by C. R. Daems
"I can't tell. Your future's twisted with too many other futures for me to see one clearer than the other. Your eyes are on the world with the shadow."
She jerked her hands away, and her guards' hands went to their weapons.
"The Shadow of Death?" she whispered.
"I don't know, my lady. I see only the shadow. Nothing else."
She rose and walked to her desk. Unsure of her intention, I reached for the moment. She turned and stood starring at the wall.
"The question is whether you see the future or are a brilliant observer of what is around you…I guess it doesn't really matter. I should kill you for what you've…observed."
"What I see is for your ears only, my lady. I don't share what I see with the lowest commoner, my clan, or the mightiest Wizard. It would change what I see."
"Yes, it could." She placed ten toras on the table. "My guards will see you to your clan." She went back to her desk and sat as I followed the guards out the door.
* * *
Everyone was eager to hear what had happened with Lady Roshan.
"Okay, Ryana. What happened?" Alida asked. "We had equal money on you being whipped, thrown in her dungeon, or killed for being a fake, for telling her something she didn't like. We were unanimous in feeling sorry for you…for being stupid. No wonder you are always getting hurt."
When I looked around, no one was laughing. Roshan would have done one of those things if I had told her the truth.
"I told her she was the most beautiful woman in all the provinces and would be queen someday." I walked over to Stela and counted out the five toras Yoan and I had received for the skit and then the ten for telling Roshan's fortune. "She agreed."
"I'm beginning to believe you can tell the future. You've told commoners, assassins, Wizards, and lords their future and past, and you haven't been killed—yet. I would have to admit I tell people what they want to hear to make them feel better. I would bet you told her fortune."
"Anything else would have embarrassed the clan. I wouldn't do that." Realizing I wasn't going to tell them what I had said to her, they stopped asking. Actually, I had told her the truth, leaving out the messy details. Following my intuition, I walked a dangerous path for the Shadows, the clan, and myself.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ossic—Araby Province
We left Ashtol the next day and planned to be at the Araby border by nightfall. From there, Ossic was an easy three-day ride.
I looked forward to reaching there. I'd heard so much about it and had used many of the drugs made there. Some were beneficial, some were thought to have special properties, some were used in foods, and some were specialty items like berries and sausages. The city was also famous for good luck charms like hawk feathers and talons. Because of its unique goods, it was a prosperous community. Consequently, Marku planned to stay a sixday and put on three performances.
During our second day on the road, Marku rode up and stepped onto the wagon.
"Do you mind, Ryana?"
"Of course not."
"I didn't know what to expect when Mistress asked me to take you to Scio. I did know it could be dangerous because I had heard Shadows were being killed. It's been nerve-racking at times, but the Dorian clan would no longer exist if you hadn't been along. You not only saved Ilka and Alida's lives, you saved us from being forced into a vengeance that would have cost us our lives. Not to mention, you've earned us more money than we could have on a full circuit of Hesland." He looked away for a moment. "What do you plan to do when we reach Scio?"
"I've been considering that. I could leave at Scio, which everyone expects me to do. Thanks to you, I've the knowledge and experience to travel on my own, but it would be harder to get past roadblocks on my way to Tarion. I must reach it."
"I can't make your mind up for you, but I wish you'd stay. I could make up an excuse…you could. You're better at stories than me." He shook his head. "I'm embarrassed to admit it."
* * *
The only unusual part about the trip was that there were no roadblocks. My enemies must still be trying to catch me on the road to Zeles or in the town or be busy trying to find the informant. I smiled at the thought. They were relying on logic—send the messages for "H" and catch the Shadows on the roads. I decided to wait and see what they did before making a decision.
* * *
Our performance in Ossic went well. Afterward, I acted as a fortuneteller again. It seemed my exclusive duty since Kadal. I didn't mind, as I had always enjoyed making up stories, and the people were getting easier to read each day. Sometimes I felt I could actually see one possible future for someone. My musing was interrupted when a young man, finely dressed with a huge signet ring on one hand, stepped into the tent.
"Are you Ryana, the fortuneteller?"
There goes relax and enjoy myself.
"Yes. How may I help you, my lord?"
"First Lady wu'Lichak would like the Dorian clan to put on a performance the second night after you arrive."
"Why tell me, Lord? Marku's the clan leader."
"The first lady wants you there but doesn't want to invite you alone. If she must, she will but would rather not. You're to give her a telling. I'll meet you after you arrive to make arrangements."
"I'll talk to Marku, but I'm available at Lady wu'Lichak's pleasure." What choice did I have? If I leave, the clan will suffer. If not, who knows?
"Would you tell my future, Ryana?" the young man asked. So much for me not drawing attention to myself. Sister Rong would have told me to continue the game to the end.
"Put your hands on the table, please." When he did, I covered them with mine and closed my eyes.
I'm not sure whether I started putting my hands on theirs to prevent being killed when I closed my eyes or because people's emotions were somehow transmitted to their hands. I could often tell much just by when they tensed or jerked. "Over the next cycle, your life will see much change. A great responsibility will be thrust upon you. You'll accept, although it puts you in great danger. During that time, you'll walk in the shadows of your ancestors. And although you seek none, your loyalty will be rewarded. Further futures are too intermingled with others for me to pick out one clearer than another." I opened my eyes and found the young noble staring at me with his mouth open.
"Thank you, Mistress." He rose with a blank look, dropped a tora, and left. This fortunetelling had become scary. Nobles calling me Mistress, and worse, I had begun to believe what I said. I laughed.
* * *
At the evening meal, Vali gave me a poke in the ribs. "Ryana, you're earning more money in the fortuneteller tent than the rest of us working the other games, and now you've added another noble to your list of admirers."
"Marku, the noble told me First Lady wu'Lichak would like us to perform for her the night after we arrive. I told him he should be talking to you, but apparently the first lady instructed him to give the message to me."
"Maybe Ryana and Yoan can earn an extra twenty tora," Alida said.
"Even better, maybe the king will be next," Ilka said to general laughter.
Marku slowly shook his head. "Ryana, these are powerful people you're dealing with. You've convinced them your tellings are real. If they think for one moment they aren't, I fear for what will happen."
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Scio—Araby Province
Although the travel to Scio took three days, it seemed like three minutes. I drove my wagon during the day, attended the evening gatherings, and worked with Yoan on innovations to our skit. Every minute my mind churned with what would happen in Scio, and I dreaded our arrival.
Should I leave the clan in Scio? Would my leaving cause them problems? What does wu'Lichak want to know and why? How do I contact the senior Assassin/Spy in Scio? Is she loyal? Is our Intermediate plotting against the Shadows? My head spun with questions, which I couldn't or didn't want to come to grips with.
When we arrived, I realized why I couldn't answer the questions. I w
as trying to apply logic to them. That wouldn't work for me. I needed to let my intuition guide me.
"Ryana, are you going to see your parents and boyfriend tonight?" Alida gave me a conspiratorial wink. "Maybe they would like to see you perform. You're going to perform with us, aren't you?"
The lies rolled off my tongue easily. The days of worrying that had paralyzed me blew away on the wind.
"Yes, of course I'm going to perform with you while we're in Scio. I'm not going to tell my parents just yet. I think Lady wu'Lichak would be a little upset with me if she knew I'm not clan. It's best to wait until you leave."
"Won't someone recognize you?"
"Not likely. I'm so much older. Besides, they wouldn't believe I was the same obnoxious little girl who left to be a Shadow. People see what they want to believe." I laughed.
"We'll miss you, Ryana."
* * *
The next night found us setting up in First Lady wu'Lichak's great hall. It looked to seat close to two hundred people. Everyone in the clan snuck looks at me while we waited for the guests to finish eating. I didn't blame them. This fortunetelling session could land me in the dungeon—and them. But there was no option but to play the game to its conclusion. Winning or losing wouldn't be decided until the game ended.
The clan's acts were delivered with perfection. After a brief rest while our props were set up, Yoan and I entered our little stage. As usual, the audience gasped at times and at others laughed until tears ran down their faces. I received lots of helpful hints from them while throwing the knives. Afterward, wu'Lichak gave Yoan and me ten toras each. As we were getting ready to leave, the young noble I had met in Ossic beckoned to me.
"Mistress, the first lady would like to see you. The rest of the clan can leave. I'll see you safely back to the wagons."
Marku was about to protest, but I shook my head. He could do nothing but protest. It would annoy wu'Lichak and change nothing. The noble led me into a medium-sized room guarded by two soldiers, who stood at attention on each side of the door. The young noble ushered me into the room and closed the door. It looked like a private study with shelves of books, a large oak desk, and velvet-covered chairs with the Araby crest.
"Help yourself, mistress," the noble said, gesturing toward the table along the wall laden with food and drinks.
"A glass of water would be nice," I said giving him a small bow. He went to the table and filled a crystal glass worth several toras and handed it to me. I smiled. At Ahasha, most of the time, I drank water from my hands. I decided I wouldn't like this life. I preferred drinking from my hands.
Just then, the door opened and a tall, thin woman entered the room accompanied by four guards. She had dark-red hair, a narrow face, slanted eyes, yellow-tinted skin, and thin lips. She looked dangerous. I bowed as she entered.
"Ryana of the Dorian clan?" It was more of a statement than a question. Her eyes seemed focused on my face, but she saw all of me as she evaluated me against some criteria. It was a technique Shadows used to evaluate an opponent's potential martial skills.
"Yes, First Lady."
"I see you haven't taken advantage of the food I've provided," she said while still evaluating me. The food had been a test of some kind. Just like at Ahasha, when I had had trouble determining what the Shadows wanted. I had succeeded there because I never tried to use logic. It seemed right here, too.
"No, First Lady. It didn't appear right for the occasion."
"Don't you eat after a performance?"
"Yes, First Lady. I'll eat when I return to the clan."
"You don't like my food?"
"I'm certain it's far better than anything I've ever eaten in my life." Actually, that was true.
"And you don't want to get used to it?"
"I'm content to be what I am, First Lady wu'Lichak."
"Yes, I can see that. The question is, what are you?" She continued to evaluate me as I would an opponent for his strengths and weaknesses. "I've heard many tales. But then one must be careful when relying on tales. They can disguise many things."
This woman wasn't going to see what she wanted to see. She would see what existed. I didn't know what was coming and felt myself reaching for the moment. The game was about to begin.
"Sit. We've evaluated each other as much as we can for now." She waved me to a chair and began walking toward her desk. I looked around the room.
"First Lady, could I have that table moved in front of me and have you pull up a chair close to the table?" The game was in progress. She waved to a guard, who arranged the table and a chair for her to sit. She sat and nodded to me with a smile that said she knew this was an elaborate farce.
"Please put your hands on the table." She hesitated. I could feel her guards tense.
"Why?"
I was tired. It was a cat-and-mouse game, and we had yet to tell who was the cat. "Because I asked."
She looked at me hard, giving me an "I'm the cat" look. "Boyan, have the guards wait outside. You stay."
I almost smiled. I had guessed right about Boyan. She trusted him, and he would be by her side when the fighting began.
"Please place you hands on the table, palms down." When she did, I placed mine over hers. She flinched at my touch but didn't move hers. I closed my eyes. Time no longer existed, nor did logic. I would tell her the truth as I saw it but in abstract terms.
"The next two seasons will be a time of great danger and stress. Later you'll be at peace, although still a time of great danger. Two worlds are about to clash, and Hesland won't be the same afterward. In one world, guilds and nobles are divided among themselves and allegiances shift across provinces, except those who chase the toras. They will unite, but like the eyes that stare at you, all see different worlds.
"In the other world, one guild stands united and in the shadows. You'll decide which world will dominate, and your children's children will stand in your shadow.
"Two paths exist after the worlds collide. One looks to have few decisions. In the other, many decisions will be required, and you'll never be free. There are many futures, but that is the one I see."
Wu'Lichak jerked her hands free and jumped to her feet. She stumbled backward until her back pressed against the desk.
"Boyan, get the guards, now."
Boyan dashed to the door and waved the guards in. They came in, swords drawn. I turned to ice.
"Is the shadow the Shadow of Death?"
"I see only the shadow," I replied.
"Who are you, Ryana, of the Dorian clan?"
"The second that was is the past. The second that will be is the future. I exist between them." I didn't know or care what was about to happen. I existed only for the moment.
"Fortunetellers are supposed to tell you all the good things that are going to happen in the future. You've brought me nothing but bad news. Rulers don't like bad news. It makes them irritable."
"If you wish, I could pretend to see a happy future, First Lady."
"No, I already have enough people lying to me." She nodded to Boyan. "Boyan, take four guards and escort Ryana to the gypsies' camp. The guards are for you. I don't believe she needs them. Take twenty-five toras and give them to the clan's leader."
"Marku," Boyan added.
"Marku. Tell him it's for providing a glimpse into the future. Ryana doesn't want or need money. Let the soldiers know that the gypsies are to have my discrete protection while in Araby." She continued to look at me but said nothing more.
Boyan silently walked by my side on the way back, sneaking looks in my direction. I think he now realized the future I had told him was linked to wu'Lichak's.
After they marched away, everyone gathered around me. Marku continued to stare at the sack of toras.
"We thought you'd been arrested when we saw the guards, and maybe we were in trouble. Obviously, you're in one piece, for a change, aren't under arrest, and we've lived to see Marku speechless. What happened? What did you tell her?" Ilka said while shaking my shoulders. Ali
da stood at her side nodding.
"I told her she was a troublemaker and ugly. She agreed."
Everyone stood speechless.
"You never tell what really happened. If you would tell me your secrets, I could replace you when you leave and make lots of money for the clan," Alida whispered. Ilka leaned closer.
"The future has many possibilities. You can only tell them the one you see."
* * *
The next two performances got loud applause from the audience, and the skit continued to be a huge success. I scanned the crowd when I wasn't performing. The usual number of thieves worked the audience, and I noticed two soldiers were always standing quietly off to the side. Wu'Lichak had been serious. I had sent Anil to spy on the Intermediate's house, but nothing unusual had happened.
Then an assassin strolled into the audience. He stood off to the side staring at three nobles. No weapons were visible, which meant a knife. Since there were three men, it meant he had an accomplice or two. I scanned the crowd and found one standing on the other side, also watching the three nobles. Amateurs. Then I thought I identified a third. This one wasn't sloppy. She was enjoying the acts, clapping and laughing at the right times, but inching sideways toward the assassin standing off to the side while keeping the nobles in sight. No doubt it was Fayza, the senior Assassin/Spy in Araby. The assassins' guild was about to lose two of its members. I sent Kasi to watch.
As the last act ran from the stage, waving to the clapping audience, the three nobles split up to wander the games. I suspected they were evaluating them. The Shadow slipped up behind the older assassin, grabbed him under the arms like they were both drunk, and staggered into the trees. The younger assassin raced to catch up to the pair. The Shadow strolled back alone, circulating with the crowd while watching the same games as the men. Later, Kasi followed her into the slums to a run-down shack.
* * *
The next day, Kasi followed Fayza as she went out to beg and scrounge for food. She was good. Since it was a rest day, I left after the midday meal to look over the town. The bar on the door of her shack was easily lifted. I entered and left a note:
