Shadowkill

2

After she was settled in the cushioned armchair, Matja Allina set a roll of papers on the table in front of her, flattened them, and held them down with two bits of slate set there for the purpose. From where she stood just behind the Matja, Kizra could see a list of names with a brief notation beside each. Anitra, Beba Mahl, Eeda, Ekkurrekah…

Matja Allina pulled out the second page, let it roll up beside the stone weight. “Nunnikura chal Weavemistress,” she called out, and waited until a heavy middle-aged woman with thick gray braids came to the far side of the table. “I have seven for you, one with some pre-existent skills, the others trainable.” She looked beyond Nunnikura chal at the labor cadre. “The chapa whose names I call, you will go with the Weavemistress. She will show you where you will sleep, equip you with clothing and other necessities, and put you to work. Lyousa va Vogl. Sabato. Bertem. Luacha. Tictoc. Enke. Dorrit.”

Matja Allina waited patiently until that was sorted out, then called, “Intoyo chat Dyemistress.”,

Kizra clasped her hands over the arranga case hanging from its shoulderstrap and withdrew her attention. Tinoopa had been heavily into aphoristic advice after they left the breakfast table.

It’s all very well, the big woman said, being backed by the local bosses, but I have to make that backing stick.

I got that Polyapo soothed down, Tinoopa said. It was easy, some butter and a sweet or two, mostly a sympathetic ear and agreeing with her vision of herself. She thinks because she’s Irrkuyon born and bred the rest of the world should flatten themselves at her feet and say yes’m and no’m and do everything she says ’cause it’s her that says it. Stupid woman. Just as well, though, Kiz. If she weren’t blind and an idiot and pretty well loathed by everyone who knows her, I wouldn’t have this cushy job.

Vindictive bitch, that Kulyari, Tinoopa said. She’s going to make my life a hell, yours, too, unless… Hmm. I wonder what they consider unforgivable around these parts.

Kizra shivered at the memory of that predatory look in Tinoopa’s eyes. Allina was right. The Shimmaroi must have found Tinoopa far too formidable to want her anywhere near their world.

She was impressed when she found out about the mind-wipe… Funny thing to be impressed by. I suppose it was because I somehow scared someone enough he had to wipe me out like that.

Mindwipe. Things keep leaking over from somewhere… last night she’d dreamed… most nights she dreamed… things… that she couldn’t quite remember when she woke… except the feelings. And the day ghosts… ideas and images that slid into her head and out again before she could catch hold of them…