Under a Starless Sky

Chapter 5

“I’ve never seen a male baby that didn’t cry. Go get me that needle over there, I’ll fix this,” G’Ma said.

The look on the infants face caused laughter.

“No, mother,” Lanore said.

Lanore, Ceolla, Tell, and G’Ma looked down into the bassinet holding the twins. They were both

relatively quiet. The girl had made a fuss when separated from his brother.

“That is the ugliest baby I have ever seen,” Tell said.

“You said it would look better in a day or so,” Ceolla said. “This is not better.”

“It reminds me of Eirwen,” Tell said.

“Are you sure you only slept with the Water People?” Tell asked.

“Yes,” Lanore said.

“I thought maybe this ghost woman you told me of was albino, but this is not that,” Tell said.

“Maybe the water people have this in them. Maybe the stories of being casted out on water in baskets

are actually truth. Even they can’t stand this look,” Ceolla offered.

“We should kill it,” G’Ma said.

“We are not killing it,” Lanore said. “It suckles. It’s thriving.”

“You can’t leave it with your daughter like this,” G’Ma said.

“I don’t think this is catchy,” Lanore said.

“You must admit, this bond they have is strange,” Tell said. “They can’t stay together forever.”

“Maybe her soul divided into two babies,” Ceolla offered.

“Seriously?” Lanore asked her.

“This is your fault, Lanore,” G’Ma said. “You consult with ghosts, you get ghosts. I warned you about

this Heart path. You have led us further from Sinter and now have brought evil into the world.”

“It is a baby, not evil,” Lanore said.

“It is a male. You don’t know what gifts it will bring!” G’Ma said.

“It’s so ugly, it’s not likely to have any opportunities to give gifts,” Ceolla said.

“That is certain,” Tell said. “I can’t see how allowing this to continue is kindness.”

G’Ma frowned, not wanting to agree with Tell. She left the room, angry.

“Worst case scenario, he offers nothing. He is a mouth to feed,” Ceolla said.

“In other words, just another man,” Lanore lamented.

“I could train it for the fights,” Tell said. “Hell, people would likely pay just to see him. And if he proves

any good, well, people will want to fight the ghost.”

“I don’t like the games,” Lanore said.

“A man either brings gifts, or he fights,” Tell said. “There is no way this one will bring gifts. He will fight,

or he will be a burden. If you get a reputation for being soft, you’ll have every beggar from Midelay

inwards wanting to come here.”

Lanore picked up the girl. She could hold her. She could feed her. If she put her in her own basinet, she

cried. She tried it again, just to prove a point. She put the daughter back in the basket with the boy.

“He has given me the gift of quiet,” Lanore said. “Surely that is something?”

“Do you think she’s protecting him?” Ceolla said.

“It’s a baby,” Tell said. “How much discernment do think it holds.”

“Don’t we all bring secrets into this world?” Ceolla said.

“We’ll stay the course,” Lanore said. “I have got enough milk for both.”

Tell laughed. “You got enough milk for half your village,” she said.

“We have honey,” Ceolla offered.

Tell was mad. “I was joking. She is not a goat,” she said.

“Goat milk is for goats. Human milk is for humans,” Ceolla said.

“You people are strange,” Tell said.

“And yet, you tarry,” Ceolla said.

“Well, now I’m guaranteed to be here at least three years,” Tell said.

“Why?” Lanore asked.

“I must see how this fiasco turns out,” Tell said.

“The tern looks good on you,” Lanore said.

“I am surprised anything this comfortable could come from pineapple pulp,” Tell said, pouring herself

tea.

Lanore’s eyes fell on Candace, who was teaching her younger sister letters. Candace marked on a

slate with chalk, pronouncing letters and naming things; Tama repeated after her. Lanore’s stare finally

drew Candace’s attention.

“What?” Candace asked.

“I have asked you not to do that in front of him,” Lanore said.

“He’s stupid, what harm is it for him to watch?” Candace asked.

“Dumb is not stupid,” Lanore said, for a millionth time. “Now send him outside.”

“I send him outside, she won’t sit still and do lessons with me,” Candace said. “I mean, really, L’Ma,

maybe if he is capable learning letters we could eventually have a dialogue with him.”

Lanore got up from her desk, took Shen by the arm, and led him outside.

“If you don’t stop coming in here, I will bounce you to barrack early,” Lanore said.

“Maybe you should,” G’Ma said. “Maybe they’ll beat some words out of him.”

Lanore snapped her finger at Tama. “Focus!”

Ceolla entered. “L’Ma.”

Lanore looked to Ceolla. “What?”

“I am sorry to disturb you, but they’re back,” Ceolla said.

“Who’s back?” Lanore said.

“The water people,” Ceolla said. “Three are in the circle.”

“They got all the way to the circle without being seen?” Lanore asked.

“Their ship is not visible from the Light. I am guessing they’re further up the coast?” Ceolla offered.

“I’ll be there directly,” Lanore said.

Ceolla bowed out. Lanore sat down, studying the image she had been trying to manifest. It looked like

similar to a jelly, like a man of war. The pencil didn’t do it justice. Her vision had more depth, more

colors. They were bright things in a dark place, as if only they existed.

“You can’t see everything, Sister,” Tell said.

“I know,” Lanore said. “But my whole village can’t be blind.”

“Come. Let’s meet our guests,” Tell said, touching her shoulder.

Lanore nodded, She got up and retrieved her staff. She motioned Candace and Tama to remain. G’Ma

followed Lanore and Tell out the study, out of the Lanore’s estate, across the courtyard, and out the

main gates. Three women, holding bamboo staffs, and kneeling, heads bowed, per a custom as old as

anyone could remember. Lanore entered the circle, brought her hands together and bowed, asking

them to stand. They stood, tracing circles over their heart.

“You are the Master of this Light?” the one in the center asked.

“I hold this Light. I hold the sanctity of this circle,” Lanore said. “You honor the path, so I greet you in

peace. My name is Lanore.”

“I am Neva,” the one in center spoke. “These two are my apprentices, Cari, and Foam. We come from

the Seaship, Kailini.”

“I see no city ship,” Lanore said.

“It is beyond the horizon,” Neva said. “It may be visible in a week. Or perhaps a month. Unless the sea

changes its mind.”

“You swam from beyond the horizon?” Lanore asked.

“We did not,” Neva said. “We came by Kayak. You’ll find it and our supplies by the river, on the side

favoring the Sleeping Forest. I have come to petition education.”

“I have two apprentices already,” Lanore said.

“Surely, there other Masters here from whom I might learn,” Neva asked.

“There is my Sister Tell, but she, too, has two apprentices,” Lanore said.

“I wish to learn the way of the Heart Path,” Neva said.

“You’re a little old to be afraid of the dark,” Lanore said. “Besides, you said you are already raised a

Master? You can’t spark a Light?”

“I am so raised,” Neva said. “But even Masters can still learn. You said two Master live here? Doesn’t it

take three to hold a light?”

“You’re assuming two. It takes three to raise a Light. Only one to hold,” Lanore said.

Neva bowed. “Is there any condition on which I might learn from you?”

“Holding breath would be a nice gift,” Lanore offered.

“I cannot give you this. I could teach your youngest children here to be half as good as ours, and if they

keep the skill and teach it to their children, then their children might carry it further, and maybe in seven

generations they will approach us in skill,” Neva said. “It would be better if they were born on the water, Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

and lived most of their day in and on water. Our babies can swim before they walk.”

“Impossible,” Sheen said.

Tell thumped her in the back of the head.

“All babies can swim,” Neva said. “People from the land have come to stay with us, and they’re babies

do as well as ours. The adults, not so much. I have the gift of healing. I could offer services in

exchange?”

“My apprentice is a healer, too,” Lanore said.

“Torch Bearer, reveal your Light,” Neva said.

Cari tapped her bamboo staff. The crystal held at the upper end illuminated.

Lanore tapped her staff, and the wood itself illuminated. No crystal needed.

“Holder of the flame,” Neva said.

Foam raised her bamboo staff. It began to glow orange, sparked into flames, and when she tossed it to

the ground, it became a Fire Snake. The Snake reared its head, its body bright orange, revealing a

shadowing bones inside. They were known to be able to spit a stream of fire. Lanore did not flinch. She

didn’t even look at it. Tell broke protocol and entered the circle, catching the snake by the neck. She

shook it out, as if to snap a whip and returned it to the form of a staff. She planted it in the ground and

stepped up to Foam. They locked eyes like snakes about mate.

“Tell,” Lanore said. “Sister. I hold this circle.”

Tell nodded, eyes holding on Foam. She slowly backed out of the circle.

“Is this all you have to offer?” Lanore asked.

Neva tapped her staff. It’s crystal illuminated with soft blue. A soft turn of air inside the circle spun the

ends of their dresses and snow began to fall. The effect was limited to just inside the circle.

“I can make the sky fall and water hard, and if you will entertain art as something real, I would claim to

be a seer. I am valuable to my people, because I always know where things are. I wish to learn the

Heart Path. The only thing of value I have is my life. I will give this to you, live here among you for the

remainder, if you will teach me, and allow me to pass this knowledge to my apprentices so they may

return home with True Sight,” Neva said.

“Do you have a book?” Lanore asked.

Neva tapped the tail end of her staff on the ground. The snow ceased; the twirling breeze abated. She

opened the flap of her pack and withdrew a book. She handed it to Lanore. Lanore examined the

leather, which was strange. The water mark was also strange. The smell of the paper was strange.

“I wish to hold this for a day,” Lanore said.

Neva bowed.

“Thank you,” Lanore said. “You may stay as long as you wish. I will give you a decision before this time

next year. Ceolla, chase the men out of the barracks and make our guests comfortable.”

Lanore exited the circle and headed back. Tell backed away, turned, and caught up to Lanore just as

she stopped to address Shen. She popped him in the head.

“That’s none of your business, boy.” Lanore said.

“Sea Gypsies, from the Bajau village on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia,” Shen said. “Genetic

adaption of enlarged spleen likely accounts for their unusual aquatic abilities.”

“What?” Lanore asked.

“You can speak?” Tell asked.

“It’s complete gibberish,” Lanore said.

“Shen? You understand us?” Tell asked.

“Yes,” Shen said.

“Why have you never spoken before?” Lanore demanded.

“I have not had anything nice to say,” Shen said.

Lanore handed her staff to Tell, then took Shen by the arm and walked him back to the house. She

walked him faster than he could keep up without trotting. ‘Finally, someone’s going to beat that boy,’

G’Ma was saying as he was led past her. The entered Lanore’s home. He balked at going into the

study, but Lanore was stronger. She practically tossed him to the floor cushions.

“Candace, take your sister out to play…”

“But…”

“Now!” Lanore snapped.

Candace and Tama departed quickly.

“You’re not going to beat him, are you?” Tell asked.

“I don’t know,” Lanore said. She paced. “I don’t know where to start in sorting this. Unpack this book, or

unpack him.”

“They’re both gifts,” Tell agreed.

“Two gifts at once?”

G’Ma entered. “I don’t see any beatings or hear wailing.”

“Out!” Lanore shouted.

“Wha…”

“You heard me. Out of my study and stay out,” Lanore said. She chased her mother out and slammed

the door shut. She grabbed the staff from Tell.

“Not with the staff,” Tell said.

Lanore glared at her. “I am not going to hit him with the staff!” she said, amazed that her Sister might

even think that. She cradled it in the door. It locked the door.

Lanore turned back to Shen. Her hands were trembling. She took the book to her desk, pulled out of

sheet of paper, set it down respectfully. She sat in her chair. She put her hands on her desk. She

closed her eyes.

“I am really angry,” Lanore said.

“I see,” Tell said.

“Why am I feeling this?”

Tell went sat by her. “Is it something you’ve seen?”

Lanore considered this. “No.”

“Are you tired of my presence?” Tell asked.

Lanore turned her head to her, gave her full eyes. “No!”

“Have you ever felt like this before?” Tell asked.

“No. Not precisely,” Lanore said. “The last time I felt like this I was pregnant…”

“Are you?” Tell asked.

“No!” Lanore said. “I have been with anyone since…”

Lanore’s eyes went to Shen. She stood up. Tell’s eyes went from Lanore to Shen back to Lanore.

“You’re doing this to me!”

“He’s not doing anything to you,” Tell said.

“Are you doing this to me?”

“No,” Shen said.

“Liar!” Lanore said.

“Lanore,” Tell said. “He’s four. He’s male. There’s no way he’s telepathically projecting…”

“He does it to his sister, too!” Lanore said. “She’s quiet around him. More focused….”

Tell couldn’t argue that. She turned back to Shen. “Are you projecting?”

“Yes. Everyone projects,” Shen said. “But there are only two damn seers in this house, and only of

them has expressed any interest in my wellbeing.”

“You’re angry?” Tell said.

“What does he have to be angry about? He’s a male and will likely not have to work a day in his life

because everyone feel so sorry for damn hideousness,” Lanore said.

Shen clenched his fist.

“Don’t you dare clench your fists,” Lanore snapped, going for the switch.

Tell got between them. “Both of you just calm the fuck down!”

“Don’t use profanity in front of a child!”

“I have heard the word fuck before!” Shen said.

“When have you ever heard the word fuck?” Tell asked.

“Hell, G’Ma says it every other word. Usually referencing me,” Shen said.

“There’s that,” Tell agreed, turning to Lanore. “Give me the switch.”

“Not until I beat some respect into that ghost…”

“I am not a ghost! I am not a monster. My silence has been my respect. I didn’t ask to be here. I don’t

know who you are or how I got here, but all I want is to go home,” Shen said. He began to cry. “I just

want to go home.” He sat down on the floor, hugged up a pillow and pushed back till his back was

against the wall.

Lanore began to cry. She, too, went to the floor and hugged up a pillow. Tell looked at each of them.

“Now see? This is much better,” Tell said.