Ice Blink

10: Not Gods

Nuna wondered if she was dreaming.

"Wh-What?" she swayed, and Toklo reached out to steady her.

"Siru," Isitoq growled through the great dark eye concealing his features. "I can't believe you've just told them. They were terrified of us!"

"They still are," Siru said coolly, holding her antlers. They were just the normal antlers of a reindeer, attached to her scalp somehow beneath her wild hair, and without them she looked smaller.

"We could have frightened them into confessing. Look, Sedna, this is what happens when you let the Nigak into the Circle!"

"Fear is not the only weapon we have," Sedna replied, resting her hands on the table. All her fingers were intact. Of course they were. Nuna inwardly scolded herself for looking, for still believing this was the real Sedna, and the woman gave the barest trace of a smile as if she knew what Nuna was thinking.

One by one, members of the Circle approached to murmur in Sedna's ear. The tension mounted. Eventually, they were going to reach a decision.

Sedna drew herself up to her full height. "Some of the Circle believe you are not spies, but I must listen to everyone on this council. We will give you lodgings and treat you as guests for now, but eventually I believe you will prove either your innocence or your guilt. Until then, I am undecided." Angry muttering broke out, but she ignored it. "Mortu's men are getting bolder and spreading to Mid-Ice, but we cannot spare any of our resources or people to help the southern tribes. However, the glacier is indeed a threat. We haven't taken action yet because we've been scouting, as you all know, trying to discern the gravity of the situation."

"Is that where the Wolf is? I haven't seen him yet," Siru interrupted.

Sedna gave her an annoyed look. "Yes. We can be idle no longer. Now is the time for action. We must stop this before our homes are destroyed, so we shall summon the Inua. It is time for old traditions to be renewed."

The what?

"That is all for now. Siru, take them to a lodging."

Siru nodded and swept out of the room. Nuna's head was spinning, she had so many questions she didn't know where to start and she longed to stay, but Isitoq's warning stare had her hurrying to catch up with the woman.

"What's the Nigak?" Toklo asked as they walked through the doors and into the hall.

Siru placed the antlers carefully back in her hair, which covered the headband she was using to keep them in place. She flashed a wry grin. "We're a group of criminals. Didn't you guess?"

"But –"

"You're still here." The slim man had joined them. Shock spiked through Nuna's veins when he looked at her instead of Siru. "It is good to see you walking about, Nuna."

"And who are you?" The words came out more rudely than she had intended.

"My name is Niju."

"Niju is the one who saved your life," Siru said.

"It was you?" She did recognise his voice: it was distinctive, smooth and pleasant, but with an undertow of power. A voice people wanted to hear, a voice that drew eyes and attention. How had she not realised this earlier? Everything had been a blur.

"I'm sorry," she spluttered, trying to regain her composure and manners. "I must thank you. Are you a healer?"

"Not by trade," he said quietly. "I have some skill with healing."

"I think you have more than just 'some'," Nuna could not help saying, and the ghost of a smile flickered on his face.

"Thank you." He was a little paler than anyone she had seen so far. Long dark hair swept back from his angular, serious face. With sharp cheekbones and a long, narrow nose, he had an elegant, graceful, sharp kind of beauty.