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That s all I know.
What happened?
I m poletti hiiri. Poletti kissa came on us. A raid for horses, slaves in
early summer. Each hutikuu the kipu holds slave market here. She pointed at
the outer wall of the garden.
Hutikuu?
A month in the fall. She sighed. Some of us they buy, any not sold the
raiding clans strangle.
Strangle! You own people?
No, no! Only the clan is mine. The others are strangers. No business of
mine. Besides, extra mouths in the long trek to the winter place would be
stupid. There s little enough food at the best of times.
You mean, if you got away from this place any hiiri who found you would
either strangle you or sell you back?
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Aamunkoitta looked puzzled that such a simple thing would be so hard for
Aleytys to understand. Rape me first, then, unless I put a knife in him, yes.
Without a clan, there s no place I can go.
Aleytys wriggled her shoulders impatiently. Madar! No wonder the nayids run
things. Don t your people ever work together? As she finished the question
she felt a deep uneasiness stir within the small woman. Look, Kitten, I m no
nayid either. If I can help& .
Ah! The hiiri slid off the bench and knelt in front of Aleytys, placing her
hands palm down on Aleytys knees. Taikagarna, she whispered. Kunniakas.
Kuu Voiman. Shaman. Kuu of the night, Aurinko of the day. Save my people. Help
my clan. Drive the hyonteinens from our land. Lend your power to the Paamies.
Paamies? Considerably startled, Aleytys stared at the eager intelligent
face. The mask was gone, the change striking. The hiiri had finally
capitulated, had accepted Aleytys as a force to cling to.
Use your good sense, Aleytys said hurriedly. Get back on the bench. If the
nayids are watching, and you know they re like that, you must wake their
suspicions acting this way.
Aamunkoitta snorted. Those stupid skat would think I m making love to you.
Nonetheless she settled herself back on the bench.
So. Aleytys grinned at her, delighted with this new development. You
weren t quite telling the truth before.
Aamunkoitta flicked a brief tight grin at her in return. It s what the
hyonteinens want to believe. We help it along. She went abruptly serious.
And unfortunately, there are clans where it s true. But not all. Not all.
She closed her hands tightly, one around the other until her knuckles turned
yellow-white. At times, she said very softly& paused& glanced at Aleytys,
cool speculation in her large brown eyes& . Aleytys could feel the euphoria
engendered by the healing and her own offer of aid dying into an everyday
cynical suspicion of everyone and everything outside her tight little circle& .
Picking her way carefully, the hiiri went on. At times one is born, one with
signs, when kuu swims in the house of Loki, one who is& has& is a johtaja. In
the time of wintering when the clans come together, if the signs are right& .
The hiiri hesitated, flashed a swift glance at Aleytys, then went on. For the
woman trade. And sometimes a man is such& he has the power in him& he is
johtaja& then he is& he& I don t know exactly how to say this, this damn
language& he is named Paamies. For him the clans will fight forswearing even
bloodfeud and deathright.
Ah. Aleytys rubbed her fingers together, then examined her palms. So you
have a Paamies. She touched the rising excitement in the hiiri, the tough
suspicious core. And you work for him even here. That s the real reason you
stay.
The hiiri fluttered her hands frantically. No, you re wrong, she whispered
urgently. What could I do? Don t even think& .
Calm down, Kitten. Forget it for now. How many hiiri in this place?
Aamunkoitta bit her full lips and once again she knotted her fingers
together. Then she pulled her hands apart and held them up. Each hand had
three fingers and an opposable thumb. Five hands plus three, she said
huskily.
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Twenty-three& hm& think about this. If you want to get out, all of you, when
I jump the wall, let me know.
Jump the wall? The sullen stupid mask slid back over her small sharp
features.
Hah! Aleytys jumped to her feet. Escape. Run away. Break out of this
prison. And you know exactly what I mean.
I have work here, Aamunkoitta said quietly.
And I have thinking to do. You mind leaving me alone a while?
Aamunkoitta got to her feet, dipped her body in a deep but graceful bow, and
shuffled over the grass into the dark rectangle that marked the entranceway.
Aleytys watched her go then stretched out full length on the stone bench,
resting her head on her folded arms, letting the water music play over her
tired body.
Chapter VIII
Swardheld. Aleytys turned over and stretched out on the bench, clasping her
hands behind her head, lazy and comfortable on the warm stone with the water
magic from the dancing stream running along her nerves, soothing her into a
glowing dream state. The breeze played in her hair, dancing the tendril curls
in small tickles around the edge of her face. Open those black eyes and talk
to me.
A deep chuckle vibrated within her. Eyes crinkling with laugh wrinkles,
Swardheld rumbled, Guda morga, freyka, A pleasant day.
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