Deadly Fate [Book 1 of the Teadai Prophecies] Page 34

  Adelsik gave Haranda a sickly glance, made her curtsy to the throne and hurried toward the servant.

  Once they were alone, Ved’nuri stood. “You’ve put the fear in that one, Haranda.”

  “Not as much as you might think, Ved’nuri.”

  “Please don’t call me that in private. Or have you forgotten my name after all that’s happened?” She smiled warmly and raised a blonde brow.

  Haranda smiled back. “I haven’t forgotten, Candelus.”

  “Let’s go to my anteroom. It’s much more comfortable than this place.” She led Haranda through a door behind the throne and into a spacious, inviting room with couches, colorful tapestries and three large windows that overlooked the lush gardens and orchards.

  “Very nice.” This was the first occasion Haranda had been in the woman’s anteroom.

  Wren or Predula always brought Bel’keive to receive punishment from Ved’nuri. The girl had been in Predula’s clan before Haranda arrived and came here often enough that the mothers took turns. Haranda would bring her the next visit and she almost rolled her eyes at the thought. Bel’keive never seemed to learn. In fact, she seemed to enjoy the attention from the Vedi, even with her hands red from pulling weeds all day.

  Haranda envied Candelus just now. The woman had been recalled in her duties to search for younglings. She didn’t have to teach them, prepare them for the coming of the New Age. An assignment that Haranda found much more difficult than she had imagined.

  “Thank you, Haranda. It’s livable. Tea?” Candelus led her to a good-sized table beneath one of the windows. They both sat, and the crowned woman poured two cups then offered Haranda a honey biscuit. She sighed.

  “Are you all right? You’re not ill I hope.” Gypsies didn’t get illnesses of the body, thanks to the Energy they harnessed, but they had no protection against melancholy or injuries.

  Candelus gazed at her and she saw a faint swirl of colors in the woman’s clear eyes, colors that reflected the Goddess Light. “No. Nothing like that.” She took a sip of her tea. “You were my clan sister, Haranda.”

  So long ago. “Yes. What’s bothering you?” She didn’t like to see any Gypsy fret, much less her friends.

  “I didn’t choose this.” One arm made a sweeping motion. “I never wanted to be Ved’nuri. I know what you’re thinking. I’m still able to bear children. I have a beautiful home and a handsome, loving husband. We live in the most precious place in the world, and I’m the most revered woman next to the Goddess Herself, chosen by my kin for this position. But I envy you and the others, out among the younglings, traveling to far away places. I miss that.”

  Haranda bit off a piece of the sweet biscuit and washed it down with tea. “The task isn’t all that wonderful, Candelus. Believe me. You have a much better life here.” She smiled but the woman didn’t smile back. “There’s more, isn’t there?”

  Candelus looked ashamed for an instant. “You know me too well. It’s Eguen. My marriage to him.”

  “We’ve both known him a long while. He’s one of the gentlest and kindest Gypsies I know.”

  “Yes. And I like him very much. But I’m not in love with him, Haranda. I always thought that when I married it would be to a Gypsy man I loved. You know, the way we used to dream about when we were younglings.”

  Candelus’s life no longer seemed so appealing. Haranda placed a hand on the other woman’s. “Of all my clan sisters, of all the Gypsies, I trust you most. Especially with the task of Ved’nuri. Those stories about love that we used to tell, they were just stories, young girl fancies.”

  The crowned woman pulled herself straight, looking very regal. “You’re right, Haranda. My apologies for acting such a child. We all have our tasks for the Goddess. I guess I just wanted to talk to another woman besides my servants, someone I’ve known for a long while. And Eguen loves me.”

  “Yes, he does. He has since we were younglings.”

  “And he’s very generous in our bed.” She gave Haranda a sly grin.

  “Candelus Fortensen! You shouldn’t talk of such things.” But she couldn’t help laughing. As younglings, they had spent many a night discussing love and men and wedding beds. Not where others could hear, certainly. The two giggled and it felt like old days.

  “I’m so happy you’re here, Haranda. I’m making a decree that you visit me once in a while.”

  “Done, Ved’nuri.” She bowed her head and grinned.

  Candelus smiled but it was short-lived. “Now, about this youngling of yours. I sense a lot of strength from her. What’s she like?”

  “A lot like I was. She comes from my province.” Haranda quelled a chuckle at her own righteous manner as a youngling. Bedlon produced well-bred families but many came with insufferable attitudes. “She’s bright but her root family spoiled her. When I told her root mother about her calling, the woman seemed afraid to touch her, as though she would get burned. That was very hard on Adelsik but she’s adjusting to her new life here.”

  Candelus nodded. “Yes. I remember those days. My own root mother couldn’t get rid of me fast enough. She didn’t approve of harnessing Energy. I believe it disgusted her more than frightened her.”

  “I know.” Haranda placed a hand briefly over her friend’s fingers. “Adelsik has been here long enough that she’s created bonds with us. Her root family no longer pulls at her. But she’s overeager to harness the Energy. The girl is strong, as you know, and she needs to be humbled, but she has integrity, Candelus. Though she can be indelicate to others on occasion, I can’t believe she would purposely harm another. Especially her kin. Her intentions are good though the outcome doesn’t always reflect that.”

  “That’s good to know. And how much punishment will she be able to handle? She looked as though she would fall if I blew on her.”

  Haranda chuckled. “She may faint but she’s not close to breaking. I think in her mind, the thought of punishment is always worse than what she receives. I wager she’s sobbing right about now just thinking of what you’ll do to her.”

  “Yes. And she’ll weep afterwards, I’m afraid. I don’t enjoy disciplining them. After all, they’re my children now. But I’m Ved’nuri. I must abide by Goddess law.” She stood and gazed out the window. “I certainly don’t want her to make such threats as she’s done, even in anger and frustration.”

  “I would suggest privy duty as one option, but the youngling Adelsik threatened is already serving a punishment there.”

  Candelus nodded then turned to her. “I think a few lashes and a moon cycle in the barns will keep her straight. For a while, at least.”

  Haranda winced. Adelsik would definitely weep today. And the girl hated getting dirty so cleaning up after the animals was a suitable addition. With Taniras’s mood, the barns would be that much bleaker for her. “I think that will be sufficient.”

  Candelus took in a long breath. “Let’s get this over with then.”

  Chapter 30

  The cutting fire had stopped. Adelsik had pressed her face into the crying cloth that Ved’nuri gave her afterwards and wept. She was now alone and pulled herself from the table, cautiously. The sweat was beginning to dry but her throat felt sore from the screaming. She never thought five lashes could hurt so much. Ved’nuri had taken an eternity administering them, lecturing between each fiery stroke. Adelsik thought she would faint before it was over, and wished she had, but she suspected Ved’nuri used the Energy to keep her conscious.

  Younglings couldn’t harness here. Even Ved’nuri had used the blue crystal in the podium to draw on the Energy. Adelsik felt the table vibrate just before the first stroke cut into her tender flesh. She was thankful she’d been ordered to relieved herself during her wait in the holding chamber.

  At first, she thought the punishment wouldn’t be so bad. But when Ved’nuri had ordered her to remove her clothes, Adelsik thought she might faint even then. Something in the crowned woman’s voice had held pride, even as she gave orders.

  “Th
e Goddess brought you into this world in just your flesh,” she had said. “Humility, youngling.”

  Everyone entered the world the same, naked and helpless, mere middling babes. That thought rolled around in Adelsik’s head for a while and she blew her nose again.

  Her clothes were still on the chair, just as she’d placed them, but she winced at the thought of dressing. She placed careful hands on her waist and twisted to see the welts she knew decorated her backside. But there was nothing. No mark. Nothing.

  It was all in my head. The glowing whip. The five lashes. Every bit of it. Except the pain she still felt was very real. How had Ved’nuri done it? Illusion and suggestion, like urging maybe?

  She tried not to think too much on that and decided to walk around the Correction Hall for a while. The soreness made her steps extremely awkward. Other than the short, long table, a single chair, and a podium that housed the large crystal, no other furniture sat in the room. A single window above the center let in light, giving her a clear view of the table and she scowled at the sight of it. The floor was cool against her feet and she wished she could pull it into her backside.

  And the barns. Adelsik hated the barns almost as much as the privies! That meant shoveling goat dung. This was all Cass’s fault. If her stupid clan sister hadn’t threatened to beat her—no, Adelsik had witnessed the nightmares. Anything was better than what Cass had endured as a child. This was Adelsik’s own doing.

  I threatened to use the Energy on my kin. Something I know full well not to do. Younglings were strictly forbidden to even think about such things, unless supervised.

  Her skin was nearly dry now and she grew chilled, so she took careful steps to the chair and draped the crying cloth over the back. Her underclothes felt as rough as splintery wood when they touched her sore hide and she whimpered. She kept telling herself it was all an illusion but the soreness remained. It was slow going but she finally got her dress on, laced the bodice and took one last look at the table. At first, she wondered why Ved’nuri had bound her to it but the speculation didn’t last long. She would have run from the crowned woman had she been free. She never wanted to visit here again. Never!

  She blew her nose one last time then limped her way to the door and opened it. The plump, gray-haired, servant woman who had accompanied her to and from the holding cell, sat in a chair, reading a scroll.

  The woman stood and she tucked the scroll into her skirt pocket. “You didn’t take long, youngling. Most who come here stay awhile, especially after the first visit. I hope you’ve learned your lesson.”

  Adelsik frowned as she took a cup of cool water and downed it, gratefully.

  “Don’t fret. You’re lucky you’re still a youngling and that your transgression was mild.” Shock must have shown on Adelsik’s face because the servant smiled at her. “I’ve seen generations of Gypsies come through this dome, youngling, and one who betrays her kin does not walk out.”

  Adelsik’s heart raced. She could walk, somewhat anyway, but the servant’s age is what surprised her most. She’d accepted that Gypsies lived for ages but never even considered the lives of the servants.

  “You’ll learn from your mistakes, yes?” The woman took the cup and placed it on the small table then moistened a cloth in a water basin.

  Adelsik nodded. She had definitely learned from this mistake.

  “That’s a smart youngling. For the Goddess to choose you as Her servant means you’re special.” The woman wiped Adelsik’s face with the cool, wet cloth. Her hands were gentle, motherly. “You can’t know what awaits the future or how the Goddess will test you. You must be strong and willing to accept Goddess law along with Her gifts.” Cool hands cupped Adelsik’s face. “Now, show Ved’nuri and your clan mother just how proud you are to be a Gypsy-child.” She caressed Adelsik’s hair and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Honor your clan, Gypsy-child Adelsik. Honor your kin. Honor the Goddess.”

  Adelsik swelled with pride, despite her discomfort, and she nodded. These people accepted her when her root mother, the woman who had birthed her, tossed her away without a second thought. That day had been very painful, more painful than this one, but was now a distant anguish from another life.

  “Thank you.“ She paused when realized that she didn’t know this woman’s name.

  “My name is Cynwas, child. Third servant to Ved’nuri.”

  “Thank you, Cynwas. I’ll do my best to honor the Goddess.” She meant that. Though how she could utter such words just now was a mystery even to her.

  “With that attitude, youngling, you’ll make a fine Gypsy one day.” Cynwas offered a bright smile, which deepened the lines on her face.

  Adelsik gave a thin smile of her own and walked with the servant to the throne room. Cynwas didn’t hurry her, for which she was grateful. In fact, the woman seemed to pace herself with Adelsik’s slow steps. Reliefs and cloth-draped statues set in snowy alcoves lined the corridors. Adelsik had been so nervous before that she couldn’t remember even seeing them then.

  They passed several meeting rooms with signs to the right of each gilded door telling what they were. The top signs, which had cracked with age, were carved in a language she couldn’t read, made up of symbols and angled lines like the brooches the Gypsies wore. But the ones beneath them looked new, and she suspected these were the translations. They simply read, “Meet Room” and were numbered one through four. She supposed the Elders gathered in such rooms whenever they opted not to meet at the lake.

  When they arrived at the throne room, Cynwas disappeared inside, leaving Adelsik just outside the elaborately carved door with Goddess colors painted into the niches. After what seemed an eternity, Cynwas returned and the Fetch showed Adelsik in. With her stomach churning, she walked as best she could down the green carpet to Haranda. She bit back a whimper as she made a very stiff curtsy and wanted to bolt when the crowned woman set those clear eyes on her.

  “Youngling, have you anything to say before I send you home with your clan mother?”

  Her throat felt dry and she longed for another cup of water. But she did want to say something, much as it surprised her. “Yes, Ved’nuri.”

  “Then you may speak.”

  “I wish to thank you, Ved’nuri, for your patience and discipline. I’ll do my best to learn Gypsy ways and honor the Goddess and my kin.” Yes, that was right. The Goddess had called her to this life. She understood that now. Too bad it took this much pain to get that message into her stoneheaded skull.

  Ved’nuri smiled and it was a warm, inviting one. “Then we’re proud to call you kin, Gypsy-child Adelsik. Go with your mother and be an example to your clan sisters. Let them see the Gypsy you will become.”

  “Yes, Ved’nuri.” She curtsied again and waited for Haranda to make the final curtsy as was tradition then followed the woman out, stiffly.

  Her clan mother took slow steps as they left the great white dome and crossed the hill toward the cottages. “You pride me, youngling.” She put a gentle arm around Adelsik’s shoulders. “You’ll be a wonderful Gypsy someday.”

  “Thank you, Mother Haranda. But I hope I can learn a bit quicker in the future.” The woman laughed. “Perhaps we should bathe a bit earlier today. I have quite a story to regale. I think I’ll call it ‘A Wayward Youngling Visits the Dome’.” She felt very noble just now, despite the pain.

  Haranda laughed. “You continue to surprise me, youngling. I thought you’d take longest to grow up. Your story will definitely give your sisters consideration. And I believe they will fall over themselves to behave.”

  Adelsik would be a Gypsy, and a proud one, someone her kin could look up to. Someone mere middlings would revere and honor and fear. A smile touched the corners of her mouth as she envisioned that day of reverence.

  Chapter 31

  Younglings wandered around now that lessons were over for the day and most had finished chores, and Haranda took in a deep breath of inviting, cool air as birds blessed the Land of the Goddess with song. W
inter Solstice was tomorrow and Gypsy servants had already begun preparing a feast. The Goddess granted them a beautiful day, as usual, and Haranda stood near a few of her younglings as servants strung flower garland around the windows of the cottages. Tsianina Koni, her youngling from Fire Island, caressed the flowers she wore over each ear. That one was always quiet and obedient and Haranda often wondered what went on behind those large black eyes. Of the younglings assigned to her, this one had adapted the easiest, even faster than Saldia.

  Taniras sat on the ground near Tsianina and both watched the servants. The islander was three years older than Taniras but seemed quite innocent compared to the larger Maricari girl. The two shared a cottage.

  Haranda watched a heartbeat as the cottage mates talked softly with one another, but she was far enough away that she couldn’t eavesdrop. Eavesdropping was a Gypsy mother’s right, since younglings couldn’t be trusted, even once they began bonding to their clan mothers and fathers. But Haranda gave her daughters as much privacy as she could afford.

  She glanced at the trees to make sure the girls and boys there kept their hands off each other but saw that Raith Ber was already on duty. He nodded to her and she smiled. The ruddy man looked a stout red boar. Though he was a gentle man, few younglings new that and kept obedient under his watchful eye. Younglings weren’t allowed bed relations. During Haranda’s youngling days, Wren had given her the nastiest chores for bedding a man. He was a middling, not kin, but Haranda refrained from bedding another until she was oathed. She smiled at that memory and glanced around. Perhaps one of these kin men would be interested. She fought a sigh.

  I barely have enough strength to oversee my younglings, and I’m looking for a bedfriend. Still, she had needs, just as any woman, and several Gypsy males from her own youth caught her fancy. Just a night or two. That’s all I need. For now.

  A few younglings ran in the open grassy area, kicking an air-filled goat bladder. Eletha, Haranda’s treewalker youngling, was among them. Games seemed to be the only thing that could get her away from the trees, and Haranda watched a heartbeat, amazed at the agility and speed of such a small woman. She smiled at the rise and fall of cheers from the game. Music from the lake found her ears as several kin, including a few younglings, practiced for tomorrow night’s Solstice. She hummed along for several heartbeats.