The Desert Spear (87 page)

Jardir heard the intake of air in Leesha's mouth and held up his hand before she could speak, pacing before his men.

'I am intended toward Mistress Leesha,' he said calmly. 'An insult to one of the mistress' servants is an insult to her. An insult to her is an insult to me.'

He looked Jurim in the eyes, lightly touching his chest with the point of the Spear of Kaji. 'Have you insulted me, Jurim'' he asked softly.

Jurim's eyes widened. He looked frantically at Wonda, and then back at Jardir. He squirmed under the speartip, though its touch was feather-light, and began to shake. He knew his life might depend on his answer, but to lie to the Deliverer would cost him his place in Heaven.

Jurim collapsed, falling to his knees and weeping. He pressed his forehead into the dirt and wailed, clutching at Jardir's feet. 'Forgive me, Shar'Dama Ka!'

Jardir kicked him, taking a step backward and broadening his gaze to take in the warriors on either side of Jurim. Immediately they, too, fell to their knees and ground their foreheads into the dirt, wailing.

'Silence!' Jardir snapped, and the men quieted instantly. He pointed to Wonda. 'That woman killed more
alagai
this night than the three of you combined, and so her honor is worth the three of your lives.'

The men cowered, but they did not dare to speak in their defense. 'Go to the temple and pray through the night and the coming day,' Jardir said. 'You will take your spears and go into the night tomorrow, shieldless and clad only in black bidos. When you are pulled down, your bones will go to Sharik Hora.'

The men shuddered with relief and wept, kissing Jardir's feet, for in those words, he had promised them the only things a
Sharum
truly feared to lose: a warrior's death, and entry into Heaven's paradise. 'Thank you, Deliverer,' they said over and over.

'Go!' Jardir snapped, and the men ran off instantly.

Jardir looked back at Leesha, whose face was a sandstorm. 'You just let them go'' she demanded. Jardir realized that their exchange had been in Krasian, and she had likely understood only a fraction of what was said.

'Of course not,' Jardir said, switching back to her tongue. 'They will be put to death.'

'But they thanked you!' Leesha said.

'For not castrating them and stripping them of the black,' Jardir said.

Wonda spat on the ground. 'Would serve the coresons right.'

'No, it would not!' Leesha said. Jardir could tell she was still upset, but he had no idea why. Should he have killed them personally, in her sight' The greenlanders had different rules for their women, and he had no idea how they handled such matters as this.

'What else do you require'' Jardir asked. 'They did not succeed in violating or even harming the girl,' he nodded respectfully to Wonda, 'so it is not expected that they should compensate her for her virginity.'

'Ent a virgin, anyway,' Wonda said. Leesha looked at her sharply, but the girl only shrugged.

'But it's required they pay with their lives'' Leesha demanded.

Jardir looked at her curiously. 'They will die with honor. They will go naked into the night tomorrow, with only their spears to protect them.'

Leesha's eyes bulged. 'That's barbaric!'

It was then Jardir understood. The greenland taboo was death. He bowed. 'I had thought the punishment would please you, mistress. I can have them whipped, if you prefer.'

Leesha looked to Wonda, who shrugged. She turned back to Jardir. 'Very well. But we require to bear witness, and I to treat the men's wounds when the punishment is complete.'

Jardir was surprised at the request, but he hid it well, bowing deeply. The customs of the greenlanders were fascinating. 'Of course, mistress. It will be done at sunset tomorrow, for all the
Sharum
to see and remember. I will administer the lashes myself.'

Leesha nodded. 'Thank you. That will suffice.'

'This time,' Wonda growled, and Jardir smiled to see the fierceness in her eyes. Three Spears of the Deliverer it took just to hold her, and none of them able to do the deed! With further training, even
kai'Sharum
would fall before her. Looking at her, he came to a decision, one that he knew might well tear his army asunder, but Everam had chosen him to lead Sharak Ka, and he would lead as he saw fit.

He gave the woman a warrior's bow. 'There will not be another, Wonda vah Flinn am'Cutter am'Hollow. On this, you have my word.'

'Thank you,' Leesha said, laying a hand on his arm, and Jardir's spirit leapt at the touch.

There was a loud knocking on the door.

'Whozzat'' Rojer cried, starting awake and looking about. His room was dark, though he could see cracks of light at the edges of the velvet curtains.

The bed was a wonder unlike anything Rojer had felt since his time in Duke Rhinebeck's brothel. The mattress and pillows were stuffed with goose feathers, and the sheets smooth and soft beneath a down comforter. It was like sleeping on a warm cloud. Hearing nothing more, Rojer was unable to resist its pull as his head fell back into the pillow's embrace.

The door opened, and Rojer cracked an eye as one of Abban's wives, or perhaps one of his daughters'Rojer could never tell the difference'entered. She was clad as they all were in loose black robes that hid everything save her eyes, which were cast down in his presence.

'You have a visitor, son of Jessum,' the woman said.

She moved to throw back the heavy velvet curtains and Rojer groaned, throwing a hand over his eyes as light streamed in through the windows of his richly appointed bedroom. Leesha might have a whole floor of the giant manse, but Rojer had still been given a full wing of the second floor, more rooms than the entire inn his parents had run in Riverbridge. Elona had been furious to learn of the largesse the Krasians had heaped upon him, having only gotten a bedroom and sitting room herself, luxurious though they were.

'What hour is it'' Rojer asked. He felt he couldn't have slept more than an hour or two.

'Just after sunrise,' the woman said.

Rojer groaned again. He hadn't slept an hour. 'Tell whoever it is to come back later,' he said, flopping back into the mattress.

The woman bowed deeply. 'I cannot, master. Your visitor is the Damajah. You must see her at once.'

Rojer sat bolt upright, all thoughts of sleep forgotten.

The whole palace was astir by the time Rojer felt presentable enough to leave his chambers. His Jongleur's paintbox had taken the circles from beneath his eyes, and his bright red hair was brushed and tied back. He wore his best motley.

The Damajah,
he thought.
What in the Core does she want with me'

Gared was waiting for him in the hall, and fell in behind him. Rojer could not deny that he felt safer with the big Cutter, and by the time he made it to the stairs, Leesha and Wonda were descending from above with Erny and Elona in tow.

'What does she want'' Leesha asked. She had gotten no more sleep than him, but she showed it less, even without paint and powder.

'Search my pockets,' Rojer said. 'You'll find no answers.'

They all followed Rojer down the stairs, making him feel as if he were leading them to a cliff. Rojer was a performer, used to being the center of attention, but this was different. He put his hand to his chest, clutching his medallion through his shirt. The hard shape gave him comfort as he followed the gestures of Abban's women into the main receiving hall.

As before, Rojer felt his face heat at the sight of the Damajah. He had bedded dozens of village girls and more than one cultured Angierian royal, all of them fetching or pretty or even beautiful. While Leesha surpassed them all in beauty, she seemed almost unaware of that fact, making no effort to take advantage of her power.

But the Damajah knew. The perfect curve of her chin and gentle shape of her nose behind her transparent veil. The wide exotic eyes with long sweeping lashes, and the oiled black curls that spilled in rivulets down her shoulders. Her diaphanous robe covered everything and nothing, showcasing the smoothness of her arms and curving thighs, the round fullness of her breasts and the darkness of her areolae, her hairless sex. The air about her was sweet with perfume.

But more, her every gesture, every stance, every expression, brought all these things into a harmony that sang to every man in her presence. What Rojer did to demons with his fiddle, the Damajah did to men with her body. He felt himself stiffen, and was thankful for the looseness of his motley pants.

She stood in the receiving hall, two girls standing behind her, covered in the Krasian fashion Inevera disdained, though their robes were fine silk. One was clad in the white of a
dama'ting,
the other in black. Long black braids fell from the back of their headscarves, bound in gold bands and reaching past their waists. Their eyes danced at him from behind their veils.

'Rojer asu Jessum am'Inn am'Bridge,' Inevera said in a thickly accented tongue that made Rojer shiver with pleasure. He tried to remind himself she was his enemy, but it seemed futile. 'I am honored to meet you,' the Damajah went on, bowing so deeply Rojer feared her breasts would fall free of her robe. He wondered if she would care if they did. The girls behind her bowed even deeper.

Rojer made his best leg in return. 'Damajah,' he said simply, not knowing the proper form of address. 'The honor is mine, that you have come here to meet one as insignificant as I.'

'Don't lay it too thick, Rojer,' Leesha muttered.

'My husband bade me come,' Inevera said, 'telling me you accepted his offer to find brides for you, that your magic be passed on to a new generation.'

'I did'' Rojer asked. He remembered the exchange back in Deliverer's Hollow, but he had thought it all a jest. They couldn't possibly believe'

'Of course,' Inevera said. 'My husband offers you his eldest daughter, Amanvah, for your
Jiwah Ka.
' The girl in
dama'ting
white stepped forward, kneeling on the thick carpet and pressing her face to the floor. It pulled her silk robe tight, hinting at a womanly figure beneath. Rojer tore his eyes away before he was caught staring, looking back at the Damajah like a terrified rabbit.

'There must be some''
mistake,
he wanted to say, but the word caught in his throat as Inevera beckoned the other girl forward. 'This is Amanvah's servant, Sikvah,' she said, as the girl followed Amanvah to the floor. 'Daughter of Hanya, sister to the Shar'Dama Ka.'

'His daughter and his niece'' Rojer asked in surprise.

Inevera bowed. 'My husband has made it known that Everam speaks to you. He would not honor you with less than his own blood. Sikvah will make a suitable second wife, if you wish. Amanvah can then take over seeking future brides in accordance with your own taste.'

'Creator, how many wives does one man need'' Leesha said.

Jealous'
Rojer thought irritably.
Good. Have a taste of it, for once.

Inevera looked at Leesha with disdain. 'If he is worthy and they of him, a man should have as many as he can provide for and keep with child. But some,' she sneered at Leesha, 'are not worthy.'

'Who is Amanvah's mother'' Elona asked before Leesha could respond.

Inevera looked at her and raised a brow. Elona spread her skirts and dipped into a smooth, respectful curtsy that seemed utterly at odds with the woman Rojer knew. 'Elona Paper of Deliverer's Hollow. Leesha's mother.'

Inevera's eyes widened at this news, and she smiled widely and went over to the woman, embracing her. 'Of course, I am honored to meet you. There are a great many matters for us to discuss, but that is for another time. I understand the son of Jessum's mother is with Everam. Will you stand for her in these proceedings''

'Of course,' Elona said, nodding, and Leesha glared at her.

'Stand for her, how'' Rojer asked.

Inevera smiled coyly. 'To ensure you behave as they lift their veils, and to verify their virginity.' Rojer felt his face heat again, and he swallowed a lump in his throat.

'I'' he began, but Inevera ignored him.

'I am Amanvah's mother,' she told Elona. 'Does that meet with your approval''

'Of course,' Elona said gravely, as if there were any other answer a sane person might dare speak.

Inevera nodded and turned to regard the others. 'If you will excuse us, please''

Everyone stood still for a moment, but Elona clapped her hands, startling them all. 'You heard her, shoo! Not you, Rojer.' She grabbed his arm as he turned to go with the rest.

Only Leesha stood behind.

'You have no place here, daughter of Erny,' Inevera said. 'You are not family to the groom or brides.'

'Oh, but I am, Damajah,' Leesha said. 'If my mother stands for Rojer's, then I, as her daughter, may take the place of his sister.' She smiled and leaned in close, lowering her voice. 'The Evejah is quite clear on the matter,' she said smugly.

Inevera scowled and opened her mouth, but Rojer cut her off. 'I want her to stay.' The words ended in a squeak as Inevera turned to him, but then a wide smile licked across her face, and she bowed. 'As you wish.'

'Lock the doors, Leesha,' Elona ordered. 'Can't have Gared stumbling back in saying he forgot his axe.' Inevera laughed, and the sight of their joined amusement frightened Rojer more than anything. Elona seemed to know far more than Rojer about what was happening.