Tristaine Rises
Page 17
“Thank you.” Brenna fanned her throat ruefully. “Repeat that in Jess’s hearing, please. You ready for this, Dana?”
“Sure.” Dana grinned down at her. “Couldn’t be much spookier than wrangling with Botesh.”
They strolled together toward the square. Shann stood in the center of the open space, near the blasted patch of ground that once had held the black altar. It was a benign and featureless plot now, a charred scar in the earth that bore no trace of menace. Tristaine’s artisans were preparing a stone monument bearing the names of their dead to sanctify the spot.
Brenna listened to the musical blend of hundreds of women’s voices that filled the air with a benevolent murmur. Laughter appeared and faded like patches of sunlight in the crowd. Shann received the greetings and blessings of several Amazons before they sat on blankets and furs around the square. As if feeling her gaze, Shann turned toward Brenna and sent her a small, private smile.
Brenna smiled back. Shann had always evoked deep feelings in her, but now they were harder to classify. Brenna had never held illusions about her parentage. She was forced into adulthood so quickly, she’d had no time to romanticize a phantom mother and had little frame of reference for that bond now. Shann wasn’t pushing her. She’d made it clear to both Brenna and Samantha that her door was open and her hearth kindled at all times.
Jess’s reaction had infuriated her.
“Ah, makes sense?” Brenna repeated. “That’s all you have to say?”
“Aye.”
“Jesstin. What part of Shann, Queen of Tristaine, being my long-lost mother makes anything resembling sense to you?”
“I thought Shann had the most beautiful smile in the world, until I met you.” Jess traced the curve of Brenna’s lips with one finger. “You have our lady’s light.”
“I have our lady’s DNA.” Brenna perched her chin on Jess’s sternum and contemplated the embers in the fireplace. The red glow was their small cabin’s only illumination. “And I have a name for my father, Jess.”
“That you do.”
“Shann doesn’t have any pictures of him. I wonder if seeing his face would tell me anything about his personality.”
“You already know his heart, querida.” Jess stroked Brenna’s hair. “Your David earned the love of the wisest woman we know. He fathered two fine daughters. And he’d be richly proud of his eldest, Brenna.”
“Jess.” Brenna was touched. “Thank you.” She kissed the swell of Jess’s shoulder.
“Your hand unleashed Tristaine’s power, Bren. You’ve earned the gratitude of the entire clan. And I’m learning, finally, to share you with my sisters.”
“Jesstin.” Brenna lifted herself on one elbow and peered down at Jess’s firelit face. “What are you talking about?”
“You came to Tristaine as my adonai, lass.” Jess lifted Brenna’s hand and fingered the silver bracelet encircling her wrist. “You’ve grown into a true Amazon in your own right. It’s time you chose your glyph.”
Brenna felt that truth resonate in her gut, and warmth spread through her in a wave. She smiled and touched Jess’s face. “Yeah. It’s time.”
“Uh-oh. Is this a trance?” Dana patted Brenna’s head gently.
“Nah. Just thinking.” Brenna wrapped Dana’s arm in one of her own as they walked. “This ceremony tonight. It’s big, for me.”
“It’s big for me too. It’s like becoming a nun.”
Brenna sputtered.
“No, it is,” Dana said. She waved at someone in the sea of women around them. “We’re turning away from all the material stuff we grew up with, to live in a sisterhood for the rest of our days. And we’re pledging our fealty to something bigger than us. In this case, Tristaine,” she added.
“Hm.” Brenna appraised Dana’s open face with some-thing like maternal affection. “Amazon as spiritual vocation. Great topic for our next storyfire.” She shook Dana’s arm. “It’s the perfect time to welcome you to the clan, Dana. You’re already important to these women. Your courage in battle won a lot of respect around here.”
“Yeah, about that.” Dana faced Brenna and folded her arms. “Uh, thank you. You were nice to me before anybody else was, Brenna. You and Shann. And you had less reason to be nice to me than anyone. What with me tasering Jess in the gut and all. So thanks.”
Brenna smiled up at Dana, then stood on her toes and kissed her cheek.
Dana grinned broadly. “You don’t see that hulk of yours anywhere nearby, right?”
Brenna looked over Dana’s shoulder directly into Jess’s smiling eyes. “Nope, not a sign of her.”
“Cool. See you out there.” Dana turned and smacked bodily into Jess. “Dang!”
“Careful, youngster.” Jess steadied her while Dana muttered something about dang mountains and lifted her hand from Dana’s shoulder when she yelped. “Ah, sorry. I know it’s sore. Can we see it?”
Dana closed her collar around her throat with an apologetic shrug. “Nah, not right now. I’ll show you guys later.”
“There’s someone you want to show first,” Brenna guessed.
“Yeah.” Dana smiled. “I want her to see it first.”
“As it should be.” Jess clapped Dana on the butt. “Go find her, adanin. We’ll be starting soon.”
Brenna stepped into Jess’s arms and leaned against her, grateful for her added warmth. They watched Kyla emerge from a group of seated Amazons and go to Dana.
“May I?” Jess touched Brenna’s collar.
“Please.” Brenna smiled. “I wanted you to be the first.”
Jess opened her topshirt and bared the shining glyph above her breasts. Warm light ignited her eyes.
“Tell me,” Brenna said softly.
“It’s beautiful, lass. Colors like jewels.” Her fingers drifted above the circular design. “The sign of the healer is here, cresting the field of the Seven Sisters. This bottom border is the gold plant that marks a seer.” Jess grinned down at her. “I see no signet of royalty, however.”
Brenna lifted her eyebrow, a gesture she knew mirrored Shann perfectly. “I design my own glyph, thank you.”
“True enough,” Jess agreed. She dipped her head and kissed her, a pleasant buzz that lingered, then deepened and grew heated. Brenna melted against Jess, and her hands snuck into her wild hair. They were both saved from public embarrassment only by Shann’s soft call.
“Give witness, adanin!” Shann stood by the barren grave of their vanquished enemy. “Tonight we welcome two new sisters to Amazon Nation. Draw near and attend their covenants to Tristaine.”
Jess raked her hair out of her eyes, caught her breath, and offered her arm to Brenna. Their first few steps into the square were slightly unsteady.
Kyla and Dana joined them, and the four women walked across the open space to join Shann as a ripple of greeting rose from the watching crowd.
“Are we ready, dear ones?” Shann raised a hand to welcome them to her side. Her eyes lingered on Brenna, and they were warm and proud. “Let’s begin.”
About the Author
Cate Culpepper is a 2005 Golden Crown Literary Award winner in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy category. She is the author of the Tristaine series, which includes Tristaine: The Clinic, Battle for Tristaine, Tristaine Rises, and Queens of Tristaine.
Cate lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she supervises a transitional living program for homeless young gay adults. She’s currently at work on a new novel, Fireside, set in present day, but peopled by Amazons nonetheless.
She can be reached at Klancy7@aol.com.
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