Return of the Maca (Chronicles of the Maca Book 4)

by Mari Collier

  Jarvis laid his head on her shoulder. “Nay, Mither, but I will be a Warrior and command a ship just as my elder did. Then I will need a Guardian I can trust.”

  Jolene considered. “Why do ye think ye can trust him?”

  “Because the Laird does.”

  “And ye trust this Laird of Don's opinion?”

  “Aye, Mither, he tis the kind of man that should be my fither. Why dinna ye wed him?”

  Jolene stared at him. “First, he has nay shown any interest in any lassie that I ken.”

  “He was married on his planet.”

  Jolene smiled at him. “Right now tis nay the time for Walking the Circle. Tis said in Thalia that the Laird has been bedding the laddies he has at the Laird's Station.”

  “Nay, for one of them would have spoken of it if he had.”

  “Yet nay name any lassie he has bedded. Can ye?”

  Jarvis shrugged. “Nay, Mither. Ki tis there, but she does nay dwell at the home. Although Kahli said the Laird named her Kit.”

  Jolene filed the information away. Perhaps the man had bedded the Ab woman, and she changed the subject.

  “I still am nay certain the other should be here. He may cast doubt on your status.”

  Jarvis smiled at her. “My mither can arrange it. Ye will think of a way to bind him to Ayran and to me. Tis my first order as Maca.”

  “Dinna think that ye will give the orders here. Ye are nay anywhere near the Coming of Age ritual, and ye have years of schooling. Now, we shall attend the Maca of Don and his House.” Jolene gathered Jarvis into her arms again.

  Chapter 28: Rules of Trade

  The visitors stood as Jolene and Jarvis approached. They were in an arbor fed by a hidden drip system. Years of constant mining had left much of Ayran barren and stripped to its stones and Jolene chose to keep the Maca's home near the mines. Arable land was scarce and the climate bitterly cold in winter and summers brief.

  “We have nay properly greeted ye, Guardian of Ayran.”

  “Tis I who shall lay my head on your shoulder first, Maca of Don, with the deepest gratitude. Ye have restored my laddie.”

  The formal greetings finished, Jolene poured herself a mug of brew and lifted it. “To Jarvis, the Maca of Ayran.” Her voice rang out.

  She lowered the mug and saw with satisfaction that Llewellyn and LouElla had downed a goodly portion. The Laird, however, had barely sipped at his, his grey eyes watching her every move. Jolene turned to Pillar.

  “It seems that ye are my younger.” She held up her hand as Pillar's head snapped higher and his brown eyes sought hers.

  Jolene's face was hard, her large eyes showed no emotion, and her voice was low. “Do ye claim to be Ayran?”

  “I am Ayran!” Pillar's voice was adamant. He clasped his hands behind his back and bowed to her.

  As he straightened, Jolene's voice became louder. “And are ye willing to give up any claim to being Laird of Ayran and be content to be kenned as JayEll, Lad of Ayran?”

  Pillar swallowed and nodded his head.

  “Then ye will lay your head on your Maca's shoulders and swear to him: Now!”

  Pillar drug in his breath, stepped up to Jarvis, and laid his head on each shoulder. He then took one step back, put his hands behind his back and bowed to Jarvis. “I acknowledge ye as Maca of Ayran, and I will serve ye and Ayran to the best of my abilities. I so swear by Gar.”

  Jarvis grinned and pulled him close. “We are House, JayEll.” Then he released him and laughed. “I'm sure there are many ways that ye'll be able to please your Maca.”

  The newly named JayEll swallowed. He was sure Jarvis would somehow find ways to humiliate him, but Jarvis was right. They were House.

  “Ye are to be clothed as a Keeper with a red sash for now. We must still settle with your mither.

  “Jarvis, ye take him back to my quarters and order his wardrobe.” She studied JayEll's narrow shoulders and wider hips and legs. “At least the bottom half says Ayran.”

  “Ye will excuse me while I walk a bit with them.”

  They were at the door when Jolene pulled Jarvis close. “Now what else prompted this visit?” She lowered her voice and turned to both. “Do either of ye ken?”

  They shook their heads no and JayEll cleared his throat, licked at his lips, and whispered. “They dinna say, Elder Mither, but they may wish armor. They expect the Sisters to attack.”

  Jolene eyed her grandson. Mayhap the Laird was right. This one was clever.

  “Mither, ye must help them. Ye canna let the Sisters win. They will separate us again and I will nay be a Warrior.”

  “Nay so loud, Jarvis. Nay ere let those who come to negotiate ken that ye are willing to accommodate them.” She patted both on the bottom and returned to the arbor.

  “Shall I order more brew?” She eyed the tall pitcher and the Maca and LouElla.

  “Ye are most kind, Guardian, but we still have a full day's work ahead.” Llewellyn's brown eyes and lips smiled.

  She returned the smile. “Ye wish something for bringing me my Maca and younger. What would that be?”

  Llewellyn leaned back as though offended. “Don does nay charge for uniting a mither and her young.” He smiled again before speaking.

  “We do wish to make a purchase, but we will use credits. We dinna expect your merchandise to be free.”

  Jolene made a show of refilling her mug before sitting and smiling at Lorenz. “We have a darker brew if that tis nay to your fancy.”

  “Thank y'all, ma'am, but I'm fine.” He smiled at her, but his eyes were more amused than friendly.

  Jolene was mildly irritated and turned to the Maca of Don. “Tis a new thing to have guests during the day's light. This canna be like your visits to Brenda.” She smiled and sipped her brew.

  Llewellyn smiled at her and set his mug down. “Tis nay like that. We came mostly for the laddies.”

  “That answer means your real reason for being here tis greater.” She smiled a tight smile, her eyes gleaming.

  Llewellyn straightened. “We have heard that ye possess the armored vests and suits to protect against the stunners. Your production has nay stopped as ye continued to supply the Sisters. Now we and our allies are in need of such protection for the Sisters will attack. I ken that ye prefer to remain neutral and refuse to help either side in any fighting. Don will honor that. However, I feel that since the Sisters have bought from ye, then we should be able to buy from a neutral House.”

  Jolene sipped a bit more of her brew. “I dinna believe in Thalians killing Thalians.” She tossed her long hair back. “The vests and suits were sold at the price set by the Justines as being fair. Fair or nay, I will offer them for the same amount.”

  “I had hoped ye would exchange some of the vests for your own protection.”

  At Jolene's snort, he continued. “Since ye feel so strongly, would ye nay accept the butchered meat at the same value of credits?”

  Don tis getting low on credits, thought Jolene, and she glanced at the Laird. He was listening with no emotion showing, his grey eyes were almost frightening in their coldness.

  “That would depend on how many vests or suits ye require.”

  “One hundred vests today, possibly more once I've made arrangements with Betron.”

  “That would amount to ten butchered kine. Can ye spare so many? Your laddie has taken but fifteen hundred kine, mayhap less, from Rurhran, and Rurhran has nay intention of returning any of the others.”

  “Thank y'all, ma'am for saying what I've been saying since we got here, but what Rurhran does, or doesn't do, has no bearing on the number of kine we have. Don has taken far more than they have admitted; plus, there are well over five thousand head that are easily accessible on Don and more on the other side of Don's mountains. I haven't had a chance to tally them.”

  Jolene stared at the Laird. She kenned he said that Don still had kine that the Justines and Kreppies had missed. He had also thanked her for stating the obvious.


  Lorenz rose. “And why are you all haggling over buying this armor? I just turned two young men over to your House. If we don't defeat the Sisters when they attack, they'll go after any male around. That includes those two, and eventually they'll go after Rurhran too. The result will leave Thalia at the mercy of the Krepyons when they regain their strength. If y'all want to throw their lives away, just hand them back. At least they would have a chance to fight the Sisters.”

  Jolene tightened her lips and glared at him. “Ye need nay worry about Ayran fighting. I have held Ayran together all these years. It was here a Justine died, nay elsewhere in Thalia.”

  “Yes, ma'am, and I ken y'all were smart enough to trick the Justines and somehow withstood the pain from their questioning. That doesn't change the fact that Jarvis will be hunted down if y'all ever try to hide him again. The Sister who was chasing him was ready to emasculate him. JayEll's smart enough to survive as an Ab, but he was starving when I took him home. Are y'all saving your House for when the Krepyons return?”

  “My laddie tis correct. Somehow Thalians must think about being Thalians and be ready to protect all that Thalia once meant and could be again. It means we need to pool our resources, and Gar kens that Thalia has few.”

  “Ye make a fine speech, Llewellyn. The two of ye take all the joy out of negotiating. The ten kine are acceptable. I will trade complete suits for them. Are ye sure ye have one hundred Warriors?”

  “It depends on your definition of Warrior.” Llewellyn stood. “I learned a lesson in my laddie's land. Training is essential, but when your land tis attacked the very least of them can turn into a ferocious warrior. Thalians will do nay less.”

  “If we go down, how do those two boys survive?”

  It was the Laird again with his infuriating questions. She whirled on him. “Are ye ready to die here?”

  He grinned. “No, ma'am, no one's ever ready to die, but I'll take my chances.”

  Dear, Gar, thought Jolene. Llewellyn has found a skinny bodied Warrior. She pulled out her handcom.

  “Jackie, the Maca of Don has just purchased one hundred sets of armored clothing. I'll direct them to the loading zone.”

  She turned back to Llewellyn. “I'll expect the butchered kine by the end of the week. My workers need their pay and kine meat tis pay.”

  “When this tis over, I should like to view how ye have your production set up, Guardian of Ayran. It may help in setting up production for the new ships we must build.” LouElla spoke as she rose.

  “Llewellyn, Maca of Don, and LouElla, there tis one more thing ye must ken. Ye will have to fight with nay but Tris. Lamar has seen to it that what tis left of your House will nay participate.”

  LouElla's eyes widened and Llewellyn felt his stomach knot. Had his elder really betrayed him?

  “Guardian, Tris have always been the bulk of our Army, and they are the bulk of the Sisterhood.” LouElla felt her brither must be defended. “Plus there are those youngers who have signed on for the upcoming flight school.”

  Jolene shook her head. “Tis nay enough; therefore, I suggest that ye, Maca of Don, Brenda, and Jarvis issue a Call to all that are in the Sisterhood to return now. If they dinna, they will become Abs when they fight against us. Ye will also take with ye two of the trainers from my compound. At least the Tris ye have will learn discipline.

  “Now if ye will excuse me, I need to tend to the business of Ayran.”

  She stepped out of the arbor and gave orders to a pink clad worker standing at attention on the path. “Show these three where the loading zone tis.”

  Jolene held up her hand to stop the ritual good bye. “Tis Troyner strong enough to reclaim his House?”

  “Aye, and one of his Directors and two of his Keepers have joined him. They reported that many of the Tris have slipped into the hinterlands. The harvest of pina pods will be down this season”

  Jolene smiled. “That has been down since the Sisterhood condemned Troyner. They just refuse to admit they are nay agrarians.”

  “Then, Guardian of Ayran, I suggest we issue the Macas' Calls in three days' time. It will give me time to speak with Brenda of Betron.”

  Jolene's full lips parted in a rakish smile. Speak indeed. She kenned the two were already bedding. “And I, Llewellyn, look forward to seeing ye collect your debt from Beauty.”

  Chapter 29: Found

  Levin looked up to see Levi enter the shop and noticed there was a set look to his face and he was walking with a more determined step than she had seen when he was collecting his food rations. She looked at Andrew and he nodded for her to go ahead and wait on her only customer.

  “Good morrow, Levi. Tis there something ye are wanting today?”

  “Aye, but I see ye are busy. I can wait.” His dark eyes darted to Andrew and back at Levin.

  She smiled. “Tis but an accounting lesson. What tis it ye wish?”

  In response, Levi opened the case he held and pulled out a pair of soft slippers and a small leather case.

  “I have crafted these to see if ye would allow them to be sold here. Tis made by Don, nay Rurhran.”

  Levin took the slippers and turned them in her hand. “How did ye craft these? The Leather Works has nay reopened.”

  “I ken they are crude, but I was the Head Keeper. I managed to keep some leather, among other items ere the Kreppies arrived. I stripped as much as I could without being noticed. I ken how to run it, if ere it reopens.” He kept flicking his tongue at his lips.

  “Where was Leonard, the Director?”

  “He had already fled.”

  Levin looked at him, hope growing in her voice. “Without the main crystal or the lesser ones, do ye ken how to make everything functional? The Kreppies destroyed all the crystals and damaged some of the equipment.”

  Levi took a deep breath, opened the small case, and held up a medium sized, many sided blue crystal. “I took the main crystal and left the others there. Aye, I can do all that, but I wish credits.”

  Andrew was beside them. “Did I just hear you say that you can make the Leather Works a working factory again?”

  Both were confused. His words were puzzling and they were nay sure what caused his outburst.

  “I mean, can you start up the factory and produce leather goods by using the hides from the cattle being slaughtered?”

  Levi nodded, his dark eyes flicking from Andrew and towards the door.

  “This is a fantastic development. Grandpa Mac needs to know.” Andrew stopped, clenched his teeth and started again.

  “Your Maca will reward you, but first we must meet with him. Levin, you're doing great on those accounts. I'll be back as soon as we've met with the Maca.”

  He turned to Levi. “I'm Mr. MacDonald, the Maca's youngest.”

  * * *

  Llewellyn and Lorenz were waiting at the silent factory. Andrew's abrupt message came through just as they arrived back at the Maca's Tower.

  “Grandfather Mac, this is important. Don't ask questions. Just meet me at the Leather Works.”

  Levi walked behind Andrew, trying to be unobtrusive. He almost looked like he tried to shrink when Andrew finished greeting his two grandsires.

  “This is Levi. He was once the Head Keeper of Maintenance. He has a gift for you.”

  Once again Levi pulled the crystal from the case and held it in his hands.

  “What tis it?” asked the Maca.

  Levi realized he would need to answer. His voice squeaked out. “It tis the main crystal to start the entire factory, but we can't do that until I've made sure all the parts are clean and not broken. I haven't been inside since the Director of the Factory told me to leave.”

  “Was this the only crystal that existed?”

  “Oh, nay, this tis the spare one. It was kept in a safe in the Maintenance Department. All the other crystals can be made from this one. We were told to leave everything and exit the building. The other crystals were left in position. It tis said that they were all destroyed.”
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br />   “Why did the Director nay take this?”

  “I dinna, Maca.” By now Levi was glancing to the left and right.

  “Y'all,” and Lorenz rephrased the question. “Ye said this starts the entire shebang-uh factory. Does that mean the tanning area too?”

  “Prep area tis what he means,” Llewellyn translated.

  “Aye, but all must be ready.” His voice dropped to almost a whisper. “Ye could use this crystal to create the one for the prep area while I clean it.”

  Realization hit Llewellyn. This man was desperate for employment, but feared to ask for it. Why?

  A smile went across Llewellyn's face. “And why have ye nay greeted your Maca properly?”

  Relief flooded Levi's face and he held up his arms.

  Chapter 30: Rumor Confirmed

  Warrior's Haven was incised on the stone above the wide entrance to Lamar's favorite brew hall. According to Leta this was where Lamar met with Rollo, Counselor of Rurhran, to discuss the return of the kine.

  Llewellyn entered the doors and noted that several House members ranging from young to those in their declining years were sitting in the leather booths. Strange, he thought, this could pass for a high-class bar in the U.S. Lamar and Rollo were nowhere in sight.

  “Where tis Lamar, the Guardian of Don?”

  Silence greeted his question. Leck, appointed by Lamar as Dispenser, looked up and swallowed. This was the Maca and he did nay look pleased. The man filled the doorway and his voice boomed through the staid quiet.

  “Have ye nay answer for your Maca?”

  The fury in the voice convinced Leck he must answer and he looked at the middle door leading to one of the private rooms. Inwardly, he heaved a sigh of relief when Lamar appeared in the doorway.

  “Llewellyn, I thought I heard ye. Will ye nay join Rollo and me in a brew? Then ye may sign the papers about the kine and the sheep.”

  “Ye have arranged their transfer to Don?” Llewellyn was ready to pull his elder into his arms and ask forgiveness for listening to the gossip of Thalia and Lamar's and Beatrice's failure to tell him about the House members relocating to Rurhran.