* * *
The defiant blaze in Awasa’s eyes burned into him. It was the last time he’d seen her. The last time he would ever see her. “I hate you,” she screamed at him. “I hate you.” And she should — it was all his fault.
Turesobei woke. The room was almost entirely dark. No one was there. No one at all. That was strange.
“Zaiporo?” he whispered. “Kurine?”
No one answered. Had something happened? He was drenched in sweat. His fever had broken. The pain wasn’t half as bad as it had been the last time he was awake. He thought about calling Lu Bei, but decided not to. If no one was here watching him, then they weren’t worried about him anymore. He was well enough to help himself for a change. He sat up and drank the bowl of water they’d left him.
He felt closed in, trapped, like he was in a tomb. He desperately wanted to be outside, to be in the open … just a window would do. The vision of Awasa was still swimming through his mind. He’d dreamt of her over and over — until he thought it might drive him insane.
Turesobei clutched his kavaru and bowed, touching his head against the cold stone floor. He wasn’t devout. Most Chonda weren’t. They performed the basic rituals honoring their ancestors, the Great Deities, and the Shogakami, and they observed all the major festivals. But Turesobei prayed now, earnestly and fervently, naming every deity he knew. He prayed for forgiveness. He prayed that he would find some way to return his companions home safely. Whether the gods could hear him, whether they would help him, whether they ever helped anyone … he didn’t care. Prayer was all he could offer.
“Goddess Kaiwen, Earth Mother, here I lie in your womb. In some strange, cold place and time. Help me take my companions home. Help us. In any way that you can. I am your humble —”
With a sound like giant wings whipping out, a shadow filled the room, plunging it into complete darkness. Along with that shadow came a cold that was beyond the cold of ice and wind, a cold of emptiness and despair. Two catlike eyes amidst the shadow opened, baleful eyes that burned and flickered like scarlet flames.
“You returned,” a deep but feminine voice rumbled. “I knew you would. I have dreamt of you for thousands of years. Of how I would devour you and how delicious and slow and painful my revenge on you would be.” The flaming eyes bore down on him. “The day of my revenge draws close. I know. I know, because you must come to me. You will have no other choice.”
Chapter Fifteen
Turesobei cried out and scrambled back. He tore free from the covers. His heart pounded; pain raced through his limbs and thundered in his head. The fiery eyes and the relentless shadow had vanished. A dim, pink light illuminated the room.
Kurine grabbed his hand. “Are you okay? Are you in pain?”
“Where … where did you come from?”
“I’ve been here with you all night,” she replied, frowning.
“But I was alone just now.”
Narbenu knelt beside him. “We were here the whole time, lad.”
Rubbing his eyes, Zaiporo tapped on the star stone a few times to brighten the room. “All three of us were.”
Turesobei shook his head. “But you were all gone, and I wasn’t in the covers. I was kneeling, praying. The room fell into darkness … then it … she … came for me.” He began to tremble uncontrollably.
Lu Bei popped free from the pack, raced over, and hugged him. “Master, master, it’s okay. Nothing can harm you here.”
“I saw … I saw …”
“What was it, master?”
“Wings. Shadow. Flaming eyes.”
“Probably another memory from the kavaru, master. Like the dream with Vôl Ultharma.” Lu Bei shivered. “When the kavaru gave you enough energy to survive, I think echoes of Chonda Lu’s past leaked through. Master fought many demons over the millennia.”
Turesobei shook his head. “But this … this was real … somehow. I know it was.”
“But we were here,” Kurine said. “I was awake. Nothing happened. One minute you were sleeping peacefully, the next you cried out.”
“That’s true, lad,” Narbenu added.
“In that case, she was in my mind. Maybe she infiltrated my dreams. She — she said I would come to her soon, that I had to because it was the only way. She said she would have her revenge, she would torture me, devour me.”
“If you are right, master, then this being is confusing you with Master Chonda Lu. But I don’t know of any old enemy of his that would be here in the Ancient Cold and Deep, especially not one made of shadow and with flaming eyes.”
Kurine smoothed the hair back from his face. “I’m sure it was nothing, my love. A vivid nightmare. You have gone through a lot. But you are safe now. Nothing will harm you here in Aikora.”
He smiled at her and nodded. If the encounter had occurred in his mind, then there was no way he could convince them it had really happened. And maybe they were right. Maybe.
“Can I get you anything?” Kurine asked.
“I am hungry,” Turesobei said. He wanted fruit, but the goronku didn’t have anything like fruit. “Something light. And I need to speak to Lu Bei for a minute. Alone.”
“Of course. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Everyone left, and Lu Bei frowned at him in concern.
“Lu Bei, what do you know about Vôl Ultharma? The very name makes you cringe.”
Lu Bei’s wings flared out and tucked back in. A tremor ran through him, and he sat down suddenly, as if all the energy were drained out of him. He took a few deep breaths and regained his composure.
“If I knew anything of consequence … anything at all … I wouldn’t dare speak it. Vôl Ultharma is lost to history for good reason. Only a Kaiaru or someone of their descent could even keep his name in mind for more than a few minutes. Kurine, Narbenu, Zaiporo, even if they heard the name, they wouldn’t remember it tomorrow. Without your kavaru, the memory of the name would fade from you, as well.”
“So you do know something?”
“I know that he once ruled the entire subcontinent of Pawan Kor, across the sea. He killed many Kaiaru, and he tried to conquer Tengba Ren —”
“But Chonda Lu stopped him. I was … there … in the dream. Chonda Lu said he knew what Ultharma truly was, but the dream didn’t give me that information.”
“Master kept that to himself. He never told me. He spoke only of the aftermath, of his long recovery from the blast Ultharma hit him with. Ultharma is lost to history, and Master said he would never return.” Lu Bei sighed. “It was just a memory. Don’t trouble yourself about it.”
“You’re bothered that I’m dreaming things from Chonda Lu’s past, aren’t you?”
Lu Bei scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Not really, master. I was, at first. But these memories are just echoes from the kavaru — a side effect from it transferring energy to you. It’s nothing to worry about.”
“If those dreams are the price of me being alive, I’m okay with it.”
“Your pain must have gotten much better, master. You’re talking, and you seem stronger. That’s good.”
“Well, I feel like I’ve only got one foot in Torment now, instead of two.”
* * *
With a start, Turesobei woke from a dream of flaming eyes within shadow. Zaiporo was doing pushups on the other side of the room. He stopped and tapped the star stone to full brightness.
“Can I get you anything?”
“Food. Water.” Wincing, Turesobei rotated his shoulders. “I feel like I’ve slept forever.”
Zaiporo handed him a bowl of water. “Two weeks.”
“Two weeks? Has it really been that long? I don’t remember much of anything.”
“You only woke to use the bathroom and eat. Half the time I think you were still asleep when you did. Like you were sleepwalking. The medicine woman said that was a good thing, that you needed deep sleep. Shoma and Kurine would try to talk to you, but you barely responded. Last time you were awake and coherent was when you w
oke up after that dreams about the shadow with the flaming eyes.”
Turesobei nodded. “I kind of remember the girls coming by. And Narbenu.”
“Kurine is here every night. All night. Poor Narbenu has to accompany her here and stay for as long as she does, though Shaman Eira took that duty a few times.”
“I don’t remember Iniru visiting, though …”
Zaiporo looked away. “She … she’s been resting a lot. Ever since it looked like you’d survive. She was in pretty rough shape, you know?”
“She’s mad at me, isn’t she?”
“That too.”
“Well, she’s almost always mad at me.”
“I doubt she’s usually this mad at you. You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t beat the crap out of you.”
“Bet it’s about that kiss.”
“Yeah.” Zaiporo spilled some of the cold broth he was pouring into a bowl. “Definitely about the kiss.”
Turesobei drank down the broth and wiped his lips. “I’m hungry enough that that tasted good.”
“Then you must be starving.”
Turesobei went to the bathroom, and then walked three circuits around the room with Zaiporo holding onto him.
“I’m never going to be able to thank you enough,” Turesobei said.
“We’ve fought the worst together. We’d both die for Shoma. We’re friends. You don’t ever need to thank me for anything.”
Turesobei sat down, panting.
“I’ll tell the others you’re awake and get you some more food.”
“Tell them I’m awake, but that I don’t want any visitors for a few days.”
“You want me to leave?”
“No,” Turesobei replied. “I’m going to need you here. I just don’t want to be bothered. And Kurine needs to rest. I’m going to start meditating and walking circuits. Build my strength up and set my mind straight. I need peace for that.” Turesobei looked at the diary. “That goes for you too, fetch. Rest until I call you.”
* * *
After a week of walking circuits and meditating longer each day, Turesobei dressed and walked to the commons on his own. Enashoma, Zaiporo, and Iniru were eating lunch at one of the tables. They all looked much healthier than before, but they were clearly downcast. Not that he could blame them.
Enashoma jumped up and hugged him. “Sobei! You’re all better.”
“I wouldn’t say that. Not yet. But I’m getting there.”
“You should’ve told me you wanted to get out,” Zaiporo said. “I could’ve helped you here.”
“I needed to do it myself.” He broke away from Enashoma and approached Iniru. She had her back to him, and other than an ear-flick when he approached, she hadn’t acknowledged him in any way. “Hi, Niru.”
“Un-huh,” she replied.
He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek, but she recoiled. “I don’t think so.”
“You’re mad at me?”
“And why wouldn’t I be?”
“You’re not going to let me give you an I’m-so-incredibly-sorry-for-being-stupid kiss?”
“You’ve given out enough kisses, don’t you think?” she snapped.
He shrugged.
“You can’t kiss me, period. Kissing is a big deal here.”
“Niru, I didn’t mean anything by it. Kurine had been kind to me. I thought it was just going to be an I’m-glad-you’re-alive kiss. I didn’t know she was going to be that passionate. And I didn’t want to refuse her in front of everyone. I couldn’t embarrass her like that.”
“He still doesn’t know, does he?” Iniru said to the others.
Zaiporo shook his head. “I didn’t think he was ready to hear it. Thought it best to wait until he was up and around.”
“What don’t I know?” Turesobei asked, nervously.
Enashoma took his hand and guided him to the table. “You’ll want to sit down for this.”
“That bad?”
Enashoma patted his hand. “When Kurine asked you if you’d accept her kiss, you really should’ve said no.”
“That was a major question,” Zaiporo said, “and you gave the wrong answer.”
A sinking feeling struck Turesobei in the pit of his stomach. “Oh no. What have I done?”
Chapter Sixteen
Iniru struck him across the back. It was a lot harder than a friendly pat.
“Ow!”
“Congratulations,” she snarled. “You’re engaged. Again.”
“What?!” he shouted.
Goronku at other tables in the room spun around and glared at him.
“Sorry,” he mouthed, ducking his head.
“Kurine is your new betrothed,” Iniru said, acidly. “You lost one and gained another in less than a week.”
“Which, to be honest,” Zaiporo said, “is an impressive feat.”
“It’s true, Sobei,” Enashoma said. “I couldn’t believe it when I found out. Thought it had to be a joke. When you accepted her kiss, that was saying yes to her marriage proposal.”
Turesobei groaned and plopped his forehead down on the table. “No. No. Nooooo. This can’t — Niru, I love you. You know that. I didn’t mean to — I didn’t intend — I don’t want to …”
Iniru patted him on the cheek. “I know you didn’t mean to. And while you’ve been recovering, I’ve come to realize something about you.”
“What’s that?” he asked with trepidation.
“That you really are an idiot. Truly and deeply.”
“But only when it comes to girls,” Enashoma added. “He’s pretty smart otherwise.”
“And brave,” Iniru said. “I had planned to give you a nice big kiss to reward you for saving us, after you took on the reitsu champion and all that.”
“Maybe later,” he suggested.
“Oh, I don’t think so, lover boy. You’re engaged. It wouldn’t be right. Got to keep the peace around here.”
“They take being engaged seriously,” Enashoma said.
Zaiporo picked the last bit of flesh from a roasted fish and said, “As much as our people back home. Maybe more. But you can’t blame Kurine. Apparently, you’re considered quite the catch around here.”
“Why me?” Turesobei whined.
“You’re decent to look at,” Iniru said. “Don’t get too full of yourself. I only said decent. You’re unique and exotic. They don’t have baojendari or wizards. You can do things no one else here can. And you’re brave. And some girls might find that whole dragon thing sexy.”
“Do you?” he asked, hopefully.
“The Storm Dragon’s Heart almost got me killed, what do you think?”
“The power saved you, too, against the yomon …”
Iniru shrugged. “Guess it’s a wash, then.”
“What am I going to do?” he asked, keeping his voice low so only they could hear him. “Kurine is a sweet girl, a bit demanding and overeager, but also very sweet.”
“And pretty,” Zaiporo added.
Enashoma scowled at him. “Don’t you go getting in trouble, too.”
“She’s not as pretty as you, of course,” Zaiporo replied quickly.
“You’re going to have to go along with it,” Iniru said. “We’ve got nowhere else to go, and they’re helping us. Just go along with it, and try to put her off. I doubt you can, but you do surprise me from time to time.”
“Maybe you and me, if we’re discreet, we can —”
“Not a chance,” she replied. “There will be no alone time for us. Not here. These people are prudes, and we can’t afford to offend them.”
“Sobei, you’re not an adult yet,” Enashoma said. “Tell Kurine. That will buy you a few years at least.”
“Sixteen is the age of an adult here,” he said, “like with Iniru’s people.”
“So just tell her you’re fifteen and won’t turn sixteen for months,” Zaiporo said.
Turesobei put his head down on the table and groaned again. “She knows how old I am already. I explained about not
being an adult when she brought the clothes she made for me. I told her I turned sixteen in several weeks … just three days now. And she said that she would see that I had a birthday celebration to honor my adulthood amongst her people.”
“Yeah, that’s the thing that I’d forgotten to ask,” Iniru said. “I’ve been too nice about this, on account of you being nearly dead and all, but not anymore. How did she get so close to you that fast? You were only here for less than a day.”
“She brought me the clothes, and she kept flirting with me while I tried them on, and I didn’t know how to deal with her, and —”
Iniru scowled. “While you tried them on?”
Zaiporo shook his head. Enashoma sank back with a sigh.
“Well, I had to try them on, right? I made her turn around.”
“But they won’t let single men and women be alone in a room together.”
“I didn’t know that at first. She snuck in and didn’t tell me the rules here. She was friendly, but I didn’t really flirt back. We just talked. I was hurt, exhausted. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Iniru crossed her arms and huffed. “Well, if just talking got you this far, I’m sure we’ll be planning a wedding soon.”
“Niru, please …”
“You’re an idiot. I don’t want to talk to you right now. You led her on.”
“No, I didn’t. At least, I didn’t mean to. If I did, I don’t know how.”
“Well you did it somehow,” Iniru snapped.
He started to apologize again, but what was the point? The only thing he could do to make it up to Iniru was find some way to get out of the engagement.
Iniru narrowed her eyes at him, then perked up and smiled at someone over his shoulder. Turesobei followed her gaze, and frowned. Kemsu was walking toward them, grinning.
Storm Phase Series: Books 1-3 Page 71
