by Lela Grayce
“Remember, Elara, if you need anything to just ask the water. It will answer you,” he would say, smiling lovingly down at me. Even at a young age, I could see the anxiety that shadowed his eyes.
“How will I know?” I would ask in wonderment.
“Water never lies, my little moon. All you have to do is ask.”
Gasping, I smacked myself on the head for not recognizing the phrase sooner. Nuri had said the same thing earlier. Water never lies, but apparently my father did. I tossed things around in search of my phone, intending to call my dad and demand answers. Finally, I found it between the seats where it had slid off. I pushed the button to wake it up, but nothing happened. Irritation flared as I realized that my phone must be dead. Dropping the phone on the passenger seat, I took a couple deep breaths to calm down. This day had been a roller coaster of emotions. Just thinking about it made my head ache. I started the car and turned the heat up before buckling and putting the car in gear. It was time to head home to my bestie, a hot bath, and homework, where I would pretend none of today had ever happened.
Chapter 4
*~ Eian ~*
* * *
Patience had never been a virtue of mine, but as a scout and hunter, I’d had to learn. However, after Nuri’s cryptic and garbled message, I wasn’t so certain about my patience. It had taken nearly every trick I had to keep myself from going in search of Nuri and dragging him back so he could explain everything.
Some might say Nuri and I were unconventional friends, but no one knew about our friendship and no one ever could. Water folk and those that dwell in the deep waters don’t usually mix. On occasion, we had been known to work together, but we were never friends. The deep water dwellers were what the people of Earth would refer to as myth. Earth’s people had forgotten the water folk entirely, forgotten magic, forgotten what the worlds used to be, but we hadn’t. Maybe it was because we still had the magic, while their world was left without. We, however, had not forgotten where we came from or who we were. We were still here, even though they had stopped believing long ago.
Shaking off my heavy thoughts, I grabbed the pack I had hastily put together and glanced around my home. It was small, but I built it with my own hands. My home consisted of a small cooking area, a sleeping area, and a place I could sit. It wasn’t much, but it was mine. My parents were insistent that we continued to live our lives as normally as possible. This meant moving out on my own once I reached a certain age. It was something I wanted as well. I could do without the constant jibes about taking a wife, though. I had yet to be interested in any woman, so they left me alone eventually. I preferred it that way.
After taking one last look around, I headed out the doorway and almost bowled over my sister. “Avva? What are you doing here?”
“Papa needs your help,” she said, tugging on my shirt sleeve.
“Right now?” I asked, irritated with the hold up.
“Yes, he’s replacing the beam and needs you to hold it, so he can secure it.” Her cute little face looked up at me with green eyes so like mine that I caved. Again. Our father sent her to get me on purpose. Had it been anyone else besides her, I would have declined.
“Alright,” I agreed while setting my pack down in the dirt outside my hut. “Hope this doesn't take long,” I muttered, following my little sister back to my parents’ home.
The basic design was the same as my hut, only bigger. There had been plenty of room for me and Avva to grow up. It was still modest, but nothing like the homes I remembered from before the Great War. It was sometimes hard to believe the world had once been such a different place. There had been a time when we didn’t hide out in the wilds, living in huts made of mud and grasses, but instead lived in homes made of wood and stone.
We entered the home I grew up in and I was distracted by the scents coming from the kitchen. My stomach rumbled traitorously. My mother was a small woman, her head reaching just below mid-chest on me, but she carried herself like she was a head taller. She was always the first to jump into an argument and shut both parties down. I remembered her doing it quite a bit with my older brothers and then again with me and my father. I respected and admired my father, but like most children, I formed my own opinions and beliefs as I grew older. Father and I got along just fine, but our differences made it difficult for me to open up to him without starting an argument.
“There's my boy.” My mother grinned while approaching me from the cook stove. Bending down a bit, I enveloped my bigger frame around her smaller one in an embrace that I knew she loved. “You need to come ‘round more often,” she chided.
I rolled my eyes and kissed the top of her head. “Momma, I was here earlier today.”
“I know, but you rarely come for eating,” she said, stepping back to look me up and down. “You should come ‘round more. I'll feed ya right.” She winked before returning to her cooking.
My father entered behind me and I moved further into the house to make room. He was a couple of inches shorter than me, but what he lacked in height he gained in sheer solid mass. He had been a soldier who served his kingdom loyally and honorably enough to work his way through the ranks until he held the highest position. My features mirrored his, but mine were younger and not worn from years of facing brutal weather out in the wilds. He was hard and calculating when he needed to be, but a devoted, loving father and husband.
“There you are, boy. Avva fetch ya alright?” his familiar, gruff tone greeted me.
“Yes. I was on my way out, but can spare a couple minutes to help,” I said, glancing around the home looking for the beam.
“Ah, got plans tonight then,” he replied while leading me over to the back of the living space and pointing to the roof. “This beam needs replacing. It’s warping.”
Studying the beam, I realized he was right. The beam had a curve in it, not noticeable unless you were looking for it. “Do you have a beam already cut for it?”
“No, but I've got my eye on one. Just need to go fell the tree, cut it to size and such.” I nodded, agreeing with his assessment.
“So, you don't need me right this second?” I asked, turning to glance at Avva, but she was nowhere to be seen.
“Actually no, but I wanted to talk with you and get your take on things is all.”
“Why do you need my take on things? You built this house yourself, so why would you want my opinion? I’ve never built something this large before. What's really going on?” I asked, glancing between my parents.
“Nothing's going on. We just miss you ‘round here and Avva misses you a great deal,” Mother answered, joining the conversation.
“I live just three huts over. I see Avva running around all the time.” Realization hit me then. I see Avva, but never spend time with her. She missed me being around and doing more than just waving at her from a distance. Avva peeked around the corner of her room and I caught her eye. “I'm sorry, Avva. I'll try to come around more in the future.” She nodded with a sly grin, then ran to me and hugged me around the waist. I squeezed her back, brotherly love bubbling in my chest.
Mother came over and gave us both a hug. I grinned, savoring the moment. I've missed this. The embrace was ruined when I tickled Avva along her ribs and she squealed while jerking away giggling.
“Are you staying for supper?” My mother asked expectantly.
“I can't tonight, Momma. I've got a prior engagement,” I said, blanking my face.
She studied my face, looking for some tell, and it made me sweat. Her stare was legendary. It stripped a person to the point where she saw the truth, no matter how hard one tried to hide it. I’d done pretty well up until now in keeping my friendship with Nuri a secret, but it wasn't easy. I thought she would have guessed it a couple of times and called me out. Sometimes when she stared, I could see her almost grasp the answer, but either she would choose not say anything or she truly didn’t know. Learning from past experiences of never getting away with hiding anything, I was pretty sure it was the for
mer.
“Alright dear, but come to supper soon.”
“I will, Momma. Promise.” I gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the forehead.
“How about I take you fishing soon, huh?” I asked Avva, winking. She smiled and clapped her hands while nodding excitedly.
I turned to my father who had observed all of this silently. His expression was as blank as mine had been earlier. We nodded to each other and I promised to help him once he had the beam ready to install. Feeling slightly guilty, I left my parents’ home, grabbed my pack from the front of my hut, and headed into the trees that separated us from the long grasses of the wetlands.
As soon as I reached the wetlands, I connected to water and searched for Nuri’s presence. It was faint, but drawing closer. I waded deeper into the marsh, following the connection to him. My path was lit by silvery moonlight as the moon made its journey across the sky.
When I arrived at our meeting spot, I stopped to pull out my meager dinner of bread and cheese, while thinking wistfully about the delicious-smelling supper my Mother had been cooking. Guilt gnawed at my stomach, but I pushed it away as best I could. This meeting was important. Nuri wouldn't risk contacting me from so far away, putting himself in danger, if it wasn't important. Add to that his garbled message and I had no choice but to find a way to meet him tonight.
I had just swallowed my last bite when Nuri appeared, parting the water grasses and leaving them swaying behind him. He was in his human form, which he was able to stay in as long as he was touching water. When he wasn’t touching water, he turned into his kelpie form of a horse. Nuri had told me many times that he preferred his human form, but there were limitations to being in human form that most kelpies didn’t like. Before I could stand to greet him, he made a ‘stay put and be quiet’ motion with his hands. I watched as he circled the small clearing and waved his hands about. Puzzled, I kept staring as he danced strangely all the way back to his starting point.
“Alright, I've put up protection so that we won't be heard or disturbed,” he said, coming to sit across from me.
I was struck by how alluring his appearance was. I had seen him in both of his forms, but I was still awed at times. I pulled myself together and looked him over to see that, although his appeal hadn’t diminished at all, he looked worn and tired. It was very unlike him.
“I got your message, or more like bits and pieces of your message,” I said seriously. “Why would you put yourself in a dangerous position by communicating like that?” I asked, more than a little annoyed.
He waved his hand, dismissing my concern. “It was nothing. I had to contact you and let you know.”
“I'm not sure what you were trying to tell me. Like I said, the message wasn't clear.”
“Well, I'm surprised anything made it through from that distance, but I had to try. So, what exactly did you hear of my message?” he asked.
“Eian, the connection is…. if you can…. be back… moon rises… must talk… I found her,” I recited the message clearly, because it had been all I could think about since I heard it.
“Ahh, yes. That is very vague.” A crease formed between his eyes.
“What's going on, Nuri?” I pointedly asked, ready for answers.
He sighed, agitatedly running his hand through his hair. “Sometimes I hate that we meet here. Brings back old memories.”
He shuddered and my virtue-less impatience reared its ugly head. “Nuri,” I snapped. My tone was a no-nonsense one I reserved mostly for a young scout who liked to tell his reports in story form. I preferred people to get straight to the point.
“Right,” he said, then paused to gather his thoughts. “Do you remember when you found me? And before you fume too much, I have a point.”
Nuri knew I liked reports to be simple and precise, but I also knew that Nuri wouldn't bring up that experience if it wasn't important. So I bit my tongue and nodded, praying silently to the moon that he would hurry up.
“I had been trapped for days and had nearly gone mad until you stumbled across me and cut me free. You saved my life that day and I'm indebted to you for that selfless act. It resonated inside me, so I refrained from killing you.” He grinned, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“I couldn't just leave you there trapped and awaiting death,” I scoffed. It hadn’t been easy. He was so tangled in a net, I had feared it would never release him. The fact that at every turn I had to fight his allure and the instinct ingrained in me to kill his kind on sight didn’t help either.
I had seen my first kelpie a few years earlier while scouting with my father. Much like Nuri, it had been caught in one of the traps we’d been checking, but unlike me, my father had slit its throat without hesitation. I watched as its blood gushed out then slowed to a trickle as the life faded from its eyes and the moon goddess took him. I had been connected to water, and the immense power and sorrow I felt through that connection had brought tears to my eyes. My father noticed my tears and tried to explain why kelpies should be killed immediately.
I never forgot that experience and the feelings I had while connected to water, so when I came upon Nuri years later, I couldn't stand to kill him knowing I would feel that sorrow through my connection again. It started a friendship of sorts and Nuri had been invaluable as a scout to help me keep the village people safe.
Kelpies were rumored to be malevolent spirits that lured people to them and then dragged them into water to drown them. It was said they would offer human sacrifices to the gods or goddesses that created them and when not bound to a deity, they would work as hired assassins or mercenaries. They were quite adept at it. Being friends, Nuri had opened up to me about the lore of his people. They may or may not have been created to lure and kill people, but they had grown beyond those constraints long ago. Nuri always hinted that there was more to them than anyone knew, but refused to tell me, only saying that he'd explain it all to me when the time was right.
“I told you once that my people had other purposes besides luring, killing, and sacrificing. I told you that one day I would reveal what that was. When you freed me, I vowed to myself to complete a task for you. It's not instinctual, so I had to seek help and guidance. For years now, I've worked at it and spent a vast amount of time traveling between worlds, searching but never finding,” he stated nervously.
“Alright,” I replied, confused but doing my best to follow.
He sighed before looking at something just over my shoulder and continuing. “Kelpies weren't always hired as assassins or mercenaries. Sometimes we were hired to find people. To not do them harm, but to bring two people together.” He paused, and though I was thoroughly confused now, I stayed silent, letting him work through whatever he was trying to say.
Finally, after a small eternity he continued. “This particular skill was just a rumor, but there has been talk over the years of kelpies that know and use it. I tracked them down and learned all I could before setting out on my own.” He licked his lips before bringing his eyes up to my face. His strangely-colored eyes looking into mine were full of anxiety and determination. “Some kelpies can find pieces of a person’s soul and bring them back together.”
I frowned, becoming more confused and slightly frustrated. “What do you mean? Find a piece of a person’s soul?”
Nuri sighed again before explaining. “When we split from Earth, it wasn't just the worlds that were split. The very souls of the people were as well. They were split in half and separated. Some remained on Earth while others came with this world. That is why your kind is continually searching for that missing piece.”
“I don't understand what you are trying to say, Nuri.”
“I'm just going to spit it out,” he stated.
“Spit what out?” I asked, beyond confused now.
He grinned before explaining, “I think it means saying what I'm trying to say instead of splashing water.” At my continued muddled look, he waved his hand dismissively. “It's not important.” He looked me in the eye
again, completely serious. “Kelpies can find soul mates, Eian. We can find the other halves of souls, and I found yours.”
I had no idea what to say. I jumped up and started pacing the clearing, trying to process Nuri’s revelation. The movement didn’t seem to help the panic ebbing within me and to my chagrin, curiosity won me over. “You find souls?” I needed to be sure I had heard him right.
“I can find the other half of a soul, yes,” Nuri answered, still sitting on the ground watching me.
“And you found mine?” I asked, pausing in my pacing. At his nod, I immediately threw out my next question which likely made me sound slow, but I had to be absolutely certain I was understanding him. “You found a girl. For me?” Saying it out loud made the whole thing sound ridiculous and I snorted.
Nuri frowned at me, those crinkles between his eyes returning. “As a thank you for saving my life, I found the other half of your soul. I know you didn't ask me to,” he said, immediately holding up his hand to silence my protest. “You've been drifting, Eian. For years, you've been shying away from any talk of finding a partner and starting a family. Instead, you've thrown yourself into scouting, hunting, and protecting those you care about. But you aren't really living. You aren't happy. Everyone can see it, but when it comes to matters of the heart, you're too narrow-minded to even notice, let alone admit to yourself that you are lonely.”
I could feel my nostrils flare with anger as it coursed through my veins, making my blood boil. I continued my marching with a vengeance, trying to work off my anger in a less violent way, because hurtful acts against another person in anger was a sure way to lose a friend.
