Jeanne G'Fellers - Sisters Flight (11 page)

When
I tried to sample Evangeline's feelings toward Laszlo, she stopped me short.
I
am her teacher, nothing more. This is where our relationship begins and ends.

And
your hand on her thigh?

Evangeline
raised one eyebrow but did not move her hand from Laszlo's thigh—or mine.
I
never said that I wasn't attracted to her. I only stated that I must maintain a
teaching bond. I am helping her maintain a meditation pose.

Is
that what you call it?

I
do not appreciate your tone,
she
said.
Laszlo tends to draw her knees to her chest when she meditates, a
habit that further isolates her from her environment.

Is
that what gets in the way of her training?

It's
more of a bad habit than an obstacle.

Then
what is getting in the way of her training?

As
far as I can decipher, it is the same problem that prevented her from drinking
wine before our departure. Laszlo must maintain a specific diet. When she does
not act responsibly, it can lead her to seizures. It also seems to be affecting
her mind. She is still a bright woman, but she seems increasingly unable to
concentrate. Her thoughts have become very scattered.

And
that frightens some.
I now pitied
Laszlo.

Frightens
potential friends and lovers alike. Her dietary restrictions must remain rigid.
I have assisted her since her illness became apparent, but I will not always be
able to do so. In addition, the physical condition seems to be hindering her
phase. It is beginning to deteriorate despite my efforts.

You're
fearful.

It
is appropriate.
Evangeline laid her
cheek against the back of Laszlo's head.

But
it's not just for her illness, is it?

Very
perceptive of you. Yes, I fear for her. I fear she will never find someone who
will recognize her for the intelligent, loving creature she really is.
Evangeline released her hand from my leg and my
connection with Laszlo ended.

None
of the other Kimshees can help?

She
is not interested in them nor they in her.

I
hesitated.
Couldn't you?

Evangeline
answered that suggestion by running her hand up Laszlo's side.
The thought
has crossed my mind more than once. Laszlo is quite lovely, but I must remain
free of such intimacy with her. It would break the teaching bond. Besides, she
does not find me physically attractive.

Myrla
told me about the Yaulds compensated women.

Already
attempted. She was too nervous. I am hoping she will find someone in this new
land.
Evangeline grew still for a
moment, leading me to suspect she, too, had fallen asleep.

I
am awake, just reflecting on my decision to
release Laszlo from training.

"Release
her?" Surprise shifted my thoughts into speech. Fortunately, the watch was
Yauld and probably accustomed to occasional verbal lapses in phase
conversations since Evangeline only glanced at me then turned away.

I
have no choice,
came Evangeline's sad reply.
An
effective phase can mean the difference between life and death for a Kimshee.
It would be unconscionable of me to promote her or permit her to continue in
futile training.
Evangeline wrapped her arms around Laszlo's waist to hug
her.
Forgive me. I have taught you all I can, consulted other masters on
various techniques, but there is no other option. It is for your own safety.

What
will become of her?
I felt
Evangeline's heavy heart as if it were my own.

That
is her decision. She has other talents to fall back on. One must to be trained
Kimshee.

She
said one of her raisers was an assassin?

Yes,
and she has served the Yauld in that capacity, but I don't believe that is
where her future rests.
Evangeline's
thinking became briefly nebulous.
Your cousin, Laszlo finds him intriguing.
Would he be kind to her?

Archell?
I stammered.
But he's
—

Autlach
and male, yes, but Laszlo found him intriguing at the departure gathering and
he reflected the same emotion. Would he be good to her?

Someone
for Archell? No one deserved happiness more.
Why yes, yes, he would.

Rigid
concerning her diet when her scattered mind warrants it?

I
shared some of my memories of his careful tending when I was injured.
He's
attentive to detail, but he can get absorbed by his music. Sometimes I don't
see him for a moon cycle or more.

That
is because he knows you are safe,
said
Evangeline.

But
what about Laszlo's phase? No amount of Archell’s attention can help things
there.

Yes,
but her phase ability will soon be negligible.

Archell
also has a unique way of looking at life,
I continued.
He sometimes comes across as. .
. I stopped, trying
to think of the best way to describe Archell’s singsong voice and struggles
with socializing outside of music and his Taelach family.

Your
cousin is unique.
Evangeline stifled
a yawn into her hand.
But he is highly intelligent as well, which would make
him a difficult phase for the sharpest of Tekkroon minds. It is best he find a
companion not bothered by the loss of phase joy. You also think highly of him,
which speaks volumes to me.
Evangeline yawned again then disengaged from
our link to inquire in a tired voice, "You've no watch today. Perhaps you
could take Laszlo's as a personal favor to me? I want her final days as Kimshee
to be spent beside me."

Considering
how much information I still had to process before my mind could calm, I was
happy to comply. "I'll take her place."

"Very
good." After alerting the watch to the change, Evangeline produced her
blanket and lowered to the ground, right arm extended to protect Laszlo's head
from the cold. "Las's future is to remain between us."

"Yes,
Master Evangeline." And I wondered, as Powder Barrier troopers routinely
do, what surprises our next march would hold.

Chapter
Seven

Evacuation

Apprentice:
I’m afraid.

Master:
As am I, but not because we are losing the battle.

Apprentice:
Then why?

Master:
The unknown.

Myrla

Even
with a thousand sisters guarding our southern border, Longpass's forces broke
through the pass and spilled their mayhem into the edges of the Gretchenchff
and Bowriver colonies. Though the fighting was contained there, both colonies
fully evacuated, including the grotto I shared with Rankil. I packed only the
barest necessities and a few sentimental items from our time together, then
strapped the bundle to my back and made my way through the deeper tunnels to
Isabella and Genevic's Adner colony grotto some thirty minutes away. When I
knocked, Isabella opened the door a slit, then seeing it was me, sheathed her
knife and flung the door open.

"Thank
the Mother." She motioned me inside then shut and barred the door behind
us. "I was beginning to worry."

"Genevic
still not back?" I dropped my pack and settled onto one of the short
benches surrounding the front room table. Genevic and Isabella's home was
smaller than ours, but it was cozy, the walls whitewashed and waxed until they
glimmered, which generally spread the light coming in through the front window.
Now, however, that window, like the door, was locked tight.

"Gen
said the fighting has gotten as far as the isolation caverns." Bella
pulled the teapot from the room's single radiant outlet, pouring two steaming
mugs of water into which she placed cloths filled with ground tea. "Did
you see any signs of it getting deeper?"

"No."
I tucked a stray hair behind my ear and inhaled the splendid aroma emanating
from the mugs. "Smells wonderful."

"I'll
give you some of the mix after everything calms." Bella's hands shook as
she dunked the cloths a couple of times to infuse the flavor. "I don't
know what I'll do if they come this far into the clan lands. I've never been
good with anything outside an eating blade."

I
covered her trembling hands with mine. "They won't get this far."

Bella
removed the cloths, handed me a mug and pushed out the sweet syrup bottle.
"Some sisters are talking about killing themselves before they allow Auts
to touch them." She blanched. "I never thought I could, but
considering the alternative ..."

"They
won't get this far," I repeated, stirring the sweetener into my tea with
my blade. "Harlis promised."

"Harlis
doesn't know everything," snapped Bella. "For all she knows there
could be Auts by the drove just over the lip of the dome."

"Calm
down, Bella. We would know that if nothing else." I blew across the top of
my mug. "And try to think of something positive, will you? There's enough
what-ifs floating around without adding to them."

Isabella
frowned but said nothing, letting silence fall between us as we sipped our tea.
The oil lantern magnified our small movements, billowing them into mammoth
shadows that danced on the nearest wall. Bella considered them as she drank.
"I'm a medic, not a warrior," she finally said. "And the thought
of facing down an Aut scares me through and through. Why, the only Aut I really
know is Archell, but he isn't like any Aut I've ever heard or read about."

"Archell
breaks most stereotypes," I said. "And there are other Auts here,
most of them fighting right beside us."

"Archell's
no warrior either," she continued. "More Taelach inside than Autlach
when you get down to it. And the Auts outside our world are barbarians—dirty,
crude and carnal. I pity their wives and daughters."

"My
Rankil comes from that world."

"Your
Rankil
survived
that world," said Isabella. "And I pity her
for having to endure what she did."

"I
wouldn't say that to her face." I poured a bit more sweet syrup in my tea.

"No,
I suppose she would take exception to it." Isabella added water and
another tea bundle to her mug. "How is Archell these days?"

"Archie?"
I smiled. "I believe they've got him doing some scribe work for one of the
colony mayors whose usual staff has been called to fight."

"Oh."
Bella fell silent again.

"Why
do you ask?"

"Oh,
nothing really. I was just wondering what he'll write about this war."

"A
song about our glorious victory," I answered in a sure tone. "One
about—"

"Open
up, lover." Genevic's throaty alto accompanied a knock on the door.
Isabella grinned, hopped up and opened the door, throwing her arms around
Genevic, who kissed her lovingly on the cheek. Genevic waved at me, shed her
duty belt and settled onto the opposite bench, Bella across her lap.

"You
making yourself at home?" she asked me. The door remained open behind her,
allowing the cold to flood in, clearing the stuffy air.

"Actually
just got here a bit ago," I said, downing the dregs in my mug. "Bella
and I got to talking."

"Then
you have made yourself at home." Genevic pressed her face against
Isabella's in a hug. "Did you get everything you needed, 'cause I'll be
happy to go back if you forgot something."

"No,
I think I have it all." I indicated the bundle behind the door.
"Thanks for letting me stay. This is a sight better than the evacuation
housing."

"We
don't have the indoor privy like at your place, but we do pretty well
here." Isabella relaxed in Genevic's arms. I thought they made a good
couple, Bella's anxiousness balanced by Genevic's perpetual calm. I glanced to
Genevic's duty belt. Sure enough, one of the corns was clipped to it, just as
one was to my belt. I knew they were operable and mat the clouds were the only
cause for the extended silence, but I still worried. Mostly though, I missed
Rankil—especially in the presence of an affectionate pair such as Genevic and
Isabella.

"We'll
hear something as soon as there is a break in the gloom." Genevic had
noticed my longing glance at the corns. "Miss her, don't you?"

"Infinitely,"
I sighed. "But I worry about her, too, especially after that last
flashback. It was bad."

"So
you said." Isabella rose from Genevic's lap to refill my mug and pour one
for Genevic. "I'm sure she'll be fine."

"Dead
to rights." Genevic declared as she kicked off her boots. "Whatcha'
say we play a game to take our mind off things?"