Dindi
Dindi didn't think she would hear from Kavio for many days. But as the solstice came closer and she still heard nothing, she began to wonder if he had changed his mind.
Then the Summer Solstice arrived—seven days of feasting, drinking, and, for some, throwing up.
The Initiates joined the crowds of Yellow Bear on the Tor of the Sun to watch the Tavaedies perform the fertility dances. Dindi hoped she would be chosen again as a serving maid at the High Table, but she wasn't. Instead, Jensi made sure she sat beside Yodigo and Hadi. Jensi said this was to give Dindi a chance to "catch" Yodigo, but Jensi spent the whole evening talking to him herself. That left Dindi stuck listening to her cousin Hadi's complaints.
"Being a warrior isn't the glory they promised," Hadi grumbled. "All the best training is for the fancy Yellow Bear warriors or the Tavaedies. You know what they make guys like me do? Haul rocks. One guy is even tied to a rock. A huge one. You wouldn't believe it. And he drags it around everywhere. It's crazy."
After the Tavaedies danced, a messenger stepped forward. He was a Tavaedi from the Rainbow Labyrinth. Some of the Initiates giggled. He wore a costume with big fake breasts, hips padded with gourds under a cornhusk skirt, and a painted mask with long lashes and red lips.
Hadi burped. "Muck and mercy, that lady is a man!"
"Fa, Hadi, show some respect," Jensi scolded. "Can't you tell it's an Olani?"
Dindi had heard of the Olani—male Tavaedies who dressed as women—but she had only seen one or two before, and only from a distance. They often carried messages between clans and tribes.
The Olani held up a carved totem pole and sang, "I bring the Year's Name! Welcome the Year of the Snake Eating Its Tail!"
More Tavaedies rushed out, playing drums, while the crowd cheered and drank more beer. Strong, bare-chested men dragged in big tree trunks and began to carve them with stone tools.
The honor of naming the years belonged to the Rainbow Labryinth tribe. The Rainbow Labyrinth tribe still had the honor of Naming, even though they had no Vaedi right now.
The elders of the Rainbow Labyrinth looked for a Year Totem at the end of winter and held a Year-Naming Ceremony at the Spring Equinox Festival. Then they sent out messengers to all the other tribes. Usually, the other six tribes received the messengers by Midsummer, so for them the Year-Naming Ceremony was held on the Summer Solstice. The name would be carved into the calendar totems of all the clans and tribes.
Dindi once heard that during the war between Rainbow Labyrinth and Yellow Bear, under the Bone Whistler's rule, each tribe Named their own years. So today, some tribes still had different symbols for the same years. But many years from that period had no names at all and were simply called the Nameless Years.
This year, the omen had been a snake found dead, its tail in its mouth. So the year was called the Year of the Snake Eating Its Tail. The carving showed the same. People wondered if the omen meant something good—or something bad.
Then came the real surprise.
Another Olani arrived. He was also a messenger. He carried a slender staff, not a heavy totem. It was painted blue, white, and black, and topped with a crown of shells and rare shiny blue parrot feathers.
This Olani didn't wear fake breasts or a mask. In fact, he wore almost nothing—just a blue loincloth and a black harness with pearl decorations. His body was slim and strong, and his long black hair, braided with pearls, flowed down to his ankles.
When he spoke, his voice was low and sweet, like dark sugar.
"I bring the Staff of Peace from War Chief Nargano of the Blue Waters tribe."
At the High Table, Hertio stood.
"I accept the Staff of Peace. To speak of peace, I will send seven honored ones, with seven more to serve them. Kavio the Exile will lead them."
Dindi's heart sank.
Kavio would leave—without her. There would be no time for him to teach her.
As the crowd talked and cheered, and Jensi and Yodigo argued about whether the Blue Waters tribe could be trusted, Dindi sat quietly. She pushed her food around on her mat. She knew someone had worked hard to make the special treats, but she didn't feel hungry.
"Dindi."
She jumped. That voice—firm and sharp. She knew it well.
Brena stood over her.
Dindi jumped up, trying to figure out what she had done wrong this time.
"Dindi, you have been chosen to serve as a handmaiden for the peace party," Brena said. "Come now. I'll tell you what to pack. We leave at once."
He did it! Dindi thought. He found a way for us to be together.
Brena turned and marched away, forcing Dindi to hurry to catch up.
"We?" Dindi asked.
"Gwenika and I will go too," said Brena. She stopped so fast that Dindi bumped into her. Brena gave her a sharp look.
"Sorry," Dindi said quickly.
"Listen carefully," Brena said. "Zavaedi Danumoro chose my daughter because of her skill with healing. Gwenika needs help carrying her things. That's your job. You are to serve her, not lead her into trouble. Do you understand?"
"Yes," said Dindi.
"I will be watching you," Brena warned. "Like an owl watches a mouse on the roof. If you lie, play tricks, or do anything foolish, I will know. And it will not go well for you. Understand?"
"Owl. Mouse. Got it," said Dindi.
She tried to smile, but Brena just snorted and stormed ahead, as if she wished she could leave Dindi behind.
Dindi didn't care. She felt like singing.
Kavio had done it. He had made a way for them to stay together.
She skipped after Brena, full of joy.