Stardancer (Tellaran Series) (22 page)

She hadn’t slept well alone in that big bed. She settled back against the cushions and closed her tired eyes, letting the cool breeze ruffle her hair. She might have to keep up the whole clan leader thing for a long while even if she didn’t live with Aidar any more. 

Wherever he is.

“Off with you!”

She started, her eyes flying open. Her guard Nyat was trying to block a scruffy little boy of about eight whose dark eyes were fixed on her.

The boy dodged one way then the other. Cursing, Nyat reached out just as the boy slipped past him, eluding Laric’s grab to extend a mangled bouquet of flowers out to her. 

“Lady, will you buy?” he asked, his voice high and childish. “Look, orange ones like your hair!”

“Hey!” Kinara exclaimed as he shoved the blooms in her face.

Obviously appalled at this attack on Az’anti dignity, Laric seized the boy by his shoulders to pull him away. He twisted out of Laric’s grasp to throw himself at Kinara. She gave a yelp as he knocked her over onto the grass.

“Pretty flowers, lady!” he cried. “Only ten coins for you!”

Trapped under his squirming, Kinara heard Laric give a curse that no proper maid would ever mutter in the presence of a
Ti’antah
. 

Laric grabbed the boy by the scruff of his collar, Nyat seized a leg, and between the two of them they managed to lift him, struggling, off her as he howled obscenities at them. That and the horrified look on Nyat’s face were too much for Kinara.

She burst out laughing.

Still chuckling, Kinara held up her hand. “It’s all right!”

Nyat and Laric froze, looking at her in astonishment. The little boy struggled between them, mouthing a truly creative string of profanities. 

“Come on.” Kinara sat up and wiped at tears of mirth. “Put him down.”

Her servants looked at each other. Kinara had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep a straight face. 

“I mean it.” She squared her shoulders. “Put him down, you two.”

Reluctantly they let him go. He got his feet under him then tossed his dark curls and looking up at Laric made a very rude noise. 

The maid gasped. “You little —”

“Enough!” Kinara said and looked at the boy sternly. “That means you, too.”

He shifted his bare feet and Laric threw him a narrowed look.

“Come here,” Kinara said to the boy.

Tossing his head again, he ran over to her, holding the flowers out in one grubby hand.

“They’re very pretty,” Kinara said solemnly.

He beamed. “You want to buy?”

“I might,” Kinara replied. “What’s your name?”

“The others call me Bebti.”

“What do you mean the others? What does your mother call you?”

His face clouded and he held the flowers to his chest. 

Kinara frowned. “Your father? Your family?”

He shook his head. 

One without family.

He lifted the flowers again. “Buy now, lady?”

“Maybe. I want you to sit with me for a minute. Will you do that, Bebti?” He shifted his feet, and Kinara added, “I was just about to eat.  Maybe you’d like to join me.”

His eyes lit up.
Yeah, that got your interest, didn’t it, kid?

He nodded and Kinara smiled. “Good. Laric, please go the tavern and get us something hot.”

As the unhappy maid left to do her bidding, Bebti scrambled onto the cushions beside Kinara, clutching the bouquet. He sat with his bare feet straight out and tugged at the collar of his large tunic to keep it up. The dirty gray garment hung on him like a sack.  

Kinara asked him questions while they waited. Had he ever been inside Lashima’s temple? What did it look like? Was this his favorite?

“I like Ren’thar,” he said brightly, scratching himself with a complete lack of embarrassment. “He is the greatest warrior
ever
. He is made of black stones and
really
big.”

“I didn’t know that. Have you seen him?”

“Of course.” He looked up at her as if her brain was stuck at sub-light. “In the temple.”

Kinara suppressed a smile. “Oh, right. Why’s he your favorite?”

“He’s a
warrior
,” Bebti said as if it were obvious.

“Is that what you’re going to be?”

Nyat snorted. Kinara shot her guard a look.

“Yes,” Bebti said fiercely. “Just like Ren’thar.” He kicked his feet aimlessly. “No one can hurt Ren’thar.”

Kinara frowned. She sipped at her drink, watching as the child devoured everything Laric put in front of him. Bebti ignored the silverware and napkin, digging in with his fingers to eat, picking up the meat to gnaw off a piece.

She offered him the plate of sweets when he was done. He took a handful, stuffing some into his pocket.

“Where do you live, Bebti?”

“Here,” he replied around a mouthful of candy.

“But where do you —”

“Boy!”

Bebti jumped. A florid-faced giant of a man glowered across the square at Bebti. The man stepped forward and Nyat swiftly moved to block the way, his hand on the hilt of his sword. 

The man froze instantly.

“I beg pardon, lady,” the man stammered. “I mean no offense to you.” The man glanced at Nyat. “Or your honored clan. This boy,” he said, pointing to Bebti, “is on an errand for me, yet I find him dawdling here.” 

“Really? An errand?” Kinara put her hand on Bebti’s shoulder, drawing the trembling boy close. “Would that happen to be stealing for you?”

Reaching into Bebti’s pocket, she pulled out the necklace she had felt the boy lift when he’d thrown himself at her.

“I — Why, this boy is a thief!” He pointed a finger at Bebti. “Had I known you were such, never would I have offered you my protection!”

Kinara rolled her eyes. “And if you expect me to believe that, I have a pleasure moon to sell you.”

“You do not think
I
am a party to such thievery, my lady? I merely seek to recover my servant.” He held his hands out. “It is the boy who took your jewels. Allow me and I will punish him as he deserves.”

“Do you know what I’d like?” Kinara folded her arms. “I’d like you to turn around, walk away, and
never
cross my sight again.”

“My lady, this boy—”

“Is no longer your problem.” She narrowed her gaze. “Start walking or we’ll see how long it takes Nyat to fillet you.”

The man’s mouth worked for a moment. Nyat half drew his sword and the man beat a hasty retreat.

She fixed Bebti with a look. “I don’t appreciate being robbed, kid.”

Bebti nodded, his eyes flicking to the crowd the man had disappeared into. Clearly he had dismissed her as the lesser of the two threats. She took his chin, turning his face to look at her.   

“I can tell from your clothes you aren’t clanless, Bebti, but you will be if I denounce you as a thief.” His lip trembled. “But if you’re clanless I can’t make you a warrior of the Az’anti clan.”

His dark eyes went wide. 

“Well, you aren’t planning to be sworn as a warrior to any other clan house, are you?”

Mutely he shook his head. 

“Good,” she said with a nod. “Of course you’d have to work your way up. Maybe you could start as my messenger while you learn how to be a warrior . . . unless you’d rather stay here?”

“I want to be a warrior,” he breathed. 

“Warriors don’t steal.”
They aren’t supposed to lie or break promises either.
She cleared her throat. “So, you can’t do that ever again, okay?”

“No, lady! I will not!”

“You’ll have to come back to the Az’anti house with us and live there. Is that all right?”

Bebti nodded, his dark eyes shining, and he shoved the bouquet at her.  

Smiling, Kinara took the flowers and impulsively kissed his dirty cheek. 

“I think we’d better collect Kyndan and head home. We wouldn’t want to be late for dinner.” She nodded to Nyat. “Go get my Tellaran servant and Reth, we’re going home now.” Kinara turned to her maid. “Laric, as soon as we get back Bebti’s going to need a bath and some clo—”

She broke off and felt the blood drain from her face. Even in a sea of black-clad warriors his bright hair set him apart.

Aidar lay in the arms of a dark-haired young beauty, her hand resting tenderly on his cheek as Dael walked beside their litter. The woman leaned over Aidar and pulled the privacy curtains of the litter closed as they passed.

“Senya,” Laric said tightly. “A daughter of the Az’rah clan, my lady.”

The woman he was so stuck on his last time in the Empress’ City. The demure, sweet girl I tried to act like that night.

Kinara watched as the litter passed out of sight, swallowed up in the crowded street.

“Look, Kinna, I won a whole sack of coins for you!” Kyndan enthused. “Turns out they don’t know how to bet either!”

Kinara pushed past him.

Kyndan followed. “Hey, what’s the matter?”

Kinara stopped, gripping the bouquet in her hand. 

“Nothing,” she said, surprised at how steady her voice sounded. “Nothing’s wrong. Where’s Bebti?” 

Bebti’s dark eyes were bewildered and hurt by her sudden desertion.  She waved him forward and took his small hand in hers. 

“Come on, everybody,” she said. “We’re going home.”  

“My lady?”

Someone shook her gently. Coming awake Kinara blinked against the lamplight. Sella, one of her maids, possibly the youngest, leaned over her, touching her shoulder. The girl was in her nightdress, her glossy hair unbound, her pretty face drawn with anxiety, and the light she held threw harsh shadows against the wall. Nyat stood at the foot of the bed.

“What?” Kinara asked, alarmed, half sitting up in bed. It was full dark, and with the city this quiet it had to be the middle of the night. “What is it? What’s happened?”

The young maid glanced back at Nyat. “My lady, Nyat’s mate labors for her child. She is asking for you.”

Kinara shook her head, sitting up all the way. She’d seen the woman, heavily pregnant, walking with Nyat a few times. “Asking for
me
? Where’s the healer?”

Sella wet her lips. “My lady, the healer attends her already. My lady, his mate thinks you—”

Nyat took a step forward quickly. “
Ti’antah
, please. It is our first child. My mate asks you come.” His dark eyes were hollow with worry. “I beg you come.”

She frowned, the two of them looking at her pleadingly.

Kinara tried to shake off her sleepiness. “Okay, just—Sella, get my robe.”

Yawning, she slipped her arms into the shimmersilk robe and tied the belt.

“Where is . . . uh?” Had she ever known the woman’s name?

“Rebena,” Sella said softly, opening the door for Kinara. “My cousin is in her rooms in the family quarters.”

The Az’anti house was quiet around them. The polished wood floor was smooth and cool under her bare feet. Neither she nor Sella had thought to get her slippers and she didn’t want to send the girl back now.

Kinara frowned. “Shouldn’t she be at the medcenter?”

“She will not go,” Nyat said, upset enough to forget he should walk at least two paces behind her. “She would bring the child in her
Ti’antah’s
household.”

Kinara looked between them. “She wants to have the baby on the estate?”

He nodded. “She says a child born here will know good fortune.”

“Okay,” Kinara said, frowning, the smooth curve of the rail under her hand as they descended the stairs. She gave a nod to the warriors on the first floor. She recognized them but couldn’t recall their names. “So you want me to convince her to go to the medcenter?”

“Oh, no,
Ti’antah
,” Nyat said quickly. “But it has been many hours and the baby does not come. She wants you there because you are a
Cy’atta
.”

Kinara stopped. “Wait — what?”

“I know we are not to speak of—” He flushed. “All the clan knows it so,
Ti’antah
.”

She’d understood the word but had no idea what it meant when he’d started calling her that on the
Ty’pran
. Now she knew that
Cy’attas
—Stardancers—were emissaries of the Goddess Lashima. Granted all sorts of magical powers by the Goddess of love and the heavens, they sometimes showed up in mortal form.

Now because of the damned nickname it sounded like the whole starblasted clan actually thought she
was
one.

Oh, that’s just fucking great! Thanks, Aidar, one
more
problem you made for me and aren’t here to deal with! 

Nyat’s dark eyes were equal parts pleading and anxious.

Well, now what? Explain that I’m not some Az-kye goddess’ handmaiden and go back to bed? 

Kinara let her breath out slowly. “Come on, let’s go.”

And for my first official act as Cy’atta I’m going to convince her to go to the damned medcenter.

Nyat and Sella led her across the courtyard and through the garden.  Kinara shivered as the chill air cut right through her robe, the grass cold and damp under her feet. For just a moment she glanced at the star-filled night sky and managed to pick out Rusco’s sun. 

Storerooms and smaller buildings with living quarters surrounded the main house; many of her warriors had with them mates and children. She’d seen them all certainly. They watched her, smiled at her, bowed to her. 

She scarcely knew any of their names.

The lighting in Nyat’s quarters was very bright, the rooms stuffy and close. Even the Az’anti estate’s sprawling size wouldn’t allow everyone to have large quarters and these consisted of only a combined sitting and dining room and a bedroom. Kinara thought for an instant how unfair it was that this woman suffered to bring forth a new life in these tiny, neat rooms when her own spacious apartments above sat empty. 

The healer — the same she’d threatened to order to the garden to dust leaves for the rest of her life if she didn’t treat Kyndan — regarded her with obvious relief.

Rebena, Nyat’s mate, lay on the bed, her mound of belly straining against her nightdress. Her face was flushed, her dark hair damp on her face and neck. Purple shadows marred the skin under her eyes.

“My mate,” Nyat said softly.

She turned her head, her hair clinging damply to her forehead and neck.

“
Ti’antah
,” Rebena murmured, a smile lighting her face.

In the next instant her face crumbled in pain and even from where Kinara stood she could see the contraction of Rebena’s belly. 

Nyat took a hesitant step forward. Kinara swallowed hard, scarcely breathing herself as Rebena tensed against the pain. The healer’s face was grim.

After what seemed like forever the contraction passed and Rebena went limp, gasping.

Then they all—Nyat, the healer, Sella—looked at her.

Oh, you’ve got to be festering kidding me! I barely know enough to pass as a clan leader, let alone emissary of an Az-kye goddess!

But she had to do
something
.

Kinara wet her lips. “Sella, go get a cool, damp cloth for your cousin’s face. Nyat, get her some ice water—” Kinara glanced at the healer for confirmation. “Little sips, keep her hydrated.” The two hurried to do her bidding. Nyat took up a place next to his mate, gently touching her face as he offered her water.

“Healer,” Kinara said, motioning her over.

“My lady,” the healer, Cenara, said softly. “Thank Lashima you have come.”

“Yeah,” Kinara said shortly, keeping her voice low. “How is she?  Do we need to get her to a medcenter?”

“She wishes to remain here. I would respect that choice if I can.” The healer hesitated. “I cannot find anything wrong with her or the babe. She is dilating as I would expect but I think she is overwhelmed and afraid. I do believe it safe for her to remain here for now. If she does not deliver the child by morning or the baby shows signs of distress, then yes, I will support you in sending her to the medcenter.”

Support
me
? Wow, thanks.
  

Another contraction hit Rebena. 

“She fights the pain but will not allow me to give her something to ease it. Perhaps if you could help calm her, help her focus,” the healer murmured. “The child might be born before we must move her.”

Kinara wet her lips.
I don’t know what a clan leader would do here. I sure as hell don’t know what a
Cy’atta
would do. 

Rebena went limp, trembling, Nyat tenderly stroked her hair.

But I think I know what a Commander would do.
Kinara nodded. “Okay, let me talk to her.”

Nyat already had the water to her lips again and Sella wiped at her face.

Kinara sat on the bed and took Rebena’s hand. “How are you holding up?”

Rebena’s face was drawn. She nodded. “I am well,
Ti’antah
.”

Kinara nodded. “Good, ’cause I’m really looking forward to seeing that baby born. I’ll stay here with you as long as it takes, okay?”

Rebena’s face relaxed, her dark eyes grateful. “Thank you, my lady.”

“Look, I know this is scary and I want you to have whatever you need. We’ll stay here if that’s what you want. I have to tell you though, if you or the baby starts to run into trouble, I’m taking you to the medcenter.” 

Rebena’s lip trembled. 

“But if that happens, I’ll be right with you there too.” Kinara added firmly. “As long as it takes, okay?”

Rebena nodded, tears shining in her eyes. “Yes. Thank you, my lady.”

Rebena suddenly gripped her hand as another pain hit her and they all went silent.

“Try to relax into it,” Kinara blurted. “Don’t fight the pain.”

Her eyes were squeezed shut and she was grimacing but Rebena gave a short nod.

Kinara wet her lips. “Just relax, you’re doing great.” She continued on in that same mien, feeling like she was just babbling but she didn’t know what else to do. 

When the pain passed, Rebena shifted, whimpering. “My feet are asleep.”

Kinara glanced at the healer. “Any reason she couldn’t walk around a little?”

Nyat looked shocked but the healer nodded. “To walk may help greatly, my lady.”

“Good,” Kinara said. “Nyat, help me support her. Let’s get her up before the next contraction starts.”

Kinara and Nyat walked her for what seemed like hours, stopping whenever a pain held Rebena still, her head bent, her nails digging in to bruise Kinara’s shoulder.

Kinara was hoarse from talking, from urging Rebena to relax, let it pass, whatever she could think of. She felt ridiculous for saying such things when the woman was obviously in such starblasted pain but after every contraction, Rebena would look to her and thank her faintly.

As the night wore on Kinara sometimes had to fight the impulse to flee the room. She certainly wanted to shut her eyes and cover her ears to block out the sound of Rebena’s suffering but she didn’t. Not even when Rebena’s contractions grew closer together and stronger until she was arched like a bow across the bed, her face contorted with pain. Nyat’s face was stark with fear and Sella’s lips were white from seeing her cousin writhing like this.

Just as the Az-kye sun’s first rays touched the room, Rebena delivered the child. Nyat wept openly at the baby’s shrill cry. Shaking with exhaustion, Kinara and Sella were caught between smiling and tears as the healer declared the child healthy. Bundling up the infant quickly, the healer put the girl in her father’s arms while she turned her attention to his mate.

“Nyat,” Rebena urged weakly from her place on the bed.

He nodded. “Lady,” Nyat said, tears running down his cheeks as he handed her the child. “Please. Your blessing.”

Kinara, who had never held an infant before, was struck with a sudden heart stopping fear that she would drop the baby. She wasn’t even sure how tightly to hold the child.

“She’s so light, so tiny,” Kinara said. The baby’s face was red, her nose squished, her eyes swollen almost shut. “She’s just beautiful.”

They were all looking at her expectantly.

Kinara wet her lips.
Seleni, I know you’re Tellaran too but, if you happen to speak Az-kye, I’d really appreciate it if you could put a word in for me with your fellow goddess here.

She took a deep breath.
Okay, hopefully Az-kye goddesses don’t get offended when you wing it. 

Kinara looked down at the baby and changed Seleni’s traditional blessing around a little. “May Lashima shower her blessings on you and the Goddess’s light fill all the days of your life, little uh . . .?”

Rebena was beaming. “Kinara.”

Her throat closed and her vision swam.
Oh, man.

She swallowed hard and looked back at the baby. “Little Kinara,” she managed.

“Thank you,
Ti’antah
,” Nyat murmured, his dark eyes shining as she handed the baby back. He bent his head. “I stand proud to serve you always, my lady.”

Kinara nodded quickly, wiping at her face with the back of her hand. She stepped back.

Sella took up her lamp but Kinara shook her head.

“No,” she said, holding out her hand. “Give me the light and stay here to assist the healer. You’re excused from your duties so you can help out your cousin for a couple weeks. Make sure she gets lots of rest.”