by Dana Davis
Haranda steered Henny toward the teachers’ cottages. “You come too, Taniras.”
Someone must have told Haranda what happened in the dome, how Taniras got Henny to calm. Probably that busybody servant. Surely, Haranda didn’t think they’d been drinking.
The mother opened her cottage door. “Inside, both of you.”
They released the Energy, causing the orbs to wink out and stepped inside, greeted by a hearth fire. After Taniras dipped her feet in the basin, she realized Predula was right behind them.
“Please, Mother Haranda. I haven’t been drinking.” Henny started to giggle but that vanished at the Gypsies’ stares. “I only had water. They gave me water.” Her eyes widened.
Haranda studied her. “Calm down, youngling. I just want to get you into better light. Something has happened and I need to find out what.” The fireplace gave off light, not to mention warmth, and Haranda ushered the girl to a chair. She used a single yellow spark to light the table lantern and another two for the lanterns on the wall then pulled another chair in front of the girl and sat, taking her hands. “Look at me, Henny.” After a heartbeat, she clicked her tongue and focused on Predula. “Her eyes.”
Predula took Haranda’s place in the chair and studied Henny. The short mother’s hair hung loose and was even more unruly than during the day when stray frizzes floated about her face. “What have you been up to, youngling? You’re pupils are as large as two full moons.”
Henny shook her head and Predula focused on Taniras. “She fell asleep?”
“Yes, Mother Predula. I held her. She was very upset.”
“She was sleeping when we went to the dome to fetch the younglings,” Haranda told the short body-healer.
Predula shook her head. “That doesn’t explain this.”
Two mothers studied Henny and she squirmed. “I didn’t do anything. I didn’t.”
She started to get up but Haranda stopped her. “You stay right where you are, youngling.”
“But I didn’t do anything, Mother Haranda. I followed instructions and went to the dome. Please. If you’re upset that I fell asleep, then I apologize.”
Taniras should have felt for the girl but right now she was glad the attention was on someone else, especially as two mothers hovered like vultures swarming a gutted calf.
Predula took Henny’s chin between her fingers. “What else happened? I want details, youngling. One doesn’t get moon eyes from sleeping. Start from when you heard the bells and don’t leave anything out.”
Henny nodded and blathered faster than normal, even for her. “I woke up and ran outside. I wasn’t sure what was happening at first. Everyone seemed in such a panic.” She lowered her eyes. “When I realized Lombreeth might be coming through the Means, I started to cry.”
“There’s no shame in crying,” Haranda said. “Continue.”
“Well, Father Xiath told me to get to the hill. Maesa was on her way there and walked with me. The new-oathed Gypsies had already gathered and we waited until headcount. I walked to the dome with the others and the servants let us in. They told us to go into one of the waiting rooms where we sat on the floor. They really should have more seating in there, Mother Haranda.” She took in a breath. “I had a cup of water and a servant washed my face but I was still upset. Maesa and Taniras were very nice and comforted me.”
Taniras didn’t feel the least bit jolly when Henny smiled up at her. In fact, she wanted to slap the girl’s face for getting them into trouble. Maybe Henny had been drinking. The little imp.
Henny’s focus went back to the mothers. “Taniras sang to me. I couldn’t understand the words but it was a lovely song. I was tired and fell asleep.” She grinned at Taniras again.
The short mother gave Taniras an inquisitive glance that irritated her even more, and she ground her teeth so hard her jaw hurt.
“Oh,” Henny added. “One of the servants said that Ved’nuri would want to talk to her.” Taniras crossed her arms and leveled a gaze at the girl. Henny began to squirm. “She was just trying to comfort me, Mother Haranda. She didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You let me worry about that.”
“But—”
“Silence, youngling.”
“Mother—”
“From what I’ve heard, you’re innocent in this. But if you prefer punishment—”
“No,” Henny said quickly. “Thank you, Mother Haranda. I’ll be quiet.” She made a locking motion over her lips like a child.
“Smart,” Haranda said, though her eyes had already moved to Taniras.
Predula turned eyes on her too, and she felt the blood drain from her face. “I didn’t do anything wrong, Mothers.” She was angry, not frightened like Henny.
Haranda eyed her with that intrusive gaze. “You must have done something.”
“I didn’t do anything.” Fury rose in her and she turned on Henny. “Why did you have to tell them anything, you little, ungrateful—” Something struck her leg and she yelped.
“Enough. You sang something in the dome and we want to hear it.”
“Oh.” Why were they so interested in that idiotic song? “Just a stupid lullaby.” Or was it? “I learned it from my root mother.” That was the truth. The woman was a simple village gardener, nothing more. The two Gypsies waited and she sang for them.
When she finished, Predula cursed, and Haranda gave the woman a startled look. The short mother didn’t approve of anyone cursing around her. She would even upbraid an Elder for it.
The way Haranda raised her brow at the other mother, Taniras wondered if the two were the same age, or near enough. Haranda crossed her arms. “Nice language, Predula Meday. And in front of younglings.” Taniras wasn’t certain but she thought the healer actually blushed. “Is Henny ill?”
Predula shook her head. “No. They’ll both be fine for now.”
“All right then. You two get to bed. We’ll finish this tomorrow.” Haranda led Taniras and Henny to the door. “No singing that lullaby until we see what Ved’nuri has to say. You understand?”
Taniras held her temper and nodded. “Yes, Mother Haranda.”
“Good. Now get some sleep.” She shooed them to their respective cottages.
* * * *
Sleep had taken Taniras late in the night, leaving her irritable once morning arrived. She woke before the others, washed and dressed and had prepared to leave when her cottage mates awoke.
The newest youngling, Bhrighana, sat on the edge of her bed, head in her hands. Taniras watched a heartbeat then sat beside the girl and wrapped arms around her. Bhrighana burrowed into her embrace much the way Henny had last night.
“Shh.” Taniras crooned and rocked the girl.
There had been so much commotion the previous night that none of the clan sisters had a chance to talk much. And all the secrecy about that bloody lullaby had Taniras on edge.
Tsianina had dressed and sat on the other side of their new clan sister. “Everything will be all right,” she said in her island lilt. “The Vedi will see to that. They’re fair minded.” Her waist length hair was braided but she wasn’t wearing flowers, yet, and her fingers absently brushed the tops of her ears.
Bhrighana pulled away and rubbed her face. “I know.” She sounded so young that Taniras wanted to rock her again.
She was young. Her body had grown like Nym’s, incredibly fast, but she was still a child, no more than ten years old in her mind. It would be moons before she merged, before her mind reached her physical age, and Taniras felt oddly protective of her new little clan sister. Blazes! The child was at least ten years younger than she, maybe more.
She wondered at Tsianina’s calm demeanor. She also wanted to know what Lombreeth had done to the island woman. Before she could say anything, Haranda entered their cottage. None of the female Gypsies or servants knocked, which irritated Taniras, and younglings weren’t allowed to bar their doors. In fact, there were no locks on any of the cottages. Of course, younglings had to knock and wait
for permission to enter anyone’s room. Taniras frowned at the Gypsy before realizing what she was doing, and Haranda regarded her a heartbeat.
She quickly covered. “Bhrighana’s upset, Mother Haranda.” She was pleased that the Gypsy immediately shifted focus from her to the young girl.
“I’ll take care of her. You two get to morning meal. You and I have an appointment with Ved’nuri, Taniras.”
“Bloody blazes in the underworld,” she uttered, stealing one of Cass’s favorite curses.
Haranda narrowed dark, intrusive eyes on her. “Guard your tongue, youngling.”
“My apologies.” She felt anything but cordial.
Haranda nodded. “Accepted. The Vedi are interested in that little song of yours.”
“Yes, Mother Haranda.”
She ducked out behind Tsianina and the two headed straight for their table. The sun was bright against the blue sky, as usual, and she squinted as she stepped across the lush grass. She didn’t even look in the direction of Camlys and the other Gypsy hunters. She had to remain calm and not create trouble today. She kept her eyes from Camlys but could feel the girl’s gaze. It was bad enough that her younger friend had authority over her but Camlys had actually humiliated her on numerous occasions. That bloody promise basket still infuriated Taniras and she closed her eyes once she sat at the table.
“You all right?” Tsianina said.
“Yes.” She opened her eyes.
Her clan sisters all knew of the problems with Camlys but she felt closest to Tsianina. They were cottage mates and only three years apart. Though Tsianina was older, she never claimed authority, which probably had much to do with Taniras’s warm feelings toward this sister. In fact, Tsianina often came to her for advice, instead of the other way around.
Of course, Taniras thought the woman a bit mad in her beliefs, especially after she took extra chores in order to feel forgiven, and for something that was completely out of her control no less. Even the proud Gypsy servants frowned at cleaning privies, no matter how much coin they made. And nothing could force Taniras to volunteer for that nasty chore. The island woman’s tribe had strange rules, much different than Maricar, but Taniras tried to learn as much as possible. Once she gained control of the Energy, she would have to get past Tsianina Koni and the new youngling before getting to the Means. She needed this woman to be her friend. The fact that she liked Tsianina, made the task that much easier.
“Is she still watching?” Keeping eyes from Camlys proved harder than she thought.
“No,” Tsianina said. “She’s talking to Greges.”
Taniras sighed and a servant placed her plate in front of her. Saldia and the others took up utensils and began eating. Taniras hesitated only a heartbeat before taking the first bite. Upon swallowing her third, she became hungry enough to eat more, even with a nervous stomach. When she had first arrived here, the amount of food served had surprised her. But now she was glad to have such meals. Working with the Energy tired her but the hunger was something she hadn’t expected.
She heard laughter from one of the tables and recognized Snowy’s voice. That man made her blood boil, in more ways than one, and she kept eyes on her plate. A grunt escaped and she pushed impure thoughts away. Ved’nuri would probably skin her if she acted out on any of them, but not before Haranda had her elbow deep in privy mess. And the Goddess only knew what Ved’mana would do to Snowy. A servant was expected to protect younglings, not bed them. Bloody Gypsy rules!
She realized Maesa was speaking to her. “What?” It came out bit more irritably than she would have liked.
The raven-faced girl narrowed sharp eyes. “I said, how’s our new clan sister?”
“Oh. Bhrighana is adjusting. Mother Haranda’s with her.”
“And you? How are you doing?”
“Keep to your own business, girl.” Blazes! What was wrong with her?
Maesa held her hands up in defense. “No need to snap at me, Taniras. I simply asked about your well-being.”
All clan sisters’ eyes were on her and she cursed under her breath. “My apologies, Maesa.”
Why was she so edgy? She didn’t have to work with the barn animals today, so that wasn’t it. And Ved’nuri was only interested in her song, like Haranda had said. Much of what went on here grated her nerves but now she felt like gnawing right through a tree, one with a particularly thick trunk. Someone touched her shoulder and she nearly jumped off the bench.
“Calm down, youngling.” Wren. The white-haired Gypsy cupped Taniras’s chin in one hand. “I think you need to come with me.” The blood drained from Taniras’s face and she sat staring. “Now, youngling.”
“Yes, Mother Wren.” She left the half-eaten meal and followed the woman to her cottage. Wren must have seen the exchange with her clan sisters. Blazes! Once inside, the Gypsy motioned her into a chair and she sat, her back not touching and her legs ready to push her to her feet if needed.
This Gypsy was advisor to Haranda, Predula and other mothers. The fact that Wren had been their clan mother still intrigued Taniras, and she wondered just how long Gypsies lived.
“You’re very anxious today. I would like to know why.” Taniras shrugged. One brow came up and those looped braids moved as Wren cocked her head, the youthful face not matching the whiteness of her hair. “That’s not a proper answer, youngling.”
The childish treatment chafed and Taniras fought a grunt. She had no idea why she felt so aggravated but decided it was in her best interest to give Wren something. Anything to keep herself from bloody privy duty. The way she felt today, she might just be stupid enough to try and smack a Gypsy. “I didn’t sleep well last night and I have to see Ved’nuri today.”
“Yes but she’s only interested in your lullaby. You know that.”
“I know, Mother Wren. I’m irritable. I can’t explain it.” She pushed her bottom off the chair and dropped back down, jarring herself, and balled her hands into tight fists. “Blazes! I just want to hit something or break something. My mistake was coming here in the first place.” She did regret coming here. Yes, that irritated her and she gripped the sides of her chair to keep from bashing the thing into a dozen pieces.
Wren regarded her with no expression for a heartbeat then pulled a chair in front of her and sat. “Give me your hands.” Taniras narrowed her eyes briefly but did as the woman instructed. “Now, I want you to relax.”
“Relax? How can I bloody relax?” The thoughts poured from her mouth. “I’ve been sequestered here, forbidden to leave. My friends have authority over me. Two, I might add, who are younger than I am. Ved’nuri hears about this stupid lullaby and I’m summoned to the dome. Wren, I’m so bloody angry I could—” Her ears rang at the slap and she gave a startled look to the mother. It wasn’t a hard slap, just enough to get her attention.
“That’s quite enough.” Wren’s gray eyes were hard. “I wager something in that lullaby is making you act this way.” She reached behind Taniras and rubbed her back. “Regardless, you had better remember to use my correct title when speaking to me, youngling.”
Taniras soon felt better. Her anger was still there but buried now and she could focus on her situation. “Yes, Mother Wren. My apologies.”
“Accepted.”
Taniras studied the woman and her words sank in. “You think the lullaby is charmed?” Charmed songs were a staple in children’s stories back in Maricar. But they were just stories. No one believed in them.
“Something like that. I think we should get you to the dome now. The kitchen servants can prepare you another plate once we return.” She stood and pulled Taniras to her feet then led her outside, where they ran into Haranda.
“We can’t wait any longer, Haranda,” Wren said. “You get Henny. I think the Vedi should see both girls now. And tell Predula to accompany us. Raith can handle classes by himself for a while.”
Haranda studied Taniras a heartbeat. “Right.” She gathered Henny and Predula and soon the five headed to the dome.
>
Once there, Wren pulled the bell rope and a servant let them inside. After servants washed their feet, they were led to a waiting room, the same one where Taniras had comforted Henny last night. There they were given tea and crescent honey-cakes, which Henny took greedily. Taniras watched her a heartbeat.
“What?” the blonde girl said through a mouthful, “I didn’t get to finish my meal. I’m hungry.” She smiled, and Taniras thought she acted even younger than normal.
Not long after that, a servant came for the three Gypsies, leaving Taniras to watch Henny. She wasn’t instructed to keep an eye on the girl but felt that was her duty, especially if something had happened with that stupid lullaby to make Henny behave strangely. The girl had merged sunrises ago according to the mothers but acted young now, foolish, as though she had been sipping cider wine. This could all be Taniras’s fault.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Henny took another cake and pushed it into her mouth then followed it down with tea.
“Are you sure you haven’t been sneaking wine?”
The girl nearly choked and then began to laugh. “That’s what Haranda said.”
Something was definitely wrong. Henny hadn’t slipped on their clan mother’s title since Taniras arrived in the Land of the Goddess. And now, the girl didn’t even seem to notice.
“Henny?” Taniras said slowly, as though talking to a daft person. “You had better not let Mother Haranda hear you call her that.”
“What?” Her back was to Taniras now as she studied a tapestry on the wall. “Ooh, that girl there is very pretty. Don’t you think so?” One hand pointed to a crowned figure in the tapestry.
“She’s not a girl, youngling,” a servant said from the doorway. Her hands rested on wide hips and she glared at Henny.
Taniras stepped to her clan sister’s defense. “She’s not feeling herself today. That’s why we’ve come to see the Vedi.”
The servant woman nodded. “Yes. Lucky for her. Follow me. The Vedi are waiting.”
