as silence descended, and she realized it was true. To these people, she had no knowledge and no skills that made a woman valuable, and no family except the Company, here.
'Well,' said Sonia apologetically, 'Tess came from an important family in her own right. You mustn't mind Mother Sakhalin's disappointment, Diana. You must understand that the Sakhalin tribe is the Eldest of all jaran tribes, and she the headwoman of that tribe, so of course-'
'So of course she expected her grandson to marry a woman of higher rank,'' said Diana bitterly. If only they knew what an honor it had been for Diana to be accepted into the Bharentous Repertory Company, or how many actors she had beaten out for the place. It was absurd; millions of people knew her name, millions had seen her perform, on stage or watching through holo links, and this old woman, this barbarian of a tribe that didn't even know the rest of the universe existed, thought she wasn't good enough to marry her grandson.
'Diana,' said Sonia firmly, taking one of Diana's hands in her own, 'I understand that actors are Singers, that they are gifted by the gods with their art. But Mother Sakhalin believes that jaran Singers are the only true Singers- that can't be helped. Most jaran care nothing for khaja ways, and why should they? But I can see that you are a woman who thinks well of herself and has a position she is proud of. I have been in khaja lands, and I know you are a Singer. Still, you are not in your land now, and Mother Sakhalin is worried about her grandson. Who is, I might add-' She shifted her head so that she could wink at Diana without Sakhalin seeing, '-since she can't understand me, her favorite grandchild. Make him happy, and she will come to love you.'
A rush of gratitude overwhelmed Diana. Impulsively, she reached out and took Sonia's other hand in hers. 'I thought you came to try to talk me out of the marriage.''
Sonia looked puzzled. 'It is Anatoly's choice, and while I might think that choice was rash, I cannot now interfere. Not even his grandmother can interfere.'
'I…I thought-' Now she glanced at Mother Sakhalin's stern face, and then away, because the old woman terrified her. 'I thought perhaps Anatoly no longer wanted to marry me. That you came to tell me that. It isn't-as if we know one another very well. He might have had second thoughts.'
Sonia laughed and squeezed Diana's hand reassuringly. 'Men never have second thoughts. Anatoly, like most young men who have gotten what they want, has been infuriatingly well-mannered for the past nine days.''
If the rug had been yanked out from under her feet, Diana could not have felt more unstable. It really was going to happen. 'But I don't know-that is, what is expected of a wife here? What do I do?''
Sonia sighed and released Diana's hands. 'How like Tess you are. I begin to think you khaja women are hopeless. But perhaps that is because you have servants or slaves to do all the work for you.'
'We don't have slaves!' Diana broke off. She could not begin to imagine what these jaran women must do, every day, to keep their families fed and sheltered and clothed and healthy. Her world and their world barely intersected, and in their world, she was as ignorant as a baby. 'I hope you will help me understand what things I need to do.' She hadn't the faintest inkling of what she was getting into.
Sonia shook her head. 'You need a woman of the tribes to help you, to treat you as a sister. I can't offer, because I have too many responsibilities as it is. But perhaps…' She turned to Sakhalin and the two women had a rapid conversation in khush. Diana could not understand a word they were saying, could not even recognize any of the khush words she had so laboriously learned from the program on Maggie's slate. 'That is settled, then,' said Sonia finally, nodding her head with a satisfied look on her face. Even Sakhalin looked mollified. 'The tribes are moving. The main army leaves tomorrow, and our camp moves as well. We will meet up with Arina Veselov and her tribe, and I will ask her to take you in. That will do, I think. You'll like Arina. I think you must be of an age, you two. She and her husband know Tess well, too, so they will understand about your khaja ways. But you'll have to learn khush, although I believe Kirill has learned some Rhuian these past three years. Is that acceptable to you, Diana?'
'To me, yes.' Pitched into this unknown sea, Diana was not sure she could swim. 'But I'll-you'll-Arina Veselov will have to speak to Owen and Ginny first. I need their permission for any drastic change in my circumstances. I have my duties to the Company.'
Sonia repeated this speech to Sakhalin, and the old woman voiced her approval of Diana's deference to her elders. 'Mother Sakhalin says that until we meet up with the Veselov tribe, you and Anatoly may consider the Sakhalin camp your own.'
'But isn't that his family? Wouldn't he live there anyway? ''
Sonia cocked her head to one side. She wore her hair in four braids, each bright with ribbons woven in the hair, and her head was capped by a beaded net of gold that hung in strands down to frame her face. 'When a man marries, he goes to his wife's kin to live. Tomorrow, if you wish, you may move your tent into your people's encampment, and Anatoly will move there as well.'
Except that inside the encampment lay concealed the forbidden technology that they used every day. 'But-'
'Or you may wait, if you wish, and see what agreement you and Mother Yomi reach with Arina Veselov.'' Sonia stood and shook out her skirts and helped Elizaveta Sakhalin to rise. Diana got hastily to her feet and went to hold the entrance flap aside. 'If there is any wedding finery that you wish to borrow,' said Sonia, pausing before she left, 'let me know.'
'That much I think we can manage,' said Diana, and then realized how snappish she sounded. 'But thank you.' She smiled sincerely at the other woman. Sonia smiled back. Sakhalin did not smile. The two women took their leave.
Diana let the tent flap fall back into place, leaving her in the gloom of the tent. She sat down, then threw herself out along the pillows, and sighed. What was she doing here, anyway? What did she think she was doing? And here she was, stuck in the tent with nothing to do. Of course, she could walk out any time she wanted. She did not have to go through with the marriage. Everyone said as much; she knew as much. But when it came right down to it, she could not bring herself to hurt Anatoly by publicly repudiating the marriage in such a fashion, not when Sonia had just said that he still desired it. And she absolutely refused to give Marco Burckhardt the satisfaction of knowing that he was right.
'Diana?' It was Joseph. 'I brought some of your things. And a camplight for the tent. And some food.' The tent flap rustled aside and he stuck his head in. 'Here you are.'
'Bless you, Joseph. How kind you are.'
He grinned. 'I'll send Anahita by later to help you with your makeup and costume.'
'Monster.' She laughed, feeling suddenly heartened. 'Don't you dare. Go on, you must be busy back at camp.'
' 'I go, I go; look how I go; Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow.' Lady knows, I've heard that line enough times.' He retreated to her applause.
She ate a little and then took out her journal and wrote. 'My dear Nana, I'm not sure how to explain this to you…'
Quinn interrupted some time later. 'Diana.' She crawled in. 'What a gorgeous piece of weaving. Where did you get this? Oh, from his grandmother. My, my. Now there's a formidable woman, even though she barely comes up to my shoulder. You must have charmed her.''
'She doesn't like me.'
'Surely not.'
'Well, I don't know whether she likes me, but she certainly doesn't approve of me. Did you bring everything?'
'Mirror. Kit. Gown. Seshat sent baubles, for afterward-after the performance, for whatever they do for a ceremony. She thought you ought to sparkle, even though we don't have the kind of gold they do. Those women do weight themselves down with it, don't they?'
Diana fingered the gold bead necklace that Anatoly had given her. 'I suppose it's a marker of status.' Which she sorely lacked. 'Oh, well. Let's get ready.'
They were old hands at putting on makeup. That accomplished, they changed into the simple gowns that Joseph had designed to fit the greatest range of plays, using smaller accessories to give them character and place. It was dusk when they emerged from the tent and walked over to the encampment where the others had gathered.
Yomi counted them off. 'In two more minutes, Hyacinth will be late,' she proclaimed. One minute and fifty five seconds later, Hyacinth appeared. He had highlighted his eyes with black pencil and tied various odds and
