resolutely on the ground, not daring to
glance up at Nicoletta, who had stiffened and was standing very still.
Nicoletta's dark eyes flashed with sudden fire. "I will not marry
Cristano or any other." She enunciated each word carefully. "I will
not, Maria Pia. Do not think you can change my mind. Such a match would be a
death sentence for me."
Maria Pia was silent while the wind tugged gently at their clothing. She
sighed softly.
"Piccola,
I have done you an injustice. When you
lost your madre, you were so inconsolable, you spent all your time in the
wilds. You were so little and sad, we were all afraid of losing
you.
Do
you remember those dark days? I would sit beneath the trees with you and up on
the cliffs, many times all night. You did not speak for weeks at a time. You
did not seem to feel the cold or the rain. I had to force you to eat. You took
risks with your life, climbing crumbling cliffs and exploring caves just before
the tide rushed inside. The wolves would howl, and you would not flinch. I
would see their glowing eyes and try to persuade you to return to the
villaggio,
but nothing frightened you, and nothing could assuage your grief. We allowed
you to mourn in your own way, but I am not certain it was for the best. You
were only five summers, but you were separate from us even then."
"I have always been separate," Nicoletta pointed out gently.
"I am ever aware I could bring
morte
to the entire
villaggio.
It is a terrible burden hanging over my head. I know the little ones are taught
never to speak of me to outsiders or if an outsider is near. It is a burden for
them also. I cannot change that I am different. I did not want to be different,
but I accept that I am. I try use my gifts for the good of others, and I light
candles to the Madonna that it is right to do so."
"You are a treasure to us, Nicoletta." Maria Pia laid a hand on
the younger woman's arm. "To me. You are a good girl, and the Madonna
knows that."
Ketsia clutched Nicoletta's skirt tighter. Nicoletta brought laughter and
love to the
villaggio.
The children adored her and followed her everywhere.
"Why are you afraid, Nicoletta?" She didn't understand the
conversation, but she could feel the intensity of emotion shimmering between
the two women.
Immediately Nicoletta smiled at the child, her dark eyes dancing with
mischief. "I have an idea, Ketsia. You should marry Cristano. He can wait
until you are sixteen. It is only a few more years, and by then he might have
made his fortune."
Ketsia thought it over. "He is handsome, but he is already old.
Probabilmente
he is already too old even for you, Nicoletta."
Maria Pia coughed delicately behind her hand. "I must go now to the
palazzo. It will not do to keep the don waiting too long. Mirella will come
with me, but you stay out of sight. The hills have spies, Nicoletta. The don is
a powerful man, and many wish to have his favor. If he has interest in you,
someone will answer his inquiries."
"You are right," Nicoletta agreed. Those who lived in the tiny
villaggio
depended on Nicoletta's strange gifts for a good portion of their livelihood.
But they lived on land owned by Don Scarletti, and he was a good and generous
protector and provider, though they were expected to work hard at their farms
and crafts and to be somewhat self-sufficient. Unlike other dons, Don Scarletti
did not take the lion's share of their profits, so the people were loyal to
him, but they loved Nicoletta. She healed their sick, determined the richness
of the earth for their crops, and she concocted the unique colors that kept the
aristocrazia
coming to them time and again for fine cloth.
Scattered over Don Scarletti's vast holdings were many other
villaggi
and farms, yet few of them held the importance to the don that theirs did.
Nicoletta's
villaggio
was tiny in comparison to many others, but they had
made a certain name for themselves and were the most prosperous of all. They
were a closed group, wary of outsiders. They were
glance up at Nicoletta, who had stiffened and was standing very still.
Nicoletta's dark eyes flashed with sudden fire. "I will not marry
Cristano or any other." She enunciated each word carefully. "I will
not, Maria Pia. Do not think you can change my mind. Such a match would be a
death sentence for me."
Maria Pia was silent while the wind tugged gently at their clothing. She
sighed softly.
"Piccola,
I have done you an injustice. When you
lost your madre, you were so inconsolable, you spent all your time in the
wilds. You were so little and sad, we were all afraid of losing
you.
Do
you remember those dark days? I would sit beneath the trees with you and up on
the cliffs, many times all night. You did not speak for weeks at a time. You
did not seem to feel the cold or the rain. I had to force you to eat. You took
risks with your life, climbing crumbling cliffs and exploring caves just before
the tide rushed inside. The wolves would howl, and you would not flinch. I
would see their glowing eyes and try to persuade you to return to the
villaggio,
but nothing frightened you, and nothing could assuage your grief. We allowed
you to mourn in your own way, but I am not certain it was for the best. You
were only five summers, but you were separate from us even then."
"I have always been separate," Nicoletta pointed out gently.
"I am ever aware I could bring
morte
to the entire
villaggio.
It is a terrible burden hanging over my head. I know the little ones are taught
never to speak of me to outsiders or if an outsider is near. It is a burden for
them also. I cannot change that I am different. I did not want to be different,
but I accept that I am. I try use my gifts for the good of others, and I light
candles to the Madonna that it is right to do so."
"You are a treasure to us, Nicoletta." Maria Pia laid a hand on
the younger woman's arm. "To me. You are a good girl, and the Madonna
knows that."
Ketsia clutched Nicoletta's skirt tighter. Nicoletta brought laughter and
love to the
villaggio.
The children adored her and followed her everywhere.
"Why are you afraid, Nicoletta?" She didn't understand the
conversation, but she could feel the intensity of emotion shimmering between
the two women.
Immediately Nicoletta smiled at the child, her dark eyes dancing with
mischief. "I have an idea, Ketsia. You should marry Cristano. He can wait
until you are sixteen. It is only a few more years, and by then he might have
made his fortune."
Ketsia thought it over. "He is handsome, but he is already old.
Probabilmente
he is already too old even for you, Nicoletta."
Maria Pia coughed delicately behind her hand. "I must go now to the
palazzo. It will not do to keep the don waiting too long. Mirella will come
with me, but you stay out of sight. The hills have spies, Nicoletta. The don is
a powerful man, and many wish to have his favor. If he has interest in you,
someone will answer his inquiries."
"You are right," Nicoletta agreed. Those who lived in the tiny
villaggio
depended on Nicoletta's strange gifts for a good portion of their livelihood.
But they lived on land owned by Don Scarletti, and he was a good and generous
protector and provider, though they were expected to work hard at their farms
and crafts and to be somewhat self-sufficient. Unlike other dons, Don Scarletti
did not take the lion's share of their profits, so the people were loyal to
him, but they loved Nicoletta. She healed their sick, determined the richness
of the earth for their crops, and she concocted the unique colors that kept the
aristocrazia
coming to them time and again for fine cloth.
Scattered over Don Scarletti's vast holdings were many other
villaggi
and farms, yet few of them held the importance to the don that theirs did.
Nicoletta's
villaggio
was tiny in comparison to many others, but they had
made a certain name for themselves and were the most prosperous of all. They
were a closed group, wary of outsiders. They were
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