April 29, 2013

 “Vinca,” Mavi repeated, taking his hand from his mother's back and holding it out to her. “She has looking after Nesim since Planting Tide.”

She came and stopped just outside of arms' reach. The Archbishop looked her down, then up, starting with ending with her hair. She turned back to Mavi. “She's qerib.” at least she hadn't said worse. Vinca'd heard a couple of them when the teeners were trying to goad her.

Mavi stepped around his mother and put a hand on her shoulder. “She is studying Pachem ways, to become one of us.”

The Archbishop looked like she'd found half a worm in her apple. “Oh.” she beckoned over the clerk. “Find a place for her. I leave it in your hands.” adroitly she freed Mavi's hand and led him away. “Your brothers and sisters have been asking for you. They want to see how your boy is doing. Did you know your niece Onaedo is expecting her first?”

Vinca looked at the travel box Mavi'd left behind, then at the clerk. “Any corner I can curl up in will be fine.” she managed a smile, and picked up the abandoned box. “Shall we put this away for the Pastor?”

The clerk looked dumfounded. “Oh, yes.” he nodded.

Mavi had a room with a crib in it, on the second floor, with high ceiling and large windows half curtained with sheers and restrained brocade. Vinca put the box on the bed, looked at the clerk, who dithered in the doorway. “You don't know where to put me, do you?”

“I'm afraid not. I've been thinking, and there isn't even a corner in the Palace that doesn't have three people in it already.”

“Even the attics?” She was perhaps half a decade older than the clerk, and felt a lifetime older.

The clerk sighed. “I'll see. We can see who has canceled. I am sorry, but quarters in the Bishop's Palace for the annual Chapter House – “ He brightened. “Could you come with me?”

The clerk led her to a cramped office and let her sit while he shuffled papers, riffling back and forth and muttering to himself. “No, not there. That's a room with men.” another half dozen pieces of paper moved and looked over. “No, we can't put another woman in there.”

He called in another clerk, this one barely past teener age and had a whispered conversation, sending the younger one off. Vinca got out Nesim's story book and opened it to a random page. Her reading comprehension was improving, but the child's book was still difficult for her. At least there were pictures. She crossed her legs, ignoring the clerk's gasp of horror and turned a page.

The younger clerk came back, and there were more whispers. The clerk who'd been dealing with her looked at her, sighed deeply.

“No room.” She didn't make a question of it.

“I'm afraid not, not even a corner.” He sounde apologetic.

She closed the book and stood, holding it out along with Nesim's diapers and supplies. “Could you see that the Pastor gets this then? I'll try to be back tomorrow to look after Nesim during the day. He'll probably be busy.” She hoped the city wasn't too crowded with the annual meeting.

Worse came to worst, she'd try the Trade section of the city, though she wasn't sure what they'd make of her Pachem clothes. She wondered if she could sleep in the warehouse space she'd rented for her half pod.

“I am sorry.” The clerk was starting to repeat himself. He'd stood, and he'd turned almost as pale as his turban.

“I'll see myself out.” She managed to keep a smile until she'd left the cubbyhole office, but let it fade once she was certain of her solitude.

She slipped out into the forecourt and looked at the street. She pulled up a mental map of the city and looked east. That way to the alver nahiyə, and probably a couple of mile. She'd done worse. At least she didn't have a pack, and nobody was shooting.

“Vinca?” She turned, seeing Mavi swing his legs out over the sill of a window on the ground floor, hopping down and striding over to her, frowning. “Where are you going?” He caught both her hands.

“There's no room, so I'm going to see what I can arrange on my own.” She squeezed his hands, and tried to tug her hands free. “I left Nesim's with the clerk who greeted us.”

“Nonsense.” He hugged her, and she inhaled his scent, while he rubbed the back of her head. “Come with me.” He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her after him.

Back into the Palace again, to one side of the entry hall to a large room filled with people of all ages, including a herd of children that ran among the clusters of talking adults. She spotted Nesim in one of the pods of children, toddling after a pair of giggling girls who held onto his hands.

“Mother.” Mavi raised his voice, keeping his arm around her shoulders as he strode through the room. Vinca had to skip every couple of steps to keep up.

“Yes, Mavi?” The Archbishop had retreated to an impressive chair, armed and with a footstool. She looked a bit drained, but smiling, surrounded by her family.