Sample

It was early morning. As the cocks were crowing throughout the valley, Queen Valina once again was at the Vladeslav home. She didn’t come in her caravan, but in the same open wagon as the day before.

The Gypsy driver helped her down from the wagon. Wearing a wool shawl against the morning chill, she went directly to the front door knocking loudly. She knew it was early, but it didn’t matter. She needed to speak with Anton Vladeslav and it had to be now.

There were sounds of movement inside the house and finally Klara came to the door. Surprised to see Valina, she said, “Oh God, now what has happened?”

Valina pushed Klara aside and demanded, “I need to speak with Anton Vladeslav.

“Here I am,” said Anton coming from the kitchen. “What is it now that brings you here so early?”

“We need to talk. Where is Katya?”

Valina walked directly to the dining table. She called in a loud voice, “Katya…Katya.”

“No need to shout. I am here.” said Katya, who also came from the kitchen.

Valina winced when she saw Katya. Her face looked worse than it had the night before. It appeared more swollen with bruises turning yellow and purple.

“I must sit down.” said Valina, not waiting to be invited. Pulling out a chair at the table, she collapsed in it. She said to Katya, “You have to leave here.” She said it with urgency in her voice. “I can’t help you this time.”

Seeing the confused looks on Katya and Anton’s faces, Valina said, “You don’t know that Roha is dead? She has been killed and we believe Ivan Balaban did it. His cane was found near her body.”

“It was an accident,” cried out Katya. “Ivan stopped her from stabbing me.” Katya pulled up her sleeve and showed Valina the cut on her arm. “It must have been Roha who came at me with the knife last night. She hit the bracelet instead.” Again she showed her arm, noticing one of the stones had beenknocked out of the bracelet from the strike. “Ivan pushed the attacker aside and we heard the fall. We didn’t know it was Roha.”

Valina put her hands to her face and turned her head from side to side.

“It doesn’t matter how it happened.” she said weakly. “It is done and one of our tribe is dead. There is no explaining it away.”

Anton sat in the chair next to Valina. “You are telling us that there will be retribution? That no one will believe it was an accident?”

Valina took her hands away from her face. She sighed deeply. “There have been killings for love. It is not what we think is right, but we know that it has on occasion happened. Our people will think that Katya had Roha killed in order to have Zolton.”

Sofie had been standing at the top of the stairs listening. She called out, “This can’t be happening. My Katya isn’t that kind of a person.”
Valina rose from her chair. She rested her hands on the table and said, “I have come to tell you that I cannot save you if one of my people seeks revenge. Please listen to me and send Katya away. Send her to Lucia.”

Klara standing in the kitchen doorway, her hand pressed over her mouth, for the first time in her life couldn’t find anything to say.
“I must go.” said Valina, taking Katya’s hand and this time Katya did not pull away as she had the night before.

Valina turned Katya’s hand palm up. She studied the lines in the small hand saying, “There is still danger in your path. I hope you will find where you belong.”