On Fire's Wings - Christie Golden [152]
“That is a comfort,” said Shali, pulling back and wiping her wet face. “To know that his soul is free.”
I’m glad you find it so, Kevla thought. If only I could take comfort in it.
“Will you return? To see your niece or nephew?”
“I hope to, but I cannot tell,” Kevla said. She bent and kissed Shali on the forehead. “Stay well, my sister. Blessings on the child you carry.”
Slowly Kevla walked to where the Dragon waited for her. He looked at her with compassionate eyes and lowered himself to facilitate her climbing atop his back.
Kevla looked around and despite her pain smiled at what she saw. Everywhere, the former kulis had found parents or siblings or even strangers to welcome them. Women mixed freely with the men. On the hard-packed, yellow earth were colorful veils some of the women had discarded. Others kept their veils.
Good, Kevla thought. A woman should be the one who gets to choose to reveal her face or not. At least there is no Great Dragon dictating to her.
Time would tell if this would last. Old habits were hard to break, and it might take a while before some of the older clansmen learned to accept former demons as children, wives as true partners, and the lower-born among them as equals.
But it was a good start.
“Are you ready, my dear?” said the Dragon, craning his neck to look at her with infinite affection.
She nodded. “I am ready,” she said.
Her people cheered her as she rose into the sky, waving goodbye. Kevla saw her father holding Meli’s hand in his own large, strong one. He placed his other hand on his heart as their eyes met. And she saw Sahlik, and Shali, rubbing the round belly that was filled with Jashemi’s son or daughter.
They would be all right without her. Life would go on here. It was up to her and the other Dancers she was setting out to find to ensure that life went on everywhere in this and other worlds.
She lifted her gaze from the rapidly dwindling images of her people and fixed her eyes on the horizon, her heart lifting with every beat of the Dragon’s powerful wings.
GLOSSARY
Akana: rider of the Hawk Clan
Arukan: the name of the country
Arukani: native to Arukan
Asha: apprentice to Maluuk, a healer
Bahrim: obsequious uhlal
Bai: generic term for Bai-khas and Bai-shas
Bai-kha: “male without father,” derogatory term for illegitimate boy or man
Bai-sha: “female without father,” derogatory term for illegitimate girl or woman
Balaan: root, served raw or cooked, particularly in stews
Baram: member of the Sa’abah Clan
Clan, Cattle
Clan, Horserider
Clan of the Four Waters
Clan, River
Clan, Sa’abah
Clan, Sheep
Clan, Star
Clan, Warcry
Dragon, Great: see Great Dragon
Dumah: servant, member of the Clan of the Four Waters
eusho: a hot, bitter drink that takes time to prepare
five-score: slave/servants captured in battle. For each year they serve, they are “scored” on the arm. At the last score, they are freed.
Great Dragon: the keeper of the morals of the people of Arukan
halaan: slang for “prostitute”
Jalik: Second of the Star Clan
Jashemi-kha-Tahmu: Tahmu’s son, Kevla’s half brother
Keishla: Kevla’s mother, a prostitute, Tahmu’s great love
Kevla Bai-Sha: illegitimate daughter of Tahmu and Keishla
kha: unit of money, gold
-kha-: “son of”
khashim: Lord of a clan; plural khashims
khashima: Lady of a clan
khashimu: the young heir, prince
kurjah: Arukani term for the male organ
kuli: demon
liah: gazelle-like creature
Maluuk: Healer of the Clan of the Four Waters
Melaan: Second of the Sa’abah Clan
Mirya: Sa’abah tender
Naram: Jashemi’s uncle, Yeshi’s brother
paraah: sweet, thick-skinned fruit, usually peeled
Pela: Jashemi’s aunt, Yeshi’s sister-in-law
Raka: young lord of Sa’abah Clan
Rakyn: Tahmu’s father
Ranna: young handmaiden to Yeshi
rhia: a flowing garment worn by both sexes. Men’s rhias are shorter and worn with loose breeches
Rusan: Yeshi’s father
sa’abah: desert animals with long, fluffy tails, long legs with broad feet, small “hands” and long ears
Sahlik: head servant of