Page 58 of Tiger's Tale
“What do you mean by ‘change’?” asked Danik.
“I mean transform to their human selves.”
“Transform?” Nik said incredulously. “They’ve never done that since they changed the first time.”
“Not once?” she asked with surprise.
“No. Never,” Nik replied.
“Interesting,” she said. “And when did their first transformation... I mean, when did they alter their forms into tigers for the first time?”
“When the sorcerer attacked them at the palace. That would have been...” He began calculating on his fingers. “The night after was a half-moon. We’ve passed another half-moon since and are nearing a third.”
She was quiet for a moment, and then she turned quickly, saying, “Come. We must hurry.”
“You’ll help us, then?” Zakhar asked.
“Yes. But I believe it is you who have been sent to help me.”
“I don’t understand,” Nik said.
“I know you do not. Be patient and I will try to explain as best I can.”
When they arrived back at her tent, she issued orders, and the entire structure was broken down in a matter of minutes. The only piece that remained was the large pole at the center. The clansmen who had traveled with her began heading east on their own, packing her large tent with them. They’d seemed hesitant to leave her behind, but no one argued with their leader. She dismissed their guide, sending him back on his own to reunite with his clan. He smiled at the three young men, clapping them on their backs and giving them a respectful nod before leaving.
Then, with her own bag on her back, the leader of the Evenki walked back with them to the tigers and watched with fascination as Nik readied them for the trail. When she saw the laces flutter in the air next to Stacia as if trying to create a third harness before settling into two, she sucked in a breath. “It means to create the Transcendent Troika. I’ve heard stories of such a thing told to me by my grandmother as told to her by her grandmother and hers before, but not a one of them were a witness to it.”
She climbed into the sleigh. “We must find Iriko.”
“Who’s that?” Danik asked.
“He is my son—the gray tiger that you seek. But he will be hard to find. You see, he is the one who has truly been cursed.”
“Where do we go?” Nik asked, offering the reins to the Evenki leader. “Would you like to take them... um? We don’t even know what to call you.”
“You may call me Matriova, and no, I do not wish to guide the tigers. In fact, you should let them take us where they will. When we draw near to Iriko, they will sense him. His presence will call out to them. If they instinctively desire to form the Transcendent Troika, the magic will pull them where they need to be.”
“Is your son truly invisible and blind as the other clan suggested?”
For a moment, the Evenki leader, Matriova, was quiet, then she said, “Iriko was not always. But yes, he is blind now. He can, however, be seen if he wishes it, but even so, he is invisible to his people, for he has been banished.”
“Banished!” the three men said at once.
“But may I ask why?” added Zakhar.
Matriova sighed deeply, then snuggled into her fur-lined cloak. The tigers began to run, and the sleigh rocked side to side before the world blurred around them. “It is a long story,” she said. “And it is one that we do not usually share, especially with outsiders, but perhaps the time has come for a change to our way of doing things.”
Before she began her story, Zakhar took out a fresh sheet of parchment and a pot of ink, raising his quill to tap her on the shoulder, asking with his eager expression if he could document her tale. Giving him a long, thoughtful look, she nodded. He handed his pot of ink to Danik, who tried to keep it warm enough in his hands so Zakhar could keep writing, which was difficult on the bumpy terrain. But Danik knew his friend well enough now to know that Zakhar was only jotting down notes so he’d remember, and then he’d fill in the details later when they had time to spare and plenty of fire or lantern light.
“Iriko was my last child,” Matriova began. “I have had many children and several mates over the years. And I’ve outlived all of them. Such is the way of our clan leader. You see, the one who wears the tiger token is granted an exceptionally long life.”
“Then you mean that you?—”
She held up a hand. “I know you are young and impulsive, but try to listen without interruption as best you can.”
When she saw the men nod in agreement, she continued. “When one of us senses it is time to leave this world and make the long journey to join the sky people, we examine our offspring carefully and select the one we think will be the best suited to carry on as a leader and protector of the people. A few years ago, I announced it wasmytime to journey to the sky people and step aside. I would imagine there are several husbands waiting for me there, each one singing his best song so I will choose to enter his tent in the sky and live with him. Truthfully, not a one of them had a good enough singing voice to catch my attention.
“After gathering my children together, I selected Baikali, my beautiful, strong daughter, to take my place. Before I can pass the leadership of the clan to her, she must first take on the responsibility of the tiger and wear the tiger token for one year. Then, if she and the tiger agree with one another and the bond is sure, she will also take on my leadership role.”
