Gambit of the Gods Read online

  “We’ve never had a Bird Clan before!” Spark says in wonder. “But what kind of bird did you Change into? It’s bigger than any I’ve ever seen!”

  Artan answers for me. “They’re called the Guardians. They’ve helped to guard our mountains against evil that comes under cover of darkness for hundreds of years. They are very rare, now. Did you see one while in Civitas Dei, Little Squirrel?”

  “No, but I dreamed of them many times before we left. I didn’t know they were real.”

  Artan nods. “Oh yes. They used to be human, Father told me. He’s met with them before. I saw one, once, coming home late one evening. I think she wanted me to see her. It’s a sight I’ll never forget.”

  “One spoke to me in my Vision. She told me she’d known me in another life.”

  “How strange,” Artan says, looking doubtful. “Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?”

  “Wait,” I say slowly, turning to Spark as realization dawns, “if I’m the only one of my kind, will I be allowed a mate?”

  “I don’t know,” Spark evades, not meeting my eye.

  Artan clears his throat. “Don’t worry about that now. We’re alive, safe, and together. Let’s get some food and water into you and go home, Little Squirrel.”

  He puts his arm around me, guiding me gently in the right direction. I let him, wanting nothing more than to see our father and my Village, and fill the aching void where my stomach should be. Spark walks on my other side. He squeezes my hand.

  It’s enough, for now.

  Chapter 16: Kella

  For the third time today, I elbow Karyl. She straightens in her seat, her eyes snapping open and fixing on Lady Dylorna. The Lady turns from writing the first of the Queensrealm’s Eleven Laws on the chalkboard.

  “What do you notice about the First Law?” she asks, searching our faces for her next victim. “Hmm…Balexa?”

  Balexa had been slumped in her seat, dozing a bit like she usually does in Gathering after the midday meal. Now she sits up swiftly, her eyes darting to the board and the First Law written there.

  “Well,” she says, “I, ah, I notice, ah…that it’s the most important Law because it, ah, it tells us to worship the Goddesses every Fifth-Day,” she stutters, pretty much repeating the Law word for word. I bite my lip, watching to see what Lady Dylorna will do.

  Lady Dylorna smiles, fingering her willow switch. She always keeps it tied with string to her belt. Most of the older House Damalis Tellers follow this same practice. To them, Knowledge is holy, and they take their Goddess’ charge to impart knowledge to others very seriously indeed. By whatever means necessary.

  “Very good, dear,” she croons. The girl sags in relief.

  “Since you know the Eleven Laws so well, Balexa,” the Teller continues, “could you please come up and write the Second Law down for us?”

  Balexa’s back stiffens, but she complies. Chalk in hand, she hesitates for a long moment, her back to us but her mind overflowing with panic. At last putting chalk to board, she writes with a shaking hand:

  2. By divine decree, the Eleven Houses, led by their Ruling Body, the Council of Eleven, constitute the Law of the Queensrealm.

  She turns nervously to Lady Dylorna when finished, but we all feel her relief at having remembered it.

  “Very good indeed, dear.” The Teller writes “holy” above the word “law”. Balexa gulps at her error.

  “That is a common omission, dear, and a good reminder to us that the law is holy and to be revered by all. You may be seated.”

  Balexa scurries to her seat.

  “Who can give us the Third Law?” Lady Dylorna inquires, still unconsciously fingering her switch.

  My hand goes up. I want to shield Karyl and Ellarin from Lady Dylorna’s willow switch. Sometimes I get teased because I rarely answer incorrectly in class. Is it my fault that I enjoy learning new things, while others prefer to busy their minds gossiping, joking or flirting?

  “Yes, come forward, Kella dear,” the Teller beckons, smiling. I make my way forward, feeling self-conscious.

  Picking up a piece of chalk, I write without hesitation:

  3. By divine decree, slaves are to be kept separate from legitimate citizens, having no rights, property, or higher soul.

  “Excellent, my dear,” Lady Dylorna says. I try not to blush at the “my” before dear, which she only bestows on her most promising students. “Perfect, as usual. You may sit down.”

  Taking my seat, I ignore unfriendly looks from several girls who resent my good standing with the Teller. Karyl gives me a grin, glad it was me up there instead of her.

  As I’d hoped, Lady Dylorna’s eyes slide right over my friends now that our side of the room has done well. Instead, they come to land on Brilla. A year younger than most of the girls, she tries to make herself as small as possible in her seat.

  The Teller’s smile widens at the sight of possible prey. I sigh inwardly. Brilla is a sweet, shy girl who keeps to herself, even among her own House Beltarra sisters and cousins. But I can’t protect her.

  Lady Dylorna stops in front of Brilla’s chair, her hand once more caressing the willow switch at her side. Brilla stares at her hands, shoulders hunched and eyes cast down.

  “How about you, dear?” Lady Dylorna purrs. “Can you give us the Fourth Law?”

  “Yes, Lady,” Brilla mumbles. She can’t seem to look Lady Dylorna in the eye, instead staring at a spot just over the Teller’s shoulder.

  Making a wide circle around the amused Lady to reach the chalkboard, she scrawls “4” with a shaking hand and then halts, staring at the number as if willing it to inspire her. Some of our Gathering-mates titter behind their hands. Her older sister, Balexa, watches in mute frustration.

  Lady Dylorna ghosts up behind Brilla as if stalking prey. She prompts, “Any slave who…?”

  Brilla jumps, then scribbles in even more shaky letters, “Any slave who” and stills once more. Clearly, she has no idea what comes next. Her whole body seems to be trembling. Our Gathering-mates’ titters turn to snickers. The Teller removes the switch from her waist, looking like she’s going to very much enjoy what comes next.

  Just loud enough for Brilla to hear, I mutter “speaks”, knowing I’ve spoiled Lady Dylorna’s fun and will surely pay the price for it. Karyl’s head whips around, worry creasing her brow, but the Teller doesn’t move. Brilla writes, “speaks”, then adds “to a Lady in an inappropriate manner or lies shall forfeit his life.”

  Shooting a grateful look my way, Brilla moves to retake her seat. But Lady Dylorna shifts to block her, one gnarled hand darting out to seize the girl’s small, hunched shoulder.

  “Not so fast, dear,” she coos, shoving Brilla back to the blackboard. “Since Kella” her voice hardens when she speaks my name, and Karyl shivers inadvertently for my sake, “has chosen to answer your question for you, I think it only fair that you give us the next Law all on your own. Don’t you, Gathering?”

  “Yes, Lady Dylorna,” most of the girls reply obediently. They’re glad it’s Brilla up there instead of them. Only Karyl and I, and a couple of other girls, remain silent. I send an encouraging mental caress to Brilla, wishing I could do more.

  Brilla actually turns to me for help. I reach out my hand briefly, miming touching someone. Her eyes widen. Quickly, she turns to the blackboard and writes:

  5. Any slave who touches a Lady in an inappropriate manner shall forfeit his life.

  “Very good, dear.” Lady Dylorna doesn’t move to stop Brilla this time. Instead, the Teller pivots until she’s studying me from across the room.

  I stare back with my emotions battened down tightly, waiting. My friends and family tell me I’m ‘deadly stubborn’, saying it gets me into trouble that is best avoided, but ever since the Goddess gave me her gift, I’ve felt so empowered. Even now, I can feel the air currents in the room shifting; I could knock this mean old woman over with a thought if I wanted to. Of course, if I do that, my secret won’t be secret any long
er…

  Recognizing that her attempt at intimidation isn’t working, Lady Dylorna grates, “Gathering, Kella seems to think she knows all the answers. Should we see if she truly does?”

  “Yes, Lady Dylorna.” Again, only my handful of friends keep silent. The Teller’s smile widens in her shriveled face, revealing a couple of crooked, stained teeth.

  “Come up here, dear, and write the other six Laws for us,” she bids me. Standing before the chalkboard, I take a deep breath and release it slowly. The Eleventh Law has always been difficult for me to remember because it’s much longer and more complex than the others, but maybe it will come to me. I send up a prayer to the Goddess.

  Feeling Lady Dylorna’s eyes boring into me and her stale breath on my hair, I write, as calmly and smoothly as I can muster:

  6. Any slave found with a weapon of any kind in his possession shall forfeit his life.

  7. Any slave who is lazy or otherwise shirks his duty to House and queendom shall forfeit his life.

  8. Any slave caught stealing or in possession of stolen property shall forfeit his life.

  I feel Lady Dylorna’s disappointment when I write these down without any hesitation. My penmanship is beyond reproach, as well. The knot between my shoulders starts to ease.

  9. Any slave caught fomenting rebellion or attempting to flee the Queenrealm shall forfeit his life.

  10. Any slave who becomes aware of another slave breaking any Law and says nothing is just as guilty and shall forfeit his life.

  Brushing back stray strands of hair from my face to gain a moment to think, I notice that my hand is shaking slightly. This last one is the only Law that holds our female citizenry accountable for their actions. The thought of all it entails fills me with secret terror, since I know I’m now in direct violation of the Law because of my relationship with Jaereth. I can only hope that if the Teller senses my fear, she chalks it up to my inability to finish the Laws.

  Glancing over, I see Lady Dylorna grinning in triumph, her stained and twisted teeth mocking me from between thin, sunken lips. “Is there a problem, dear?” she prompts, her emotions gleeful and once again anticipatory.

  I turn back to the board and write, “11. Any Lady found” and pause, then continue…“perverting the created order”, staring at that last word like Brilla had, hopelessly praying for a miracle. Again, my Gathering-mates’ giggles rise, seeing me stumped at last.

  The clock strikes two with a low buzzing sound, the signal that Gathering is over for the day. The girls all jump up from their seats, chattering happily with each other. They grab their belongings and leave the room without a backward glance…except for Karyl and Ellarin, who both pause in the doorway, looking back at me.

  I flick my hand, sending them a mental push to go on without me. Unwillingly, they go. I’d rather they not witness what will happen next, much less get drawn into it.

  “So, Kella dear, it seems you don’t know everything after all,” Lady Dylorna whispers. Now that it’s just the two of us, there won’t be anyone to witness it if she beats me more than necessary. Deep anger wells within me, looking into her small, mean, muddy brown eyes, her foul breath assailing my nostrils.

  Picking up another piece of chalk, she writes, “or having relations of an intimate nature with a slave outside of a holy temple shall be put under House arrest and tried to see if her reproductive rights should be revoked and her House sanctioned.”

  She writes the last word with a flourish, drops the piece of chalk, and swiftly grabs my hair in her bony hand, pulling with surprising strength until I’m bent over. She frees her willow switch. The air in the room seems to quiver and eddy as my rage boils out around us both, but Lady Dylorna only laughs heedlessly, pulling up my skirts to get at my bare legs…

  “Excuse me, Lady,” a familiar voice says calmly from the doorway, “but I’ve been sent to fetch Lady Kella back to House Klia right away.” Lady Dylorna and I look up, astonished, but for vastly different reasons. “Her mother, High Elder Kylara, is in urgent need of her.”

  It’s Jaereth, bowing his head in a subservient manner that looks completely ridiculous on him. But there’s a strange, compelling look in his eye as he locks on the Teller’s gaze. Surely she’ll notice that his clothes and House sigil are those of House Beltarra instead of House Klia? Terror clenches my heart anew at the thought of him getting caught lying to a Lady, which is in direct violation of the Fourth Law. I can’t lose Jaereth now.

  Lady Dylorna blinks slowly, like one waking from a dream. She lets my skirts fall and steps away from me. Jaereth murmurs, “You will not remember what happened here today,” still staring into the Teller’s eyes.

  She nods in dumb agreement, shocking me. Turning back to the board, she begins erasing the Eleven Laws as if she’s all alone in the room.

  Jaereth gestures for me to proceed him through the doorway. With shaking legs, I make my way down the steps and onto the path leading to the horse paddocks. The tension I’d felt ebbs away, leaving me weak as a newborn lamb. I stumble and Jaereth steadies me, his hand warm on my elbow. Glancing around to make sure no one saw him touch me, I pull away, knowing one touch could mean his death if the wrong eyes are watching us.

  “How did you do that?” I ask, walking as close to him as I dare.

  “I could ask you the same thing, lovely Lady Kella.”

  The compliment makes me blush, which makes him grin. He struts and puffs his chest out like a rooster trying to impress the hens. I break out in helpless laughter but sober quickly, thinking of how to answer his question.

  “Do what?” I hedge.

  “I was waiting for you outside,” he explains. “All the other girls came out, including your two friends, but you weren’t among them. I felt your anger bubbling up even through the schoolroom walls.” I sense an echo of the worry Jaereth felt in that moment…the moment he decided to act on my behalf, despite the grave danger it put him in.

  “I needed to see what was happening to you,” he continues. “I stood there in the doorway, and the air in the room started to…roil and shift, as if it was angry too. The Lady didn’t notice because she was so caught up in punishing you, but I decided I’d better speak up before you did something you might regret.”

  I sigh, relieved to be able to tell someone my secret at last. “The Goddess of Nature came to me in a dream a Fifth-Day ago. She gave me a gift. I don’t know why, but Her breath comes when I will it, a mighty wind. I might have pushed that mean old woman down with it when she raised her hand to me if not for you. Thank you. I just don’t know how others will react to my ability.”

  “Maybe that’s why I’ve felt drawn to you,” Jaereth says slowly, his eyes on mine like a secret caress. “A few days ago, I found that I could make people do things with my mind.” He looks a little abashed, and after a moment, I realize why—he used it on me!

  Stopping dead in my tracks, I ask myself: Is this why I’ve been so strangely attracted to him? Was everything that passed between us just a game to him, to see how far his ability can manipulate a person? Even if it wasn’t a game, what kind of monster would take advantage of another person’s heart like this?

  We’re almost to the horse paddocks. Karyl and Ellarin catch sight of me and come running toward us. He sees them too.

  “You’d better go, now,” I say warningly.

  Recognizing the doubt in my eyes, I sense his hurt. But all he says is, “Meet me tonight if you can, in the orchard farthest from your House. I’ll explain.”

  He hurries off before I can reply, back the way we came. My friends reach me a moment later.

  “How badly did she beat you?” they ask in unison. I smile and reassure them, “Not very badly at all. Come on, I don’t want to be late for Horse-Dancing practice.”

  There are several things Ladies of the Queensrealm love almost as much as the Queensrealm itself, our Goddesses, and our families. The list includes gossip, Balls, parties, dancing, music, fashion and shopping, afternoon tea, spa
rkling wine, a game called Hoops and Strikers…and Horse-Dancing.

  In Hoops and Strikers, we place nine metal hoops into the goat-cropped grass in a double diamond pattern with a painted peg at either end. Taking turns, we hit painted wooden balls through the hoops with strikers, which are wooden mallets. We strike through the pattern once to hit the far peg, then back through the pattern again toward the starting peg. The individual or team whose ball strikes the starting peg first, wins.

  We lovingly call Hoops and Strikers “The Game of Queens”, throwing elaborate, formal garden parties with the game as our main entertainment. Many a Lady has struck a ball with a goblet of sparkling wine in one hand and a striker in the other, all whilst kicking her skirts out of the way of her shot.

  But we love Horse-Dancing far more. While the weather is good, we hold festivals every Fifth-Day with Horse-Dancing matches as the centerpiece. These matches, and the festivals surrounding them, are among the few events in the queendom where individuals from every House have a chance to mix freely. Heavy betting on the matches is encouraged, and the winning bettors often hold after-parties to celebrate their victory and brag about their betting prowess.

  Horse-Dancing came about long ago when a Lady from House Amalria saw a youngling playfully attempting to strike a Hoops and Strikers ball with a mallet from atop her pony. House Amalria had been looking for a way to increase their Elite Corps’ balance and coordination while fighting on horseback, and began to play the game merely as an exercise. But the game caught on, and we’ve never stopped playing it since.

  Each House is paired up with another House to practice with, except for House Damalis, which, true to form, keeps to itself except for actual matches. House Klia and House Elmaya are paired for practice because our horse pastures stand side by side. That’s how Ellarin and I became best friends. We’ve both been practicing to play on a team since we were old enough to ride a horse.