by Dana Davis
Haranda had told her she would be powerful. Saldia begged the Goddess for that strength, enough control to hide both in shade and in light, without harming herself or others. Gypsies cried out her name. Haranda, Wren and Predula, three mothers leading the rest. All headed her direction. Son of a goat! Elder Siri was close on their heels, the gold bangles on her numerous braids most likely tinkling as she hurried, yet Saldia couldn’t hear that over the waterfall.
She rounded a boulder and stepped into the water, careful not to make too many ripples. A few more steps and her movements in the water would be hidden by the splashes from the waterfall. Louder, louder, the rush of water filled her ears. Closer she came, until her body was submerged, then she reemerged behind the flow. There, she peeked from the other side of the cascade as the Gypsies searched. Servants felt around bushes, poked and swept arms in the air in hope of locating her. Saldia grinned but it faded quickly. The Energy gave her potency beyond words but the feeling wouldn’t last.
Mouths moved in silence, blocked by the rush of water around her. She was drenched to her skin and backed up to get away from the constant spray. Something hard stopped her. Rock. Trapped! Panicked, she spun around to catch sight of an opening in the solid rock. Curses left her lips for not noticing this cavern behind the falls. Goddess help her, this was her lucky day!
She ducked into the darkness and ran, turned blindly to the right then the left, followed tunnels, banged into walls, tripped and fell more than once, until she was breathless, bruised, and tired from holding the Energy so long. She stumbled but kept the Energy inside. She had to remain unseen. Intense darkness of the cave left her blind. Slowly, she let what meager amount of yellow sparking Energy she had mastered mix with the air around her to create a small orb that bobbed hear her head.
She listened but heard no one behind her. Awareness was keen with the Energy, and since she didn’t feel anyone close, she released her shade Energy and focused on the orb. The walls here were rough and the tunnel seemed to go on quite a ways in front of her. She made her way farther into the tunnels, stepped around protruding funnels and rocks, counting each as she went. Left turn. Right turn. A fork. Which way? Did it matter? She decided to go right but that was a dead end. She backtracked and took the left tunnel.
Soon, she found herself in a large room with many funnels extending from the ceiling and floor. Some met to create huge columns. They looked like wax that had dripped from giant candles and she touched the cool, smooth surface of one. A vibration of Energy coursed through her hand and she pulled back. There were no more tunnels. She had gone as far as she could. Still, there was no sound behind her except the occasional drip of water and she sat, exhausted.
Now what would she do? She didn’t want to sleep and she didn’t want to be found. The orb still hovered above her and she let the Energy drain into the earth, taking her into total darkness. There she sat, exhausted, shivering. She slowed her breath and concentrated on counting the water drips until she dozed from fatigue.
A noise startled her awake and she held her breath and listened. Voices. They would find her! Of course they would. But she hoped this would come later, once she had a chance to recover her strength. With straining ears, she pushed to her feet and listened until the voices became comprehensible words. She trembled with cold and fright.
“This way,” a woman said. That wasn’t Haranda or Wren. Not Predula or Elder Siri. “She’s frightened.”
Goddess, help me! Oh, Goddess, please help me! Ved’nuri! Panic and terror swelled and Saldia backed herself to the wall as she harnessed the Energy to make herself unseen. Blood rushed through her ears louder than the waterfall had been. They can’t see me. They can’t sense me. Please. Please. I’m not here. Not seen. The Energy seemed to envelop her now, like a familiar blanket, and she stopped shivering. She must find a way out, get back to the cottages, head for the Means.
The tunnel leading into the room became lighter and lighter. Energy orbs. Footsteps came closer and she tried to count them but couldn’t concentrate with the pulse in her head. Would her heart burst? Don’t let them see you. Don’t let them sense you.
If she could only sneak past them, get outside again. But it was too late. Ved’nuri stepped into the cavern room with Haranda, Wren and Predula right behind her. Where were the others? They must have waited outside. Ved’nuri came closer and stepped around the great funnels of wax-like figures.
“Gypsy-child Saldia.” Her gilded crown sparkled beneath her orb’s light. She was so very beautiful. And so very dangerous.
Saldia held her breath and her throat went dry. Exhaustion threatened to take her down. So bloody tired. Ved’nuri’s eyes moved along the walls, closer, closer. They fell on Saldia’s face and her heart leapt into her throat. She was still hidden, wasn’t she? Yes, she walked in the shade. The Energy filled her, pulsated around her, but how long could she hold out? Surely, Ved’nuri couldn’t see her.
The crowned woman cocked her head and a blonde curl fell around her shoulder. “There you are.”
The woman saw her even through the Energy. Blazes! I’m hiding from Ved’nuri! What in blazes am I doing?
“You can release the Energy on your own, youngling. Or I will do it for you.”
Chapter 36
Ved’nuri looked taller. Yes, she was definitely taller. And incensed.
Saldia trembled as she released her hold on the Energy and sank to the cave floor, wary eyes on the opposing woman. “Please, forgive me, Ved’nuri.” Her voice quivered and her hands trembled.
The crowned woman didn’t answer. Instead, she turned to the three mothers. “Help her. We’ll take her to the dome.”
Saldia wept with fear. What would they do to her? The three mothers lifted her to her feet, none too gently. She prepared to walk down the tunnels again, but Ved’nuri placed a hand on one wall and a blinding rush of white sparking Energy pulsed from her body. When Saldia’s eyes adjusted, an opening led to the outside. Grass, flowers and trees met her gaze. She could see the dome, even through tears, like a giant tomb, rising to remind her of transgressions against her kin.
Haranda and Wren each had an arm and they pulled her along behind Ved’nuri. Predula flanked them. Tension prickled at Saldia like a hundred knives tapping her skin. She counted her steps through her terror.
Ved’nuri led them inside and servants washed their feet. There was no vibration of Energy beneath Saldia and she sighed at that loss. They continued past genuflecting servants, through the entrance hall, beyond the waiting rooms, past the throne room. Saldia wasn’t certain how her legs managed to hold her weight as they turned several corners and walked up a set of stairs, twelve steps. They went through another door, down a long hall and into one of several rooms, seven to be exact.
A large, four post bed, a table with two chairs, a fireplace, large obsidian mirror, and three colorful tapestries decorated the room. A large window behind the table let in light. The place would have been cheery if Saldia hadn’t felt like such a prisoner. Ved’nuri turned to face her and she nearly fell to her knees. She would have fallen if not for the support of her mothers. Probably right on her face. Perhaps she would die from fear.
The crowned woman cocked her head and narrowed her eyes. “You’ve caused quite a stir today, Gypsy-child Saldia. Your mothers and I will take away this dream. Any nightmare that can cause a youngling to defy her kin the way you have, venture to the forbidden falls, invade the caverns, and attempt to hide from me, deserves my personal attention.”
“Please, forgive me, Ved’nuri,” Saldia uttered, not knowing how she formed sounds much less words that actually made sense.
The crowned woman took her chin. “You’ll be forgiven, youngling. But you’ll also be reminded of this day. If you ever try to hide from me again, you’ll weep for many sunrises. Am I understood?”
Saldia curtsied. “Yes, Ved’nuri.”
“Good. Get her to the bed. I won’t allow her to run away this time.”
Th
e mothers led her to the bed and forced her to lie down. She half-expected them to tie her to the posts but they didn’t. Predula sat at her head and placed fingers on her temples. Haranda took a place beside her, while Wren crossed to the woven rug near the fireplace. Ved’nuri placed a hand on the fat bedpost but she remained standing and that gilded crown shimmered in reflected sunlight.
Soon, Saldia stood in the streets of Makrilon, a half-eaten chicken leg in one hand and a mob gathered at the end of the street. Three glowing figures stood behind her. One was beautiful and very tall, taller than most men. That frightened her. She recognized these women, but what were their names? A long arm pointed to the crowd ahead and a gilded crown caught light from the street lanterns.
“Go to them,” the crowned woman said. Saldia hesitated. “You won’t defy me.”
She didn’t want to but something pushed at her, some invisible force, and she had no choice but to go.
A young woman cried out from the center of the crowd as men tied her arms and legs to four horses. “Please, I can’t.”
“Do as Ved’nuri tells you, youngling.”
Ved’nuri, yes, that was the opposing figure’s name. The captive woman screamed and begged not to be killed.
“You are strong.” Ved’nuri offered a motherly smile, and Saldia felt her strength, basked in it. “You’re a Gypsy-child. You can save her.”
Saldia stood a moment in fear. But the clear eyes that reflected the Goddess colors stared her down, gave her strength, even in the nakedness that she felt. She took bravery from that power. The captive woman screamed again and Saldia’s pulse thrummed, along with anger. She threw her food on the ground. The woman screamed again. Saldia forced her feet to move to the center of the crowd. “No,” she said to one of the men. “You must not harm her. This is wrong.”
He gave her a startled look that turned to hatred and she took a step back. She wanted to run but something held her in place. The bound woman begged for her very life, blood dripping from wounds where rocks had assaulted her.
“You can do this, Saldia.” Haranda’s voice invaded her fear, and she focused on the glowing figure who now stood beside her. “You must.” Strong hands turned her toward the weeping woman again. “Only you can save her.” Saldia swallowed hard and searched for more bravery. “You must help her in order to free yourself, youngling.”
Rage filled her as the men stretch the ropes toward the horses, and sudden strength pulsed within her body, causing her limbs to tremble. She walked forward, yanked the ropes from two of the men and shoved them back into the crowd. “You won’t kill her!”
They stood, shocked at first, then ran, much to her surprise, and the rest of the onlookers disappeared. She quickly untied the captive woman then helped her to her feet.
“Thank you.” The woman offered a warm smile. “Thank you.” For a heartbeat she became transparent then disappeared, leaving Saldia on a deserted street with three glowing figures.
Everything grew fuzzy, dark, until she found herself on a soft bed. Haranda lay beside her and both sat. Wren sat cross-legged on the tapestry rug in front of the fireplace and she smiled. Caressing Saldia’s feet from the end of the bed was Predula, and Ved’nuri still stood nearby, hand on the bedpost, face unreadable.
“How do you feel, youngling?”
Saldia couldn’t help smile even as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Very well, Mother Haranda.” And she did feel well. Like a great burden had been lifted and she could breathe again. “I know I didn’t really save her, but somewhere inside I feel she knows I wanted to.”
“She does know that, youngling. Or rather, her essence knows. The Netherworld is not only for dreamers.”
Not only for dreamers? Blazes, the woman was a specter! She felt the blood drain from her face.
Haranda gave her a concerned look. “You’re not going to faint are you, my little shadow?”
“No, Mother Haranda.” Not yet anyway. Then she glanced at Ved’nuri and had second thoughts. Fainting sounded the perfect idea right about now.
“Well, well.” Predula chuckled. “Seems our younglings don’t know as much as they think after all.”
Saldia would have laughed except for the presence of Ved’nuri. The urge to count something, anything, filled her. Instead, she pushed her exhausted self from the bed and made a low curtsy, her face a hand span from the floor, legs trembling with effort of sustaining that pose. “Thank you, Ved’nuri.” She held the curtsy with every bit of strength her legs still offered. “Please, forgive me. I will take whatever punishment you see fit.” Though her gut trembled at the thought. “My apologies for trying to hide from you. I promise I’ll never try to deceive you again.” Tears streamed down her hot cheeks but she kept her face toward the floor, not sure whether the vibration beneath her was real or not. The sensation came and went so quickly.
A cool hand cupped her chin and urged her upright. She found herself staring into clear eyes as deep as any lake. Swirls of Goddess colors touched those eyes. Ved’nuri’s eyes seemed to strip her to her bones quicker than any Gypsy’s, but she held the gaze, barely.
“Your promise tells me that you’re a worthy Gypsy-child. I’ll see that you remain so.” Ved’nuri’s hand remained on Saldia’s chin, and her eyes seemed to push even farther than bone, if that were possible. “You’ll stay here today, sleep in this room tonight. Your clan mother will take lodging also. Tomorrow you’ll receive punishment for running away. I don’t have to tell you not to touch the Energy for you can’t here in the dome. You’ll eat and rest. Tomorrow won’t be pleasant but you’ll survive.” She released Saldia’s chin. “Haranda. See that your youngling eats what I send and sleeps. Then come to my anteroom.”
“Yes, Ved’nuri.”
“Thank you Wren and Predula. You may go to morning meal.”
“Yes, Ved’nuri,” the two mothers answered in unison. All held curtsies until the crowned woman left.
“You both need food and rest,” Predula said, not brooking any argument.
“We’ll see you tomorrow.” Wren brushed a hand against Saldia’s cheek. “Stay strong, youngling.” The two left.
Saldia collapsed onto the bed as fear swelled and exhaustion pulled at her. She began to count the blanket threads. What would her punishment be? Probably much like Adelsik’s. Or perhaps she would be bloodied for defying Ved’nuri. Perhaps she wouldn’t survive at all.
Haranda sat near her and she thought for a heartbeat she would get a smile, but the Gypsy’s dark eyes hardened. “I hope your punishment keeps you from ever wanting to do something this foolish again.”
Saldia swallowed hard and her mouth went dry. “Yes, Mother Haranda. Forgive me.”
“Of course I’ll forgive you. You’re my youngling. My clan daughter.” The eyes stayed hard, though.
“I want to be a good Gypsy, Mother Haranda.” Blazes! Why had she acted such an idiot! She wanted approval from this woman. She truly hoped to be a worthy Gypsy. In fact, she hadn’t wanted anything so much in her entire existence. “I don’t know why I ran. I was so frightened of the dream, of facing it, of watching that woman die again. I just wanted to disappear. All that seems foolish now, childish. Stupid.” She felt the blood drain from her face and gave a shocked look to her clan mother. “Mother Haranda, I hid from Ved’nuri! Bloody blazes in the underworld! What was I thinking?”
Haranda took Saldia’s chin in her fingers. “Your fear was real, youngling, a terrible memory. And you don’t need to apologize for that. But I’m glad you realize your foolishness with Ved’nuri. Tomorrow will be a hard lesson but if it makes you a better Gypsy, then all this is worthwhile.”
“Yes, Mother Haranda.” Tears fled down her cheeks again but the woman didn’t hold her, didn’t comfort her.
Instead, Haranda stood. “I’ll be back to see that you eat as Ved’nuri has ordered. Then you’ll rest. I guarantee you’ll need it.” She left the room.
Saldia buried her face into the pillows and sobbed. How c
ould she have been so foolish?
Chapter 37
Haranda waited until Saldia slept before she headed to the Fetch. The small man ushered her through the throne room and into the anteroom, where Ved’nuri sat at her table, drinking tea.
“Welcome, Haranda.”
She curtsied. “Thank you, Ved’nuri.” This time the woman didn’t tell her to use her original name. Candelus had retreated even farther.
“Please, sit. Candelus is still here.”
“Yes, Ved’nuri. My apologies for doubting.” She was now certain Ved’nuri could surmise her thoughts inside the dome. Despite the years they spent as clan sisters and friends, that unnerved her a bit.
“Apology accepted.” Ved’nuri didn’t offer any outward sign that she sensed Haranda’s uneasiness. She simply waited for a servant to pour a second cup of tea and refill hers then waved the woman out. “You saw, or rather, didn’t see your youngling in the cave?”
She nodded. Saldia had succeeded to hide body and footprint even while she moved, probably out of fright, and Haranda had trouble sensing her for several heartbeats. “Yes, Ved’nuri.” She took a sip of the warm, soothing tea.
“That Gypsy-child is strong, and strength needs discipline.” Ved’nuri leaned forward. “Discipline that must be provided and adhered to.”
What was she implying? That Haranda needed to spend more occasions with Saldia? Shade walkers were so rare among Gypsies that there were none to train the girl, not anymore. Haranda and the others were doing what they could. She realized clear eyes stared at her, or through her, and she quelled a shiver. “My apologies, Ved’nuri, but we’re doing our best.”
The crowned woman smiled. “Yes. And there’s no one to demonstrate shade walking abilities to the youngling. But I have an instinct about the Energy that Candelus didn’t have before taking the Vedi oaths. I would like Saldia to remain here a while. Since she can’t harness in the dome, she’ll be no threat when unaccompanied. She’ll have lessons with me in the gardens, where she can harness the Energy and I can assist.”
