Free Ten Crescent Moons (Moonquest) by Marilyn Haddrill Page A

on the trail to Sola Re.
    Redolo shook
her head knowingly.
    "They
would not listen because women of the Fifth House have no worth, except as
objects like a sword or a piece of jewelry. Your words, therefore, had no
worth. Tell me. How was it that you knew about the parasites in the water?"
    Adalginza
hesitated, then dared again to tell the truth.
    "I
learned from the savages. I knew to boil the stagnant water and then to
sterilize with powdered leaves of the undali plant."
    At the shocked
silence that greeted her words, she hastily spoke again.
    "As I
told you before, Sir Kalos, I played with the savages only when I was a child.
Much of what I know also was taught to me by the gnostic, Medosa. He himself picked
up much lore from the tribal shamans."
    "A
gnostic? In the frontier?" Redolo's questioning was sharp. "You mean
the savages tolerated him?"
    "For
many full seasons, yes. He was a teacher, but he also learned much from the savages.
He was known as the speaker of Truth. He lived near the Place of the Circles — before
the savages murdered him, along with my mother."
    Kalos viewed
her with an expression of disbelief.
    "A
gnostic taught you, even though you were a female from the House of the Fifth
Crescent Moon? Doesn't your House strictly forbid such a thing?"
    "Yes."
Adalginza answered simply, because this also was the truth. "There were no
males from my clan in the abode where I grew up. Only me. And my mother."
    Redolo
addressed her next words to Kalos.
    "A
gnostic is always from the House of the Eighth Crescent Moon. Thus he would feel
compelled to teach the words of the saints to all who would listen, even to a
female of the Fifth House. And even though it violated the law. There was no male
of authority there to forbid it."
    "Lady
Donzala was there," Kalos pointed out. "She had authority in the
absence of any male."
    "My
mother was not in her right mind," Adalginza answered hastily. "She
did not know or care what the gnostic taught. As I said, Medosa taught everyone
who would listen. Even the children of the savages. This is part of the reason
why he was killed. He was thought to be tainting young minds with the doctrine
of the Crescent Moon Houses."
    Being
scholars, Redolo and Kalos immediately launched into an eager discussion of
these revelations. A gnostic who was teaching the savages? What did they learn
from him? What did he learn in turn?
    Was Benfaaro
one of his pupils? Who was Medosa, to risk his life in such a way?
    They concluded
that perhaps Redolo could research and document his life, leading to
publication of their findings in one of the prestigious Journals of the Minds published
by the university of the Ninth House back home on the Prime Continent.
    Adalginza
tried to follow their discussion, but quickly lost interest. Speaking of Medosa
reminded her only of the profound loss she felt.
    The gnostic's
kindness had been real, just as Lady Donzala's love for her had been as
authentic as that of any real mother.
    "Child,
there is something you need to know." Redolo spoke abruptly, directing
Adalginza's attention back to the conversation. "It is about your coloring."
    "Mother!"
Placing his cleaned sword back into its scabbard, Kalos now stepped between the
two women. "What we discussed in private is not your place or duty to
reveal."
    "She is
strong. I believe she has a right to know the truth. It is so obvious. Look at the
darkness of her skin."
    "You do
not know what the truth is," Kalos said. "You are only guessing. And
through guessing, you will cause this young woman great pain. Maybe unnecessary
pain."
    "But
she is not personally responsible for her mother's desires. Or madness."
    "Then
do you think it is also worth mentioning that perhaps her mother's madness is
within her?"
    "Now
who is being cruel? Such rudeness! To say such a thing in front of Lady
Adalginza!"
    "No
more cruel than you, Mother."
    Adalginza's
heart almost stopped beating with fear of discovery as the two of them so
casually