Outcast Chronicles - Sanctuary Part 60

Aravelle couldn't speak. Could hardly breathe.

*It was an accident. Hariorta fell on the knife,' Redravia pleaded. *I was there. I saw it all.'

*And she boasted of it to the hand-of-force's devotee, so now the all-father knows and he'll stand by his brat, even if she is Malaunje. Where does that leave me?' Charsoria demanded. *Alone without my female kin!'

Aravelle could have pointed out that she and Itania were Charsoria's nieces. But even if her mouth hadn't been covered, she wouldn't have bothered.

Charsoria's eyes narrowed. *You think you're so smart. You think you can't be touched. But I know your weakness. If you take one step out of line, your little sister is going to pay, and keep on paying.'

Aravelle tried not to panic. But, if a tragic accident could happen to Hariorta, then how much more easily could it happen to vulnerable little Itania?

She wanted to protest that her sister was innocent, but fear froze her.

Using Itania to punish her was wrong; the injustice of it burned. Tears of fury filled her eyes.

Charsoria leant in closer. *Yes, cry. Weep for yourself. You're going to wish you were never born. You think I was hard on you before? That was nothing a" nothing a" to what's coming.'

And she reached up under Aravelle's robe, caught her right nipple and pinched, twisting as hard as she could.

Aravelle made a high-pitched moan of protest.

Satisfied, the all-father's-voice released her, wiping her hands down her sides as if they were dirty. *Go.'

Aravelle ran over to her bedroll, undid it and cuddled Itania. Her split lip stung and her cheek throbbed, but that was nothing compared to her breast. It hurt so much she dare not touch it.

But even that was not her biggest worry. How was she going to protect Itania?

Chapter Forty-Three.

SORNE COULD FEEL the boat settling deeper into the sea as it began to wallow between the swells. Since long before dawn, every child big enough to carry a pot or bucket had been bailing, but it did no good.

Tiasely sent around one of the smaller children with a basket of carrots. Sorne took one. He was heartily sick of eating carrots, especially as they had started to go soft.

Vivore and Vivane had begun dismantling the cabin fittings to build a raft. They'd taken the bunks out and built a frame, lashing planks together with ropes. A few moments ago they'd come to him for permission to remove the planks from one of the cabin walls. Orza and two Malaunje boys were still on the roof, feet spread, hands shading their eyes as they searched the horizon for sails.

The boat's nose slid down a swell into the hollow before the next wave. Sorne felt the water in the hold slide down to the nose of the boat. It was still down there when the prow cut the rise of the next long swell. The nose did not rise enough and cold, green sea water lapped over the sides of the prow. It splashed on the deck, rolling towards him as the nose finally lifted and the boat rose to ride the incline.

The children gave a yelp of fright and began bailing faster.

As the stern of the boat reached the belly of the swell, Sorne felt the weight of the water in the hold weigh it down and the boat battled valiantly to climb the next wave.

*See anything, Orza?' Sorne called.

He checked with the other two. *Nothing.'

*Vivane, take the rudder.'

Sorne handed over to him and took the mallet from Vivore. He aimed precise blows along the nail line of each plank on the cabin wall. The boat was old and the nails had rusted, but it didn't take him long to remove a pile of planks.

Returning the mallet, Sorne felt the boat shudder and water splashed over the nose, running up the deck in a small wave. *Hurry up with the raft, boys.'

Vivore nodded and Sorne resumed his place at the rudder. They didn't have until midday. They didn't have long at all.

ARAVELLE HERDED ALL the children into the bathing chamber. Some were choice-children and some were the natural children of Charsoria's inner circle. And they were due to have their hair washed and combed to prevent nits, according to the all-father's-voice.

*Right,' Nariska said. *Strip off, then line up.' She winked at Aravelle. *This way their clothes won't get wet. No point in making work for ourselves.'

The bigger children undressed themselves, but the little ones needed a hand. As Aravelle helped the little ones strip, she chafed at the delay. She was eager to go up to the all-father's cabin. Voice-of-reason Dragomyr would have reported her transgression to Hueryx by now, and he would have painted it in the worst possible light.

But of course, Charsoria seemed to sense this and had invented a task for her. It was pure spite.

She sent another toddler towards Nariska and reached for the next child.

Each time Aravelle moved, she was reminded of Charsoria. Her right breast was so sore she couldn't bear material brushing across the nipple. But she wasn't about to complain, not when so many were nursing injuries from the sea-vermin attack.

Itania was the last child to be stripped. Aravelle reached for her little sister's nightgown, pulling it over her head. Itania's curls bounced on her bare shoulders, shoulders covered in bruises. Aravelle lifted her little arms to inspect the bruises, some old and fading some livid on her pale skin.

*Tani...' Aravelle moaned.

Her fingers shook with fury as she turned Itania around. There were more bruises on her thighs and b.u.t.tocks as well. All were situated where they would be hidden under her clothing. Who would...

Charsoria, of course.

So angry that she didn't trust herself to speak, Aravelle picked up Itania and headed for the cabin.

Nariska jumped in front of her, fingers covered in nit oil. *Don't a"'

*But her bruises.' Aravelle lifted Itania's plump little arm. *Charsoria a"'

Nariska didn't even glance at the evidence. *Don't give her the satisfaction. The more she knows you care, the more she'll hurt Itania.'

Aravelle knew she was right. *But...'

Nariska held her eyes and slowly rolled up her sleeve. Her upper arms were patterned with new and fading bruises.

Aravelle gasped. *It's not fair.'

*Who said life was fair?' Nariska whispered. *Come on. If we don't hurry up, she'll be angry.'

Aravelle returned to the task, combing the children's hair. By the time she was done, she was ready to wash the first child. Working as a team, she and Nariska were soon finished.

Still seething, Aravelle returned to the cabin with the children. She could hardly bring herself to look at Charsoria, who sent her off to fetch the grownups' breakfast.

In the pa.s.sage, she met Redravia with the remains of the children's breakfast.

This was her chance. Aravelle blocked the hall, the memory of Itania's bruises fresh in her mind. *You have to help me.'

*I don't have to do anything.'

Aravelle knew she'd phrased it badly. *I don't have anyone else to turn to. Charsoria threatened Itania, and she's already covered in bruises.'

The old woman grimaced. *You killed a"'

*That has nothing to do with Itania. She's only two. Please help.' She knew she was begging, but she didn't care. *I need you to watch over her while I'm serving the all-father.'

A sly light lit Redravia's deep-set eyes.

*What?' Aravelle asked, warily.

Redravia's mouth worked. *Bring me something infused with the gift, something small that I can wear next to my skin.'

Aravelle hid her disgust. If someone had asked her for help to prevent an injustice she would never have bargained for something in return. *Very well.'

*Something that contains concentrated power is best.'

Aravelle nodded, unable to meet Redravia's eyes.

*Don't look down your nose at me, girlie. When I was young and beautiful, I had a T'En lover. He willingly shared his power with me. I a"'

*Why?'

*Silly girl. He did it to ensure my absolute loyalty. I was not his devotee, but I was the next best thing.'

*Where is he now?' She suspected she knew.

*Dead. They're all dead. All those beautiful, bold young men...' Redravia stared off into s.p.a.ce, seeing the faces of long-dead brotherhood warriors, Aravelle suspected. Then the old woman recollected herself. *Few T'En warriors live long enough to grow old, and my lover wasn't one of them. That's why I need your help. I bathed in his power until it sank into my bones. And now my bones ache. Not a day goes by that I don't feel hollow and needy. And don't go thinking you're so much better than me. One day you could be in my shoes.'

Aravelle bit her lip. Then giggled.

*What?' Redravia stiffened.

*I'm already in your shoes.' She lifted one foot.

Redravia smiled reluctantly.

*I'm sorry.' Aravelle met her eyes. *I didn't know.'

The old woman accepted the apology. *Then we're agreed.'

Aravelle nodded and returned to the cabin.

Itania ran over to her.

Aravelle scooped her up. Kissing her sister's copper curls, she carried her over to a quiet corner and knelt with the toddler in her arms.

*Ronnyn's safe, so's Vittor and Tamaron, and baby Ashmyr,' Aravelle whispered fiercely, determined that Itania would not forget her brothers.

*Tam,' Itania repeated. They had been close in age and Aravelle knew her little sister missed him most, just as she missed Ronnyn.

A familiar knock at the door made Aravelle's stomach cramp with antic.i.p.ation. She carried Itania on one hip as she answered the door.

*The all-father wants you.' Saskar gestured to Itania. *Put her down and come now.'

Aravelle spotted Redravia coming up the pa.s.sage and waited for the old woman. Redravia held Aravelle's eyes as she accepted Itania.

Aravelle nodded once. She wouldn't forget. And now that she knew, she would be doubly careful to maintain her defences against the T'En gift.

When the cabin door closed on Redravia, Aravelle joined Saskar in the dim hall.

*What happened last night?' he asked. *Dragomyr is trying to convince Hueryx you're a sisterhood spy.'

Aravelle laughed.

*Vella!' He took her shoulders in his hands. *If the all-father doubts your loyalty, he'll have you executed in a heartbeat.'

Her stomach knotted. She had no loyalty to Hueryx. Her only loyalty was to her family.

Saskar looked so concerned for her she felt annoyed, which just proved she wasn't a very nice person. She slipped out from under his hands. *Don't worry. Hueryx won't be angry when he hears who visited me.'

*Now you've got me curious.'

*You'll just have to wait,' she said over her shoulder, darting down the hall.

Inside the all-father's cabin, a single lantern illuminated the gloom. The windows were all covered with temporary shutters, and the cabin was filled with Hueryx's inner circle.

Aravelle dropped to her knees and gave the correct obeisance. *You sent for me, all-father.'

*My voice-of-reason tells me when our ship came alongside the causare's, you had visitors and one was a sisterhood initiate?'

*It wasn't a sisterhood initiate.' She threw Dragomyr a contemptuous look. *It was Sardeon, All-father Paragian's son.'

*If Paragian's son was one of them, who was the other?' Hueryx asked. His sharp eyes told her he'd already guessed.

*Ronnyn. He came to check up on Itania and me.'

*How dare he enter brotherhood territory without permission?' Dragomyr muttered, but Hueryx grinned, as she knew he would.

*So what was Paragian's son doing here, in our brotherhood cabin?' the hand-of-force demanded.

*Sardeon was Ronnyn's lookout.'

Hueryx gave a bark of laughter. *My son is ordering Paragian's son about? This is priceless!'