Free Treespeaker by Katie W. Stewart Page B

him, wishing he had sent them away earlier. This wasn’t something that needed to be discussed in public right now.
     As he surveyed the group, a strong conviction overcame him that they were waiting for him to fail. All – except Kelsha, he was relieved to see – regarded him with disapproval in their eyes, as if it were his behaviour being called to question, not that of the boys. How could that be? All these people had been brought up with a clear understanding of the need for balance and cooperation. The Treespeaker had always been looked up to as the one whose knowledge helped to maintain that balance and cooperation. Yet here he was being met with scowls and folded arms. Had their respect for him waned so much in such a short time? Had he done something to cause it? More likely it was Beldror’s mind games.
    His attention returned to the boys and he caught a look of belligerence crossing Maden’s face. It was only fleeting, but Kelsha had apparently seen it too, for she stiffened and spoke to her son. It was the voice of an Elder, rather than a mother.
    “Maden, explain to us why you went to Fashmanek.”
    Now a rumble of surprise rose from the villagers. They obviously hadn’t thought this far. If, indeed, the boys had taken Beldror to Latter’s Glen, then they must have passed through Fashmanek, a narrow valley sided by steep hillsides. It was from Fashmanek that the blue healing stone, carried by all Treespeakers, came. For a stretch of fifty yards the stream ran bright blue, reflecting the myriad blue stones on the stream bed.
    As the source of the healing stone, this area was held sacred and rarely visited by anyone but the Treespeakers themselves. Though it lay in the territory of the Fifth Tribe, it was considered the property of the whole People of Arrakesh. To have taken an Outlander there, without permission of a Treespeaker, was indefensible.
    Maden looked flustered at his mother’s deduction. “Beldror said…” he began and stopped, looking to the other boys for support. Ferad shook his head and Galok made a careful study of the leaves at his feet.
    Jakan’s impatience made his voice terse. “Beldror said…?”
    “He wanted to see it.”
    “How did he know of it?”
    “I don’t know.”
    Jakan studied the boy’s face for a moment and decided that he was telling the truth. He cleared his throat. “Very well. As this deer belongs to our neighbours, you must take it back to them.”
    The boys’ faces fell and they all began to argue with him at once.
    “Are you questioning my authority?” Jakan kept his voice low. “It doesn’t belong to us. Therefore it must be returned to its owners.”
    This time it was fair-haired Galok who stepped forward and spoke. At last, his voice held respect. “But Jakanash, the village of the Second Tribe is a good day’s walk from here. The meat may spoil.”
    “Which is why,” Jakan said, smiling without humour, “you’re going to take it back tonight, in the cool of darkness!” The boys gasped and stared at each other in dismay. Conscious that they were about to start arguing again, Jakan continued, “Leave the deer here. Go home now, have a meal and gather what you need. I want to see you on your way by dark.”
    “But we’re tired from the time we’ve been out.” Ferad’s voice sounded weak, like a whining child.
    “I’m sure our brothers and sisters in the Second Tribe will give you a place to rest your heads when you get there.” Jakan’s anger left no room for sympathy. He caught another look he didn’t like from Maden and added in a stronger voice, “And if you’re thinking you might leave this in the forest and return home, don’t bother. I’ll know. And you’ll like the consequences of that action even less.”
    Subdued, the three young men moved to hang the deer between two posts by the hall, before ambling off to their homes. They didn’t look at Jakan. The other villagers, too, turned away in silence and moved towards