Frozen Prospects (5 page)

The
twinkle in Jasmin's eyes combined with her next comment almost made
Va'del wonder if she was reading his mind again. "Trust me on
this one, you just need to read it with the aim of understanding how
the laws all work together to protect the rights of the
villagers—from each other, from the Guadel, and most importantly
from their Headman. Once you approach it from that stance, it gets
much less dry."

Va'del
shrugged noncommittally, and shifted slightly, testing tired muscles
for soreness. He never would have guessed having an actual
instructor for weapons training would make such a difference in how
enjoyable it was. I'rone still didn't say much, in fact sometimes
his comments were downright cryptic, but even so Va'del had learned
more from him in the last two days than he had from Ma'del in the
last three months.

I'rone
had started with Ma'del's style of fighting, but promised that once
Va'del's arm was healed, the lessons would change. The Guadel's
manner of fighting involved the use of not only the standard
longsword, Va'del was familiar with, but also a long dagger that was
held in the left hand and used for parries and the occasional
strike. It seemed to Va'del like it would be hard to mentally keep
track of both weapons, but I'rone had promised that with enough
repetition the proper strikes and counters would become reflexive.

If
the study of law was the low point of the past two days, and the
study of weapons was the high point, the things Jasmin had asked
Va'del to do were more or less in the middle.
I
don't understand what possible purpose meditating could serve. She
just makes me sit there and visualize a thick sheet of ice slowly
melting away. Or a beaded curtain parting before me so that I can
see the outside world. That and relaxing. She seems awfully
concerned with me relaxing, and when I ask her about it, she just
says that the mental will follow the physical.

As
frustrating as the pointless exercises were, Va'del found he
couldn't really generate any ill feelings towards Jasmin after what
had happened the first night they'd reached the caves.

Va'del
had awakened partway through the night, unable to catch his breath.
Initially, he'd tried not to wake the others, but as his breathing
had grown more and more ragged, he'd been overcome by a mounting
sense of panic, and crawled over to where the other three were
sleeping.

Jasmin
had been the first to wake. She'd looked up at him with sleepy eyes
for a second and then sworn and yelled for Betreec. Jasmin had
hurriedly explained to Va'del that his lungs were filling up with
liquid, and then joined Betreec in a trance. The better part of a
cycle passed before the two women came out of the trance, but
somewhere along the way Va'del found he was once again able to
breathe.

Thinking
about what had happened, Va'del took a deep, experimental breath.
Betreec looked up again. "Do you still feel okay?"

Va'del
nodded. "Yes, I have since that night."

The
older woman smiled, and looked back down at the book she was
reading, but Va'del decided it was time to ask the question that had
been on his mind. "It only took a few minutes for my breathing
to ease. What were you and Jasmin doing for the rest of the time?"

Betreec
suddenly had the look of someone who'd just realized something
they'd thought trivial was about to come back and cause problems.
"As we mentioned before, the reason you were having a hard time
breathing was that the cold, thin air this high in the mountains was
damaging your lungs and causing them to fill with liquid. While we
were repairing the damage and helping your body to absorb the
liquid, we made a few changes so that you'll be less prone to have
problems of that sort in the future."

Va'del
found his fear of the Guadel suddenly swept away by the greater fear
of what he would become if they had their way with him. "You
changed my body without asking? Like I was a piece of stone to be
molded with no thought to what it might prefer?"

Leaning
into the cold wall behind him, Va'del fought off tears. "You
made me even more different from everyone else."

Betreec
looked devastated as he turned away, but he didn't care. For once
he suppressed his concern about how others felt, and instead
rejoiced in the fact that someone else felt bad.

A
few seconds later a gentle hand touched Va'del's shoulder, but he
shook it off. Jasmin cleared her throat, but received no response.
"We're sorry Va'del. We should have asked first, but among our
people, it is a fairly common thing. We expected you'd be
happy you now have greater freedom to move about the mountains if
you wanted."

Va'del
continued to ignore the younger wife in the hope she'd leave
him alone, and after a short time he heard her turn and walk away.
The next hand to touch his shoulder wasn't feminine or gentle.
I'rone carefully pulled the teenager around and then pressed a heavy
coat into Va'del's arms. "Outside."

Still
more than a little afraid of the larger man, Va'del pulled on the
heavy coat and his ice spikes. I'rone strode out into the cold as
soon as Va'del was properly attired.

The
pair walked for several minutes, moon-lit snow crunching with each
step, before I'rone stopped and found a seat.

"The
women, they are different than men. I think that's good. Some
tasks are better suited to our nature, and some are better suited to
theirs."

Va'del
listened in confusion—he wasn't sure he'd ever heard so many words
from I'rone at one time.

"Women
are more apt to try and change things, to fix things and people.
Sometimes they go too far, like they just did with you. When that
happens, it is important to make sure that they know they've
overstepped their bounds, but what's done is done. Nothing is
to be gained by trying to make them feel worse than they already
do."

Opening
his mouth to respond hotly, Va'del was suddenly struck by the
understanding displayed on I'rone's weathered face. "You have
always been different, but only small, stupid people make those who
are different feel bad simply because of differences. The Guadel,
we are all different. That is what makes us special, and your
difference from the rest of your village is the reason we believe
you may be able to become one of us."

The
massive Guadel patted Va'del on the shoulder and then stood.
"Rejoin us when you're ready."

After
I'rone had left, Va'del spent a cycle outside staring at the moon
before the cold finally drove him back to the way cave.
What
have I gotten myself into? When they are done with me will I even
be one of the People anymore? Will I even be human?

##

Va'del's
legs once again ached from the strain of trudging across the
blindingly white snow, but this time he wasn't quite as exhausted.
I suppose the last few
days of travel have toughened me up more than I thought.

From
his position in the front, I'rone pointed to a dark smudge
signifying bare rock a little ways in the distance, and Va'del
suddenly realized it must be the entrance to Screaming Wind Village.

Another
half cycle passed before the tiny group made it to the entrance of
the village caves, but time seemed to skip forward, and sooner than
Va'del expected, they were stepping inside the caves.
I
wonder what creates the keening sound? Some property of the wind
and rocks?

Ten
feet into the cave, a pair of guards challenged the small group,
stepping aside as I'rone removed his head covering. "Honored
Guadel. Para'de will conduct you all to the guest quarters."

The
guard that had spoken bowed briefly and then stepped aside so that
his companion could guide the small party. Va'del lost track of all
the turns they took, but after stabling the gurra, and meeting a
villager who'd promised to rub the beasts down, the party picked up
the bulk of the packages that had been on the beasts, and continued
on. Soon enough they were inside the guest quarters, and the guard
was backing out of the rooms.

Once
they were alone Jasmin shivered. "That howling never fails to
set my teeth on edge. If we were any closer to the entrance I'd
never get a wink of sleep."

Betreec
smiled as she and I'rone began unpacking the few things that they
would need while in the village. "The first time we were sent
here I nearly drug I'rone back out to the way cave two days early.
There's something about the pitch that always knots up my shoulders
something fierce."

Va'del
found himself smiling in shared camaraderie as Jasmin examined his
arm.

"It's
looking much better. The bones seem to be healing cleanly—I would
expect another two weeks and we can possibly remove the splint."

Va'del
could tell from her pause that she was trying to decide whether or
not to say something. Finally after a couple of heartbeats had
passed, Jasmin continued in a rush. "If you want, I could
force the healing process. It is a simple matter which leaves no
lasting change. I'd simply cause the bones to bind together more
quickly than they normally would."

Trying
to ignore the sudden queasiness in his stomach, Va'del did his best
to examine the offer objectively, stomping on the fear that would
lead to him offending her. "How quickly would it heal if you
did this?"

Jasmin
seemed to relax slightly, almost like a gurra trainer who'd managed
to get the beast to accept a burden without kicking for the first
time. "We could have the splint off in three days, and you
could start training the day after that. It's possible to do it
more quickly, but neither you nor I would be much good for
anything other than sleeping while you were healing if we did that.
Healing magic takes energy from both the healer and the
patient—that's why Sara typically uses non-magical methods and lets
the body heal itself at a natural rate. If she exhausted herself
and then someone was more seriously hurt, she might not have the
resources to heal the life-threatening injury."

Va'del
didn't doubt Jasmin's word, but the thought of Sara using mystical
powers seemed so unnatural that his mind shied away from the
thought.

"Can
I think about it for a little while?"

Jasmin
nodded, seemingly relieved Va'del hadn't turned her down
immediately, and turned to help with the last of the unpacking.

I'rone
saw Va'del begin to unbuckle his sword belt and shook his head
emphatically. Betreec smiled gently at the young man. "You'll
need to remain armed at all times while we are in the village.
There really shouldn't be any occasion for you to use a weapon
inside, but there are those who bear the Guadel no love, and you
should always be mindful of the possibility of an ambush in the
darkness by someone who had a judgment go against them."

Jasmin
frowned. "Sad to think that while our reception here is warmer
than what we saw at Bitter Rocks, we still have to fear attack from
our own people."

Va'del
was about to ask for further clarification when a loud clap
announced the presence of someone desiring entrance to their
quarters. The man who appeared from around the privacy corner in
the wall was as broad as he was garrulous, and it took Va'del only a
moment to realize that the well-fed man was the village Headman.

Betreec
handled the introductions, presenting Va'del to the Headman, He'lo,
without any title or explanation of his presence.

He'lo
seemed nearly ready to ask for clarification regarding the young
man's status, before nodding and turning back to Betreec. "I'd
hoped you'd be bringing a shipment with you. We're starting to run
low on some things, and now that Ma'del has stopped trading with us,
it's getting to the point where the kitchens turn out nothing but
mushroom stew for every meal."

Jasmin
smiled. "You'll be glad to know that a caravan set out from the
Capital about a week after we left. They shouldn't be too far
behind us. Maybe another week and a half, and your people will be
able to add some variety to their diets."

He'lo
nodded. "That's good to hear. You'll take our gem harvest with
you I assume?" I'rone nodded and, the Headman continued.
"We've got more than usual. I'll send an order with you, but
what we'd really like to get is a light source we could use to grow
some grain. I know those are usually sent out on an as-needed
basis, but we'd be willing to forgo a substantial amount of the profit
we'd otherwise see on this gem shipment if the Council would be
willing to provide us with one."

Betreec
seemed slightly surprised at the offer. "As you say that's out
of our hands, but we'll be sure to pursue the possibility with the
Council once we're back."

Once
the talk turned to the testing of the young men and women, Va'del
stopped paying as much attention, allowing his thoughts to wander
until he heard Jasmin say his name.

"...Va'del
and I can go look at the cavern where you'd like to begin farming.
Possibly I'll have some suggestions on how you can maximize the
yield if you're able to obtain a strong enough light source, and if
nothing else it will allow us to report back to the Council
regarding the level of preparation you've already made."

He'lo
held up a hand as Jasmin stood. "Before you go do that I
should tell you that there is a matter requiring your judgment."
The previously-confident Headman shifted his considerable bulk back
and forth from foot to foot several times before continuing.

"My
boy was involved in a business dealing with the widow of one of the
miners who was killed in an accident last month. I'll be the first
to admit that the terms of the agreement are quite complex and
somewhat vague in a couple key parts, but when the two of them came
for judgment, I found in favor of my son. The widow is appealing my
decision to you."