“You can make children. Strong sorcerers mend from bad hurts. You like oali?”
Too surprised for the change of subject, Rielle could not answer. I’ve healed naturally? Or did I fix myself that day by the garbage heap, all those years ago? Have I been able to have children all this time? Relief was followed by unexpected anxiety. The prospect of bearing and raising children sudden loomed over her, with all its risks and responsibility. Will the Travellers expect me to have children straight away, like Baluka’s sister has?
Ulma said something to Ankari and the pair laughed.
“Learn magic first,” Ankari said, patting Rielle’s arm. “Better to bear children when you can keep them safe.”
Oliti pressed another hot mug into Rielle’s hands. Savouring the warmth and spice, Rielle slowly relaxed, listening but not minding that she only half understood the women’s chatter, which moved on to trade and cooking. Gazing at the dolls, Rielle suddenly realised they, or at least the shape of their faces, were modelled on Ulma.
“You like?” Ulma asked, noticing the direction of Rielle’s attention.
“Yes,” Rielle replied.
“My daughter make them,” she said, looking at Oliti.
“They are beautiful.”
The old woman nodded. “Thank you.”
Ulma grinned, looking proud. She looked at Oliti and said something Rielle did not understand.
When they left, Rielle was surprised to find it dark outside, with a chill in the air. Fires had been lit over on the plateau and people had emerged from canopies to sit around them. She could hear music and the steady rumble of drums. The oali in her stomach kept her warm as she and Ankari walked back. She considered the conversation with the healer. Some of it had been very odd. Particularly the way Ulma had said her daughter had made the dolls, and the old woman had thanked her. Most likely she had mixed up the words for “daughter” and “grandmother”.
“Mother!” a voice called.
They had reached the plateau. A figure broke from the crowd, silhouetted against a fire as it approached. I think I would recognise Baluka’s shadow anywhere now, Rielle mused. There was a tension in him, she noted. Did he know where she and Ankari had been, and why?
“Rielle,” he said as he neared. His voice had the tone of someone delivering bad news, not expecting it.
“What is it?” Ankari replied.
“Some of the leaders have objected to… to Rielle joining us. They don’t want to risk the Raen’s anger. They want to question her before they agree to… to…”
Ankari drew in a sharp breath. “Ah,” was all she said.
“But…” Rielle began, then let the rest of the words dissolve off her tongue unheard. But the Raen is not the same person as the Angel. She hadn’t tried harder to convince Lejikh’s family of this because it didn’t matter. But now it did. She had to try again. And convince these leaders as well, who had no reason to trust her. If she even got the chance…
“They want to talk to Rielle,” Baluka added. “Tomorrow.” He moved to her side and hooked his arm around hers. His muscles were too rigid for it to be comforting, but she appreciated the gesture. “I’m sorry,” he told her, but his voice vibrated more with anger than apology. “With the Raen gone, some of them lost trade. Now the law against travel means only Travellers can trade again, so they fear to lose the deal with him.”
“Then they only need to know they do not need to fear,” she told him. “If I tell you what I know, you can tell me how to say it.”
He looked at her and nodded. “Yes. We need to be ready. But we will talk tomorrow.” His face relaxed into a smile. “Tonight there will be feasting, singing and dancing!”
CHAPTER 14
Rielle absently rubbed the sore muscles of her calves as Baluka considered her suggestion, then tucked her feet back into the shade of the small canopy he’d erected for them a few hundred paces away from Lejikh’s wagon. Though not particularly warm, the sunlight here could burn the skin quickly, and Ankari had warned her to keep to the shade whenever possible.
Though the suns were high, most of the Travellers were still asleep. Since night held no risk of skinburn, they preferred to sleep through most of the day and gather at night. Most of the gathering involved music, song and dance, spaced between meals and drinking, and recovering from meals and drinking.
Baluka had kept his promise to teach her some of the Traveller dances. She picked them up quickly and enjoyed their boisterous energy. Half were for couples, the rest ranged from more complicated traditional turns involving several couples swapping partners, to individuals and groups of women or men in more skilled acrobatic performances.