See Chapter One (A) for Disclaimers

Chapter Four

Over the next several days, it continued to puzzle Tao.  While Dar rested and recovered his strength, the scholar often watched the warriors practice with each other in the center of the village.  Many times, the queen herself took part in the practices, her dark brown hair pulled back from her face with a single cloth.

Tao  knew he had seen Carrin's fighting style before.  There was something about the way she moved, about the moves which she made, which seemed terribly familiar.  He just couldn't place it.  It wasn't until the tenth day after the attack that things fell into place for him.

As he always did, Tao left the sickroom once Dar had fallen asleep.  Carrin had warned the scholar that it was something which would happen.  Dar's body was seeking to regain the rest it had lost, for whatever reason.  He would be weak for some time yet.

The scholar wandered out to the site of the practices.  While he couldn't bring himself to admit it, he was greatly attracted to both the queen, and to her beautiful best friend, Marinde.  And while he knew it was asking for trouble, Tao's attraction to the queen was even stronger.  For though she was married, she seemed more approachable.

Marinde was in the practice session with one of the other warriors, and Tao observed as he joined Carrin at the fence which separated the practice site from the rest of the village, "She's an extraordinary woman.  I don't think I've ever seen a woman fight like that, aside from the Amazons."

Carrin smiled and answered, "We're not Amazons.  But my foster father realized very quickly that if the tribe was to survive, then things would have to change, for the times were changing.  Women still give birth and take care of our children.  But the safety of the tribe is as much the concern

of women as it is men.  We must know how to defend ourselves."  Tao nodded . . . it sounded like Carrin's foster father had been a very smart man, indeed.

"Gereon was explaining about how you came to be adopted by the Varoni tribe, although I suppose 'adopted' isn't quite the proper term," Tao observed.  He was favored with a wry grin, and the scholar added apologetically, "I'm sorry.  I'm prying into things which don't concern me."

"It's all right.  I was ten years old when I was taken from my village and brought here.  I was a very angry little girl, and I think that was part of what changed my foster father's mind about women.  I was a tiny girl, but I managed to inflict some devastating damage on grown men," Carrin observed and Tao grinned.

"I would have liked to have met you, when you were that tiny child," he said and Carrin blushed.  Tao found himself warming to her further, and he asked, "Are things much different here than they were in your old village?  I know, you were taken twenty years ago, but . . . "

"The funny thing is, Tao, my tribe today is much like the tribe I was born into.  It wasn't so twenty years ago, when I first came here.  At that time, the Varoni were in danger of being wiped out.  Not by disease, but to the fury of Curupira.  Every time one of her animals was killed for sport, she would take a warrior," Carrin explained.

"As payment, for the lives of the animals which were taken, yes," Tao observed and the queen bobbed her head in acknowledgment.  The scholar continued, "So, what changed?  I know Curupira, though not as well as Dar does."  Here, the queen smiled and ducked her head, and Tao asked with a confused frown, "What?"

"Nothing.  You asked what changed.  My foster father was convinced to prohibit the killing of animals for sport.  It's a long story, but the important thing is, once my foster father saw things Curupira's way, she adopted us.  As did her mother, the Mother Goddess Pelagia," Carrin explained.  Tao frowned.  For some reason, despite her youthful appearance, he never thought of Curupira having a mother.

However, he really didn't want to discuss Curupira.  Instead, he turned his attention back to the blonde warrior currently practicing with her friends and mused, "She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.  And you say she is one of your finest warriors as well?"

He received a wry smile in response, "One of my most formidable warriors, an excellent scout, and my dearest friend.  I would do anything for her, and she for me."  In other words, Tao thought, if I did any harm to Marinde, both the queen and Marinde would have my hide, along with Dar.

The queen laughed at his expression, then added, "But I've watched you much in the last few days, Tao.  I know you would never do anything to harm or dishonor my friend.  I just wanted you to understand that if you were foolish enough to do so, there would be a price to pay."

"I understand that," Tao answered fervently, "I understand that very,  very well!" He had felt the same way when he and Dar had encountered the Terron warrior, Akili.  He would have done anything to protect Dar from the Terron.  Again, the queen smiled at him, and Tao asked, "Have you and Marinde known each other for a long time, then?" Carrin nodded, returning her attention to the match.

"Since I was ten years old, and she was three.  We were taken from our villages at the same time.  Our tribes were different, but we were in the same wagon coming here.  Marinde had been literally torn from her mother's arms . . . I am not certain, but I believe her mother was killed in that attack.  Something that I was spared, since my mother had died birthing my younger brother," Carrin answered soberly.

Tao flinched . . . it had been a long time since he had seen his tribe, his family, but it was unlikely if Carrin or Marinde would see their tribes ever again.  Just as he knew Dar would never see his tribe again, for there was no one left, aside from Kyra.  And each time he started feeling sorry for himself, he would remember that.

Carrin added sadly, "And my birth tribe was wiped out by the Terrons.  From what I've been given to know, there were no survivors.  I'm the last of my people."  Tao looked at the young woman, wondering what he could say to take away her pain.  And it was obvious to him that the loss of her birth tribe still hurt her deeply.

She sighed and added, "But I do have my family now.  I have my husband and my daughter, I have my friends.  It's a good life I have, Tao . . . but I do find myself wondering what might have been."  The match was completed and Carrin added, "And now if you'll excuse me, it's my turn!"

Tao smiled in response and Carrin strode away.  Once more, the sense that he had seen her before returned.  Tao  knew it wasn't possible . . . he had only met her the previous week for the very first time, and yet there was this overwhelming sense of familiarity.

He shook his head and began watching as Carrin engaged one of the warriors.  As he had observed in their first meeting, the queen was a more than capable warrior.  She blocked the thrusts easily and returned a few of her own, which were blocked in turn.  It reminded Tao in some ways of a dance, albeit a very lethal dance.

The pair was halfway into the match when Tao was jolted by a move that he had seen before.  At first, he thought he was imagining things . . . there was only one other person who used that move, and he didn't think Carrin had learned it from him.  But he made himself focus on the queen a little more fully . . . watching every move she made, praying that she would make the same move she had earlier.

And then his silent prayer was granted . . . Carrin fended off another attack from the other warrior, knocking him backwards.  She took a step backward, pulling the staff behind her back . . . observing her opponent with an eagle-eyed stare.  Tao's breath caught in his throat.  Yes, he had seen that move before.

He had seen Dar use it many times before, in his battles with the Terrons and others.  And Dar was the only other person who did utilize that move, the only other person whom Tao knew.  How was it possible that Carrin also knew that maneuver?  He knew she hadn't learned it from Dar.

Maybe she knows it because she learned it from the same person as Dar, a little voice inside his head.  Tao accepted that possibilities, and explored the possibilities.  Until something else occurred to him . . . that would be making the assumption that Carrin had come from the Sula tribe as well.

Then Tao remembered his conversation with Dar about Mira, Dar's older sister.  She had been taken almost twenty years earlier, when she was ten years old.  And Carrin had said that she had been taken from her tribe . . . the time frame was right.  And what had Carrin said, only a few minutes earlier . . . the Varoni had become like her original tribe after an encounter with Curupira?

Tao found himself mentally backing away from what had just occurred to him.  Was it possible . . . was Mira . . . had Mira become Carrin?  If that was so, then why hadn't she and Dar recognized each other?  Tao realized immediately that it was a foolish question.  Dar had been three years old the last time Mira had seen him, and she had been ten.  The passage of time changed a person.

And Carrin had also just told him that her mother had died birthing her younger brother.  Dar had also told him that his older sister Mira had been both mother and older sister to him during his first three years.  Their mother had died in childbirth.  The pieces did fit, but Tao still resisted what logic was telling him.

He wasn't entirely sure why he didn't want to believe that Carrin was Dar's older sister Mira.  Perhaps because she hadn't mentioned her younger brother's name . . . perhaps because he wanted to believe that if Carrin was Mira, she would have said something to Dar about it by now.

Then he stopped and thought about that as well.  If she was Mira, it was entirely possible that she believed her entire tribe  had been wiped out when the Terrons had attacked.  And that it was just a bizarre coincidence that Dar had the same name as her lost brother.

The evidence was piling up.  And the more he explored the possibilities, the more his mind led him back to the same explanation.  Carrin and Mira  were one and the same.  That would explain why Carrin had ordered two of her best warriors to return to the site of the attack.

"By all that's holy," Tao breathed, finally accepted what had seemed impossible only moments earlier, "it's true.  Mira and Carrin are one and the same.  Dar's sister didn't die the night she disappeared . . . she was taken by the Varoni, and became their queen.  And it was only the attack by the Lothians which brought them back together."  Which left an unnerving question.  Was the attack an accident?

"It's about time you figured it out, Scholar . . . I was starting to wonder about you," an all-too-familiar voice said, and Tao turned very slowly to face Curupira.  She smiled wickedly, adding, "And yes, you're quite right.  Carrin, queen of the Varoni, was born Mira, from the Sula tribe, nearly thirty years ago.  The sister, and the daughter, of a BeastMaster."

"I have to tell Dar!" Tao blurted out and Curupira immediately shook her head.  The scholar continued, thinking only of his friend's reaction, "But why not?  Why would you try to keep them apart?  Do you truly believe that knowing his sister is still alive will . . . "

"I know this is difficult for you, Scholar, but you must trust me!  They must be together when they learn . . . when they remember.  Mira suspects . . . she wants to believe that the BeastMaster is her little brother, all-grown up.  But she is afraid . . . afraid of having her heart broken yet again," Curupira answered.

"You're right . . . it is difficult for me to trust you.  How many times have you threatened my life or Dar's?  He has always told me that you care nothing for humans, which begs the question.  Why are you so interested in this particular human drama?" Tao asked.

Curupira's bright blue eyes flashed and she replied in a low, dangerous voice, "Remember who I am, Scholar.  There are times when the only thing standing between you and death is the BeastMaster."  Tao did remember himself then, and he forced himself to relax.  Curupira continued, "And remember what I told you about the BeastMaster's dreams."

Tao sighed, remembering what she had said.  While she hadn't caused an old wrong, she had profited from it.  Curupira went on, "You only have until tonight to keep this to yourself.  I will reveal it tonight, after the last feast.  The Varoni believe they know their queen and what drives her.  It's time they learned who she really is."

"The daughter of a BeastMaster, a peasant girl who became their queen because their chieftain adopted her?" Tao asked.  Again, Curupira's eyes blazed, and he had the uneasy sense that she believed he had insulted Carrin.  But why?  Why would she care?

"Carrin is a queen, regardless of her birth!  And she is my friend.  You would move heaven and earth if it was within your power to help the BeastMaster.  Watch tonight, and see.  When you see what happened that night, nineteen years ago, you will understand why Rudianus chose her as his daughter, and as the queen," Curupira answered.

"All right," Tao conceded, willing to admit this round to the demon, "but that brings up another question.  You just told me that I would move heaven and earth, do whatever was within my power, to help Dar.  And you're right.  Now, the question is . . . how far would you go?  And if you would help Dar, why?  You don't care about humans . . . do you?" He took a step toward the guardian spirit, forgetting her power.

The demon drew herself to her full height, and Tao continued, "Unless you don't like most humans . . . have been given no reason to trust them.  But a special, select few, who have proven themselves . . . a few like Dar or Carrin . . . they become important to you.  And you really do care about Dar.  But if that's the case, why do you treat him the way you do?  Why are you sometimes so cruel to him?"

"You ask of things which are not your concern, Scholar," Curupira hissed at him.  But Tao didn't back down.  He just stared at this being, who looked like a young girl.  Her lips trembled, as if she was trying not to cry, then she added, "Just make sure the BeastMaster attends tonight's feast."

And then she was gone.  Tao almost collapsed against the wall, shaken by his encounter with the spirit.  That was not very smart, Tao, he told himself, and thanks be that Dar couldn't hear that conversation!  Another voice, this time one he didn't recognize, said, "I can't decide if that was very brave, or very foolish, of you."

Tao jumped, and saw a slender, blonde-haired woman who seemed to be in her middle forties smiling at him.  She swept him a mock-bow, continuing, "Pelagia, Goddess of Mothers and Healing, at your service.  And I repeat . . . I cannot decide if that was brave or foolish."

"Probably foolish," Tao admitted, "but I don't trust her.  I know the little princess likes her, but the Curupira I know cares only about animals, and nothing for humans.  I think she has something of a crush on Dar, but that doesn't make her any more trustworthy."

Then he realized that he had just said this to Curupira's mother, and started to apologize, but Pelagia waved him to silence, telling him, "No, it's all right.  You don't know my daughter very well . . . although, you know well enough to realize her true feelings for the BeastMaster.  My daughter has been here for ten thousand years, but among our kind, she is still but a child."

She paused, then continued, "By the time Dar and Mira's father became a BeastMaster, he had been married and widowed, had two young children.  Oh yes, I know all about Dar's family.  I was there to guide his mother Etain's spirit when she died . . . and I was there the night Mira was taken."

Tao looked at her in astonishment, and Pelagia went on, "I know, you have many questions.  But for now, you must have faith.  And again, I know that is difficult, but if you care as much for Dar as I believe you do, then it is something that's necessary.  He will need you, after tonight."

There was no reason in the world to trust her.  And yet, looking into her brown eyes . . . Pelagia continued with a soft smile, "Dar needed someone like you when he was a child.  Losing Mira shattered his soul.  And it was only Kyra who eventually put him back together.  I'm glad he has you now.  I'm glad you recognize that there are times when Dar needs someone to take care of him."

She smiled at him almost sadly and said, "I will see you again, Tao.  Take good care of the BeastMaster."  And without another word, she disappeared.  Shaken by two visitations of the divine kind in less than a half hour, Tao decided that it was time for him to see to Dar.  He just hoped he could keep his mouth shut about Carrin until the time came.

(continued)

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