Zorca-thieves

Jilian awoke as something tickled her nose. She brushed irritatedly at the fly, but her hand struck something hard. She opened her eyes and tried to jump up, but a foot, planted on her belly, hindered her.

"Take it easy, gal. Not so quick."

With a broad grin, the fellow attached to the foot on her belly returned an arrow to his quiver. With its feathered end he had tickled Jilian's nose.

A quick look to all sides told Jilian it was pointless to attempt flight at the moment. Variana was held fast by another audacious-looking fellow, while two others held Greywind by the horn. All four men were apim.

Slowly the man removed his foot from her stomach. Jilian sat up.

"So, now please tell us what two such pretty Shishis as yourself could be seeking here all alone!"

Vexed, Jilian stood up. She was irritated not at the condescending attitude, but that she had allowed herself to be tricked.

"I am on the way to Delphond. Along the way I saved this girl here from a few masichieri, who had killed her family and set fire to her house. And who are you?" she asked, challenging. "Still more thieving rubbish?"

"Who is the thief here, will soon be revealed," sneered the spokesman for the gang, who also appeared to be the leader. "How did you get this zorca? Where did you steal it?" His voice sharpened. "This zorca belongs to the Majestrix personally. Thus it appears that the thief here is you."

"No, Onker." Now Jilian was really irritated. I am no thief. The Empress Delia is my friend and gave me Greywind to aid my journey. If you know her and her zorcas so well, then you should know that I am a friend of the Empress. But I have never seen you anywhere near her."

"You would not have, since I am working out here for the Empress and her husband the Emperor. I am Filbarrka na Filbarrka, son of the elder Filbarrka na Filbarrka, who is now a king in Balintol. I breed the imperial family's zorcas. And who are you? Will you now disclose your name?"

"I am Jilian, also called Sweettooth, Filbarrka na Filbarrka. I have heard of you. I assure you, I am a good friend of the Majestrix Delia, her husband, and the princess Dayra. Proof I cannot give you, but I give you my word on it.

Still Filbarrka looked at her suspisciously. "Well, then I will believe you."

"Let the girl loose," he shouted to the man holding Variana. "They appear not to be thieves."

After the other men and Variana had been introduced to each other, Filbarrka again made his way to Jilian.

"What do you seek in Delphond? It is dangerous nowadays to ride alone. We were just trailing a band of masichieri, when we found your camp. Perhaps it was they who burnt down Variana's house."

"Nine masichieri, four Rapas, a Chulik with broken tusks, a one-eared Fristle, and three apim?" asked Jilian.

"Exactly those we seek. They wander through this area killing and plundering. We will bring an end to their activities." Filbarrka's voice trembled with wrath.

"Trouble yourself no more about them," Jilian answered coolly. "They will do nothing any more."

"They are dead?"

"Yes, Jilian took care of all of them," Variana interjected.

"Alone?" Filbarrka look at Jilian incredulously. "Are you a Jikai Vuvushi?"

"Not really, not quite alone. Variana backed me up," Jilian volunteered modestly.

"I handled only one. Jilian saved me," Variana cried excitedly.

Jilian flashed Variana a stern look. "That will do, girl!"

Variana, offended, fell silent.

"You are a brave woman, Jilian Sweettooth." Filbarrka's gaze rested wonderingly on Jilian. "You have done us a favor by removing these evil fellows. Can we do something for you? You have only one zorca. We have spare mounts and can accompany you to Delphond."

"That will not be necessary, Filbarrka. But if you and your people would accompany us as far as Dogansmot, I would be most obliged to you. In Delphona I hope to find a ship to take me to Pandahem."

"We will gladly accompany you as far as Dogansmot, but what in the world drives you in these troubled times to Pandahem?" asked Filbarrka, aghast.

"At present, that concerns only me. I have a personal matter to attend to there," Jilian answered curtly.

"She wants to go to Mursham, Koter Filbarrka," Variana cried excitedly. "Change her mind. It's much too dangerous!"

"Kindly be silent, Variana!" Now Jilian was genuinely angry. "That is entirely my own business." Her eyes flashed and her breast trembled with emotion.

"Calm, Kotera Jilian. You have important reasons, to place yourselves in such danger, even if you choose not to name them. But why do you make such a journey alone? Do you have no friends to accompany you?" Filbarrka's dark voice was soothing to Jilian.

"No, Filbarrka, what I have to take care of there is my personal problem. I therefore shall not bring anyone else into danger. And now I would speak of it no more. Let us eat together, before we set out. The dawn is already long past."

Abruptly Jilian turned around and got the nigh-extinguished fire going again. After they had eaten together, she mounted her zorca and rode southwards towards Dogansmot.

Filbarrka had assigned a pretty brown zorca with a petite horn to Variana. During the ride Variana steered this next to Greywind and looked apologetically at Jilian.

"It pains me that I was so impudent, Jilian. I did not know it would upset you so for me to speak about it."

"You have much yet to learn, Variana. But learn you will with the Sisters of the Rose."

The blue mountains now slowly gave way and soon the Plain of Zorcas also lay behind them. After a day's ride they came to the border of the province of Thadelm. Here the landscape became gentle and lovelier. The ride proceeded smoothly and without further incident. Although Filbarrka's men were rugged wanderers, they treated Jilian and Variana with great courtesy. They spent most nights under the open sky and occasionally hunted game for a break from their dried provisions. Water was supplied by small brooks and streams, which traversed the landscape and made it fruitful. Seldom were human figures seen. At the end of another day they reached Dogansmot on the border of the province of Vond. This small border town was surrounded by high walls to protect it from assault. A large hole next to the city gate indicated, however, that these had been of little use. An attack by powerful varters had rent open this gap. Slowly they rode into the city.

"I know a small branch of the Sisters of the Rose in this vicinity," said Jilian.

"We will take you there and then start on the way home," answered Filbarrka.

"You will not spend the night here?"

"No, it is still bright and we can continue to ride until She of the Veils sets."

Meanwhile they had arrived in front of a two-story house roofed with red tiles.

"Here we are. Koter Filbarrka, I thank you for your company and your protection. It was a pleasure riding with you. I hope we meet again some day." Jilian and Variana dismounted from their zorcas. One of Filbarrka's men took the zorca ridden by Variana by the reins.

"If you are not hacked into pieces in Menaham, why not?" Filbarrka grinned broadly as he turned his zorca. "Remberee, Jilian! Remberee, Variana!"

"Remberee, Filbarrka!"

Jilian and Variana watched the men ride away for a few moments, then knocked on the door of the house. An old woman opened it.

"Llahal, Koteras. How may I help you?"

"I am Jilian Sweettooth, a Sister of the Rose. I request lodging for the night for me and my companion."

"A Sister of the Rose is always welcome. Come in; someone will look after your zorca. Does your companion also belong?"

"No, but I wish to recommend her to the Mistress of this house, that she be sent to Lancival. This is Variana and she wants to become a Sister of the Rose."

"I am Ros the Door. Come in. I will take you directly to the Mistress."

"Oh, I know another Ros, but she calls herself the Claw."

"When I was still young, I did not like fighting with the Claw. I always drew my sword. Now that I am grown old, my sharpest weapon is my tongue." A smile played over her face, wrinkled with age. "Beware of it."

Both women were brought straight to the chamber of the Mistress of the house. While taking a sumptuous repast, Jilian and Variana recounted, what had happened to the girl and that she wanted now to join the Sisters of the Rose. The Mistress directed many searching questions at Variana. Finally she promised Variana to send her to Lancival for training. Then the two women rose and went to their assigned quarters.

"Now, Variana, this is your last free night. Starting tomorrow you must submit to the will of others for a long time."

"Jilian, if only I can manage to become such a Sister of the Rose like you, then I can bear it."

"You should seek a model other than myself. You still know me little. What do you really know about me? The Empress Delia or Sosie na Vendelheim are better models on the whole."

"It was not they who saved me, but you," said Variana, defiantly holding to her opinion.

"All right, then, as you would have it," sighed Jilian and crawled under her blanket. "Tomorrow morning I ride on if it is clear. When I return to Lancival, then I will see what has been made out of you."

"I wish you would come with me rather than first travel to the bloody Menaham. Where is this Lancival, actually? I have never heard of it before."

Jilian laughed gently. "Why should you have? Only to the Sisters of the Rose is it known where Lancival lies. No one else should learn of it. You will learn it soon enough."

With these words she shut her eyes and fell instantly into a deep sleep, peaceful with the knowledge that she was well safeguarded in a house of the Sisters of the Rose. Variana by contrast tossed and turned for awhile. Excited visions of the future provoked her as much as shadows of the past.

The next morning, shortly after the rising of Zim, the red sun of Kregen, Jilian left Dogansmot. The parting with Variana was short but heartfelt. Now she rode, cheerfully humming to herself, through the lovely Vallian landscape and enjoyed the fresh sweet fragrant Kregish air. She sang a song of the canticles of the rose city, which was also well favored by the Sisters of the Rose. She had often sung this special song with other Sisters of the Rose to welcome the suns. It was full of joy and a little impudent.

"Come, let us make Zim drunk and Genodras bewitched. Oh, yes!
With the flute and the lyre, good morning, Suns, Lahal!
The suns laugh and climb down on the roof.
They dance to the flute on the steps and begin:
'Red for the roses and green for the children,
and at the feet of Dee-Sheon an image of Eos-Bakchi.'"

"Come, let us make the suns drunk,
Let us bewitch the friends and comrades. Oh, yes!
On the steps and in our hearts, good morning, suns, Lahal!
The suns laugh and climb down on the roof.
They dance to the flute on the steps and begin:
'Red for the roses and green for the children,
and at the feet of Dee-Sheon the face of Eos-Bakchi.'"

Jilian enjoyed the ride all alone through Vallia. She loved solitude. And she was certain: once she had taken revenge on Kov Colun Mogper, she would again be free to devote herself to the Sisters of the Rose and Vallia.