the time the moons are both full
again, by the night of the next festival, there should be at least
one or two women who will choose him, if only for the novelty he
represents. If he is successful in impregnating them, there will be
other willing women at later festivals.”
It was then that Reid heard a sound from the
previously silent Janina, just the beginning of a quickly smothered
sob. Looking at her frozen face, gazing into her mist-blue eyes, he
saw pain and knew with a stab of mingled guilt and joy that she was
not indifferent to him even though she had refused his love-making.
And he also knew that she believed there was nothing she, or he,
could do to prevent the fate Tamat had just decreed for him.
* * * * *
In late evening, Osiyar joined Tamat in her
small audience chamber for their daily discussion of events in
Ruthlen. As always, no one else was present, not even Sidra.
“There is only one thing to talk about
tonight,” Osiyar observed, seating himself next to her, “and that
is Reid. The man has an incredibly strong will to live if the urge
to destroy himself could not overcome him in the forest or while he
was ascending the cliff. That is our last defense against anyone
who tries to penetrate the shield to enter Ruthlen. Reid should be
dead by now, would be dead were he any other man. Which makes me
wonder, Tamat. Did you bring him here deliberately?”
“No,” Tamat replied. “I was informed by
Philian, who was on duty then maintaining the shield, that a man
had entered the outermost defenses. I am as surprised as you are
that he succeeded in reaching us, but now that he is here, it is
only sensible to make use of him instead of destroying him.”
“For the present,” Osiyar agreed, watching
her face closely for any change of expression. “And in the
future?”
“Ah, who can foretell the future?” said Tamat
with an odd inflection to her voice.
“Under certain circumstances, Janina can,”
Osiyar replied quietly, his eyes still on Tamat’s face. If he saw
anything there to indicate what Tamat’s deepest thoughts might be,
he gave no sign. After a pause he spoke again. “I would not
disagree with you when anyone else was present, but Sidra’s
objection to allowing Reid to mate with the village women is a
sound one. I can only conclude that you have some well-founded but
unrevealed reason for your decision to use him in such a way.”
“Osiyar, you have shared my growing despair
at the decline in our population, and at the inherited ill health
of so many of our people. You know my fear that within another
generation or two, Ruthlen may cease to exist, for few will remain
alive.” Suddenly Tamat’s eyes were shining with excitement. Her
voice became that of a much younger woman, a woman with renewed
purpose to her life. “Dear friend, share now my joy at the new hope
we have been given, for Reid could well prove to be our salvation.
I searched his mind thoroughly, and he has a portion of the Gift.
He has never been trained, of course, having spent his life in the
Jurisdiction where use of the Gift is strictly forbidden. He could
not control his ability should it be set free in him, so we must
take care never to rouse it, or he would go mad and be useless to
us. But his children can inherit the Gift from him as well as from
their mothers. Reid brings us not only new genetic material, but a
fresh infusion of telepathic strength. He is exactly what Ruthlen
needs.”
“I knew you had some deeper purpose.” Leaning
back in his chair, Osiyar regarded her with respect and affection.
“I am also certain you have some other plan for Reid besides this
mating arrangement. You would never do anything so serious as allow
a stranger to live here without several good reasons.”
“I see certain possibilities,” Tamat replied,
not denying what Osiyar had said. “More than that I will not say
just now.”
“And Janina? What of her?”
“Janina has done nothing wrong,”
again, by the night of the next festival, there should be at least
one or two women who will choose him, if only for the novelty he
represents. If he is successful in impregnating them, there will be
other willing women at later festivals.”
It was then that Reid heard a sound from the
previously silent Janina, just the beginning of a quickly smothered
sob. Looking at her frozen face, gazing into her mist-blue eyes, he
saw pain and knew with a stab of mingled guilt and joy that she was
not indifferent to him even though she had refused his love-making.
And he also knew that she believed there was nothing she, or he,
could do to prevent the fate Tamat had just decreed for him.
* * * * *
In late evening, Osiyar joined Tamat in her
small audience chamber for their daily discussion of events in
Ruthlen. As always, no one else was present, not even Sidra.
“There is only one thing to talk about
tonight,” Osiyar observed, seating himself next to her, “and that
is Reid. The man has an incredibly strong will to live if the urge
to destroy himself could not overcome him in the forest or while he
was ascending the cliff. That is our last defense against anyone
who tries to penetrate the shield to enter Ruthlen. Reid should be
dead by now, would be dead were he any other man. Which makes me
wonder, Tamat. Did you bring him here deliberately?”
“No,” Tamat replied. “I was informed by
Philian, who was on duty then maintaining the shield, that a man
had entered the outermost defenses. I am as surprised as you are
that he succeeded in reaching us, but now that he is here, it is
only sensible to make use of him instead of destroying him.”
“For the present,” Osiyar agreed, watching
her face closely for any change of expression. “And in the
future?”
“Ah, who can foretell the future?” said Tamat
with an odd inflection to her voice.
“Under certain circumstances, Janina can,”
Osiyar replied quietly, his eyes still on Tamat’s face. If he saw
anything there to indicate what Tamat’s deepest thoughts might be,
he gave no sign. After a pause he spoke again. “I would not
disagree with you when anyone else was present, but Sidra’s
objection to allowing Reid to mate with the village women is a
sound one. I can only conclude that you have some well-founded but
unrevealed reason for your decision to use him in such a way.”
“Osiyar, you have shared my growing despair
at the decline in our population, and at the inherited ill health
of so many of our people. You know my fear that within another
generation or two, Ruthlen may cease to exist, for few will remain
alive.” Suddenly Tamat’s eyes were shining with excitement. Her
voice became that of a much younger woman, a woman with renewed
purpose to her life. “Dear friend, share now my joy at the new hope
we have been given, for Reid could well prove to be our salvation.
I searched his mind thoroughly, and he has a portion of the Gift.
He has never been trained, of course, having spent his life in the
Jurisdiction where use of the Gift is strictly forbidden. He could
not control his ability should it be set free in him, so we must
take care never to rouse it, or he would go mad and be useless to
us. But his children can inherit the Gift from him as well as from
their mothers. Reid brings us not only new genetic material, but a
fresh infusion of telepathic strength. He is exactly what Ruthlen
needs.”
“I knew you had some deeper purpose.” Leaning
back in his chair, Osiyar regarded her with respect and affection.
“I am also certain you have some other plan for Reid besides this
mating arrangement. You would never do anything so serious as allow
a stranger to live here without several good reasons.”
“I see certain possibilities,” Tamat replied,
not denying what Osiyar had said. “More than that I will not say
just now.”
“And Janina? What of her?”
“Janina has done nothing wrong,”
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