Crewel

  I knew she’d be upset but I hadn’t expected her to come right out and hit me. I’m weak after several days in the cell and very little edible food and water, so Pryana’s blow knocks me on my butt. I’d like to think it’s because I was caught off guard, but I’ve never had an occasion to test my fighting skills. I can’t blame her for being angry. I wish I could slug someone for what the Guild did to my family.

  ‘I promise you,’ Pryana says, leaning over so her breath is hot on my face, ‘your life will be torture as long as I’m around.’

  ‘Fair enough,’ I splutter against the blood pooling along my gums.

  She doesn’t like my answer. I can tell because her eyes narrow into slits. The whole situation is ridiculous. A feud entirely of Maela’s making. I meant well when I stepped forward to take Pryana’s place at the testing, and there was no way for me to know it was a piece containing her sister’s strand.

  This won’t stop her from hating me.

  Pryana settles back onto her stool and resumes her work, weaving furiously. It should make me mad, or at least indignant, but I think of Amie and how her fine blonde hair waves around her ears. It’s my fault what happened to them – to both our sisters. I started it all.

  Our instructor, an over-eager older Spinster who should not be wearing so many cosmetics, doesn’t notice any of this. She’s busy flitting from Eligible to Eligible, guiding their work and offering encouragement. She’s an excellent teacher. I feel a pang and wonder how many teachers were named on assignment day in Romen. Not me. I return to the task of weaving a short rainfall over the north-eastern region of our sector.

  My loom is larger than the other girls’ and its gears and tubes take up an entire corner in the room. It’s a much newer loom, usually reserved for the instructor to demonstrate on while the rest of the class practises. The other looms in the room are small, some even rusted, but all in working order. They are pressed so close together the other Eligibles can hardly move to work. Pryana works on one of them. Add that to her list of reasons to hate me. I sigh, thinking how long that list is getting, and how impossible it will be to get back in her good graces. But I can’t let myself get distracted when I’m doing something that requires this much of my attention.

  Weather is trickier than food, because the strands that compose rain or snow have to be knitted into the ones that make up clouds, which are in the sky strands.

  Rations are a simple alteration task. The raw material is available and woven into the supply chain to the farmers and store owners. Livestock and plants can be raised and tended by men, providing valuable roles for citizens, so all we have to do is weave the raw material onto new farms and then remove the crops for even distribution throughout the rest of Arras. It’s basic weaving – take a strand out, relocate it in a new piece, weave a new strand into the old piece to grow. Thus crops are farmed and food gets from farm to market. But it’s mind-numbingly boring work. Apparently over one thousand Spinsters in Arras’s four coventries do this day and night. Two hundred are stationed here, and I hope I don’t get assigned to the task. I bet Maela would love to stick me at a station doing simple addition and location for hours every day.

  At least the weather gives me room to experiment. Our raw materials come from sources gathered and managed in the various sectors, a process they haven’t really explained to us except to flash some pictures of mammoth drills and large factories that separate and organise the strands. I take the material – slate fibres for the rain clouds, brilliant gold lightning thread – and weave them together. Then I insert them into the designated locations called up on my loom. It’s a gradual process, carefully adding the elements so that the storm arrives at the predetermined time, when citizens expect it. The teacher warned me how angry people can get if they are caught in a storm moving in too quickly or slowly. Too many mistakes and you’re demoted to something like the food-supply chain. The bands of time, which never stop moving across the loom, slowly eat away the threads we add. I use stock matter to replace them as quickly and precisely as I can. Otherwise there’ll be a dark-out in the area I’m working on. This happened once when I was younger, and my parents dragged us to the cellar to wait it out. It wasn’t dangerous, but when you’re seven, seeing the sky disappear is pretty scary. I had nightmares for weeks.

  I love the feeling of the weather threads in my hands, and being able to work with a loom is much less tiring than weaving with my hands. No one else here seems to have the skill to work without a loom, and I’m more than happy to keep using the machine. The rain clouds swell against my fingers as I add them into the skyline, and the lightning bolts tingle across the tips. Somewhere in the north-east, it’s flashing across the horizon, warning of the impending downpour in case anyone missed the Stream weather schedule. I want to hate the work, but creating the rain is relaxing, fulfilling even. The tapestry is beautiful – a shimmering, shifting web of light and colour.

  ‘Adelice.’ My instructor beckons me to join her in a far corner. A few of my classmates notice but quickly return to their assigned tests. No doubt they expect I’m in trouble again.

  But it isn’t just her waiting in the corner. Pryana is with her, and she’s not happy to see me.

  ‘I’ve been asked to send you two with the gentleman in the hallway,’ the instructor tells us in a lowered voice, so the others won’t hear.

  Pryana casts a terrified glance at me, and I know we’re thinking the same thing: Are we in trouble for fighting? Well, more her hitting me and me standing there taking it, but same principle.

  ‘You aren’t in trouble,’ the instructor assures us. She must see the fear on both our faces. ‘You’re moving on: you are Spinsters now.’

  To my surprise, this news brings a feeling of relief. I’m eager to learn more about what happens here at the Coventry. Of course, the drawback is that I’m moving on with Pryana. Regardless of what Jost believes about Maela’s desire to keep me alive, I know both she and Pryana will be hoping to watch me fail.

  Outside the training room, Erik is waiting. Today he’s dressed in a dark blue suit with subtle stripes intricately woven into the wool. It’s amazing how less than a week of experience with weaving draws my attention to things I never noticed before. How fine the cloth is and how expertly it hugs his body, tailored to fit him precisely. He clears his throat, and I shift my eyes quickly to the floor.

  ‘I have the honour of escorting you both to your evaluation. You will be assigned to a novice studio from there, and you will meet with your mentors to discuss what changes to expect.’ His tone is clipped and impersonal. He’s given this speech before, probably dozens of times. So when Maela is busy, I can count on Erik being around.

  ‘Pryana, your personal belongings are being taken to your new quarters in the lower tower.’

  ‘Personal belongings?’ I blurt out before I can stop myself.

  They both turn and look at me. Pryana understands first, and her face twists into a look of malicious amusement.

  ‘Of course,’ she simpers. ‘We could bring items that mean something to us. Clothing, pictures of our families.’

  Her delight goes flat at the last word and pain flits across her face. I wonder if anyone from the Coventry bothered to find out if her sister died, but I’m pretty sure the answer is yes.

  ‘You don’t get personal items when you run,’ she continues, eyes flashing.

  ‘I guess not.’ I step closer to Erik and further from her.

  ‘It’s like you never even existed.’

  ‘At least I’m not caught up blaming the wrong person,’ I say, the words slipping out of my mouth before I can swallow them down.

  Her nostrils flare, but she composes herself quickly. ‘What? You think because I didn’t rip that day I’m inferior to you?’

  ‘I think you didn’t rip because you’re scared and you’re taking out your anger at yourself and the Guild on me.’

  ‘That’s where you’re wrong,’ Pryana growls. ‘We were only there because of
you. Don’t try to deny it. You can believe anything you want, but the truth is that the whole thing was your fault. Maela was testing you. You failed.’

  She’s got me there, and I can’t think of a thing to say in response.

  ‘Adelice.’ Erik steps in like he’s missed the entire argument. ‘You’ll stay in your previously assigned quarters.’

  I focus on the fact that I don’t have to leave my comfortable new room. Screw Pryana and her personal belongings.

  ‘Since we’ll be seeing much more of each other,’ he continues, taking Pryana’s hand, ‘please call me Erik.’

  ‘More of each other?’ Something about this news sends a tingle down my neck.

  He looks equally pleased with this announcement. ‘Although you are being moved into the Spinsters’ quarters, you’re still under observation. During the next few months, you’ll be evaluated and assigned a more permanent position.’

  ‘Will the others be joining us?’ Pryana jumps in, asking exactly what I’m thinking. I’m reminded of the one afternoon we were friends.

  ‘We will keep the others under evaluation until we’re certain there are no more Spinsters in the group. Some might end up doing the basic food weaving, but they’ll probably never get any further.’

  No more Spinsters? I can’t believe that they can weed us out so quickly. Will the others be sent to make clothing or work in the kitchen? I’m glad I won’t be there when the perpetual excitement drains from their faces. They left home expecting a glamorous life, not a life of tailoring and cleaning. And yet I’m grateful they weren’t chosen. Anyone who would treat joining the Coventry with as much passion as those girls doesn’t need to be part of the Guild. Eager girls want to please people like Maela.

  ‘You know, Erik,’ Pryana purrs, crushing against him, ‘we’ve all been wondering why Adelice has a room in the high tower.’

  His response is so well rehearsed, I can almost see the time stand still. ‘Maela has a reason for her actions.’

  He must say that a lot. It seems to appease Pryana. Or maybe she’s smart enough to stop asking questions.

  ‘Pryana, you will be meeting your mentor here.’ Erik opens a large metal door and quickly withdraws her arm from his. Too quickly. Pryana notices and skulks inside.

  ‘We aren’t training together?’ I ask as innocently as possible, as Erik shuts the door.

  ‘No.’ He grins. ‘You’re off the hook for once.’

  I try to keep up my wide-eyed act, but it crumbles easily. ‘Thank Arras.’

  ‘I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.’ Erik laughs and offers his arm.

  I slide my own through, feeling a little awkward. I’ve never walked with a man like this. ‘So, can I ask you something?’ I try to sound nonchalant, but it comes out too rushed.

  ‘Of course,’ he says airily, and I’m struck by how casual he is when he’s away from Maela.

  ‘How did you wind up here?’

  ‘That’s a long story.’ He sighs.

  ‘I’m betting most of us have long stories.’

  ‘You’d be right,’ he agrees. ‘I sort of ran away from home, and now there’s nothing to go back to. I was only fifteen at the time, but the Guild took me in when it became evident I possessed certain necessary qualifications that Maela needed in an assistant.’

  ‘Necessary qualifications?’

  ‘I have what can best be described as flexible morals.’ He turns the full force of his crooked smile on and slows his pace.

  ‘Did your parents die?’

  A shadow of a frown flits over his face and he nods. Although he quickly changes the topic. ‘Did Josten take good care of you the other day?’

  For a moment the question paralyses me, but then I remember that Erik had sent him to check in on me, so I say yes.

  ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t return but I had some pressing duties. Maela can have quite a temper, especially when she’s been challenged.’

  ‘I noticed.’

  ‘I don’t want to throw you back in the cell again, Adelice, so if you could be a little more . . .’

  ‘Amiable?’ I offer.

  ‘Obedient,’ he corrects, and I wince at the term.

  ‘I know as well as anybody how unfair she can be, but she’s running the show, so take my advice.’ There’s a plea in his voice, and it runs all the way up to his sparkling eyes.

  Enora is waiting for me in a large, airy room. On one side windows overlook the enclosed courtyard. I think they’re actually real, and I long to reach through and feel the air. The others look out onto the sea. It’s calm today, a perfect mirror of the cloudless sky. These screens were probably programmed to make me feel tranquil, and perhaps less defensive. Against the wall screens overlooking the sea, a small steel loom sits.

  ‘How are you feeling today?’ she asks as we enter. I smile. I suspect that my mentor may only be a few years older than myself, but she clucks over me like a mother hen.

  ‘Great,’ I respond simply, wondering if she sees the fat lip Pryana gave me.

  ‘Enora, can you take her back to her quarters when you’re finished? Or would you like me to return?’ Erik asks from the doorway.

  ‘I can manage it,’ Enora says graciously. ‘Thank you for your assistance.’

  Despite how much I like her, I feel disappointed that I won’t be seeing him again today. ‘Yes, thank you, Erik.’

  ‘It was my distinct pleasure.’ He bows his head slightly and then he’s gone.

  ‘He’s a bit of a charmer,’ Enora warns.

  I roll my eyes. ‘I couldn’t tell.’

  ‘It’s none of my business, but . . . Oh, never mind.’ She leans in and tugs at my fitted jacket. ‘We have more important things to worry about.’

  ‘Have we run out of mascara?’ I ask in mock horror.

  ‘As much as I love your particular brand of sarcasm, I’m going to need you to bite your tongue. You’ve been invited to a special council meeting.’

  ‘What council?’ I rack my brain trying to remember all the names and departments they’ve been throwing at us this week, but I can’t remember any councils.

  ‘It’s a meeting between the chair of the training panel and the Guild’s official Coventry Ambassador.’

  ‘Cormac?’ I ask apprehensively.

  ‘The one and only,’ she confirms, leading me back into the hallway.

  ‘So Cormac is the entire council?’

  ‘No, Maela sits on it, but she won’t be attending.’

  ‘Cormac and Maela comprise a council that oversees things here? That explains a lot,’ I mutter. I can’t help thinking of our last meeting, when he made me eat at Nilus Station. He must have known they were going to lock me up without food. I don’t know if this makes me like him or hate him.

  ‘Is this because of the thing with Maela?’ I ask, dropping my voice so the security monitors won’t hear me clearly.

  ‘Officially, no,’ she whispers. ‘But of course it is.’

  ‘Great,’ I mutter, wondering what my punishment will be this time, and then one thought stops me in my tracks.

  Amie.

  My last meeting with Cormac is a bit hazy from the Valpron injection, but if they still have her it might not be me that they punish.

  ‘Adelice.’ Enora tugs at my arm.

  I don’t move.

  ‘You aren’t in trouble,’ she tells me quietly.

  ‘I’m not?’ Considering how much time I’ve spent in the cell, I find this hard to believe.

  ‘Come on.’ She pulls again and I allow her to drag me along.

  ‘If I’m not—’

  ‘Maela,’ she confirms under her breath.

  ‘For what she did to that academy?’

  ‘For a lot of things.’ She frowns at me. ‘Maela has been overstepping her bounds in the Western Coventry. She wouldn’t even let me down there to see you, and that’s not within her power.’

  Then why didn’t you come?

  ‘I thought she was in charge,’ I poi
nt out.

  ‘You have a lot to learn,’ Enora says with an empty laugh. ‘Now that you are an invited Spinster, you’ll dine with the others and get to know the system here. Believe me, Maela is nowhere near the top of the Guild hierarchy.’

  I raise my eyebrows. ‘Care to explain the Guild then? It seems like things run a bit differently from what they taught us in academy.’

  ‘That’s the truth,’ Enora says. ‘The Guild is comprised mainly of men, as you know, but they use women for a lot of tasks within the government. Spinsters, for instance. But there are other positions – secretaries, nurses, assistants—’

  ‘Like everywhere else in Arras?’ I clarify. This information isn’t all that surprising or interesting.

  ‘Yes, but they try to keep as much information about what each coventry does a secret. The Guild oversees our work here, places work orders, and steps in to discipline when necessary. Sometimes I think Maela hopes to advance into the Guild ranks, so she can travel around the four sectors, from coventry to coventry.’

  ‘Is that even possible?’ I ask.

  ‘I doubt it,’ Enora says. ‘I don’t think the Guild is going to allow a woman into a position of political power. That won’t stop her though, and if I had to lay money on a woman who could rise from under the Guild’s thumb and out of the Coventry, it would be her.’

  ‘Not that I’m a fan of Maela’s ego getting any bigger, but don’t we already have a pretty powerful position?’