ICE BURIAL: The Oldest Human Murder Mystery (The Mother People Series Book 3) (16 page)

Sorlin went to Rofina and sat beside her.
“
Rofina,
”
she said quietly,
“
w
e have come to help you. Will you come with us?
”

Rofina looked up. Her face was tense, drained of color, and there were beads of sweat on her forehead. Her hands shook badly as she raised them to push back her pale hair.
“
I must go back,
”
she said helplessly.
“
I must...
”

“
It will be all right,
”
Sorlin soothed her.
“
I
will give you some herbs that will make you feel better.
”

Rofina
’s
face lit up and she held out her shaking hands eagerly.
“
You have the herbs? He said someone would give them to me but I did not know it was you.
”

A wave of pity engulfed Sorlin. Her guess had been accurate. Did Mara know, or her mother? She hoped they did. The shock would be terrible if they did not.

“
This will help you,
”
was all she said to Rofina. Rummaging in her pack, she brought out some sleeping herbs. That would have to do for the moment. But someone must alert Runor. Once she understood, she would know how to help.

“
We must have a fire,
”
she told
the two men.
“
I must make her a potion,
must
let these herbs steep for a time.
”
Durak
and Hular
looked at her curiously but did not argue. Sorlin knew a great deal about herbs and medicines.

“
I will find a sheltered place below
where we can make a fire
,
”
Durak
said
,
shivering in the wind.
“
It is
too
cold up here by the lake.

When he had found a good spot,
they
carried Rofina down the slope to the pallet of dry grass and pine needles they had built for her in the hollow. She sank down gratefully, her eyes fastened on the herbs in Sorlin
’s
fingers.

“
It will be ready soon,
”
Sorlin assured her
, nursing the fire.

“
That is good,
”
Rofina said, when the infusion was cool enough for her to drink.
“
I thank you.
”
Lying down again, she closed her eyes. Her face was peaceful once again. Durak covered her with an extra fur from his pack. When he was certain she was asleep he turned to Sorlin.

“
You must tell me what is wrong with her,
”
he said grimly.

“
Have you eaten since last night?
”
Sorlin
’s
voice was sharp.
“
I can see that you have not,
”
she added, glancing at his face.

Hular drew some chunks of baked grains from his pack and a wedge of cheese made from the milk of goats and handed them silently to Durak.

“
I am not certain, because I have seen this only once before,
”
Sorlin began when Durak had eaten a little.
“
It is the poppies, I think; I have seen them in the big field, though I had not expected them to grow here, in the mountains.
”

“
The poppies?
”
Durak was astounded.

Sorlin nodded.
“
It is possible they gave her an infusion that is made from their seeds, to help her after her child was taken. A few people, and I think Rofina is one, begin to crave this substance and then they cannot live without it.
”

“
It is a terrible thing,
”
she added soberly.
“
The person cannot sleep, cannot eat,
and cannot
rest, until the craving is satisfied. But then, for a time, they may not be aware of what they do; they become another person almost...
”

“
As she was last night,
”
Durak interrupted.
“
That was not Rofina. That was someone I do not know.
”

“
Yes,
”
Sorlin agreed.

“
But then what happens?
”
Hular asked.
“
Must they have it again and again, or can this craving be stopped?
”

Sorlin shook her head.
“
I do not know. Of this I have no experience. We must ask Runor. Surely, she will know. It would be best to bring her here, I think.
”

“
Yes, that would be best,
”
Durak agreed.
“
I will go back for her.
”

“
I will go,
”
Hular offered.
“
You should stay here with Rofina. I will bring Mara, too. She might be able to help.

“
We may not be able to return until the sun is high tomorrow,
”
he added with a worried frown.
“
Runor does not walk well, and she may need to gather herbs.
”

“
I will stay with Durak until you return,
”
Sorlin assured him.
“
I have more of the sleeping potion if it is needed to calm her.
”

“
I thank you, Hular,
”
Durak said to his friend, clasping his hand.
“
Tell Mara and Runor I am sorry I left without them. When Rofina agreed to come with me I dared not stop long enough even to find them.
”

“
I will tell them,
”
Hular promised, and set out along the path.

He found Runor and Mara in their hut.
“
Rofina has left with Durak,
”
he told them quickly, seeing the worry in their eyes.
“
He dared not stop to tell you lest she change her mind again. But
R
ofina
is shaking and weeping. Sorlin – she is one of the traders and she knows very much of herbs and their uses - thinks... she thinks...
”

He stopped uncertainly. To tell them of Sorlin
’s
suspicions seemed so cruel, yet somehow he must manage it.

Runor sighed heavily and turned away. She knew already what Hular would say, but she wished Mara did not have to hear. Once she did, the anger would come, and then the hatred. That these emotions warped the soul she knew only too well.

“
I will prepare some medicines and take them to her,
”
she said quietly, hoping to postpone further discussion.

“
They are just beyond the pass,
”
Hular answered.
“
I will show you the way.
”

Mara looked at him curiously.
“
Will you help me get water for the medicines?
”

Hular nodded and followed her from the hut. Mara did not speak again until they came to the stream, where the noise of the rushing water would cover her voice.

“
You must tell me,
”
she said, gazing at him severely.

Hular looked into her dark eyes and found them too intense, too demanding, to resist. He told her about the poppies, then, more hesitantly, about the scene last night.
“
I do not think Rofina knew what she was doing,
”
he finished.
“S
he did not remember, Durak said.
”

“
No. I suppose she did not.
”
Anger came into Mara
’s
face, made it hard and rigid.
“
How can they can do such things!
”
she hissed furiously.
“
They have made her as she is, by giving her too much of this potion, then taking it away so she must beg, so they can make her do as they wish... It is monstrous; truly, it is monstrous....
”

Grabbing her water jug,
Mara
marched back to the hut and faced Runor.
“
You cannot hide this from me any longer,
”
she said angrily.
“
Hular told me and anyway I had guessed something of the kind. Only I did not know... I did not know anyone could be so cruel, so willing to hurt, to use another for... for what?
”

Her voice rose to a wail, and she turned away, her features contorted with pain. For a moment Hular thought she was going to weep, but she did not. Instead, her face hardened again, and now he saw only determination in her eyes.

Mara
turned to her mother.
“
You must tell us how we can help Rofina,
”
she said in quieter tones.
“
That is most important now.
”

“
Yes,
”
Runor
agreed, though she was not sure it was true. What was most important now was Mara, that the corrosive bitterness did not reach her soul.

How strange it was, Runor thought sadly, that she herself had planted the poppies that now held Rofina in their terrible grip. She had brought them from the south, had persuaded them to grow in the protected meadow so she could help people in pain. Nothing relieved pain as well as the oil from poppies. Now, they were being used not to heal, as she had intended, but to destroy.

“
You can collect some of the poppies and bring them to me,
”
she said finally.
“
We can prepare them tonight. Rofina must be weaned from them, as a child is weaned from its mother
’s
milk.
”

Mara nodded.
“
I will get them. We can go together to find Rofina and tend to her.
”
Her lips tightened harshly.
“
But after that...
”
She stopped abruptly.

“
After that, I must find
Zena
and tell her what has happened,
”
Mara continued
, but Runor was certain that was not what she had first intended to say.

“
Zena
must know,
”
Mara insisted, as if aware of her mother
’s
suspicion.
“
To stop Korg and the Leader is even more important now, lest they harm others as they have harmed Rofina. Perhaps Hular will help me to look for
Zena
.

“
Now, we must get the poppies,
”
she finished. Picking up a large basket, she headed for the meadow. Hular followed.

Runor watched them leave
,
then she went to the place where she had hidden the Goddess. Like Hular, she had seen the determination in Mara
’s
eyes. The words Mara had not spoken worried her even more. What Mara had really meant to say was:
After that will come the revenge.

Pulling the Goddess into her arms, Runor spoke in a strong voice, uncaring of who might hear.
“
Great Mother, giver of all life, hear me now. All my life
I have tried to
live by Your words
;
even when all others have forgotten
I
have held You in my heart
. But no
w
I must follow my own heart, must do what has to be done, les
t Mara, too,
be forced to live in fear.
I will not let her be
turn
ed
her to stone as I have been turned to stone
, let her strength be drained from her as mine has been drained
from me. She must not be forced
to fight
to live, to speak, even to hear Your voice.
No, Great Goddess,
it must not be.
I will do what must be done. Mara must be saved.
”

For a long time she sat patiently, staring into the face of the Goddess. Slowly the picture of what she must do became clear, as if the layers of her thoughts were peeling away, revealing a kernel of truth in the center.