Free Bradley, Marion Zimmer - Novel 19 by The Ruins of Isis (v2.1)

so that Dal could tie
the ribbons of her sash.
                 She
looked at herself in the mirror with satisfaction; no woman of the Matriarchate
could say she had not taken the trouble to honor her hosts! Hostesses, she
amended. Dal, too, was resplendent, with the University decorations which
proclaimed him Scholar and Master, and the insignia of his homework! Pioneer;
he had dressed as if for a Scholar's Banquet, and she was proud of him.
                 The
Lady Miranda came for them; after bowing to Cendri, she turned to Dal, with a
shy gesture. "The Scholar Dame, and her Companion, are bidden to dine with the Pro-Matriarch this evening, and I am bidden to say to
you that my mother's Companion, Rhu by name, is eager to entertain and find
company and friendship with the Scholar Dame's Companion."
                 Thank God, Cendri said to herself, someone at fast has taken special notice of Dal,
and men, at least, can dine with women.' For a time she had wondered if
this society had revived ancient interdining taboos; in some societies men and
women did not eat together, but it was usually because women were considered
unclean, or unfit to join the dominant males; she had been afraid this culture
had simply reversed all cultural taboos!
                 Lady
Miranda had taken down her braid, and her long hair flowed down her back; she
wore a loose, waistless gown of pale blue, nearly translucent, which made her
pregnancy very conspicuous. She must be, Cendri
thought, very near to term; she looked enormous. Miranda's eyes lingered on Dal
for a few minutes, shyly studying his decorations, and Cendri felt annoyed. Are
the men kept out of sight so much that I'm going to have to worry about women
admiring Dal? Even pregnant, Miranda's pretty enough that if she seriously
tries to get Dai's attention, I ought to worry!
                 Downstairs,
in an enormous long room, scattered at low tables and sitting on cushions, many
women, and some children were gathered. There were two or three pre-adolescent
boys, but she saw, at first, no other adult male. Miranda led them through the
clustered small tables, heads turning to watch as they passed, into a small
alcove at the far end, where a man and woman were sitting.
                 Cendri's
first thought—is this a polygamous society, is he the husband of all these
women and father of all these children?—was quickly dismissed; the man was very
young, considerably younger than Dal himself. But it was the woman beside him,
rising to her feet to greet them, who drew Cendri's eyes.
                 Vaniya,
Pro-Matriarch of Isis/Cinderella, was a woman of middle age, her face lined and
slightly stern. She had the head of a magnificent lioness, framed in a heavy
cloud of thick, frizzy, amber-colored hair. She was tall and strong-looking,
her forehead high, her nose long and arched; her eyes deep-set and flashing
brilliant blue. Her thick body was draped with violet silks, falling in
elaborate folds which did not suit her; but she looked imposing. She raised her
hands and clasped them before her face, in the Unity's greeting.
                 Her
voice was a light soprano, which nevertheless was strong enough to be audible
everywhere in the room; the voice of a trained singer or public speaker.
                 "It
is a pleasure to welcome the Scholar Dame Molocq from University. In the name
of our High Matriarch Rezali, I make you welcome for yourself, and for the
Scholars you represent."
                 Cendri
said, aware that after the trained resonance of Vaniya's voice her own sounded
like a child's, "It is a pleasure and an honor, my Lady."
                 The
Pro-Matriarch's face, stern and unsmiling till now, relaxed in a smile. Her
face was unsymmetrical, and when she smiled she looked lopsided and untidy, but
good-natured. "And now I am sure you have had quite enough of formalities,
my