Ydnas: The Girl of the Prophecies Page 3
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“Things are sometimes what they seem,
just enough to keep us guessing.”
(from The Book of Irony)
The next day, as Kor was taking some warm and fragrant bread out of the oven, Tak came to her and said, “Talek is here to see you.”
“The rest of supper, we can do,” said Lessie, one of the older girls who had been helping. “Thank you, Dearie,” said Kor, and found her way to the visitor’s wing. This part of the house was separated from the main part by a reinforced door, which she closed after passing through, locking it with a combination lock consisting of several levers.
Kor then turned to another heavy door. Removing three iron locking bars and turning a large wheel several times around, she opened it, revealing the anteroom of the visitors’ entrance. Its windows had been covered over with wood, backed by bars of steel. In this dark cage stood a small, bent man whose face was completely hidden by the veil of black cheesecloth in front of the large black hood that he wore. This hood was part of a full-length robe, also black. In a black-gloved hand, he held a straight wooden staff, also black, with a shard of obsidian fixed to the top. In the dim light, he was little more than a shadow. “Good morning, Kor,” he said, in a whispery voice, both soft and dry, while making a stiff little bow.
“Do come in, Talek Dear, and have a seat!” said Kor brightly.
“Thank you,” replied Talek, stepping silently forward, and settling wraithlike into a chair. His voice seemed to have a tiny bit of echo built into it, which gave it a strange resonance. Kor closed the door to the anteroom, seated herself near him, and asked, “What’s new?”
“I presume that you found the child you were looking for,” said Talek, leaning forward expectantly. His movements were very slow, suggesting great age.
“Yes,” replied Kor, “and she now seems in good health, although of course she’d been mistreated, poor thing! She has gotten fairly used to us, although things occasionally happen that scare her. Harmless things, really, but I guess they remind her of other things. On the whole, I think she is quite happy to be here.”
“I’m sure she is,” said Talek. “This is a wonderful place. That was a difficult trip, though, all the way to the Temple of Honggur and back.”
Kor grimaced and rolled her eyes. “Five days each way, and I can tell you, Dearie, we had one scare after another!”
“I imagine so,” said Talek, with the ghost of a chuckle. “I admire your courage in going through with it.”
“I do what the Goddess says, Talek.”
“Indeed. I trust the girl is as you expected?”
“Of course she is, Talek. The Goddess would not lie to me.”
“Let me rephrase that. Does she straightforwardly appear to be, what you are sure she is?”
“Well, no, she doesn’t. She just looks like a sweet little girl – one who’s been through some hard times. Very smart, I think, and good-natured. Such a dear, really! She doesn’t know our language, so I still don’t know much about her.”
“I’d like to meet her.”
“Of course, Dearie, but please, not yet. I want the poor thing to rest, and get to know all the other little ones, and feel a little safe for once. Maybe in a few days.”
“Certainly. I hope you don’t mind my curiosity.”
“Oh, no, Talek, not at all! I just can’t tell you much right now.”
“Of course not,” said Talek, nodding. “That was only to be expected.” There was a pause in the conversation. Then Talek said, “I’m afraid I have some disturbing news.”
Kor’s eyebrows went up. “Oh, Dear! What’s that?”
“I’m told that the Angels of Rejuvenation will swarm here soon.”
Kor looked aghast. For the span of several breaths she was speechless. “Are you sure?”
“I’m afraid so. I have it independently from several very good sources, and I have assured denials from several bad ones.”
Another silence. “How soon?”
“Hard to say. They’re deliberately impulsive in such matters. Maybe in a smallmonth or two.”
“Who else knows?”
“Around here, just you and me, as far as I know. Well, no doubt they have some secret agents in place, getting to know the area.”
“We must warn people!”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Kor. I doubt that anyone will believe you, but if they do, they will probably panic. Many will loot, riot, sell spurious protection, find scapegoats, and do what few things they have been afraid to do before. Some will stack their possessions on carts and head for other communities, where they will not be welcome. In short, telling them might just bring on a catastrophe more rapidly.”
“Can’t someone help us?”
“The Angels are a very powerful institution, Kor. They are the core of Urban Renewal. And the people they attack are not terribly popular.”
“Everyone has lost hope for this neighborhood, then.”
“I’m afraid so, Kor. Can you blame them? But there are those who appreciate that there are pockets of good here, and I have made sure that they know of your work. That includes my Church, of course. With their help, you will be able to escape the Angels, and relocate.”
Kor was holding her head in her hands. “But Talek, I’ve put so many years of my life into this house!”
Talek leaned forward. “No, Kor, you have put that many years of your life into service to the children. And that must not come to an end.”
There was another silence. Then Kor straightened up, took a deep breath, and said, “Well, I have to agree; we must leave. Is there anything else?”
“I’m afraid I haven’t had time to make further inquiries. I hope to return tomorrow with more information.” He stood.
Kor said, “I’ll consult the Goddess.”
“Of course! I look forward to hearing what you learn.”
“Thank you, Talek.”
“You’re welcome.”
Standing, he made his stiff little bow. Then he turned to face the exit. Kor turned the wheel, and the door to the anteroom slid open once again. Talek walked through it, and Kor shut the door behind him, replacing the bar. She felt a little silly about this ritual, for she was certain that Talek could, if he so desired, use his magical powers to enter the house easily at any time. She appreciated the fact that (as far as she could tell) he had never done so.