Ayesha insisted that Bianca should bring her flute to the tavern that night and help with the entertaining.
“It would be nice to have more than a drummer, particularly if you can play some of the songs that I sing.”
~~~
Hulagu was shown the male bath. They never had this much hot water on the plains. It was even better than a sweat tent. Although the walls were thick, he could hear an awful lot of splashing and noise from next door where the girls were. It was pity he was not there. While the northern girl looked more than a trifle intimidating, that Caliphate one was as small as Bianca, but he would like to see her without that veil. He suspected that, from what he could see, under the loose riding clothes there was a very nice body and a pretty face. He wondered if he could set up a sweat tent somewhere to find out—everyone went to one of those.
~~~
After bathing, while the newcomers were taken to see the Baron, Astrid came to evening service as, to his amusement; she seemed to be becoming accustomed to. There she gave Father Anastasias two more names to check. The Father would make sure that he would meet them in the next couple of days to see if he had a sense or feel of evil about them. He was particularly concerned about the Freehold girl, from what Astrid told him but, when he met her, he was reassured by what he felt. She was not an evil person, even if she was capable of acts that were not good.
He suspected, from the expression on her face when he referred to the matters, that she was very torn by what she had done but until she came to him to talk about it there was nothing that he could do. He also made Hulagu repeat his prophesy to him and thought about it. Maybe it was essential that he make sure that Father Christopher was one of the group; with Astrid along to protect him, of course. If something important was about to happen, they should be represented. This was even more the case if this important matter were to be a fight against evil in any of its many guises, as other signs indicated. Perhaps the Church should even take the lead in this.
Chapter XXIV
Bianca brought her flute to the night’s entertainment, but discovered that the beat for Ayesha’s dance was too foreign to any of the tunes that she could play. All that she could do was practice the rhythms without blowing. At least that way she could ignore the way men were looking at the dancing girl. At least at home the entertainers didn’t have to show so much of their body to earn money, although, she had to admit to herself, they often didn’t earn as much without giving out other favours as well as songs and music.
It was lucky that Ayesha had some songs that she knew or she would have felt like a proper fool just sitting there with a flute in her hands. Most of the songs had different words to those that she knew, but the music seemed to be the same. She was enjoying herself and the atmosphere. This was nearly the first inn that she had been in where she was not really working. Perhaps, she admitted, she had a few more drinks than she was accustomed to.
~~~
Hulagu looked at the girl who started the entertainment and provided most of it. She was the same one who had talked to them outside the village, but instead of being a horse archer, she was now dressed very differently. This time he could see that she did have a very nice body indeed. Instead of the leather pants of a horsewoman she wore trousers that you could nearly see through. On her top was a tight embroidered bodice, like the women of the tents wore when doing the wedding dance, and her stomach was bare, displaying a tiny but strong waist. She danced dances similar to those done by some of the tribeswomen, but the feeling he got from watching her was more interesting than he had ever felt before. He started thinking about the last part of his prophecy. He wondered exactly how well she rode and could use her bow. Would his mother approve of her? Would she have him? She was very beautiful and he, while not being completely ugly, was fairly plain and no better looking than the next man. It seemed that, if he wanted her, he would have to impress her with his deeds. It had worked for his father, now it might have to work for him as well.
~~~
As she looked out at her audience, gauging her reaction and seeing who she could get the most money from Ayesha noticed that the young Khitan man simply could not take his eyes off her. Even though his face was completely blank, as if he were thinking, his eyes kept tracking her. Oh well, several men here did the same. At least he wasn’t leering or ugly or making lewd comments to those around him.
~~~
During Ayesha’s second break Bianca decided to sing and the room discovered that it had a second entertainer. She knew that her songs were those of the taverns. They were far earthier than those of her predecessor, but they went down well—particularly with the people from a small trade caravan that had just arrived from the south. She also knew that her voice was not quite as good as Ayesha’s, and she sang in a much lower register, but that suited the songs that she sang and that she got others to sing with her. She was pleased to start collecting a small pile of coins of her own. As she was finishing the Caliphate girl told her that there were some songs that they could both sing and she would teach her later. That should gain even more gifts from the audience. To an extent the night reminded her of home and, thinking that, she found tears seeping from the corners of her eyes.
Chapter XXV
The next morning after the priest had met Hulagu, and acting under Father Anastasias’ instructions, Astrid gathered the outsiders, plus Stefan, into the private room and made Hulagu recite his prophesies in full. As he said the last part, Bianca noticed that a very faint blush appeared in the dark skin his face as he glanced very quickly at Ayesha under lowered lids. She thought that no one else noticed. Well, he has eyes for the heathen girl has he? Let us see what happens here.
~~~
All of them talked about what the prophecy might mean and whether they might be the ‘young people’ referred to. They also debated if the group was complete. It didn’t seem there were enough of them to triumph against any great odds. Father Christopher pointed out that the world was full of magic, both on the side of good and of ill. If they were to set out on a quest, then he was the only one with access to supernatural aid, and he was much better at healing than he was at killing. Everyone agreed with this and it was decided that each would begin to prepare to leave, but that they would wait, at least a few more days, to see if anyone else arrived to join them.
Ayesha hoped that one of them would be Theodora and that she would want to join the others, otherwise she would have to make her excuses and not join them, but she pretended to be as eager as the others. To slow things down she said that, to be complete, most lands should be represented, after all, they had a person from the north and the west and herself who was sort of from the east, but none had come from the south, and the people from the south were skilled with magic. After this meeting they dispersed, Stefan to tell his parents of his decision to leave Evilhalt while the others went to the practice area.
Chapter XXVI
They had been expecting someone from the south, but that afternoon brought a surprise. Three people arrived from the east instead. To Ayesha’s relief one of them was Theodora and she already had a servant.
Now she had to somehow persuade the princess to travel along with the others. If she would join, the group would be fairly formidable. Theodora, given her lineage, should be a more than competent mage, even if she was travelling dressed and equipped as heavy cavalry. Anyone who looked could see the pouches at her belt, sitting under her quiver straps, which had to hold wands. The little man travelling as her servant, from what she could see of his skin, looked to be part Kharl. He also looked and behaved as the perfect servant, but then she herself looked like an entertainer. The third was a Dwarf, mounted on a sheep. Any of their, what did they call them, herdsmen, shepherds, would be more than adept at battle. She quickly introduced herself to Theodora and drew her into the bathing group, as if she were what she was posing as, to find out more about her.
~~~
Here she was at Evilhalt, thought Theodora, re
ady to make some money and plan what to do next and she was stymied at the start. From what she had seen so far on her escape she had thought that good entertainers would be rare and that this would be an easy way for her to fund her travel, but there were two entertainers already in this overgrown village already. One was from the Caliphate. She had brought her to this, admittedly very pleasant, bath and introduced her to the other. The first was an escaped slave and beautiful, and as deferential as a palace servant. The second girl was mainly an animal handler from the iconoclastic west and unremarkable in appearance. They had another girl with them, undoubtedly Insackharl, but with blue eyes, who was spectacularly built and with a stunning face, until she opened her mouth and showed her heritage. They called her ‘the Cat’.
The women were trying to get her to go on some quest with them. They didn’t know what the quest was, or where they were going, but they did seem eager to go. As it turned out, the Muslim girl, Ayesha, wasn’t worried by competition. She seemed delighted. Theodora wasn’t quite sure how these things worked, but shouldn’t they be competing? Ayesha wanted to know what Theodora did and was even more delighted to discover that Theodora danced. She insisted—very politely, but she insisted, indeed it was all Theodora could do to remind herself that she was not a princess here—that they immediately get out of the bath and compare dances. As if they were not provocative enough fully clothed. Doing them wet and naked was, well actually it felt liberating. After all, there were no men. It turned out that they knew many of the same dances. The other girls beat out a time for them, although it seemed the Freehold girl was trying hard not to look at them as they gyrated and their breasts wiggled and bottoms swayed and she had a continual shocked expression on her face that she was trying to hide.
~~~
It turns out that I am the only one who is not a skald, thought Astrid. Oh well, someone has to look out for these little girls. Two of them were tiny and the lack of hair on the taller golden-eyed one made her seem younger than her build indicated. For once I am not the prettiest girl in the room. I won’t be the one drawing all the attention. I can relax.
This new one, Theodora is strange. She seems to have no hair anywhere on her at all, as if it were natural for her. She has those almost glowing golden eyes. Surely if it were normal for many of what she calls Insackharl then there would be at least one person at home to have them...or at least there would be tales about someone who used to have them. What is more, she acts as if she owns the world and it will do as she tells it to. She says that she is just like me, but I think that she hides something and it is something that is very big. I wonder what it is.
Her little servant is kind of cute even if he may be younger than I am. His skin and his eyes make it obvious that, unlike her, he is like me. His skin reminds me of many of the men at home but, unlike them, he seems to be both quiet and polite. What a nice change that is in a man. Many of the people at home have his black eyes. Maybe if I get to know him better, I can find out what the mystery is about her. That might be best.
~~~
Well, thought Basil, who would have thought that barbarians would like bathing? This Khitan is like a small child in his enjoyment, a very active and very noisy small child. Now, do I encourage her to join them or do I try and steer her somewhere safer? Mind you, if trade caravans are being destroyed by others in the middle of the Khitan plains, where is there that is safe? Let me see them in action. They want us to come and practice with them. I will see if they are amateurs. At least, from what this Khitan, Hulagu, that is right, tells me the western girl with the darker blonde hair is practical when it comes down to it.
She may be inexperienced in combat, but she did have the sense to know when to hide and she killed two enemies—one after questioning him. The giant northern girl with the teeth and the very pale hair moves like her name even in a room. I wonder what she is like in the field. Maybe he should talk to the priest. At least he seems to be like the ones at home. They are always good for advice.
The Dwarf was a bit of a surprise in the bath. At least Basil now knew that he really was male, but he was almost completely covered in hair from top to toe and, beneath the hair it could just be made out that he was almost completely covered in barely visible and very complex tattoos. I wonder if all Dwarves are like that?
~~~
Stefan was excited. His parents actually seemed relieved to hear that he was leaving Evilhalt. He thought about that. From the way they reacted they must have already talked about this and made up their mind to give his younger brother the business and were already feeling guilty about it. It was good of his father to give him the best sword and armour in the family, but they traditionally went to the eldest son anyway. That mail suit had been in the family for generations and family legend said that it had been found on the battlefield after Darkreach’s defeat. It was enchanted to resist damage. He had always admired it. The sword, Smiter, had the same lineage. It had strong enchantments for added damage and ability to hit and the spells had been well maintained over the centuries.
The horse they gave him was his father’s best horse and even better and far more expensive than he could have afforded. It was not a warhorse, being just a rouncey for riding, but then he wasn’t a great rider either. Like most of Evilhalt’s forces he was supposed to be able to ride to a battle and then get off the horse fresh to fight with his spear or a sword. He could do that much at least. It looked like now his fate was decided—at least in its direction. Such uncertainties as life and death still hung around unanswered.
~~~
Father Christopher sat a trifle uncomfortably in the huge bath with the other men. He did feel a bit swept away by forces beyond his control. He had delivered the Bible and should now be free to go where he wanted but he knew that the forces above him, in this case called Father Anastasias and Astrid the Cat, were conspiring to find another task for him. He supposed that going with these others was as good as anything else he could be doing. He would at least have his own souls to minister to, at least four by the look of it, and perhaps he could convert the others. This would be good in the sight of God and had to be deemed worthy for him to do. Tonight he actually had been sent to these baths. He had been told that he needed now to get to know these men and to learn to be more comfortable talking to them. He had started by talking as he would perhaps talk to another novice when they had just met.
~~~
Bianca felt lost—caught up in something beyond her control. She had left the taverns of Trekvarna to perhaps eventually become a merchant. That, in itself, was a big move for a foundling. She had now not only left behind Freehold, but also she had lost her friends and was alone in the wider world—unless she accepted these new people that she had met. This group challenged most of what she knew. The nuns had taught her that most of the people outside Freehold were, at best, false Christians. One of the people she was considering leaving with was an out-and-out heathen and the Dwarf and Khitan were both openly pagan. None of this seemed to matter to anyone else. The others accepted them as easily as they accepted her. She had also been taught that the people of Darkreach worshipped their Emperor, but the two from there seemed to be heretics and to defer to the priest here.
The woman had almost burst out laughing when Bianca asked her outright if she did worship their Emperor and the little man had a wry smile on his face as if he were working at suppressing some vast amusement inside him and was very hard pressed to do so. They didn’t seem evil and the older priest from the village who had wanted to talk to her seemed more like a favourite uncle, or what she imagined a kindly favourite uncle would be like, than a servant of the devil. It was all so confusing. If these basic things that she had been taught about were actually wrong, what else was?
At least Hulagu was an honest and open pagan and her people had dealt with his, in war or peace, for a very long time. Even though he insisted that she had a totem, she thought that he treated her like a sister and if she stuck with him she should be sa
fe. He would look after a sister. Besides, it looked like she could learn much from the beautiful woman with the golden eyes and no hair on her body and the almost as gorgeous heathen girl from the Caliphate. Both were better entertainers than she was and seemed willing to help her learn.
She wouldn’t learn their shameful dancing though. It looked wrong—even when it was done with only women present. She was sure the priests would not approve at all and the nun’s didn’t even like the village girls dancing around the October pole or in circles at all. However, she could still learn to sing better and to have more songs and even perhaps how to tell stories. What is more important, none of these people had that ‘smell’ that she was already thinking of as the smell of treachery so at least she could trust them until she had that feeling from them. These musings made her feel better at least.
~~~
Thord was happy. Some people looked strangely at his sheep, particularly at the stables, but that didn’t worry Thord. It might worry them, if they tried to do anything to Hillclimber, but that was their problem. It was good to be away from home and seeing the world. There was even the meeting of other people from other lands—and it looked like several were bards. If this group kept together then Thord was happy to go wherever they did. His dreams were coming true.
Chapter XXVII
The next day at practice they found out their group were well supplied with missile weapons. After shooting first, Astrid looked on critically as they went one after the other. To her chagrin she was neither the best shot nor did she have the longest range. It was her bow that best drove the heavy-headed arrows that punched holes straight through even iron armour at close range but Theodora was the best archer. How did the woman have so many skills? Hulagu had the longest range. No one else could pull his short re-curved horse bow made of wood and sinew. Even Father Christopher and Bianca could use a sling to some effect, while Basil, Theodora and Ayesha could throw knives and things, the last two to a good result. None of them laughed at Bianca’s efforts in this regard.
Intimations of Evil (Warriors of Vhast Book 1) Page 29