Free The Inferior by Peadar Ó Guilín Page B

that her gibberish was just another form of speech such as the Hairbeasts use among themselves. Now, we’ve never been able to learn the Hairbeast language. But they’re not people, right? We can’t think like them without going mad like Treatymaker. However, if another human language existed–and it’s not something those farts in the Flesh Council will ever accept!–but if it did exist, I figured I ought to be able to work it out. I’ve already learned some of her strange words and she’s picked up some of ours. Not enough, though. Not nearly enough.’ He’d uttered the last sentence so quietly, Stopmouth wasn’t even sure he’d heard it.
    ‘Enough f-for w-what?’
    Wallbreaker glanced out of the doorway and lowered his voice. ‘When I tried to take her to my bed, she struck out at me. She fights as well as most men. Not me, of course, or she’d have broken my jaw! Also, Mossheart is being unreasonable about the whole thing, if you can believe that. She’d be a head wife and her still so young. But no. She wouldn’t have another woman in the house. Doesn’t even want me to visit Indrani. Madness! So, for now, until I can explain to Indrani that she’ll be volunteered if she doesn’t find a use for herself, and to Mossheart why she must obey…Well, until then, you’ll have her here to look after you.’
    ‘The m-metal?’
    ‘Yes, the metal splints were her idea. I was amazed, but I immediately saw how they might keep your legs straight while they healed. She’s a match for me, all right! And if we can keep the Flesh Council off your back for another twenty days, she might even have saved your life!’
    Wallbreaker smiled at his new wife. She glared back for a moment before turning away. Stopmouth felt himself drifting, but his brother wouldn’t let him sleep yet.
    ‘One more thing,’ he said. ‘This is important: as far as the Tribe is aware, I have full control over her, all right? I will too. I just have to learn to speak to her first.’
    But he’d need her co-operation for that, and Indrani didn’t look like she’d start co-operating any time soon. Stopmouth wanted to offer to learn her language on behalf of his brother, but already the excitement of the day had been too much for his recovering body and he slipped quickly into darkness.
             
    When Stopmouth woke again, the light coming through the only window had weakened. He felt sure he’d lost at least another full day to sleep. But that was fine. Somebody must have fed him because there was soup caked on his lips and he felt a little stronger than before. Indrani sat in the corner on crumpled hides that looked like they’d been slept on. Stopmouth thought she’d been crying, though the darkness of her skin made it hard for him to tell. He knew she couldn’t understand a word he said, but he tried to speak to her with kindness in his voice. ‘You are my sister now, Indrani.’
    She looked up at her name, but spoke none of her gibberish in return.
    Mother and Wallbreaker walked in. They must have heard his voice. Mother seemed more stooped than when he’d last seen her. New lines had spread across her face. Or maybe it was a trick of the light coming through the pounded-moss doorflap behind her that he noticed them now for the first time.
    ‘My Stopmouth, you’re awake!’ Anxiety filled her voice more than joy. ‘Quickly,’ she said, reaching for him. ‘Quickly! You have to stand! A Clawfolk delegation has arrived to trade. Speareye wants five volunteers. Five!’
    ‘He can barely sit up!’ said Wallbreaker. He too looked very worried, and that was when Stopmouth knew to be afraid.
    ‘He has to stand,’ Mother continued, ‘or Speareye said they could take him!’ Stopmouth saw that her hair had gone uncombed and her hands shook.
    A voice called into the house from beyond the hide curtain that blocked off the main entrance.
    ‘Hello in there?’
    ‘Just a moment,’ said Mother.
    ‘We can’t wait more