Stone of Tears

As they walked past, large fires roared and crackled in the center of the field, warming one side of her with their heat. Men proudly wore their finest skins, and women their brightest dresses. All had their hair freshly slicked down with sticky mud. Woven trays of tava bread, roasted peppers, onions, long beans, cabbage, cucumber and beets, bowls of stewed meats, fish, and chicken, as well as platters of boar and venison, were carried by young women from the cook fires to people gathered at various shelters. The whole village was in joyful celebration to welcome the ancestors” spirits.

Savidlin stood at their approach, welcoming them onto the elders” platform. He looked dignified with his official coyote hide around his shoulders. The Bird Man and the other elders gave the two of them smiles and nods. As soon as she and Richard sat cross-legged, the young women brought woven trays and platters of food. They both took pieces of tava bread and rolled them around peppers, careful to put them to their mouths with the right hand only. A boy brought pottery mugs and a jug of water mildly flavored with spices.

When he was satisfied they were comfortably settled, the Bird Man nodded to a group of women at a nearby shelter. Kahlan knew what this meant. The women were special cooks, the only ones allowed to prepare the banquet specialties. Richard’s eyes watched as one of them came with a woven platter filled with dried meat, neatly arranged in a circular pattern. He gave no sign of his feelings.

There would be no gathering if he didn’t eat this meat. Worse, this was not just any meat. She knew, though, that he was determined, and would eat it.

The woman bowed her head, holding the platter out to the Bird Man, and then the other elders. After each took some, she offered it to the elders” wives. A few took a piece. She turned and held the platter out to Richard. He looked at it a moment, and then reached up and took one of the larger pieces. He held it in his fingers, looking at it as the woman left after Kahlan declined the offer.

“I know it is difficult for you,” the Bird Man said to Richard, “but it is necessary for you to have the knowledge of our enemies.”

Richard pulled off a big bite with his teeth. “The way is the way.” He chewed and swallowed without showing any emotion. He looked off into the distance. “Who is it?”

The Bird Man watched him a moment after Richard looked back to him. “It is the man you killed.”

“I see.”

He took another bite. He had taken a big piece, and was eating the whole thing to show them his determination to have the gathering, to show them that despite the warning from the spirits, he was resolved to go through with it. He watched the dancers as he chewed, washing each swallow down with a drink from his mug. The elders” platform was an isolated island of quiet in the sweep of noise and activity.

Richard abruptly stopped chewing. His eyes widened. He sat up straighten His head snapped around to the elders.

“Where’s Chandalen?”

They looked at one another after studying his face a moment.

Richard sprang to his feet. “Where’s Chandalen!”

“He is here, somewhere,” the Bird Man said.

“Find him! Right now! Bring him here!”

The Bird Man sent one of the nearby hunters to search. Richard hopped down off the platform without a word and went to the shelter with the banquet cooks. He found the woman with the platter of meat and took a piece.

Kahlan turned to the Bird Man. “do you have any idea what is going on?”

He nodded solemnly. “He has had a vision; a vision from our enemies” flesh. It happens sometimes. That is why we do this—to know what is in our enemies” hearts.”

Richard returned and paced back and forth in front of the elders” platform, waiting.

“Richard, what is it? What do you see?”

He stopped pacing. The expression on his face was agitated. “Trouble.” He resumed his pacing. She asked what sort of trouble, but he didn’t seem to even notice the question.

At last the hunter returned with Chandalen and his men.

“What would make Richard With The Temper ask for me?”

Richard shoved the piece of meat at him. “Eat this. Tell me what you see.”

Chandalen watched Richard’s eyes as he ate the strip of dried meat. Richard went back to his impatient pacing, pulling off another bite with his teeth. He chewed and paced.

Finally he could wait no longer. “Well? What do you see?”

Chandalen watched warily. “An enemy.”

Richard let out an exasperated breath. “Who was this man? From what people?”

“He was Bantak, from the east.”

Kahlan jumped up. “Bantak!” She hopped down off the platform and stood next to Richard. “Bantak are peaceful They would never attack anyone. It is against their way.”

“He was a Bantak,” Chandalen repeated. “He had black painted on his eyes. He attacked us.” He redirected his gaze to Richard. “At least, that is what Richard With The Temper claims.”

Richard went back to pacing. They’re coming,” he muttered. He stopped and grabbed Chandalen by the shoulders. “They’re coming! They’re coming to attack the Mud People!”