by Dana Davis
Henny studied her. “It still seems wrong to me.”
Tsianina shrugged. “It’s their way.”
Adelsik shivered at a sudden sense of danger and placed a hand on Wren’s arm. “There’s something—“ A wave of dizziness overtook her and she swayed.
The white-haired Gypsy turned and grabbed her arms to steady her. “Whoa, girl. What’s wrong? Sit.”
Adelsik lowered her backside on a tree stump and the dizziness subsided as quickly as it had come. She felt Finlor’s healing Energy, along with the smell of wet grass, surge through her body in search of illness and then pull away.
“I can’t find anything wrong with her.” Though the stout Elder was the same height as Adelsik, his stockiness added to his imposing nature and those tiny eyes studied her.
“There’s something here, Cousin Finlor.” She shifted her weight on the stump. “Something dangerous. I felt it when I woke up this morning, only it wasn’t nearly as strong. At first, I thought I might be imagining it. Or was just overly tired. But it’s getting stronger” Wren stiffened and glanced at Camlys. Both towered over Adelsik, making her feel small. “I don’t think it comes from the Zark but whatever’s causing the sensation is nearby.” She rubbed her neck. “My apologies for not telling you sooner but I didn’t want to raise suspicion here.”
“Apology accepted.” Finlor’s voice seemed distant. “Tsianina, have you felt anything? Tak? Or you, Henny? I don’t sense anything, either. Wren?”
Wren narrowed invasive eyes on Adelsik, making her feel much like a youngling, a youngling who could now withstand a Gypsy gaze without wanting to cover herself. “No. Nothing. Are you certain about this, Adelsik? You are new. Perhaps you’re out of sorts today. You said yourself you didn’t sleep well.”
“I feel something, Wren. I’m not imagining this.” I can’t be. Did they think her mad?
Wren stroked her back. “All right.” Her tone was reminiscent of talking to a distressed youngling, and Adelsik fought the urge to use the mother title. “Calm yourself. Just because the rest of us sense no danger here doesn’t mean you’re wrong. Keep eyes and ears open. See if you can hone in on the feeling, tell where the sensation becomes strongest. There’s nothing for us to do except stay alert.”
“Yes, Wren.”
“Camlys, I want you, Tsianina and Henny to stay close to Adelsik. Report anything unusual. Understood?”
“Yes, Wren,” the three women said in unison, only Henny’s was preceded with the Cousin title.
That put Adelsik’s hackles up. “I don’t need nursemaids.” What in the name of the Goddess was wrong with her? She never spoke to Wren that way, especially not in the presence of an Elder. She followed with, “My apologies.”
Wren didn’t call her down. “Keep a close watch on her girls.” She walked away.
Adelsik quelled a groan. Tsianina’s calm manner irritated her on many occasions. The island woman seemed to have very little emotions. She was kind but strange. And she had been Adelsik’s clan sister, so there was still a connection, a sense of loyalty. The more Tsianina used her nightsight, the brighter those dark eyes became, especially against her dark skin and raven braid.
Wren and Finlor mingled with the Zark elders so as not to draw unwanted attention. The other men separated. Silbie was still doing chores with the servants, and Adelsik decided to test her new “guards” by moving toward one of the washed tables. Camlys, Tsianina and Henny shadowed her. This was going to be an annoyance.
She turned on the three. “I won’t fall over with the breeze.” Besides, Henny was still a youngling. Why did Wren ordered her to watch me? Camlys crossed her arms and raised a brow, her bow bouncing with the movement. Tsianina’s face was unreadable but Henny looked hurt, which proved to annoy Adelsik even more and she said, “We don’t pout, Henny Iven Jesik.”
Henny’s blue eyes hardened. “I’m not pouting. Cousin Wren gave me instructions and I intend to carry them out.” She crossed her arms much the way Camlys did and gave Adelsik a look of pure determination. “If you keep treating me like an imbecile, Adelsik, I might just let you fall onto your backside the next time you get a dizzy spell.”
“That will do,” Camlys told her. “Remember your station, young one.”
Henny pouted again and Adelsik thought she would stomp her foot at the hunter, but Camlys held eyes on the youngling. There was no malice in the gaze but Henny squirmed and glanced at Tsianina, who studied her with interest. She swallowed a couple of times before lowering her eyes. “My apologies.”
“Accepted,” the two said in unison with Adelsik.
Henny peered at Tsianina again. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?” The island woman smoothed her braid and gazed at the lake.
“With your eyes. You know, the same way Cousin Wren and the others look at us, as though they can see down to our bones.”
Tsianina brought her eyes slowly to the youngling. “I had no idea I was doing anything.”
Her gaze fell on Adelsik and she studied the woman. Henny was right. “Something is happening to you, Tsianina. Camlys, you and Henny fetch Wren, but don’t give anything away. We don’t want to arouse suspicion.”
“We’re not idiots,” Henny spouted.
Adelsik started to reprimand the youngling but Camlys beat her to it. “You’re correct, Henny.” The hunter seemed to grow even taller. “You’re a bright girl. But you’ll be a bright girl with very chafed hands if you don’t guard that tongue.”
Henny uttered an apology again, and again Adelsik accepted it. She knew all too well what it was like to be a youngling, the frustration and impatience. Henny turned and obediently followed behind Camlys.
Adelsik brought her attention back to Tsianina. Panic swelled when she saw the pained look on the woman’s face. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?”
“No, I think not, Adelsik. I believe I might be going mad.”
“Why would you say that?”
“I’m seeing most unusual things.” Tsianina’s lilting accent became thicker, just as it always did when something upset her. She’d already been through the calling so couldn’t be referring to the footprints, like the purple snowflake that hovered above Henny’s head. Tsianina already knew about footprints. Every new-oathed did.
Wren arrived out of breath. “What’s happening? Are you all right?”
“Not me.” Adelsik said. “Tsianina.”
Wren closed in on the island woman.
“I’m seeing odd things, Wren.”
“Your talent?”
Tsianina gasped. “There, in the trees. Do you see?”
Four heads whipped around to the trees but Adelsik saw nothing unusual.
“A face.” Tsianina’s voice grew softer than normal. “On the trunk of that large tree behind the torch. Wait. I believe—yes.” She was silent.
Wren crossed her arms and raised a brow. “Either tell me what you see or I’ll become one impatient woman.”
Tsianina turned her gaze on Wren. “Eletha’s face is in the tree but I can only see her with my good eyes.”
This subtle speaking raked on Adelsik’s nerves and she wished they could be open about their identities. Stupid middlings. Why did they have to be so afraid of Gypsies? And why did Gypsies have to fear middlings? The Goddess had created a confusing and frustrating world.
Wren let out a noisy breath. “If Eletha is appearing to you, there must be a message she’s trying to get to us. Can you tell what she wants?”
The island woman focused on the tree again.
“Some interest to you?”
Adelsik whipped her head around at the sound of the Bin’zark’s voice but Henny spoke up before anyone else.
“That bird,” the youngling spouted. “We’ve never seen one quite like it.” She flicked a worried glance at Adelsik.
Bin’zark smiled. “Ah. Good eyes.” He tapped Henny on the forehead twice with his fingers. “She luck for Zark, for lake, for crops, bring health to babies
. Only one of her kind that not sings. She rare and not seen for many, many seasons. Bring luck for two seasons now. Good eyes.” He smiled.
So Henny’s bird, a red one with yellow-tipped wings, a bird that doesn’t sing, was the second Harrow. Wren nodded to Adelsik when she gave the woman a questioning glance. The fulfillment of the first sign of the coming of Cholqhuin. She quelled a shiver and focused on Henny, though she knew Tsianina took this opportunity to study Eletha’s message. Adelsik couldn’t make out the girl’s face in the trees. Perhaps Eletha had something to do with the sense of danger she had experienced all morning. Or perhaps her uneasiness came from the Harrow.
“Thank you, Bin’zark,” Henny said. “I’m glad we spotted her. She’s very beautiful.”
Bin’zark slapped Henny on the arms twice. “Good. We celebrate her blessing after sun sets. Now, come. Much work today.”
Adelsik found herself staring at the man’s back as he started toward a crowd of men and adolescent boys. Work? Bin’zark must be insane.
Finlor, who had been walking toward them, stopped. “You heard Bin’zark. We’ve been accepted as members of the Zark folks. Let’s get to work.”
“We’re guests,” Adelsik pointed out.
“Not according to the Zark. They’ve accepted us into their community. That means we work alongside them.”
Wren touched Tsianina’s shoulder and the island woman shook her head. “I can’t tell what Eletha wants. The image is gone now. She simply smiled at me and waved. I think she caused the branches on that tree to wave a bit too.”
Finlor studied Wren. “I’ve missed something?”
Wren pulled her tall body straight and rubbed at her back. “I’ll explain later, Cousin. Doesn’t seem to be anything urgent. All right, girls. Let’s see what chores the women have for us to do. Meanwhile, keep eyes and ears open. What we came for is in one of these provinces. We have three days before we move on to the next.”
Finlor nodded. “Yes. And I had better begin trade with Bin’zark soon. After all, that’s why we’re here.” He winked.
Adelsik had a sinking feeling in her gut that there would be a lot of dirty work for them. Oh, how she hated getting dirty! What she wanted was to bathe in the lake, but from the looks Wren and Finlor gave her when she was the last to follow, that didn’t seem to be an option just now.
Wren eyed her when she caught up. “Are you feeling up to this, Adelsik? We can have the Zark healer put you in one of the huts if you’re feeling ill.”
She thought of accepting that offer but would be useless in the search for the ancient text. She would do as her kin did, even if that meant disgusting chores.
“No, Wren. The dizziness hasn’t returned.”
“You tell me immediately if it does.”
“I will.” Even if this journey killed her, she would become a great Gypsy. She trotted off to work with her kin, wondering at the uneasy feeling that still tickled her senses.
Chapter 9
Walking in the shade didn’t prove a problem for Saldia, thanks to Ved’nuri’s tutelage, but all those bloody leaves made her steps awkward as she tried to keep quiet. The trees here were very large and she suspected they were old as well. Stumps stood around the outer edge of the small forest, where wood had been harvested, but the inner trees looked as though they hadn’t been touched in ages.
Where was that little treewalker? Saldia was the one who had noticed Eletha’s absence, and having to traipse around searching for the idiot girl soured her mood by the heartbeat.
She concentrated on keeping her shade Energy wrapped around her to conceal clothes and boots, hair and headscarf, as well as her body. She should be able to pick out Eletha’s presence with the awareness but the little snip must be using her Energy. When she did that, her body took on the cooler touch of a tree. Saldia shook her head. Eletha’s Energy was almost as good as her own when it came to hiding, in a forest at least. Small as these woods were, the treewalker couldn’t be far.
A tiny sound caught her ears and she looked up to see Eletha balanced on a thick branch, eyes closed, one hand caressing another branch. The large, fat trees dwarfed the little treewalker.
Saldia let the Energy flow back into the earth below and placed hands on her hips. “Eletha Lavine!” She did her best to imitate Ved’nuri. That woman could intimidate the Goddess Herself.
The treewalker swayed and whipped her eyes open then grabbed onto a branch to keep her balance. “Saldia. I was just—“ Her red leaf footprint flickered. The idiot woman was about to lie.
“Save the excuses, youngling. You know better than to come out here alone.”
Eletha groaned. “I’m not a bloody child. Besides, I needed to get away from Predula.” Saldia’s gaze hardened. “Cousin Predula,” Eletha corrected, and she rolled her eyes.
“Keep making faces and you’ll wish Predula was the one to find you instead of me. Now get your backside down from there.” A sudden noise startled her and she immediately pulled in the Energy and wrapped herself in shadow. “Stay put, Eletha.”
She stood quietly and searched the small wooded area with eyes as well as her Energy awareness. A warm presence came toward them and Saldia thought she felt another Gypsy. She still had trouble distinguishing middling heat from Gypsy until they were practically on top of her. Though that talent became more pronounced with each passing moon phase. Younglings were the exception, since they emitted tickling and flickering sensations that came from their unsteady use of the Energy. Footfalls crunched on the dry leaves and branches.
“Saldia! Eletha! I know you’re close!” Taniras sounded more impatient than usual.
Saldia let the Energy flow out of her again. “Over here, Taniras!”
“Thank the Goddess I found you.” Taniras had fists clenched around her skirts as she approached. “Predula is yanking her hair out over Eletha. Where is the minx?”
A chuckle pushed out of Saldia’s lips. “Up there. Where else?”
Taniras stepped next to her and craned her neck to look up. “Eletha Lavine, you come down from there this instant.”
Saldia pulled Taniras back so Eletha could jump down. Once the treewalker’s feet touched the ground, Taniras towered over her. The animal urger was as tall as Haranda and had more muscle on her bones.
One dark hand latched onto Eletha’s thin arm. “You’ll be up to your neck in chores when I’m through with you.” Eletha didn’t seem the least bit worried.
“I found her, Taniras.” The other woman turned on Saldia and she raised a brow.
“Very well.” Taniras pushed the treewalker’s arm into Saldia’s hand, none too gently either. “You discipline her.”
Saldia took in a long breath and gave another impression of Ved’nuri. “Guard your tone with me, Taniras Ei’sele.” She outranked Taniras, new-oathed or not, and the woman would learn to show respect for her fellow kin as per Goddess laws.
Taniras shot a look at Eletha then back to Saldia. “My apologies.”
Saldia gave a curt nod. “Accepted.” She turned on the little treewalker and crossed her arms. The small woman looked so young, and those breeches made her look very much like a boy, despite her slight curves. Saldia offered a dangerous smile, and Eletha took a half step back. Good. “You will accompany Taniras and me to the public baths each evening for the rest of our stay in Bankar.”
That got a scowl from the treewalker, who hated baths, and hated bathing in public even more. In fact, the woman loathed just about anything that had to do with water, save drinking it. And she preferred wine over water.
“Taniras will teach you how to sew, and I will instruct you in cooking and baking.” A deeper scowl. “You’ll wear dresses, not those breeches you’re so fond of.” Eletha opened her mouth to protest but Saldia held up a hand. “If you refuse, I’ll simply lengthen your punishment. And don’t think Haranda will come to your aid. I believe she’ll endorse everything I’ve just stated. Are we clear?”
Eletha grumbled and kicked t
he leaves at her feet. “Bloody blazes! Why not simply beat me? That would be less painful.”
Saldia smiled and noticed the smirk on Taniras’s lips. “You just answered your own question, youngling. And guard your tongue.”
She latched onto Eletha’s left arm and Taniras took the right. Together, they hauled the grumbling little woman through the small, forested area and back onto the road toward Bankar. The walk wasn’t too long but they never let go of Eletha, which Saldia knew infuriated her even more. Haranda and Predula met them at the sea city’s entrance.
“I’ve taken care of her punishment, Cousins.” Saldia smiled.
Taniras chuckled. “That you did, Saldia dear. That you did.”
Haranda and Predula exchanged glances and led them back to the tavern without questioning her. Mistress Norine was already serving midday meal. They washed up in their rooms and Saldia asked Predula if she could spare one of her dresses for Eletha. Temporarily, of course.
The short body-healer grinned at that request and offered one with a ruffle just below the bodice. “I think this one will do nicely. It’ll have to be altered at the waist and bosom.” Though they were about the same height, Predula was much shapelier than Eletha.
“Taniras will instruct her on that.” Saldia motioned to the animal urger, who nodded and crossed her arms as she gazed down at the little treewalker.
Predula grinned harder, and Saldia thought the healer’s face would split open. “I must commend you on your punishment choices, new-oathed. Splendid, indeed.” Predula glanced at the sulking Eletha on her way out and shut the door.
“Strip,” Taniras ordered. “I’ll show you how to alter that dress after midday meal.”
Eletha grumbled but she changed into the dress.
Saldia pulled a yellow ribbon out of her own bodice trim and fingered it. “What were you doing in the trees anyway?”
“They’re old. Untouched. I wanted to see how far I could travel through them. I found Tsianina.”