Treva's Children (6 page)

One day, after her labors Mistress led Talisa deep into the wood.  She stopped before a mighty ash tree.

Mistress pointed to a spot on the ground. "Sit here."

Talisa sat.

Mistress stood in front of Talisa and looked down at her. "I have watched you perform the tasks I gave you and I am not entirely displeased."

"Thank you, Mistress, I..."

Mistress held up a hand. "Nevertheless I want you to sit here and think."

"Think, Mistress?  About what?"

"About nothing.  And about everything." She stepped aside and raised her staff to point at the ash. "Look at this tree.  Watch it.  Listen to it."

"Watch the tree, Mistress?  May I ask why?"

"Because I command it.  You need no other reason."

"And may I ask how long?"

"Until I come for you."

Talisa nodded and settled herself to look up at the tree.  She opened her mouth to ask Mistress another question but Mistress was gone.

Talisa watched.  A breeze rustled the leaves of the ash.

As evening wore away into night, the setting sun painted the ash in red and orange.  A nightingale, a solitary male, settled into the branches of the tree.  The sky purpled, then grew black.  The lonely song of the nightingale danced through the woods.  The branches of the ash groaned at a passing wind.

Talisa watched.  Near dawn, an owl settled on a branch of the ash for a moment, then flapped silently into the sky.

The sun rose.  The ash whispered with each passing breath of air.  Its branches creaked as the sun's light warmed them.  Spots of light frolicked on the ground between the shadows of its leaves.

Sunset once more.  A gentle rain fell, drops sparkling in the fading sunlight as they dripped from the ash.  Each drop gave voice as they struck the giant.  Talisa scarce noted how her rain soaked clothing clung to her skin.

Talisa watched.  Another dawn.  A morning breeze singing through the ash, a song as clear as words, the joy of sun, a greeting for the new day, as the ash stretched out to receive its light.

"What do you hear?"

Talisa turned her eyes from the ash tree at last to see Mistress standing beside her. "The ash!" she said in wonder. "It sings."

Mistress smiled. "So it does.  Now rise.  You have labors to do."

Talisa stood.  As she followed Mistress she looked at the wood with new eyes.  Each plant she knew, as she had not known it before.  Here, an herb that mixed with bread would strengthen a man against hardship.  There, a plant whose fibers could be spun into cords of surpassing strength.  She knew.  She did not know how she knew, but she did.

So as she walked, Talisa watched.

“Awaken, servant!”

Talisa woke.  She sat up and rubbed at her eyes.  A dim morning, with the sun filtered by clouds, greeted her.  She gave Mistress a questioning look.  At Mistress’s nod Talisa plucked enough hazelnuts to fill her belt pouch.  She took two and cracked one against the other in her hand and began to munch on the kernel.

Mistress stood and looked into the distance. “The abominations move in this direction.”

Talisa started.  It had been some time since Mistress had mentioned the Schahi, the Abominations as she called them.  She looked in the direction of Mistress’s gaze.

Mistress looked at her and frowned. “Fear not.  They will not enter this valley.”  She paused, then said, “Walk with me.”

Talisa followed Mistress into the woods along the path that led toward where the others lived.  When they neared, Mistress turned to her. “It is time for these folk to leave.  They may break their fast on the meat they have taken and pack what they do not eat with them.  Then you are to escort them up the pass.  See them through the saddle, then return to me.  Do you understand?”

Talisa chilled.  If what Mistress said was true about the Schahi, then her people would be leaving into terrible danger. “Mistress, please.”

“The time has come,” Mistress said. “You will obey me.”

Talisa bowed her head. “Yes, Mistress.”

“Go.  I will await you here.

Talisa slipped through the woods, a silent ghost, until she came to the edge of the camp.  One of the dogs bounded up to meet her, its tail wagging.  Talisa crouched and scratched it under the chin.  The previous night, the dog had eaten “her”, in the form of a large mouse.  She had been predator and prey, hunter and hunted, so many times that she sometimes thought she was losing track of who, of
what
, she really was.

People began to stir in the camp, attracted by the dog’s barking.  Embron, whipcord lean.  Banev, sharing a shelter with Ranthar.  Talisa scowled.  Banev’s belly had grown big.  It would not be much longer, a month, maybe two, before she gave birth.  Mo-an went to blow the banked coals into flame.

Embron reached her first.  He always did. “Milady.  What instructions has Guardian for us today.”

Talisa hesitated.  She did not want to dash the joy in their faces.  She closed her eyes and bowed her head.

“Milady?”

Talisa shook her head then sighed.  Mistress’ instructions would not change through delay. “You must leave.”

“Leave, Milady?”

“This garden.  This valley.  Mistress has said you are to leave.” Talisa pointed back in the direction of the saddle that marked the entrance to the valley. “I am to escort you to the pass, then return.”

The others reached them.

Banev put voice to the question that was on every face. “But...Milady, why?”

“I do not know.  She had allowed you to stay so long that I had hoped...” Talisa sighed again. “But, I suppose this place is sacred to Treva, She of the Wild Things.  We would not be welcome here forever.”

“And you are to return?” Embron asked

“That is her command.” Talisa gestured toward the fire. “Eat.  Break your fast.  Then gather up your things and any remaining food and we must go.”

It was a silent group that ascended to the entrance, now the exit, to the valley.  Talisa led the way with Embron in the rear to ensure that no one straggled.  At the top, Talisa stopped, and turned. She waited until Embron joined them. "It is time." She looked out from the valley. "Mistress has said there are Schahi about.  Be cautious and avoid them."

"Schahi?" Banev shivered despite the summer heat. "Changelings?"

Talisa nodded. "Mistress calls them Abominations." She forced a smile. "But you can avoid them.  Go south.  Briganzo's desert is a harsh land, but people live there.  Perhaps you will find friends." She pressed her lips tight, unable to admit that she was sending her people to almost certain death.  The Schahi who had pursued them so far would not fail to find them again once they left the shelter of this valley.

Banev clutched Talisa's arm. "Then come with us, Milady.  I know we will find friends if we have you to speak for us."

Could it be so simple, Talisa wondered.  They were past the point Mistress had said she did not go.  If Mistress could not leave the valley, then Talisa could simply go with her people, to live with them, or to die with them. She looked back down into the valley.  Or she could return, be Mistress's servant all her days.  She would be safe, but what use was safety when she sent these last few people, the few that remained of all she loved in the world, into danger.

But she had given her oath.

She saw Embron's eyes light. "Yes, Milady, come with us.  I will see you safe.  All of us will." Nods greeted his words.

Talisa squeezed her eyes tight.  Did Embron really think that it was fear for herself that made her hesitate?  She bowed her head, then shook it. "I have to stay.  It would be my dearest wish to go with you, but I gave my word."

"Then I will stay with you," Embron said.

"You cannot.  Mistress has commanded..."

"If she wishes to slay me, she may." Embron fell to his knees before Talisa. "Bid me not to go!"

"Embron, my loyal huntsman," Talisa touched her hands to his shoulders, urging him back to his feet. "Who will protect these others if you do not?  If ever you loved me, please, go and protect these others."

"Then come with us.  Word given under force is..."

"Still my word," Talisa said.  Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Now go.  Perhaps, someday, we will meet again." Talisa knew she lied.

Casting long looks back, Embron shepherded the others away from the valley.  Talisa watched until they vanished into the undergrowth.

"So you chose to remain?"

Talisa spun at the voice.  Mistress stood beside her, an incongruous smile on her face.

"Mistress?  I thought..."

"I said I did not leave.  While the abominations wander the land, this garden holds the hope of eventual healing.  And so I remain guarding, protecting, shaping." She placed fingertips under Talisa's jaw and gently turned her face from side to side. "You chose to honor your word.  You are my servant.  But I have need of servants in the world.  You, I think, are but the first." She looked to the slopes and laughed--a light, airy sound like wind rippling across a pond. "And here I think is another, who could not bear to be parted from you even under pain of death."

Mistress lifted a hand and suddenly Embron stood beside them.

Dazed, Embron looked back and forth between Talisa and Mistress.  Recognition hit and fear filled his eyes. "Milady?  Guardian?"

Talisa looked up at Mistress.  She licked her lips. "Mistress...Treva?"

Mistress nodded. "I have been called by that name and many others.  Yes, Treva will do, I think."

"But...I do not understand."

"Child, my siblings, whom you know as Koreb and Mira, The Threefold Twins, give their love, and their attention to the affairs of men.  It is left to me to care for the wild things of the world, for the plants and the animals.  But--" she lifted her hands, one pointing at Embron, one at Talisa. "Men are also animals.  I do not love you less for having other cares." She touched them each on the cheek. "Your labor has become part of my garden.  Your sweat, your tears, your blood.  And so the garden also lives in you, as do I." She lowered her hands and stepped back. "Now go.  There is my work to be done in the world.  I do not think you will fail me."

Mistress vanished, leaving Talisa blinking.

"Her work?" Embron still looked dazed. "Milady?"

Talisa smiled. "First, I think, we need to get our people to safety."