“She must be punished!” announced Bariose, his eager hands caressing the lash. “Speak words of apology to your mistress and myself, slave, else shall you feel the kiss of the lash!” All surrounded me, closer and closer, the males with hungry eyes reaching forward to touch me, to bring an agony of desire upon me, and I could not avoid the caress of their fingers. In misery, I threw myself about, moaning from their efforts, and then but one stood before me, a lash in his hand, his fingers hard upon my breast. “You will be mine,” said Nolthis, his fingers tightening to give me pain. “I will use you and use you, and then I will lash you till you obey me. You are mine to do with as I wish.”
“No!” I cried, bending in the chains with the pain so cruelly given. My warriors were gone, and I alone was left among the enemies of Hosta. I writhed and again cried, “No!” and then there was a form behind Nolthis, a form in tan leathers and silver belt, and I cried, “Ceralt!” as the form reached a hand toward Nolthis. Nolthis snarled and whirled toward the form, his hand going to his dagger, and then was I taken by the shoulders and shaken, and my eyes beheld the small wooden dwelling in the village of my capture. Tarla bent to me with great concern, her large eyes troubled, her hands yet upon my shoulders, and easily did I feel the moisture upon my brow and the shakiness in my limbs. My breath came rapidly and with much effort, and I found I must blink before the mists of sleep retreated in entirety.
“Jalav, you cried out!” said Tarla, removing her hands from my shoulders so that she might wring them. “You called so desperately for the High Rider that surely did I think you in true jeopardy! Do you wish me to fetch him?”
“No,” said I, my voice no more than a croak, memory returning of that which had disturbed me. “It was no more than a dream, sent by one other than Mida. The males have gone?”
“Indeed,” she nodded. “Hind ago. You slept soundly when I returned, therefore I took care not to disturb you. Your meal is nearly done, and I shall shortly bring it to you.”
The female Tarla rose from where she had knelt beside me, and returned to the fire where meat and vegetables awaited her attention. Beyond the dwelling’s windows was full darkness, showing that another fey had gone to naught. Wearily, I turned to my belly in the furs, little refreshed by the sleep I had had. Evil dreams and presentiments dogged me in the places of males, as evil as the actions of males themselves. In truth, I knew I had cried out for Ceralt, yet I knew not why I had done so. Ceralt was male, no different from the rest, and foolish indeed would I be to think him otherwise. Often had he betrayed me, often had he brought me pain, and naught did he wish from me save use. My cheek to the furs, I closed my eyes, attempting to ease the throb which had returned to my wounds.
Shortly indeed did Tarla fetch my provender, a mixture of vellin meat, green gemild, fellin tubers, and other, unfamiliar vegetables. All had been cooked as one, a thin broth containing it, and little stomach had I for the concoction. I raised myself to sitting, grimacing inwardly, and proceeded to eat no more than half of that which had been given me. Tarla showed dismay that I would not use the shallow-bowled wooden stick with which to feed, yet I felt little concern over her dismay. To touch with one’s fingers that which Mida provides is no offense, a thing which city folk seemed not to know. I fed as I wished upon that which I wished, and said no word on the matter. Again Tarla showed dismay when I returned the wooden pot to her, still partly filled with that which she had prepared. Earnestly she attempted to wheedle my acceptance of the balance, and desisted at last only when I took my attention from her to examine the bare room in which I lay. No more than the blaze of the fire lit its dimensions, shadows throwing themselves about the walls with its movement, and truly did I dislike the chill feel to the air and the odor of mustiness. Sooner would I have been without, in the cold and dark, than remain the longer in such a place, yet those about me would not see me freed. Anger stirred within me, anger that others ever sought to pen a Hosta, though Hosta had never sought to keep others beneath their sway. Perhaps, when all were freed of male restrictions, the Hosta might add the bondage of these others to the vengeance that was theirs. Such would indeed be fitting.
The door to the darkness opened, admitting Lialt and Ceralt, who came within with naught save silence about them. Little did I need the sight of the cloth packet to know their purpose, yet struggle availed naught. Ceralt held me as Lialt mixed the potion, and again the two males saw the flat, chalky liquid within me. Grimly, with teeth and fists clenched, I attempted to deny the potion, yet denial was not possible. Within reckid, the males had had their way, and deep, dreamless sleep was once again mine.
6
The coverings of a slave—and a taste of freedom
The new fey was already begun when next I wakened, finding Tarla prepared with falum for me. Much angered was I by the actions of the males, so angered that I spoke no word to Tarla lest I give to her the venom which was others’. The young female took no note of my silence, instead chattering away upon all matters that took her mind and tongue. Little heed did I pay the chattering, thinking only of the time my wounds might heal sufficiently to allow my departure. The light of Mida would guide me south once more, and much pleasure would I feel when I stood upon the banks of the Dennin. There, the light of the fey was full and strong, warm and invigorating, not thin and cold as that in the lands of males.
Little of note occurred that fey, nor were matters improved upon by the passage of two feyd further. Tarla fluttered about constantly, seeing to the dwelling and to the cooking of meals, yet once had she gone so far as to chide me for refusing the greater part of her offerings. No word did I speak upon the matter, yet when her gaze met mine her chiding ceased, and her eyes grew large and frightened. Quickly, then, did she scurry from my sight, for not for naught was Jalav war leader of the Hosta. Many were the warriors who had thought to stand against me and win for themselves the second silver ring of war leader, yet few were those who had retained their resolve beneath my gaze. A war leader who must face constant challenge is not a good war leader, for it is her place to see that her warriors do not spend themselves uselessly against her sword. Many were the Hosta who had wished to be war leader, yet few were the number who had stood before Jalav with drawn sword. Willingly had I faced those who truly would not be swayed from their purpose, yet the others I had saved for battle with the enemy. Such was the way of a proper war leader, and such had been the way of Jalav.
Lialt, usually in the company of Ceralt, came many times to add to my anger and annoyance. They, themselves, were in good humor, and neither felt concern over the fury they bred in me. The first fey, Lialt insisted upon examining my wounds, using Ceralt’s aid when I refused his wishes. Much pleased was the male with the progress of my healing, yet did he find himself less pleased when the following fey showed him that I had removed all of the cloth bindings from my body. Much did he rage and storm about, sending Tarla to shiver in a far corner in fear of his anger, yet I merely lay myself back in the furs, pleased at the absence of the cloth. Ceralt had not accompanied him that fey, and from his raging, I surmised that the High Rider had left the village upon some matter, yet I cared not that the male would be informed upon his return. I had determined that I would do as my warrior Fayan had once done with the male Nidisar, and refuse to acknowledge the existence of the male Ceralt. Perhaps then the male, in disgust, would seek another to torment, and leave Jalav to go her own way.