Read Online Rebel Ice by S. L. Viehl - Free Book Online
Authors: S. L. Viehl
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, Space Opera, Speculative Fiction, Interplanetary voyages, Life on other planets, Human-alien encounters, Slave insurrections, Amnesia
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not stay?" Sogayi pressed her forehead to the top of his feet. "I have so little time with you as it is, and I may perhaps be of assistance with the ensleg female."
Navn didn't wish to face the ensleg alone. It was a weakness to admit that, but so it was. He needed a shield, and permitting his wife to be present could be the next best thing. She would remind him of his position, and would help, him maintain his dignity. She would also not broadcast his weakness to the rest of the camp.
He waited a respectable interval before saying, "I will allow it."
Navn shook his head. "She is no threat to me," he lied. The tent flap moved, making the attached bells chime, and he raised his voice. "Enter."
Hurgot stepped into the shelter. At his side was the ensleg, now properly garbed, and the healer removed her face wrap to show her features. Hurgot supported her with one of his arms, Navn saw, but quickly released her and pointed to a spot on the floor. The ensleg dropped down onto her haunches and pressed her forehead to her knees. She was so thin that the day robe she wore billowed out around her.
Navn could not look directly at her. To do so would be to give her attention she did not deserve. Because she was Terran, she was shaped and smelled like other Iisleg females. The only true oddities about her were the garments she had worn, now gone, and the long hair, which could be cut off. Yet even as he ignored her, Navn felt the strangeness of her presence stretching and growing, until it seemed she might fill all the space in the shelter.
She is nothing, he reminded himself. A weak, sickly female with no one to feed or care for her . He owed her nothing, either. Allowing Hurgot to tend to her had been entirely magnanimous of him. If anything, his choosing to be merciful might damage him more than her presence.
Navn could feel the weight of her glances. The ensleg was studying him, but making an effort to conceal it. Such a show of manners from an offworlder was unexpected, and somewhat heartening. Perhaps you will survive this night .
As was tradition, Sogayi came forward with a steaming cup of tea for Hurgot. Her movements were unhurried and fluid and turned the ritual greeting into a small dance as she presented the drink. After a respectful glance back at Navn, who gave her a nod to allow her to speak, she added a smiling, "The rasakt will hear you."
The healer followed custom and refused the tea before addressing Navn. "Rasakt, I present to you the ensleg female." Hurgot bobbed his head. "If it pleases you to know, I may tell what I have learned of her in this short time."
Navn accepted a cup of tea from his wife. "Tell me."
"The ensleg is a young adult female in her parts and, like us, from human stock." The healer grimaced, as if this was undesirable but could not be helped. "This one does not comprehend our language, so it was not possible for me to interrogate her, but I have had limited success with using drawings and gestures."
"Indeed." Navn felt new tension cording his muscles. "What have you learned of her?"
"Very little. This one has suffered a serious head wound, along with others, within the recent past. All have healed, but the one to the head may be the reason why she cannot say who she is or how she came to be here. Such wounds sometimes cause the mind to be scoured clean." Hurgot's gaze shifted briefly to the ensleg. "Despite this, she is obedient and quick to learn. It took me but five minutes to teach her the proper posture for her presentation, all done without words. If this one is permitted to learn our language and serve the tribe, she may be of some limited use to you."
Sogayi smothered a sound.
Annoyed by the distraction, Navn turned to his wife. "What is it?"
Navn saw that his clever Sogayi was also giving him an easy solution to his problem. He could have the ensleg killed for the worgald, and all that might be said was that he did so to soothe the fears of an overly nervous wife. Truly he
Navn didn't wish to face the ensleg alone. It was a weakness to admit that, but so it was. He needed a shield, and permitting his wife to be present could be the next best thing. She would remind him of his position, and would help, him maintain his dignity. She would also not broadcast his weakness to the rest of the camp.
He waited a respectable interval before saying, "I will allow it."
Navn shook his head. "She is no threat to me," he lied. The tent flap moved, making the attached bells chime, and he raised his voice. "Enter."
Hurgot stepped into the shelter. At his side was the ensleg, now properly garbed, and the healer removed her face wrap to show her features. Hurgot supported her with one of his arms, Navn saw, but quickly released her and pointed to a spot on the floor. The ensleg dropped down onto her haunches and pressed her forehead to her knees. She was so thin that the day robe she wore billowed out around her.
Navn could not look directly at her. To do so would be to give her attention she did not deserve. Because she was Terran, she was shaped and smelled like other Iisleg females. The only true oddities about her were the garments she had worn, now gone, and the long hair, which could be cut off. Yet even as he ignored her, Navn felt the strangeness of her presence stretching and growing, until it seemed she might fill all the space in the shelter.
She is nothing, he reminded himself. A weak, sickly female with no one to feed or care for her . He owed her nothing, either. Allowing Hurgot to tend to her had been entirely magnanimous of him. If anything, his choosing to be merciful might damage him more than her presence.
Navn could feel the weight of her glances. The ensleg was studying him, but making an effort to conceal it. Such a show of manners from an offworlder was unexpected, and somewhat heartening. Perhaps you will survive this night .
As was tradition, Sogayi came forward with a steaming cup of tea for Hurgot. Her movements were unhurried and fluid and turned the ritual greeting into a small dance as she presented the drink. After a respectful glance back at Navn, who gave her a nod to allow her to speak, she added a smiling, "The rasakt will hear you."
The healer followed custom and refused the tea before addressing Navn. "Rasakt, I present to you the ensleg female." Hurgot bobbed his head. "If it pleases you to know, I may tell what I have learned of her in this short time."
Navn accepted a cup of tea from his wife. "Tell me."
"The ensleg is a young adult female in her parts and, like us, from human stock." The healer grimaced, as if this was undesirable but could not be helped. "This one does not comprehend our language, so it was not possible for me to interrogate her, but I have had limited success with using drawings and gestures."
"Indeed." Navn felt new tension cording his muscles. "What have you learned of her?"
"Very little. This one has suffered a serious head wound, along with others, within the recent past. All have healed, but the one to the head may be the reason why she cannot say who she is or how she came to be here. Such wounds sometimes cause the mind to be scoured clean." Hurgot's gaze shifted briefly to the ensleg. "Despite this, she is obedient and quick to learn. It took me but five minutes to teach her the proper posture for her presentation, all done without words. If this one is permitted to learn our language and serve the tribe, she may be of some limited use to you."
Sogayi smothered a sound.
Annoyed by the distraction, Navn turned to his wife. "What is it?"
Navn saw that his clever Sogayi was also giving him an easy solution to his problem. He could have the ensleg killed for the worgald, and all that might be said was that he did so to soothe the fears of an overly nervous wife. Truly he
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