30, The funeral

Ayya stood at Tariana’s side just outside the group of tents. The clan had received word that the first chief from another clan was near. Ceran’s family had gathered, with Cetu in the middle, in front of the rest of the clan. Ayya had questioned if she should stand with the rest of the clan, but Cetu had told her that his father had considered her family and so did he. It had moved Ayya since she never had figured out what Cetu thought of her or her presence in the clan. Beruda had tutted at her question and told her she should prepare to be included in all family activities during the funeral. That was why she now was standing next to Tariana to welcome the other chief. All in all, there were twelve clans, including Cetu’s. They were expecting the eleven other chiefs to arrive during the morning. If they didn’t come, it would be seen as a great insult. During the morning, the chiefs came one after one. All eleven of them greeted Cetu as the new chief, offered their condolences and then set up their own tents. It transformed the small cluster of tents to something that more resembled a small city. The mood was friendly, but sombre. Ayya noticed that the chiefs, ever so subtle, were trying to show of their horses to the other clans. She understood that they all had brought the best horses for the occasion. When everyone had arrived and had set up their tents, Cetu’s clan arranged for a communal meal that was eaten outside with the guests and the clan. As the evening before, the topic of the conversation was Ceran. But while the family dinner had been about sharing personal memories of him, this time it was focused about him as chief, him as an official person. After the meal, they split up and everyone went back to their tents. They started preparing for the funeral. The women in the family gathered and helped each other braid the hair into two braids on either side of the head that met in the neck from where the hair flowed freely down the back. Into the braids strips of Ceran’s tent were braided. Once they were done, Beruda and her daughters dressed in blood red dresses and took off their boots. Ayya and Tariana remained in their white dresses with red armbands, but they also removed their boots. 

The air was frosty, and the ground was frozen as everyone gathered at a small tent on the edge of the camp. Ayya was reminded of her first visit. It had been on a day just like this one. From the tent, Tenac, Cetu, Nontuf and Cetu’s younger son emerged. They were carrying the wrapped body of Ceran between them. The people parted as they started walking, letting them pass through the group of tents. The family and Ayya followed close behind them. After them came the other chiefs and then the clan. As they walked, the clan chanted in Heulu. 

“You were one of us. You followed the horses across the plain. You will be remembered by us. You will become one with the plain.”

Ayya listened to the chant as they made their way through the camp and up on a hill. On top of it, a pyre was built and on top of the pyre, a tent was folded to resemble the bedding the Che’hul used to sleep on. The four men carefully placed Ceran’s body on the tent. They each took out something small, wrapped in red cloth, and placed it next to him on the pyre. Ayya knew it was tradition for everyone to give a parting gift to the deceased person in Che’hul tradition. The family all stepped up and placed something on the pyre. Ayya had baked Ceran’s favourite treats and wrapped them up. She placed them on the pyre and hoped he would enjoy them wherever he was heading. She stood to the side with the family as the rest of the people that had gathered placed their gifts on the pyre. In the end, Ceran’s body was surrounded by red parcels. Ayya knew it was now her turn to do the part Tariana had asked her to handle. Cetu looked at her and she nodded. Together, they walked up to the pyre. 

“I am Ayyanapia Teeran, protector of the white rose of Treenia. I am here as a representative of the aari. Ceran was a great friend to us, as is his clan. It is with sadness that we see him off to his last rest, but with honour we greet the new chief Cetu. We hope his time will be as great as his fathers,” Ayya said in Heulu. She bowed at Cetu before turning to the pyre. “As a parting gift to Ceran, the aari gives the blessing of the five elements of magic. May they serve him on his path.”

Ayya let a circle of soil appear around the pyre, about knee high. At the top of it was a furrow that she filled with water. The outside of the low wall suddenly was covered with small white flowers as she used her life magic to make them bloom despite the cold winter day. A gust of wind, that she summoned, ruffled them and made loose petals swirl around the pyre. Then she turned towards Cetu again. He was holding an unlit torch in his hand. Ayya used her magic to light it and stood by his side as he lit the pyre. Together, they walked back to the family and joined them to stand watch as the pyre burned. Both Ayya and Tariana added energy to the fire, making it burn hot and fast, a sign of good fortune and a sign that the dead were happy with their life and send-off. They stood watching and looking out over the herd in the background as the day turned to evening and then into night. At some point, food was passed around and a lighter meal was eaten. It was long past midnight as the pyre finally went out. Only embers remained as Ayya used her magic to let the walls of soil grow to form a little mound covered in white flowers. The clan and the visitors split up into smaller groups, all headed to their tents. Ayya saw Tenac walk towards the herd. She knew what he was planning. She walked back to Cetu’s tent with Tariana and Kopa. When they reach the tent, Ayya gathered some blankets and put on boots. Tariana handed her Tenac’s boots without a word, and Ayya headed out again. She found Tenac standing next to Addon and Estrela. The two horses stood a little away from the rest. Ayya held out Tenac’s boots to him.

“You will get frostbite if you continue to stand around barefoot,” she said. He took the boots and put them on.

“Thanks.”

“Do you want to be alone with Addon?” she asked. There was silence for a while. Ayya didn’t rush him. She remembered the turmoil the grief brought with it. She remembered how her father had been patient with her when she grieved her parents and how comforted it had made her feel.

“No, I just don’t have a lot to say,” Tenac told her. 

“That’s okay,” she said. Ayya walked to a hill, followed by Tenac and the two horses. She put blankets on the ground as Tenac had done their first night on the plains and sat down with him. She took the two blankets she had left and made sure they both covered them. Then they sat in silence, Addon and Estrela gracing next to them, looking out over the herd and eventually watching the sun colour the sky in soft apricot and pink hues. 

“I’m sorry I have kept you up all night,” Tenac said as they got up to head back for breakfast. 

“I liked it. It was a good way to say goodbye,” Ayya told him.

“Do you think your dad will kill me for keeping you out?” he asked with half a smile. Ayya was relieved to see it play on his lips.

“I don’t think so. He would have come and found me if he objected too much,” Ayya told him. They walked back to the tents, the horses stopped just outside the camp. No one commented on their absents when they returned. They just sat down and had breakfast. Tenac’s uncle asked to talk to him afterwards, and Ayya and Tariana joined Beruda as she talked to some of the visiting chiefs’ wives. Tariana didn’t speak Heulu, so everyone used Salamis. The morning was filled with gossip, and Ayya learned Nontuf had asked a woman for her hand in marriage. She was apparently a niece to one of the chiefs. 

“Is she the one that he has been interested in for so long?” Ayya asked Beruda when it was just the three of them. Beruda and Tariana exchanged an amused look.

“No. Thankfully, he has got over that. It was always a pipe dream. He is really fond of Houama, I think they will be happy,” Beruda said. She sounded proud and happy.

“I’m happy to hear that,” Ayya said. They were walking through the camp and Ayya could feel how the mood had changed from the previous day. It wasn’t that the clan had forgotten Ceran, or that they didn’t mourn him. But there was a sense of coming to terms with the new way and moving forward. Her father came into her view and Ayya almost jumped. She had forgotten he was there, which was a new feeling for her. She rarely was around him when he acted in his official role as the Lady’s bodyguard. Even when Ayya was around him and Tariana, it was mostly in private settings. It definitely felt strange to have him hover around without calling attention to himself. Ayya saw Tenac standing and looking out over the herd. Something looked off about him. She excused herself from the others and joined him. 

“What’s up?” she asked. He looked at her.

“Nothing,” he said.

“If you don’t want to tell me, just say so. But I’m not buying that it’s nothing. And before you even say it, it has nothing to do with your grandfather either,” she told him.

“How do you know? Are you suddenly a mind reader?” 

“Nope, haven’t mastered that one yet. Not sure if I even want to try. Imagine what you would see, no thank you. I’m just a Tenac reader,” she said. He looked at her again and then he chuckled.