Halfblood Journey

by Rheaume, Laura

  Reave said, “You have made your point about the information. Now, explain your proposal.”

  “I would like to take a small team and follow up on a lead on a core member. It will take me at least five days, maybe longer. I will divulge my objective and destination to you only, as I believe the core members have access to all our shared information.”

  Ho asked, “You don’t think your movements can be tracked?”

  “They can, but I don’t plan on being tracked faster than I can move. That’s why I need a small group.”

  “All right, we’ll discuss it after the meeting.” Reave raised his eyebrows, turning to Rogers when Scythe lifted his hand and turned it over to show that he was done, “Do you have anything?”

  Sending his information to the group, Rogers became very solemn, “We don’t have anything to add to the original report. It was very thorough. We have just finished processing the victims’ bodies and will be sending the last to their homes tomorrow.”

  “Everyone here mourns the loss to each victim’s family,” Reave said sincerely.

  “Thank you. It is very hard to accept that a group dedicated to the Human race would commit a massacre of their own people.”

  Scythe frowned, turning the comment over in his head.

  “They oppose the status quo, and the border patrol upholds it,” explained Briggs. Rogers nodded in agreement.

  “Even so, the warehouse fire was the only attack of its type,” Temper said.

  “No,” disagreed Ho. “There was an attack on a factory...let me see…” He tapped his panel and scrolled up through the data.

  “The machine shop in Juniper,” Scythe prompted, looking across at the man. “Six Humans were killed outright.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Yes, but those deaths were incidental, don’t you think?” she insisted. “This was different because the target appears to be the Humans themselves.”

  “For what purpose?” asked Rogers.

  Temper shrugged, “I don’t have any idea. It was just an observation.”

  When no one else spoke, Reave asked Rogers, “Could your team assist with the interrogation of Juniper suspects, then? Let’s start that tomorrow.”

  “Yes, we can do that.”

  “Good, let’s get this meeting wrapped up, then. Sevren, did you locate our caller?” He looked down at his display, sliding his finger across the front of it. “Jondolara Rey?”

  Sevren spoke in his deep, quiet voice, “The dispatcher verified her employment and identification at the time of the call, and it checked out. However, it was all falsified. We have no visual and the call was not recorded, which is not really unusual out here. No one at the plant knows of a woman by that name. Her address is the home of a large family. Most work in town and not one knows a thing about it. The only lead we have is the print of a work boot at the site of the fire, which indicates a woman or man between five and a half to six feet tall, which may or may not be related to the call. There appears to be no motivation for a false call, except to rush the discovery, but for what reason, I can hardly guess. The border patrol was already aware of a problem when their people did not report in and had already begun to make inquiries.”

  “Fine, we’ll log it and let it go for now.” Reave said. “Your team can take the security detail for the time being.” Sevren nodded, making some notations quickly. “The remaining task, following the original team’s investigation is still in progress, so there is nothing to update there. Let’s call it a night. Scythe, you stay and we’ll discuss your proposal. The rest of you are free to go.”

  Chapter 11

  Mercy finished her soup, lay her bowl down on the table and pushed it to the side. She folded her arms over each other on the table and bent her head to rest her chin on them. It wasn’t that late, but she was already getting tired again; she still wasn’t up to her full strength. She watched the people in the large courtyard hurry about their business. Some people from either the border patrol or Reave’s unit were still finishing up their last tasks for the day, but others were already free to relax or eat like she was doing at one of the many tables around the perimeter of the yard. Mixed in with them were the employees of Huran, trying to keep up with their work despite having their building turned upside down by the residency of two large military units.

  In the center of the patio, a few off duty soldiers had roped off a space and were sparring, apparently for fun because it looked like they were having a good time. It was kind of a mystery to Mercy because when they were facing off they were dead serious; to her, it looked like they really were going to hurt each other. Even though they were definitely going all out, when it was over, they would smile and thank each other and shake hands or pat each other on the back.

  Often, someone would teach his or her partner a move and then they would practice it many times, before going at it again. It was fun to see, and she wasn’t the only one who had fallen into the habit of taking meals during that time. It had become an evening ritual for many to hang around the courtyard, chatting and watching; she had even seen some people betting, but not when the captain was around.

  For the most part, Kin only practiced with their own kind, and the same was true with Humans. A few times, there was a cross over, but not often. Usually, the Kin would come out on top, because they were faster and their reaction times were better, but once, Mercy had seen a really good Human win by a hair.

  Mercy looked away from the two Humans who were working on a foot sweep combination that appeared to require rubber legs when two Kin stopped at her table.

  “Hi, Gerenth,” she said to the medical officer.

  “Good evening, Mercy. I came over to make sure you were resting sufficiently. You look tired tonight.”

  “Thanks. I am a little tired. Actually, I was hoping I’d have more energy by now,” she complained. Her eyes swept to the young Kin next to Gerenth, who was waiting politely and looking at his food tray. When he didn’t look up, she gave her attention back to the doctor.

  “Well, I’m not surprised. Your body is still recuperating from a major shock. It will be a while before you are back to normal. Keep up the fluids, even if you feel fine, and rest as much as you want.”

  “Thanks. You guys can join me, if you like,” she offered, indicating the empty seats at her table.

  “Um, well…” he hesitated, looking around. The Kin had no written rule against associating with Humans, they just...didn’t. Mercy had gotten the impression that it was like hanging out with something nasty or smelly.

  “That’s okay, I don’t mind if you have to eat somewhere else,” she said, giving them an easy out.

  “No, it’s all right. I guess there’s nothing wrong with me checking up on my patient,” Gerenth said, sitting down and gesturing for his companion to do the same. “This is my apprentice Heron, from the Capital.” He emphasized the young man’s home by raising his eyebrows and slowing his words.

  Heron ducked his head, his face reddening. “Good evening.”

  Gerenth laughed, “I think that’s the first time that he has talked to a Human girl, isn’t that right, Heron?”

  Heron’s lips tightened. “There are few Humans in Quo Ire, Gerenth,” he said, making sure to keep his eyes on the man.

  “Master Gerenth, until you leave my service,” the medic reminded him kindly.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Mercy was having a hard time controlling her smile; she didn’t want to embarrass the young man more. The truth was, she was really excited to have someone to talk to, and doubly thrilled to see a Kin close to her own age. “How old are you, Heron?” she asked.

  “Fifteen.”

  “Wow! You are only one year older than me! You are already a doctor?”

  “In training, Mercy,” Gerenth corrected. “He’s apprenticing. He has been studying for this for two years.” He nodded at her astounded expression. “This is standard, for the Kin.”

  “Well, I knew that, but it is
still hard to believe. You guys really mature faster than Humans.” Mercy thought of her friends at school and could only think of one that could possibly handle being an adult already. Most were just interested in dating and having fun.

  “Naturally. Humans are very slow to develop and are intellectually limited as well,” Gerenth said offhandedly.

  Heron glanced up from his meal to catch her reaction.

  Mercy’s mouth dropped open a little, shocked that he would be so blunt. It was her turn to blush. She looked from the boy to the man, both of whom casually accepted his statement. She started to say something, but her brain messed it up. She could only form the first sound, “Wwhh...”

  Heron looked back down and continued eating.

  “Oh, I don’t mean to offend you,” Gerenth interrupted quickly, his eyes widening. “I don’t have anything against Humans. It is just…” After a quick swallow, he decided that a detour was a good idea. “Well, you are fourteen now. At what age would you start your apprenticeship?”

  “Well,” she said slowly, “we don’t start our serious study until around seventeen or eighteen. Then,” her eyes darted from one appalled face to another, and then she rushed to finish, “another, well, several years before starting to work as a doctor.”

  Gerenth didn’t have anything to say for a moment, “Well, it doesn’t matter, really. Everyone has their own ways, right?” He changed the subject, “Anyway, Heron is here now because he comes from a very good family.”

  He paused, and Mercy felt that she was supposed to respond in some way, so she said, trying to compose herself, “That’s good. I mean, how nice for him.”

  They both frowned slightly, so Mercy knew she had answered incorrectly. She tried to make up for it, “I know that family is important to your people, the whole ‘Blood of the Kin’ thing, right?”

  Heron started eating faster.

  Gerenth looked like he was wondering how rude it would be to get up and leave immediately.

  Mercy sighed, defeated, and, unknowingly behaving just like her father, humbly accepted it. “I’m sorry. I guess I just don’t know enough about the Kin. My uncle and auntie helped me to learn to speak Kin, and my father makes me practice all the time, but there is so much, and you’ve got all kinds of crazy rules on top of that. It is hard to keep it all straight, but,” she looked over at the first face she saw, Heron’s, and said sincerely, “I’m happy to learn, if you’ll teach me.”

  Gerenth said, “Of course, well…” He stopped, unsure of what to say.

  “When Gerenth,” Heron began, and then corrected himself quickly, “Master Gerenth, says I come from a ‘very good family,’ he means that I’ve been supported my whole life by my family.”

  He had a smooth, rich voice that hooked Mercy’s attention and reeled it in. Mercy nodded, encouraging him to continue. She felt like there was something important that she still wasn’t picking up, but she didn’t want to push it, since they had stopped looking like they were going to run away.

  “Which explains,” Gerenth added, “why he is already in the field. Typically, he would train for another two years in a much more limited capacity, say as an aide to a doctor’s subordinate or, if he were less competent, he would still be predominately studying and observing.”

  “I see. So, they supported you by encouraging you?” She asked Heron.

  He let his eyes look over her shoulder and then wander around the room while he spoke, which told her that he wished he was anywhere but at her table. “Encouragement is universally expected, but I was given excellent tutoring and experiences from an early age, to ensure a solid beginning. Also, it means that my family will continue to watch over me to make sure that I do well.”

  “If your progress to date is any indication, you will. Well, I’m done, shall we go?” Gerenth stood up and waited for his apprentice.

  “May I finish, first?” he surprised Mercy by asking. Belatedly he added, “Master Gerenth.”

  Mercy couldn’t see any soup from where she was sitting so there must have been very little left.

  “Um, I suppose that is acceptable,” the doctor agreed uncomfortably. “I’ll see you later, Mercy. I am glad to see that you are well. I’ll check on you again in a few days.”

  “Thank you, again, for taking care of me. My family owes you one, and I honor you myself, as well,” she said, freely mixing Human and Kin metaphors.

  Gerenth grimaced and said, “That is not necessary. Good bye.” He carried his tray to the mess station at a swift pace.

  “Oh hell, I did it again, didn’t I?”

  Heron nodded, focusing on another small sip of soup.

  She tipped her head to the side and raised her eyebrows when he didn’t continue, “Well?”

  “Don’t worry about it. He knows you were speaking out of ignorance.” He was actually watching the spoon travel from his bowl to his mouth, as if there were a chance that it would run off on him.

  “I’d rather know, so I don’t do it again. Please, what did I say wrong?”

  “Alright. If you say your family is in debt to him, that typically means that your family will pay service to him for the remainder of his life.”

  “Like be servants?” she asked, surprised.

  “No, no. It is more that they will be very grateful and want to do things for him; it also might involve gifts, perhaps many gifts over the years. Certainly, he could rely on their help if he should have some need.”

  “Oh, well that’s not too outrageous, I guess…”

  “But,” he interrupted, looking straight at her for the first time, “as the daughter of the family, the unwed daughter…”

  Mercy’s heart began to beat faster, and her grin disappeared. “Oh, no…”

  “You might offer yourself as his companion…”

  Without being aware of it, she squeaked.

  “...or his wife. If you were to do this, you would say it...just like that.”

  She dropped her head into her arms. She could feel the heat from her cheek on the back of her hand. Hide. Hiding is good.

  She heard his spoon lightly scrape the bottom of the bowl. And again.

  Eventually he said, “It is not so bad, being the wife of a physician.”

  Her head popped up and she screeched, “What?”

  For the first time, she saw his smile and it stunned her. It was gorgeous.

  She swallowed and looked away. “I can’t believe it. You are such a jerk.” She was glad, then, that her face was already flushed.

  “That...is not true.”

  It was easier to look at him when he wasn’t smiling. “No, I guess not, but it was cruel.” When he nodded, she added, “I am so embarrassed.”

  “I think you will live through it.”

  Mercy smiled ruefully, “I will. Heck, I guess it’s nothing compared to the Refrigerator of Darkness and Despair. Thank you, for explaining, and I am sorry if I offended you earlier, about your family. I can tell that you are really close to them.”

  Heron nodded, glancing up at a Kin woman who passed by, sniffed loudly, and directed a frown at him. He looked at Mercy, who had seen it as well.

  She shrugged, turning her head away sharply. “Your soup is gone, isn’t it?”

  “It is.”

  “Well, anyway,” she said, thinking he would want to leave, “I’m glad you…”

  “Can I ask you a question?” He really didn’t like looking at her.

  “Sure, ask whatever,” she said, surprised.

  “Why are you here?”

  She sat back, eyes wide. So, that was why he had endured her company; well, it wasn’t going to be worth it, since she didn’t have an answer for him. Nobody had asked her that except Captain Reave. In fact, so few Kin had spoken to her at all, that she had been glad when the border patrol came just so she could have amiable company, but none of them had spoken to her about it either.

  “I...I’m not supposed to say,” was the only thing she could come up with. “I’m sorry.”


  Heron nodded, standing and gathering his things. “That’s fine. I’ll just assume it is some Human secret.”

  “Something like that. Sorry.”

  “Please do not apologize. Perhaps we will talk again.”

  Mercy smiled genuinely, “I’d like that, Heron.”

  He nodded and took his dishes away.

  Mercy watched the border patrol soldiers spar a little bit longer and then scooped up her own dishes and dropped them off in the mess bucket. She picked up one of the stacked washcloths and returned to clean off her table. Then she headed back to the barracks where she and her father slept, along with six others. She was grateful to find the bunks free and plopped down on the one she had used the most.

  In the quiet of her room, her mind replayed the many mistakes she had made in her discussion with Gerenth and Heron. She threw her arm over her face, as if she could toss away the embarrassment that she felt for blundering so completely. She felt so young and stupid. It was no wonder that the Kin didn’t want to talk to her. She was such a child.

  “Arrrgh,” she moaned, turning on her side and staring at the wall. “Just go to sleep, Mercy.”

  However, she kept seeing a certain appalled frown, and the smile that later replaced it. Oh, my gosh, she thought when she noticed it, I am so crushing on that guy!

  She spent the next ten minutes trying to not think about him...or his smile. She tried not to wonder why a pair of eyes that wouldn’t look at you took your breath away when they finally did. Then she spent ten minutes not thinking about why she couldn’t not think about him. Her thoughts became harder to hold on to and she didn’t notice when the long day’s exertions finally caught up with her and her daydreams folded themselves into real ones.