Page 73 of Circle of Days
Joia put her out of her misery. “The intervals are nine, nine, ten, nine, nine, ten. If you add them up, it comes to fifty-six.”
“Oh!”
“We move each disc backward one place every year. It’s a special dance that’s always done at night, to the full moon.”
Duna nodded. She understood, Joia could see, but she was wondering what the point of it all was.
Joia said: “Whenever there is a disc at stone number twenty-eight or stone number fifty-six, there will be a year of eclipse, certainly of the moon and perhaps of the sun.”
Duna was impressed. “But what can we do? We can’t stop floods or prevent plagues.”
“We tell people to be cautious. Don’t start a war, don’t move to a new house, don’t voyage across water. Don’t take unnecessary risks. They appreciate the advice.”
Duna looked hesitant, then said: “Can I ask you about something else?”
This often happened. The novices Joia taught would ask her for advice on personal problems, assuming she was an expert on those too. “Let’s sit down,” she said, and she led the way to the bank. “What’s on your mind?”
“It’s Ello.”
Joia groaned inwardly. She knew what was coming. “Go on.”
“She came to me at bedtime and asked me to go to the empty house with her.”
Most people did not care if they were observed making love, unless they were doing something shameful—such as seducing young people. Ello would not care to be watched by disapproving eyes. It would spoil her pleasure. So she contrived to keep one house empty for her trysts.
Making the situation perfectly clear, Duna said: “Ello wants to have sex with me.”
“You’re a very attractive girl.”
Tears came to Duna’s eyes. “I’m sorry, but I don’t like her.”
“Don’t worry.” Joia patted her shoulder. “You don’t have to have sex with her if you don’t want to.”
“Don’t I?” Duna found this hard to believe.
“Absolutely not.”
“She’s insistent. She grabbed my hand and pulled. It hurt.”
“Oh, dear.” This was a pattern with Ello. About once a year she would develop a crush on a novice, then use her position as Second High Priestess to intimidate the poor girl. A few novices had left giving no very strong reason, and Joia suspected they had done it to escape Ello.
Joia had complained to Soo about this, but Soo had done nothing. Formidable though Soo was, she would forgive Ello anything.
Joia said: “If she asks again, tell her you’ve spoken to me, and I’ve said you can refuse her.”
“Will that stop her?”
“It has in the past. But if she continues to pester you, tell me, and I’ll speak to her myself.”
“Thank you so much.”
I can’t let Ello become the High Priestess, Joia thought. She would be even more powerful. She would bully more youngsters. I have to do something about this, regardless of what happens about the stone Monument.
Duna said: “You’re so kind. And smart, too. You should be High Priestess.”
“People would think I’m a bit young,” Joia said with false modesty.
Duna shook her head. “All the novices love you. You’re so beautiful.”
