Stone Arrows by Elizabeth Barber

Author:Elizabeth Barber
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Children's Historical Fiction
Publisher: The Book Guild
Published: 2023-08-21T00:00:00+00:00

Eleven

‘Where can I find honey?’ Zeta went from one person to another, closely followed by a guard, who eyed her suspiciously. The sun had begun slipping down to its sleeping place and it would soon be dark. Her mind was in a whirl.

Was I right about the maggots? It was only a guess it would work. What would Mother have done?

Now she had something else to do.

‘Bees’ nest?’ she called across the camp. But nobody answered.

‘Does anyone know where there’s a bees’ nest?’ Zeta’s voice carried round the camp. ‘I need honey to treat Akayla’s wound!’

‘Me – I know!’ A young boy ran up to Zeta. ‘I take you!’

Before Zeta could answer, the boy was skipping towards the woods, beckoning Zeta to follow. She broke into a run before the guard could stop her, and a crowd of chattering people followed.

The child pointed up into the branches of an oak tree. Zeta screwed up her eyes and peered through the leaves. ‘Not too high, I can reach that,’ she said quietly. She noted where the footholds in the trunk were, then turned to one of the onlookers. ‘Bring me a piece of burning wood – like charcoal, black and smoking, not flames. Carry it in an aurochs’ horn. Hurry!’

The young man hesitated, but others pushed him roughly and he jogged back to camp. Meanwhile, Zeta searched around for dry plants – grass, leaves, moss, then sat on a rock and waited for the man to return while the onlookers stood back, whispering and pointing.

‘Here – fire!’ The man thrust the horn into Zeta’s hand. People moved closer to the tree, forming small clusters, waving their arms, peering uneasily at Zeta as she grasped the horn. They nudged each other and muttered about the Great Cat’s tooth. She sensed their animosity; their fear of what they didn’t understand.

Then the crowd shrank back and a hushed silence fell. Zeta swallowed hard. The enchanter came striding towards her and poked her with his spear, frowning at the smoking horn in Zeta’s hand. At last, he stepped back and thrust his spear into the ground, making the crowd shrink back. Zeta took this action as permission to carry on. There was no time to waste. She dropped the dry plants on top of the smouldering wood in the aurochs’ horn. Smoke seeped out and drifted through the branches of the oak. Bees, confused and drowsy, began pouring out of the nest.

I must be quick.

Zeta closed her eyes and whispered a prayer to the tree spirits. She handed the horn back to the young man.

‘Hold it under the tree, like this.’ She held up the aurochs’ horn. The man stepped back. ‘Take it – now!’ Hands shaking, the man took the horn and held it, arms outstretched, in front of him. ‘Good,’ Zeta said. She glanced around. ‘You!’ She pointed at a woman. ‘Give me your bag!’ The woman hesitated. ‘I need it – for Akayla.’ Zeta held out her necklace and the woman’s eyes widened.

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