“I think you’re right to say there’s something different about her. She had a very odd, almost disappointed reaction when she learned you had teleported her while she was unconscious. And then she asked me if a fruit salad took a long time to prepare,” she told Bryon as though it were proof positive of Amanda being different.
Bryon shrugged, not convinced with Alena’s proofs. “Maybe she comes from a small town without telepods or fruit.”
“Yeah, it sounds about right, a small town which has aunts and doctors. What in the world is an aunt or a doctor?”
“I couldn’t possibly guess about the aunt without knowing the context in which she used it, but I can hazard a guess that a doctor where she comes from is what we’d call a wise-woman,” he spoke with certainty.
He nodded to himself as he recalled the previous night’s conversation with her, “Last night, she was very curious about the duties and responsibilities of wise-women. I had the distinct impression that almost everything I told her about them was the first time she had heard it.”
“So what do we do? Pretend everything’s normal?”
“Let’s just say it’ll give us something different to talk about in the evenings!” He put his arms around her and held her close. “You smell good,” he said as he nuzzled her neck.
She giggled and tried to move away from his nose tickling her neck. “Dare I ask what you’re thinking right now?”
“I don’t think you’d have to if you haven’t figured it out already. Are you ready for bed yet?” he asked as he began nibbling on her ear.
“Yes, I am,” she announced happily, “and I noticed you didn’t mention anything about sleep!” She wriggled free of his grasp, took one of his hands in hers and said, “Let’s go to bed.”
“Gladly,” he replied as he stood up and smiled down at her beautiful face.
Chapter Eight
AFRAID OF interfering with Bryon and Alena’s alone time, Amanda had decided to go to bed at the same time as the children. She really was feeling tired, but she was also curious about where her things had ended up in her bedroom. Entering the room, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it.
“What am I supposed to do? I wish Barla could’ve told me more about how long it might take to get back home.”
Thinking of Barla reminded her of the letter she was supposed to have on her at all times. Panicked, she patted down her body and did not find the letter anywhere. “Oh, no! Where’d I last see it?” She inhaled slowly and focused her thoughts and remembered at last. “It’s in my cloak!”
Rummaging through the various items of clothing she finally found the cloak draped across the back of the chair in the corner of the room. She grabbed it up and started rifling through the pockets until her fingers touched the paper of the envelope. She pulled it out of the pocket to see if it had been damaged by the rain; the paper was rippled but appeared to be dry and okay for the most part.
Sighing with relief, she held it tightly to her chest with both hands. “Now what’ll I do with it?” she whispered out loud to herself as she looked around the room for a safe place to keep it while she slept. Moving to the bed, she carefully set the envelope on the bedside table, so she could easily reach it when she got out of bed.
She carefully removed her clothing, found her bedclothes in the duffel bag, and pulled the gown over her head. She lay down on the mattress and sighed as she pulled the covers up to her chin. Amanda considered different ideas on how she would be able to help out around the house so she would not be a burden to Alena.
As she relaxed in the warmth of her bed, her thoughts started to wander: Will I be allowed to leave the house and go to the market? Am I far enough away to be safe from Petre? Will Alena accept my offer to watch her children while she learns healing skills from the Elder? Do I want to commit myself to so much time on Tuala? What would happen to Alena’s children if I went back to Earth before she was done with her training? She fell asleep during her ruminations.
The days ran one into another and Amanda learned the routine of the household. The children started asking Amanda to read them their bedtime stories. Alena and Bryon just shrugged their shoulders and enjoyed watching the children being entertained without them.
Amanda began to worry about Alena missing her opportunity to train with the Elder if Alena did not respond to the teaching invitation. More than once Amanda started to broach the subject with Alena only to be interrupted by one of the children or even by Bryon.
Bryon had said Alena had two weeks to give her response. Amanda had been in their house for almost that amount of time, and nothing had been said about it. Amanda decided regardless of what interruptions might happen she was going to have the conversation with Alena. Her opportunity presented itself nicely later the same day.
The children were all finishing their lunch in the kitchen when the doorbell rang. The kids ignored it as usual and Alena’s hands were elbow deep in dish water so Amanda said, “I’ll go get it if you don’t mind?”
“Go for it,” Alena answered appreciatively.
Amanda recognized the petite and friendly next-door neighbor as she opened the door. She smiled in greeting and said, “Hi there, Tana.”
“Hi,” Tana said, slightly at a loss for what to say. “I was wondering if I may borrow Alena’s children for the afternoon. I have a planting project in the back yard, and I know how the little ones love to dig in the dirt,” she smiled as she talked.
“Come inside. Alena’s just finishing the lunch dishes, and her hands were wet. Let’s go ask her,” Amanda said as she stepped aside to allow the young woman to enter the house.
Once in the kitchen, Tana repeated her request for assistance. In unison, all three kids chimed in that they wanted to help. Alena held up her hands in surrender and laughed as she said, “It looks as though the children are up for it. They just finished eating, too, so they should have plenty of energy to help you out. Are you sure you want all of them?”
“I wouldn’t dare split them up!” Tana spoke sincerely as she smiled down adoringly at the upturned faces of the children.
Alena turned and addressed her kids, “Since you’re all so eager to help out in Tana’s yard, hurry up and go change into your play clothes.”
As the children stampeded out of the kitchen toward their rooms, their laughter and bantering echoed down the hall. “You don’t have to do this, Tana,” Alena started to protest.
“I know,” she replied quickly. “But I want to. They are great entertainment, and they do love to dig in the dirt. I’m afraid they will come home quite dirty, though.”
“I would expect nothing less!”
Tana ushered the now properly dressed children out the front door and toward her house. “I’ll have them home for supper,” she called back over her shoulder.
Alena stood at the front door and waved as her three kids laughed and skipped alongside Tana. She smiled as she closed the door. As much as she loved her kids, it was also a relief to have some peace and quiet.
Amanda pounced on the opportunity to talk to Alena before anything else could interrupt them. “Alena,” she began and waited for Alena’s full attention.
“Yes, Amanda? Is something wrong?” Sudden concern washed over Alena because of Amanda’s serious tone.
“There’s nothing wrong with me, but I’m afraid there will be with you if we don’t talk,” she replied cryptically.
Alena wondered what in the world Amanda might be thinking and said, “Let’s go sit in the living room and talk, okay?”
Not knowing how else to say it, Amanda blurted almost all in one breath, “I don’t know how to bring this up subtly, so I’ll just say it…Bryon told me you had an opportunity to train with the Elder to be certified as a wise-woman, but you were afraid to leave the children for the time it would take to get trained. I was hoping it wasn’t too late for you to accept the offer and let me watch your children for you while you’re gone. Please know I’m not trying to be nosy
or take over your house, or family, or anything, I just know you’re a wonderful doctor, and I think you should take the opportunity to get the training and recognition for it as well.” Since it was finally all out there, she took a deep breath and sat back and waited for Alena to reply.
“Well,” Alena started and then looked at Amanda with consideration. “Well,” she repeated. “I didn’t know Bryon had told you about it, but you’re right; I haven’t replied to the summons because of the children.”
“The kids really like me, and I like being with them,” Amanda supplied helpfully.
“I’ve noticed, Amanda,” she replied, but then did not continue.
“So will you go?” Suddenly she was unable to contain her curiosity. She leaned forward, anticipating Alena’s answer and inwardly pleading with her to say yes.
“I don’t know how long I’d be gone,” Alena spoke, sounding as though she were trying to talk herself out of it.
“If you’re half as good as Bryon was saying about your skills then surely your training won’t take very long. What’s typical?”
“I’ve heard of as short as three weeks all the way up to fourteen mesans,” she replied slowly.
“I’m sure you’ll be on the shorter end of it. Bryon and I can handle the kids,” she assured her again.
“But you’re pregnant!”
“I’m not due for another five and a half mesans, so you better hurry up and get going before you lose the opportunity forever,” she answered smartly. “Besides, I’d be honored for you to be the wise-woman to present my daughter with her birth crystal.”
The idea astonished Alena; she had only ever thought of the healing end of the training. She would be learning a new skill of crystal assignment, and she really wanted to know how it was done.
“Well, I don’t know,” Alena drawled slowly as she thought of the possibilities for success in school as well as the problems which could occur with her being gone from home.
Amanda could see her teetering on the edge of agreeing so she prompted, “Please say you’ll do it. I’d love the opportunity to be able to pay you and Bryon back for all of your hospitality. Once my future is set, I’ll be happier knowing I helped to improve your career as well as your household stability. I know how much status is attached to being trained as a wise-woman. Your career will skyrocket. Please say yes.”
Alena saw the wisdom of Amanda’s words, even as she wondered what a ‘skyrocket’ was, and finally conceded, “Alright, you’ve worn me down. I’ll talk to Bryon about it tonight after the children go to bed; you can stay up, too, and let him know this was your idea.”
“Wonderful,” Amanda clapped her hands in glee. “I already talked to Bryon about it on the night I fell off of the horse. He said it was a wonderful solution, but it had to be up to you.”
“He knew all about it, huh?”
“Now don’t go getting all mad at him,” Amanda pleaded. “Bryon didn’t have anything to do with it. When we were traveling here, I asked him about how healers became wise-women, and he told me about it. He had also told me you were a healer, and I asked if you wanted to become a wise-woman, which was when he told me about your dilemma.
“I was the one who came up with the idea of taking care of your house while you did what you needed to do. Bryon seemed glad for my suggestion, but he never even hinted he thought I should do it.”
Slightly mollified, Alena smirked, “I don’t have to let him off so easily. It’ll do him good to sweat it out a little before I tell him I’ve decided to go.”
Things quickly fell into place after their discussion. Alena sent her acceptance to the Elder and arrangements were made for her to leave within two days. Alena sat down with the kids and told them about Amanda taking care of them while she trained with Elder Debbon to become a wise-woman.
While the children knew something important was going to happen, they did not understand why their mother had to go away. They sat on the floor of their parents’ bedroom with Amanda and watched as their mother packed several bags for her journey. “Why can’t Elder Debbon come and stay with us like Aunt Amanda?” Justan asked for the fifth time.
“Because Elder Debbon has lots of students to train and they all won’t fit in this house, Justan,” Alena explained patiently to her eldest child. She gave him a quick hug.
“Aren’t you too old to be a student, Momma?” Kyelon asked.
“I’m going to a special school where you have to be older to attend, silly boy!” She continued to select items to pack and asked, “Amanda, can you hand me the tunic from the back of the chair?”
Amanda held out the blue tunic for Alena to pack. “Do you really think you’ll need this much stuff?” She indicated the four suitcases already packed and ready by the door.
“I don’t know,” Alena laughed. “I keep telling myself I won’t be gone long and then I think of something else I might need ‘just in case’ I’m gone longer.”
“I think you should pack for no more than one mesan. You can send home for more if you end up being there longer,” she answered.
“I know you’re right. I just can’t get my head to agree with you!” She chuckled at her dilemma.
“What time is Bryon coming home to take you?”
“Oh, Bryon’s not taking me. I just found out Elder Debbon is sending a transport to pick me up.” She stopped and looked at the clock. “Goodness, I need to hurry; it should be here within half an hour.”
As if on cue, Bryon arrived home and rushed into the bedroom. “I’m sorry, honey,” he said, “I tried to get home an hour ago, but of course, there was a problem and I had to take care of it. Do you need me to get anything for you? Do you want me to carry your bags to the front door?”
“Yes, I do need something from you,” she said quickly. “I need you to come and give me a hug and a kiss I won’t forget while I’m gone.” She held out her arms inviting Bryon to embrace her.
“Gladly,” he said as he walked over to her.
“Come on, kids,” Amanda quickly stood up. “Let’s go get some juice so your parents can have a couple of minutes alone!”
She herded the giggling children out the bedroom door and toward the living room. Amanda settled them on the couch and went to get them each a cup of juice to keep them occupied until their parents finished saying goodbye to one another. Once the juice was served Amanda sat beside the children to wait along with them.
Several minutes later Bryon came through the doorway carrying four suitcases and pretending to be staggering under the weight of them all. The children all laughed out loud as Bryon had intended. He deposited them by the front door and imitated wiping the sweat from his brow. “Whew,” he said acting as if drooping with exhaustion, “It’s a good thing she won’t be gone very long, or I might break my back carrying all of her necessities!”
“Very funny,” Alena said as she walked into the room easily carrying the last of her baggage; she set it down next to the rest. “They hardly weigh anything at all,” she said.
“Well, the last one didn’t because you packed everything you owned into the four I carried,” Bryon insisted.
Refraining from commenting, Alena turned to her children and said seriously, “Now remember, while I’m away at school, you three are to behave. Amanda and Papa will be in charge, and you’re to do as you’re told even when Papa isn’t around. Understand?”
Three heads solemnly nodded. Kyelon’s lower lip started to tremble. “But you’re coming back, right, Momma?” he spoke in a tiny quavering voice.
Alena quickly knelt down in front of the three kids on the couch and put her arms around them in a huddle, “Of course, my little angels. I have a special opportunity to learn about healing. You want your momma to be the best wise-woman ever, don’t you?”
Again, the three little heads nodded. Justan smiled and puffed out his chest as he said, “You already are the best ever, Momma. Elder Debbon knows how good you are and he wants to learn from you too!”
Alena laughed as she replied, “I’m afraid it’s the other way around, Justan. Elder Debbon’s going to be my teacher. Just the same, I won’t be gone any longer than necessary to get my certificate and then I’ll be home for good. Amanda is doing us a big favor agreeing to take care of you three, but I don’t want to take advantage of her goodwill. I love you kids so much; I can hardly stand missing one day of your growing up. Give me a hug I won’t forget, okay?”
In turn, the children wrapped their little arms around their mother and hugged her. Alena praised the strength of their hugs and made little jokes about not being able to breathe. She pulled back and looked at their faces as she said, “Remember the new song I taught you. When you sing the Unity Song, you’ll know I’m thinking about you.”
Soon enough, the doorbell rang and Alena, and her luggage, was escorted to the waiting telepod. The family and Amanda stood on the front porch and watched as the telepod lifted from the ground and winked out of sight. Kyelon started crying and Amanda picked him up and hugged him, saying soothing words to comfort him.
Amanda used the gesture to cover her amazement at seeing her first telepod in action. To hear about their abilities was quite different from actually watching one perform. She again wondered if she would ever get the chance to be transported in one while she was conscious.
The family went back into the house and tried to maintain some semblance of normalcy for the children’s sakes. Amanda prepared dinner; they all cleaned the kitchen afterward; stories were read, the Unity Song was sung (which caused Kyelon to cry again), and then the children were tucked into bed. When the children were asleep, and all was quiet in the house once again, Bryon and Amanda sat in the living room and talked about how long each of them thought Alena would be gone. They both agreed it would only be a short time because neither wanted to think about what would happen if her training took longer than the duration of Amanda’s pregnancy.
Outside Ascension Page 20
