A few hours later, Magdalon’s love tryst exited his bed chamber from the outer door and entered the garden. A dark cloak hugged her slender frame to help hide her presence as she tried to slip away undetected. She stood still outside his door for a moment with a pleased expression curling her dainty lips. Fury swelled in my chest. An image filled my mind of me rushing toward her, my double edged sword ready in my grasp to plunge into her heart and cut off her miserable life. I restrained the temptation and focused on my agenda. With a delicate hand to her chest, she searched the grounds to make sure her presence went unnoticed.
From the dark shadows of the trees, I aimed carefully and let the laced, hairline arrow fly. The projectile pierced her upper arm. As she lifted a hand to rub the spot, the thin arrow broke off like a piece of dry grass, leaving the tip embedded in her skin. She would never know she was targeted tonight, the sting mistakenly dismissed as a bug bite.
The woman wandered off, through the gardens, around the corner of the house and back toward Casimer’s Palace buildings, to the place she was employed. I gradually stood from my hiding spot within the shrubs and trees and walked back to my bed chamber.
Shedding my clothes, I crawled beneath my covers and sighed in pleasure over the night’s success. In minutes I was asleep.
Sleeping in much too late, I sent word to the kitchen that I’d take my morning meal in my room. Staying in bed, I pondered over what I’d accomplished within a few short days. I couldn’t wait until Magdalon confronted me with what he would soon learn.
A servant knocked and I bid him enter. The tray he held was laden with a heavy breakfast and a hot beverage. I patted the bed cover. The servant came over and placed the tray next to me.
“Thank you. That is all.”
He bowed slightly and said, “Should I send your Ladies Maid in to you?”
“Tell her to come in an hour.”
He nodded and left.
Early afternoon, I summoned a horse and carriage team. Akiko helped me change into more appropriate clothing for the occasion as I stood before my full length mirror.
She handed me a glove and said, “I don’t like this. I should be joining you. What if the Tonrar show up again?”
Pulling the glove over my hand, I said, “I’ll be fine. These women are on our side.”
“They are not,” Akiko reminded me. “They do not even know about the revolution.”
“You mean the tempest.”
“Whatever.”
“We need to use the code names,” I reminded her.
“I insist that I join you.”
“You’re afraid for me?”
“Two are better than one,” she said, handing me my other glove.
Slipping my hand into it, I said, “I don’t believe the Shen found anything to use against me. During our last ladies meeting, that evil being was simply attempting to intimidate me. I think it is best if you stay behind and monitor the happenings here. I need eyes and ears in Magdalon’s home.”
Akiko placed a dark purple cape over my shoulders.
I said, “This afternoon’s tea is a small meeting, only four of us ladies will gather.”
“It would be better if more were in attendance. There is safety in numbers.”
“Don’t worry so.”
Akiko finally relented but she didn’t look pleased. She walked me to the foyer and watched as the carriage pulled away.
The ride took me through the streets I was beginning to grow accustomed to, through the wealthy High Society neighborhoods. We stopped at another elaborate home, Onika’s mansion. She is the wife of the oldest member of Casimer’s Inner Circle of Advisors, Xian.
The large double doors opened as I approached, the Footman holding the door for me. A servant stepped forward, bowed slightly and led me through the luxurious home to a study. Couches and cushioned chairs encircled a low table and a fire blazed in the hearth to one side. A massive vase of fresh flowers stood centrally on the wide table, filling the air with a sweet scent. I was still growing used to the amazing flowers on this land mass and wondered how they managed to grow so big, retaining their color, without being torn to shreds by the wind. Although, I’d come to understand that the wind on Dwarkaa Farrin was controlled by the constant presence of the Tonrar.
Onika stood and smiled. “Welcome here, Tamasa.” She moved her hand toward the other women seated.
I said, “Narcissa, Letha, it’s good to see you both again.”
“Welcome,” Narcissa said.
Letha nodded in greeting.
“Have a seat,” Onika suggested.
As soon as I sat, the door to one side of the room opened and servants bustled in with trays filled with delicacies and a tray of various drinks. They placed plates and platters before us and served drinks all around. I took a glass of mead and gulped it. I motioned and the servant came toward me, took my empty cup and replaced it with a fresh one.
Narcissa studied me, “You look a little uptight.”
I held up my glass. “This should help.”
Onika said, “Let’s hope the Shen don’t make a surprise visit this time.”
Letha asked, “Have you heard back from that foul Shen? What did that being learn in your home village?”
“I have not heard a thing. It is as I suspected. That creature discovered that my story was true and that it was easily corroborated. There was no basis for an investigation against me and was obviously dropped.”
“Let’s be thankful for that,” Narcissa said. “Now, there’s no need to worry. I doubt any of the Shen will visit us again.”
After feasting on all the delicacies being served and chatting of inconsequential matters, the servants left plenty of food and extra drinks for all of us. They were then dismissed and barred from the room.
Onika sat like a queen amongst us. Her glamorous gown and stunning jewels outdid all of us and she clearly had one of the best beauticians in all of Dwarkaa. Her hair was like a work of art and the white powder on her face, color applied to her cheeks, eyes and lips made her look striking. Although her hair had a sprinkling of natural white throughout, it only accentuated her powerful and bold look. There was one thing amiss. Although she’d gone to great lengths to cover up the bruises on her cheeks, signs of her beating still showed through her white lead cream and rice face powder.
She was the oldest of the four women gathered and was the coverling of the most senior member of Casimer’s advisors. She held great power, was the most respected woman in the room and, out of respect, the three of us waited for her to lead.
Looking at me, she said, “I have been informed that Narcissa spoke with you and gave you an opportunity to join our ranks. I’ve been waiting to hear your decision.”
All three women stared at me, curious of my response.
Taking a deep breath, I repeated the vow I’d memorized. “I vow to join the women of High Society in their secret mission. I vow to keep the agenda of our meetings in complete secrecy. My covering will never learn of my clandestine activities. I vow to restore dignity and power back to the women of High Society. I promise to do all in my ability to uphold the unity between us. We are sisters, friends and comrades in this great struggle and I am willing to die in defending each of you. I vow to join the assignment. To rid the land of Hadeon is my life, my breath. To inuge that apollos and his Shen is my life’s goal and meaning. I vow my unending devotion to this secret cause and I give you my word of allegiance and friendship.”
All three women smiled in pleasure.
Onika said, “Welcome to our group.”
“I am very pleased that you have agreed to join us,” Narcissa said.
Letha nodded. “Welcome to our secret club.”
“I believe we sould have a name to distinguish this group,” I suggested.
“Like what?” asked Onika.
“I’ve been pondering this for some time. You have code names for many things; why not use a code name for this movement?”
“What do you suggest?” Narcissa asked.
I waited a moment and said, “What about the name Tempest.”
The women considered this for a few minutes. Letha nodded and said, “I like it. We will stir up such a storm in High Society that everyone will certainly know a tempest is raging around them.”
Onika said, “Let’s make it official. I will inform the others of the added code name.”
I felt somewhat nervous about using the same name for this group as for the revolution but it would help me keep the two movements under one heading. The two groups had similar objectives and using the same name would keep me from slipping up and exposing myself.
“Now that I’ve vowed to join you, I need information. What is the plan?”
Onika nodded. “All of our men are deeply affected and infected with Casimer’s malevolence. Their disregard and hatred for women grows stronger by the day. Their abusiveness grows steadily more vicious. I suggest we do all we can to subvert their influence and power from growing.”
“What do you suggest?”
Letha answered, “Most women in High Society have lived with much fear and dread of the male race. We have been subverted as the lesser sex with no voice, no power and no way to express our discontent.”
Narcissa continued. “Any female disgruntlement is seen as rebellion. Voicing our opinions is always dangerous. We are not allowed to think for ourselves and when we do, we receive the punishment they deem as necessary to keep us subservient and docile.”
What an awful existence these women endured. I had no idea the women of Dwarkaa High Society lived such desperately vile lives. Their persona of continuous glamour, wealth and position portrayed a smoke screen of indulgence and well-being. In actually, they all lived in fear of reprisal of their words uttered to the ones that should defend and protect them.
Onika added to Narcissa’s comments. “I am not a very docile woman. I have always been quite opinionated and strong. This trait does not blend in well with societies expectations. My covering, Xian, has taken every opportunity to break my spirit, force me into silence. I suppose I am not a fast learner. We have been together for twenty years, I have given him a few children and yet our relationship is one of necessary co-union and mutual hatred.To leave him is out of the question. It would end in my brutal death. ”
Narcissa added, “All women of High Society bear scars and bruises of the abuse we are forced to endure. Many are killed. The weakest, most subservient, usually last the longest.”
Silence filed the room for a moment. I finally asked, “So what can be done to break their power?”
Narcissa sat forward and stared at me. “I’ve heard some gossip from one of my maids. She told me that two women have been murdered lately, women that Magdalon frequents. Tell us, how did this happen?”
Onika asked, “Did you hire an investigator and a lynch man?”
Fear rode my back. “I have done no such thing. Which women were killed?” I asked in hopes that they would let go of their suspicions.
Onika stared at me. “Remember the vow you gave us. There can be no secrets among us if this friendship is to be a lasting one.”
“And if I were to tell you, this will go no further?”
“We give you our word,” Narcissa declared.
I scanned the room; the walls, the doors and the furniture to make sure no Tonrar were secretly present and listening. When I deemed it safe, I began.
“Yes, I did hire a private investigator. He is still gathering information as we speak but I don’t trust him. He would as easily betray me as work for me and my money.”
“It is the way of the men here,” Letha said.
“And the lynch man. Who did you hire to do your dirty work? Is there anyone to be trusted to do this for us?” Onika asked.
“You want these women killed, the ones your husbands consort with?” I asked.
“I believe this is the first step in undermining their power over us,” Narcissa stated. “When I heard that Magdalon’s whores were being killed off one by one, I knew you were involved somehow. I also knew this was the first step in extracting ourselves from our men’s cruel treatment.”
I shook my head. “There is no guarantee that the treatment will improve. Their hatred and abuse will most certainly grow harsher, especially if they suspect your involvement in the removal of their pleasure.”
“How did you do it?” asked Onika. “Tell us who you hired.”
I didn’t know if I could truly trust these women. Revealing my secret to them was taking a great risk but I’d taken the vow, promised my allegiance to them. I really had no choice. Taking a deep intake of air and willing myself to be strong, I said, “I killed them.”
The three women stared at me in shock, their mouths slightly ajar and words failing them.
“How?” Onika finally asked in dumbfounded wonder.
I remained quiet.
Onika pressed further. “You are a fine woman of Dwarkaa High Society. How were you able to do this without detection? And how do you know how to kill this way?”
I spun a tale I’d told before. “Growing up, my father taught me how to throw knives, arrows and use various weapons. He enjoyed teaching me a hobby he had grown to love. I took to it very naturally and became extremely adept at using multiple weapons.”
All three women looked at me with a new respect. I even saw awe in their eyes.
Narcissa shook her head in surprise. “I never would have imagined the glamorous Tamasa as a lynch woman.”
“Are you for hire?” asked Letha.
I allowed a small smile. “You want me to kill all the women your husbands’ consort with?”
“It’s a strikingly tempting proposition, isn’t it?” asked Onika. “This would be one way to throw panic into Hadeon’s kingdom without targeting him directly, at least for now.”
Narcissa said, “Hadeon’s Group of Inner Circle Advisors would suddenly be thrown into turmoil. With them grasping to maintain control of their personal lives, their professional lives would begin to suffer.”
Letha said, “But this could backfire. If our men begin to suffer in Hadeon’s employ, he might purge them. We would be included.”
“Not necessarily,” I said. “Not if we pay rumor mongers to start gossip among the taverns.”
“What kind of gossip?” Onika asked.
“We suggest that jealousy rules between the different love trysts and that they are themselves killing each other off.”
“Of course. What a brilliant idea,” Letha declared.
“When Hadeon hears of it, will he retaliate?” Narcissa asked.
“Who will he retaliate against?” I asked, “Isn’t he eager to create strife everywhere in his domain and between every inhabitant he rules over? He will welcome the killings and will spare him the trouble of doing it himself.”
“But,” Onika said, “if these killings interfere with the Inner Circle doing their jobs, Hadeon might intermediate and investigate, find out the truth of the murders.”
“There are other ways of killing these women, through poisoned hair-line arrows, so that they die of seemingly natural causes. We can start rumors that disease is spreading between those intimately involved.”
Letha clapped her hands and smiled widely. “I love it!” She then shook her head and stared at me in admiration. “Where have you been all my life? Your arrival in High Society is such good fortune.”
Onika said, “If you agree, we will each create a list of women we know are helping themselves to our men. If you want aid in the killings, let us know. Although none of us are adept at using weapons, I’m sure we can learn.”
“I work best alone.”
“So you agree to help us?”
I looked from one woman to the other, saw the hope growing in their eyes and suddenly wondered if this was the purpose I’d been trained for. Was this the reason I’d been hurled into the life of Dwarkaa High Society?
