The Heartstone (26 page)

“Thank you.” Ariana said. Geneth was silent, overwhelmed.

“I didn’t think we were going to get out of this alive. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m sorry. But I was ashamed.”

“Of being an orphan?” Ariana said.

“I am baseborn. My parents weren’t wedded.” Geneth said.

“They would have if they could have.” Ariana said.

“You are the Stonebearer. I thought if you knew the truth, you wouldn’t let me come with you.”

“Geneth, we’re friends. Never be afraid to tell me anything. Should we eat first or sleep?”

“Sleep.” Geneth said.

They hugged. Then opened the panels and settled into the quilted cocoons. A gentle chime woke Ariana. Groggily she sat up and stretched. This had been the first real sleep she’d had in days. Fear and thirst had kept her from sleeping since they crossed the river. Geneth slid out of her alcove. She poured two glasses of water and sliced some fruit. She seemed fully recovered from her sunstroke.

“Are you feeling OK?” Ariana asked.

“I feel fine. The bath and salve fixed everything. Here.” Geneth handed her some fruit. Ariana ate greedily. The bath had replenished some of her dehydration but the water and fruit restored her fully. There was a tap on the door. Lorena walked in.

“I brought you clothing for the celebration, also some things for everyday. Your other clothes will be returned to you tomorrow once they are cleaned. But please let me offer you these as a gift.” Lorena said.

“I am an initiate of the Goddess Luna. It is not seemly for me to wear anything other than Her robes.” Geneth said, her light eyes stern and her face stubborn.

Lorena’s face reflected the same determination tempered with wisdom and humor from years of dealing with a temperamental family. “Would you be seen in the dirt of travel before the court? We have no honor treating a family member so.” Lorena said.

“Luna’s robes are worn with pride whatever their state.” Geneth’s soft voice was inflexible.

“Geneth, maybe you should.” Ariana began, but a look from Lorena stopped her.

“I would not force you dear one. Yet think on this child, you are a daughter of the Silveray, as well as Luna. It is no dishonor to wear you family’s clothing. Your goddess Luna surely led you here to reunite with us. Is she not Mother of us all? Is not family her most important trust? So your stubbornness is both insult to family, clan and Luna.”

Geneth’s mouth gaped. Lorena had outflanked her. Resigned but with a rebellious glint in her eyes Geneth picked up her clothes. Ariana turned to her own pile. Satisfied Lorena left. Geneth wore cream silk trousers and shirt with an elaborate silver and white robe that swept the floor. Ariana wore the same, but her robe was plainer.

Once they were dressed the servants braided their hair and brushed the barest trace of color on suddenly dry lips. They were ready. Geneth took Ariana’s hand. Ariana smiled reassuringly. Geneth’s face was worried.

“Keep the Stone hidden,” She warned. “We have to wait until the time is right. I don’t know how they’ll react.” Ariana nodded.

Servants escorted them through the courtyard, out into the commons in the center of the great plateau. Torches blazed under the indigo sunset. There was the soft murmuring of conversation and laughter. The sweet smoke of cooking fires wafted over the plaza.

A huge round table sat in the center. A gilded disk bisected the table into six sections. Each section was a different color, ebony, walnut, red cherry, blond oak, silvery ash, and white birch. Behind each sextant flew a pennant with the coat of arms of each clan. Behind each pennant the clan sat at a series of tables set up like spokes of a great-multicolored wheel.

At the center of the table sat Lyon, his wife Maeve and son Conor flanking him. Beside them sat Tareg dressed elaborately in his formal court robes. Lorena sat next to him in silver satin accented with gray pearls. In the first table behind Tareg were his three surviving sons and their wives. The entire Silveray clan was present. All wore varying shades of gray or silver. The further from the head of the table they sat, the less silver they wore. Each clan/color repeated this seating pattern.

The entire community was there. Looking out at the sea of colors Ariana realized there was no ambivalence here. Everyone knew their place and was allied and involved in a complex hierarchy based on birth and clan.

Two places at the center table beside Tareg and Lorena were open. Ariana and Geneth walked to their seats. The only sound was their slippers padding on the ground. The scrape of Ariana’s chair reverberated like an explosion. There was absolute silence while they sat. Ariana could feel hundreds of eyes boring into her. She wished someone would say something.

Finally, Lyon spoke, “I now declare the company fully met. The feast in honor of our returned kinswoman shall begin.”

Tareg introduced them to the clan chieftains. “Bui, Lord of the Banray and his wife Fianna.” Ban was an old bearded man dressed in white and ivory. His cloak was adorned with alabaster beads and encrusted with pearls. His young blond wife sat next to him in a gauzy white gown. He nodded vaguely and his wife looked at them curiously.

“Caroc, Lord of the Ebonray.” Caroc was a young man; his cloak outlined in jet and made of raven feathers. Two braids drew back from his pale face, tied into the mass of glossy black hair that rippled down to his shoulders. He stared back at them arrogantly.

Next was Aethan, Lord of the Donnray a bearded man dressed in shades of brown. His cloak was decorated with tiger’s eye, opals and delicate wood beads. His face was kindly and his green eyes amused as they inspected him. His wife Kara was a petite woman with a gentle smile.

Then it was Rhys Lord of the Fireray. Rhys was in crimson with rubies adorning his cloak. He swept them a flamboyant bow and a dazzling smile. Although he was tall and handsome, his wife overshadowed him. Caitlin was a redheaded beauty with flashing green eyes. She looked at them with a measuring gaze and a reserved nod.

Liam, Lord of the Fannray was dressed in tawny shades that ranged from buff to fawn. His cloak was embroidered in bronze thread and his wife Niamh was dressed in rose. He and his wife gave them a friendly smile.

Introductions finished, the servants brought out heaping bowls of marinated meats, grilled fish and vegetables. Shallow bowls sat at each place; condiments in smaller bowls orbited the central bowl. Meats and vegetables were put in each bowl. Beside each feaster waited a pile of flat bread. There were no utensils, not even knives.

Lorena caught Ariana’s eye. With minimal movement she picked up a steaming slice of the thin bread. Then with the bread hand she scooped up a reddish paste deftly picked pieces of meat and vegetables from her bowl and put them in the bread. Swiftly she rolled it up and ate. Finished she washed her fingers in the finger bowl to her right. Ariana and Geneth copied her.

The tangy sauce mixed with the vegetables and marinated meat was delicious. They tried every topping and filling combination. Some were so hot they made her face red; some started sweet but turned hot. The edge of her hunger sated Ariana looked around.

Everyone was talking, the women gossiping and men engrossed in discussion. But the sexes weren’t isolated. She saw the careless intimacy of clasped hands, the wife’s shoulder leaning into her husband’s arm possessive arm around the back of a chair. She longed for Jarod. She looked down at her food. The table blurred. Geneth looked at her. “Are you alright?” Ariana tried to smile. “It’s nothing. I was just sad for a moment.”

Fianna was leaning toward Caroc whispering in his ear. He looked annoyed and drew away. Realizing Ariana had seen he grimaced and drank some ale. Fianna pouted away and turned back to her food. When everyone was full the servants cleared the tables. Tables and chairs were pushed to one side. Musicians came out and the dancing began. Two lines formed women in one, men in the other. The music began. The women swayed forward three steps then away from the men. The men then pranced forward and back. The couples met in the center and twirled. The dance grew intricate, pairs leaping high off the ground and swirling in a circle. Ariana and Geneth watched. Laughing couples twirled past. Ariana’s feet tapped.

Suddenly hands grabbed them, sweeping them into the laughing crowd. Lorena whirled past. Ariana was held in Tareg’s arms. Geneth danced with one of her uncles. Ariana figured out the steps. The music and dancing chased away her melancholy. Fleetingly she wondered how Geneth was doing. Here everything was loud and boisterous, far from the contemplative life Geneth was used to.

Geneth whizzed by laughing. Ariana found herself dancing opposite Caroc. The ale and the dancing had mellowed him. He smiled at her. He had deep blue eyes. She thought it unfair that he had such a perfect face.

“Are you enjoying the dancing?” He asked.

“Yes, I love it.” Ariana said.

“Good.” He led her over to the table filled with jugs of wine, ale and fresh water. “So fair one, where are you from? You didn’t just happen to come this way. We’re remote from the rest of the world.”

Ariana murmured agreement into her cup.

“What brings you here?”

“I’m a traveler. Geneth found me by chance and we became companions. She wanted to find her family. I came along.”

“You mentioned Heulwen. Why?”

“I was curious.” Ariana said through suddenly dry lips.

“How did you hear of it?”

“I heard it mentioned, “He looked at her blue eyes intent, she stammered, “I… in a story so I wanted to see it myself. I mean you people no harm.”

“Very well,” he still looked doubtful. “It is my duty as first of the Ebonray to challenge visitors and protect the herd. I mean no disrespect.”

“I understand.”

“Old Tareg is so overjoyed to find his kinswoman he wouldn’t notice if you were a three headed jagga here to defile the sacred herd.” He smiled tightly. Ariana smiled back, warily.

“Whence did you come?”

“I come from a small kingdom in the east.”

“Ah...no wonder you’re quiet, a rebel?”

Ariana stayed quiet.

“Don’t worry. The Black Demon has no friends here.”

She looked surprised. He scoffed at her naiveté. “We’re isolated here not dead. Our bloodlines are much prized; we weed our herds and trade with outlanders. Rumors have reached my riders on their travels. That is why we are so cautious. Plus there are always horse thieves. But we can handle them.” He gestured to his sword .

“There have been disturbing signs and portents. The sages are studying the matter. I want to trust you Lady Ariana. But be warned the sages are returning soon. They will know if you lie.”

He put down his cup, nodded to her and went back to the dancing. Ariana wasn’t thirsty anymore. The torchlight flickered on the dancers and laughing people, the party showed no sign of stopping. Ariana looked for Geneth. She was deep in conversation, Ariana decided not to interrupt her. She made her way through the crowd to Tareg and Lorena and said good night. She needed to get away and think.

C
hapter Fifteen

“Why do the clans live here?” Ariana asked when Lorena came the next morning to give them a tour of the Hall of the Silveray.

“Well child,” Lorena said, “Once the horse clans were simple farmers, scratching a living from the river bank. Blight struck the land. The crops withered. Many starved. Our elders prayed to the gods but there was no answer. The people decided to search for a new life. We traveled for many seasons. Until we reached the great desert, we started across the sands and many died.

But on the seventh day of our journey the god Heul, took pity on us. From the red sands and the swirling wind he created the first horses. Llyr a great golden stallion and his mares the silver lead mare Sua, Lia the white foam, Niv the nightmare, Du seeds and grasses twined in her mane, Ru fire bright and Sha rainbow mare. The mares were all pregnant.

He said, “Do not be afraid. Go with your herd until you find my land. Fiery mountains guard it, live happily and prosper. One thing only I ask, guard my sacred gate until the Seeker comes.” She stopped and looked at them.

“We became partners to the sacred mares. We took their emblems for our own. Each clan has a duty to the tribe. The Sunray rules the clans. The Silveray are weavers and silversmiths. The Banray are lore masters and know the laws. The Ebonray are the guards of the Sunlord and some say skilled in magic. The Donnray heal. The Fireray are scouts. The Fannray are traders and care for the herds.”