“I will return,” she said. “First, I must think.”
Once outside the command circle, Nukurren found a number of gukuy waiting. For her, she realized. And one demon.
Most of the gukuy present were barbarian tribespeople, but there were three Pilgrims, as well, and one she thought was a swamp-dweller. She recognized one of the Pilgrims, although she did not know her name. Long ago, the Pilgrim had been a warrior in the Anshac legions, and Nukurren remembered seeing her from time to time in the Warrior’s Square.
She made the gesture of recognition, and apologized for not remembering the Pilgrim’s name.
“I am Rurroc, Nukurren.”
“When did you leave the legions?”
“Not until we sought refuge in the Chiton. But I had long been a follower of Ushulubang. Since shortly after you and Dhowifa fled Shakutulubac.”
“Why did you become a Pilgrim?”
“Because of you.”
For a moment, Nukurren’s shoroku almost wavered.
“Because of me?”
The gesture of assent. “Yes, Nukurren. Many warriors joined the Pilgrims after you fled. At least double-eight that I know of.” Sensing Nukurren’s puzzlement, Rurroc continued: “It was because we thought it was very unjust.”
“Why? I was a deserter. And I stole one of the Paramount Mother’s husbands.”
The gesture of dismissal. “Not that. Everything that went before.”
Nukurren was silent for a moment. Finally, she said, “I had not realized anyone cared.”
“Many cared, Nukurren. But it was impossible to tell you, then. You were not easy to approach.”
Nukurren thought back to the past, and, grudgingly, admitted to herself that Rurroc was possibly right. She had, perhaps—
One of the Kiktu whistled amusement. Nukurren stared at her. She had recognized the warrior at once, of course.
“What do you find so humorous, Kokokda?” she demanded, speaking in Kiktu.
“You! There you are, pondering Rurroc’s words. `Perhaps I was a mite touchy.’ `Possibly I was, just a tiny bit’—what is a good Enagulishuc word, Dzhenushkunutushen?”
The demon laughed. “How about `prickly’?” The demon explained the term, while all the warriors practiced pronouncing it. Their efforts were made difficult by the fact that most of them were whistling gleefully.
Throughout, of course, Nukurren maintained her shoroku. But, at the end, she too joined in the humor.
“I suppose I have been, perhaps, just a trace—purrikkulai.”
She made the gesture of welcome to Kokokda.
“I am pleased to see that you have survived.”
“I owe it to you, Nukurren,” replied Kokokda. There was no trace of humor in her tone now. “Had it not been for the lesson you gave me long ago, I would also have become as foolish as the clan leaders. It was a hard lesson, but well worth it.”
“Hard?” demanded Nukurren. “Foolish sp—what is the Enagulishuc word for `spawn’?”
“Child,” replied Dzhenushkunutushen. “The plural is children. Boy, if male. Girl, if female.”
“Foolish dzhiludh. Very stupid gurrul. That lesson was not hard. The beaks of Utuku at the victory feast are hard. The flail tips of Anshac legions are hard. Helotry is hard. Slavery is hard. Life is hard. The universe is hard.”
Again, the group of warriors whistled. When the humor died down, Nukurren scrutinized them carefully. Nukurren knew one of the other Kiktu personally. She had spent a pleasant afternoon in Ipapo’s company, long ago, during the time when she and Dhowifa lived in exile among the Kiktu. She made the gesture of recognition, which Ipapo returned.
Nukurren now examined Aktako. She had seen the Kiktu warrior, but had never spoken to her. Dhowifa said she was Kopporu’s lover as well as the chief of her personal guard. Aktako was the oldest gukuy present, and not particularly large. But Nukurren sensed instantly that she was a deadly warrior. Aktako stared back at her, and the two veterans exchanged an unspoken, ungestured, recognition.
Whether she knew them personally or not, they all had one thing in common, which was immediately obvious to Nukurren’s experienced eye. They were the toughest veterans at Kopporu’s disposal.
Tough enough, I think. Aktako certainly. And, of course, Ipapo. And Kokokda as well, if she has truly learned her lesson. Which she must have, or she would not be here. The others? Yes, I believe so.