by Shannah Jay
She heard footsteps hurrying towards the hut, but couldn’t see who it was. She didn’t trust herself to let go of the window frame, so she turned her head as the door opened, ready to face she knew not what. When she saw that it was Narla again, she relaxed a little.
'Oh! You're up!' Narla came to hold Herra's arm. 'You shouldn't be out of bed. I'm surprised that you got across to the window without falling. You won't have recovered your focus and balance yet, surely?'
'Not quite. But I managed to stagger across the room. Is it always like this when one has been talking to the High Council?'
'Usually it's worse. Most people can stand only one session. And some people take weeks to recover fully, even from that.'
'Why? What does it do to them - to us?'
'We don't know. Oh, there are theories, but no one really understands it. With the other deleff, communication is painful, but even the shortest session with the High Council leaves one debilitated and disorientated, as you've found. Will you not lie down again for a while? Truly, you must rest. It's the only way to recover.' She helped Herra back to the bed, but Herra refused to lie flat.
'I will rest a little, but I think it will be best if I begin to move around - just small amounts of exercise, every hour or so.' She looked Narla straight in the eye. 'And I need no more drugs in my food.'
Narla coloured. 'We were afraid for your health if you didn't sleep. Most people find it impossible to sleep naturally when they first come to us.' She looked straight back at Herra. 'I'm as near to a Healer as we have in Dsheresh Kashal.'
'You have a Sisterhood here?'
'No. It's not possible. There are too few women. They won't allow any of us to remain unmarried or - or to go away from the men. But some of us follow the ways of the Sisterhood as far as we’re able. My mother was a Sister before she was brought here. She taught me as much as she could. Now that you're with us, we shall perhaps be able to learn some of the Disciplines properly.'
'I don't expect to be here long enough to teach you much. Disciplines take years to learn - even if you're born with the Gifts.'
Narla's mouth closed firmly upon words she refrained from uttering.
'What is it? You're hiding something!'
'Nothing.' Narla stood up. 'I must go and get you something to eat.'
'Don't prevaricate!' Herra extended a Compulsion: Stand still and tell me what the matter is? '
Narla spoke reluctantly, even under Compulsion. If she’d been born in the Twelve Claims, she’d have been selected to serve as a Sister at the Festival of Choosing when she was fourteen. 'You're here permanently now, Herra, and must resign yourself to that. No one has ever been allowed to return to the Twelve Claims. And our records go back for many centuries.'
'No one? Not one person has ever left?'
'Not to return to the claims. The deleff don't allow it.'
'Do they keep you prisoner here, then?'
Narla chose her words carefully, and even so, she looked over her shoulder as if afraid of being overheard.
'The deleff treat us with respect and kindness. We're free to live as we please, as long as we live in peace. They won’t tolerate violence, whether in deed or thought. But for all their kindness we may not, under any circumstances, return to the Twelve Claims. About that and a few other things, the deleff are adamant.'
'And have none escaped?'
'Sometimes people flee westwards. The SS'Habi say that some lose their lives in the attempt and that even if they manage to cross the desert, the mountains beyond can be dangerous.' She saw Herra's frown and said quickly, 'I'm sorry, Herra. I didn't want to tell you this until you were better. Please try not to worry about it.'
'I shall have to think about it, but I shan’t let it impair my recovery, I promise you.' Herra lay back against the pillows and deliberately changed the subject. 'I must confess to being very hungry, Narla Nel-Kereth.
Could you bring me some real food now? Not drugged! '
'There's no need for sleeping drugs. I can see that you're well on the way to recovery.' Narla smiled and patted Herra's hand, relieved she was being so reasonable. 'Will you be all right while I'm gone, or shall I call someone to sit with you?'
'I shall be fine, thank you.' Once the door had closed, she lay thinking. From the way Narla had behaved, it seemed she feared being overheard, though how and by whom, Herra wasn’t sure. Well, whatever the deleff did, Herra had no intention of staying in Dsheresh Kashal, even if life there was agreeable. She still had absolute confidence that their Quest would continue. She knew that. Their Brother would provide for them, would open some avenue of escape. In the meantime, best not to fret her hosts by expressing such thoughts.
After breakfast, Herra found that her body required more sleep, not because the food had been drugged this time. She’d tested a mouthful very carefully before she ate, watched in awe by Narla.
'Can you really tell if the food has been drugged, Elder Sister?'
'If I'm forewarned. I don't normally bother to check everything I eat.' But I shall do so here.
By evening Herra was walking around the room quite steadily and she suggested they go outside for a longer walk.
'I'll ask Sarm.' Narla looked uneasy as she said the name.
'Who's Sarm? And why do I have to ask his permission to leave the hut? Am I a prisoner?'
'No, no! Of course not! We're just concerned about your health and safety. And he wants to meet you as soon as you're well enough. He's Captal of the town. We elect a Captal every year, in Council. By majority vote. Sarm has been Captal for several years. He's very popular.'
Was that bitterness in Narla's voice? 'But you don't like him?' Herra prompted.
Narla looked terrified. 'I didn't say that! How can you imagine such a thing? Sarm's been a most conscientious Captal.'
Herra noticed that Narla's eyes kept straying to the back wall of the hut. Was someone listening to them?
Narla added loudly and firmly, 'He has a most honourable record.'
Herra extended her perceptions outside and realised that two people were standing behind the hut, whose walls were only made of woven mats. If she’d been more alert, she’d have noticed them before. The meetings with the High Deleffal were still affecting her.
'Shall I ask Sarm, then?'
'If you would.' She watched Narla leave. A very free community indeed, if a visitor had to obtain permission to leave her hut - but best not to annoy them until she found out how things stood. She strolled across to the front window, walking more steadily now. Its blind had been rolled up, allowing her to study the scene outside. Dsheresh Kashal was a very small town. All the huts were like this one, made of poles, with woven mats for walls. Obviously there was little need to protect people from the climate, only to provide them with privacy.
Footsteps approached. How annoying that she couldn’t see the path to the front door! On a sudden impulse Herra sat on the bed and made herself look weaker and rather older than she felt.
'This is Sarm,' called Narla, remaining in the doorway, 'our Captal.' She let him and two men who looked like guards enter, but made no attempt to follow them inside.
Sarm was short, quite plump and dark-skinned, his brown hair liberally streaked with silver. He looked as if he came from the claim of Beldrian. He was smiling broadly, exuding warmth, but his eyes were cold and shrewd. His companions treated him with extreme deference.
Herra moved one hand languidly in a gesture of greeting.
'Dear lady, how pleased I am to meet you!' he said, bowing over her hand. She disliked the way he was eyeing her body. Did he think she was there merely to pleasure his eyes?
'I must thank you and your people for caring for me,' she said formally.
'It was our pleasure, dear lady, our very great pleasure. We know how badly people are affected by conversing with the High Council - though it’s a great honour to do so. Not all newcomers are allowed to speak to the Giver of Words herself.'
'A painful honour and
one I shall not seek again.'
'Who would?' He changed the subject. 'You are, or rather you were, Elder Sister of Temple Tenebrak, I believe. The SS'Habi told me a little about you when they brought you through the portal.'
'I am still Elder Sister and shall be until the day I die,' she corrected, her voice sharp.
'Yes. Yes, of course. You can call yourself what you like, naturally, and I daresay some of the women will enjoy it if you hold a few little ceremonies for them.' Before she could protest at this belittling dismissal of her calling, the subject was changed again. 'Now, Narla tells me you wish to go outside. Are you sure that you're fit to walk about?'
'Yes. I'm not a prisoner, am I?'
'A prisoner? Of course not! We're just concerned for you. We know how badly people can be affected by what you've gone through. Er - how many sessions did you say you had with the High Deleffal?' Casually as it was phrased, the tone of his voice showed that this question was important to him.
'I'm not sure. I lost track. I was there for five or six days. Maybe more. I can't be sure.'
'You are to be congratulated, then, upon your fortitude.' But the glances he exchanged with his escort were disbelieving. 'Well, I see no reason why you shouldn’t go for a stroll. Indeed, I shall give myself the pleasure of escorting you. Narla, you've been in attendance here all day. Why not take a rest? Your partner will wish to see something of you.'
Herra didn’t miss the sudden tension in the other woman's body, or the unhappiness in her eyes. However, Narla bowed her head obediently and left the hut.
'And now, dear lady, if you will take my arm?' Sarm dismissed his escort without introducing them and took Herra out into the evening sunshine. As they walked down the street, he pointed out the meeting hall and the communal eating area. A few people were busy there, but they didn’t approach them, nor did Sarm make any attempt to introduce Herra. Once or twice he nodded to someone, and from time to time he called out an instruction which was instantly obeyed.
After three circuits of the central village area, Herra judged it wise to pretend fatigue, and allowed Sarm to lead her back to her hut.
'I shall arrange for someone to bring you food,' he promised. 'But what you need most of all, dear lady, is rest. Believe me, I know.'
As her body was telling her the same thing, Herra lay down upon the bed. The food, when it was brought by a taciturn man, proved to be drugged, so she left it untouched and went to sleep.
In the morning, Narla brought her some more food, and raised her eyebrows at the sight of the untouched tray.
'I do not eat drugged food,' said Herra, pleasantly but firmly.
Narla's eyes flickered over the tray she carried.
'Is that drugged too?'
'I - er - don't know. I was just given the tray. Why should anyone wish to drug your food? You're imagining things, Elder Sister.' Her eyes went to the back wall of the hut in open warning.
'Either the food is being drugged, or it contains things which are not good for my body. It seems I must go hungry.'
Narla set the tray down and twisted the front of her sarong in her hands. 'Won't you try a little of it, Elder Sister? It's delicious.'
'No. I think I’ll go for another stroll.'
'Sarm said . . . '
'Sarm said what?'
'He - he said it would be better if you stayed inside the hut - just until you're fully recovered.'
'Strange. I asked him yesterday if I were a prisoner and he assured me that I wasn’t. I see no reason to stay inside. My body needs exercise, as well as rest.' She walked swiftly across to the door and stepped outside.
Narla hovered behind her. 'Please don't!' she breathed in Herra's ear.
Herra shook her head very slightly and kept her voice soft. 'I think I shall go for a stroll. Don't try to stop me, Narla.'
Before she had gone more than fifty paces, Sarm appeared from between two huts. 'This is very rash. You really should take more care of yourself, dear lady. I advised that you stay inside. Surely Narla told you?'
'She did, but I disagreed,' said Herra. 'I'm hungry. Where may I find some food that isn’t drugged?'
'What do you mean - drugged?'
Herra lost patience. 'Don't play games with me, Captal! The last two trays of food which were brought to me were drugged. I can sense such things.'
He shrugged and smiled placatingly. 'It was only for your own good. You need to rest or you won’t recover fully. We merely tried to ensure that you were well rested, that's all.'
Herra had taken an unreasonable dislike to his permanent smile and unctuous utterances. 'I need to eat and also to exercise,' she repeated firmly.
'Then, dear lady, I shall myself escort you to the kitchens and you may select what you will.'
She allowed him to escort her to the eating area, where she chose some food. The people working in the kitchens smiled and nodded, but made no attempt to converse with her. They seemed as wary of Sarm as Narla had been.
Afterwards, Sarm insisted on accompanying Herra for a stroll, but said he feared it would soon be necessary to escort her back to her hut. She was already looking sleepy. She nodded, but only because she really did need some more rest. Her body had tired more rapidly than she’d expected, It was infuriating to be so weak, but there was nothing she could do about it. And she would, she decided, maintain her older appearance. It might make them underestimate her capabilities.
They walked along slowly for a while longer. At first Herra ignored Sarm's fussiness and over-effusive conversation, but after a while she could stand it no longer. She interrupted him impatiently. 'When may I expect my friends to join me?'
He blinked at the abruptness of her question, but maintained his affability. 'I really don't know. One can never tell. We have a fairly full population at the moment. Sometimes they - the deleff, you know - keep people asleep for years. In reserve, you might say, for a time when the population drops.'
Herra stopped in her tracks. 'That I shall not allow!'
'Not allow! Not allow? Dear lady, please don’t entertain false notions about challenging the decisions of the deleff. They give no reasons for what they do and they are not to be disobeyed or persuaded to change. Even I,' he smiled placatingly, 'have had to learn that.'
'I think I’d better discuss it with the Elder SS'Habi. How do I arrange a meeting with her?'
'Through me - and I don’t grant permission unless it’s an emergency. The deleff prefer that.'
'This is an emergency!'
'My dear, dear lady, indeed it is not! Certainly not as the deleff would reckon an emergency. They don’t take kindly to us disturbing them for no reason. It’d be most unwise to make the attempt. Believe me, I know.'
Herra stopped and looked him in the eye. 'You surely don't expect me to waste time here, waiting for the deleff to decide whether to awaken my friends or not?'
'Dear lady, you have no choice.'
Suddenly her patience ran out. 'I am not your "dear lady". I am to be addressed as Elder Sister!'
His smile vanished. 'We do not have the Sisterhood here, and I'm beginning to think that I’ll have to forbid you to continue using that title. It gives you a false sense of your importance in our life.' The smile returned but again, it didn’t reach his eyes.
When he laid a hand on her arm, she shook it off and glared at him.
'Come, now! This is for your own sake, my dear lady, for your own sake. The title "dear lady" is used as a courtesy here, I do assure you. Our ladies are very precious to us, for there are never enough to go round. The deleff mostly bring back men.'
'Unless I am addressed by my proper title, I shall not reply, dear sir.'
Sarm’s mask of affability slipped again. 'You'll soon change your mind. We don't allow newcomers to build up unrealistic expectations.' They strolled in silence for a while, then he asked, 'Do you - are there other ladies among your companions?'
'Yes.'
'Of - of childbearing age?'
'Ye
s, I suppose so. Why do you ask?'
'We are rather short of ladies at present. I myself am lacking a partner this year.'
'Lacking a partner this year! What, in our Brother's name, do you mean by that?' She stopped dead in her tracks.
He waved his hand airily at her. 'Dear la - Oh, very well, I'll humour you for the moment - my dear Elder Sister, there's no time to explain all our customs now. It'd take far too long.' They were standing near her hut.
'I'll leave you to sleep,' he said soothingly, still speaking as if he were addressing a child, and a rather stupid child at that. 'You must sleep. We can talk another time.'
'I'd prefer to talk now, Captal.'
'Well,' he stared at her through narrowed eyes, 'perhaps it would be better. I wouldn't like you to entertain any false notions about your future role in Dsheresh Kashal.'
He followed her inside. Herra went over to the bed and sank down on it, unutterably weary. Yet again, all her body wanted to do was to sleep. But he’d said 'lacking a partner this year' and that phrase, plus his patronising confidence in his own powers and judgement alarmed her.
'Tell me exactly what you meant,' she insisted.
'You must first understand our situation. We are, in effect, prisoners here. We have a small population and few women. It isn't possible for those women to belong to one man only. It would cause trouble. It did cause trouble! It was most distressing. And the deleff don’t allow violence. Also, for the sake of our community, we must avoid inbreeding. Therefore it’s our custom to share our women. It's useful to know who has fathered each child, of course, so we spend, oh, a year or so in each - er - partnership. That way, each woman gives the community several children by several different men. No inbreeding. And all men receive a fair share of the ladies' - er - favours. Which avoids trouble.'
'And who decides which partner a woman shall take next?'
'Why, who else but the Town Council? We have the breeding records and we always make our decisions democratically. The most good for the most people, that's our aim.'
