Ice Blink

15: The Decision

The Circle assembled around the table. Nuna and Toklo stood with the fire and the pool at their backs. At first she thought the heat was comforting, but before long she had started to sweat. Surreptitiously she slipped her mittens off and wiped my hands against her leggings. Niju and Siru had not arrived yet, which was making her even more nervous. She had seen them in the hall, where could they have gone?

"Let's begin. We cannot wait any longer," Sedna called, and everyone focused on her. "Yesterday my apprentice was poisoned by an unknown opponent. Niju couldn't catch him. He was lying in wait for them which means he had a plan, and when scouts were sent to survey the area last night they found similar poisoned flint shards deposited all around the snow bank."

"I think he was watching who was coming and going," Isitoq said. "He was getting to know the layout of the entrance and its traffic. Which might mean someone was planning an attack."

"It was Nuna who saved Denali."

Her ears burned.

"Speaking of the newcomers," a man with tattoos like Denali's said, "it can't be a coincidence that these two events have happened consecutively. How do we know they didn't find three dead Nualiks in the tundra and steal their clothes? A perfect opportunity for the spies of Mortu, I'm sure."

Nuna looked around desperately for support, but Niju and Siru had not yet arrived. A couple of others shouted out some ideas and gradually the accusations and clamouring grew louder.

"No, wait – please –" Her words fell on deaf ears and panic rose inside her. People were getting more agitated. They were angry because of what had happened to Denali, who wasn't here to tell them her side of the story, and they were going to take their anger out on the Nualiks.

"Look at our parkas!" Toklo shouted, brandishing his arm. "We have the Nualik pattern sewn into them!" They wore bands of blue and white on our sleeves, with a layer of duck feathers sewn beneath. Nuna's were maroon instead of blue, signifying her angakkuq status.

"I've never even seen that pattern before," the woman crowed. "Are you sure this tribe exists?"

"They deserve death by fire!" the old Pilgrim roared, spittle flying from his mouth. "Seize them!" He grabbed Toklo.

Nuna ducked away from him. How could she get their attention? The clamour had increased to such an extent that not even Sedna could make herself be heard.

She spotted a bucket of water placed against the wall and inspiration flashed through her. The arguing Circle barely noticed her as an uproar began over the sight of Toklo struggling to escape the Pilgrim's clutches.

She snatched up the bucket, raced to the fire, and doused it with water.

The fire hissed and spat, its spirit furious that some of its heat had been quenched, and smoke billowed into the air. Circle members coughed and spluttered. Nuna held her breath and climbed up onto the table, heedless of the documents she crushed beneath her mukluks.

For a heartbeat, her courage fled and she wanted to sink into the floor and disappear forever when eyes turned her way.

Be brave. For the gods' sakes, be brave, for once in your life.

Towering over the others, she shouted, "Stop talking and listen to us! You said you were going to make the decision fairly. You say we don't carry sufficient proof of being from Nualik, but there is no evidence that would damn us for being spies! It works both ways."

The doors slammed open.

"I agree," Niju said.

Relief flooded through her. Niju and Siru were leading a new group into the chamber. Others, perhaps, who believed they were innocent? Shock registered on their faces when they saw her on the table.

"Get down from there," the Pilgrim spat.

But Niju gave Nuna a subtle nod. Carry on.

Emboldened by the silence in the room, she continued. "The leader of Nualik is Qignaaq, an accomplished angakkuq whose wise reign has garnered her respect throughout Mid-Ice. The head hunter is Aneguin, my father, a man who has faced down bears and found prey even in the Month of No Sun. The tribe's main healer is my mother, an honourable woman who travelled far and wide in her youth."

Qailertetang's mask tilted. "Everything she says is true."

"Not only is it true," Nuna said, trembling slightly, "but these people, these real, living people who are no different from you... are going to die if we don't do something about the soldiers of Annoatok and the glacier. Because of that, Toklo and I offer up our services."

"What do you mean?" Sedna asked.

She took a deep breath. "Whatever it is you decide to do, make us part of it. It's our problem just as much as yours – we're no less affected by the war or the glacier by being a little further south. On behalf of Mid-Ice, we will do whatever it takes to stop the deaths of our tribe... and the destruction the glacier will cause."

She realised she was clenching her hands so tightly her palms were sore.

"Do you really know what you're getting yourselves into?" Sedna sounded amused. "North Ice is far from peaceful. You will encounter much danger. This is a job for fighters, not hunters."

"You don't know the extent of our skills," Toklo said, throwing the Pilgrim off him. "Try us."

"We can train, we'll do whatever it may take. And I have the spirits on my side." Nuna most certainly did not have the spirits on her side, except perhaps Nanuq, but he had disappeared, as bears tended to do. But the Circle didn't need to know that.

"Well, it seems we arrived a little too late," Siru remarked, "but we agree with the newcomers. We offer our support."

Qailertetang turned to Sedna. "It's your decision."

"I will only decide on a vote," she said. "This is Illulik, not Annoatok, and every voice must be heard. All those in favour of the Nualiks?"

Arms rose into the air. Nuna couldn't breathe as she desperately tried to count them, to figure out if they had swayed the majority...

The doors burst open once again, this time with so much force that they slammed against the walls.

A warrior swathed in bulky furs and leather armour strode in. The crowd immediately parted for him and every echoing footstep he took radiated an aura that commanded respect.

"The three newcomers are innocent, then?" he said briskly. "Excellent. Let's get to work." His piercing dark eyes latched onto Nuna. "Those are my war reports you're standing on."

"S-Sorry, sir." Nuna scrambled down, overwhelmed with both embarrassment and relief that the Circle actually believed them.

"That's Commander to you."

Her head snapped up in surprise.

"Commander Amarok," Sedna said. "I'm glad you're finally here; we need you. Now we can truly begin."