by Dana Davis
“Thank you for your generosity, Grenwin.” She stood with her head craned up at the tall woman. “I’m well.”
“If you’re certain?”
She felt D’Esher’s probing eyes on her. “Yes, I don’t need a tonic. Thank you, Grenwin.”
“All right then. But you will nap today. No sense taking chances with your health.”
A storm began to build and Maesa shoved it down. “Gypsies don’t get ill.”
D’Esher stepped to her. “If Grenwin thinks you need rest then you’ll obey her. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Elder-mother.” Maesa gritted her teeth and wanted to curse, something she did now and again, despite her root upbringing, but she held her tongue. Grenwin was as bad as any Gypsy—no, she was worse, treating Maesa as an infant. Nap, hah! This quest was going to be trying for her temper. Part of her longed for Eletha. The fiery little woman was a superb argument partner. Maesa missed the bantering and wondered how the other quests faired. Hopefully, they had better luck.
“With respect, Elder,” Denya said. “We should get back to work.”
D’Esher nodded but her eyes were on Maesa. “Yes. Next room.”
They followed her into the next apartment, which looked identical to the previous. Maesa went to the bed and crawled under to search between the slats. Skirts weren’t productive for crawling on the floor, especially in the fine dress as she wore now, and she envied D’Esher and Denya their breeches. Breeches turned her mind to men and she giggled quietly as her thoughts drifted to Birek. There were so many empty rooms here. The two might be able to sneak in and out of one without notice. Gypsy rules forbad younglings to have intimate relations but Maesa’s feelings bucked against those idiotic rules. Birek obeyed them as he obeyed the Gypsies. She admired his discipline.
She felt along the final slat and her fingers touched something. When she pulled the thing out, it was just a ribbon, pink. She slid from beneath the bed, stood and dusted her dress off, though the floor was quite clean. The ribbon looked new and she imagined a little girl hiding under the bed and getting her hair or dress caught on the slats.
“Find something?” Denya eyed her.
Maesa held the ribbon up to show the muscular woman. “Want it?” She grinned, knowing full well Denya probably hadn’t worn a ribbon since childhood, if ever. “It will bring out your eyes.”
Denya through her head back in laughter. “Don’t tell my husband that. He might get ideas about me wearing a dress and curls.”
Maesa chuckled and tucked the ribbon into her belt.
“If you children are through playing,” D’Esher said calmly, “we have many rooms to cover.”
“My apologies, Elder.” Denya winked at Maesa. “But I find this youngling entertaining.”
“In that case, you may guard her during our stay. She tends to get into trouble on occasion. I have every confidence she’ll obey you.”
Maesa’s clenched her jaw, jutting her chin out. Gypsies were incorrigible!
Denya bowed her head slightly toward D’Esher. “As you wish, Elder.” Then she winked at Maesa again and pointed a stern arm toward the trunk at the foot of the bed.
Maesa hid a grin and moved quickly to the trunk. At least one of her kin had humor. Perhaps being guarded by Denya wouldn’t be so bad.
When the sun reached zenith, they abandoned their search, changed into other fine clothing, and headed to the dining hall for midday meal. Maesa now wore a green dress with delicate lace along the bodice. Delicious smells caused her stomach to rumble and she felt as hungry as she did when harnessing the Energy. She was seated next to Birek, which quickened her mood and her appetite. Her foot touched his under the large table, sending chills through her body and warmth into her womanhood. His sleepy eyes peered at her and a smirk danced on his lips. She wanted so much to be alone with him.
Both caught Grenwin’s hard eyes and the touching stopped immediately. With Denya in charge of Maesa too, there might be no chance for her to sneak away. She needed to be with Birek. Wanted to feel his arms around her, relish his touch. Her heart quickened and she waited until the others were occupied, then when Birek looked at her, she winked, much to her own surprise. She’d never winked at a boy, much less a man. Respectable girls weren’t brought up that way. But then, Maesa was no longer in that middling home.
Birek’s sleepy eyes widened for an instant and his foot caressed hers again. Then his hand reached below the table and squeezed hers. That touch sent chills through her again and it took all her reserve not to giggle. One glance at Zarenia told Maesa that the young woman approved of Birek. Of course, Zarenia couldn’t vocalize that since she was new-oathed. The Elders would frown on such a discussion in public, especially with younglings, but the message was clear from Zarenia’s bright eyes and warm smile.
The woman had been well trained as a Demargina from the way she encouraged her servants, while keeping order. From what Maesa had observed, a Demargina was much like any Lord or Lady of a large estate, not royalty as she had first thought. But then, there was no true royalty left in the world. Her history teachings had revealed that. Unless one considered the Vedi.
Once Maesa became new-oathed, she would get respect from younglings and power over them, not to mention a decent relationship with the servants and full Gypsies. Not the lavish life Zarenia had grown up with but it was definitely something to look forward to. Thoughts of running back to her middling home were just distant memories now, a childhood long gone.
D’Esher turned an intrusive gaze on her. The Elder couldn’t see through the table but Maesa had never been one to conceal her emotions very well. And Gypsies could usually read her without too much trouble. She released Birek’s hand but kept her foot touching his. If only they could sneak away, just long enough for a kiss or two.
Midday meal was over far too soon and she found herself ushered back to the rooms. D’Esher evidently thought she was up to something, the way the Elder kept a firm grip on her arm all the way up the stairs. It was all she could do not to yank her arm away from the large woman and run.
“Whatever you two are planning, I advise you to quell that thought.”
Maesa gave the woman an innocent look. “We’re not planning anything, Elder-mother D’Esher.” And that was the absolute truth. The planning had been in her head only. “Birek held my hand, that’s all.”
The Elder gave her a satisfied nod and released her arm. “That’s not against the rules but don’t let it go farther. Finlor is speaking to Birek about this too. You can be certain.”
“Yes, Elder-mother.” She sucked in every morsel of obedience she could muster. No need to give the woman cause for concern. As it was, Maesa felt like a prisoner, but she didn’t want Birek in trouble, so she would keep up appearances. Part of her thought of talking this dilemma over with Denya but the thought was brief. Though the guardswoman was fond of Maesa, she was a Gypsy servant to her innards.
Maesa suddenly realized that they were headed to her small apartment and she gave a sour look to Grenwin. She had completely forgotten the threat of a nap.
The matronly woman opened the door and ushered her inside before turning to D’Esher. “I’ll be just a short while.”
“Good. We’ll begin searching the next apartment.” The Elder left.
Grenwin closed the door. “Do you need to use the privy?”
“What? That’s not your business.”
“Care to say that again, youngling?” Those old eyes grew dark.
“My apologies, Grenwin.” She stormed into the privy and did her business then came out to find the old nurse waiting for her.
“Off with that dress.” Grenwin began untying Maesa’s bodice.
“I can undress myself.”
“You’ll put up with my attentions, youngling. I know how to temper even the most stubborn child.” Grenwin put hands on her ample hips. “If that dress isn’t off when I get your bed turned down, I’ll do it for you.”
She stood dumbfou
nded a heartbeat then hurried out of her slippers and dress and tossed the ribbon she’d found on her table. Grenwin was a Gypsy servant but her years of service as a nurse seemed engrained in her personality. Despite Gypsy laws, Maesa wasn’t a child and certainly didn’t feel like one, but what could she do?
Grenwin folded the covers back and closed the window shutters. The large woman led Maesa to the bed. “In you go.” She obeyed but gritted her teeth as the woman pulled the covers up around her neck and tucked them under the mattress. “Now, you rest, youngling. I’ll be back later for you. And don’t even think about getting up until I return.”
“Yes, Grenwin.” After the idiot woman left, she yanked the covers out from under the mattress. She wasn’t a child, no matter her Gypsies station, but she welcomed the nap, nonetheless. Of course she wouldn’t let Grenwin know that. She must have slept because someone shook her awake now.
“Rise and shine, youngling.” Grenwin made her way to the window and opened the shutters.
Maesa hid her eyes from the glare. “First you want me to sleep. Then you wake me.” She pulled from her covers and padded to the washbasin. The cool water was refreshing. “You find anything while I was forced to nap?”
“Watch your tone.” Grenwin retrieved her dress. “And no. Nothing, yet.”
She dressed and put on her slippers while Grenwin straightened her braid. She then poured a glass of water from the pitcher on her table and took a couple of drinks before following the incorrigible servant out. More apartments to search, all looking very much alike.
By the time they broke for night meal, they had uncovered nothing, no ancient texts, no hints of texts, not even a scrap of a scroll. It would take another two days, at least, to get through the remaining apartments. But Maesa knew which rooms were vacant now, and the ones they had already searched would be the perfect place for her to meet Birek. Gypsies had no reason to go there. She smiled all the way back to her own room.
Chapter 6
After she had changed and freshened up for night meal, Maesa wrote a note for Birek on parchment stationary from her desk drawer. She folded the note into a small square and sealed it with candle wax then pressed the pink ribbon she had found into the wax until it stuck. She carefully tied a bow and hid the note in the belt of her dress.
Now, to get this to him without anyone seeing.
The thought of defying the Elders and Grenwin made her heart jump and filled her with almost as much excitement as meeting Birek. The tall mirror next to the wardrobe gave her a nice view of her diminutive bosom and she pulled her shoulders back.
“Will you never have womanly breasts?”
Briefly, she thought of stuffing a couple of rags in her bodice, but Birek had seen her each day for several moons and still had an interest in her. Perhaps some men didn’t mind a small bosom after all. He didn’t mind her plain face and had even called her a “lovely lady” on several occasions. Maesa smiled at that. No one had ever called her lovely, not even as a child. She smoothed her skirts, undid her braid, and took a brush to her hair, which was a little lighter than Zarenia’s, before heading to the dining hall with Denya.
To her delight, she was seated next to the man she loved. When the others were focused on Zarenia’s explanation of what was discovered in the library, which wasn’t much, she slipped the note under the table to Birek’s hand. His eyes widened but only for an instant then he flashed a quick smile as he took the note.
Maesa breathed a sigh of relief as she focused her attention on Zarenia, who had no problem filling out her bodice.
“So, there must be a text somewhere on my land, just as the Vedi suspected. My father probably didn’t even know about it. From what we’ve read in the old diaries, that knowledge must date back to my great-grandfather’s day, or before. Those not knowing about the texts in the first place wouldn’t suspect anything from the entries, but the life circle is clear in at least two of his journals. The drawings look similar to family rings worn by the Va’pash heirs.” She held her right hand up to show the gold braided band on her finger. “We’re certain there’s more to this.” She passed a scroll to Elder Yuri.
“Good work,” the man said in a low voice as he took the scroll. “You two keep searching the library. I’d like Grenwin to assist you.” He turned to the old nurse. “You’ve been in service to this family a long while, Grenwin. I’m certain there are things you know that will help us, even if you don’t remember just now, things that might have seemed trivial when you learned them.”
The matronly woman nodded. “Yes, Elder Yuri. As Demargina Zarenia’s nurse, I often had council in Lord Zaren’s library.” She gave an accusatory look to Zarenia but the young woman held her gaze. Grenwin lowered her eyes after a heartbeat, much to Maesa’s surprise.
Zarenia’s gaze lingered on the matronly woman. “What Grenwin is trying to say, Elder, is that she and my parents spent many occasions together. I’m certain she’ll be useful in the library.”
Grenwin gave a slight bow to Zarenia. “Yes, Demargina.”
If Yuri was surprised by the exchange, he didn’t show it. “Then we’re settled. Grenwin will assist you and Raith.” His intrusive, black eyes turned to Maesa and she forced herself not to squirm. Then the eyes drifted to Denya and on to D’Esher. “If you need someone else to assist you, D’Esher, Demargina Zarenia can provide a trustworthy servant.”
“We can manage,” D’Esher said.
“All right. Bone and Birek and I have yet to find anything on the grounds. We’ve talked to some of the groundskeepers, claiming to get details for Zarenia’s new maps, but nothing so far.” Each Va’pash head created new maps of the territory once he or she accepted the new position, as was tradition. Zarenia had begun her maps before the Goddess called her through the Means. “We’ll resume at first light tomorrow. Everyone get some rest tonight.”
They finished night meal and Grenwin took Maesa for a walk around the grounds with Denya to guard them. The old nurse claimed that young women needed frequent walks in the outside air to keep their lungs healthy. Maesa obeyed, hoping to get her bath early enough to fool the woman into thinking she was tired. She would allow Grenwin to tuck her in, as much as that infuriated her, and then make her way to meet Birek.
She took the opportunity to look around as they walked the inner ward. Servants hurried back and forth from the kitchen to the outer ward, no doubt serving meals to the guards. Though Zarenia claimed the place was under minimum staffing, there seemed to be a lot of people. Dogs ran freely, picking up any scraps that fell from hastened servants. As Maesa followed Grenwin and Denya into the outer ward, she noticed men up in the wall tower and pacing along the walkway. A few on horseback rode by and nodded as they headed toward the gate. Maesa couldn’t imagine growing up this way, without privacy, and some of her envy for Zarenia vanished.
When they were back in the keep, Grenwin took her straight to the women’s baths. The awful woman stood there while she washed herself! But that wasn’t even the worst part. Once back in her apartment, Grenwin tucked her into bed and told Denya to stay until she was asleep. There was no way Maesa would tell Denya what she planned so she pretended to sleep, breathing slow and heavy until her door opened and shut. When she opened her eyes, Denya was gone and she was alone. Thank the Goddess!
She opened her shutters to let in the moonlight, quickly dressed and checked herself in the mirror. The soft slippers would keep her footfalls quiet. She didn’t dare light a lantern or candle, but the hallways were always illuminated by torches so she would be able to see well enough.
Her heart raced as she pressed her ear to the door. Voices from down the hall came as murmurs but soon two doors clicked shut and the hall was silent. With care, she opened her door a crack and peered out. No one. She stepped out and closed the door without a sound. Thank the Goddess for oiled hinges. She ran to the right, made the turn left and down the hall to the vacant apartments. Footfalls caught her ears and her heart pushed into her throat. Sh
e ducked down a short hallway, pressed herself against the wall and waited.
Someone walked past, down the main hall, without noticing her. She felt lightheaded and realized that she’d been holding her breath. If only she could take in the Energy to calm herself but D’Esher might know if she did. She remembered all the times she’d been caught doing just that in the Land of the Goddess and thought of something.
Gypsies always studied her just before they scolded her for taking in the Energy without permission. Come to think of it, they always looked at younglings first, at least from what she could remember. Could that be it? Did a Gypsy need to see her? Was there something she couldn’t yet perceive about herself or the others? She felt giddy at that prospect but nearly jumped out of her skin when someone took her arm. A hand clamped over her mouth and she began to struggle.
“It’s Birek.” The hands released her.
“Great Goddess, Birek. You frightened me into gray hairs.”
He placed a finger to his lips and motioned her to follow. He took out a candle from his belt and lit it on one of the torches. They ducked into the room at the end of this hallway, the first one Maesa’s group had searched.
She expected him to stop just inside the room but he continued to the far wall. “Watch, lovely lady.” He pushed on one of the stones near the fireplace and it moved to reveal a lever. He pulled the lever down. Nothing happened that Maesa could see. He led her around the table to the wall and pushed. A panel door opened with a slight groan. “The lever is a latch. There are mazes of tunnels that run all through this place. I found this one the first night when I couldn’t sleep. One of the other entrances is in my room.”
He stepped through and Maesa followed. Musty, stale air found her nose and she took in shallow breaths. “Where are we going?”
“Not far, my lovely.”
She wanted to jump into his arms at the endearment but forced herself to wait. He closed the panel and took her arm, drawing her in a little ways. The candle gave off plenty of light in the darkness of these interior walls. They ended up in a small room with paintings drawn directly on the walls themselves. Padded benches sat under the paintings. She studied the figures. People rode in carts that looked very old, from several generations back. Birek tugged her down on one of the benches and placed the candle in a holder that stuck out from the wall. He took her hands.