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. I laughed, curious as to the meaning of the word, but Simus held out hisarm for me. Warprize. Keir growled, and swept me up into his arms, stomping out of the tent.I looked behind to see Simusrolling his eyes and following behind with Marcus.The sky was clear when we emerged and headed for the gathering area.The entire camp seemed to beheaded in that direction, everyone armed.It didn t look as if they were going to a dance.I wrapped myarms around Keir s neck. Will everyone be at the dance? No. Keir slowed his walk to allow Simus to catch up with us. The watches will rotate. His voicelowered. I believe you would call that a compromise. The flat area in front of the wooden platform had been cleared and the area was ringed with a circle ofunlit torches.We made our way onto the platform, and sat close to the front.There was no formality.Wetook our seats even as bodies milled in the space in front of the platform.Simus remained standing,looking off into the crowd.He laughed, then pointed. Here they come. Looking out, I could see that someone was being carried on a cot, much like Simus had been carried tothe senel.It was Atira, laying flat on the cot as some of her friends carried her through the crowd.Thestones had been removed, but her leg was still in a cast. Bring her up here. Keir called out, and the cot started to head toward the platform. Warprize! Atira called out when they drew nearer. Are you well? Very well.How s your leg? I asked, curious to see how the leather was holding up. It itches. She complained as they brought her cot up and placed it next to me, so that she had a goodview of the grounds. That grey one came and looked at it, and seemed pleased.Gils has been watchingit too. She smiled at me as she propped herself up. I m glad to see that you are well.Scared me to thesnows, let me tell you, you being attacked. She looked around.Keir was kneeling at the edge of theplatform, talking to a few of the warriors.She dropped her voice and continued. I managed to throw aknife and take one out, but got knocked to the ground before I could do more.It was the Warlord sraging that saved our hides. Were you there when he& I let my voice trail off, unsure how to ask the question. When he was standing over you? She rolled her eyes. Aye, half under my cot and fearing to breathe.I ve heard tell of battle rage, but never saw it before.Knew enough to lay still and quiet.Good thing youtalked him out, Warprize.Not something they can always do. She flashed me a grin. But never mindthat, there s a pattern dance to watch! Keir had risen to stand at the very edge. Would you see a pattern? AYE! Every voice seemed to shout, and cheering began.Keir held up a small wooden bowl. Iften, call the dancers forth. Marcus was behind us, wrapped deep in a cloak.He muttered something that I didn t hear, but that Iftenpicked up as he approached.There was anger on his face as Iften took the bowl from Keir s hands.Buthe moved off into the center of the field without a word.Iften held the bowl before him with both hands. Hear me! The crowd grew quiet. Heyla! Iften called out. Heyla! The crowd responded. Who would dance a pattern for us? From all around the circle, nine running figures emerged from the crowd, dashing up to Iften and placingsome sort of token in the bowl that he held.As they dropped in their tokens, they continued on,disappearing back into the crowd.The last one jumped up just before he reached the bowl and droppedthe token in with a flare, prompting laughter from the crowd.After a pause, Iften raised the bowl over hishead. Let the sky hear our voices. I was startled when a sound like a crack of thunder was heard, until I saw the drummers in the crowd,with large drums at their feet.Each had struck their drums once, and the vibration filled my ears. Let the earth feel our feet. Iften made a quarter turn to face another part of the crowd.Again the drumssounded. Let the wind sense our strength. He paused as the drums sounded in response. Let theflames see our patterns. He shouted, as he made another turn.This time, in addition to the drums, thetorches were lit.The crowd roared out with the drums at the last call, crying a tremendous heyla !Iften reached in and pulled a token from the bowl. Red, dance your pattern. He called, then moved offthe field.Again, runners emerged from the crowd.It was a group of ten men and women.They were dressed intunics and trous, with red headbands, and red streamers flowing behind them as they ran.They ran to thecenter of the field, and stood in a circle.There was a pause, then the drums began to beat a fast, steadymeasure.The dancers took one step forward, linked their arms, and began to dance.It didn t take me long to seewhat they were doing.I d been taught court dances when I was a child, and seen the romps and rills thatthe servants danced when they celebrated the harvest.But I had never seen anything like this before.They wove a pattern with their bodies, stepping in then out of the circle then around each other to formthe circle again.Just when I was sure they were coming to an end, from nowhere they produced woodensticks, like axe handles, and started to beat out a counter rhythm to the drums.On each other s sticks.I watched, amazed, waiting for someone to hit a hand or arm instead of the sticks.But the dancers neverseemed to miss a beat as they wove and pounded on each other.The crowd was yelling now, somecalling out encouragement and others yelling insults.The group formed two interlocking circles and wovetheir patterns together.As each passed the place where the circles joined, they had to beat out therhythms on the other sticks.I laughed with joy to see them move with no errors, in a perfect pattern. How do they do that? Simus laughed.Keir shot me an amused glance and responded. Practice.Lots of practice. The dancers were smiling, but I could see the concentration on their faces.I didn t know whether towatch their feet, or their hands, and ended up trying to watch it all at once.Finally, just when I wasconvinced that fatigue would start to set in, the dancers all cried out at once, spun in place to wind theirstreamers around their bodies, and stood frozen, spaced evenly in a circle, facing inwards [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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. I laughed, curious as to the meaning of the word, but Simus held out hisarm for me. Warprize. Keir growled, and swept me up into his arms, stomping out of the tent.I looked behind to see Simusrolling his eyes and following behind with Marcus.The sky was clear when we emerged and headed for the gathering area.The entire camp seemed to beheaded in that direction, everyone armed.It didn t look as if they were going to a dance.I wrapped myarms around Keir s neck. Will everyone be at the dance? No. Keir slowed his walk to allow Simus to catch up with us. The watches will rotate. His voicelowered. I believe you would call that a compromise. The flat area in front of the wooden platform had been cleared and the area was ringed with a circle ofunlit torches.We made our way onto the platform, and sat close to the front.There was no formality.Wetook our seats even as bodies milled in the space in front of the platform.Simus remained standing,looking off into the crowd.He laughed, then pointed. Here they come. Looking out, I could see that someone was being carried on a cot, much like Simus had been carried tothe senel.It was Atira, laying flat on the cot as some of her friends carried her through the crowd.Thestones had been removed, but her leg was still in a cast. Bring her up here. Keir called out, and the cot started to head toward the platform. Warprize! Atira called out when they drew nearer. Are you well? Very well.How s your leg? I asked, curious to see how the leather was holding up. It itches. She complained as they brought her cot up and placed it next to me, so that she had a goodview of the grounds. That grey one came and looked at it, and seemed pleased.Gils has been watchingit too. She smiled at me as she propped herself up. I m glad to see that you are well.Scared me to thesnows, let me tell you, you being attacked. She looked around.Keir was kneeling at the edge of theplatform, talking to a few of the warriors.She dropped her voice and continued. I managed to throw aknife and take one out, but got knocked to the ground before I could do more.It was the Warlord sraging that saved our hides. Were you there when he& I let my voice trail off, unsure how to ask the question. When he was standing over you? She rolled her eyes. Aye, half under my cot and fearing to breathe.I ve heard tell of battle rage, but never saw it before.Knew enough to lay still and quiet.Good thing youtalked him out, Warprize.Not something they can always do. She flashed me a grin. But never mindthat, there s a pattern dance to watch! Keir had risen to stand at the very edge. Would you see a pattern? AYE! Every voice seemed to shout, and cheering began.Keir held up a small wooden bowl. Iften, call the dancers forth. Marcus was behind us, wrapped deep in a cloak.He muttered something that I didn t hear, but that Iftenpicked up as he approached.There was anger on his face as Iften took the bowl from Keir s hands.Buthe moved off into the center of the field without a word.Iften held the bowl before him with both hands. Hear me! The crowd grew quiet. Heyla! Iften called out. Heyla! The crowd responded. Who would dance a pattern for us? From all around the circle, nine running figures emerged from the crowd, dashing up to Iften and placingsome sort of token in the bowl that he held.As they dropped in their tokens, they continued on,disappearing back into the crowd.The last one jumped up just before he reached the bowl and droppedthe token in with a flare, prompting laughter from the crowd.After a pause, Iften raised the bowl over hishead. Let the sky hear our voices. I was startled when a sound like a crack of thunder was heard, until I saw the drummers in the crowd,with large drums at their feet.Each had struck their drums once, and the vibration filled my ears. Let the earth feel our feet. Iften made a quarter turn to face another part of the crowd.Again the drumssounded. Let the wind sense our strength. He paused as the drums sounded in response. Let theflames see our patterns. He shouted, as he made another turn.This time, in addition to the drums, thetorches were lit.The crowd roared out with the drums at the last call, crying a tremendous heyla !Iften reached in and pulled a token from the bowl. Red, dance your pattern. He called, then moved offthe field.Again, runners emerged from the crowd.It was a group of ten men and women.They were dressed intunics and trous, with red headbands, and red streamers flowing behind them as they ran.They ran to thecenter of the field, and stood in a circle.There was a pause, then the drums began to beat a fast, steadymeasure.The dancers took one step forward, linked their arms, and began to dance.It didn t take me long to seewhat they were doing.I d been taught court dances when I was a child, and seen the romps and rills thatthe servants danced when they celebrated the harvest.But I had never seen anything like this before.They wove a pattern with their bodies, stepping in then out of the circle then around each other to formthe circle again.Just when I was sure they were coming to an end, from nowhere they produced woodensticks, like axe handles, and started to beat out a counter rhythm to the drums.On each other s sticks.I watched, amazed, waiting for someone to hit a hand or arm instead of the sticks.But the dancers neverseemed to miss a beat as they wove and pounded on each other.The crowd was yelling now, somecalling out encouragement and others yelling insults.The group formed two interlocking circles and wovetheir patterns together.As each passed the place where the circles joined, they had to beat out therhythms on the other sticks.I laughed with joy to see them move with no errors, in a perfect pattern. How do they do that? Simus laughed.Keir shot me an amused glance and responded. Practice.Lots of practice. The dancers were smiling, but I could see the concentration on their faces.I didn t know whether towatch their feet, or their hands, and ended up trying to watch it all at once.Finally, just when I wasconvinced that fatigue would start to set in, the dancers all cried out at once, spun in place to wind theirstreamers around their bodies, and stood frozen, spaced evenly in a circle, facing inwards [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]