Page 61 of Tiger's Tale
“Help?” he spat. “Younever needed help.”
“This is different. They are not... of our people,” she said, glancing down at the tigers at her feet. “They were not prepared as we are for this responsibility. They wish to... to separate themselves from the tiger spirit.”
Iriko stepped forward and stretched out a hand until he took hold of his mother’s shoulders. “Is this possible? You never mentioned such a thing was an option.”
Saddened, Matriova said softly, “I didn’t know you hated it that much. To abandon the tiger spirit once it chooses you is not an easy thing.”
“Nor is it easy trying to live up to everyone else’s expectations and constantly failing,” Iriko said.
“I... I understand,” she said.
“Do you? How can you possibly? You always lived up to everyone’s expectations. You’ve never seen the people’s faces”—he paused—“or at least heard their voices fall in disappointment over your actions.”
“Perhaps not in the way you’re thinking. But yes, I’ve seen disappointment before, son.”
Iriko grunted. “Perhaps. But you were not responsible for the death of your sister. The one everyone depended on, were you?”
Matriova sighed. “No. But I have made my own mistakes over the years. Each one of us must learn from our own errors and walk our own path to knowledge, mustn’t we?” Biting her lip, Matriova turned and walked back to the campfire, thinking. At last she spoke. “Very well. If you also wish to disconnect yourself from the tiger spirit, then you will need to ascend the Dreaming Mountain as well. These two need your help,” she said, indicating the two tigers. “They don’t know our lands. And I am too old and feeble now to manage the climb. If you agree to take them and manage to either make peace with your tiger or break connection with it, returning the token so our people can select a new carrier, then I will send word you are to be reinstated as a member of the clan.”
“I’m not sure I want to be a member of the clan any longer.”
“Surely it’s better than living out here alone.”
He shrugged. “I’ve been doing fine on my own.”
Veru made a sound like a chuffing noise and rubbed her body along his leg. Stacia growled and stretched up, knocking her head against his hand. “Settle down now,” Iriko said with a rueful laugh. “Is it that you are worried about me, ladies, or do you like me that much already?” He paused. “I know what you’re saying, but you don’t understand what I’m capable of.” He cocked his head as he stroked Stacia’s head. “Are you doubting my hunting skills or the fact that I don’t have any footwear?”
“Wait a minute,” Nikolai said. “Can you... can you hear them?”
“Yes,” Iriko answered matter-of-factly as he ran a hand down Veru’s back. “It seems I can understand them, but they cannot hear one another except through me. Can’t any of you?”
“No,” Danik said.
“This is fascinating,” Zakhar said. “I need to document this immediately. Perhaps we can return to the fire? I have so many questions.”
“Of course,” Matriova agreed. “But first, Iriko. Will you take them?”
“I’ll... consider it.”
Veru yowled and pushed against him, which made him laugh. They all noticed the stern young man appeared very much different when he laughed. They could see the boy lurking behind the face of the angry man.
“I know. I heard them, Verusha,” Iriko said. “Fine,Veru. What kind of a name is that anyway?”
He put his hand on Veru’s back, and she guided him to camp, where he found a seat by the fire. The tigers sat down next to him on either side. When Danik brought them some raw fish, Veru nudged it over to Iriko, who snatched it up and took a large bite, not even caring that it was uncooked. “A tsarevna, you say? Wait, both of you?”
Nik raised a hand and then quickly lowered it. “Technically, they’re the tsarinas.”
“Is that right?” Iriko replied with a smirk, glancing in Nik’s direction. Veru looked at Nik at the same time, twisting her head and neck in the same way the young man did, as if looking Nik up and down and obviously finding him lacking. “And what are you to them, exactly? A footman?”
“No. I... I polish Veru’s armor and do other various... jobs.”
“Armor?”
“Er... yes. Can you please ask her?—”
Iriko held up a hand, ignoring Nik’s query. He cocked his head, clearly listening to something Veru was telling him, and then burst out laughing. Nikolai didn’t know if she was talking about him, but his face colored anyway.
Zakhar raised a hand, then realized what he was doing and added, “If I may, I have many questions I’d like to ask now that I have an interpreter of sorts.”
