by Ada Haynes
She obeyed him, slowly coming to a stand. And he had not been mistaken. He had not seen the young woman in months, and, but for the white hair, she looked strikingly like her father, his own brother. Another reminder of Kas’el’s numerous crimes. He had raped the girl’s mother, Nukri na Liom’s only daughter, and had left her so damaged the woman had committed suicide after her daughter’s birth.
Akalabeth was officially of the Na Lioms’ family, but Ekbeth had always kept an eye on her.
“Ake… Uncle, I have wanted to speak to you for months, but you did not come to the Valley for a long time, and when you were here others prevented me from talking with you. With the Aras’arisidz happening, they are not so attentive. You’re the only one who can still help us and save our lives.”
Ekbeth did not ask what she meant by “they.” This could wait. But why was she speaking of saving lives? And then the whole story came back to him. How could he have forgotten?
Akalabeth had left the Valley some months ago to live with the man she loved. The whole As’mir community had been in an uproar at the time. Firstly, because, as the only living family member left to Nukri na Liom, she was the only other As’mir who could transfer people and merchandise between the Valley and the rest of the world, and thus was essential to the Valley. Secondly, because the man she had fallen in love with, Sieven, who belonged to one of the poorest Aiarz’in communities , was someone far lower in status than the civilized As’mirin, certainly not worthy of such an honor.
Ekbeth suddenly understood. “Look at me, Kala.”
She obeyed. Tears were glistening in her eyes, but this was not what provoked Ekbeth’s anger. The light of the room had fooled him, but he could now see the marks left by weeks of malnutrition. The High Council had passed a ban on Sieven’s village. Most of the time, this meant not only isolation, but also being deprived of all food, which condemned the inhabitants to a slow death.
Curse the foolishness of all those stupid bastards!
But then he realized something else. “Wait a second. Have you just transferred yourself here from outside the Valley?”
She shook her head, still avoiding looking at him. “I did not transfer myself. Technically I could do it, but my grandfather would feel it. No, I took enough drugs to block my grandfather from guessing where I am and walked here, Uncle. I used one of the old roads. It was not easy because vegetation has covered it, and I had to brave the Ke’As’mirin’s anger. But I had to come here, to see you. I managed. It’s only a few hours from door to door.”
So she had not transferred herself! Still, she had just broken one of Ara’s seven rules! No wonder their ancestors were angry with her. No one was supposed to leave or enter the Valley during the Aras’arisidz ritual. Breaking any of Ara’s rules meant a very painful death, if you get caught. Only a very desperate fool would do that.
And Akalabeth was not a fool, not that he knew of. She had found an astute way to enter the Valley, hadn’t she? Clever of her. So she had to be very desperate.
Well, her hollow cheeks were explanation enough of her state of mind.
He turned towards Alyasini. He understood her nervousness all too well now. “Can you try to grab some food from the kitchen without the uncles noticing, Lyas? Enough for a few persons.”
She hesitated, but then nodded and quietly left the room.
Ekbeth’s attention turned back to his niece. “How bad is it, Kala?”
Akalabeth kept her face hidden from him, but her voice was quivering. “Two babies died last night. Sieven’s mother will probably be next. All those people, they have died or are dying because of me, Uncle. I can’t bear it anymore.”
She was now silently crying. “I wanted to return from the moment I heard of the High Council ban, Uncle, but the whole village decided against it. They told me that they had known worse, that they could hold out until the harvest. It was indeed not too bad, until someone set the fields on fire and stole our goats. We were left with absolutely nothing. The surrounding villages are too afraid of the As’mirin and refused to help us. We’re reduced to berries and what meat we can hunt. The whole village is slowly starving to death, all because of me. When the first baby died, I came back, Uncle. For nothing.”
“What do you mean, nothing?”
“The Council refused to lift the ban and to send food to Sieven’s village, even when I promised to stay forever in Kse’Annilis. So I went back to them.”
Mercy was not a word often used among the As’mirin.
“You could transfer some food, Kala, use your gift.”
She made a strange sound, a strangled laugh. “Sieven’s people are proud, Uncle. I did transfer some food, but they refused to eat it, because they had not paid for it. It’s stupid of them, I know. But pride is the only thing they have left. We have no money in the village, nothing of worth left to exchange.”
“What are you expecting from me exactly, Kala?”
She made a face. “A miracle. I know you were not attending the High Council when they decided on the Ban. There was no Na Duibhne representing you. So technically you could veto their decision.”
A miracle indeed! A veto would only induce a new vote. And they would probably vote again for the ban. She knew that as well as he. She also knew about his lack of influence on the High Council.
“It’s not going to work, Kala.”
She shook her head. “Still we have to try! I can’t think of anything else!”
He thought about it for a minute then asked, “If the situation is so bad that you are ready to break one of Ara’s rules to see me, Kala, why didn’t you come to visit me on the Other Side? Why wait until I come here?”
She shuffled in her seat. “I don’t like to go to the Other Side, Uncle.”
His little niece was like most As’mirin, after all. Amazing that she was ready to risk her life by breaking rules, but not daring to leave the relative protection of the hidden Valley.
Alyasini returned from her errand, a big plate of food in her hands.
“I could not take more than that without raising suspicion, Kala! I already saw some uncles frowning at me. They probably think I’m having a private party in here! The fools! Let me find a bag for this!”
Alyasini was showing her true side for once. No more shyness.
She looked at him defiantly. “I had to help her, Uncle.”
Ekbeth smiled. “That was very well done, Lyas. And I will find a solution to lift the ban. Just give me some time, Akalabeth. For now, I’d suggest you stay here for the next few hours. Eat, rest. There are too many people walking around. After the break of the fast, everyone will only think of sleeping. Then no one will notice you.”
Akalabeth was not happy, but admitted it was good advice.
Ekbeth left the room and walked back to the main hall. That’s when one of the Aramalinyia’s servants brought the message that the Oyyad wanted to talk to him. There was nothing to be done—the servants would have to finish the preparations without him.
Ekbeth hurried to the Aramalinyia’s house.
19
The third time Shona awoke in this bed, daylight had come. And again she was not alone. A red-haired girl was half asleep in a comfortable chair next to her bed. She jerked up as soon as Shona started to move.
“Awake?”
Shona needed the bathroom, she realized. Urgently. And she quickly discovered she was still not able to stand on her own. “I’m sorry, but can you please help? I need to pee.”
The girl was immediately on her feet. “Sure. But let me find a servant first. I have no clue where the toilets are in this place.”
Thankfully, she was not gone for long. And Shona did not even need to leave her bed to relieve herself. It was a bit humiliating, of course, but Shona was past that. She just needed to empty her bladder.
And she had just completed that undertaking when Ekbeth and the Aramalinyia entered the room. The old woman was beaming. “Ah, Oyyad! I’m glad you survived the ordeal. I feare
d I’d given you a bit too much of the drug at some point, but all is well now.”
Shona wanted to give the old woman a piece of her mind—teach her a lesson about drugging people without their consent. But then she met Ekbeth’s eyes, and he shook his head slightly.
Okay, she was going to keep her mouth shut.
“You are all right, aren’t you? Three days is a record, as far as an Oyyads’erel is concerned! We were really worried about your health.”
Shona waved a hand—unfortunately, the one with the sprained wrist. “Ouch. I’m fine, Aramalinyia. Thing is, your ancestors took their time to reach a decision.”
And they had let her relive some very painful episodes of her past a few times. Things she was not particularly proud of, that she normally avoided like the plague. Well, she’d had plenty of time to linger on them this time. Thanks to the bastards.
The Aramalinyia, though, was apparently satisfied. She turned towards Ekbeth. “I’ll leave her to you then, Ekbeth, but don’t be too long. The others are waiting for us to start the feasting and I’m quite ravenous myself.”
Ekbeth bowed, and opened the door to the woman.
The red-haired girl asked, “Want me to leave as well, Ekbeth?”
He nodded. “But don’t go too far. I don’t want people getting the wrong idea.”
The girl laughed, somewhat bitterly. “Ara! Think of the scandal! A McLean and a Na Duibhne! Tsk-tsk! Not that I think even you would want to do anything with her in her state. No offense intended, Shona, but I’m sure you’ve looked better.”
Shona’s only reaction was to hiss, “I’m not a McLean!”
That got everyone’s attention. The red-haired girl’s smile broadened. “Ah. As enthusiastic about her new status as Gramp is, I’d say! Call yourself whatever you want. You’re still family!”
Then she narrowed her eyes. “What is our relationship, actually? Are you an aunt of mine?”
Shona did not want to discuss this, but she felt the girl was not going to let go until she got an answer. “That Gramp… is it Duncan you’re referring to?”
The girl nodded. Shona gritted her teeth and did her best to sound casual—or, at least, not too bitter. “Then we are cousins.”
She saw the girl’s eyes go wide with surprise. Shona prevented more questioning.
“Ask your Gramp if you want to know more. I’m not talking. Ekbeth?”
The girl left. Ekbeth took the only chair in the room and brought it next to her. She could not read his expression. Only that something seemed to trouble him.
“Cheer up, Ekbeth! I did behave with your precious Aramalinyia!”
He nodded.
“So what’s the problem?” Shona asked.
“Problem? I have so many problems I don’t know where to start! And most of them are related to you. But what about this? You lied to me. Again! You are a McLean! And you speak As’mir!”
Shona cursed. She only realized now that all the recent conversations had been in the Valley language. And she had answered the questions quite fluently.
“I did not lie to you about the McLean part, Ekbeth. No matter what you’ve heard, they are not my family.”
“Then I’m sorry to announce to you that that’s going to change tomorrow. The McLean name will be made part of your new name at the ceremony.”
“I’m sure Duncan will object to that.”
“Actually, he already did. But the Aramalinyia decided. He has no choice.”
That bit of news brought mixed feelings in her. Feelings she did not want to linger on too long.
Shona was starting to feel sleepy again. Damn. This time she had not taken anything. But she had to finish this conversation. “I thought you’d want to know about the jewels, Ekbeth.”
He was paying attention now. “Did you finally remember?”
She nodded. Yawned. “Under the palm tree next to the safe, Ekbeth. I only took the stone and dropped the rest under the palm tree. I realize it’s probably too late to tell you this. The Aras’arisidz has started. But I wanted you to know. Damn! I’m so sleepy!”
She grasped his hand and held on to it. “I’m sorry.”
He squeezed her hand. But it did not keep her from falling asleep again.
20
Ekbeth stayed in Shona’s room for a moment after she had fallen asleep, keeping her hand in his. She looked so fragile in that big bed. He just could not be angry with her, no matter how much trouble she had created for him.
Sarah-Lysliana re-entered the room. “She’s sleeping again, isn’t she?”
He nodded. He let go of Shona’s hand and got to his feet, then spontaneously offered his arm to Shona’s cousin. “There’s no point in you waiting alone for the next time she wakes up. She looks like she going to be out for a few hours. Come to the Na Duibhnes’ house with me.”
She looked at him as if he was a snake ready to bite her. That made him sad. “I know we’ve treated you badly, Sarah-Lysliana. My brother, then my cousin… I feel responsible for them. You deserved better. I regret all of it. Sincerely. But don’t let the past make you as bitter as your grandfather. Can we make a truce?”
She hesitated—a long time. Then took his arm, as they walked out of the room.
“You’re right, Ekbeth. But is your family not going to kill you when they see us enter your house together?”
He smiled. “Nothing that dramatic. Not in front of the whole community. They will add it to the long list of grievances they have against me. I’m not the most popular Akeneires’el, Sarah-Lysliana, but I get used to it.”
They were now out of the Aramalinyia’s house. The old woman was standing with her servants in the little courtyard in front of her house. She nodded enigmatically when she saw them together and watched as they walked up the stairs of the Na Duibhnes’ house. Ekbeth suddenly regretted his action. What if the Aramalinyia suddenly decided Sarah-Lysliana would make a better bride than Shona?
He was still dead set against marrying. And Sarah-Lysliana was an even worse option than Shona. She was half his age. Damn it, he had held her in his arms when she was a baby! Plus, she had suffered too much from the Na Duibhnes. And Lyrian would have his skin, because his cousin still very much loved his ex-wife.
“I can let go of your arm, Ekbeth. I see you have second thoughts about this.”
He managed a smile. Sarah-Lysliana was certainly perceptive. He sighed. “Sometimes I hate this place. Every little thing you do has consequences.”
She nodded. “There’s not much room for spontaneity, indeed. Gramp briefed us for hours before we came here. So many rules—I’m sure I forgot half of them.”
“Can I ask you something? The McLeans have missed the last two Aras’arisidz. Why the decision to attend this one?”
She smiled. “I don’t believe in hiding, Ekbeth. And Gramp does listen to me. It took some persuasion, but he finally accepted coming here with the clan. We left only the children behind. And I think the decision was the right one. Sure, there’s a lot of hostilities. But no one has tried to kill us—yet.”
“Don’t expect anything overt, Sarah-Lysliana. Poison is their favorite weapon!”
She nodded. “We’ve taken some precautions in that regard. I don’t regret we’ve come, Ekbeth! I missed Kse’Annilis! I came here twice with Lyrian when we were married. I fell in love immediately with the city. I think I’d like to live here permanently.”
“You? You have your career on the Other Side!”
“Oh, I’m sure I could arrange something. You also share your time between both sides. And you’re an Akeneires’el! That must not be always easy, but you seem to manage.”
“Ah! I think my family has a very different point of view on this matter. But look at this wall, Sarah-Lysliana! The wall is just like your house. It looks like it’s about to collapse. Half of the city is empty. We have not been able to revive the city with as many inhabitants as were here before the Massacre. And no one takes care of the houses!”
She gripped his arm to negotiate a particularly tricky part of the stairs. “I hear you, Ekbeth. It makes me sad as well. This is a wonderful place. I wish I could do something about the decay.”
Ekbeth wanted the same. He brought this to every High Council meeting. And insisted on the maintenance of his own house. That did not make him popular either.
As’mirin were lazy. As long as the food was plentiful, and the beds soft, they were not going to care about other things—except intrigues, of course. He had to move cautiously around them. His own mother had been poisoned when he was a child, because she wanted to impose reforms no one wanted. There had been a few attempts against his life, as well. He had learned his lesson. He had become quite good at manipulating people, moving prudently toward his goals, but the changes he managed to obtain were too slow.
In the meantime, they’d reached his house. The Na Duibhnes’ house was said to be the oldest house of the city, the first refuge after their capital, Annilis, collapsed. Then it had welcomed everyone, no matter to which family the surviving As’mirin belonged. So it had also become a tradition to have the first meal after the fast in that house.
And it was large enough to contain the whole community, even for a few hours.
From outside, the house they were now entering looked small. But it was a deception. Their ancestors had designed the facade with so many nooks and corners that it appeared to be a stack of houses instead of one. And as the rest of the city had been built on the same model, from afar you had the impression of a village of small houses built one on top of another.
It was a good deception. But as soon as you entered the place you were immediately dwarfed by the immensity of the main hall. At least, it still had that effect on Ekbeth.
The servants had brought the food to the hall, which was now so crowded that the vastness of its size was diminished—as long as you did not raise your head to look up. Running around the hall was a double helix stairway—climbing and climbing. Actually, it was only a four-story house. But the stairs rose gently, so it looked as if the house was higher than it actually was.