I stretched out flat upon the cloth, feeling the mists completely gone, and then shivered with memory of a previous awakening. Ceralt had felt the need to torture me yet further, for he had placed me upon the odd platform—called bed—where I might awaken with great fear. I had awakened with fear, yet had I been able to move quickly to the cloth before the fire, and had not cried out with the fear. I was pleased with this, pleased that Ceralt had not caused me to voice my fear, and pleased that I had been able to move to the cloth. My sleeping leather was long behind me, but the soft, yellow cloth was an adequate substitute.
I sat up by the fire, and wondered briefly as to the future of the Hosta. That Mida was displeased with her warriors was apparent; still I had no way of knowing whether her displeasure might in some manner be assuaged. Were it possible to do so, the Hosta might once again ride free, for never would the city males hold us against the will of Mida. I thought again upon the Crystals, and felt that perhaps it might in some way be possible to free them of the golden air. In truth, I wished to have nothing further to do with the Crystals, yet was I war leader of the Hosta, and bound to secure the freedom of my warriors, if that was possible. Should the opportunity arise, I would again attempt to free the Crystals, and put all memory of the first attempt from my mind. My hand quivered briefly, a thing which brought anger, and the anger did well to steady my hand. Anger was a more fitting emotion for a warrior, and Jalav was a warrior.
I then rose to my feet and searched for my clan covering; it was nowhere to be seen. It had been gone upon my awakening on the platform, but I had still been too deep within the mists to be concerned. Now I felt annoyance at its disappearance, and my hand raised to my life sign as I looked about the room, then did a sudden terror seize me, for my hand did not come upon my life sign! Quickly I stared down to where it should lie, but only my breasts and futilely grasping hand did I see! My life sign was gone, leather thong and wood alike, and I knew not where it had gone!
Frantically did I tear the room apart, throwing things about in haste and misery. My life sign had never before been far from me, and my soul quivered with a fear which my mind echoed. How was I to find the Realm of Mida, should my soul be bereft of life sign? How was I to face an enemy sword, with my life sign not about my neck? What if I should now be called, and I unprotected by my life sign? A sob of hopelessness escaped from me, for my life sign did not seem within the room, and I knew not where it could be.
Then I recalled the battle at the gates, and thought, perhaps, that the leather might have parted there. The strip, though sound, had not been new, and not beyond thought was it that my life sign lay there. I determined to go immediately, and hurried to the door, fearing that it would be barred, yet did it swing wide at the touch of my hand. With much relief, I departed from the room, and quickly descended the steps. The entrance of the dwelling was before me, yet just as I reached it, the female Lodda was also before me.
“Has dread Sigurr taken your wits, girl?” she demanded, standing herself before the entrance. “You cannot prance about in only a smile of welcome! Return to your room, and I shall fetch clothing for you!”
I then recalled my lack of clan colors, and paused in annoyance. “I shall await my clan covering here,” said I in decision. “Fetch it quickly, for there is something I must do.”
“Fetch it quickly, indeed!” said this. Lodda, her fists upon her hips in annoyance. Although she stood half a head below me, something about her suggested size. In, truth, she was larger than other city females I had seen, and she seemed well aware of it. “You are not to order me about in such a manner, girl,” said she, “for it is I who am here to instruct you! That bit of cloth shall no longer be worn by you, for it is extremely improper to appear so! Return to your room, and I shall bring a proper gown!”
Much angered did the female seem, with little reason for her anger; however, I did not lack reasons for the anger I felt. “The Hosta clan colors may be taken from a warrior’s still body,” said I quite coldly, “and in no other way! I shall see my clan covering returned—and in good order!—else shall I see the manner in which city slavewomen bear their pain! Jalav shall not speak again upon the matter.”
Again her mouth had begun to open in protest, but I wished to hear no further of her prattling. Impatiently, I brushed her from my path and approached the entrance; however I was not to push without. Two arms encircled me from behind—Ceralt’s. A chuckle came from him as I struggled, turning to gasp as my heel struck his ankle.
“None of that, wench!” said he quite sharply, and his arms tightened more closely about me. “Where do you think to go this moment, bare as a babe in the moment of birth?”
“I go where I must!” said I to the male. “Release me immediately!”
“I fear Jalav seeks another hiding,” said he, moving me from the entrance. “You may speak to me of your desperate errand, else you may return to your room for further punishment. Do you wish to speak?”
His arms loosened, and I turned to him to again demand release, yet the words were lost as my mouth gaped, and my eyes widened in disbelief. About his neck, upon its leather, hung my life sign, whole as it had been, and entirely unlost! Great joy filled me then, and relief as well, and I raised my hand to the guardian of my soul, saying, “Mida be praised! I had thought it gone! Give it here, hunter.”
“I think not,” said Ceralt, his hand quickly upon mine, disallowing the touch of my life sign. “It was explained to me, by a fellow not far from your camp, that Midanna may not stray from the presence of their life signs. Should you wish to be close to your life sign, Jalav, you must keep well within sight of me, for with me shall your life sign remain.”
I could only shake my head at such a thought, and stare wide-eyed at Ceralt. Surely the hunter jested, for had it not been he who had returned my life sign to me when I had thought my life forfeit to him? Would he now, in the midst of my enemies, withhold the protection of my soul?
“Surely, you jest,” said I rather shakily, overly aware of his hand upon mine. “The life sign is mine, and I would have it returned.”
“I shall be pleased to do so,” said he, most soberly. “Should I receive in its stead your word that you shall not seek escape, the bit of wood may be returned upon the instant.”
Again I stared for how was I to give my word in such a manner? I was Hosta, and Hosta may not remain captive to males!
“Perhaps you would care to consider the matter,” said Ceralt, an oily smoothness to his tone. “You may join my meal the while, and think about which you would rather do without—your life sign or your word. Come with me.”
He then urged me toward one of several doors in the area, and I, quite woodenly, accompanied him. The female Lodda stood aside indignantly, though I had little care for the city female. My life sign lay about Ceralt’s neck, to be returned to me only should I give my word that I would not seek escape, yet to give such a word was impossible! Oh, Mida! Have you abandoned your warrior entirely? Is her soul to be lost through your anger? Such questions did I address to Mida, yet unanswered were they fated to be.
The room to which Ceralt led me contained nothing but red silks upon the walls, a large, square platform, and two seats before the platform, one at the left side of the square, one at its front. The seats, too, were of red silk, and Ceralt led me to that which stood before the square, himself taking the seat to the left. The platform bore pots and metal squares, each containing something to be eaten, yet had I lost all interest in such things. My life sign lay clear to my eye, yet how was I to reclaim it?