by S Kaeth
“So the Scouts would want to drive up the price as high as possible,” Taunos said.
“Could we make it out?” asked Takiyah.
“It would be a hard thing to hide you, child, with your hair and your height. And look at the two of you, both of you having trouble standing upright! No ebr has tried to escape out of the mountain before, to my knowledge, but then, I do not ever remember Outsiders as ebrs,” answered Dode. “I wish I could give you a satisfactory answer to your question, but I simply do not know.”
“It’s difficult to find a way into the mountain,” said Takiyah, “But you probably do not try to keep your people in. It would be easier to find a way out, providing we could get there.”
“If you could get there,” Dode nodded. “We rarely have trouble with Kamalti wanting to walk the surface, and those who do tend to be the impulsive youth.”
“The Scouts are searching for us. We need to decide and quickly. If the Scouts are in charge of this area, we’re standing in the middle of the fire,” Taunos said.
“Try for asylum. I will lead you to the chapel, and then come back here,” Ra’ael urged, suddenly decisive.
“You should stay then, if the Lady Dode can keep you safe,” Taunos said, indicating Dode with a deep nod of his head.
“Will you be alright?” Takiyah asked Ra’ael.
“I will do what I can,” Dode said.
“Is there a reasonable chance you can keep her safe?” Taunos needed to be sure.
Takiyah nodded. Taunos nodded as well, a little reluctantly. He turned his gaze to Dode. “You remind me of the Great Mother of my kaetal. We will forever be grateful to you for your help.”
Dode chuckled. “I am not a mother, much less a Great Mother.”
“The Great Mother is she with the most power in a Rinaryn kaetal. She leads the domestic and everyday tasks and provides the true names for the kaetalyn as they become adults. She’s loved and respected by all.” Ra’ael smiled. “And you remind me of her as well.”
“Well, I am flattered. Now, go, go, and take care! May your path be lined with stone and lit with crystals, and may danger yield from you at every turn.”
Dode threw a blanket over Takiyah as they left, and Takiyah hunched under it as Ra’ael hurried them down the stairs. They kept their pace swift, just under a run. Takiyah lurched along with her injured leg, and Taunos willed the threatening dizziness away.
Shouts rang out behind them. They dared not look back.
“How much farther?” Taunos asked Ra’ael.
“Nearly there. It’s just ahead.” She pointed.
“Stop!” demanded a voice behind them.
“Run!” Taunos slowed to cover them, pushing Takiyah forward. Ra’ael yanked open the doors of the chapel. Takiyah and Taunos rushed inside. Ra’ael hesitated in the doorway.
“You are in violation of the Law! Surrender!” cried the Scouts, running toward them.
Ra’ael slammed the door shut behind her, securing them all in the building.
They were not alone in the chapel. A woman kneeling before lighted candles stared at them. A man sat on a cushion near an elaborate stained-glass window, deep in meditation. Another man in a gold robe trimmed with purple, with a golden ring around his head surrounded by droplets of crystal, glided toward them.
“He’s the priest,” Ra’ael whispered. She stepped forward. “Mercy, your grace. We seek asylum.”
“You are the ebrs from the Outside.” His voice was soft, but there was a smooth sort of power there. Taunos could easily imagine him as a compelling orator. Could they persuade him to their side? “All may seek asylum here. Do not fear. Fear clouds the crystal of the mind and blocks the thoughts from meditation on the holy.”
“We did not wish to make such a fuss,” Ra’ael apologized. “We’re being hunted.”
“All is well now. Come, light a candle.” The priest gestured toward the front of the chapel.
Taunos glanced at Ra’ael, who nodded and led them forward. Behind them, the priest swept to the heavy wooden doors through which they had entered, and tension gripped him. He paused while Ra’ael and Takiyah continued on.
“They are granted asylum,” the priest called out. Outside, people were clustering in front of the chapel. “None may harm them while they stay within these walls. Let the Scouts arrange judicious redress as necessary.”
Taunos nodded to himself—the priest did have the voice of a natural orator. Now, how best to get them safely out and make sure war did not break out? He’d never considered the Kamalti a source of danger to his people. There was still Eian to find, too.
The wooden doors creaked closed, and Taunos let out a breath, pushing back the encroaching dizziness. He despised the clumsy weariness he’d lived with the past many moons, and now it was worsened by his head wound. How was he going to get them out of this mess? But running was no longer an option unless he could manage the impossible.
A smile broke out on Taunos’s face. The impossible was what he did, and now that he was with Ra’ael and Takiyah… He caught up to them and took their hands in his.
“What are you doing?” Ra’ael whispered.
“Concentrating.”
He closed his eyes, his brow furrowing with the strain. If he just tried hard enough, perhaps he could do it. If he realmwalked with them, they would all be safer—if he could keep their every detail in mind to make the shift. Sweat beaded on Taunos’s brow, and his hands shook with the effort. He pushed further, gritting his teeth as he dug deep, but it was like pushing against a mountain—one that didn’t have doors in its side.
Finally, he released them, stepping back to catch his balance and instead collapsing on a bench. He gasped for breath as the room spun around him in a mocking dance, his muscles like liquid.
“What is it?” Concern filled Takiyah’s voice.
“I cannot do it,” he gasped. He dragged himself up, slumping forward with his elbows on his knees, head in his hands.
“You tried to realmwalk with both of us?” Ra’ael whispered in awe.
“I’m not strong enough.”
Takiyah sat next to him, her shoulder against his. “Thank you for trying.”
Taunos didn’t acknowledge her. It hadn’t worked. Ra’ael’s hand rested on his other shoulder, giving him some small comfort. His breathing eased as he recovered, and he sat back.
“Come,” Ra’ael said. “We should light some candles. We may still get out of this.”
She knelt before the candles and picked up a stem resting nearby. Murmuring to herself, Ra’ael lit the stem from an already burning candle and ignited a new candle and passed it to Takiyah, who knelt and did likewise. Somewhat bemused, Taunos followed their example, then extinguished the stem and set it back down. The woman kneeling nearby gave them an appraising look before returning to her silent prayers.
They stayed there, Ra’ael murmuring softly and Takiyah’s lips moving slightly, though she was silent. The priest passed behind them, shifting the arrangement of some crystals to the side. Taunos stared at the flame of the candle in front of him, wishing he knew the way out. Was the priest the answer? Dode? A wild, reckless chase through the city? No, he wouldn’t be able to pull that off for a while, not without rest. Was his sister alive? And what about Eian? Would Answer drum up war against the savage Outsiders her people thought so little of? He’d seen people go to war over less.
Takiyah rose, retreating to one of the benches where she sat leaning forward with her elbows on her knees and her head bowed. Restless, Taunos joined her, watching the chapel.
Ra’ael finished her prayers and stood, making her way to the priest, her voice low. “As we’re within your house of worship, it’s only right that I ask the favor of our worship here.”
The priest waved his hand toward the candles. “You have already lit candles.”
Ra’ael nodded. “And we thank you for that. But our worship isn’t always silent, and we do not wish to disturb your other worshippers or you
who have been so kind in providing asylum for us.”
The priest looked thoughtfully at her. “What exactly does the worship of those who live on the Outside look like?”
A bit of unease crossed her face. That was interesting. Worship had never made Ra’ael uneasy.
She shifted. “It depends on many things. We have no houses of worship like this one. We only worship together during rituals.”
“Is that true? That is very odd,” the priest said.
“But I thought a chant may provide some comfort to our friend there, Takiyah. She has been through much.”
“Let your priest there begin the rituals.”
Oh, that wouldn’t go well. Taunos stamped down on the laugh before it could break free.
“I am priestess.” Ra’ael drew herself up.
The priest’s mouth worked in astonishment before he found his voice. “You?” The priest shook his head. “You Outsiders have strange, strange ways, but who am I to say? The very thought!”
Rejoining them, Ra’ael began the chant, her voice quiet but strong. Taunos closed his eyes, taking their hands as the rhythm of the chant washed over him, easing his worries somewhat despite himself. This was why Ra’ael had wanted to be priestess, and she was very good at it. She never could have known she would perform her duties so very far from home.
ÌTAL-IHNISH
Chapter Nineteen
In memory of Torkaema and Naran, and in deference to the spirits, all Rinaryn should speak the Traveller’s Tongue when congregated together for the holy Feasts of Starfall. Instead of attending to navigating the mixture of dialects, all will then be free to focus on the gathering and aligning all together to the will of Eloí.
-fragment of a scroll safeguarded by the Monks of Annularei
The curtain in Elisabei and Reinan’s doorway was flung to the side as someone entered. Reinan had the intruder pinned against the wall before the shoe he’d been mending hit the dirt floor. Elisabei flanked him an instant later, her knife bared. Only then did they get a good look at her.
“Olorah? How…?”
“Shh!” Olorah hissed.
They strained to listen, Reinan’s grip on his cousin relaxing. Only the silence answered, and finally, Elisabei released the breath she had been holding.
Reinan caught Olorah in an embrace that was fierce but brief. “Where’s Masa?”
“She was meant for joining us. Six of us got out. I don’t know what happened for her, Reinan, truly I don’t.”
Elisabei made Olorah sit down. “Tell us everything. How did you finally escape?”
Her voice trembled as she began with the tragedy of Ilos’s death. “When the king took him, I knew something awful would happen. I took a chance—it was mind-sickness, I expect—on a newer captive. The spirit hadn’t been beaten out of her yet. She made medicines and gave them for the rest of us. Anyway, when the king took my Ilos, I went for her, and Kaemada said—”
“Kaemada?” Elisabei interrupted.
“That was her name.”
“Was that not the name of that foolish woman we helped find her child a few moons back?”
“The one Aleis took?” Reinan shrugged.
Elisabei nodded, scowling. “She should have kept her head down.”
Olorah’s gaze flickered from one to the other. Elisabei shook her head and gestured for her to continue.
“Well, she said she would help. I thought surely we would be found out and executed. But the king killed my boy! For my surprise, I and some of the others got for safety. But the guards came, and we needed for pulling the ropes up. The danger was too near—we needed for saving those of us who had escaped. The last I saw of Masa was the night before. She had planned on coming. Somehow, oh, Reinan, I’m so sorry! I do not know if they caught her, too.”
“The king’ll pay, I promise you,” Reinan rumbled at last, his face as hard as stone. The day the king took Reinan’s sister Masa had been almost as bad as the day the Kamalti had found Elisabei and brought her to this terrible city. Reinan had searched tirelessly to discover if someone had betrayed Masa to the king. All his fighting to free his cousins and keep them free, and then his sister was whisked right back to the palace.
When at last Elisabei could speak, she asked, “How shall we repay our king?”
“I’ll organize the rest of the Resistance to a strike,” Olorah said.
“We cannot do a full-scale strike. It’s too dangerous.” Elisabei shook her head.
“You’re not for letting him get away with this, are you? Masa? Ilos?” Olorah snarled.
“Of course not,” Elisabei snapped. “But that’s no reason for getting us all killed.”
“We go precise. In and out. Test the new batch of Boom,” Reinan said.
“The guards would catch us immediately,” Elisabei objected. “It’s foolishness.”
“Not if there’s a distraction,” Olorah said.
Reinan shook his head. “No.”
“I can do it.”
“The children,” he reminded her.
“How long do you really think I can hide them? Their best chance at life is if the king’s dead. Now that they’re out of the palace, my sister can look after them.”
Elisabei opened her mouth to voice another protest, but Olorah cut her off. “No. You cannot change my mind. This is my payment for the king taking Ilos away from me.”
Elisabei sighed. Perhaps it was Olorah’s mention of the woman, but her mind flashed back to Kaemada that night in their house, exhausted, overwhelmed, and yet fierce.
Is it so bad to dream? the woman had dared to ask them.
What were they really accomplishing, nipping at the guards here and there? Perhaps it was time to reach for something big, especially if they could give Masa a chance to escape.
“We’re probably all mind-sick,” Elisabei grumbled. “When do we go?”
“How soon can you be ready?”
“Immediately,” Reinan said.
“Give me until the moons rise over the wall. You go in by the orchards. You know the door. I’ll confront the main gate.”
Elisabei nodded. There was not much time. Reinan stood and embraced his cousin again. “Go softly. Go well.”
Olorah smiled at him. “You as well.”
She turned and was gone, the curtain rippling behind her. Reinan and Elisabei hurried to ready themselves, digging out all of Reinan’s Boom from the assorted hiding spots and loading it into bags they could carry to the palace. No words were needed but for a nod to each other when their tasks were completed.
Just as the second moon peeked over the wall, Elisabei and Reinan crept through the shadows of the night. Shrill, otherworldly screams broke the air, sending shivers up Elisabei’s spine. What could cause such a noise? Not a single person was in sight, but when Elisabei chanced to look up, her breath caught in her throat. A massive crowd of Angels pressed against the dome of the City, screeching down at them. Elisabei shuddered, disconcerted and slightly relieved—the glance hadn’t frozen her. But the sound filling the night was not the haunting Angels’ Song. It was a cry of rage that made every hair on Elisabei’s skin stand up. All she wanted was to flee.
Reinan squeezed her hand and she nodded, running with him toward the palace. The screaming of the Angels was an oddity they could take advantage of, and Olorah would expect them to. They dashed across the fields, approaching the large, elegant building.
Aleis sprinted through the shadows toward them, glancing over her shoulder now and then. Surprise struck Elisabei dumb as they ducked behind a blackberry bush. Rebelliously, Elisabei took a berry and popped it in her mouth just to taste the forbidden fruit while they hid. Then, Aleis was gone and their way was clear.
They entered by the servant’s door. The thick wood muted the shrieking of the Angels, and some of the tension oozed away from Elisabei. Creeping along the abandoned hallways, they deposited little bags in strategic locations behind them. Thanks to Olorah’s force assaulting the main gates,
they only encountered a few guards on their way, and those they interrogated fiercely.
Door by door, they searched for Masa. Elisabei’s hopes were dwindling when they heard a scream. Reinan rushed forward and Elisabei flanked him. They rounded a corner, stumbling on Masa, baby in her arms, cowering from a guard.
Elisabei flicked her knife forward just as Reinan lunged. By the time her husband reached him, the guard was on the floor, Elisabei’s knife in his eye.
Masa ran to them, shaking. “Olorah made it out?”
Reinan nodded with a broad grin.
Relief relaxed the lines of Masa’s shoulders. “A woman helping us was caught. She had me hide, else I would have been caught, as well.”
Elisabei collected her knife. “Is it on the way out? Olorah’s attacking the main gate, but her distraction cannot hold for long.”
Masa nodded.
She led them through the hallways to a long room with an ornate, raised chair. Two psions lay crumpled on either side of the rug, bleeding from stab wounds, and the king sprawled on his throne, his eyes staring sightlessly. Halfway down the room, a woman lay next to two unconscious guards. Blood soaked into the carpet beneath her, and bruises mottled her skin.
“That’s her,” Masa whispered.
Kaemada. The woman had certainly found the trouble she’d been looking for. She was still breathing, at least. Stomach turning, Elisabei draped her cloak over her to cover her injuries.
Reinen had paused by one of the guards, crouching next to him. With a shake of her head, Masa put a hand on his shoulder. “Theron’s no worth it. He would have turned me in.”
Elisabei glanced at her husband, her stomach sinking at the pain in his eyes. His past cast long shadows, but they had to move. Shaking himself, Reinan turned and scooped Kaemada into his arms. The wounded woman gave a low groan of protest at the movement.
