Between Starfalls

by S Kaeth

  “How is your head?” Answer asked. “You cracked it open on a wall when you blacked out. You would not have if you had let fate run its course.”

  “I believe we make our fate. And my head’s fine. I have had knocks on the head before.” He paused for a moment, and then added, “You might be glad I have been training to overcome the effects of your drug and was able to drink some untainted water this morning.”

  Answer considered him silently for long moments. “I cannot risk my position and Prestige by treating you as a person in public. And you are still my ebr. But… I am not ungrateful.” Answer fidgeted, frowning at her hands.

  “So… You lied about the dinner party?”

  “No, I am having a dinner party. But I do not truly need your help to prepare for it.”

  “I’m not entirely sure what you’re trying to say, then.”

  “You are still my ebr. I cannot change that. But… When not in public, you may have some more leniency and my respect, person to person.”

  Taunos raised his eyebrows. “You have my gratitude for that.” He might as well pounce while Answer’s prickly guard was lowered. “Is there any way my sister could have survived that fall? The last time I lost consciousness like that, it was she who caused it.”

  The imperious air returned. “That is impossible. The ravine goes down to the roots of the mountain and is controlled by monsters.”

  Taunos frowned. “What other explanation is there? Your people knew nothing of this, and my sister was the cause previously.”

  A small, sad smile touched her lips. “You must have loved her very much to keep holding her death over me and to risk your neck doing so. You were so very angry, like a parent losing a child to a horrible accident.”

  “We were very close, the last of our family. Except for our sister the dragonbonded.”

  Awed amusement replaced the smile, and Answer shook her head. “You are a family of surprises. Yourself, a sister who makes others lose consciousness, and another sister who lives with the dragons.”

  A bell rang from the front hall, summoning Scouts to an emergency. Had there been another breach into the mountain? Taunos’s fists clenched.

  “You cannot come,” Answer said, apparently sensing his tension. “It would not be seemly with your wound.”

  Ah yes, the ever-present obsession with what others thought. He wouldn’t be much help anyway, unsteady as he was. Besides, it was probably just more Scout drama. Despite his sister being on his mind, it was unlikely to be a Rinaryn—the next Feast of Starfall was a moon away. Taunos forced himself to let out his breath and picked up a lantern. “I have these to tend to.”

  As Answer left, Taunos drifted about the room, cleaning and lighting the lanterns then arranging them in the parlor for a cozy ambiance. It was quiet. Answer’s parents were away at a meeting in another City, and they had brought Kajat with them. Ketrik had been sent out in the morning to inquire about a custom-made bookcase, and Tegil’s term of service had ended a few days ago. Now that Answer was gone, he was alone in the house, an event increasingly common as Answer’s family grew to trust him.

  It was nice to have a little solitude. It gave him time for his own pursuits.

  He smiled, collecting food from the kitchen in a metal pail. As he put it outside next to the back door, he winked at the little boy who scampered up to it. He’d been sneaking food whenever he could for that little boy and his father, both living on the streets of Codr, and had grown unexpectedly fond of them. There was beauty here among the Kamalti, hidden amongst the decay of corruption and selfishness.

  But Kaemada had seen it, had believed in it. Could she be alive? Why had he and so many others lost consciousness again?

  A tap sounded at the door. He made his careful way over and opened it, nearly falling backward when Takiyah burst inside. She flew around him to slam the door shut, wild-eyed and wild-haired.

  “Takiyah!” Taunos reached for her shoulders, in part to keep the dizziness at bay, and found her stiff and trembling, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

  “Takiyah, come here. Let’s get you away from the door.” He spoke gently and guided her to the parlor, keeping his movements slow and sure, as if dealing with a wild creature. Nausea and vertigo kept creeping up on him, so slow movements were doubly good. “Sit down. No one else is here.”

  Takiyah limped badly, leaning on him even as he leaned on her. She settled on the couch, but after only a moment, she jolted up, looking around in a panic.

  Taunos gentled her back down, then poured the warm water leftover in the parlor’s teapot into a cup along with some tea leaves. “Shareil, Tinker. What happened since last I saw you? You disappeared! Answer said she sent word to ask about you, but I hadn’t heard back.”

  Takiyah dug her fingers into Taunos’s arm. “Do not let them send me back!”

  This was a powerful warrior who had proven herself again and again in battle. He’d never seen her so shaken. Anger burned in him, struggling to burst free as he held the taller woman, trying to soothe her. “I will not, Tinker. You’re here, and if I have to hide you, I will. I will not let them take you. Now, tell me what happened.”

  Taunos kept his arms secure around her, letting her cling to him as she slowly told her tale, shaking and crying and often needing reassurance. Fury built inside him, and he kept himself very still as he listened to the circumstances Takiyah had been forced to bear. Grimly, he examined the soot marks on her red and swollen hands and wrists, the fresh lacerations, the bruises on her face, and the red, angry burn where they had branded her. Her broken leg had been badly set and had twisted as it healed. She’d never regain full mobility. Horror chilled him.

  He took her chin in his hand to look in her green eyes. “Mark my words, Takiyah, these things will never happen again.”

  Takiyah buried her face in her hands as her shoulders shook. “We cannot fight back, not if we intend to survive and find Eian. You, yourself, said we simply needed to endure.”

  “The humiliation, yes. But not this. Never this!” Taunos left her to pace, his anger subdued slightly by the nausea that flared when he spun too quickly.

  Violent shivers overtook her, and she curled up in a ball, her eyes tracking his movements. “How’s Ra’ael faring?”

  “I saw her a couple days ago,” Taunos said. “Some Kamalti were after her about something, but that old woman she’s with is crafty.”

  “That’s good, that’s good,” Takiyah said, nodding excessively with her eyes unfocused as she repeated herself.

  A noise outside made her leap up and join Taunos's pacing. He stopped and brought her to a halt.

  “Tinker,” he murmured. When she didn’t respond, her gaze far away, he spoke slightly louder, careful not to startle her. “Tinker.”

  Her gaze darted to him, and he guided her back to the couch. “Be at peace. I will do anything, pay any price, to save you from further abuse. I will not let this happen again.”

  She sniffed and nodded, burrowing her face in his chest. He wrapped his arms around her again. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed while Taunos stroked her hair and held her and let her cry.

  After a while, she sat up, wiping her eyes. “Thank you.”

  “Anytime, Tinker.”

  “Now my eyes and nose are probably all red,” she sniffed.

  He grinned. “It’s alright. They match your hair.”

  Her eyes lit with mock anger, but she smiled as she shoved him away. “Get me a cloth to wash my face.”

  “Ugh,” he groaned, standing. “Am I to be forever ordered about?”

  “Get used to it.” A hint of her former sass lit her voice. She would be alright. He started away, but Takiyah broke in.

  “Taunos?” Her voice quavered. She’d always been so bold, so confident. A deep hatred filled him for the insecurity in her

  “Yes, Tinker?”

  “Be quick, please?”

  He smiled gently. “I’m not leaving.”

  He took a clea
n cloth from the pile for polishing and used the last of the warm water from the teapot. Not only did he not want to leave her alone, but he was also wary of his dizziness. Takiyah washed her face and the soot marks off her arms, and Taunos cleaned and bandaged her wounds. He stood to put the items away, returning quickly to drape one arm around her shoulders as she leaned against him. They sat quietly for the most part, occasionally speaking of events long past. Talk of the present or future was too difficult, and they avoided it.

  Eventually, the front door of the house slammed. Answer bellowed for Taunos. With a squeeze of Takiyah’s shoulder, he left, closing the parlor doors behind him.

  “Taunos!” Answer shouted as she stomped down the hall. “Taunos!”

  “Answer.” He made sure his voice was quiet and calm.

  “Do you forget your life is in my hands? Do you forget your place? I will never again be so easily swayed by your wiles,” she stormed.

  “What do you mean?” His brow wrinkled.

  “What do I mean?” Disgust, anger, and betrayal distorted her features. “One of your countrymen has escaped her captivity. The red-haired, tall one. And do not dare to look innocent because now I see your plan. You set all this up to sway me, and it nearly worked. But it will not work. It will never work. Tell me where she is! I am handing both of you back to the Justices.”

  Shock turned to confusion and then anger, which Taunos channeled into defiance. “This wasn’t some grand plan. If you will list—”

  She slapped him, stopping him mid-word. Trembling with the wrath which reddened her face, she shook a finger at him. “They will never let me forget this. I will never forgive you. Tell me where she is. Did you coordinate her escape?”

  “What? How could I?”

  “We will not stand for your continual disrespect for our Laws and customs. And I will not tolerate traitorous, conniving, lying, two-faced manipulators in my home.”

  Taunos took a deep breath. His voice rumbled low with warning. “Do you know what they were doing to her?”

  “Where is she?”

  “Did you know?” he shouted.

  “Yes, I knew! Now tell me where she is!”

  Taunos stepped back from her. “You… You’re animals. Worse than animals!”

  Answer stepped forward, face to face with him again. “No, you are the animals. You have forfeited your right to personhood again and again. You continually attack my people and our way of life. If we come down from the mountains and your lands burn, the blame is on your heads.”

  She spun around and raced to the crystal mounted by the door, ringing it. The Scouts would be here to enforce order at any moment. Taunos stared at her, stunned by her threat of war. But Answer did not have that authority. And yet… she knew people who did, people who likely harbored ill-will toward his people. Her words carried weight, as one who “owned an Outsider ebr.”

  “You do not want a war,” Taunos said. Suddenly, this had grown much bigger than him. All he’d worked so hard for, all he’d sacrificed to protect his people—all of it was in danger of being brought down by this spoiled Kamalti brat who desperately wanted to be treated like an adult. “Your people would die as well, and you do not want that. You would have to show yourselves, and it’s clear you fear us, even as we’re in awe of you. We have lived in peace for generations. Do not let it end with you.”

  “I will not lie down while you attack my people and tromp all over our traditions. This war starts with you.”

  “The fault will lie with both of us. Do you not see? Neither side would benefit.”

  “Tell me where the rogue ebr is.”

  “I cannot allow any more atrocities to be done to her, come what may.”

  “Then we are at an impasse.”

  “Answer, do not do this. I wish you no harm, but I cannot allow this. We both have made mistakes. We both have said hurtful things. For my part, I’m sorry, but I plead with you to stop this madness. You can end this.”

  “I can. I choose not to. You will pay dearly.”

  “We both will,” Taunos agreed, his voice soft.

  He leapt at Answer. She did not go down easily, and the moments slipped away while his head protested the quick movements the struggle demanded. Takiyah arrived with the cord from the curtains, and together they bound and gagged Answer.

  “You did not kill her,” Takiyah observed as Taunos finished tying the bindings on her hands and feet.

  “Whenever it’s not necessary to kill, it’s preferable not to,” Taunos replied evenly, adjusting the gag. He wasn’t sure how much force would knock out a Kamalti without killing her, so he laid the struggling woman down on the floor of the parlor. It was an interior room and would muffle her cries for help, especially with the gag in her mouth. But Answer was resourceful, and Taunos had no doubt she would be free after a short time. There had to be other Kamalti who would scoff at the threat of war, though he felt a chill, recalling how so many considered them mere animals. If nothing else, they were out of options. They needed to escape. He only hoped he had gained them enough time.

  “She will come after us,” Takiyah said.

  “I know,” Taunos took her arm gently, looking into her eyes. “So we move fast. No going back.”

  He guided her out the door and locked it behind them. They hurried through the streets, trying to look as if they were simply on errands, clumsily leaning on each other or the walls far more often than Taunos would have liked. It would be a miracle if they got out of this alive. The guards would be looking, and Takiyah was rather conspicuous, but perhaps the citizens would take no notice of them.

  “Where can we go?” Takiyah asked.

  “We need to get to Ra’ael.”

  “That’s the first place they will look for us.” Takiyah’s tone was matter-of-fact.

  Taunos smiled grimly. “Then we will have to be quick.”

  No outcry was raised, and soon Taunos tapped on the door of the house where Ra’ael dwelt. Takiyah fidgeted, looking around in all directions. As soon as the door opened, they both rushed inside without waiting for an invitation and pressed the door closed behind them. Ra’ael stood there with a look of surprise on her face, staring at them.

  “Takiyah, what happened to you?” Ra’ael reached for her.

  Takiyah swept Ra’ael into a tight embrace while Taunos looked down the hallway warily, blinking and keeping one hand on the wall to help make certain up stayed up. Ra’ael released Takiyah and hugged Taunos, who pulled free first.

  “Ra’ael, we must go. We’re all in grave danger. They were torturing Takiyah, and I must get her to safety. If you do not leave with us, they will take it out on you.”

  “Trying to escape the city… As you said yourself, Taunos, it’s madness!” Ra’ael replied.

  “Madness seems to have fallen on the City,” spoke an elderly voice.

  Taunos stepped in front of his sister’s friends, fearing that the battle had already begun.

  Ra’ael’s captor, Dode, walked toward them calmly. She raised her hands. “I mean you no harm.”

  “I cannot let Takiyah go back,” Taunos said, a warning in his voice. Ra’ael frowned at him as if affronted by his tone. “Answer threatened war. We must go—this is bigger than us, and the Kamalti seem immune to reason.”

  Dode continued to advance, her attention shifting to Takiyah. “Child, what has been done to you? Is this the cause of all the ruckus?”

  “The Scouts came here searching,” Ra’ael said. “Searching for you, I suppose, Takiyah.”

  Takiyah shrank back, and Taunos shifted to shield her more fully.

  Ra’ael placed her hand on Taunos’s arm. “Taunos, please. I trust her.”

  Taunos considered her and then Dode, his thoughts racing. Reluctantly, he let her pass. “Alright, Wildling. But we need to be quick.”

  Takiyah stood frozen, her breath coming in shallow pants. Taunos wrapped his arm around her shoulders to lend her strength.

  “Oh, Kiy!” Ra’ael breat
hed, taking Takiyah’s hands in her own.

  Taunos recounted the abuse Takiyah had suffered while Dode clucked her tongue and murmured ineffectual but necessary sympathies.

  “We must get you to asylum, child,” she said.

  “Asylum?” Takiyah repeated, her gaze darting to Taunos for clarification. The word would be foreign to Takiyah and Ra’ael, of course.

  “Are ebrs allowed to seek asylum?” Taunos asked.

  Dode nodded. “When they are misused as she has been, yes. Asylum would not negate your ebr state, but would force your owner to put you up for auction.”

  “But then she could be bought by someone as bad or worse!” protested Ra’ael.

  Takiyah’s legs buckled, and Taunos leaned against the wall as he held her. Ra’ael held Takiyah from the other side until she recovered.

  “It might be better to take our chances on the run.” Except that he was in no shape for a fight. He’d barely managed to take down Answer. But they could be separated, and worse could happen to Takiyah. “I dislike the idea of being separated again. I must make sure nothing else happens.”

  “You’re not responsible for us,” Ra’ael told him.

  He smiled sadly down at her. “I will always feel responsible for you, Wildling.”

  Dode was shaking her head. “There is nowhere you would all be together, unless you all had the same owner, and that is unlikely. I would snatch you all up to know that no more atrocities were committed,” she glanced at Takiyah, “but I do not believe I would be able to afford the asking price. I would do what I could, however. And as for Answer, well. She is a foolish child, and any who would support war over a personal vendetta can be easily dealt with.”

  “Where would the nearest asylum be?” Taunos asked.

  “You could seek asylum at the Hall of the Saints,” Dode said.

  “That’s the place we brought decorations to, yes?” Ra’ael asked.

  Dode nodded, and Ra’ael turned to them. “I can lead you there.”

  Wariness filled Takiyah’s voice. “Is that the best option?”

  “This sector of the City is under the jurisdiction of the Scouts. They have authority in matters concerning the Outside, but they must abide by our Laws. If you were to run and be caught, you would be tried by the Council of Scouts. If you made it to asylum, there would be no trial, only bids to buy you, the money to be given to the Scouts,” explained Dode.