Always - Iris Johansen [50]
“Well, there’s a few things I don’t understand that I’d appreciate your explaining.”
“But you are not afraid to ask. Those chitkas run away and hide instead of asking. I have no use for them. You remember that clumsy girl who served you dinner last night?” When Lisa nodded she went on with a scowl, “Lia ran away last night before I could even talk to her. She left a message that she was returning to her village and would not be back. Now why would she do that?”
“She seemed to be afraid of your disapproval.” Lisa paused. “And I got the distinct impression that you enjoyed the image you were projecting.”
There was a flicker of grudging respect in Marna’s dark eyes. “I do,” she said with a shrug. “I grow bored with these chitkas. If they fear, why shouldn’t I feed it a little?” She frowned. “But not that much. Lia makes good wages here and she needs the work. I’ll have to go to the village and bring her back this morning.”
It appeared there was a soft streak beneath that fierce exterior. “Could you answer a few questions before you go running after her?”
Marna looked at her without expression. “Of course. What would you like to know? Should I get my tarot cards?”
Lisa could feel her lips gape in surprise. Merciful heaven, the woman did believe she had psychic powers!
“No, I don’t think that will be necessary. You won’t need a crystal ball to answer this one. Where are my clothes?”
“They should be in Mr. Donahue’s room by now. Last night I had a maid take them downstairs to press and freshen them a little. She was told to take them to Mr. Donahue’s room this morning and put them away.” She frowned. “You must tell me if she hasn’t done it properly. She is a chitka, too.”
That appeared to be the woman’s favorite word, Lisa thought. “But why would you do that?”
“You wish to occupy Mr. Donahue’s bed and his room,” Marna said simply. “And Mr. Donahue wishes you to be there. There was no need for you to pack yourself. I took care of it for you.”
“But how did you—” Lisa broke off, totally bewildered. The question of the change of rooms hadn’t even come up before this morning, and Marna had put the wheels in motion last night.
“You did want to move?”
“Yes, but—”
“Good. I will send the girl for the few things that were left in the tower chamber at once.” Marna turned back toward the scullery. “It is good that you do this. Mr. Donahue is a disek. He will have a fine strong son.”
“Disek?” Lisa repeated numbly. She felt as if she’d been caught in the middle of a tornado.
“A disek is one of the exceptional ones, an individual with power and strength,” Marna said. “Did he tell you that he helped Kira when she was trying to smuggle me out of Tamrovia?”
“No, he didn’t tell me that.”
Marna nodded. “That chitka, Stefan, thought he would gain the upper hand, but Kira and Mr. Donahue fooled him.”
“King Stefan?” It appeared that nervous servants weren’t the only chitkas in Marna’s estimation.
“Kira’s brother,” Marna confirmed, nodding.
“Stefan is not a disek?”
Marna shook her head emphatically. “A chitka.”
“I see.” She didn’t, but she was afraid to increase her confusion by delving any deeper. “Then you must be very grateful to Clancy for his help.”
“Of course. Why do you think I made the nathal and hung it on his doorknob?”
Nathal. Lisa reached into the pocket of her slacks and pulled out the small pouch. “This is a nathal?”
Marna nodded with satisfaction. “The most powerful nathal I have ever made.”
“Just precisely what does a nathal do?” Lisa asked warily.
“Why, what you wished it to do.” She turned and crossed back to where Lisa was standing. “May I touch you?”
Lisa nodded, puzzled.
Marna put her large hand gently on Lisa’s abdomen and closed her eyes. It was only for the briefest instant, and then her hand was gone and she turned away. “Yes, there was no problem. I thought not. It was a very strong nathal.”
“You didn’t answer me,” Lisa said, exasperated and close to desperate. “What does a nathal do?”
“It is a fertility talisman,” Marna said calmly as she glided down