Shadow Over Avalon (25 page)

“Ravenous.”

Copper diverted to one of the unoccupied trestle tables, depositing her on a bench.

“Any dislikes, or are you easy?”

“No fish.”

Coppers eyebrows shot up, but he went off without comment, returning with two laden plates of roast lamb, tubers and greens. Eating utensils came from a pocket.

He grinned. “You’re in luck, Woolly’s been active.”

“A hunting dog?” Shadow hadn’t seen any sheep on the heights as they came in.

“No, a brother condemned for sheep stealing. He’s refined his technique to perfection since he joined us. It’s a fairly harmless sin, so we don’t discourage him.”

Shadow enjoyed the stolen meat, wondering what sins
were
discouraged. The meal boosted her energy levels, something she had noticed since re-banding.

“Woolly thought to start a small holding away from his fort,” Copper said. “He earned enough credits for a ram and five ewes. It might even have worked if his greedy bastard of a lord hadn’t raided his tiny flock after lambing season. Woolly hadn’t gotten around to altering the brand. He had no proof, couldn’t object to a priest, so he tried to sneak them back. The result was he joined us with the idea all sheep were free targets. Since he’s very careful whose flocks he raids, and how many he takes from each, I have no complaints. The sentence was unjust.”

“Had he family?” Shadow asked, half-knowing the answer.

“A wife and five children. They all work in the lord’s fort now. Woolly hasn’t seen them since.”

“He remembers?”

“We all do in time. I’ve activated some of your memories—not a pleasant process for the victim. I intend to continue.”

“Whether I will, or not?”

“Complete restoration of memory depends on exact prompts. I can restore a part of your adult life, but the rest is lost.”

Did she want to know her sin? There was Boy to consider in this. He had come from the time before, and he would want answers if they ever met. When he grew into a man, he would want to know of his sire. Shadow had no answers to give, the area was a blank. Her own lack of a sire clawed at her. Even with a restored memory, this data could remain unavailable. Not a Terran, not possibly a Terran. Shadow wanted to know why this man abandoned her. Boy would come to her place in time.

“It’s important,” she conceded.

“Given.” Copper ran his eyes over her in approval. “Bathing times are earlier for sisters. Helga will rouse you unless there is some reason for abstinence? We have a natural hot spring bubbling up into a large pool. Shall I countermand her intention?”

“No, let it stand.”

Copper raised one eyebrow, seemed about to say something, but changed his mind. He collected their dirty dishes, coming back with a pitcher of beer and two tankards.

“That’s a Bronze drink,” Shadow objected.

“Which is brewed here. Any spirits we get in trade are reserved for wounds and the victim.” Copper filled their vessels, unrepentant. “I want trained healers as part of our exchange with Shades. Just how good are they?”

Submariner healing skills depended on devices she didn’t understand.

“Shadow? Can they help us, or is it that they won’t trust us with their people?”

“I’m not sure if they can in Haven. The things they use . . . I sort of understand how they work, even if I find them impossible to believe.”

“Herbs?”

Shadow decided on a practical demonstration. She poured a few drops of beer into a spoon still on their table, holding it over a candle flame until the liquid started to bubble and steam.

“See the vapor? Imagine a small windmill with feather sails above the hot air. The sails would turn, and the cogs inside will move, agreed?”

“Yes.” Copper looked puzzled.

“They have found a way to store this movement, which they call energy. This energy is used to make other devices work—healing devices.”

“We haven’t got windmills . . . so we can’t have their devices,” Copper reasoned.

“Yes, but it’s more complicated than that. Maybe they have a way round, but I can’t answer for them.”

Shadow yawned, sleepy again. She wasn’t comfortable in the brothers’ cavern. Several Colored Band women were staring at her in open hostility.

“That trick with the vortai drained you, didn’t it? I thought we’d picked up an advantage, but it appears two-edged. I’ll never forget being invisible, nor will the gate guards, who will probably never recover from the shock of sighting riders appearing in an empty valley. Can Shades teach us all this skill?”

“It’s not something that can be learned. It’s like having three eyes when you can’t explain how much more you can see to a normal person. Copper . . . I’d rather you didn’t raise this subject with Shades.”

“Why?” He leaned forward, resting his chin on the point of his steepled hands to gaze at her. The question, though set in mild tones, was intent.

“Some Brethren are special because they’re fey like you?”

“Yes. Only the gifted rise to power.”

“Some Shades—a select few—have much stronger minds, and abide in a place apart from the rest.” She paused, knowing her next words were going to cause disgust. “These special people are called seers. They do many things with their minds the others can’t. These skills mean they don’t concern themselves with the menial chores in the community.”

“Shadow, you’re talking about a ruling class.”

“It’s more complicated. Seers don’t rule . . . not exactly. Sometimes they suggest, and others see it their way.”

“That is ruling. Is this leading somewhere, or am I being sidetracked?” Although his voice tone remained level, his eyes snapped irritation.

“I’m trying to explain why I don’t want them to know I borrowed one of their skills.”

“Borrowing implies consent from the owner. You stole someone’s thoughts!”

“Not exactly,” she countered, not looking at him. “If you didn’t know how to ride a horse, saw someone mount up and do it, and then copied him when he wasn’t around, it wouldn’t be theft, would it?”

“That’s splitting hairs. I’d have to be a natural born rider to succeed.”

“My point, I believe.” Shadow drained her tankard, yawning, hoping Copper would take the hint and show her to a sleeping area. He refilled her vessel instead. “No don’t, I’m tired.”

“You slept a full day and a half. Now humor me by telling me why your ability needs to be kept from a race of beings who value these skills?”

“Seers acquire all those with enhanced ability wherever they are found.” Now she trod on dangerous ground. “Their main purpose is to improve their mental capacity beyond current limitation. They are all strong telepaths, but I am not sure of their ultimate goal.”

“Like bees or ants? I knew they raided the minds of strangers, but not that they inhabited one another’s.”

“Something like that.” She looked him directly in the eyes. “Give your Brethren oath you’d hold to this alliance, even if you don’t agree with certain practices performed by a small portion of your allies.”

“Now I’m intrigued. Shadow, you’re being unfair. Enticing bait displayed in a lure with the trap well hidden. I’m not rising to it. All Brethren are my subjects, especially in my domain. I’m commanding an answer.”

“I stand as their ambassador to you as I would for you in their domain. I sacrificed a chance for direct conflict with Harvesters to fulfill this position. Give your oath, or keep your ignorance.”

He frowned. “Strategy training isn’t part of War Maid knowledge, yet I find myself outflanked.”

“I don’t remember training. Strategy is high profile for Elite strike units. Decision?”

“My oath,” he agreed.

“Seers strive for the perfect individual in their eyes. As horses are bred for strength, or speed, so they—”

“That’s disgusting.”

“Tell your thoughts to Ector, who shares them. He escaped their slimy clutches after they caught him as an adolescent. They tried to make him mate with a breeding mistress. I don’t believe there’s anything you can say, however coarse, he wouldn’t agree with.”

Copper slammed both hands on the tabletop, glaring at her. “These creatures are tolerated?”

“War brings all sorts of nasty surprises out of the woodwork. Shades need seers on reconnaissance sorties, as you need fey brothers for acquisitions. Copper, swords aren’t very nice, either. When you split somebody’s gut, his innards spill out, making a terrible smell. Would you give up your sword to placate your nose? I don’t think so.”

“Ector escaped? How, when by your own admission these creatures are so powerful?”

“On a scale of mental strength, most of them don’t rank above a twelve. Ector’s a fifteen. He was too old to subvert, too strong to force into their mold. He endures all sorts of unpleasant personal restrictions, but they can’t understand that Ector’s freedom means more to him than their limitations.”

Copper signaled an acknowledgement across the room. “My second arrived while we talked. He just signed over an interesting report he’s picked up from Grimes troopers. No woman has the strength to fight off three hardened soldiers and leave them downed. Few men could. Is this part of your skills? I know I couldn’t have snapped the ropes we used to tie you down in High Fort.”

Shadow shrugged and emptied her second tankard.

“I think I want to know just how good you are. Weapons practice with me before the sisters wake tomorrow. We can bathe together after unless you have any objections?”

Trapped, Shadow could only nod. That he wanted to see her in water didn’t bother her; hot water didn’t activate membranes, as she’d discovered from showers taken in Avalon, but she was tempted to fudge defense maneuvers when they fought in an attempt to lull his suspicions.

“Bed time,” Copper decided. “Want a lift, or can you walk?”

Shadow managed quite well until they were out of sight from onlookers, and then she began to lag. Copper scooped her up. He carried her along a passage to a curtained alcove similar to the one she had occupied in the sisters’ area.

“There’s a piss pot under the bed. I’m in the next cutout. If you want anything in the night, just yell.” He deposited her on the mattress.

In partial darkness, Shadow listened to the sounds of Haven winding down for the night. In a place packed with the most casual killers in existence, tension appeared minimal. Twice, angry voices rose to threatening levels, instantly repressed by many soothing tones. None of the brothers wore weapons inside Haven, but all had small knives for eating – sharp enough to inflict a lethal wound.

What of the sisters? When Copper removed her from their living area, none of them had been in view. Why was Copper sorry for them? As far as Shadow could tell, the difference between sisters and Colored Band women was an aversion for men the sisters showed. Were they all as dead inside as she? Was that what Harvester sentence meant for women? Yet there had been a time when she had begun to live again. In the city of Avalon, the wonder of a new life growing inside her gave her hope of someone to love, who wouldn’t condemn, but Boy took what he needed without giving of himself. Hope had withered like a fragile flower caught by frosty indifference. It was best stamped out before it began, for how could a soldier of fortune function with a dependent?

That set off another line of thought: no child’s voice sounded in Haven. The Colored Band women must occasionally reproduce, if their marked attention to brothers was any yardstick. Maybe gravid women were retired to other caverns with the children. A contradiction surfaced: if Colored Band women produced offspring, what happened to those children at the age of banding?

The sound of a low giggle came from nearby, and Copper’s voice hushing. She willed sleep.

*

Copper woke her early with a gentle shake and a tankard of beer. Shadow turned away in disgust.

“We don’t run to herbal brews. Beer provides the mellowing effect we need. Are you fighting this morning or not?”

Shadow blinked against the light of torches from the passage, inhaling the harsh smoke. Copper was wearing a loose gray robe belted at the waist, and had another such outfit slung over his arm. The strange, sleeveless costume reached to the ground and reminded her of her own state of undress. She pulled her covers higher.

“Scared to fight?” he challenged, tossing the spare robe at her.

Shadow yanked the mass over her head, resigned to being disturbed. A surge of anger made her reach for the beer. He had leered as she dressed, and she didn’t want to cause hurt out of sheer irritation when they fought. He wound a black sash around her waist, one that matched his own and one as bereft of weapons.

Gentle snores sounded as Copper took Shadow deeper into Haven to a bare cavern with a sandy floor. There was a wooden weapons rack lining one wall. He walked halfway down to withdraw his weapon and her lighter sword.

Shadow didn’t want to fight, didn’t want to reveal her Submariner fighting skills, or the strength of her new arm. She elected a defensive strategy using minimum force, reasoning he expected her to be tired. Copper seemed to accept the ruse until they clashed close, then his leg shot out to sweep her feet from under her, landing her flat with him on top.