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"But a powerless woman couldn't hurt them, could she?"
"Not the way a wizard could-although I suppose she could cut his throat if he trusted her enough to sleep in her bed." The idea seemed an interesting one to Roxa
"They don't ever do that? Sleep together in bed?"
With a shrug Roxa
"Oh." Trying not to feel appalled-this was not her time or her society, Merlin had been right to remind her of that-Serena probed for more information. "You said the male wizards kept concubines partly because they wanted sons; do the mothers raise their children?"
"No, never. Their babes are taken from them immediately after birth. The sons are suckled by older powerless women, and raised by lesser male wizards in a separate house near their fathers' palaces."
Serena shook her head in disbelief. "Those poor women lose their children? God, that's not just cruel- it's inhuman."
Roxa
Realizing only then what she was hearing, Serena frowned. "Wait a minute. Sons. What about the daughters?"
"They are killed at birth," Roxa
"What? Just automatically slaughtered because they're female?"
"Yes."
Her thoughts whirling and nausea churning in her stomach, Serena couldn't bring herself to say a single word. It was one thing to tell herself this was not her society, but the knowledge that any society could practice or condone the practice of murdering i
Unaware of the blow she had dealt, Roxa
Serena forced herself to respond casually. "How do the powerless women here act?"
"Subservient."
Startled, Serena frowned. "What, all of them?"
"Outside the walls of Sanctuary, yes. In the city, of course, things are different; the powerless women are never threatened or abused, and they seem content-if somewhat simple and pliable. But out here I suppose they've learned that a bowed head is less likely to anger their men."
Serena cleared her throat. "We encountered a few village men when we first arrived, and I can see how the women might have a great deal to fear. The men looked rather brutal, even though one of them was smiling."
"A powerless woman's lot is no better than a wizard's here in Atlantia," Roxa
Serena shivered.
Noting the reaction, Roxa
"That's all very well, but how would the men know I was Merlin's… companion, if they found me when he wasn't around?"
"He hasn't marked you?" Roxa
"No. That is, I don't think so. Marked me how?"
Roxa
"Roxa
"His mark. Merlin's. Every male wizard chooses how he'll mark his women, and all who belong to him wear the same sign."
"Sign? You mean a symbol of some kind?"
"Yes. For instance, some of the marks I've seen have been in the shape of animals, letters, or birds. One wizard even marks his women with a constellation-tiny stars."
"Which constellation?"
"Orion, I think. Why?"
"Just curious." Serena sighed. "So how will I wear this mark? I mean, is it stamped into my skin?"
"Yes, I suppose. The marks can't be washed off, I know that. They're created in different colors, and worn in different places. Most are here." Roxa
Branded for all the world to see. Sighing again, Serena said, "I think I'll wait until we reach the city before I talk to Merlin about these marks. I'd rather not wear a brand until I absolutely have to. Unless… will not being marked there, in Sanctuary, matter?"
Roxa
"That reminds me… When Merlin and I encountered those village men, they knew right away that I was powerless. Was it only because I was traveling with a male wizard, or does some physical sign distinguish a wizard from a powerless woman?"
"Merlin's being a wizard told them, of course, but they probably checked your hands to make sure."
"My hands?" Serena lifted her hands and looked down at them, puzzled.
Roxa
"No, it isn't." Serena hadn't notice anything odd until then, probably because the difference wasn't obvious until all ten fingers were held stretched out. But there was a deviation from the norm. On each hand Roxa
Before Serena could say anything else, Roxa
"Serena?"
She got up and went to meet Merlin by the stream. "No better place to cross?" she asked abstractedly.
"No. What's wrong?"
"Atlantis gets weirder by the minute. We were wondering why those village men assumed I was powerless? Take a look at Roxa
"I have already noticed her hands," Merlin told her, "but I assumed it was an individual trait."
"No, just inherent to female wizards here. She said it was the only outward difference between wizards and powerless women. God knows what the internal differences are."
Merlin looked at her steadily and, keeping his voice low, said, "Something else has disturbed you."
Part of Serena didn't want to tell him, but a stronger part did. She watched his face carefully when she spoke. "According to Roxa
He didn't look surprised, but rather as if she confirmed something he had known or guessed. "I see."
"It's horrible."
"Of course it's horrible." His voice was level. "It's also u
She tried to remain calm, but it wasn't easy. "I'm having a hard time looking at it as just another question we have to find the answer to. If even half of what Roxa