The Enhancer Read online

  Meeral shook her head. "They concentrate very hard while spinning with one enhancer. They deserve more than that. We'll each get paid for two more than we have been: I'll get eight and they'll get five."

  For a few minutes several enhancers, trying to hide their envy, stood silently watching Meeral and the twins work. Meeral held up her hand to show the twins that she was going to stop enhancing. As the wheels stopped turning she got up from her chair and said, "Would anyone like to try?"

  After some discussion they decided Furthalea should try first because she was the most skilled enhancer.

  She tried repeatedly but she was only able to enhance one twin at a time. She finally stood up and said, "I should have known when you knit those booties for the baby while you were enhancing that you're really good."

  For a few days the workers in Spinners' Hall would stop and watch the eighteen wheels turning, but talk quickly became: "Would the Draries attack?" and, "Will there be war?" until Meeral's enhancing was forgotten.

  The most interesting was the latest rumor: A thousand Lurdoan soldiers were marching from Lurdoa City, across the LurPak Mountains to Pactyl. Leading the army was Prince MorToak.

  CHAPTER 8

  Thinking about MorToak produced excruciating pain in Meeral, but she could not resist reliving everything she could remember about him. In Cyrtuno, only Grandmother Varis shared her sorrows. In Pactyl, many women at Macy House and Spinners' Hall would have listen sympathetically.

  Perhaps Meeral should share her hopeless yearning with the twins. Instead she often retreated into her silent ways. Then Linima would ask, "Are you all right, Meeral?" Meeral nodded her head and answered in monosyllables. Perhaps Linima noticed how quickly Meeral turned her head when she heard the sound of horses' hoofs. She did not know that Meeral hoped "her" prince was riding by.

  One cold winter evening, just after they had crossed the bridge with the rotten beams, Meeral turned at the sound of two horses coming toward them at a rapid trot. She felt the blood rush to her face as she recognized 'Taur's white forefoot, and saw the blond hair of Prince MorToak escaping from under his cap. But Linima had her eyes on the man on the horse slightly ahead of him.

  "What a good-looking man" she said.

  "Must be a stranger in town," Lenera said wryly. "Oh, look! He's in uniform."

  "Don't they know the bridge is out?" Linima said. She waved her arms and shouted, "Stop"

  The riders ignored her. The first rider was almost at the bridge when Meeral reached out grabbed the reins of his horse. "The bridge . . . " she said.

  The man snapped his whip against the horse's rump while his horse tossed his head. Meeral felt the sharp bite of pain in her ankle as her foot gave way, then the shock of the cold ground after she fell. The twins quickly knelt down to help her.

  The bridge collapsed with a groan and a sharp crack and the two riders disappeared. Though the evening light was rapidly fading, Meeral saw MorToak throw himself clear of his horse as he disappeared into the water below. She managed to stand erect with a twin on each side. With their help she hobbled to the edge of the water. First she could not see the men or horses; the water was black except for the floating hunks of ice that broke from the bank. Then 'Taur's head rose above the water. She looked beyond him, but saw only the rough river tumbling away from her.

  "There he is," Lenera said, pointing to the water in front of 'Taur, downstream, near the bank. MorToak half swam, half walked to the bank. By the time he reached the shore, the twins helped him out of the water. 'Taur, close behind him, shook himself vigorously sharing a cold soaking with all of them.

  "Kaldoat?" MorToak said.

  "He'll drown!" Linima said, pointing at the support beams and other wooden debris that slowly floating down the river.

  The Prince looked into the growing darkness. "Where?"

  "He's tangled in the broken bridge."

  The beams bobbed up and down in the water, surrounded by the wood that had been the floor of the bridge. Searching more carefully, they saw an occasional glimpse of arm and head of a man, and the thrashing horse. MorToak pulled off his wet jacket and boots.

  "You can't go back in there," Linima said.

  But he plunged back into the river.

  Meeral looked around. MorToak would need help in that cold water. Wasn't anyone around? The only other living thing was 'Taur, who stood wondering what his master was doing.

  "Bring me the horse," Meeral said to Lenera.

  She looked at Meeral blankly.

  "The horse, Lenera! Grab his reins and lead him to me."

  Willing herself to bear the pain, Meeral mounted. Kaldoat had drifted down stream and MorToak shifted the direction of his swim. Meeral guided the horse along the bank downstream of Kaldoat. As she forced the unwilling horse back into the icy water and guided him toward the man and horse, a thought skirted her mind: Is this why Shejani taught me to ride?

  When she reached the mass of broken timber she could see the struggling horse but not the man. Then she saw two white spots, the whites of his eyes, almost covered by his dark hair. His mouth was open, gasping for breath. He began to disappear into the black water. She grasped his wet hair and held his head above the surface of the water.

  MorToak tried to separate the floating wood to free Kaldoat and his horse, but he could not move two large timbers that trapped them. In the gray of the evening she saw him glance at her and shake his head.

  "Try again," she shouted.

  This time it worked, for Meeral gently enhanced his muscles. She enhanced at a low level to prevent too much strain on MorToak's arms. He pushed the exhausted, coughing soldier onto the rear of 'Taur, again unaware that his strength was carefully enhanced. He held on to the saddle with one hand and to Kaldoat with the other while 'Taur, his eyes bulging, eagerly bore the triple load to bank.

  "Bring them to Macy House," Lenera said. "Follow us."

  Kaldoat lay over the rump of the horse behind Meeral. The twins ran ahead. MorToak walked beside 'Taur, and kept Kaldoat from slipping to the ground.

  At one point MorToak said, "My boots," and looked back but shrugged his shoulders and continued walking gingerly, on bootless feet.

  Macy House was in sight when, from his undignified position, Kaldoat struggled to get down.

  His voice was not as strong as his words. "May your tree wither! Do you think I'm a sack of oats? Let me down"

  But MorToak held him firmly on the horse. "I picked you, most worthy Colonel," he said in mocking respect, "because of your great ability in logistics. You deserve the honor of riding through the streets of Pactyl." He paused. "Here we are."

  Thera, with a heavy, green shawl over her gray dress, came forward and helped Kaldoat slide down off the horse. He swayed, but two large women from Macy House each took one of his arms and hurried him into the house.

  Thera looked at Meeral. "Are you all right?" she asked.

  Meeral nodded.

  "Come in the house," Thera said.

  "Can someone ride my horse to the Duke's stable?" MorToak said. "They'll give him the care he needs."

  "I'll arrange it but that girl looks frozen," she looked at Meeral, still on the horse. "See that she gets inside right away." As Thera went in the front door she listed the things she would do. "We'll get plenty of logs to build a good fire, blankets, hot water . . ."

  Meeral was so cold she felt as if her brain was frozen, but she was afraid to get down. Swinging his arms as he tried to create some warmth in his body, MorToak looked up at her impatiently. Finally he said, in a voice that permitted no disobedience, "Get off that horse."

  Meeral swung her leg over the rear of the horse. Suddenly the pain in her leg penetrated the numbness of her cold body and she lost all her strength. Her knees hit the ground just as MorToak caught her. Later she tried to remember what it was like to be in his arms, but she had wasted the memory. She was too cold to feel his body against hers.

  She heard him say, "Where is everyone?" After a m
oment, he picked her up and carried her into the house.

  At Thera's instruction, two women took Meeral into a downstairs room, stripped off her wet garments, rubbed her vigorously, and dressed in her warmest clothes.

  "Your lips are blue," Whephalna said as she bundled a blanket around her, wrapping her as snugly as a baby taken out on a cold day.

  If Meeral's leg was broken, it was a simple fracture, was Thera's verdict when she examined the injured ankle. Whephalna and another woman half-carried Meeral into the living room and installed her near the fire. Thera enlisted the help of an abusive husband who had come to Macy House to persuade his wife to return home. The scowling man gave Kaldoat and MorToak the help they needed. MorToak and Kaldoat, dressed in the dry clothes Thera had located for them, were just getting settled.

  Kaldoat, still shivering, cleared his throat. Trying to control the vibrations the chill gave his voice he said to Meeral, "I understand I owe you my life. Thank you."

  He spoke unwillingly and he quickly turned to MorToak. "Our reception here has been so unfriendly I thought she was just another native trying to chase us away."

  MorToak's disapproving frown showed that he did not accept the excuse. The women put more logs on the fire and brought Kaldoat a wool scarf. They cheerily tucked MorToak's blanket more firmly around him unaware of his high rank.

  The twins brought hot cider. Their clothes had been drenched by the generosity of 'Taur. Meeral noticed that they wore their best dresses, which was not wasted on Kaldoat. Every time they came near him he replaced his sour expression with a friendly smile. The twins even offered the disgruntled husband hot cider. The scowl disappeared from his face until he tasted it. He spat it out, saying, "I need something stronger than that!" he said.

  He caught his wife by her skirt when she passed him and said, "Are you coming with me?"

  She looked quickly at Thera and shook her head. As the man started for the front door, MorToak called him back. He handed him something wrapped in a handkerchief that gave a clink of metal. Swinging it, the man swaggered toward the front door. His wife gave a sigh that was either of relief or of sorrow when a cold draft swept in from the open door. But he had not left. He stuck his head back in and looked from MorToak to Kaldoat and said, "A man just came in -- says his name is Pudbot -- from the Duke." With a parting scowl at his wife, he left.

  MorToak went quickly to the front door. When he returned he was carrying his wet boots. He said, "They found your horse, Kaldoat and they'll send a carriage for you. Pudbot brought me a horse to ride back to camp."

  When Kaldoat objected to the carriage but MorToak said, "What good are you, Colonel, if you get sick?" Then he turned and stood before Meeral. He took out a purse ten times fatter than the handkerchief of onics he'd given her before and placed it in her hand. "I want to pay for the care of your ankle and any wage you'll lose because you can't work," he said. "This should take care of it."

  His manner was not as haughty as it had been the last time he tossed her money, but he did not bother looking into her face. She had no illusions that he was thinking of her as a person -- she was just -- an inferior thing, neither man nor woman.

  She handed back the purse without even looking inside. "No, thank you, your Highness," she said.

  Meeral heard a gasp from one of the women. Whephalna whispered "Highness?"

  Even MorToak looked startled. He had introduced himself simply as MorToak. Now an insignificant girl addressed by his proper title. But Meeral was thinking that today, at last, she had some use for her mother's impractical training. Shejani had drilled her on the proper way to address royalty. Recalling how gracious and kind her mother could be, Meeral said, "You do not owe me anything, your Highness."

  MorToak bent down slightly and looked at her. Meeral felt a blush creep up her cheeks, and hated it for the way it exposed her. She could see it amused him, for he leaned a little closer and looked into her eyes. Her lips parted slightly and she felt her eyes revealed more than the blush. He smiled, in the knowing way a man has when he perceives that a woman is attracted to him. He turned briskly away from her.

  That night two husky women had helped Meeral up the stairs. Later she remembered his smile and the memory did not help her sleep. Should she have taken the money? It must have been a thousand onics. But she paid him back for saving her. She didn't think she'd miss too much work. Deep down she knew that she did not accept it because she was too proud to accept a favor from someone who treated her as if she were no better than a -- peasant.

  Eyes wide open, Meeral stared into the dark of the attic. Would her mother always lurk nearby? Shejani had said she was a peasant, but she never gave in to being one. Now Meeral was doing the same.

  She stirred in bed, trying to get comfortable without disturbing the sleeping women in the attic. Her whole leg throbbed. Thinking about MorToak took her mind off her ankle and replaced it with the pain of her yearning for him. He crept into her dreams, riding on 'Taur. He picked her up and they rode off together -- into fitful sleep.

  CHAPTER 9

  The sound of whispering and the scraping of feet across the floor of the attic bedroom woke Meeral.

  "We tried to be quiet so you could sleep," Whephalna said as she dressed by candlelight. Meeral could tell by the faint glow outside the window that it was time to go to work.

  But they expected her to stay home. She panicked at the idea. If she stayed home, she would earn no money. Even when she realized that she had put aside extra money by enhancing the spinning of both twins, she felt she had to work. But when she tried to get up, the pain that pierced her leg was too much.

  She managed to sit up on the edge of the cot without jarring her foot. At first she felt dizzy but, by the time she saw Thera walking in the door with a pair of crutches in her hands, the feeling passed.

  "Do you feel well enough to practice on these today?" Thera said.

  Meeral nodded.

  "Learn to keep the weight on your hands, not under your arms. You'll get the hang of it."

  "We'll stay and help," the twins said. "We can't work without Meeral."

  "No," Thera said. "I sent a message to your father at the Seaman's Inn. He deserves an extra day with the two of you before he has to ship out again. He's expecting you."

  "But she'll need help," Linima said.

  "I'll send someone who isn't busy today," Thera turned to Meeral. "Don't try the stairs until she comes."

  She put a hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "Are you up to it? We can bring you your breakfast?"

  "I'll come down," she said, half remembering how she had been practically carried up the stairs last night.

  "Good girl. Promise to wait until someone can watch you on the stairs," Thera said softly, letting her hand brush across the faint red line left by the sailor's knife on Meeral's arm.

  Meeral had seen people walking on crutches. They just seemed to swing along. It looked easy. But it wasn't, at least at first. By the time she heard footsteps she had gotten the rhythm and was ready to conquer the stairs. Deliberately, showing off her skill, she was moving toward the door when a woman appeared. Meeral approached her, "You came just in time. I think I'm ready to try . . . "

  Facing her was Rephna. The curls on each side of her face were fuller, hiding the high cheekbones, but she had that same half bored look in her eyes.

  "You surely know how to do it," Rephna said.

  Meeral smiled, thinking Rephna praised her for the way she used the crutches, but Rephna said. "That was a smart move, refusing to take three thousands onics from a prince"

  "Who said it was three thousands onics?"

  "Everyone. Now you know he'll come back. You really can handle men."

  Meeral could not see the logic. Why should a man be more interested in a woman because she did not accept a gift from him? Remembering that Rephna might pass information to her friend who worked for the Duke, Meeral decided to change the subject.

  "It's good to see you back at Macy
House," she said, meaning it. Even though the woman represented a danger to Meeral, she was part of Macy House, and Meeral had come to cherish everyone who lived there.

  Rephna looked at her with a trace of defiance in her eyes. "I've been living quite a life -- haven't had to get a job or anything. I decided to come back because the man who I lived with was getting too possessive -- he thought he owned me."

  Meeral asked, "Did Thera send you up to help me?"

  "Yes. She said to tell you to put your crutches on the step below you before you move your good foot down."

  Meeral found she wasn't ready to go down the stairs in an upright position even with Thera's instructions. She sat down at the top of the stairs and scooted down, step-by-step, on her seat. When she reached the last step, Rephna helped her stand. The curl on Rephna's cheek fell forward and Meeral saw a swollen, rainbow-colored bruise on the woman's cheekbone. Meeral's first thought was that Rephna had fallen on the icy streets. Only her preoccupation with her crutches saved Meeral from making the sympathetic but tactless comment that teetered on the edge of her tongue. Macy House often had women with patches of faded bruises.

  The two women spent the day together, Rephna talking about her life in the city, the youngest child in a family of nine children. Meeral told her of living in the country, raised by her grandmother.

  Rephna surprised Meeral when she said, "I was different from the others. I didn't fit in." Strange that someone so unlike Meeral had felt the same as she. By the end of the day, Meeral knew more about Rephna than she did about any other person except possibly her own grandmother. But Rephna learned only sanitized snatches of Meeral's life.

  Their conversation was interrupted by a healer who fitted Meeral with a firm leather brace that kept her foot rigid. He told her not to put her weight on her foot for three weeks.

  That evening Thera took her aside. "Thank you," she said.

  "For what?"

  "For listening to Rephna. Perhaps it will help her get her life in order." Then Thera asked how Meeral was feeling.