by Liam Carrack
I hustled past the business in the kitchen. Cook had both Dalla and that young Scuf boy busy about preparations, and I didn’t bother them. A well-muscled man of middling height was walking toward me. He passed me with a curt nod and begged entrance at the kitchen door behind me. The man who had limped the other way in mail perhaps? He was clothed in simple working vestments now, but he bore them with dignity.
I reached the outdoor bathing house where the little girl was giggling and splashing in the smallest of the bathing tubs. Llanalla was sitting in discussion with the boy. “Is that so?” She sounded unconvinced. I was immediately on the defensive.
“They’re Gifted. They were out there, and if you can sense his Gift surely you can see how vulnerable he is. They need to at least be taught the fundamentals. You can’t ask me to send them back out there. Truly you can’t.” I was pleading with her. She started at my words, and then looked up at me, and I saw in them a touch of anger.
“What do you think I am, Horice?” I had read her wrong. She didn’t understand.
“We could teach them. Run a school of sorts. I don’t want them for vessels of power.” I was frantic. She had to understand that my idea wasn’t the power hungry ravings of a madman as the Guild would label me; had labeled me. “I want to teach those who would not receive proper training otherwise, and start a new era of innovation, and create a base of learning for the betterment of all men.” Tears were clouding my eyes now, but I could see that she stood, and was walking toward me. “The Sage’s Guild mocks such ideas, or worse, but I tell you I am not power mad. I want to enrich, not drain.” She was saying something but I couldn’t quite hear it for my own words. I had to make her hear it all, I had to make her understand. “Even if they only hold the tiniest of Talents, they have minds. There is intelligence out there. If we could gather it, aim it, we could accomplish much.” My cheeks were wet and her hand was raised. I shrank from whatever blow she would deal me, but her hand brushed gently against my cheek, and I could hear her.
“Horice. Oh, Horice. Do you think I know nothing of your ideas? That I have not read your works? I know what you wish and I support it.” Her words were soft and caring and I straightened with hope. “I could not throw anyone into the streets, Horice. You know better than that. And beautiful children such as these deserve caring and compassion. How could you think I would not accept them?” She was hurt and expressed as much.
My own past experiences, “they laughed… or booed… hissed at me, and locked me out of their confidence. I thought I knew many of them.” I stared at the ground and realized the happy splashing had stopped when a tiny rough hand touched my arm. I looked to it and stared into the girl’s eyes. I knew joy and acceptance as had never been mine in the Guild. It wasn’t the face I had met when I had been bowled over by a wee Llanalla all those years ago, but it was the same expression of freely given love and adoration. I looked up into Llanalla’s eyes and found much of that emotion still seated there. “I am a lucky man to have such as you,” I looked down again at the girl, “and you.”
“Uh-humm.” It was Wenss clearing his throat. He looked like a drowned rat with his head peaking out of a larger tub of water. “I’m all wet and I’ve scrubbed with that stuff…”
Llanalla laughed out loud and walked over to him. “Have you no memory of ever having a proper bath? I find that very hard to believe. She picked up a long handled brush, dunked it into the murky water then set it to a bar of soap at hand and began scrubbing him thoroughly. “Perhaps I should become a washer woman. This will be my third child washed today.” She smiled up at me as I sat on a nearby bench and began rubbing dry the wee girl before me. “And what is your name darling?” I said after nodding to Llanalla.
“Wenss calls me SeCi, but I think I have another. I just can’t remember it,” she piped up at me. I was rather surprised. I hadn’t expected a reply. She had been so taciturn up until now. “I like to talk, but I wait until people will listen.” I looked at her sidelong, but dismissed it. I was well shielded and she wasn’t that strong. She must have read it on my face. “What are those?” She pointed to the pile of possibles I had dropped on the bench beside me when I had arrived.
“Those? Oh, those are for you and Wenss, if they’ll fit.” I said with a smile. She escaped the towel and streaked to the pile. Her eyes were wide, and she gasped when she touched them. “They’re so soft.” She picked the frock on top up and put it to her nose. “And they smell like… good things. They smell good.” She turned to stare first at me, and then at Llanalla. “Can I really wear this?” Her rough hands had caught on the fabric and one of the gowns was now stubbornly clinging to it.
Llanalla laughed again. “Does it fit?” she said with a smile.
The tiny girl looked down at her hands quickly while the joy fled her face and worry replaced it. “I don’t know?” It was heartbreaking to watch this tempestuous ride she was on.
“Well, lets find out.” I was on my feet and I took the nightgown Yesmena had given me and held it out full length before her. It would touch the ground, but it would do. I hadn’t realized until now that I had carried nightclothes out here. It was late afternoon, and most children of wealthy families would be sent to bed soon, so it made sense. “Looks like it will do.” Her face beamed again, and she jumped up and down clapping her hands. “Should we see if the other is a better fit first?” She looked at a loss.
“Okay,” but she cocked her head to one side as if questioning my sanity at not giving her the first thing to hand. I picked up the second nightgown and held it before her. “Oh, this is much better. See, it will not drag underfoot and the shade of pale blue contrasts with your green eyes so well.” I reached out and poked her in the belly as I said it and she squealed with delight. I dropped the gown over her head and watched her wriggle into it. It was a little big around the middle, but Cook would see to that soon enough. Behind me more splashing announced that Wenss was escaping the water. I picked up the night things Yesmena had found and turned to him.
“I’ll take her into the house. Can you handle the Sir?” She was grinning but with his back turned Wenss didn’t know she was giving mockery. “We can talk about how to work things out later. First, I need you to find something remotely flattering for yourself because we have some important dinner guests. I will need your help. Attend me in the nursery as soon as you can. And, get Scinna’s approval on your attire please. We will have to get you some new things it seems,” she smiled at me with an almost apologetic air.
“I will.” I smiled as she lifted Seci off the ground and carried her while discussing important matters, no doubt. “You sir, will have to decide which is a better fit. I held before me the pants of the night things and he eyed them warily while holding up a towel around his lower half.
“Umm… those,” he said pointing at the striped pair I held with my left hand. It was probably the better choice, simply because there was a drawstring with which he could cinch it up. “She’s nice.” He jumped into the pants and was busily tying up the drawstring, and I bent to roll up the pant legs so he wouldn’t trip himself. I handed him the smaller of the two shirts. It didn’t quite match, but Oh well.
“She is that.” I responded in the same quiet, but terse manner.
“She’s a bit rough with that brush though.” I laughed at this. He didn’t look happy, so I stood and found him some slippers. They were the smallest we had, but they would be comically large on Wenss. He led the way back to the Hall while I stifled laughter at his plodding progress.
Scinna
She’s mad! First an infant on our doorstep; that can be chalked up to simple charity, but now, an entourage of those filthy, thieving beggars, and Horice bringing home more! What will I do with them? I don’t care if one of them is a lord. Is lord of the beggars better than a regular beggar, or worse? I’m sure that lord of thieves is worse than a regular thief, but what am I, just a housemaid, unmarried, unappreciated, and working class? My father never understood. He was
such a fool! Now I work in someone else’s home, albeit family, with no rights, no say in my own life and waiting on a Dynaly rabble all because he would not see his precious daughter married to a man of a slightly lower class of Gemsman. Oh, but he wouldn’t have seen a problem with me waiting on Dynaly would he? He did enough of that himself. He always admired their class system and hierarchy of Nobility. He and his pride always seemed to bend for them. Opals and Amber were all he ever truly cared for. If he could see what my beloved Gorsynn has made of himself, and what I have been forced into, he would just… sigh…what’s the use? Stop complaining woman. The sooner you face up to reality the better. If there wasn’t so much to be lost I might seek council from someone at the guild. There is, and I won’t.
You’ve been so caught up in your own thoughts you’ve set out places for five instead of four. Wake up woman! Whaa …? The door? Who would be calling now? Oh No! Please don’t let it be Guild Head Jespyrn now. Not now!
I was fleeing the evidence of the formal dining room. I had to back track in order to ensure that all doors fell closed behind me in hopes that no tell-tale evidences of our odd guests showed. I would not be at fault for our being found out if I could help it. I loathed the thought that Llanalla would be airing any of it at the Council tomorrow, or any other day. As I was closing one of the doors Llanalla herself shuffled up beside me.
That girl has a lot of nerve, but she is quick. She had a similar stricken look on her face and the front of her gown was wet. Dear Gods, why did she insist on bathing the masses herself. I’m glad she hasn’t asked me to do so, but for her to be doing so herself degraded her and her name. Why couldn’t I make her see that?
“I’ll finish closing these and then make a quick change into something dry and meet you in the front hall. If it’s Jespyrn, tell him I’ve taken ill, or am feeling out of sorts and wish not to see anyone today. Stall him anyway you can. If its Council Authorities stall until I return, don’t let them into the Hall proper whatever you do.” She turned to rush up the front hall stairs as I opened my mouth to ask her how in Phirr’s name she thought I could manage to keep Council Authorities out when she faced me and began again while still edging up the stairs. “If it is Gemsman Tobbyrn ask him to await me in the office off the front entry.” Before I could ask her how would know who this Gemsman Tobbyrn was, or my original question, she was gone. I could hear doors closing as she went.
I suppose I had no choice, but somehow as I passed through the front doors of Gellisarn Hall I felt at peace and equal to any task. I reached the front Gate to the Compound and swung open the door to find, not the company of malicious soldiers I expected, but a single hesitant man. He was well dressed, but not overly so. I had visions of Gorsynn in our youth.
“Yes?” One word, but more intimidating than any other demand in my opinion.
“I … umm … came at the request of the Lady Llanalla. The late Daddyn’s daughter.” He had begun with stammering and playing with his tunic ends, but ended with assurance and formality. Even his posture had straightened with that tiny speech.
“And you are?” At least he wasn’t another Dynaly.
“Gemsman Tobbyrn, Keeper of Records for the Guild of Gem Traders and Cutters.” More formality. That was a weighty title for one so young, even if it was not a sought after position. Inwardly I was shocked to see this young unknown on our doorstep as Llanalla began another two years in isolated mourning… well, perhaps not so isolated.
“She is expecting you. Follow me please.” I bobbed a slight curtsy at his entrance, closed the Gate behind him, and swept past again leading him toward the office as requested.
Llanalla
I left Horice with the task of finishing up with the second of his new students and headed for the kitchen. It was astir with bubbling-this and roasting-that. Cook’s young helper was busy turning a spit with one hand and stirring the contents of a large stew pot with another. Dalla was chopping veg, and Cook was measuring out something.
“It smells good,” whispered the tiny girl in my arms. I was about to ask about what feast she was preparing when the bell at the front gate sounded.
“Yes, it does, why don’t see if Dalla has something you can help her with…” I looked up to see Dalla with a stricken look on her face, the one I was trying not to wear.
“Why don’t you come upstairs with me? I have set out a supper for you and your… friend… already.” Yesmena said this with a comforting smile and took the girl right out of my arms. Something in my heart lurched sideways with the girl when Yesmena took her, but I kept moving.
I started for the door only to remember I was dressed in a now sodden gown, nor did I smell particularly wonderful.
I met Scinna who was frantically closing doors on her way to answer the bell. I gave her some small instruction that made me feel even more that the tables had turned in our relationship. I left her and closed door after door. As I closed the last door into my own chamber I nearly sobbed over all the conflicting emotions roiling in my chest. I loved Scinna, and wanted to go on letting her order my world as she always had. But somehow, in the last few minutes I had shut myself off from that possibility as firmly as I had shut any of the doors now separating us. I hoped fervently that I had not hurt her in doing so. She was not my servant. She could never be just a servant in my house. I needed her to be an ally, and not a coerced and grudging one. I didn’t want to trick or beguile help from her either. I must give her the opportunity to come to the conclusion that all this wasn’t awful, but how? Time. Time would tell.
By the time I had puzzled that urbane thought through I had managed to rid myself of my wet gown, wash my face and hands to the elbows and vigorously rub myself down with a fresh towel. Thoughts of what to wear occupied me while I dusted myself liberally with a fresh scented talc, and repinned my hair. I must be elegant enough to satisfy the Dynaly contingent I would be eating with, but speed would be my best ally, especially if I had Council Authorities ransacking my Hall even as I stood here.
“Ah-hah.” The dress I had worn to the funeral last week, or was it? Had it really only been three days ago? That hardly seems possible. The dress was manifestly easy to get in and out of as it was made for a woman heavily grieving, and who might need to be removed from it in a state of unconsciousness. Women are so want to swoon after such proceedings! What a load of manure they tout. I have attended more than my fair share of funerals and I have not once “taken the vapors”.
I was just doing the last button on one of the sleeves and slipping my feet into a pair of new house slippers as Scinna entered to tell me that Gemsman Tobbyrn was in the office as I had requested. She was cold and distant. I had to do something to reverse this sentiment immediately, and I hoped Tobbyrn would keep.
“Scinna, barring the stables and outhouses, where do you suggest would be an appropriate place to house Horice’s new students? I was toying with converting one of the unused servants’ quarters into something of a dormitory to serve them. Do you think that wise?” Perhaps if I gave her control, and asked her opinion, not to mention letting her have a chance to fall in love with these children herself, she would come on board.
“Oh, I thought surely you’d give them a suite in the guest quarters.” Her face was closed, but at least she felt she could show her disapproval.
I continued on as if she hadn’t spoken even though she was walking at my elbow toward the front hall office and our guest. “Tonight they will be in the nursery with the boys, but that is an inappropriate place I think. I intend to maintain a class distinction between students and the household.” I turned sharply and caught her hands in mine as I caught her eyes with grave seriousness. “You are to have authority over them, not the other way around, and make sure the rest of the staff knows the same. I expect much out of you, and I know I’m putting all of us at risk, but this is the start of something that I think will benefit us, and in the long run, all of Phiriel. It’s a gamble, but I can’t win if I don’t have your support.
Your support more than any of the others, Scinna.” A single tear escaped as I said it, but I marshaled my emotions and went on. “All of my life you have been there to help me and guide me. You are the only constant in my life, Scinna, the only one still here. I need you.”
Her hardened expression melted and she drew me into a hug. “I’m just scared of what might happen, and you haven’t exactly been consulting me much the last couple of days. Its like you grew up and flew away in a matter of moments.”
I pulled out of the hug, and saw she was tearing up. “Tonight after the craziness, if you’re not too exhausted, meet me in my private office, and I’ll explain all my near and far-off plans that you might pick them apart as you wish. I can always let you retire to another of the estates if you can’t find comfort in this.” She nodded then, and straightened.
“We’ll talk later then. `Records Keeper’ Tobbyrn is waiting.” Her voice frosted as she spoke. I thought perhaps she disapproved of him as well, and was inwardly shocked at the title she used when I noticed Aahurn fast approaching. I attributed her chilly demeanor to his presence. He slowed a step, and then stopped cold for a moment as Scinna spoke then, resumed speed to catch at my elbow before I could turn. I marked it all, but said nothing.
“May I walk with you?”
“I have a visitor I must greet. One who may, or may not understand your presence here, but I will not forbid it. The choice is yours.” I tried to sound flippant, but I only managed to sound a little like Scinna. I started off in the direction of the waiting guild member as I said it, and Aahurn followed in my wake.
