Sage Truth [Book 2 of the Teadai Prophecies] Read online

  Birds sang from the tall grasses and insects buzzed around camp. At least there were no bloodsuckers here. The air was cooler than yesterday and several dark, menacing clouds floated in the southern skies. No, they seemed to undulate and roil. Adelsik shivered at the sight and peeled her eyes from the sky. Servants went about their chores and the smell of morning meal came from the fires.

  Lyssinya and many others stood near one of the far wagons and the Sage motioned her over. She took a roll and cup of tea from a kitchen servant on the way.

  “Are you rested?”

  “Yes, Lyssinya. You?”

  The woman actually smiled. “Yes, thank you. Pack up. We’re leaving today.”

  Her eyes drifted to the clouds as she ate. “The storms?”

  Siri nodded, her hair bangles tinkling. “They’re headed this way. Moving quickly from what the Bankari weather observers tell us.”

  Adelsik stifled a groan. She still didn’t understand why the Elders had allowed middlings to join them. This was a matter for kin. If middlings didn’t take the oaths then they shouldn’t be permitted here. And here wasn’t a place Gypsies should be anyway. “Why don’t we simply head back to the Land of the Goddess, Elder? The weather there has held. We have everyone together and any texts we could possibly locate.”

  This time Yuri gave her a long, considering gaze. “That’s the plan. But we must move carefully. We’re surrounded by unbalanced weather and earthquakes. I have no doubt the island volcanoes are burping. Tandiar Province east of us, the oceans, Bankar and Beir Lake to the west, and Pashdad to the far north are all experiencing bizarre happenings. Our only chance is to get to Maricar, where the weather hasn’t changed yet. At least we haven’t received any reports from that area. Then make our way to the life circle in Faint Mountains.”

  Adelsik nodded. She had eaten all but one bite of her roll in her hunger. “Forgive my impatience, Elder.”

  “You’re no more on edge than the rest of us. I accept your apology. Now, finish your meal. Then you can assist the other new-oathed with the younglings.”

  Adelsik ate her last bite and glanced at Henny, who crossed her arms and frowned. Har’guana stood near Elder Finlor and worked on some type of straw weaving. Despite the normal clothes he now wore, his misshapen head still made him appear odd. He knew a few words to communicate with them but still talked of going back to his root home. The man didn’t understand that he would never be allowed to do that. Adelsik realized that Elder Yuri spoke again and focused on the lithe, dark man.

  “Wil’keive tells me there’s a small village about halfway to Maricar that we must pass through, a hamlet many don’t know exists. We don’t know much about that place, except that they won’t appreciate strangers.” A large Hunter with scars on his arms and a gold ring through his nose nodded. He stood near Taniras, Birek, and the servants from Maricar. “With the weather like it is, there’s no way around this hamlet. An ancient road should take us straight through. Since we’re a large group now and will attract attention no matter where we go, we’ve decided to simply ride through and take our chances. From there, we follow the waterway into Maricar. I want those of you in charge of the Energy crystals to keep them within reach.”

  Several nodded, including Haranda. Adelsik sipped her tea, wishing it could soothe the uneasy feeling that settled in her gut.

  “Taniras, stay in contact with the wolves. They know that area much better than any of us.”

  “Yes, Elder.” The singer sounded a bit distracted.

  Adelsik hadn’t spoken more than a greeting to Taniras since she’d arrived and still had difficulty believing the woman was the wolf singer. She still had trouble with the fact that a wolf singer existed in the first place. So much had changed in the past year. Part of her wished they could visit her root village of Bedlon. But it was nearer the ocean, much too close to the tidal waves and sea storms that traveled ashore now. Perhaps Bedlon was far enough inland to avoid serious floods or maybe they had evacuated.

  She didn’t think much about her root family anymore, and the painful day her mother had given her to Haranda had faded, but she did occasionally wonder what had happened to her sister and mother. And her friends. Were they married now? She would have been married soon after her eighteenth birth celebration had she not been called to serve the Goddess, and perhaps been with child, as was a Bedlon woman’s marriage duty. She didn’t long for a husband and children just yet. Those were middling tasks. Perhaps someday she would marry, but her duties were to her kin. Yes, many things had changed.

  She glanced at Maesa and Birek. The youngling mind-healer had a pout that didn’t match her sharp features. Birek had taken his oaths on their way from Pashdad, much to Maesa’s dismay. The two had sneaked a kiss or two, Adelsik learned, but Birek stayed at least an arm’s length from Maesa now and the youngling didn’t hide her frustration about the whole affair.

  Adelsik planned to speak with her again since their reunion had been so brief. Perhaps she could help Maesa the way the woman had assisted her in their early days together at the beach cave. Those sharp eyes focused on her and she offered a sympathetic smile in return. Maesa smiled briefly and seemed to relax a bit.

  Someone shouted and two men ran toward them from one of the wagons. A Bankari and a Hunter. Middlings. Both seemed distraught and Yuri had to calm them down before anyone could understand what they went on about.

  “That’s not a storm.” The Bankari man pointed to the menacing clouds in the southern skies. “Those clouds. They move about as though living.”

  Adelsik studied the clouds again. Their undulations had increased and she could see black particles within the massive clouds. “What are they?” She watched as they came closer. Her heart threatened to beat from her chest when she realized what they were. Insects. Thousands of them. A giant swarm.

  Several women screamed. Men shouted.

  “Get to cover!” Yuri barked.

  Everyone fled to the wagons and tents, piled in and under, dragging blankets, capes, and anything else they could cover themselves with. Adelsik huddled inside one of the tents with Haranda, Taniras, Snowy, Saldia, Henny and Thad. She had dropped her tea somewhere along the way but didn’t much care. Hiding was of little use. The insects seemed to know exactly where they were and how to get through even the tiniest opening. She waved her arms in an attempt to frighten off the yellow-winged invaders. Henny cried out then fell over in a heap.

  Adelsik reached for the youngling but something stung her in the neck. The world spun and darkness folded about her like a cocoon.

  Chapter 24

  The wagon bumped along the rough ground and created bruises on Haranda’s flesh. Her eyes wouldn’t open and she couldn’t move, but she felt bodies near her, alive and breathing as she was, and very still. She took in the Energy but the awareness she expected to flood her like a giant wave didn’t come. The Energy filled her, taking some of her aches away, but she couldn’t use it, couldn’t tell how many of her kin had been taken captive with her. She was bound, Energy and body, yet she felt no ropes or other bindings on her limbs, eyes or mouth. There should have been a visible, green binding aura even with her eyes closed, yet she didn’t see one.

  Immobility made her want to scream and she fought back panic to assess her situation. The last thing she remembered was the insect invasion. Those bloody creatures seemed to know exactly what they were after. She’d never experienced anything like them, black bodies with yellow wings and needle-like snouts for piercing the skin. Her neck still ached where one had plunged into her flesh. Those insects carried some sort of poison and she would wager her boots it was magical in nature. But what spell? Who sent the creatures? Errants?

  She could detect very little light through her eyelids and assumed that it was either early morning or late evening. She strained to listen over the rattles of wooden wheels and clinks of horse tack. Hooves danced on dirt, not cobblestones. Birds sang in nearby trees, though for morning or evening, she could
n’t tell. Voices from outside the wagon bed caught her ears in snippets between the other noises.

  “—sleep a while, Mistress,” a woman said. “—not move against us.”

  Once Haranda and the others were free from this binding, they would certainly teach their captives a lesson in attacking Gypsies. If only she could open her eyes. A large bump caused her entire body to rise and slam against the wooden bed. Pain shot through her at various points, despite the Energy that filled her. A mental cry that didn’t reach her throat was all she could manage. Once she got her senses again, she listened.

  “—well and good,” another woman said. “—restrained once we—camp.”

  “Yes, Mistress. I—see to—myself.”

  “—captured?”

  “The lot of them. Bankari and Hunt—easier—Gypsies—stubborn.”

  The second woman gave a loud huff. “—not stubborn long.”

  Haranda listened for more but the two were silent. She thought perhaps she recognized one of the voices, but that was impossible to confirm unless she got a look at her captors. And they had taken everyone? How was that even possible? Surely, some must have gotten away, hidden from those bloody insects. She must have hope. She forced herself into a false sleep and soon stood in the Netherworld. With her slumbering Energy, she quickly created a memory dream of the dome, much more brilliant than it truly appeared in the waking world. Binding didn’t affect the Energy in the Netherworld unless another slumberer like Lyssinya did it from here. Her captives must not have a slumberer among them. Or else they weren’t errants. Either way, Haranda was alone now and able to slumber. A small victory at least.

  She studied the dream bubbles for Ved’nuri’s familiar double footprint but the woman might not be asleep. Haranda had no idea what part of the day it was. In fact, she didn’t know how long she’d been unconscious. She didn’t think it had been more than a day, since she felt hunger but not starvation. Though she didn’t find Ved’nuri anywhere, a familiar sight gave her hope. Siri’s black eagle danced in the near distance among other kin footprints. A background of middling dream bubbles filled the space beyond. Haranda moved directly to Siri. The Elder was dreaming not slumbering and she should not invade without permission. She mentally “knocked” against the pulsating perimeter of the dream but got no response. The woman was still unconscious.

  Using her slumbering Energy, she pushed through the perimeter to enter the dream. A sensation that always felt like plunging into warm water. She walked toward Siri, who stood near a cook fire. A man stood near her and when he turned, Haranda recognized LeChamb, Siri’s husband. The two kissed as LeChamb ran a hand down Siri’s back and clenched her bottom. This was no time to get embarrassed about such things. Haranda needed to prompt the Elder to a slumbering state.

  After clearing her throat and getting only a brief glance from Siri, she stepped to the fire and thought LeChamb’s image from the dream. That took some strength on her part, since slumbering wasn’t her strongest Energy. “We need to talk, Elder.”

  Siri studied her a heartbeat and went to stoking the fire. The Elder must have been stung more than once if she couldn’t jump to slumbering after seeing Haranda in her dream.

  “Elder Siri Nebarin. I insist you speak with me.” She held out her hand and let calmness fill her. She then concentrated on feeling her mundane body and imagined a blue spark traveling through her mundane body, up through the top of her head and into her otherself, the way Lyssinya had taught her. She had to hold onto several images at once to keep the illusion from dissipating, no small feat, but she finally let a spark fly from her otherself’s hand to the Elder’s leg.

  That got the Siri’s full attention and fierce eyes blazed at her. The large woman started for her but she held up a hand. “Elder. It’s Haranda.”

  “Haranda?” Recognition colored her eyes now.

  “Yes, Elder. Please forgive the intrusion but we’re in trouble.”

  Siri’s anger faded. “What in blazes is going on? I can’t seem to wake.”

  “You’re sleeping, Elder. Thank the Goddess you’re a slumberer, though, or we might have this conversation numerous times. We were poisoned by some type of insect. Magical, if my suspicions are correct.”

  “Ah, yes. The Betweens. I remember now. You must have regained consciousness to seek me out.”

  “Yes. I still can’t move my mundane body, though.” Siri was much stronger than Haranda in the Netherworld. “Elder, how many times were you stung?”

  Siri thought a heartbeat. “I remember three to my neck.”

  “That would explain your longer sleep. I only remember a single sting.”

  Suddenly, someone crashed through the dream barrier behind Haranda, and she spun to see a blue acorn hurry toward her. It settled and shimmered into Adelsik.

  The girl had a horrified look on her face. “Forgive my intrusion, Elder. Something awful has happened.”

  “Yes, Adelsik. Haranda was just reminding me.”

  “What are we to do?” Her voice came in shrill spurts. “I can’t move my body. Or open my eyes.”

  Siri placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Don’t panic. We must remain calm. Our younglings and servants are at risk too.”

  The flaxen-haired girl nodded. “My apologies.”

  “Accepted. Now—“

  Another intrusion, this time from Lyssinya’s silver cloud. She had a look of anger, not fear. “Elder, forgive me but I thought it best to locate you this way.”

  “Yes. You regained consciousness as did Haranda and Adelsik.”

  “Yes, Elder, but I can’t move.”

  Wren’s cactus exploded through the barrier with the same news. The white-haired Gypsy appeared livid and apologized twice for cursing.

  Siri’s gaze landed briefly on each woman. “It seems you four have your Netherworld senses.” She concentrated on something then her shoulders dropped slightly. “I still can’t access my slumbering Energy. We need to figure out who has done this to us. Haranda, Wren, have you tried to contact Ved’nuri?”

  Haranda nodded. “I couldn’t locate her, Elder. I don’t think it’s night, yet.”

  The others agreed.

  The large Elder took in a long breath and the gold bangles on her graying braids tinkled. No matter what she wore in the mundane world, Siri always had those bangles here in the Netherworld, a mark of her root village. “Very well. We’ll have to do this alone until Ved’nuri sleeps. Find as many of our kin as you can and reassure them. They will no doubt be oblivious in their dreams just like I was. Those who are awake have probably already figured out that they’re captives. I would like to avoid a panic. Adelsik, get to Maesa first, if you can. That youngling has enough slumbering Energy to help if we need her. Lyssinya, after you tend to the Sages here, try and locate your kin on Dragon Island. I know you’ve kept in contact with your bedfriend.”

  Lyssinya flushed brightly, as only a woman with red hair could, and her nose twitched, causing those numerous freckles to dance.

  Siri smiled knowingly. “You thought we wouldn’t investigate your claims to ally with us? I’ve told no one except Ved’nuri, until now. You know much more about us than the other way around. Now is the occasion to share more with your fellow Gypsies.”

  Lyssinya pulled her back straight. “I’m no Gypsy, Elder.” Her voice remained quiet but there was blood in her eyes. “I’m a Sage and loyal to them.”

  “Yes. And Ved’nuri planned to have a meeting with us about this. She considers all Sages an extension of Gypsy kin and, therefore, under Gypsy rule. Did you not think she would?”

  “But—we’re not—I—“

  “You’ve made your oaths to the Goddess just as we have, which also makes you loyal to the Vedi, who are Her vessels.” Lyssinya’s lips moved without sound as she gawked at the Elder. Haranda wanted to shout out in victory but quelled that notion when Siri’s brown eyes moved to her. “The two of you have been exceedingly disruptive with your petty disagreements. Su
ch behavior will cease here and now. Am I making myself clear?”

  Haranda glanced at the Sage and back to Siri. “Yes, Elder.”

  “Well?” Siri said to Lyssinya.

  “You’re clear, Elder.” The Sage sounded defeated.

  “Good. I’ll be watching both of you and make any reports I think necessary to Ved’nuri. She can deal with you after that.”

  Lyssinya hissed out a breath. “I’ve been such a fool to think I could expect loyalty from you instead of the other way around. I’ve shown my weakness. My Elders should have chosen someone of higher strength for this quest.”

  Siri placed her hands on those ample hips and focused hard eyes on the woman. “Nonsense. You and every other Sage will show loyalty to the Vedi. You have little choice in the matter, just as Gypsies. Unless you intend to forsake your oaths. That’s been done by a few, but only with ominous consequences. What is your choice, Sage Lyssinya Atan Colewin? Do you forsake the Goddess and Her laws?”

  Adelsik grasped Haranda’s hand and she held the girl’s tightly in her own. To forsake the oaths was blasphemy. No Gypsy worth her salt would do such a vile thing.

  Lyssinya had a stricken look on her face and dropped into a low curtsy. “I will never forsake the Great Mother. I’m loyal to the Goddess and Her laws. I will obey the Vedi. I swear on my oaths as a Sage.”

  The Netherworld ground vibrated slightly. The Goddess Herself had approved Lyssinya’s words. Haranda watched the exchange between Siri and Lyssinya with growing interest. The Elder cupped a hand beneath the Sage’s chin and drew her to her feet.

  “That’s all I needed to hear,” Ved’nuri’s voice said. The crowned woman now stood not two arm spans from Siri, who looked just as astonished to see her. Thanks to Lyssinya’s tutelage, Ved’nuri had witnessed the entire exchange from the shadows. She stepped to the quivering Sage. “Daughter, I’m pleased with your loyalty. I had planned to test you later, but when I came upon you with Siri and the others, I decided to watch and see what you would decide. You’ve passed a very important test in the Goddess’s eyes.” She gave the woman a motherly smile.