The Rivening

Brodurne

Peddling back, Connie's mind was in a whirl trying to dissect what Tessa told her. Selchia. The Dahrian word for the Americas. And Tessa said, flying. Could that be? Dahria has airplanes? Or maybe it's very fast sailing ships that fly across the ocean. And all that business about Crustic – 'no important tomorrow'? Surely that confirms that Tessa believes the Ireland passage is closing and that she's not a part of any conspiracy to open up Dahria to Mr. Hasting's mining interests.

When they got back to Octo, Rennish was in the common room. She held up the embroidered shift that Harnell had been working on, "Here. You can wear this."

"But what will you wear, Harnell?"

"I have something else. Anyway, I'm not going tonight." Harnell went into her rooms.

"I thought it was time you saw more of Dahria. You've come at a special time as Brodurne only happens every two years, and it's held in our Crustic domain only every six years. You should experience a little of that." Rennish's mellifluous tone no longer soothed Connie but rather she questioned the older woman's true intent.

Rennish continued, "The story has slowly spread that you are a signaler from Selchia and got stranded so you came to the Ladore Passage. There will be many who speak travel English at the event tonight. Maybe even some who have been to Selchia. I'll keep you clear of any who might know it well. Mostly we'll be watching the program. After it's over, I'll have Fanik take you back to Octo."

"Thank you, Rennish. I'm looking forward to this. I feel bad though, am I taking Harnell's place? And this beautiful dress. What about Peter? I'm guessing he won't be coming."

"Peter is making good progress, but he needs a little more time. Don't worry about Harnell. She'll see lots of Brodurne. Come now, change your clothes and we'll go."

Fanik pedaled the 7-5. They were accompanied by a woman and man who Connie saw frequently in the dining room. Rennish introduced them and said they were also Crustic trackers. Everyone, even Fanik, was dressed beautifully, with stunning fabrics and rich embroidery. It was a short ride into the town.

At last, they were letting Connie see the village up close. She'd been peering at it for days, torn between abiding by Rennish's restrictions until Peter was healthy and striking out on her own. But what could she possibly do on her own? Plus, she'd never leave Peter.

The core of the town sat on a flat area, twenty feet or so above the river. Terraced rows of small buildings covered the hillside. While the Squares and Octo were cloistered, the town felt much more open and welcoming.

In the center stood a large, three-story, semi-circular-shaped stone structure. The second and third stories had spacious balconies overlooking a broad plaza in the open area inside the semi-circle and the river beyond. Several large trees grew in the plaza, and different configurations of seating areas were sprinkled throughout. The first level of the semi-circular structure appeared to house small shops. Many of them had their fronts completely open to the outside.

An esplanade ran along the open side of the plaza and extended beyond either side, the length of the town. It was busy with bicycle and foot traffic. Fanik pedalled the 7-5 onto the esplanade as many people called out greetings. Even the normally grim-faced Fanik smiled and waved. A short distance past the right end of the semi-circular building, Fanik stopped the 7- 5 at the end of a long, covered platform with wide single tracks on either side.

Rennish told Connie, "Get down. Fanik will take care of the 7-5 and join us in a minute. We'll wait and take the next one."

Connie barely heard her. She was gaping at the sleek monorail cars filling with people on the far tracks. In a minute, the doors closed and the train whisked off down the valley. Out of sight in seconds.