The Dollmage

There was a silence, then a murmuring of agreement, and I could see that you, my people, loved me for my wisdom. Is it my fault? I told you clear as clear that God had given me the wisdom. If you still chose to honor me instead, it could hardly be my fault.

“These children,” I said, “are like the mountains that cradle our valley. Out of storm were they born, but they will be unmoved. They will have stories told of them. For Greppa Lowmeadow’s son, Areth, I have made a beautiful promise doll. Like Southslope Mountain, he will be fair of face. Remember, though, that Southslope Mountain in winter can send down the avalanche. Areth must make sure winter never lives in his heart.”

I hung the doll around the infants neck and everyone clapped.

“For Norda Bantercross’s son, Manal, I have made a doll from most precious wood. He will be strong, like Mount Crownantler, tall and full of weather. His soul will run with the wild game, he will drink from cold rivers and be free. A compass is carved upon the doll, for all things will be measured by him.”

I hung the doll around the infants neck and everyone clapped. Norda held her child up high for all to see. There was gentle laughter.

I gestured and Mabe Willowknot and Vilsa Rainsayer came forward with their babies. Vilsa’s face was radiant with joy. In her eyes was so much trust and humility before my power that for a moment my heart smote me. I remembered then that she had been an obedient and respectful girl all her life. I remembered that she had come to my bed of mourning to oil and rub my feet, and that her tears had fallen on my ankles. Her own husband was gone, and though she refused to believe that he was dead, she knew how gray was my world. I remembered that she always agreed with me at meeting in the House of Women. Though the babies would choose the promise doll they wanted, I knew which one would get which. Knowing what would be leftover for Vilsa’s child Annakey, I had felt a secret gladness. Now, I felt sorry. I realized what a cruel thing it was, and I was sorry.

Even the children in the crowd were silent now. I held up the promise dolls for all to see, just within reach of the babes’ little hands and bright eyes. There was a gasp, as I thought there would be.

One of the promise dolls had a smile and hung true. The other promise doll hung crookedy, and on its small face was a frown.

Both mothers hesitated when they saw the frowning promise doll. Even Mabe, who hardly heard her child’s cries in her indifference, seemed unwilling to give her baby the fate such a promise doll would suggest.

I dangled the dolls before the babies. They smiled, cooed, and both reached out for the promise dolls. Both reached out for the frowning promise doll.

I was aghast. Both baby girls had grasped the frowning promise doll and were tugging at it. Renoa, being the lustier, snatched it away from Annakey and put the cord in her mouth. Annakey began to wail.

“She wants it,” the people around her said.

“Give her the other promise doll to comfort her.”

Unwillingly, I placed the smiling promise doll in Annakey’s hand. She threw it away and wailed even more loudly.

The crowd became noisy. Vilsa was silent and pale. I picked up the smiling promise doll and put it in Renoa’s hand. Greedily she grabbed onto it, and dropped the frowning doll. I put the frowning doll in Annakey’s hand, and instantly she was silent.

The outcry died down at the same time that Annakey’s cries were stilled.

“Well,” I said. I did not look atVilsa. God had decided. I placed the soggy, smiling promise doll around Renoa’s neck. “Renoa has a promise doll with the eyes of a Dollmage. She will see behind things and under things. Like Mount Lair, she will be wild and beautiful. Though Mount Lair is pathless, she will make paths.”

Everyone clapped and cheered. They gathered around Mabe and her child, almost forgetting that there was another child to be done. Small children began stealing eggs from the table. I held up my hand and the crowd settled a little. I placed the frowning promise doll around Annakey’s neck.

“This child’s doll, too, has the eyes of a Dollmage — slightly askant, so that she might see netherworlds and things meant to be. But this child will be like the valley that is not yet found.”

Vilsa looked at me with great eyes, her face open and vulnerable, willing still to trust me. But in my face she saw that I thought it was a bad omen, and she dropped her eyes. I saw her look into the sweet sleeping face of her baby.

No one clapped. A few murmured.There was a wind in the beeches, and a single black swan rose from the river thicket.

“What does the frown mean, Dollmage?” Vilsa asked low.

Now, I had obeyed God, but the truth was I did not know the meaning of the frown. Unwilling to appear ignorant before my people, I said, “She will be sad because she cannot be Dollmage.”