Page 100 of Dark Shaman: The Lost Treasure
The other ladies took up the call. "The children! Bring them over!"
Some of the servants hesitated. The invisible barriers that had governed their lives for so long were hard to break, even now. But maternal instinct won out. Mothers began shepherding their children toward the impromptu shelter.
"What are you doing?" One of the guards moved to intercept them.
"Let them through," Areana commanded. "The children will shelter with the ladies and when that tarp can contain no more, the rest can shelter with us."
When Navuh didn't contradict her, the guard stepped aside.
As more people emerged, Tamira tried to track who she recognized. Sonia appeared with her son, the boy who'd been so sick with pneumonia. They'd made it. But where was Mariam, the pregnant one? Where was the elderly gardener who trimmed the hedges, shaping them to look like animals?
Soon they had several children pressed against them, shivering and terrified. Tamira held a little girl who couldn't have been more than three, her dark eyes wide with fear.
"It's all right," she said. "You're safe now. A little rain never hurt anyone."
More servants emerged, a steady stream now, but still no Elias.
"I can't stand this," Tula announced. She shrugged off Tony's restraining arms and stepped out from under the tarp. "I'm going down to help."
"You will remain right here." Lord Navuh's voice cracked like a whip.
Tula turned to face him, rain streaming down her face. "People are struggling down there. Children who can't climb fast enough. Elderly who can't manage the stairs. I'm strong enough to carry them. I can help."
"No," Navuh said, his tone brooking no argument.
"Please, let her go," Areana said softly.
"It's the guards' job to help evacuate the serving staff. Not my concubines'."
The guards securing the perimeter could be more useful helping with the evacuation, but Tamira doubted Areana would point that out. The first wife knew how to manipulate her arrogant mate and contradicting him in public would not only be counterproductive but probably catastrophic.
"I know, my lord," she said while dipping her head. "This is for Tula's sake. She needs to feel like she's helping."
Brilliantly played. Tamira felt like applauding.
Navuh made a dismissive gesture toward Tula. "You can go. But stay in the pavilion. If anyone needs help being escorted out, you can do that."
Tula didn't wait for him to change his mind. She sprinted toward the pavilion, her immortal speed making her seem to blur in the rain.
Tamira doubted Tula was going to follow Navuh's instructions. She would probably head down and hope no one told him. She should help too. She was strong, immortal. She could help?—
She must have taken a step forward because Raviki caught her arm. "Don't be stupid," she murmured. "You'll just get Areana in trouble."
Raviki was right.
Because of Areana's pleading, Navuh had made an exception for Tula. If more ladies tried to join her, he would blame Areana for the insurrection.
The flow of evacuees continued, people emerging already soaked.
Thunder crashed overhead, so loud that some of the children began crying.
It seemed like hours had passed while they were standing in the rain when in fact it had been mere minutes. Time moved differently when a catastrophe was unfolding.
Where was Elias?
"The water must be rising fast," Tony said. "Look at them—they're soaked through. That's not just from the rain."
He was right. The latest evacuees were drenched, their clothes dark with water that had to have come from below.
