See Chapter One (A) for Disclaimers

"I don't know why you're so insistent on going to this feast, Tao.  It's for the Varoni, not us," Dar repeated as the other man helped him to his feet.  He gasped as a shockwave smashed through his torso, and he nearly passed out.  Only Tao's steady arm kept him upright.

"The princess invited us . . . and I confirmed it with Marinde," Tao answered.  Dar blinked a few times, until his vision cleared, and Tao continued, "Besides.  You've been cooped up in here for almost two weeks.  Socializing with them will do you good."  He laughed, then added, "Marinde has been spreading the word about the BeastMaster.  Her people want to meet someone who can communicate with animals!"

"Always trying to change me," Dar observed, rolling his eyes, and Tao looked hurt.  Dar quickly apologized to his friend, saying, "I'm sorry.  You and the others have taken care of me.  I'm just not comfortable here, that's all.  I'm not used to spending so much time in a village."

"And that's why you need this, Dar.  As the queen told me last night when I was teaching her daughter, if we don't change, we die," Tao answered.  Dar couldn't argue with that.  He had seen it in the forests, among the animals.  Tao continued, "Besides.  I've been told that their goddess will be making an appearance tonight."

"Goddess?  The queen made no mention of Pelagia joining them tonight," Dar observed as Tao carefully led him toward the door.  The other man shook his head, and Dar continued, "What other goddess do they have?  According to Queen Carrin, the Mother Goddess Pelagia is their protector."

"Yes, but she's not the only one.  Curupira is also considered a goddess by these people," Tao answered.  Dar looked at him quickly, and Tao explained, "It's true.  Curupira almost wiped out the warriors of the Varoni tribe.  It was only Carrin's intervention which stopped the killing.  She convinced them to stop killing animals for sport."  

Tao paused, then asked, "Dar . . . what do you think of the queen?  You've spent as much time with her as I have.  Actually, I think you've spent more time with her than I have . . . what do you think of her?" Dar looked at his friend, frowning in confusion.  Why was Tao asking him what he thought of Queen Carrin?

Then he smiled, realizing that his friend had become infatuated with the queen.  He said, "She's a good woman.  I can see why she was chosen by the chieftain as a foster daughter."  Dar paused, wondering if he should mention something else to Tao.  At last, he continued, "And there are times when she seems . . . familiar.  It's nothing I can specify.  But . . . I get the strange sense I know her."

Tao, strangely enough, didn't answer.  He instead changed the subject, telling him, "I could probably spend a few years here, teaching the children.  At least, if Ari is anything like the other children."  Dar frowned . . . the sudden change in subject also wasn't like his friend.

But Tao usually had his reasons for discussing, or not discussing things.  Dar instead observed, "Princess Arduinna sometimes accompanies her mother in here, along with Marinde.  You asked if Queen Carrin seems familiar . . . and she does.  But, it's Arduinna who seems more familiar.  She reminds me of the memories I have of my sister."

Tao observed, "You told me that you were only three when your sister disappeared . . . do you remember much about Mira?"  Dar bobbed his head, trying to ignore the flashes of pain that shot through his ribcage.  Tao continued, "That's amazing . . . remembering from when you were so young."

"Mira was both my mother and my sister, Tao.  She was the last image I would have before sleeping, and the first person I saw when I awakened.  Arduinna is a little younger than Mira was when she was killed, but when I look at Arduinna, I see what Mira must have been like before our mother died," Dar admitted.

"Dar, did you or your father ever think about the possibility that your sister survived?  That she didn't die in the forest that night?" Tao asked.  Again, Dar frowned.  That was a strange question to ask.  Tao continued, "I know, the loss of your sister shattered your father, but did you ever think maybe she survived?"

"When I was a child, yes, I believed that.  Up until I was ten years old myself, and became lost in the forest.  That convinced me that my sister had died.  And after the Terron attack, I was grateful my sister was dead . . . grateful that she hadn't been taken with Kyra," Dar replied.

They approached the Great Hall now, and Tao said softly, "There are worse things than dying, yes."  Dar had the uneasy sense that they were not longer talking about Kyra, or Mira, but he didn't know what troubled his friend.  Tao murmured, "There's the queen.  We should pay our respects."

~*~*~*~

Marinde had never seen her friend so nervous.  She told Gereon in a low voice, "What's troubling Carrin?  I know the Goddess will be joining us tonight . . . something about 'righting an old wrong' was how she put it when she approached Carrin and I yesterday after practice.  But why does that bother Carrin so much?"

"I'm not certain," the consort admitted, eyeing his wife and queen with concern, "but if Carrin is nervous, that's reason enough for me to be nervous.  I think Carrin is worried that Curupira will take action against the tribe for the animals killed under Rudianus."

Marinde frowned and observed, "That doesn't make any sense.  The killing of animals for sport stopped a long time ago, after Carrin convinced Rudianus that it wasn't wise to anger Curupira.  No . . . something else is going on, and I have a feeling it involves our two guests.  Otherwise, why would the Goddess want them both here?" Gereon shook his head, looking worried.

"I don't know.  But I want you to stay close to Carrin, Marinde.  Yes, I will be with her, but she may need us both," the consort replied.  He paused, looked at Marinde closely, then added, "I think whatever happens tonight will change everything.  For all of us."  Marinde nodded . . . she was getting the same feeling.  And she didn't like it.

~*~*~*~

Over the last ten days, Carrin had found herself thinking more and more of her old life, among the Sula.  She knew why that was, of course . . . the young stranger, the BeastMaster, had brought the memories back.  Of her father, of her little brother Dar.

And when the Goddess had said that Dar and Tao were to be invited to this . . . feast . . . Carrin's sense that something terrible was about to happen intensified.  She had received this feeling in the past.  The first time had been nineteen years ago.  When her father had insisted that she take three year old Dar into the forest with her.

But Carrin did as she was told . . . the entire village was to be invited to this great feast.  And during the last two days, ever since she and Marinde had encountered Curupira after their practice session, Carrin had spent as much time getting help for the cooks as looking after the BeastMaster.

Now, as she looked across the Great Hall, to make sure everything was in place, Carrin fought another surge of panic.  Had someone in the tribe killed for sport, and not told her?  No, that didn't make any sense.  If such a thing had happened, Curupira herself would have killed the guilty party.  Something didn't add up!

"Greetings, Queen Carrin . . . thank you for inviting us," Tao said, and Carrin jumped.  She hadn't seen Tao or Dar approaching, and Tao said apologetically, "I am sorry, it was not my intention to startle you.  Is everything all right?" Carrin forced herself to smile, though she could tell from the BeastMaster's expression that he wasn't fooled.

"Just making sure everything is going properly.  It isn't often that the Goddess Curupira calls for such a feast.  I want to make sure everything is perfect," she answered.  The BeastMaster still didn't look convinced, and Carrin told Tao, "And you should find a place for him to sit.  This standing is not good for his ribs."

"A place where he can stretch out his legs," Tao observed and Carrin laughed, looking around.  There were plenty of places for him to do that!  Tao continued seriously, "And thank you again, for all of your help.  Will the princess be joining us tonight?"

"Yes . . . again, at the insistence of the Goddess.  I don't know what's so important that she wants all of us together, but I'm sure we'll find out," Carrin replied.  Tao and Dar both nodded.  Carrin looked over at Ari, who was now entering with Ruh.  The queen only hoped that her acquiescence didn't cost her daughter her life.

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