Every Glistening Night

Chapter Thirty-Three

Noise reverberates through the clearing as hundreds of tribes members bustle through the clearing. Snowy trees stand guard around us, and every so often, icy drops fall on my nose. I glance again at the branch above me, wishing I had been more careful when I set up the robe station.

A few women I do not recognize pass by my station. They finger the garments on display, organized by type — normal, extra warm, and waterproof.

"Did you make these?" one woman asks. I nod. Fortunately, my cheeks have stopped flushing every time someone asks. "They're absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you."

The women murmur amongst themselves before smiling and moving on. Only about half of the people who stop by purchase an item. Either many enjoy browsing or the reputation of Nuotomin clothing is widely talked about.

The robes, especially the waterproof and extra warm ones, sell quickly. I only accept trades that Jeayma m'ke approved. She provided a list of items that we most need, along with the acceptable quantities to request for each robe. A few times, I must negotiate with adamant customers, who insist that a single robe isn't worth more than three specialty tea leaves. The first time I came a few years ago, it was difficult for me to put my foot down, and I ended up handing some of my specialty robes at a discount. But it gets easier to assert the worth of the tribe's handiwork with each person that argues with me.

Sunlight slowly ascends from a gentle filtering through tree branches to directly overhead. Hunger starts to pang in my stomach, and my feet grow tired from standing. I shift my weight from side to side and roll onto the balls of my feet to stretch them. Finally, Jeayma m'ke returns to my station.

"How are the trades going?" she asks.

"Good." I show her all the items we've received, including some crucial medicines and herbs that we'll need going into the winter. Jeayma m'ke gives her approval and directs me to where the rest of our tribe has gathered. The three tribes have formed circles in the center of the clearing to eat our second meal.

I slip through and around conversations to reach the cooks at the center. Ulane m'ke and two other cooks pass out bowls already containing food. I approach cautiously, still wary of the matriarch. Her eyes settle on me, and she quickly reaches for a bowl at her side.

"Thank you, Ulane m'ke," I say. She gives me another of her tiny smiles before handing a bowl to the next person in line.

Tribes members form small circles within the Nuotomin part of the clearing. I alone sit in the snow-covered grass. The stone warms my palms and fights against the chill threatening to soak my robe. It doesn't, of course, due to the sunlight weaved in the material. I devour half the bowl in just a few minutes, then force myself to slow down, to savor the rest of the stew. There's no reason to set any aside for Mother as it will likely get ruined on the trip back.

With nothing better to do, I watch the rest of the tribe. My gaze drifts over those laughing and eating, traveling to the front of the clearing, where three, wide tree stumps protrude from the earth. Apparently, many, many seasons ago, when our tribal ancestors first found this place, they found three fallen trees that were once attached to the stumps. They were so massive in height and breadth that when they toppled over, each in slightly different directions, they took down the trees that used to be in the clearing. The tribes worked together to cut down the remaining stumps, creating the clearing as we know it. As for the three massive trees, they leveled the jagged bark on the stumps to create seats of honor for the tribal leaders.

The tribal leaders are approaching the seats of honor now. Nal m'se, our Head Matriarch, sits on the left with Ulane m'ke at her side. In the center is Aapo, King of the Alkse, donning a white robe that matches his beard and eyebrows, which are perpetually set in scowl. His wife, Fairuza, stands behind him, symbolizing the covert power that strengthens his reign. The Speaker of the Erdest tribe, currently Fauna, takes the tree trunk furthest on the right. She wears her hair in a series of tiny black braids that reach halfway down her back. A woman I've never seen before stands beside him. Her skin has the beginning of creases and is slightly paler than the rich brown of the other Erdest.