To Storm Heaven - Esther Friesner [61]
And in the instant before she raced into his arms and kissed him, he knew the answer. This was love, and love was something he could never take for granted, never accept as anything less than a constantly renewing miracle.
They lingered in each other’s embrace for a time, then reluctantly parted. Although they had never yet been surprised by any interloper stumbling across one of their trysts, they were both conscious of that possibility. The gardens were open to all who lived or worked within the governmental palace, and to any visitors who could thread the maze of paths and hedge-lined walkways. While it was true that they might enjoy perfect privacy if they met at the old tower, there was too great a chance that someone would notice them going to the ruin daily. People would talk. They both agreed that it was better, safer in the long run, to keep this sweet place for their meetings.
“I missed you,” Geordi told Ma’adrys, smiling.
“Truly? It has been less than a day. Did you not see me this morning at the rite to awaken the dawnlight? I was graciously permitted to carry the basin of rainwater.” There was more than a little tang of bitterness to her words when she spoke of her part in the ceremony, and Geordi noticed.
“What’s wrong?” He brushed a lock of her bright hair away from her face tenderly.
“On Ashkaar, the dawnlight awakening is for maidens only, and for boys who have not yet received their knot of manhood. The girls perform the rite on the days of earth, the boys on the days of water. But here—” She made a disgusted face. “Here they all take partmboys and girls, men and women. They mix the words of the earth-day chants with the water-day songs. They give the leader’s part to anyone they wish to honor, as if it were a—a prize at a wrestling bout instead of a holy thing. Today was an earth day, but the rite was led by an ancient husk of a man. I know him; he is one of the most prosperous, powerful businessmen in the city. The rumors say he has been using his power to speak out against a new tax the Masra’et wishes to establish, so they called on him to lead the dawnlight ritual, hoping that the honor of it would soften him. They have taken what should be an offering to the gods and turned it into a bribe.” “IraI’m sorry. Maybe they don’t know any better.
Maybe if you asked to speak with Udar Kishritm” Geordi wanted to soothe her, to charm that hard look from her eyes. He tried to take her back into his arms, but she pushed him away.
“And tell him what? That I know what he and all the rest like him have been doing to my people, to my world? He would only laugh. I have no power to harm him, and if I persist enough to annoy him, what do you think would become of me then?” Geordi pulled her to him and held her close. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.” If he hoped his assurances would make everything all right, he was wrong. Ma’adrys tensed in his embrace, then shrugged free. “Do you think I fear only for my own safety? That is unimportant. I would sacrifice it in an instant if I thought it would put an end to what these people have been doing to my world, my home! When I think of how they deceived mere” Her face darkened with anger, her hands became fists.
Geordi’s hands closed over hers. “What the Ne’elatians did to youmwhat they’ve been doing to your peoplemthat can’t be changed. It’s past. We can only hope to change the future.” “Will we?” Her expression became one of eagerness, of hope. “Oh Geordi, what you’ve told me of your world, of all the worlds you’ve seen, of the Federation—so many wonders, so much power.” She grew thoughtful. Her gaze strayed from his face to the softly chuckling garden stream. “The power to fight so many wrongs. Surely once we tell them what has been happening here, the Federation will do something to punish Udar Kishrit and the rest. They will not allow this injustice to continue.