Sometimes good scenes are cut for reasons of length, or because they do not advance the main plot.  This scene was removed from The Betrayal for such reasons. 

This scene takes place in Nightsand after Shalár has announced the grand hunt.

This bonus scene from The Betrayal appears exclusively at Book View Cafe. The Betrayal, from Del Rey Books, is available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats.  Learn more at http://aelven.com.

Copyright © 2009 by Pati Nagle. All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission of the author. Exceptions are made for downloading this file to a computer for personal use.

“A Child Indentured”

The moon hung low over ocean at the north end of the bay, fat and sickly yellow in the haze that clung to the water.  Half the night was gone, and still Shalár's audience chamber was full of plaintive villagers and farmers. 

They had come with their kindred who were answering the call for hunters.  It happened each time a hunt was summoned, and Shalár tried to be patient and help them where she could, but she grew weary of telling them again and again that she could not take care of them all. 

Dareth came to her side.  She glanced at him, then looked out at the moon again. 

“Send them away.  Tell them to come back tomorrow night, if they have business more legitimate than whining for aid.” 

“As you will, Bright Lady, but there is one petitioner you will wish to hear tonight.” 

She turned to frown at him.  Dareth gazed back steadily, unafraid.  He had never feared her, though he deferred to her.  He, of all Clan Darkshore, understood what she was fighting for, and if he challenged her he had good reason.

“Very well, but send the others away.” 

He bowed and withdrew.  Shalár watched the moon sink while Dareth cleared the hall behind her.  The yellow orb was nearly full.  It did not reach the water, for the thick cloud that lay over the ocean swallowed it, dousing its light. 

The hall had grown quiet.  Shalár could hear Dareth’s footsteps as he returned to her. 

“My lady?” 

Turning, she saw that the chamber was empty save for a familiar-looking lean-faced female and the child who stood before her, near the step that held Shalár’s chair. 

Shalár felt a thrill of triumph.  Abandoning the gallery, she strode back into the chamber toward them. 

The mother’s hands were on the girl’s shoulders, and Shalár saw them grip convulsively as she approached.  The child turned her head, questioning, but the mother hushed her with a whispered word.

Shalár crouched before the child so that their eyes were of a level.  The girl cringed away against her dam, reaching a hand up to cling at her sleeve. 

She was small and underfed, but as far as Shalár could see she was sound.  A pale slip of a thing with brownish hair and huge dark eyes, somewhat hollow looking.  Shalár brushed a thought over the child’s khi and found no defect.  She looked up at the mother. 

“So you have seen the wisdom of accepting my offer.” 

“I have no choice.” 

Ignoring the bitter tone in her voice, Shalár stood up.  “You will not regret this day.  Dareth?” 

He stepped forward, a piece of parchment in hand.  Shalár took it from him and passed it to the mother, who read it with one hand while the other remained protectively around her child’s shoulders.  The girl clung to her arm with both hands and cast suspicious glances at Shalár. 

The terms were fair, the same Shalár had offered before.  A kobalen for the family’s use, and a healer to visit the female’s ailing partner at once.  In return she would bind this child to Shalár’s service for thirty years.

The female looked up, her eyes wet with unshed tears.  “How often may I see her?” 

Shalár’s eyebrows rose.  “I assumed you would be busy rebuilding your family’s fortunes.”  She glanced at the child, who was staring up at her with accusation in her large eyes.  Amused, Shalár smiled back at her, then looked at the mother.

“I am not unreasonable.  You may come to Nightsand to visit her once a season.” 

The mother looked disappointed, but nodded.  Shalár appreciated her restraint and decided to reward her. 

“I will add this to the bargain.  If you should bear another child before thirty years have passed, your daughter may return to you at once.” 

The female gave a small gasp, and her eyes went wide.  Hope crossed her face, swiftly followed by disappointment. 

Shalár nodded.  “I know.  It is unlikely.  Still, I will stand by my word.  Should you be fortunate, come to Nightsand for the birth.  I will house you and your family.” 

“And take my next child from me as well?” 

The female’s eyes were hard as ebonglass, and her khi rang with something approaching hatred.  Shalár was puzzled, for this response was the opposite to what she had expected.  She had thought her generosity would ease the female’s bitterness.  Instead it seemed to have increased it. 

“No.”  She spoke quietly, seeking to ease the mother.  “I will not take your next child, should you bear one.  Bear it here in Nightsand, where you will have the best possible care, and I will send this child home with you.” 

“Why?”  The female looked mistrustful. 

“Because the young are our best hope.”

Shalár took back the parchment and turned to her writing table.  Dareth had placed a quill there, which she took up, scrawling her additional pledge onto the bottom of the page.  She it and handed it back to the mother. 

“There.  You have my pledge.  Now give me yours.” 

The mother read Shalár’s addition, cast a glance up at her, then quickly went to the table and signed the page.  She then knelt before her child and murmured urgently to her.  The girl began softly to cry. 

Shalár turned away from them, picking up the document. She offered it to the mother, who took it with hands that trembled slightly.  Shalár turned her attention to the child, taking her chin in hand and turning her face upward. 

“Do you understand the bargain your mother has made, and why?” 

A child of fifteen summers might be forgiven for not understanding, but the girl gave a solitary nod.  Her khi was filled with fear, and also with hunger.  That was a terrible shame, for the girl was not yet on the verge of adolescence, not yet subject to the hunger.  Plain, solid foods would sustain her for some years yet.  That her mother could not even provide enough of that bespoke the family’s troubles. 

Glancing up at Dareth, Shalár gave a slight upward tilt to her chin.  He knew her well enough to understand what we wished, and he stepped to the private room behind Shalár’s chair, returning with a plate bearing an apple, a small cheese, and a dish of nuts. 

The child’s gaze fixed intently on the food.  Shalár ate one of the nuts, which were salty and roasted to a buttery flavor.  Nodding in approval, she sat down on the step before her chair and offered the plate to the child. 

“This is for you.” 

The girl cast a doubtful glance at her mother, whose face showed envy, bitterness, and grief.  The female nodded, and the girl turned back to Shalár, holding out her hands for the plate with an eager smile. 

That smile lit the child’s face, transforming it.  She would be a beauty someday.  Shalár gave her the plate and rose, walking over to join the mother. 

“She will be well cared for.  You need not fear for her.”

The female swallowed, and managed to nod.  Shalár glanced back at the child in time to see her stuff a fistful of nuts into her mouth. 

“Where is your farm?  I will send the kobalen there.” 

The female did not look at her, still staring at the girl.  “North of the Sleepers.” 

Shalár frowned.  “You would do better to move closer to Nightsand.  Your partner’s name?  I will send a healer to attend him.” 

The female glanced sharply up at Shalár.  “That is the first interest you have shown in any of our names.” 

Shalár shrugged.  “I hear many names, night to night.  Remembering them is usually not worthwhile.” 

The female swallowed, but raised her head.  “I am Vashakhi, of Small Sleeper Farm.  My partner is Mehiran.  Our daughter’s name is Khaliri.” 

“Her name is Khalir.  You would do well to forget the old ways, Vashakh.”

The female gave her a fearful glance, then looked away.  Her hands had twisted the parchment into a tight coil. 

“Let me say goodbye to her.” 

Shalár nodded, and watched her hasten to the girl’s side.  The child had already eaten the apple and all of the nuts, but offered the half-gnawed cheese to her mother.  Vashakh closed the small hand around it, shaking her head and smiling. 

Shalár returned to her table, where Dareth stood watching.  “You were right.  If she had been sent away tonight, she might not have had the courage to return.” 

Dareth nodded, a scant smile touching his lips.  Shalár glanced back at the mother and her child. 

“Have the kitchen give her a basket of food for her journey home.” 

“That is generous, Bright Lady.” 

“I know it, but I cannot help myself.” 

Dareth laughed, and his face lit with a smile.  Shalár was struck to the heart by his beauty.  Would that he always smiled like this—but there were too many reasons to be grave.