by Dana Davis
Haranda moved to the bed, sat, and motioned her to do the same. The bed was soft but the movement still hurt her legs and her thigh muscles threatened to cramp. Bloody horses!
“You think this has been trying only for you?” Haranda smirked. “How do you think I feel, knowing that my own youn—knowing the trouble I’ve had getting through that stoneheaded skull.” One fist knocked lightly on Taniras’s forehead.
“I suppose I have been a trial to you and the others.”
“You’re not the only one.” She flicked her head toward the next room where Eletha and the others bunked. “That little redheaded minx is even more headstrong than you.” She smoothed her skirts. “I was relieved when Predula offered to take her for a while.”
Taniras chuckled. Eletha had a temper even Ved’nuri cocked an eyebrow at. She had wanted to cuff the little treewalker herself on numerous occasions.
Haranda stood, arms crossed, and studied her. “I would like you to remain civil with Snowy. He’s been very patient of your teasing.”
Guilt flooded her for the way she’d treated him, and she turned away from Haranda to cover her discomfort. “I guess I’d better watch what I do around him.” She would miss his reactions, though.
“That’s for the best. Especially if you intend to partner with him someday.”
This time Taniras didn’t hide her face from her clan mother. She smiled. “Yes. I think I’ll make that offer.”
Someone knocked and Haranda opened the door. Eletha entered and her fiery hair danced as she moved. “Cousin Predula asked me to give you this, Cousin Haranda.” She held out a small tin of salve. She didn’t look pleased at her messenger status just now.
“Ah, just what I requested.” Haranda reached for the tin and moved to the table with it. Eletha gave Taniras a wink and revealed broken sticks and several leaves tucked in her belt. Taniras quelled a chuckle. “Oh,” the little treewalker said abruptly, turning her focus back to Haranda. “She wants the pink crystal back. Cousin.”
The Gypsy nodded as she ushered Eletha inside and shut the door. She then crossed to the trunk at the end of the bed, where their belongings had been placed for safekeeping. She and Predula often tested the others’ memories on using the unification crystals, something that could only be done briefly and would drain them in a heartbeat, leaving them without the ability to harness even the smallest amount of Energy for a day or so afterwards. That kind of power might become necessary if they were attacked by a mob.
They hadn’t used any of the crystals since training in the Land of the Goddess, and Taniras gazed at the one in Haranda’s hand. The pink one used combined Energy to create great destructive winds. If they ever used a crystal, they had better be certain to succeed.
Taniras’s heart raced at the thought of a mob attack. She had envisioned Gypsies creating great earthquakes and tidal waves to destroy an enemy, but the Energy didn’t work that way, unfortunately. Gypsies weren’t gods, despite what some middlings thought. She studied Eletha again. Her eyes began to play tricks and she stared openly at the treewalker. Something flickered above Eletha’s head. A leaf? That was impossible. Could she have gotten one caught in her hair? No, this one was above her head, floating. And it was red, not green like the ones in the trees just outside Bankar.
She rubbed her eyes but the image remained. “What the—“ She stood.
“Taniras?” Haranda flew to her side and felt her brow. “Are you ill?” She didn’t mean the type of illness that plagued middlings. Gypsies were above such mundane things.
“I’m not certain.” Taniras stepped closer, reached a hand above Eletha’s head, and sucked in a breath when her fingers went right through the leaf image.
Haranda chuckled. “Oh, my.” She ushered a confused Eletha to the door. “Send Predula over.” She opened the door and shooed the treewalker out before shutting it. “Look at me, Taniras.”
The surprise must have shown on her face when she gawked at the Gypsy. Haranda had an image above her head too, a flower, a yellow daisy. She had gone completely mad, probably from working with animals so long, and she sank back onto the bed.
“What do you see, Taniras?”
“Nothing.”
Haranda’s hands went to her hips. “You’re staring at something. Now tell me what you see.”
“You’ll only think me mad.”
“I’ll do my own thinking, thank you. What do you see? And don’t lie to me again.”
Her voice was firm and Taniras gave in. “A yellow daisy, floating just above your head. I’ve gone mad.”
“You’re not insane. You’ve simply passed to your next stage.” She smiled and touched Taniras’s cheek. “Do you understand?”
“You mean—“
“Exactly.”
Taniras wanted to leap into the woman’s arms and pound her back but she quelled that thought. This phase was much less intense than when she’d gotten the calling. Back then, which seemed so long ago now, the Energy had flooded her. At first, she’d felt strong and even urged old man Fetter’s mutt away, but then the Energy had weakened her so much she nearly passed out. Many of the others lost consciousness when they got the calling so Taniras felt lucky. She was grateful not to have to go through such an ordeal this time.
Predula didn’t knock and Taniras jumped when the door flew open. “What is it, Haranda? Is she ill?” The small woman closed the door behind her.
“Not ill, Predula. Moving up.”
The healer smiled at Haranda then cocked her head at Taniras. “I see. Welcome.” The image of a white snake appeared above her head and Taniras stared. It seemed to shimmer in invisible light.
She studied Predula. “You have a snake above your head.”
“What you see are our footprints, Taniras. Haranda and I are allowing you to see ours but the young ones can’t hide theirs, yet. In fact, they don’t know what they are unless they’ve been taught during slumbering, and even then, they can’t see footprints in the mundane world, only in the Netherworld. Until they’ve reached new-oathed, that is.”
Haranda flashed the short body-healer a warning look but she seemed not to notice.
The younglings. Eletha. That meant Taniras really was truly out of that stage. Finally! She was a Gypsy. A new-oathed Gypsy, or she would be, but no longer a bloody youngling. “Eletha is a red leaf.”
Predula chuckled. “Yes. You mustn’t tell her, though. She needs to progress as the Goddess wants her to. Seeing footprints is a sure sign that a youngling has moved on.”
“Predula.” Haranda’s warning voice was firm.
“It’s all right. We’ve done a sweep of the floor. The other boarders are at the east end of the tavern. No one will hear us. We’ll teach you how to conceal your footprint, Taniras, but that can wait until tomorrow.”
“What is my footprint?”
Haranda stepped close. “You, my stubborn one, are a green hazelnut.” She pulled Taniras to the long, obsidian mirror.
“What? Are you certain?” Taniras gazed into the mirror and focused on her image. There it was, plain as the clothes she wore, floating just above her head, the image Haranda spoke of.
“We’ve seen your print since you arrived in the Land of the Goddess because you had already been through the calling.”
“Oh.” So, that’s how they knew she could touch the Energy. “A hazelnut? That’s as disappointing as my aspect of the Energy.”
The two Gypsies chuckled. “You’re a very hard woman to please,” Predula said. “The hazelnut represents wisdom. Something the Goddess evidently plans to help you with.”
Taniras gave her a guilty look then smiled at her new status. She glanced at Haranda’s floating flower. “So what does a daisy mean?”
“Attraction and heartiness,” Predula said as she studied Haranda. “A snake represents compassion.”
Taniras nodded. Predula’s print matched her Energy. A Gypsy healer or middling healer had to show compassion. She wasn’t so certain about Haranda�
��s print. Though the woman was attractive, pretty even, she didn’t know what heartiness had to do with urging, Haranda’s strongest Energy. And what in blazes did wisdom have to do with animal urging? Perhaps the Goddess had strange humor. Another thought lifted her spirits now.
“I guess that means no more youngling punishments for me.”
Haranda chuckled. “Yes. But you’re still not a full Gypsy. Don’t forget that.”
“I don’t think you or Predula will let me forget.” She clapped her hands together and the two women looked startled. “How do I take my oaths? We’re not at the dome?”
“Gracious, girl.” Predula put a hand to her chest. “You’ll give me heart failure moving like that. We have other ways to take oaths.”
At that, the two helped her out of her nightclothes and into one of her clean dresses then Predula left. Haranda began searching through her pack, pulled out a small white crystal that reflected all the colors of the Energy, and set it on the table. She stood behind Taniras and ran hands through her wet hair. Taniras felt a slight tingle of sparking Energy and soon her hair was completely dry. She gave a stunned look to her former clan mother but the woman only smiled. She had never known her clan mother could do that. Seems her training wasn’t complete, after all.
The other Gypsies arrived and filled the room. She longed for Snowy’s presence but servants took care of younglings and other duties during certain oathings. Taniras had been left behind with them numerous times in the Land of the Goddess.
Haranda took the white crystal in her right palm and instructed Taniras to place her right hand on top. As she touched the crystal, she immediately felt a vibration through her palm and swallowed hard.
“Listen carefully,” Haranda said, “to what I’m about to ask on behalf of the Goddess, for I will only ask once. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I understand.” Taniras was ready, had been ready a long while for this.
“Do you, Taniras Ei’sele of Maricar, Gypsy-daughter of Haranda, agree to serve the Goddess? To bind yourself to Her work to the end of your days? To honor the Vedi, your Gypsy kin and servants? To protect younglings and guide them as best you can, discipline them when necessary, and keep them from danger? To seek out others of our kin and teach them to harness the Energy safely, no matter what you may have to do to accomplish this? To honor the Goddess and give your life, if necessary, to protect Her children and Her land? To abide by the Gypsy codes you have learned and will continue to learn? If you agree to these oaths, then say, I do.”
Taniras had waited so long for this and she smiled. “I do.” The Energy filled her with awareness, and she gasped as a hot, sharp pain burned her right palm. She tried to pull away from the crystal but couldn’t. Then the Energy was gone, taking the awareness with it, and her hand came away from the crystal. “Ow.” She studied her palm.
Haranda turned her to face the others, footprints clearly visible above their heads. Taniras memorized each one as Haranda spoke. “I present to you, New-oathed Gypsy Taniras Ei’sele.”
The others gave quiet applause and smiled. Haranda touched Taniras’s right hand. “The Goddess Kiss. You’ve now been marked as a Gypsy.”
“I see nothing but it itches.” She tried to relieve the irritation.
“Don’t scratch.” Predula sounded as though she had said that a thousand times to a thousand other new-oathed.
Haranda pulled Taniras into a hug then the others took turns. All gave her kisses and welcoming words. Again, she wished Snowy could have attended.
“We won’t present you with a Gypsy handbook, your scroll, just yet,” Haranda told her. “I’m certain that disappoints you.”
Taniras laughed. She was a Gypsy! Thank the Goddess! Scroll or no. Finally, she had earned her new-oathed title. “I think I can keep younglings in line without it.” The others chuckled.
“Speaking of younglings,” Predula said. “I’d better get back to that little treewalker. Who knows what mischief the girl’s thinking up right about now.”
Predula left, followed by the others. Snowy had been out in the hall and he winked at Taniras just before he closed the door. She smiled. Perhaps he had noticed her interest. It was late now and she was tired, certain that some of her weariness had to do with the oaths she had just taken. She scratched her palm.
“That won’t help.” Haranda studied her “You’ll itch for nearly a moon cycle, whether you scratch or not.”
Taniras nodded, not caring that it would itch that long, changed back into her nightdress, and climbed into the large bed, realizing that her aches were gone. The oaths. Taking them must have healed her. She thought of something else. “Haranda?” It felt good to drop the woman’s title.
“Yes?” Her former clan mother blew out the bedside candle and climbed under the covers beside Taniras.
“What if I had refused the oaths?”
“The Goddess doesn’t allow that.”
“But you gave me a choice.”
“Yes.” Haranda turned away from her and said nothing more.
More lessons for the future, no doubt. Taniras closed her eyes and dreamed of Snowy.
* * * *
She woke with a smile the next morning. Haranda was already up and dressed. “You shouldn’t have let me sleep so long.” She pulled from the covers and eyed her former clan mother.
“Oaths taken outside the dome use a lot of Energy. You needed rest. We both did.” She tossed Taniras’s dress onto the bed. “Mistress Norine might try to marry you to one of her sons if you linger here too long. I’m going down to morning meal. Don’t dawdle. We have a lot to do today.” She tossed Taniras the keys to the trunk and the door. “Lock up.”
“Yes, Haranda.”
The woman treated her differently now but she was obviously expected to take orders. Predula had mentioned something about a handbook last night just after Taniras took her oaths. She had wondered about the scrolls new-oathed wore tucked into their belts in the Land of the Goddess. There was still much more to learn about Gypsy life. She hurried and washed up before she dressed and locked her belongings in the trunk. One turned of the key secured the door as she left.
Snowy met her at the top of the stairs. Everyone must have gone downstairs because they were alone, except for one of Mistress Norine’s girls, and she had ducked into one of the far rooms.
“Congratulations, Taniras.” Snowy used a soft voice that only she could hear.
“Thank you. I would like to talk to you in private.” Her heart raced. “Today, if possible.”
He smiled and touched her cheek. “Yes. I’d like that too.”
He did understand. She smiled and heat rush to her face. It was all she could do to keep from untying his peppered hair and running her fingers through his locks. Then he took her face in his hands and planted a soft kiss on her lips. Her body pulsed with excitement and she wanted to pull him into her room, into her bed, but that would have to wait. He offered his arm and she took it as they made their way down the stairs and to one of the tables farthest in the corner. This one was the most secluded. Other than a bid good-morning as they passed, the others left them to their privacy.
Snowy pulled out her chair and she sat. He took a seat opposite her. “I’ve been waiting for you. Do you know how difficult it was not to grab you into a kiss when you tormented me with your remarks and sneers?”
“My apologies about that.” But she smiled. “I’ve been impatient.”
“That makes two of us.”
She chuckled and stared into those black eyes. “I never would’ve thought you anything but patient, Snowy.”
He smiled. “With most. But you have a way of keeping me alert.” He reached across the table and took her hands. Those delicious eyes glistened and grew serious. “I would be honored if you’ll be my shining half, Taniras Ei’sele.”
She was relieved that he asked first. “I would be honored to accept you as my shining half, Devin Nee’cher.”
It felt good to say hi
s birth name. And now she had that right. But she wanted to keep that part of him to herself, so she decided to save his birth name for private occasions. Around the others, he would still be Snowy. She smiled broadly at her betrothed and caressed his hands with her fingers. This was turning out to be a wonderful day.
Someone screamed outside and Mistress Norine flew to the door. Taniras immediately drew in the Energy. Snowy jumped up faster than she did and pulled her behind him as he crossed to the door. They met the guards, who both had weapons drawn. Smit held a knife in each hand and spun them slightly so the blades faced him. Bar’kobin flanked him with sword ready. Another scream.
Turmoil ensued as people flooded the streets. Taniras had no choice but to follow Snowy. His grip was strong. She leaned against his back and peered around his left arm. That’s when she realized that Haranda and the others stood behind her. Predula had a restraining hand on Eletha and the little treewalker didn’t look at all pleased.
Mistress Norine came running back from the street. “LeKrep’s boy. Ran in front of the tinker’s wagon.”
Taniras heard gasps behind her and turned to see Mistress Norine’s daughters.
“I’ll get the herb mistress,” LaNel said, and she took off at a run down the street.
Taniras saw the little prone figure as they stepped out into the street and closer to the accident. She wondered whether she should go to him. After all, she once had been a healer’s apprentice.
“No,” Haranda said in a strained voice. Taniras turned, but the woman spoke to Predula. “You can’t. You’ll give us away.”
“No one will know. I’ll be discreet. He’s dying, Haranda.” The short body-healer started to push past.
“I said, no.” Haranda grabbed the healer’s arm and narrowed eyes on her.
“How can you be so cruel?” Predula spat in a low voice.
“We have to take care of our own.”
“Yes, but he’s still very young. He could become one of us later. You know that.”