4: Witches' Blood
Page 14
Bill walked across the room to where a polished wooden case lay on top of a small table. He opened the case and gently lifted out a mandolin-like instrument. John ate while Bill tuned the instrument. A few moments later Bill began playing. The music was simple and soothing. The melody struck John as familiar. He wondered if Bill had adapted it from some popular song from Nayeshi.
Inholima closed her eyes. Laurie quietly rose from her seat and stepped back behind Inholima. She gently set her hands on either side of the girl’s temples. Inholima glanced up and Laurie smiled down at her. Inholima closed her eyes again as Laurie massaged the sides of her head.
“Just relax and rest,” Laurie said quietly. “Sleep.”
John’s head snapped up as the last word escaped Laurie’s mouth. The air had seemed to shudder around her. He’d felt it. Inholima slumped forward. Laurie caught her, stopping her from falling flat onto the tabletop. Slowly, Laurie and Ohbi lowered Inholima down to the table and let her head rest there.
“Sleep, deaf, dumb, blind.” Laurie’s words seemed to distort the air like waves of heat. They poured from her mouth and wrapped around Inholima’s head. “Sleep, free of thought and mind.”
Inholima’s breathing suddenly slowed. Her head lolled to the side.
“I hadn’t even finished the first song.” Bill placed his hand against the strings of his instrument, silencing the notes.
“Jahn doesn’t have all day to wait for her to nod off on her own,” Laurie replied.
“Is she going to be all right?” John asked. Inholima looked like a corpse collapsed across the table.
“She’ll be fine,” Laurie assured him. “A little sleep isn’t going to hurt her.”
“Which is a pity, if you ask me.” Ohbi scowled at Inholima’s unconscious face.
“There’s no need to be cruel,” Lady Bousim said. “If it wasn’t Inholima, then it would just be another girl sent to spy on us.” She turned her attention back to John. “How is the bread?”
“Very soft,” John replied.
“I thought you would like it.” Lady Bousim smiled.
Laurie returned to her chair. She took several cuts of lamb and a sliced apple. Bill began playing again. John was almost positive that this time it was some variation on a Led Zeppelin song. They all seemed to take Inholima’s collapsed, unconscious form in stride. He wondered how often this happened.
“So, how much longer until the Great Gate will be opened?” Laurie asked.
“Soon,” John said quietly.
“She’s not going to wake up,” Ohbi said. “You don’t have to whisper.”
Suddenly John wondered just how many people Fikiri had told about their plan to leave.
“Soon as in a week or soon as in this year?” Laurie asked.
“I don’t think the issusha’im are good with exact dates,” John responded. “Soon is all they’ve been pinned down to as far as anyone seems to know. I would guess within the year.”
“Is there any way to hurry it along?” Laurie finished off the last of her lamb and frowned. She laid one hand against her belly.
“Your stomach’s still bothering you?” John asked.
Lady Bousim gave a silent shudder of laughter at this. John had no idea why. Both Ohbi and Laurie smiled at him. When he glanced to Bill, John saw that even he seemed amused.
“It’s still bothering me, but it should clear up in about nine months,” Laurie said.
“Nine…” Suddenly John realized why they were all looking so pleased. “You’re…” John began but then couldn’t go on. He hadn’t thought of this, and didn’t know what he should think of it. He stared at Laurie, stunned.
“Pregnant,” Laurie supplied.
“You’re going to be an uncle.” Bill clapped him on the shoulder. John simply stared at Laurie.
“So, you can see why I would want to know when we’re going to be crossing through the Great Gate,” Laurie told him. “That last trip through wasn’t exactly a roll in the hay.”
“Maybe if the hay was mixed into a stack of needles,” Bill suggested. He strummed the strings of his instrument softly.
“I don’t…” John began, but then trailed off. He glanced to Ohbi and then back to Laurie. He’d been so stunned by the news that he hadn’t wondered why they would be discussing Nayeshi in front of Ohbi and Lady Bousim. Both Bill and Laurie had just offhandedly mentioned their previous passage through the Great Gate.
The reason was obvious, John realized. They had informed Lady Bousim and Ohbi that they had come from Nayeshi. This meant Fikiri probably knew…
Laurie and Bill had to be planning to bring them all along. Fikiri must have told them that John had already agreed to it. John ran his hand across the back of his neck, massaging uselessly at the tense muscles there. Fikiri, Lady Bousim, Ohbi. Doubtless they would be planning to bring Ohbi’s brother, Bati’kohl, as well. John had no idea how Ravishan would manage to sneak three of them through the Great Gate unnoticed. Adding in Fikiri, his mother, Ohbi and her brother was simply impossible.
He knew he couldn’t say so, not in front of Lady Bousim and Ohbi. He had to find a time when he could talk to Laurie and Bill alone.
“I don’t know when,” John said. “It depends on the issusha’im. But from what we’ve heard, it sounds like the Kahlil will be leaving by the end of the year. Early in the next year at the latest.”
“Earlier would be better,” Laurie said. “I think I can protect our little girl as long as she’s inside me, but after that I don’t know.”
“How far along…” John wasn’t sure why he was having such difficulty even talking. It just seemed like so much to take in. He’d known Laurie since they were children themselves. He couldn’t imagine her as someone’s mother.
“Six weeks.” Laurie grinned at John’s awkwardness.
“That’s really early, isn’t it?” John asked. A distant memory of his developmental biology class floated up to him. The first month. At this point the fetus would be a clump of red pulsing cells clinging, fragile and microscopic. If it had been a root ball or mineral deposit, he would have been utterly at ease. Even in the animal realm contemplating gestation periods, rates of miscarriage and stillbirth, he was comfortable. But this was his friends’ child. The closeness of it made him feel nervous and uncertain.
“It’s early but I can feel her perfectly. She’s very strong,” Laurie assured him. “Still, I’d like it if we could leave in the fall.”
John stole a glance back to Bill and caught him gazing at Laurie with a wide, almost goofy smile.
“Maybe after the Harvest Fair. I think that would be the best,” Laurie said.
“Before would be nice.” Ohbi closed her eyes for a moment. “I would be so happy not to see another of those fires ever again in my life.”
“This year it isn’t a witch,” Lady Bousim said. “They’re going to burn one of the Fai’daum, the man that killed a garrison commander at Gisa.”
“I still don’t want to see it,” Ohbi whispered.
“I don’t think any of us do,” John agreed. Ravishan would be the one forced to light the fire. John closed his eyes as if it could shut out his memory of the last fire.
“You should try one of these pears,” Laurie told him.
John opened his eyes to see that Laurie was already spooning several slices of poached pear onto his plate.
“Thank you,” John said.
“Don’t look so glum,” Laurie told him. “It’ll all work out. We’ll make it work out.”
John could have told her that he very much doubted that they had the power to do that; instead he took a bite of the sweet apples. They tasted like wine and honey.
“Any suggestions for names?” Laurie asked.
“It’s hard to think of good names for girls,” John said. It struck him as the least of their problems.
“Don’t name her Ohbi,” said Ohbi. “It’s such a desolate name for a little girl to have to live with.”
Lady Bousim
nodded. “Wounin’an is sweet. It was my mother’s name.”
“I like Billy-Joe,” Bill remarked dryly.
Laurie laughed. Both Lady Bousim and Ohbi frowned in confusion.
“Bayal’go?” Ohbi worked hard to pronounce the foreign name.
“No, Behr is joking.” Laurie quickly explained. “It’s a man’s name in Nayeshi.”
“What does it mean?” Ohbi asked.
“I don’t really know,” Laurie said but her tone was pondering. “Billy is a type of goat…”
“A male goat,” John supplied automatically.
“Joe’s another word for coffee.” Bill gave John an impish grin as he spoke. “That’s a drink like daru’sira.”
Ohbi nodded seriously, as if committing this all to memory. Lady Bousim picked up one of the soft rolls and nibbled on it thoughtfully.
“It’s a strange name,” Lady Bousim pronounced at last, “a name suitable for a wily young man, but not a pretty girl.”
John tried not to picture the absolute disaster of the two of them attempting to integrate with people back home. That was assuming that any of them even made it home. His head was beginning to throb. He poured himself a cup of the pale green tea.
While Laurie, Ohbi, Bill and Lady Bousim discussed possible names for the baby, John drank his tea. At last he heard bells beginning to ring in the new hour. It would be getting dark soon.
John stood. “I should go.”
“But you just got here,” Laurie protested.
“I have to be back at the hostel before dark or the other ushvun’im will miss me.”
“I wish you could stay here with us,” Laurie said.
“Sorry.” John turned to Lady Bousim. “Thank you for everything.”
Lady Bousim inclined her head graciously. “It is always a pleasure to see you, Jahn. Thank you for looking after my son.”
John simply nodded. He doubted that Fikiri would have shared her sentiment.
“Stay out of trouble,” Bill told him.
Ohbi simply held her hand up in a sign of peace. John returned her gesture and departed.
When he reached the hostel, he stored away Hann’yu’s supplies and then went to the room he was to share with the other ushvun’im. None of them had returned yet. Most would stay out as late as they could, drinking hard taye liquor and gambling on goat races. John sat down on a bed. The fires hadn’t been stoked for the evening and the sheets felt cold. He stared at the plain wall and tried to think.
How would seven people slip unnoticed through the Great Gate? One of them heavily pregnant, or worse yet, carrying a newborn baby. It would never happen. The issusha’im were watching everything now. The full force and attention of the Payshmura church would be focused on the Great Gate and the Kahlil.
John fell back against the bed and stared up at the ceiling as if it would offer him some new insight. For an instant he thought he glimpsed white skulls staring back at him. And for the first time they didn’t seem like a dream, but a premonition.
People were going to have to be left behind or they would all be killed.
To Be Continued…
Titles, Ranks and Terms of Address
Usho—Leader of the Pashmura Church.
Kahlil—Holy Traveler and Companion to Parfir.
Ushman—High Ranking Clergy; often in a position of great responsibility.
Ushiri—Talented Priest studying to become Kahlil’im.
Ushvun—Priest.
Ushvran—Nun.
Kahlirash- Military sect devoted to Parfir’s destroyer incarnation.
Gaunsho—Lord of one of the seven noble houses.
Gaunan—Nobleman.
Gauniri—Noblechild.
Gaunvur—Noblewoman.
Gaun’im—Nobles (as a group).
Laman—Scholar, Doctor or anyone learned.
Lamiri—Student.
Rasho—Military leader, particularly calvary.
Rashan—Soldier.
Vunan—Common man.
Vuran—Common woman.
Shir—Animal; derogatory when used to address a human being.
Characters appearing in Arc Three
Alidas –Captain for the Bousim in Nurjima; partly crippled.
Desh’oun–The house steward in the Lisam Palace.
Saimura–Jath’ibaye’s house steward in Nurjima.
Esh’illan Anyyd–A young gaunan alied with Ourath.
Fensal–A Lisam runner.
Fikiri Bousim–An ushiri from the fallen Payshmura Faith.
Ji Shir’korud–Dog demon; called Jath’ibaye’s bitch by some gaun’im.
Jath’ibaye–Leader of the new Fai’daum kingdom.
Joulen Bousim–Bousim heir after Nanvess. Currently serving military duty in the northmost Bousim holdings.
Kahlil–Kyle’insira also called Kyle.
Mosh’sira’in’Bousim–Gaunsho Bousim; aged and weak ruler.
Nanvess Bousim–A gaunan; named the Bousim heir for political reasons.
Nivoun Bousim–Nanvess’ father; highly ambitious for his son.
Ourath Lisam–Gaunsho Lisam.
Parfir–God of the banned Payshmura Church, his worship is now forbidden.
Yu’mir–A servant woman in Lisam Palace.
Characters appearing in Arc Four
Ashan’ahma – An ushiri studying at Rathal’pesha.
Alidas–A rider for the Bousim family; partly crippled.
Amha’in’Bousim–Lady Bousim, 3rd wife, exiled to the north.
Bati’kohl–A servant of Lady Bousim; brother of Ohbi.
Bill–Called Behr in Basawar.
Dayyid–Second ushman at Rathal’pesha.
Fikiri Bousim–An ushiri candidate: son of Lady Bousim.
Hann’yu–An ushman exiled to the north: specializes in healing
Inholima–A spy in Lady Bousim’s household.
Issusha’im–The Payshmura oracles.
Ji Shir’korud–Dog demon; one of the Fai’daum.
John–Jahn
Laurie–Called Loshai in Basawar.
Mosh’sira’in’Bousim– Gaunsho Bousim.
Mou’pin–A rider under Pivan.
Nuritam–The ushman at Rathal’pesha.
Ohbi–A loyal servant to Lady Bousim.
Parfir–The earth god.
Pivan–The second in command of the Bousim rashan’im.
Rifter–The destroyer incarnation of Parfir.
Ravishan–The most promising of the ushiri at Rathal’pesha.
Rousma–Ravishan’s sister.
Sabir–The leader of Fai’daum.
Saimura–Ji’s son.
Samsango–An elderly priest at Rathal’pesha.
Serahn–Powerful Ushman in the Black Tower of Nurjima.
Tashtu–Pivan’s commander.
Wah’roa–Leader of the kahlirash’im at Vundomu.
Common Words and Terms
and ---------------iff
animal / it --------shir
asshole -----------wahbai
bark (tree) --------istana
bee (honey) ------behr
best ---------------sho
black -------------yasi
blonde hide ------jahn
blood -------------usha
blue -------------- holima
bone -------------sumah
bones (holy) ------issusha
book --------------lam
brothers ----------ashan
but / however ----hel
chasm ------------kubo
city ---------------tamur
cold --------------polima
dead --------------maht
deer (mount) ---- tahldi
delicious ---------mosh
dog (tame) -------kohl
dog (wild)/wolf -- sabir
exhausted --------renma
fast (speed) -------sam
fire --------------- daru
food ------- ------nabi (grain)
friend ---------
---pashim
from / of ---------in
fuck --------------faud
goat --------------fik
good / pretty ----domu
grain plant -------taye
green -------------ibaye
harm -------------ratim
hawk -------------alidas
hill ---------------rousma
holy --------------ushmana
hot ---------------niru
how / because ---ahab
idiot --------------bai
joy ----------------amha
key ----------------hala
key, death-lock ---maht’tu hala
knife --------------halaun
lazy ---------------pom
little / diminutive ---iri
lock ------------------tu
lost ------------------gasm’ah
love -----------------mohim
man/ male --------- vun
meadow ------------pivan
meat ----------------nabi’usha
medicinal tree ------yasistana
monastery ----------ushmura
money --------------jiusha
mountain -----------rathal
no -------------------iss
noble ---------------gaun
none ----------------illin
orchard -------------umbhra
peace ---------------tumah
place ----------------amura
quiet ----------------itam
rain -----------------parh
red ------------------daum
river ----------------fai
road ----------------nur
run -----------------sango
sacred books ------- ushmana’lam
sacred drink --------fathi
same ----------------kin
shit -----------------jid
similar --------------ro
sky ------------------loshai
snow ----------------pelima
solitary -------------jath
speak ---------------vass
spill -----------------ra
spoil ----------------lafi
still ----------------- tash
stop -----------------nahara
strike ---------------bish
terrible -------------tehji
time / year-----------ayal
to be lost --------- --gasmya
to drink ------------siraya