The Bonsigh

This is the second trib in WOW1

The Bonsigh2

The home of the Bonsigh Clan, located on tableland high in the mountains, could only be reached through a deep gorge and dangerous climb. The knowledge of how long the clan had been there, how they came to make it their home, had become converted into folklore.3

Unlike most of her strong family, auburn haired, emerald-eyed Tara's body did not prove to be fruitful. In agony, in her fourteenth year, she brought forth a male infant and then no more. Tara maintained a slender figure with firm smooth flesh and a smiling face.4

This final night before the hunt, she lay in her lover's arms while he traced the attractive curves of her body and whispered against her throat. "You and I were children together. How could you think I would do anything but right by your son?"5

There was distress in Saul's voice and Tara knew why. Saul had stepped into a leadership role this past summer when his elder brother died in an accident. Though his troop was basically a rowdy bunch of young men it was unseemly for a hunter who had never bothered to train a boy, to be called Leader.6

She attempted to soothe him before his temper rose as it usually did when they discussed this. "Saul, I trust you even with my own life but Erin is so young . . .the awful tales . . ." Her tone carried a musical sound spiced by a touch of sorrow. "Remember when you were a boy and you clung to me crying that Agar would soon carry you off? How you told me later of the cruelty of the men, the many times you nearly died."7

"Foolish tales of a child." Saul said and turned on his back. There was a ginger shade to the long brown hair he kept in a single braid as he readied himself for the hunt. His body hair was still sparse as was the facial hair that adorned his cheeks and chin. "Hunters dream up such tales to amuse females as well as themselves, " he said with a hint of humor in his voice. "A boy would not wish his mother to know the joy he found in at last being free of her." As he spread out his long slender body, he promised, "I would never abuse Erin. I would only care for him and teach him to be as great a hunter as myself."8

Tara's head dropped and her mouth formed moist kisses on his nearly hairless chest to hide the grin on her lips. She was aware Saul was not a great hunter. A warrior... perhaps? Other hunters did claim that. And he was a very lucky and boastful young man. 9

She wiggled her inviting flesh against his and moaned in pleasure when he clutched her buttocks to draw her closer. "so young...so small..." was a whimper. Her legs stiffened to hold him back as she pressed her case, for she had no intention of trusting her only son to this young and reckless leader. "Let Erin have one more summer?"10

"One more summer," he groaned the pledge she sought and her legs spread to receive him. 11

*****12

The moonlight was fading and plunging the earth into deep darkness before the rising sun proclaimed the dawn. The Bonsigh hunters were already descending the hemp ladders that were rolled down the mountainside. Weapons and provisions were strapped to naked backs for, though there was a chill in the air, the climb down was long and the men would soon be sweating. A winter's confinement in the tents of women with their bothersome young made the men eager to hurry towards the freedom of the hunt.13

The darkness hosted ghostly shadows that drew no attention from the vanishing hunters. 14

Tara trembled at the hushed sounds that reached her. She was confident her own tent would not be invaded. Erin was still too young and even if he weren't fear of Adonna's wrath would keep others from her daughter's tent. The fragile Tara would have found it impossible to survive in the rough society if not for the powerful female members of her immediate family. Her sisters, like her mother, were a constant source of security for Tara. 15

She shivered in pity as she heard the howls and cursing of less fortunate mothers who attempted to protect a son. Those were boys who had reached the age of maturity without being claimed by a hunter. Normally they were deformed in some manner, unpleasant to look at, and their mother had grown too frail or uncaring to protect them. Now they would be flung from the ledges. The attractive few would be spared but usually claimed by a stronger female than their mother.16

In the tents children slept fitfully; they a slept a drugged sleep and would neither hear the screams nor watch the struggles that took place this night. 17

Like Tara, most of the women, unless they had a son to protect, never participated in Witch Night. Over countless generations the practice to rid the settlement of non-productive male members became a part of the war for control waged between the strongest and smartest of the women.18

Boldly Adonna pushed through the tent flap. Tara leaped up to embrace her mother. A smile of gratitude lighted her delicate features and flashing eyes as she giggled child-like. "You were right, Saul granted Erin one more summer."19

The older woman dwarfed her daughter. Tall and stately with the same auburn hair and deep emerald eyes Adonna was a still a beauty in her own right. Now she grunted as her clinging daughter told her what she expected to hear. Then, without uttering a single word, she withdrew a blade from the tie at her waist and plunged it into her daughter's chest. She held her close, forcing the knife deeper as the shocked Tara struggled. 20

Soon blood foamed on Tara's lips and she could only whimper a plaintive sob, "not my son," before she slumped in death against her mother.21

Par had followed Adonna but not expecting it, he had been powerless to act quickly enough to prevent the killing. "Why? Why?" The small man wailed as he grabbed and held the girl's body. "Why kill Tara?"22

"Tara was weak but she was my daughter. She would have fought for the boy. This way she died easier. Take her to the ledge. I will carry the boy."23