5. The Descent

Lucky isn’t a word I’d use to describe myself

This is an installment in a serialized novel. To start at the beginning, go here.

Rahn raised one arm to wipe the sweat off her brow. The hawk, one wing still bound, perched on her other shoulder where she had strapped a bit of leather to guard against the talons. It was odd taking the Path of Descent in this heat. And the scenery, though beautiful, was strangely unfamiliar. Rahn knew the usual colors of the Ascent and the Descent so well–the bright greens of new spring growth, dotted with the whites and pinks of early wildflowers, and the bold yellows of autumn aspens against a backdrop of evergreens. Now the mountains were rich with the deep greens of mature late summer foliage.

At least the pace was familiar. Rahn felt the urge to run, bounding down the slope like a mountain goat, feet hardly touching the ground–but the path in front of her was clogged with people, donkeys, yaks, and the occasional horse, all loaded with packs and moving along at a steady, slow pace. Far behind her she could hear the bleating of the herds making their way down the slope. Though no more than a hundred and fifty people made the climb to the Summer Home each year, the group seemed larger when they had all their gear and livestock with them, stretched into a line along the narrow path.

There was a light clattering on the slope above the path. As if Rahn had imagined it into being, a youth came bounding down the slope, springing lightly from rock to rock like a goat. Rahn braced suddenly as the boy began to careen straight toward her. At the last moment, he sprang to the side and skidded to a stop in front of her.

On her shoulder, the hawk wobbled, off balance with one wing bound, and shrieked in irritation. Rahn smiled in spite of herself as she reached up to steady it. “Huki, it’s amazing how you never cease to find new ways to be annoying.”

The boy grinned, panting a bit and dusting off his trousers. “Happy to see you too. And I see you’ve got a new pet. A bird that can’t fly–what a great find!”

Rahn tried to scowl. “She’s a Dayhawk– and Zaiza says the wing will heal.”

He made a face. “I’m sure my sister knows all as usual. Where is she, by the way?”

“She’s up at the front with Ufsa, helping the scouts. And by the way, shouldn’t you be…”

“Huki!” They both jumped at the sharp voice. A tall woman had stopped ahead of them, and the slow but inevitable press of the migration pushed them toward her. She did not look pleased.

“What nonsense is this? You should be back with the herds.”

Huki sighed. “Cha, they’ve got too many shepherds out. They don’t need me. It was getting incredibly boring, so I came to see what’s happening up here.”

The woman scowled. “Well turn around and go back. I won’t have you shirking your duties. When they notice you’re gone, it will dishonor our family.”

“Ah yes… but you see, Mother, I’m sure no one noticed me leaving. But if I go back, they’ll know I was gone, and then I’m sure they’ll think all sorts of shameful things about us.”

She glared at him for a long moment. Then, without looking at Rahn, she shook her head, lips pursed, and turned around, walking briskly up to her former position further ahead in the procession. Rahn could feel her face growing warm. Her aunt had never been affectionate, exactly, but there had been a time when she had treated Rahn–well, like family.

Huki sighed. “My mother– she brings sunshine wherever she goes.”

“At least she speaks to you.”

“Now, are you referring to my mother pretending you don’t exist…” Huki began in his most annoying voice, watching Rahn glower, “or your father who’s so occupied with his new family that he’s forgotten you exist?”

“Huki!” Rahn pushed him with more than playful force. “Do you realize that you’re not required to say everything that comes into your stupid mind out loud?”

Huki shrugged, unruffled. “What can I say? I speak the truth. And why is this line moving so slowly? I can’t walk this slow, it pains me.”

“You’re not wrong about your mother,” Rahn continued, ignoring his impatient bouncing. “But then again, she hasn’t exactly been warm with me since…”

“Since you nearly killed yourself by chugging a bottle of shafa? I don’t know why everyone was so focused on it not bringing on the Sight for you. Clearly the fact that you survived proves that you’re the luckiest person in Heshra and, therefore, maybe worth keeping around. I don’t understand why the people ahead keep stopping–walking isn’t that difficult.”

Rahn looked away. “Lucky isn’t a word I’d use to describe myself.”

“Of course you’re lucky, Rahn. You’ve got me as a cousin.” He flashed his most annoying grin, which was somehow also incredibly charming.

At that, Rahn couldn’t help but smile.

The livestock in front of them came to a full stop. Everyone muttered, craning their necks to look ahead at the stalled procession.

Huki growled. “I’m going to look ahead.” He ran lightly forward up the slope, then came back down to where Rahn was sitting on a rock. “Everyone’s stopped as far as I can see– if this doesn’t get moving I’m going back to the goats.”

Murmurs passed through the line. Someone ahead of them let out a cry of distress. Rahn stood up. “What’s going on?”

“Let’s find out.” Huki grabbed her arm and the two edged their way around the pack animals in front of them until they reached Rahn’s aunt, who was talking animatedly with the people in front of her.

Huki approached her excitedly. “What happened? Bad news?”

Rahn’s aunt looked grimly at her son, then glanced at Rahn, her expression unreadable. “The Winter Home was attacked last night. We are too late.”

Someone shouted, and people began to point. In the distance, beyond the lowest ridge, a thin column of smoke could be seen rising into the air.

For once, even Huki had nothing to say.