For a Pixie in Blue

by Cecilia Randell

  What was she doing out of her room? She was supposed to be where he’d left her, safe and waiting. The Chief Elder hadn’t mentioned any sort of change in the schedule. Phillip would have to talk with her about that.

  His escort—Phillip hadn’t bothered with a name—shifted uneasily beside him. Phillip twisted his head and raised a brow, pleased with the way the man looked down and away.

  Pansy.

  Elder Shinzu cleared his throat, and Phillip rolled his eyes. The old man was okay, for someone who had a stick up his ass about everything. He was usually the one who took over the partnered meditation if the Chief Elder couldn’t be there. In fact, Phillip preferred him. If he was going to have to go through head-shrinker, psycho-babble bullshit, he much preferred the short man. The Chief Elder was creepy as fuck. She kept asking him why he was here and what was important—weird ass questions like that. The kicker had been the other day when she asked what would happen if Blue were no longer here. But the way she said it...

  Phillip had set her straight. Blue was staying, and that was it. He didn’t know what kind of strings the other guys were pulling, but they weren’t going to take her away from him.

  There was something he should remember...

  His mind drifted. There was a part of him missing. Sometimes it was there. It was a powerful part, and when it was free, he was unstoppable. If he could just reach...

  It hovered just on the edge of his awareness. It was better than any high he’d had. Not that he’d ever get involved in the harder stuff, but he and Derrick had dabbled a bit. A tab here and there never hurt anyone.

  Where was Blue? They had a date. He was supposed to pick her up at seven...

  “Phillip?”

  He blinked, and she was there. Those cats were with her again. He wasn’t sure what she saw in them, but if she was attached to the little shits, he’d have to get used to them. He sighed.

  The things I do for love.

  Something welled in him, reaching to the surface. “Where have you been?” His words were harsher than he wanted, and he softened his tone at her flinch. “I was worried. It’s not like you to miss one of our dates. Or, at least, to not call.”

  Her eyes widened, but then she smiled. It was sad. His gut tightened. He didn’t like her sad.

  “There was an accident,” she said. Her gaze flicked to her door, then to Forrest.

  And who was the other guy next to her? Did Phillip know him?

  “Everything okay?” Phillip forced out.

  “Yeah, everything’s okay for now,” Blue finally answered.

  He sighed. That was good. “Next time let me know if you need to go somewhere. I’ll take you. I can’t make sure you’re safe if you go running off.” There was a prodding sensation in the back of his mind. He strained for it, but like a song lyric that only came to you at four in the morning, long after you didn’t need it, the sensation faded away. He looked at Forrest. When had he gotten so tall? “Thanks for looking after her, man.”

  Forrest frowned then nodded. “Not a problem.” His voice was strained, and one of the cats growled. Whatever. Forrest needed to get over his crush. Real friends didn’t do this shit. And where was Derrick? Those two were never far apart.

  “Young Phillip.”

  Phillip looked over at the old man. He was stooped and his blue robes hung on him, but his voice was stern, just like one of the Uncles.

  Right, Elder Shinzu.

  “Young Phillip, it is time for us to continue our sessions. Your scheduled time with the young woman has come and gone, and while I understand your need to see her safe, we really must keep to the schedule.” Elder Shinzu spoke in Common, the language Etu had been teaching him. Etu?

  Phillip shook his head, trying to grasp the fragmenting thoughts. Right. Common. Planets. Etu. Crystals.

  A knock in the back of his mind. A connection clicked, and he was filled with strength. Stolen strength, but those other people hadn’t deserved it, had been wasting it. Phillip would make much better use of it.

  He focused on Blue, who was scared and sad. First things first. “Blue, come here. I’ll make sure you get to your room. Send a guard for me if you need anything, okay? I told you I’d protect you. I don’t want to see you scared.”

  She met his gaze, her eyes pinched and her face pale. Then she smiled and warmth filled him. He’d done that. Moving to his side, she gripped his arm. “Thank you. I’m pretty tired, though. I think Elder Shinzu is right. We don’t want to mess with the schedule too badly. If it’s okay, I’d like to just go to bed.”

  He wrapped an arm around her, and she stiffened. Frustration had his arm tightening until she let out a small sound. He understood she wanted to move slowly, but damn, this was getting ridiculous. He kept the pressure up for a few seconds more, reminding her that the reason he didn’t touch her was that he respected her wishes, that he loved her.

  Steering her to her door, he left the others standing there. Her cat followed, a low rumble coming from its chest, though it didn’t attack. That was good because he didn’t care how much Blue liked the pest, if he needed to, he would teach it a lesson.

  Pushing her door open, she faced him. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Phillip grinned. “Remember our first date? At the concert? Think you can wear an outfit like that one? Phe could probably lend you something.”

  Her blue eyes shone up at him. “I’ll see what I can find.”

  He leaned in, placing a soft kiss on her cheek. He liked how she flushed, her mix of boldness and reticence calling to him. He didn’t think he’d ever get enough of it.

  Her door shut, and he turned away. Stone buildings surrounded him, and streets without sidewalks. The sky was the wrong color, and the air smelled strange. Where...?

  Elder Shinzu beckoned him over. “We have more work to do.”

  That was right. He had to get stronger. Once he had mastered the techniques the elders were showing him, he’d be able to get his crystal back. Then the hulking mercenary, the red-haired guy, and all the others wouldn’t be able to stop him.

  He’d started out looking for power, but somewhere along the way his goals had shifted.

  Now he was going to give Blue the worlds.

  Chapter 11

  BLUE

  Blue edged closer to Mo’ata, avoiding a crowd of passing Prizzoli. These were part of the troop that had arrived earlier in the day and wore predominately orange tones. According to Levi, they were from the Pora, the clan that was supposed to have rotated here a couple of months before.

  The village was getting crowded. Representatives from the main troops had been pouring in for the last week—ever since Mo’ata’s “accident,” in fact. The guest quarters had quickly filled, and Prizzoli were staying in their caravans, which now ranged in ever growing rows across the grasses.

  She’d kept more than busy going over footage. She’d also added in the language program in earnest, as well as slightly longer training sessions with Levi.

  Now the Chief Elder had granted her leave to see more of the village, as long as “guides” accompanied her, of course.

  The meeting Mo’ata had scheduled never happened. By the time he had fully recovered, even with the boost from the healing crystal it had been time for Trevon to leave for his Conference of the Families. Levi had also finished with his assigned cleansing, as they called it, and was able to help clarify some of what they’d seen on the surveillance, making the necessity for the meeting less urgent.

  Blue had scoured the video looking for anything that would tell her what happened. The obvious answer was that Phillip had somehow been able to latch onto the clansman and pull some of his life force away. But Jason had been correct; Phillip had been at the temple when the incident occurred—nowhere near the vicinity—and the footage confirmed this. Levi had even tracked down the healer to thank him and to ask him why he had used the crystal. The man hadn’t given them much and hadn’t wanted to push it too hard, but the healer had said some
thing that stood out. The accidents that were happening in the construction zone and other places? Many later complained of extreme fatigue or drowsiness causing them to lose focus. Nothing as extreme as what he had seen in Mo’ata, though. The healer was still looking for the cause.

  Unspoken was the idea that somehow Phillip’s plinar had become uncontained. If that was the case, wouldn’t they have seen more deaths? Unless the elder’s training had allowed him more control but the actual “cleansing” aspect was failing.

  Or she was simply paranoid, there was a bug going around, and Mo’ata had succumbed. It had taken him a few days to get back to normal.

  Regardless, the official statement from the elders was that he had suffered a bout of extreme fatigue. And unfortunately, there wasn’t much she could do about it at this point except continue to observe, to dig deeper, and to try to make the connections.

  Good thing I like puzzles.

  A larger group of Prizzoli moved toward them, coming from the center of the village and heading for the caravan camps. These, dressed in green, had arrived just this morning. Blue, Mo’ata, and their guide stepped off the street and pressed against the building behind them, giving these others room to pass. One older man with his head shaved and a bright green emblem stitched into his coat, slowed. His gaze met Blue’s, then moved to Mo’ata, lingering on the scabbed wound on his cheek. Muscles bunched in the man’s jaw as his fellows passed him, and Blue sucked in a breath, waiting for the next move.

  Then he bowed his head in a slight movement, just as the man with the hound from the Forank troop had done, and moved on.

  According the Levi, this bow was an acknowledgement, nothing more. The fact that they were giving it was part welcome and part respect.

  The guard next to her snorted, then stepped away from the wall. “We go.” The words were clipped out in Common.

  Had any of the guards or members of the troop currently inhabiting the village given her that acknowledgement? It was something to think on.

  Today they were visiting the temple. She had requested to see it after Spencer mentioned it, and the elders had finally granted permission. She wasn’t quite ready to try sneaking in like Forrest had done. Phillip was supposed to be in his own practice of the kiti at the moment—with an elder supervising—so they shouldn’t run in to him.

  She shuddered. The day she had been late to her “date” with Phillip was the worst she had seen him. He hadn’t simply been arrogant or petulant. He had spoken as if he had no idea where they were. He’d created a whole new world in his head and was living out a life only he could see. She had played along, of course. What else was she to do?

  Arrange an accident and call it done. Now she sounded like the hooligan. But was it bad that she was seriously contemplating it? At some point you just had to be done, right?

  In the week since then, he’d slowly gotten better. Each successive meeting, he had seemed more... present was the only way she could describe it. He continued to react badly if others touched her or showed her affection, but he was no longer talking about things that had never happened and always knew where he was.

  Despite the uncertainties surrounding her, she had settled into a routine: study, train with Levi, analyze footage, meet with Phillip, more footage, send notes to Trevon, and then bed. Now she was getting the chance to discover something new. Excitement moved through her. Regardless of the Alliance’s decrees and the Prizzoli’s maneuvering to get her here, they as a people were not the villains. Today she had an opportunity not many had to see a glimpse into a culture steeped in mystery.

  Ahead of her, just coming over the horizon, the first moon shone, visible as a pale circle in the day sky. To her right the mountains rose, dark.

  At a crossroad, they paused as a large caravan was wheeled through. The draft animals, something of a cross between a bison and a steer, stepped in time. This particular grouping had five wagons, all fully covered. The drivers of each wore red coats with green sashes and the same cap on their heads that she’d first seen Levi wearing. He never spoke of the troop he originally came from, but Blue wondered. His skin tone was also similar to this particular troop’s.

  Caught up in her musings, she didn’t see the Prizzoli exit the building behind her. Holding two large bags of produce, the woman tripped, though the corridor was smooth. She fell into the guard standing behind Blue, who in turn stumbled. Blue was pushed into the path of an oncoming wagon and the massive cattle that pulled it.

  Time slowed, or her perception and senses sped. Shaggy brown fur filled her vision along with a large brown snout, nostrils flared. Her momentum propelled her toward it. The beast stepped. Wide, golden eyes in a dark face, alarm chasing across it. She flung out her arms, trying to catch her balance to move away. Another step closer. Leather reins pulled tight as the man shouted. Her foot shot out and her knee bent, providing a counterbalance, and she pressed off, spinning out and away from the animal and to the opposite side of the corridor, stopping only when she landed against another building.

  She leaned against it, wide-eyed as time sped back up.

  The scene was in chaos. The driver was tugging on the reins, shouting, struggling to halt the animal, who only now responded. Mo’ata darted around the wagon, Garfield at his side. The guard was on his hands and knees, head bowed, shoulders shaking. The woman, vegetables and bread scattered around her, had her hand to her mouth.

  New guards pounded up the corridor as Mo’ata reached her. “Are you hurt at all?” he asked.

  The shouts continued, this time of inquiry and accusation instead of alarm. The woman backed away, hands held up, shaking her head and babbling. The first guard, Blue’s guide, pushed himself up to one knee, speaking to the new guards and pointing to the woman.

  “Blue.”

  She focused on her clansman.

  “Are you hurt?”

  “No. No, I’m fine. Shaken. What the hell happened?”

  He cupped her cheek. “The woman tripped into our guard, apparently hard enough for him to then send you into the path of the wagons.”

  The guards were questioning the woman now, who gestured widely, then down to her spilled groceries, and then to the guard.

  Garfield let out a low growl. The guard, their guide, was staring across the corridor at them, his face stone. His gaze shifted to the piquet, then back to Blue. He started for them, but the driver of the wagon caught his arm, speaking and throwing his arms out. The guard glared past the man and over at Blue.

  She reached out to Garfield, who wasn’t sending her anything specific, just a general sense of unease. He was focused on the guard, yes, but his attention was also on the woman, the cattle, and the wagon driver. He didn’t know who the threat was, just that there was one.

  Mo’ata directed her attention back to him. “You are sure you are well?”

  She reached up, covering his newly shaved jaw, matching his gesture. “I am sure.” Her eyes widened as the events played out in her mind once more. “Did you see me? How awesome was I? I totally just saved myself.”

  Her arms shook, and her belly was tight. Excitement coursed through her. She had been flung into something, and yes, it had been more instinct than thought out strategy, but she had saved herself.

  Both damned feet on the path to bad ass right there.

  Mo’ata’s eyes fell closed. “Yes, I guess you did. Please do not throw yourself in front of any more draft beasts if you can help it.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to her forehead. “I do not think my system can take it.”

  She grinned up at him. “Well, get use—”

  “Girl.” The Chief Elder appeared beside her. “Are you well?”

  Concern wrinkled the woman’s brow. Her red robes were slightly askew, and small wisps of white hair escaped her braids. Her cheeks were bright with color as if she’d been hurrying.

  “I good.” Blue grinned at her. “Training Levi help save me.”

  The Chief Elder frowned, and Blue worried she’d go
tten the words wrong.

  “I think,” the Chief Elder finally said, “we should reschedule your visit to the temple. There have been too many incidents of carelessness and inattention happening in our little village. In fact”—she laid a hand on Blue’s shoulder—“it may be best if we keep your activities wholly to your rooms for the next few days. Just until things have... settled.”

  Blue sagged. Her elation rushed out, leaving her tired and discouraged. She looked to Mo’ata, hoping he would contradict the elder, but he wasn’t paying attention. His gaze was locked on something farther down the corridor. Elder Shinzu, Phillip, and two other guards stood there. Phillip’s eyes glowed, fixed on Blue, and his face was pale.

  Fuck.

  Elder Shinzu leaned in and said something. Whatever it was must have helped because Phillip took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then again. He took a step toward her, but the elder caught his arm, pulled him back, and spoke again. A tense moment later, Phillip nodded, turned, and strode away, the guards matching him. Elder Shinzu followed behind at his own pace.

  “He will be well. He has made much progress,” the Chief Elder said.

  Blue turned back to her and sighed. “Fine. I go back. Later talk schedule.”

  At a gesture from the Chief Elder, her guide was back. He’d regained some of his composure and stood straight-backed, his face blank. “Guard Brini, please escort our guests back to their quarters, and ensure they do not come to any harm this time.”

  The color in the guard’s cheeks deepened, and he bowed low to the Chief Elder. She nodded and turned, and one of the guards that was still questioning the woman and wagon driver broke off to follow her.

  Once the Chief Elder was out of sight, Guard Brini gestured sharply and turned, not waiting to see if Blue and Mo’ata would follow. He was on the other side of the corridor when they caught up to him. As Blue passed the wagon driver, the capped man paused, bowed his head to her, and then resumed his conversation with a guard. Another driver, dressed the same, joined them and stared at Blue.

  She grabbed Mo’ata’s hand, needing the connection.