I checked the others in the room, finding a man who was scornful of the barbarian, but there was no active hate involved. The rest were unremarkable, lacking criticism of any sort. I withdrew from the sea and opened my eyes again, then decided on a way to announce that the job was done.
“There is very little air in here,” I said, sliding quickly out of the barbarian’s grasp. “I shall return to my quarters.”
I started to get to my feet, but the sash of my caldin was pulled hard, throwing me back onto the barbarian’s chest.
“You have not been given my permission to leave,” he said in a mild tone, faint annoyance tinging his thoughts. “Do you now ask for such permission.”
I studied his broad, handsome face for a minute, then said, “The air elsewhere is preferable to that which is here, O denday. May I go in search of it?”
A choking sound came from Loddar which was quickly muffled by his hand and turned-away head. The barbarian threw him an annoyed glance, then turned his attention back to me.
“Indeed you may wenda,” he answered evenly. “And I shall aid you in your search.”
He got to his feet in one fluid motion, pulling me up with him, then headed out of the room, hauling me along behind him by the sash. I had a good chance to look around before the curtains closed behind me, and had no difficulty spotting the two men I’d found earlier. I was pulled all the way back to the barbarian’s room, and the door was slammed closed behind us.
“Who’s the man sitting directly under that overgrown axe?” I asked before my—“owner”—could open his mouth. All of the emotions rolling and building in him stopped abruptly and he frowned down at me.
“That is Caffar,” he answered. “Why do you ask?”
“Because he doesn’t care for you,” I said. “Such deep, strong hatred and jealousy isn’t an everyday thing. If I had to bet on someone, it would be him, with the extreme left-hand man in the group of five over on the other side of the room as possible second choice. He thinks he’s better than you are, but who knows? He may be right.”
Tammad stood for a few moments deep in thought, then finally remembered I was there and nodded at me.
“You have done well,” he said quietly “I had not known it could be accomplished so quickly.” He started toward the door, but stopped short of it and turned back to me. “Should you again speak to me as you did this night, wenda, you shall feel the switch no matter what the consequences. You have my word.”
He continued on out and closed the door behind him, leaving me disgusted and depressed. I hadn’t wanted to dig at him, either in front of his people or alone there in the room, but there was something about him that made me want to reach him and jostle him around. I wanted to shake him out of that rigid control and know what he was feeling deep inside him, but all I’d succeeded in doing was to set myself up for another switching. Which would bring me even more trouble when he discovered that I’d been lying about projecting.
I got slowly out of my clothes then into the furs, tired from the long, eventful day I looked around in the dim torchlight, seeing things that were alien to my way of life, also seeing the empty furs next to mine. Those furs were longer and wider than mine, quite a bit longer and wider. It was foolish of me to want to sleep there instead, as it was obvious I would never fit. I turned my back on them and tried to sleep.
The presence of someone else brought me partway out of a deep, sound sleep. The someone moved around briefly then came closer, and the furs were tucked a little more tightly about me.
“Wenda sed Prime.” a deep, soft voice murmured tonelessly “Ti Plenda queren?”
The voice said nothing more, and deep sleep came again.
12
When I woke in the morning, I dressed and went to the kitchen for something to eat. Gilor and the three girls were there, and I had the impression they’d been up for hours. Gilor looked at my hand but didn’t change the bandage, and then gave me a large bowl of something thick.
“I do not believe I care for the appearance of this.” I said, studying the coarse-grained contents of the bowl. “Is there no meat at hand?”
“The meat is for l’lendaa,” she said with slight annoyance.” Wendaa make do with such as you have. Eat quickly Terril, as there are many things which must be done this day. The denday’s house does not exist of its own.”
She turned away to do something else and I watched her for a minute, then looked back at the bowl of thick meal. It wasn’t very appetizing, and I’d grown used to having meat for breakfast. Leaving the bowl on the nearest board, I waited until everyone’s attention was definitely elsewhere, helped myself to a chunk of meat, then left the kitchen.
The meat wasn’t dimral, and it was very tasty I ate it with enjoyment, then went back to the kitchen to refill the water pitcher. Gilor, having noticed the still-full bowl, watched me curiously but she didn’t comment. I had my drink, replaced the pitcher in the barbarian’s room, then went outside.
My seetar was happy to see me, and I was happy to feel her contentment. She chewed at her own breakfast as I stood near her, and once again I was pushed at gently from behind. The barbarian’s mount had come to greet me, but this time he wasn’t hungry. He rumbled at me softly pleased with the calmer tenor of my mind, then turned his attention to my girl. She felt his attention and was puzzled by it, and he was amused.
I stayed with the seetarr brushing first my girl, then the barbarian’s male, until they both shone a glossy black. When I finally stepped back to wipe away the sweat and admire my work, the two seetarr understanding that I was through, proceeded to lower themselves to the ground and roll around contentedly. I don’t know whether or not they heard my groan, but their comforting thoughts reached me at the same time as the barbarian’s laughter.
He stood just outside the corral fence, and it was fairly obvious that he’d been there for some time. His calm thoughts never brought him to my attention when I wasn’t seeing him, and I didn’t care for it. I resolved to be on the alert for him in the future.
“That is ever the way with seetarr” He grinned, letting himself into the corral. “They must be well tied if the brushing is not to be undone.”
“From now on they can stay unbrushed,” I said sourly watching the two ingrates grunt and roll around with the deepest of enjoyment. “Who am I to interfere with their contentment?”
“Learning will come to you with experience,” he said looking me over with a critical eye. “You, too, appear to have rolled in the dust. You may bathe in the river when you join the others for the washing of clothing. My warriors will be there to guard you.”
“Your warriors can guard whatever they like,” I answered brushing my hair back out of my eyes. “I’ll be bathing in my tub in the kitchen.”
“The tub has been removed,” he said, folding his arms. You shall bathe in the river or not bathe at all. Here, I am denday. Do you wish to take my position, you must face me with sword in hand. Is this your wish, O would-be warrior?”
“Why is my bathing in the kitchen a challenge to your position?” I asked in annoyance. “I didn’t say you had to bathe me!”
“I should not have allowed the tub to begin with,” he answered, his tone still even. “Your obedience is not so remarkable as to merit reward. I was taken by the surprise of your power, but shall not allow such to occur again. Do as you will, wenda, but know that disobedience shall bring you punishment—as with other wendaa. You may bathe in the river, but may not swim. Come you now to the house.”
He headed back toward the house and I threw the seetar brush away and followed, silently cursing his stubbornness. He was determined to keep me as nothing but wenda, and if I tried to disagree he’d reach for the nearest switch. I’d tried to bluff my way out of the corner, but he’d called my bluff and now I had to walk more warily than before. If he ever found out that he’d backed down on nothing but an empty threat... Gilor was waiting in the entrance hall, and she smiled pleasantly when she saw me, then spoke to the barbarian. “May I now have the use of her, Tammad? There is much to do with Rapan otherwise engaged.”