by C. R. Daems
"Mistress Morag, what a delight it is to see you again. To what do I owe this pleasure?" the man said in a melodious voice and made a small bow.
"You're as spectacular as usual, Marku," Morag said. "Please join us for a meal or a drink."
"Thank you. Who's your young companion?"
"This is Ryana. Ryana, this is Marku, the leader of the Dorian clan. They are the greatest show on Hesland."
I turned to look at Marku. "She's getting rid of me," I said.
"It's disappointing, Ryana, but it should be obvious to you that you don't fit in. It's better to leave now than to be asked to leave a cycle or two from now. Your parents will be glad to have you home, and you'll be well provided for. They never wanted you to join the Shadow Sisters." Morag patted my hand. She was good. For a minute, I became so caught up in the story, I believed it.
"Marku, I'll pay for her passage to Scio."
He looked at me for several seconds before answering. "Ryana, if you travel with us, you'll have to do your share of the work."
I ignored him, continuing to glare at Morag, although deep down it hurt to do so.
"Why me?" Marku sat down and signaled the barmaid for a stein of ale.
"I need some way to transport her back to her parents, and I've no one available. I'm willing to pay you to take her. You don't have to worry. Ryana isn't lazy."
"Well, Ryana, are you willing to do your share of the work?"
"If you'll give me some training. I don't want just to clean, fetch, and carry," I said. "I learn quickly, although they won't admit it."
"How much, Marku?" Morag asked.
"Seven toras."
"Four."
"Six."
"Five, or I'll find another way to get her to Araby Province."
"Done." Marku shook his head but smiled. "You're a hard woman. I'm glad none of my clan saw you take advantage of me. It would be embarrassing."
"Come to my room and I'll pay you."
He followed Morag up the creaky stairs. I stomped up behind them while continuing to glare at Morag, Marku, and anyone else who made eye contact with me. Pretending to hate her was painful. I consoled myself by rationalizing it was the visible Ryana, not her shadow. I didn't relax even after we had entered the room and the door closed.
Morag reached inside her shirt, produced a bag, and counted out twenty gold toras, which she handed to Marku.
"Mistress, what's going on?" Marku asked, looking from Morag to me. I glared back. I needed the practice and would stay in character until Morag indicated otherwise. Besides, I was beginning to enjoy the deception. "You know I won't take money from you. You saved my clan from disgrace and exile. We owe you more than we can ever pay." Marku pushed Morag's hand away.
"The money's for Ryana, but you should keep it for her. She's a Shadow, Marku. Five of our Sisters have been killed in just the past three months. I'm sending Ryana to investigate."
"She isn't old enough to be a Shadow." He shuddered and shook his head before turning back to Morag. His suntanned face had turned ashen. "And I've seen her face!"
"I'm sending her because she does look too young to be a Shadow. As for you and everyone else seeing her face, it's an unavoidable risk. If Ryana does her job right, only you'll ever know her identity. I'm trusting you with her life." Morag nodded to me. Marku turned toward me to find me smiling. Marku shook his head and gave me a weak smile.
"You fooled me, Ryana, and I make a living being able to read people. I know the Shadows impersonate people when they are seeking information but thought it would be easy for a person like me to identify them. I change my pitch to earn coppers, but I'm still Marku. If I had your training, I'd be rich." This time he gave a hearty laugh. "We need to fit you into the clan so that no one's suspicious. You must continue the ruse that you were rejected by the Shadow Sisters and are being returned home to Scio. The clan will know I'm doing it as a personal favor for Mistress Morag. Even so, they'll expect you to do your share of the work. They will give you no special treatment."
I nodded agreement. "I'll need to keep your weapons and anything else that would betray you."
I stood silent for several minutes thinking. He was right to be concerned, but I had concerns of my own.
"My kit must be kept in a place I can access day or night and without your help." I may not need unimpeded access but…
"Agreed. We must consider what kind of work you can do. You could clean, cook, or be part of the show. That could include juggling, tumbling, knife throwing, running our games of chance, or fortunetelling. Of course, it would be good if you could do more than one thing." His eyes sparkled and he wore a wide grin.
"I prefer activities that won't focus too much attention on me. I could learn to help with the games of chance and maybe do some tumbling. I don't mind cleaning. But you don't want me cooking." I smiled at the thought. The best you could say for my cooking was that it wouldn't kill you.
"Come and watch the performance tonight. After the show, I'll introduce you and get you settled."
After Marku left Morag turned to me.
"Ryana, your assignment's important to us. Even so, we ask no more than that you do your best." Morag held my shoulders and looked into my eyes. "You've worked long and hard to become a Shadow Sister, but now you must pretend to have failed."
"Kasi and Anil will be constant reminders that I'm blessed. You've nurtured me for many cycles and have prepared me to assume the duties of a Shadow. It's now my turn to repay you."
After a leisurely meal, Morag and I left to watch the performance. By the time we arrived, a large crowd had gathered. Most looked to be commoners or merchants and in a festive mood.
The clan's wagons were made of wood and looked like small houses on wheels. The sides of the wagons were decorated with bright paintings of landscapes, animals, and people. The wagon facing the audience had a large makeshift platform. People were milling about several colorful tents off to the side. Although closed, the painting on the tents indicated they were for games of chance. A black tent stood off to the side with a picture of a woman with a hood looking at a crystal ball.
Morag had been right, the acts were outstanding and the audience enthralled. After the performance, the tents were opened and the games began. Most of the people seemed willing to spend a copper or two at the games. Mostly women visited the fortuneteller tent.
"There you are, Mistress," Marku said as he neared us. "I'll take Ryana now."
"Thank you, Marku. I appreciate you agreeing to take Ryana home for me." Morag nodded to Marku, turned, and departed. I felt a lump in my throat, watching her walk away without so much as a goodbye. The visible Ryana glared at her back before turning back to Marku.
CHAPTER SIX
Sebec—Saxis Province
"Ryana, come with me back to the wagons, and I'll get you settled." Marku led me into the circle of picturesque wagons. I had never seen so much color, not only on the wagons but also on the clan's clothing. It drove home the difference between Ahasha and the outside world, between theory and reality. We headed in the direction of a middle-aged woman sitting on the steps of a large wagon. Her auburn hair was tied with red, yellow, and green ribbons, and she wore a yellow silk blouse and a wide, flared skirt with a colorful floral pattern.
"Stela, this is Ryana. The girl I told you about earlier. She will be traveling with us until Araby."
"Morag made me leave. She claims I didn't fit in." I whined and curled my bottom lip. It wasn't hard to sulk. I had just left everything I loved.
"Well, Ryana, perhaps it's for the best. A Shadow's life isn't for everyone, just as gypsy life isn't, although we love it. You're young. In time you'll find what suits you best," Stela said. "Everyone has something they do better than anyone else. Maybe staying with us will help you find your special talent."
When I didn't respond, Stela took me around to meet some of the others who were not occupied. There were twenty-one members of the Dorian clan, including five children. Eleve
n wagons comprised the clan's homes, including one dedicated for supplies and one for equipment, which also acted as a backdrop for the makeshift stage. Marku decided I could sleep and keep my kit in the one that stored the gear for their shows. It was cramped but met my needs perfectly. It provided privacy and would be the least disruptive to the clan's current arrangements. Besides, I could come and go without disturbing anyone and have easy access to my kit.
The clan stayed in Sebec five days. I watched each performance, trying to decide where I would best fit without attracting unnecessary attention—like a servant—present but ignored as an individual. While I decided, I helped with cleaning and preparations for each performance. Late each night, I crept out and let Kasi and Anil loose. During the day, they slept in the wagon safe behind some unused stage props.
* * *
We left Sebec five days later. The travel to Miffin would take two sixdays. Each night when we stopped, I worked with two girls, Alida and Ilka, to learn how to work the games of chance. In concept, it appeared easy. A huckster, the person selling and operating the game, tried to entice the people milling around after the performance to bet a copper for the opportunity to win a half-silver, ten coppers. Each game had its own tent.
In one tent, the game involved darts. The player—a mark to the clan—had three tries to stick a dart into one of five wooden balls hanging by strings. Luring the customers and taking their money was the easy part. Learning to stick a dart into one of the balls was the hard part. The hawker needed to be able to demonstrate that it wasn't only possible but easy. It helped knowing that the bull's-eye painted on the ball was slightly off center. Unless you hit the ball in the real center, the ball twisted, and the dart fell off.
The second game involved throwing a ball into vases with narrow necks. To get the ball into the vase, you had to have the right arc and speed. Otherwise, the ball hit the rim and bounced off. Again, the hawker had to be able to show she could do it. I spent every night practicing. The darts were easy, but I made it appear harder than it was. The ball and the jars seemed impossible at first, but I kept at it as I had with every task I had been given at Ahasha. I also decided I could take part in the tumbling act. Most of the act centered on a teeter-totter-like contraption. One or two people stood on a high platform while another stood on the teeter-totter. On signal, the person or people on the platform would jump off, landing on the vacant, raised side. The impact propelled the other person high into the air. The individual in the air performed flips and turns, sometimes landing on someone's shoulders. Other times, he or she landed on a second teeter-totter, propelling another person into the air. One act had a person walking on a tightrope strung between two wagons while performing acts of balance. Other acts included juggling, knife throwing, a puppet show, magic, tumbling, and acrobatic horse riding.
With a little practice, I became one of the platform jumpers and took part in the team tumbling acts. I enjoyed learning the routines. My flexibility made it easy. As a bonus, it kept me limber and in good shape.
I was enjoying myself. I learned quickly, loved challenges, and found the clan easygoing and friendly. It was in stark contrast to the Shadow Sisters, who tended to be serious most of the time, especially around students. At night the clan told stories, danced, played music, and sang songs from faraway places. Trained in the art of deception, I continued to maintain my pretense of having been rejected by the Shadow Sisters—a comment made now and then or just sitting quietly pretending to sulk. Not enough to be shunned by the clan, but enough to maintain the illusion. It helped that I cheerfully undertook every task.
Two days out of Sebec, Yoan, one of the two unmarried men, sat down next to me. A knife thrower, he was a popular attraction each night. He was young, lean, muscular, and handsome, and he knew it.
"You've taken to the clan's ways very quickly." He smiled. Yoan had been flirting with me for several days, much to Ilka's annoyance. I wasn't sure if he was getting interested in me, flirted with any woman, or was trying to make Ilka jealous. If the latter, he had succeeded. I, on the other hand, found the flirting fun, stimulating, and good practice for later, but I didn't want to antagonize anyone in the clan. I may need their help and cooperation in the future and didn't need enemies.
"I've been enjoying myself, but I'm looking forward to getting home. Hopefully, my father's young assistant hasn't forgotten his true love." That quieted Yoan and put a smile on Ilka's face.
"I'm sure he would be a fool to have forgotten you, Ryana," Ilka said. She smiled and sat down next to me. The only way to describe Ilka was voluptuous. She had long black hair, a round face, a straight nose, and a dazzling smile.
"I'm true to him, and he better be true to me. The Shadows kicked me out, but not before I learned a few things he wouldn't like." An evil smile crossed my lips. I noticed that Ilka was giving Yoan the same evil smile. My response had achieved the intended results. I had diverted Yoan's advances, made a friend of Ilka, and discouraged further advances by pretending I had a serious boyfriend. Hopefully, no one noticed the discrepancy—students left home too young to have boyfriends waiting for them.
Late that night, as I did every night, I wandered outside the circle of wagons and released Kasi and Anil. Because of my training, I didn't need more than five to six hours' sleep. Besides, the clan was slow to rise in the morning, so I could sleep an extra hour or two if necessary. I strolled, enjoying the gentle breeze against my face, the smell of the pines, and the echoes from my darlings. Finding an old fallen tree, I sat, content to listen to Kasi and Anil hunting food. The horses were a frequent target.
My thoughts wandered to Adak, the capital of Saxis. This assignment was unique. Normally, only the senior Sister in a province knew who was in her area and their assignment. Morag had broken that convention by telling me every Sister's assignment and their rank. If I were caught, I hoped Kasi and Anil could kill me—if they would.
Morag had said to trust no one. That extended to Sister Karsa, a Spy in Adak, and to Dotino, the Sisters' Intermediate, who provided the interface between potential employers and the Shadow Sisters. I had to take her warning seriously, but lacking experience, I would have to succeed or fail based on my instincts—not logic. I had proved poor at using logic. Thinking of Morag, my shadow-self felt an ache in her chest—I missed her so much.
A sudden change in Kasi's echoes caught my attention, wrenching me out of my misery. Kasi had detected three individuals heading in the direction of the horses. They were coming out of the forest, not from the road. The hour was late and the clan had retired to their wagons, although maybe they were not yet asleep. I could disable the three men, but how would I explain it? I decided to wake Marku and let him handle the situation. I didn't shout for fear of alerting the approaching men. Instead, I ran to his wagon and opened the door without knocking. The dim light from Setebos, one of Hesland's two moons, produced a murky interior. As Marku jumped out of bed, moonlight reflected off the knife in his hand. A second later Stela jerked awake, reaching for something I couldn't see in the shadows.
"What the –" I put a single finger to my lips, held up three fingers, and pointed in the direction of the horses.
"What's it Mar–" Marku put his hand over his wife's mouth. He rose and headed for the door.
"How far?"
"About thirty paces," I said after listening to Anil's echoes.
"Wake Yoan and his brother. Tell them to meet me at the horses. You can do whatever you think best," Marku said, already moving in the direction of the horses. I dashed to Yoan's wagon and yanked open the door. Yoan jerked awake, knife in hand. His brother, Vali, tried to jump out of bed but got tangled in his blanket and landed face down on the floor.
"Ryana, you shouldn't –"
"Hush. Marku wants you at the horses. There's trouble." I didn't wait for an answer. While Kasi and Anil kept track of the intruders, I entered the forest well away from the threesome and circled around behind them. Where the clan had camped, the trees were sm
all but the bushes numerous and dense. Although I didn't have my blowtubes, I never went unarmed. I knew how to defend myself without weapons, but it was my last line of defense, as most opponents had the advantage of weight and reach. As a consequence, I always carried several small needles strapped to my leg. I kept some dipped in rockberry and some in rocktail. For more serious and unexpected encounters, I had my deadly bats. Tonight, I couldn't use the bats if I wanted to maintain my deception, so I stopped and removed one of the rockberry needles before proceeding.
A few minutes later, I could see the thieves. Anil's echoes showed Marku and the two brothers off to the right of the horses. When the thieves reached the horses, Marku, Yoan, and Vali charged. The numbers were equal but not the weapons. The clan had knives. The thieves had swords. Not wanting to interfere unless I had to, I stood watching from behind a cluster of bushes. Yoan threw his knife when he saw his attacker's sword. It sank into the man's chest. Vali danced around his opponent, dodging sword thrusts. Yoan, now without a weapon, threw a rock into the man's back. He dodged when the man turned on him. For the moment, it was a standoff. Their opponent couldn't attack one without opening himself to the other.
Marku had more of a problem. His opponent had him up against a wagon. Trapped, he had nowhere to go. As his opponent moved in for the kill, I landed on his back and jabbed a rockberry-dipped needle into his neck. He staggered a few steps, like a drunk, and then crumpled to his knees. I scooped up a rock, slammed it into his head, and tossed the bloody rock a few feet away.
By that time, the camp had come to life, and the third thief took off running with Yoan and Vali chasing him.
"Thank you, Ryana. Is he dead?" Marku asked, leaned close to me, panting and sweating. Blood trickled from a shallow cut on his arm.
"No, just drugged. He'll recover in a couple of hours."
"How did you know…no, forget I asked. Can you make up a plausible story?"