen to me. There will be no second chance. ”

She raised her voice. “Open up, Scagga!”

The door opened.

The farmers hurried away.

There was a burst of laughter and conversation among the young herders as the tension was released. Ani said: “Thank you, everyone. I hope we’ve put a stop to their nonsense.”

She felt relieved. Only now did she realize how anxious the performance had made her. She stepped out of the building and walked slowly back toward the Monument. She was still worried about Han, but she thought she had stymied Troon’s investigation.

When she reached the Monument, she again ran into Zad, who said he had been looking for her. “Something I forgot to tell you,” he said. “Pia is expecting a baby. Han’s going to be a father.”

Ani was thrilled. She would have another grandchild. “How wonderful! When?”