The Shadow Gypsy (The Shadow Sisters)

by C. R. Daems

  "Give me your hands," I said moving closer. When he held them up, I grabbed them in mine and my chaos faded into the moment. Sizwe felt like an ancient rock: strong, stable, the wisdom of the ages. "The Storm Wizards’ strength is sand, what he can see, and his opponents’ pride. You must look for opportunities to engage him from the rear while retreating out of the desert. You have allies, trust them." When I released his hands and opened my eyes, he sat staring at me.

  "Yes, our enemies have good reason to fear the Shadow of Death."

  * * *

  We left the next morning and where in Sandel late that evening. We conducted only one performance the next day and left the following day for Windon, an easy two-day trip. Although fascinated by the presence of the Shadows, the clan sensed they weren't along for fun or to learn about the gypsies, and the mood was somewhat more sober than normal.

  We had no sooner made camp than an Araby captain with a detail of twenty troopers appeared. Santo was quick to meet them. I would imagine, that the presence of two Shadow Sisters made the soldiers somewhat less intimidating.

  "Sir, I'm the gypsy Santo, how may I help you?" he said, looking up at the mounted man. The captain hesitated, mouth open, when his eyes, peeking above a bushy beard and mustache and almost hidden by unruly eyebrows, caught the presence of two Shadows.

  "I'm Captain Cadell. Lady wu'Lichak asked me to keep a lookout for the gypsy Tobar clan. I'm to see you safely to Scio, although you seem to have sufficient protection." He smiled, judging by the show of teeth from within the beard. "You may proceed at your own pace, gypsy Santo."

  "Thank you, Captain Cadell. If it helps, we plan only one performance and one rest day in both Windon and Udo."

  "Yes, it does. I'll let Lady wu'Lichak know." He saluted and rode off after leaving a few men stationed nearby. Santo walked over to me and Luka.

  "What do you think, Ryana?"

  "I think Lady wu'Lichak is still in a bad mood."

  "What do you mean. She's not mad at us... is she?"

  "He's a new captain. I think she's cleaning house, reassigning the people loyal to her to key positions, and making sure the house stays clean. The Tobar clan is under the Lady's protection."

  * * *

  The next night, we put on a performance to an extra-large crowd as we had spread the word that there would only be one performance. And the presence of the Magic Balls was an extra incentive, since only the Tobar clan had the act. It would be interesting to see what the other clans would come up with to match it.

  Afterward, I took the fortunetelling tent, as usual. The first person in was the captain.

  "Good evening, Captain Cadell. How may I help you?" He was a broad shouldered man in his middle cycles. His uniform was clean but well worn. He stood straight but relaxed. I smiled to myself, remembering Ilka and Alida trying to teach me how to tell fortunes—make up stories based on cards, palms, birth cycles... Funny, because people told you a lot about themselves in the ways they stood, dressed, and talked.

  "You have quite a reputation. Even those who don't believe in fortunetellers seek you out, which is a contradiction, no?"

  "That's because I don't claim to tell the future."

  "But you're a fortuneteller. That's what fortunetellers do," he said with a hint of frustration.

  "But we agreed no one can tell the future, didn't we?" I asked, not showing the amusement I felt. He laughed, sat down, and put a silver on the table.

  "Yes, we did."

  "Place your hands on the table, palms facing down." When he did, I covered his and closed my eyes. I knew fighters, like Hajna, and thinkers, like Rong. This man had those qualities judging by what I'd observed, and it explained why wu'Lichak had promoted him and trusted him with the Tobar clan and me. "You have finally reached the position for which you are well suited. A storm will sweep Hesland, and you will be thrust into its path. Wit, not strength, will be required to survive. Duty will drive you, the earth, and the shadows into its teeth."

  "What about fire, water, and wind?" he asked. A clever man, as I had surmised, understanding the reference to the earth.

  "No, they are missing." I opened my eyes to find him looking off into the distance.

  "Yes, I understand why nobles and wizards seek you out. A glimpse into our destiny. Thanks you, Ryana." He rose and dropped a tora on the table and left. The rest of the evening was normal except for a few soldiers.

  "I see Captain Cadell visited you," Kata said, as she and Alida came and stood next to me. "I'd love to be a lizard on the tent wall when you are telling people's fortune. Nobles, wizards, and soldiers can't resist going to you, although they would be the first to laugh at anyone who went to a fortuneteller. When I have the duty, I get the normal number of women wanting to hear something good for a change. It's not only boring, it's depressing. I'll bet your sessions aren't."

  "If you don't consider getting whipped or locked in a dungeon for saying something a noble didn't like. Or having people wanting to whip you to get you to reveal what you told someone," Alida said.

  "Yes, but it would be exciting." Kata eyes sparkled. "Seeing into their future. It's not a secret Ryana can share with us, Alida. It's a gift."

  "And profitable."

  "Ryana doesn't care about the money, do you?"

  "No. But I'm glad they give me extra," I held up a tora, "Because it helps my clan."

  * * *

  A day's rest, two days travel, a performance in Udo, a day's rest, and three days travel and we were approaching Scio. Santo had put on a couple of acts for the troops each of the two nights we stopped on the road. No one minded, and it made for good relations with the military, which may be helpful in the future.

  "What do you think will happen in Scio?" Lujza asked. She had joined Luka and me on our wagon after the noon break.

  "I will be leaving the wagons, soon," I said. Luka already knew as we had discussed the situation several times over the past few days. "When the king's forces don't attack the Snowmen in the Assur Mountains, I believe they will attack the Zunji. Without help, the Zunji will lose and the Snowmen will occupy land bordering each province. They will isolate Tarion and eventually Tarion will fall to them and slowly the remaining provinces. The Shadow Sisters and the Earth Wizards are committed to helping the Zunji. I expect the king's forces and Araby to join us."

  "Must you go?"

  "Yes. I'm a Shadow and cannot abandon my Sisters, and my Sisters fight to protect Hesland and, therefore, my clan's safety. If my presence helps protect your safety in any way, then how can I do otherwise?"

  "You could be killed."

  "Would you give your life to protect the clan?" I gently wiped a tear from Lujza's cheek. She nodded acknowledgement. The rest of the ride was made in silence.

  * * *

  As we unpacked, Lord Boyan rode in with a small detail of troops. He nodded to me as he strode towards Santo. They talked for a few minutes then left. I noticed that Hajna and Fayza had also disappeared. I assumed I would see them at the Earth Wizard's lodge. Santo waved for us to gather and waited until everyone was there.

  "Lady wu'Lichak has requested a performance tomorrow evening," he announced. "We'll decide on which acts and the order tonight at supper."

  "Well we know one act. That infamous Tobar gypsy fortuneteller," Kata said, to laughs. "How come you never tell our fortune?"

  "Because you know I'm a fake," I said, shuddering at the thought of anyone asking. "And you wouldn't pay the two coppers."

  "Do you know your future?" Roza asked.

  "Yes," I said, and it felt like everyone stopped breathing.

  "To die a great-grandmother, in the company of the Tobar clan."

  * * *

  We arrived early to set up several hours before the first guest were scheduled to arrive, and then retired to a good sized room, which had drinks and snacks laid out on two long tables, to wait our call. The clan was relaxed, having given performances for wu'Lichak before, but sober. It was always wise to b
e cautious around nobles. They had the power of life and death. I sat leaning back against Luka, content for the moment, pondering an explanation Santo and Lujza could give for my absence when the time came. I wanted one that didn't cause too much stress within the clan; otherwise, they could say wu'Lichak threw me in the dungeon because she didn't like my telling. I almost laughed. She never liked my tellings.

  The performances went off with perfection and the Magic Balls got a rousing applause and some extra gold from the audience. Kata and I started the fireball act with a comic routine with one fireball before the other three joined us. And that act now had four fireballs active, which was an impressive display since the balls spent most of the time in the air crisscrossing each other.

  The waiting room was laden with food when we returned from the performance. An hour later, Lord Boyan entered and walked around talking to various people. Eventually, he joined Kata and me.

  "You two are very good. It appeared to me that your comic act was more dangerous than the serious one."

  "You're very perceptive, Lord Boyan," Kata said. "Pretending to be clumsy is frequently more dangerous, since it requires more skill than doing the thing."

  "If you will excuse us, Kata, I believe Lady wu'Lichak would like to hear all the good fortune Ryana has in store for her," Boyan said, with a twitch of his lip. Watching him, I thought he had gained a degree of confidence he had lacked before. I'd imagine wu'Lichak approved. In times like these, she needed a strong right arm, not just a loyal one.

  "Lady wu'Lichak is not looking forward to seeing you, Ryana. The incident with the Passion drug has shaken her, and you are not usually the bearer of good news."

  "No, I am not."

  He led me to the same room she had used in our previous visits, but unlike last time, she hadn't yet arrived and the table hadn't been set up for a telling. I walked closer to the three narrow windows behind her desk and stood looking at the full moon of Sycorax. Many said it looked like the face of a God. I was more inclined to think those people saw what they wanted to see. Just then the door opened and wu'Lichak walked in. She looked subtly different. Haunted? I gave a small bow.

  "Gypsy, Shadow, fortuneteller, which Ryana are you tonight?" She said. The sharpness of her tone surprised me.

  "You left out wife, Heslander, woman, ally."

  "I'm sorry, Ryana. I owe you my life, and I'm mad at you for... having to save me, for seeing me weak."

  "No one is strong enough to resist the Passion drug. One of my Sisters was seduced by the drug, and she seduced me, a friend she grew up with. She was strong, but I had to kill her. She could not overcome the drug. Weak people do not recover from the Passion drug."

  "Sit, Ryana," she said, pouring herself a glass of wine and sipping it carefully before taking a drink. "I would give you anything you want, but I suspect you don't want anything."

  "I want many things Lady wu'Lichak, but they are not the kind of things that someone can give me: peace across Hesland, the love of my clan and husband, to forget the killings, to walk in the shadow of my Sisters." Money and things did not bring happiness.

  "No, I cannot give you those things. But I can do my duty and help you work towards that future. Speaking of which, are you going to give me a telling? If I remember correctly, last time you attacked me and corrupted my loyal subject into aiding you in kidnapping me." She smiled at Boyan.

  "No, please make yourself comfortable. I'm going to tell you a story. It began after I left you and the Tobar clan moved on to Tarion..." I went on to tell what happened to the king, our findings in the Assur Mountains, and the Shadows’ destruction of the Snowmen leading the cults and their Passion nectar. "The future I see most clearly is the Snowmen attacking the Zunji and easily winning if the Zunji don't get help. And if the Snowmen gain control of the desert, I see generations of chaos."

  "You certainly never bring good news. But, at least, this time there is little ambiguity. We know who and what, only the when is uncertain. What do you want of me?"

  "We need your army on the border with Zunji province and ready to move. The Storm Wizards are the Snowmen's strength, but they are vulnerable from the rear. We must coordinate our maneuvers to expose their weakness. We cannot win with overwhelming force alone."

  "The armies will be separated by days. It will be impossible to coordinate our movements," Boyan said.

  "Each army will have one or more Earth Wizards with them. They will use birds to communicate with their brothers and sisters."

  "Lord Boyan, give orders to have the army assembled and prepared to leave for Windon." She looked to me. "Where will you be, Ryana?"

  "That is the one future I cannot see clearly."

  * * *

  When we arrived back at the wagons, I asked Santo and Lujza to join Luka and me in our wagon.

  "What's going on, Ryana?" Santo asked when the door closed.

  "I and others believe the Snowmen will attack the Zunji soon. In response, the king and Lady wu'Lichak's armies are preparing to move to support the Zunji. The Shadow Sisters and the Earth Wizards will join each of the armies to help. I'll be leaving tonight and not sure when I'll return."

  "What should we tell the clan about you and what is happening?" Santo asked.

  "Tell them what I've told you. There is a war coming with the Snowmen, and Lady wu'Lichak has insisted I join her army as her fortuneteller."

  "Actually, a good story. Enough truth to make it believable and difficult to disprove," Lujza said. "Where will you really be?"

  "I don't know. Not with the army. We Shadows are not soldiers. We are Spies and Assassins, so I'll be doing one of those things." I smiled and hugged Santo and Lujza. "Tell everyone I love them and see a bright future for the Tobar clan."

  "That means you must return to us," Lujza said, before she closed the door.

  "She's right. There is no future without you, Ryana." Luka had tears in his eyes, as did I.

  "There is only chaos if the Snowmen win, so I have no choice. This is as much about protecting the clan as Hesland. I will be careful. Assassins and Spies are not careless people, and I will have other Sisters with me. Last time I was alone." I melted into his arms, as there was little else I could say. We made love with the desperation born of not knowing if this were the last time. Later I packed my things, kissed Luka again, and slipped into the night.

  I made my way to the Earth Wizards' lodge where I was surprised to find Sister Rong. I updated everyone on my talk with wu'Lichak and her decision. The Earth Wizards had already begun to establish communications with their brothers and sisters in the other provinces, including Erica with the Zunji. Rong had convinced the king not to attack the Snowmen and to wait. She reported the king's army was assembled and ready to move, and the Zunji had assembled into three armies headed by Sizwe and his two sons, while the children and non-warriors were on the move towards Tuska, Calion, and Araby, whichever province was the closest to their current location. And Shadow Sisters were joining each of the armies.

  "What about us? Any suggestions?" Fayza asked idly to no one specific.

  "If I were Askell, I would send one wizard with a small force to freeze the king and wu'Lichak's armies in place, while the main force sweeps pass Tarion and attacks the Zunji. That way the rear of the main force would be protected," Rong said, drawing a map as she talked. I agreed with her. If they didn’t, it wouldn't be too difficult to defeat the Snowmen. The Zunji would retreat while the two armies attacked the rear. If the Storm Wizards switched direction, the Zunji would attack the new rear.

  "We are Assassins, not soldiers. If we can free either the Tarion or Araby army by killing the Snowmen's wizard supporting either of those blockades, the freed army can attack the rear of the Snowmen's main force. That is their weakness and what will be their death." I said.

  It took another hour to make assignments and prepare to leave. Rong, Hajna, Fayza, and I would leave immediately for the tip of Araby to wait for the Snowmen's armies to leave the Assur Mountai
ns. The wizard Tamid would go with us. Two wizards would join wu'Lichak to support her army, and three wizards would enter the Zunji desert to join and support them.

  Before leaving, we made new Shadow outfits—of a light grey cloth.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  DAZEL: Zunji – Storms of war

  We left dressed as Araby guards, with all the proper documentation thanks to Lord Boyan. I found it interesting. It was like what I thought being an apprentice Spy would be like, pretending to be someone I wasn't and guided by a senior Sister. Most nights we camped with other travelers headed for Tarion or Scio. They were happy to have us for protection, and we for any information they might have. The first night we camped with several merchants from Scio.

  "My wife and I are from Udo. We've heard that Lady wu'Lichak has been raiding the religious groups all across Araby," one old man said as we sat around a fire set in the middle of carts and wagons. "Have they been causing trouble like that other group a cycle or two ago?"

  "Not that I've heard, but the word is they were using drugs to recruit members. Lady wu'Lichak has made it a crime punishable by death," a well-to-do merchant said. He drove a small cart and had an armed guard for a companion.

  "Seems excessive. Don't you think?" a young man in his late teens, who appeared to be traveling alone asked, looking at Rong.

  "They don't pay soldiers to decide whether the laws are fair. But I have always found Lady wu'Lichak to be a fair leader. She reimbursed those cheated by the Eyes of God," Rong said like she had been there at the time. The people liked wu'Lichak and the talk changed to the condition of the roads and the weather.

  When went arrived in Udo the talk in the taverns was about Tarion.

  "Something bad is going to happen," an elderly merchant said at the table we were eating. "My friends and I have just come from there. The talk is of war."

  "With who?" a local shop owner asked.

  "Don't know. But the army presence is everywhere."

  "Another province wanting to overthrow the king?" the barmaid asked as she set down fresh mugs of beer for two of the local farmers and the stews we had ordered.