by Dana Davis
Taniras glanced at Saldia. “Yes, we know that.”
“He’s used legends found in the dome library to translate quite a bit of information.” She took in a long breath. “Sureyah’s story coincides with passages in one of the texts.”
“What?” Taniras snapped. “So, Cholqhuin is brother and son to the Goddess?”
“Yes. These particular texts were created before most of the ancient gods left this world. The Great Mother Goddess was born from a union of moon and sun Energies. After She came forth, She birthed the other ancients, her siblings and children, so She would have assistance ruling this world and so She wouldn’t be lonely. The Vedi are distraught this information wasn’t known to us before now. “We’ve been—” Her face went pale even in the shade of the tent blankets. “We’ve been ordered to assist Sureyah in freeing Cholqhuin.”
“What!” Saldia started to count the stitches in her skirts but forced her eyes to stay on Haranda. “That can’t be.” No one is her right mind would raise a demon god. The Vedi had to be mistaken. Or else someone fooled Haranda.
Taniras actually growled. Then a string of curses left those plump lips. “That’s what the pack was trying to tell me. Bloody blazes in the underworld.” Black eyes moved between Saldia and Haranda. “They’ve been sending images of fires and a vast ocean. An ancient city made of stone. Of beings bathed in light. The images were so hazy and jumbled, like they’d been buried for centuries upon centuries, that it took me a while just to sort out one from another. At first, I thought the pack referred to the disasters we’re having now.”
Haranda placed a hand on Taniras’s arm. “You think the images were of the ancient gods?”
“Yes, I do.” There was no doubt in her voice. “Even though I could receive the images, the light around them was so bright I couldn’t see clearly. I thought perhaps they were showing me Goddess Light around Gypsies. And the fires. Those must be the Eternal Flames where Cholqhuin is trapped.”
“Taniras. You must speak to the pack. See what else they know. Call them here if you must. I know they’re afraid but this is highly important.”
“Yes, Haranda.”
“You mustn’t let the middlings know any of this just yet. Siri has orders to inform them once we’re certain of our actions. And I need to deliver your news to the Elder myself. Not to mention the Sages.” Her face went sour with that last statement.
Saldia’s head spun with the disturbing reports. The Vedi must be mistaken. They couldn’t raise the ancient god of the underworld. She forced her back straight. There had been too many traitors of late. She couldn’t believe the Vedi would order such a thing. Someone must have fooled Haranda and the other slumberers. “I won’t be part of Cholqhuin’s raising. Surely, you can’t think this a good idea?” She focused on Taniras. “No matter what images the bloody wolves have sent.” Her gaze moved back to Haranda. “You said yourself the Vedi have been distracted with their son. They could be mistaken. They have to be mistaken. I can’t do this!”
“You have no choice in the matter,” Haranda said calmly. “None of us do. The Vedi have given their orders. They represent the Goddess Herself.”
Saldia cursed under her breath. To raise a demon god—that was just wrong in so many ways.
Haranda narrowed eyes on her. “Would you disregard your oaths, New-oathed Gypsy Saldia Trich? Would you defy the Goddess Herself?” Those probing eyes hardened. “You agreed to do the Vedi’s bidding just as all Gypsies have. We took oaths to abide by the Goddess’s wishes. Just because something isn’t convenient, doesn’t give us the right to disobey.”
Saldia gaped at her. The Gypsy was right. Blast her! None of them had a choice. They had taken their vows, their oaths to the Goddess, to the Vedi.
“Are the Vedi certain?” Taniras’s dark eyes bored into Saldia’s skull then moved to Haranda.
“Yes. They might be distracted but they’re not wrong.”
Saldia dropped her shoulders in defeat. “Lyssinya will scream a mountain down when she hears this.”
Haranda actually grinned. “Yes. I just bet she will.”
“That’s not very Gypsy-like, Haranda,” Taniras chided.
“Perhaps not. But this will certainly prove her loyalty to the Vedi and the Goddess, one way or the other.”
A commotion prompted all three women to dash from the tent. Saldia’s heart pounded a frantic beat as she scouted her way around the massive bodies of the twin guards, Muroth and Murell.
Can anyone tell those two apart? When she saw Yuri’s quest riding across the vast grasses of The Betweens, her spirits lifted. Thank the Goddess they’ve arrived safely.
She started toward them with a smile on her face, counting the figures as they approached. Raith, with his stocky build, red hair and ruddy complexion looked quite intimidating on the black steed he rode. Elders Yuri and D’Esher trotted beside him with two men in chain mail close on their flanks. D’Esher’s size and coloring made her look very much like Lyssinya, only a bit older.
Men and women on horses and wagons loaded with supplies, made their way across the lush grass. The Gypsy guards and hunters kept their horses close to one of the wagons, one that had blankets secured around the bed. Perhaps that was Zarenia’s ride. Saldia didn’t see Maesa anywhere, but the other youngling, Birek, drove one of the wagon teams. No, not a youngling any longer, as she could see no footprint above his head. From the looks of things, Zarenia had acquired quite a number of supporters, forty-three totaled Yuri’s quest now, not counting whoever was beneath the blanketed wagon.
The riders dismounted and others climbed from the wagons. Zarenia, Maesa and several other women slipped from behind the blanketed one. Adelsik and Henny squealed and ran to Maesa. Hugs, back slaps and introductions followed from everyone, creating a fair noise before most settled back into their temporary routines. Haranda and Wren took a tired-looking Zarenia into one of the tents. The highborn woman had been through so much. Another young woman, who looked enough like Zarenia to be her sister, accompanied them, along with a gray haired, buxom woman with a stern face.
A heavy hand landed on Saldia’s shoulder and she spun around as her right hand fell to her belt knife.
“Sorry to startle you, Mistress Saldia,” LePon said.
The dark man was so massive that he blocked the sun from her vision and Saldia stood in his shadow, gazing stupidly up. After several heartbeats, she found her voice. “That’s all right, Master LePon.” Heat crept into her neck when he took her hand his much larger one. His skin made hers look quite pale in comparison.
“I made something for you.” His other hand went into his tunic pocket and thick fingers drew out a small wooden likeness of a seabird perched on a log.
She studied the carving in awe as he placed it gently into her hand. He had even painted the bird white with black eyes and a gray beak. Feathered details covered the body.
“This is probably not like the fancy things you’re used to, Mistress—“
“No. This is lovely. Truly. How did you manage such a small, meticulous carving?”
He smiled and rubbed at his thick beard. “You mean because my hands are so large?”
Saldia chuckled. “Well, yes. I mean no disrespect, Master LePon, but you are a big man.”
A bellow flew out of his mouth as he threw his head back with laughter, and he clapped her on the shoulder hard enough to make her stumble to catch her balance. “That I am, especially to such a fine lady as yourself.”
She couldn’t help but smile at this mountainous, Bankari barrel maker. He still thought her a fine lady. She would have to set him straight about that misunderstanding. Later.
“I have a knack with tools.” He grinned, his teeth white against his dark skin. “I hope you like that.”
“Oh, I do.” No one had ever given her a gift so precious before. “Thank you, Master LePon. I’ll treasure this and keep it safe in the exquisite box I bought from you.”
He nodded. “Well, I’ll leave
you to your chores, Mistress Saldia. Until later.” He gave her a slight bow and made his way toward his makeshift barrel shop.
“He’s smitten with you.”
Saldia turned to see Henny with a huge grin on her face. “He’s just being kind.” She worked to keep the heat from her cheeks. Why did that man always make her blush?
The youngling crossed her arms. “You’d miss a compliment if it slapped you on the backside.” She walked off toward Adelsik and Maesa, giggling to herself.
Saldia watched the three girls make their way to Zarenia’s tent then she studied LePon, his large figure bent over some new creation. Several young men gathered around the wagon as he gave instruction. “Could he be smitten?”
“Talking to yourself, shade walker?” Taniras was as dark as a Bankari woman and taller than Saldia but LePon made even the wolf singer look dainty. She smiled sheepishly at her former clan sister. The singer glanced briefly at LePon’s wagon then to the carving in Saldia’s hand. “Haranda wants us. Zarenia’s in a bad way.”
“What? She looked fine when she arrived. A bit tired, perhaps.”
Taniras shrugged. “You know how some highborn ladies can be. Taught to conceal everything. A lot like the Vedi.”
Those two always seemed to have their emotions under control around servants and Gypsies. Saldia knew better, though. Ved’nuri had relaxed around her after a while in the dome. She put LePon’s bird in her belt purse for now and followed Taniras to one of the tents. From behind the blankets, Zarenia’s weeping caught her ears. Taniras stuck her head inside then motioned Saldia to follow her.
Haranda, Wren and Predula sat near the Pashdad woman. The other woman who resembled Zarenia, held her, tears streaming down her own cheeks. Though her clothes weren’t quite as elaborate as Zarenia’s lavender satin, she wore a fine dress of a highborn lady. Maesa, in a frilly dress of her own, sat nearby with Adelsik and Henny. The youngling mind-healer had one hand on Zarenia’s shoulder. The tent was crowded now.
When Eletha recovers, she’ll have a laugh at these women. The youngling still took pleasure in teasing highborn kin about their fancy clothes.
“This is Hallia,” Haranda said. “Zarenia’s aide.”
The resemblance between the two astonished Saldia. Though their eyes were different colors, Zarenia’s green and her aide’s gray, a stranger wouldn’t be able to tell them apart from any distance. Zarenia’s fair skin was lighter but not by much. Of course, even a friend would have to be on top of them to notice these differences.
“And this is Grenwin. Zarenia’s former Nurse. She’s a Gypsy servant now.”
The gray-haired woman nodded politely but her eyes brimmed with wetness.
“What can we do?” Taniras said.
Haranda stood and placed a hand on the singer’s shoulder. “Wren is having trouble calming her.”
Zarenia must’ve been overly distraught if Wren couldn’t calm her with the Energy. Saldia’s eyes moved to Predula. The body-healer’s brown hair sat in a bun atop her head as unruly strands floated about her face. One hand rested on her herb bag. Middling healers would have given Zarenia a sedative drink but Predula and other Gypsy healers used herbs sparingly. Kin needed their wits intact, especially when they were among middlings.
“Zarenia?” Taniras sounded as though talking to a small child.
The highborn woman sniffed and pulled away from her aide. She took a crying cloth from the elaborate dress sleeve and dabbed her face. “My apologies.” But she kept weeping.
Taniras crossed her arms and gazed down with a raised brow. “Zarenia Va’pash. You have nothing to apologize for. You have every right to be upset. In fact, were you not crying right now, that would set me to worrying. You idiot woman.”
Zarenia stopped weeping to gawk up at Taniras. She suddenly began to laugh. “You haven’t changed one bit, Taniras Ei’sele.” She blew her nose in a rather undignified manner.
Saldia hid a grin and focused on Zarenia. “That’s New-oathed Gypsy Taniras Ei’sele Nee’cher, the wolf singer, now.” Blazes! Taniras has more titles than some highborn ladies.
Zarenia looked stunned for a heartbeat then got to her feet. “You married Snowy?”
Taniras nodded.
“Congratulations.” The two embraced.
“Thank you.” Taniras smiled.
“You are also the third sign of the coming of Cholqhuin? The wolf singer?”
“Yes.” The taller woman looked a bit embarrassed.
Zarenia sniffed. “I was wrong. You have changed.” She embraced Taniras and began to weep again. “It will take me years to rebuild.”
The singer sat and pulled her former clan sister close. She sang an odd tune, which sounded much like a lullaby, as she rocked Zarenia back and forth. Saldia remembered that tune. Taniras had used it to quiet Henny in the Land of the Goddess after the emergency bells prompted them to take cover in the dome. If she remembered correctly, the two acted strangely afterward and were summoned to the Vedi. She gave a concerned look to Haranda but the Gypsy waved her off.
After several heartbeats, Zarenia calmed and fell asleep in Taniras’s arms. Predula and Wren lowered the unconscious woman onto some blankets. Together with Maesa, Hallia, Adelsik, Henny and Grenwin, they fussed over her a while. Saldia wondered if she would ever learn to comfort others that way, the way she’d seen most women kin act toward one another.
Taniras got to her feet and Haranda joined her. “How do you feel?”
The singer rolled her head side to side and shrugged her shoulders as though she’d been carrying a heavy pack. “A bit irritable. But that will pass.”
“All right. Perhaps you should take some solitude. Come back when you’ve recovered.”
The singer nodded. She gave Saldia’s arm a brief grip on her way out of the makeshift tent.
“You wanted me, Haranda?” Saldia watched Zarenia sleep. Perhaps she had been mistaken about the request for her presence.
“Oh, yes, Saldia. Let’s go outside.” Haranda stepped from the tent and she followed. “I have an assignment for you.” The Gypsy glanced around and pulled Saldia near one of the abandoned wagons. “I want you to find out whether Lyssinya and the other Sages are honoring their agreement with us.”
Saldia blinked. “You want me to eavesdrop?”
“Well, yes. I don’t trust that woman. I fear she might be up to something. The way she found Adelsik in the Netherworld, her treatment of the poor girl. And her sudden assignment here in the mainland. It’s just too—convenient. All of it. I talked this over with the Elders and they agreed to have you scout her out.”
“She’s given her word, though. All the Sages have. I thought that was just as binding as a Gypsy’s pledge. She even swore on the Goddess.”
“Yes, I know. But enemies of the Goddess wouldn’t hesitate to do these things. Without a witnessed oath, we have no proof of their loyalty.”
“That might be true. But I think you’re wrong about her, Haranda. Surely the Goddess would punish any who swear on Her name with a lie.” She fought the urge to step back when those dark eyes flared at her. “I mean no disrespect.”
“You’ve been a Gypsy for just a short while, new-oathed.”
Saldia had said the wrong thing. But she didn’t believe Lyssinya lied to them. Sages were just different in some ways, something Saldia had learned to notice and adapt to over her mobile life. “Cass doesn’t sense any lies from her.”
Haranda placed hands on her hips in a stance Saldia knew well from her youngling days. “Cassbet Legrange is a fine new-oathed woman, just as you have turned out to be, but she was fooled by Pim. There’s a good chance Lyssinya harnesses Energy she still hasn’t told us about.” Those dark eyes narrowed in an all-too-familiar way. “New-oathed don’t have the experiences of full Gypsies.”
Saldia nodded. Arguments would get her nowhere. Not while Haranda was this adamant. And the woman had the Elders’ permission. “I’ll see what I can find out.”
Th
at seemed to satisfy her former clan mother. “Good. I expect your first report by evening meal. And Saldia. Despite my animosity for Lyssinya, she’s not stupid. Don’t let her learn what you’re up to.” She turned on her heels and made quick strides toward Elder Siri.
“What was that about?”
Saldia turned to see Henny not two paces from her. “Not your business, youngling.”
The girl gave her a sour look and stalked away, mumbling something. Saldia didn’t feel much like calling her down. Instead, she pulled the Energy into her body from the earth below, reveling in the awareness that filled her almost instantly. Heat from middlings touched her senses along with stronger pulses from those who could harness the Energy, and she fought the urge to count them. The younglings left flickering marks. There were so few now that she knew the exact location of each.
Pim had been ordered to teach the others how she faked her own Energy flickering back in Brev, something that had even impressed the Elders. Sureyah had taught her the workings of it but the errant wasn’t strong enough to manage that herself. Right now, Pim shadowed Cass and the two passed Saldia on the way to the river. She couldn’t tell one person from another simply by their heat, just whether they harnessed the Energy or not. Animals felt lighter, cooler, made smaller impressions, and there were quite a number beneath the ground.
Saldia stepped behind one of the wagons to glance at what she must conceal, and then she pushed, folded and tucked the shadow Energy all around her body, clothes and everything she carried. Every hair, every fiber had to be carefully concealed so that no one would see her. With this many Gypsies and Sages around, surely no one would be able to distinguish her heat from any other. At least, she hoped that to be true. She couldn’t hide the fact that she could harness. Any Gypsy or Sage would feel her through the awareness. She had to be careful not to raise suspicions.
Adelsik walked by but didn’t notice her. She fought a frown when the flaxen-haired woman headed for the small group of Sage kin. The fool girl raised her nose slightly as she passed a group of middlings, those who hadn’t taken oaths. They had pronounced their loyalty, and Saldia wanted to call the imp down for her behavior. Instead, she took a deep breath and started toward Lyssinya’s wagon.