“Very well,” said Galiose briskly in acknowledgment. “When is this meeting to be held, and where?”
“Surely not before the new light,” said Aysayn, again looking to me with raised brows. “We must each of us choose those who will meet after agreeing upon their number, and then must we find or make sufficient blunted weapons for their use. The place may be chosen when these other matters are seen to.”
“My warriors have given training to certain of the city males,” said I, thoughtfully swirling the daru remaining in the cup I held. “They, perhaps, found it necessary to employ shielded weapons, for city males have not proven themselves able to stand against Midanna in any other way. I will inquire among my war leaders, and perhaps in such a manner will the number to face one another be decided on.”
“By the number of weapons available,” said Galiose with a nod. Briefly did he look upon me with annoyance, and then he turned to Aysayn. “As there is a good deal of time remaining before the meeting,” said he, “we may as well begin the inspection. You have told her that she is to accompany and guide us?”
“I have the desire neither to accompany nor guide you,” I informed the fool of a male, in no manner willing to remain in the presence of Mehrayn and Ceralt. “Should it be your intention to see this dwelling, you may wander about as you will; perhaps fortune may then smile upon us, and you will become irretrievably lost. Now may you all take your leave, for I have war leaders to meet with and a battle to prepare for. Perhaps, Aysayn, you would care to bring a portion of your legions within the walls of this city, so that those of my warriors here may grow to know them as brother warriors. In battle, one should know those who stand at her back. ”
“An excellent thought,” said Aysayn at once, likely to cover the black look sent to me by Galiose. “Mehrayn will choose those he wishes within the city, and once chosen we may speak of a time for their entry. You will see to their billeting?”
“We will house them here, in this dwelling,” said I, turning to replace my cup upon the board. “There is surely ample space for all, yet should there be . . . .”
“You cannot refuse,” said Galiose from behind me, caring naught for the words of mine he trod upon, his voice somewhat lowered. “So long as those two are able to attempt to take your attention, they will not attempt other things with each other. You are the sole distraction currently able to hold them, no matter my previous words upon the point.”
The male attempted to force my agreement with the sternness of his gaze, yet was I of a different mind than he. To allow the two males their attempts was to encourage their belief that I would choose between them, a thing I most certainly would not do. To say again I would not held little meaning; far better to take myself from their company, and allow actions to stand in place of words.
“There are matters of battle preparation I must be about,” I said, looking at Galiose with resolve. “Find one to distract you males who has interest in them.”
The male clearly meant to speak further, yet did I turn and walk from him before he might do so. My feelings toward the goddess and her aims continued to twist me about, therefore was I nearly to the door of my sleeping chamber before a hand upon my arm told me of one who had followed and now sought to halt me.
“A moment, wench,” said Chaldrin very softly, looking down upon me with an odd-seeming gaze. “S’Heernoh has told me of what the one called Galiose intended, yet does it appear that you have refused him. Is this so?”
“Indeed I have refused him,” I agreed with a nod, wondering that he would question me upon the matter. “We all of us stand about engaged in foolishness, and should Galiose be allowed his will, the arrival of the strangers will find us still engaged so. There must be one among us who sees the thing done otherwise.”
“But the strangers have not yet appeared,” said Chaldrin, “nor may they do so for kalod yet. Are we to spend kalod doing naught save anticipating their appearance?”
“Such is foolishness,” I retorted with a sound of scorn, sending him a glance of impatience. “For what reason are we gathered here, if not to meet and face the strangers? Did Mida not speak of this as the place they would appear? The time will not be kalod, Chaldrin, of this am I certain.”
“Perhaps there is more hope than certainty in your convictions, girl,” said he softly, a hint of sadness in his voice. “I, too, had hoped— You are truly unable to decide between them, is this not so?”
His great hand came to smooth my hair then, seeking, through the gentleness of the gesture, to lend strength where it was lacking. There was little doubt I had need of strength just then, but I found it within myself.
“I have no need to decide between them,” said I to the broad, bare-chested man before my eyes. “A war leader need not take notice of those males who petition for her attention, for she is Midanna, not city slave-woman. When the matter of the strangers has been seen to, then will there be ample time to consider other things.”
“Should we all of us survive,” said Chaldrin. “Should they appear before we are all too infirm with age to cause harm to any save ourselves. Are you aware of the fact that during this inspection Galiose proposes, you will have both Mehrayn and Ceralt before you as you have not previously had? And that they also will not face one another? You need to see them both together, Jalav, to weigh the words and actions of one against the other, before you know which one you wish. Should the wait for the strangers truly become kalod, would they not pass more easily with a man by your side?”
I moved an additional step backward to lean upon the silk-covered wall with my shoulders, looking down upon the blue floor cloth we stood on. I attempted to keep my temper in hand, for Chaldrin was truly a brother to me, one who believed he moved in the manner which was best for his sister. Much like my experiences in leading war leaders was this dealing with Chaldrin, for I had learned that to command war leaders was to be at times commanded by them. Though Chaldrin followed me, he, too, at times sought to command me to the path he considered best, an annoyance I found difficult to bear just then.
“It has unfortunately become the will of the gods that I have many males by my side,” said I at last, raising my head to regard the one who gazed upon me so earnestly. Those others in the chamber paid our soft exchange no mind, they being then engaged themselves in converse of their own. “I have learned much in the time of my journeying for Mida, yet has one learning stood itself far above the others: the use of males is pleasant, their constant company a hindrance and annoyance. The two you spoke of will not face one another, for naught would be gained by the doing, a fact simple enough to be comprehended even by males. I have determined to grant neither of them my notice, and shall not.”
“No matter the amount of time you have spent among men, you continue to remain the innocent,” said Chaldrin with a growl. “Ceralt, Telion says, has thought of little else these many hands of feyd other than recovering the woman he wishes for his own. Mehrayn, a man of great determination, will not allow another to claim the wench who has become his chosen. Have you not spoken to me of the manner in which Ceralt held you captive? Was I not able to see with my own eyes the manner in which Mehrayn took you to serve him? Think you your lack of notice of them shall keep them from considering the same again?”