City of Gods [Book 3 of the Teadai Prophecies] Read online

  The girl took a tentative bite and chewed. “Oh, now that’s good.” Once she had swallowed, she appeared to look directly in Haranda’s eyes. “I know something else is wrong. Something you’re not telling me. I do know how to keep secrets. The Goddess knows I kept enough for my clan sisters.”

  Haranda said nothing, simply forced more of the meat roll into the girl’s mouth.

  “All right,” Adelsik protested through her chewing. “I’ll mind my business. But if you want to talk, I know how to listen.” The serious look faded into a sly grin. “I’ve had plenty of practice with that too. Even if it was against the rules.” She grinned.

  “Thank you for your concern, new-oathed,” Haranda said in a tone she usually reserved for younglings. “But you need to worry about your own hide right now. Eat.”

  “Yes, Haranda.”

  Something in those eyes told her there would be more questions later. What was she to do? She tried to harness again, without success. Ved’nuri didn’t need her to slumber right now, not with what Adelsik managed to do to the void, but that reprieve wouldn’t last forever. With the former prisoners and hamlet middlings oathed, she shouldn’t need to use her urging abilities in the near future, either. And the younglings seemed to stay out of trouble just now so her sparking could wait. But they would be on their way as soon as the roads allowed. Perhaps she would regain her Energy by then. She would definitely be needed to finish Cholqhuin’s raising.

  Goddess help me. What am I to become?

  Wren burst into the room with Henny, nodded to Haranda, led the youngling to the other bed and made her sit. She then took a seat the other side of Adelsik’s bed.

  “How are you, Henny?” Adelsik said.

  “Predula said I could move down here with you since Lyssinya’s up. I’m so bored upstairs. Taniras is making me insane with all her restrictions.” The purple snowflake above the youngling’s head shone faint but steady now, despite all she’d been through.

  “She’s just making certain you recover.”

  “Yes, Adelsik, I know. And I also know what happened. How Croferituus attacked me. I remember some of it. The rest is still fuzzy.”

  Wren focused on her. “You don’t need to try and remember right now, youngling. It will come back when the Goddess thinks you’re ready.”

  “Yes, Mother Wren. But I want to remember now.”

  Haranda smiled at the sulking youngling. She had no doubt Henny’s attitude would help with her recovery.

  Adelsik turned her face to the white-haired Gypsy. “Any word on Tapnut and the others?”

  Wren drew her attention from Henny. “They should be in the Land of the Goddess by nightfall. We’ll know something in the Netherworld tonight.”

  “Good. I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand seeing Lyssinya mope about like a disappointed child any longer.”

  Wren chuckled. “She does make the most of her situation.”

  “Yes, she does.” Adelsik sat up straighter and adjusted her nightdress. “Do you know she threatened to punish me just because I assured her Tapnut would find his way out of the Means? She accused me of slumbering. I didn’t, of course. I’m not stupid. I was simply trying to cheer her. Silly woman. I told her if she punished me, I would go straight to Ved’nuri and ask for a reversal. For her.” She laughed. “You should’ve heard her. I thought she’d have heart failure right there in her bed.” Adelsik’s mood had lifted since Henny’s recovery and the void incident.

  Wren offered a sly smile. “You are quite a bold one, new-oathed. Not many would say something like that to Lyssinya.”

  A thin arm waved dismissively. “She’s not as mean as she comes across. In fact, she’s quite a worrier.”

  Predula entered with Cass and Ebbi on her heels. The girls began to chat while the healer stepped to Adelsik and checked her life pulses.

  Wren caught Haranda’s eye. “Let Predula finish with Adelsik. You and I have something to discuss.”

  That came as a surprise. Perhaps the Elders had given Wren private instructions. Whatever it was, the woman obviously didn’t plan to speak in front of anyone here.

  Haranda stood and handed the tray over to Predula then stroked Adelsik’s hair. “Behave yourself.”

  “Yes, Haranda.” That doll-like face smiled up at her and lavender eyes narrowed every so slightly.

  When she met Wren near the door, the white-haired Gypsy got a strong grip on her arm, led her from the room, down the hall and out the front door without uttering a word.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Hush.”

  Haranda needed no cloak, thankfully, because she didn’t think Wren would have stopped for one even if she begged. What had gotten into the woman? Had something gone wrong? Her heart raced as they crossed the cobblestone street with some speed, directly to one of the empty buildings. Before she could catch her breath, Haranda found herself in a chair facing her former clan mother.

  The white-haired Gypsy sat with hands on her knees, leaned forward and peered at her over that prominent nose. “I want to know what secret you’re keeping.”

  “What?” Her heart fluttered. How could she have forgotten Wren’s intuitive sense? The woman had known her since before she was marriage age. And Wren was a mind-healer.

  “If you dare lie to me, so help me, Haranda Banwidden, I’ll put you in a sparking blanket. Now, I know something’s wrong. You’ve been extremely pensive and your concentration wanders. That can only mean one thing. You’re hiding something. Something you’re afraid to let anyone know about.” Gray eyes narrowed. “You had better tell me. If I can’t persuade you, I wager Ved’nuri can.”

  Haranda knew she had a look of pure shock on her face. How could she have been so stupid to think she could deceive this woman? Her former clan mother. Several curses flew from her lips.

  Wren sat back in her chair and crossed her arms, the light from the window behind her making somewhat of a prominent silhouette. “That colorful language just proves my assumption. I’m waiting.”

  When one foot began tapping on the floor, Haranda knew Wren was serious in her threats to inform Ved’nuri. She closed her eyes for a heartbeat and took in a long breath. “I can’t harness.”

  Those gray eyes widened and Wren shook her head in disbelief. “You what?” The woman’s chilled hand took Haranda’s and her voice softened. “Since you used the crystal?”

  “Yes.” Tears threatened Haranda’s vision and she blinked them back. “I had hoped my abilities would return with a few days rest but I’m not so certain now.”

  “You should have told me.” Wren’s voice held concern now, not anger. “Haranda, this is serious.” She stood. “Get up. I’m taking you back to Predula.”

  “Wren—”

  A hand went up. “You know better than to argue with me. I want Predula to have a look at you.”

  Haranda stood and the two walked arm in arm back across the street to the sick house.

  When they arrived, Predula left Cass with the recovering girls, and the three Gypsy women made their way upstairs to a vacant room with two sick beds. This building had become a haven for those with injuries or illness, a sick house, but most were on their feet again.

  “What’s wrong?” Predula demanded once Wren closed the squeaky door.

  “Do you want to tell her or should I?” Wren crossed her arms.

  Haranda took in a breath. Predula and she had been clan sisters. Why was this so difficult? “I can’t harness.”

  “You can’t—what do you mean? Of course you can harness. You helped defeat the villagers—oh. You mean after that night with the crystal?”

  “Yes. I thought I would’ve recovered by now.”

  The short woman led her to one of the beds and pulled her gently onto the straw mattress. “Lie down. Let me see what I can find.”

  She obeyed and fought the urge to shiver as Predula’s lilac healing scent pulsed through her body. The woman made a thorough examination, which tested Haranda’
s patience. And her will. Healing Energy always left her with the sensation that hundreds of tiny bugs crawled about on her skin. Finally, Predula pulled back and the lack of Energy left Haranda longing for her own abilities. The pulsing beneath her called to her and she tried to harness without success.

  “Well?” Wren demanded.

  Predula clicked her tongue. “I can’t find anything wrong. She’s in perfect health. Try harnessing.”

  Haranda sat up. “I just did. Nothing. Let me try something.” She decided to use a youngling method of harnessing and envisioned the Energy traveling up through the ground to enter the soles of her feet. Even with such concentration, that she never needed beyond her youngling days, the Energy didn’t respond and she shook her head. “Still nothing.”

  Two sets of shocked eyes focused on her and Predula said, “You can’t even feel the Energy?”

  “No—I mean, yes. I feel it beneath me, in the earth just as always. But I can’t harness it.” Frustration and fear jostled for her senses.

  The healer nodded and her disheveled knot of hair bobbed. She leaned back in her chair. “I can’t find anything wrong with you. No faithful Gypsy has ever permanently lost the ability to harness.”

  “And no faithful Gypsy has gone this long without that ability, either,” Haranda countered. Her patience wavered along with her faith. Had she done something to anger the Goddess?

  “I’ll keep watch on your progress. Since you can feel the Energy, my guess is that you just need a few more days to recover.”

  “You guess?” Haranda felt quite cheated, something she couldn’t explain, but she’d hoped for more from one of the strongest healers among her kin.

  “I’ve never come across anything like this. You should speak with Ved’nuri—or rather, have Wren speak to her. Perhaps Ved’mana knows more.”

  Haranda simply stared at her. That’s all I’m going to get? No healing, no help harnessing? Even if Ved’mana could restore her abilities, she would have to wait until they were back in the Land of the Goddess for him to do so. He wasn’t a slumberer like his wife and son, and healing couldn’t be performed with slumbering Energy. At least, not that anyone had ever discovered. Even Lyssinya.

  “I know you’re upset, Haranda.” Predula placed a warm hand on hers. “Unification Energy is used sparingly for a reason.”

  “But no one else is having this problem.” She sounded like a wounded child, even to her own ears.

  The healer’s eyes narrowed. “That we know of. You’re not the only proud Gypsy. Or Sage.” She turned to Wren. “Has anyone else avoided situations where they might need to harness?”

  “Mmm. I’ll have to think on that. I know Elder Siri is all right. She worked directly with the other crystal and she can harness sparking just as before.” Wren grinned. “To the dismay of several newly oathed servants.”

  Haranda chuckled. “What about those who weren’t directly in contact with the crystals? Perhaps some of the weaker kin?”

  “Let me go and find out.” Wren’s looped braids swung. “I’ll speak to the Elders. They’ll probably hold everyone to an Energy demonstration to be certain.” She patted Haranda’s hand then pointed a long finger. “You take it easy.” With that, she left the room.

  Haranda sighed aloud and Predula moved from her chair to the bed and sat. One arm draped around Haranda’s shoulders, which made the small healer look a bit awkward since she had to reach up.

  “Oh, Predula. I’ve told my younglings over and over not to question the Goddess’s work.”

  “And now you’re doing just that.”

  “I can’t help myself. What will I do if I’m never—”

  “Gypsy Haranda Banwidden. You won’t talk like that. The Goddess has Her plans and I’m certain taking away your ability to harness isn’t among them. You’re important to Her, whether you can harness or not, but your Energies make you especially valued.”

  “You’re right. I know you’re right. But I do hate having my own advice come back to nip at me.”

  The disheveled Gypsy let out a hardy laugh and gave her a friendly slap on the back. “As do we all, sister-kin. As do we all.”

  The two spent quite a while reminiscing about their youngling days before someone downstairs screamed out. They raced down the narrow stone steps as fast as they could without tripping over one another and headed into the sick room. Thad and Elder Yuri leaned over a Bankari man on the third bed next to Henny, and Predula went to them. Brak and three Bankari servants held the injured one down as his limbs thrashed. His tunic was soaked with blood and Haranda made out a bloody stump where his left hand should be.

  “Hold him!” Yuri ordered. He turned so fast to the doorway that his single braid snapped across his face. “Wren! Get over here and calm him!”

  The white-haired Gypsy flew to the man’s side and ducked as a large arm swung at her head. Haranda hadn’t even seen her come back inside. “I need his back, Elder.” She squatted beside the bed as the Bankari men turned him.

  “Haranda,” Yuri said. “Give Wren a hand. Keep him under the urging while she calms him. No sense her wearing out by using two Energies at once.”

  Haranda’s heart kept a frantic pace. She would have to tell him. Right here in front of several servants.

  Wren waved a dismissive hand. “I’m all right, Elder. This won’t tax me. Haranda, get Adelsik and Henny upstairs.”

  Henny sat ashen-faced on her bed, knees pulled under her chin. And Adelsik watched motionless, head turned to the injured man, lavender eyes riveted on what Haranda knew weren’t much more than shadows for her.

  Thankfully, Yuri approved Wren’s request. Haranda wasted not a heartbeat getting the new-oathed girl wrapped in a blanket. She pushed Adelsik’s feet into soft slippers as Wren continued to work with the injured man. “Come on,” she said softly into Adelsik’s ear. “I have you. Let’s get upstairs. Henny, come with me.” Henny followed but couldn’t help with Adelsik, and by the last couple of steps, Haranda practically had to carry the new-oathed girl to the nearest bed. What she wouldn’t give for the strength of the Energy right now.

  “In you go.” Once she had Adelsik down, she took off the girl’s slippers and tucked the blankets around her. Then she put Henny in the next bed and sat, breath heavy, on one of the chairs between the two beds.

  “I saw a lot of blood.” Henny’s pale face studied her. “What happened to him, Mother Haranda?”

  “I’m not certain. But he lost his left hand.”

  “How?” She looked as though she would retch.

  “Don’t worry about him. He’s in good hands. Are you going to be ill?”

  The girl swallowed. “No. I’m not that fluffy child you took from Parlon.”

  Haranda moved to Henny and brushed hair from her forehead. “No, you’re not. But you’ve been through a lot lately, enough to quiver even the strongest Gypsy. And I’ve seen grown men retch at the sight of blood.” She noticed that Adelsik watched them and focused on her.

  “What’s bothering you, Haranda? And don’t tell me it’s not my concern. You were my clan mother. I worry about you just as you fret over me.” Those lavender eyes seemed to focus directly on her.

  She sighed and decided to tell them. “You both will find out soon enough, I suppose. I can’t harness. Not since using the unification crystal.”

  Henny squeezed her hand but said nothing.

  Adelsik’s jaw dropped for a heartbeat. “Why didn’t you tell me? That’s a horrible thing to happen. Have you told Predula and the other healers?”

  The girl’s concern comforted Haranda and she reached over to Adelsik’s bed and squeezed a thin hand, keeping Henny’s grasped in her other. “Predula and Wren know. Wren will speak with Ved’nuri and the Elders about it.”

  “Are you certain you can’t harness? I mean, have you tried recently?”

  “Of course. Predula thinks I just need a few more days to recover from the drain.” She traced the delicate bones in Adelsik’s hand wit
h her thumb and wondered at the internal growth in this girl. She never would have suspected such a change from that sniveling little imp back at Mistress Lane’s farm, not for many years anyway.

  Adelsik nodded. “Then Predula’s probably right.”

  “I hope so.”

  “I’m so sorry, Haranda. I haven’t been a Gypsy very long but that would devastate me. I can’t imagine what it must be like for you not to harness.”

  Haranda thought she felt a slight shock from Adelsik’s hand, like one would get against metal in winter, but she dismissed it and smiled at her former clan daughter. “Ved’nuri was right about you. She told me you would become a fine Gypsy.”

  The girl flushed. “She told you that?”

  “You seem surprised.”

  “Well, yes.” The redness faded. “I mean, after that day in the Correction Hall, I thought perhaps she would toss me out of the Land of the Goddess.”

  “You didn’t think such a thing.” Haranda smiled. “I know you better than that.”

  The girl gently pulled her hand away and grinned then pushed up a bit higher on her pillow. “Well, yes. I knew even then that Ved’nuri wouldn’t abandon me. I just never knew what she thought of me. And I deserved that punishment, as much as I hated it. Of course, I hadn’t fathomed the tremendous harm I could inflict from the Netherworld. Until recently.” Her features grew serious. Suddenly, as though something excited her, she reached out both hands.

  Haranda gave Henny’s hand a gentle squeeze before she moved to Adelsik’s side. She took the new-oathed’s hands, which gave off that same brief sensation of being shocked, and stared into those beautiful eyes, eyes that looked awash with power. Flecks of Goddess colors appeared, very brief but noticeable at this close distance. The eyes widened then narrowed with determination.

  A warm surge of Energy enter Haranda’s hands, rushed through her entire body, and filled her down to her toes. She tried to pull away from the girl but couldn’t move. For several heartbeats that could have been several years, she sat motionless as lavender eyes flecked with Goddess colors studied her down to her innards. Her feet grew warm then hot but she couldn’t speak. Awareness suddenly flooded her and she sucked in a breath like a swimmer who had been under water too long and gasped for air. She pulled away and the new-oathed girl collapsed.