Vale of Tears: A Thalassia novel
Page 10
The schooner moved lightly as they stepped aboard, and Jineva’s small cabin, with its single tiny oil lamp casting a yellow glow, felt warm and comforting. She pulled her thick blanket up to her chin and only then discovered that she was crying. Meara made shushing, soothing sounds deep in her mind until she finally went to sleep.
Heavy clouds rolled in the next day, and the wind blew a chill mist across the nearly deserted docks. Jineva could see that some of the boats anchored in the harbor were bobbing uncomfortably in storm driven swells. She found Uncle Diego in the galley, jotting notes down on a piece of paper.
Pouring herself a cup of tea, she peeked over his shoulder. “What are you planning, Uncle?”
He looked up and winked. “You’ve been a bit down lately. I thought I’d make a favorite dish of yours; curanto, with seafood, meat and vegetables. I’ll whip up a batch of Pebre, a hot sauce to go with it.”
“That sounds wonderful.” She responded in an unenthusiastic voice. “I just miss my old life and my friends, Uncle. Back in my father’s court there were a dozen young women, daughters of various counts and dukes who were my friends, and we would spend hours together, playing, riding horses, and watching boys.” A wry expression crossed her face. “I don’t feel so much like playing any more though.” The idea blossomed in her mind fully developed, an impish grin crawling across her face. “Uncle Diego?”
“Yes, Niña Chiquita?” She could see that he wasn’t paying much attention, which was just as well.
“Since you’re making a favorite dish of mine, could I invite a friend to dinner?” She said it in a nonchalant manner, as if it wasn’t important.
Diego didn’t even look up from his shopping list. “I’ll be making enough for both of us, along with the crew. I can make a little more with no problem.” He kept writing.
“Thank you, Uncle.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, making it half way back to her cabin before he called out to her.
“Now wait a minute... Who do you know on Isla de la Luna?”
“An older woman, Uncle.”
“What!” His deep voice echoed in the galley, nearly drowning out a rumble of thunder.
“Oh, don’t worry. I wouldn’t invite HER. This is an older woman. Her name is Thallia. I think you’ll like her and she likes to eat.”
Diego came striding down the corridor, suspicion in his eyes. “And just where in the scheme of things does this Thallia fit in?”
Her emerald eyes held his dark ones for a moment. “She tells Selene what to do.” She bit her tongue. It was the truth, kind of.
Diego chuckled and turned away... and then turned back. “Yer serious, aren’t you?”
Jineva hadn’t moved. “Absolutely.”
Diego shook his head in something like despair. “Invite her, then. I’ll get another bottle of wine.”
“Thank you, Uncle.” She murmured, touching his arm. “It means a lot.”
“I know.”
Jineva sat in her room and looked at the ceiling. Having the ability explained to her was one thing—using it was something else entirely; she would be taking a step she could never untake.
She couldn’t help her nervous giggle. Silence seemed to echo in her mind.
Butterflies fluttered in Jineva’s stomach.
The next evening Jineva was looking across the moderately busy dock when it happened. Thallia looked as if she were walking down a long invisible ramp in the air that ended on the dock just before the boat. People took one look at the woman slowly appearing out of nowhere, and vanished. Some walked away, but most ran.
Jineva greeted her with a little bow. “Is that your idea of fun?”
Thallia’s gray eyes were sparkling with mirth. “People live such mundane lives. I like to liven them up a bit.” She took Jineva’s arm as they stepped aboard the boat. “This is nice. Of course, I’ve seen it before, but it’s always been second hand. The reality is much better.” She shut her eyes, swaying a little as the boat rocked gently at its mooring. The breeze off the bay smelled strongly of the sea. Opening her eyes, Thallia looked just a little surprised. “I see why your kind is attracted to the sea. I feel the call myself.”
“Haven’t you ever been in a boat before?”
“Only a rowboat.” She touched a railing with a long elegant hand.
“You’re welcome here whenever you wish.” Jineva blurted impulsively.
Thallia touched Jineva’s cheek with her hand. “You are such a dear girl, uttering things straight from the heart. I hope you don’t change, too much.” A gray eye winked at the girl. “Shall we go below? You uncle is probably wondering where you’ve gotten off to this time.”
Jineva waved a hand at the small companionway door. “Just follow your nose.” She gave Thallia a grin. “It won’t lead you astray.” The older woman sniffed at the rich aroma of garlic, peppers, oregano, chicken and sausage wafting up from the galley.
Their guest questioned Diego closely on the preparation of curanto, and studied the shopping list carefully. She also ate every morsel that was placed before her, and drank two large glasses of the strong local red wine. Then, and only then, did she make a comment on the meal.
“This was one of the finest meals I’ve ever eaten, Diego.” Her face was serious, her hands folded, composed in her lap. “You can tell when one cooks from the heart. There is a certain magic in the various dishes that come out of that kitchen, or galley in this case. Jineva was right when she said that I enjoy eating. What she didn’t know is that I also enjoy cooking almost as much.” She turned the full force of her gray eyes on Diego. “I would like you to make this dish again, in my kitchen, so that I might learn. I have a friend I’d like to invite who enjoys cooking and eating almost as much as me.”
Diego laughed, leaning back in his seat. “How can I possible refuse such a request? I would be delighted. You tell me when, and we’ll go over the shopping list together.”
Thallia nodded graciously. “Thank you, Diego. I’m sure that Medin will appreciate it.”
“Medin?” A trace of a frown crossed Uncle Diego’s face. “As in the moon?”
“Medin is the guardian of the moon that bears his name.” Diego blanched. “It has been a wonderful evening, however, Jineva and I have some things to talk about. I’ll get her back first thing in the morning.”
Diego’s eyes went large and Jineva turned pale.
< Shhh. You’re overreacting.> Meara’s thought was steady, calming.
Her uncle’s brown eyes had gone
hard. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, keepin her away all night in a strange place.”
“She did quite well in the Vale, without your help.” Thallia’s voice was emotionless, and Jineva could see that it pierced her uncle.
The man looked at the young woman. “What do you think, Jini?” It was the first time he’d ever called her by her nickname.
“I think that it will be all right, Diego. Worry if it makes you feel better, but I’ll be home safe and sound in the morning.”
This time the brown eyes held the gray ones. “See that you do.”
Thallia stood, followed a moment later by Jineva. “Shall we go?”
The young woman stood, swallowing. “How do we...”
Thallia smiled. “Take my arm after we reach the dock.” She gave Diego a wink. “This will be fun.” Jineva groaned.
As soon as Jineva touched Thallia’s arm the gently arching ramp stood out clearly before them, as solid as stone. The crowd that had scattered at Thallia’s arrival had come back, and now stood with awed, worshipful expressions as the women casually walked up into the sky, slowly fading from view to those below.
“So, what did you want to talk to me about?” Jineva was trying hard to keep her attention on Thallia’s face, and not look at the ground far below.
“Just a minute, dear. I don’t plan on walking all the way to Elysium.” The air sparkled and for a second everything turned white for Jineva. Clutching the woman’s surprisingly strong arm, she staggered as a wave of dizziness swept over her. “Welcome back to Elysium, Jineva.”
“I don’t understand what is happening at all.” The girl was frowning as she fingered her medallion.
“Oh, dear.” Thallia mused. “This is going to take a while. Why don’t we go to someplace more comfortable and have a cup of tea while we talk.” The sitting room was small and cozy, a small fire crackling in the fireplace and plush floral armchairs pulled up around a low coffee table. The walls, where not covered with rich paintings, were a soft shade of green. Several lamps gave off a warm yellow glow, and a steaming pot of tea and two thin porcelain cups sat on a tall side table. Thallia poured the tea and sat.
“What do you know of your history, dear?”
Jineva sipped. “My parents were Vitor and Livia Barillo, and...”
“Not the history of your family, the history of your people.”
“I was told many stories when I grew up, but Meara said that we came from the stars. I don’t believe it, myself.”
“Silly girl.” The older woman smiled. “Meara was right. Five great ships came from another world, filled with men, women and most of the land and sea creatures you see about you. The ship your ancestors came in, the Copacati, crashed in the area that you know as the Serrana Banks and sank. The Krathaa assisted the survivors, both human and land animal, to reach either Isla del Diablo or Isla Rivero. Much was lost, but thanks to the Krathaa, much was saved.”
“But...” Jineva was trembling. “But we treated the Krathaa so terribly. Why?”
“At first relations were cordial, but soon the humans grew jealous, envious of the Krathaa ability to swim the oceans unhindered, envious of the Krathaa cities when humans lived in little more than hovels, killings began.” Thallia’s voice grew sad. “It has remained that way for four hundred years—until now.” The gray eyes looked up and held Jineva. “You were the first to extend the hand of friendship to a Krathaa in four hundred years.”
“It was just a stupid coincidence.” The girl grumbled, looking away. “Anybody would have done the same thing.”
“Nobody but you would have chosen a Krathaa life over a human, and I doubt that it was a coincidence. There is an order and harmony in the universe, and this is the way She is trying to restore it.”
“But, why me?”
“I believe it’s your destiny, child, and since you put on that medallion, it’s also your job.”
“Job?” Her voice rose. “I’m fourteen years old, much too young to have a job.” Thallia gave her a level look, and Jineva blushed. “What happens if I refuse to be one of your administrators?” She was trying to make her voice sound mature and hard.
“People will die, innocent people, people you care about, and maybe even you.” Thallia replied bluntly.
“It’s so unfair.” Jinva was angry, and her tea was cold. Then she sighed. “I guess I’m being a little childish.”
“You might say that, dear.” Thallia set her cup down on the low side table. “I brought you here to tell you that in order for you to accomplish the task that is ahead of you, I had to make certain changes to your body. It wasn’t hard. Meara should be aware of them by now.”
“I’m aware that Jineva is no longer human, just as I am no longer K’ Dreex.” Meara’s voice coming out of Jineva’s mouth sounded exasperated. “What gave you the right to do this?”
“Necessity. Eventually Jineva will mature to approximately twenty standard earth years old. She will remain that way forever.”
“You mean for the rest of her life.” Meara’s tone was glacial.
“When you judge a lifespan in the tens of thousands of years, ‘forever’ becomes an acceptable term. If having a K’ Dreex increases that lifespan, only time will tell. I’ll be curious to see. The shape of Jineva’s body is now purely temporary. The spirit and the shape are currently Jineva’s. She may choose a different shape, in time. Jineva will eventually become an administrator to this planet, along with other modified humans and their K’ Dreex. The human and K’ Dreex combination is, you see, much smarter than either human or K’ Dreex taken separately. When Thalassia reaches maturity, and can govern itself, we may leave to colonize a new planet, and to shepherd it into adulthood. It is a long and tedious job, but the benefits are worthwhile.”
Both Meara and Jineva sat in stunned silence, and then Jineva began to laugh, and continued laughing until tears ran down her cheeks. Jineva choked on her reheated tea, coughed and rubbed her tired eyes. Thallia set down her empty tea cup. “Your bedroom is right there.” She pointed to a door that hadn’t been there an instant before. “I’ll wake you in the morning and we can go for a swim if you wish, before we have breakfast and you go home.”
“Before you take me home, you mean.” Jineva corrected.
The older woman smiled sympathetically. “You no longer need me to come and go, Jineva.”
“You mean I can just pop up or down whenever I like?” Her eyes sparkled.
“As long as you have the medallion. It gets old after the first few thousand times, however.” Thallia gave her a mischievous wink. “Sleep well, my dear.” Jineva was still mouthing the word thousand when she crawled into her soft bed.
Chapter 8
Jineva stood braced against the stern railing as the schooner Azzktullua heeled sharply in the brisk cold wind. Whitecaps ran erratically across an ocean the color of lead, and seawater foamed and gurgled under the heaving bow of the boat. It was all so unfair, she mused sourly, looking out over the cold water. Making earth shaking decisions and solving other people’s problems weren’t on her list of priorities. She couldn’t even solve her own problems. But Jineva couldn’t quit, and she couldn’t even run away. If she threw herself over the railing and into the ocean, a wandering Krathaa would probably save her, and chew her out for being so clumsy. If the Krathaa didn’t save her then Thallia would, more than likely, and sit there sipping tea and looking at her with those cold, all-seeing gray eyes and she’d feel even worse. Isla de la Luna was just a thin strip of black on the horizon behind them, and Isla Rivero two weeks ahead.
She told herself logically that once she reached Isla Rivero all would be made right, but a small skeptical part of her wondered why, in all their travels, they had seen no other ships flying the Barillo flag. Her father had had a large trading fleet and a modest navy. On Isla del Diablo, Isla Lemuy and then again on Isla de la Luna, there had been no mention of the loss of the king and queen, no day of mourning. Nothing...
“We h
ave a boat following us, again.” Diego’s gruff voice jerked her out of her gloomy reverie. Sure enough, sails were growing behind them, just leaving the sheltering waters of Isla de la Luna. She frowned.
“Could it be the same boat that was following us from the Serrana Banks? Could it be the mysterious stranger who followed me around the city, but never showed his face?” The distant sails suddenly seemed much darker and dangerous.
“I don’t know, Dama.” Uncle Diego shaded his eyes, peering astern. “If it is, he’ll have the devil’s own time catching us.” His eyes were glinting with a devilish light as he cupped his hands to his mouth and began shouting orders to the crewmen. The schooner had been under way using only the foresail, but now the huge mainsail, jibsail and topgallant sails blossomed out, catching the wind. The Azzktullua flew. Soon both the distant strip of Isla de la Luna and the unknown sail had disappeared far astern. Jineva breathed a sigh of relief.
~~~
On the western side of Isla Rivero was a deep wide channel, opening into a calm bay fifty miles in diameter and a half dozen miles from the turbulent ocean. On the pristine beaches of the bay sat the capital city of the Aztlán Archipelago, Soledad, spreading out in an unruly semicircle twenty miles in diameter, almost reaching the Great Ocean on its northern side. It was said that seventy five thousand people lived there, although a census hadn’t been conducted in a dozen years. On an ugly, sheer-faced black hill jutting two hundred feet over the city rested Castle Barillo, a great dark lump of stone erected in the early years of the archipelago strictly for defense. Now it was too costly to demolish and the ruling families had lived there for generations. Tradition was a hard thing to overcome.
Jineva cast a reappraising look at her former home and bit her lower lip, dismayed at the ugliness and squalor. The small berth she called hers on the schooner, with its tiny vase of flowers and the small, neatly made bed suddenly looked very appealing, especially in comparison to the noisy smelly city and the looming castle. Wrinkling her small nose at a particularly strong waft of chamberpots from the bay, she turned to watch the seamen furl the sails. Only the blue standard of the Temple of Selene flapped from the top of the mainmast, declaring the Azzktullua a consular ship for the Goddess Selene. Thallia had been adamant when she gave Jineva the flag to fly over the schooner. She stifled a small giggle. That would make her an ambassador to her own court from a goddess who didn’t exist, on top of everything else. It was just what she needed.