Narrators Foreword
It was not
without precedent that the Mathomdale Fair of that fateful summer should come
to be seen historically as a pivotal occasion. The Festival, with all its long
history as a gathering of the clans of the Line of the Goddess, had a rich
tradition as the time of the year when the scattered families of that Line
would come together and determine their futures. It was always a time when new
alliances were formed, when marriages were arranged, slaves bartered and sold
and old quarrels resolved. It was one of the few occasions when the Line came
close to an open declaration of its existence and where those people of the
Line celebrated their mutual inheritance and identity and, as such, each Fair
contributed its own commitments and contributions to the future.
Even within this
context however, the Festival that year was of enormous significance. For one
thing it was a festival held in time of war. The conflicts engulfing the Line
around the world gave particular poignancy to the gathering of people in
Mathomdale and underlined the imperatives of unity in the face of the threat
facing them. The Lady's speech at the opening of the Festival is seen as a
rallying call to the families of the Goddess and the hardening of determination
to meet that threat. It is significant too that the war had brought numerous
refugees to Mathomdale, many of whom would come to be of great importance in
the future of the Line. It was, for instance, the first public appearance of
the youthful Lady Gitana, the equally youthful Lady Jamila and many others
besides. Few could have predicted, upon seeing these sadly displaced young
people, the enormous importance they would come to represent among the Slaves
of the Amethyst.
Then again the
festival was presided over, in the titular role of Festival Queen, by the Lady
Jennifer the younger; a role once also held by her mother, the Lady Katherine.
This in itself was of great if symbolic importance; a continuation of a
tradition that married the House of Mathom by way of ancient and pagan ritual
to the Line and underlined its dominance as the ruling house.
Another
significant factor, albeit one frequently overlooked by historians, is that
this was the festival that brought the Lady Eugene back to Mathomdale. It is
sometimes difficult to assess the influence of this shadowy yet powerful woman,
long estranged from the House of Mathom, but those researchers who care to
delve will recognise its importance. She is sometimes known by such romantic
names as "The Dark Angel", "The Black Avenger" or "Sword of the Goddess" and
innumerable stories and legends have been woven around her. Yet she was a far
more complex woman than these tales would suggest. That she returned at last to
Mathomdale in the company of three very young slaves and carrying a future
child of the House of Mathom in her womb, all of whom would grow into such
glittering stars of the Order of the Amethyst, must not be overlooked. The Lady
Eugene came home to Mathomdale at last but she did not come empty handed but
bearing priceless gifts.
Finally this was
the Festival held in the year of the revelation of Prophecy One. No festivities
can be seen as mundane or without significance in the light of that terrifying
reality. The future being determined at Mathomdale Fair was not some nebulous
and indeterminate one. It was a future with a timetable and it was coming fast.
Chapter One
It was the
final day before the commencement of the Summer Festival. Jennifer awoke, from
a fitful night, to find the sunshine streaming through her windows. Gitana lay
alongside her; the great main of her wavy dark hair spread like a fan over the
pillow. She was sleeping peacefully, holding a corner of the duvet to her lips.
Jennifer felt calm in the light of the morning although she had slept poorly
and her body felt weak and shivery. Nevertheless, the emotional troubles of the
last days had been placed into perspective by Gitana's dreadful story. How
trite Jennifer's troubles seemed now. She felt that her worries were just
childish petulance in comparison with the frightful ordeal that the girl beside
her had had to endure. Jennifer felt very protective of her young new friend.
In affection she leaned over and kissed the beautiful South American girl in
sisterly tenderness. Gitana stirred and mumbled something in Spanish then she
opened her eyes and looked at Jennifer.
"Buenos dias
Seņorita."
"Good
morning Gypsy. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. Yes
thank you. I was tired after all."
"I think
maybe you were suffering from jet lag although I'm not quite sure what that
is." said Jennifer with a little chuckle. "Are you hungry?"
"Si Seņorita
Jennifer."
"Well it's
nearly eight o'clock and I think we're having breakfast at nine so if we want
to get anything to eat we'd better be up and about. Do you er.... er well you
know ...need any help with the bathroom?"
Gitana
giggled "Please Seņorita! Our village was a rich one. We didn't live in caves
Seņorita."
"Oh I'm
sorry! I didn't mean to insult you. I.... I know nothing about Colombia. Forgive
me."
Gitana
laughed happily and grasped her new friend warmly to kiss her. "Please it is
nothing Jennifer." She fondled Jennifer's hair in affection. "You are very
beautiful in the morning Seņorita."
Jennifer
laughed warmed by the company of the young girl and her twinkling dark eyes. "I
don't feel very beautiful today Gypsy."
"Why
Seņorita? Are you troubled?"
"I've just
been very silly these last days Gitana. I've hurt some people that I love.
Somehow I have to put it all right again and I don't know how."
"Ah you will
put everything right caro. You are a healer."
"Sorry?"
"In my land,
among the people of the Diosa, Seņorita we say there are those who the Diosa
has granted the gift of healing, healing the spirit. When our spirits are troubled
we seek out the healer and they take the pain from us."
"Well Gitana
I think I've caused more pain than I've healed."
"Oh no
Seņorita! That you could never do!"
Jennifer
looked at her bemused. "Well never mind. Look do you want to use the bathroom first
whilst I check if I'm on rota for duty this morning?"
"Si
Jennifer." Gitana skipped out of bed impulsively but before she could rush to
the bathroom she caught sight of the portrait of Lady Mathom on Jennifer's
wall. "Oh Jennifer. You have a picture of the Emperatriz on your wall."
"Yes Gypsy.
We all do. She's our Mistress."
"She is
wonderful Seņorita! I only saw her for a short time yesterday but it was as if
I had known her all my life. Reina Madre to us all! We had pictures of her in
my village but I never dreamed I would stand beside her, talk to her, touch
her. You are very lucky to have such a Mistress."
"After my
conduct recently Gitana I don't think she's lucky to have me."
"No
Seņorita! She is lucky. She is always lucky." To Jennifer's surprise Gitana
curtsied reverentially to the portrait before seeking out the bathroom. Feeling
strange Jennifer rose from her bed and stood before the portrait. It was a
photographic print of the Lady in full ceremonial dress, her full gown the
colour of her eyes and there were diamonds and amethysts about her neck and the
raven coloured hair was crowned with a glittering tiara. It had surprised her
to see what reverence and esteem her Mistress commanded from such diverse
peoples from around the globe. Gitana, Jamila and Laila had never seen her
before but quite clearly, even in their distant countries, she was almost an
object of worship to them, a religious figurehead. Suddenly Jennifer felt
terribly unworthy to be a slave to this woman. She had let her down badly she
thought. She had not lived up to the standards of a woman whose authority was
worthy of such respect and honour. Her Mistress would be disappointed in her.
Feeling very small Jennifer curtsied to the picture. She felt better for having
done so.
She called
up Abigail on the internal system to inquire about any possible duty that
morning but Abigail reassured her. "No Jenny. Chill. We're all excused duty
this morning so we can concentrate on settling Laila, Jamila and Gypsy in. All
of us that is but Becky. She's got something on with Darren straight after
breakfast but I don't know what." Jennifer thought that Abigail sounded
strained this morning but it wasn't the time to talk to her.
"So we've
nothing on?"
"Yes you
have. You and Alice have to get your things together. You're supposed to be
moving down to the Mathom Arms this afternoon sometime."
"Oh yes I'd
forgotten about that."
"Well Alice
is getting fitted out with her ball gown this morning and she's going to be a
bit pushed so if you get your act together maybe you can help her after lunch."
"Yes of
course."
"How's
Gypsy?"
"She's fine.
She's just under the shower."
"The Lady
might want to see her again today."
"I'll warn
her."
"Ok. Cool.
See you down at breakfast." Jennifer hung up. So she would see Julie today. She
took a deep breath. Somehow she had to find some wisdom. Almost as if praying
for it she curtsied once more to her Mistress's portrait.
Chapter Two
Up at Rose
cottage in the upper valley Eugene was making her obeisance to a rather more
mundane object. She was on her hands and knees in front of the lavatory bowl
being deliciously sick. Mali entered the bathroom looking worried. "Please lady
you are unwell?"
Eugene wiped
a hand across her mouth and gulped in a long breath. "Just suffering from that age-old
affliction that is the curse of womankind Mali. The bloody grief we women have
to go through just for the privilege of propagating the damn species!"
"Sorry
lady?"
"I'm
pregnant Mali. Ladies get sick when they're pregnant. It goes with the patch
apparently!"
"Oh you not
see doctor lady?"
Eugene bit
back the acerbic remark that had threatened to escape her lips and thought
about that one. Actually it was a very good point. She ought to see a
doctor! She'd not sought medical advice ever since discovering that she was
pregnant. She knew damn all about pregnancy for heaven's sake. She should put
herself in the hands of a competent doctor. She shook her head. "Oh I'll be all
right Mali."
Mali looked
nervous. "Please lady. Me, Ana and Vesna, we talk. We are worrying about you.
We want you go see doctor."
Eugene
looked at Mali in surprise. The girls were worried about her? She'd
become so used to the idea of her being responsible for their welfare it
had caught her completely by surprise to discover that they were concerned
about her. They'd obviously talked about it among themselves and Mali
had been appointed as spokeswoman. She felt a great affectionate amusement.
There was also pride in that as well. They had so clearly taken her as their
mistress that her well-being had become of paramount importance to them. She
rose to her feet with a smile and took Mali's hands. "I'll be fine Mali.
Honestly I will."
But Mali was
in a stubborn mood this morning. She shook her head vigorously. "No no lady!
You please go see doctor. You having baby. Maybe new sister or little brother.
It no good you no go see doctor. We worrying."
Eugene
sighed terribly touched by the girls' obvious concern. "I will do Mali. I
promise that next week I will go and see a doctor. Now will you girls stop
worrying about me?"
Mali smiled
"Yes lady. Thank you."
"Come along
then. Maybe I can keep something down this morning. Margaret said that the
fridges and pantries were well stocked so let's see if we can find something to
rustle up for breakfast."
"Oh please
lady. Ana she making blekfast. You
having baby. It no good you do all work. Please be sitting. We bling you
blekfast."
Eugene put a
hand on her hip and demanded "Just what the hell is going on in this house this
morning?"
"Ah sorry
lady. No be angly. We talking about you. We.... we..."
"Yes I know.
You worrying." Eugene laughed and tousled Mali's hair. "Ok then I'll do as I'm
told." Up until then Eugene had done all the cooking and assorted domestic
chores for them in the safe house near Kingston so she was bemused to sit at
the kitchen dining table by the window overlooking the garden of the lovely
cottage whilst her three young ladies pampered her. She wondered what Ana would
manage to conjure up for breakfast. It would probably be rotten but she was
determined to try and eat it as graciously as she could manage. To Eugene's
great surprise breakfast was in fact very good. Ana had made some Russian style
breakfast omelettes that were both light and tasty and there'd been some
excellent wholemeal bread in the bread bin and dreamy Mathomdale butter along
with jam and marmalade, some cold meats and cheese. Vesna had been delegated
with the task of making the coffee and that was less successful for it was as
black as treacle and about three times too strong but Eugene didn't dare to
tell her that.
"This is
very good Ana." she told her as she ate her omelette. Ana blushed with pleasure
to be so complimented. "Where did you learn to cook so well?
"In the
house where I servant lady." Ana told her. Eugene dropped the subject. It
wasn't a happy time in Ana's life but then there had been few happy times in
her life so far. However, thought Eugene with satisfaction, she looked happy
now. They all did. In fact they all looked radiant sat around the breakfast
table watching her eat her breakfast with pleasure. They were all dressed
nicely in some of the new clothes she'd expended so much money on in Kingston
yesterday, their hair was neatly brushed and they were spotlessly clean. There
were definitely undercurrents going on around here. Eugene was beginning to
feel adopted.
She did not
possess slaves of her own in fact. It was true that she had faithful employees
in her business in Hamburg and her long-neglected family in Austria owned two
slaves but her constant life on the road had always precluded her from owning
her own. She had so little to do with the two slaves in Austria that she was
virtually a stranger to them. So Eugene simply had no real background in
raising slaves and now all of a sudden she seemed to be lumbered with three of
them. It was a strange new experience for her. Any experienced slave owner
would have laughed at her current predicament and told her that your slaves
owned you quite as much as you owned them but Eugene was quite unused to the
way in which your slaves developed their relationship with you. It was by no
means disagreeable but Eugene reflected quite impractical. All slaves required
stable solid environments and she didn't even have a home as such. Her
apartment in Hamburg was hardly the place to raise three slaves and in any case
she had more or less decided to sell up most of her business in Hamburg. She
was having enough trouble coming around to the idea of raising her own child
let alone three slaves as well. She decided that she'd best find good homes for
the three girls before they became too bonded to her.
"Please lady
do you want more?" asked Ana.
"Goddess no!
I've eaten too much already."
"Oh but you
eat for two now."
"Ana
darling, since the second person in the equation is probably less than the size
of a baked bean by now, I think we can probably relax about his or her possible
requirements for extra calories don't you?"
"Sorry
lady?"
Eugene
laughed "Never mind. Come on let's clean up."
"Oh no lady
you stay sit."
Eugene sighed in mock irritation as Mali and
Vesna jumped up to clear the breakfast dishes. Eugene looked out at the
glorious sunny morning in pleasure. It was a beautiful scene from the windows
of the kitchen. The little garden was ablaze with flowers with the early
insects already busy about the blooms. The fell tops were inviting in the clear
morning air above the garden and there was a buzzard on the wing across the
valley. A tiny little beck flowed under a little bridge just beyond the front
gate of the garden and Eugene had listened to the rippling of its waters as
she'd lain in bed that night. There was a great peacefulness in this beautiful
corner of England that lay along the course of the River Mathom and Eugene
wanted to revel in it. There'd been so little peace in her turbulent life. Now
she just wanted to walk along that little stream until it made its way into the
main river or maybe walk up to the old Abbey and sit on the grass under the
venerable ruins.
The ringing of the telephone in the living
room shattered her revelry. Suddenly she was very frightened. Tentatively she
approached the instrument. As a matter of courtesy she had sent an email
informing Lady Mathom of her arrival but she was conscious that she should talk
to her Mistress personally and the thought filled her with dread. It was
ridiculous. She had talked to the Lady thousands of times over the phone but
now she was frightened to do so. With her heart beating wildly she picked up
the phone. "Hello?"
"Oh hello
lady Eugene. Just Margaret from the pub here. Just wanted to know if everything
was all right up at the cottage there."
Eugene let
out her breath "Yes. Yes it is. Everything's just perfect. Thank you for
stocking up the fridge and pantries and everything. That was very thoughtful of
you."
"Oh it was
nothing. I'm glad you're satisfied."
"I am
indeed. It's lovely here."
"Yes it's a
beautiful old place. May I ask how long you are stopping?"
"Oh sorry I
don't know yet. Is there a problem? I mean has the place been booked by anybody
else?"
"Oh Goddess
no! No you can have the place as long as you want. It's just that you said you
were staying for the festival at least and perhaps a little longer. Well I
wondered if you'd be interested in a sale we might have coming up next week. We've
a lot of displaced refugees that we're looking for homes for so we're trying to
arrange a private auction just after the festival. Mostly South American but
all good stock and reasonable prices. It'll be all very exclusive and all the
slaves will have a Mathomdale stamp of approval on them. If you're looking to
pick up a couple of brothers and sisters for your coffle it will be a golden
opportunity."
Eugene
fought back the urge to fall about laughing. "Thank you for the invitation lady
but I think I've got my hands full with the three I've got now!" Eugene glanced
towards the kitchen where the three girls were twittering happily between
themselves over the kitchen sink."
"Oh well
never mind then." Margaret sounded disappointed "Bear it in mind in any case.
Oh yes the Lady phoned me up this morning to ask if you'd arrived safely."
"Oh! Oh yes
I must call her." Eugene's heart was fluttering once more.
"Oh she said
not to lady. She just told me to welcome you to the valley on her behalf and
told me to tell you to just relax and enjoy the festival. She says she'll call
you on Sunday or Monday and until then she'd like you just to take things easy
and enjoy yourself."
"She doesn't
want to see me then?"
"She very
much wants to see you lady. But she thinks that you need a little time and
space for yourself. She says and I quote, "Tell her that I love her and that
I'm thinking about her" end quote."
Eugene felt
weak at the knees. "Oh! Oh thank you! I..... I don't know what to say. Thank you!
Please convey my deepest love and respect to her should you talk to her again."
"I will do
lady. Listen I'm very busy with the festival and everything but let me know
when you come down to Mathom and we'll have a drink together. I'd love to get
to know you better."
"I'd like that
but I've got my three young ladies to ride shotgun over."
"Well bring
them along They're lovely. We'll keep them chained up so that they don't get up
to too much mischief at the festival."
"Thank you
then. I might pop down to the pub this evening. Daniel said that Alice, his
wife, is going to be there tonight. I'd like to see her."
"Do you know
Alice well then?"
"Oh yes. In
fact she's on my books as a model."
"Goddess!
You're an interesting lady Eugene. You certainly get about."
"Yes I do.
Tell me are Rebecca Walpole-Mathom and Lord Robin going to be around today do
you know."
"I doubt it.
All the other girls except Alice and Jennifer are being kept on a short leash
at the Hall for the moment because of the security restrictions as a result of
the war and Lord Robin is away abroad somewhere."
"Oh I see."
Eugene's heart was dancing to the tune of mixed emotions. "Well perhaps I'll
see Rebecca during the festival. I know her well. We met at Bolswick Bay
earlier this summer."
"Oh really?
Well, as I say, you certainly get about. Anyway must fly. Hope to see you
later."
"Yes until
later then."
Eugene
walked back into the kitchen in elation. Her Mistress loved her! How wise she
was. She'd given Eugene exactly what she needed. Three glorious days to worry
about nothing but enjoying herself and taking in the splendour of the valley of
the Mathom. She clapped her hands commandingly. The girls turned to her in
expectation. "OK girls. Let's all go for a nice long walk."
Mali looked
at her uncertainly. "Please lady is good if lady go walking when she having
baby?"
Eugene put
on a face of great solemnity. "Doctors all say medical science prove walking
very good for lady having baby." She laughed at the girls' serious expressions.
"Come on let's see what we've got in the pantry and we'll take a picnic with
us. If there's anything we need there's a little shop in Marveaux we can stock
up from apparently. You and Ana see what we've got for sandwiches Mali, and
Vesna and I'll boil a few hard-boiled eggs. This is going to be fun."