by Candy Rae
“I still think it’s too dangerous for you and your men to stay,” said Xavier.
“Don’t worry about us,” said George. “If things get too hot we will get away, never fear.”
He sounded so confident that Xavier believed him.
When, many years later he met up with George again he understood. As he had suspected, George was not the man’s real name; it was Maurice. After he met him Xavier wondered ever after how the man had managed to hide his Lind from prying eyes for all their long years in the south.
The next day passed. The guard rota was arranged, Xavier’s own men delighted with the day watch whilst the resident guards took the night.
The only nervous moment came when one of the older men of Xavier’s command made the comment that each guard detail should be arranged with men drawn from both guard and outpost men.
Xavier promised to look into it the following day. He drew a huge breath of relief when the man went away.
When the aroma of supper hit the men’s nostrils, they fell to with a will. Wine was plentiful and nobody thought much of it when Xavier and Steve partook only of a sparse helping of bread and fruit and refused the wine. George’s men were to eat later; there was only room for around a dozen people at the trestle in the tower’s kitchen.
As soon as the men grew drowsy, George and Xavier made a beeline for the top rooms where Ruth was confined.
Before she could take it all in, her travel bag was packed, her cloak was around her shoulders and she and Bet were being escorted downstairs and out of the tower.
There was a tearful goodbye to Arthur at the quayside and many promises that they would meet soon.
“Two months maximum Ruth,” he lied, “I promise.”
One last hug and she was being lifted into the rowing boat, then Bet. Xavier jumped in, then Steve, closely followed by the ecstatic cook.
Arthur watched as the boat disappeared into the night.
“That’s it then, let’s get back.”
“When is the second dose due?”
“I’ll come down in time, don’t worry.”
After Arthur had injected the second doses and made sure everyone was unconscious he knew it was time.
He climbed the stairs to the room at the top, still littered with Ruth’s discarded possessions, walked to the small casement window and opened it.
“I’ve done it Anne,” he said to the night air, “I’ve kept my promise, Ruth is free.” He swallowed the bitter brew he had prepared earlier. Was it just his imagination, but did the breeze answer him in a gentle caress of thanksgiving?
His body slumped to the floor.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 41 - VADATH
“They will be looking for you, we have to get you away,” said Louis Randall to Ruth.
“Send her to Jessica and Gerry,” advised Cherry. “I would love her to stay here with us, but she wouldn’t be safe, we’re too near the coast. Pack Ratvei is deep inside the rtathlians. They’ll not find her there.”
“I’m not so sure,” Louis demurred.
“Anyway, Jessica will want her with her when she hears, probably to keep me away from her. She doesn’t really approve of having a warrior little sister! We’ll take you if Francis and Asya give me and Baltvei permission. I’d like to listen to you talk of mother. I was younger than you are when I left.”
“She was very brave,” said Pierre Duchesne. “I was her friend and did what I could. It wasn’t enough unfortunately.”
“I remember, Mother was always happy to see you. She said I could trust you.”
“She had a sad life,” said Pierre.
* * * * *
Xavier searched out Laura Merriman-McAllister only hours after they arrived at the stronghold.
“You want to marry the girl?” snorted Laura in disbelief. “She’s only fourteen!”
“She is of age,” protested Xavier.
“In Murdoch maybe but not here in Vadath or Argyll either, young man. I dread to think what Gerry Russell will say about this. He’s been appointed her Guardian.”
“I did not realise,” said an abashed Xavier, “in Murdoch women marry young.”
Laura flashed him a brief smile, “common sense should have told you. Our Lind say adulthood comes with fourteen summers but these rules do not apply to humankind.”
“I will wait,” declared Xavier.
“You will have to,” was her dry response.
Where is he when I need him? thought Laura, but Francis had gone to domta Afanasei where Jim Cranston lay dying.
She looked at Xavier. The young man’s calm assurance when he had begun the interview was dented a bit but he would not be gainsaid.
“I will return,” he repeated.
“And if she does not want you, what then?”
“I will leave again,” he replied, “I am not one to force unwanted attentions on any lady. I saw enough of that in the south.” He grew sad at the thought of his sister; at least she was safe enough with the Little Sisters.
Perhaps Laura sensed something of this, her voice grew gentler, “you might meet someone else?”
“My feelings will not change.”
Laura decided not to pursue that train of thought any longer.
“This is what you will do,” she began, “you will leave for Argyll with Steve as planned, serve your time with the Garda. You will not contact Ruth. In four years time, when Ruth is eighteen and if you are still of the same mind, then you may return. You may speak to Ruth before you leave, a friend’s leave-taking, no more.”
Xavier looked disconsolate.
“You love her, I know, or at least you think you do but you are young and Ruth needs time, time to grow up, to recover, at least in part, some of the happiness she once enjoyed when her mother was alive. She might feel some debt of gratitude to you for saving her and say yes to you now only to regret it later.”
“I’ll say goodbye as a friend,” he agreed, “she goes to her sister?”
“Don’t try to wheedle her future whereabouts out of me young man,” Laura said with some asperity. “It’s best you don’t know.”
“You think Lord Regent Baker will send men to look for her, take her back?”
“She will be safe where she is going,” Laura promised.
“Lord Baker is a ruthless man. He will not give her up easily.”
“Where she’s going is probably the safest place on the continent. Now, go say your goodbyes.”
* * * * *
CHAPTER 42 - RTATHLIANS OF THE LIND
Jessica was lunging one of the young horses when word came that Elda Ratvei wished to speak with her. Gerry was out hunting with their two eldest boys and Michael Wallace and his son.
Until the Wallace family had arrived, the Russell family had been on their own at domta Ratvei, the only humans they would see were the occasional peripatetic teachers and the trade caravans although Tara, Kolyei, Peter, Radya and their families were summer visitors.
Jessica’s thoughts immediately went to her sister Cherry. Since Joseph had paired with Petya and gone to the Holad, Cherry was the only family member she had left with whom she could remember the good times. Joseph had been too young and didn’t remember much.
Of her half-brothers and sisters in Murdoch she never spared a thought. She knew of course that Elliot was King there and that there was a twin sister but little else.
She unbuckled the yearling’s halter, led him back to the paddock where he kicked and bucked with enjoyment at this unexpected reprieve, and made her way to Ratvei’s daga.
“Greetings Jessica.”
“Greetings Ratvei.”
“I have news for you.”
Jessica relaxed. Ratvei looked pleased and would not have if there was bad news about Cherry or Joseph.
“In Vadath, one of yours has arrived. She has escaped from a distasteful mating.”
Jessica didn’t know what in the Lai he was talking about. He was talking in riddles.
; “One of mine?”
“I hear message from Kolyei. It is your lisya. Her name is Ruth. She comes here to you. Safe here.”
“My sister?”
This was a bolt out of the blue, Ruth, her oldest half-sister. Daughter of the hated General Murdoch. Sister of the young King. What age was she now? Jessica did a rapid mental calculation, fourteen or thereabouts she thought and on her way here of all places. She did not want her here. She was jealous of the time Ruth had had with her mother and there were ramifications; she was heir to the throne. Is that why Ratvei had said ‘safe here’?
“How long before they get here?” she ventured.
“I do not know. I will find out from Kolyei,” Ratvei promised, “Cherry met her. Cherry likes her. Cherry says she must come here. Southern men will not come here and take her back.”
So, thought Jessica, I am expected to take Ruth in, the daughter of the man directly responsible for my parents’ deaths. She liked Cherry’s nerve.
“Do you know any more?” she asked. “Why now?”
“You must ask Cherry and Baltvei when come,” he advised.
Ratvei realised that she must blame Ruth for the deaths of her parents, however irrational that might seem. Perhaps he could pour some oil on troubled waters here, or better, speak to Gerry at the earliest opportunity. He made only one further comment. “We have a duty to help those in need. Your lisya more so. She is of you.”
It took Ruth and her escort over a fortnight to reach the Ratvei rtathlians, time enough for Jessica to become reconciled, if not happy with the idea. It was also plenty time enough for Ruth to get more and more nervous about meeting her elder sister.
She talked endlessly to Cherry about it. Cherry was approachable, ready to be a friend.
“I wish I could stay with you and Louis,” Ruth said, “but I can’t and it’s because of who I am, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” answered Cherry. “You’re a very important person in the south.”
“But I’m female, females don’t count for much. It’s different here though, isn’t it, you can become somebody here, like what mother wanted – but I feel I’m being exiled.”
“Is that how you see it?” asked Cherry with a smile. “Please understand, you are going to Ratvei for your own safety, to give you a chance to grow up in peace, to learn.”
“I can read and write a little, measure weights and lengths and embroidery.”
“Here it is different. Men and women are equal, with equal education and freedom of choice. It’s the same with the Lind, an equal partnership. Quite half of the human element of the Vada is female.”
“Is Jessica nice?”
“Very and you have something in common.”
“What?”
“Both of you loved our mother very much. Talk to her about it, it’ll bring you closer, believe me.”
“Honestly?”
“Honest lindjun.”
At domta Ratvei, Gerry had done his best. “What is past is past. You can’t transfer her father’s sins on to the girl. It is not fair and you are a fair and rational woman. This spite against Ruth is not like you. Against all odds she has managed to extricate herself from an unenviable position. She is scared, unsettled and unsure of her reception here. She’s your sister!”
“My half-sister,” she corrected.
“Okay then, your half-sister, but you share the same mother. You both loved her. Imagine what Ruth’s life must have been like after she died. Eight years old she was. You were fourteen when you were parted.”
“Joseph was only eight when he left and Cherry only ten.”
“They had you.”
“Fourteen’s a bit old for mothering.”
“At least greet her with an open mind, that’s all I ask. You might be surprised.”
“What does she look like?”
Gerry laughed, “by all accounts she is the spitting image of you. I’ve always said that in looks you take after your mother, though in character, for sheer doggedness you are your father all over again. If you think about it, you will realise that he wouldn’t have held any grudges against Ruth.”
“I will try,” she promised.
“The boys are making her a welcome present,” he added, “they are very excited about meeting their new auntie.”
When the group arrived from the stronghold, Jessica was waiting, a smile on her face and four very excited young boys bobbing about at her side.
“Where is Auntie Ruth Mama,” asked Gerald. “Which one is she?”
The escort of Lind peeled away, leaving one solitary Lind. It was Baltvei, Cherry on his back and a pillion passenger behind.
Gerald couldn’t wait one moment longer and the awkward moment disappeared as he led his brothers towards them shouting, “Auntie Cherry, Auntie Ruth.”
With practised ease Cherry swung her right leg over Baltvei’s withers and dropped to the ground and turned towards her passenger.
Gerald pre-empted her.
“I’ll help Auntie Ruth down,” he shouted in excitement.
“Head up, stand tall,” encouraged Cherry as she stepped back.
“Come and meet Mama,” Gerald said. Ruth laughed, took his proffered hand and slid awkwardly to the ground.
Thank you,” she said, “and you are?”
“I’m Gerald,” he said, “and these are my little brothers, Jim, Martin and Peter. I do have a sister,” he added proudly, “but she’s too small to come and meet you. She’s waiting for you at home. She can’t walk yet.”
Ruth looked at her newly acquired nephews. At least they seemed pleased to see her. She stole a glance at the man and woman standing at the doorway of an edifice she was learning to call a daga.
Cherry whispered in Ruth’s ear.
“That’s Jess and her husband waiting for you over there.”
Ruth stood as still as a statue.
“I’ll take you over to them shall I? The boys will spend the next bell or so falling over Baltvei. They’re old friends.”
The four smiled again at Ruth then as one turned towards Baltvei with shouts of glee. They began to clamber all over him, talking all the time. Baltvei gave Cherry a long-suffering look.
She laughed and taking Ruth’s arm led her to Jessica and Gerry. Ruth took a deep breath and allowed herself to be so guided. Ruth didn’t look where she was going; she stared at her feet.
When she did lift her head, and she only did so when she saw two pairs of muddy boots and couldn’t put it off any longer, she saw her sister Jessica, a tremulous smile of welcome on her face, her arms open. Most of Jessica’s doubts were behind her now. She had watched the diminutive figure dismount and stumble towards her. Her misgivings had vanished in a puff of smoke. This was her little sister; the daughter of her beloved mother and her heart went out to her.
“Ruth,” she said, “a thousand welcomes to my home and family. You are part of our family, just as Mama would have wished. Now let go Cherry and come give me a hug.”
Ruth stepped into Jessica’s arms; arms that hugged like her dead mother’s and were full of the promise of belonging again. She burst into tears and Jessica was no whit behind her.
Gerry spared a glance at Cherry and winked. Cherry winked back and reported to Baltvei : It’s okay, you and the boys can come over now :
They bounded over in a gaggle of arms and legs as only a group of youngsters could thus putting an end to the tears of mother and aunt. They entered the daga where a decent meal was waiting and the first real experience Ruth had of a normal family life began.
That evening, once Ruth had fallen into an exhausted sleep in the small room set aside as her very own, her elders talked seriously about her arrival.
“Is she in danger?” asked Jessica, “will the convicts try to get her back?”
“She will be safe here,” said Gerry, “don’t worry.”
“What is she like, really like?” pressed Jessica.
“She’s been very alone since Mama died. She keeps her
counsel, is monumentally quiet and it’s blatantly obvious she didn’t have what we would call a normal childhood, not that mine was much different before Joseph and I came here to you. I get the feeling that life was pretty grim. She talks a little about Doctor Arthur, a Sister Cara and someone called Xavier. I know who he is; he was in the boat they came in. He’s gone to the Garda in Argyll. Perhaps she’ll open up to you Jess, I take it that you noticed she’s inclined to shy away from men.”
“She never looked at Gerry once.”
“That’s the southern way,” said Cherry. Women are considered inferior and are completely subservient to men. You should see what women have to wear if they venture outside the home, black from head to foot, only their face showing. I can understand that some societies insist on a rigid dress code, take the Holy Writ Sect in north eastern Argyll, but they have a sacred reason for the garb, not that I condone it any.”
“Live and let live,” Gerry said.
“In Murdoch,” continued Cherry, “there’s no religious reason behind it, it’s being insisted on for one reason only, to keep women subservient. The Lords say it’s for their own safety but only fools believe that. The intelligence reports about the slave markets would turn your stomach. Anyway, to get back to Ruth, I’m to tell you that not many know she is here and that we’ve planted a few false trails.”
“How long can you stay?”
“Not long, Louis and Ustinya are away and I want to be there when they get back.”
“Young love,” Gerry twinkled.
Cherry blushed a deep crimson.
* * * * *
Ruth was not the only person whom Jessica welcomed into her family that summer.
Some weeks after Ruth left the stronghold Francis McAllister stormed into his family quarters in high dudgeon.
“What’s up with Thomas?” he questioned Laura. “He’s like a gtran with a sore paw these days.”
“He’s jealous of Jacques Duchesne,” she answered, “and young Jim too. He feels he’ll never find a Lind partner. The new cadets are beginning to dribble in. He feels that as the Susa’s son he should be vadeln-paired.”
