She saw that Bianca kissed her cross and made her sign of the cross in front of her. The others made the sign of the cross as well, although crossing themselves the other way around. She wondered why.
Without opening his eyes Father Christopher placed the book on the table and allowing it to fall open, felt for it and placed his finger on a page. Opening his eyes he looked down and began to read. “I have found the Psalms of Solomon,Chapter fifteen and verse six. But they shall pursue sinners and overtake them, and they that do lawlessness shall not escape the judgement of God.”
He stopped and looked around the table. There was a look of awe on his face. Looking around herself she could see that most of the listeners had wide eyes at the directness of his answer. Rani was fairly certain that she looked surprised as well.
With a note of slight shock in his voice the priest spoke again. “It seems that the Lord has spoken to us through His Words. I think that it is fairly clear that this applies to us—very clear actually—much more so than what our seer has assayed. To me, from what this says, it is now very apparent that we should chase Bianca’s bandits back to their village and so bring them to face justice. What happens after that may become clear, but I think that we will have to seek guidance again. Having said that, in my opinion, the first step for us is now absolutely certain and I will follow it—alone if need be.”
As Father Christopher spoke she could hear conviction creeping into his voice. When he had finished he closed the book, kissed it and handed it back to Bianca, who returned it to her largest pouch.
Rani had heard of this method of foretelling, one that relied more on the holiness of the questioner than on any skill in foretelling, but she had never witnessed it before as it was one that was rarely used in Haven. Their texts were not as amenable to bibliomancy as that of the Christians seemed to be. She was impressed. It seemed to give a very direct answer that cut right through the fog—at least in this case.
Chapter XXXI
Basil wondered what would happen next and, as they moved, placed himself to keep an eye on his charge and on Rani. He had never thought to see Theodora’s reserve as a noble shaken, but it was. He still wasn’t sure about this new development, but now he did not see the Hindu woman as a threat. Indeed, if she was truly in love with his mistress, and he had no problem with that, some of Hrothnog’s descendants had far more odd relationships than such a straightforward pairing, then she would be fiercely protective and having a battle mage on his side could make his job far easier.
Led by the entertainers they all trooped upstairs, discussing what they had heard. Once there Ayesha, Theodora, Bianca and an impatiently waiting Howard started their performances. Basil noticed that, when she started dancing, Theodora’s performance in the dance was a trifle more clumsy than it usually was. As well she kept glancing at Rani and blushing.
He saw that Rani sat entranced and with a smile on her face. She was sitting there like a Kharl from the provinces who had never seen a naked woman before and who had stumbled into the club of a high-paid hetaera. Her eyes scarce moved. He could see from her pupils, her breathing, and her nostrils exactly how she was feeling. It was so intense it was making him feel aroused. It was some time before she eventually shook herself and seemed to be making a conscious attempt to be less intent. Her effort to relax wasn’t helped when the northern girl, who was sitting beside Rani, began nudging her and pointing out Theodora’s best movements and her beauty with a smile on her face that showed her teeth.
~~~
Bianca realised that she was more than a bit shocked. She had thought that these heathen dances were bad enough when there were men watching lasciviously. Now there was a girl watching a girl. She was sure that the nuns would really disapprove of that and the Holy priests would never countenance any such lust outside marriage and there could be no marriage between women. Could she, in conscience, travel with such people? She wanted to ask a priest, but here she only had the wrong priests. At least Father Christopher, even if he did not know true history, used the same Bible. Maybe she should be consoled that Rani was just watching, not passing lewd comments as the men often did—but on the other hand the Cat was doing the same as the men. She was pointing out the beauty of Theodora to Rani in the broadest terms. She had a rough sense of humour suited to the sailor and hunter that she was—actually it was one she herself was used to in the taverns and then, blushing, she thought of how she had treated the trader’s guards when they were rude to the Khitan she travelled with. Maybe she was not too different to the Cat after all. It was all so confusing.
~~~
During their breaks the entertainers joined the other travellers and Stefan’s friends on the front bench. It didn’t matter what she did, Theodora seemed to end up beside Rani when she just took the only vacant place on the bench, which always seemed to be a spot just left by either Astrid or Basil. During the second break she realised that she was being steered there. The Cat may not have been raised in Darkreach, but she certainly had the broad Insackharl sense of humour. At the third break she gave up and just headed for the seat that Rani had kept ready for her. Having made her declaration Rani seemed content to just sit beside her, looking at, and chatting with her, quite intelligently really, and to wait on her decision. During the talking Theodora realised two things, firstly that they really did have a lot in common and secondly that the dark skinned girl was really very attractive and she even smelt nice, in a very exotic and spicy fashion.
~~~
Basil realised that the Cat was steering the two together, with more than a slight grin on her face. She had drunk several drinks and was treating the whole affair between the mages as a joke. She seemed to be truly enjoying the embarrassment that she was helping cause. She really was just like his sisters in so many ways, only prettier and far larger. Seeing that he was also trying to get the two to sit together it was natural that he and the Cat should often come into contact as they both moved to act. He found that she was well muscled, but soft in just the right places and, when standing, his head could rise to an interesting height that brought this softness to his attention. She was really quite spectacular in her build and her cleavage, particularly in her leather jerkin, tight laced at the bottom and undone at the top was perhaps best described as unavoidable.
~~~
Astrid knew what she was trying to do with the mages for fun, but was Basil also trying to get to know her better? He kept bumping into her during the breaks in such interesting ways. It was a shame he seemed to be a bit embarrassed about his size. Didn’t men realise that everyone was the same height lying down, well except for Svein who was so fat that he would be twice her height.
Inside herself Astrid came to a decision. She was now her own boss. Damn it, tonight she was going to enjoy herself. She realised that she might be drinking too much, indeed more than she ever had in her life, but with what lay ahead, this might be her last chance to live a life that she had never actually had a chance at before. If they could be going to die, she was damn sure that she did not want to die as a virgin. She knew she was no saint. She just hadn’t had the urge before. Tonight, watching the Darkreach woman dancing before the Havenite one had made her feel…well…a little warm inside. It may be time.
~~~
It was during the fourth set of entertainment, and the second set of dances, that Theodora realised that she really didn’t mind Rani watching her. After all, such a relationship was not unknown. Her cousin Verina had a wife who was her more distant cousin Loukia as well as two husbands between them, and she got on well with all of them. She didn’t love Rani, but she could afford to let Rani love her and it could be fun. After all, it was not as if she were a shy virgin. She had not been one of those for many, many years, over a century. Like most of the girls who lived in the palace, and indeed quite a few of the men, she had lost her virginity to a condemned gladiator and had taken many more since then. Once she had even taken one of the giant Insak-div to bed. She had only done it on
ce and, even with healing, she had been sore for weeks. Some girls craved more than normal men could give and sought them out, but she was content with more normal pleasure. A girl could be quite gentle and, as she had already noted to herself, Rani was very attractive and quite exotic looking. She decided that, after the night’s work was finished, she would let Rani give her the meaning of that reading and, if she was not too tired, they could see what happened from there.
~~~
After the fourth break Basil noticed that Theodora had regained her confidence. During the last break she didn’t need to be steered and headed straight to where Rani sat. She sat and took a drink before taking Rani’s hand and leaning over to whisper something in her ear. Rani’s smile broadened and became more animated. He tried to talk to her once the entertainment restarted, leaning past Astrid to do so, but she scarcely noticed.
~~~
Astrid noticed, through a slightly foggy haze, that Basil kept trying to talk to Rani. It was hard not to notice. Each time he had to lean across her and he kept brushing her breasts or placing his hand on her leg. Was he really trying to get her opinion on so many things, or was he using it as an opportunity to get close to her? She had also noticed that Theodora had whispered to Rani. It looked like Rani might get lucky tonight. It was the quickest seduction that she, Astrid, had ever seen and conducted entirely out in the open. Damn, she was feeling, well, excited, as well. She might as well try something herself. She had now decided that she definitely wasn’t going to a possible death still a virgin when there was a cute man of her own kith, and yet not kin, available.
~~~
The next time that Basil leant across to try and talk with Rani and then regained his place he discovered that he was sitting within an arm that was lying innocently along the tabletop behind him. Later he found a hand on his leg. Was Astrid trying to seduce him? Was her drinking thinking for her? He decided to find out and put a hand on her leg. She didn’t object or move away and the arm that was around him on the table left a hand on his shoulder. He felt her breast press against him and she was not moving away.
After the entertainment had finished the group, and everyone else still in the inn, all noticed the sight of a loud, large and more than tipsy blonde Astrid leading a much smaller and darker complexioned Basil upstairs. Basil was still not sure about this openness. It went against his nature. As they left he heard Hulagu made a comment about the Cat playing with the mouse and, glancing back, noticed that even Bianca had to smile at the jest. He realised that this attention that they gained meant that no one was noticing that Rani was also leading someone away. He decided to help the Cat in being conspicuous. It would better gain some privacy for his mistress. He still didn’t know if the Cat was helping the two women or if she had designs on him. He hoped that it was the latter, but would have been content with the former. He guessed that he was about to find out.
~~~
After the entertainment had finished and her servant dragged off, Theodora found that Rani was taking her upstairs from the warm tavern common room to the cooler second floor. It seemed that the Hindi woman had engaged a larger room than the servant’s quarters that the others were in. It had a large bed, a chair, a chest and even a fireplace. A warm fire was burning in it, to the delight of Theodora, who was still only clad in her entertainer’s clothes in the autumn night. On the chest was a large tray with a flagon of wine and a pair of goblets. Rani led Theodora inside. She entered nervously. “I am sorry,” Rani said, “there is only the one chair and no table. If you wish the chair I will sit on the bed and show you the cards and what they mean. Please, can you pour us some wine?” With that Rani removed her slippers and sari, leaving herself in silk trousers and a bodice, similar to the clothes that Theodora wore, and climbed up on the bed. She took her cards from the, now visible, belt pouch and, sitting with her legs in a meditation position on the bed, began to carefully leaf through them to sort out the ones that she wanted.
This left Theodora free to look at Rani. Her first thought was that she could not really be comfortable with her legs contorted like that. Her second was that she was certainly worth looking at. Theodora poured some wine for them and, taking one goblet, sat back comfortably in the chair to continue her appraisal. The moment that she took her seat she realised two things, firstly that she could not see the cards properly and secondly that Rani could not reach the wine. Sighing she moved the chair next to the bed, placed the tray across the arms and, removing her slippers, she climbed up on the bed herself. She sat with her legs over the edge and, for the moment, kept the cards between her and Rani. She breathed in and realised again that Rani smelled…yes exotic was right…and almost intoxicating with the spices she obviously used on her body. Rani finished laying out the cards and looked up, seeming to notice where Theodora was for the first time. Theodora waved towards the wine on the tray.
“Later, my love,” said Rani casually. “I need a clear head.” She pointed at the central card. “This is the Queen of Staves and stands in the position of the person asking the question. I was certain that this was not a reading for the whole group, and that you had a different question in your heart as soon as I saw this. It stands for you, my dearest, and tells me that you are a woman of sunny disposition, accomplished and graceful who is adept in many fields.” She gazed at Theodora for a moment before shaking her head and pointing at the second card. “This is the card of your past. It is the King of Talents and this tells me that your past revolves around a very powerful man. I have feeling that he is a ruler, but he is also very concerned with his family. Usually it means that the person is a master of the material world, but I have a feeling that this is not just the case here. Is there such a man my love? Perhaps it is your father?” She paused, as if waiting for the reply that Theodora really did not want to make. Eventually she continued gently. “I do know more about you than you have said. I do know exactly what the colour of your eyes means and whose family you must belong to, but I do not know how widespread the family is or how much he looks over you.”
Theodora was shocked. The most central part of her being anonymous was blown away as casually as that. Was what lay behind the colour of her eyes common knowledge out here as well? How many others among this group knew everything that she had thought she was so cleverly keeping as a secret?
“The third card is the two of swords. It indicates that the way ahead for you is between an older person and a younger. For my sake this card worries me. My future is tied to you and I love you, but this card tells me that there must be another for you as our ages are little different. I am afraid that I cannot lie about this. I can see that this other person, whom I am ready to hate as they keep me from you, will become your lover.” Rani pointed at the last card as she sadly continued. “With them you will find passion and consummation. You will be complete. I wish one of us were far older than the other, but it seems that my love for you may be forlorn.” She paused again. “Even if I do not get to have you in the end, if you do not mind, I will still follow you and I will keep on loving you. I will stay as distant from you as you wish. Does any of this make sense to you, my love?” She finished talking, reaching for a glass of wine and, for the first time that night, her face was fixed into a sad look.
Theodora now had the perfect way out and she was about to say something to escape when she looked across at Rani. Damn, she thought, the girl really is beautiful and, while Theodora did not feel for Rani as Rani obviously felt for Theodora, she had felt quite nice inside knowing that Rani had been watching her dance and was so open in loving her as she did so. Besides, she had never managed to have a man that she was happy with for more than a night or two. Perhaps she would have better luck with a woman. She thought for a moment. “Put away the cards and have a sip of that wine,” she said. “I have something to tell you.” Rani did as she was told and then sat there, nursing her goblet and looking at Theodora hopefully. Theodora looked at Rani and desperately tried to work out what to say—what words
to choose—what destiny to follow. Finally she said, “Your cards may well be right and they may well refer to me. I am not as young as I look. My family live very long lives and I am already well over one hundred years old. I will not change my appearance during your lifetime and it may not be fair to you, or me, for us to love each other. I just do not know.” Looking up Rani’s face had brightened as Theodora paused. “I know that I do not love you,” it fell, “but I think that I am willing to try to learn to,” and it brightened again.
With their eyes now locked on each other both women now took a long drink, then, acting as one, they put their goblets down on the tray beside them. There was a pause as they each wondered what they should do next and then, acting almost as one, they reached out for each other tentatively and softly.
Chapter XXXII
Astrid woke early in the predawn. She was lying on her back and cradled within her arm, head on her shoulder, was a sleeping naked man. His left hand lay across her and cupped her breast. He might be only slight in build and look young, but he had experience, stamina and other attributes that were just the right size. Astrid felt a little sore, but very happy with herself, almost smug. She leant over to kiss her little Kutsulbalik and only then noticed bite marks. Oops, she would have to be more careful about that when they made love again…but then, what if he didn’t want her? Some men only wanted the next conquest. She was no longer a virgin—what if that was all he wanted?
She lay there panicking for a little, heart racing, while looking at his small and muscular body and the smooth scaly skin on his forearms and torso, hoping that he would still want her. She had enjoyed last night a lot more than she had thought she would and she didn’t want to give it—or him—up just yet.
Intimations of Evil (Warriors of Vhast Book 1) Page 33