by Drew Wagar
Nerina nodded.
She travels with the Amarans, I have no interest in them, but their vessel is mighty and might serve us, capture it if you can. It is the maid I require.
She could sense Rihanna’s curiosity.
Her name is Zoella. I have probed her thoughts. Kiri and her had some kind of connection. Kiri deliberately let her go when we encountered her in Nireus.
Nerina got a brief impression of Rihanna playing back those events in her own mind.
I remember being puzzled. We shot arrows at them on the quay … everyone missed, we didn’t understand why …
It was Kiri. She already had her own agenda by that point.
The lying guttersnipe!
Yes. Kiri had a plan involving both the boy and this girl, Zoella.
Both from Scallia, some source of power there?
Nerina nodded.
We must pay more attention to that place. They were both too young to have torn those powers from others, thus they were a native natural gift.
How could they have been so strong?
A benefit of their birth perhaps, a strong line of …
Nerina stopped for a moment, thinking it through. Rihanna had the same thought at the same moment.
Could they be related?
Nerina smiled to herself.
Something I will investigate when I next sense her. In the meantime, keep an eye out for that ship. It must pass by Airea in order to reach the vortex. Let it go, but tell me if you see it.
Of course, High Priestess.
Nerina broke the connection, sat back, opened her eyes and let the room come into focus around her.
The Scallians still have secrets. I will find out what they are!
* * *
Crenech looked up, disturbed by the sound of wings flapping. He walked out on to the veranda of his property and gazed up into the sky. Dachs were a-wing and he could make out priestesses astride them, a number flying in formation heading sunwards.
Gemma and Joachim close behind him, joined him in staring at the sky.
‘Where are they going?’ Gemma asked, shivering at the sight.
‘Not sure,’ Crenech answered, ‘but it doesn’t look like a search.’
Joachim nodded. ‘No, they split up and go about that individually.’
‘Looks like they may have been summoned home,’ Crenech said. ‘Back to Drayden. Look, there are five of them, that leaves only three in the city.’
‘You’re not thinking of trying to overpower them,’ Gemma said, her face pale.
‘Oh, I’d like to,’ Crenech said. ‘But the time isn’t right for that. One priestess is more than a match for us given those powers of theirs, but something is happening beyond our borders; something that requires them to bring resources back home. I would give a lot to know what it is.’
‘I’ll go into the city and see what I can overhear,’ Joachim said.
Crenech nodded. ‘Yes, a good idea.’ He turned to look at Gemma. ‘Was there anything in Drayden you saw when you were there that might explain this?’
Gemma shrugged. ‘I didn’t get to see much, we were locked up most of the time and then marched to the hall where … the priestesses took the gifts from all those around me. It was only Kiri’s intervention that stopped that happening to me.’
‘Yes,’ Crenech mused. ‘This business with Kiri is a strange tale. She rescues you, takes you to the borders and claims to be of Scallia herself.’
Gemma nodded.
‘I have made enquiries as discreetly as I could,’ Joachim said. ‘There is no Kiri known amongst our people, but there was one amongst the priestesses during the attack. It was her dach that slew King Ioric.’
‘What did she look like?’ Crenech asked.
‘Thin, of medium height,’ Joachim said. ‘Black hair and blue eyes, the most memorable thing was a black glove on her left hand.’
Gemma gasped. ‘A black glove?’
Joachim nodded.
‘It was her then,’ Gemma said. ‘The Kiri who rescued me, she wore a black glove on her left hand.’
‘Then why?’ Crenech said. ‘She’s our enemy, she killed the king …’
‘Well, her dach did,’ Joachim said. ‘I saw the fight, something strange happened just beforehand. Kiri was fighting King Ioric, a battle to draw first-blood. She’d won, but then she fell upon the ground, screaming in agony. It was then the dach attacked and slew King Ioric. Later many report seeing her in the battle for the city itself. She was fighting for Drayden, not for Scallia.’
‘Which doesn’t explain why she would go out of her way to rescue you at significant risk to herself,’ Crenech said, looking at Gemma. ‘And then claim to be of Scallia herself. I’d like to know who she is and what she’s doing.’
‘She is definitely a priestess,’ Gemma replied, casting her mind back, trying to recall everything Kiri had done and told her.
‘Tell us again,’ Crenech said.
‘She was instructed to take my gift,’ Gemma said. ‘But she refused. She said she wouldn’t harm me, then told me to copy the actions of those around me so no one else would suspect. She promised to help me escape. I was taken to a cell, but Kiri came to me early one stretch, took me out and then flew me on a dach towards Scallia. I asked her why …’
‘And?’ Crenech demanded.
‘She just said … for Scallia,’ Gemma answered. ‘She said I am of Scallia myself. Then she was gone.’
‘Doesn’t make any sense,’ Joachim said.
‘Could she have been a girl from a previous tithe?’ Crenech asked. ‘Indoctrinated into their ways and then had a turn of conscience?’
Joachim shook his head. ‘All the tithes and all the names of all the girls sent to Drayden by us have been written down every time they were conducted. I checked everything going back thirty rounds, there’s no mention of a girl called Kiri anywhere.’
‘Then who is she?’ Crenech murmured, looking at Gemma. ‘Why risk rescuing you?’
Gemma shrugged.
‘When the other priestess caught me, the red-haired one, she read my thoughts, she was trying to find out the same thing – why it was that Kiri had rescued me. I didn’t know of course, but she heard the words Kiri had said to me and she was surprised. There was something …’
‘Anything might be useful,’ Crenech said.
‘I could hear her thoughts,’ Gemma continued.
‘The other priestess?’ Joachim asked.
Gemma nodded. ‘Yes, she couldn’t believe it. Kiri was from the slums of Drayden, not Scallia, but she was keeping secrets … but that’s all there is. I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be,’ Crenech said. ‘It seems we have a rogue priestess on our hands. I know a little of Drayden, the slums surround the city of Daine from the accounts I have heard. If this Kiri lived there before becoming a priestess the question is …’
‘How did she get to the slums of Drayden from Scallia,’ Joachim finished for him.
‘Exactly,’ Crenech said. ‘How old would you say Kiri was, Gemma?’
‘Not much older than me. Twenty to twenty five rounds.’
‘Hmmm,’ Crenech said. ‘I wonder, could she have been one of old King Marek’s dreamers?’
‘Dreamers?’ Joachim said.
‘Long before all this,’ Crenech said. ‘Rounds ago, when Marek was hearty and strong, he had an adviser, someone who spoke strongly against the tithe to Drayden, I forget his name, but he was banished from Scallia, it must be close to twenty rounds ago. I never met him, but he spoke out against the tithe, saying we should defy the priestesses, witches he called them, and not send our young women to them. I understood he was charged with treason eventually, as he was reported to have hidden girls across the realm, trying to prevent them being found for the tithe and sent to Drayden in defiance of the orders of the king.’
‘So what happened?’
‘They were all found,’ Crenech said. ‘So I understood. As these girls grew up they had strange dreams which gave
them away. King Marek issued orders for any such girls to be taken back to Viresia and hence sent to Drayden in the tithe. Perhaps some weren’t found. This Kiri could be such a girl, escaping King Marek’s decree, but ending up in Drayden anyway.’
‘And you think Kiri has discovered her origins somehow?’ Joachim said. ‘Possible I suppose, but pretty unlikely. I mean, how could she?’
‘I don’t know,’ Crenech said. ‘But I can’t think of another explanation. The other question is, if we do encounter her again, can we trust her? Whose side is she on really? She could be a great asset, or a dangerous liability.’
‘I can answer that,’ Gemma said. ‘Kiri spoke to me with her gift, the mental power they all have … I could sense her emotions, her feelings. She wasn’t lying. She was scared, worried, terrified of being discovered and fearful that she wouldn’t be able to get me to safety, but she wasn’t lying.’
Crenech nodded.
‘Could she be the reason the priestesses are leaving to fly sunward?’ Joachim asked.
‘I can’t see why,’ Crenech said. ‘No, I think their troubles are concerned with their attempts at conquest. Something has gone wrong with their plans. For now let us continue to frustrate their searches. With only three priestesses remaining that should be easy enough now.’
‘We wait,’ Joachim said, downcast.
Crenech smiled at the expression on his face.
‘We watch, we wait,’ he said. ‘Somehow I don’t think it will be long before more is revealed.’
CHAPTER NINE
Strathian Sea, heading sunward
Round 2307, Eighth pass
Zoella moaned and opened her eyes.
‘She’s awake.’
She was lying on something soft, about her she could hear the steady thrum of the Mobilis’ engines. The ship was underway once more, at full speed by the sound of it.
She blinked, allowing her eyes to focus. She was in her cabin, with faces all around her.
‘Don’t crowd her you lot. Give her some air.’
Zoella recognised Mel’s voice.
‘What happened?’ she said, her voice croaky.
‘Near as we can tell, you saved everyone aboard,’ Coran said, beaming at her. He extended a hand and helped her up into a sitting position. ‘Turned the ship around …’
‘Faced down that critter …’ Mel added.
‘And sent it packing into the depths,’ Fitch finished, his dour face wearing an unfamiliar smile.
‘It was going to eat us all,’ Zoella said, remembering. ‘I could hear its thoughts …’
‘This gift of yours?’ Mel asked.
Zoella nodded, a tinge of sadness creeping into her voice. ‘I had a carn once … Raga was his name. I learnt to listen to the animals, understand them. Even the shades themselves.’
‘I’m adding talking to the shades to the list of weird stuff,’ Fitch said, with a grin.
‘If we hadn’t had you aboard the ship, this crew would have been at the bottom of the sea by now,’ Coran said. ‘On behalf of us all, thank you Zoella.’
There was a mumble of agreement and praise from all about her. She looked around at each face in turn as they grabbed her shoulders and shook her hands. Fitch tipped his hat. Even Daf and Creg gave her an affectionate nod before they departed.
Coran, Mel and Ira remained as the rest filed out.
‘Is everything …?’
‘All good,’ Coran said. ‘Ship took on a bit of water, but the pumps have cleared that. We’ve tidied up everything else and we’re back on course. Question is, what about you?’
‘I’m alright,’ Zoella said. ‘A little tired. That … thing … it was big, it was hard to hear it … harder still to tell it what to do.’
‘Amazing that you can talk to the creatures,’ Coran said. ‘Useful too as it turns out. These gifts of yours …’
‘Glad I could do something to help,’ Zoella replied. ‘You should thank Ira too, she knew of the creature, knew it was going to attack, she’s seen one before.’
Coran and Mel gave Ira a nod and she smiled back. Zoella got a warm glow of appreciation from her.
‘I’ll get back to the bridge,’ Coran said. ‘Anything you need, let me know. Will you be able to …?’
‘I’ll see if I can speak to her,’ Zoella said.
He squeezed her shoulder again and then departed.
‘You did a good thing,’ Mel said, after a moment. ‘I thought we were all going to die when we were swept into the sea and the Mobilis was still running at full throttle. That creature would have killed all of us if it weren’t for you. Smart thinking. We all owe you our lives.’
‘I hope it goes someway to making up for what I did …’
Mel gave her a look and wagged a finger at her. ‘Ah ah. Stop it.’
Zoella smiled and nodded.
That’s the first smile I’ve seen from you in stretches,’ Mel said. ‘Keep it up.’
Ira was nodding too.
‘You’ve been so kind to me,’ Zoella said, tears forming in her eyes.
Both she and Ira gave Zoella a hug. ‘We all need each other, we all look out for each other. That’s what it’s all about.’
Zoella hugged them back, enjoying the embrace.
‘I must try to contact Kiri,’ she said.
‘If you’re up to it,’ Mel said.
Zoella nodded. ‘Ira will help me.’ She reached out her hands to the younger white-haired girl. Ira took them.
Zoella closed her eyes and concentrated once more.
She focussed her thoughts, spreading them outwards, seeking …
So, Zoella.
Zoella gasped, recognising the presence of Nerina again. She panicked, trying to shut down her thoughts, but the other woman’s grip snapped tight around her mind; the sense of gleeful amusement and indomitable will suffusing her.
You …
Zoella clenched her eyes shut tighter.
Yes, where are you?
I will not tell you.
Pain erupted in Zoella’s mind, coursing around her head as if she were being crushed under a rock. She yelled …
… and felt Ira’s reassuring presence alongside.
Who is this?
You do not know, and you will not know.
Zoella concentrated, remembering how she had attacked the men in the ice cavern in Drem. She could sense Nerina from afar, navigate the twisting tortuous mental route between them. She pushed, reaching out and flung her attack outwards.
It was met by a wall of indifference.
I am beyond your powers little girl, do not seek to …
Zoella pushed harder, straining, feeling Ira’s hand still tight in hers. The pain around her head cracked and faded away. Invigorated, she struck again and again.
Shock, surprise and anger flickered about her, but it was swept away leaving only a bitter aftertaste of envy and hatred.
The link was gone.
Zoella reeled back, her eyes opening wide. For a moment everything was confusion before she felt Ira’s reassuring grasp around her shoulders.
I stopped her, stopped her from reading my mind. She’s not invincible, even her gift isn’t as strong as she thinks …
* * *
Kiri and Meru continued to trudge towards the distant Obelisk. The shade forest was thinning out around them and the ground was rising again. As the cover from the shades above began to reduce, the temperature was rising.
Kiri turned to see Meru was quite a few paces behind. He was still limping a little, but hadn’t complained. She stopped to wait for him.
As he approached she heard him stumble and curse, falling down in between two shade trunks.
‘Meru?’
She ran to him.
‘Did you fall?’
‘Something sticking up out of the ground …’ he said, pointing back and rubbing his foot.
Kiri looked, seeing a spike a few hands away from where they’d been walking. She went to look at it, frowning
and then tried to pull it free. With a twist it came free. She held it up to look at it. None the wiser, she took it to Meru.
‘This is what got you,’ she said.
Meru winced and took it, his annoyance changing to curiosity in a moment.
‘It’s metal,’ he said, turning the fragment over in his hands. ‘Somebody made this, it’s part of a machine.’
He looked about him.
‘Over there, look.’
Kiri followed where he was pointing. Off to their left was a small hollow in the earth, as if a hole had been dug long ago and then covered over once more, the shades about it were angled outwards as if avoiding the spot.
Kiri pulled him up and they walked over. As they crested the edge of the hollow and looked over they saw a dark shape below.
Meru recognised it immediately.
‘It’s a flying machine,’ he said, scrambling down towards it.
Kiri followed him.
The machine was covered in greening, its structure scored, dented and marked by untold rounds. Much of it was corroded and collapsing, only its overall shape gave it away.
‘What’s it doing in the forest?’ Kiri asked.
‘I think it crashed,’ Meru said. Look at the wings, a bit like ours … bent and torn off on one side. It’s old though … really old. Look here …’
He gestured to the front of the machine, where they could see the remains of the cockpit. The interior was blackened, the insides full of debris and dirt. It was clear it had been here for many rounds.
‘Burnt,’ Kiri said. ‘It was on fire?’
‘Perhaps because it crashed,’ Meru said. ‘Or maybe it was caught in a flare. Whatever happened it was a long time ago.’
They walked around the wreck a couple of times, but learnt nothing more about it.
‘Let’s hope we’ll find some answers at the Obelisk,’ Kiri said. ‘Come on.’
They kept walking. The temperature was rising all the time, the shades getting thinner and thinner about them. Now they could see through their trunks, the land rising higher and higher.
Kiri stopped at the top of a rise and waited for Meru to catch her up. She wiped her brow and took a drink of water from her flask. The heat was extreme and she could feel her clothing was damp with sweat.
