Sanctuary

by Rowena Cory Daniells

  ‘Yes. I’m sorry.’

  He shrugged again.

  ‘You could use me as bait,’ she suggested. ‘Eskarnor needs me to legitimise his claim to the throne. If I were in the centre –’

  ‘Not on your life, Jaraile.’

  If she was honest, she felt relieved.

  ‘Although we may be able to use you to raise the stakes, so he fully commits his men.’

  ‘Wouldn’t he fully commit them?’

  ‘Charald would hold men in reserve and send them to where his lines faltered.’

  That evening, Jaraile banished Sorne, and he rode out of the camp to the jeers and taunts of her men-at-arms. It made her face burn with shame, but she knew she’d done the right thing when Baron Ramanol congratulated her on ‘getting rid of that arrogant halfblood.’

  Four years of marriage to King Charald had taught her to hide her true feelings. She smiled sweetly and nodded.

  ARAVELLE WATCHED THE healer’s ship, hoping to spot her brothers. Earlier, she’d seen Ronnyn set off for the isle of ruins with the sisterhood leaders, but her little brothers might come out on deck. Meanwhile, Saskarleaned against the rail, facing towards the mast.

  ‘So this new all-father, Tobazim, sent his voice-of-reason to invite us to his cabin tonight, to renew the vow Kyredeon made, giving us safe passage on this ship.’ Saskar had a habit of speaking about the brotherhood leadership as if he was one of them. Since he accompanied them to all-council meetings, it was almost as if he was. ‘Hueryx doesn’t know what to make of Tobazim. How could such a young adept win the brotherhood from Kyredeon? Not that we aren’t relieved. Anyone would be better than Kyredeon. The causare has called an all-council for later this afternoon. She’ll have him give his covenant vow then. But what our all-father wants to know is why the causare came to this ship after the challenge last night.’

  ‘She was here?’

  Saskar nodded. ‘Along with the sisterhood healer. They were spotted leaving when the fog started to lift.’

  ‘Lots of warriors were injured. The healer –’

  ‘Her gift is not all-powerful. We have to petition her to heal one of our people. And if she does, it makes our all-father beholden to her. If Imoshen and the healer came aboard in answer to Tobazim’s petition, then he must be beholden to her. And no all-father wants to start his leadership beholden to two of the most powerful sisterhood leaders.’

  ‘Perhaps he thinks it’s worth it, to save his brothers’ lives?’

  ‘And perhaps he cheated.’

  Aravelle was shocked.

  Saskar laughed.

  She blushed and turned away. A boat was leaving the Perseverance. ‘Are you sure the all-council meeting is later?’

  ‘Why?’

  She pointed. ‘Isn’t that All-father Dretsun and his two seconds rowing towards the island?’

  ‘Yes, but –’

  ‘The causare, the healer and their seconds are on the island. I saw them row over with some others a little while ago.’

  Saskar cursed softly. ‘Come on.’

  He darted over to Hand-of-force Reyne, and by the time Aravelle reached the all-father’s cabin, the three brotherhood leaders had stripped down to their breeches, to don their torcs of office and formal brocade robes.

  Reyne knelt, releasing his long hair. ‘Do something formal. Be quick, Saskar.’

  The voice-of-reason followed suit. Saskar indicated that Aravelle was to do Dragomyr’s hair, while he did Reyne’s. She mimicked Saskar, as he plaited and pinned with speed and precision.

  ‘See, there is an advantage to short hair,’ Hueryx said, binding his back in a simple knot at the base of his skull.

  ‘You look like a barbarian Mieren,’ Dragomyr said.

  Aravelle gave his hair a sharp tug.

  ‘Ow… take care, clumsy girl.’

  She apologised, but Hueryx knew she didn’t mean it. He caught her eye, a smile tugging at his lips. It infuriated her; she hated him.

  He laughed, selected a silver skull cap and settled it on his head. ‘How’s that? Will I pass?’

  Aravelle finished plaiting Dragomyr’s hair and came over to study the all-father. The skull cap looked severe, but strangely enough… ‘It suits you. It emphasises your cheekbones.’

  Hueryx blinked.

  Reyne laughed. ‘A compliment!’

  ‘The best kind.’ Hueryx’s forehead crinkled, reminding her of Ronnyn. ‘Because it was given freely, by one who does not like me.’

  Fearing she would get a clip around the ear, Aravelle backed up a step. But the all-father was not Charsoria.

  Hueryx turned to the others, radiating energy. ‘Ready to confront the causare and this new all-father?’

  As the three of them walked out, Aravelle felt a wave of male gift roll off them, full of aggression.

  She wondered what the causare had been doing on this ship after the challenge, and what would happen to All-father Tobazim, if it turned out he had cheated to win the brotherhood.

  IMOSHEN SMILED AS the two lads ran on ahead. They’d come back to the island to view the T’En ruin and hear what the historians had deduced. Sketches had been made of the frescoes and saved for posterity. Imoshen’s sisterhood historian had a different theory about the ruin’s origin from Reoden’s, and the two were arguing spiritedly, while Scholar Igotzon looked on.

  Now that they’d seen the ruins and heard the theories, they were going to have a picnic, debate alternate views and hear a poem composed to commemorate the discovery.

  The party headed through the trees towards the clearing, where Iraayel and Saffazi were setting up the meal. It was Iraayel’s last day with the sisterhood. Later this afternoon, Imoshen would declare him dead to her and he would be given into his brotherhood, but she would never turn her back on her choice-son.

  Before that meeting, she needed to call an all-mother-council. They could not afford the divide between brotherhood and sisterhood. It was time to amend the covenant vow, time to foster better relations with the brotherhoods.

  Ronnyn and Sardeon darted between the trees.

  Reoden leant closer to Imoshen. ‘I swear Sar is more like a normal boy every day. I’m hopeful his gift will finally manifest and he will begin to grow again. If not, Ronnyn is very protective of his little brothers. I’m sure he will stand by Sar anyway.’

  ‘Does he know the truth about Sardeon?’

  ‘No. I’ve left it up to Sar to tell him.’

  Behind them, Imoshen could hear their seconds discussing the passing of Kyredeon and what it would mean for the balance of power between the brotherhoods.

  ‘Sar told me he’d like to be a scholar,’ Imoshen said. ‘He’s amazingly well-read.’

  ‘That’s what happens when you spend four years in seclusion.’

  ‘You said his gift was just starting to manifest before…’ Imoshen did not want to mention the day Reoden’s daughter died. ‘Did you get a hint of its nature?’

  ‘No…’ Reoden paused. ‘What are those two up to?’

  Both lads had stopped at the edge of the clearing.

  Imoshen and Reoden came up to stand behind them, only to find Dretsun and his two seconds confronting Iraayel and Saffazi. The seventeen-year-olds were unarmed and, on Imoshen’s arrival, they edged around to join her, never turning their backs on the brotherhood leaders.

  ‘What are you doing here, all-father?’ Imoshen stepped into the clearing, placing herself between Dretsun and her companions. Autumn leaves swirled down, carried on an errant breeze. Her gift reacted to the acrid tang of aggressive male power.

  ‘You called an all-council,’ Dretsun said.

  ‘For later.’ Imoshen’s voice hardened. Had Dretsun brought more warriors to flank her party? She glanced over her shoulder to see Kiane and Cerafeoni slip quietly away. ‘I ask again. Why are you here?’

  ‘There is a rumour that All-father Tamaron will not be coming into exile. I want to know what’s happening to the remains of his brotherhood.’
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  ‘That’s brotherhood business. The causare doesn’t interfere in the internal running of the brotherhoods.’

  ‘Yet you and the healer were on the Victorious last night.’ Dretsun’s eyes gleamed with triumph and Imoshen felt his gift surge. ‘All-father Tamaron’s survivors have been given shelter there and Kyredeon’s brotherhood has new leadership.’

  ‘It wasn’t brotherhood business that took us to the Victorious,’ Imoshen said. Behind the belligerent all-father and his seconds, she saw her hand-of-force hurrying down the path and raised her voice. ‘What is it, Kiane?’

  ‘The rest of the all-fathers are on their way here with their seconds, and Cerafeoni is escorting the all-mothers up from the beach.’

  ‘It seems we are about to hold the all-council here,’ Imoshen said.

  ‘You haven’t answered my question, all-mother,’ Dretsun said.

  ‘Since this is now an all-council, you’ll address me as Causare Imoshen,’ she corrected.

  Just then the all-mothers and their seconds arrived. As they took up their places on Imoshen’s side of the clearing, she beckoned Iraayel and Saffazi. ‘Take the lads and the historians into the trees. Stay within hearing distance, but keep Igotzon out of sight. If the brotherhood leaders see a Mieren near the all-council, they’ll take it as an insult.’

  ‘Wait,’ Egrayne said. ‘Since we are all gathered here, Imoshen, you can hand Iraayel over to the new all-father. I’ll prepare him.’

  Saffazi made a sound of pain in her throat.

  ‘You knew this day would come, choice-daughter.’ Egrayne’s voice was cold and hard. ‘Don’t shame me. Do as the causare told you and stay back.’

  Imoshen’s heart raced and she drew a deep breath. At seventeen, Iraayel was no longer a child; his gift could protect him. As Egrayne said, she’d always known this day would come, and Tobazim’s brotherhood was the best possible option for Iraayel. But that didn’t stop the pain.

  Before she led Iraayel away, Egrayne added, ‘While I’m preparing him, you can take the new all-father’s covenant vow.’

  Imoshen found the idea of forcing a gift-empowered vow on Tobazim repugnant. The covenant vow and the way it took their children from them was the core reason the brotherhoods feared and resented the sisterhoods. The all-fathers hated knowing the vow gave the all-mothers the ability to reach into their gifts and cripple them.

  As long as one group had power over another, the T’Enatuath could never be united.

  And she believed removing the T’En children from the brotherhoods only exacerbated their violent nature. After her daughter had been born, she had seen how being around small T’En children had a calming effect on the male gift.

  Last night, Kyredeon had not counted the cost to his brotherhood. This had convinced her, while individual men might be ready, the brotherhoods as a whole were not ready for the responsibility of rearing rare T’En children.

  They had to earn that right.

  For a heartbeat, she toyed with the idea of amending the vow, but the other all-mothers would be horrified. They were products of the Celestial City, and weren’t ready for change.

  Once they sailed into exile, her people would be forced to adapt to survive, and those brotherhood and sisterhood leaders who couldn’t adapt would be replaced.

  As the rest of the all-fathers entered the clearing, more autumn leaves drifted down. It pleased Imoshen to see Ardonyx take his place on the all-council. He had been known as ‘Captain Ardonyx the explorer,’ but no one else still lived who knew that he was also ‘Rutz the playwright.’ Back in the Celestial City, the T’En had flocked to see his plays, which exposed the absurdities and flaws of their society. This was how Imoshen had first realised that someone else questioned the very basis of the T’Enatuath. Not that everyone had understood Rutz’s message.

  The T’En whispered that Rutz’s gift was not just that of a wordsmith, that he had the rare ability to imbue words with power to sway the listener.

  When Imoshen had asked Ardonyx about this, he’d denied it, saying he wouldn’t want that poisoned gift, since his friends and lovers would never be able to trust him.

  She trusted him. She’d had to, or the deep-bond wouldn’t have allowed their gifts to mesh.

  Now that he had a place on the all-council, she hoped his voice would be the voice of reason for the brotherhoods.

  As she watched Tobazim’s triumvirate take their place, she realised the new all-father had appointed as his hand-of-force a gift-warrior from Tamaron’s brotherhood. How diplomatic of him, to blend the three brotherhoods in his triumvirate. But this meant his adoption of Tamaron’s survivors was there for all to see.

  ‘Well, causare?’ Dretsun prodded. ‘Now that we are all here, what were you and the healer doing on the Victorious last night when the new all-father made his challenge?’

  The brotherhood leaders cast dark looks from her to Tobazim, and muttered about his lack of martial gifts.

  ‘Reoden and I did go to the Victorious last night, but it was after the challenge,’ Imoshen said. ‘I am beholden to Sorne, and his sister needed healing.’

  Time to start proceedings. She moved into the centre of the clearing, fallen leaves stirring under her feet.

  ‘Wait,’ Dretsun said, and Imoshen felt the rise of his gift. ‘Is that Norsasno from Tamaron’s brotherhood, acting as your hand-of-force, Tobazim? Since when do you acquire the survivors of another brotherhood without bringing it to an all-father-council?’

  The question had been addressed to Tobazim, but he signalled Ardonyx to answer.

  ‘We paid the brigands who delivered Tamaron’s people to the wharf and, that night, we saved their lives when the same cutthroats returned. We gave Tamaron’s survivors shelter on my ship and fed them. When Imokara needed a gift-benediction to keep her child, the product of Mieren rape, we performed the ritual. And, last night, when I went to the high-ranking survivors of Tamaron’s brotherhood and offered them the sanctuary of our brotherhood, they accepted.’

  There was a moment’s silence.

  ‘You gave them a choice?’ Hueryx asked.

  ‘Our brotherhood vow is for life. I didn’t choose to serve Kyredeon, yet I was trapped serving him,’ Tobazim said. ‘Does anyone object?’

  Imoshen hid a smile. His calm manner, when combined with the fresh wounds on his face, was much more threatening than bluster.

  No one spoke up.

  She lifted her hands. ‘Then let me welcome you to the last all-council in our homeland. Step forward, All-father Tobazim, give your covenant vow and be acknowledged by the sisterhoods.’

  The brotherhood leaders tensed, muttering resentfully as their gifts rose. The power felt oppressive, and she had to fight the instinct to protect herself.

  Almost thirteen years ago, she had seen the previous all-mother of her sisterhood force the covenant vow on a new all-father. It had struck her as wrong then.

  When she had become the all-mother, the all-fathers already bound to her sisterhood had renewed their vows in a private ceremony. Because the vow had already been made, she had only needed to imprint her power on their covenant scars. Like a crack in a wall, the scar on their gift defences created a point of weakness, through which the all-mother could break their shields and cripple them.

  Now she would have to sear her power into Tobazim’s gift, scarring his defences.

  His jaw clenched as he stepped forward and knelt.

  Lifting her left hand, Imoshen touched his forehead with her little finger. Her gift surged and she read the rest of the brotherhood leaders. They could barely contain their anger. They’d always hated the vow, but now they had to watch Imoshen the All-father-killer inflict it on one of their own. But if she didn’t, the sisterhood leaders would think she’d betrayed them. Thirteen years ago, they’d made her prove her loyalty was not to the brotherhoods, by forcing her to execute her own father.

  ‘Four hundred years ago, the all-father of your brotherhood gave his vow to the all
-mother of our sisterhood. Now you renew this vow.’ Imoshen did not command him to drop his defences. That was just insulting.

  She remembered meeting her father’s gaze that day. She’d had no choice. The sisterhood leaders had made sanctuary for herself, her devotee and little Iraayel conditional on his execution.

  Rohaayel had been an all-father of vision. He had risked and lost everything in his attempt to change the T’Enatuath; even his brotherhood had not survived.

  The power in the clearing intensified, making it hard to breathe, making her aware of every tiny detail. Something moved above her and she looked up to see dozens of leaves hovering in the air. Sunlight glowed through their delicate viens, enriching the vivid colours.

  Twice she’d gift-infused Tobazim, which meant imprinting the covenant vow should be relatively easy. But…

  She could not bring herself to do it.

  Luckily, with the amount of power in the clearing, no one would be able to tell; so she dropped her hand without taking the final step.

  Tobazim looked up, surprised.

  The gift tension between them dropped and brilliant leaves swirled down around them as she offered Tobazim her hand, drawing him to his feet.

  ‘The covenant vow is over four hundred years old and what served us in the past does not necessarily serve us in the future. I believe it is time to amend the vow.’

  There was muttering at this.

  Before anyone could protest, Imoshen plunged on. ‘Back in the Celestial City, T’En fathers counted themselves lucky if they saw their sons once a year before the lads joined the brotherhood, and some never saw their children at all. This is wrong and cruel.’

  There was more muttering from both the brotherhoods and sisterhoods.

  ‘The T’Enatuath sail into exile, into a world where the Mieren fear and despise us. We cannot afford division. There needs to be a strong bond between brotherhoods and sisterhoods. When we have a new home, my sisterhood will invite the fathers of your brotherhood’s T’En children’ – she recalled Paragian bringing his devotee to the meeting about his son – ‘and their devotee mothers to our feast day celebrations. There are eight feast days a year; they can spend those days with their children.’