“And you will come with us?” Batanya was anxious to get this settled.
Not to Batanya’s surprise in any way, the boy Perro stepped forward. “We will let you take him without further struggle,” he said, imagining he sounded scary and noble. “But you must leave behind the mage you brought with you. We have not learned enough. Our father knows about finding minerals, and he knows about protecting ourselves, and he knows about punishment. But you, Vandler, you know other things. Things we need.”
This was another conversation stopper. Marla flushed. Maybe she was wondering if she’d have to have children with Vandler, too. Maybe she was delighted she might get rid of Hannuman. Maybe she was humiliated that her husband might walk away from her and their children without a second glance.
“No one’s arguing that they have to keep him,” Clovache whispered. That hadn’t escaped Batanya’s notice.
Hannuman shrugged. It was obviously okay with him if someone else sacrificed his freedom for Hannuman’s.
Batanya and Clovache formed a little huddle with Vandler, who was clearly stunned.
“Can you make our conversation private?” Batanya said.
Vandler made some gestures in the air and chanted a little. Batanya watched a chickenlike bird raise its head and crow perhaps five feet away, but she heard no sound.
“That worked,” she said.
“Of course it did.” Vandler gave her a wry smile.
“Hannuman’s return won’t be any asset to the Collective. If you want, we’ll just walk out of here and leave him to face the music for showing them how little he cares,” Batanya said.
“He’s a rare shit,” Clovache said.
“He’s a rare shit who can order everyone in this village to attack us. The odds look good that they’ll obey him, maybe excluding his immediate family,” Batanya said.
“They’ll obey,” Vandler said. “You see that framework over there?” He pointed.
A sort of bamboo grid, about the size of a man, was set upright into the ground on one side of the clearing. There were strips of gleaming metal running through the lattice structure.
“That’s a punishment device,” Vandler said. “It looks like nothing. But you don’t want to know how painful it is when it’s powered by a strong mineral mage.”
“And yet Hannuman can’t heal,” Batanya said. “That’s what’s impressed Perro. Thanks, Vandler.” She met his eyes.
Vandler sighed. “Here’s what I think...” he began.
Three minutes later he removed the quieting spell and Batanya wheeled around to face Hannuman, whose face was twitching with impatience.
“Hannuman will return to the Collective with us, as he wants. Vandler will stay for a year,” Batanya said. “He will teach whoever can learn. Then he must have the right to return to the Collective. In peace. If I don’t see his face a year from now when I get to this spot, a larger force of us will come and you will be annihilated. I swear to this, as a Britlingen.”
She turned slowly so she could look each villager in the eyes. She wanted to be sure they knew how sincere she was.
They appeared to believe her. A few flinched.
“Then we are agreed,” Hannuman said regally, standing.
Vandler stood straighter. “We are agreed. I will see my rescue party in a year,” he said to Batanya. “Don’t forget to make sure they come for me.” He tried to smile.
“You make sure they don’t attack us when we get here. This coward has already cost enough lives.” Batanya said that very clearly.
Hannuman snarled but didn’t say anything. What was there to say? He’d made his choices and they added up to cowardice and betrayal.
Perro admitted to repairing the beacon. “I didn’t know my mother’s hunting party would be close enough to attack. I am sorry for all the loss.”
It was like he’d read her mind.
Well, that would make Vandler’s time here even more interesting. Batanya gave Vandler the Britlingen salute, raising her right fist to her upper left chest. Clovache followed. And to Batanya’s surprise, Vandler duplicated the movement.
“You’re much better than I thought,” Batanya said, and Vandler laughed.
