message in haste, praying that there would be enough time for the work to be done.
* * * *
A small boy rode up the back roads to the hills on a mule. He was a regular visitor; he carried letters, packages, and other sundries up to the House of the Sisters and took similar cargo back down the hill to Makendha. He reached the gate, slid off the mule's back, and rattled the bell loudly.
Paama came running to the gate. ‘Hush, child, we're not all hard of hearing. What do you have for us today?'
'Mornin', Aunty Paama. Letters, and a parcel for Sister Elen.'
He dug envelopes out of a canvas bag and gave them to her and then untied the cords that fastened the parcel to the back of his rough saddle. Paama took them all and piled them up neatly. As she did so, one of the envelopes made her pause.
'Thank you,’ she said to the postboy absently, and started to walk briskly back inside.
Sister Elen was passing near the door as she entered. Paama gave her the parcel, blindly, eyes still fixed on the envelope.
'Here, this is for you.'
She put the other letters in their accustomed place on the table by the door and held out the envelope that had so held her attention. ‘And this, it seems, is for you and for me.'
Sister Elen looked mildly surprised. She took the envelope, opened it, and read the contents quickly.
'An order for the House. Your father wants us to make a travelling stool with all the traditional carvings suitable for a minor chief. He hasn't given us much time! And for you, an invitation. Your sister is being courted by a foreign merchant prince, and he is having a dinner in your sister's honour.'
Paama's eyes widened. ‘In two weeks all this can happen? Maa must be very proud of Neila.'
Sister Elen did not seem quite as excited. She was frowning as if something very worrying had occurred to her.
'What is it, Sister?’ Paama asked her.
'I am thinking of something that Sister Carmis said.'
Sister Carmis was a Dreamer. She, too, had listened to Paama's story, and then she had gone away without saying a word to anyone. No-one had told Paama what was supposed to happen after that, except that she had to be patient.
'What did she say, and why didn't she tell me?’ Paama complained.
'Dreaming is very imprecise. It is not always possible to separate the true dreams from the ramblings of the sleeping mind. We prefer to wait until there is a clear sign that a dream is significant. Be patient a little longer, Paama. I must consult with my sisters.'
Paama was left to wonder and fret and speculate for the rest of the day. When news finally came, it was Sister Jani who brought it to her.
'Paama, you must go back to Makendha and protect your sister,’ she said bluntly.
Paama looked at the expression of bleak worry on the face before her and said softly, ‘Is that all you have to tell me?'
'Sister Carmis has had a dream that is very difficult to read. There will be strife between you and a stranger, but she cannot tell what will happen in the end. Your sister must not stand between the two of you, or there could be grave trouble for her.'
'I'll go now,’ Paama said, her face grim and her eyes anxious.
'No. Wait a while. We must do all that we can to prepare you.'
'Can you teach me to use the Stick any better than the djombi did?’ Paama asked with some bitterness.
Sister Jani laughed without humour. ‘No. But we can give you such assistance as our own talents provide.'
Paama could not guess what she meant by this, but when she began to pack her belongings, the four sisters came to her, all bearing packages.
Sister Elen stepped forward first and gave her a tiny box, small enough to fit into her hand. ‘This is a brooch, but it will also allow me to Read the stranger. Be sure to wear it on your dress when you go to the dinner.'
Then it was the turn of Sister Deian. The package she gave to Paama was slightly larger than her hand. ‘This is a hairband. When you wear it, you will hear my voice behind your
* * * *
A small boy rode up the back roads to the hills on a mule. He was a regular visitor; he carried letters, packages, and other sundries up to the House of the Sisters and took similar cargo back down the hill to Makendha. He reached the gate, slid off the mule's back, and rattled the bell loudly.
Paama came running to the gate. ‘Hush, child, we're not all hard of hearing. What do you have for us today?'
'Mornin', Aunty Paama. Letters, and a parcel for Sister Elen.'
He dug envelopes out of a canvas bag and gave them to her and then untied the cords that fastened the parcel to the back of his rough saddle. Paama took them all and piled them up neatly. As she did so, one of the envelopes made her pause.
'Thank you,’ she said to the postboy absently, and started to walk briskly back inside.
Sister Elen was passing near the door as she entered. Paama gave her the parcel, blindly, eyes still fixed on the envelope.
'Here, this is for you.'
She put the other letters in their accustomed place on the table by the door and held out the envelope that had so held her attention. ‘And this, it seems, is for you and for me.'
Sister Elen looked mildly surprised. She took the envelope, opened it, and read the contents quickly.
'An order for the House. Your father wants us to make a travelling stool with all the traditional carvings suitable for a minor chief. He hasn't given us much time! And for you, an invitation. Your sister is being courted by a foreign merchant prince, and he is having a dinner in your sister's honour.'
Paama's eyes widened. ‘In two weeks all this can happen? Maa must be very proud of Neila.'
Sister Elen did not seem quite as excited. She was frowning as if something very worrying had occurred to her.
'What is it, Sister?’ Paama asked her.
'I am thinking of something that Sister Carmis said.'
Sister Carmis was a Dreamer. She, too, had listened to Paama's story, and then she had gone away without saying a word to anyone. No-one had told Paama what was supposed to happen after that, except that she had to be patient.
'What did she say, and why didn't she tell me?’ Paama complained.
'Dreaming is very imprecise. It is not always possible to separate the true dreams from the ramblings of the sleeping mind. We prefer to wait until there is a clear sign that a dream is significant. Be patient a little longer, Paama. I must consult with my sisters.'
Paama was left to wonder and fret and speculate for the rest of the day. When news finally came, it was Sister Jani who brought it to her.
'Paama, you must go back to Makendha and protect your sister,’ she said bluntly.
Paama looked at the expression of bleak worry on the face before her and said softly, ‘Is that all you have to tell me?'
'Sister Carmis has had a dream that is very difficult to read. There will be strife between you and a stranger, but she cannot tell what will happen in the end. Your sister must not stand between the two of you, or there could be grave trouble for her.'
'I'll go now,’ Paama said, her face grim and her eyes anxious.
'No. Wait a while. We must do all that we can to prepare you.'
'Can you teach me to use the Stick any better than the djombi did?’ Paama asked with some bitterness.
Sister Jani laughed without humour. ‘No. But we can give you such assistance as our own talents provide.'
Paama could not guess what she meant by this, but when she began to pack her belongings, the four sisters came to her, all bearing packages.
Sister Elen stepped forward first and gave her a tiny box, small enough to fit into her hand. ‘This is a brooch, but it will also allow me to Read the stranger. Be sure to wear it on your dress when you go to the dinner.'
Then it was the turn of Sister Deian. The package she gave to Paama was slightly larger than her hand. ‘This is a hairband. When you wear it, you will hear my voice behind your
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