Narrtep’s hand on his arm arrested his instinctual need to go to her. “Wait, Corvus.”
WoNadahem Mardree sat so still Corvus wondered if she even breathed. Light from the open tent flap shimmered around her. Her eyes—startling orbs of vibrant color—widened. At last she let out a breath. The serpent whistled. She left her chair and walked to Corvus’ side. “Wolloh sends a message. He would like to meet with you. It is important. You must go.”
Outside the tent the sun, a furious ball of red, hung low in the sky, almost hidden by the surging sands of DerTah. Corvus knew a raging storm obliterated the oasis from view. Narrtep and WoNa followed him into the open, said their good-byes, and hurried toward the cave in the outcropping.
Remaining motionless, Corvus observed the haunting stillness of the oasis. Like the eye in a hurricane, nothing moved, no sound disturbed the oppressive silence. Further out in the desert, winds roared. The sand rose in a curtain of red granules that could tear a body to pieces. But Eissua Oasis floated, protected in a bubble of absolute calm.
Scanning the outbuildings and gardens at the western edge of the Wolloh’s ranch, Corvus wondered at Wolloh’s game. His first impressions of the High DiMensioner had not been favorable. He was, after all Nomed’s mentor. When Corvus arrived at Shu Chenaro, he had observed the man closely. Beyond the maimed body, the posturing for effect, and the seemingly over-large ego, he discovered an intelligent man with unimaginable depth and a unique understanding of the universe. Even so, he had been surprised when Wolloh had sent a Tabagie to warn One Man about the Largeen Joram’s eldest son. Shrewd and aware of the undercurrents around him, Wolloh had also warned Esán to leave with Seval before Nissasa and Gidtuss could make a move. What of Lorsedi? And where does Nomed stand in all this? He’s changed since my arrival in DerTah. That doesn’t mean he’s given up his desire for revenge .
Between him and his destination, the sun’s descent to the horizon cast long shadows across the landscape. It was time to move. Answers to his questions would manifest in their own ways. WoNa had told him this meeting would be a tipping point. He hoped she was correct. He laughed to himself. When has she ever been wrong?
Glad for the camouflage provided by his dark kcalo, he jogged from one slashed strip of shade to the next until he arrived at the raptor center. A DerTahan hawk swiveled its head, the green-gold of an eye sparking. Corvus reached through the bars of its cage and ran a finger down its back. The bird responded with a deep crooning sound. He withdrew his hand, skirted the building, and dodged into the barn.
Voices ahead of him made him sidestep behind the door of the tack room, straining to hear. Stebben appeared in the doorway and beckoned. Corvus followed Wolloh’s Major Domo back the way he had come. Once outside, he led him between several buildings to a spot close to the ranch house. Maintaining his silence, Stebben pointed ahead at a door almost hidden in taccus and desert shrubs. Corvus nodded. He had used it often when visiting Esán. Allowing his comrade’s height to screen him from view, he walked briskly toward it. Stebben ushered him inside, where Wolloh waited.
The High DiMensioner offered his arm. Corvus took it. The next instant, the three of them stood in the middle of a comfortable sitting room.
Indicating a chair, Wolloh lowered his twisted body into one opposite. “Thank you for coming, Corvus. I know this is not the best time.”
Corvus sat down. “What is so important, sir, that you would use WoNa as a messenger?”
Wolloh rubbed a finger along the ridges on the scarred side of his face before resting his hand on the arm of his chair. His good eye focused on Corvus and narrowed. “We need you to get a message to Almiralyn.”
The statement hung in the air between them, each syllable dropping into the silence. Corvus caught them one by one. “And what makes you think I can do that, sir?”
The smooth lips on the High DiMensioner’s handsome side curved into a knowing smile. “I believe you are a man of many talents. May I explain our need?”
“Please do.”
Wolloh recounted his earlier discussion with Lorsedi and Nomed. When he had completed his description, he leaned back in his chair, his smooth profile relaxed, his expression one of openness and respect.
Corvus tilted his head to one side. “If I understand you correctly, sir, Lorsedi is willing to give up his hunt for Elcaro’s Eye; help defend Myrrh against his son Nissasa; and help protect Esán, Ari, and Brie, along with their mother and grandmother.”
Wolloh affirmed his statement with a blink of his good eye. “You have no reason to trust me, Corvus. I do believe, however, that you understand more of me than most.”
“And what of Nomed and his desire for revenge and for the acquisition of Evolsefil?”
“I think you will find that Seyes Nomed is maturing in ways that have allowed him to step back from his own agenda to embrace the greater good. What happened to make him hate the Guardian is between him and her. It is my hope that, if addressed by them, the situation can be resolved. Will you help?”
Corvus studied the man’s face. He knows much more than he lets on. Can I trust him? Lorsedi? Nomed? Relaxing back in his chair, he let his quick intelligence and refined instincts go to work on the problem. When he felt secure that all the pieces were in place and he had a clear picture of the situation and the potential success of joining forces, he returned his gaze to the High DiMensioner’s face.
“I can’t promise anything, Wolloh. Getting a message to the Guardian of Myrrh is a tricky business. I will do my best. How much time do I have?”
“As you know, Nissasa is already on the move. We should follow suit as soon as possible.”
Corvus pushed back his chair. “Whatever happens, I’ll try to return here later tonight.” With a head full of mixed feelings, he made his way back to the raptor center. A raven followed his movements with an ebony eye, cawed, and flapped its blue-black wings. He reached through the bars of its cage and scratched beneath its beak. A message to Almiralyn from the High DiMensioner od DerTah…
37
ConDra’s Fire
Myrrh
A lmiralyn’s level of anxiety had decreased tenfold. Sparrow, Gerolyn, and Merrilea were finally ensconced within the DeoNyte community of Meos in the subterranean caverns of the Dojanack Mountains. Their dramatic arrival at Nemttachenn Tower had alleviated at least one of her many concerns. To insure their safety, she had not delayed bringing them to the Dojanacks. Voer and Stee had stayed behind to check in with their comrades, Yuin and Jeet, at Demrach Gateway. They would also patrol the area around the RewFaaran camp. Paisley had chosen to continue his sojourn at the tower. She felt sure another game of chess was his goal.
The journey to the caverns via the Intersect had been, as it always was, a spectacular event for those new to Myrrh’s underground transport system. Surrounded by moon and stars, the dangling roots of the Terces Wood, and the geode-encrusted underbelly of the mountains, her small band of supporters had been awestruck.
When they arrived in Meos, Yookotay, the ReDael of the DeoNytes, and his son, Zugo, welcomed them to their community and their home. Allynae had embraced Sparrow and kept her by his side, as though afraid she would disappear. Her radiant smile spoke volumes as she reacquainted him with her mother. Merrilea’s face when she saw Jordett lost its pallor. Gentle words and tenderness from the major erased the last traces of fear. Almiralyn smiled…another romance in the making.
Prior to dispersing to their quarters, they met in Yookotay’s council chamber and shared the details of their individual journeys. The discussion had been intense and surprising. Wolloh’s warning via a Tabagie topped the list. News of Nissasa’s defection was deeply disturbing. But it was the death of Standin that troubled her the most. He had given up everything to protect and care for a woman he could not wed and her daughter, whose father was the Largeen Joram of the planet of warfare.
She sighed and looked around the spacious cave prepared for her by Owae, the DeoNyte healer. Soft light from
oil lamps positioned on a continuous ledge that followed the curve of the salmon walls bounced off flecks of quartz crystal. Forest green rugs woven from some type of hair or fur covered the stone floor. Carved in the wall across from her, a bed fitted with a thick mat and a dark orange comforter beckoned. A bench made from white stone decorated with green and carnelian cushions and a sturdy wooden chair provided places to sit. On the bedside table were an obsidian pitcher and chalice, and above them on the wall hung a small mirror made from a reflective material
Almiralyn stretched out on the bed and let the soothing atmosphere in the cave calm her tired nerves. For the first time since Lorsedi had appeared in Elcaro’s Eye, she had time to review the past few sun turnings and to decide what her next step would be.
The peace and quiet lulled her tired body and soothed a mind too full of questions. She woke with a start some time later, surprised that she had actually slept. The moment her eyes opened, her brain buzzed with a long list of ‘what ifs.’ Yawning, she shoved them away, allowed herself a luxurious stretch, and sat up. What I need is a concrete plan. How can I protect Myrrh and Sparrow and her family and Esán from two such formidable enemies? I sure could use Karrew’s steady practicality . She smoothed sleep scattered wisps of silver blonde behind her ears and re-braided her long hair. The rhythmic flick of her fingers eased her returning agitation.
The small bell at the cave’s entrance chimed, and the thick curtain covering it rustled. Allynae’s head appeared. “You gotta minute? I have something I think you might be interested in.”
She flipped her braid over her shoulder. “Of course, Alli, come in.”
He grinned and whipped the curtain aside. Almiralyn sprang to her feet. “Karrew! How did you know I needed you?”
The raven flew to her shoulder and nuzzled his head against her cheek. “I always know what you need,” he croaked and hopped onto her offered arm. “I have a message from the High DiMensioner od DerTah.”
“Wolloh?” Allynae’s expression froze midway between curiosity and suspicion. “What could he want? And how do you know about it?”
Almiralyn sank down on the bed and waited for her brother to pull up the chair. He straddled the seat and rested his arms on the back. “Karrew’s been doing some spying for me, Alli.” She lifted her protector to eye level. “What’s the message?”
While Karrew outlined Wolloh’s proposal, provided an account of Lorsedi’s response and Nomed’s, and brought her up to date on the children, she watched her brother’s face. Disbelief registered in every line of it.
Karrew ruffled his feathers and cocked his head. “Wolloh is not what he seems, Mira. I don’t know his game, but I do know he has made every effort to protect Esán, Desirol, and the twins.”
“What about Nomed? Why is he so bent on revenge?” Allynae demanded.
“Wolloh feels that is between the DiMensioner and Almiralyn.” Karrew hopped to her shoulder.
Her brother leaned toward her. “What happened between you two when he was a boy, Mira? What would make him hate you enough to want to destroy you…and Myrrh?”
Almiralyn stared at the flickering crystal flecks on the opposite wall and cast her mind back to Nomed’s time in Myrrh. Davin , she thought, Davin Farlow was his given name. An angry boy who bullied smaller children and hurt animals whenever he could catch them, he had been a problem from his first visit to her home. On repeated occasions, she had warned him that he couldn’t come again if he didn’t change his behavior. He always promised to do better. And she had always relented, not so much for Davin but for his shy younger brother, Somay.
By the time Davin reached his eleventh sun cycle, his bouts of anger had increased. His last visit to Myrrh, he had arrived seething with rage. Somay’s eyes were swollen, red, and fearful. His cry of dismay had brought her into the sitting room where Davin clutched a small gray kitten in an up-raised hand. It flew through the air, slammed into the wall, and slid to the ground, its neck twisted, and the life gone from its tiny body. She had banned him from ever returning to Myrrh.
Deepening her level of concentration, she made herself re-examine her memories of that afternoon. What had she missed? What had her anger at the death of an innocent kitten kept her from seeing? An image of the boy formed in her mind. Dark hair framed a face that was already well on its way to handsome. Huge, hazel eyes…a patrician nose…a bruised cheek and a blackened eye. She clenched her hands in her lap. How could she not have realized the boy had been beaten? How many times had he come from Idronatti with his younger brother in tow to escape abuse?
She opened her eyes. “I am to blame for his hatred.”
Allynae started to protest. She stopped him with a shake of her head. “I am not the sole cause of it, but I was the adult. I failed to see a battered boy, and I sent him away to be battered further. No wonder he hates me. If I am to make amends, I must speak with Somay. He can help me understand Nomed’s background. Before I do so, however, we have other decisions to make. Someone has to go to DerTah and meet with Wolloh, Lorsedi, and Nomed.”
Allynae stiffened. “If you are considering a trip off Myrrh, I don’t believe this is a good time to go. I can’t even begin to imagine what would happen if you were captured.”
Karrew flapped his wings and cawed. “I can meet with them.”
Almiralyn shook her head. “I need you to continue as we planned, Karrew.”
The entrance bell jingled. Allynae called out, “Whose there?”
Gerolyn pulled the curtain aside. “I believe I can be of assistance.”
Almiralyn gave her a knowing smile. “Of course, Gerolyn. You’re the perfect person to act as my emissary.”
Sparrow needed to paint. she hadn’t picked up a brush since Nomed had disappeared with Esán several sun turnings ago. The urge to create, bottled up inside her for too long, left her cranky and on edge. So much had happened. Exploring the events on canvas would help her to understand and define what had occurred. Besides, she might learn more about the twins. When she silenced her inner critique and painted without limitations, her art could be most informative. Had she been at the cottage, she would have slipped away to her studio. In Meos, she had no idea if the materials she required were even available. The best way to find out was to ask.
A quick glance in the mirror next to her bed trapped her into a staring match with her reflection. Do Mother and I look alike? She turned her head from side to side. We have similar hair. Our faces are the same shape. Why do I feel like I’ve lost something? Mystified by her feelings, she stared at the wall, deep in thought.
The fact that Gerolyn had abandoned her farmer’s wife façade as soon as they reached Nemttachenn Tower made Sparrow feel uncomfortable and confused. She had only known the mother of her childhood. Without wrinkles and void of the sadness that had been ever present at the back of her eyes, Gerolyn looked sun cycles younger and only vaguely familiar. Postural changes affected the way she moved. She carried herself with a regal elegance that had not been there during the time Sparrow had spent with her and Standin on the farm.
The differences in her appearance were not the only changes. She radiated confidence and self-assurance. Her voice had lost its Singtil drawl and taken on a fluid, almost melodic tone. Like Brie’s , she thought and sighed. All the changes in her mother, combined with her father’s death, left her feeling as though she had lost both parents.
She looked back at her reflection. “She is your mother, no matter how she looks or acts. The essence of her is still the same. Don’t distance yourself from the woman who birthed and raised you. She has become who she truly is, who she has always been.”
“Wise advice, daughter.” Gerolyn smiled from the entryway. “I am still the same woman. My love for you has not changed.” The curtain swished into place behind her. “I should have shared more about your ancestry with you, but I couldn’t risk it. If the PPP had decided to question you…”
The unfinished sentence spoke volumes. Sparrow could fill in the
blanks. Monitoring the accusatory tone that wanted to creep into her voice, she asked, “Did you ever love Standin?”
Her mother regarded her from eyes that reflected the depth of her feelings. “I loved him, Sparrow. Not the way you love Allynae, but I loved and respected who he was. I understood what he willingly gave up to protect us. He made a hard choice, and I will always hold his memory in my heart. He loved you like his own daughter. Know that.”
Tears welled up in Sparrow’s eyes. “I do know. He will always be my father. I wish I had known he was ill. I would have tried to come home sooner.”
“He wouldn’t let me send word to you. Standin was a very private person. He also understood the dangers involved in being on the PPP Watch List. When things settle down, we will have a special ceremony for him. Almiralyn has said we can put a marker in her garden.”
Sparrow took a step. Her mother met her halfway and wrapped her arms around her. Sparrow sighed… Mother and daughter forever .
Gerolyn finally broke the embrace and drew Sparrow with her to sit on the bed. “I have some things to share. I am leaving for DerTah with Karrew. The High DiMensioner has sent word that he would like to join forces with Almiralyn to protect Myrrh, the twins, and Esán.”
“I don’t want you to go.” Sparrow realized she sounded like a child. “I mean…I have had so little time with you. I don’t want to lose you, Mother. Can’t Almiralyn go?”
Her mother took her hand and sandwiched it between her smooth palms. “You know she can’t leave. I want to go. I am trained in the art of negotiation and schooled in the detection of subterfuge and lies. Almiralyn took me in when I was pregnant with you. She found Standin and set us up on the farm in Singtil. I owe her for our lives. SparrowLyn, it is time for me to see your birth father. Tissent is there, as well. My heart aches to hold my twin in my arms.”
The UnFolding Collection Two Page 30
