Tarashana by Rachel Neumeier (little red riding hood ebook TXT) 📕

not a matter for me to judge. He is Lau, not Ugaro, so I do not consider this offense properly a matter for any Ugaro to judge. Oathbreaking is an offense against the gods; let the gods make what disposition they will regarding that crime. That is my opinion regarding that matter.” He paused again, for an even longer interval. Finally he added, not glancing at me, “If a man offends any of my sons in a grievous manner, then I am also offended. But my second-youngest son is old enough to know what his honor requires. I think it best to permit my son to make his own decisions regarding every matter of that kind.”

I bowed my head. So did Aras.

Koro nodded. Then he asked, “Marag inGara, do you have anything to say?”

My mother had listened to everything with her customary calm. Now she answered, “Everyone showed admirable courage and determination. This is a remarkable tale in every way. I would like to hear a more detailed account of the woman’s part of this story. I also think soon we may hear a request from the Tarashana people, for Ugaro to set our strength against the Saa’arii of the sunless sea and against the great king of those people. I think singers and poets and the lords of the tribes and our king should all discuss what answer might be made should such a request come to us. But later will do for all this.” She lifted her hands to show that she meant to say something important and everyone should listen. Then she said, “I have no opinion on matters more suited to the judgment of warriors. But I suggest that, regarding everything that happened in the land of the shades, this is a time when it is better to let those most closely concerned in the matter settle everything as seems best to them. If any further accounting is due beyond this, then my husband is correct: it is best to let the gods make that accounting.” She lowered her hands again.

“For forty breaths, no one will speak,” Koro commanded again. He watched Aras steadily during the pause. I tried to imagine his thoughts, but I could not even begin to do so and gave up the effort. I could think of nothing myself, but only waited, counting the breaths. When the pause ended, Koro said, his tone decisive. “I have no opinion regarding any offense that might have occurred during the events we have heard described, as the Ugaro involved in these events do not request my judgment. For any Lau involved, the matter seems to me one that is better left to the king of the summer country to judge.” He looked at Aras and added, “An important Lau sworn to the summer king should take this problem to him. That is my opinion.”

“Yes,” Aras answered softly. “You are right, o king. I will take the matter to my own king.”

Koro nodded. He paused long enough to show he considered that the subject should turn. Then he said, “When I tell this story, this is how I will tell it.” He told it from beginning to end, setting every event properly in its place. This took a surprisingly short time. When he had finished, he asked us all, “Is this an accurate account of the way in which everything happened?”

Of course it was. Koro had been a poet for a long time before he became king. He knew exactly how to set a tale in order, even a complicated tale with many pieces. He nodded when we all agreed. Then he looked around the crowded tent. “Every poet here, stand up.”

Raga jumped up. The man sitting near Darra also stood up, as I had known he would. Three other men also got to their feet.

Koro said to them, “Everyone should tell this story just as it happened. Every tale changes as people tell it, and that will be so here as well, but not tonight or tomorrow. Let everyone first hear the tale exactly as it happened.” He looked around once more, then nodded. “Everyone may go,” he said. “If anyone wishes to speak to me regarding anything that happened today or regarding this tale we have heard just now, I will hear that person. Any other concern should wait for a later time.”

 -32-

No one spoke to my father, even after we left the great tent of our king. His expression was closed, and the way in which he looked at a man who tried to speak to him was so uninviting that this person, a respected inGara warrior who always had opinions about everything, changed his mind and walked away instead. Everyone walked away, heading for their own camps, where they would tell their own people everything they had heard and argue for a year over every detail of the story.

Hokino inKera gripped my arm hard for a moment before he walked away. He did not say anything. Neither did his brother Soro. No one spoke to me. I had no doubt that they both, and everyone else, would think of a great many things to say to each other regarding every possible matter very soon. I turned my thoughts from that as firmly as I could.

My father did not look at Aras now. He said to me, “My son, come with me.” He also signaled to Tano, a curt flick of one hand, with a little gesture that indicated Tano should also bring his brother. Then he nodded to Garoyo and added, “Come when you have given the necessary orders to safeguard our people.” Then he walked away, toward our own camp. I glanced at Garoyo, who lifted one shoulder in a tiny shrug and said, “Go.” He went to speak to some of our people, warriors, who had gone aside to wait for him. I made