A Change of Fortune

by Veronice Ceccarelli

Chapter 7:

  Then one day, there was a change. Mariabella reported excitedly, “Just strolled in and announced they were taking over, that now they were leaders. Like a coup. Pretending to be oh so casual, so self-assured, and not letting their guard down for a moment. And Suma agreed to it!”

  “Who?” Helene demanded.

  “Zhor and Najia Kobi-Wynn. Zhor’s the leader, though she says they’re co-leaders. She says they’re to be called Madam Zhor and Madam Najia.”

  Mariabella wrinkled her brow as she concentrated on getting the words right. “She said that there were none there more powerful than Najia, and if she cursed somebody, only herself and the great wizard could undo it. And then she said that if she cursed somebody, then it would only be the great wizard who could undo it. And she said, that no-one, no-one, and that includes the medj prisoners, are to be hurt or killed without her express permission.”

  Helene said in astonished disbelief, “She actually referred to the medj prisoners!”

  Mariabella nodded, beaming.

  Helene said cautiously, “It may not mean anything, of course, just that she’ll look at us and make up her own mind whether we’re needed.”

  “It means, for sure, that we won’t get hurt today, anyway.”

  “That Zhor, she killed old Riza. How could she dare come back?”

  “They’ve been trying to get them back for years, both of them. Maybe they thought it best to come like this rather than be brought back.”

  “Come with me. We have to tell Carol and the others.”

  Carol already knew there was something up. “Kamchatsu took Clarence to their rooms to act as a taster even though it’s only a morning tea.”

  “They must think they’re in danger of being poisoned.”

  “More likely drugged in order to be made helpless and made pregnant, to bear Kobi children.”

  Mariabella had to repeat her story again and again, until there was not one who hadn’t heard it.

  Tasha was excited, but Valencio was cool. “Don’t get your hopes up, love. That Zhor, she’s just as much a bloody wizard as Ahjmed or Adil, I reckon.”

  Tasha shook her head and went to talk to Didi and Sheri, who were happy to speculate about what the change might mean for them.

  Abensur was worried for himself, and planned to keep right out of sight. What of Enclosure 3 with its thirty-two prisoners still alive? The new leaders had been away for years, exposed to other influences. It was looking as if they might care about the welfare of the medj. Maybe the inmates should all be killed straightaway so that the new leaders never found out. But there was Zhor’s telepathy. She would find out. Driss was already punished, he’d heard, and could no longer use his right hand. He gave orders that all the prisoners continue to be well treated, and himself made a short visit to Enclosure 3 and informed their leader that the lessons would be on hold for a day or two. They were still calm and well behaved, nearly all of them believing his assurances that the missing men had been freed, especially as some remembered seeing them having their memories changed to forget about magic, remembered seeing their numbers and wrist and ankle cuffs removed, and remembered them being escorted on the way to freedom. It was a lot easier to believe the false memories than to understand they would not leave there alive.

  Clarence’s return to Enclosure 2 was eagerly awaited, and he had more information, divulged to two large groups who waited on either side of the fence. “There’s to be a taster at every meal, and I heard an old lady in a wheelchair saying to someone that it must be made known that there would be a taster.”

  “That would be Bouchra Kobi-Wynn,” said Valencio, “But Nusa’pei told me years ago she had no power.”

  “Well anyway, they’ve taken charge all right, and Suma and Ryuichi reported to them, and another I didn’t know.”

  “That was probably Driss,” said Carol. “We know about him. He used to be a Fighter, but in administration since Suma took over.”

  Clarence continued, “They’re going to inspect the kidnapped girls after lunch, and then us.”

  “They’re going to inspect us?”

  “That’s what Madam Zhor said. First the freia, those ones that were kidnapped to have Kobi children, and it seemed there were spells on them so they couldn’t escape, and she ordered that they be taken off.”

  “What spell?”

  “The Lazylegs Spell.”

  The groups were gathered close to the intervening fence, and Helene asked, “What’s the Lazylegs Spell?”

  “Simple spell,” said Carol. “The boys learn it in what they call Junior School. It means you can’t walk far without your legs getting very, very tired.” Carol had been around a long time. She thought she probably knew just about every spell, from experience.

  “Are they going to continue using a taster?”

  “Every mealtime.”

  The prisoners were excited, a little nervous, not knowing what the change of leadership would mean for them. When lunch was brought in, Valencio studied the guards until Kofi-Zee looked back at him, raising an eyebrow. Zhang was watching him and raised his wand slightly. How many years since he’d given the slightest trouble? And even now, they still watched him. As for his very doubtful telepathy, all he could tell was that the guards were as full of uncertainty as themselves, though they put on expressionless faces. He wasn’t even sure about that. Could some people really tell exactly what another was thinking? But Narzu-Han and Yiko could, he knew for a fact.

  Clarence had more to report after lunch, and again there was a crowd gathered at the fence between enclosures. “They’re being treated as leaders, issuing instructions and being obeyed. I saw Abimael come in and he started working in their garden. It was old Riza’s apartment, big and with its own private garden area, even a swimming pool. They’ve just taken it over.”

  “A cunning move,” said Carol. “It will give them something of her authority.”

  They waited expectantly after lunch, standing back quietly as the two girls walked in. Zhor only nineteen years old, Najia a little older. They were escorted by Kamchatsu and two guards.

  Tasha whispered to Valencio, “Where’s Abensur, do you think?”

  Valencio shrugged and watched the guards closely. He thought their acceptance of the leadership of Zhor and Najia no more than provisional.

  Kamchatsu took on the role of tour guide, explaining that the women were served their meals and had access to coffee, tea, soft drinks and snacks at other times. Zhor and Najia held wands in their hands, and Valencio knew how very tense they were, though they tried to appear relaxed.

  To their surprise, the guards were dismissed, and two young freia stood unprotected with fifty-five medj prisoners, at the place where Kaede, and quite often Valencio, taught. Zhor glanced around and used her wand, having the slaves ducking away in every direction. They gaped as a large hole was opened in the intervening fence, and then a conjured framework.

  Valencio laughed and said to Tasha, “To think I spent six weeks painfully trying to make just a small hole under the fence!”

  Tasha looked at him in surprise. She hadn’t known that. Valencio appeared relaxed, insensibly reassuring to the women around him.

  Zhor raised her voice. “Conference. Come and talk to me.”

  The members of the Committee quickly joined her at the large twin tables, now with just a narrow gap where the fence had been. The prettier one, Najia, stood behind her cousin, very alert and holding her wand. Valencio was straining his ears, but shook his head. It couldn’t be. Tasha said wonderingly, “They said something about wanting to free us.”

  Valencio looked back at the guards, standing outside the door to the dining room, and now joined by four others. He put his hand on his knife, and then spoke very quietly to Tasha, then to Shirley and to Maliwan, who also slipped away and quietly armed themselves. Freedom? They wanted to free them? Valencio no longer felt at all calm.

  Word spread, and mor
e of the women armed themselves. Zhor and Najia must not be taken prisoner. There was a hope, but no-one quite dared to hope for freedom.

  Valencio shook his head and looked again at Zhor. Freedom? Could she? How could she? They would make trouble. Zhor met his eyes, and he flinched. She took her attention away from him. There was some more conversation that Valencio only half heard, trying desperately to hear what was not said. Carol was hoping, Helene too. They were to be trusted, their leaders. Could Zhor be trusted? She was Kobi. Bloody Kobi. She was like Riza, and Riza was bloody Kobi.

  Valencio had forgotten the guards, but Zhor hadn’t, and Valencio jumped again, sure he could feel her as she felt for the thoughts of the guards. He fingered the knife in his pocket again, with its papier mache sheath.

  Tasha whispered, “Be calm, Valencio. It’s not the time for action.”

  He looked at her unseeing, and repeated, “Not the time for action.”

  There was more conversation, half heard. Zhor stood and Valencio with his height, saw Carol incline her head in the gesture of respect that el-Kobi always gave Kobi-Wynn. It was sincere, as he felt. Zhor nodded curtly, turned her back and marched toward the door, with Najia keeping step. The slaves watched them go, and word quickly spread just what had been discussed.

  “She wants to free us...”

  “They said their position was insecure, and she couldn’t do much yet...”

  “She’s going to sack the ones we said were the worst ones...”

  “We made a list of the ones who liked to hurt, and she said she’d dismiss them.”

  “Botan was underlined!”

  Inge said, her face shining with tears, “I have a holiday...”

  “Don’t, whatever you do, tell any wizard they’ve spoken of freeing us.” That was Carol, and she moved around the inmates of Enclosures 1 and 2, intermingled as they’d never been before, repeating that vital instruction, again and again.

  Helene hugged Valencio, her old friend, and said, “There’s real hope.”

  Valencio looked at her as if he didn’t see her, though repeating mechanically, “There’s real hope.”

  Helene hugged him again, fiercely, and repeated, trying to make him believe it, “There’s real hope.”

  “I’d best stay a long way from the guards. Can’t mess things up now.”

  Helene smiled at him and agreed. She felt him so tense, and when she mentioned it to Carol, Carol said, “If Valencio didn’t believe they meant what they said, he would not be reacting like this. He really can sense things.”

  Clarence was again used as a taster, and after dinner, reported, “They’re not trusting anyone, and wait each time to make sure I don’t drop dead or something. But Najia told me that the food would only be drugged, not poisoned, as no-one wants them dead.”

  “They must realize they could be taken prisoner and just used for breeding.”

  Carol said, “I wouldn’t like to be the one that tries to keep Zhor prisoner. I reckon she could be formidable!”

  Helene watched her girls go off with their clients that evening, and crossed her fingers. What were the el-Kobi thinking? Would Zhor and Najia remain in charge?

  Their clients gave out very little information, even Salo-Zar. Junichiro rebuked Helene for asking – it was no business of a dirt-girl slave. They did get some factual information, that thirteen men had been dismissed, all but two of the ones on the list that Ingrid had prepared, and those two, Botan and Manmohan, were away. Abensur was very quiet, worried, Brigitta thought. He gave her no information at all, except that Tahar and Hamza had gone. Lucy and Eva were no longer Favorites.

  Amber reported that Najia had claimed to be good friends with John Bellamy.

  “So it’s definite that he’s recovered?”

  “Seems so.”

  That night, there was an attempt to enter the rooms now shared by Zhor and Najia. But the two girls had known John Bellamy for years, and he’d taught them some very powerful protective magic. The whole area, garden and apartment, was heavily protected. The attempt failed. The cousins slept, exhausted from the tension, still fully dressed, still with their wands, and also with their short, hidden wands. They knew how precarious their position was.

  The following morning, after breakfast, Mariabella reported, “He’s scarcely budging from his apartment. He told me Zhor was always unusual, and if anyone could restore the Kobi Family, she could.”

  “We know she was powerful.”

  “He said she was also very clever.”

  When breakfast arrived, the wizards were questioned. Were Zhor and Najia still in charge?

  Kamchatsu confirmed, “Still in charge, and no-one seems to be disputing it, or not with any following.”

  Abensur appeared a little later, and said that a change of leadership didn’t mean that disobedience and insolence would be tolerated. Valencio stared at him intently, and then looked away, not wanting to know. Abensur did not believe it possible that Zhor and Najia would keep their position. And Abensur knew people.

  Not long after breakfast, Zhor and Najia reappeared and spoke to Carol and Helene. They appeared to be at ease, and yet they never pocketed their wands. They didn’t stay long, but listened to the small amount of information that Helene could pass on, that there appeared to be no immediate threat. Valencio tried knowing the mind of Najia. Zhor might feel him. Or she might if he was really doing something and not just imagining he was doing something. But this time, he was almost sure. That Najia was thinking that even if they managed to hold on, eighty-one medj could not be freed, not knowing what they knew. It was what he’d concluded himself. Why had he hoped?

  Tasha found Valencio leaning against the fence that day. His face was sad in repose, very sad. She touched him and he jumped. “What is it, Valencio?” she asked.

  He was honest. “They said they want to free us. But they can’t. Even if they hold power, we’re still here forever.”

  “They can’t?”

  “We know too much and would cause trouble. I heard Abimael, I think, this morning. He was looking at me, and I felt his worry that we were being given false hope.”

  “You heard his actual thought?”

  “I think so, though it’s the first time.”

  “Have you tried with us? With me?”

  “No, not with my friends. It would not be fair.”

  Tasha was silent a moment, even tentatively reaching forward to touch the fence. After a moment, she jerked her hand away. Slowly, she said, “I’ve been here since I was a child of thirteen. It frightens me, the idea of being suddenly free. If they just opened the gates, what would we do?”

  “Go, without a moment’s hesitation. Whatever freedom holds, surely it cannot be worse than being a prisoner.”

  Tasha said doubtfully, “It could be worse.”

  “You’d be with me.”

  Tasha smiled at him, wanting him to think she trusted him, “Of course. It would be all right because I was with you.”

  The women were disturbed, nervous, some even frightened of the changes. Mixing, exploring each other’s enclosures. Gloria was insolent and Thuli punished, but only by paralyzing a leg for a while and it soon wore off. The guards were convinced they had to keep a tight control now, but severe punishment might bring down even more severe retribution on their own heads.

  The three girls found Valencio, who was swimming, and whistled at him, so that he pulled himself out of the water. Brigitta looked at his naked body appreciatively. Abensur may have been giving her a great deal of pleasure, but he had a very ordinary body. The other two didn’t even notice his sleek perfection.

  Inge beamed at Valencio, “Botan’s been dismissed. I hope he never, ever comes back.”

  “You’re still on holiday?”

  “Yes, but they haven’t said for how long, and Helene cautions me not to hope too much. That they may not last.”

  Evita said, “Someone said you were trying to get on the
roof last night, Valencio?”

  “I used to be able to in the old enclosures. I thought it worth checking.”

  “Did you find any new weapons?”

  “Marietta had one of those metal combs. I wouldn’t have thought them silly enough to let one get near me.”

  “What do you do with them?”

  Valencio pulled his penetrating instrument from his pocket, and showed them how he’d modified it from a comb like Marietta’s. “When you make any weapon, you have to think very hard that it’s for an entirely peaceful purpose. For instance, instead of sharpening this so that it can gouge into the eye of a bloody wizard, maybe the brain, you think of it as a comb that’s being changed a little in order to make a fancy hairdo. Then their weapon-detecting gadget won’t find it.”

  “They must be due to do a search again any day.”

  “They usually wait until I’m working. But it’s years since they found anything I wanted to hide.”

  Helene said sharply, as she strode towards them, “Valencio, what are you showing them?”

  Valencio looked up, unrepentant, “A weapon. I’m not saying they shouldn’t do whatever’s needed to survive now, but conditions are changing. It seems to me we all should be practicing with whatever weapons we can find or make.”

  Helene hesitated, and finally said, “You’re probably right. Just so long as no-one does anything foolish.”

  Inge said quickly, “I won’t do anything foolish.”

  “Nor I,” said Evita.

  Helene asked, “Brigitta?”

  Brigitta said slowly, “I don’t want Valencio to hurt Abensur.”

  Valencio said soothingly, “I won’t hurt Abensur.” Or only if he started killing them, or maybe was the only obstacle to an escape. But that wasn’t likely. The threat of being killed had receded, at least temporarily, but Valencio thought the prospect of escape as remote as ever.

  Zhor and Najia didn’t visit for a few days. There was tension and uncertainty among the el-Kobi, but no-one made a move to take the leadership away from the young cousins or if they did, the slaves didn’t hear of it. Tahar and Hamza were still gone, presumably gone for good, rather than dispute with their female cousins, not much older than themselves.

  Inge and Evita came quietly to Valencio and asked how his tiny blades could kill. He cautioned, “Only if things change. No point killing anyone at the moment.”

  “If you tell us to?”

  Valencio grinned ruefully, “I could have had half of us killed when I was a teenager with a half-baked idea of rushing the guards. If I tell you to kill someone, check with Carol or Helene.”

  “How, though?”

  He put his hand to his neck and said, “Feel for the pulse. You have to strike in exactly the right place, but if you slit the carotid artery, it only takes minutes to die.”

  “I can’t find a pulse.”

  He found it for her, and then suggested she find the one on Evita, and then the one on himself. Either side.

  “And then you just cut?”

  “Push in firmly without fiddling around. They’re Fighters and won’t stay still while you dither. But only if Carol or Helene say. Or if they’re killing us all anyway or something.”

  Inge nodded soberly, “We’ll be sensible. I didn’t realize how easy it is to kill.”

  “It’s easy enough if you take them off guard.”

  “You only killed one, though.”

  “Only one, though I tried for a couple more. As I said, it’s only easy if you take them off guard, and even then, you’ve got to choose exactly the right spot, otherwise they only have a bleeding cut, which makes them mad, not dead.”

  Inge said, “But anyway, say one of us was in a wizard’s own bedroom and he didn’t lock the door. Say we killed him. What would we do then?”

  “If it was me, I’d steal a robe and try and bluff my way out the gate. It’d have to be at night, though. The wizards all have long hair.”

  “Do you think you’d succeed?”

  “Not a chance. I think they’d recognize me. It wouldn’t stop me trying. I’ve always been a fool that way.”

  The girls glanced at each other. Helene had given them very firm instructions not to take seriously any ideas of escape that they might hear from Valencio. Inge said, “We might just practice with the weapons and maybe practice knowing exactly where the place is to kill.”

  Evita nodded. “Every day.”

  “Practice keeping them hidden as well then. But don’t be stupid. Knowing how to kill never did me any good.”

  “Shirley told me they used to search you all the time. But they never found the weapon.”

  Valencio demonstrated his techniques, and they tried to copy him, but only resulting in a cut finger for Evita.

  The next day, the girls had Ingrid with them, and the day after, Nikola and Bridget. It was mentioned at a Committee meeting. Kaliska was concerned, but Helene said, “Inge told me that he says they’re not allowed to kill anyone without asking the Committee first.”

  Carol laughed, “Well, that’s something!”

  Hilde said, “From the wizards’ point of view, it would only have been prudent to kill him years ago.”

  “I hope the wizards never find out that his murderous ideas are spreading!”

  “He would say it’s not murder. Just what they deserve.”

  “Maybe it is. After all, that’s what we were frightened of, that one day, all of us in Enclosure 2 would be killed. What would be called mass murder in any civilized society, and they call it a Cull.”

  “Thank goodness for the new leadership. If only they can hold on...”

  “No freedom, though.”

  Carol sighed. No freedom.