“You mustn’t worry yourself with that now,” Sampson shakes his head. “They’re still here, on the planet. It gives you a finite amount of space.”
“We cannot possibly search it all.”
“Maybe Perio will bring her back?” Clarence tries. “Exchange her for something?”
“No,” the queen shakes her head. “She is too valuable to him. I would wager her abduction has nothing to do with revenge.”
“So why take her?” Able’s confused.
“He wants her for his bride,” Chancellor Keller says. “If he feels betrayed by his people, he will start a new life. But she has always been a part of his plan. He is not ready to let that part go.”
“Monster,” the queen scowls to herself.
“Come,” Princess Sansa rises, “we should leave Qippert to rest. The Healers will be here soon and they will need the space.”
“Has the FH restored its separate gender quarters?” Sampson asks the chancellor.
“Not yet. We were planning on it, but I think it best to resume as normal once the toxin has been eliminated.”
“Good,” he nods, looking to Reid. “Let’s all stay together then. Educate Able on the Millix and meal distribution, if you don’t mind. If Qippert still needs a day or two for recovery, it’s probably best Able learns what he can.”
Reid nods.
“Okay,” Sampson glances to Qippert, then back to the queen and chancellor. “Princess Ariana will be found—I promise you. The Nazual is currently being distributed amongst the infected. Your kingdom will heal,” he offers a slight grin. “All is not lost.”
“But my daughter…”
“…will be found. I assure you, your Majesty. But please,” Sampson retrieves one of the pink and green buds from the bag and breaks it in half. He presents the first half to Chancellor Keller and the second to Princess Sansa. “A people are only as strong as their lead.”
“Without the food?” the princess frowns. “Will it do any damage?”
He shakes his head. “I wouldn’t worry about any damage. Please, Princess,” he motions her to take the bud from his hands.
She nods, sprinkling some of the bud’s soft dust into her mouth. Chancellor Keller does the same, both scrunching their faces at the sour taste.
“Thank you, Fychu,” the queen whispers, almost to herself. “Thank you for saving my daughters.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Larupip
“The Healers say you’re fine to leave in a day or so,” Clarence grins over the bedside. “So?” he folds his arms. “Are we to know the big secret finally? Where is Blovid?”
Qippert exhales with a deep breath, his hands resting over his stomach. He looks between Sampson and Clarence before eyeing me, Reid and Vix down by his feet. Finally, he nods with a focus on the Fychu again. “The one place Reuzkimpart is not willing to send forces just yet.”
Clarence laughs under his breath, throwing a look to his old friend. “So you were right. It is a moon.”
“Larupip?” Sampson raises a brow. “Really?”
Qippert nods. “It was not his top choice, I will say that. But I am sure you know how Nerwolix would react to receiving him.”
“They’ll get involved sooner or later,” Clarence scratches his chin. “Whether they realize it or not.”
Suddenly, a thought dawns on me—something so blatantly obvious that I’m surprised it’s taken so long for me to ask. “How come you weren’t able to just ask him yourself?” I frown between Sampson and Clarence. “Blovid is a trusted connection. Why couldn’t you just ask him where he was?” I glance at Vix next to me. “Or tell Sampson where you were?”
Clarence shakes his head. “It doesn’t work that way. We can only speak if we’re near each other.”
“What do you consider ‘near’?” Reid asks.
“On the same planet or moon,” Sampson answers. “Those on Dellapalania can speak with the inhabitants on the moons. But the second they’ve entered another World,” his eyes flicker to Vix, “it’s silent. I’d tried speaking with Vix several times, hoping she’d eventually respond but when she didn’t, I knew she was off planet, away from Dellapalania, but I didn’t know where.”
I turn to Qippert. “And Blovid is fine with you telling us where he is now?”
“Well,” he glances between Sampson and Clarence, “you intend on our departure tomorrow?”
“I’d like to give you another day of recovery,” Sampson considers, eyeing the bandage on his chest.
“And I can recover just as well on Larupip. There is no need to waste any more time not aiding him. I am well enough for travel,” he exhales. “That is good enough for me.”
“Still…” Clarence passes the head of the bed, “let’s try for tomorrow afternoon. Day after at the latest. I’m sure the kids need a break as well.”
“But we shouldn’t wait too long,” I add. “I don’t feel comfortable leaving Pratt and Mae on Nerwolix alone.”
“They’re not alone,” Clarence shakes his head. “They have Walker to look out for them and Hozfin himself. They’re perfectly safe.”
“Tomorrow,” Sampson decides, settling the matter. “Late afternoon. We’ll leave for Larupip.”
“Good,” Qippert nods. “I am sick of this bed.”
“And we’re sick of looking at you in it,” Clarence grins, turning to Reid and I. “How’s Able doing? He mastered the Millix yet?”
“A pro,” Reid nods.
“Although,” I smirk, “I think he’s more excited over the Hunnis.”
“Why wouldn’t he be? Maybe we can bring a jug with us to Blovid,” Clarence catches eyes with Sampson. “What? For celebrating.”
“We are far from celebrating.”
“But the Mybyncians are fully healed?” Qippert asks.
“Nearly,” Sampson nods. “Most have regained full strength and color. Chancellor Keller is announcing their release later today. We expect the FH will empty by nightfall.”
“And the water has been cleaned?” Vix asks. “They are not at risk to catch it again?”
“No. It is safe for them to return.”
“Are there any plans to search for additional survivors?” I ask.
“The Chancellor will request a search of all vacant neighbor homes. He’ll make sure every air room is checked.”
“Good.”
“Well,” Sampson glances to the rest of us before setting his focus on Qippert, “we should leave you to recover.” He moves for the door and we quickly follow. “Feel better, old friend.”
Qippert nods a goodbye, closing his eyes and we leave him to the quiet.
Making it back to the Great Hall, we arrive in time to hear Chancellor Keller announce that with the water cleared and everyone restored to full health, the Mybyncians are able to head back home. With a final request to search their neighbors’ homes for anyone trapped and if need be, to dispose of the dead, Mybyncians flush from the FH one by one. Within minutes, the Great Hall, Docking Station and all tunnels are nearly empty, leaving only a handful of guards, the royal court and us—the humans and Dofinikes.
With the FH emptied, Chancellor Keller has decreed the same separate sleeping quarters as before. Reid tries fighting it with Sampson, claiming it doesn’t make any sense for one night when I don’t even have Pratt and Mae for company. But Sampson agrees with the chancellor that Vix and Salva are more than enough company for sleeping quarters and I end up back in my original room in the East Wing with them.
“You’re looking much better, Salva,” I grin as I climb onto the large, circular bed. “You didn’t want to head back home for the night?”
“This is my home.”
“Your family is here?” Vix asks.
“Queen Ravan and her daughters are my family. Chancellor Keller is my family.”
“And Maris?” I ask. “Is she staying here too?”
“She is attending to the North Shore. The moment she regained her health, she resumed her post.”
&nbs
p; “And there’s no word on Princess Ariana’s location?” I tuck my knees to my chest. “No one’s heard anything?”
Salva shakes her head slowly, a frown marring her sage lips. “She was last seen three days ago.”
“Have any plans been made for her retrieval?” Vix asks.
“After your departure tomorrow, Queen Ravan is sending out a fleet of guards to search for her, but I fear Perio has absconded with the princess to the far reaches of Mybyncia’s ocean.”
“What—to the South Waters?”
Salva nods. “But not to the city. He will be in hiding with the other Muskos in some obscure location. I fear…” Salva takes a breath. “I fear once he senses their trail, he will flee the planet.”
“And go where?” I ask.
“Of this I am not certain. But once they are gone, it will be nearly impossible to retrieve the princess.”
Inhaling deeply, I bite my lip. “They’ll find her.”
“Please, get some rest for your travels tomorrow. I will keep guard.” Salva moves for the tunnel’s opening and like a statue, stares rigid into the blackness ahead.
Vix lays back, staring up to the ceiling and before long, closes her eyes to a deep, snoring slumber. I try my best to do the same but thoughts of Princess Ariana keep me awake. Is she safe? Scared? Hidden nearby? At some point, all my racing questions pile into one another, tumbling into one illegible blur of drowsy darkness that overtakes me.
***
“Come on,” Clarence positions Qippert’s arm across his shoulder, the two moving awkwardly over the smooth, yellow sand. “Time to quit being lazy. I’m sure there’s a place you can rest on Larupip.”
“Is everyone here who’s going?” Sampson paces the beach, scanning the bodies in our large, misshapen group.
Chancellor Keller, Queen Ravan, Princess Sansa and Salva have all ascended to the shore for our departure to Dellapalania’s moon.
“All here,” Clarence says. “Six Rogues, four Dofinikes,” he tosses me a grin, “and one Fallon. All ready to go.”
“Very good.” Sampson moves for the queen and chancellor, but before he can speak, Princess Sansa steps forward, bowing graciously.
“Thank you, heroic Arizals. We wish you safe travels to Blovid, and pray you find him in good health.”
Sampson lowers his head in a returning bow. “Many thanks for your generous hospitality.”
Chancellor Keller shakes his head. “No. It is us who offer our many thanks. We are indebted to you, Fychu. You and your heroic friends. You are welcome in our waters anytime for any duration. We only hope you honor us with more frequent visits.”
“It is a favor I do plan to make good on,” Sampson grins, backing up. “We must reconvene with Blovid now... discuss what the next phase of this war will be.”
“You have our unwavering allegiance, Fychu.”
Sampson nods, motioning us to form two groups. I shift my rifle to my back, Reid and Able doing the same before clasping my hands as the rest of our circle forms.
“Good luck Fychu,” Queen Ravan steps forward, her eyes scanning our entire group, “and fellow Arizals. We will see you again soon.”
A wave of lavender fog sweeps across the queen’s face and in seconds, she disappears completely. The beach is gone, replaced by a light purple cloud that billows in the background—a moving contrast to the immobile faces that peer at one another around me. No one speaks for the duration of the brief trip, but the edge of everyone’s hair blows in the unfelt breeze—a reminder we’re still in transition, still traveling to some new, unknown world. I’m about to ask how much longer it will take when the lavender fog evaporates.
Suddenly, I’m freezing.
Releasing Reid and Able’s hands on instinct, I cup my arms for immediate warmth, cradling into myself for heat. Squinting against a rough chill, I try to make out this new environment but it’s difficult to see with the huge gusts of white flurries blowing about. We’re in some sort of grayish-blue wasteland surrounded by small, snow-covered mountains in the distance.
Cupping my hands to my mouth, I breathe out hot air. “Is this right?”
“Afraid so,” Sampson nods with a squint. He gestures up over the hillside. “We’re not far.”
“Thank God,” Jace mumbles through chattering teeth.
“We’ll be inside before you know it,” Clarence trudges through the snow behind Sampson, assisting Qippert who has an arm over his shoulder and Vix’s.
“Couldn’t we just arrive there?” Werzo shakes.
“What’s the problem?” Clarence raises a brow. “Thought you were a Rogue? Surely you can take a little cold weather?”
“But a bl-bl-blizzard?”
“This isn’t a blizzard. You should see Larupip when it’s winter time.”
“How could you tell?” Jace laughs, breathing heat into his hands and rubbing them together.
“Is Blovid expecting us?” I trudge closer, my Converse sinking into the white mesh.
Qippert glances over his shoulder. “I told him I would bring the Fychu as soon as I could. We figured it would be only a matter of days—if that. We did not anticipate any major delay so he has sort of been expecting us all along.”
“And you’re sure he’s here?” I ask. “He hasn’t left?”
“Why would he leave?” Sampson frowns, leading us down the hill and toward the narrow mouth of a dark cave at the base. It’s surrounded in a white blanket and sits nearby invisible in the rough, icy wind.
“M-maybe someone found his location…” I shrug. “Maybe he’s on the run again.”
Sampson shakes his head. “I don’t think so. The Vermix may suspect a hideout on Larupip, but it’d take too much time and energy to send a fleet to investigate. And no one would come looking for him alone. Not in this terrain.”
“So…” Able says, “potentially, we could stay here? If it didn’t work out on Nerwolix?”
“So quick to abandon the brotherhood?” Jace laughs.
“Just looking at all the possibilities.”
“Yes,” Sampson agrees, guiding us out of the bitter cold and into the dark cave. “Larupip could always be a final retreat. A safe zone, if necessary.”
“And where is Larupip?” Werzo asks, his voice ringing with a slight echo now that the harsh wind is no longer howling overhead.
“It is one of our three moons that circle Dellapalania,” Clarence explains, helping Qippert navigate the cave’s narrowness. “Harrizel is the moon of Hope, Arosin is the moon of Cultural Studies and Larupip is the moon of the Other... I guess you could call it the least popular.”
“I wonder why…” Able mumbles.
“So we’re close to Dellapalania?” Werzo frowns.
“They won’t come looking here,” Sampson repeats. “If anything, they would try Mybyncia again or maybe Nerwolix first. Even if they suspected Blovid was here, it would take a lot to seek him.”
“So where is he?”
“At the very end of this cave,” Sampson gestures ahead. “We’re nearly there.”
We travel for another minute with the walls gradually closing in around us, suffocating our narrow passage to accommodate a single line. Clarence and Vix shift sideways, helping Qippert between them as they shimmy through the tight space. Everything is dark and, even though we’re still inside, completely cold. Busy blowing heat into my hands, I focus on their warmth and bump into Able in front me of me.
“Sorry!”
“Eager to get inside?” he laughs, keeping me steady.
“Eager to get warm.”
Reid rubs his hands down my arms behind me. “We’re almost there. Sampson?” he looks ahead. “It a lot further?”
“Right here,” Sampson reaches the end of the passage where the walls close to a corner. But it’s only blackness ahead, my Callix the only light among us. Suffocated and cold, I focus on Reid’s hands.
“Where?” Werzo asks from somewhere behind me. “There’s nothing there.”
Sampson raises his hands to the wall on the right and starts to push. Slowly, it shifts back with a hard, loud scraping and pausing, he glances back to us, “Best wait here. Let me secure the area and I’ll retrieve you.” Nudging the wall forward again, a bright yellow light escapes into the blackness, illuminating it briefly. But Sampson keeps going, eventually walking into the light as the entire section of cold wall returns to place, restoring us to the darkness.
“Um… what just happened?” Werzo asks.
“He’s confirming its safe,” Clarence has Qippert leaned up against the wall. “He’ll be back in a second.”
“Because he just walked into heat and we’re still out here in the cold.”
“He’ll be right back,” Reid repeats, rubbing his hands down my arms. “Calm down and give it a second. You doing okay?”
I nod. “Just ready to get inside.”
“Think he’ll have something to eat?” Jace holds his stomach.
“God, I hope so,” Able agrees. “Should’ve brought some of that Hunnis with us.”
“Blovid may not be expecting all of us,” Qippert exhales, “but he left with enough food to survive on for awhile. He should have enough to feed everyone for the next night or so.”
“After that we shall be returning to Nerwolix,” Vix says, “and there will be plenty of food there.”
“It’s not food I’m after right now,” Werzo blows heat into his hands. “It’s warmth. Booker, how are you holding up?”
“I’m cold.”
“To the point,” Clarence laughs. “I like it.”
“And Blovid will have news on the war in Dellapalania?” I ask.
“I am not sure how much at this point,” Qippert says. “He has been off-planet for a bit, so he will probably need an update from us.”
“But he’ll be able to tell us more about Reuzkimpart? About what he’s doing? What he did to the other Leaders?”
Qippert nods. “Though I am sure Blovid’s focus will be on the next phase of this war, much as the Fychu’s.”
The wall begins shifting and Sampson emerges again, the yellow light painting his features in a warm glow. “Alright,” he smiles, glancing between all of us. “It has been long overdue. Would you like to come inside and meet Blovid?”
Plague of Mybyncia Page 38
