City of Gods [Book 3 of the Teadai Prophecies] Page 24

  “Adelsik!” She snapped her head to Henny, who had a horrified look on her face. “Stay with her.” On her frantic way down the stairs, she almost ran over Predula. “Come quick!”

  “What is it? I heard you cry out.”

  Haranda said nothing. She simply turned and bolted back up the stairs with Predula on her heels. Thad followed not too far behind them and the two healers made a beeline for the prone girl, checking life pulses.

  After several heartbeats that felt like an eternity, Predula faced Haranda. “She’s all right. Just exhausted. Let her sleep, Thad.” He nodded and moved to guide Henny back to bed, as Predula’s gaze settled on Haranda. “What happened?”

  Haranda stood dumbfounded for a heartbeat. The Energy still pulsing within her. She reached up her hand, effortlessly pushed a yellow spark from her fingertips, and spun it with the air to create an orb of light. It came even easier to her than it had in the past. Then she gave an amazed look to the sleeping girl on the bed. “Adelsik healed me.”

  Chapter 18

  “Are you certain?” Predula gave her an incredulous stare. “I mean how?”

  “I don’t know. But I didn’t do it.” Haranda studied her former clan daughter, who lay unconscious from an exertion she couldn’t fathom. How in the name of the Goddess did the girl heal her? She was reluctant to let the Energy go and held it inside like a child clutching a favorite blanket.

  “Thad, get Wren, Payatt and the Elders.” Predula wasted not a heartbeat more and gently forced Haranda onto one of the beds. “I want to take a look at you. Lie down.” She obeyed and fought the urge to shiver as the woman’s healing Energy wormed its way through her body checking for damage. The healer finally pulled her Energy back and allowed her hands to flop onto her knees as she sat on the bed. “You’re in perfect health, Haranda. Just as before.”

  “Only now, I can harness.” She sat up and tried her best to contain her excitement. So, the Goddess hadn’t abandoned her after all.

  “Yes. Try multiple orbs.”

  The task of creating six orbs took no more effort than before Haranda’s problem started. In fact, it took less exertion on her part, as though she’d become even stronger in the Energy, and she added a seventh, something she had never been able to do. No other Gypsy, Xiath included, had sparking Energy strong enough for seven orbs. Excitement filled her and she grinned foolishly at her former clan sister. “This is wonderful. I’m certain I’ll have no trouble slumbering, either.”

  “What exactly did you feel when Adelsik did—whatever she did?”

  “Well, as I told you before, I could feel the Energy pulsing beneath me but I couldn’t harness. When Adelsik took my hands, I felt a slight tingle, like a winter shock. Then the Energy rushed from her through me and into the ground. We stayed that way for a while. And I was able to harness after that. I saw power in those eyes, Predula, Goddess colors, just for an instant. It was as if she used her flow to reconnect me to the Energy again.”

  Footfalls and voices floated up the stairs as several kin entered the sick house.

  “That could be what happened.” Predula studied Adelsik. “Though the Goddess only knows how she managed it.”

  “We have no idea what happened to her when she confronted the void. This could be some sort of side-effect.”

  “Yes. But at what cost?”

  Haranda didn’t like that question and she glanced at Adelsik again. The girl’s breathing was steady and she looked peaceful.

  Wren came in first, followed by Elders Siri, Finlor, Yuri and D’Esher, with Sage Payatt and New-oathed Thad trailing.

  The others went to Adelsik while Wren came directly to Haranda’s bedside and cupped her face. “Is she all right, Predula?” Gray eyes studied Haranda’s, probing eyes that reminded her of her youngling days.

  “Yes. Adelsik healed her. She can harness again just as before. Better than before.”

  “At least with sparking.” She demonstrated the seven orbs for those now in the room. Slumbering would give her the perfect opportunity to test her speculation that it had also grown.

  Siri stepped next to Haranda’s bed and crossed her arms. Ample breasts pressed together beneath her laced tunic. “You might just feel my harnessing abilities for hiding your problem.”

  Haranda was too relieved at getting the Energy back to be worried over that threat as she let her orbs pop out of existence. “I thought I just needed rest, Elder. I’ve never worked that long or expended that much Energy with a crystal before. Even Predula thought the same after she examined me.”

  Siri’s brow went up and the gold bangles on her multiple braids tinkled. “That’s no excuse for keeping something this important from your kin, Haranda.”

  “Yes, Elder. My apologies.”

  “Accepted. But you’ll receive chastisement.”

  “I expect nothing less, Elder.”

  That seemed to placate the large woman and she focused her attention on Adelsik, while Yuri, D’Esher and Finlor took turns questioning then berating Haranda. Afterward, the Elders decided to put every Gypsy and Sage to a demonstration just as Wren had suspected they would, and Finlor called for several servants. When they arrived, he ordered the meeting hall set up. Siri took another servant, a hamlet woman, aside. The woman left only to return later with a satchel.

  Siri fished through it then handed the satchel to Haranda. “In here are some items that won’t leave your person. A writing stick, bound paper, and a tin of ink powder. Write down everything that happens when you harness until I tell you otherwise. Do you understand me, Gypsy Haranda Banwidden?”

  “Yes, Elder.” She fought a sigh. She had hoped to do a simple slumbering test of her Energy, nothing that required a log. But this was most likely part of her chastisement. And another thing to impede her duties as a mother. “What about my newest youngling?”

  “She’ll be transferred to Predula. The girl hasn’t completed the bond with you as her clan mother, yet, so there will be no need for Wren to assist in the change.”

  “Yes, Elder.” Haranda knew she sounded like a wounded child.

  “You have enough to do with Henny. She needs you more than anyone right now.”

  “Yes, Elder. I understand.” She glanced at the girl, who now slept, thanks to one of Predula’s tonics. No one would take Henny from her. The girl had been bonded too long and transferring her to another clan mother now would require unneeded expended effort. Once a bond like that was transferred, the original parties never completely lost the connection until the youngling was oathed, a hardship on both clan parent and child.

  “Lyssinya will assist you and Predula,” Siri added. “I think she misses her own re-bonded younglings. And until we get to the Land of the Goddess, she needs that type of contact.”

  Haranda wanted to argue that she needed no help with Henny but Lyssinya might need a youngling to keep her occupied. Zarenia’s cousin was new and Predula could use assistance, since she spent much of her day with healer duties. At the very least, it would keep Lyssinya out of Haranda’s way for a while. The obstinate Sage could be as annoying as a horde of honey flies. She felt satisfaction that Lyssinya wasn’t yet trusted to be a clan mother here among the Gypsies. Not until she’d proven herself to the Elders and the Vedi.

  Siri stepped so close to the bed that Haranda had to crane her neck to make eye contact. Large fists slammed into ample hips. “You hide something like this again, Haranda, and I promise you’ll long for your youngling days. Am I making myself perfectly clear?”

  Haranda’s heart picked up its pace. Not from fear, but because she’d done something to infuriate the woman. The last time she was actually afraid of Siri was when she was still new-oathed and had nearly gotten caught harnessing around middlings. “My promise, Elder.”

  “Very well.” Siri tugged at the legs of her breeches, sat on the bed and grunted. “I’m getting too old for all this physical labor.” She arched and stretched as both hands reached behind to smooth her back muscles
.

  Haranda couldn’t help the smile that crept onto her lips. All was forgiven.

  Predula healed Siri, who didn’t even flinch. The only outward sign of a healing that Haranda could see was a distant look in both sets of eyes.

  When Predula pulled away, Siri nodded. “Ah, thank you. That feels much better.”

  The healer nodded and crossed to her sleeping patients.

  Haranda eyed Siri. “You haven’t been bailing straw again have you, Elder?” Though the woman looked no older than her fifties, she was pushing four-hundred. Gypsies didn’t live forever and their bodies broke down, eventually. Siri couldn’t keep her hands off labor when it needed to be done, either.

  Those brown eyes looked abashed. “I was raised on a farm.”

  “Yes, Elder. But that was when dragons still flew the skies.”

  Siri threw her head back in laughter, which got Predula’s attention again.

  The short body-healer stepped to them and crossed her arms as hair floated out of her loose bun. Even with Siri sitting on the bed, Predula had to look up slightly, but that didn’t deter her. “If you two are going to make a racket in my sick room, out with you. I have patients to tend.” She pointed one arm toward the door then nodded in respect to Siri. “Elder.”

  Siri slapped Haranda’s leg. “Come. These girls are in good hands. Let’s get some cider wine. If I have to test Gypsies in the Energy, I need my own strength.” She stood, hair bangles tinkling, took Haranda’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “Here. Don’t forget your satchel.”

  That got Haranda laughing and she flung the thing to her back. “It will be as one with me.”

  The Elder chuckled as she started for the door. “I miss being free around kin. Sometimes younglings seem to take an eternity to pass to new-oathed. Bloody Gypsy-children.”

  Haranda eyed the tall woman and shook her head. The Elder could be as impatient as a youngling and as brass as any sailor. They went single file down the winding, stone stairs that seemed to be common in most of the buildings here. Once downstairs, Siri hooked an arm in Haranda’s and they made their way outside and across the cobblestones to the banquet hall. The light, crisp air felt refreshing and a welcomed change to snow and ice.

  “Ah, there you are, Elder,” Silbie said once they were inside. “I have some fresh cider wine for you.”

  “You know my heart, dear woman.”

  The cook chuckled.

  Brandorin, a skilled spear hunter and member of Haranda’s original quest, sauntered by, nodded briefly to them and headed out the door. He looked like a moping child, a very large child.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Haranda hoped he hadn’t become ill. The man never said much but she’d never known him to look dejected around anyone.

  Silbie flipped a towel over her shoulder, causing her graying hair to sway, and waved a dismissive hand at the door. “Elder Finlor has all the hunters on kitchen chores until the game fully returns. I found out Brandorin’s been spending mornings in the privy just to avoid duties. Claims he needs that long privacy to do his business.” She huffed. “I threatened to slip something into his meals to hurry him up in the privy if he was late again. He didn’t take that too well.”

  Haranda and Siri laughed as they sat at one of the long tables. Silbie’s hot cider wine soothed Haranda as it went down her gullet and she complimented the woman.

  “I’ll get you a jug.” The cook disappeared into the kitchen.

  “You all right?” Siri’s eyes narrowed a bit as she peered over her steaming mug.

  “That didn’t seem to be a concern back at the sick house, Elder.” She offered a sly smile.

  “Yes, well. As an Elder, I have duties to keep you young folk under control.” She leaned on her elbows and cradled her mug with both hands while one thumb caressed the handle. “You’ve been through quite a lot lately, more than most, especially when it comes to younglings. I know you don’t like talking about this, Haranda. But you haven’t grieved properly.”

  She didn’t want to dwell on her losses. Especially the innocent ones such as Maesa. They’d lost others too. But that girl had just begun her life. And they nearly lost Henny and Adelsik. Those memories still cut too deeply. “I have grieved, Elder.”

  Siri’s hand reached across to touch her fingers. “Not enough. We have a reprieve now. I can’t say how long it will last but I want you to take care of yourself. Adelsik is well looked after. Henny’s recovering and still has a strong bond to you. And I for one don’t intend to lose any more of our children to this bloody war.”

  “Nor do I, Elder.”

  “When was the last time you had a man in your bed?”

  Ah, the woman could be brazen when there were no younglings within earshot. “A while.”

  “Well. There are some fine Gypsy and Sage kin around here.”

  Haranda shook her head and pursed her lips to keep from grinning. “Are you ordering me to take a man to my bed?”

  “If I have to.”

  “I don’t believe that’s within an Elder’s authority.”

  “Perhaps not. But who will argue with me? Finlor interacts well with those around him and he’s a fine leader, but he’d rather puzzle out problems in some musty old closet than talk to anyone. Yuri prefers healing to anything else, which demands his attention these days. And D’Esher, well, she would probably agree with me.”

  “Agree with what?” Though D’Esher was the youngest Elder and not quite as large as Siri, she was formidable in her own right. Her muscular build and the long knife that hung from her breeches belt caused even large men to eye her warily. She took a cup of cider wine from Silbie, thanked the cook, and straddled the bench to study Haranda. She wore her wavy, red hair, with slight gray at the temples, tied back as usual. “Are you getting enough rest, girl?”

  “As much as I need right now, Elder.” Haranda hoped to stave off any further remarks about her well-being.

  D’Esher focused on Siri. “What will I agree with?”

  “What? Oh. That Haranda needs a bedfriend.”

  “Mmm.” D’Esher’s eyes looked Haranda up and down like a farmer inspecting a new calf. “Siri’s right. You sleep alone too much, girl.” The freckles that powdered her cheeks seemed to move as she wrinkled her nose. In fact, her coloring was so similar to Lyssinya’s that Haranda wondered if perhaps they shared an ancestor. D’Esher’s gaze shifted to other tables in the large hall where a few kin sat to eat and talk. “How about him?”

  Haranda turned to see Brak sitting alone near the wall, a habit he had yet to break even with Eletha’s constant attentions.

  “No.” Siri shook her head. “That one’s taken.”

  “Too bad. I might’ve gone after him myself if Haranda didn’t want him. I can be very persuasive, you know.”

  Siri laughed. “Yes, you can, my dear D’Esher.” Her face grew serious. “Too bad that Energy of yours couldn’t find Croferituus before she did so much damage.”

  “A thorn in my heel.”

  Haranda studied her. “Not for lack of trying, Elder.” The woman’s ability to twine mind-healing and seeking Energies to draw people to her always fascinated Haranda. It was much more subtle than urging and worked even from a distance.

  Siri sucked in a noisy breath. “I didn’t mean that as failure on your part.”

  D’Esher waved a dismissive hand. “I know that, Siri. I’m not a fragile babe. But you know as well as I that Croferituus was too far for me to seek out, even at the distances I can manage. Goddess only knows where she was hiding in the middling world. I suppose someday we’ll discover her body. If Adelsik didn’t destroy that, as well.”

  “Yes. Thank the Goddess we don’t have to worry about her any more.”

  D’Esher took a sip from her mug but her eyes stayed on Haranda. “I can bring you any man here. What you do with your urging Energy after that is your business.”

  “Elder! Shame on you for such thoughts.” But she couldn’t help grinning. As a new
-oathed Gypsy, she’d used very subtle urging for just that purpose with a middling man she once took to her bed. He seemed surprised at the passion she showed from his attentions. Haranda would wager her boots any woman he ended up with enjoyed him. Of course, he was long dead by now. That was nearly eighty years ago.

  “There must be someone here who’s caught your fancy.” D’Esher took a bread stick from a basket Silbie brought out.

  “Well. There might be.” Haranda eyed the bread but didn’t feel hungry just now. She also didn’t admit she had considered a certain man recently. “I’m very busy with duties, Elder.”

  “Nonsense. Duties are important, especially now, but you can’t neglect your mundane needs.”

  “I told you no one would argue with me on this.” Siri sat grinning like a fool.

  Haranda frowned. “You two are as bad as gossiping, old, middling women.” She inclined her head. “Elders.”

  Siri laughed. “But we were also once your mothers and teachers. Which gives us the right to meddle.”

  D’Esher hissed. “All this talk of bedding a man is getting me distracted. I think I’ll find Finlor. He owes me a favor or two. Now, where would that man be hiding out?” She gulped the remainder of her cider wine, winked at Haranda, and strode out the door.

  Haranda shook her head. “You two are terrible, Elder.”

  “Yes.” Siri grinned. “We tend to be quite an influence on each other. Probably has something to do with being raised on opposite sides of Twin Mountains. But I’m serious about this, Haranda. You need company. Man company. Or woman company, if that’s your fancy these days. But you need a bedfriend. You have until after night meal before the testing begins. Wren or Lyssinya can look after your youngling until then.” When Haranda sat staring at her, Siri waved a hand. “Scoot!”

  “Yes, Elder.” She took another sip of strength from her mug, stood and glanced around the room. She didn’t see the Hunter who had caught her attention earlier. She’d noticed him once they left Hunter forest. Of course, she had forced her mind to focus on other things. But now, well, she had orders. She fought the urge to giggle like an adolescent girl as she left the hall in search of him.