by Dana Davis
She scrubbed her face in the small basin by the fireplace and pulled on her clean dress and stockings someone had laid out. Maesa snored quietly as Saldia took up the hairbrush from the dresser. She glanced at Henny. The girl had cried herself to sleep as Adelsik rocked her, and Saldia felt a pang of guilt that she hadn’t been the one to provide comfort. She was the oldest, after all. But she hadn’t been taught motherly ways, didn’t remember her own mother. In fact, only one of her cousins ever held her the way Adelsik had coddled Henny, and that was very long ago.
When her hair was smooth, she took up her clean scarf and tied her locks back. She crept out, carrying her boots. As she made her way down the stairs, twelve of them, the ninth a squeaky one, food smells filled her nose. At the bottom, she sat and pulled her boots on. The outside privy was vacant so that business didn’t take long. When she found the kitchen, Haranda looked busy over the stove and Mistress Flindering cut slices of ham steak. She didn’t see Eletha or Kal and suspected they both slept.
“Good morning, youngling.” Haranda sounded pleasant.
“Morning, Mistress Haranda. Mistress Flindering. What can I do?” Saldia snatched an apron from a wall hook and tied it around her waist. She knew her way around a kitchen and felt quite comfortable offering her services. In fact, a kitchen was where she felt most at home. Something about the smells of cooking food and clinking of pots and dishes soothed her. At least, in most kitchens. In those that weren’t so pleasant, she found herself counting items while she worked.
Mistress Flindering waved her over. “If you finish slicing this. I’ll see to the butter.” She ducked outside, her boots tapping across the wooden floor.
Haranda looked pleased as Saldia took up the knife and fork and took over where the old woman left off. “How did you sleep, youngling?”
“Well. You?”
“Better than I have in a while. Are the others up?”
Saldia wondered whether she was supposed to wake them. “No. Should I go—”
“Let them sleep a bit longer. I’m enjoying the quiet.” Haranda smiled and her face warmed. She wore her waist-length, chestnut hair secured in a leather lace today.
Saldia chuckled. The girls’ squabbling frayed her nerves as well. “We could always tie their beds to the horses and let them sleep the entire way.”
Haranda chuckled. “That sounds like a wonderful idea. But I doubt Mistress Flindering would give up her beds, even to me.”
Saldia laughed softly and concentrated on the ham steak. By the time she finished, there were eleven slices on the plate and the rest of the meal was almost ready, so Haranda sent her to wake the others.
Kal and Eletha’s room was empty but the three highborn girls were still in bed. Henny whined about the early rise. Maesa pouted and Adelsik grumbled. They dallied until Saldia threatened to fetch Haranda. Henny picked at the salve wraps on her feet.
“Don’t touch those,” Saldia ordered. “You’ll get them infected.”
Henny crossed her skinny arms and looked as though she would stomp a foot. The pain must have given her second thoughts because she continued to dress.
Saldia put her hands on her hips when she caught the youngest tugging at the wraps again. “Henny Iven Jesik.” The girl whipped her head up just as she had when Haranda used her complete name. “You leave those bandages alone.”
“Stop bullying us, Saldia.” Maesa pursed thick lips and glared.
Saldia raised a brow at the younger woman the way she’d seen numerous tavern mistresses do with rebellious servants. Maesa might be marriage age but she acted like a child. And a spoiled one at that! “I’m following Haranda’s orders. I’m older than you, Maesa. And quite a bit older than Henny.”
Adelsik sniffed. The flaxen-haired girl was taller than Saldia, but not by much, and her thin frame made her look younger than seventeen. “You’re just a tavern wench.” Those innocent features contorted into a frown. Then her rounded chin jutted out. “We’re respectable girls.”
That argument always got Saldia’s hackles up and she stepped toward the little chit. “You, Adelsik Nunsey, are not marriage age, yet.” What she wouldn’t give to throttle the girl right now. She was Gypsy folk just like the rest of them, and from what she’d observed of Haranda’s treatment, age had something to do with their caste.
Adelsik opened her mouth then clamped it shut. Her large, brown eyes widened as they focused over Saldia’s shoulder. Saldia turned to the doorway to see a glaring Gypsy.
Haranda stepped inside. “Saldia,” she said, as she sauntered to the dresser and plucked up the hairbrush, “assist Henny with her boots, please.” Her voice was soft and dangerous.
“Yes, Mistress Haranda.” She gently pushed Henny’s wrapped feet into her boots and loosely tied the laces.
Haranda tapped the back of the brush across the palm of her left hand, but her eyes never left Adelsik and Maesa. Both girls looked as though they would be ill. “Take her downstairs.”
Saldia hooked an arm around Henny’s waist and helped the girl across the floor.
“Henny?” the Gypsy said when they reached the doorway.
Saldia stopped and they both turned. Haranda still had her back to them, her gaze obviously on the other two girls.
“Leave your bandages alone, youngling. Or I’ll give you something to keep your hands busy.”
“Yes, Haranda,.” The girl allowed Saldia to steer her out the door and to the stairs. “That was mean of Adelsik. She’s just envious because you’re older and Haranda talks to you more. She shouldn’t have said those things.”
Saldia smiled as they made their way down the stairs, the wood creaking as they reached the ninth stepped. Jealous was the last thing she thought Adelsik acted. “I have a feeling Haranda will get that message through.”
Henny chuckled and Saldia smiled again. This girl was just that, a girl, barely out of childhood. She could excuse some of Henny’s foolishness, but right now, this child seemed older than the two upstairs.
“Do you need to visit the privy, Henny?”
“No. I woke up earlier and used the night pot.”
She deposited Henny in a chair at the dining table and made her way into the kitchen, where Mistress Flindering loaded up plates of food.
“Oh, Saldia, dear. Would you put those out?” The old woman nodded to a basket of rolls and a pitcher on the wooden block near the door.
“Yes, Mistress.” She scooped up the items and took them to the table. Henny looked hungry and eyed the rolls. “I wouldn’t suggest eating just yet. Eletha might nip at you.”
Henny chuckled. Eletha and Kal should have been down a while ago but Saldia hadn’t seen them. Both had appetites but Eletha ate faster than everyone.
Mistress Flindering entered behind Saldia with plates of ham steak, eggs and apple slices. “Thank you, dear. You sit now. Where’s Haranda?”
Before she could explain, Adelsik and Maesa entered, both teary-eyed, with Haranda on their heels. They looked over their shoulders at the Gypsy and she raised a brow.
“My apologies, Saldia,” Adelsik mumbled when she turned back.
“And mine.” Maesa pouted and scrunched that sharp nose.
though the apologies were forced Saldia thanked them anyway.
“Sit,” Haranda ordered, and the two girls fell into chairs.
“You younglings had better eat.” Mistress Flindering’s gaze was as hard as the Gypsy’s and aimed at Maesa and Adelsik, who could pick at food as though it were about to bite them. “You have a long journey ahead. I won’t have women fainting from hunger.”
Saldia wondered if Mistress Flindering had been in charge of servants in the past, or perhaps she’d raised a large brood herself, though there were none about now. They were probably in the fields or tending their own families.
Just then, Eletha and Kal entered from the outside, followed by Master Flindering. Eletha had a grin on her lips that looked out of place, until Saldia noticed the little woman’s boots and bre
eches were dusty. A strand of hay stuck out from her fiery hair. Kal simply gave everyone a curious glance as she took Eletha’s shortcoat and hung it with hers on a peg by the door.
Master Flindering put his coat on another peg and grinned at his wife. “These younglings are a great help in the barns.” He fingered his beard. “Perhaps we should keep them on.” He winked at Haranda then stepped to his wife and kissed her on the cheek. “Ah, that smells good, woman.”
Mistress Flindering smiled at him. “All the better in your belly. Sit and eat. Everyone, eat.”
Saldia had no problem with that order. She finished her plateful and took seconds, just as Kal and Eletha did. Maesa and Adelsik ate with dainty fingers and made faces as they chewed. A baleful look from Haranda put an end to that nonsense. Saldia didn’t abide anyone snubbing food and she wanted to smack both the girls. She’d been hungry more than once in her life. Many would trade the clothes they wore for a plateful of Mistress Flindering’s vittles. Henny, though her manners were impeccable, politely asked for seconds too.
Master Flindering entertained them with tales of how his wife caught his eye at a Solstice festival. “And then she kissed me. Right there in the street.” He laughed and touched his wife’s hand. “Sweetest kiss I ever had. Next thing I know, I’m standing with her, taking my marriage vows. Next morning I thought of sneaking off. If she hadn’t been such a good cook, I just might have.” He chuckled. “Ah, but I couldn’t stand the thought of some other man eating that wonderful food.”
He winked at Saldia and she laughed. She’d heard many stories about men’s conquests but this man loved his wife.
Mistress Flindering slapped his hand. “You behave yourself, old man, or I’ll send you to sleep in the barn.” She chuckled, and her husband threw his head back in laughter.
Everyone, except Adelsik and Maesa, fell into the merriment, and soon Saldia’s eyes watered. This was better than working in a tavern. Far better. All the merriment without men trying to grope her or pull her onto their laps. No offers to work as a whore, either. Saldia would knead bread until her hands bled rather than do that for a living. And somehow, through all her years in the kitchen, she’d managed to keep her woman parts from getting plugged. She was quite proud of that. Not that it would impress these highborn girls. But she didn’t care.
After morning meal, she, Henny and Maesa helped Mistress Flindering clean up the kitchen. Haranda took Adelsik upstairs with her to pack, while Kal and Eletha assisted Master Flindering with the horses. Soon the mounts were saddled, and the three highborn girls got a quick riding lesson from the old farmer. They seemed shocked that they were allowed near the beasts, let alone taught to ride.
Afterward, the group mounted. Saldia shifted the worn cloak Mistress Flindering had given her and adjusted the saddle pack that hung over her mare’s rump. Kal and Eletha were the only ones who wore shortcoats instead of cloaks and Saldia smiled. A cloak offered more room to wrap a body in, more room to hide, especially with the large hood. She preferred to be unseen around strangers, to blend in. Felt safer that way.
“Thank you for everything.” Haranda studied the old couple as she sat atop a gray stallion, her black cloak waving in the cool breeze. “You serve us well.” She looked comfortable, as did Eletha and Kal, but there was a regal air about her now, and Saldia wondered at her upbringing.
Though it had been a while, Saldia had ridden, but the highborn girls squirmed in their saddles, looking very uncomfortable. Adelsik even managed to look offended.
“Please inform the other kin of our progress.” Haranda sounded very formal now. “Be sure and request those provisions I promised in my name.”
“We have a messenger pigeon ready,” Master Flindering said. “Safe journey.” His gaze took in Saldia and the others. “You mind Gypsy Haranda, younglings.” He sounded very much like a father warning his daughters, and Saldia found herself nodding along with the younger girls at the man’s tone. She adjusted her cloak again.
The old farmer stepped to Eletha’s horse, scratched his beard, and squinted up at her. She looked so tiny on that large, black stallion, like a child. “You be sure and touch up that sun salve when you stop for midday meal. Fair as your skin is, you’ll burn like an overcooked flounder.”
Mistress Flindering had forced them to put on a sun salve and gave each a small tin of what she had left. Saldia didn’t mind the greasy stuff. It had a nice smell and made her skin feel soft. Despite her fair and freckled complexion, Eletha had argued the salve was for fancy girls and she didn’t intend to wear any. Haranda had whispered something in the little woman’s ear that caused her to change her mind. Eletha had grumbled all the while she slathered the salve on her exposed skin.
Now, the little woman’s freckled cheeks grew red but she stayed silent, and Master Flindering tapped her boot. “My wife can give you a nice flowered bonnet to wear if you prefer.” A smirk danced under his mustache. “Would bring out the blue in your pretty eyes.”
This time Eletha groaned. “I’ll use the sun salve.”
“That’s a good youngling.” He chuckled and patted her boot.
The old couple gave Haranda a quick bow of their heads. “May the Goddess shine Her Light on you,” they said in unison.
“And on you.” The exchange sounded as though they’d said those words on many occasions. “Come along, younglings.” Haranda clicked her tongue and her mount started south along the dirt road.
Saldia let the others follow then took up the rear. Maesa sat her horse better than Adelsik, who slipped in her saddle, but Henny adapted the quickest. The youngest girl was observant and mimicked Kal’s moves with her body and the reins. Kal rode beside Haranda, and Eletha brought up the rear alongside Saldia, her eyes flicking to the trees quite often. It was all Saldia could do not to laugh at the trouble Adelsik and Maesa had with their mounts, but she had no desire to fuel Haranda’s wrath. Besides, the two had apologized for their earlier behavior, even if their gestures were forced.
They traveled a while in near silence, except for occasional groans from the older highborn girls. Nervousness crept into Saldia’s gut as they left the Flindering’s land and traveled southeast on a wider dirt road. She squinted and pulled her hood forward to shield her eyes from the sun as she counted the numerous trees along the way.
Maesa adjusted herself again and whimpered.
“You could sit a horse better if you didn’t wear those fancy skirts, Maesa Reman,” Eletha taunted. She seemed to enjoy tormenting the sharp-featured girl.
Maesa twisted her head, dark locks swinging over her hood, and gave the little woman a frown. “At least I look like a woman, Eletha Lavine, and not a drippy-nosed little boy.” She quickly turned back as though she would fall and grabbed the saddle horn with one hand.
Despite the fact that Eletha’s flaming hair was tied behind her head, it seemed to move as much as when it was loose. “Clothes don’t reveal what’s under the skin. And I’m an older woman than you.” The two were only a year apart and Saldia didn’t know which enjoyed a pointless argument more. Eletha waited for Maesa to look back at her again before she shook a fist. “And stronger!”
Just as Maesa pursed her lips and snapped her head sharply away from Eletha’s gaze, Adelsik screamed and slid from her horse. Saldia dismounted along with Kal and Eletha, but Haranda beat them to the fallen girl’s side.
“You all right?” The Gypsy squatted near the prone girl. Concern colored her voice and Saldia studied her. Haranda could be as harsh as any tavern mistress, yet she sometimes seemed like a mother to these younger girls.
Saldia wondered just what her role among the Gypsies would entail. Haranda had said nothing about Gypsy ways, other than a few side comments now and then, and she guessed the woman feared talking too much while they were out here among middlings. Haranda had referred to non-Gypsies as middlings, so Saldia decided to take up the term. Blend in. Something she could do well. And she had no desire to be beaten or killed at middling hands,
either, so she kept her questions to herself and focused on Adelsik.
“No! I’m not all right!” Adelsik cried through tears. “That beast did that on purpose.”
Saldia fought a smile. Adelsik’s small mare simply followed the other horses, much the way Maesa and Henny’s mounts did. No doubt, the Flinderings had given the highborn girls their tamest rides.
Haranda probed Adelsik’s body with her hands then sat back on her heels, looking relieved. “Nothing broken. You’ll have a few bruises, though.” Saldia quelled a laugh but Eletha didn’t, and Haranda turned on the little woman. “That’ll be enough out of you. Now, help Adelsik back onto her horse.” She stood and brushed off her skirts.
“I’m not riding,” Adelsik whined as Kal and Eletha helped her to her feet. She jerked her arms from theirs and briskly dusted herself off.
“You’ll ride because I tell you to, youngling,” Haranda said in a dangerous voice.
Adelsik shook that flaxen head and backed away from her. Saldia held her breath. The Gypsy didn’t tolerate disobedience. Adelsik must have known that. She’d been around Haranda longer because she was the first taken from her home. Why was the foolish girl so stubborn?
Haranda dusted her hands on her skirts. Saldia caught the danger in the movements but Adelsik seemed not to. “All right then. Kal, get some rope. Eletha, how are you at tying knots?”
Eletha beamed. “Oh, my brothers taught me well. No hog has ever gotten out of my knots.”
The blood began to drain from Adelsik’s face as she watched Kal hand Eletha a length of rope. Saldia quelled her laughter.
The Gypsy stood near her stallion and placed hands on her hips, powerful eyes focused on Adelsik. “Kal, you and Saldia put Adelsik into her saddle. Eletha, tie her to it.”
Adelsik took a step back when they reached for her. Saldia missed, but the listener got hold of the startled girl’s arm. No doubt, she’d anticipated what Adelsik would do from listening to her thoughts.
“No!” Adelsik began to wail. “Please! I don’t want to be tied to the horse.” She pressed her face into her hands. Haranda stepped close to the weeping girl and waited. Adelsik sniffed and looked up at the Gypsy. “Please, Haranda.”