by Dana Davis
No sense grieving, yet. She also wanted to be with her bedfriend, to hold his real body, not just this Netherworld version. Perhaps they could be alone a while after the others left but that still wouldn’t be the same. She wanted him with her. Something suddenly popped into her head and she eyed her lover.
“I don’t understand, Tapnut. If the Elders were working with Croferituus, why would they order me to search the Netherworld for Haranda’s attacker? They must have known who had done those terrible things.”
“Perhaps not,” Ved’nuri said. The crowned woman had joined them since Adelsik didn’t feel up to slumbering tonight. Lyssinya’s heart went out to the new-oathed girl after what she’d experienced with Maesa’s specter. “Croferituus doesn’t strike me as the sort to share with those she considers underlings.”
Lyssinya studied the crowned woman. “You may be right, Ved’nuri.”
That crowned head cocked to one side and colorful eyes focused on Tapnut. “And what of the rest of you? Can you get off the island, safely?”
“We’ve been discussing that possibility, Ved’nuri. The water funnels still appear but not as frequent as before. The weather has cooled tremendously, which might have something to do with that.”
His eyes grew distant and Lyssinya knew he had lost concentration again. The sky around his dream island grew dark with clouds and the air began to chill. “Tapnut?” He turned dark eyes on her, and she smiled at the carved bones of his face and lean, tanned muscles that stood out beneath his vest.
“Lyssy? Nice to see you. Would you like to have a walk?”
She stroked his hairless chin. “Later, my love. I need to know if you can get off the island.”
“You’re slumbering. I’m dreaming?”
“Yes, my love. Can you get past the water funnels? Is that possible?”
He turned toward the water and his long, black braid whipped around. “Perhaps. It’s growing cold here.”
With gentle fingers, she pulled his face toward her. “You must try to reach the mainland. We need to be together. Sages and Gypsies. Bring food and warm clothing and keep the younglings safe.”
“All right, Lyssy.”
“We must get going, Lyssinya,” Ved’nuri said. “We still have a lot to do.”
“Yes, Ved’nuri.” She gave Tapnut a brief kiss on the lips, no longer caring that Gypsies witnessed this intimacy. “I love you. I’ll come to you tomorrow night.” Then with one hand on his forehead, she pushed a slight amount of false mind-urging Energy into him. “Remember what we’ve talked about here.”
She couldn’t even touch that Energy in the mundane world, where it could do the most good, but she didn’t let frustration take her. The Goddess had given her the appropriate Energy. She had to believe that. And the illusion of urging made her slumbering Energy just as effective in the Netherworld. Another consolation was that the Gypsies, even Ved’nuri, didn’t know all her slumbering secrets. She would have to share the rest, eventually. She was bound to the Gypsies as much as to her Sage kin now.
Tapnut turned away and became involved with his dream again. He took no notice of those who stood behind him and a dream image of Lyssinya appeared next to him. Someone laid a hand on her shoulder and she turned to the crowned woman.
“He’s safe for now. Come. We have much to do.”
“Yes, Ved’nuri.” So much for seeing Tapnut alone tonight. At least he had her dream image to keep him company.
Once they stood in the dome’s reception room, or Ved’nuri’s rendition of it, Lyssinya rolled her shoulders as indiscreetly as she could manage to disperse the tension. Part of her wanted to see this place in the mundane world, certain its splendor couldn’t be duplicated here in the Netherworld.
Ved’nuri now wore a beautiful, ankle-length dress of muted Goddess colors that shimmered in what appeared to be milky silk fabric. Gold braiding decorated the neck and sleeves and her feet were bare, except for a gold ring on one toe. Golden curls cascaded down her back, and a gilded flower crown sat atop her head. Her son resembled her, except that his eyes were black and his skin quite a bit darker than his fair mother’s.
“Maesa’s message comes none too soon,” the crowned woman said. “I believe when she spoke of where to find Croferituus, she spoke of the void, just as you suspected, Lyssinya. And if that’s true, we should be able to access both from here.”
Haranda took a step forward. “We’ve had no luck with that, Ved’nuri. All of us have tried to sense Croferituus and locate the void from the Netherworld. So far, Adelsik is the only one to even feel anything unusual. She noticed the waning nimbus around each of us. If not for her, I believe we still wouldn’t have noticed.” Pride filled her voice.
“This is true, daughter. But she’s a single Gypsy. And new-oathed at that.” One arm made a graceful sweeping motion to the slumberers. “We have here the most talented slumberers, those with the most experience. Surely, the six of us can accomplish the task of one child.”
Haranda nodded. “I hope you’re correct, Ved’nuri. We’re running out of options. Not to mention food.”
She sounded irritable, and though the two still didn’t agree on many things, Lyssinya understood the Gypsy’s impatience. Her own stomach grumbled more often now what with the food rations. They had too many mouths to feed, and working with the Energy demanded nutrition. Those idiotic villagers in the hamlet had begun to skulk around camp. Both Cassbet Legrange and New-oathed Seeker Jin had confirmed that news. The kin would be eating horsemeat tonight.
Ved’nuri’s colorful eyes moved over Lyssinya then Wren before resting on Elder Siri. “You can’t get beyond the hamlet?”
“No, Ved’nuri. We’re still camped near the ancient wall in the stone buildings. The road is thick with snow and it grows colder every sunset. Even if we could shovel fast enough to get our party through, there are few animals left to hunt. The horses are becoming lean since we have to use straw for bedding just to stay warm and the cooks have begun killing them for food, which will slow our travels immeasurably once the weather is no longer a threat. We need to do something. Now.” She seemed caught between irritation and respect.
“This is serious, Ved’nuri,” Lyssinya added in the Elder’s defense. “We’re short on supplies. The hamlet council has informed us they have little to spare in the way of food, so our coin is all but useless in this weather. The Energy can’t feed and shelter us.”
Ved’nuri turned on her heels and paced across the marble floor, something Lyssinya had never witnessed in all their visits here. Her son kept dark eyes on her as she moved to the fireplace and back to the marble column. Haranda twisted her skirts in her fists while Wren shifted from one foot to the other, her strong jaw clenched and sharp eyes peering over a prominent nose. The white-haired Gypsy hadn’t said a word in quite a while, probably in an attempt to keep her temper in check. Siri’s gold, hair bangles tinkled with her sharp head movements and her eyes narrowed on the crowned woman.
Lyssinya fought a twitch when Ved’nuri abruptly faced them. “All right, daughters. Haranda, what would happen if you melted the snow along Briar’s Pass? I know you and the others with sparking have enough Energy to manage that without using the crystals.”
The Gypsy narrowed eyes in thought. “Yes, we do, Ved’nuri. But it would probably create a flood.”
“Can you trench the area? Send the water into the stream? It hasn’t overflowed its banks, has it?”
“No. But with the snow and the hard ground, we would need crystal Energy to hold up that long. Even if we succeeded, the mixture of snow and water would make for dangerous traveling.”
“Yes.” Ved’nuri sighed. “I’ve been enclosed in the Land of the Goddess too long.” She rested her eyes on her son then on each woman for a heartbeat and her voice grew precise. “There is no other choice. We must balance the weather by ridding the Energy of this void. And you need a safe place to reside. You must conquer the hamlet.”
This time Wren spoke up. “
Ved’nuri?”
“Ved’mana and I have discussed this. We knew it might become a possibility. You need shelter. They have it. Between the snow and the stream, you have plenty of water. Ration as much food as you can, kill the horses sparingly. Put the villagers to work for you. Perhaps enough coin will make them at least pliable. Take from Zarenia’s stash if you need to.”
“Ved’nuri.” Siri sneered and shook her head. “They may fight us.”
“That’s also a possibility. But most likely, once you show the power the Goddess has blessed us with and the money you have available, they won’t be so foolish. Oath as many as you can. We can deliver any brothel children to their former homes if they choose to go back. Though, I doubt many will want them. Any adults who decline to cooperate can be exiled as a lesson to the rest. If they refuse to leave, kill them.” The women vocalized their protests in unison, and Ved’nuri held up a hand for silence. “We have little choice. You need more shelter than those two buildings. Once you don’t have to worry about shelter, we can concentrate on reversing the void. I care not whether thieves and rapists revere us. As long as they don’t get in our way.”
Lyssinya’s blew a long breath between her lips, causing a mild whistle. Middlings were a bother at times, and those in Lost Miner’s Hamlet weren’t exactly trustworthy, a waste of skin for some, but outright killing? And what of the children who stayed behind? The Vedi certainly couldn’t mean to exile or slay children if they acted out. And how many would go through the calling? Younglings came from every part of the world and from every sort of root existence. Could they afford to lose potential kin? Those colorful eyes focused on her and she swallowed, feeling much like a youngling around this woman, who was in fact younger than she by a few years.
“We can’t afford doubts, daughter.”
Her thoughts were on display just as any Gypsy’s. “No, Ved’nuri.” The body might have once belonged to a Gypsy, but the Goddess had altered Haranda’s former clan sister into this majestic woman who stood before them. “My apologies for having doubts.”
A warm smile grew on that beautiful face. “You can’t help but have them.” The features grew serious again. “The middling children are not to be harmed but they will be tamed. Perhaps chores will be enough.” Lyssinya relaxed and Ved’nuri seemed content with her reaction. “We’re out of options. You must conquer the hamlet, oath as many as you can, cut the trees you need for warmth, kill the horses for food, and take shifts to locate the void and Croferituus. Her use of elemental magic won’t be tolerated, and what she’s done to the Sage Elders is unforgivable. Have servants and those who have sworn to us travel as far as they can to log the weather toward Maricar. You need to get to a life circle if at all possible, get back to the Land of the Goddess, where we have plenty of resources.”
“Yes, Ved’nuri,” the four women replied in unison.
“Mother?” Ved’emir had been very quiet this Netherworld trip. “Do we allow middlings here?”
She took in a long breath. “Once they take the oaths they’re no longer middlings. Daughters, you must get as many to take oaths as possible. In fact, insist on it. I realize the Bankari have sworn allegiance, but we need to know they won’t turn tail when things become dangerous. Any with you now must be oathed.”
Lyssinya nodded in thought. “Ved’nuri. I don’t wish to leave Tapnut and the other Sages behind. We must find a way for them to reach us. Have you found any life circles on the island?”
“No. They’ll have to get to the cave where Haranda first brought her younglings through. That contains the nearest circle.”
“Yes. I know of it.”
Ved’nuri’s face grew distant for a heartbeat then her eyes lit. “One of the younglings, Nym, had a vision. I didn’t know just what it meant until recently. He envisioned our kin growing by dozens. Haranda, has Thad had any such visions?”
“Not to my knowledge. He shares what he sees at the daily meetings but he hasn’t had a vision since he saw Cass with her root father.”
Siri huffed. “That one has been concentrating on his sparking Energy, Ved’nuri. If the boy could ever get complete control, he might match Haranda someday.”
“Yes. He just might.” Haranda sounded quite proud of the boy, which surprised Lyssinya. Sage clan mothers and fathers wanted pupils to succeed, but many flinched when they thought they could be outdone. “We could use another with my abilities.”
The crowned woman frowned.
“What is it, Candelus?”
Lyssinya expected the Gypsy to be called down for the use of that name.
“We’ve been experiencing some—disturbances.” Ved’nuri’s colorful eyes drifted between Lyssinya and the rest.
Haranda cocked her head. “What kind of disturbances? You mean at the dome?”
“No. Not here. The Means.”
“What?” Siri jerked her head and those hair bangles tinkled violently. “Why didn’t you tell us, Ved’nuri?” She sounded like a clan mother berating her daughter.
That crowned head cocked to one side and regal hands went to slim hips. “I’m not required to tell you anything, Siri Nebarin.”
Siri’s eyes widened and she lowered her gaze. “Yes, Ved’nuri. My apologies.”
“Accepted.” Ved’nuri dropped her arms to her side. “We just discovered the problems last evening when one of our messengers returned from the outside. He had quite a bit of trouble locating the entrance to the Land of the Goddess. Something shifts in the Means, makes it unstable. Ved’mana and I suspect the void is causing this.”
Lyssinya took in a quick breath. “Then we must make haste to locate the void and rid the Energy of it, Ved’nuri.”
“Yes. I want everyone told this news.”
“Even the younglings, Ved’nuri?” Lyssinya didn’t approve of that.
“Especially the younglings. They have proven quite capable despite their youth. There’s no reason to coddle them. Everything that happens to us happens to them.” She gazed at Haranda. “You remember what I told you that day in the dome?”
The chestnut-colored head nodded gravely. “Use the younglings well.”
“Yes. That has not changed.” Ved’nuri pulled her regal body straight and placed an arm around her son’s shoulders. “Keep the daily meetings going and report to me each night. We must separate and seek out the void. My son will come with me. He will be on his own very soon.” She didn’t look pleased with that. “Lyssinya. Seek out the stray Elders first. We need to know whether they made it across the ocean. If so, I want their location. We’ll prod them to you, if we have to urge them from the Netherworld the entire way through snow and funnels. I won’t have Croferituus use them any more than she already has if I can stop that. Should you find them alive and with their wits and essences intact, you’ll remind them of their oaths. If they agree to come back to the Goddess, very well. They’ll receive proper punishment for betrayal and place their hands once again on an oath crystal. If not, then they must face the tribunal.”
Lyssinya nodded. The Goddess could have already taken revenge on the traitors. Many didn’t survive once they defiled their oaths in such a vile manner. And if they had turned against the Goddess then perhaps madness led them to chance the ocean in the first place. The tribunal would condemn traitors, strip them of Rights of Kin, and perform will bindings. Those laws existed in both Gypsy and Sage worlds.
Ved’nuri gave a satisfactory nod. “The rest of you seek out Croferituus while you search for the void, since she may be using it as a hiding place. Once you locate that idiot woman, come and find me. Don’t confront her alone. I will personally discipline any who attempt such a thing. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Ved’nuri,” Lyssinya and the others said in unison.
Though the crowned woman didn’t demand genuflection in the Netherworld, Lyssinya had the urge to drop to her knees. Before she could do anything, the dome faded into her version of Dragon Island with dream bubbles floating nearby. The others had bec
ome dulled footprints as they traveled in different directions. She appeared that way to them now too, just a dim print inside a bubble. She fought the urge to enter Tapnut’s dream again and sighed at the loss she felt.
She traveled the length of the Netherworld island with no luck finding the Elders, the void, or anything else unusual. The Elders had to be dead. There was no way for them to hide from her. She knew them here as well as any of her kin. Tapnut wouldn’t like delivering that news to the others anymore than Lyssinya would enjoy giving it to him. She pushed down the sorrow that threatened to take over.
She could feel the void but when she moved toward it, it seemed to alter its position. Strange. And frustrating! No sign of Croferituus, either. That woman could be anywhere in the middling world by now, especially in her changer form. Traveling as a mountain cat, she could traverse the snow with little difficulty. How can the idiot harness the Energy after a transformation? That was unheard of. At least she had no essence and wouldn’t be born again to hinder future kin. If we survive.
Lyssinya was about to get back to her body and sleep, when she caught something in her corner vision. A blue acorn, faint from Energy protection, traveled at lightening speed toward her. What in blazes was Adelsik doing? The girl had said she was too tired to slumber? Had she changed her mind? Had something happened while Lyssinya and the others met with Ved’nuri?
But the footprint didn’t stop at Lyssinya. Instead, it swept past in a flurry, urgent and erratic. She decided to follow and pushed her otherself into quick motion behind the new-oathed girl. Where is she headed? Then just as quickly as the acorn had passed, it slowed to a stop. With the Energy still pulsing at her feet, Lyssinya envisioned her island around Adelsik’s footprint as the acorn drifted to the ground and shimmered into the new-oathed girl.