Vonda McIntyre - Dreamsnake

Snake hated endearments from people toward whom she did not feel dear. Grum must have said the same words to her fifty times, a hundred times a day, and they had not grated the way this man’s did.

“I know of no town that refuses Mountainside currency,” he said. “They know we never adulterate the metal or short-weigh the coins. However, we can pay you in precious stones if you prefer.”

“I want neither,” Snake said. “I want Melissa.”

“Melissa? A citizen? Healer, it took me twenty years to overcome Mountainside’s reputation as a place of bonding! We free bondservants, we don’t take them.”

“Healers don’t keep bondservants. I should have said I want her freedom. She wants to leave with me, but your stablemaster Ras is — what do you call it? — her guardian.”

The mayor stared at her. “Healer, I can’t ask a man to break up his family.”

Snake forced herself not to react. She did not want to have to explain her disgust. When she did not reply, the mayor fidgeted, rubbed his leg, pulled his hand away from the bandage again.

“This is very complicated. Are you sure you won’t choose something else?”

“Are you refusing my request?”

He recognized her tone as the veiled threat it was; he touched the call-bell and Brian reappeared.

“Send a message to Ras. Ask him to come up as soon as he can. He’s to bring his child as well.”

“The healer has sent for them already, sir.”

“I see.” He gazed at Snake as Brian withdrew. “Suppose he refuses your demands?”

“Anyone is free to refuse payment to a healer,” Snake said. “We carry weapons only for defense and we never make threats. But we do not go where we are not welcome.”

“You mean you boycott any place that doesn’t please you.”

Snake shrugged.

“Ras is here, sir,” Brian said from the doorway.

“Ask him to come in.”

Snake tensed, forcing herself to control contempt and revulsion. The big man entered the room, ill at ease. His hair was damp and haphazardly slicked back. He bowed slightly to the mayor.

Behind Ras, next to Brian, Melissa hung back. The old servant drew her into the room, but she did not look up.

“It’s all right, child,” the mayor said. “You aren’t here for punishment.”

“That’s hardly the way to reassure anyone!” Snake snapped.

“Healer, please, sit down,” the mayor said gently. “Ras — ?” He nodded to two chairs.

Ras seated himself, glancing at Snake with dislike. Brian urged Melissa forward until she was standing between Snake and Ras, but she kept her gaze fixed on the floor.

“Ras is your guardian,” the mayor said. “Is that correct?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

Ras reached out, put one finger against Melissa’s shoulder, and shoved lightly but deliberately. “Show some respect when you speak to the mayor.”

“Sir.” Melissa’s voice was soft and shaky.

“Melissa,” Snake said, “he asked you up here to find out what it is you want to do.”

Ras swung around. “What she wants to do? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Healer,” the mayor said again, his cautioning tone a little more emphatic, “please. Ras, I’m in considerable difficulty. And only you, my friend, can help me.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The healer saved my life, you know, and now it’s time to pay her. It seems she and your child have taken a fancy to one another.”

“So what is it you want me to do?”

“I’d not ask you to make this sacrifice if not for the good of the town. And according to the healer it’s what your child wishes.”

“ What’s what she wishes?”

“Your child—”

“Melissa,” Snake said.

“Her name isn’t Melissa,” Ras said shortly. “It isn’t that now and it never has been.”

“Then you tell the mayor what you call her!”

“What I call her is more honest than the airs she puts on. She gave herself that name.”

“Then it’s all the more hers.”

“Please,” the mayor said. “We’re talking about the child’s guardianship, not her name.”

“Her guardianship? Is that what this is all about? You mean you want me to give her away?”

“That’s a harsh way of putting it, but… accurate.”

Ras glanced at Melissa, who had not moved, and then at Snake. Before he turned back to the mayor he concealed the quick flash of insight and triumph that Snake saw clearly.

“Send her off with a stranger? I’ve been her guardian since she was three. Her parents were my friends. Where else could she go where she’d be happy and people wouldn’t stare at her?”

“She isn’t happy here,” Snake said.

“Stare at her? Why?”

“Raise your head,” Ras said to Melissa. When she did not obey he prodded her again, and slowly she looked up.

The mayor’s reaction was more controlled than Gabriel’s had been, but still he flinched. Melissa avoided his stare quickly, gazing stolidly at the floor again and letting her hair fall in front of her face.

“She was burned in the stable fire, sir,” Ras said. “She nearly died. I took care of her.”

The mayor turned toward Snake. “Healer, won’t you change your mind?”

“Doesn’t it matter if she wants to come with me? Anywhere else that would be all there is to it.”

“Do you want to go with her, child? Ras has been good to you, hasn’t he? Why do you want to leave us?”

Her hands clenched tightly together behind her back, Melissa did not answer. Snake willed her to speak, but knew she would not; she was too frightened, and with good reason.

“She’s just a child,” the mayor said. “She can’t make a decision like this. The responsibility has to be mine, just like the responsibility for guarding Mountainside’s children has been mine for twenty years.”

“Then you must realize I can do more for her than either of you,” Snake said. “If she stays here she’ll spend her life hiding in a stable. Let her go with me and she won’t have to hide any more.”

“She’ll always hide,” Ras said. “Poor little scar-face.”

“You’ve made sure she’ll never forget that!”

“He hasn’t necessarily done an unkindness there, healer,” the mayor said gently.

“All you people see is beauty!” Snake cried, and knew they would not understand what she was saying.

“She needs me,” Ras said. “Don’t you, girl? Who else would take care of you like I do? And now you want to leave?” He shook his head. “I don’t understand. Why would she want to go? And why do you want her?”

“That’s an excellent question, healer,” the mayor said. “Why do you want this child? People might be all too willing to say we’ve gone from selling our beautiful children to disposing of our disfigured ones.”

“She can’t spend her whole life hiding,” Snake said. “She’s a talented child, she’s smart and she’s brave. I can do more for her than anyone can here. I can help her have a profession. I can help her be someone who won’t be judged on her scars.”

“A healer?”

“It’s possible, if that’s what she wants.”

“What you’re saying is, you’d adopt her.”

“Yes, of course. What else?”

The mayor turned to Ras. “It would be quite a coup for Mountainside if one of our people became a healer.”

“She wouldn’t be happy away from here,” Ras said.

“Don’t you want to do what’s best for the child?” The mayor’s voice had softened, taking on a cajoling tone.

“Is sending her away from her home what’s best? Would you send your—” Ras cut himself off, paling.

The mayor lay back against his pillows. “No, I wouldn’t send my own child away. But if he chose to go, I’d let him.” He smiled at Ras sadly. “You and I have similar problems, my friend. Thank you for reminding me.” He put his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling for long moments.