by Beth Reason
Chapter 13
Violet sat at a large table surrounded by the people who called themselves her "new family". The dress her grandmother had made her wear was very stiff and itchy and reminded her of crinkle paper. It crunched when she walked and stabbed her belly when she sat.
"It's a formal dinner," her grandmother had insisted when Violet protested. "Now don't look so upset. It will be your first opportunity to use the wonderful new skills of a young lady that Mr. Canton has been teaching you."
Violet had said nothing at the time because she knew it would do no good. In fact, if she told her grandmother exactly what she was thinking, she would probably end up serving another punishment. She used to think carding wool was bad. Now that she had spent three afternoons kneeling and reciting a list of rules for Mr. Canton over and over until her throat and knees hurt, she would never mind carding wool again. When it was all over, when her Da finally showed up, when Mumma burst in and shot the place sky high like a den of wraiths...
"Are you day dreaming again, young lady?" her grandmother's voice had cut in. "I asked if you were excited to finally show your cousins just how much of a lady you can be?"
Violet had nodded and lied and pretended. They finished their dressing, then the awful lady with the sharp comb had slicked her hair with some kind of glue, from what Violet could tell, and let it dry on her head until her hair was a hard shell, just like her grandmother's. And then they stuffed Violet's feet into shoes with very long toes that made her trip if she tried to clack them on the floor when she walked. And then they led her down one of the long hallways she was not allowed to walk into on her own and sat her in a very high chair at a very high table so she could show off just how good she could pretend.
By the time the first bowl of soup was poured, Violet was already exhausted. Only the thought of another punishment made her pick her spoon up and concentrate on not slurping, like Mr. Canton had taught her. She doubted her grandmother would crack her knuckles with the small stick she always carried when they were at a fancy dinner on front of everyone, but she didn't want to risk it. She ate her soup very slowly, trying desperately not to slurp or cry.
Anka was sitting on one side of her and Auger on the other. Violet watched Anka eat her soup without slurping. She was a year younger and she didn't seem to have any problems doing it and Violet once again felt like punching the snot out of her. That was nothing new. Every time she saw Anka she wanted to punch the snot out of her. All of the adults thought Anka was the best, but Violet knew what a mean little girl she really was. The horrible things she said to Auger made Violet's blood boil.
Because she was trying so very hard to be good, and knew she couldn't do that if she kept looking at one cousin, she turned her attention to the other. Auger wasn't a bad kid, he was just boring. He reminded Violet of a girl in Mrs. Dinty's school named Conna who was two years older than anyone else in the class and dumb as a rock. Auger had that same look in his eyes. He'd walk around and pick his nose all day and drool on the front of his shirt and be happy to have everyone tell him what to do all the time if his mother would let him get away with it. He didn't seem to care one way or the other if he was following the rules or not and Violet knew that if she could get him away from Anka, they might just have some fun together. She could teach him to do something with his hands other than pick his nose.
"Isn't this soup good?" she asked Auger, trying to find anything else to concentrate on other than the itchy dress and the pinchy shoes.
Auger shrugged his shoulder, and her aunt Nada piped up from across the table. "Be a proper young lady like Anka and keep your mouth busy with food," she sniped.
Violet tried hard not to sigh, because her grandmother did not like sighing, and went back to eating her boring soup at the boring table with the awful clothes and mean adults. Her concentration shot, she slurped, and Nada once again made a fuss.
Irmara tried to hold her control. "This is her first formal dining experience," she said with all the patience for Nada she could muster. "I think she's doing well. Don't you, Bradwin?"
Bradwin had been studying his granddaughter from the end of the table. He hadn't seen her all week and the change in her was simply amazing. Though the reports from Bodi indicated that her accent was atrocious and that she still had glaring societal misunderstandings, he was quite pleased with her progress. And now, Irmara was asking for his support. It was a banner day in the Bradwin household! "Why, yes," he said with surprise. "She's coming along nicely."
Nada rolled her eyes. "Please. If my Anka was slurping her soup like a barbarian, you'd have her sent from the room."
Violet's eyes widened and she turned them to her grandmother. Her grandmother was looking bored and angry, so she turned to her grandfather. She hadn't even spoken to him in a week, and she still hated him, but maybe she could make him mad enough to send her from the table. "I guess I'll have to go to my room and think about what I've done," she said as meekly as possible.
Bradwin quirked an amused eyebrow. He couldn't help but like the girl's spark. "I believe we shall overlook the incident," he said. He almost chuckled out loud when he saw Violet's shoulder's slump until Nada continued to whine and moan. He looked to Merle, feeling the long simmering hatred flare. No, he'd get no help from that quarter. Not only did Merle have no desire to try and calm his wife, he knew that the more worked up Nada got, the more pills she would take to calm herself. He watched his son-in-law. The boy gulped his wine with a twisted little smile on his face and almost openly eyed Irmara. Whatever good mood Bradwin had been in evaporated.
"Hush your nattering," he snapped at Nada.
Nada turned her eyes on her father, the fake hurt shining bright. She was a good actress, Bradwin had to admit. "Father! I'm simply thinking of the family. You want her to come out at the Harvest Gala, that's only a few weeks away. Look at her. Can you honestly tell me you believe she is ready?" Her voice squeaked on the last couple words and echoed through the large marble room.
Bradwin bore his daughter's tirade through years of practice. A glance at Irmara told him she was feeling the same and he felt another rare moment of closeness with his wife. Instead of answering Nada, he snapped his fingers for the servants to clear the soup bowls and bring the next course.
Nada turned to Irmara. "Did I tell you how I found Auger yesterday afternoon? Did I?"
"Yes, of course you did," Irmara answered, hoping that would be enough to end the subject. The last thing she wanted was another one of Nada's rambling, overly dramatic tales.
Merle was actually intrigued. He'd heard nothing of it. "You never mentioned to me..." he fished.
Nada turned to him, that annoying look of triumph in her eyes. "I allowed him to have time with her in the gold room. After only one half hour I looked in to see why they were being so very quiet, and do you know what I found?"
Merle answered only because he knew it was expected. "Do tell."
"I found Auger on the floor, on his knees, with her," she pointed a red-tipped nail across the table, "on his back!"
Merle snorted. He just couldn't help it. His wife always got so worked up when children acted like children. "And what was young Miss Violet doing on your back, Auger?" he asked his son.
"She had convinced him to allow her to touch Grandmother's looking glass," Anka said in her snotty voice.
Merle's jaw twitched. "I do not believe I was speaking to you, young lady."
"Merle!" Nada said, outraged that he'd dare speak to their daughter in such a tone.
Irmara's eyebrow went up, just a slight lift that said she was interested to see exactly how this played out. Was Merle finally growing himself a spine?
Though Merle knew he'd pay later, he did not miss the look of interest in Irmara's eyes. He could not please both women, and he had to make a decision. As if there was any real choice to be made, he thought to himself. He'd goad Nada into a good fit that would make her take a pill. "I was speaking to Auger. Do you not agree that i
t is beyond rude to answer for somebody else? You want Auger to begin championing himself then he must be allowed to speak!" Merle had even raised his voice by the end.
Nada turned her eyes away and snapped her fan open, her cheeks flushed with anger and humiliation. Irmara held her smirk inside and risked a quick look at Merle. His eyes twinkled and she knew how she would spend the rest of her evening. Suddenly feeling happier, she poured herself some wine and determined to enjoy the rest of the surprising meal.
Merle turned back to Auger. "Answer your father when you are asked a question," he demanded. "What were you doing with Miss Violet on your back?"
Auger swallowed his bite. "I was letting her reach the mirror."
"I see," said Merle, surprised to actually get an answer from him. "And why were you helping her do this? You know it is against the rules."
Auger gave a little shrug. "She asked me to."
"You see?" Nada squealed. "You see what a bad influence she is having on my Auger?" She fanned herself faster. "Have you ever heard such a more ridiculous answer..."
"There are far worse things in life than a man who does everything a woman asks of him," Irmara said haughtily, shooting a pointed look at Bradwin.
"I am surprised at your words, wife," said Merle dryly. "You, who want his championships to begin. Why, the very fact that he'd soil his clothing to allow a lady her folly will be very well received by many in society." He tilted his glass at his son. "Good show, chap."
Auger had never had a kind word from his father. Ever. He grinned and went back to eating his dinner while his mother sputtered and snorted.
"She is hardly a lady!"
If Nada flapped her fan any harder, she'd break a wrist, Bradwin thought. He looked to his granddaughter and was surprised to find her eyes down. He expected to see the dark rage that matched her mother's eyes when she was angry. He knew it was a good sign for them. He should be pleased. She truly was learning. And yet, there was an alarming pang of something close to regret at the sight.
"He is supposed to be influencing her," Nada said, turning to Irmara and knowing that her mother would support her position no matter what she personally felt. "Not the other way around. Will you deny that her heathen ways are rubbing off on Auger?"
Violet stared at her plate, knowing that if she even looked up at her aunt she'd fly across the table and tear her eyes out. She listened, expecting some help from her grandmother. Instead, her grandmother agreed with Nada, and Violet's growing disappointment in the woman took away all her appetite.
"It is my understanding that a punishment was carried out," Irmara said to her daughter. "It will not happen again."
Nada's fanning slowed and she took a deep breath. "You can see why I was upset," she said more calmly, turning to Merle. "While a man should most certainly capitulate to the wishes of a woman, it is unseemly to lower one's self to the floor and rut around in the dirt like a pig!"
Merle almost laughed. In their current residence there were over thirty staff members at any given time making sure not so much as a mote of dust was allowed to settle on the floors. Rut in dirt like a pig? In this house? He picked up his wine glass and drained it. "Auger, do not rut in the dirt like a pig. Your mother finds it unseemly."
"Yes, sir," Auger said, not really sure if he was still in trouble or not.
The rest of the meal passed without incident. The children remained silent while the adults rattled on about things Violet didn't care about. She felt so let down by her grandmother that it was harder and harder to swallow her food as the dinner went on. She had to keep biting her lip so she would not cry, and was very happy when the maid served her a single stewed prune, the last course of the meal. It was almost over. And then she could get out of the dress and the shoes and close her eyes in her bed and pretend Da was sitting next to her in the chair.
When the meal was over, everyone rose and walked out in stiff lines, just like Violet had practiced, and entered the formal after-dinner parlor. Mr. Canton had told her that normally children were sent to bed at that point, but he turned out to be wrong. Grandmother bent down to the three children. "Tonight you will serve Violet tea," she told Anka.
"Yes, Grandmother," Anka said with her fake sweet voice she used for the adults.
"I thought it was time for bed," Violet said.
Grandmother frowned and gave a shake of her head in warning.
"It is a formal dinner," Anka said, turning to walk toward a small table with chairs in the corner of the room. "You will be expected to sit for tea after." It was very hard for Violet not to shuffle her feet as she followed her cousin for another torturous ritual.
Bradwin sat stiffly in the arm chair, wondering why they were bothering with such silly formalities. If it was for the girl's benefit, then he didn't need to be there. Still, he'd learned some interesting information that his family would need to know. Though he knew Irmara did not like it when he discussed business at any formal event, even if it was just a practice run with the family, his days were becoming busier and busier. While he had planned on informing them of the move in the morning, he decided to seize the opportunity that evening and free up an extra few minutes from his schedule. He'd do it now and suffer her cold shoulder. He was used to it.
"I'm glad you all are here. There have been developments that we need to discuss."
Irmara was about to open her mouth to argue, but saw the quick angry look on Nada's face and decided to allow Bradwin to discuss business. Let her stew, Irmara thought. Let her sensibilities really be rocked and give me an evening's peace after. She poured an after-dinner sherry and motioned for Bradwin to continue.
Bradwin quirked an eyebrow at his wife's easy acceptance, then decided to simply go with it. Whatever game she played was too much for him to worry about on top of everything else. "Yes, well. As you know, a war is building."
"War talk? After such a pleasant meal?" Nada crinkled her nose and snapped her fan open again.
Merle looked at his wife and shook his head. Pleasant meal? Was she honestly that blind to everything but herself? The answer to that, of course, made him gulp more wine. "Is it truly unavoidable, then?" he asked his father-in-law.
Bradwin nodded. "Yes. It seems those yokels got it in their head that they're a legitimate nation."
"Of course they would think that. You've been trading with them for years," Irmara pointed out. She loved politics in spite of herself. She loved the delicate workings of a deal and often sat in deep contemplation of the far reaching consequences that seemingly minute decisions could have.
Bradwin gave another nod. "I have been, in the hopes that we could have a positive influence over them and stand as an example. I have always given them the benefit of the doubt, always believed that they were intelligent enough to follow our lead. We've spent years increasing their standard of living. And what have we in return, hm? Nothing. There has been no progress on their cultural advancements. You've seen for yourselves now just how primitive they are. All our efforts to make their lives better have been made in vain. Worse," he said with feigned feeling. "Not only have they learned nothing, turned their noses up at our efforts, flatly refused to mature and act like they belong in this century, but they've intentionally slighted us time and again. They sent one of their own in to corrupt and abduct our son! And now after six years, we've finally got the opportunity to get him back here where he belongs."
A light bulb turned on in Irmara's head. So that's what the end game was. That's what he'd been setting up for years. That's why all of the secret meetings and clandestine trades. She wondered just how long he'd been planning this particular little ploy and she hated him for it. To use their son in such a manner...it was absolutely unforgivable! And yet, through the rage, an admiration sparked in her she hadn't felt for him in years. She could not deny the brilliance.
The entire nation had mourned Tenet. He'd always been very well-liked in the press, even if he had no offers for marriage. He was always smiling and ha
d an easy going nature that the media ate up. When he went missing, it truly was a sad day for the country. It strengthened the peoples' devotion to the Bradwins who had to suffer such a great tragedy. In truth, Irmara always knew that sympathy alone was what made Merle's parents pay off the contract payments so he could wed Nada so quickly. They needed a happy event to set their world to rights, and the enormous wedding took the sting out of the loss.
And now, those same people had a chance to get Tenet back. Irmara had underestimated Bradwin's reasoning for bringing Violet to them. She had assumed that Violet alone was the end game. Not only would Violet be Tenet's replacement if she could be properly trained, they'd get payments from many sources for the promise of Violet's hand for years to come. Irmara never dreamed Bradwin planned to have not only the girl, but get Tenet himself to return.
"He won't come for her," she said quickly, a flutter of panic cutting through the admiration.
Bradwin knew she was scared for Tenet. He'd have to navigate the waters carefully. He had an entire nation of barbarians trying to destroy his plans. The very last thing he needed was to have everything suddenly crumble from within. He had to have Irmara on his side as a means to an end if nothing else. "He has been at their mercy, with no choice. If my negotiations are successful and they release him, he'll be welcome with open arms."
Nada gasped and for a second, Irmara actually wondered if the girl was going to swoon for real this time. She needed a second herself to gather her thoughts through the shock. "You would let him return after...everything?" Irmara cursed herself inside for allowing her voice to sound desperate and hopeful.
Bradwin wanted Tenet all right. He wanted the knowledge the boy carried inside him about a culture he didn't understand. He had lived among them for years. He had been openly accepted by the government and if his intel from Jace was correct, which he didn't really doubt, then Tenet had some very powerful friends in the Borderlands indeed. Bradwin almost became giddy when he thought of all the information the recorder buried deep in Tenet's leg would give them when it was removed.
And though it took his inner councils to convince him Tenet had merit aside from being a walking recorder, he had finally agreed with their points of view. The people would eat the story up. They all used to love Tenet and would gladly open their arms to him again. It used to make Bradwin sick to see how easily Tenet could mix with any group. Now, he could see the value such a skill could be to his cause.
"I sent a communique to the base they call Carlton right across the border," he informed them.
"They have bases?" Merle asked in surprised.
Irmara sighed. "Of course they have bases, you twit!" she snapped. She ignored the hurt in Merle's eyes. "Haven't you listened to a thing that's been going on for months around here?"
Bradwin let out a laugh at the kid's expression. "I doubt there's been much information at the bottom of his wine glasses." The words hit home and Merle turned as red as the claret he was drinking.
"You were talking about a communique," Irmara prompted impatiently.
"Yes, Father," Nada said snidely while she patted her husband's knee in sympathy for the cruel words. "Tell us all about the wonderful Tenet's return. We positively cannot wait."
If looks could kill, the daggers Irmara shot her daughter would have done her in once and for all. "I have already reminded you of how kindly your brother always treated you, even when you acted abominably. Perhaps those pills you take are as bad on your memory as the wine is on your husband's!"
Bradwin had to hold himself together so he wouldn't cackle with glee. He had to admit he took extra pleasure in the rare occasions when Irmara sharpened her claws on Merle for once instead of him. The color had drained from the man's stricken face and Nada's mouth hung open like a transport hangar door flapping in the breeze.
Irmara turned her look to Bradwin. "Now tell us about this communique."
Bradwin didn't dare defy her. "I am attempting to avert the war."
Irmara clenched her fist, digging her nails into her palm in her frustration. "You just said it was unavoidable."
Bradwin nodded. "I truly believe it is. However, one must try." He took a sip of his tea. "At the moment we are at a standstill. They are gathering their forces, such as they are, and we are fortifying ours."
"We'll blast right through them," Merle said, trying to set the evening back to rights. "We've got the most highly trained men, bots, and drones. What could those hicks possibly have that can compete?"
Bradwin sat back in his chair. "Quite. As I've said, primitive doesn't even begin to describe the situation in those tribal lands."
Irmara was with Bradwin right up until that comment. "Tribal does not mean primitive," she said icily.
"You have seen your granddaughter. Need I remind you of her state of being when she first walked through your door?" He could see that Irmara wanted to fight the point on principle. She struggled with herself for a moment before waving a hand in concession to the point. "They ride horses," he said with disgust. "They don't even have a transportation grid! All of the motorized vehicles ride on wheels and rely on human controls. Can you imagine?" He shook his head. "I believe in this case, 'tribal' really does mean 'primitive.' And that is quite an advantage for us."
Nada began fanning herself again, growing bored and annoyed with the war conversation. "I don't see what any of this has to do with us. Just send in your bots and destroy them. War over."
Bradwin did not like the look of horror that flashed over Irmara's face for a brief second before she could rein it in. "Because it is not as simple as all that," he said as patiently as he could. "There are many who see the barbarians as a pitiful case and will sympathize."
"Sympathize?" Nada squeaked. "With savages?"
"Why not? Your mother does."
Irmara could not look the monster in the eye another moment. She stood and walked to the window, looking out at the fields being harvested under the bright artificial lights. She took a slow, deep breath. "I do not sympathize, I merely understand," she said when she had calmed the raging beast inside. She turned around. "Look at Violet. There are untold thousands of children just like her up there. Would you honestly have them all killed without giving them the opportunity to live and thrive as human beings?"
Nada snorted. "You act as if they're salvageable."
Irmara gasped. "They're children!"
Nada pinched the bridge of her nose. "And here we are back at this again. Honestly, Mother, you give me a headache." She held her hand out to Merle and waited. He glanced at Irmara quickly, her words still stinging inside, but she refused to give him guidance. After a moment's hesitation, he pulled a bottle of pills from within his coat pocket and gave Nada one.
Bradwin sighed heavily. "If you are done with your antics, we still have much to discuss." Nada didn't even lift her eyes to him, just sipped her tea to swallow her pill, then fanned herself and looked as bored as possible. Bradwin wondered just what the chit would say if he took that fan and slapped her across the face with it. It was a warming thought.
"The communique I keep attempting to discuss is a peace agreement. A settlement of sorts." He waved a hand when Merle opened his mouth. He knew Merle was trying to seem like a man, to prove himself after the brutal truths that were spoken, but he had run out of patience. "I won't get into the semantics of the deal, but, in essence, I have demanded the return of my son. If they comply, I will withdraw my forces by fifty miles and reopen trade negotiations."
Nada felt the potent pill already start to take effect. "Fascinating! Now, what does this have to do with me, Father dear?"
Bradwin made a note to speak with Irmara later about their daughter's addiction. Though common among those in her caste, he found it unseemly in the daughter of the Exalted Leader. She should at least learn to hide it better. "It concerns us all because things must happen on a very strict time line from here on out," he said tightly. Sick of looking at his daughter and her pathetic husband, he
turned to Irmara. "I dispatched my men with my negotiations just this afternoon. It will take them three days to reach an official liaison point. As soon as that happens, we must be in a position to present Violet."
Nada's mouth flapped again. "But the gala!"
"Oh for heaven's sake!" Bradwin scoffed. "You'll have your precious little gala where you can parade your little brat and her stupid brother around, don't you worry about that!"
Nada swayed in her seat. Merle knew it wouldn't be too much longer before she demanded another pill and became absolutely unmanageable. "Perhaps we should shelve this discussion for another evening," he said hesitantly.
Bradwin's eyes widened. "Have you not heard a word I've said? We need to be prepared to move within two days. There isn't time to shelve this for another evening!"
"Nada!" Irmara commanded. The girl turned her glazed eyes to her mother. "Sit still and remember yourself."
Nada nodded and turned back to look at her father, giving it her best shot at concentrating through the little rainbows the lights in the room made on her father's balding head. "We move tomorrow then?" she asked.
When Bradwin nodded, Irmara shook her head. "I don't know why you waited until the last moment to tell me this..."
"I just made the plans before dinner," he began in his defense.
"But as you have never been able to comprehend," Irmara continued as if he didn't speak at all, "it takes more than one evening to pack and move an entire household. I need at least one full day."
Bradwin felt the acid bubble in his chest and took out the packet of powders he always kept on him. He opened the little packet and poured the soothing powder into his tea. "I don't see why it's such a big production. What do you have here that you don't already have there?"
Irmara blinked at him for a moment. He was not a stupid man, which meant he simply chose to be blind to all the work it took to change residences. "Our clothing. Our staff. I need to instruct those remaining on how to secure for Summer and sign off on severance pay for those we're not taking with us. It's very early to ask them all to leave, and that will no doubt bring a slew of complaints. Not to mention the patients I have in the outlying clinics who planned on relying on my healing for..."
"Enough," Bradwin said after he gulped his elixir. "I give. You will have the rest of this evening and tomorrow. We'll board the transports at noon the next day."
The list raced through Irmara's head of all that she had to do, not just what she mentioned to Bradwin but the hundreds of other little details that she planned on having two weeks to complete. Bradwin looked stoic and she knew he would not bend further. "You have made up your mind and once again I'll just have to do the best I can."
Bradwin nodded firmly. "Good! And you have my leave to bring any supplementary staff you feel is necessary for the girl."
That was something, anyway. Irmara would inform Bodi that evening, as well as the stylist. There would not be time to look for competent help in the corn sector and she was pleased with their work. "Very well."
"What are you going to do about baby Tenny?" Nada asked with a half smile.
Nada hadn't called Tenet by his childhood nickname in years, and Irmara suddenly wondered if Nada truly cared under her stone exterior. Perhaps her bitterness was born of fear. Perhaps she had missed Tenet just as badly in her own way. "We shall continue our training just as we have."
Nada snorted. "Mother, please. You cannot put her in front of a camera yet."
"We may not have to," Bradwin said. "We'll let Udin decide."
Nada groaned, Merle shot a quick, worried look at Irmara, and Irmara turned her gaze from all of them in case her excitement showed in her eyes. She had not seen Udin Castani for three years, not since the night her husband walked in on them in a compromising position. He was Bradwin's press secretary, and if he wasn't such a damn good one, Irmara often thought Bradwin would have killed him on the spot. Not out of jealousy, of course. She wasn't young or naive anymore and wouldn't for a second entertain the thought that Bradwin had felt jealousy at the thought of his wife in another man's arms. Bradwin was spiteful, not jealous. As it turned out, keeping Udin so close, yet so far out of Irmara's reach had been far more hurtful than getting rid of the man ever would have been.
"Yes, I said Udin," Bradwin said quietly, noticing his wife's hands that twisted together on her lap so tightly the knuckles turned white. "We've no choice. He's the best."
Irmara lifted her cool eyes to Bradwin's. "Yes, he is."
Bradwin felt the acid roil anew and angrily snatched out his powders. He dumped the rest of the packet into the remainder of his tea and choked it down. "Don't get any ideas, woman. So help me, if you don't keep this strictly business..."
"Father!" Nada gasped. Even in her stoned haze she was outraged on her mother's behalf that he would so much as hint at old indiscretions.
Irmara heard her knuckles crack and forced herself to ease her grip. "You have nothing to fear, dear," she said with all the warmth of a New Canada Winter. "I will be far too busy to worry about what your silly little yes-man is doing."
Bradwin let out a caustic laugh and shot a knowing glance at Merle. "Yes, I'm sure you will."
Merle choked on his wine and Irmara's nostrils flared in anger and humiliation. "I would be very careful what you choose to say next, Junior," Irmara said in a voice shaking in rage.
Nada's eyes went wide. Mother only called Father "Junior" when her anger had reached explosive levels. She turned to Merle. "What did I miss?"
Merle opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water, completely floored by the old man's open and painfully accurate accusation. He felt the trickle of fear even through his drunkenness and looked to Irmara helplessly.
A scream ripped through the room and all the adults turned their attention to the far corner of the room where the children were supposed to be calmly drinking their tea. Irmara and Merle both jumped up and all but ran to the children's table, immensely relieved for the distraction no matter what the cause. Still, Merle could not hold in his gasp at the sight, and Irmara had to agree that his shock was warranted. Violet stood in front of Auger's chair, pointing at Anka with a hand twisted in some sort of sign and babbling words that Irmara could not understand.
"Violet!" Irmara almost shouted. "What on earth is going on here?"
Anka was beside herself. Her normally pale face was flushed, her eyes were wide with fear, and she trembled as she sat back in her seat as far away from Violet's anger as possible. "She's a witch!"
"Young lady you drop that finger right now and explain yourself!" Bradwin bellowed, coming up behind his wife.
Violet had enough. She simply had enough! They wanted an explanation? Fine. She pointed her finger at Anka. "She was being mean to Auger again."
Irmara knew it was true. Her granddaughter already showed signs of inheriting Nada's bitter streak. She turned on the girl. "Is this true?"
Anka shook her head and made her eyes go as wide as possible. "No, Grandmother. I was drinking my tea and talking about the harvest."
Irmara's eyes narrowed. "And why should a discussion about a harvest make Violet angry?"
"Because she's a witch!" Anka jumped up and ran behind her father for extra effect. She sniffed loudly. "She's a witch and a barbarian and she hates us all!"
Violet felt the angry tears burn in her eye and she glared at Anka. What was a show for her father quickly turned into real panic, and Anka clutched her father's legs with all her might.
"Anka was taking my Yum Yum cake again," Auger piped up. As soon as Anka shot him a look, he closed his mouth quickly.
"Is this true, Violet?" Irmara asked.
"Yes," she insisted. "She always takes his cakes. And then she tells him she'll pop his nose if he says anything about it. She's a lynta."
"What the hell is a lynta?" Bradwin asked, feeling a headache begin on top of the heart burn.
"Someone who steals food from someone else," Violet said as if it
was the dumbest question on the planet. Didn't her grandparents know anything at all?
Merle sighed. "Well for heaven's sake! All this over a Yum Yum cake? We'll just ring for another."
Irmara shot him a disappointed look. "So that is your takeaway? That your daughter should be allowed to bully because we've plenty of Yum Yum cakes?" She made a tsk noise and shook her head, then turned back to Violet. "Continue your story, young lady."
Violet took a deep breath. She knew her grandmother would not be happy with what happened next. "So I told Auger he didn't have to listen to a lynta, and that he should put a hex on her, and he didn't know what a hex was, so I got up and showed him." Her grandmother had that same look Da got when he was really, really upset with something she did, and she knew her next afternoon would be spent in punishment. "I just didn't want him to keep having his Yum Yum cakes taken by her!"
That wasn't exactly true, and all the adults in the room, save, perhaps, the stoned Nada, knew very well that the outburst had been building. It must have. They were all pushing a young child very hard, and even Bradwin could not muster anger. "This is why we have these trial runs," he said quietly to Irmara.
Irmara sighed heavily and rang for Violet's personal maid. "I believe it has been a long day, and tomorrow will be even longer."
Violet turned hopeful eyes to her grandmother. Perhaps she wouldn't be punished after all. However, when Grandmother gave instructions to the maid to bathe Violet and put her to bed, she still had her angry voice. Violet's shoulders slumped and she shuffled down the hall after the maid in her slippery, clunky shoes, and her itchy, scratchy dress.
"That's all she gets? Sent to bed?" asked Nada, teetering as she approached. "That's her punishment?"
"Of course not," Irmara snapped. "Get your children to bed." She eyed her wobbly daughter. "All of you. Go to bed."
Merle looked at her hopefully but it was clear whatever good times she had been thinking about earlier in the evening were canceled. He gathered up his children and wife and guided them down the hall towards their own rooms. When Anka tried to speak, he cut her off firmly and they made the rest of the trip to the west wing in silence.
Irmara waited until they were all out of sight before she allowed herself the rare pleasure of a good, long string of swearing. Bradwin humphed a little laugh, then ran a hand up under his glasses to rub his tired eyes. "She can't go putting hexes on people."
"You think?" asked Irmara sarcastically.
Bradwin rolled his neck and heard it pop. "The little shit had it coming, though."
Irmara felt her lips tug slightly up in spite of herself. "Scared her but good, didn't it?"
Bradwin did laugh then, a real, honest laugh at the memory of Anka's face when Violet glared. "That was the hunter side of her, I suppose."
Bradwin had given Irmara very little information about the hunter known as Scarab, the woman Tenet took up with. Or was kidnapped by. Or escaped with or any number of unanswered possibilities. The woman that was Violet's mother, no matter the circumstances. "Is she...is she very much like her mother, then?"
Bradwin quirked an eyebrow. "Can't you see it?"
"I see the looks, of course. But I see so much of Tenet in her."
Bradwin made a noncommittal little grunt, then changed the subject. He didn't want to talk about the hunter. He didn't want Irmara feeling sorry for her. He was almost sure she was dead, but until he was positive, the less Irmara knew, the better. He needed her to show the world fear and contempt for the cruel huntress who stole her child right out from under her wing. She needed to hate Scarab and help him sell the story. "We'll get that side out of her," Bradwin said. "However we need to."
Irmara felt the sinking dread at his tone. "Oh, Bradwin. Not the collar."
"I'm sorry, Irmara, but we simply cannot risk what happened here tonight to happen in front of the public."
Irmara turned to face him head on. They had already discussed the possibility of using a training collar on Violet, and only the glee she allowed Bradwin to have over seeing her grovel made him bend to her will. Shock collars were used for the slaves in the Third Worlds, or for training pets, not on respectable little girls! Bradwin had allowed Violet's training to begin without the tool, but now Irmara knew it would be all but impossible to let things continue as they were. "What will people think when they see a training collar on her?"
"As I mentioned before, it'll simply appear to be a necklace." He wagged a finger at Irmara. "You don't keep up with technology, do you? No one will ever know."
She shook her head. "No. I won't allow it."
Bradwin was out of patience. "You won't allow it? Well, you know what I won't allow? I won't allow my wife to keep having an affair with my son-in-law! Perhaps you are the one that needs a shock collar!" Irmara's eyes went wide and her mouth flapped open, and Bradwin felt a rush of triumph. For once, his wife was speechless. He added another mental tally to his side. "I will put the collar on her starting tomorrow because it's what's good for the family. She simply must learn that she cannot and will not have such outbursts!"
Irmara was shaking. Her insides felt like the jellies she so loved and she suddenly had to sit. Bradwin had never before indicated he knew about her dalliances with Merle, and she wondered how long he had known. One look at his face told her he was saving that bombshell for a special moment. The one fortunate thing was that Nada was so out of it she doubted her daughter caught on. The girl wasn't the brightest in the most sober of moments, and as Irmara forced her racing mind to calm and let logic take over, she knew Nada still had no clue. She wouldn't have to face that explosion on top of everything else at the moment. She'd have to end the affair with Merle, of course, but since she had already begun to eye Bodi, that would be no hardship. And there was Udin. She'd finally see Udin again.
Bradwin studied his wife with sick amusement. He knew her well enough that he could almost hear her thoughts. She wasn't worried about the safety of her granddaughter, or the appearances in front of the press and society. She was worried about the potential ramifications of her affair being outed. How he could have been taken in by her all those years ago, he simply did not know. His own mother had been cold and distant, but served his father well. He chose a hot blooded native girl, and realized far too late that he could not make her stay his once she had to conform to society. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but it did make his own memories of his mother much fonder.
Bradwin was not surprised by the affair. It was the latest in a long list of infidelities. And at least Merle was respectable. At least he wasn't some random farmhand who nailed Irmara in a pile of straw, spreading goodness only knew what kind of germs and disease. So on personal merits alone, Merle was a much better choice than most of Irmara's conquests. Bradwin probably wouldn't have said anything at all if the situation hadn't been dire. He most likely would have just waited to see how the drama unfolded when Nada found out. However, he was asking a lot of his family, and the idea that Irmara would do as he asked simply to help him out was laughable. Sometimes a knife had to twist to make people move.
"Don't worry that I'll tell Nada," he said calmly. "We'll have the girl fit for the collar first thing in the morning."
Bradwin did not have to spell it out for Irmara. He didn't have to specifically say that he'd keep the secret "if". She knew by then just how he worked, and though she knew it made her a terrible person, she readily agreed. "As long as it won't scar."
Bradwin stared at his wife for a moment, then let out a sad laugh. Something in him half hoped she'd still fight for the girl. But just as she did with Tenet, with Nada, and with everything else in life, she simply caved for her own purposes. She didn't do things for the good of anyone but herself, and even though she capitulated as he wanted, he couldn't help the grip of disgust that ripped through him. "Go to bed. Alone," he added bitterly. "I can't stand to look at you another moment."
Irmara gathered herself together and rose, looking upon her husband regally, a
s if she had any right to still have pride. With her nose in the air, she walked right past him, desperately hoping she appeared unaffected by his words. She stopped at the doorway and looked over her shoulder, needing to get the parting shot. "I am the wife you wanted, Bradwin. I have done every single thing that is expected of one in my position. If you weren't as old as the hills you'd be screwing the maids, too, so don't you dare get on your high horse with me. I'll do as you say because believe it or not, I do see the dangers. I'm not stupid."
"I never, ever called you stupid," Bradwin said firmly.
Irmara felt the weight of the day. Without another word, she walked from the room leaving Bradwin to silently wonder why he felt like she had just won yet again.
