Listening House

By Jill Jahelka

There is trouble on the utopian planet Zybell in the star system Telexe. After a difficult training season at Listening House, unusual weather patterns begin to emerge. Jarintha wants to become a worthy Listener but is cursed with distractions. The directors of Listening House worry that they are either getting to be too old, or too young, to make the best decisions. Many bonded pairs assigned to soothe the weather at designated outposts find themselves involved in deception and destruction. Will Jarintha and Felbit, Cym and Breeza and the others succeed in repairing the peace or will they contribute to the downfall of all? From spectre light shows to waterfall tournaments, from windboats to walmang, Listening House is an adventure in telepathy, supernatural spirit and the power of determination.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 24, 2003
• ISBN: 9780595750634

Jill Jahelka

Jill Jahelka lives on the north coast of California with her husband Dirk. She is the Postmaster of Littleriver. None of her characters are based on the townsfolk she serves.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Jarintha thought this must be the happiest day of her life. The sky was perfectly blue above the warm little pool in the woods. She could see glimpses of it as she floated on her back, barely moving her feet so as not to disturb the water too much. The sunshine filtered down through the overhanging branches turning light to lace on the water and on Jarintha’s face and body as she emerged rhythmically with her breathing.

She had come here to her secret pool to free her body from all the layers of clothing she was expected to wear now that she was a member of the Listening House. All the training and rituals taught to her would make her eligible for further advancement if she proved to be a worthy student. She had also come to her pool to free her mind from all the excitement she was experiencing as this morning her bond partner had been selected. She was to be bonded to Cym, one of the finest, most handsome, and most adored Listeners at the House.

All Listeners were fine and handsome, but the sweet and loving nature of Cym made him even more adorable to her. Jarintha had hoped when the selection time came for her that she would be worthy of a good partner but she had received the best. All that was left was for the bonds to be forged and then the ceremony would be under way. Probably within one week she would be merged, ready for intense study, and the work would begin.

Jarintha turned over, stroked the water and sailed across the little pool, diving and dipping over and around, letting the warm water caress her. All Listeners were expected to spend time alone to replenish their powers, meditate and free their bodies and minds from everyday concerns. This was her own isolated spot, about a ten-minute walk through the woods from the House. The emerald circle she had spun on her first day here protected her from the outside world. No one could hear or see this place while she was inside. This was the very first ritual all new Listeners were taught and she had been very proud of herself for learning it properly.

* * * *

Cym tried to discipline himself and ignore the shaky emerald circle, which was so obviously blinking out the whereabouts of Jarintha’s secret spot. He really was a gentleman and had many times helped new Listeners with reinforcing their circles. It was quite a common mistake for the novices to complete the ritual, enclose the space and then, in their excitement, to forget to test the seal. When the circle closed you felt the privacy, the warmth and comfort that is very like the womb, and you hear nothing but peace, if peace has a sound. New Listeners sometimes are so enamored of the ritual they forget the seal. Here was a perfect example.

What Cym should have done, of course, was to seal it up himself and then in a private moment back at the House, tell her to be more careful. He certainly had the right to tell her anything now that she had been chosen as his latest bond partner. That was sort of the same reasoning Cym used as he carefully entered the emerald circle of Jarintha and stood at the edge of the beautiful warm pool and gazed at her.

There was nothing wrong with entering a flashing circle and many pranks had been played on new Listeners who had been in just such a situation. Some of the older House members thought it was a good way to make sure the novices never forgot to close their circles again.

Cym said to himself, I should never have entered. He was at once in love with the radiant girl, seeing her in her watery splendor, singing and splashing. He quickly stepped out, lay his hands down on the ground and pushed the ragged edges of the circle together. The green light blinked out and he started back toward Listening House.

* * * *

Elsmord the Forger stood with his hands on his hips, grinning like the Dun-hap Gooboy. At least that’s what Cym accused him of as he entered and asked to see the new bond design.

It’s a gooboy what knows his own grin! Elsmord laughed. Now I think you got lucky to be a pair with the lovely redhead, although from what I know she’s bound to be a bondful!

What do you know beyond her wrist and ankle sizes? Cym was not pleased to be hearing there were stories going round the Foundry.

I think everyone in the House will soon know every inch of her as well, he laughed. I’m only telling you because you are lucky enough to stop in to see an overworked old forger who heard Felbit bragging to the young lads.

What does Felbit have to do with Jarintha? Cym knew that whatever Felbit was up to in regard to Jarintha could not be honorable. He had made it known in the last few months that he expected to be her bond partner whether assigned to her or not.

Did you see the lads lining up on the outer wall? They’re waiting for the beautiful redhead to come back from her solitary. Felbit found her emerald circle open and popped in and stole her clothes! She was bathing in a sunlit pool and he brought back every stitch! Left her the shoes but no stockings, the rogue! Elsmord rocked with laughter.

Cym ran outside to the wall fuming with rage. He had been so taken by the sight of the girl he had failed to notice her clothing was missing from the circle. Now that he thought of it he did remember seeing her shoes near the trunk of one of the huge feckwood trees that hung over the little pool. Why wasn’t I paying attention? Cym berated himself even more as he came closer to the outer wall and could hear the young men pointing and laughing.

Felbit, you back end of a walmang! Cym prepared to elaborate on the insult but as he reached the approach he could see over the wall and his mouth dropped open, stopping his speech.

All the lads were suddenly speechless as to their surprise and to Cym’s hidden delight; here came Jarintha, boldly striding home as if she did so every day of her life, totally nude. Her head was held high and she was still singing the little song from the pool.

Cym pushed the line of gawkers apart and rushed to the field as the girl strode onward. He ran to her as he was tearing off his long cloak, vainly trying to hold it up to block the view from the wall. As they met, she paused long enough to allow him to swing the heavy cloak around her and then began walking purposefully once again.

I can’t be tardy to my lady Septa’s rooms! The others will begin without me. Jarintha was so touched by Cym’s kindness and wondered if he would have come to her rescue if she were not his future bond partner.

That’s all you are worried about? Cym hurried to keep up with her but there was no more time to talk as the wall was near and then she was through it. She glanced back with a look of pure adoration for him, raised her eyebrows and then was gone.

Gaben and Phumas were the first to recover. They hooted and called and tore off their capes rushing to cover the other boys who soon were laughing and calling out in high voices, I can’t be tardy! I can’t be dressed!

Felbit smiled and sighed, well pleased that his little joke had turned out so well. Cym saved another choice epithet he had in mind for Felbit and merely said, Savor the sight of her for you will never behold her again without this pain. Cym leaned down and touched Felbit on the right knee as he made a sign with his thumb and first two fingers. Felbit instantly dropped into a genuflection and groaned.

Although it was the right of a bonded man to dispense punishment to anyone insulting his partner, it was rare for the man to exercise that right prior to the ceremony. Most men took it in good fun when a prank like this one was played out. Sorry, Cym, just having a little fun, Felbit hoped that his apology would cause Cym to release the flag on his knee before it became permanent.

CYM TURNED HIS BACK ON THE CROWD WHO HAD BECOME SILENT AGAIN WITH THE FLAG LAYING, FEARING THEY TOO WOULD BE FLAGGED. GABEN HELPED FELBIT UP SAYING, HE’LL RELEASE YOU BEFORE TOMORROW, AND DON’T YOU WORRY. FELBIT WASN’T SO SURE.

CHAPTER 2

Jarintha started to daydream in Lady Septa’s presence. She had flown to her room wearing only Cym’s cape and had had barely enough time when there to put on her Dress of Muteness and run back to the Lady’s tower. She really didn’t want to wear the Dress today because she had so much to say to everyone but it was the only way she could think of to avoid the five or six layers of everyday clothing. The Dress of Muteness was a simple long, full robe of heavy fabric, hers the light purple color of a novice, with a high neck that either rolled up over one’s head, or gathered down around the collarbone. It took her only fifteen seconds to pop it over her head. Then she was out the door to the Lady’s tower.

She was the last one to enter the room, but she made it before the beginning candle was lit. She sat in the back according to her Dress and then decided she was better off back there anyway because she needed to think. The lesson today was a review of many of the rituals they had been working on for the past several weeks so Jarintha allowed her mind to wander.

When she discovered her missing clothing at the pond she was at first annoyed and then amused. It was her own fault for being too excited to check on the circle’s seal so she really deserved to be in the predicament she found herself in. Then what to do? She had wasted too much time trying to break off a branch of the feckwood tree. It was near impossible to cut through that wood with the sharpest axe let alone an ordinary girl break a piece off. Then trying to weave a little modesty from the slippery pond ferns was just as ridiculous. Finally she decided to act like nothing was out of the ordinary and walked straight back to her room without wearing a stitch!

When Cym brought out the cape she was pleased because she had been far enough away from the wall that those silly boys didn’t get too big an eyeful and he ran