Christopher glanced behind. From the expression on her face Theodora is obviously thinking about what she should say next. She checked all around to see if any were close by. “I cannot prove it to you here where we might be seen, but Father Christopher will vouch for the truth of what I say. I am not a young lady.” Christopher looked sideways.
Theodule stopped and turned around, his eyebrows were raised and his eyes were studying Theodora hard. He is trying to think of Theodora as a man. It is my turn to smile. Theodora eventually realised his confusion as well and said, “I don’t mean that, I am fully a woman, even if I do love another woman, but I am not young. I am over one hundred and twenty years old and will live for many more centuries. I am a descendant of Hrothnog, a Darkreach Princess, if you will.” Theodule searched for Christopher’s assent, who just nodded. “That is one of the more normal things about our village,” she added.
As they walked Theodora and Christopher began to acquaint Theodule with the life that lay ahead of him. They stopped talking if anyone, or any cover that might harbour a listener, drew near.
They had reached the first large area of trees and were about to look for a place to wait for night when Theodule had a thought. “So, you might then have another wife for me after all,” he said in a semi-serious tone, but he spoiled it by adding, “or at least a member of the flock may have a mother of suitable age who comes seeking her.” They all laughed and settled down.
When night fell they took off with the carpet and retraced their route. This time, seeing that they were over forest and there was little chance of anyone seeing them in the region, they did not bother to stop for dawn. After all, if anyone did see them they would probably mistake them for a Caliphate patrol. Flying low to avoid being silhouetted for the Darkreach watchtower, they pressed on and came to the valley before lunch.
“No-one is to be seen in the lookout post,” said Christopher. “So it will be either Ayesha or Astrid there.”
Theodora pulled up at the lookout and said, guessing, “Good morning Astrid.”
Astrid appeared. “You guessed. I suppose I am getting predictable. You brought a man with you.” She looked closer, “Oh, I am sorry, Father,” and bobbed.
Theodule studied the woman in front of him. It seemed that he was weighing her up. “You must be the woman called the Cat,” he said. She looked pleased. “We will talk later, but I am Theodule. I have come to help Christopher with all the problems that he tells me you have given him.”
Astrid opened her mouth and was about to say something and then she realised that she, who was usually doing the teasing, was in turn being teased. She laughed. “I will talk to you later then, Father. Welcome to the Mousehole.” She bobbed again.
As they flew up the ravine, Theodule asked Christopher, “Do they all do that sort of curtsey thing?”
“Yes. Most of them didn’t know how to greet a priest and I didn’t have the heart to tell them otherwise. It is now our custom. It is all Fear’s fault.”
“Fear?” asked Theodule.
“My daughter, Father,” said Theodora, as Christopher dismounted at the gate. “She was named ‘Fear the Lord Your God’ by the Brotherhood man who sold her to be a slave. We just call her Fear. She is one of the children who were brought here for the truly depraved and knows nothing about the world outside except in stories. She had heard about bowing and this is her version, which everyone now have adopted, alas even me,” she said wryly. “My old teachers of deportment would be most horrified.”
Theodule was brought into the village and introduced.
Christopher looked around and innocently asked where Bianca was.
“All of the Khitan have taken the horses for a gallop and they are to go to the river for a wash, Father,” said Valeria.
“Then it seems that to the river I must go,” said Christopher. He doffed his mail and weapons leaving him in just loose trews and a tunic. I may lack experience on such matters, but I don’t think that weapons are appropriate for a proposal.
“Good luck,” said Theodora, as she allowed herself to be led away by an excited Fear, who obviously wanted to show her what she had done while her mother was away.
~~~
Christopher walked nervously towards the river upstream near around a bend and past the trees. He heard the noise at the same time as he saw the herd and their four attendants. They didn’t see him until he was nearly upon them. Those two girls are obviously far too amused to see that Bianca is again blushing on seeing me. From what I see she was probably comfortable in her state of undress until now. Now she is embarrassed.
“Hello Father,” said Hulagu. “How went your visit?”
“Well, very well indeed,” replied Christopher. Now I am confused. “Ummm…I was wondering…if it might be possible…if I might have a few words with Bianca…alone that is.” Three sets of dark eyes fix on her and then immediately switch back to looking at me. I can see the two other girls turn and grin at each other. Despite the state I am in I can see she is worse. She is so beautiful.
“I am sorry if my dress is not seemly,” she said, approaching Christopher. “I did not think that it hurt to…all here dress this way…I will get a shirt and a dress if you wish.”
“That is not what I wish to see you about. I told the Metropolitan about our…unusual habits in the village and he has given leave for them to continue here without them being counted as a sin. I need to say…the Metropolitan told me…no that is wrong…I want to say…” Now that the time has actually come, I have completely lost my composure. I am completely tongue-tied. I should have thought this through on the way home. What should I say? Bianca is staring at me. She is unsure what I am on about and even whether to cover her breasts now that she is alone with me or whether to continue as she has been. Her hands are moving up and down, up and down and she is now crossing her arms under her breasts. She doesn’t realise that this only serves to emphasise them even further as it pushed them up and together. I was not this close earlier. I must look at her face. I suppose that it is the cool breeze blowing from the river that is causing her nipples to change like that. Oh no, I can feel myself reacting to her as well. Look up. Lord, give me strength. This close I can smell her as well, she has just washed her hair and there is a faint herbal aroma from her. Saint Bridget, patron of poets, lend me the words. “I mean…” said Christopher. I am still struggling for composure. I still do not know where to look. Try her eyes…he drew a deep breath and continued, the words coming out in a spurt, “I was made to realise that I love you and I now want to ask you to marry me. Will you marry me?” There. I have asked it. Now it is up to her. What if she says no? He heaved a sigh and waited.
Bianca stood there in shock. “Marry? Me? But—”
“She says yes she will, Father,” said Kãhina. She must have followed up behind Bianca without either of us noticing. She called back to the other two. “He has finally asked her and I have told him that she will.”
“That is for her to say, not you,” said Hulagu.
“Then we will all be here for the rest of the day,” added Anahita, coming up to join them. “Yes, Father, she loves you very much and she will be your wife and she probably will not admit this, but she has been waiting for you to ask her the question for weeks.”
If anything Bianca is blushing even deeper. “I think they are right,” she said very quietly.
“Is it all right then if I kiss you?” asked Christopher. “Will they be shocked?”
She seems to have regained a tiny measure of composure. “I think they will be shocked if you do not.”
I am holding a nearly naked woman in my arms in public. She was three hands shorter than him and he had to bend down as her arms finally went up and around his neck. It does feel good, very, very good. Where do I put my hands? Perhaps like this…her skin…it is so very soft and warm beneath them. Her lips are soft and warm as well and…what do we do with tongues?…Now I can taste her and breathe in her perfume, and it is divine.
Oh no, she can feel that I am responding to her very physically…she is pressed hard and almost rubbing against me and…I suppose we are getting married so it is no longer sinful. Now I will just enjoy the warmth and the feel and the taste and the smell of her. I am glad that what I am wearing will conceal my weakness from others.
It was only when he let her go that he noticed the applause from the other three. Oh yes they started that earlier…some time earlier…and that odd voice-call that flutters up and down. I was lost in the moment.
Christopher walked beside his bride to be as the others rode back to the village together. As they did so they found that the Mice were gathered and waiting for them with more applause.
~~~
Bianca
My wedding will be the day after tomorrow. What is Theodule giving to people? Cannot Astrid stop distracting me? Soon she was being dragged over to a group of women. Fortunata stood there with Parminder and both were looking her up and down. Astrid is still behind me and I am trapped between them, and all three of them are giving me the once-over. Suddenly she realised what was happening.
“I don’t need a new dress, there are clothes that will fit me,” she proclaimed. “I am only an apprentice trader and I am not used to new things.”
From behind her Astrid snorted. “Get used to it. You are no longer the orphan Bianca. You are to be Presbytera Bianca and must dress appropriately. At least you must do this at important times. I think that Christopher will be secretly proud of your breasts when you go to wash the horses.” She grinned. Why do I blush so easily?
“What is ‘Presbytera’?” asked Bianca, changing the subject.
“Your new title,” replied Astrid.
“Why do I have a title? I am his wife, not a priest.”
“You are the wife of a priest. I think it works like this but you will have to ask your husband to be sure…you are joined in marriage as one flesh, therefore part of him is you, so part of him being a priest rubs off and you get a title.” Astrid appears happy with her explanation. It may make sense to her but, as is often the case, the northern woman doesn’t make the slightest bit of real sense. I will ask Christopher, or at least Theodule, if I am not allowed to see my betrothed.
“And that is why the Metropolitan sent this.” Fortunata waved some braid, a simple repeated design of gold on white silk. “And this…” Fortuna raised a small bolt of white silk for the braid to go on. “Let us get to work. We do not have much time and after you are finished here with us, Eleanor needs to see you.”
“What—”
“You will see. Do not be impatient.”
~~~
What Eleanor had was a wedding crown, similar to Theodora’s in some ways, but not as elaborate, made of filigreed silver rather than gold, and lacking the gems. Eleanor was working to fix that last. “The Metropolitan sent this for the brides of the village to bless us. I managed to miss out,” she said ruefully. “Here, let us see if it fits you or if I have to change something.”
~~~
Father Christopher
I am sure my wedding is going to be our most formal so far. Christopher stood up the front of the crowd in his new ceremonial robes of white and gold. A wedding looks very different from this side of the ceremony. Beside me are my groomsmen, Basil and Stefan. At least they seem to be as nervous as I am.
Eventually they heard drumming and Khitan-sounding music. Looking behind them they saw the musicians entering: Aine, Verily and Naeve playing drums with Hagar playing a buzuq and Bilqĩs blowing on a naq, a small flute. Anahita and Kãhina, as maids of honour, were both dressed in their dancing clothes, but wearing as much jewellery as they could find or borrow. Each had a belt on with their sabres and bows and arrows hanging off them. My betrothed has finally left her origin in Freehold behind. She is being brought to marriage as a Khitan bride, but dressed almost as one from a Darkreach court from the look of her. Behind the other attendants came Hulagu, again fully armed, bringing in Bianca as was his right as her brother. Bianca was wearing a long white robe, similar to Christopher’s, but of a lighter silk. It was very full and promised to be almost circular if she twirled around in it. It had the gold braid at the hem, half-way up and around the neck, in a fashion similar to Theodora’s neckpiece. She had no necklace, but blue sapphires—matching her eyes—were embroidered into the braid of the neckpiece. On her head was the wedding crown. It was mostly concealed by the white veil covering her head. She is so beautiful.
Hulagu gave the bride away in a speech in Khitan. Does he have to speak in his own tongue? I only have scraps. Is he stating her wealth in horses? That bit I get: he, as her brother, stands by her side in all things. Theodule must have realised that he had to explain to everyone what being Presbytera meant as he addressed Bianca in the ceremony.
For the first time Verily danced the Khitan dance, in Bianca’s place, and the music and entertainment had a distinctly more Khitan flavour.
~~~
There was a mild moment of confusion when Christopher and Bianca realised they had not worked out whose room they were going to, which was resolved by the maids of honour who escorted them to bed in favour of Bianca’s. On entering they found that it had been cleaned and there was sandalwood incense burning and the sheets had been sprinkled with rosewater and other scents.
For a brief moment Christopher thought that the other girls were going to stay and stand witness until Bianca firmly ordered them out of the room. Soon he discovered that his imagination had not lied to him about the woman he loved. If anything it has not been rich enough.
For the first time since their arrival in the village Father Christopher was late to Orthos, the morning service. Theodule had started without him.
Chapter XXVIII
Rani
The attack came the next night. It was just after dinner when Basil, who had the watch on the roof, called Rani on the Talker, waking her from a deep slumber. This had better be important. My Princess, beside me, is still slumbering on, softly snoring as is her wont. “The first crystal for the path above is glowing blue,” he said. “I will call again if the second one glows.” She peered at the oilcloth covering the window. Not a hint of light out there and yet I have to think.
Best to be ready, it is time to wake Theo-dear. They dressed, Theodora grumbling as she did so. If I am not good at doing mornings, my Princess is as bad as an elephant with indigestion. She needs her kaf. Soon they were waking others and sending a wave of movement spreading through the village as people found their weapons and took themselves to their stations. Sleep is still being rubbed from eyes as the first kaf starts to appear. My love grabbed the first quickly. Those who only had daggers and little skill to use them she sent to lock themselves in the guardhouse with the children. Rani was on the way to the roof as Basil let them know that the second crystal was glowing.
“That delay means they are moving at walking pace,” said Theodora. “We have a few hours yet, they will not be here until midnight. I would say that the bandits did not know about that path and, with our screen in place these Masters did not know that we found it. This means they intended a surprise attack. Instead we can surprise them.” Rani gestured up the cliff behind the village to where they had entered the valley. “Thord, get up there and keep a watch on the entrance we used…we really must block that more fully…in case this is a diversion. Take your bow and get as many arrows as you can up there. If needed you are to be the cover for all of those below.”
Rani looked at the sky. We are well into the Moon of the Fish, the first moon of winter. September is almost ready to slide into October and the moons, Terror and Panic, are nearly at their least visible. Luckily there is very little cloud and at least Krishna, the largest of the wanderers, adds a little light as do a couple of the others as they stand bright among the stars. Information…we need information.
“We will see what we face,” she declared. “Valeria, run and get the carpet from the room please. Astrid and Basil, you have the best eyes b
etween you, you are going to get a carpet ride. Now, pay attention to the task and do exactly what Theodora says. No sitting up there thinking that this is a romantic moonlit ride. Basil, you take the telescope and hang on to it. Astrid, you will also have the magic detector. Do not point it at them if they are likely to hear it.” To Theodora she said, “My dear, stay well out of bow range and travel very high until you know you are above and behind them. Then I would suggest coming down the opposite wall of the ravine and staying in shadows as much as you can. The moons should aid that.”
“You are telling me how to use illusion to hide?” asked Theodora with amusement.
She is waking up. “Sorry dear, it is just a worry sending you out.”
~~~
Astrid
The carpet arrived and they set off. Astrid gave a squeal of delight at the sensation. This is fun. “Don’t do that up there,” said Theodora, as she headed up as steeply as she dared without them sliding off. “Or that,” she added, as Basil made a suppressed noise behind her. I will need to circle a few times to gain enough altitude. “I hope that we don’t run into whatever, perhaps, stops people flying in or out. I dare not climb too high.” Eventually she headed off to the left of the valley and the left bank of the river.
It didn’t take long to reach the ravine and, hugging the wall near the top of its cliffs, to go up it slowly. After five minutes Astrid leant forward touched the Princess’ arm and pointed down and to the left, still well ahead of them. The first of the intruders had just started down the cliff path. “There they are,” she whispered, pointing towards the path down to the falls. Theodora looked down as she heard a ‘beep’ behind her. “Well, we know they have magic. I will put that in my pouch now. Basil, what do you see with the telescope?”
“Nothing…my lady, can you hold this thing still for a while?”
Engaging Evil (Warriors of Vhast Book 2) Page 31
