City of Gods [Book 3 of the Teadai Prophecies] Page 25

  When she arrived out of doors, the streets bustled with kin on errands, all of whom seemed to be in a hurry. Despite his affinity to hide out alone in dark, musty places, Elder Finlor certainly lit fires under his kin when needed. Haranda smiled, knowing that D’Esher was the only woman who could persuade Finlor to take a reprieve from his work. The two had a long history of bedding each other. Haranda and Candelus had come across them, purely by accident, during their youngling days and had spent the remainder of the night giggling in their assigned room on one of the servant farms, a place that no longer existed. Gypsies weren’t known for settling in one place too long, since that brought unwanted questions, especially since they aged so slowly and weren’t susceptible to middling diseases.

  Haranda’s heart quickened as she made her way toward the bathhouse and spotted Wil’keive bent over a trough just the other side. He wasn’t as handsome as some men she had known, and he’d been scarred by a bear attack in his younger days, but something about him attracted her. She sucked in a breath and strode purposely toward him.

  He straightened when he saw her. There was no doubt he had ties to Keive. One could tell that from his name, of course, and his skin held a tan, but he was much taller than the natives there, at least from what Finlor had explained of the Beir Lake tribes. There were still a few places Haranda hadn’t traveled in her eighty plus decades as a Gypsy. Wil’keive’s family had bred with the Hunters, many of whom tended to be large people, for two generations, and he stood a bit taller than Haranda, something she especially liked in a man.

  She smiled and he nodded respectfully. “Gypsy Haranda. Nice to have that bloody snow gone.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Though the road out of here is a muddy mess still. Probably be a few days before the wagons can travel.” He smiled warmly and his dark eyes lit up.

  Haranda smiled back then studied the gold hoops in his nose, larger than the one Bel’keive wore, a symbol of the Hunters. One was his and the other belonged to the relative who’d died during Croferituus’s captivity.

  “Do you need help with something, Gypsy Haranda?”

  She fought the heat that threatened to fill her face. It had been a while since she’d seduced a man. “Why, yes, Master Wil’keive, I do,” she said with confidence that betrayed her nervousness. With that, she glanced around to see that no one paid them much attention then stepped close to the man. With one finger, she reached up to his nose ring and caressed it, the sign of intimacy among Hunters. What if he refused her? Too late to think on that now.

  He took her hand in his larger one and a crooked smile danced on his lips as leaned close to her ear. To her excitement and relief, he said, “I had hoped you would choose me. I’ve been eyeing you for days now. I’m pleased you finally noticed. I was giving you the full moon cycle to come to me as tradition dictates, then I would have hunted you down, Gypsy Haranda Banwidden.”

  The pun wasn’t lost on her and she smiled as every life particle in her seemed to tingle. She pulled back to look into his eyes. “I had no idea you felt the same for me.”

  “That’s because you had other things on your mind. But I did catch you glancing at me on occasion and I hoped.”

  She giggled as she allowed him to lead her toward his sleeping house, excited by the feel of her hand in his, and she wrapped fingers as tightly as she dared without causing pain. Wil’keive led her in the front door of his sleeping house and up the winding, stone staircase to the second room on the second floor. The place was empty.

  A blue scarf lay on the nearby table and he tied it to the outside latch and closed the door. He turned to her and grinned. “No one will bother us.”

  There weren’t enough beds for everyone and kinwomen and the sick had priority, so his consisted of a straw mat on the floor near the hearth. He was a leader among the Hunters, and Haranda guessed that was the reason for the prime sleeping spot. At this point, she wouldn’t have cared if he slept in a barn. Siri had been correct in her assumption that she needed a bedfriend. How long had it been? That wouldn’t matter soon.

  Wil’keive got a fire started, while she watched muscles ripple beneath his tight tunic sleeves and grinned like a silly youngling. He then unstrapped his various knives and placed them in a small trunk near his mat, probably courtesy of Master LePon and his barrel makers. Once he sat and gently tugged on her arm, she lowered herself cross-legged next to him and fought a shiver of excitement when his hand caressed her back and rested on her waist.

  “So, Gypsy, you finally decided I was worth your attentions.”

  She felt a bit embarrassed that she hadn’t noticed his signals. Had she paid more attention, she might have come to his bed much sooner. But then, there were so many things going on of late and she’d been truly distracted to the point of not caring about a bedfriend most days.

  One strong hand took the leather lace from her hair, letting it fall in loose waves down her back. “We’re together now. You’ve chosen and I have accepted.”

  “Yes.” She undid his hair as well.

  She fought another shiver as he loosened her tunic laces and gently caressed that sensitive area. A noisy breath escaped her lips as his hands ran the length of her body and back up across her breasts and to her face. He leaned in and closed lips on hers. She reveled in pleasure as they both lay back on the straw mat, the fire beginning to create additional warmth in the room. She didn’t need to worry about becoming pregnant. The Energy rendered most Gypsies barren, men and women alike, and Haranda was no exception. Her thoughts quickly turned back to the man next to her as his hand reached beneath her skirts.

  Wil’keive worked his way over her body with experience and made certain she was fully satisfied, which left Haranda grateful. He was a generous lover, without any urging, something she hadn’t known in many years, and she did her best to reciprocate.

  Once spent, they lay huddled in each other’s arms, Wil’keive snoring lightly and Haranda smiling with a nice peace that filled her down to her toes.

  She studied the narrow window across the room, noticed that the sun was low, and envisioned the two of them in the Land of the Goddess making each other this happy for years to come. Such a foolish, young girl’s dream, yet she still had hope for that someday. Since he was a Gypsy servant now, her dream might just come true.

  He stopped snoring but his breath was deep and she snuggled a bit closer. Night meal would be served soon but not even hunger could shift her from what she had right now, and she draped her arm over his bare chest, surprised when his warm hand covered hers.

  “I thought you were sleeping.”

  “I was. Very peacefully. Your attentions have satisfied me fully, Haranda.”

  She smiled. “As have yours.”

  He pulled her close and she breathed in the musky scent of male sweat. She laid her head on his chest and traced the scars on his upper torso and arm. “I’m very glad that bear didn’t get the best of you.” His chest vibrated with laughter, and she giggled at the resonance it created against her ear.

  “So am I.”

  Haranda relaxed even more against his strong body. Suddenly, and much to her embarrassment, she began to weep. Wil’keive said nothing. He simply pulled her close and caressed her as she spent herself of tears.

  After a while, she sniffed and blew her nose on the crying cloth she had discarded along with her clothes. “My apol—”

  “Don’t apologize.” Wil’keive pulled her close and kissed her on the head. “You had every need of that. You think I haven’t watched you? I notice more than most.”

  She had no words for his tenderness and the security she felt just now. Instead, she wrapped around him, pressing her naked body close to his and longed for this type of companionship to last.

  * * * *

  Two days passed and the scouts reported that the road would be hard enough for travel within three or so more days. They would still have to watch for muddy areas along Briar’s Pass but at least they could get s
tarted on their way to Maricar as originally planned.

  The sun neared zenith when Haranda finished Energy exercises with Henny and Adelsik. Both girls had improved. Adelsik was at full strength now and wanted to be with Henny so Haranda encouraged the two. The healers allowed the youngling to take short walks for strong heart and lungs and to build back muscle she’d lost, despite efforts to exercise her during her deep sleep. Henny didn’t complain the way she once would have, but Haranda had to prod the girl to walk farther each day and lift heavier rocks.

  Wil’keive grinned as they passed him on the street and winked at Haranda, while the girls prattled on about how hungry they were. She smiled and nodded graciously to him, when what she really wanted was another roll on his straw mat. They had been intimate each morning after the others set off to chores. No one said a thing to either for being late, probably at the stark request of Siri or D’Esher.

  Those two Elders, along with Wren, kept a close watch on Haranda and delivered her to Predula each evening for a health exam and to test her harnessing abilities. Predula’s assumptions that she would recover might have come true, but thank the Goddess Haranda didn’t have to wait. She hadn’t waned once since Adelsik healed her, and the Elders agreed that she was stronger than before.

  Adelsik had tried to explain how she managed such a task but the healers couldn’t perceive what she saw, not even Thad. In fact, not one Gypsy or Sage ever had the ability to reconnect someone to the Energy. But then, no faithful Gypsies or Sages ever lost the ability to harness for very long, unless they were careless enough to kill themselves with the Energy, something that rarely happened to oathed kin. Something had altered Adelsik, and she now perceived the Goddess nimbus around every Gypsy and Sage kin right here in the mundane world, including the dull auras of the servants. The Vedi were at a loss for explanation too. No Gypsy had ever been documented with that ability outside the Netherworld.

  Thad had no side effects from bringing Henny back but he’d been quiet since Ryder’s death. He confided in Adelsik on occasion and the Elders requested the two work together once the girl was strong enough.

  Henny giggled and Haranda pulled from her thoughts to eye the youngling as they walked along the cobblestone street.

  “Oh, I think he’s perfect for you, Adelsik.” The youngling beamed.

  “Shut it, Henny.” The new-oathed girl had a grin on her face, despite the chastisement.

  Haranda followed their gazes to one of the new-oathed men, a spear hunter from Finlor and Wren’s quest. If Haranda remembered correctly, his name was Grant Bliney, a reserved young man, much like Birek, but with the ability to remain unnoticed even among his own kin. This ability had nothing whatsoever to do with his Energy. Grant was an animal urger, like Taniras, though not very strong. But it was enough to enhance his hunting skills. His sparking Energy was minimal. He conferred with the other animal urgers, all with weak Energy, but stayed clear of Taniras for some reason. Haranda had barely noticed the boy until the past couple of days, when the game had begun to filter back into the surrounding forests.

  Grant had a handsome face, tanned from outdoor activities, and his shoulder-length hair held strands of gold. A sleeveless tunic accented the taught muscles of a young, active male. Just now, he sharpened a knife and didn’t seem to notice anyone or anything around him, even the gawking girls. Haranda knew that to be false.

  “He is handsome, Adelsik. Want me to ask him to sit with us at night meal?”

  “You do and I’ll have your hide.”

  Henny simply giggled and kicked at a rock as she walked. “Well, if you don’t want him, perhaps he would find me interesting.”

  The girl’s footprint held steady, indicating she told the truth, so Haranda stepped up. Younglings were forbidden intimate relationships. Too much distraction impeded Energy lessons. Not to mention they could still get pregnant and Gypsies rarely carried a babe to term. “Youngling.” Henny snapped her head around. “You know the rules.”

  “Yes, Mother Haranda.” She pouted much the way Maesa used to. “But I’m not a child any longer. I have a woman’s feelings.”

  “Yes. I know that.” She placed a comforting arm around Henny’s shoulders and noted the bony frame. “Those rules aren’t for punishment. You’re still learning about the Energy. Lessons that can’t afford distractions.”

  The girl sighed and glanced back at Grant. “I do hope I become new-oathed soon.” She leaned her head on Haranda’s shoulder.

  Haranda pulled her closer as they turned toward the sick house where both girls still resided. “When the Goddess wishes it, youngling.”

  Siri eyed to them as they stepped onto the porch. “Everything well today?”

  “Fine, Elder.” Haranda smiled. “And you?”

  “Sprightful as a pup.” She smoothed her braids, which caused her bangles to tinkle. “How are you, youngling?”

  “Better, Elder-mother. Though I do wish my new-oathed status would come soon.”

  “Ah, yes. The impatience of youth.”

  Haranda guarded her laughter. The Elder had made a similar lament about younglings taking too long to move to new-oathed just two days ago. Of course, she wouldn’t point that out in front of Henny.

  Siri held the door open. “Adelsik. You and Thad are to work together today. Predula will assist. If you two can figure out how you managed to save Henny, perhaps you can teach others.”

  The flaxen-haired girl pulled her back straight. “I’d be happy to, Elder.” Pride colored her voice and she beamed.

  Before Siri could shut the large, wooden door behind them, one of the servants came screaming down the cobblestone street. “Fire! Fire! The grain storage!” One frantic arm waved to the eastern end of the hamlet. “Fire!”

  Haranda ordered Adelsik to take Henny upstairs, while she took off with Siri to find buckets. For quite a while, the hamlet consisted of men and women in a frantic and chaotic dance. They started a long line of bodies from the central well, but the fire blazed out of control. Before too long, the flames jumped to the next roof and started the livery burning. They managed to get all but two horses out before the quick moving blaze consumed the inside. Cass transferred buckets from the stream to the fires with the help of one of the Sage kin who shared that Energy aspect.

  After an exhausting fight, the blazes were out and all that remained were charred stone walls and piles of black, smoking debris against the backdrop of the moon. Several urchins set about lighting the street torches. Taniras and Snowy seemed to come from nowhere and moved quickly down the cobblestones with two guards behind. The guards dragged an unconscious man between them, a middling Haranda didn’t recognize. Kin, blackened from smoke and looking spent, gathered.

  “We found him in the forest,” Taniras said. “He fled when we took the hamlet and has been hiding there. The wolves tell me he started the fire.”

  Haranda gaped at the limp body. The audacity of some middlings. The grain stores and two good horses gone. And they didn’t have that many mounts left. With this many kin about, no one would have noticed another heat from the forest.

  Finlor waved a hand. “Get him to The Big Iron.” The stout Elder’s face was blackened with ash and he wiped a cloth over the sweat. They kept The Big Iron as a reminder of recent transgressions against the kin. “We can deal with him later, after we’ve eaten and cleaned up.” He trudged on toward the stream with the other men, while the women made their way to the bathhouse.

  Haranda for one couldn’t wait to get the soot and sweat off. She smelled like she’d been standing in a fireplace all afternoon. Ash still fluttered like snow along the street and onto the wood-shingled roofs, visible even in the moonlight.

  Adelsik and Henny sat on a bench on the sick house porch and Haranda eyed them. “I thought I told you to get inside.” Her shoulders ached from lugging heavy buckets and clearing debris. She reached a hand toward them and sent a blue spark to each, getting the expected yelps. Henny bolted inside with Adelsik sauntering
in after her. “Upstairs. Both of you.” She followed both girls and made her way up the winding, stone stairs to the second floor. The two scrambled onto their respective beds and stared at her like wounded pups. “That’s better. Adelsik?” Those wide, lavender eyes studied her. “I expect you to set a good example for the younglings. You were told to keep Henny inside.” She fought the urge to roll her head around and alleviate the pinching aches.

  “Yes, Haranda. My apologies.”

  “Accepted. I realize you and Thad were supposed to work together today but he’s extremely tired now. We still have other things to worry about. You can rest one more day here with Henny.” When she started to object, Haranda hardened her gaze. “I’m in no mood for arguments from anyone this evening. Now do as you’re told.”

  Adelsik eyed her but at least that insolent mouth clamped shut.

  Good. “Youngling?” Henny studied her intently and she narrowed eyes on the girl. “You are not to overwork yourself. I realize you’ve missed quite a bit lately but I won’t have you injure yourself. Disobey me again and getting your strength back will be the least of your worries.” What she wouldn’t give to have the girl move to new-oathed. She didn’t feel much like being anyone’s mother just now, despite the bond she felt with Henny. In fact, she longed for her bedfriend’s comfort.

  “Yes, Mother Haranda.” The girl’s face reddened even in the lantern light. “My apologies.”

  “Accepted.” Haranda started to go to the door and call out to any available servant, when Saldia came inside.

  She had washed and changed already and wet hair streamed down her back. “I came to see if you need assistance.” She held two fingers under her nose. “Phew! Did I smell that bad? I’ll take care of them. Haranda, you need a bath.”