"Perhaps she's trying to turn a new leaf," Matilyn said, "This will soon be her home, and these people her family. Perhaps she's taking advantage of a fresh start."
Samuel raised a brow, "Do you believe that?"
"No," Matilyn said. She sighed. "I've been worried since we got here. She was like a different person."
"Exactly," Samuel said, "We're going to have to keep an eye on her till the wedding. She's not going to give up so easily. I don't know what she has planned, but she's thinking of something to cause trouble no doubt."
"I'll keep an eye on her," Matilyn said.
Samuel nodded.
"I hate playing babysitter," Matilyn said.
Samuel laughed, "That's exactly what we are," he commented. "Good gods, what have we got ourselves into, Malevus?"
Matilyn took another look at the beautiful view and shook her head. "Trouble."
TWELVE
Fight For a Plot
PENNY LOOKED OVER THE FAMILIAR FACES GATHERED in the Chapel. Joanna Whitetree, Kevin Bishop, the Remmus couple (Ryan and Catelyn), and Sirn Moss.
"Thank you for coming," she said. She heard her voice crack a little at the end and hurriedly took a sip of water. She wanted wine, but she knew she needed a clear head for the conversation. She felt nervous now though, and all of her rehearsed lines flew from her head. Most of these people she hadn't seen since Kenneth's death.
"Why are we here?" Joanna asked. She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. "What do you want?"
Joanna had never liked Penny. She'd been part of the original resistance, the one Kenneth had founded, and she'd never forgiven Penny for not joining. It didn't help that Joanna had also been in love with Kenneth. Penny's marriage to Kenneth had been strictly business but it hadn't stopped Joanna from resenting her.
She suddenly recalled the last time they'd seen each other. Penny had been holding Joanna, comforting her after Kenneth's death. She had to swallow the lump that suddenly rose in her throat.
"It's almost been a year," Penny said, looking at them. She didn't see any friendliness, but she forced herself to go on, "We need to talk about the resistance and where we should go with it."
"Go with it?" Ryan said, "What are you talking about? The resistance died with Kenneth."
Penny shook her head, "It doesn't have to be dead. You all talked about sacrifice before his death. That's all I heard, all the time. Sacrifices, sacrifices. As soon as something happened, everyone got cold feet."
"He was your husband," Kevin said, "Sure you were the most affected by his death."
Penny didn't miss the bite to the comment, but she did her best to ignore it. Her heart felt as though it might hammer right out of her chest.
"Of course I was affected," Penny said, "but I've come to realize I wasn't as affected as all of you. Kenneth and I were married, but everyone knew it was strictly professional."
"He cared about you," Joanna snapped. "I know you didn't feel the same, but he cared."
"I did care for him," Penny said, "It's true that I wasn't in love with him, but I cared for him. We were friends. Gods, he was my brother's best friend growing up. How could we not care about each other?"
"I think though," she said, "that all of you knew him better than I dd. What would he have wanted you to do once he died? Would he have wanted you to give up?"
Ryan shook his head but didn't look remotely convinced. Instead he gestured around. "Look around at us, Penny. Look how many people are here. The resistance was only ever a dream by a group of people who wanted change. We never truly had a chance."
"You didn't have me, before," Penny said.
Joanna snorted but Kevin actually leaned forward, speaking earnestly, "As prestigious as you are, I don't think one additional person is truly going to make a difference."
"I have money," Penny said, "and a lot of it. I also have contacts, and I have a position in the city that people respect. I'm a Priest. I have resources that none of you had before."
She watched them exchange glanced, each contemplating that. She knew none of them came from money, and none of them were priests. They all led low profile lives, trying to avoid the spotlight.
"No," Joanna said. "It's too late for you to join us. Kenneth was our leader and now he's gone."
"But we're not," Sirn said, speaking up for the first time, "We're still here, and she's right. We all talked about sacrifice until something real happened. This could be our chance to reform, to finish what we started."
Ryan looked as though he was going to argue, but Catelyn put a hand on his arm, "You were saying how you wished we could do something," she reminded him softly. Ryan glared at her. Catelyn just looked back, unashamed.
Penny leaned back, rubbing at her temples while she listened to the arguments. Joanna was the most set against returning to the resistance. Penny could understand; she was the most adamant about it when it was still happening. She was sure that Joanna felt a measure of guilt about abandoning it all those months ago.
She'd been expecting some resistance from the old members, but she hadn't expected the full blown stigma against the idea. She didn't know what to say to convince them. Part of her began to wonder if she'd have to do it alone.
Penny had ideas about how to go about forming the resistance, but she wasn't sure she wanted to do it without help. These men and women already knew information she'd have to get all over again. She needed them. She also needed them to give her the courage to go forward.
"What's going on?"
Penny and the rest of the group looked up at the sound of the voice. It was Sara Burke; one of the Priests Penny had worked with when she'd been keeping the Chapel open for healing.
Sara Burke was another woman Penny had not quite gotten along with. She'd never understood why Penny worked with Peter Sterling. She considered him the enemy. Penny knew the truth to this thought, but she also knew that Lamonte commander often brought injured people to her when he could have left them injured.
Penny sat up straighter. "What does it look like, Sara? We're holding a service."
"This isn't one of the service days," Sara said. Penny could hear the suspicion in her voice. Sara looked at everyone present and folded her arms. Nobody wanted to speak, leaving Penny to handle it.
"What are you doing here?" Penny asked. She looked around, "It's rather late and I wasn't aware you were doing a penance or healing?"
To her surprise, Sara's face flushed a bright red, "That's none of your business."
"But it's your business why we're here?" Penny asked. She frowned at Sara, "What are you carrying? What is that?"
Sara tried to hide the basket in her arms behind her back but it was too late. Penny stood, approaching her. She took the basket from the woman's arms and looked inside. It was bread. There wasn't a lot of it, but enough for a few meals.
"You brought food?" Penny said blankly.
Sara looked at the circle of suspicious, mistrusting faces and then burst into tears. Penny stepped back, unsure what was happening or what to do. She'd always hated watching people cry.
Catelyn was a lot better then Penny at adapting to the situation. She got to her feet, and put a hand on Sara's shoulder, "What is it? What's wrong?"
"I've... fine, I've been sleeping here," Sara finally said in a trembling voice, "Oh gods, what you must think of me." Her eyes moved to Penny, "How the mighty have fallen, right? You must love this."
Penny shook her head, confused. "Why are you sleeping here, Sara? What happened to your home? I thought you had a place out by McCarran road."
"I did," Sara said, "I lived there with my brother. He was an invalid; that's why we stayed in Valishna. He couldn't have left. He couldn't even take care of himself. I supported us both."
"Alan, right?" Penny asked. She tried to remember him, and could only conjure up a face of a sickly man that would sometimes come with Sara to the chapel for services. She knew he had a hard time walking; there was something wrong with the nerves in his legs.
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Sara nodded. "Yes, Alan. They... they killed him three months ago. They said he couldn't be healed and he couldn't work so there was no place for him in this world. I tried to stop them but there was nothing I could do. Then they took my home. One of them said I could stay... if I warmed his bed. I couldn't do it."
Catelyn put her arms around Sara as she began to cry again.
Penny looked back at the men and at Joanna, "This is the kind of city we live in now. This is the kind of injustice that you once wanted to fight. We can't let this go on. We can't let this kind of abuse and tyranny continue. This is our home."
"She's right," Ryan said. He stood up and joined his wife.
Sirn nodded. He didn't move from his seat, but he held his head up high, "It's time we got back on the right path."
Penny looked at Kevin, "I know it's hard, Kevin, but we need you. We need your eyes, and your ears, and the way you got along so well with the soldiers. They trust you. That's important. You're crucial to our success. You always have been."
Kevin let out a low sigh. He didn't look pleased, but he nodded. "Fine. I'm in. But we've got to do it this time. No more quits. We go for it, Penny."
"We go for it," Penny agreed. She looked over at Joanna who'd been quiet so far.
Kevin reached over and took Joanna's hand, "If I can do this, you can," he urged, "It won't feel right without you."
Joanna shook her head, "You didn't love Kenneth," she said to Penny, "or at least, you didn't love him like he needed. I did. How can we just go back to how we were before?"
"We don't," Penny said, "We can't. I wasn't part of it before. I should have been, I realize that now, but I wasn't. It's already different."
Joanna rolled her eyes, "That's not what I meant."
"I know," Penny said with a sigh, "but I don't know how to convince you that this will be different. This time, it won't be just a small group, gathered together in a Chapel. It'll be a real resistance, and we'll do it. I know we will."
"How?" Joanna asked, "How can you know?"
Penny hesitated. She'd warred with the idea of what she was about to say for days. She knew lying was wrong, but in this case, she thought it would do more good than harm. "I dreamt it."
Everyone stared at her.
Penny blushed, "I dreamt the end of the reign of Lamonte here in Valishna. We were successful. We took it back. You were part of it, Joanna."
Joanna looked surprised, "I was?"
Penny nodded, "You played an important part in our success. We need you."
"Then it seems I don't have much of a choice," Joanna said, "you've already dreamt of my part. Whatever I decide, I'll end up here. I may as well join willingly."
"Good," Penny said, "I'm glad to hear it. Now--"
"What are you talking about?" Sara asked. Penny blinked. She'd nearly forgotten the woman was there. Catelyn had been hugging her, offering her comfort.
It was too late to do much about that now, though. "We're forming a resistance," Penny said, "We're going to take back Valishna. These are the people involved. I suppose you've already heard enough to go to the guards, and they'll likely reward you for the information, but Sara, think what they've done."
"I don't need to think about it," Sara said, "I know what they've done. I know who they've harmed. I want to be part of it. I can, can't I?"
Penny nodded. She saw Joanna shake her head slightly but she ignored this. They couldn't afford to be picky about who they let in, and who they refused. "Of course you're part of it, Sara. We need priests anyway."
"Now," Penny said to the group at large, "We're going to meet again, three nights from now, at sunset. We'll be meeting here, and there will be more people than what we've got now. I need you all there."
She waited until everyone had confirmed they could make it. Only Ryan had been hesitant but his wife assured they would be there.
A few of them asked her what the meeting would be about, but Penny refused to answer. The truth was, she hadn't planned it out completely. She just had to trust they'd show up, and they would help as needed.
By the time everyone left, Penny felt a bit better. Things would come together. She knew they would. She'd dreamt it after all.
That's what she told the others, anyway. If she wanted them to believe it, she had to believe as well.
Penny sat across from Robert and Erin. Robert had baby Jocelyn balanced on a knee. Every so often, she'd meet her gaze and start giggling. The sound made Penny happy.
"I need you to come to the Chapel in two nights," she told them.
Robert looked at her suspiciously. "Why? There's no service that day."
"I know," Penny said, "but I need you there for something more important. Will you come?"
Erin reached over to tickle the baby. "Can we bring her along?"
Penny shook her head, "No. It's too dangerous. She can stay with Alicia, my housekeeper. She loves the baby."
Robert frowned, "Dangerous? What's going on, Pen?"
Penny hesitated, "The truth?"
"The truth," Robert said.
"We're going to be having a meeting discussing what to do about the soldiers in the city," Penny said. "I want people to have a chance to discuss it, and figure out some kind of solution."
"You want to start a resistance," Robert said. "Ah, wait, no. You want to continue the resistance started by Kenneth before his death. That'll be it, right?"
Penny met his gaze.
Robert sighed, "Pen, it didn't end well for him. You remember how it was."
"It'll be better this time," Penny said.
"A resistance?" Erin interrupted. "What in Gods' name do you think that's going to accomplish?"
Penny looked over at Erin. She remembered wondering the exact same thing when Kenneth had tried to get her involved. She thought for a moment, wondering how to explain the resistance to her.
She looked at Robert for help but he was sitting stoically.
"We're going to drive the soldiers out," Penny finally said. "We want people to have normal lives here."
"Normal?" Erin said with a bitter laugh. "This place is as far away from normal as possible. It's a military stronghold masquerading as a city."
"I know," Penny said. "I know it. That's why we want to change things."
Erin gave her a skeptical look. The look changed quickly to bewilderment. "You're serious, aren't you?"
Penny nodded.
"What can we do to help?" Erin asked.
"Come to the Chapel in two days," Penny said, "Show your support. Tell the people about how bad it is, about your experiences here. They'll all be sharing similar stories."
"I don't know," Robert said, "There's the baby to think about, Pen. We can risk our own lives, but it's not fair to risk a child's. They're not old enough to know what's going on."
Penny shook her head, "Do you really want her to grow up here, Robert? Every day the soldiers are here is another day for her to potentially be hurt. If you upset the soldiers, they'll take it out on her. That's what they do."
"I don't know," Robert said again.
"You don't have to do anything," Penny said, "Just be there. That's all I ask."
She'd been encountering the same reaction from almost everyone she talked to. Everyone hated the soldiers, and wanted them out, but almost none of them were willing to actually put in the effort to make it happen.
Everyone was scared.
Penny knew how that felt. She'd been scared plenty in her life, and she was terrified about what she was doing now. She couldn't let that fear paralyze her though. She had to be stronger than that. Stronger than the others.
She wondered what her father would think. She shook her head as she imagined his disapproval.
Robert looked torn. He switched the baby from one arm to the other and sighed, "You're putting us in an awkward spot, Pen. Kenneth asked for my aide too, and I turned him down. You're my sister, though. How can I say no?"
"Don't." Penny suggested.
&nbs
p; Erin leaned forward a little, "You really think you can do something here?"
Penny thought about it for a long minute. Then she nodded, "I think we can."
"Then how can we refuse?" Erin asked. She shot Robert an apologetic look. "Everyone has their part to play, right?"
"Yes," Penny said. "Thank you, Erin."
Erin nodded. "I'll speak with Alicia if you don't mind. About the baby."
Penny nodded.
Robert sighed.
"If you don't want to be part of it," Erin said to Robert, "I understand. But I'm going to be there, Robert."
"If you're there, I'm there," Robert said.
Penny felt a flash of jealousy. She saw how close Robert and Erin were, and it reminded her of Matilyn. They'd been even closer. Sometimes she missed Matilyn so much that it hurt. This was one of those times.
Perhaps Erin realized how she felt, because she reached out and took Penny's hand. "We're here for you," she said, "and for Valishna."
"Thank you," Penny said. "You have no idea how much that means."
Erin gave a small, sad smile. "I think I do."
Penny smoothed out her white priest robes and stood up straighter. She cleared her throat and began in a loud, clear voice, "Thank you for coming. I appreciate that each of you took time to come here tonight. As you know--"
"Excuse me," an amused voice interrupted, "but aren't there supposed to be people here before you give the speech?"
Penny let out a little gasp, her hand coming up to her throat. Her eyes fell on the person who'd spoken up. It was an older man, with greying hair, and a lean body, "Raymond. You came."
"Well," Raymond said, "I told you I'd think about it. I sat at home, and I did a lot of that thinking thing, and in the end, I decided you're right. I mean, we have to do something. So here I am."
"Thank you," Penny said. She felt her cheeks reddening with color, and had to blink back a few tears. Part of her had worried that nobody would show up, and she'd sit alone in the Chapel all night. It was relieving to know that at least one person had come.
Raymond nodded, and went to take a seat in the pews. Penny was slightly amused to see he chose the same spot that he sat in during mid-week services. A lot of people didn't come anymore; some were scared of the soldiers, and some had lost faith. Raymond hadn't missed a service in the entire time she'd known him though.
Revolution (Cartharia Book 2) Page 12
