Stefan noted that Father Christopher had exchanged waves, smiles and nods with the priest. “The priest is Father George from Erave Town,” he said happily. “He is a little older than I, but I know him well. They must have brought him with them as a messenger of some sort. I haven’t seen him for a while, so I guess that I will find out more from him later.”
“Let’s go back to the inn,” suggested Astrid. “All travellers seem to end up there, so this lot will eventually go there and then we can find out why they are here as soon as they finish with the Baron.”
With nods they all trooped down off the wall and back to the inn.
~~~
The Havenite cavalry were led through the town to a small, two-storey stone building. Rani looked around. It was large by the standards of this place, but small according to what she was used to. It all was. After all, this whole village would fit onto the island where the university was built and still have room to spare.
“Please be stayin’ here,” said their guide in accented Hindi. “I be seein’ if t’ Baron is here.”
Sanjeev dismounted and signalled for the rest of the troop to do so as well. They did, standing by the horse’s heads. Rani also dismounted, giving her reins to Amin and stood chatting to Sanjeev and Father George. Their guide came back very soon.
“Be followin’ me please,” he said.
They went through the door and up some stairs, along a corridor and into a room. With the title of ‘Baron’, Rani had been expecting something different, but this was a working office. Two men stood in the room near a desk. One was one of their priests, an older man with a very full beard and a penetrating stare. The other was very short and broad, several hands shorter than she was and far wider. He wore an axe at his belt, even in his office. Without something to judge his height he could easily have been mistaken for a Dwarf on first glance. He moved towards them. Rani wondered if his shape had anything to do with his election.
“I be Siglevi t’ Short, Baron of Evilhalt,” he said, “an’ t’is be Father Anastasias. I believe t’at you be havin’ somethin’ t’at you be needin’ to tell me. You may talk in front of t’ Father. I would be discussin’ anythin’ important with him later anyway.” He smiled. It was a cold smile.
Rani and Sanjeev looked at each other as they both realised that they had not decided who should speak. Rani decided to start and to start with the cover story.
“It has come to our notice in Haven that something is happening to the trade caravans. It is a simple problem. For some time no caravans have arrived in the south that are supposed to have come across the northern plains. As well, we think that some caravans are missing that are supposed to have come from the north coast. We are here to ask if you might know anything at all that would help us.”
While Rani was speaking, she noticed that the Baron and Father Anastasias were exchanging glances. They knew something, she thought.
Father George was next to speak. “Mayor Cynric and Metropolitan Cosmas send their greetings to you both. We had noticed this problem for near six weeks. We had thought that the Havenites had simply arranged new routes. Our captain, Leonas, is sending out more patrols to see what can be found and I was sent with these people to add our town’s voice to their concern. I will take back any news that you may have to my town when this patrol returns to Haven.”
After hearing all of this, Rani saw the Baron looked at the priest as if seeking advice.
The priest nodded towards the door and the Baron then spoke. “One of Father Anastasias’ charges may be havin’ information for you.” He turned to their guide: “Art’ur,” he said “you be goin’ to t’ inn an’ ask t’ Khitan man an’ t’ young Freehold girl if t’ey be pleased to join us.”
The young man left and Father Anastasias and the Baron began to question Rani and Sanjeev about their journey. Rani left most of that to Sanjeev.
After the accounting of their trip, the Baron said, “It seems that somethin’ indeed be a goin’ wrong around us. We be a havin’ four sets of people arrive recently. Each be a reportin’ t’ey bein’ attacked by more t’an t’ usual menaces to travel. Several caravans be overdue, although t’ose t’at have arrived have said t’at t’eir trips be unremarkable.”
Two Khitan finally arrived, a man and a woman. No, she couldn’t be Khitan. She could see a Christian symbol around her neck. The girl fairly glowed with magic. Some of the feeling was from visible knives; more was from places where throwing knives would be kept out of sight. Rani recognised two of the faces on the wall. Both of them were shorter than her. The girl was also very slender and she seemed very young—until you looked at her face. It had a certain hardness to it that spoke of pain.
The two stood close. Not close as lovers, more like soldiers from the same unit among strangers or even more as a brother and sister, and that they could not be. The girl bobbed what looked like it should be a curtsy at the local priest. It was very brief and it looked like she was not sure if she should do it and she looked sort of embarrassed about it. The priest nodded back at her pleasantly.
They looked at the Baron, who spoke to them in Hindi.
“T’ese be Rani and Sanjeev of Haven and Father George from Erave Town. Sanjeev be t’ Subadar, t’ officer, of t’ cavalry who be just arrived. Rani be a Battle Mage who be attached to ’em.” He turned to the Havenites. “T’ese two be Hulagu of t’ Dire Wolf Totem of t’ Khitan ’n’ Bianca of Freehold.”
In the next few minutes Rani found out why the little girl had such a hard look on her face. During her recitation, which was done in a flat and almost detached voice, she noticed that the Khitan touched her shoulder a few times, just as one might soothe a nervous horse. His face allowed a slight look of concern to be visible on it as she spoke. That did not fit with what she knew of his people.
When she had finished Hulagu continued, “Some of these things are now known to my people. While we were on our way here we saw a force moving, as if in pursuit of something. We do not permit foreign attacks…” he gave a brief smile, “… in the lands of the tribes. Perhaps our shamen found a way to draw aside the veil that protected these vermin and they are now dead. Bianca wants to kill them all herself, but I think that she will be content to know that that have been killed.”
Bianca smiled a tight smile that was not really a smile at all and Rani was not so sure about that statement.
Bianca spoke again. “Even if they are dead, they have their own village and they make slaves, or worse, of traders. They are evil and should be brought to justice.” She turned to Hulagu. “Before we go to our other destination, we must try and get the others to help us find and destroy the village. That may help you with your geas too. For all we know it might well be one of the tests that we are supposed to pass.”
Rani had heard about ears pricking before, but now she was sure that hers had just done that. Before Hulagu could reply she interjected excitedly and authoritatively. “You have a prophecy—a geas—upon you? I must find out more about this. I also have prophesies laid upon me and one of them mentions me finding others upon the way. I also want to hear more about this veil that you speak of that cannot be seen through.”
The Baron spoke up. “But aren’t you be with t’is officer’s,” as he waved his hand towards Sanjeev, “patrol?”
“No,” replied Rani pausing briefly and decided to tell the rest of the story. “They were sent along as my escort to ensure that I would reach here. We discovered this problem along the way and they must now return to Pavitra Phāṭaka with the information that we have gathered so that something can be done about it. Haven relies on trade. Now that we know of the problem all the mages of the university and the army will be put to work on it. Between them they should be able to force aside the veil over sight.”
Turning to the Baron, Hulagu asked, “What will you do now?”
“We be a patrolin’ further out ’n’ be a lookin’ for signs of what might be a happenin’. Even more t’an Haven, trade be t�
� lifeblood of our town ’n’ we cannot allow anythin’ to be a disruptin’ it.”
Hulagu nodded. “The territory of the Pack-hunters lies to the west of here. They are aware of what happened to Bianca’s caravan and of what we found out. I suggest that your patrols try and talk to them before they go far so that there are no mistakes over what is happening.”
“It be a good idea,” said the Baron. “I be a t’ankin’ you.” He looked around. “Now, I be t’inkin’ that we be finished here.” He looked at Hulagu and Bianca. “If’n you be a showin’ these people to t’ inn, you can be a talkin’ to each other ’bout your prophesies ’n’ also give t’em a chance to be a bathin’, probably not in t’at order. Father George, you’ll be off to t’e church now. We be givin’ you a message to return with before you go a back an’ we be givin’ another to you, Subadar.”
Bianca and Hulagu gathered the others and went downstairs. They showed the cavalry to the stables, waiting until they were done there before leading them to the inn. Rani hoped that she was not being too obvious about wanting to question Hulagu immediately but he kept putting her off until they were all gathered together. She would have put it down to the usual Khitan reticence in discussing their affairs if he had not made it all the more tantalising when he told her there was more than one story to be told. Once they were installed at the inn, Rani realised it would be a while more before she found out the full story as Father Christopher took Father George away, Hulagu took the other men off to their bathroom, and Bianca led the women to theirs.
Chapter XXIX
A bath? Why were they being taken downstairs? The girl ushered Indira and her into a basement room which contained a huge pool sunk in the floor that gave off an odd chemical odour and steamed slightly. It already had several people in it but she didn’t have a chance to pay any attention to them as a servant girl was trying to help her undress. She saw now why she had been told to bring clothes. At least she could hang her belt up. That was not going anywhere, although she noticed that there were few other weapons on the wooden pegs.
Rani had undressed and stepped into the bath before she really noticed who was in it. She first noticed the pale blonde girl opposite her that she had seen earlier. She was quite buxom and stunningly beautiful, until you noticed her teeth. She was introduced as Astrid the Cat. No wonder. She was next introduced to a small girl next to her, as small as Bianca, but with more curves, black hair and smoky, darker skin than the others. Rani guessed this was the Caliphate girl on the wall and she was then introduced just as Ayesha, an entertainer.
She turned to the next girl, the one beside her and totally missed the introduction as her heart missed a beat and she felt a feeling that she had never felt before. All she took in were the eyes of the woman, which seemed expand so that she fell into them. They were golden. Not figuratively, but literally, really, truly so golden that they almost glowed. As her vision expanded the girl’s face and body made Rani feel almost plain. She muttered something as she thought about how she felt. She felt warm, euphoric, almost drunk. It was a feeling that she had never felt before. She realised that she had an urge to lean over and embrace the stranger and kiss her. She had been wrong. She had been looking on the wall for a man. She thought about her prophesies. Her grandmother had said that her love was bound to the golden eyes. She realised what she felt. She was in love—and with another woman. She was samalaiṅgika—that is why she had never even been interested in a man before. That was not her destiny. The prophecy that the university had given her had included that she would find love, and many surprises. Well, here was the first and the second all wrapped up in one. Any others that followed would have to be mild after this.
~~~
Theodora wondered why the Hindi woman, Rani, kept looking at her. It was if she had frozen in place and she seemed to be quite unaware of anyone else being in the bath. She didn’t even notice when the woman with her, Indira, yes, that was her name, spoke to her.
She is looking at me very oddly, almost as a mouse looks at a snake that is about to strike it, she thought.
~~~
Did someone speak? Have I moved since I saw my beloved? Wake up! thought Rani. She shook her head and spoke aloud. “Sorry, I just had an odd thought. Did someone say something? As well, I missed your introduction.” My love, she added to herself.
Indira piped up. “I said so much cleaner than bathing at the ghats—but nearly as crowded. Please move over.”
Just like often happened at the ghats, a lower class person could push a higher one to get space. Now Indira pushed Rani over until she felt her body being pressed against that of her golden-eyed love. They nearly matched in size although the other woman was a little shorter. Their bodies touched and it felt as if a faint tingle had run down the length of her, just like the side discharge from a lightning spell. She didn’t know what to do or say and she felt more awkward than she had since she learnt to use magic for the first time. Where did she put her hands?
“I am Theodora,” said her beloved. “I am an Insackharl, a part Kharl from Darkreach and I am out to see the world.”
Insackharl indeed, Rani thought to herself. She concentrated on what she had learnt about Darkreach. She was only part Human, that much was certainly true, but eyes like that and from there meant that her love, Theodora, was one of the Imperial Family. She was in love with one of Hrothnog’s descendants—yet another surprise for her. She would now have to find out if Theodora had received any prophesy connecting them.
~~~
Theodora was worried. The Hindi mage seemed scared of her! When they touched she shuddered, but she did not move away, if anything she moved closer. She still hadn’t answered her introduction and Theodora was not used to that amount of contact with others. Theodora wondered if this Rani girl knew who she really was. Was her family that fearsome that knowing someone came from it scared a person? She would have to find out. But, after all, did it really matter here? Would anyone really care who she was?
~~~
Ayesha looked across the bath at Rani and Theodora. Something was going on between them, and she didn’t know what it was. They kept glancing at each other and quickly looking away. It was unlikely that the Hindi woman was a threat, but she would have to keep her eyes open. Eventually the two started to talk about magic and about prophecies. It turned out that both were mages; one of fire and the other of air. The conversation they were having was an odd one—awkward even—there were pauses and gaps in the conversation as if the Hindi woman had forgotten what had been said or what was asked of her.
~~~
Astrid was having fun. She had never really had a group of girls, beautiful women really, to just talk to. It was obvious that she was neither the brightest, nor the most beautiful here. What a relief. Theodora and Rani were talking about magic, but with odd pauses. Didn’t they like each other? She kept up a conversation with Bianca. She still could not believe that there could be the number of people that Bianca said lived in the cities and towns that she described. She had thought that Evilhalt, with its high stone walls, was big, but Bianca said that it would fit in a corner of Trekvarna or Ashvaria. On the other hand Bianca could not believe her descriptions of the frozen north of the Inuit or of fishing on the sea and chasing whales. She realised that each of them came from lands that were equally as strange, in their own way, to the others.
~~~
The men of the Hindi cavalry dominated the men’s room and some of them had to sit on the normally empty pedestal in the centre of the bath to make room. Basil and Hulagu were the only others there who were not Hindi and the conversation revolved simply around two subjects: horses and the women in the next room. Basil, the quiet and unknown one, had to field many questions. It was normally his job to be less openly intimidating than Hulagu and some had seen Theodora’s golden eyes when she was on the wall. He lied and told them that many people had them east of the mountains. He supposed that it really was not actually a lie. Many people did have them
indeed, but they were all from the Imperial Family and all of them were descendants of Hrothnog.
~~~
Hulagu had far fewer questions to field about Bianca. She was the plainest of all the girls next door, even the cavalrywoman was prettier and the mage was far more beautiful, even if scary, but their interest in her quickened when he told them how they met and he mentioned her horses and how they behaved for her. When they asked about Ayesha he just grinned and told them to wait until tonight.
~~~
Basil smiled quietly. At least with two dancers his mistress would have less attention focussed on her, and just wait until these men saw the cute Insackharl girl from Wolfneck and her teeth! He smiled ruefully. It was a pity she was so much taller and better looking than he was. He had a feeling that his parents would like her. He was a hunter of the streets, but she was a hunter of the forests. He was good, but he wasn’t sure, from what little he had seen and heard, that he would be able to face her and her spear if she were in earnest. He had only faced people. She had faced bears and that full wolf pack virtually alone. The priest didn’t count. She would be a sensation in the arena, particularly if she fought, as most did who were fighting for pleasure, bare-chested or even naked. He realised that this was a sight that he would very much like to see.
After he had found out from the men as much as he could about their trip north he allowed the conversation to settled down to one they were all happy to talk about—horses.
Intimations of Evil (Warriors of Vhast Book 1) Page 31