Deadly Fate [Book 1 of the Teadai Prophecies] Page 22

  Adelsik thought the woman completely mad, and from the expression on Maesa’s face, she had the same idea.

  Bel’keive must have caught their looks because she said, “Ved’nuri is fair.”

  That didn’t make Adelsik feel any better and she wondered whether she could leave if she wanted. The way Haranda had stolen them away and herded them here, she truly doubted that.

  Besides, where would I go?

  Chapter 20

  Simple village life no longer appealed to Taniras Ei’sele and she planned to leave with her friends before first light. She was two years beyond marriageable age, twenty on the last new moon, and well into her apprenticeship as a healer, but the Elders’ Council and Healer Meg didn’t seem to think her experienced enough to wear a healer’s belt, which fueled her frustration.

  A sigh left her lips as she studied the small huts and community gardens and orchards of Maricar, taking a last look at the place she might not see again for a long while. Her eyes fell on the stables. Birek led yet another mule into the barn for grooming and Taniras quelled a groan. The younger man did that whenever he fretted over something, and everyone in the village knew it. She would deal with him later. First, she needed to find Camlys. As she made her way toward the east end of the village, she nodded nonchalantly at the passerby’s, villagers she had known since childhood.

  Faint Mountains stood out beyond her village. The fog layer that hid the top half in the mornings had dissipated, and she studied them as she took in a long breath to tame her racing heart. Savages, as Maricari called them, lived in the forest the other side of Faint Mountains and had named themselves Hunters. The gold hoops Hunters wore in their noses always gave them away. Taniras had heard one speak when he was in her village just this past moon cycle, telling of adventures and profit. Wil’keive was his name, a handsome man somewhere past his forties with more than a few scars on his exposed arms and shoulders from a bear he had fought off in his early manhood. At least, that was the tale Wil’keive regaled them with.

  Hunters often traveled in search of apprentices, those who would pledge their skills, live in Hunter Forest, and trade with the fisher people Wil’keive called the Bankari.

  Maricari custom dictated they offer food and shelter to anyone not openly hostile. In return for their hospitality, the Hunter told stories to the delight of the children and young people. Taniras and her friends had spoken to Wil’keive and found out where to go if they decided to become apprentices.

  Crops had declined the past two seasons and many, especially the elderly, thought it a sign of ill things to come. The seer had even warned them about danger from afar, a darkness she couldn’t explain, and foul weather that would blanket the world, causing famine and disease. But that was all her visions told her. The old woman had no idea where or when this danger would erupt. A few sunrises later, after the Hunter had gone and village life was back to its usual monotony and hardship, Camlys approached Taniras about taking the trip across the mountains to learn Hunter ways and earn goods for their families.

  Two sunrises ago, she had declined that offer and told Camlys not to entertain such foolish notions, but that was before the surviving crops began to show signs of infestation. Now she thought the trip an excellent idea. If the seer’s prediction came true in Taniras’s life, then her people would need skins and other goods not available in Maricar. Hunters got injured and became ill just as everyone did, and a healer would be an asset. Taniras could even take her own apprentice one day.

  Her parents wouldn’t approve of this voyage, but she planned to send back goods to make up for another thin crop season, so she didn’t intend to inform them of her decision. Besides, they had her infant brother to tend to, a surprise birth and one that would keep them busy for the next several years. Taniras needed to make her own decisions about her future. She felt stifled here and wanted to practice her herbal knowledge on her own, not apprentice for several more years. She also longed to travel, to get out of this tiny village, where she knew every face and every old woman’s gossip.

  Besides, Devin Nee’cher, or Snowy as everyone called him, was going. He had gotten the name from the white streaks that had adorned his black hair since adolescence. Taniras had been attracted to him since she was fifteen and thought once she became marriage age, he might ask her to be his other half. They had danced at the harvest celebration just after her eighteenth birthday and again after her nineteenth and yet again after her twentieth, but Snowy still hadn’t kissed her.

  Men! Why do they have to take so long to come to a decision about a wife?

  If the idiot man didn’t approach her after her twenty-first birth celebration, then she had planned to ask him to join in marriage and become her better half, as was any Maricari woman’s right at that age. If she went along tonight, she would no longer be under Maricari rules and could simply wait for the right occasion to ask him. Surely, Hunters had no such restrictions on marriage. They let children as young as fifteen go on hunts, not so in Maricar.

  Taniras rounded the village center and headed toward the southern huts in search of Camlys. Her friend, tall for a Maricari woman, nearly as tall as her brother Niklen, was a decent shot with an arrow and longed to be a village hunter, but she her brother feared she would be killed if he gave her too much freedom.

  Taniras thought the girl would make a fine Hunter as long as Niklen didn’t catch any of them. Even though they were all marriage age, Niklen was much older, and he could forbid them to leave and haul them straight to the Elders for chastisement, as was Maricari law. Leaving the village without the Elders’ blessings was unheard of. If Taniras and her friends were caught, village life would be most unpleasant.

  Where was Camlys? They planned to leave tonight, so she needed to talk to her friend and find out where to meet. The thought of sneaking off excited her but the Elders would never approve of this trip. Taniras forced her fear beneath a smile and picked up her skirts as well as her pace.

  Finally, she spotted Camlys standing near one of the large fountains, which provided water to Maricar, funneled in by hidden aqueducts from Prosperous Lake, and stepped quietly behind her. “A copper for your thoughts.” Camlys jumped and Taniras chuckled. “You’ll be one eaten Hunter if you can’t even hear me sneak up on you.”

  Camlys had black hair and dark skin like every Maricari but her eyes were gray instead of brown, very unusual. “Hush, Taniras.” She glanced nervously around but no one was close enough to have heard.

  Taniras had reached marriage age a year before Camlys and had called the girl down on several occasions for disrespect or foolish behavior, as was her right. Camlys’s tone right now gave anyone older cause to berate her but Taniras didn’t want to begin the trip with hostilities. Instead, she put fists on her hips and raised her eyebrows at her friend. “I’m joining you.”

  “Are you mad?” Camlys focused surprised eyes on her. “You can’t hit a hut at five paces with an arrow, much less an animal.”

  “I’m not that terrible.” She raised her palm when Camlys tried to protest. “I’m going. Besides, they need healers too. Especially with foolish women like you in the fold.”

  “You’re not a healer yet, Taniras Ei’sele.”

  She might just rebuke her friend after all. “And just because you learned how to shoot an arrow as a child, does not make you a village hunter.” Camlys grabbed fistfuls of her skirts and gave Taniras a sour look. The fool woman. “May as well get that thought out of your head, Camlys Ei’dwinn.” Taniras flipped her braid to her back. “I know what those clenched hands mean. If you hit me, I’ll have you on the ground squealing like a piglet for everyone to hear.” Camlys might be tall but Taniras was stronger and faster, not to mention slightly heavier, and she had upheld that threat before, leaving Camlys with more than a few bruises. “Strike me, and Niklen will have your hide when I’m done with you.”

  Niklen was already marriage age when Camlys was born and had become more like a father to her than a broth
er, since their own father died so long ago. The man would mete out the most humiliating punishment for all of them if he caught them running away without the Elders’ blessings. Taniras’s heart raced but she held a steady gaze on her friend.

  Camlys relaxed and opened her hands. “You realize healers are supposed to mend injuries not cause them.”

  Taniras laughed. “I’ll worry about serious injuries. A bruise or two never hurt anyone, especially a wayward child such as you.” She raised a brow, knowing her words would make an impact. “And I haven’t seen you teary-eyed for a while now. You look adorable when you weep, all red-faced and runny-nosed. Like a babe.”

  Camlys threw her hands up. “All right.” She grunted but a slight smile danced on her lips. “I suppose we can keep one healer from being eaten by a bear.” The two chuckled. “Where are the men? It’s nearly dusk and we need to do a final check.”

  “I saw Birek annoying the mules.” Taniras narrowed her eyes. “Again.”

  Camlys shook her head. “If he gets us caught, I’ll help you make him squeal.”

  Taniras hooked an arm in her friend’s and headed for the barns. When they arrived, Birek was brushing the largest mule. He was only as tall as Camlys, average for a Maricari man, and a year younger, eighteen. Despite his half-closed eyes, Birek rarely missed anything and was swift with a bow and arrow. He always walked with a slight swagger, as though he’d just taken his very first ride on a horse, which Maricari rarely rode. They were foot hunters, gardeners, healers and the like and used mules for heavy work. No one even owned a riding horse.

  Camlys looked ill and Taniras placed a hand on her arm. “You all right? You look as though you’re about to retch.”

  Camlys leaned close. “I was just thinking about Niklen.”

  The thought of getting caught made Taniras’s stomach curdle. That man was the biggest and strongest of anyone in Maricar and one of the most respected of any age group. Taniras had no doubt the man would be voted to the Elders’ Council one day.

  She decided they needed to concentrate on the trip, not on getting caught, and she pulled her back straight. “Blazes, Camlys! Don’t even let him cross your mind. And don’t bloody say his name in front of the others. You want to make everyone nervous as deer?”

  “I can’t help myself.” She gave Taniras a sour look. “If he even suspects what we’re doing—”

  Taniras gave a slap to Camlys’s arm and the girl winced. “Enough. Now you get hold of yourself. We’re both beyond marriage age. Do you want to be a Hunter or stay here doing chores for old women the rest of your life?”

  Camlys sighed. “Right. I’m ready to go.” She smiled but it looked forced. “I don’t even have a brother.”

  Taniras chuckled. “That’s the way to think.” She leaned away and focused on Birek. The younger man hadn’t looked up at the exchange. “You keep brushing that poor mule and he’s bound to end up like bald old Itondron.”

  Birek gave them both a guilty look.

  Taniras placed fists on her hips. “You come away from here, Birek Ei’mann, or I’ll take that brush and make another use of it.”

  Camlys chuckled. Birek mumbled, as he usually did, but he put down the brush and followed them from the barn.

  “Where are Greges and Snowy?” Taniras said with irritation, as they walked casually across the path toward the old well.

  The thing had dried up long before her day and no one went near it. The Elders’ Council had forbidden village children to play there and filled it in with dirt then boarded it over, a perfect hiding place for supplies. Taniras rolled her head side to side to relieve tension. She had felt bloody irritable off and on since sunrise yesterday and today seemed no exception.

  “Greges is around here someplace.” Birek pulled his knife and a piece of partially-whittled wood from his belt pouch. “And Snowy, well, I saw him arguing with Gordek.”

  Taniras chuckled and shook her head. Snowy argued with Gordek at least three out of every seven sunrises. A good argument today would help keep spying eyes occupied. Taniras forced away irritation that continued to build despite the good news and smiled. “I’ll bring mine around after night meal.

  Birek studied her with half-closed eyes. “You’re coming?”

  “Yes.” When he didn’t say anything, she raised a brow. “You have a problem with my coming along?”

  “No.” Birek shook his head. “I think having a healer along is a good idea.”

  Taniras glanced at Camlys but the other woman kept quiet. Smart.

  They checked the old well and found four packs hidden by brush and rock, along with a single lantern belonging to Snowy. Which was all they could take without suspicion. Lanterns were treasured and more would be missed. And since Snowy had lived alone since his parents’ unfortunate deaths three seasons ago, no one would notice his gone.

  “Taniras.” Birek ran the knife across his wood and sent several curled shreds onto the grass. “You can give me your pack through your bedroom window. Everyone is already headed inside for evening meal and I can get it hidden without anyone seeing.”

  Good idea. Birek was stealthy when he wanted to be.

  “All right. We ought to get to our meals too.” Her mother would expect her help. “I know I plan to fill my belly before this long trip.” She was hungry, despite the dragonflies that seemed to be fluttering in her stomach.

  * * * *

  The old road leading west out of Maricar appeared shadowy under the half moon. Camlys adjusted the bow and quiver on her back and kept glancing around at the outlying cottages. Taniras wanted to slap the woman for making her nervous. Her heart thumped with excitement and fear as she and her friends made their way toward Faint Mountains. By morning, the entire top half of the mountains would be hidden behind fog again. Snowy led the way, which was his right as eldest, periodically fingering his belt knife. His tall stature and serious disposition earned respect from those younger and even a few who were older. Taniras thought him extremely handsome in the moonlight and wondered what it felt like to be in his embrace for more than a dance.

  Her woman parts responded to the images created in her mind and she glanced at the tall man. He didn’t seem to notice and she forced her thoughts on the task.

  Greges Nee’horn walked beside Snowy. Greges, who was Taniras’s age and a jokester, had even given up his usual follies tonight. Camlys stayed at her side and Birek swaggered behind with bow in one hand and sharp eyes on the terrain. Taniras wished they could flame Snowy’s lantern but they could still be seen if they did. So, they had to make the best of the waxing moon. Camlys adjusted her pack and quiver again.

  Snowy cursed and stopped so suddenly Taniras nearly ran into him. “What is it?” she said. But he didn’t have to answer. Old man Fetter’s dog came running toward them, barking.

  “Bloody mutt,” Snowy uttered. “He’ll wake the whole village if we don’t stop him.”

  Birek readied his bow and arrow, but Taniras had a hand on his arm before he could draw his string back. “What do you think you’re doing?” His actions angered her and heat filled her face. “You can’t kill an animal just because he’s noisy. That mutt never hurt anyone. Put that away.” She put fists on her hips when he hesitated and he obeyed, quickly.

  Suddenly, the ground beneath her began to vibrate and warmth pressed into her skin and she felt strong now, in charge. She also thought she could feel heat from her friends press against her, as well as smaller, numerous heat specks all around the area. Even Fetter’s mutt seemed to brush against her. The sensation was exhilarating but it couldn’t be real. Probably some expanded senses from the fear and tension she’d been feeling all day. Or maybe she was ill. When the dog got near the road, he kept barking, a sound that seemed to echo painfully in Taniras’s head.

  Blazes, that’s bloody annoying! She couldn’t put up with this racket. The mutt would get them caught for sure. She placed one hand out. “Quiet, you,” The mutt froze and stared at her. “You go home and go ba
ck to sleep. Now, shoo.” She waved her hand and Fetter’s mutt ran toward the cottage with his tail between his legs.

  Once the dog was just a moving shadow, a bright light filled Taniras’s mind, accentuating the numerous heat sources she’d felt earlier, but the light and strength drained suddenly, and she fell to her knees, weak and breathless. Camlys supported her with Snowy’s assistance and the two helped her feet. She felt a bit unstable at first but it passed quickly.

  Camlys touched her arm. “Are you all right, Taniras?” The girl would go back for the healer if she didn’t do something, so she waved her friends off.

  “Yes. I’m well. A bit tired but nothing to worry about.” That was part of the truth anyway. “I’m sure it’s just the fear of getting caught. My legs are stronger now.” What in blazes had happened? She stared in the direction of Fetter’s cottage and wondered at the mutt’s reaction to her. Realization at what she had done flooded her and her heart raced.

  “Are you certain? You nearly fainted a heartbeat ago.”

  “I told you I’m well, Camlys.” Blazes, the woman was irritating. Something had happened to her, something had changed within her. And it left her more than frightened. But she wouldn’t allow that fear to show.

  “What in blazes was that all about?” Greges said. “How did you do that?”

  Taniras shrugged. “I’ve no idea. The earth vibrated. Didn’t you feel it?”

  The others shook their heads.

  Camlys blew out a noisy breath. “Well, whatever you did, it worked. His bark is silent.” Her head flipped around. “And I don’t see anyone coming outside. Probably thought he was chasing stupid rabbits or something.”