Deviants of Giftborn (The Etherya Series Book 1)

by Amarcya, Zuri

  Clisantha bit her lip. “I sent my driver away.”

  Riyen placed his hands on her waist and pulled her to him. “Just walk outside and find a Thaide. They will take you home.”

  Clisantha started saying something else but he kissed her. Chesna and Innogen watched them out of the corner of their eyes, while Nemma looked away. Mother and Father used to giggle and hug all the time, and always kissed like that when they thought she wasn’t looking. She helped Innogen put on her tunic as Riyen held Clisantha in his arms, stroking her hair and whispering into her ear.

  As they parted Clisantha had tears in her eyes. “I hope so,” she said softly to him. She caught Nemma’s eye. “I hope you find safety,” she said to her, before heading back to the door.

  Riyen watched her exit and stood staring at the door.

  Nemma pulled Innogen’s hair out of its braids and stroked the broken brush through it until it was smooth.

  “Why are you letting her go home if you love her?” Innogen asked. “Anything could happen to you, you should stay together.”

  The Elementyth smiled at her, though sadness lay behind his eyes. “Sometimes you have to let people go to protect them. Clisantha is important, and not just to me. I have to make sure she will stay safe, even if she is not with me.”

  “You don’t know that she’ll be safe,” Chesna said, picking up her carrysack. She had changed into a slate blue tunic and braided her hair into a double coiled bun. “You only hope she will be.”

  They left the factory and marched towards the core, Riyen in the lead with the three girls behind. The roads were almost empty with the odd merchants hurrying home. By the time they had arrived at the core they had passed numerous Thaide, some of whom nodded at Riyen, and a couple who had questioned where he was heading. He maintained he was escorting the three girls home on behalf of a second quarter Lord. Nemma realized that the coded shield had worked, the Thaide barely looked at her or the other girls. They could not feel her strong release.

  They seemed small crossing the empty, large core. Nemma had never seen it without people loitering, meeting or sharing pots of what she now realized was fenyac. The bitter stench that usually dominated the area was only a lingering waft and the stalls where magiens sold the drink were deserted. The tall buildings loomed over them as they cut across to a side path and maneuvered to a large building.

  Riyen used his Gift to open the locks on the wide, marble doors.

  Once inside, Nemma realized it was a tavern. It did not look like any tavern she had come across in the fourth or third quarter. The floor and walls looked as though they had been made with marble or a patterned lumni, and large paintings showing various top-rank figures adorned every wall. Large wooden tables carved with ridges at their edges were around the space with solid wooden high backed chairs around them. Each table held an assortment of flowers and small bowls of dried fruit and nuts, although some of them had not yet been set and their bowls and flowers still waited on the marble bar. Fragrant soap and sharp lemon hung in the air.

  “If the city is going into confinement, there shouldn’t be anyone around to disturb us,” Riyen said, heading towards the enormous windows at the back of the room.

  Nemma and Chesna stared at them, while Innogen walked to the counter to look at the flowers. The view beyond the windows showed the silhouette of a small town beneath a night sky. Lumni light and flickering fire shone from windows and doorways, but nothing else moved. Nemma frowned. It could not be night. She glanced back at the marble doors and saw sunlight pouring through the gap at the bottom of them.

  “It’s a bridge,” Riyen said, watching her.

  Nemma looked around. “How can there be a bridge here?”

  “It’s used for entertainment. Citizens are marveled by any display of the Gift. They wouldn’t even know what a bridge is let alone recognize one. Help me move the tables.”

  “So could anyone just use the bridge to go to anywhere the windows show?” Chesna asked as she helped to lift a table.

  “No, it’s not strong enough to transfer a person yet,” Riyen said. “Maybe only wind and rain.”

  Once the tables had been moved, he stood to one side of the windows and beckoned to Nemma. “Come and stand here.”

  Nemma moved to stand on the other side of the windows and accessed the Gift. The windows emanated a powerful energy and it didn’t just vibrate, various currents within them pulsed and rippled.

  Riyen said, “These windows have a number of codes that allow them to function independently from a magien. I need to adapt the inner threads so that they can change the windows to a destination of my choice and then change back once we have gone through, but that will require more base energy.”

  Nemma’s eyes widened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Riyen exhaled with impatience. “I need to make changes to the code but that’s hard to do with this type of code without a form of natural energy to slow down the vibration. We need to feed energy into the windows so that I can change the code.”

  “Energy from where? The earth?”

  Riyen looked around. “No, earth energy is too pure, it could disrupt the code. The tables, chairs and the flowers are natural sources we can use. But you need to concentrate and control it well. If any of the energy you draw hits any of us, it can seriously harm us.”

  Nemma looked back at Innogen who stood by the counter looking at the window. “Wait a moment,” Nemma said to him.

  She hurried over to Innogen, who smiled warily as she approached.

  “Are you well, Innogen?” Nemma asked.

  Innogen clenched her jaw and nodded.

  “Have you decided what you’re going to do? You have come this far with us but this step will mean you stay with us.”

  Innogen sighed. “Isa… Nemma. I understand why you couldn’t tell me about yourself but I can’t give up my beliefs or my freedom to live the life of a criminal.” She looked away. “I’m sorry.”

  Disappointment stung Nemma, but she forced herself to smile at Innogen. “You don’t have to apologize, Innogen. This isn’t your fight and I don’t want you to be unhappy.” She took Innogen’s hands and squeezed them. “Thank you for being so kind to me. You’re the first friend I’ve had and I will miss you.”

  Innogen’s chin trembled.

  “I wish you all the happiness in the Realms and the Sovereign touch in everything you do.”

  “And I wish you the same,” Innogen said, her voice thick with emotion.

  A solid pounding in Nemma’s chest made it hard for her to breathe. She let go of Innogen’s hands and walked back to the windows and Riyen. Opening her carrysack, she pulled out a gray robe and put it on.

  “Tell me what to do,” she said with more confidence than she felt. “Tell me clearly and slowly.”

  “When you have command of the energy in the tables and chairs, pull on it as though you were pulling on air energy,” Riyen explained. “Then feed it into the corners of the windows.”

  “Alright.”

  Riyen paused and looked at her. “Steady your nerves. Once we start to use a lot of energy the Sovereign will be able to feel us, so it must be quick. Understand?”

  Nemma nodded and took deep breath.

  “You need to be ready too,” he said to Chesna.

  Chesna nodded at him, determination on her face. Innogen watched them, her blue eyes darting across the whole scene.

  Riyen’s energy intensified and he extended his reach towards the windows. Nemma extended her reach over the tavern, feeling the different items’ vibrations. Riyen engaged the energy in the windows. It started to shift together in one direction, then another, like the waves lapping towards the shore at the brook.

  The light and tingly energy in the flowers submitted to her easily. She directed it into the windows.

  “The corners, Nemma,” Riyen reminded her, his voice strained. “Do all of the tables and chairs at once.”

  She turned her attention
to the room and felt for the energy in the tables and chairs, extending her reach across them all. The energy hummed lowly as it submitted to her. Nemma yanked it into the air and as she did so, the furniture shuddered and crumpled with a chorus of creaks, cracks and moans. The energy was aggressive. It pulled against Nemma’s hold, eager to escape her, but she forced it across the room towards her, over Innogen’s and Chesna’s heads. Deepening her focus, she stilled it in the air and began feeding it into the top corners of the windows. As the energies merged, the vibration of the windows slowed and Riyen manipulated it. The scene beyond the windows flickered and morphed.

  “Faster, Nemma,” Riyen bellowed, his face strained.

  Nemma pushed the energy as fast as she could into the windows until it was gone. The energy slowed further and the image stabilized to reveal the clearing they had seen behind Endra earlier. At the back of the clearing stood a group of people all dressed in black, and in front of them all stood Endra.

  “Go,” Riyen shouted at Nemma. “Go through, all of you! Quickly!”

  Nemma beckoned to Chesna. “Come on!”

  Chesna ran towards at the windows and leapt. As she hit it, her body flashed in a flicker of light and she was on the other side. Riyen was shouting but Nemma could not draw her attention away from Chesna as her feet and hands hit the ground on the other side of the windows. A man in black helped her up and moved her away and out of view. She turned to look at Innogen, who looked shocked and frightened. She took a step towards them and Nemma’s mood lightened. Was she coming?

  Riyen threw his arms around Nemma and dragged her towards the windows, whose energy was beginning changing again. Nemma struggled against him. Why couldn’t he leave her alone? She could walk all on her own.

  “Isa, wait. Wait! I’m coming!”

  Nemma looked around for Innogen and saw her running towards them. Nemma reached out a hand. A fizz of energy flashed over her body and she was falling backwards. She could still see Innogen running at her, reaching out her hand, behind her the clumps of dead gnarled wood left from Nemma’s assault. Nemma’s head tilted back and she was looking at a blue sky.

  Something hit her back and a weight crushed into her side. Her ears tingled for a few moments and suddenly she could breathe, the cold raw air ripping at her throat.

  Riyen pulled her to her feet. “What in the Realms were you doing?”

  Nemma looked around. She was in the clearing. A few feet away tall trees stretched towards the sky and the familiar scent of wet dirt filled her nostrils. All of the vibrations around her were slow and mellow. Her back ached.

  Riyen grabbed her arms. “Are you listening to me, Nemma?”

  Nemma blinked and refocused on his face. “What?”

  “The Sovereign took command of the bridge.”

  Nemma look back towards the bridge, it was gone. Beyond stood a cluster of small huts. She shrugged.

  “Innogen was coming through,” he said, his face filled with concern. “He has Innogen.”

  Twenty-Five

  Essen made his way to Torak Tower in the warmth of sun-arc amongst the bustling people. Magiens filled the channels and roads heading to meal gardens and cookeries, meeting friends or family for shared fenyac lunches or lunch appointments. His stomach growled but he couldn’t bring himself to think about food, not when a threat he did not understand loomed over the Arc and the magien way of life. The Sovereign had not indicated what his thoughts were on the subject but he seemed to have some kind of understanding about the girl’s Gift. He would understand the Gift more than anyone else, of course. Regardless, whether she was sent by the Phalorians or simply an unlucky beggar, she would need to be destroyed. Or at least captured and examined. He had been foolish not to intervene in the investigation sooner.

  He entered his rooms and changed into fresh undergarments and robes while waiting for his guests. Clisantha Saraethien had surprised him. Her early Arc training had served her well; she was resourceful, determined and intelligent. He could have anticipated that she would look into her father’s death if he had known that magiens had been outspoken about him. Kelvedon had not dealt with the situation, and now she knew more than she should. He should have killed her, but why waste such potential? Even though she was not Giftborn, she could accomplish great things if given the chance and she was not a threat or difficult to control.

  A rap on the door interrupted his thoughts.

  “Enter,” he called.

  Kelvedon opened the door and strode through, followed by two officers and Clisantha Saraethien. She still wore the same crumpled brown tunic she had on when she had been imprisoned, clearly she had been too distressed to change. Her lip stain had been smudged and dark circles lay under her eyes, but her beauty shone. She stood behind the chair in front of his desk and watched him as the officers left. Kelvedon stood in a corner.

  “Welcome to my home,” Essen said, heading to his desk under the window. He poured three white vynths into short glasses.

  “I’m not sure what this is about, High Priest,” Clisantha Saraethien began. “I have told you all I know about the girl.”

  “Mss Saraethien,” Essen said, turning to her with a short fat glass in his hand filled with the clear liquid. “I don’t believe that your business has been as successful as hoped.”

  Her jaw contracted. “The trial has not finished running its course, High Priest. I assure you I can meet the targets you have set.”

  “I disagree. Magiens don’t want to do business with you.”

  “High Priest,” she said, firmly. “Magiens just need more time to become accustomed to me. As you know they have an aversion to my father-”

  “Years of having an aversion to your father has strengthened their opinion about you. It will not be broken in matter of months.”

  She quietened, clenching her fists.

  “I know you think this should have been dealt with by us, and maybe you’re not wrong,” Essen glanced at Kelvedon, who did not react, “but we have to deal with the situation as it stands now.”

  She started to speak but Essen held up his free hand and walked towards her.

  “So I have decided that it is indeed best that you marry.”

  “High Priest,” she said, “Please let me explain—”

  “I’m not asking for your opinion or permission, Mss Saraethien.” Essen held out the drink to her.

  “High Priest—”

  “You will marry,” Essen barked.

  She glared at him and took the glass.

  “Telmar will take the reins of your business,” Essen continued, walking back to the counter, “so you can focus on your marriage and build a family. You will remain the owner of the business for now and you can provide him with advice to ensure that the business is successful, but you’re not to become involved with the running of the business or talk on behalf of the business to any clients or suppliers. Do you understand?” He picked up another glass and walked over to Kelvedon, holding it out to him.

  “Yes, High Priest,” she answered, a tremble in her voice.

  Kelvedon inclined his head. “I am on duty, High Priest.”

  Essen held his eye. “You’re not, Kelvedon.”

  “I assure you I am, High Priest.”

  “And I am telling you,” Essen said, resisting the urge to raise his voice, “that you are currently off-duty.”

  “I haven’t taken a break from my duties since I took this post.”

  “And now I’m telling you to take one.”

  Kelvedon hesitated. As he took the glass, Clisantha Saraethien spoke again. “May I suggest that I stay on for another two months to properly brief Telmar while I find a suitable husband?”

  “There’s no need for that, Mss Saraethien.” Essen returned to his desk and gestured to Kelvedon. “Your future husband is there.”

  The silence hung for only a moment.

  “What,” she exclaimed

  “High Priest,” Kelvedon said frowning.

  Essen
picked up the final glass. “You will be married to each other. Congratulations.”

  Clisantha and Kelvedon started speaking at the same time but Essen held up his glass until they were silent. “Let us drink to this occasion.”

  They looked at each other, astonishment in her face while his remained impassive. Essen swallowed his drink and they both followed suit.

  Kelvedon stepped forward. “High Priest, I would like to request a private word.”

  Essen shook his head. “This is your future wife, Kelvedon. You may as well get used to speaking in front of her.”

  Kelvedon threw a glance at Clisantha who still stood behind the chair before her. She stared down into the empty glass, her fingertips white from gripping it, biting her bottom lip.

  “High Priest, I understand that I haven’t fulfilled my duties as desired,” Kelvedon said, “but I strongly object to being forced to marry.”

  Essen walked over to him. “You don’t have a choice in the matter.”

  “Not all of the other Priests are married, and those that are were able to choose their companion,” Kelvedon pointed out.

  “Not all of the other Priests have aided and abetted a powerful, untrained, murderous Giftborn, the likes of which we have never before encountered.”

  Kelvedon’s face became stone. “I did not aid or abet her.”

  “You may as well have. You have been too distracted to do your job lately. What did you hope for me to do?”

  “I’ve not been the only one distracted,” Kelvedon said, a fierceness in his eyes. “You have been distracted with this woman.” He gestured to Clisantha. “You have allowed her access to the Arc and not even reprimanded her about lying to me about the fugitive.”

  “I’m doing so now,” Essen said, anger flaring over him. “Do you think she’s desperate to marry you? You think too highly of yourself, Priest.”

  “So why are you punishing me? I made a mistake, I make very few.”

  “You can’t ever make mistakes, Kelvedon. You are the Thaide Priest. I also don’t appreciate my Priests visiting the Sovereign behind my back.”