Chika began to relate their tale. “Nao was our mother. She and we are called shinjutori, pearl divers. We live at Ma-meido, in the waters there. Just on shore is our communal house. Only women are shinjutori. We slide up onto the beach there and into the protection of the low house. We don’t know who our father was. Nao only said he was an important man. Akira and I played there as little girls, running about and having fun. When I was eight, they said it was time that I became a shinjutori. They pierced my legs and put rings in them and then put the fish skin over my legs. Mom taught me to swim. Some man showed me how to breathe underwater. It was awfully scary at first, not having any legs anymore.”
“But we could swim much, much faster,” Akira broke in. “They did me when I was seven. I didn’t want to be left out.”
“How many shinjutori are there at your place?” Zoran asked.
“Usually fifty. We are taken out every few days to dive for pearls. Actually they are oysters. That’s why we have such long fingernails,” Chika explained. Zoran had wondered why their nails were at least three inches long. “We use them to tickle the oysters into opening up so we can get the pearls.”
“We are always treated well; we get all the food we want,” Chika continued. “Everyone always tells us that we are the most valuable people on Asami and that by our collecting many pearls we are helping to feed lots of people. So we work hard at it.”
“But it is dangerous! Tell them about mom,” Akira added.
“She’s right; it is very dangerous work. No one ever gets old. They die like Nao did. One day a few months ago, a shark surprised Nao while she was collecting pearls. It bit off both of her hands! Oh the blood was awful in the water. Other shinjutori quickly came to her aid and tied ropes to her hands to stop the bleeding. Once we all got her to our home, a man came and gave her something to drink. After that, her arms healed up, but ever since then, we had to be mom’s hands. We had to feed her and help her with everything, but she could not do any more pearl diving after that. She tried, but without hands and fingernails, she could only grab an oyster. We had to get the pearl out of it for her. She got awfully depressed and then one morning, she died.”
“She told us many tales though. How a long time ago there was this magic circle and that the powerful men and women could use it to go to other places. She told us that our father was one of those who could do this and that maybe we could do it too.”
“After Nao died, they brought in another shinjutori to take her place. That’s what they do when one of us dies or goes missing for a long time. Then, one day Akira and I went out diving for pearls, and we went a long way from our home, searching for bigger and better pearls. That’s when we discovered that Circle thing. We watched its swirling colors and felt its pull on us. We kept coming back when we could and that’s when we decided that maybe we could use it to go someplace where we can be free and not have to be a shinjutori anymore. We want to have babies too.”
Zoran smiled, “Say, how old are you or do you know?”
“I’m nineteen and Akira is eighteen,” she replied.
“Anyway, the other shinjutori told us that the pearls are really valuable and that people in other places must desire them for trade, since you cannot eat them. So we decided to keep some pearls back for us. Zdenka found our pearls when she took our skins off us. We just tucked them inside. When we decided that we must have enough pearls, we went to the magic circle to see if we could leave and go someplace else. I decided that since I am the oldest, I should go first and find us a good place to live. I made Akira stay behind and wait for me to come get her.”
“I did, but she didn’t come back!” Akira exclaimed. “Not for days and days!”
“I don’t know what happened to me. I left Asami but it was all black and I couldn’t find anyplace. I couldn’t find my way back either! I cried and cried and tried to call out to anyone. Then, I see you coming for me.”
“Yes, I heard you calling out, Chika, but I am so sorry that it took me so many days to figure out that you were calling for help,” Zoran apologized.
“We are rescued and are now free people, right?” Chika asked.
“You bet you are free people,” Zdenka replied before Zoran could.
“You will not be missed? Others won’t come looking for you?” Zoran asked the questions uppermost in his mind.
“We have already been missed,” Chika answered. “Sometimes shinjutori stay underwater too long and get water in their lungs and die. Sometimes sharks get us, like it almost did mom. Sometimes shinjutori swim too far and get lost and cannot find their way home. A big boat once brought a woman back who went too far and got lost. They bring in new shinjutori all the time. Often the new shinjutori are young girls like we once were. There are no old shinjutori at all.”
Zoran’s chief worry evaporated. The attrition rate of these mermaids was steep, so that the loss of two more would be hardly noticed. “Okay, you two can stay here with us as long as you desire. We will fix up a room for you at once and get you some clothes to wear. Say, are you able to walk anymore?” He suddenly realized that they might not be able to get around!
“We used to when we were little girls,” Chika replied and then tried to stand up, she nearly fell over. Her feet would not go flat on the floor anymore, but her toes did flex well. In time, perhaps her legs would readjust. Zdenka had a flash of insight. She retrieved her tall heels that she had been given by the Baroness and tried them on Chika’s feet. Though a little loose, they fit. She had her stand up again. While she needed to hold onto Zdenka for support, she could stand in the high heels. Jarka got her pair and helped Akira to stand.
“Yes, they can stand now with our support. First thing, we need to help them relearn to walk,” Jarka announced. Everyone looked quite pleased.
Zdenka then said, “Ladies, suppose that you came home to your protected spot only to find a mother and daughter cowering in a corner. A man was at a table, but was bleeding badly. On the table was a large pouch of pearls. What would you do?” Zoran and Jarka realized at once what she was doing — the picking test!
“Oh, we stop the bleeding,” Chika said without hesitation.
Akira added, “Tie something around it like they did for Nao.”
“Good. You girls have already been taught one magical spell. How would you like to learn how to cast many, many magical spells?”
“We can? Really? Use much magic?” Akira exclaimed.
That decided that. Zdenka took on two more students. She soon discovered that first she needed to teach them to read and write. It would take them longer than most students, but this gave them new goals and an education, which they totally lacked.
While Bernard cleaned out a storage room for the two and added a bed, Zdenka and Jarka began helping them learn to walk again. With constant assistance, both women regained their mobility in a few days and then were introduced to everyone else.
That evening after dinner, the group discussed their new arrivals. Zoran commented first, “You know, their father must have been a Duska. That is the only way that Chika could have entered the Circle of Ascension. Both were drawn to it initially, so I think that Akira is also going to be able to do it. When Priestess Anezka returns, I am going to have her conduct the Ceremony of Ascension with these two women. We may have just acquired two more unknown Duskas.”
“If they take to magic, this will be of great benefit for us all,” Zdenka added.
“Yes, but how can we ever go back to that paradise knowing that such wickedness lies under the surface?” asked Jarka. “Imagine doing that to your own daughters!”
“Well, they must have a reason,” Bernard replied. “For one thing, they sure can out-swim any of us.”
“You can say that again!” Zoran added. “As weakened as Akira was, when she led me to the Circle, she left me in the dust! She had to frequently stop and wait for me to catch up. I suspect that speed has something to do with their reasons. Still, what an awful thing to do to young gi
rls and women.”
“Such a short life span!” Zdenka added.
“Well, maybe that’s the only way that they can get enough pearls to buy all the things that they need to keep everyone else alive,” Bernard theorized.
“Yes, the rest party on the beaches and sleep in until ten, while these poor women risk their lives obtaining the pearls, to say nothing of their legs!” Jarka retorted. She was still angry with those on Asami.
“Besides, dear,” Bernard had the last word, “there are no dogs on Asami.” Everyone roared.
Zdenka then pointed out, “Do you realize that those girls are likely Baron Hajime’s own daughters? Goro is too young to have fathered them. What kind of a man would do that to his own daughters?”
“Dear daughter, he might not be their father,” Janos pointed out. “There are many bastard Duskas around on most worlds. Some like Zoran here run off never to be seen again by their barons. Some get disowned, and yes, many barons father children out of wedlock. I even knew of cases where female Duskas had children out of wedlock as well. Women are not immune to lower moral standards either, my dear.”
“He’s right. Look, a baron might have four children. Only one can inherit his title and position. The others make their own way on their worlds. There must be lots of Duskas running around that we know nothing about,” Zoran added.
“Oh, yes, I see your points. Still, what kind of a mother or father would allow this to be done to their children?” Zdenka retorted.
Chapter 22 An Unexpected Visitor
With the young women making good progress, Zoran began to turn his attention to the next major problem to be solved — that of the Yellers. It was mid-May and the construction crews were constantly busy. No one needed his direct assistance so he began to work out how he could uphold his bargain with the warlords.
As he was sketching out options on paper, Lida contacted him mentally from Gladno. Zoran, Lida here. Assassins came after me and Leo again! Three of Uncle Milan’s men were killed this time. They almost got to us!
Are you safe? Unharmed? Zoran asked, suddenly worried about her safety once more.
Yes, we both are okay. Kazimir sure wants me dead. We’ve figured out that if he kills me, he is going to name one of his bastard sons his heir. You know that he’s had lots of affairs with other women, especially since mom had her accident. What are we going to do?
I have an idea. Hook up Duke Leo with us will you?
Shortly, Leo’s mind joined theirs. She’s safe, Zoran. Almost got to us, but we stopped them. Three security men lost their lives though. The assassins are getting bolder with each attempt. Dad’s worried, though he isn’t saying anything about it.
Leo, Lida, I have an idea. Why not do what I did? Cleverly disappear and have no one know where you are at, some place that is relatively safe. You can disguise yourselves, use different names or something and secretly come and live here with us. Admittedly, the accommodations are not what you are used to having, but if no one knows where you have gone, you ought to be safe here. We’ve thrown off one major assault already. Killed all his Mages, so Kazimir is going to be hard pressed to duplicate that action again.
We could come and live with you, little brother?
Sure. If you use a different last name, for example, those of us here can keep your secret, though you will have to be careful that Uncle Milan’s engineers and workers don’t see you and recognize you.
This isn’t good, Zoran. The construction of the new Circle is moving along faster than Brother Jiri expected. I’m going to have to be here in about a month for the formal ceremony that activates it. I’ll be a baron then too, Zoran.
So soon? That’s great. Once you are a baron and Lida is your baroness, if I understand the rules, then that nullifies Kazimir’s heir selection. Lida cannot be a double baroness. It’s not allowed. That will nullify her being heir here, then he can select another heir. Lida, you ought to be safe after that.
I’ll ask Uncle Milan about that. It sounds right, Zoran. I just have to stay alive until then.
Zoran, I hate to be parted from my Lida, but I am really worried for her safety. This time it was way too close for comfort. Can you take her for a month until the ceremony makes me a baron?
I don’t want to leave you, Leo.
I don’t want to leave you either, Lida, but I want you to be safe. It’s just for a month or so. After the ceremony, we’ll be left alone. Please, do this for us, Lida.
Okay. I guess we can chat a whole lot.
Okay sis. Here’s what you do. Pack all the things you need and then in secret go down to Uncle Milan’s Circle. Go around and around it many times before you head off here. That confuses the trail and no one can track you. Make doubly sure that you have gone around many times, sis. Otherwise, a priestess can see where you have gone. Just tell Uncle Milan that you have gone into hiding until it’s safe for you to return as a baroness.
Okay, I’ll come tonight after supper. Leo, are you sure about this?
Yes, my love. This way I know that you will be safe. Please Lida.
Okay. After supper Zoran. Thanks little brother. Zoran smiled, he was anxious to see his sister again. He really did miss Rayna and Lida more than he admitted.
Zoran explained what was going to happen to his friends and they set to work clearing out another storage room. “We’re rapidly running out of places to put people,” Zdenka teased him. “I hope she won’t mind our living conditions here. It must be nothing like she is used to having.”
“She’ll adapt, I’m sure,” he replied.
Just after supper, they all gathered around his Circle in the basement. Soon they saw the Circle activating, but Zoran noted that the Circle once again gave him total warning that someone was coming through. Once more he began to ponder the unique bond between himself and his Circle. Many of these effects were not known or perhaps knowledge of same was buried in the old documents of Bandar Zar.
Lida appeared, dressed in a cloak and carrying a pack. He suspected that she had reduced her whole wardrobe into that pack. “Hi little brother!” she rushed to him and gave him a big hug. One by one, she hugged all of the others.
“Well, we have a room fixed up for you. I’m sorry that we can only offer you crude accommodations,” Zdenka said apologetically. They led her up to the fourth floor room, next to the two teens from Asami, who came out to see what was happening. Yes, they looked a bit strange wearing light cotton everyday dresses with the very latest in high fashion high heels. The shoes were completely out of place!
Zoran noticed Lida observing this detail, and he introduced the two teens, saying that Lida was a friend who had come for a month’s visit. Once inside her room, Lida commented, “Well, Zdenka, this will do fine. Thanks for having me. I’ll try to lend you a hand around here. I was still getting my magical training. Ah well, sooner or later I will get that done. Say, what’s with those girls and those really high heels? Bit strange.”
Zdenka giggled, “Wait until you hear about them! Say, why don’t I continue your training while you are here? That way, the time is not wasted?”
“Can you? Oh that would be fabulous! I can help out around here somehow, I’m sure,” Lida volunteered.
“Indeed, you can!” Zdenka just had another bright idea. She and Zoran then spent an hour relating the events of their honeymoon, ending up with the rescue of the two mermaids. “They still have the healed holes up and down their legs, but the real problem is that their ankles no longer bend enough for them to have their feet flat on the floor. The only way they can walk is in those really high heels. In time, we are hoping that their ankles and calf muscles will adjust and allow their feet to go flat as they are supposed to. They are now doing pretty well walking. They have to take stairs a bit slowly, but daily I see improvement.”
“Can I help them with their reading and writing skills?” Lida volunteered.
“Yes, that’s what I had in mind. Glad you thought of that too,” Zdenka replied, relieved
that Lida had been so observant.
A week later, Lida had already learned three more spells. “Honestly, Zdenka, you are the very best magic teacher I have ever had!” Zdenka, always conservative, didn’t truly believe her. After all, she’d only been doing this for a couple of months!
Zdenka kept a close eye on Lida and the two Asami teens. Soon, she was impressed with Lida. Under her care, the two began progressing far more rapidly than before. Lida somehow knew just the right thing to do or say at the right time for Akira and Chika to grasp the material at hand. She began to see that there was more about a Duska than just Shadow Walking and warnings of peril.
Each evening as they dined together, Zdenka saw the strong bond of brother-sister love, similar to that between her father and herself. She resolved to invite his sisters here for visits as often as possible, once they had their castle built. If only this Kazimir threat was over, life could be so wonderful!
Late May, Lida took Zdenka aside. “Do you realize both Akira and Chika are Duska? I mean really Duska! They only lack the Ceremony of Ascension to fully activate all of their potential.”
“Zoran said so too. He’s planning to ask Priestess Anezka to do it whenever she returns here,” she replied.
“Well, if you do it sooner, these two will learn things about twice as fast as they are now. Let me talk to Zoran about it. Honestly, they ought to have had that done for them years ago! Come on, let’s go find little brother and get him hopping.” Zdenka grinned — how Lida could handle her brother.
They found him studying the maps trying to work out a solution for the Yellers. “Zoran, you positively must get the Ceremony of Ascension performed on Akira and Chika this minute!”
“What? Oh, I was, as soon as Priestess Anezka comes back here,” he replied, wondering what had set her on the warpath.
Zoran Chronicles Volume 1 A Dragon in Our Town Page 32