WWX: Lazarus [Extract 3]

Next up, we have the young Spirit Priest, Stone Fur – a quiet and reluctant hero to his people.

There was little alcohol consumed among this community. That was not, of course, to say that the occasional bottle of bourbon didn’t find its way in from the nearby settlement. One such bottle was being surreptitiously passed from young warrior to young warrior, each daring the other to pretend they liked the acrid taste of the alcohol. Stone Fur watched, something between amusement and longing in his expression.

Once, he had been able to engage in games like that. Now, though…

Now… he had responsibility.

The weight of it all briefly touched on his shoulders, and he felt the sheer oppression of the task he had to perform. As a Spirit Priest, he would be looked upon to perform rites for the dead, for the newborn, to bless and prepare hunting parties… to perform marriage ceremonies, to call forth the blessings of the Great Spirit when and if the People went to war… somewhere in there he would also be expected to continue the contributions he made to the community in the form of hunting and trapping game.

There was no lack of equality amongst Stone Fur’s people. The women and men hunted and fought alongside one another and often, marriage bondings came about as a result of two young people forced into hunting as partners who found their kindred spirits.

There will be no kindred spirit for me, mused
Stone Fur. Only the Great Spirit. That is all I will ever need.

Some of the People were now dancing before the fire, working out their grief for the loss of the old Priest with shameless abandon. Tears streaked the faces of many, and Stone Fur kept his head held high as he watched the outpouring of grief take on a new form.

The sorrow at Curved Bear Claw’s passing became unashamed joy at all he had been, and tears prickled behind the Priest’s eyes. Tears of affectionate pride. A zephyr kissed the bared skin of his neck, behind his ear and despite the comparative warmth of the April night and his proximity to the fire, the Priest shivered. A hand came up to scratch at the now itching spot and when he brought it away, it was covered in blood.

Book is here:

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