Two Rivers by Zoe Saadia Page B

it’s time you correct your ways and start walking the
straight path.”
    The others were peering into their bowls, uncomfortable with
such an open reprimand. Two Rivers was not a youth of no significance to be
scolded so openly, and in front of many of his peers.
    He tried to appear as calm as he could. “I appreciate your
advice, Honorable Elder. I will try to follow it, of course, but I do not think
I’ve been presumptuous or obtrusive. I appreciate our old ways, our customs and
traditions, as much as anyone, more than some.”
    He watched Iraquas and the other young men diving into the
melee, their faces shining, glittering with sweat, the exhaustion brought
earlier by the War Dance forgotten. Why didn’t he have enough sense to join
them from the beginning?
    “You were heard saying that this impending raid on the Rock
People’s villages is futile,” pressed the elder, eyes squinting.
    Two Rivers cursed inwardly, glancing at the surrounding faces,
surprised, caught unprepared by the sudden interrogation.
    “Yes, I do not think we should war on these people. They were
not our enemies until the beginning of the cold moons.” He shrugged, angered by
their stony gazes. “We have enough enemies to war against.”
    “You doubt the decision of your War Chief and the leaders of
the town, yet you participated in the War Dance.”
    “I will never attempt to avoid my duty, even if I doubt the
advisability of the mission.”
    The elder man shook his head. “You are arrogant, son, and your
self-assurance knows no bounds. In small amounts, such confidence is good in a
warrior and a future leader. One should always listen to one’s heart. Yet, in
your case, it’s a trouble because you hear nothing but your own words. You
respect neither your elders nor your peers’ opinions. You put your own opinions
before anyone else’s.” The man’s frown deepened. “It will bring no good,
neither to you nor to our community.”
    He fought the familiar frustration, making tremendous efforts
to stay calm. There was nothing new in this lecture. He had heard it too often,
coming from all sorts of sources.
    “I do appreciate your advice,” he repeated politely, anxious to
escape. “I will try to correct my ways.”
    Or to avoid your company , he thought, enraged. He may
have been guilty of listening to no one but himself, but so were many of the
leaders, this particular elder, the member of the Town Council, included. No
wonder the councils could never reach an agreement without verbal fights, or
worse, he thought, standing the heavy gaze, trying to appear as humble as he
could. One was not to argue with the elders, but to receive their reprimands
with humility and gratitude.
    Luckily, more people approached them, leaving the emptying pot
of stew, and the angry elder’s attention was taken away. Avoiding their gazes,
Two Rivers got to his feet, as though intending to fill his plate, changing his
direction and sneaking toward the dancing circle the moment his intention was
not too obvious.
    The annoying man, he thought, seething. To scold him in public
and in such a manner, as though he had been a stubborn, petulant child. He
stifled a curse. One thing was good about this impending raid. He would have an
opportunity to leave the town and its confusing affairs. Half a moon with no
preaching elders and disappointed leaders, what an alluring prospect!
    “So, the old warriors managed to gather some of their strength
back.” Iraquas’ round face beamed at him, glittering with sweat and the smeared
paint. “I thought you were going to sit there and talk for the whole night,
oh-honorable-elderly man.”
    “Thought you, the youngsters, might need some backing up.”
Still upset, Two Rivers forced a smile, but refused to join the outer circle.
“In a little while,” he said, waving his friend away.
    The observers such as himself were more numerous than the
dancers at this stage of the night, but the girl from the Porcupine Clan