He froze as the guard drew his sword and stepped between Elkan and his patient, directly into the path of the golden light. “You will immediately cease all other activities and report to the Matriarch.”
Elkan pulled back and the light winked out. He rose, his hand still on Tobi’s head. His voice was mild, but Josiah could read the anger in his stance. “Unless some grave emergency has arisen, we will finish with this patient and refresh ourselves first.” Tobi snarled in menacing counterpoint.
The guard’s eyes narrowed. “A grave emergency has arisen. The Matriarch is losing her child.”
Josiah gasped. Elkan froze for a moment, then inclined his head. “We’ll attend her at once.” He stepped around the guard to quietly address his patient.
The elderly man waved him away. “Go on. My hip will wait. Make sure that baby sticks. Last thing I want is to see those blasted Purifiers take over.”
Elkan’s lips thinned, but he nodded. “Lie still until one of the other wizards can see to you. The break isn’t stable yet.” He turned. “Josiah, you and Sar come with me.”
Josiah fell in beside him. “Why? There’s still a lot to be done here, and you don’t need anyone to help with a miscarriage.” Sometimes a miscarriage could be halted, but usually the child was already dead and all they could do was make sure everything was expelled cleanly and the bleeding stopped.
Elkan didn’t lower his voice. “I think it wise to always have another wizard with me when I attend the Matriarch. The Mother’s eyes are everywhere, but wizards have been falsely accused of impropriety before when alone with a patient. Better to never let the situation arise.”
“Oh.” The Matriarch certainly wouldn’t hesitate to make that sort of accusation if she thought it would be to her advantage. Josiah didn’t see how it could be, but he agreed that it was better not to give her the chance.
The guard led them through the halls of the palace to the Matriarch’s bedchamber. The large room was hung with ornate tapestries and carpeted with lush rugs. A fire roared in a fireplace that took up most of the far wall, driving away the late winter chill. A huge canopied bed dominated one side of the room. Elkan needn’t have worried about being left alone with the Matriarch, for servants and guards were everywhere, just like always. Josiah made a face. Was the Matriarch ever truly alone? She probably didn’t even send her attendants away when Lord Renarre visited her.
The Matriarch lay in the bed, covers pulled up to her chin. A woman sat in a chair beside her, holding her hand and murmuring to her. She looked familiar. After a moment of searching his memory Josiah placed her. The Matriarch’s wise woman, which seemed to be the Ramunnan term for midwife. They’d met her during their first session with the Matriarch. What was her name? Oh, yes, Yerenna.
She rose and came to meet them. “I’m afraid you’re too late. Verinna passed the child some time ago.” She gestured to a bowl covered with a cloth on a nearby table. “It appeared complete to me, but you might want to check for yourself.”
Elkan’s face was set in grim lines. “I trust your judgement. We need to check her womb anyway to make sure it’s clamping down properly. If anything remains that could cause infection, we’ll sense it.” He dropped his hand to Tobi’s head and moved to the bedside. “Your majesty, may we examine you? Your body would probably recover perfectly well without the Mother’s power, but we can speed the process.”
The Matriarch pushed herself up to a seated position. Several servant women arranged pillows behind her back. She scowled at Elkan. “Of course. I want you to prepare my body to conceive again as soon as possible. Tonight, if you can.”
“We can.” Light poured from Elkan’s hand and surrounded her abdomen. After a few moments of concentration, he said, “We detect nothing in your womb. That’s not surprising; generally fragments only break off when the child has been dead for several days and decay has begun.” His fingers on Tobi’s head tightened. “And we know your child was alive yesterday.”
Josiah wasn’t sure why Elkan seemed so bothered. It was sad that the baby had died, of course, but miscarriages happened all the time. He hadn’t seen his master react this way with other women they’d attended, even when they’d been closely monitoring the pregnancy the way they’d been doing with this one.
Elkan took a deep breath. “Relax for a few minutes, your majesty.” He closed his eyes and his face took on its familiar look of concentration. The Matriarch leaned back against her pillows with a sigh and closed her eyes as well.
Josiah scratched the base of Sar’s ears and shot a curious glance at the covered bowl. Always before when they’d been called to help a woman after a miscarriage the midwife had already taken the remains away. In Tevenar it was traditional to bury a lost child in a garden or beneath a tree, in the family’s yard if they had one or in a park if they didn’t. He’d never had the chance to look at one. The idea of sneaking a peak was both unsettling and fascinating. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t been around dead bodies before. And he needed to learn what a complete set of remains looked and felt like, so he’d be able to recognize when one wasn’t, the way Elkan had said sometimes happened and could cause an infection. Didn’t he?
It wasn’t a very good excuse, but probably Elkan would accept it, if he even noticed what Josiah was doing. He casually wandered over to the table. Sar, come give me a look at this.
There won’t be anything to sense. Only death. The donkey flipped his ears back, but followed and positioned himself under Josiah’s hand.
I know. Josiah held his breath and folded the cloth back.
There were some bloody cloths in the bottom of the bowl, but the midwife must have rinsed off the remains to examine them, because they were fairly clean. Josiah wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but somehow the pitiful scrap of flesh shocked him, even though it looked very much like what they’d been viewing through windows for days. The translucent sac around the child was intact, still enclosing a bubble of fluid. Within, the limp body of the child floated, pale and gray. On one side of the sac the tiny placenta leaked blood where it had torn away from the uterus wall.
Josiah gulped. He was almost sorry he’d looked, but he still wanted to get the complete picture. Sar?
The donkey sent the Mother’s power into the bowl. No matter how many times Josiah felt the cold, heavy, smothering sensation of death, it always disturbed him. A fresh corpse wasn’t blank like an inanimate object, because residual life lingered in the tissues. But the central life of the organism was gone, returned to the Mother, leaving only a bitter taste in the back of his mouth, a fading hiss, and sparkles where the minuscule creatures responsible for decay were beginning to multiply. Josiah wondered what they’d look like under the expanding glass. Maybe they could find an animal corpse that wasn’t too nasty—
Elkan’s hard, matter-of-fact voice broke into his thoughts. “So, Yerenna, what did you use? I think I recognize the effects of pennyroyal. Sometimes women of the Cleaners’ Guild don’t realize they’re pregnant in time to stop using it to wash wool.”
Yerenna’s voice was cool. “That, and other things. Ginger, black and blue cohosh, primrose.”
Josiah swallowed and took his hand off Sar to fold the cloth back over the bowl.
Elkan’s voice took on an edge. “You’re lucky you didn’t cause her to bleed out of control.”
“I know my business.” Yerenna eyed him hostilely. “I’ve been helping women for many years. Longer than you’ve been flashing your lights around, I expect.”
The Matriarch glared at Elkan. “Don’t you dare criticize her. She did exactly what I asked.”
Josiah moved to stand behind Elkan. He felt sick to his stomach. They’d done it on purpose. When Elkan had refused to end the Matriarch’s pregnancy with the Mother’s power, she’d found another way.
Elkan removed his hand from Tobi’s back, cutting off the flow of the Mother’s power. His spoke in a flat tone that revealed no emotion. “We’ve taken your womb through approximately two
weeks’ worth of healing to its normal non-pregnant state. You remain healthy and fertile. Without further intervention from us you’ll probably conceive again in due time. Since this pregnancy was unaffected by rejection, chances are good any future children you have with Lord Renarre will also be healthy without our aid.”
The Matriarch narrowed her eyes and fixed him with a calculating stare. “Are you saying you won’t help me any further?”
Elkan clenched his fists. “I’m saying I won’t be a part of helping you conceive a child you intend to discard if it doesn’t satisfy you. I won’t continue to spend time and energy that could go to people who are sick and suffering and dying catering to the whims of a healthy, powerful woman with no regard for the Mother’s Law.”
She flung back the covers and rose, glowering at him. Servants rushed to drape a heavy silk dressing gown over her flowing white nightdress. “I am powerful,” she said in a low, threatening voice. “I can take away everything I’ve given you. I can banish you and every other wizard from Ramunna.”
Elkan inclined his head stiffly. “If that’s what you want, we’ll return to Tevenar as soon as we can arrange passage on a ship.”
She tilted her head, her expression turning quizzical. “You’d really give up so easily? I know how much it means to you to bring wizardry to Ravanetha. People like you who truly care for the less fortunate are rare, but I’ve dealt with the type before. In only two weeks you’ve transformed the lives of thousands in Ramunna. With my help you can do the same for vast multitudes more. It’s obvious you crave that like most men crave gold. And yet you’d throw away your chance to help millions for the sake of a life or two ended before they begin?”
Elkan swallowed. “I cannot violate the Mother’s Law.”
The Matriarch’s voice was soft and persuasive. “I understand. I won’t ask it of you again. Only to continue the same things you’ve done so far. Help me conceive a child; speed its growth. I know those things don’t break your Law. Think of your new Hall and all the people who’ll seek healing there for years to come. Would you take the Mother’s power away from them? Think of Kevessa and Borlen. Would you condemn them to exile from their homeland? And all the wizards the Mother might choose in the future, in Ramunna, and Marvanna, and Giroda. Will you end that future before it begins? When you could so easily, without breaking any of your Laws, have everything you desire?”
Sweat gleamed on Elkan’s forehead in the firelight. “Your majesty, I have to decline—”
Josiah couldn’t keep silent, the solution was so obvious. “Just don’t tell her the baby’s sex next time,” he blurted. “I mean, there’s no other way she can find out, is there? If a wizard doesn’t look?”
Elkan opened his mouth, but the Matriarch cut him off. “The boy’s wise. Of course there’s no other way for me to know, not with any degree of certainty. And I would never end a pregnancy that had any chance of being a girl.”
Elkan didn’t exhibit the relief Josiah expected. His face remained drawn. “That would address the immediate problem, but the larger issue remains. You destroy lives as it suits you. You kill without hesitation or remorse. It extends far beyond this one child. Do you think I haven’t heard reports of what goes on in your dungeons, what fate awaits those who oppose you too openly, what atrocities you’ve committed against the Faithful and others? How can I claim to serve the Mother if I ally myself with someone who does those things?”
“You already have,” the Matriarch said softly. “None of that was a secret when you first agreed to help me. You considered food for your starving people worth the price. Those shipments are beyond my recall now. But isn’t the opportunity to spread the Mother’s power throughout Ravanetha worth even more? I’m only as ruthless as I must be to protect my country. Ramunna is my birthright and my sacred responsibility. I’ll do whatever I must to keep her strong and safe. You know that’s true, don’t you?”
Elkan’s eyes flicked away from hers for an instant. “Yes.”
“Bearing a daughter and heir is one thing I must accomplish to fulfill my responsibility. But I’ve come to see that fostering the growth of the Wizards’ Guild is another. I’m not blind to the good you’ve done. Ramunna will be far better off if you succeed in your mission than if you don’t.” She extended a hand to him. “We share so many of the same goals. Let us continue to pursue them together. If I promise to carry any future pregnancies you help me achieve to term, will you agree to keep treating me? I’ll restore the payments I lowered yesterday. In fact, I’ll double them.” She smiled winningly.
Silently Josiah urged Elkan to accept. Surely the Mother wouldn’t object. She wanted to give her power to all her children. Now that the Matriarch understood the Law better, she wouldn’t ask them to break it again. Everything could continue as it had been.
Slowly, grudgingly, Elkan put out his hand and grasped hers. “You’ll abide by the Law from now on? Not ask us to break it, and not circumvent it the way you did this time?”
“Of course.” The Matriarch’s expression was open and guileless. Josiah didn’t believe she’d let the promise bind her for a minute, not if she decided she needed to break it, but he also thought she’d been sincere when she expressed her conviction that the wizards were good for Ramunna.
Apparently Elkan thought the same thing, for he sighed, closed his eyes briefly, and ran his free hand through his hair. “All right.” He waved at the bed and dropped his hand to Tobi’s head. “Lie down, and we’ll speed your body into the fertile part of your cycle.”
The Matriarch settled onto the bed with a satisfied expression. Elkan and Tobi went silently to work. Josiah leaned against Sar and waited for them to finish.
Yerenna moved to the Matriarch’s side. “With your permission, your majesty, I’ll leave now. Other women are awaiting my care. Summon me again if you have any need.”
The Matriarch waved her away. On her way to the door, Yerenna stopped at the table and picked up the covered bowl. “Would you like me to dispose of this for you?”
“Yes, please,” the Matriarch said. She signed heavily. “The same as all the others.”
Yerenna nodded subserviently and left the room.
Thirty-Six
Nirel dragged herself groggily awake, aware that the sun slanting through her window was at a midafternoon angle. She hadn’t meant to sleep so long. There were arrangements to be made. She couldn’t let her father’s body be buried in a Temple cemetery, with prayers to the Lady of Mercy chanted over it. She had to make sure he was interred with the proper Faithful rites. She owed him that much.
After she dressed, she peeped into Kabos’s bedroom. Someone had pulled the sheet over his head. That would do for now. Somehow she’d have to persuade Ozor to let Elder Davon send people to get the body and move it to the shrine for the ceremony. It didn’t matter anymore if Ozor found out the truth of their Faith. Kabos was beyond the villagers’ suspicion and hatred, and she’d be leaving as soon as her duty was completed.
She made an adequate midday meal from the food in the kitchen, then emerged from the house, wondering where to look for Ozor. At this time of day he might be anywhere—down at the ship, or off in the city looking for profitable trade goods, or up in the fields checking on the progress of the improvements Kabos was—
Nirel swallowed hard and shook her head. She’d check the tent first. Maybe one of the Girodans would know where he’d gone.
As she approached the tent, she heard Ozor’s unmistakeable bellow from within. She quailed at the fury in his voice. “I brought you here. I gave you the chance to get rich selling your skills for what they’re worth. I gave you the recognition and acclaim you wanted. And you repay me by creating a new treatment for the burnt-and-blasted wizards? They don’t need your help. And they certainly won’t pay for it! Do you realize how much we could have charged for that stuff? Every parent of a child with the sugar sickness would have poured coins into our coffers for a single dose. And they tell me those brats are go
ing to need your medicine every day for the rest of their lives. That money should have been mine! You stole it from me, you filthy thief!”
Nirel slipped through the curtain into the backstage area, staying quiet so she wouldn’t be noticed. Ozor and Nalini stood toe-to-toe in the center of the space. Tereid backed up the red-faced Ozor, while several of the Girodan healers clustered around Nalini.
Nalini gave Ozor a slow look up and down, curling her lip as if what she saw disgusted her. “Our bargain never gave you exclusive right to my services. If I want to help the wizards on my own time and for my own reasons, you have no grounds to forbid me nor any claim to the work I do for them. Take back your false accusation or I’ll terminate our contract right now.”
Ozor’s eyes blazed. He took a deliberate step closer, drawing himself up to match Nalini’s slightly greater height and putting his face close to hers. “Thief.”
Nalini looked down her nose at him. “Zamli, pack my belongings. I’m moving to the Mother’s Hall.”
“You can’t do that! We have a contract! The Matriarch will—”
“The Matriarch will read the document we both signed, which clearly states that either party can walk away at any time.”
Ozor sputtered for a moment, then rallied. “Are you so sure that’s what it says?”
“It’s what my copy, which I had prepared and certified by a Girodan notary, says.” Nalini smirked at him. “Did you think I was stupid enough to leave the only copy in your hands?”
Ozor face darkened to an even deeper shade of red. Nirel feared he might explode into violence. She cleared her throat. “Um, excuse me, sir?”
Ozor whirled to face her. “What?” he barked.
Nirel shifted her gaze away and swiped at nonexistent tears. She made her voice weak and tremulous. “Please, my father… I need…”
Tesi immediately came and put an arm around her shoulders. “Has no one helped her with the body?”
Beyond the Boundary Stones (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 3) Page 46
