Lamarchos by Jo Clayton

woman with the cruel enjoyment of that multi-segmented creature called Mob. “Send these away,” she snapped to the Kauna. “You stay as witnesses.” Cold blue-green eyes swept the dark avid faces. “Clear the square.”
    The Kauna elders pressed the onlookers back until they were a thick sludge around the edges of the square where they squatted patiently, eyes on the little group by the tower. Aleytys nodded her satisfaction with the efforts of the elders then focused her attention once more on Riyda.
    â€œHelp me to help you, Riyda,” she murmured. She reached out to touch the woman.
    Riyda jerked her head away. “Help you.…” Anger fought with fear. “Help you? When you’ve stolen everything from me?”
    â€œYou know that’s not true.” Aleytys reached toward her again but Riyda knocked the hand away. “Do you really want to be outcast?”
    â€œI want nothing from you.”
    Pukili ground the end of his staff in Riyda’s ribs, drawing a grunt of pain from her. “Ungrateful bitch. You waste your time on her, si’a gikena.”
    â€œGet back,” Aleytys exploded. “Fool! This is none of your concern. Back off and let me do what I must.”
    Offended and a little frightened, Pukili retreated and stood frowning sourly at the two women.
    Aleytys ignored him and spoke softly, soothingly to Riyda. “I am healer, woman. Hate is a sickness in you that is destroying you. Let me give you peace, Riyda.” She reached out again.
    â€œDon’t be afraid, Riyda. Let me help you. Look at me. Look into my face. See me, my poor wounded one.…” She crooned the words over and over until Riydal was staring dazedly at her. Slowly, carefully, she extended her hands until she touched the woman on the temples. Sliding her fingers around she pressed the palms of her hands on the woman’s sweaty forehead.
    She closed her eyes and let the black water flow through her fingers to wash over Riyda’s sick and aching brain. Not knowing what to do, where to guide the flow she let it splash at random until the current began to race in a roaring torrent around a glowing thing like a hard cancerous knot. Around and around the black water rushed, eating away at the knot, eating and eating until at last the knot was gone. The torrent slowed to a trickle.
    Aleytys opened her eyes feeling her heart thudding, her body shaking with exhaustion. Riyda lay flat on the pavement writhing slowly in small animal twitches, the intelligence drained from her face leaving it ugly, shapeless, inhuman. Sighing, weary to the marrow of her bones, Aleytys rocked up onto her knees and touched Riyda’s shoulder. “Little one, it’s a new world for you. Open your eyes and look at it.”
    Riyda moaned as she opened her eyes. Stiffly she pushed herself onto her knees until she could straighten her back and face Aleytys. After a minute, she spread her open hand over her heart. A timid tentative smile twitched at her full lips. “It’s gone,” she murmured.
    Aleytys stumbled to her feet and held out her hands. Catching hold of Riyda’s she pulled her erect.
    Riyda looked around. When she saw the avid greedy eyes of her friends and relatives, dark blood flooded her face. She pressed her hands against her face. “I’m so ashamed. Ay-gikena, I’m so ashamed.”
    â€œNo need, little one.” Aleytys put her arm around Riyda’s, trembling shoulders. “That was the hate. Don’t worry, you’ve got a home still. Loahn wants you to hold house for him while he serves me. You don’t need to fear him either, I’ll take care of that.”
    â€œHow can I look at him after what I did? And them.…” She waved a frantic hand at the people in the square. “They all know.”
    â€œThink this: Any one of them might have done the same. Koen, help me with her.” Aleytys tugged at Riyda,