Deadly Fate [Book 1 of the Teadai Prophecies] Read online

  That doll-like face grew dark. “You came to me, remember? Mother Wren explained everything this morning.”

  “I don’t care what you claim.” She glanced at her clan mother’s table and leaned over slightly, lowering her voice. She didn’t care if her clan sisters heard but she already had a moon cycle of privy scrubbing ahead of her. A minor nuisance, but one she didn’t particularly enjoy. “I didn’t come to you, no matter what you believe. And if I catch you in my dreams, girl, you’ll wish you’d never met me.”

  Adelsik held her gaze, eyes hard. “Don’t threaten me, Cassbet Legrange.”

  “Oh, I’ll do more than threaten you. Watch your back, eavesdropper. I’m going to give you something to really weep about.” Adelsik’s eyes widened and Cass smirked. Despite her haughtiness, this girl was afraid. Good. “In fact, after classes today might just be the perfect occasion to teach you a lesson.”

  “And if I tell the mothers?”

  “You think I’m some child to be quelled by unpleasant punishments? You tattle and you’ll get twice as much from me.”

  “That’s enough, you two,” Taniras said. With the Maricari woman’s sour temper of late, many backed down from her.

  Not Cass. “Mind your business, Taniras. This isn’t your concern.”

  “I’m making it my concern.” Black eyes narrowed. “If you think you can beat me, Cass, then try it. I guarantee you will be the one to weep.”

  She knew very little of Taniras but there weren’t many younglings who challenged her, even among the men. Could the woman make good on her threat? Usually, Cass could finger her knives and keep someone away, but those had been taken when she arrived here. Taniras was bigger but did she have the strength she claimed? Cass decided not to find out just now. She didn’t want to look a fool in front of her clan sisters. Especially Adelsik.

  “I’ve no qualms with you, Taniras Ei’sele. My attentions are for Adelsik.” Taniras opened her mouth, but Cass ignored her and focused on the flaxen-haired girl across the table. “You owe me a debt and I intend to collect.”

  At that, Adelsik’s face reddened. “If you touch me, I—I’ll do something in your dreams. You can’t stop me there. You have no power in the Netherworld.”

  “Adelsik Nunsey.” The girl’s head snapped to Saldia, who held eyes on her. The woman usually had her attention on the men’s tables. “You better not use the Energy on her. I don’t care what’s going on between you two but I’ll report you for that.”

  “This is none of your concern, Saldia. What goes on between us is our business.”

  Kal cleared her throat and her eyes flicked toward Haranda’s table.

  “We’ll just see about that,” Taniras said.

  Cass turned to see Haranda, Wren and Predula headed their direction. “Bloody blazes in the underworld,” she said under her breath. Three mothers, all with scowls on their faces. Then Kal did something that astonished her.

  The tall girl hopped onto the table and pulled her skirts up, which weren’t sewn together for once, to reveal her underbreeches. “And this is how they dance,” she said in a loud voice. She began to swing her hips back and forth and purse her lips, while her tattooed wrist made seductive circles.

  The clan sisters stared with open mouths until Kal widened humorous eyes at them then they began to laugh. Several youngling men at the other tables whistled and applauded in appreciation.

  Haranda stepped to Cass’s table and placed her hands on her hips. “Youngling!”

  Kal stopped and gave the Gypsy an innocent look. “Yes, Mother Haranda?” She was still holding up her skirts with one hand.

  “Just what do you think you’re doing?”

  “Showing my clan sisters how tavern women dance.” Kal’s voice took on a child-like quality and Cass fought the urge to roar with laughter. “I used to watch them with my uncle. He loved them. Men like tavern women.” The girl held the innocent look on her face and waved to the men. They whistled and made kissing noises.

  Cass caught Saldia clamp a hand over her mouth to hide a smile. Bloody blazes, she loved this girl! Kal had taken all attention from her and Adelsik. Hopefully, the mothers would buy what she spouted. She had told the truth. She was demonstrating a tavern dance. Cass had seen many such dances in her life. And Kal was no stranger to taverns, either.

  “Put your dress down, youngling ” Predula stood next to Wren and both looked a bit stunned.

  “But the men like this.” Kal pushed her bottom out and waved to the other tables again. None whistled this time, probably because the fathers stood nearby, but Cass saw a few winks and silent kisses.

  “You get down this instant, youngling.” Haranda’s voice had grown low and dangerous voice. Her face grew crimson and veins stood out on her temples.

  Things could get out of hand quickly, and Cass wasn’t about to let Kal take all the blame. After all, the girl was doing this for her sake.

  “This is my fault, Mothers.” She nearly fell off the bench when three sets of Gypsy eyes studied her down to her innards. “I wagered Adelsik that I knew all about tavern women. She didn’t believe me. Kal’s dance would prove whether or not I know about the taverns.” She silently prayed to the Goddess that they believed her lies.

  “Yes.” Kal fingered the braid that crowned her head. “If Cass had never seen a tavern dance, she would surely blush to her ears at mine.” Her green eyes fell on Cass. “You didn’t blush, clan sister. I believe Adelsik owes you.” The subtlety of Kal’s agreement wasn’t lost on Cass and she nodded.

  The flaxen-haired girl gave both a sour gaze but she was smart enough to keep her bloody mouth shut.

  “And I agreed to judge.” Saldia glanced up at Kal, who was still on the table. “That was a very good impression of a tavern dancer, Kal.”

  “Why thank you, Saldia.”

  Haranda yanked Kal off the table. Predula stood in stunned silence, shaking her head. Her unruly hair flittered this way and that. Wren had her arms crossed and a dangerous look in her eyes.

  “You four.” Haranda pointed out those involved. “My cottage. Now. Move!”

  Cass stood and pulled Kal along with her. Saldia ran just behind and they got to the Gypsy’s cottage first. Adelsik walked just in front of the mothers, pouting.

  “Thank you both,” Cass said under her breath. “Sorry about you getting punished.” She wasn’t looking forward to more privy duty, either.

  “What are kin for if not to help one another?” Kal smiled.

  Saldia shrugged. “You’d do the same for me, I’m certain.”

  “I will in the future. You can count on that.” She had to shut her mouth because the three Gypsies arrived. They rarely ran, she had noticed, unless someone was in danger. Cass still planned to pummel Adelsik again. The girl pouted like an idiot child.

  Haranda opened her door. “Inside.” They obeyed, with Wren and Predula right behind, quickly washed their feet and stood shoulder to shoulder.

  It took Cass’s eyes a heartbeat to adjust to the dimmer light of the cabin, but the mothers’ tension pricked into her skin and she knew exactly where each stood without looking. The three Gypsies circled in front of the younglings.

  “Now, just what were you four thinking out there?” Haranda crossed her arms.

  Cass spoke up before Kal or Saldia. After all, they were here because of her. She could care less about Adelsik and hoped the girl got three moon cycles in the privies. The girl hated that chore more than any other. Would serve her right. “I was bored with midday meal today, Mother Haranda.” Cass hoped they believed her lies with so many sisters validating her. “I thought a little wager would make things more interesting.”

  Three sets of intrusive eyes fell on her and she wanted to bolt. Then Haranda said, “You’re going to get as much interest as you can stand, youngling.”

  Cass flinched at that tone. Bloody blazes in the underworld! She would be up to her elbows in disgusting waste for another moon cycle. With Adelsik at her side, this m
ight all be worth it.

  “And you, Adelsik? Just why would you agree to a wager?”

  The girl’s eyes widened and her face paled as she looked back and forth from Haranda to Cass. If she gave them away, Cass would really give it to her.

  “I was bored, also, Mother Haranda.” Adelsik said that more smoothly than Cass would have thought possible, given her obvious nervousness. “I’ve never made a wager before, not a real one. Cass promised me her dessert if I could prove she didn’t know about tavern women. Tomorrow is ginger cake.” She smiled innocently and Cass studied her.

  Haranda’s probing eyes took in Kal and Saldia in one glance. “And you two?”

  “Can’t have a wager without judges, Mother Haranda,” Kal said without hesitation. “I was certain I could tell by Cass’s face if she lied.”

  Saldia nodded. “And I worked in the taverns, Mother Haranda, remember? I just wanted to help. Keep things fair between my fellow clan sisters.”

  Cass fought a sigh. Now that she heard the story from their mouths, it didn’t seem that believable. What in bloody blazes was she thinking? She looked at Adelsik again and the rage began to build. That one would pay her debt, one way or another.

  Haranda circled around behind Cass and the others. “I don’t believe what I’m hearing from you younglings.” She came back into view and stood in front of them again. “Youngling’s are not allowed to wager in the Land of the Goddess. You know that. And tavern dances?” Her probing eyes fell on Kal then Adelsik. “I’m surprised at you Adelsik. These girls had very different upbringings than you. I can excuse some of their behavior. But you? Youngling, I’ll make certain you never make a wager again.”

  “Yes, Mother Haranda.” The girl looked as though she would retch, and Cass clenched her jaw to keep the smile from her face. So, the mothers believed the lies. Thank the Goddess!

  The three Gypsies stepped outside for several heartbeats and ordered Cass and the others not to move even one muscle until they returned.

  “Do you think they believed us?” Adelsik said just above a whisper.

  Cass wanted to slap the arrogant girl. If not for her dream meddling, they wouldn’t be in this predicament. But no one had a chance to answer because the cottage door swung open.

  “All right,” Haranda called from the doorway. “Predula, you take Saldia. Cass and Kal will go with Wren. Adelsik is mine.” The women nodded and waved their assigned younglings out the door.

  Cass stepped quickly with Kal beside her, matching her stride. They were silent and Wren took Kal inside her cottage first. Cass couldn’t help the nervousness that crept into her stomach, and she focused on the memory of Adelsik’s blanched face. Bloody blazes! That sight was worth all this. The eavesdropping little snip would finally get what she deserved. Maybe now she would stay out of people’s dreams.

  After what seemed an eternity, Wren’s door opened and the listener stepped out. She brushed Cass’s hand as she passed and gave her a rueful look. Had something gone terribly wrong? Kal would keep to her lies. Cass was certain of that. The girl was no soft, highborn type to quiver at getting her hands dirty. And since Cass didn’t hear her clan sister scream, she was certain Wren hadn’t punished her using a sparking blanket. That was one punishment she never wanted to experience again. Someone had used it on her just after she crossed from the Means, a way to force the Energy from her.

  But something had gone wrong here and her stomach sank.

  “Now you.” The Gypsy held the door open with one hand and waved her inside with the other.

  “Yes, Mother Wren.” She stepped inside, dipped her feet in the basin then on a towel and stood still, waiting. The look in Wren’s eyes made her wonder if she would be screaming soon and her stomach flipped.

  “You’ll tell me the truth, youngling. Do you think we’re stupid enough to believe that drivel about a wager? We know those girls were helping to cover for you and Adelsik. They’re being punished for lying. I want to know what exactly was going on with you two that your clan sisters thought they needed to help. And if you lie to me again, you’ll be miserable until Winter Solstice.”

  How could she have been so foolish as to think these Gypsies would fall for the lies?

  “I threatened Adelsik.” What could she lose now? The truth would get her just as much privy duty as a lie, maybe less. “Told her to stay out of my dreams. That I would thrash her again if I caught her.”

  “I see. And did she have anything to say to that?”

  Cass realized what she was about to do and she thought an instant of lying. A youngling using Energy on another without permission was one of the worst offenses. Adelsik deserved privy duty but the threat she’d made might earn her a trip to the Vedi.

  The woman’s white brow went up. “I’m waiting for your answer, youngling. And don’t you dare lie to me again.”

  She swallowed hard. “Adelsik said she would attack me in my dreams and I wouldn’t be able to stop her.” Remorse settled in her gut. Luckily, the girl had only threatened. Had she actually used the slumbering Energy in that way, well, Cass didn’t want to think about the punishment for such an offense.

  “Is there anything else? Anything you haven’t told me?”

  She thought a heartbeat. “Saldia threatened to report her.”

  The Gypsy looked satisfied at that comment. “Is that all?”

  “Yes, Mother Wren. That’s as far as we got.” Before you came to the table and interrupted. But she didn’t need to say that. “Kal and Saldia were covering for our argument.”

  Wren motioned her to a chair and she sat. “You’ve had a harsh life, youngling. I can’t pretend to know what it was like.”

  Cass really didn’t want to discuss this. Just give me my punishment.

  “No matter what has happened, you can’t go around attacking your kin. I’ll see that you obey that rule if I have to lock you up at night.”

  That was unexpected and Cass’s heart raced. Her father had locked her in the cellar on numerous occasions, usually after he was through taking pleasure from her. She would scream and scream as the rats crawled around her in search of a meal. She fought a shudder and her bladder felt loose.

  “In addition to the privy duties Haranda has already assigned to you, you’ll help the food servants for the next seven sunrises, cooking, dishes, anything they tell you to do. Understand?”

  She nodded but her thoughts were still on the cellar.

  “Good.” Wren cupped her chin and forced her to look up into those intrusive, gray eyes. “You’ll spend each evening with me, discussing those nightmares. That kind of pain will only eat at you if we don’t stop it.”

  Bloody blazes in the underworld! That was the last thing Cass wanted. Why couldn’t she just dismiss the past? Most of the others talked about their root lives as distant memories. Cass had hoped for that too, but the bloody nightmares didn’t let her forget. Rage swelled at her father. She would find him someday, punish him for everything.

  She jerked her face from the Gypsy’s grip and stood. “I don’t want to discuss anything, Mother Wren. Just bloody whip me! Beat me. Put me in a sparking blanket. Anything! I don’t care.”

  Wren cocked a surprised brow. “You need healing.” A hand reached toward Cass.

  She backed away and shook her head. No one should be that familiar with what had happened to her. Shame and anger fought for domination.

  Wren put hands on her hips. “Youngling. You’ll come to me for discussions. I won’t have these awful dreams ruin a promising Gypsy. We’ll face these memories together.” She reached out again.

  Cass moved from the grasp a second time and studied Wren’s stern face. Her anger turned to fear. Fear of having them find out even more of what she hated about herself, her lonely and frightened nights in the cellar, the way she pleaded for one of the village women to be her mother. The woman was a stranger but showed kindness to her own brood of children. Of course, she politely refused, thinking Cass was play-acting.
/>   “Please, no, Mother Wren,” she begged, disgusted at that behavior too.

  Those awful things she had kept secret from everyone. Even those who slumbered didn’t know all her secrets. The nightmares told only a portion. Memories of her father’s attacks suddenly flooded her. She saw flashes of his bedroom and of him on top of her. She couldn’t breathe. A cry pushed its way out and she dropped to her knees. Something smothered her and she couldn’t catch a breath. She was suffocating.

  “You’ll get through this, youngling.”

  Arms encircled Cass but she heard the Gypsy through a tunnel of pain that ripped through her stomach, and she doubled over. She must have fainted because when she opened her eyes, she lay on the floor with three mothers hovering about. Her skirts were moist and the smell of fresh urine found her nose. She had wet herself. Goddess help me! How much more shame could she endure? Had she displeased the Goddess so much?

  The women started to remove her clothes. “No! Please.”

  “Hush, youngling,” Haranda said. “Let’s get you into some clean garments.”

  Cass tried to push them away. She wanted no one to see her like this. She wasn’t a child any longer. Why was this happening again? “Don’t touch me!”

  Frustration built and the Energy flooded her. Before she knew what had transpired, the Energy pulsed out and Haranda, Wren and Predula lay sprawled on the floor nearby. Cass sat and stared at them in horror as they struggled upright. These women had never harmed her. She had never felt any malice from them. What had she done?

  “My apologies, Mothers. My apologies! Are you injured? Goddess help me, what did I do?” She sobbed as panic set in, and it took a while for her to realize the women were uninjured.

  “Youngling, are you all right?” Predula knelt beside her.

  “What did I do? I didn’t mean to. On my honor, Mother Predula.” She would be taken to the Vedi. Punished for using the Energy against her kin. A most hideous crime. Younglings imagined the Vedi’s punishment for using the Energy against the kin. Beaten at the poles in the village circle? Or worse. Perhaps they had the ability to rip a youngling from the Energy and lock her in a dungeon for the rest of her miserable days. Tears pricked her eyes, taking away her vision.