by Dean Murray
Betreec suddenly had the look of someone who'd just realized something they'd thought trivial was about to come back and cause problems. "As we mentioned before, the reason you were having a hard time breathing was that the cold, thin air this high in the mountains was damaging your lungs and causing them to fill with liquid. While we were repairing the damage and helping your body to absorb the liquid, we made a few changes so that you'll be less prone to have problems of that sort in the future."
Va'del found his fear of the Guadel suddenly swept away by the greater fear of what he would become if they had their way with him. "You changed my body without asking? Like I was a piece of stone to be molded with no thought to what it might prefer?"
Leaning into the cold wall behind him, Va'del fought off tears. "You made me even more different from everyone else."
Betreec looked devastated as he turned away, but he didn't care. For once he suppressed his concern about how others felt, and instead rejoiced in the fact that someone else felt bad.
A few seconds later a gentle hand touched Va'del's shoulder, but he shook it off. Jasmin cleared her throat, but received no response. "We're sorry Va'del. We should have asked first, but among our people, it is a fairly common thing. We expected you'd be happy you now have greater freedom to move about the mountains if you wanted."
Va'del continued to ignore the younger wife in the hope she'd leave him alone, and after a short time he heard her turn and walk away. The next hand to touch his shoulder wasn't feminine or gentle. I'rone carefully pulled the teenager around and then pressed a heavy coat into Va'del's arms. "Outside."
Still more than a little afraid of the larger man, Va'del pulled on the heavy coat and his ice spikes. I'rone strode out into the cold as soon as Va'del was properly attired.
The pair walked for several minutes, moon-lit snow crunching with each step, before I'rone stopped and found a seat.
"The women, they are different than men. I think that's good. Some tasks are better suited to our nature, and some are better suited to theirs."
Va'del listened in confusion—he wasn't sure he'd ever heard so many words from I'rone at one time.
"Women are more apt to try and change things, to fix things and people. Sometimes they go too far, like they just did with you. When that happens, it is important to make sure that they know they've overstepped their bounds, but what's done is done. Nothing is to be gained by trying to make them feel worse than they already do."
Opening his mouth to respond hotly, Va'del was suddenly struck by the understanding displayed on I'rone's weathered face. "You have always been different, but only small, stupid people make those who are different feel bad simply because of differences. The Guadel, we are all different. That is what makes us special, and your difference from the rest of your village is the reason we believe you may be able to become one of us."
The massive Guadel patted Va'del on the shoulder and then stood. "Rejoin us when you're ready."
After I'rone had left, Va'del spent a cycle outside staring at the moon before the cold finally drove him back to the way cave. What have I gotten myself into? When they are done with me will I even be one of the People anymore? Will I even be human?
##
Va'del's legs once again ached from the strain of trudging across the blindingly white snow, but this time he wasn't quite as exhausted. I suppose the last few days of travel have toughened me up more than I thought.
From his position in the front, I'rone pointed to a dark smudge signifying bare rock a little ways in the distance, and Va'del suddenly realized it must be the entrance to Screaming Wind Village.
Another half cycle passed before the tiny group made it to the entrance of the village caves, but time seemed to skip forward, and sooner than Va'del expected, they were stepping inside the caves. I wonder what creates the keening sound? Some property of the wind and rocks?
Ten feet into the cave, a pair of guards challenged the small group, stepping aside as I'rone removed his head covering. "Honored Guadel. Para'de will conduct you all to the guest quarters."
The guard that had spoken bowed briefly and then stepped aside so that his companion could guide the small party. Va'del lost track of all the turns they took, but after stabling the gurra, and meeting a villager who'd promised to rub the beasts down, the party picked up the bulk of the packages that had been on the beasts, and continued on. Soon enough they were inside the guest quarters, and the guard was backing out of the rooms.
Once they were alone Jasmin shivered. "That howling never fails to set my teeth on edge. If we were any closer to the entrance I'd never get a wink of sleep."
Betreec smiled as she and I'rone began unpacking the few things that they would need while in the village. "The first time we were sent here I nearly drug I'rone back out to the way cave two days early. There's something about the pitch that always knots up my shoulders something fierce."
Va'del found himself smiling in shared camaraderie as Jasmin examined his arm.
"It's looking much better. The bones seem to be healing cleanly—I would expect another two weeks and we can possibly remove the splint."
Va'del could tell from her pause that she was trying to decide whether or not to say something. Finally after a couple of heartbeats had passed, Jasmin continued in a rush. "If you want, I could force the healing process. It is a simple matter which leaves no lasting change. I'd simply cause the bones to bind together more quickly than they normally would."
Trying to ignore the sudden queasiness in his stomach, Va'del did his best to examine the offer objectively, stomping on the fear that would lead to him offending her. "How quickly would it heal if you did this?"
Jasmin seemed to relax slightly, almost like a gurra trainer who'd managed to get the beast to accept a burden without kicking for the first time. "We could have the splint off in three days, and you could start training the day after that. It's possible to do it more quickly, but neither you nor I would be much good for anything other than sleeping while you were healing if we did that. Healing magic takes energy from both the healer and the patient—that's why Sara typically uses non-magical methods and lets the body heal itself at a natural rate. If she exhausted herself and then someone was more seriously hurt, she might not have the resources to heal the life-threatening injury."
Va'del didn't doubt Jasmin's word, but the thought of Sara using mystical powers seemed so unnatural that his mind shied away from the thought.
"Can I think about it for a little while?"
Jasmin nodded, seemingly relieved Va'del hadn't turned her down immediately, and turned to help with the last of the unpacking.
I'rone saw Va'del begin to unbuckle his sword belt and shook his head emphatically. Betreec smiled gently at the young man. "You'll need to remain armed at all times while we are in the village. There really shouldn't be any occasion for you to use a weapon inside, but there are those who bear the Guadel no love, and you should always be mindful of the possibility of an ambush in the darkness by someone who had a judgment go against them."
Jasmin frowned. "Sad to think that while our reception here is warmer than what we saw at Bitter Rocks, we still have to fear attack from our own people."
Va'del was about to ask for further clarification when a loud clap announced the presence of someone desiring entrance to their quarters. The man who appeared from around the privacy corner in the wall was as broad as he was garrulous, and it took Va'del only a moment to realize that the well-fed man was the village Headman.
Betreec handled the introductions, presenting Va'del to the Headman, He'lo, without any title or explanation of his presence.
He'lo seemed nearly ready to ask for clarification regarding the young man's status, before nodding and turning back to Betreec. "I'd hoped you'd be bringing a shipment with you. We're starting to run low on some things, and now that Ma'del has stopped trading with us, it's getting to the point where the kitchens turn out nothing but mushroom stew for every meal."
Jasmin smiled. "You'll be glad to know that a caravan set out from the Capital about a week after we left. They shouldn't be too far behind us. Maybe another week and a half, and your people will be able to add some variety to their diets."
He'lo nodded. "That's good to hear. You'll take our gem harvest with you I assume?" I'rone nodded and, the Headman continued. "We've got more than usual. I'll send an order with you, but what we'd really like to get is a light source we could use to grow some grain. I know those are usually sent out on an as-needed basis, but we'd be willing to forgo a substantial amount of the profit we'd otherwise see on this gem shipment if the Council would be willing to provide us with one."
Betreec seemed slightly surprised at the offer. "As you say that's out of our hands, but we'll be sure to pursue the possibility with the Council once we're back."
Once the talk turned to the testing of the young men and women, Va'del stopped paying as much attention, allowing his thoughts to wander until he heard Jasmin say his name.
"...Va'del and I can go look at the cavern where you'd like to begin farming. Possibly I'll have some suggestions on how you can maximize the yield if you're able to obtain a strong enough light source, and if nothing else it will allow us to report back to the Council regarding the level of preparation you've already made."
He'lo held up a hand as Jasmin stood. "Before you go do that I should tell you that there is a matter requiring your judgment." The previously-confident Headman shifted his considerable bulk back and forth from foot to foot several times before continuing.
"My boy was involved in a business dealing with the widow of one of the miners who was killed in an accident last month. I'll be the first to admit that the terms of the agreement are quite complex and somewhat vague in a couple key parts, but when the two of them came for judgment, I found in favor of my son. The widow is appealing my decision to you."
Betreec nodded. "That is well within her rights, especially considering the close relationship between you and your son. We'll listen to both parties tomorrow and rely on the Goddess to guide us."
It seemed as though Jasmin had heard all she needed to hear. She gathered Va'del up with a glance and swept out of the room.
Mindful of the warning that he'd received before going out, Va'del tried to remain alert to his surroundings, and ready for possible trouble, but he found it somewhat difficult in light of the wonders he was shown in the next few cycles.
They never let the youngsters see any of this back home. If I'd been apprenticed, I'd have seen one of these areas, possibly two if I was very lucky, but not everything.
The large cavern where the village wanted to start farming was the first thing Jasmin asked to see. Once there, she showed him the clever way in which the villagers were using lichen to break rock chips down into soil. "It is similar to how they start the mushroom farms below us. Once the mushrooms have had a go at the human and animal waste, what is left would actually serve quite well as a medium for growing grain. Notice how the rock here is lighter in color than most of the walls you've seen in the village so far? The lighter rock should reflect more light back to the plants, so a weaker light source could be used."
Their guide took them through a large opening into another room, and Va'del realized that there wasn't just one cave meant to be used for growing, but two.
"Won't they need two light sources if they have two rooms?"
Jasmin shook her head. "Plants do best with alternate periods of light and darkness. They can move a single light source between the two caverns, and more than double the yield they'd otherwise get from their crops."
Va'del nodded, struck by the simple genius of the idea and realizing for the first time on a truly fundamental level just how self-contained each village was. "Where does the village get its water? Do they have hot springs like mine did?"
Jasmin shook her head. "They don't. Instead, some of the heat from the village is allowed to escape up a slim hole to the outside. That results in the snow melting and trickling down into cisterns where it is stored until needed."
"If there aren't any hot springs, what provides the heat to keep the village from freezing?"
With a smile that lit up her pale-blue eyes, Jasmin asked the guard who was serving as their guide to take them to the heart chamber.
When the trio arrived, Va'del's breath was taken away by the sheer beauty of the fist-sized sapphire resting on the stone pedestal in the center of the room.
Stepping into the amazing heat of the room, Jasmin pointed at a series of holes bored into the top of the walls, barely visible in the soft, blue light provided by the sapphire. "Hot air rises, so these allow the heated air to circulate out to various parts of the village while the ones in the bottom allow cold air to come into the room."
Va'del shook his head in astonishment. "It is amazing. If it is so powerful, though, why doesn't it give off more light?"
Jasmin laughed, but it was an easy sound, not at all reproachful like the Jas'per's braying, mocking laughter. "The creator of the Heart Stone could have made it so that it gave off more light, but only at the cost of reducing the amount of heat it provided."
Va'del momentarily got the feeling that Jasmin was going to say something else, but she looked at their guide, and then seemed to think better of it.
"We'll be fine to make it down to the mines on our own. I remember the way, and am well acquainted with Master Miner Bac'tra."
After the guard had bowed and left, Jasmin turned to Va'del. "The creator of the Heart Stone was a Guadel. In fact, she comes through our lineage."
Responding to the look of confusion on the young man's face, Jasmin continued. "There is very rarely any real family relationship between the various people in a given Guadel lineage. Instead, those trained by a specific Guadel are typically considered to be of that Guadel's bloodline. Ironically enough, although we may be quite different in appearance, generally speaking we choose to train people similar to ourselves, and consequently the men of the bloodline will have the same qualities, and seek out the same kinds of wives."
Va'del nodded despite being sure there were subtleties he wasn't grasping. Encouraged, Jasmin finished her explanation as they left the heart room. "We're of the bloodline of Stephens. It was one of his three wives that created the Heart Stone after he died and she took up residence in the Capital. It is said it took her more than twenty years to finish it, despite being one of the most powerful magic users of her day."
Once the pair arrived at the mine entrance, they were met by a short man who was almost as heavily muscled as I'rone. Master Bac'tra greeted Jasmin with a nod, listened as she introduced him to Va'del and then looked him over with careful brown eyes. "You're a bit too tall to really be a miner, at least the way we mine around here."
I wonder if that was part of why the master miner at home never approached me about becoming an apprentice. He always seemed a relatively decent fellow.
For all that the mines weren't as exciting as the heart room, Va'del felt as though Bac'tra had casually poured weeks worth of knowledge into his head. Different types of rocks, the way that seams tended to come together, and the likeliest places to find gemstones were all covered. It was enough to leave Va'del's mind spinning but nothing stuck with him quite like Bac'tra's parting comment.
"Once we're done with an area half the work is complete towards turning it to livable space for when the settlement grows. Space is never an issue. It's always the food as is the limiting factor."
##
The mood when Va'del awoke was even more serious than normal among the Guadel. When the young man finally questioned Jasmin she explained as well as she was able. "The Headman here is for the most part a good man. Usually he's scrupulously fair in his judgments, but he's also got a temper. Add in the fact he's spoiled his son more than he should have, and this may very well be one of those instances in which the woman asking for us to review He'lo's judgment is right."
Va'del shrugged as he a
te a piece of dried fruit from their food stores. "So the three of you will find against the son and that will be the end of it."
Betreec overheard the explanation and shook her head. "Sometimes it's not that easy. Tradition and law grant people the right to appeal decisions to us, but that doesn't mean the rest of the villagers, or the Headman even, can't make life miserable for the person who asked for judgment."
Jasmin handed Va'del his sword as she continued. "Also, the balance of power between the Guadel and the Headman is a fragile thing. For all it's carefully delineated, we've just come from an example of just how difficult the headmen can make things for us if they're so inclined."
Jasmin's last few words were said with a kind of studied casualness that Va'del suddenly realized signified some importance. Before he could further examine the idea, I'rone led the four of them out of the guest rooms and off to the secluded cavern that would serve as the judgment room.
Although Va'del did his best to follow everything that was said, he found himself hard pressed to understand all of the particulars of what had happened between the widow and the Headman's son.
It took several cycles before I'rone finally nodded and sat back. He'd asked quiet questions about a variety of things that never would have crossed Va'del's mind, and Va'del wasn't sure what had prompted more than half of them.
Betreec asked the widow, the Headman and his son to leave, and then signaled for Va'del to remain quiet. Once the judgment room was empty but for the four of them, Jasmin closed her eyes briefly and then swayed as she opened them. "They won't be able to overhear us now, but let's be quick or I'll be so exhausted that you'll have to carry me back."
Betreec looked at Va'del. "I know that you aren't as well versed in law and the finer points of contracts as the rest of us, but what do you think about all of this?"
"I guess it all boils down to the question of whether or not the husband's death nullifies the agreement? If the contract is still in effect, then the Headman's son has to pay out a substantial sum. If not, then the widow is left essentially penniless."
I'rone nodded. "So is it in effect?"