The ebony smog moved to a single location on the far side of the table, compacted and a shape began to congeal. Slowly the evil wraith took on more substance and a hideous creature materialized. A long snout with razor sharp teeth became visible, the face somewhat dog like with a scaly, hulking greenish body supporting the head. The vile apparition stood on its hind legs, which looked like they belonged to a massive horse, and its shorter arms matched its scaly hide. The Tonrar’s eyes were as dark as night and were fixated on my face as though it were staring right into my soul.
Pointing to me with one scaly arm, its commanding voice caused the air to vibrate and fear to permeate the space.
“Who are you?” it growled.
Gathering my courage and willing my voice not to quaver, I said, “I am Tamasa, heiress of Krishay Manor and niece of Krishay, former Advisor of Casimer.”
“Where do you come from?”
“I am from an outlying village.”
“Where?” it screamed.
“Venilia Village.”
“Not true. There is no record of you living there.”
I stood, fury fueling me and I sensed Narcissa’s guards stepping in behind me to defend me if necessary. “You are lying. There is record of me. My parents have both deceased and I am an orphan. Ask anyone in Venilia of my existence and they will testify accordingly. Although I didn’t frequent the town much, there are those who do know me. Search it out and you will find out the truth of the matter.”
Part of my tale was true. There was a daughter of the people I claimed were my parents and she was the only living heir and niece of Krishay. Vanora and Razmig made sure she was unavailable to inherit her uncle’s vast estate before I moved in to claim it. Her name was Tamasa, a name I conveniently claimed as my own. I didn’t know what happened to her or what they did with her. I’m sure Vanora and Razmig made sure that the real Tamasa would never make an appearance to blow my cover.
“Prove it!” The wraith screamed again.
“I don’t need to. I said go and scour Venilia’s populace and they will testify of me! Do not come here and threaten me in this way or I will report you to the Royal Palace!”
The despicable mirage sneered in condescension. “I came here by order of the Royal Palace. Casimer wants to know everything about everyone who dwells on his Royal Grounds.”
“Then you better be about your business and find the information you were ordered to get. But you will not get it here. You will find it in Venilia. I will not do your job for you!” I hoped beyond hope that Vanora and Razmig would be prepared for the Tonrar’s visit because this being would surely go to my so-called homestead to check out my story. This Tonrar was lazy, hoping to get cooperation from me but I refused to bow to its heavy handed methods.
The foul creature bared his teeth and snarled threateningly but he backed down and began to disintegrate into black smog and mist. The heavy charcoal cloud flew upwards toward the ceiling and slowly vanished, its weighty aura lifting off with it. When it was clearly gone, I took my seat again.
All the women around the table released sighs of relief, their chests rising and falling with the liberation we all felt. The guards, who had come to our defense, backed away and lowered their weapons.
Narcissa, fear still pasted on her face, looked at them and said, “Stay for a while longer, just in case that foul creature returns.”
The guards took up their positions against one wall and waited to be dismissed. They looked relieved that the danger had passed.
All the women around the table kept looking at me, respect and amazement in their eyes and I felt utterly uncomfortable.
Onika, Xian’s coverling, was the first to speak. “How did you do that?”
“Do what?” I asked.
“Stand up to a Tonrar like that. No one stands up to them without severe consequences.”
Letha said, “But you managed to get away with it. That heinous being actually listened to you.”
“I refuse to be bossed about by a vaporous, noxious cloud!” I declared.
A few nervous chuckles echoed through the room. Even a few shocked sounds floated from the guards.
Narcissa said, “You are very brave.”
“Do the Tonrar invade a room like this often?” I asked
“No,” Narcissa said. “They have never entered my home before.”
“I wonder why Casimer is so interested in your past,” said Keir, Monar’s wife.
I asked, “Is it because I have moved onto his Royal Grounds? Is this his protocol for everyone who moves there?”
Onika said, “I don’t know. I can’t remember ever hearing of such a protocol. And the Tonrar have never entered my property either. They are not known for invading a social gathering such as this or at the least they never make their presence known in such a visible fashion. Our numbers discourage them from coming. They prefer loners and those easily manipulated. They usually attack people caught unawares and with no way to protect themselves.”
The women still stared at me as though dumbstruck.
Jinx looked particularly overcome. “How did you learn to say such things?”
“Say what things?” I asked in confusion.
“You were so forceful and demanding. You did not bend to its power. You instructed that being as though you knew it would have to listen, as though you have authority over it.”
I did not know what to say. I looked from one woman to the other. They all waited for my answer.
“I believe the situation would have been very different if this Tonrar would have found me alone.”
“But it came during our tea,” stated Letha. “Why would it choose to do that?”
I had an idea and decided to voice it. “Perhaps its scheme was to spread doubt on my identity among the powerful women of High Society and stop our friendship.”
Onika nodded. “That sounds believable. The Tonrar constantly try to sew discord among us, would like to encourage hate between us and see us tear each other apart instead of join as friends.”
Narcissa said, “I agree. We work very hard at keeping close. It’s the only way we have any strength. This dark world would like to snuff out all hope.”
Darci added, “By sticking together perhaps we can survive this hopeless existence with some stolen joy here, laughter there and expectation of camaraderie.”
“Yes,” said Nevis, “our men are all wanderers. Women tend to be more faithful lovers. In friendship we are loyal and unstoppable.”
Jinx quietly added, “I’m sure Daegel will be faithful.”
The other women ignored her and Narcissa said, “We have all taken a vow of secrecy and unity. If you are willing, you may join our pact of friendship.” She looked at both Jinx and I.
I stared at these women with new respect and understanding. Perhaps they were not as airy, pompous, pretentious and as egotistical as I initially thought. They had actually banded together in friendship and, in their own way, were resisting Casimer’s relentless harsh rule. I gave Narcissa a small nod of agreement.
Jinx said, “I don’t believe I could keep secrets from Daegel. That sounds like disloyalty to my covering.”
“Do what you must but, until you take the vow, you will not be included in any more gatherings,” Narcissa declared.
Jinx looked crestfallen and she turned anxious eyes to her mother. Gorma refused to make eye contact.
As the fear retracted and jovial conversation once more took over, Narcissa clapped her hands and all eyes turned to her. “I’ve arranged for some entertainment for this afternoon.” She stood and said, “Follow me.”
She led us to a large, gaudily decorated room toward the back of her vast home. The unusual bright colors in the space hurt my eyes and I wondered how such intense shades could be produced. Everything from floor, walls, chairs and the many decorations screamed showy and ostentatious. The chairs set up in a semi-circle around an open area, each chair a different bright color. My inexperience with such flamboyance caused the room to seem loud and deafening.
Narcissa went to stand on the open area of floor facing the chairs and addressed us. “This is our performance room. Furud and I often have different music groups in to entertain us, sometimes dancers and oddly gifted groups. This afternoon I have arranged for a musical rendition.” She waved her arm to a doorway where a group of five musicians entered, two men and three women.
They walked toward one side of the performance area, behind a waist high partition, and sat down on the chairs located there. Thankfully their dress was subdued, in shades of grey and beige but the place assigned for them to play their instruments had enough color and design to render them invisible.
“They are only the background for another group I’ve hired for this afternoon’s entertainment. Take a seat, ladies, and we will begin.”
Everyone sat and faced the stage. Servants hurried about snuffing out some of the lanterns and candles, bringing a more subdued feel to the room’s visual intensity. Lanterns located around the performance area stayed lit and the stage remained bright.
The music started up and I became enthralled by the skill with which the group played. The melody started slow and soothing, calming my initial reaction to the room. The tempo gradually grew to a crescendo; the drum beat so pronounced that I felt the vibration in my chest. Just then, two shirtless men entered the performance area from behind a crimson curtain on one side. They were fine specimens of the male race, broad shouldered and muscular as though they worked in Casimer’s coal mines.
They swayed and moved to the music in a very provocative dance. Their smiles and laughter caused the most forbidden thoughts to enter my mind and their jarring hips and suggestive movements caused my cheeks to grow warm. They then picked up some items from a bag on a table that stood to one side of the stage and began to toss and catch multiple round objects into the air and snatch them expertly every time. After they’d awed us with their talent, they discarded the round globes and picked up knives from their bag. Although I was anxious seeing knives in their hands and was tempted to reach for one of mine tucked into my clothing, I resisted the urge and watched carefully. The knives I was accustomed to using were tools for killing. Never had I seen them used to entertain.
While my heart hammered furiously in my chest, I watched the men warily as they swayed suggestively to the music and moved across the stage. Suddenly they began to hurl the knives into the air above their heads and caught them expertly by the handles. How they managed to do this without injuring themselves was very impressive. I was mesmerized by their skill in tossing about such dangerous objects and yet my fight response stayed on high alert, my eyes never leaving the trajectory of the knives.
The men then moved on to swords and again their talent was astounding, hurling them into the air, just so, that the ivory handles landed precisely in their grasp. The last objects they used were lighted torches that shimmered and shone as they were hurled above the men’s heads.
I’d never witnessed something so foreign before, so provocative, so skilled and never realized this type of entertainment existed. Ladies giggled and made lewd comments which only seemed to fuel the men’s lithe swaying and their exaggerated throwing of the items into the air. Their movements looked like snakes writhing from the ground while being charmed. I’d seen something like it on Nonie Farrin. The Nonie Clan had a few poisonous snakes that they kept contained and would manipulate to entertain their clan members at celebrations.
Although I found the presentation fascinating, I didn’t know what purpose it served, except to cause shock and awe and some spontaneous laughter. I tore my eyes from the gyrating men and looked at the women who surrounded me. All of them looked spell bound and completely engrossed in the show. Jinx giggled like a coquettish child. Some women whistled and clapped but all had joy on their faces. I turned back to watch.
The show didn’t last long and when the men bowed at the end, the woman clapped loudly, laughed raucously and some even went to speak with the two, Jinx one of them. Gorma eventually went to pull her daughter to a safe distance and spoke privately to her.
Narcissa came to me and asked, “So, what did you think?”
“They are good dancers. What do you call the act they performed?”
She smiled and said, “Yes, they are the best dancers and jugglers I could find.”
“Jugglers?”
“Yes. They are expert at throwing and catching items. Juggling is quite a skill.”
I nodded, still feeling impressed by what I’d seen. During war, I knew some fancy footwork, sidestepping, dropping and rolling, jumping and scooting to avoid an opponent’s weapons but I’d never seen such carefree movement simply to entertain. “Do you have this type of entertainment every tea time?”
“Oh no. This was a special day. We have Tamasa, heiress of Krishay Manor with us. I had to put on a special production for your initiation. Would you like to meet them?”
I shook my head.
“Why not?”
“Where did you find them? In the beggar’s district?” I asked.
Scrunching her nose and disbelief in her eyes, she said, “No. They are from the show rooms in the wealthier areas of Dwarkaa.”
“Show rooms?”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t heard of them before?”
“I have not.”
“I will take you sometime. Once you bore of Magdalon. You are still a newly wed.”
I nodded. I had no intention of getting embroiled in the seedier aspects of High Society. Speeding ahead the cause of the revolution was my main focus and this needed to remain my goal, although, perhaps a little entertainment now and then wouldn’t hurt too much. I chided myself for such base thoughts. I truly need to stay focused.
The two dancing, juggling men eventually left the room but the musical team kept playing as we chatted. The background swirl of musical notes and lilting melody was comforting and soothing after the scare with the Tonrar.
Slowly the women began to disperse as their carriages began to arrive for pickup. Narcissa asked me to stay for a while longer. Although I was itching to leave, I waited for the last woman to depart to see what she wanted.
Narcissa led me to a study with a sitting area tucked before an impressive stone fireplace. Thankfully the colors in the room were subdued and earthy. We both sat and we were alone.
Facing me, she said, “I am really enjoying your company. I think you will make a good addition to this group. I believe you are a woman that knows how to keep secrets and that will remain loyal to a cause. I am particularly drawn to your courage.”
Anxiety began to creep in and I wondered what she had in mind.
“I want your word that the things that happen between us women will remain hidden.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t think of disclosing any of it.”
“Especially not with Magdalon.”
“I won’t tell him a thing.”
“We simply had a tea party, nothing more.”
I gave her a nod.
Narcissa continued. “There are things we at times discuss that are sensitive. We are truthful and speak our minds. We usually converse in code and, after what transpired this afternoon with the Tonrar appearing, you understand why this is necessary.” She opened a drawer in the side table and pulled out some papers. Handing them to me, she said, “This is the vow I would like you to look over and commit to the next time we meet. I’ve outlined some of the code words we use. Memorize them quickly and destroy these documents. Burn them if at all possible.”
I glanced at the papers, scanning some of the codes, and then met her eyes. “Can you tell me anything of this group, the secrecy and your expectations?”
Only this, “Hadeon does not know everything that takes place in Kali. Although we are women, we refuse to take a subtle, subservient role. We are secretly working to dismantle that apollos. Right now we have no voice, no power and no influence. We are determined to bring change to the women of Kali’s Althia Order.”
I glanced down at the paper of codes in my hand and began to formulate what Narcissa was saying. I believed she was telling me that they wanted a say in this world, some power. Hadeon was Casimer. Kali was Dwarkaa. And the word she used to describe Casimer, apollos, refereed to his rule, his tyranny and dictatorship.
Lifting my eyes, I looked at her and asked, “So what exactly are you planning to do?”
“I’m not entirely sure. What we are all convinced of is that we despise being made to feel invisible and useless, like we have absolutely no say in this life. We detest the helplessness and impotence we feel. Our coverings treat us as though we are dispensable and it is intolerable to all of us. If the only way to liberate women is to inuge Hadeon then that is what we will do.”
Looking down at the sheet of paper once more, I locked eyes with Narcissa in surprise and wondered if she actually meant what I thought she meant.
