Ydnas: The Girl of the Prophecies Page 7
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“Trust in a relationship is measured by
the ability to keep secrets from one another.”
(from The Book of Irony)
After her talk with Talek, Kor returned to the kitchen, and said, “I need to pray about something. Would you continue without me a little longer?”
“Of course,” said Lessie, noting but not commenting on Kor’s distraught appearance. Lessie was a slight girl of about 16, with freckled light green skin, dark green hair, and olive eyes.
Kor retired to her small private room, which contained nothing outside of its closets and cupboards except for a slightly larger version of the statue that Ydnas had seen. Removing a bedroll from a cupboard, Kor placed it on the floor and sat cross-legged upon it. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, exhaling very slowly and completely, to help herself relax.
It was difficult to do. She felt fear, anger, and frustration. Part of her wanted to say to the goddess, “How could you have let this happen?” But another part of her did not want to address the Goddess in such a spirit. ‘But of course,’ thought yet a third part of her, ‘The Goddess knows how I feel, whether I say so or not.’ Finally, something further occurred to her: she said, “Goddess, Isiliar, I have just discovered that my faith isn’t as deep as it should be. I’m sorry. Please forgive me, and do whatever you think best, as of course you always do.” She sat quietly for awhile, waiting for a response, but none came. At first, Kor was saddened and frustrated by this, but suddenly she saw it in a different way, and smiled. Then she got painfully to her feet (sitting had made her legs stiff), returned the bedroll to its shelf, and went to the kitchen.
Nobody asked, but Kor felt an unspoken question hanging in the air, and answered it: “My prayer went well,” she said. “The Goddess must trust me, for she did not feel that it was necessary to say anything.” Then, sensing another question, she continued, “Talek told me something that I need to think over carefully before talking about it with you. He thinks I should keep it a secret for the time being. I don’t like keeping secrets from you, but in this case he may have a point. If I tell you, then you all might have to keep a secret. If it comes to look like something you clearly need to know I will tell you, just as soon as I can!”
Everyone seemed to acquiesce, but there was still a bit of nervousness in the room, so Kor felt that she must say still more. “My dearly beloved children, I have always told you that our life is uncertain. Who knows where we will be tomorrow? But we’ve had lots of love and happiness here, and that’s more than most people in this part of the city can say. Think of that, and remember: no one can ever take it away from you. And since we have won through so many times before, I think we will do it again. And as I always say, the present time is the most precious of all, so let’s make the most of it!” Then she turned, and began to energetically resume work on supper.
Then Lessie spoke up. Looking at Kor with shining eyes, she said, in the peculiar dialect she always used, “Kor, long ago would I have been dead, if not for you. How long any of us will live, none of us can say. Not even the most important thing, it is. Always your best, I know you have done, and will do always, to help us. Yes, afraid I was, when how upset you were I saw, after to Talek you spoke. No more anxious does it make me feel, though, to know that from me, a secret you are keeping. You, I trust completely. No fear have I, that at our expense, plots you are brewing! You to know I just want, that when what to do you do decide, if to help there anything is, that I can do, what it is just tell me, and do it I will, with a heart loving, trusting, and happy!” A murmur of agreement arose from the others.
“Oh, Darling Lessie!” said Kor, embracing her, smiling and teary-eyed at once, “I’ll let you know soon, I promise! But what I want to do right now,” she went on, turning toward the stove, “is go on making supper!” There was a bit of laughter, and Kor turned back with a smile, saying: “I always love to hear you laugh, and yes, what I just said was funny, but it was serious, too! One of the things that has made me happiest about this place is that work is not drudgery here. And look at this bread!” As she spoke, she opened the oven, and lifted up one of the warm and fragrant loaves that had just been made. “You know, my Dearies, in a way you’re all very lucky. You’ve all held hands with death, some of you more than once, you’ve all been hungry and cold and insulted and beaten and helpless, and so you know the true value of life. You know what is real. Because you’ve been hungry, you know the value of bread, and because you’re all poor, you know the worth of all those wonderful, simple things, that are sometimes so hard to provide! You get more pleasure from one fresh apple than a rich man does from a basket of jewels. Well, today we’ve won, my Dearies! We’ve evaded the craziness and stupidity of the world, for we’ve made bread, and we’ve done it without hurting or tricking anyone! And we’re well on our way to having soup, too!”
There was more laughter, and the cooks brandished their implements and shouted, “Victory is ours!”