by Dana Davis
“I’m certain your friends are all right.” Maesa placed a brief hand on Taniras’s arm. “Ved’mana is the best healer among the Gypsies.”
Blazes, did everyone know what had happened? “Thank you, Maesa.”
“You know the rest of the clan sisters here, don’t you?”
“A bit. Mostly names and faces.”
Henny leaned around Adelsik and gave Taniras an energetic grin. “I have the calming Energy. Adelsik is a slumberer. She walks in dreams.”
The slumberer pulled her back straighter and huffed, tossing her flaxen waves to her back.
“Eletha is a treewalker.”
Well, that explained why the little woman kept one hand on a tree trunk, somewhat anyway. Taniras would have to learn more about their Energies. What am I thinking? She wouldn’t be around long enough to learn about her own Energy, much less any one else’s.
“Zarenia has amazing sparking talents,” Henny said.
The immaculate girl with raven hair, creamy skin and green eyes gave a reserved smile to Henny. From her manners, Taniras guessed she was highborn. So, even those with money had to answer the Goddess’s bloody calling.
“That’s Kal.” Henny pointed to a tall, gangly girl with her honey braid wrapped around her head. “She’s a listener.”
Taniras had heard about that Energy and had learned to put up her wall as soon as Haranda explained its usage. She certainly didn’t want anyone knowing her thoughts. The tattoo around Kal’s wrist intrigued her too, and she wondered which village the girl hailed from.
Henny didn’t leave a chance for questions. She seemed excited to do the introductions so Taniras waited. “And Saldia walks in the shade. Shade walkers can go about invisible.”
Now, why didn’t Taniras receive that aspect of the Energy? Invisible she could sneak past the bloody guards and get to her friends. Perhaps she should enlist Saldia as an ally, also. The woman didn’t turn at her introduction.
Henny leaned around Adelsik again. “Mother Haranda calls Saldia her ‘little shadow’.”
The shade walker drew her attention from the men’s tables, where she and a couple other women had shown quite an interest, and raised a brow at Henny.
“Well, she does.”
Saldia adjusted the scarf that secured her long brown hair, nodded politely to Taniras, and looked back toward the men.
Adelsik gave the shade walker’s back a sour gaze and turned her attention back to Henny.
But Henny focused on Cass. “What’s your Energy?”
The alert woman hesitated and narrowed suspicious eyes on the girl for a heartbeat. “Haranda calls me a truth-seeker.”
The girls looked shocked and Saldia snapped her head around. “You’d better not let the Gypsies hear you call her that.” A look of confusion crossed Cass’s face and the shade walker leaned over the table. “Dropping the mother title is frowned on. Leaving off any title, for that matter.”
Cass nodded. “I’ll remember that. Thanks.”
Everyone relaxed and Henny smiled again. “You have the same Energy as Ved’mana.”
The truth-seeker gave her a questioning gaze.
“Ved’mana’s one of our Gypsy rulers. You’ll meet him at the introductions. You know when people are lying or want to hurt others, right?”
Cass brushed an impatient hand over the table. “I’ve had enough of this bloody question game.”
Taniras took liberty and placed a brief hand on Cass’s arm. “I don’t think she means any harm.”
The woman eyed Taniras a heartbeat. “I don’t like talking about myself that way, especially with strangers.”
“I understand.” Taniras turned to Henny. “I think you should give us a while to adjust.” She half expected the girl to pout and prepared to call her down if needed. Just because Taniras had been forced to come here, didn’t mean she should abandon all her beliefs. And it should have been obvious to anyone that Taniras was older than the girl.
Henny crooked her lips then simply nodded and turned to talk with Maesa and Adelsik.
Taniras hid a smile at the girl’s obedience then turned her attention back to her task. “Cass is an unusual name.” It was the best she could think of under the circumstances and she really wanted to befriend this woman. “Not that I’m prying, mind you. But we seem to have been forced here under similar circumstances.”
Those eyes narrowed a heartbeat then the truth-seeker shrugged. “My full name is Cassbet Legrange. I prefer Cass.” She tightened the leather lace that secured her long russet hair behind her head and one hand fell to her belt. Her face scrunched in disapproval as she glanced down where a knife probably once sat.
Taniras nodded at the woman’s reluctance to share. “I like the name Cass better too.” And she did.
The truth-seeker gave her a crooked smile and Taniras wanted to cry out with victory. No one she knew of had gotten a smile from this woman. But the smile didn’t reach those brown eyes and she wondered what had happened to the truth-seeker. Healer Mag had taught her that eyes revealed everything a person couldn’t or wouldn’t tell. Cass needed more nutrition than what she had been getting and more sleep but there was something else. Something deeper.
“Your full name is Taniras Ei’sele, right? Yes.” Cass leaned close. “I thought what they did to your friends was cruel. I saw from my cottage window.”
So, they had seen. “Thank you.” She glanced to Haranda’s table. The Gypsy was busy talking to Wren and a servant man. “But I don’t think it wise for us to discuss that.”
Cass nodded. “I don’t think it wise for us to discuss knitting if these bloody, sons of a goat Gypsies object to it.” She smiled crookedly again.
Taniras chuckled despite all that had happened. She was certain this woman understood her situation more than the others. And she had gotten a smile from Cass, two in fact.
Saldia turned toward them again. “I don’t mind your language but you might want to keep eyes and ears open for those who do. If you know what I mean?”
Cass gave her a thoughtful look. “Bloody Gypsies don’t like it, I take it?”
“There’s a lot these bloody Gypsies don’t approve of.”
Taniras chuckled and the three smiled at each other. Allies. Yes, these two would do nicely.
A servant woman approached. “You younglings had best eat.” She slapped eggs onto their plates.
Taniras wasn’t hungry and had no intention of doing anything but move food around like she had done as a child, whenever her mother made peas. She still hated peas. She missed her parents and baby brother, though not as much as she thought she would. Still, she would give anything to be home now, awakened in the middle of the night by her infant brother’s cries, worrying about Healer Mag’s tests on herbs and which dress she would wear to entice Snowy at the next harvest dance. Blazes, she hoped the man was all right! Uneventful village life seemed to appeal to her now.
Another servant dished out ham steak. And yet another put cheese and apple wedges on each plate. Younglings weren’t even trusted to choose their own food, except for rolls. Taniras was no child. From what she had observed, every person here was marriage age and older. These Gypsies were insufferable! The others began to delve into their meals but the thought of eating made Taniras queasy. She needed to find out about her friends and decided she would offer her plate to Cass. The woman needed filling out.
Much to her surprise, a servant stood behind her chair. “You eat, youngling, or I’ll report you to your clan mother.” The plump woman leaned close, and Taniras saw the gray in her blond hair and deep creases around her eyes and mouth. Several servants showed more age than the Elders here. Interesting. “I wager you haven’t been fed by a mother’s hand since you were a babe.”
What? Haranda would actually feed her? She couldn’t believe what she was hearing and snapped her head around to Haranda’s table before checking herself. “I’m not very hungry just now. I’m worried about my friends. Certainly, Mother Haranda
will understand.”
The woman snorted and dropped a roll onto her plate. “No Gypsy goes without a meal in the Land of the Goddess, youngling. You need strength for your training and this food will provide it.” Taniras gawked at her. The servant’s hands went to her thick hips and she gazed toward Haranda’s table, looking as though she would call out.
“Very well.” Taniras was a woman, not a bloody child, and the thought of having anyone feed her, especially Haranda Banwidden, infuriated her. There was no chance she’d let that happen so she scooped egg onto her fork and shoveled it into her mouth. Obedience. Acquiescence.
The servant seemed contented after the third bite and finally moved on. Taniras wanted to spit the food onto the ground, but that would prove a huge mistake so she forced herself to swallow bite after bite, until there was nothing on her plate but a few crumbs.
“That’s a good youngling,” the servant woman said as she cleared the dishes.
“I hate this place.” Taniras realized Cass heard her when the woman chuckled.
“So do I.” Cass leaned close. She had taken the offered seconds and finished that too, then stuffed a couple of rolls in her belt. “I could probably find my way back through the bloody Means. That is, if you’re interested.”
“I am,” Taniras said low enough the others couldn’t hear. “But my friends. I can’t leave them.” She also wondered if the pain in her gut would return if she managed to get out of here. A chance she was willing to take.
Cass nodded. “Yes. I wouldn’t leave my friends here, either. But when the Vedi release them, they’ll need a way home, right?”
“I’ll let them know you’re interested in becoming a guide, Cass. Thank you.” She doubted very much if they would get past the guards without help. “We could use Saldia’s talents, also.”
Cass’s eyes drifted to the shade walker and she nodded. Then she raised a brow and motioned toward the mothers’ table.
Haranda headed their way with Wren at her side. “All right, younglings.” In one hand, she held a leather bag. “Lessons. Each of you new younglings will take a painted stone from this pouch. Whatever color you draw will be your group while you’re in training. You’ll always go to the class displaying that same color rag, which could be in a different location each day. “The rest of you have your stones?”
The others held up painted pebbles retrieved from the tiny pockets on the front of their youngling dresses, each a different color: yellow, blue, purple, white, red, pink. The island woman, Tsianina, pulled out a brown one from Haranda’s bag. Cass took an orange one. Then it was Taniras’s turn. She reached into the small bag and bypassed the first she touched, hoping to get the same color as Cass. When she pulled her hand out, the stone she had was green.
“Why so glum, youngling?” Wren said. The tall advisor seemed to shadow Haranda and some of the other mothers and looked to be about ten years older.
“I wanted orange.” Taniras was truly upset.
Wren glanced at Cass’s stone. “Clan members never get the same color. You won’t train with those you eat and sleep with. That’s too much togetherness.”
So, that’s why they were so strict about dividing up younglings. Taniras had wondered why they put so much importance on cottage assignments. She would have to speak to Cass and Saldia outside of instruction, which would be less than frequent since they didn’t share a cottage. She didn’t care if Wren and the others saw her disappointment.
“Chin up, youngling,” Haranda told her. “You’ll enjoy your life as a Gypsy.”
“I bloody doubt that.”
“What was that?” Wren stepped close. Her looped braids swung slightly and one hand pressed down on the table near Taniras.
“Nothing, Mother Wren. Just clearing my throat.”
The woman raised a brow at her and gave a brief look to Haranda. “I’ll finish with your younglings.” She took the bag from the other Gypsy and nodded toward an odd little man standing nearby. “The Fetch is here.”
The Fetch was clean shaven and thin with small features resembling, well, a mouse. His clothes were much like the other servants, except his tunic had two wreaths embroidered with gold thread. The man didn’t say a word. He simply held a golden staff high over his head until several Gypsies, including Haranda, walked over to him. Then he turned and led them over the hill.
Taniras’s heart jumped. She wanted to go along but Haranda trailed the Fetch without so much as a glance back. The small group disappeared over the other side and she turned when someone tapped her shoulder. Wren looked down at her. She was the only one left at the table.
“Find your class, youngling.”
Taniras gazed at the rock in her hand. She studied the Gypsy a heartbeat, stuffed the rock into her skirt pocket then went in search of the green rag. Obedience.
Students were taking seats on blankets beneath trees and at small tables as teachers sat on chairs or stools. A stake displaying a dyed rag was planted in the ground near each teacher. Taniras didn’t see a green rag anywhere and realized no one watched her. A dense wooded area surrounded the Gypsy village. Perhaps she could slip into the trees and make her way to the dome. Would anyone notice her missing? There were many Gypsies here.
Someone touched her shoulder, and she jumped and snapped her head around to see Wren standing behind her. Where in blazes had the woman come from? I can’t run now!
“Is there a problem, youngling?”
“I can’t locate my class,” she said in all honesty.
Wren studied her a heartbeat with a probing gaze, and Taniras fought the urge to back away from the woman. Gods, she was tall! As tall as Snowy. And strong. Last night, during her friends’ beatings, Taniras couldn’t pull free from this woman’s grip. Something in her eyes revealed a much older woman and Taniras wondered just how old she really was.
“There.” Wren pointed to a large, blonde man off to her right a ways. “Father Xiath Akarda.”
Taniras watched the teacher until Wren crossed her arms and raised a brow, eyes weighing her over that slightly hooked nose. Obediently, she thanked the Gypsy and made her way toward her class.
“Welcome, youngling,” the large man said as she walked up. “I’m Father Xiath. Come up here, please.”
All eyes watched as she stepped to the front of the class and stood beside Xiath. He was a mountainous man, with a muscular build, much taller than Snowy, and Taniras craned her neck to look up. She wondered what village made such large people. Taniras was no small woman but there seemed to be many Gypsies who towered over her. Xiath’s blonde hair was gray at the temples and fine lines framed his eyes and mouth. He looked to be in his middle forties but something in his eyes warned Taniras he was older. Much older. Just as with many other Gypsies here. His clothes were the same as all the fathers she had seen with swirls of greens and browns woven into the material. A wide, colorful belt was wrapped around his waist and a carved brooch stood out on his tunic.
Despite his size, Xiath seemed kind and offered her a smile. His eyes held power and Taniras felt naked in front of the entire class. It was just a feeling, not a reality, but she fought the urge to cover herself.
“Introduce yourself, please.”
Her heart raced with nervousness but she didn’t dare show that to the strangers, either, and she forced her voice steady. “My name is Taniras Ei’sele. I’m from Maricar near Prosperous Lake. I’m a healer’s apprentice.” Not being accepted as a healer still burned but she planned to make amends to everyone, especially Healer Mag, once she got back. Why did she ever leave home? Snowy, Camlys and Greges came to mind again and she hardened her face against tears. With effort, she forced a glance at Xiath.
The teacher gave a warm smile. “Welcome, Gypsy-child Taniras. What Energy did your calling bring?”
“Animal urging.” The dirty beasts were not at all acceptable for healers.
“We’re a bit late this morning so you’ll have to learn the other youngling’s names at break. Take a
seat. Anywhere is fine.”
“Thank you, Father Xiath.” Another man with lines on his face sat just in front of her and she took a place next to him.
Strange, someone so old should still be a youngling. Though this man looked quite different from a Maricari, his expression reminded her of Snowy, and she fought back tears again. This was going to be a lengthy day if she didn’t hear something from Haranda soon. How long did it take the Vedi to make a decision? They had an entire night. And Taniras’s friends were no danger to them. Certainly not after what she had witnessed last night.
The other younglings made sounds of agreement and she brought her attention back to Xiath. The towering man had two yellow balls of light hovering near his head. She had never seen anything like that and she gawked.
“Now,” Xiath said, and neither ball wavered, “I know a few of you got your calling some time ago and have mastered walls and essences but you need to hone your sparking abilities. And I assure you, every Gypsy has enough sparking Energy to create at least one of these.” A large hand motioned to the lights. “Some of you have already learned how to create an orb. However, sparking is the one Energy that can become stronger even after you’ve taken your oaths to the Goddess. It also has several forms.” He chuckled. “And before you ask, yes, sparking is the Energy sometimes used for discipline.” The group gave a nervous laugh.
That must have been what Ved’nuri had used on Taniras. Some form of sparking. She joined in on the amusement, though she didn’t think it funny in the least. Xiath raised a palm and everyone quieted. Murmurs from other classes drifted to Taniras’s ears and she wondered what they were learning.
“Turn to the person closest to you,” Xiath instructed.
She shifted her weight to face the man next to her and he smiled.
“Thad Macwinnough.”
“Taniras Ei’sele. But you already know that.”
He nodded and opened his mouth as though he were going to speak again but Xiath cut him off. “I want you to focus on the Goddess Energy within the earth.” His orbs had vanished. “Pull it slowly, and I mean very slowly, into your body. Energy here is pure, younglings. You all remember how it held you when you came through the Means.”
