SELS NERVOUSLY TRACKED Arara and Roel’s progress through the ballroom out of the corner of his eye. Sesay hadn’t yet spotted Roel, as she was engaged with chatting with one of the members of the Council and his family, but it was only a matter of time.
“Sesay, sorry to interrupt but it’s important,” Sels said as the conversation lulled.
Sesay gave him a smile, made her goodbyes, and stepped to his side. Sels laced his arm through hers and steered her away, making sure her back was to Roel and Arara’s approach.
They moved through the crowd in silence for a moment. “What is it?”
Sels took a deep breath and tried to figure out how he was going to spin this to Sesay. “I may have invited Roel to the ball.”
Sesay pulled him to a stop next to one of the pillars and went rigid on his arm. “You,” she sputtered, lowering her head. “When?”
“Before you showed me how you felt. I thought, well, I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry.” Sels felt himself flushing. Around them gaily dressed party goers laughed and chatted, making Sels feel even worse for having ruined Sesay’s good time.
“She’s here, isn’t she? That’s where Arara rushed off to.” Sesay’s head was still lowered but Sels could hear the anguish in her voice.
“Yes.”
Sesay looked up, un-shed tears filling her eyes. “So, she’s here. Fine. Let her stay; enjoy the food and the company. There are enough people here we can go the whole day without seeing her.”
“It’s not that easy,” Sels cursed, wishing that it was.
“It is that easy, Sels,” Sesay glared at him as a tear ran a line down her cheek.
Conversation around hushed as people turned to see the Prince and Princess arguing. Arara and Roel emerged from the crowd and Roel caught his eye with a smile.
Sels felt torn in two. He’d known Sesay almost his entire life. The marriage arrangement had never seemed real to him; something in the far future that would never happen. In fact, Sesay had even encouraged him in his first awkward fumbling encounters with pretty girls. He’d thought it meant she didn’t like him but he was beginning to see it was to help him gain confidence, something that he’d always struggled with because of his lack of magic. But seeing her so upset made him realize she was special to him and he was loath to hurt her.
But if he snubbed Roel he would be jeopardizing Ottont and the last connection that Arara had to her Yaka heritage. Ottont could provide Arara with training like he was getting from Elric. As Arara got closer their bond intensified, and he could feel her in his head, telling him to get on with it already.
“Sesay, I care about you, but I made a promise to Roel,” Sels pulled his arm free of Sesay’s grip. Sesay followed his gaze to Roel, her face hardening. “I just need to give her a quick tour, introduce her to a few people, and then I’ll be right back to spend the rest of the ball with you.”
Roel smirked as Sels moved towards them. His plan was to catch Arara and Roel before they were all the way to the pillar, to prevent Sesay from having to talk to Roel. But Sesay followed him, lifting her skirts to move faster. She got to Roel and Arara a moment before he did, and before he could do anything Sesay and Roel were face to face.
“Roel, why are you here?” Sesay’s fury was almost palatable. Roel faltered, glancing at Sels and then at Sesay.
“I was invited,” Roel recovered a bit, lifting her chin and locking eyes with Sesay.
“I’ll explain later,” Sels’s hand trembled as he reached for Sesay and grabbed her elbow, trying to gently draw her away. “Please, just trust me, Saywyn.” He said her true name softly into her ear.
Sesay shot him a look that would freeze lakes. Sels flinched but didn’t let go.
“Fine, do whatever you’d like. Have fun.” Sesay shook off his hand and spun away, marching off with Recka trailing behind her.
Sels stared after her, barely noticing when Roel moved up to his side and took his hand.
“Shall we dance?”
He allowed Roel to lead him away onto the dance floor. Hushed whispers followed them as they danced. Sels kept reminding himself that this was for the greater good. Piled bodies and glassy eyes kept invading his thoughts; he couldn’t let Ottont end up like the rest.
Roel kept up a steady stream of conversation as Sels led her through the court dances. Sels didn’t even try to keep up with what she was saying, as most of it was commenting on the gaily dressed dancers around them, the decorations, or other frivolities. He nodded and smiled, faking interest as best he could through the fog that had descended on his thoughts.
Whenever he looked at Roel she seemed to morph into Sesay, complete with the last look she had given him. The disappointment in her eyes and the genuine sorrow in the downward turn of her mouth twisted him inside like a knife to the stomach. The very thought of food made him feel sick. Thankfully Roel hadn’t seemed to notice or care about his distraction or lack of appetite.
They left the dance floor so that she could peruse the selection at the buffet. When she was done eating, Sels filtered around the room, Roel still hanging off of his arm. No one mentioned Sesay’s absence or commented when he introduced Roel, but he couldn’t help but notice the dark looks.
Finally as the afternoon faded into twilight the party began to wind down.
“This has been a magical day, Sels.” Roel leaned into him as she looked up at the darkening sky. “I hate to end it, but I need to get back to the clinic.”
“You are sincerely welcome, Roel, and I want you know how much I appreciate what you are doing for my friend.”
“About that,” Roel pulled a scrap of paper from her sleeve. “Your friend is ready to receive guests. He can be found here.” She slipped it discretely into Sels’s palm.
In his head he could feel Arara perking up.
“Thank you,” Sels lifted Roel’s hand and kissed the back of it. “Let me walk you back to your carriage, my lady.”
Roel giggled and blushed an attractive shade of emerald as she leaned forward. Sels leaned in to kiss her on the mouth, but the glow of the setting sun turned her pale white petals pink, reminding him of Sesay. Instead he planted a chaste kiss on her cheek and offered her his arm.
CHAPTER TWELVE
MY HERO
Vines whipped around Arara as she clung to the underside of the carriage pod. The bulk of the pod blocked out what little light shone down from the three-quarter moon, leaving her essentially blind. She dug her claws further into the soft wood. The carriage jumped a bit as she dug in, but it didn’t slow. Now that Roel had given them a map to where Ottont was hiding out, Arara hadn’t wanted to wait even one more night to go see him, but she hoped this risk was worth it.
The bobbing motion and the darkness combined to make her nauseous. Arara grit her teeth and closed her eyes in an effort to not puke. The howl of the wind rushing by her back kept reminding her of her precarious position. Through their bond Sels gave her encouragement. He’d wanted to come with her, to talk to Ottont himself, but he had to attend his lesson with Elric in order to help cover Arara’s absence.
Arara’s original plan had been to use the tunnels to get out. However, after the jailbreak it was too risky since Tukura or Recka had still been tailing Arara’s every move. All the sedyu knew where the tunnel entrances were, if she headed towards one and then disappeared it would be obvious where she went. But Sels had hit upon the idea of Arara riding out on the underside of a carriage of one of the guests as it left.
As soon as possible after the party had ended Arara had snuck out to the driveway and hidden herself on the underside of one of the guest’s carriages heading out of town.
Yegra had wanted to come along, but Arara had refused. It was too dangerous and she didn’t want Yegra getting punished if they’d been caught. As a sedyu she had a fair bit of immunity that Yegra as a mere guard did not.
The rhythm of the ride changed and dust swirled up around her. She’d better get off now as the dust would cover her
dropping off. Before she could think too hard about it, Arara curled her tail up between her legs and relaxed her grip.
The dirt impacted her back and knocked her breath out of her with a whoosh. She tumbled to a stop in the middle of the street, wheezing in the cloud of dust kicked up by the passing carriage and her impact. Her tail throbbed where it had been broken, but Roel's healing held.
“Get out of the way!” a low Jegera voice growled.
Arara rolled to the side just in time to avoid the stomping feet of a hairless eleph and the cart laden with meat he pulled along behind him. Arara licked her lips, overcome by the tantalizing smell of blood wafting after it, even as she choked and coughed as her breath came back.
Food would have to wait. With everything that had happened at the engagement party she hadn’t had a chance to eat. She did her best to ignore her growling stomach and pushed up to all fours, then shook. Dirt and dust flew to join the rest of the cloud. She still felt dirty but it was the best she could do for now.
She straightened up to two legs and pulled Roel’s map from the inside pocket of her vest. More dust wafted off it as she unfolded it, but she was just glad she hadn’t lost it during the bumpy dismount.
She pulled her sun flower out of the other side of her jacket so she could read the map. A full lantern had been out of the question, she’d had no way to keep hold of it and the underside of the carriage at the same time. But her fall had left the sun flower battered and wilted.
The bud unfurled slowly, and when it finally opened all the way the ovule at the center exuded only a dim glow that barely illuminated a few tail lengths.
A light drizzle began as she tried to orient herself.
For now she decided to head up the street away from the carriage. Her dust-browned fur attracted little attention, and she was able to go unnoticed and unrecognized. After a few inquiries to passing townsfolk, she had a general idea of where she was and how to get to where she needed to go.
A light drizzle started up as she made her way down the streets. Unlike the predominately Kin parts of town the streets here were not paved and the rain left the surface a swampy quagmire.
By the time she arrived she was covered in mud from muzzle to flank and shivering from the wind on her wet fur. The hut was nothing special to look at, which she supposed was the point. The mud bricks were cracked and moldy, and the waxed-paper on the windows was black with grime.
Pieces of dead vines flaked away as she pushed her way through to the darkened interior. Inside, out of the direct path of the wind, her shivering subsided.
Farther into the den, a spark of life glimmered through her half-open shields. It might have been her imagination, but it seemed brighter than the normal life energy of Kin or Jegera she’d seen before.
“Hello?” Arara whispered, holding the shining flower up above her head to reveal two dark openings on the far wall a handful of tail lengths away. A flicker of movement drew her eye to the one on the left.
“Go way.” A low voice snarled, echoing in the confines of the small room so Arara couldn’t tell where it originated from.
At least now she knew he was awake.
In response, the Yaka gefired her a flash of gratitude and a wordless admonishment to leave. Arara started in surprise. She hadn’t realized you could send a gefir of nothing but emotions.
“You promised to speak to me, once we got you out, remember?” Arara stepped forward and held up the flower, trying to see deeper into the den.
The Yaka emerged from the left hand opening. He prowled forward on four legs, ears flat to his head and the long-white fur on his tail puffed out. The week of freedom had been kind to him. He had filled out a little and his fur, while still a bit mangy and patchy around his wounds, was clean and freshly brushed. Roel had kept up her end of the bargain nicely.
“This land too hot and I still trapped,” he growled, moving forward a few more paces, eyes fixed on her.
His white fur looked ghostly in the dim light from the flower, and Arara began to understand a bit better where the scary legends of the Yaka had come from.
“It is really hot here during the summer,” Arara agreed. “So why did the Yaka come here?”
“Tell already, true-talk demand it.” The Yaka relaxed and sat on the floor, lowering his hackles. “When you get me home?”
“You know I’m the sedyu...” she trailed off, suddenly conscious that it was the Queen who’d ordered his clan executed. “I have some influence in this city. I can help you get home, but not yet. The Queen is still scouring the city and has guards watching all the gates. We have to wait until the search dies down.”
Ottont sighed in resignation and lay down, resting his head on his outstretched front paws.
“What do you know about night magic or moon magic?”
“Shaman magic?”
Arara nodded.
“That is your questionings?” One of Ottont’s ears went back and his tail lazily swept the floor behind him.
“Yes.”
“Works only in the absence of the sun’s light. It can be used to do many things.”
“Can it, um, manipulate lightning?”
“Yes, and fire. Very destroy much.” Ottont cocked his head. “Why?”
“We, um, I mean I was almost killed by lightning and my friend says it was Moon magic. Is that what you were referring to in the prophecy? The flames of night you mentioned before?”
“Our shamans think so.”
“Wait, your shamans?”
“Yes, Yaka’s shamans, holy ones who can do magic with the blessing of the Moon God.”
“Yaka...can use magic? Like the Kin?” Arara’s mouth dropped open and she stared at Ottont. “Why didn’t you use it during the invasion?”
“Shaman,” Ottont furrowed his brow. “Few? Not many? Clan leader say too important. Not leave Clan with no defense.”
Arara trembled at the thought. Yaka had magic, just like Kin. Is that why the War of the North had really been started? The Kin had been trying to drive out the other magic users?
“Is all you want?” Ottont yawned, rolling over to his side on the floor and looking at her with sleepy eyes.
“No, that’s not all.” Arara took a deep breath, not sure how her proposal was going to go over. “I need you to teach me.”
“About what?”
“How to use,” Arara pointed to her head. She had no idea what the real term for her powers was or what the Yaka called it. “My gifts, up here.”
“Telepathy or telekinesis?” Ottont blinked slowly at her.
“I don’t know what those words mean,” Arara said, scratching at the dirt floor.
“Telepathy is mind talk and mind reading.”
Arara nodded. She had an easier time with that, since Jegera had a more limited form of what she could do she’d at least had a basic instruction from them. Plus, the half-Yakan Elder had also schooled her a bit in this when he’d taught her how to dive into memories.
“Telekinesis is mind-move thing far away.”
As he talked the sun flower skittered across the floor and then rose into the air for a brief moment, then set back down. This was the skill that Arara remembered from watching the Elder’s memories of learning to control snowballs; and the thing that Arara had the hardest time with.
“Both, I guess, but I think we should start with telekanasis,” Arara’s tongue stumbled over the unfamiliar Yaka word.
Ottont chuckled. “Telekinesis.” He repeated it along with Arara until she could get
it right.
“First, move flower like I did.”
Arara focused on the flower and studied it. She concentrated and narrowed her eyes, reaching out with her mind and gently pushed. The pot jerked, then tipped over. Arara frowned.
She felt a flick of power from Ottont, and the pot righted itself. “Try again.”
They spent the next claw mark or so while Arara struggled to duplicate Ottont’s examples. When her head began to pound with the effort Ottont called the lesson done, and gave her some exercises that Yakan pups did to strengthen their minds and gain better control.
“I’ll come back as soon as I can, probably in another week or so,” Arara stood and stretched. Her muscles ached as if she’d run through the whole city instead of just sitting here struggling to move a small flower.
“I will look forward,” Ottont followed her to the doorway. “We failed to stop the end of all, but you still have chance. Be well.”
A FEW DAYS LATER ARARA stood on a brick path next to Recka at yet another party thrown for the engaged couple; exotic lily flowers and flowered bushes spread out around them. The flower pollen tickled her nose and she had to struggle not to sneeze. The noonday heat beat down on her and her black uniform seemed to soak up most of it. Her tongue was dry from panting. Sebaine was too hot, even with her shorn fur.
Sels and Sesay stood several tail lengths away chatting with a group of brightly bedecked Kin nobles. Arara wrinkled her muzzle, pulled back her ears, a sneeze exploding out of her with a low whomp. Next to her Recka snorted and pounded her on the back.
“I’m so bored,” Arara huffed and kicked at a pink petal lying on the brick path. “And hot.”
“Better get used to this now,” Recka said, patting her back again more lightly this time. “Nobles attend a lot of parties.”
Arara sighed again and her scowl deepened and she wished she was doing anything else.
Recka shrugged. “I spend a lot of time practicing my observational skills. Even at a place like this there might be threats. Doesn’t leave me any time to be bored.”
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