Conflict and Courage Page 18

  In the north where the mountains met the rugged plains, the religious communities contrived to resist this trend. Confident of the inherent ‘rightness’ of their beliefs over all others, they refused to accept their alien allies as equals. They kept all contact with the Lind, the unpaired in particular, to a minimum, some even refusing to communicate with them at all. These northern patrol sectors were easily the least popular amongst the Vada. The vadeln-pairs complained to Francis but there was little that could be done about it, at least in the short term.

  * * * * *

  The day that changed Tina’s life started with her daily trip for water from the well. As the oldest daughter in the family, she was expected to help her mother with the chores. There were seven younger than she and her mother again pregnant, dutifully increasing the numbers of the community according to Holy Writ, wherein it was clearly said that this was a wife’s primary duty as well as homemaker for her menfolk.

  Tina paused by the well, thinking back to that day when she had watched the three travellers pass, two Lind and one woman, the woman riding the larger of the two. For one wild moment, Tina had thought the lone Lind had come for her but after stopping for a drink of water, they had moved on.

  She heard later, by dint of eavesdropping on her parent’s conversations (her father talked as her mother listened and agreed with him), that the travellers had been heading for the Dahlstrom farm, some miles east. To her father’s censorious disgust, the Dahlstroms had then, with the exception of their oldest son and his young wife, upped sticks and moved to Vadath. Absolute nonsense her father had declared, adding that people were becoming besotted with these creatures, the Lind. Her mother’s tentative suggestion that the Dahlstroms were not believers, and therefore should be excused, had been met with contempt.

  “More fools they,” Tina heard her father say. “Father Anselm has been visiting the family and says that he was hoping that in time he could make believers of them. Wilhelm, he told me, was icily polite at first and refused his most generous offer of prayers for him and his, but Father Anselm was sure he was coming round to the true way.”

  “Perhaps he’ll have better luck with the son,” answered Tina’s mother as she continued with the mending her husband’s outburst had interrupted.

  Tina had snuggled down into her coverlets thinking hard, understanding at last why Eitel Dahlstrom had, to all intents and purposes, vanished into thin air and also why he had dropped out of schooling, not that she was permitted to attend all that often.

  It was the law in Argyll that all children from the ages of six to sixteen attend school. Small primary schools had been set up round the country, larger secondary schools in the more populated areas. Peripatetic teachers travelled, instructing those unable to attend due to either the distance involved or family commitments.

  In the community in which the Charles family lived, there was another reason why the classes were so ill attended. The adults did not wish their children infected by what they saw as the irreligious influences of the unbelievers.

  There was a battle royal going on between the leaders of such communities and the Argyll Council. The former wished to teach their children themselves, whilst the Council was, quite naturally, bitterly opposed to such an idea, believing in the freedom of choice for the young and a general, well-balanced education programme without the hidden agenda of religious indoctrination.

  Some communities had responded by refusing to allow their children to attend classes at all and as yet, Robert Lutterell and the other Councillors did not have the resources or manpower to force them. The families had not made an issue of their faith whilst on the spaceship but, as soon as they had been able, had removed themselves and their families north, as far away from the original settlement area as they could.

  Of late, Absalom Charles, Tina’s father had been talking about the existence of islands off the east coast where they could live and worship without interference. He was not the only one to think this way.

  The ‘Holy Writ’ was a way of life for these folk.

  To Tina’s recent dismay, now she was growing up, her hair had to be kept covered at all times and woe betide her if she showed off an ankle in public. The head-coif itched in hot weather and the voluminous skirts ordained by Holy Writ curtailed her movements, a real trial to someone who was of an active disposition. She was envious of her brothers, free to roam the woods and valleys, to climb trees and generally get into as much mischief as they could.

  She began to realise what her future would be. Her parents were hinting at marriage and her father had already asked Father Anselm about a suitable match. ‘Holy Writ’ said that marriage was mandatory for ‘all females of childbearing age’. She could not pray to God for deliverance. It was God’s word that said she must be married. Tina prayed to the Lind to come and deliver her.

  Her prayers were about to be answered. The Lind Daltei (who was, incidentally a much younger brother of Mislya and Jsei) was barely an hour away. Mislya had noticed the girl on her way to find Wilhelm, peering at them from behind a doorway and had sensed her potential. She had communicated her findings to Daltei.

  Daltei reached the woods on the outskirts of the farmstead and settled down to wait until dark when the Charles family would be sleeping the sleep of the righteous.

  Tina was in bed but was suffering a restless night, her dreams filled with strange and wonderful impossibilities.

  : Tina Tina Tina :

  : Tina. I am Daltei. Come to me :

  Daltei, once he had located Tina by searching out with his mind for her dream-thoughts had found it an easy matter to link his mind to hers. Tina’s unconscious broadcasts of longing mixed with despair were very clear. As Mislya had promised, she was right human.

  Tina’s eyes snapped open.

  : In the woods :

  : Daltei :

  For some reason it was neither strange nor unusual that she and Daltei were having a telepathic conversation and that she knew his name : you sound very loud :

  : I am very close. In the woods. Come to me :

  Excitement rose within Tina.

  : Come to me. You want to. I want you to :

  : Now? :

  : Ceja. Now :

  She sat up in bed, placed her feet on the floor and felt around for her shoes. She bent down as she eased her feet inside them, fumbling with the fastenings and buckles. Then she stood up, holding her breath. The bed creaked a little as she shifted her weight and she tensed, listening for any sign that her mother or sisters had been disturbed.

  She tiptoed to the bedroom door, opened it just enough to allow her to squeeze through and climbed down the loft ladder, careful not to make any noise. Her not much younger brother was sleeping in the pull-down bunk near the outside door and she watched him as she descended rung by careful rung.

  Keep calm, she thought, her breathing sounded so very loud, surely he could not help but wake?

  She tiptoed to the door.

  It was the latch that betrayed her. It was both stiff and very heavy. It clinked open with a thunk and David’s eyes opened and he recognised her ghostly figure.

  Oh Gods, Tina thought, he’ll call Father, I’ll be married off before the week is out.

  Brother and sister looked at each other and then the terrified Tina received, what she always said afterwards, was the biggest surprise of her life.

  “You’re going then?” whispered David. “I thought it would be soon. Didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to let them marry you off like that. Have you got somewhere to go?”

  “Yes,” Tina whispered back, “Daltei is waiting for me.”

  David nodded as he rose from the bunk. He stretched over and picked up his own fur coat from the peg.

  “This is warmer than your own,” he said as he wrapped it round his stunned sister.

  “You’re not going to try and stop me?” she gasped.

  He smiled, “no, I certainly am not, although when I am questioned in the morning I will
say that I slept soundly all night and never heard nor felt a thing, even when you stretched over me to get the coat.”

  Tina stared at him.

  “I have been expecting this for days and only volunteered for door-watch each evening to make sure you got away okay.”

  Cupping her face in his hands, he looked at her, adding softly, “take care sister. You have made your choice and I am glad for you. Remember that I will always love you, no matter how far away your new life takes you. We may not meet again, you will never be welcomed back here in the village. They will disown you.”

  Tina hugged him.

  “You knew?”

  “Of your daydream to be chosen by the Lind? Yes.”

  “Goodbye,” she whispered. “I will miss you.”

  A final farewell kiss was planted on Tina’s forehead and she passed out of the door for the last time. Like a little dark shadow she ran down the path that led to the woods where Daltei was waiting. A sad David watched her go. He had done the right thing. What Tina might never know was that he too had had the chance.

  He too had been approached by a Lind but had refused the honour. His father was getting older, his family needed him and it was his duty to stay. At least his favourite sister would escape from the stupefying way of life of their community. One day, when his siblings were grown up, he would also leave.

  David closed the door and went back to bed. He lay awake until dawn, contemplating what might have been and rehearsing his story for the morrow.

  Tina knew nothing of these wheels within wheels as she and Daltei sped west towards Vadath. She was nervous that her family would try to stop them and urged Daltei on.

  “No human can run fast enough to catch us,” he informed her in no uncertain terms, “and no Lind will come between us.”

  * * * * *

  CHAPTER 21 - VADATH

  To Tina it felt that she and Daltei had journeyed forever and a day before he announced that they were approaching the stronghold. As they approached the gate she spied a man waiting for them.

  “Very pleased to see you both,” Ross announced with a smile as they entered, “we have been expecting you.”

  Tina looked down from Daltei’s height of fully sixteen hands, at the man who was one of the cadets’ instructors,

  She answered him in a voice not much above a whisper, “I thought we’d never get here. We’ve been travelling for ages. I didn’t know the country was so big.”

  “You’ll be hungry, tired and sore,” Ross answered her, “lets get some food inside you and Daltei both, then a hot bath should put you right. Climb down and both of you come with us now.”

  “Thank you,” said Tina as she dismounted. She winced as her feet hit the ground.

  Ross put a comforting hand on her shoulder and began to guide her towards what was, he informed her, the cadet barracks.

  As they walked (in Tina’s case limped) Ross tried to put her at her ease and talked of general matters.

  “Emily and Ilyei are waiting for you,” he informed her, “once we knew you were on your way, she got your cubicle ready and has gathered up some essentials after Daltei told Ilyei you had nothing with you apart from what you stood up in.”

  “I couldn’t bring anything,” Tina faltered, worried that she had done something wrong.

  “So I gather, well, no matter, you’re not the first to arrive like this. Emily will look after you for the first few days, help you get settled in, show you what is what. You’ll like her and she is very good at looking after new people.”

  Daltei and Lililya, following at their humans’ heels, were likewise conversing, Daltei being most eager to learn of the Vada arrangements for feeding and hunting.

  : She needs gentle handling : telepathed Ross to Lililya : She like frightened vuz :

  Lililya agreed, having made her own observations.

  Tina walked beside him, her eyes on the ground. She was listening to his chatter, of that he was sure, she kept giving him little sidelong glances when she thought he wasn’t looking, but otherwise she kept her eyes averted from his.

  : It is how she is. Daltei say she is naturally shy and how she was raised in her domta make her more so :

  : Tell Emily to be gentle :

  : Emily is always gentle :

  Lililya was right in her assessment of Tina’s mentor, Emily, who was turning sixteen now and had expressed a wish to train with the Holad when she became a Senior Cadet. She was noted for her quiet common sense and friendliness. Ross thought Tina might well tend in that direction too.

  : I not think so : was Lililya’s comment. : This young enthusiast (she was talking about Daltei) will not be content with that, he wants to fight and he would not choose Tina if she was not of similar mind :

  : A spell on coastline patrols might well dampen his enthusiasm :

  : I have spoken to Mislya : answered Lililya with the Lind version of a giggle. She telepathed Ross some images of Daltei’s more crazy pranks when he was young which had been passed to her from the Weaponsmaster’s Lind : Mislya thinks there will be trouble ahead :

  : They will be good for each other : replied Ross : Young Tina here will put a brake on his wildness and Daltei will bring his vadeln-pair out of this shell she is encased in though from what you say, most of the common sense from this pairing will come from her :

  Tina was blissfully unaware of this mental interchange as she approached the low building where Emily and Ilyei were waiting.

  After the introductions, Ross and Lililya left and the girls looked at each other.

  “Hi Tina,” said the older girl at last, “this is Ilyei, my vadeln.”

  Tina looked shyly in Ilyei’s direction but said not a word, not so Daltei who greeted his fellow Lind in his usual indomitable and exuberant fashion. Ilyei looked resigned. He too had ‘spoken’ to Mislya.

  “Let’s go to your cubicle and tend to Daltei, shall we?” Emily said, drawing Tina inside. She laughed, “it is well drummed into us to tend to our Lind partners before we see to our own comforts. Not that we’d do anything else.”

  She led the two newcomers up the narrow corridor and opened a swing door with Tina and Daltei’s names on it.

  “Once we have rid your Daltei of all the dust and burrs in his coat,” she continued, opening the shutters to let in some light, “Ilyei will take him for something to eat whilst I get you settled in.”

  “I am hungry,” Daltei agreed, pushing his head between the two girls to look inside. Spying the large low divan-like pallet that could only be his bed, he whined in satisfaction.

  Tina eyed her own bunk with longing. All she wanted to do was to lie down and close her eyes.

  Emily saw this. “Why don’t you sit down and I’ll see to Daltei for once?” she suggested and proceeded to do so with a great deal of goodwill and a competence that spoke of much practice.

  Daltei sighed in ecstasy as she brushed his coat smooth, “keep this up I will fall asleep on my paws,” he informed her.

  Emily laughed and patted him.

  “Go and get something to eat,” she commanded, “then come back. I’ll make sure Tina gets a light meal then put her to bed. The bath can wait until tomorrow, so,” she warned with mock ferocity, “be quiet when you come in. I don’t want her woken.”

  “Be quiet as a vuz,” Daltei promised and meant it.

  When he returned Tina was fast asleep, curled into a wee ball on her bunk. She never stirred as he settled and both slept right through what remained of the day, that night and the wake-up bell next morning, much to Emily and the other cadets’ amazement.

  Emily managed to wake her at last and helped her into her uniform for the first time. After showing the new pair round the barracks she then escorted her charge to the cookhouse.

  “There are another two joining,” she announced over breakfast, “one girl, one boy. The girl is a great friend of mine, I can’t wait to see her again.”

  “Who?” asked Tina.

  “Tara and her va
deln Kolyei,” Emily answered in an impressive voice. “She is to train, not that she will end up serving with a Ryzck. Now, finish up and then I’ll take you to the bathhouse.”

  “Are they communal?” a worried Tina asked, where she came from, bathing was a strictly single-sex affair.

  “No, there’s a girls’ side and a boys’ side just like in the barracks. There’s a communal one in the middle.”

  Tina sighed with relief. “Daltei?”

  “Our friends are provided for, you wish to bathe with him? There is a joint-bathing area at the end. Ilyei and I have bathed together from the first. It’s good fun. We all did at domta Zanatei.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Has nobody said?” asked Emily. “Ilyei and I are one of the ‘original twelve’. They call us the Children of the Wolves.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  “How could you?” asked Emily, “now, do you want to bathe with Daltei or not?”

  Tina shook her head, “I’d rather not,” she said. At the farmstead females kept themselves covered at all times, the prospect of bathing in front of others, even Daltei, filled her with horror. The intuitive Emily realised this.

  “Look,” she said, “I’m free of lessons just now, why don’t I take you there? I usually bathe with Ilyei but it won’t hurt him for once to bathe by himself.”

  Result, one disgruntled Ilyei who wanted his back scrubbed.

  : We’ll go back later and I’ll see to you then : promised Emily in a rapid telepathic interchange : take Daltei and show him the Lind pool :

  : That extrovert? : Ilyei signalled his compliance with a mental sigh.

  Emily giggled, thinking that Daltei would certainly liven things up. He had been here barely a day and had already managed to create havoc. Although an adult and proud of his recent adoption of adult status, he was still gangly in stature and behaviour.