I shake my head. When one of us gets nabbed, our partner’s supposed to run for it. If Deryt is still out there.
The guard nods. “Well, I know you don’t steal the food on your own. If you give up your fellow thieves, you’ll get a lighter sentence, but we can discuss that down at the station.” She takes me by the arm and leads me out of the office.
The guard turns on the rest of the lights in the warehouse and sticks close by me, so I don’t have the opportunity to get away just yet. She’s gentle but firm in the way she handles me. Probably believes I’m a local kid being used by a gang of thieves and she’s rescuing me. Lots of mainlanders get desperate and turn to petty crime, and I don’t have anything on me that could out me as a rebel.
As we walk outside, I look around to see if she’s got backup, but she seems to be on her own, too. Good. I stumble over a rough patch of ground and sway off-balance. “Sorry,” I mumble. “Light-headed. I really am hungry, ma’am.”
The guard steadies me. “Easy there, girl. Not much farther til we reach my wagon.”
Riding in the back of a security guard’s wagon, no doubt trussed up so I can’t escape, sounds like an uncomfortable way to travel. But it won’t matter. I used that stumble as a cover to slip my spare set of lock picks out of my wrist brace into my hand. I’m already opening the handcuffs. In a few seconds, I’ll be free.
The guard catches sight of the movement and yanks me to a stop. “Hey, what’re you doing there? Give me that!”
She tries to take my lock picks, but I just reached the catch inside the lock and the handcuffs spring open. I kick her in the shin with my steel-toed boot and she yelps in pain, loosening her grip on my arm just enough for me to pull away. I take off running. If I can just lose her in the darkness, I’ll be gone.
“Stop, thief!” the guard shouts. But instead of running after me, she runs back into the warehouse. Moments later, alarm bells ring out.
Oh, no. The warehouse district lights up and more security guards pour out of nearby buildings. Why are there so many of them on duty when there’s nothing worth stealing right now?
I weave under a row of scaffolding for cover, but there’re spotlights sweeping over every corner and I see the glint of guns being drawn. Of course the overseer’s office had to be in the middle of everything. So it’s a long way out of here, and the guards are closing in. I need to think fast or I’m done for.
I dodge one man’s reaching arm and look around for an opening. I can see locks on most of the doors and guards coming out of the others. All I need is one doorway.
I’ve never been much of a believer, but a prayer comes to my lips. “Saints and gods, please, get me a way out of here!” I whisper under my breath.
And just like that, I turn and see a doorway I hadn’t noticed before. It’s on the side of a warehouse but it looks different, with a wooden frame instead of industrial steel, and kind of… Shimmery? It’s dark inside, so I can’t see where it goes, but it’s gotta be better than running out here in the open.
“Halt or I’ll shoot!” a guard calls out behind me.
I don’t give it a second thought. I dive through the doorway.
I stumble for real as I step through the doorway. Instead of the inside of a building, I find myself in a clearing in the rainforest. It’s nighttime but the plants and flowers around me are full of light. Like, glowing. I halt in my tracks and look behind me, but the doorway has disappeared. What in the world is going on here?
Branches rustle ahead. I whirl around, searching the underbrush for signs of danger. The rebels’ village is on the edge of a rainforest to help us hide, and we can gather some food there. But we’re warned from the minute we can walk not to explore too far under the trees because it’s full of deadly things—venomous snakes, panthers, poisonous plants, rivers with alligators and piranhas, and those little tree frogs that can kill you with a touch of their skin. My death could be stalking me right now. I pull out my last dagger, the one that the guard couldn’t find in my blouse, and brace myself for what’s coming.
The leaves part and I jump back, brandishing the dagger. Green wings appear, glowing brighter than anything else in the clearing. A quetzal bird with a green body, a red breast, and a gold head glides out and lands on the ground before me.
I haven’t heard that golden-headed quetzals can kill anyone, but the bird’s talons look sharp, so I watch it. The bird gazes back at me with eyes that look strangely intelligent. We stare at each other for a long, tense moment.
Then the bird opens its beak and lets out a mournful whistle. “Put down your knife, Amena,” she says in a sad voice. “I will not harm you.”
I lower the dagger, but I don’t put it away. “What’s going on here? How do you know my name?”
The bird tilts her brownish-gold head to one side. “You asked for help, didn’t you? And the gods answered. I’m Uqra, and I’m speaking to you on behalf of the goddess, Qachmy. She has an offer for you.”
I frown and glance around for signs of someone else, but I wouldn’t know a goddess if I saw one. “Is this some kind of joke? Maybe I fell and hit my head.”
Uqra hops up onto a nearby branch at my eye level and leans closer. “No joke. Qachmy heard your prayer. You do know who Qachmy is, right?”
Of course I know the name of the goddess of the rainforest. In Jabin, we have a ceremony every year to thank her for the plants and game we get from the forest. Although most rebels think like Mama does, that the gods are just propaganda by the Empire to keep us following their rules. But real or not, no god ever answered my prayers before.
“How do I know you’re really the representative of a goddess?” I say, narrowing my eyes at the bird.
Uqra makes a melancholy sound in the back of her throat. “I suppose I understand your skepticism. But how do you think you got here?” She lifts her wing and waves to the air beside me. “I can always send you back, if you’d prefer.”
Another doorway opens out of nowhere, shimmering with pale green light. Through it, I can see guards searching the warehouse district where I just came from. They have dogs sniffing the ground to follow my trail. I flinch back, but they don’t see me through the magical doorway.
“No, don’t make me go back! You said you have some kind of offer? What is it?”
Uqra lowers her wing, and the doorway disappears. “A wise decision. Now, listen closely. Qachmy will grant you one wish. If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?”
My breath catches in my throat. Anything? “I—” I’ve never said it out loud before, but this whole situation is already crazy, so I may as well admit my secret dream. “I want to be a singer. I mean, I can already sing, but I want to perform on a real stage in front of a big audience and…” It’s hard to finish the thought.
“A performer.” Uqra bobs her head in understanding. “They have competitions for this sort of thing, yes? A chance for anyone to become famous. I think they call it Star Search.”
I swallow hard. It’s not often I get to listen to what I want on the radio, but I’ve heard the Star Search broadcasts. “Yeah, but my mama would never let me enter something like that. They only hold auditions in the cities and I’m not allowed to go.”
Uqra ruffles her green feathers. “It would be easy to send you to a city for an audition. I think there’s one being held tomorrow.”
It sounds too good to be true—which means it probably is. I purse my lips together. “And what does the goddess want from me if she grants my wish?”
Uqra’s short, broad beak seems to curve a little in a smile. “A good question. But it’s not too complicated.” She jumps off the branch and lands on my shoulder, and I can feel her talons gripping me through my blouse. “Qachmy wants your devotion.”
I turn my head and look straight into her dark eye. “I’m not about to become a priestess or something.”
“That’s not what I meant. You must believe in Qachmy and pray to her every day.”
I clea
r my throat. “And? People do that in the temples all the time.”
“But they don’t truly believe.” Uqra’s talons tighten until they scratch my skin. “You were skeptical that a goddess had answered your prayer just a minute ago. Most people feel the same way. If you truly believe in her, and dedicate your music to the goddess to help spread the belief in others, Qachmy will continue to help your career as a singer.”
Okay, so there was the catch. It wouldn’t be easy to win Star Search by singing religious hymns. But I was desperate to get my shot, and if all I have to do is name-drop a goddess, that doesn’t sound so bad. “And that’s it? I tell everyone I’m singing for Qachmy, and she’s not going to ask for anything else?”
Uqra loosens her grip. “I’ll be going with you to make sure you keep your end of the bargain.” She lifts her wing, and a new doorway appears.
I peek through, but all I can see is a few lights of an urban area at night. I check myself to be sure I don’t look too strange. Well, now or never. I take a deep breath and step forward.
Mama would understand that I had to take this chance. I hope she can forgive me someday.
The city is shuttered for the night, but there’s a few street lamps burning gas to light the streets. I don’t know where to go. I find an empty bench along the street and curl up to sleep. There will be time to figure out my next move in the morning.
Later, something jabs me in the arm, waking me up. “On yer feet.”
I blink, blurry-eyed, and see a police officer standing over me. I panic and scramble up, holding my empty hands out in a non-threatening way. How did they find me already? A glance at the sky shows it’s just starting to get light out, so it’s only been a few hours since I escaped the security guards.
“Is—is there a problem, officer?” I stammer out in a hopefully innocent-sounding tone. Maybe I can still talk my way out of this.
The police officer swings his nightstick. “I’ve told ye ruffians that y’can’t sleep here. Git along back to yer school before they miss ya.”
Whew! He just thinks I’m playing hooky from a local school. I dip into my best curtsy and bat my eyes up at him. “I’m so sorry, sir, but I’m actually new in town. I got here so late last night I couldn’t find anywhere to stay. It was a long walk from my village and I was so tired, I thought I’d just take a nap here.”
The officer slides his nightstick back into his belt and folds his arms. “New in Serynda, huh? What brings ye ‘round here, then?”
Quick, what’s my alibi? I don’t know anything about Serynda except it’s a big city, almost as big as the capital. It’s on the opposite side of the Northern Province from where I live. When in doubt, the best lie is the truth, or as close as you can get.
“I heard there was a Star Search audition here,” I say, careful with my phrasing in case I’m wrong.
The officer’s face softens with pity. “What’d ye do, run away from home to chase some wild dream of being a star?” He shakes his head. “There’s a bunch of ye lot every time that fool show comes through here. Well, what’s yer talent, then? Is that some kind of dancer’s getup?” His eyes flick over my black clothes.
“Actually, I’m a singer.” I look down at the ground. “But I’m a little turned around in such a big place. Do you know where the auditions are s’posed to be?”
He turns and points down the road. “Ye can just head that way to Main Street, then turn right and follow it t’the square outside the temple. They always set up out there ‘cause of the big crowds, so ye can’t miss it.” He smiles at me. “And if’n ye stick by the temple after the dawn ceremony, they’ll fix you up with a hot meal. Don’t know that ye can sing well on an empty stomach.”
Oh-kay, I’ve been overplaying this malnourished look for too long. I blush and thank him for his help. He tips his hat as I walk off in the direction of the temple.
There’s lots of other people already heading the same way, no doubt hurrying to get the best seats in the temple for the dawn ceremony. Praying to the sun goddess wasn’t high on my list of things to do, but it would look weird if I didn’t go and it will pass the time. Nothing else will be open until after prayers. Besides, maybe prayer is more valuable than I think. If Qachmy sent me a talking bird who could open magical doorways, what could Chysa, the most powerful of the gods, do for me?
I didn’t see the quetzal around when I woke up. Wasn’t she supposed to go with me? I look up at the sky again and spot a golden shape gliding over me. I stop and wave at her.
Uqra spirals down and lands on my shoulder. “What do you want?”
I glance around at the passersby, then duck in between some nearby buildings for some privacy. I don’t want to do anything else that could arouse suspicion. “What am I supposed to do now? Just wait for the audition and see if they’ll let me sing?”
Uqra preens one of her wings. “Oh, I’ll make sure you get a chance to sing. You need to profess your devotion to Qachmy, remember.” She looks down at my black clothes. “But first, you might want to change so you look more presentable. The competition is broadcast over radio but there is a live audience. You’ll have to impress them along with the judges.”
I’ve only sung at religious ceremonies and holidays in my home village, in front of people I’ve known my whole life. The thought of an audience of strangers makes my stomach flutter. “Yeah, I’d love to change, but where am I supposed to get any clothes? I don’t have any money. Would Qachmy approve of me stealing from one of these shops?” I scan the nearby buildings for an opening, but none of them look like a ready-to-wear clothing store.
“Of course not. Magic can change your clothes.”
This just keeps getting easier. I hold out my arms and stare at them, wondering what it will look like when Uqra uses her magic. Will it happen all at once in the blink of an eye, or will it shimmer like the portal?
“Can I request a specific outfit, or will you pick for me? I don’t think it should be too flashy, but I’ve always liked green.”
Uqra flies over to a crate and shakes her head. “I’m not going to do it. It’s time you learned to use magic. The goddess grants you power when you worship her.”
I stare at the bird like it just grew a second head. “Wait, magic? I thought only priestesses could do that. You said I didn’t have to become a priestess.”
“Priestesses are the only ones trained to it, but anyone can use magic from the gods if they believe.” Uqra holds up one foot and something shiny flashes in her talons. “Take this. It will help focus the power.”
I reach out and the shiny bit of metal falls into my hand. It’s a piece of copper, shaped like a five-pointed star, with a highly polished surface so I can see my reflection in it. It’s like the badges the rebellion uses for identification.
“Now hold it up, close your eyes, and pray to Qachmy.”
I try to think of a ritual prayer, but my mind goes blank. Well, I managed to get her attention the first time with just a generic plea, so I could try that again. Help me, Qachmy, I say in my mind. Lend me your power.
Light flashes, bright enough I can see it even through my eyelids, and the copper star grows warm in my hand. I open my eyes and see it’s glowing with a green light. A strange energy is flowing through my body, hot and bright, like glitter exploding inside me. I feel like I could do anything.
Uqra raises her wings. “Now, picture the outfit you want!”
Is it really that easy? I’m picturing stylish clothes I’ve seen on town girls, and I settle on a short frock with layers of ruffles in a bright green. I look down, and I’m wearing the dress, with kitten-heel boots and white stockings. I can’t believe my eyes.
“Wow, this is amazing!” I could use a mirror right now—and as soon as I picture one, it appears on the side of the building in front of me. I twirl around for a full view. Then I concentrate the power and switch to another outfit—a long, elegant purple silk ballgown. Next, I swap to a three piece pinstripe suit, tailoring the trousers to
hug my legs. My mind races through possibilities. A lacy nightgown, a copy of the police officer’s uniform I just saw, an elaborate festival costume—
Uqra flies up into my face, breaking my concentration. “Enough! This is no time to be playing around.” She pecks at the mirror on the wall, and it disappears. “Let’s not leave anything behind here. Just pick one look and let’s get going.”
I sigh, but I switch back to the first green dress. The time for fun is later. I peek out of the alleyway to make sure no one’s looking, then step back into the street. Still need to get to the dawn ceremony.
When I get to the temple, it’s not quite dawn, but the huge temple is already full and there’s a huge crowd standing around in the square. I can’t help but stare. I’ve never seen so many people in my life. My stomach flutters again. This is where the Star Search auditions are? Now I’m wondering if my outfit is too plain.
Since the temple is full, I’m forced to stand outside with the crowd during the ritual. I’ve seen it before—the priestesses hold up these crystals to charge them with magic from the blessing of the sun goddess Chysa, creating sunstones. Until now that was my only experience with magic. Out here, unable to see anything, it’s actually pretty boring. I tune out the prayers and focus on what I’m going to sing. I have to think of something good.
When the ceremony ends, most of the crowd leaves, hurrying off to start their work day. In the open space left behind before the temple, I see several tables set up, all decorated with Star Search banners. People are lining up beside one of them, where it looks like several clerks are handling the sign-ups. I hurry forward to join the line.
When I get to the front of the line, I’m facing an older woman who doesn’t look up from her clipboard. “Name and hometown,” she says in a flat tone.
“Amena,” I begin, then pause. Is it safe to tell her my real name? I don’t have any ID on me, real or fake. I decide to give her a common House name so it won’t sound suspicious. “Amena Qumejola, from Pisan.”
Amena’s Rise to Stardom: Divine Warriors #0 Page 2
