The l’lendaa carried Tammad past the camtahh that had been set up, to a smaller pavilion that was obviously his. They took him inside while I paused to take a deep breath of the fresh night air, a moment later discovering a I’lenda at my elbow. I looked up to see a grinning Faddan studying me.
“You do not seem to care for Tammad’s state,” he told me with a chuckle. “Had you hoped to have him conscious and aware of you?”
“I had hoped for a long conversation with him.” I answered blandly staring him straight in the eye. “Now it must wait for the new sun.”
“Aye.” Faddan laughed, deeply amused. “All—conversation—must wait for the new sun. I bid you a pleasant sleep, Terril.”
He walked away still chuckling, and I stood outside the pavilion, seeing the campfires range into the distance. I was tired from the day-long trip, drained from studying the men in the pavilion, and the night wasn’t as peaceful as most people consider it. Emotions are more intense at night, and though a lot of people slept, those who were still awake made up for the sleepers. I stood slumped in the night, wondering where I was supposed to sleep.
“The denday calls for his wenda,” one of the men announced as the three who had carried Tammad into the pavilion filed out again. “Still does he sleep, yet still must his word be obeyed. Do you now go to him, wenda. ”
I felt annoyance even as I stepped into the pavilion. Their denday was dead drunk, but I was still expected to obey him. There was a small torch burning feebly in one corner of the pavilion, and I could see Tammad stretched out on his furs. His haddin had been removed, and it lay to the left of the furs near his swordbelt. Tammad himself moved restlessly on his furs, his mind empty but for a small yet definite annoyance. He tossed a bit and mumbled, reaching around as if searching for something.
I removed the imad and caldin, folded them carefully then slid into my furs, which were, unsurprisingly, right next to Tammad’s. He continued to toss around, his annoyance growing, until his arm happened to fall across me. Immediately I was pulled to him, held tight in a grip that was unbreakable. The annoyance in his mind began fading at once, letting him lapse into a deep, restorative sleep. I rubbed my cheek against the chest I was pinned to, and had no difficulty at all in finding sleep of my own.
14
My head throbbed in painful rhythm to my heartbeat, and I had to force my eyes open. It took a minute to realize that the pain wasn’t my own, but that of the mighty warrior who sat groggily next to me. Tammad was definitely awake, and when he saw me watching him, he made a valiant effort to control what he was feeling.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked, reaching out to smooth my hair. “There is much for you to do this day.”
“I can see that,” I answered, holding back a superior grin. “Isn’t there anything you can do for that headache?”
“I must wait for it to abandon me,” he sighed, stretching out in the furs again. “It is the price one pays for the foolishness of too much drishnak.”
“As long as you admit it’s foolishness, maybe I can help.” I said, moving close to stroke his forehead. “Relax your control and let me try.”
His muscles eased up somewhat, the action making him wince inwardly at the uncontrolled pain he felt in his head. I surrounded the pain as best I could and soothed it, urging it down to a level he could handle. His surprise didn’t keep him from immediately exercising control over what was left of the headache, and his hands kept me from moving away again.
“Truly are you wenda without equal,” he murmured, enjoying the feel of me against him. “I am again as I was, for you have taken the pain from me.” He paused to frown in thought, then demanded, “You have not taken the pain as your own?”
“No,” I laughed gently. “With you around, I don’t need anyone else’s pain. Do you still plan on beating me?”
“Should the need arise.” He nodded without hesitation. All men must know that there is ever one greater than they somewhere in the world. I would not have you insult the one who is greater than I, and end his belonging to be punished for insolence. Sooner shall the punishment come from my hand, to be given in full measure, yet not without concern. It is my duty.”
“Your duty need not be so carefully seen to, O denday,” I answered ruefully. How do you argue with someone who’s going to beat you because he cares for you? “I’ll be too busy doing my job to get into very much trouble.”
“Such is my sincere hope,” he answered, a faint grin appearing on his face. “You may begin when we have had our meal.”
“I’ve already begun.” I said, enjoying his reaction to this second surprise. “Last night, while you were building the foundations of a headache, I was doing what I was brought here to do.”
“Then I am the laggard.” He grinned more widely slowly moving his hands on me. “What have you learned?”
That was a question I had no trouble answering. “I’ve learned that my aman is nonexistent when you do that.” I groaned, holding tightly to him, then added, “There are no other l’lendaa about now.”
“There soon shall be.” He laughed, prying me away from him and forcing me flat. “Therefore must you tell me now that which you have learned. We may not have further opportunity”
I groaned again as he held me still, then took a deep breath. “We’d better make the opportunity” I disagreed. “I’ve read the men, but I don’t know them and can’t tell them apart until I see them individually. We’ll have to walk around and visit.”
“Such is no hardship,” he mused, already planning it. “The Ratanan allows for much mixing and visiting. Do you now dress yourself, and we shall eat.”
He stood to do his own dressing, and after a minute I followed suit. The man was highly frustrating and extremely unfair. He had the Ratanan on his mind, and couldn’t be lured away from his purpose. I remembered the real we had experienced together, and felt a strong urge to rape him—if only just that once. If he hadn’t been so big...
Breakfast was waiting in the form of spiced meat chunks, courtesy of the women who had been brought along. My shiny new clothes proclaimed that I was to have nothing to do with the preparing of food, and I can’t honestly say I was disappointed. My mind kept centering on the reports I’d put together, and cooking under those circumstances would have cost me a good deal more skin. My hand was no longer covered or salved, and seemed to be healing. I didn’t want to press my luck.
After we’d both had some water, we began our visiting tour. Faddan, Kennan, and Loddar came along with us, but I wasn’t half as surprised at seeing them as seeing the one called Caffar—the one who hated Tammad. He was among the rest of our fifty and I didn’t understand why.
The tour began with a quick call on Garrad, who was on his feet but just barely. Tammad smiled gently, wished him a speedy recovery then moved on. Garrad stared after him, a new respect beginning to form. Once the headache was gone, the respect would grow.
We spent a good deal of time with ordinary l’lendaa, both out of courtesy and out of necessity It was impossible to ignore someone without giving insult, and the dendayy needed time to come out of the fog. After a couple of hours, though, they all seemed to be whole again, and I was impressed. Tammad’s headache was gone completely, with no trace left that it had ever been there.
There were cleared spaces in front of the dendayy pavilions, and I soon found out their purpose. Matches between individuals and groups of l’lendaa began, and the spirit of competition was high. They all started with weaponless wrestling matches, and I still don’t understand how they could consider something like that fun. When one or the other hit the ground he hit hard, and there was no question about the pain he felt.