by Dana Davis
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Lyssinya had no patience for Netherworld foolishness. She found Adelsik wandering alone again. Locating the girl wasn’t difficult given that steady footprint. Lyssinya kept her own hidden as she observed the girl from the shadows, something she had learned from Sage Pontu. That was so long ago but the man’s slender figure entered her mind. Pontu would have been proud of the Sage she had become, but his impatience with the Energy cost him his life. Since that day, the Elders forbad anyone not of the Council to access the ancient teaching scrolls, few as they were.
Lyssinya brought her attention back to her task. Adelsik listened in on a middling’s dream. The dreamer didn’t see either of them, of course. The girl furrowed her brow and an oversized rat entered the scrawny man’s dream. What was the fool child doing? The rodent crawled beneath the table where the man sat eating mutton and counting endless pieces of gold. When he saw the huge rat, he shrieked and disappeared. Adelsik smiled.
Lyssinya released the Energy barrier that kept her in concealment. “Youngling!”
The girl jumped and the images of the table, gold and mutton changed to that of a beach. Lyssinya instinctively followed her charge. The girl started to bolt but she held her with the Energy. She was stronger and had many seasons of experience, a Sage long before this one’s birth. Things she couldn’t do in the mundane world came easily here. She stepped close, placed her palm on Adelsik’s forehead, and pushed a small amount of Energy into the girl’s mind, worming her way through a jumble of memories. Her Energy grabbed onto the memories of their previous visit then she nudged them to the front of Adelsik’s conscience and pulled her Energy back. The youngling swayed but recovered instantly, and the look on her face told Lyssinya that she remembered their last meeting.
“What in the name of the Goddess do you think you’re playing at, youngling?” She didn’t approve of gaming with dreams, even those of middlings. And untrained, foolish younglings could cause problems for the dead as well as the living if they went unchecked in the Netherworld.
“I—” Adelsik’s footprint flickered, indicating she was about to lie, then the blue acorn steadied. “You frightened me.” That stubborn chin jutted out and Lyssinya raised her brow and hooked her thumbs into her belt to keep from slapping the girl. Adelsik’s eyes widened. “Mother Atan,” she added.
Good. At least the girl knew who was in charge here and accepted that Lyssinya would force the matter if pushed. Just because she had been oathed by Gypsies didn’t infuse Adelsik with the knowledge to hide her footprint in the Netherworld. As a matter of fact, none of the Gypsies had that knowledge. They must not have access to the ancient teachings. That would give Sages an advantage.
Lyssinya studied the doll-like face and bright eyes. Those innocent looks might fool others, and she was certain Adelsik knew that. The girl probably had used her looks to get away with inappropriate behavior in the past. This one had strength that could harm herself and others if not reined in, and Lyssinya would provide the bit.
“I’ll do more than frighten you if I catch you playing with dreams again, youngling.” The girl had to realize she was too inexperienced for the new-oathed title, no matter what the Gypsies said about it.
“Yes, Mother Atan.” Defiance colored her tone, despite the obedient words.
Well, that would change. “We’ll get to your lessons now, youngling.”
“I’m new-oathed,” Adelsik mumbled.
“You’re a youngling if I say so, child.” She wrapped the girl in the Energy. This time she made the fancy clothes disappear, leaving the girl naked. Humility might get through to her even more than the punishment. She wrapped the girl in sparking blanket and held it in place a couple of heartbeats, ignoring the cries, and let the pain sink in before putting her youngling in the appropriate dress, that of a Sage-child. “Do we need to begin every lesson with punishment?”
“No, Mother Atan.” Adelsik sniffed and wiped at her eyes.
“Very well. That’ll give us more occasions to work. Now, what rank are you?”
Adelsik swallowed and pursed her lips. Her brow furrowed, and Lyssinya prepared to discipline her again. This was very tiresome but the girl had to learn who was in control.
Adelsik glanced down at the multi-colored dress she now wore. “I’m at youngling status.” She sniffed again.
“Exactly. Now, turn the water to sand.” The girl did that in one try. She was a quick study, this one. “Very nice.” Praise where praise was due. “All right. Change the sky into night.” Done. “And black out the stars.” Also done.
Lyssinya continued this kind of instruction until the youngling began to tire. She then nudged the memory far into Adelsik’s mind and sent her to her mundane body.
As she pulled her own body from slumber, she stretched and yawned before rising. She washed her face and headed to Tapnut’s hut. The night was still and cool with comforting sounds of insects and waves. The youngling huts were dark. Most Sages were in their huts with lantern glow in the windows. When she arrived, Tapnut let her inside, shut the door and kissed her, and she reveled in the strong and familiar embrace. They pulled away but kept arms around each other.
“You’re late tonight, Lyssy.”
His familiar name for her always made her smile. “Youngling business.”
He nodded. “Well you’re here now. We don’t do this enough.”
“I know, my love.” She was tall enough to look directly into his dark eyes. He didn’t appear much older than he had during her youngling days, about mid-forties. The fine lines around his eyes and mouth had deepened a little. He had a touch of gray at his temples now and a single streak through his short braid. “Perhaps the Elders will send you with me to the mainland. I could use your experience.”
He raised a brow and smirked. “You’ve been using my experience for a while now.”
She chuckled and gave him a playful slap. “Not that kind of experience. Though, I could use that right now.”
He kissed her again and pulled her to his bed.
Chapter 8
Morning came too quickly and left Adelsik listless and with a head throb. Her kin quest had camped out on the edge of the first province. Zark province to be exact. Something about the lakeside community made Adelsik’s hairs stand on end, a feeling she couldn’t explain. The sense that she’d forgotten an important dream lingered in the back of her mind. She felt disjointed this morning. And itchy. She scratched at her arms and cursed the stagnant heat the sun brought. Her muscles felt bruised, like she’d been encased in a sparking blanket multiple times over the past few days.
I must not be used to the exertion. Or the hard ground. She felt a gaze on her and turned to see Tsianina studying her.
“Are you all right?” the island woman said in her familiar lilt. She wore no flowers in her hair today and didn’t seem in the least perturbed by the bothersome insects. “You look a bit pale.”
That brought Wren to Adelsik’s side. “You look exhausted, girl. Have you been slumbering again?”
“Yes. But only for a short while. I don’t know why I’m so tired.” She adjusted her belt so that her purse hung over her left thigh.
“Mmm. Could be because we’re away from home.”
That made sense and Adelsik wondered why she hadn’t thought of it. Harnessing took more effort out here than in the Land of the Goddess where the Energy seemed to beg for release. She glanced around but saw no signs of middlings so she took in a small amount of Energy. No others caught against her awareness, at least, none from nearby, except kin. In the distance, she felt middling heat, but they were too far for her to distinguish individuals, caressing her senses as one mass. The blessed Energy dulled the stagnant heat and the insect bites and she regretted releasing it. But the servants couldn’t harness, as Wren had reminded her the previous day, something she wouldn’t have cared about before her training.
“The Energy is weaker out here,” she said allowed to no one in particular. But that wouldn�
��t leave any Gypsy feeling the way Adelisk felt today.
Wren heard her and nodded, looped braids swinging with her head movement. “We tend to get spoiled after we’ve been home a while.” Those gray eyes narrowed with concern. “I think you should take a couple of nights off. You’ll be no good to us if you’re too tired to control things in the Netherworld.” Wren didn’t order her, but the Gypsy’s tone implied that she might if Adelsik didn’t agree.
“Yes, Wren. I could use the sleep. I can’t seem to remember the bulk of my dreams. I mean, I remember some, but the clear ones are very short and incoherent.” The Gypsy eyed her with concern. “On my oath. I don’t feel ill, just a tired headache.” And the sensation that something wasn’t right about this place, but she wouldn’t bring that up, not yet. Not until she had a better reason. Though she grew up with comforts most didn’t have, she wouldn’t whine about this quest, not now that she was new-oathed.
“I believe you, girl. When did all this start?”
Adelsik thought a heartbeat. Her uneasiness began the night they met with Ved’nuri and the others, though it felt longer. “Two nights ago.”
Wren nodded. “When we found out about the dead middlings. You may be new-oathed but you’re still very young. I wager what was said at the meeting disturbed you enough to disrupt your sleep. And you did right to tell me. This is probably nothing, but I want you to let me know if your vague dreams and headaches continue. Understand?”
“Yes, Wren.” Of course what she’d heard in the Netherworld disturbed her. She didn’t like for anyone, middling or not, to be murdered and stuffed in a trunk. Especially children. She couldn’t imagine what Thad must be going through. Those farms were once part of his root home.
“Silbie can make you some white drop-leaf tea for your aches. Once you’re rested, I’ll take a look at you’re dreams, see if I can find out what you’re doing to tire yourself.”
“Thank you. I would like that.” She felt comforted at the prospect of Wren slumbering with her but had no idea why. Exploring her abilities alone in the Netherworld always excited her. After all, she was no child.
They ate Silbie’s bland morning meal, slapped at insects, washed, slapped at more insects, and packed up the cart. Each held a rag to brush away the sweat as they approached the first village. Adelsik caught the twin guards searching the area more carefully now that they were near middlings.
“Why did I agree to this?” Henny swatted her cheek and brushed her hand on her skirts. “I should have stayed home with Nym. At least I wouldn’t be eaten alive.”
Adelsik was tired. And despite Silbie’s tea, her head still pounded, her body ached, and she had listened to more than enough. “Henny Iven Jesik,” she said in her best imitation of Haranda, and the girl whipped her head around. “If you don’t stop complaining, I’ll give you something to whine about.”
Henny smiled but Adelsik’s stern face put an end to that nonsense. She would always be above the girl in Gypsy rank, and she kept a hard gaze until Henny frowned and averted her eyes.
“Yes, Adelsik.” Henny seemed to find her hands interesting just now.
“You’re not stupid, Henny. You know how important this trip is.” She was careful not to use any words that might expose them as Gypsies now, just in case middling ears listened in. They were too close to the village. And she wouldn’t take in the Energy, either, unless they encountered trouble, no matter how miserable she felt. “Are you going to act appropriately?” She raised a brow to accent her words.
Henny glanced at her and nodded. “Yes.”
“Good. Focus on something useful. Keep your eyes open when we arrive. You have a tendency to see things others miss.” That was something Adelsik had been jealous of when Haranda first took her in. Observing people didn’t come as naturally to her as to Henny and Maesa. Now that behavior seemed so foolish. “Remember who you are.”
Henny pulled her back straight and smiled. “Thank you, Adelsik. My apologies.”
“Accepted.” Had her head not bothered her so, Adelsik might have been proud of the way she handled the youngling. Instead, she rubbed at her temples, took in a deep breath and focused on the rows of huts just ahead, making a conscious effort to notice anything unusual.
She had never seen a village like this. The huts were made of wood, mud and grass. Interesting. They sat close to one another and a single, albeit large, garden seemed to be the only source of farming. Given the size and proximity of the lake, fishing was probably a staple. She wondered if this was a community village like Taniras’s root home. She found that concept interesting and a bit frightening. Outsiders would be noticed all the more in such a close community. And she still had an aversion to middlings, especially ones of lowborn status. At least a well-bred middling could provide proper comforts for guests. She doubted very much that these villagers could provide anything even resembling comfort.
Her instincts proved correct. As the group entered the village circle from the dirt road, brown-skinned children stopped their play to stare and point, the youngest naked. Men began to line the dirt road in front of them, and Adelsik’s eyes flickered to Henny’s position. Keeping the youngling safe was her first priority. She was a Gypsy, after all, and the prickling danger she’d felt earlier had never disappeared. Silbie had an arm around Henny’s shoulders so Adelsik relaxed a bit.
Wren and Elder Finlor, flanked by the twins, stepped to the line of strangers, who didn’t look welcoming. The hunter servants stood just behind the Gypsies.
One of the village men began to make awful faces and dance around like he had suddenly gone mad. He grunted like an animal as he did his odd dance toward the group.
Finlor ordered quickly, “Be very still, no matter what he does. He won’t hurt you. No sounds. Any of you.”
Adelsik held her place and forced herself not to squeal when the man moved around her. He was small, as short as she, and had a slight frame with a protruding belly. In fact, he looked a bit undernourished, as did the rest of these villagers. He quickly moved on to Henny and Silbie. Neither moved or spoke. Once he had circled the kin with his mad faces and groans, he moved back to the other village men, where he stood straight and still, as though his demons had fled immediately.
Elder Finlor took a single step forward and spoke in the common trade language that was the staple among Gypsies. “Greetings, people of Zark Province of the Beir Lake clans. We’re traders come to bring our wares to you. The quality of your ropes and nets is all the talk beyond the forests and the mountains. We can only hope our wares are worthy of trade.” He bowed his head, something that Adelsik didn’t think Gypsies would ever do to middlings. But then, they weren’t traveling as Gypsies.
I must remember that.
Wren lowered her head too, and the rest of the group followed her example. This seemed to please the dark fellow in the center of the line and he shouted something Adelsik didn’t understand. But he smiled as he stepped forward and slapped his hands twice against Finlor’s arms.
“Welcome,” the small man said in a thick accent. “You honor our custom. We not eat you.” Adelsik’s heart raced and Henny gasped. This sent the man and his people into guffaws of laughter. “Joke. Traders good for a grin.” He placed a hand on his chest. “My name, Bin’zark. Come.” His eyes drifted to the cart just before he led them down the dirt path that paralleled the lake.
Adelsik didn’t know whether it was relief at the teasing or the welcome pats she and the others now received from the villagers, but her mood lifted, despite her headache and the prickling sense of danger. She wouldn’t let Wren and the others see her uneasiness about these middlings, and she couldn’t act a Gypsy around those with no Energy as that might give them away. What a quandary!
Instead, she took in a long breath and forced herself to tolerate her surroundings. She and the other Gypsy women followed several middlings toward the fires in a large area of the village circle. Some of the Zark women had infants strapped to their backs. A few younger
girls fingered Adelsik and Henny’s hair and babbled in their native tongue. Since every Zark had dark hair and skin, Adelsik concluded that blonde locks fascinated them.
Any other time, she would have relished the attention, but now all she wanted to do was swat the probing hands that irritated her aching head. She put up with the girls until an elder Zark women shooed them toward the lake, then she smoothed her hair and rubbed her temples again. White drop-leaf usually eliminated her aches but not now. “I certainly wish Cousin Finlor could do something about this.” Gypsy healers could mend just about anything except headaches and deadly injuries.
Wren smiled at her but there was a hint of concern in those gray eyes.
That’s when a Zark woman with a lined face stepped in front of Adelsik and blocked her way. She had to look down at the diminutive villager, who wore a leather band around her head with several colorful beads braided into it. She had no gray hair, despite her weathered skin. Her clothes looked much like the other women’s, a woven bodice and thin skirt that barely covered her knees, except she had a wolf design embroidered onto the bodice. Adelsik studied the wolf and realized the beast had hands instead of paws.
The woman’s rough fingers reached up to Adelsik’s temples and her eyes narrowed. “Pain?” she said in a thick accent.
“Yes. I have a headache.” But what can a middling do about it? The herbs she’d taken hadn’t made her aches vanish. She studied the strange wolf design again.
The Zark woman followed her gaze and glanced down at the tunic. She pointed to the embroidery. “Wolf medicine. Come.”
Before Adelsik could respond, the woman took her elbow and pulled her along the dirt road toward one of the huts. Wren told Silbie to stay with the men before she latched onto Henny and followed behind with Tsianina and Camlys. Adelsik couldn’t help but smile at the youngling’s dejected look. Henny’s eyes were on the lake. The water was probably warm but had to be cooler than the air, and Adelsik found herself longing to dive in despite the throb in her head.
