much safer here with me. Do you hear the rain?” She paused a moment and Gilla
heard its soft, steady patter outside.
“You’ll hear more rain soon. But don’t worry, my wards will keep the water away
from here-the rest of Sanctuary is not going to be so fortunate. Water is
coming. A great deal of water is coming!” Roxane lifted her arms with a ripple
of silken sleeves. “Oh, they will be sorry, when the flood sweeps their fine
temples and palaces away! I will bring the great waters down from the north in
such a deluge as this place has never seen!”
Gilla grew very still. If there was a flood her children would be in danger. She
had to think of a way out of here! But she had always done her best thinking
when she was working; her gaze fell on the broom that had come with her through
the void.
“If I am to stay, Mistress, then let me keep busy working for you.” She tried to
simulate humility. It did not sound convincing to her, but she suspected that
the Nisibisi sorceress had spent too much time studying men and other beings to
know much about how her own sex behaved.
“I’m a very good worker,” Gilla went on. “Would you like me to clean?”
Roxane giggled. “Housecleaning? Oh yes-I with my waters and you with your broom
will clean up Sanctuary!” Still laughing, she nodded to Snapper Jo. “You let her
clean then, do you understand?” Bright skirts swirled as she turned, and she was
gone as swiftly as she had come.
For a long moment Gilla stood utterly still. Then she seized the broom that was
all she had left of home and began to sweep furiously.