69. Qah @Lurah
Far-nah-sol had crested to midday when two riders were spotted. They rode the flanks of the southward dunes, one on a camel, the other a horse. Luht and Emrah made the camp by early afternoon. I watched from the canyon’s mouth as they rode in. Emrah handed off his horse’s reins and walked up to the nah’s tent. Still stone-faced, Luht rode past me into the canyon. I saw no lamp.
I wanted to hear Emrah’s report myself, but I had to hurry back to my charges. I had left them alone with Qahf. It seemed little enough risk. Quibble had given me her knife, and she assured me that the Aht-ri, nearly blind, was immune to the magic of her Djer-stone in any event.
Why do you trust her? I wondered as I rode Qeht-qahlif to the tents of the Wahn.
But I found them just where I had left them, chatting amiably with the ri at a fire. Only now, I discovered, they had an audience. Two more Aht had joined them. Around the pentagon of sitting talkers, loosely ringed, were others, standing or sitting, listening. With Nuah translating, Quibble was telling a long story. Her story.
I sat and listened.
She did not tell it all in one part but occasionally stopped and gave im. Talk went around in im. Some commented; all except Nuah asked questions. Getting im, Quibble answered them. She recalled their questions and her prior words perfectly, as if she read all that was said from a scroll in her mind. She gave clear answers. I felt myself to be left in no misapprehensions about her tale, which she now resumed.
A throng was gathering. Quibble nodded to me once, after giving im. When im returned to her, she asked if I wished to join the talkers in a hexagon. I held up my hand and stayed where I was.
The magic of the Djer in Quibble’s tale was mysterious. Looking into the eyes of uhn-qah as Nuah translated only doubled the mystery. In places, it was a ghost story, a tale of uhn-qah, and then those eyes were a frightful visage. They engrossed the hearer, though. So I did not notice anyone creeping up on me.
“It’s quite a tale, isn’t it, sah?” Asreh whispered in Djer.
I shifted in the sand, making space for her.
“You have heard it?” I said in Far.
“Last night,” the jah said, “when you were spying on the nah for us.”
“Ah. The Qeht told you the law’s disposition.”
“You are on our side, too.”
“I wish people would stop speaking of sides. I am a sah, learned in the law. Also, I have hel.”
“Hel would recall my mother’s—”
“I recall her kindnesses well! It does not matter. Nefri knew that for the law to be im, the sah can take no sides in disputes. I wish I could, but I cannot advise you, Asreh. I can only bear witness to facts and explain the law. Now let me hear the Qeht’s tale.”
My focus was broken, though. I let my eyes wander the throng. Turning where I sat, I noted Luht lurking, further back, afoot. Also, the jah of the Halim was moving at the back of the crowd, person to person, peering into faces. She stopped and spoke with a couple. After what could have been but few words, the couple turned and left. The jah moved on, seeking.
“Asreh, something is about to happen,” I whispered in Djer.
“What is it, Lurah?”
“I do not know, but it is happening here.”
She took the hint. “I’ll go find Hnefn.”
Surreptitiously, I watched Asreh leave. She knew not to run. Luht did not follow her. He scratched his beard as he gazed at the talkers.
More people were arriving. Fathers quickly sought out their children and herded them homeward. Other new arrivals mingled with Quibble’s listeners, spoke to them. A couple stopped a departing Halim and gave him im, but rather than return it, he ran off. The couple looked around in confusion, then hurried after him. People nearby took note and began to rise and walk away.
I needed to move before the whole crowd of listeners was leaving in droves. I got to my feet, glanced behind me for Luht. He was already to my left, shouldering people aside as he moved with purpose towards the talkers. I pressed forward against the tide of departing people. Everyone was now on their feet, and with the crowd’s movement, I could catch only brief glimpses of the pentagon. A din of voices was rising.
I dashed forward, weaving. I reached the pentagon just as Luht walked between the talkers sitting opposite Quibble. I sprang over someone’s head into the midst of the pentagon, almost landed in the small fire, and spun to face Luht. Loosing my sword in its sheath but not yet drawing it out, I shouted, “Nahli-sah!”
The listeners were panicking and running away now. Luht took a step. I pulled my sword halfway out, baring steel. The talkers Luht walked between rose and moved to flank me, also barring his way.
