took it without a word and turned and walked back to his horse.
Should he follow them? Could he, without being killed; that was the real question. He judged it unlikely. He must hope that Tess would get the transmitter; it would keep track of her whereabouts, whatever she chose to do with it. He opened her letter to Charles and read it again. Unwound the cylinder from its fabric blanket and stared. The Mushai. Goddess help them all. He'd damned well better get this back to Charles. If Tess was not safe for now in the hands of Ilyakoria Bakhtiian, then she wasn't safe anywhere.
Bakhtiian mounted and turned to stare at Marco as if memorizing his features in case they met again and Bakhtiian discovered that Marco had indeed not fulfilled his duty. And Marco had a sudden flash of insight: if this barbarian prince ever decided that he wanted to conquer the civilized lands, then Goddess protect those lands that lay in his path.
They rode away, these jaran, much to the relief of the townspeople of Abala Port. But then again, it would give them something to talk about for the entire winter. Marco tied the leather pouch to his belt and went to talk to the ship's master of the Queen Aireon about getting passage with them back to Jeds.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
'An eddy, of all manner of forms, is separated off from the whole.'
A formal delegation arrived the next morning. Niko had thrown the tent flap back, and Tess saw four women approach Niko where he sat outside: an older woman she vaguely recognized, Vera, Arina, and-she craned her neck to get a better look but she had not been mistaken: it was Yeliana, dressed in a knee-length green tunic with a pair of belled trousers bagging out below, tucked into her soft boots.
To Tess's surprise, it was Arina who stepped forward. 'Nikolai Sibirin, we women have decided that it is improper that your patient be so isolated. If you choose the hospitality of this tribe, then we ask her to reside in my tent. As her healer, you will, of course, be given free access.'
Niko had already stood. Now he simply bowed his head. 'As you wish, Mother Veselov.'
Tess tried to move enough to see Arina's mother but the older woman was nowhere in sight. Niko crawled into the tent.
'What did you mean, 'Mother Veselov'?' Tess whispered.
'Arina is etsana now. Didn't I tell you? Her mother died nine days ago and was taken out to the grass these six days past. Ah, but you were-I heard it from Vladimir, who rode messages between us and the tribe until you could be brought here.'
'Arina is etsana! I'd have thought Vera would have demanded that honor-'
'Hush, child. They're outside. And you must not underestimate Arina, or her brother.'
'Well, I'm sick of this tent.'
'Yes, you will be among women. Varia Telyegin is the healer here, and a very fine one, too.'
'But you'll still stay with me, Niko.'
'Of course, my child. Don't forget to thank Arina, for she must be treated with respect now.''
But upon being eased outside, Tess found her whole position, lying flat on her back and staring up at pretty, petite little Arina, who was younger than herself, to be utterly absurd. 'I can't call you 'Mother,' ' she blurted.
Arina laughed. 'I should hope not, Tess. I'm not even married.' Then she blushed suddenly and quickly knelt beside Tess. 'Come. You'll be much happier with us. Here, Yeliana, can you take this corner?' Yeliana obeyed, looking too shy to speak.
'I am so glad you are getting better, Tess,' said Vera, taking another corner.
Tess smiled vaguely, not trusting her, but Vera looked and sounded sincere enough. Perhaps the shock of almost losing her husband would make her appreciate him more. Varia Telyegin was the fourth, and with Niko trailing meekly behind, they carried her on the blanket through a suddenly empty camp and installed her in what seemed glorious comfort in the outer room of Arina's great tent. The three older women left, leaving Yeliana to tuck pillows behind Tess and arrange her suitably while Niko watched.
'How did you get here?' Tess demanded.
Yeliana glanced up at Niko, then back at Tess. 'I ran away. If you could ride with the men, then why shouldn't I do what Vladimir did and go to Bakhalo's jahar-ledest and train? And gain a place for myself in a jahar?''
'How did you come here then?'
'I found the-I found Sibirin, and I rode back here with Vladi. And-' She paled, looking almost scared. 'She who was Mother Veselov had just died, and-well, Arina Veselov has only the one brother, and he is married into the Charnov kin, so she hadn't anybody to-' She faltered. When she spoke again her voice had dropped to the barest whisper. 'She gifted me her tent, Tess. The one she had when her mother was alive. She says I am to be her sister.' Yeliana put a hand to her cheek and wiped away tears. 'She trusts me, that I will not break this bond. Even after I broke service with the gods and ran away from the shrine.'
'And will you break the bond? To go and train?'
'Never!' She rose and turned to survey Niko, a slight, passionate girl arrayed with an adolescent's fierce loyalty. He smiled at her. 'Sibirin. I cannot ask so much of my sister yet, but if in a year, when she is married and perhaps things are more settled, might I ask her about Vladimir? If he is my brother, then wouldn't he be welcome in my tent?'
'Yeliana, I cannot answer that question. I am not an Elder in this tribe, and in any case, Vladimir has a duty to his dyan. And, perhaps, an interest in a girl in the Orzhekov tribe.'
'But what woman would want an orphan for a husband?' Yeliana asked.
'If he has made a place for himself, and hers is secure enough, then any woman, I think, who cares for such a man might allow him to mark her. Vladi cannot just mark whom he wishes, after all. Her brothers might well kill him for his trouble.'
'Oh,' said Yeliana, looking quite as young as she was.
'Yeliana,' said Tess. 'Could you leave us for a moment?' Yeliana nodded and hurried out. 'Niko, why would Arina take her in?''
'Tess, Arina's position is not exactly strong. You must understand that. She is young and unmarried, and she also must contend with a cousin who is, may I say, the kind of relation with whom one's best dealings are done from a position of strength. As etsana, Arina has every right to gift Yeliana into the tribe, as Irena Orzhekov did with you, though many will consider such a gifting rash. As well it might be. But Vera is not well liked, and her only other relation is her father. And her husband, of course. I do not count Vasil because he is no longer welcome here. So Arina has gotten herself another pair of hands, one, incidentally, that will be utterly and personally loyal to her. Don't think Yeliana's life will be easy, though I don't think it will be harsh either.'
' 'When is Arina going to marry?'' Tess could not keep a certain roughness from her voice. 'Soon, I suppose.'
'That, my girl, is none of our business. Do you understand me?''
'Yes, Niko,' she said meekly. 'When can I walk?'
'You can walk when I say you can and not sooner. But I think you will find your confinement less irksome here. By the way, Tess, I would not let anyone know about the Avenue. Yeliana has been spoken to, as have Konstans and Kirill and Vladi. Arina knows because she must. Otherwise, we won't speak of it until Ilya returns.'
'What about Tasha?'
'Tasha does not need warning.'
'Why must it be a secret? Are you ashamed?'
Niko laughed. 'Ah, I'm beginning to hear that refreshingly brutal tone in your voice again. You must be getting better. We will wait for Ilya's return.'
It was all he would say.
