“It’s a deal.”
9
Harmony heart squeezed in anguish at the thought of turning over her grandmother’s ring. Of course, all Margaret’s jewelry passed to her, but she’d trade every piece, some more valuable than the pearl, to keep this one ring. She thumbed the pearl.
Why is this all happening to me? Because of Calder’s indiscretions he’s connected me to this world. The herbs he hid brought me here! Is he to blame? What about Suijin? Why would a water god care about my family? And what of Kodi? He wants the only thing I hold dear.
“Let me collect my things. Then I’m all yours,” Kodiak said, grinning at Harmony. He strode off the beach and Rio rushed to keep his pace.
Side by side, Kodiak was a foot taller than Rio and leaner. The sleeveless tunic exposed his strong arms. His build implied he was a powerful diver and swimmer. At first sight Harmony felt a spark of attraction, but his demands quickly cooled her admiration. It figures he’s irritatingly handsome! His was the most handsome face she’d seen so far in this world. After their rocky start, she questioned her conflicting feelings. Maybe having him around for the other two gatherings would be a mistake. I need to be careful with this guy.
Binda tagged along beside her, staying one step ahead. The block buildings on the island were similar to human apartments, sandwiched together. After Kodiak entered one, they waited outside in a narrow alley for him to return.
“Cousin, I feel terrible. I tried talking him out of it...”
“I appreciate that, Rio.” At least Rio seemed happy she was here and accepted her no matter what.
“It’s not right you have to trade your ring for Kodi’s help. He has a crazy obsession with pearls. But honestly, no one is a better diver. You were smart to commit him to collecting all the herbs. He is smart and strong, and he can be persuasive when he wants to be.”
“You speak highly of him.” Harmony considered him unreasonable.
“I have known Kodi all my life. He lived with his father in my village when we were boys. Once we had our trades, his father moved south, and he moved to this island. He keeps to himself now, when he’s not diving for customers. Kodi is someone you can trust. Just give him a chance.”
Rio’s reassurance did little to comfort Harmony. After all, Rio’s enthusiastic outlook on life might make him biased. He was sweet but somewhat inexperienced.
Kodiak returned with fresh clothes, a satchel he carried across his body, and another bag slung over his broad shoulder. Before they could walk away, a door across the alleyway swung open. A pretty girl rushed out, calling his name, her voice wistful. “Kodi, are you going somewhere? You agreed to dine with us. My mother thought perhaps tonight…”
The obvious infatuation in her gaze made Binda and Rio smile. Binda said under her breath, “Kodi is not only sought after by many girls, but their mamas too.”
Harmony watched with interest, thinking this young girl was out of her league.
“Sorry. I’ll be away for a while,” Kodiak said kindly.
“Oh.” She sounded disappointed. “Okay, but be sure to come by when you return.”
Kodiak gave her a wink, turned, and strutted down the narrow lane. The group followed his lead.
Harmony glimpsed the girl leaning against the door, dreamy-eyed, watching Kodiak walk away. Oh brother! So this is how it’s going to be!
Returning to the mainland, Kodiak took Binda’s seat and helped Rio paddle. Harmony tried not to look at his arms as they moved against the water in long, controlling stokes. He was impressive, but she wasn’t going to like him—not if he’d take her grandmother’s ring. She couldn’t!
Harmony shared the center seat with Binda, uncomfortably close to the edge of the canoe. When the vessel rocked Harmony squeezed her eyes shut, desperately trying to control her shaking knees.
Binda’s voice sounded in her ear. “Are you all right?”
Harmony gave Binda a pathetic look, shaking her head. “No. I have an immense fear of deep water.”
“What! You are afraid of water? Did you hear that?” Binda laughed. “She’s afraid of water.”
Kodiak smiled at Binda’s amusement. Rio had a puzzled look on his face.
“Not water—deep water!” Harmony corrected. Her annoyance diluted some of her distress. Then Harmony realized these were Aquapopulo, water people, of course her confession sounded ridiculous.
Kodiak said, “When Rio told me that you are from the human realm, I didn’t believe him until I got up close and saw your hair. Do all the people on your world have hair your color? And are they all afraid of deep water?”
Binda guffawed, startling Harmony. “Ha! Kodi, you should have spent a little more time reading in school instead of daydreaming.”
He shrugged off Binda’s insult, waiting for Harmony to answer.
Harmony responded, “People fear all kinds of things. Some are afraid of deep water or high places or bugs, or whatever…” She dragged her hair off her face. “And people have blond hair, red hair, black or brown hair. Older folk have gray or white hair.”
Kodiak openly admired her.
“Haven’t you ever seen blond hair before?” Harmony flicked away the locks breezing over her shoulders.
“No, no one in this realm has your hair color. You are quite unique,” Kodiak remarked.
“Oh.” A flutter of pleasure rippled through her. Binda eyed the strands touching her arm. Harmony recalled Lynn admiring it at the temple. Also Nami commented about humans having hair the color of sunshine, coal or fire. “So that’s why everyone has been staring at me?”
Binda’s hair was braided to the side above her forehead and loose hair touched her jaw. “Not everyone has seen the color drawings of your people in the library. Thousands of journals have descriptions of your races and their cultures.” Binda bragged how she studied a large portion of them. “As a Linker, I’m expected to cross into your realm, but I have no desire to go. I’ve read about great wars, famine, plagues…why risk my life for that?”
The boys intently listened.
Binda glanced sideways at her. “I’m thankful to be born in this realm, where there is peace and balance. The Aquapopulean race is one of concord. In fact, I don’t think it’s Suijin who is causing us strife. I think it’s the destruction humankind is wreaking on their planet that’s causing a rift in this realm. And to make matters worse, it turns out we are distantly related to a human!”
“Binda!” Rio reprimanded.
“It’s not that bad!” Harmony argued, ignoring her barb. “Well, the stuff you said is bad, but there are good things—great things even.”
Kodiak jumped into the conflict. “I don’t know what to believe. Some say Suijin is a vengeful god and sends his sirens to reclaim souls. Why? What does that really get him? And Binda, you imply the ramifications have more to do with quantum mechanics.”
“Well, genius,” Binda clucked sarcastically, “tell us more about quantum mechanics.”
“Forget quantum mechanics,” Rio interjected. “What happens on her island seems to affect ours. We need to send her back. She is our only hope to avoid possible destruction.”
Kodiak mulled over Rio’s words while adjusting the sail. “Maybe they won’t tear down the structure in her world. Even if they do, do we know how it will affect us exactly? Does Calder know for certain?” He received blank stares. “I’m just saying, we are possibly risking our lives by going into the sea serpent’s cave…and for what?” He looked pointedly at Harmony. “What is it you plan to do when you get back? How are you going to stop this destruction?”
She considered his tough questions. Calder was wise, but was he right? She accepted Calder’s word that something devastating would happen here, but he never said what exactly. And true, she asked these strangers to do something dangerous for her, but she couldn’t stay here. She said with determination, “Calder’s a respected man. If he says there’ll be danger to your kind then I think it’s worth heeding his warning. I will do whatever I can to s
top it, but I certainly can’t do anything about it here.”
Clearly there was no perfect answer.
Kodiak gazed at a far-off spot on the horizon until he smiled at the faces yawning and dipping with the waves. “I will take the risk for the promised reimbursement.”
Harmony couldn’t look at him again after that.
Reaching Rio and Binda’s dwelling, Harmony swayed up the dock, as if still rocking in the canoe.
Calder greeted them at the door. “Just in time for dinner.”
After their meal, Calder unfolded a map and spread it across the table. They gathered around him.
“Binda, Rio—you know this land.” He pointed beyond the island. “We are here. You will follow the river to here and cross the land on foot until you reach the cliff. At the cliff there is a path to the beach below, where you can enter the water.”
Kodiak nodded. “I know the sea serpent’s cave. Another diver told me he attempted to go in but was nearly killed by the serpent.”
“Wait!” Harmony held up her hands. “Are you telling me there’s a real sea serpent—a monster in the ocean?” She scanned their grave faces, but Kodi’s eyes held her captive. Annoyed with him, she hadn’t glanced in his direction since they returned to the dwelling. Outside, with the glaring sun, she hadn’t noticed the color before, they glowed like brushed copper. A ring of black circled the outermost iris outlining their brilliance. For a moment she entirely forgot about the monster.
Kodiak replied, “Yes a real sea serpent—and a big, mean one at that.”
She refocused on the mission, though stealing glances at Kodiak weakened her resolve not to like him.
“If you can avoid him it would be best. Binda, be sure to carry salve with you,” Calder advised. “Kodiak, you will need to go into the cave and collect this plant.” He opened a leather-bound journal and stopped at a page, indicating a drawing. “Rio and Binda, you must draw the serpent away from the cave.”
“How will we do that, Grandfather?” Rio sounded anxious.
“I’ve heard the serpent has a taste for dolphins, so I obtained some dolphin blood today from an old friend.” He pulled a bottle out of his satchel. “A little goes a long way.” Calder leaned heavily on his elbows. “You need to concentrate solely on this mission before we talk about what is to come next. For now get a good night’s sleep. You leave at dawn.”
***
At dawn Kodiak, along with Binda, Rio, and Nami, dove off the dock into the bay for the habitual Aquapopulo morning swim. It helped ground and awaken him for a new day while he flexed and stretched his muscles, connecting with the living sea. The underwater sounds cleared his mind and allowed his creative thoughts to generate. He contemplated Harmony, an unusual and incomparable gem. She intrigued him. A human in their realm was unprecedented, and the rules probably still applied: no mixing of Aquapopulo and human blood. Kodiak broke the surface to head back to the dwelling. He wondered again about Calder breaking the rules. Rio said he’d fallen in love with Harmony’s great-great-grandmother. Could it be true? Could one fall in love with a human?
As he swam closer to the dwelling, he watched her golden mane hang around her shoulders as she leaned over the railing, her forearms resting on the banister. His heartrate sped. Although there were rules, he battled the thought of breaking them or at least bending them.
Kodiak, refreshed and smiling, climbed the steps. The others sprawled in the morning sun to dry. He squinted up at the railing above, but Harmony moved inside.
At her movement, Nami rose to her feet. “I’ll prepare breakfast.” After a pensive breakfast, Nami hugged her children good-bye.
The boys rowed effortlessly upriver for some time. Finally reaching a grassy area, Kodiak leaped out and pulled the canoe onto the shore. Binda handed him his satchel and grabbed her own before stepping out. Kodiak offered his hand to Harmony and held her still once she stood on firm ground. He stared at her hand in surprise.
“What is it?” Harmony asked, alarmed.
“Your skin!” He couldn’t help himself and reached his other hand to her cheek. “It’s so…warm.” He read about the unusual body temperature of humans, but hadn’t given it much thought until he held her warm-blooded body in his grasp.
“Try sleeping next to her. Felt like I was sleeping fireside.” At her mother’s request Binda shared her bed with her cousin last night.
The thought of sleeping with Harmony caused Kodiak to drop his hold on her and clear his throat.
“What do you mean?” Harmony chased after Binda, who charged up a path.
“You humans are warm-blooded—not that we are cold-blooded, but our internal temperature runs lower than yours. That’s one of the reasons we can dive to deeper depths. The fat under our skin layer is more efficient than yours.”
“Are your lungs different?”
“Yes, our lung capacity is…expandable.” Binda tipped her head at Kodiak. “His is supersized.”
“Wow, amazing. If I could hold my breath underwater as long as you, I probably wouldn’t be so scared of deep water.”
Kodiak took her words as a compliment and flashed a charming smile. Harmony dropped her lashes and stayed on Binda’s heels. The boys trailed close behind.
“Shh.” Binda stopped, looking around.
“Which way?” Kodiak regarded the path that split in two directions.
Rio took this opportunity to extend his hand in Harmony’s direction. “May I, cousin?”
Kodiak watched Harmony chuckle as she slipped her hand to Rio’s.
Rio’s face lit up. “That is remarkable.”
Kodiak stared jealously at his friend’s hand, tucked where he wanted his to be. That kind of warmth needed more exploration. Yes, in the future he looked forward to bending the rules!
Binda spoke, “This way.”
Dropping his hand, Harmony picked up her pace. The woods were silent except for the leaves rustling in the breeze and Harmony’s heavy breathing.
Kodiak noted the sun high overhead, its light filtering through the trees. “It’s noon. We should be close.”
Rio bobbed his head at Kodiak’s estimate.
“Isn’t she going to wait for us?” Harmony indicated Binda who marched way ahead of them. “What is her problem?” No matter how hard she tried to keep up with her cousin and attempt to speak with her, Binda gave her the cold shoulder.
“Harmony, she needs some time to adjust to you. Being a Linker comes with a lot of pressure and she has been a dedicated student for many years.” The three of them watched Binda trudge ahead. “Someday she will pass into your world. She could benefit from your experiences. Keep talking to her. Don’t give up.”
Kodiak listened to his friend advocate on his sister’s behalf and wondered if Harmony would continue with her efforts to make peace. Binda had been rude to her. Looked upon as Calder’s special and gifted granddaughter, she now had competition.
Harmony sighed. “I’m trying, Rio.” With renewed determination, she shouted, “Binda, wait up! I have a question.” Binda halted, fists on hips. “Why are Linkers the only ones allowed to cross realms?”
As the boys caught up, Kodiak read the annoyance on Binda’s face and wasn’t sure she’d bother to answer, but she did.
“Linkers have special training. We are mentally prepared for the conditions we need to adjust for. I’ve learned languages, cultures, and studied herbal remedies to protect me against diseases we don’t have here.” Binda said to her brother, “Grandfather was young, too young, when he first went over. If I go, I will be better prepared.”
Kodiak assumed she referred to not repeating the mistake Calder made by falling in love with a human. Wow, she just isn’t letting that go.
They arrived at the edge of the cliff.
“This is it.” Binda raised her voice over the wind and pounding waves. “The beach is this way.”
Kodiak eyed the drop, seeing if he could safely jump. Rocks jutting beneath the waves and he understood it
wasn’t a viable jump.
They followed Binda to an obscure, overgrown path, and descended. Reaching the beach, Binda opened her satchel and took out her sketchbook. She opened it to the page where she had drawn a picture of the plant Kodiak needed to retrieve.
Kodiak studied it again, committing it to memory.
At the base of the path, all three dropped their satchels, slipped out of their sandals, and pulled off their tunics. The boys were bare-chested; Binda wore what looked like a fitted cropped tank top. All of them wore loose-fitting knee-length pants. They secured their belts and checked the variety of knives at their waists.
Kodiak surveyed the inlet, stretching his shoulder muscles. Before any dive, he calmed his enthusiasm and focused on the task.
Binda collected the bottle of dolphin’s blood from her bag and repeated the plan. “We will swim out there and dump the blood,” she instructed Rio, and then she told Kodiak, “The cave is that way. Once the serpent detects the smell of blood and exits the cave, swim inside and collect the leaves as quickly as you can.”
“We will circle around and check on your progress,” Rio assured his friend.
Moving toward the water’s edge, Kodiak paused. He eyed Harmony before he spoke to her. “Stay back, out of sight, there in the brush.” He pointed to where they left their tunics and satchels. “If we are detected by the serpent and it comes to the shore, it might be able to reach you if you are too close to the water’s edge.”
“It can’t come on shore though,” Rio assured Harmony who’d begun to follow them.
“I will sneak in and out without discovery,” Kodiak commented, his eyes lingering on her. Stay focused!
“Okay. Good luck!” Harmony headed to safety while the others entered the water.
Kodiak dragged his hand through his hair, trying to remove her from his thoughts.
10
They dove and broke the surface several times; only Rio turned and waved before they disappeared from sight. Keeping vigil for ten solid minutes, Harmony prayed for a quick and successful return. The sun warmed her face, but the glare was intense. She glanced skyward, thinking it strange not hearing seagulls cry. She dropped her gaze to scan the satchels at her feet, wondering what kinds of things the Aquapopuleans carried around. She allowed her thoughts to wander, instead of worrying, but she jumped when she heard something break the surface.
The Rare Pearl (Broken Water Series Book 1) Page 6
