No Flame But Mine Read Free

room. Instead the scene there had turned to stone, the contortionist girl seated on the floor, Aglin sitting forward, eyes wide.
    To Beebit Jemhara said, ‘Do you know then how it was you survived at Ru Karismi?’
    â€˜No, Highness.’
    â€˜Had you had some dealings with the Magikoy beforehand?’
    â€˜No. How would I? I was the Kelp’s slave and trech, and chained up otherwise. Even when I had to walk behind the army – their precious Gullahammer – I was on a chain with one or two others. Not every woman wanted to keep the army company.’
    â€˜A mystery then,’ said Jemhara silkenly. ‘Or else you’re lying.’
    Beebit did not react.
    â€˜Or else ,’ said Aglin, ‘something proofed her against death. I heard a story that some of the men survived too – a handful compared to the whole huge horde of them – thirty, fifty, sixty men. Some witch had done it. That’s all I ever heard.’
    Beebit finished her drink and put the cup down. She swung her feet careless from her shoulders, stood up on her hands and walked round the fire-basket. From this position she said, ‘I came back to Kandexa to find my father’s bones, if I can. Bury them nicely. Then I’ll work at my trade.’
    â€˜Your whoring,’ nodded the mageia.
    â€˜Just so. All places need a good whore.’
    Jemhara, despite herself, gave a low laugh. Aglin joined her. ‘She’s got the right of it there.’
    Jemhara said, ‘But why then did you seek my friend the mageia?’
    â€˜Because of my daughter,’ said Beebit, lilting over to her feet. ‘You see, ladies, I thought she might have the magic power.’
    â€˜Oh, why’s that?’ crisply asked Aglin. ‘What can she do?’
    â€˜Nothing, yet.’
    â€˜I suppose she is still young,’ said Jemhara.
    â€˜About two years.’
    â€˜Two years,’ snapped Aglin. ‘What can they do at that age but squeak and shriek and fall over?’
    Beebit smiled her impertinent smile. ‘Shall I call her in? I left her in the street—’
    â€˜You unfeeling cow!’ yelled Aglin, darting up. ‘A kitty of two years left in the cold alley – the gods know what’ll have happened—’
    â€˜Oh, it’s fine as sunlight, lady. Just you see.’
    Beebit flowed to the window, lifted aside the heavy leather hanging, and sent out a fluting whistle.
    â€˜Calls her like a dog too—’
    â€˜Gently, Aglin. Wait and see.’ Jemhara had also got to her feet.
    The three women stood, once more in silence, and there came the light patter of feet running along the passage beyond the room. The door opened and through it stepped another young girl, about the same age as Beebit, although her colouring was, or had been made to be, rather different. Her skin was a light smoky fawn, while from a central parting her long thick curling hair was, on her left side, pale brown, on the right side black as coal. Jemhara noted that her eyes too were unalike, which must surely be natural. Her left eye however was the dark one, shining black, the right eye a pale clear hazel.
    â€˜This isn’t any daughter of yours,’ said Aglin. ‘Unless you’re a great deal older than you look.’
    â€˜It’s that she is a great deal younger than she looks,’ said Beebit.
    Aglin fizzled on the boil and Jemhara held up her hand to quieten her.
    â€˜What is your name, little girl?’ said Jemhara to the newcomer.
    â€˜Azulamni,’ she said. She had a very beautiful voice. Indeed, apart from her weird colours, she was strikingly beautiful.
    â€˜Your mother’s previous name.’
    â€˜She named me for her past,’ said the girl.
    Jemhara said, ‘And who was your father? Was it the Kelpish man?’
    Beebit threw back her head and wailed with laughter.
    â€˜ Him ? He fired his bow without arrows. Most of them do. Or, to be