Viper's Daughter by Michelle Paver

Author:Michelle Paver [Paver, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Wolf Brother
ISBN: 9781789542400
Publisher: Head of Zeus

‘D’you think you can do it?’ Naiginn said under his breath.

Renn glanced at the Narwal elders standing on the blustery hilltop, arms crossed on their chests. ‘You never know with ravens. If they do come, will it work?’

‘My people respect ravens, they help us find carcasses flung up by the Sea Mother.’

‘You stay here, I’ll move off a bit. Rip and Rek won’t come if I’m with strangers. That includes you.’

The settlement of Waigo occupied a green hill with a commanding view of the Sea. Above a shingle beach a line of skinboats hung from whale-jaw arches, and above these the Narwals’ shelters clung like limpets. The hilltop was flat, as if its head had been lopped off. A pile of bleached walrus skulls served both as a lookout post to watch for whale spouts and a beacon to guide the boats home.

Even with Naiginn half-carrying her, Renn had struggled to reach the top. Her head was swimming, her legs limp as seaweed. As she left the men the wind did its best to fling her off the hill. Her calf-length robe shortened her stride and she repressed the urge to get on all fours and crawl.

She made it to a rock on which ravens had smashed guillemot eggs. The blue-green fragments glistened with fresh yolk. Good, the ravens must be near. Provided, of course, that they were Rip and Rek – and provided they heeded her call.

She blew the duckbone whistle.

Clouds scudded across the sky. The elders watched grimly.

She whistled again. Please, little grandfathers, hear my call! This is no time for tricks!

Over her shoulder she saw them riding the wind with reckless abandon: Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Sweeping past the elders, they alighted at her feet, snapping their glossy black wings. She bowed a greeting. With throaty croaks, Rip and Rek bowed back. The elders remained inscrutable, but Renn sensed they were impressed.

As abruptly as the ravens had arrived they hopped onto the wind and flew off, loudly cawing cuckoo.

Naiginn was grinning. ‘It worked! We can go, as long as you stay in my boat and don’t set foot on the Mage’s Rock. Hurry, before they change their minds!’

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