by B. T. Narro
They took each other’s hands. With their fingers clasped around one another’s palms, neither of them moved. Zoke was short for a Krepp, about Steffen’s height. So Reela was nearly as tall as Zoke was.
She looked deeply into his eyes. Steffen had seen this expression enough to know that she was using psyche.
Soon their hands were maneuvering up and down in a calm shake.
There was something eerie about it to Steffen, as if he were watching someone sleepwalking. All was quiet, and Zoke wore an expression Steffen hadn’t seen before—complete indifference—and while being touched by a Human, something that usually would’ve prompted a stream of saliva.
As soon as Reela let go of the Krepp’s hand, Gabby stepped toward Zoke with a wide grin.
“Me next.”
Zoke’s eyes didn’t seem to want to shift to her as they began shaking hands, remaining on Reela instead for a breath. Then life came back into his face, his scowl returning as he reluctantly shook Gabby’s hand.
“Now for another custom. Sit with us and have a drink,” Effie told Zoke, gesturing toward the table where a jug of sakal and some glasses awaited. “Reela has some surprising news to share.”
Gabby stomped her foot. “First I want to say something!”
She waited for everyone’s eyes to be on her before continuing.
“When all of you left with Terren weeks ago, no one wrote to me.” Approaching Steffen, she nearly had her folded arms pressed against his belt when she stopped. “You especially should’ve told me you were leaving for so long!”
Being about Effie’s height, Gabby was more than a whole head shorter than Steffen. Straining her neck to meet his eyes, she jabbed him in the chest with her finger. “I came to visit when I didn’t hear from anyone,” she said, her voice softening. “Do you know how scary it was to find the house empty with no idea as to what happened or even who to ask?”
“We had to leave quickly,” Effie tried to explain. “We didn’t have time to write a letter.”
Gabby ignored her, not taking her eyes off Steffen. “I finally found a teacher who knew you left with Terren, though she wasn’t sure when you were coming back. I visited every other day! A four-mile walk from Oakshen, eight miles both ways! I never knew when you would come—”
Steffen interrupted Gabby by leaning down and pressing his lips against hers, figuring it was the most logical way of expressing everything he was feeling—sorrow for not being able to tell her he’d left, remorse for not knowing that he’d felt this way about her until now.
It crossed his mind that a kiss wasn’t supposed to be logical. But the act was other things as well, too many things for him to figure out in that moment.
As their lips met, she froze, and then her arms came around his neck and her lips danced, taking his whole mouth into rhythm with hers.
“Before you make this any more uncomfortable for us,” Effie said plainly, “there’s still something you all need to know about Reela.”
Gabby held Steffen’s cheek as they parted, showing him a warm smile. Even being wet from the rain, his stomach and chest felt hot.
Reela cleared her throat to get their attention. When they turned, Steffen found himself gasping in unison with Gabby.
“Bastial stars, your ears!” he yelled.
Reela had unclipped one already, reaching in to unclip the other from her hair. They were pointed at the top…like Elf ears, but not as pronounced. And they were smaller, close to the size of Human ears.
Steffen didn’t understand what he was looking at. “How did your ears change like that?” He was rudely pointing and slowly lowered his arm when he realized he was doing it.
“Change?” Reela tilted her head. “They’ve always been like this. You just haven’t seen them.”
That’s when Steffen knew this was some sort of joke. He laughed. “That’s funny. You tricked me.” He came closer to inspect them. “They look so real. How’d you do that?”
Gabby seemed to understand now, laughing as well. “Oh, I get it. But Steffen’s right. They do look real.”
Reela folded her arms, sharing what seemed to be an annoyed look with Effie. “They’re real. I’m half Elf. Vithos was my half brother.”
“Reela, stop making jokes,” Steffen grunted out, starting to wonder why she and Effie were putting such an effort into this. It wasn’t even funny, especially now that she’d brought Vithos into it.
“It’s true,” Zoke added. “She shared an Elven father with Vithos.”
“He knew?” Effie blurted in anger.
Suddenly the truth hit Steffen like a punch to the gut. His whole body stiffened, and he put his hand on his head as he felt himself teetering.
“What…I…my Bastial stars…Reela, why’d you keep this from us?” Steffen asked.
Gabby turned to him. “Wait, they’re serious?”
Reela and Effie nodded.
Then all was silent except the sound of Gabby sucking in air dramatically.
While the storm raged outside, they spent the next few hours drinking sakal and listening to Reela share the history of her Elven half brothers.
“Rek and Vithos were separated when they were two years old,” she explained. “They’d lived in Merejic with the Elves. But an army of Krepps led by two monstrous Slugari attacked. My father was the Elven leader. During the assault, it was clear they were going to lose, so my father tied his young sons, Rek and Vithos, to the backs of wolves trained from years of psyche to run south to Kyrro if such an assault were to happen. But the one carrying Vithos was killed before it could escape, and he was taken.”
Effie interrupted, “So you do know who your father is?”
Reela nodded apologetically. “I’ve known since I was old enough to understand. That’s how I know all of this. He managed to survive and came to Kyrro searching for Rek. Eventually he met my mother and told her this story. I’d never met him, that part is true. But it’s because he died, not because my mother doesn’t know who he is.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Effie said.
“It’s fine,” Reela answered. “I never knew him. Anyway, he didn’t know my mother was pregnant with me when he left Kyrro to rescue Vithos from the Krepps. With my mother’s money, he hired a woman skilled in the art of stealth to go with him. They were trapped by the Krepps and my father was killed by the Slugari leaders—Doe and Haemon are their names.” Reela’s gaze became locked to the table. “I’m sure we’ll meet them at some point during this war. Rek says their magic is the strongest in the world, though he doesn’t know how. Neither does he know why they’re so large when every other Slugari stands no taller than our waists.”
“How big are they?” Effie asked.
Zoke answered. “Taller than me and perhaps ten feet long.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Steffen realized aloud. “They were your leaders when you were with the Krepps.”
“Their size and power comes from years of eating something they call eppil plants,” Zoke said. “That’s what Vithos told me.”
As interested as Steffen was in the story, he kept finding his focus being drawn to Gabby. She was seated next to him with her hand in his. Her thumb sensuously slid along the top of his, making the hairs on his arm stand on end.
“Was this woman who went with your father killed, too?” Effie asked.
“No,” Reela said. “She made it back and told my mother what happened. Besides how sorry she was, I didn’t know anything else about her except her name…” Reela’s mouth dropped open as a memory struck her. “My Bastial stars…I haven’t thought about it in years. I think her name was Quessa—” Reela stopped herself in the middle of mouthing the last name. “Wait, could it really be that?”
“Why does that matter?” Effie asked, placing her hand on Reela’s arm.
“It’s her last name that matters,” Reela said. “I just wanted to be sure before I said it. And now I am. Her name was Quessa Polken.”
“Like Cleve Polken?” Stef
fen slipped his hand from Gabby’s to avoid distraction. “She’s related to Cleve?”
“She must be,” Reela said. “I wonder if he knows what happened to her.”
“What do you mean?” Steffen asked.
Reela shook her head. “My mother doesn’t know what happened to her after she came back from the Krepp encampment to deliver the news of my father’s death. My mother was worried that Quessa went back at a later point to try to retrieve Vithos and was killed. She told me that Quessa was distraught about failing at her task—something she’d apparently never done before.” Reela sighed. “I miss Cleve and Vithos…and Rek as well.”
Effie stood and came behind her to squeeze Reela’s shoulders, nestling her head against her friend’s cheek. When it was done, Effie leaned down for a closer look at Reela’s ears.
“They’re so pretty, Reela.”
She looked away with a somewhat embarrassed smile. “Thank you. I’ve wanted to let them show my whole life. And now the thought of keeping them hidden with both my brothers gone is too painful to endure.”
Effie said, “I still don’t completely understand why you had to keep your ears hidden.”
“King Welson exiled Rek because his power with psyche was too strong and he’d learned some of the King’s secrets,” Reela said. “If he’d found out I was related to Rek, he most likely would’ve exiled me as well. But I’ve proven my allegiance to Kyrro by now, I’m sure.”
A silence followed. Being unable to picture Rek, for Steffen had never met him, his thoughts turned to Vithos instead. It was easy to imagine the smile usually brightening the Elf’s face.
“Does this mean I can touch your shiny hair now?” Effie’s tone was playfully excited.
Reela let out a flattered giggle. “As much as you’d like, Eff.”
Zoke stood. “I’m very tired,” he said bluntly.
If it were anyone else, Steffen would’ve thought it was rude. But he’d learned to accept the Krepp’s differences without judgment.
“That’s fine, Zoke,” Reela answered for everyone. “Until tomorrow.”
Zoke just stood there, glancing at them uncomfortably. “I’m not sure where to rest,” he said, keeping his eyes lowered as if expecting them to point to the floor beneath the black claws on his feet.
“Cleve’s room, across from Steffen’s.” Reela stood and waved him over. “I’ll show you.”
Gabby stood as well. “I think I’m ready for bed, too.”
“You’re sleeping with me, you know,” Effie said.
Steffen felt his heart sink, noticing Gabby’s shoulders had drooped as well.
“I was going to stay with Steffen,” she said meekly.
Effie folded her arms in a motherly posture. “Don’t you think it’s a little too soon for that?”
Steffen’s eyes fell to the table in embarrassment. Is this conversation really happening?
His suspicion unfortunately was confirmed when Gabby replied, “We’ve known each other our whole lives. No, it’s not too soon.”
Suddenly he didn’t care anymore whether she was sleeping in his bed. “It’s alright, Gabby,” he blurted. “Stay with Effie tonight.”
Gabby’s head spun to him, hurt evident in her eyes.
She’s taking this to mean I don’t want her in my bed at all, he realized. His arms swung around to squeeze her to him.
“I just mean it’s better not to argue with Effie,” he whispered. “I’m not going anywhere. Don’t worry.”
A surge of pain ran through his jaw before his mind could grasp that she’d head-butted him.
“Bastial hell!” Gabby yelled, holding the top of her head.
Steffen was nursing his chin. “What was that?” he asked.
“I was trying to be romantic.” Gabby was grimacing as she rubbed her head. “Like the way you kissed me so suddenly. I wanted to do the same. Bastial hell, that hurt! You moved your head above mine right as I swung my head upward!” Her tone was accusatory.
A dull ache spread through his lower jaw. “That was all your fault,” he accused, expecting her to agree.
“It was somewhat your fault as well,” she argued back. Her other hand came up to her head as she rubbed it with both hands now.
“Not in the least!”
“I see you two are going to be quite the couple,” Effie said sarcastically.
Chapter 5:
EFFIE
Effie found it interesting how familiar it was to share a bed with her sister, even though everything had changed since they’d last done so. Gabby had slept in her bed the first night Effie’d moved into campus housing. But Effie had battled other people and Krepps since then. She’d also come to discover that the feeling of being unable to breathe came from anxiety and not a physical malady, making her relax somewhat now that she knew she wouldn’t suffocate during the attacks.
Unfortunately, this didn’t mean she was cured. All the same physical symptoms were there. In fact, as Gabby squirmed to get comfortable beside her, Effie’s chest was tightening.
Recently, this breathlessness made her feel like her lungs were frozen. The air had grown colder with the changing season, so when she breathed hard, searching for the satisfaction of a deep breath, there was an icy burn that filled her chest instead of relief.
Too much was on her mind—she knew this was the reason, her biggest worry being whether Reela would get over losing Vithos.
Reela finally seemed herself again tonight, but that doesn’t mean she’ll be the same in the morning.
“Why aren’t your eyes closed?” Gabby asked. “Aren’t you tired?”
Why does she care?
Then Effie realized what it was.
She sat up to give her sister a glare. She knew the moonlight coming in through the window was barely enough to illuminate her face.
“Stop waiting for me to fall asleep,” Effie ordered. “You’re not sneaking out of here to visit Steffen.”
“That’s not why I asked,” Gabby lied, flipping to face the other way.
In the morning, Gabby asked if she could use the bathhouse before she left. Effie didn’t see the harm. There were no showers in Oakshen, where her family was from. Access to the aqueducts was one of the treats of living in the Academy.
“Yes, but you need to go home right after because Father will be worried,” Effie said. And the last thing Steffen needs is you sticking around and distracting him.
Gabby reluctantly agreed with a grunt that Effie was quite familiar with by now.
Effie had taken a shower yesterday when she got back from the long trip home from the Slugari colony. And now, not even the threat of war could ruin her appetite for a hot meal from the dining hall. Her body was overdue for one.
Effie gave her sister her towel and left the room. Gabby followed, holding the towel out in front of her to inspect it.
“Thanks,” she muttered. “It actually looks clean—” She interrupted herself to scream. Zoke had startled her, ending up in the hallway just in front of Gabby when she’d lowered the towel.
Like Effie, her younger sister had a bad habit of becoming furious when startled. She lashed out at the Krepp, pounding her fist into his chest and cursing him.
A scowl formed on Zoke’s face, and he shoved her hard. Gabby bounced off the wall, falling to her knees, tears immediately moistening her eyes. She jumped up and hid behind Effie like a scared puppy.
For a frightful moment, Effie couldn’t tell if Zoke had intentions of coming after Gabby. He stared at her, his yellow eyes menacing.
Steffen and Reela bolted out of their rooms.
“What was that?” Steffen asked.
Effie wasn’t sure how to explain it, but something needed to be said. “Zoke startled Gabby, so she hit him. Then he shoved her into the wall.”
“Zoke!” Reela scolded. “Apologize to Gabby.”
“Why does everything require an apology?” Zoke muttered, a mix between frustration and confusion making his mouth twist.
Effie gulped as she watched her friend point at the Krepp in a chastising manner. Zoke easily could draw the knife on his belt. Effie even expected it to happen. Why else would he come into the hall equipped with it unless he meant to use it?
But to her surprise, Zoke grumbled, “Sorry.”
Gabby came around Effie. “I’m sorry, too.”
Zoke’s entire face twisted to match his mouth. “Why are you also apologizing? I don’t understand.”
“Because I’m sorry as well, just like you,” Gabby said.
Zoke shook his head and muttered something in Kreppen, turning his back on them to walk to the front of the house where his dirty bag rested against a table. He squatted down and stuffed stale bread into his mouth, his sharp teeth crunching into it loudly. The sound reminded Effie of a dog chewing on a bone.
“Don’t eat that,” Steffen said. “It’s old. Get some fresh food from the dining hall.”
The Krepp continued chewing loudly, crumbs spewing as he spoke. “But I have nothing to trade.”
Effie sighed. She knew it was going to take some effort to get used to Zoke being in the school, but she didn’t imagine it would be this hard.
“You don’t need to trade anything,” she said. “Come with me and I’ll explain everything as we walk there.”
“There will be food for me?” Zoke was skeptical.
“Yes.” Effie started toward the door, but Zoke didn’t budge.
From down the hall, Reela said, “I’m going back to bed. It’s still early.”
“I am as well,” Steffen added. “I haven’t slept in a bed in too long.”
Effie couldn’t help but notice her sister following Steffen into his room, but she was too hungry and busy with Zoke to worry about it.
“Are you coming?” Effie tried to wave the Krepp forward.
“Are you certain they’ll feed me?” Zoke clearly didn’t believe her. “Even though I have nothing to offer?”
“You fight for us now. That means you eat with us as well. It’s a long walk and I’m starving.” She could hear herself getting frustrated with him. “Come on!” It felt like she was trying to get a stubborn dog to leave a meal behind.
