A Woman's World

by Lynne Hill-Clark

  One of the girls listening paled when she looked behind Fay. Fay slowly turned to find Aga glaring down at her.

  “Surely you are not speaking of my daughter,” Aga said.

  “Oh, Madam Priestess … no. I mean … well…”

  Aga was somehow able to scowl even harder. “Where is my eldest daughter? Why is she not here, reporting to her duties?”

  “Baya left,” Fay blurted.

  “Where did she go? I will send for her at once.”

  “That may be difficult, High Priestess.”

  “Are you daring to question me?”

  “No, it’s just that —”

  “I will find my daughter no matter where she is. Even if I have to search this entire island.”

  “You’ll need a boat to find them.” Fay had to spit it out, as Aga was not listening and she would have cut her off again.

  “A boat! There are no boats on this island. The only one has been destroyed. And who is she with?” The realization caused Aga’s eyes to widen with fear. “That boy — he built another boat and he … stole my daughter,” Aga said out loud but to herself. She shook her head. This couldn’t be. She had to find Baya.

  Yet, what if it was true? It didn’t matter if one mistress was missing. Ameris’s calling must be answered. Aga’s heart felt as if it had fallen into her stomach, crushing her previous excitement, her dreams slipping through her fingertips. Her heartbeat sped as she realized that she may have to perform her holy duty and let Baya slip even farther out of reach.

  No. She would have a boat made and leave at once. As soon as Aga thought it she knew it would not work. It would take weeks or even months to make a boat. She had no idea how long it would take but she guessed it was not a day. Not to mention, how would she find Baya out at sea?

  A knot formed in her throat and threatened to choke her. Baya was gone. Aga could feel it — her bones ached. Her oldest child was outside the protection of the priestesses.

  “Madam Priestess?” Fay broke Aga from her inner turmoil.

  Aga straightened. “The Great Ameris has given the high council a calling. The next Unawi is to be chosen. You are all dismissed. The new ruler will be announced by the end of the third day.” Aga swiftly left the room.

  Fay smirked, as she knew there was nothing anyone could do. Baya was out of even her mother’s wide reach — gone forever — probably already dead. That left Fay as the most capable girl of age to become the next Unawi.

  In three short days she would rule the world. Then she could exert her authority over everyone, even the great Aga. Her thoughts drifted to the harem of theos she would choose. Sure the gorgeous garden boy was gone, whatever his name was, but there were others, many others.

  Fay’s self-satisfied smile broadened at the thought.

  Chapter 37

  Aga searched for Baya despite what her brain told her. She knew that her daughter was gone. Perhaps it was maternal instincts that drove her to look anyway, even though her logic told her that she wouldn’t find Baya.

  Perhaps this was a cruel joke of Fay’s and Baya had simply overslept — but no, she wasn’t in her room, or in the garden, and she hadn’t been at home either.

  Despite logic, Aga couldn’t give up, so she headed for the beach. She didn’t know how to get to the cove where they’d found the canoe but she searched along the well-worn path to the beach below the palace.

  The beach was empty … except for a crumpled-up piece of clothing. Aga’s heart jolted as she raced to it. Holding it up it confirmed her worst nightmare, she remembered buying this tunic for Baya.

  “No!” Aga scanned the ocean horizon for any signs of life — nothing. “How could you do this to me?” Sinking to her knees in the deep sand, she held Baya’s tunic to her chest. Aga didn’t remember the last time she’d cried, but the tears fell freely.

  Finally, Aga was forced to accept what she had already known. No matter how much she searched, she wouldn’t find Baya. Aga had to pull herself together. She couldn’t keep the council waiting any longer.

  She would have to force herself to go on even though Baya was missing. There was a job to do and the other priestesses would be wondering where Aga was. By the time she made her way back to the Great Hall her head was down and her shoulders were slumped but there was no sign of tears.

  Shema had never seen Aga like this. “What in the name of Ameris is wrong?”

  “Let’s get on with the ceremonies,” Aga’s voice was flat.

  “Aga?”

  Aga walked by Shema as if she was not there. She moved mindlessly toward the prayer room. “Baya has left the island. She is out of our protection and completely out of my control.”

  “What? No! … Then who …” Shema trailed off.

  The two women joined the other priestesses in the sacred room. The large doors were closed and two theos barred the door with a large board. The priestesses were not to be disturbed for three days.

  Aga, Shema and the others received the clear message during the first day. A brilliant soft-spoken female voice that was all but audible, to the priestesses anyway, made it perfectly clear that Baya was to become the ruler of Pathins.

  There was no close second, or third as was usually the case. On previous selections of the Unawi, the time was spent reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate to determine who was best suited to rule. However, only Baya was ready for the task. Yet something was wrong — very wrong.

  Aga reiterated that Baya couldn’t become Unawi because she had fled the island.

  “You must choose another,” the priestesses chanted.

  By day three it was concluded that if Baya would not take the responsibility to lead then there was no other who was worthy.

  Fay’s mother insisted that Fay was ready and more than capable.

  But the response was, “Fay’s heart is not pure. She is not ready for the priesthood, let alone the position of Unawi.”

  “If Baya returns then she is the rightful ruler of Pathins. Until then Shema must remain in my service.” The voice of the Goddess was lucid and the decision was absolute.

  The priestesses were in a daze when they left the sacred room and it was not entirely from abstaining from food.

  “That must have been the strangest calling in the history of Pathins,” one of the priestesses murmured.

  “Never has a mistress left the island before. In fact, I’ve never heard of anyone leaving,” another offered as the two walked past Aga and Shema.

  “She threw it all away. I gave her everything and Baya …” Aga’s head still hung low.

  Shema could hardly stand to see the strong and rational Aga like this. Yet she was equally dejected. “I will have to rule for … who knows how much longer?”

  “I’m sorry, dear Unawi,” Aga said.

  “Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault.” Shema tried to smile but failed. “You should be proud. Your daughter is one of the finest to ever come through this school. Her heart is true and good. I have no doubt she is worthy of my position.”

  Aga shrugged.

  Shema frowned. “The only thing we can do is to pray for Baya’s timely and safe return.” Somehow. The Unawi knew that once outside the protection of Pathins it was all but impossible to find the island again. Nothing could get through the shield that surrounded them.

  A theo presented Aga and Shema with a large golden platter full of fruits of every color. Shema absently took a piece and plopped it into her mouth.

  Aga thought she would throw up if she ate. “I kept thinking that Baya would learn to see the truth — that she would eventually see the world as I do.”

  “And how is that? That she would see the truth or that she would see the world as you do?” Shema prompted.

  “They are one and the same.”

  Shema raised her eyebrows at Aga.

  “Whose side are you on, anyway?” Aga asked.

  “There are no sides. I don’t even know if there is only one truth.”
r />   “Of course there is only one truth — the word of Ameris.”

  “And what is that, exactly?”

  Aga didn’t even try to answer. Her mind felt like it might melt from all that had happened the past month and for it all to end this way…

  Shema was deep in thought as she gazed out the window. “I see Ameris’s reasoning now. She didn’t call Baya early to the trials so she could take my place but rather it was to prepare her for the world out there.”

  “Is that meant to put my mind at ease?” Because it didn’t.

  “She passed the trials; that means she is brave and powerful. She will be able to think her way out of the dangers that she will face. Now, thanks to the trials, Baya knows this about herself. She will believe she can survive as she has been through so much already. That is what will keep her alive and return her to us.”

  “I pray that you’re right.”

  Both women stared out the large window, watching their dreams vanish far over the distant sea.

  Shema rubbed her flat belly. The child she so desperately wanted would have to wait. “Yes, let’s both pray that I am right.”

  Chapter 38

  The blue hairy arch of a fish’s back broke the surface of the water. A slight nudge from the large fish sent the boat jostling over the already rocky waters. Vicaroy struggled with the ropes. The stubborn knot finally came undone and Vicaroy yanked hard. The pulley-system sent a large white sail up the mast. The boat lunged forward as the wind filled the sail.

  Baya lost her footing and ended up on her butt.

  Vicaroy secured the rope to the sail and moved to help Baya.

  “Don’t touch me,” she snapped as she scrambled to her feet.

  They were speeding over the large waves now. The bow slammed down with each new wave, sending sprays of water that would fan out around the front of the boat. Baya held on tight to the side of the boat with her legs spread wide. She scanned the water around the boat for the fish. “There’s no sign of it.”

  “Look!” Vicaroy pointed in the distance. “Out there.”

  They saw two blue curved backs cresting the water’s surface and then disappear as the fish made their way toward the boat.

  “Not more of them!” Baya all but screamed.

  “Brace yourself.” Vicaroy tried to place an arm around her waist to help steady her for the blow that was to come when the fish caught up to them. She pulled away and sat down bracing herself with her back to one of the benches and her feet secured against the other. She figured she would end up on her butt again anyway — or worse, she would be thrown overboard — so she might as well have a seat.

  Vicaroy sat next to her as the boat rocked violently with another loud bang.

  “Can the boat withstand such blows?” Baya asked.

  “I reinforced her as well as I could but … there’s no way to know how much she can take.”

  “I guess we’ll find out.”

  Another thud and this time Baya’s head hit the side of the boat behind her.

  “Eventually the boat will come apart,” Vicaroy said. “I don’t see any water coming in yet but it can’t take hits like that for much longer.”

  “Okay, think. There has to be a way to get away from them.” Baya closed her eyes tight in concentration. Perhaps she could communicate with them. But how? She couldn’t see their eyes to make the connection. What would Ameris do? “I got it!” Baya said. “When I give the word, drop the sail.”

  In his panicked state, Vicaroy forgot his decorum. “What! That’s crazy. We have to get away from the fish.”

  Baya glared at him and he moved to the other side of the boat.

  Another hit from the fish sent the boat spinning and Vicaroy found himself in a heap, against the side of the boat.

  Baya stayed focused on the space around her. She chanted the morning prayer that protected the island. Deep in her bones she could feel that it was working. It was like blowing an invisible bubble of protection around the boat. “Now!” she yelled.

  Vicaroy untied the rope that held the sail up. It dropped from the mast and landed in a pile on top of the bow. The forward momentum of the boat instantly slowed.

  Vicaroy braced for another hit, but there was nothing. The boat simply bobbed over the waves.

  Baya stood and searched for the fish. “It worked.”

  “What worked?” Vicaroy scrambled to his feet.

  Baya pointed to the backs of the two fish in the distance. “They can’t see us anymore.”

  They were up ahead racing after where the boat would be if they hadn’t lowered the sail. The fish were soon out of sight.

  “But how?”

  “I put a protection spell around us. If the priestesses can protect all of Pathins then surely I can protect this small ship. The fish can no longer see us. Nothing that lurks about should be able to harm us.”

  Vicaroy let out a sigh of relief. “You’re amazing.”

  Baya glared at him. “You actually thought that you could survive out here without me.”

  Vicaroy sighed. “Baya —”

  “Just raise the sail. I’ll check for leaks and damage.”

  Vicaroy pursed his lips. She’d never been mad at him before. Of course, he’d never tried to leave her before either. What a fool he’d been. Of course, he needed her — in every way.

  There was no way a man could survive on his own in the wild. Vicaroy would probably have already been a meal for a fish. Yet, here Baya was, right next to him. He smiled at the thought. At least they were together, no matter how short their lives might be. They wouldn’t die alone. If only he could find the right words she would forgive him. Even if he did know what to say, she would not listen. When he tried to speak she cut him off.

  The boat appeared in good order. “Thankfully it’s sturdy.” Baya studied the stars. “That way is west.”

  Vicaroy followed her gaze to where Pathins had once been.

  She said what they both already knew, “Pathins is lost to us. Even if I wanted to go back I couldn’t. Nothing gets in from the outside.”

  “So we follow the immotile star by night.” Vicaroy pointed to the eastern sky.

  “And the largest sun by day.” Baya headed for the cabin. She needed food if she was going to have to use her powers this much.

  Vicaroy manned the tiller and steered the boat eastward.

  Rummaging through the supplies in the cabin, Baya heard a rustling that startled her. She took a kitchen knife in her hand and carefully approached the noise.

  A tiny voice hissed in her head. Is it safe to come out?

  Baya squealed with delight and dropped the knife at once. Her squeal caused Vicaroy to appear in the doorway.

  “Doba!” She threw some clothes off the bed, revealing the long dark insect. She scooped him up in her arms cradling him like an infant. “You made it! I’m so glad.”

  “What’s that?” Vicaroy took a step back at the sight of the ugly creature.

  Doba curved his thick segmented body around Baya, exactly as he used to do with Shema.

  Vicaroy’s eyes widened. “You stole Shema’s pet?”

  Doba clicked and hissed at Vicaroy, causing him to take another step back.

  Baya ignored Vicaroy. She now had another companion — one she preferred. “I was sure that mean old boy left you behind, as he tried to do to me. How did you get to the boat in time?”

  I left the night before, Doba was eager to explain. I’ve been hiding in here ever since. I didn’t want to miss my chance at freedom. I doubt Shema has even noticed I’m gone. Lucky for me, she’s been very busy.

  Vicaroy looked between the two with growing dread. “Is it … talking to you?”

  “He’s a male and his name is Doba. I taught him how to get out of the cage where he was kept at night. I planned for him to join us all along. He’s really smart.” Baya rubbed under Doba’s chin. “Aren’t you so smart?”

  Guttural sounds of pleasure came from Doba. Vicaroy furrowed his
brow. He didn’t like how Baya fussed over the creature. It seemed out of character for her, or maybe it was that he wished she was gushing over him like that.

  He headed for the stern, to make sure they were still on course and that there was no danger lurking. “That thing is creepy.” Vicaroy muttered.

  A loud hiss followed by clicking sounds came from the cabin.

  “He understands you — you know? Trust me, you don’t want me to translate those angry sounds of his.”

  Vicaroy rolled his eyes and plopped down on the bench next to the rudder.

  Wonderful, he thought. The only other living things on this boat hated him.

  He focused on adjusting the rudder. It took some experimenting, moving it back and forth but it was fairly simple to keep the boat pointed toward the eastern star.

  “Just ignore that bad man, Doba. That’s what I plan to do.” Baya’s voice came from the cabin.

  Vicaroy sighed. It was going to be a long journey.

  Chapter 39

  Vicaroy and Baya settled into a routine. They took shifts to make sure they were always following the immotile star by night and the largest sun by day. During the day they would take a brief break by lowering the sails for a time. This time was spent bathing in the ocean and fishing. Baya often studied the ancient scrolls she had found in the library — the ones that had been new to her.

  Vicaroy would prepare the fresh fish in a small brazier and salt any extra fillets, hanging them out to dry. This helped supplement the dried goods they had on board.

  However, drinking water quickly became an issue. In no time their supply was low and the only fresh water they had was dew that would condense overnight. Vicaroy devised a system for catching the night’s dew in a spare sail.

  After an entire cycle of the moons there was still no land in sight. Baya performed a protection spell every evening and every morning. They saw many furry sea creatures, some large and some small, none of which paid any attention to the boat, thanks to Baya.