The Hunters wove through the settlement, reminding everyone about the upcoming expedition to the lake. Though small parties traveled there frequently, catching what they could for personal use, the Wolf Clan's annual fish "hunt" consistently drew nearly all of the Camp's residents.
Even with the great amount of work it demanded -- catching, cleaning, preparing and then hauling home the bounty -- a celebratory quality surrounded the informal outdoor gathering. Entire families participated; the Clan's Storytellers and Musicians came along as well, sometimes combining their talents into a single narrative, filling the imaginations and dreams of the audience as they assembled under the endless blanket of stars.
Assuming they embarked shortly after the first meal, the group would arrive at the lake well before midmorning. It was not a long distance away at all, which was part of the reason why people of all ages joined in, but the journey was lengthy enough to warrant staying overnight until they completed their task. Barring any unseen difficulties, most typically returned on the fourth day.
Other than what they enjoyed there, they dried everything before carrying it home; despite the contribution of many, harvesting enough to help support the Camp through the upcoming winter remained an enormous undertaking. Only drying the fish made it possible to bring back what they needed.
Veba overhead Sala and Jakal discussing the event with their friends, confirming that they would be attending. When she reported this information to the Spiritwalker, to her relief he insisted she do the same. Even though she had taken part in years past without exception, for some reason she had worried he might forbid her from going this time around.
She felt strangely ambivalent. On the one hand she looked forward to a respite from his ferocious hunger and was not disappointed that he would not be accompanying them. Since their first night together he never allowed her body to fully recover; more to the point, he did not allow her to recover at all.
On the other hand she was going to miss him, or at least whatever it was he wrenched out of her whenever he took possession of her body. The vigorousness of their encounters coupled with the covert nature of their association formed a potent, intoxicating combination.
If she had her choice, however, Veba still would pick the Tracker over the Spiritwalker in an instant. She hoped the excursion would provide the means to work toward repairing the rift between Jakal and herself without the spiritual leader's knowledge; if she could just engage the Light-Eye on friendly terms once more, there was always the chance that someday...
While he did not leave the Ceremonial Hut often, the shaman seemed hyperaware of her activities; attaining her own goals would be more feasible with four days free from his watchful eyes. Veba knew she was taking an incredible risk trying to accomplish his aims along with hers, but if there was ever a perfect opportunity to attempt it, it would be now.
Although the gathering at the lake presented the ideal circumstances for observing the couple in a more relaxed setting, in the end the Spiritwalker decided to leave the task in the hands of his new spy. She had learned quickly; naturally it required breaking her -- one of his favorite aspects of this process -- but she also bent to his will readily, enthusiastically even at times. She almost made it too easy.
Of course she still hesitated or held back occasionally, necessitating the use of swift, punitive correction, but by and large the woman was a fervid pupil. She ignited in him a lust so powerful that he found himself neither willing nor able to restrain himself enough to grant her body rest. She had become so sore, bruised and raw from the intensity of his passions he eventually had no choice but to treat her many wounds to keep them from festering. A brief separation would allow the injuries to heal a bit, keeping her fresh and eager to do his bidding.
Besides, every year the Spiritwalker took advantage of the absence of virtually the entire Clan to investigate their dwellings, to see what kinds of secrets he could uncover. The fish hunt was such a popular event that those who stayed behind typically did so only because they were too sick or frail to travel, and the shaman was more than happy to remain in order to attend to their needs.
Controlling them was almost effortless since he regularly administered substances which made them more malleable; the information they supplied him often proved quite useful. If for any reason they gave him too much difficulty he merely put them to sleep, and although no one so far had forced his hand, he always knew that he could make them sleep permanently if necessary. The freedom the annual gathering afforded him back at the Camp invigorated him, becoming a kind of celebration in itself.
But most of all he believed that in his absence, the Light-Eye and his mate would let down their guard, and in so doing they would reveal their weaknesses. Before everyone left for the lake, he would ensure the female understood very clearly what he expected of her when she returned, and what the consequences would be should she fail him.
~*~*~
After the morning meal, Jakal crossed the Camp on his way to speak with Belak when he was overtaken by Ditil.
"Light-Eye!" the Lead Carver greeted enthusiastically. "It is good to see you on this day!"
"And it is good to see you, Ditil."
"So, how do you like your carving?" the short, somewhat stout man asked proudly. Without waiting for an answer, he went on. "I have been practicing with a new tool to achieve finer details. It is amazing the thinness of the lines it can etch. Of course, it does require a steady hand when working in such detail. One slip and you might even have to start all over. I know because it happened more than once as I worked on perfecting the technique.
"Did you know your talisman is the first charm I have made using the new tool? It is a great honor to have created for you something so important, though I must tell you it certainly increased the pressure to get it just right. I have not suffered from such anxiety to perform since I was a young man, the first time I shared pleasures with a newly emergent woman. Irta, her name was. Beautiful, beautiful girl. Mated that Storyteller, what was his name? Well, whatever his name is, they live with Fox Clan now. Say, were you not at their Camp recently? Had I known you were going there I would have sent along a message for her from me.
"Anyway, I believe your new carving may be even better than the original, if I do say so myself. Naturally I mean no disrespect to the original artist, but I worked side-by-side for many years with old Mesil and if he were here, bless his spirit, I am certain he would tell you himself I have a real gift for the craft. Naturally, if it does not meet with your approval in any way, please do not hesitate to point out the flaws and I will be happy to correct them to the best of my ability.
"I must admit, and I hope you will forgive me for saying so, but I cannot imagine how you could have ever considered
trading
your tracking talisman, and yet if you had not, I would not have had the opportunity..."
The Tracker groaned inwardly. Ditil was a fine Carver, to be sure, perhaps even the finest among all their people, but he had never met an individual who seemed more able to speak so long without breathing than him. Perhaps Sala and I have neglected to consider another strategy in defeating the Spiritwalker, he thought. If we put him and Ditil in the same hut together the Carver might be able to bore him to death. Then again, as verbose as the shaman's ceremonies could be, he was not certain who would emerge at the end of the day.
"Thank you, Ditil," Jakal broke in at last, "but I am afraid I was not aware you had finished the carving."
The man's face fell. "But Belak told me he would be seeing you today and would deliver it without delay. I had a feeling I should have brought it to you myself, but when he came to pick up that strange...I am not sure what it was exactly; he said it was for Aurochs Camp...but when he came for it he insisted on giving you the talisman himself..."
"I am sure it is fine, my friend," the Light-Eyed One interrupted. "It is yet early, and I am certain the Lead Trader has not forgotten his pledge to you. In fact, I was on my way to see him now."
"Do not hesitate to let me know if any part of it does not meet with your approval!" Ditil called out as Jakal swiftly parted.
