FORBIDDEN TALENTS (8 page)

“
Go on.
”

“
I made a bad start of what I wanted to say.
”

Ragni nodded stiffly.
“
I agree.
”
His brother’s annoyance flared. Ragni raised his hand.
“
But I’m willing to listen.
”

Dahl relaxed a little and nodded.
“
Not now. Father’s waiting. My rooms. After the meeting.
”

Ragni raised a brow but didn’t object.

*

Saeun stared for a moment at the empty drawer in her chest, then slammed it shut, as though she could hide the fact of her discovery. Who had found her out? How long ago? Every powerful person in Nuvinland had eyes and ears in Quartzholm, but who would take what they’d discovered in her trunk, and why?
For evidence against me, of course. Or extortion. To turn my hand against Ragni or Kaidlin
?

In either case, she had to get away. But Lady Kaidlin was waiting. If she didn’t return soon, the Lady would question her absence.

How soon would they come for her? She must warn the Daughters of Freya. She only knew a few here in Quartzholm, noble women, in position to influence the new laws and help gain all women greater freedoms. She couldn’t risk that by tainting them. She didn’t want them caught up in this. She must get away. Today.

Who could assist her? Who
would
? Who did she dare endanger by asking their aid?

Gert bustled in and Saeun jumped, squeaking around the fear clenched in her throat. The maid jerked to a stop, fluttering a hand over her ample bosom.
“
Oh, my lady! You gave me a fright! I thought you with Lady Kaidlin.
”
She took a deep breath, then looked more closely at Saeun.
“
My lady? Are you unwell?
”

“
I, well, I, no.
”
Saeun glanced at the trunk, then rested her worried gaze on Gert’s dear face. Gert looked at the trunk, then back at her, questioning. Saeun’s expression must have answered her. Gert’s pale blue eyes widened. She’d served Saeun for many years, and her mother before her, and had kept their secrets. The maid’s wrinkled hands flew to cover her mouth.
“
Oh, no,
”
she breathed.

“
Oh, yes.
”
Saeun’s lips stretched tight over her teeth.
“
I’ve got to leave. Now. Today. I can’t be dragged before the Council of Priests. It would destroy Ragni.
”

“
I’ll get a message to the Daughters,
”
Gert said.
“
They’ll help you.
”

Saeun shook her head.
“
Whoever took my tools will be watching me—and you.
”
She wrung her hands.
“
But I must warn them.
”

“
They may be watching me, but they can’t note every thing I say to another servant. I know who to trust. They can get word to their mistresses.
”

“
They mustn’t endanger themselves.
”
Saeun rose and paced the room, considering her next move.
“
It’s market day. I should be able to slip out in the confusion when the day merchants leave. When she asks, you must tell Lady Kaidlin you haven’t seen me since earlier this morning.
”

“
My lady! You can’t mean to leave me behind!
”

Saeun stopped her pacing in front of Gert, her eyes taking in the gray hair and plump, lined face she’d grown to love.
“
I can’t take you along. I don’t know where I’m going. I can’t go back to my brother’s. It’s the first place they’d look.
”
And neither Erlend nor his new wife would offer me a cup of welcome. They were glad to be rid of me before; they certainly won’t want me now
.
“
You’ve served too well all these years for me to reward you with a stone for a pillow.
”

Gert’s eyes sharpened with a stubborn glint.
“
I’ll not let you wander about alone! I loved your dear mother too well to leave her daughter with no companion.
”

Saeun’s snort was bitter.
“
You can’t protect my reputation, Gert. I’ve ‘practiced forbidden magicks,’ and ‘bartered my soul for Odin’s dark
sorcery
.’
”
She deliberately used the words Father Wirmund used to attack such things.
“
I could have ten maids with me out there, and for naught. There can be no honor in me, not in the priests’ eyes, ever again.
”
Saeun clenched her teeth against the pain in Gert’s expression.
It had to be said
.

“
Father Ragnar will speak for you.
”

Saeun looked away.
Would he
? Or would he denounce her for betraying his trust?
“
Perhaps. But he must not. It would ruin him. I’ve injured him enough already.
”

Gert stood silent for a moment, then shook herself and bustled into motion. She pulled two canvas bags she used for shopping from the cupboard and began selecting clothing.
“
It’s not so cold yet, but we must take our heaviest cloaks, nevertheless. You never know this time of year when the weather will turn.
”
Gert tossed a garment at Saeun, which she numbly caught.
“
A split skirt will do better than that gown, dear. Put it on.
”
She tossed her another.
“
Put on two. The nights are colder than an Elf’s prick.
”
She turned back to the cupboard and put two more carefully folded wool tunics into the first bag.
“
We can buy food at the market stalls on the way out. It won’t last as long as journey bread, but with luck it won’t have to. And we’d best hope for some luck dear, we’ll need it.
”

Saeun stared at her maid, not moving.
Wasn’t she listening
?
She’s too old. It’s too dangerous for her to go
.

Gert looked up from her packing and fixed her with a sharp look.
“
I’ll do your bidding unto death my lady, but I’ll not allow you to go alone.
”

“
You’re—
”

Gert cut her off.
“
You do me no favors leaving me behind. Those who would harm you would come to me with their questions. I do not think they would be over gentle in their search for answers.
”

Saeun bit the inside of her cheek at the ugly implications.
She’s right
. She didn’t want Gert to suffer for her, but she would, one way or the other. She couldn’t stop it now. Saeun grimaced.
“
Let’s go, then.
”

*

Dahleven glanced at his father, then Ragni, as the Kikmongwi spoke of the shamans who argued for a cleansing war.

“
…
those who believe Tiowa sends this sorrow will not be turned. Their path is chosen,
”
Loloma said from across the circle. Che’veyo, the Tewakwe shaman, nodded.

Neven’s expression was gravely attentive. Ragni tipped his head almost imperceptibly, indicating that Loloma’s words were sincere. It had taken almost half the morning for the Tewakwe leader to get to the point of what Nai’awika had already told Gudrun. The five men sat in low, comfortable chairs around a brazier in a small sun-drenched room near the family wing. Aromatic smoke from Tewakwe herbs meant to clear their minds and purify their hearts scented the air.

“
And they want everyone else to travel that path with them,
”
Neven interpreted.

Loloma nodded.
“
But there are many ways, and the shamans do not speak with one voice on this.
”
He paused and looked at Che’veyo, then at Ragni.
“
What do you say? How do the spirits guide you and your brother priests?
”

Ragni bowed his head, putting his hand over the purple bag that hung by a ribbon embroidered with runes from his neck. The pouch held a shard of the crystal that Fanlon had shattered and was a badge of his office.

Nice bit of theater there
, Dahleven thought. Ragni had never wrapped himself in the awe of ritual as some of the priests did. He took his office seriously; he just didn’t flaunt it.

“
We are guests in this land, and our hosts are restless. The skalds have cast the Stones. They speak of darkness and hardship, but not of a solution to our loss.
”

Dahleven thought of Saeun. She’d helped him find Celia when the priests had nothing to offer. But her magic couldn’t help with this; her Vision could see only a day ahead, even if he wanted to use it now. Of course, he hadn’t wanted to use it before, either.
Need creates strange allies
, he thought.

The shaman spoke at last. He seemed young to wield such authority, but his manner held no hesitancy.
“
We must go to our hosts and offer them the gifts they are due. Only then may we learn how we have offended them and how we may regain their good will.
”

“
You would seek out the Elves?
”
Dahleven asked, barely keeping the incredulity out of his voice.

“
Only those who seek answers will find them,
”
Che’veyo answered.
“
Long ago in Tu’waqachi, the fourth world, Tiowa bade the clans to walk the four great paths, and so we did. The Spirit Walk purified us. And so it will again.
”

“
All of the Tewakwe will go?
”
This time his surprise was audible.

“
No. This is not Tu’waqachi. Nor does Tiowa ask it. A few will go to bring the words of the Katsinas home to the people. The Kikmongsowuhti has pledged to send her granddaughter with me to the Katsinas.
”
The shaman looked Neven in the eye. It was almost, but not quite, a challenge.
“
All must be purified. You must do the same.
”

Oh, we must, must we
? Seek out the Elves and court fey-marking?
Father will never accept that
. Nor would Dahleven want him to. One brush with the Elves was more than enough.

Neven raised an eyebrow and returned the shaman’s level gaze. After a moment, still without shifting his eyes, he asked,
“
Father Ragnar?
”

“
Those who deal with the Elves will not return unchanged, if they return at all,
”
Ragni temporized.

“
This is true,
”
the shaman stated.
“
But it must be done. And soon.
”

“
How soon?
”
Ragni asked.

“
As soon as you are ready.
”

“
Winter is upon us,
”
Dahleven broke in.
“
The passes will close soon. Spring is surely soon enough.
”
And by spring we’ll have come up with a better plan than this
.

“
There are those who believe that only blood can cleanse the land,
”
Loloma answered.
“
The blood of those who oppose them. Come spring, they will not stop with their neighbors. That blood will flow east, cascading over these mountains until the flood washes all away before it.
”

“
They won’t find Nuvinland so easy to take as that!
”
Dahleven objected.

Loloma shook his head.
“
They have listened to dark whispers. Their councils are tainted. I believe the Earth Katsinas lend them aid.
”

Earth Katsinas. Dark Elves. They’d whispered to Jorund, too. We stopped him, but only just. And only with the Light Elves’ help
.

Neven’s brows drew down.
“
We’ll give you an answer tomorrow.
”

Dahleven’s stomach tightened. He was no coward. He’d faced both battle and dark magic and come through. But he did not want to have dealings with the Light Elves again. They were too
…
other
.