Tarashana by Rachel Neumeier (best novels to read for students .TXT) 📗

else accepted a tuyo from another tribe in the way you accepted Hokino’s son?”

“I have heard of one such incident. The lord of the inYoraro offered his youngest son to the inKosata in the hope the young man would be taken as this new kind of tuyo. You will recall that this enmity was not especially bitter, but it had lasted a long time.”

“Yes,” I acknowledged.

“The lord of the inKosata did not put the young man to death,” my father continued. “The inKosata have permitted the young man to take a proper place among their people. They have also begun to treat the inYoraro as an allied people. Geroka inYoraro tells me he did not expect that, but he has accepted these overtures.”

I thought about this. “Does is seem to you that the custom may become, not a way to acknowledge defeat or a way to end a serious enmity, but a way to ask for alliance when one tribe is uneasy with another?”

“Yes,” he said approvingly. “Good, Ryo. That is exactly what I think may happen. There will still be a place for a custom that cedes victory and acknowledges defeat. But perhaps the gentle treatment of a tuyo may become a way to encourage good feeling between tribes that have not been friendly with each other in the past. Geroka asked me if I have considered returning Arayo inKera to the inKera. I told him that, while I have considered the matter, I do not wish to be hasty in making a decision this important.”

I nodded. After some time, I said, “I think if my father wishes to support this new custom most strongly, to see what may come of it as the years run forward, then it might be better if he refrains from returning his tuyo to the inKera for some time.”

He nodded. He said nothing more, letting the subject turn. After a while, he said, “If Aras will permit it, you may sleep here in my tent tonight, Ryo. Do you need to ask his permission?”

“No. I do not ask his leave in small matters of that kind. He does not require it.” I hesitated. Then I said the truth. “I have been his friend, not his possession. Now … everything has changed. I do not know how to walk forward from the place we stand now. But when you speak to Aras tomorrow and in days to come, I ask you to remember that what happened ...” I searched for words. “It was his choice, but not ... he bears the burden of it already.”

“So do you, my son.” But my father waved away my attempted answer. “But, so, this is not my offense to forgive. You have said so, and I agree. I will speak to him in the morning, Ryo. I will say that any problem lies between the two of you. I will say that this problem does not concern me. Will that content you?”

“Yes,” I said, relieved. “Thank you, Father.”

“You will find a way forward,” my father said softly. “Perhaps not tonight, however. You are tired, my son. Go to sleep.”

He was right: I was tired. I was very tired. But I felt better now that the untold tale did not lie between us, all the bitterness unspoken. I had not known how much tension had tightened my stomach until now, when much of that tension had finally fallen away. There were plenty of furs and blankets laid out along the sides of the tent. I lay down there, and slept at once.

 -33-

In the morning, when I woke, my father had already gone. I had half woken when he rose and went out, I remembered that now, but I had gone back to sleep immediately. That did not surprise me. I had been tired, and very relieved to have everything difficult over. Also, in my father’s tent, where I had seldom slept, and never since I was a boy, I had felt completely secure, in a way that is rare for a warrior.

The entrance of the tent had been pegged partway open. From the light that came into the tent, the Sun had already stepped into the sky. Cold air came with the light, but that was welcome as well. I felt rested and wide awake and familiar to myself.

I stood up. A pitcher and a basin stood on a low table, and tisane simmered on the brazier. I knelt at the table to splash my face, then crossed to the brazier and poured myself a bowl of tisane. Then I sat down and thought of everything that had happened the previous day. Many of those things had been hard. But I thought none of them had been bad. Or not nearly as bad as they might have been.

Tano had chosen far better than he might, and he had faced my father bravely afterward. He had also brought his younger brother into the inGara, so that was very good. True, Tano must stand for a beating in front of everyone, but that was not bad either. He would probably do better for that experience—provided he did not fail to stand.

Everyone knew what Aras had done to me.

I put that thought out of my mind at once.

I would have to be absolutely certain Tano stood properly. I thought Arayo would be a young man who could help me with that. I was certain he would wish to help Tano.

Arayo would not be returned to his own people. Certainly not yet. But he would do well exactly where he was. The new tuyo custom might become something different, but it would be useful. It had already been useful. The inKera were not as strong a tribe as inGara, but they were honorable people and good allies.

Soro inKera had brought some of the inTasiyo people into his tribe.