Trista did know the way back. She'd learned to count all her steps to everywhere, and to remember. The day would come when getting home might depend on it.
Once back in their rooms, Vanteen complimented her on her rapid learning. Trista thanked her and stretched out on her couch and was soon asleep.
* * * *
Q'winn was trying to nap, too, with much less success. He always found the last jump home to Dannar exhausting. And once home, one had to deal with the emotions of those planet-bound when they looked at you and found you changed.
He'd spent the last hours in private consultation with the Elders and the Kaden-ati. They received his news of a new and unknown world with varying degrees of excitement and concern. When he confessed to having retrieved a female from that world, curiosity abounded.
Then the arguments began.
Q'winn had shocked them all into silence. All but his father. The elder H'akan had solemnly reminded his son of his avaki status. Q'winn had returned his father's concerned gaze with a cold stare.
He knew well what he was.
Q'winn refused to turn Trista over to the Elders. He explained to them he'd already earned a certain amount of her trust. He already knew a certain amount of her language. He would continue to obtain information from her. The Kaden-ati had agreed.
Without the backing of the Kaden-ati, the Elders were forced to concede. It was unusual for an avaki to want to have anything to do with a female, but they decided Q'winn was right. If he could continue to work with her without compromising his vows, they would allow it.
Q'winn had thanked them with his heart in his throat. Only his father, A'rtenn H'akan, had any idea of what it would mean to him. And what it would do to him.
There was a time Q'winn had cursed his father for his part in his son's destiny.
Now Q'winn lay on his couch and refused to give in to the urge to toss and turn and roll around in uncomfortable disquiet. He had conquered the urge to leave the Chamber of the Elders and go to Trista at once. Too many people would have seen. Now he had to win the battle again.
He rose with a sigh and lit his prayer lamp. He didn't expect to pray. If he did, Sioda would doubtless answer in ways that he could not obey, or worse, did not want to obey. The cost of his obedience would be high.
He had brought this on himself. He had prayed and Sioda had answered.
He had asked for a companion—a female companion. An alien female who would not expose him as being jayalor.
Seemingly his prayers had been answered in Trista. He didn't dare turn from the gift. Not if Sioda had led him to her. But the fear that Sioda was testing his worthiness to serve her caused him to break out in a cold sweat.
There was no way to know. All he could do was live out the days as they were given to him. Sioda would speak and show him, or he would fall, and fall hard. A lifetime would be wasted.
But if he fell, someone else would manage what he had managed again someday. He had risen to be a kaden of the Cael. He had studied and become a high-ranking avaki. He commanded a space ship. He rode the drost through the desert to the oasis of Damali.
He did all these things when his society said he, and those like him, could not handle the stresses.
He had been wrong to ask Sioda for Trista. He had let his loneliness speak for him. He blew out the small flame of lamp.
He would not give prayers of thanks to Sioda today.
Four
Trista was curled in a warm ball, snuggled under her woven blanket and fur spread. Vanteen's voice drifted to her, clear and soft, singing a song from her home world. Vanteen sang frequently and through her songs Trista was learning of Okar.
Trista rolled over and stretched. She could tell by the sudden cocking of Vanteen's head that she had heard the rustle of Trista's blankets. Vanteen continued the song to the end then turned and looked at Trista.
"This is story of Conar. Stranger who come Okar. Make babies many females. Make females all happy."
"Really? Where was Conar from?” Trista stretched again.
"No know. Far away. True story.” Vanteen flung open the shutters. Light streamed across Trista's couch making her pull the blanket over her head. Vanteen laughed.
"Breaak-fasst now,” Vanteen said yanking the covers off of Trista. “Eat. Work duty. Then go see."
"Go see what?” Trista asked her. “Or do you mean the ocean?"
Vanteen thought about that. “Go to big waa-terr if Trista want."
"The ocean, then. O-shun,” Trista said. “Are you saying we can just go to the ocean when we want to?"
"Trista way is now. Sorry. First work duty,” Vanteen said firmly. “Listen Vanteen. Trista free go see all. But not go far on road. See markers, come back. Santonna other side. Not nice. Trista stay in Mahdis."
"What markers?"
"Big poles. Each side of road. Ugly face on each. Not go past. Not go that far. You listen Vanteen you stay in keep. But Vanteen know Trista. Speak to self."
"I hear you. I'm paying attention.” Trista tried not to be annoyed with Vanteen. The extent of her freedom of movement in and out of Mahdis Keep would become obvious quickly enough.
Vanteen continued to tell Trista about Conar as they ate breakfast. Trista had to admit she was fascinated. Conar had certainly been a busy and vigorous lover. No wonder they sang songs about him.
"True story, huh?” Trista asked with a sly glance at her companion. She'd learned early on how to tease Vanteen. Vanteen never caught on until it was too late.
"Yes, true. Conar part of my linage."
"Really? Why didn't you say so at the beginning?"
"Here not important. Only Okar."
Trista paused and thought about that. She was struck by the feeling that Vanteen didn't care if she ever made it home. She'd tease the older woman later.
"Vanteen, do you want to go home to Okar?"
"No,” she said, then grinned. “G'rasan here, not Okar."
"You have a boyfriend?” Trista asked, surprised.
"Not boy. Man,” Vanteen said nodding her head slowly. “Much man.” Her meaning was clear.
"Okay. That's more than I need to know. Maybe G'rasan descended from Conar, too."
"No.” Vanteen tapped her hand. “Listen now. Care-ful-ly. Go G'rasan this night. You be here. Not say peoples ears."
"All right. I won't say a word to anyone,” Trista promised. If Vanteen left her alone this evening, she would test the limits of her freedom and explore the keep. Maybe she'd find Q'winn.
"Hurry,” Vanteen was saying. “We now work duty."
Trista gulped the last of her tea and washed off her plate and cup. She hoped whatever work Vanteen assigned her to would not be too hard to learn. She didn't speak Dannarri well enough for technical instructions.
The area beneath their landing was already bustling with people when they stepped though the door. Most were carrying baskets of goods towards the outer gate.
"Is it market day?” Trista asked, then had to explain ‘market.’ Vanteen finally nodded that it was. Instead of taking Trista to see the market, Vanteen led her though a small alley that ended at the courtyard of a large structure. Vanteen tapped on the third door on the right. The door opened into a long, spacious room. Several women already sat working at their looms.
Vanteen stopped about midway down the row and pointed to one.
"Work here. You there.” She motioned to Trista to sit at the loom beside hers. “Sit. I show. Sit."
Trista sighed and sat. Doing this all day did not hold any appeal.
Vanteen showed Trista the loom's operation and got her started on a simple piece. After about an hour Vanteen patted her on the shoulder and finally sat at her own station.
The time passed quickly enough. All was quiet until they stopped for the midday meal and one of the women produced a large flask of a dark, fragrant liquid. The smiles and nods and winks alerted Trista that whatever the brew was, it must pack a punch. She held her cup out when it was offered to her, then sniffed
and tasted.
It set her tongue on fire and brought tears to her eyes.
She watched in amazement as Vanteen swallowed her portion in one fast gulp.
The afternoon was very different from the morning.
The morning had seen the women working with dedication at their looms. The afternoon brought merriment and very little work. Only those who were finishing their pieces completely seemed interested in work and they kept one ear on the conversation. The women sang and gossiped and traded stories. Men often came out on the short end.
Trista listened with interest. Of the dozen women working the looms, six of them were Dannarri. The other half came from alien worlds. All seemed to have Dannarri lovers. All seemed to be content. A few talked of going home, but without any sense of urgency, which Trista found baffling.
They asked Trista questions about Earth and she tried to tell them. Vanteen helped translate as much as she could. At least until a horn sounded.
The long, clear note stopped Vanteen in mid-sentence. She abruptly stood and grabbed Trista.
"Home now. Show you know way home,” she said as she dragged Trista towards the door. Trista had time to call out a goodbye to the laughing women before Vanteen yanked her out the door.
"What is your problem?” she demanded as she pulled free of Vanteen's grip. She leaned close to Vanteen's slightly furred ear.
"Are you in a hurry to be with G'rasan?” she asked. Vanteen showed her small, pointed teeth.
"I with G'rasan. I do with good. You not doubt this,” she said. “Now no say more. No tell I do with to him. He like, too.” Vanteen looked smugly at her.
Trista grinned the rest of the way back to their room and kept on grinning as she watched Vanteen prepare herself to meet her lover. The ritual was much the same as it would have been on Earth. The bath with scented oil, the special attention to hair and clothing, and finally to nails. Only Vanteen made sure her nails were dulled.
Just before she left, Vanteen handed a small purse to Trista.
"Coin. Go marr-kett."
"And purchase what? Foodstuffs?"
Vanteen cocked her head.
"What buy?” Trista asked again.
"Is for you.” Vanteen patted her hand then stroked Trista's hair. “Is for you. From kaden. Get pretty things make you home."
Trista watched Vanteen fly down the steps then assume a more dignified pace when she reached the lane. She headed towards the inner walls without a backwards glance. Trista stepped back inside and examined the contents of the small purse. She had no clue to the value of Dannarri coin.
The market did seem like a good place to visit. She'd look around and maybe be able to ask a few questions without drawing too much attention. And keep her ears open for any casual comments that might help, too.
She didn't dwell on the fact Q'winn had left the coins for her. She felt it was only right that he did. It was his fault she was here, after all. But she knew she'd thank him when she saw him again. He'd kidnapped her but he'd not mistreated her. And Mahdis Keep did not feel like a prison.
Trista blended into the flow of people heading through the main gate to the wide meadow where the market was held. She strolled from vendor to vendor greeting everyone and smiling. She finally came upon an herbalist. She inhaled the mélange of fragrances and smiled at the woman perched on her stool.
Trista had no inklings about the woman's medicinal wares, but she sniffed several of the soaps and selected one that smelled of grass and spice. The woman spoke to her, but Trista did not understand and replied in her own language she did not.
The woman looked surprised then spoke a bit more. Trista caught part of it and nodded.
"Anakin, yes."
The woman smiled and held out her hand for Trista's purse. Trista dropped a few coins in her palm. The woman sorted through the coins and held one up for Trista to examine. She pointed the soap, then the coin. Trista nodded. The little coin was the price of the soap.
The woman handed the coin back to Trista and closed Trista's hand around it. She said the word that Q'winn used to mean share or sharing. Trista smiled and nodded. The soap was a gift, then, to welcome her to Dannar.
Trista wasn't sure what to make of the Dannarri. They abducted her then gave her gifts.
The woman tapped her arm to get her attention. She showed Trista a small basket. Trista nodded again. She should have brought one of Vanteen's. She looked at the various baskets and pointed to one that had bands of red and purple around the top.
The woman gave Trista a look that Trista interpreted to mean it was more expensive. She held out the purse. The woman made a wry comment and picked out the little coin again and handed the basket to Trista then made a shooing motion. Trista grinned and nodded, then dropped the little cake of soap in her new basket and waved goodbye. The woman waved and smiled in return.
Trista didn't plan to buy anything else but the wind shifted and the aroma of something being roasted drifted to her on the breeze. She followed her nose to what seemed to be the only food vendor. She tried to watch and see which coin was used for a platter of meat and the chunks of potato-like stuff on the side.
A firm hand in the middle of her back made her whirl around abruptly. It was the tower guard. He gave the vendor a few small coins and handed a platter to Trista. He steered her to a bench and motioned for her to sit while he went on. He was gone a few minutes before he returned with two mugs of a reddish liquid. He sipped his and sat Trista's on the bench between them.
They sat in companionable silence while Trista ate. The man snared a few morsels off her plate, grinning as he did it.
"You're trying to flirt with me, aren't you?” Trista asked him. He gave her the same uncomprehending shake of his head she'd gotten from Q'winn in the beginning.
He said her name, then pointed to himself and said, “W'eylin."
Trista repeated it and smiled. She finished what she wanted of the generous platter and wondered what she should do with it. W'eylin took it from her, wolfed down what was left then returned the platter and the two mugs to the vendor.
He came back to Trista and pointed towards the inner walls. Trista shook her head. She was not ready to go back. She wanted to see just how far she could go outside the walls.
W'eylin looked disappointed, but nodded his acceptance of her refusal. He raised her hand to his lips, murmured something softly and walked away. Trista sat in stunned disbelief.
Had he just propositioned her? Maybe accepting the food had been a bad idea. Damn Vanteen for running off. Trista had a few questions for her when she managed to get back to their rooms.
Dusk was beginning to fall and Trista decided she'd better wait until tomorrow to explore further. She grabbed her basket and walked briskly back through the gate to her rooms.
Trista settled in the small tub and used her new soap. She tried to think over what she'd done with W'eylin that could have been a mistake, but the warm water made her sleepy. She finished her bath and slipped into the long, warm robe she slept in.
She had to face it. Everything she'd said and done with W'eylin had probably been a mistake. She had to steer clear of the men. Period.
She felt lonely for the first time since she'd been taken. She'd been expecting Q'winn to appear at any moment today. He had not.
It occurred to her he might not even be here. He could have gone back to the Anakin and taken off again. She turned down the lamps and slid under the covers on her couch and willed herself to sleep.
* * * *
Q'winn rose from his couch and walked silently through the open doors to his balcony. He'd been abed for hours but sleep had eluded him. It was his own fault.
The young novice he'd charged with keeping an eye on Trista had reported she'd gone to the market and shared a platter with one of the tower guards, W'eylin. Q'winn had thanked the boy and given him the required coin for his service. He'd not let his surprise, or his anger, show. It was not the fault of the novice.
He had
tried to meditate and clear his mind. It had helped. He had finally realized he was worse than angry Trista would do such a thing. In truth, why should she not find a male companion?
She was a healthy young female. It was her right to take a lover if she chose to do so. Most of the alien females did eventually.
Q'winn tried to tell himself he should be thankful it was W'eylin. W'eylin planned on making a career, not a family. He would not likely seek permanent ties to any female. He'd chosen to pledge himself, his very life, to the protection of the Cael, from oldest tribe member to youngest.
Q'winn looked out over the mountains. There was no moon tonight. Tomorrow would begin the Season of Ceca. In fifteen days their largest moon would appear at it fullest and they would celebrate the Feast of Ceca. Between now and then the avakis would fast and pray for the people of Dannar.
He had performed the first of the ritual cleansings earlier. But this year, this season, he'd performed it by rote. He'd not felt the gentle caress of Sioda soothing his soul.
He'd heard her laughter.
Q'winn walked wearily back to his couch and stood staring at it. He didn't want to lie there again. Alone. He thought of Trista lying beside him in the dark and his phallix tightened again. He'd spent hours trying to deal with the needs of his body this night.
His thoughts had wandered into the forbidden and he'd become so aroused his maleness had hardened and displayed. He'd been grateful for the privacy afforded him by his avaki status and disgusted with his lack of bodily control. Even now it threatened to happen again.
It would be fifteen days before he could call for her to come to him under the pretext of learning about her people. Fifteen long days. And fifteen longer nights.
There was no help for it. He dropped onto his couch and willed himself to sleep.
He had a duty to his people and to Sioda. His jealousy over his brother being able to court Trista would just have to wait.
Five
Trista knew before she opened her eyes that Vanteen was not there. She lay quietly for a few minutes listening to the sounds drifting through the shuttered window. People were stirring in the lane below.
The Skies of Mahdis Page 4
