Wild Within Page 8

  In the center of the hall a sort of market had been laid out. Some of the shops looked permanent, but some were facades on the front of large wagons, or tents. Others simply had large canopies of sorts held up with an intricate array of sticks as they sold from crates and barrels on the ground.

  At plaza level off to her left, on the same wall of unshaped stone with the sunny opening, there was a wide archway with shallow steps that sank out of sight. There were no balconies between the natural opening above and the carved open arches below and she understood that must be an outer edge of the mountain they were within. Off to her right, another cluster of shops and people set up in the shadier area farther from the sun. All those appeared to have to do with food.

  Those two clusters seemed to dominate the floor space, but people were coming and going, from the outer doors and the inner ones, and from the balconies. She saw one group of young men jump off a balcony with no stairs to land two shaks below as casual as if they’d walked. There were children and women too. Looking carefully she saw that most were accompanied by men, walking hand in hand, or some arm to waist, and some more formally. Watching the women she saw no fear on any of them. They wore no leash chains, had no glaze of mage blankness in their eyes, and did not follow behind their men in fear and submission like skinlickers. A few times as other men came up to some families or couples, the woman did fall back a step, but it seemed out of deference to the meeting, and she was greeted as well.

  She studied the way some men watched others, apparently acting as guards, and where people came from and went. She studied the variety of clothes, all thick and well made, and colorful for the women. She wanted to study the scene all day.

  “We can stay all day if you like, but we shouldn’t go down and mingle yet. Not until you learn the laws.”

  KarRa started, wondering if the woman had read her mind, but she wasn't even looking at her.

  “I don't know about you, but I never get tired of the view.” Cro whinnied.

  She tossed her bright curls and waved to a group of young boys who were jumping in athletic twists and turns, shouting from out in the middle of the plaza. They stopped when she acknowledged them and their eyes immediately turned to KarRa, intent. They couldn't see her clearly in the shadows she told herself, especially standing in the harsh light as they were, but that they had no trouble knowing where she was made her edge back, until one of the watching men standing still around the perimeter of the floor came up to the group and motioned them away.

  “My boys are trying to get a glimpse of you. The odds of finding a highly compatible mate are so much higher when you are here than when they are out in the wide world looking for you.”

  “Your boys?” KarRa asked.

  “I have a son. Andeus is six. As mate to the Clan Alpha, I am Clan Domina. All the men in the Clan are beneath me in status. I am mother, sister, and master to all the Cats. I call all of them my boys. It's exhausting.” She whirled to face KarRa, leaning on the side of her hip and crossing her arms.

  “First lesson. Everything here is based on Clans, which are based on the Beastspirits that manifest for each Trux as they mature. Mostly, this is hereditary.

  “It is wise of you to learn of all the Clans. The odds say that you will be adopted into one of the GreatClans, Bears, Wolves, or Mountaincats. They tend to go their own way and look to their own. But the world of the smaller Clans is more intertwined. You should be prepared. And also understand the life Rylan is coming to know.” That Cro would know how important it was to KarRa to know about Rylan's new life, even if she could never see him again, made her swallow with gratitude.

  “There are eight clanhomes for the eleven Clans. River Mountain is the largest, and the Council's seat. The Bears, Mountaincats, and Hawks claim it as their permanent clanhome, although all Clans have lairs here. You will be expected to live at the clanhome of your mate. Some women accompany their mates on duties if the duty is distant from their old City life.

  “You will find that if there is discord among a Clan, it is usually the women at the source and not the men. We have come from all Cities, even some like you from the wild, and all positions. Your friend Freezha is highly educated, well on her way to being a skymage if she can learn some control. She was in a position of wealth, but not much freedom. You—KarRa, you've come from a place of little wealth but near total self-reliance. You have a great deal of adjusting to do. When you are taken into a Clan after you've chosen a mate, a great many people will feel they have a right to know everything about you, but will also want to help you.”

  KarRa considered Cro. “I know a little of politics. My home was thick with it. My Clan was also small, and not one of the most powerful. Our Clan leader kept it that way, teaching the wisdom of walking a middle path. It's interesting that the Clan I chose for Rylan should fit this pattern. I’m more concerned about finding a skill to prove myself than gaining status.

  “But the Clans you talk of are really all of one family that have a common purpose. The Clans I grew up with would as soon rape the other as look at them. Most couldn't even hold themselves together for a few years. That these Clans all live in this one place… Does this Council rule the Clans well?”

  Looking down on the plaza KarRa gestured to the men who were still and watchful among the peaceful, calm people. “Freezha says there is no theft. No personal attacks. Our rooms have no locks. Yet in the Dark, Beasts are known as the strongest of warriors, those in charge of the killers. Are the Clans really that peaceful?”

  An expression flitted across Cro's face at KarRa's response. Something pleased and surprised. “Yes and no. The Clans have not truly fought each other in generations, having finally learned, the hard way, the truth of your statement, they are all the same family. But among such a volatile people, fights are a part of their nature. Control of the Beastspirits slip. Rivalries develop. There has been some violence, but it is rare, and dealt with harshly. Especially if it involves women. Whenever a mating or a pregnancy happens in a Clan, the leaders have to be careful. It can make the unmated Truxet … intense. Self-control is even more important around us.

  “Lesson number two: The men’s primary goal in life is to have a family. I've only met a few of the men who say they don't want families—even the lone alphas. It's just the opposite, it seems, of human men. Women are honored, and mates possessively guarded, but they literally crave children. They are wonderful, doting fathers. That's why it's so sad that some of the births they don't know about never get reported to them and men like your Rylan grow up alone. Sometimes they come to us mind broken, sometimes we find them wild…” She sighed, shaking her curls.

  “You know, being a father is in their blood, I think. That's why they take Beast children from women who cannot or will not leave the human world to raise them here after age six. I think they would go insane knowing they had a son and weren't part his life. The women can come if they want, and find loving mates if they do, but many are too scared.” Cro tossed her head scornfully. “I can't imagine a woman choosing safety over staying with her child. You'd be horrified to discover how many do.

  “You should know that you will be expected to have as many children as possible, although most Beasts aren't very fertile. Their fertility increases when they're mated and the average family has three children. Some women have a hard time accepting that they will give birth to something not human. And they aren't. You should understand that right now. These men,” she waved her hand, “as beautiful of form, intelligent and caring as they are, they have a Beast within that you always have to remember.”

  KarRa looked over at her. Cro frowned and picked with her fingernails at the carved stone railing. “Some women can't handle it. The idea of a Beast child. Some women think they can, then are frozen when the child ages and starts to manifest a Beastspirit.” KarRa didn’t think having a family of Beastspirits would bother her. She would have to see how truly safe this Beast world was before she knew how she felt about being a moth
er.

  Cro looked away, nonchalant, arms still crossed. “What did you think of Grif?” Even though she had not thought of him since seeing him carry Rylan's body out, she suddenly had a clear memory of him standing watchfully in front of her as she opened her eyes from the proving. Red-gold, strong, powerful. She swallowed again and also looked out over the plaza, no longer seeing it. Why on earth would Cro ask that question? “I thought he looked like a hard man, a warrior. And he is smart, very smart, about people.”

  Cro hummed. “He is that. He is the Owl Alpha. He wants to see you this afternoon. I'll take you after midmeal.”

  Suddenly uncomfortable, KarRa cast for a neutral, new subject. “I'd like to stay here and watch this place. I can ask you questions?”

  “Yes, of course. Can I ask you?”

  KarRa looked at her out of the corner of her eye and smiled wryly. Cro was bouncing again, curls flopping, fingers riffling along the railing. “Probably,” she replied.

  The morning passed quickly, as they mostly discussed a Clan's shared treasure (KarRa’s mind boggled) and how jobs could be changed, fulfilled in rotations called duties.

  Then KarRa asked, “How much do I have to work to earn a meal?”

  At Cro’s quiet, their eyes met, brown to green. “You will never go hungry here. Not an hour, not a minute.” Her voice held vehemence and promise.

  KarRa shivered at the realization that food was not something you had to work for. Swallowing, she looked away.

  “The Truxet grow much of their own food. Of course, hunting is not an issue, although here at River Mountain it’s harder than elsewhere due to the size of our population. To eat in one of the specialty tents is a private privilege, but there are three food windows around the plaza at groundfloor that always have food. No payment needed.”

  “As much as I want?” At KarRa's dazed look, Cro had reached out and touched her arm. KarRa shifted back.

  “I’ll show you where the kitchens are tonight. We’ll just scoot out and return right away. Clothes as well. You will always be given three basic sets of living clothes. As a woman waiting for a mate, you have access to one of the Clan’s shared treasure rooms at River Mountain. You can borrow whatever you see fit, and will be given a trunk to fill as you like when you're mated.”

  “Oh, this is fine for me,” KarRa had smoothed the tunic self-consciously.

  Cro smiled and said, “So it is.”

  KarRa was pleased when Cro agreed to a picnic lunch on the balcony. She didn't seem to know about the healer's soup restrictions, and KarRa enjoyed tasting the unusual fruit and fresh, soft bread.

  Freezha joined them, taking a break from learning self-defense. She was dressed in pink cloth pants of a heavy material and a lightweight purple top that had swirling silver stitches. Her breasts were bound but still swelled the shirt. KarRa had never seen such rich clothing in her life as she had here in this place.

  “You are just learning to fight?” KarRa asked carefully, confused.

  “Well of course! Daddy had guards protect me all my life. Here, well here it is so safe I hardly need this stupid training.”

  Cro spoke up. “But away from the main caves there are lone alphas, exiled from their Clan and half mad from loneliness, whose control cannot be vouched for. And enemies have been known to sneak in also. Proteus always tells me,” here Cro dropped her voice into a low purring that sounded remarkably different, “Just because women don't need protection doesn't mean they shouldn't feel capable of it themselves.” KarRa thought it a wise statement, even if she couldn't imagine a world where anyone wouldn't need self-defense at some point. Life was simply that violent. If she went a week without getting attacked in the Dark, it was a good, lucky week.

  Freezha moaned and dramatically buried her white blond tresses under arms, her face curling down between her knees. “I will never be able to flip Vyur! This is my second month on this training. All the other girls have left!”

  “A flip?” KarRa asked. “As in over the shoulder? He makes you fight him?” KarRa's skin chilled in horror at the thought of this delicate beauty having to actually deflect a Beast's attack.

  “Well sure, it's the best way to learn,” Cro answered. “He doesn't hurt her. He just teaches her moves.”

  KarRa didn't understand. Doing was the best way to learn. Scuffle had believed it and taught them that way. But how did you teach someone to really fight and not hurt them? “Will I have to fight him?”

  “Definitely. It's required in level three. Don't worry about him. You’re a wildling. I bet you will pass out of his training in a day,” Freezha said glumly, propping chin on her knee.

  Cro looked at KarRa who turned away, feeling angry. “I will not fight a man I have no quarrel with. There is no sense in it.”

  Cro blinked at KarRa. “You just have to show him what you know.”

  “What is the punishment for a woman wounding a Beast?” Cro and Freezha looked at each other in astonishment, then burst into gales of laughter, Freezha actually holding her belly as she rolled on the floor.

  “Do you think YOU can actually hurt Vyur? Oh oh ho, hoo that's funny! Vyur is the Truxet champion. He has won the combat challenge for Lizzeed the last three years at the Autumnal gathering. And before that he has been in the top contenders nearly his whole adult life. KarRa, you will not hurt him.”

  She stiffened and turned even more away, so that her whole body was facing out toward the plaza.

  “Oh KarRa,” Cro said, reaching out to gently touch her arm.

  KarRa jerked away in alarm.

  Cro let her hand fall and sighed sadly. “We didn't mean to say that you are not a valiant fighter. Of humans. But you will see when the time comes, that Vyur is another level of being entirely when it comes to fighting. And you would never be punished for wounding Vyur in training. It's a physical course.”

  “Yeah,” Freezha nodded, “When I first came a few months ago the women were all abuzz because someone actually managed to scratch his arm.”

  KarRa was still confused. The strange meal she had eaten surged in her stomach. Maybe she should have stuck to soup. “You mean you never managed to land even a hit on him?” she asked Freezha without looking at her.

  “Of course not! I'm a merchant's daughter! I had hardly been out of my father's compound before this journey.”

  KarRa looked more closely at the women walking in the plaza below. There were fewer now with the meal hour. Could it be possible that none of these women who came to the Beast caves were able to truly fight? She couldn't conceive of it.

  There were a few women in the Dark who did not know how to fight. But the women who did not fight lived like slaves to their men, cosseted pets, or treasure to be hoarded. Any woman who was part of a Clan in her own right, instead of brought in as a bedpet, could fight. The few men who had thought her a shadow of Rylan when they were KarRylan had learned differently to their sorrow.

  Although the supremacy of the Beasts was acknowledged throughout the Dark, she thought that any of her clansisters could at least manage to land a blow or a bite on a Beast before being brought down. If this man, Vyur, was used to batting down women with one hand, should KarRa pretend to be like them? Should she actually try to fight him? She had never fought on command before, without heat or fear in her blood. Maybe she would feel afraid when she saw him. She hated fighting. It was messy and tasted bad. But still, if the Beasts rarely took women from the Dark, maybe they didn't know they could fight as well as men when they had to. And if it was such a rare thing that most women never needed it, this was a life she could grow soft in.

  “I can show you some warm-ups, Freezha. Stances, repetitions.”

  “Wildling moves! Thank you KarRa!”

  KarRa spent some time showing Freezha how to place her feet, hold her stance, and pivot her whole torso. Freezha cared more about moving gracefully than stiffening her spine and soon had KarRa laughing by inventing a flip dance.

  Eventually Cro picked up the bowls
and cups in a stack with a sigh. “Come on in and help with clean up. Everyone always helps, and it's usually after lunch.”

  The women left the balcony and trailed through the lounge into a room that appeared to be entirely for cleaning. There was a steady stream of water splashing from a carved spout in the wall, and it poured into a shallow bodylength bowl before trailing into various grooves to different locations. There was a knee-high trough where most women were sitting washing dishes. There was a waist high trough where some were washing clothes. There were three sunken vats of water where two women where standing nude, washing. The water came all the way up to their chests. What would it feel like to stand in water so deep?

  As KarRa looked on, Freezha whisked her top over her head and hung it on a peg near these vats and proceeded to unwind her chest binding, despite the crowded room. There were small washing vats all along one wall where one of the small boys was apparently pretending to drown a carved bear with much splashing and growling. She'd never seen so much water in one room, and all just flowing past, unchecked. Women came and went. She looked away as Freezha eased into the deep water, her body glowing white and absolutely unmarked.

  Looking into another doorway, she saw that there was a row of stone seats. Each seat had a hole cut out and flowing water ran along the bottom. When Cro found her looking in the hole, an odd expression flitted across her face. “It's a waste chair,” she said softly.