The UnFolding Collection Three

by S. K. Randolph

  The next instant they arrived in his companion’s quarters. Almiralyn’s blonde beauty melted into Sparrow’s brunette loveliness. Allynae brushed a stray chestnut tendril from her face. Gathering her in his arms, he rested his chin on her hair and sighed. “Someday, it will just be us—you and me—with no need for Mira to intrude into our rare moments together.” He grinned.

  She kissed him lightly and pulled him down beside her on a cushioned bench. “Alli, you will never guess what Merrilea discovered. I am still trying to come to grips with what it means. I wish Almiralyn were here to help. She always knows how to unwind the mystery in things. I’m an artist. My brain doesn’t—”

  He gathered her hands in his. “Why don’t you just tell me what you learned? I can’t help if I don’t know what’s up.”

  Taking a breath, she began.

  “Merrilea found several pages regarding the disbanding and escape of the Eleo Preda from El Stroma. Some of the facts are pretty sketchy but here goes. By the time Rayn, the activist leader, realized she and her people could not hope to survive the onslaught from across the sea, there were less than three thousand Eleo Preda capable of making the long journey beyond the DéCussate to the Inner Universe. A Pheet Adolean traitor packed the people aboard three slave ships headed for three different galaxies. Rayn and her followers remained behind. Their goal—to destroy the continent of El SyrTundi and the Pheet Adole. We already know they escaped in a small craft that took them to TreBlaya. What we have now discovered is that one of the slave ships brought refugees to our galaxy and specifically to Clenaba Rolas, our solar system.” She grew quiet.

  Allynae frowned. “Is that all?”

  Sparrow leaned forward. Brown eyes bored into his. “In Clenaba Rolas, Eleo Predian refugees were accepted on three planets, Alli. Roahymn, Tao Spirian, and…” She inhaled. “KcernFensia.” Her exhaled breath brushed his cheeks.

  “KcernFensia. Do we know where they settled?”

  “In a rural area.”

  “Which continent?”

  “I don’t know. Merrilea said it was a small village surrounded by farmland.” She furrowed her brow in concentration. “I believe she called it Caleso.”

  “Caleso.” He came to his feet and traversed the cave and back. “Sparrow, what do you know about Gerolyn’s background?”

  “Very little. I had always thought she was from Myrrh until Almiralyn told us differently. What about your family? Do you know where they’re from?”

  He sat down and plucked at his mustache. “I need a chron circle in the research area. If what you have shared means what I think it means…”

  Two long strides carried him to the entrance. He paused with his hand on the heavy curtain. “Well, are you coming?”

  She laughed. “I’ll come, but I must shape Almiralyn.”

  “That’s fine. I like my sister, too. Let’s go.” He grinned, watched her shift, and offered his arm. “I suggest we walk to Tennisca like regular people. I could use some exercise and some time to think.”

  Allynae urged Almiralyn down the tunnel, his thoughts reviewing what she had shared and the ramifications if his conclusions were correct.

  Wilith stared into Elcaro’s Eye and muttered, “Almiralyn told me to watch the fountain. I want to see Renn and Torgin.” He frowned and rubbed his forehead. Years of following the rules warred with his desire to make his own choices.

  Gripping the fountain’s rim, he stared at the black of his hand resting on the pristine white of alabaster bowl. Black and white… My world is premised on the black and white of any given situation, no shades of gray . His reflection stared up at him. A high forehead, wide nose, dark eyes, and full-lipped mouth set him apart from many of his co-PPP officials. Why has it never occurred to me to trace my heritage, to search for my ancestral roots? Again, he massaged his forehead. I have access to the best library in this solar system. A smile erased the serious official on the water’s surface. A face filled with charm and intelligence gazed back at him, a face that reminded him of Torgin, of his son whose summer green eyes were so like Renn’s. His heart ached.

  He glanced back at the door. Almiralyn didn’t say I could not ask a question. Squaring his shoulders, he formulated his request. “Show me Renn Whalend and the Pentharian Yaro.”

  Rhythmic dripping from the statue’s palms continued, then ceased. A glimmer of light bobbed up and down at the bottom of the bowl. The sound of wind and rain filled the sanctuary. In a small cove, rain drops pock-marked the water with tiny circles. Wind tossed small white caps over the surface, where a sailboat danced on its anchor chain.

  The storm hit without warning. A deluge pounded the cabin and deck. Wind howled overhead, changing direction on a whim. Small white-capped waves rocked SeaBella , carrying her one way and then the other.

  In the galley, Renn fought to keep from throwing up. She swallowed the rising bile, threw an arm out to catch herself as the boat rolled, and cast an imploring look upward.

  Bibeed slid onto the bench beside her. “Here,” she offered a tin mug. “This should help.”

  Renn gulped down the bitter fluid and shuddered. “What was that?”

  Bibeed laughed. “Bitters and honey with a touch of my secret ingredient. Your stomach’ll settle soon.” She glanced at a porthole and frowned. “I don’t think this storm is the work of nature. Cove’s pretty well protected. The wind shouldn’t be blowing us around so much.”

  Gregos clambered down the two stairs between the upper and lower cabins. “If not nature, what?”

  Yaro loomed behind him. “Or who? Could The MasTer’s Reach still be stirring things up?”

  Tamosh’s head appeared above the dividing partition. “Could be some of the vapor bubbled to the top.”

  Bibeed squinted and wrinkled her brow. “Doesn’t feel right. It’s almost like the storm is protection. Can’t see into the cove from above or through the mouth. Like a smoke screen.” She grinned. “Or a storm screen.”

  Gregos caught Tamosh’s eye. “Marji. Wondered how long she could stay away.”

  Renn frowned. “Marji?”

  A rosy-cheeked woman with curly salt and pepper hair materialized in the galley. Her hazel eyes sparkled with good humor. Her wide smile wiped the chill from the cabin like a warm summer breeze. “Hello, Renn. I’m Marji Senndi.” She nodded to Bibeed and Cayled. “Nice to meet you, Bibeed and Cay.” Hands on hips, she gazed up at Yaro. “Haven’t had the pleasure of meeting a Pentharian.” She tapped her bottom lip with a finger. Triumph brightened her smile. “Oid eo daizo raa, Yaro.”

  The golden Pentharian bowed his head and touched his heart. “Oid eo daizo raa, Marji Senndi. I am honored to know you.”

  Gregos gave a huff of impatience. She turned to look him in the eye. “Calm yourself, Greg. Relevart sent me. Nice boat, by the way.” She smiled up at Tamosh. “Good work with the Reach. Now, I’ve news to share and plans to discuss.” She sat on the bench and scooched in next to Bibeed.

  The men shuffled and squirmed into places around the table. Yaro remained standing.

  Gregos looked at his sister. “Well, woman, Relevart must be pretty worried or ya’d still be keeping’ an eye on comin’s and goin’s in Atkis.”

  The rain, which had grown less intense, suddenly beat down with a vengeance. A gust of wind rocked the boat. Renn paled.

  Tamosh caught himself before he pitched off the end of the bench. “Why the storm?”

  Marji waved a hand. The wind ceased its howling and the beat of the rain turned to a gentle patter. “A man at the portal had one of The MasTer’s ampules. The storm’s to make sure The Reach didn’t find you.”

  Gregos slapped his knee. “Knew it was your work. Besides The Reach, why’d Relevart send ya?”

  “The MasTer has been alerted that Renn is not in TreBlaya. The VarTerels are concerned about her journey to Myrrh. It’s our job to get her there, and to keep the Mocendi confused about her whereabouts while we do.”

  Tamosh pulled at his goatee. �
��Do the men at the portal know?”

  Marji shook her head. “They still believe that they’re lookin’ for a boy and a girl.”

  Renn peered around Bibeed. “How can you help, Marji?”

  “I am what Trinugians call a Derrea. I see things that will happen in the future. Wolloh helped me to develop my skills in DiMensionery.” She held up a hand and wiggled her fingers. They disappeared. “My particular gift is illusion.” Her hand reappeared with rings on every finger. She blew on her hand, and the rings vanished. She smiled at Renn’s look of astonishment.

  Gregos jerked a thumb toward Yaro. “He went to take a look around. I’m bettin’ between the two o’ ya there’s a good plan.”

  A small smile brightened Marji’s face. “Yaro, we need a place to anchor beyond the portal. What did you discover?”

  “There are two such places within walking or flying distance.” He described the situation.

  Marji placed the palms of her hands together, intertwined her fingers, and gazed into the distance.

  Dripping water broke the picture into pieces, leaving Wilith wishing for more.

  In the research area, Sparrow and Allynae studied a map of KcernFensia. She had returned to her natural form. Merrilea rested in her quarters, Elae had gone to visit with Zugo, and Wilith stood watch in Veersuni. She sighed. Shifting shapes left her mentally and physically drained.

  Allynae glanced up and put an arm around her. “You’re doing a good job as Guardian, Sparrow. I know it’s tiring, but it won’t be for much longer.”

  The absent tap of his stylus drew her attention back to the map. “Which of the three continents did the Eleo Preda make their home?”

  He smoothed the map and pointed. “At the time they arrived, if my dates are correct, DosKaram was the least populated continent on the planet. The number of refugees that arrived in KcernFensia was small—just over a harshad. One harshad and twenty, as I recall. At the request of the High Priestess of the Temple of Mahyinaeh, the government offered the refugees land along the southwestern coast with the caveat that they use their exceptional agricultural skills to develop it. The majority of them accepted the offer. A small group petitioned for permission to farm on EeClarot, our largest continent. Again the High Priestess interceded. Four families took up residence in a coastal town called Caleso.”

  Sparrow thumbed through a book of birth records that lay beside the map. “You asked me if I knew Mother’s family history. Are you thinking what I am thinking?”

  “That your mother might be part Eleo Predian? The idea has occurred to me.”

  “How can we find her? We don’t have her real name. She took AsTar from Standin when we moved to his farm in the Central Mountains.”

  Sparrow sat down next to him. His hand rested on a record book of births on the KcernFensian mainland. A name caught her eye. “Alli, let me see the ledger.” She ran a finger down the page and frowned. What was that name?

  Allynae looked over her shoulder. “What have you found?”

  “Not sure.” She sat back and closed her eyes. A memory surfaced.

  The chair in Mira’s kitchen faced the window. Sun poured in and patterned the floor with light. Karrew sat on his perch, grooming his feathers. Majeska curled up in her lap while her mother braided her hair. She was ten, bright-eyed, and torn between sadness and excitement. Her father was taking them to Thera to live in the Central Mountains. She loved Myrrh. “I don’t want to live on Thera. I want to stay with Mira.” Her mother kissed the top of her head, whispered a word in her ear, and tapped her forehead. “I put a secret in your mind. When you need it, it will surface.” Two turnings later, they left Myrrh.

  She examined the list again. One word jumped at her, one word—her mother’s whispered secret.

  Allynae’s steady gaze calmed her sudden agitation. “It’s alright, Sparrow. I’m here.”

  She drew an invisible line beneath a name. “My mother’s surname is Dakarai.”

  Allynae read from a list entitled Eleo Predian Refugee Births. “Gerolyn Eleebanna Dakarai & Tissent Xan Dakarai born to Edina Eleebanna Dakarai and Xander Abadi Dakarai in the Eleo Predian colony of Caleso on the Continent of EeCarlot, KcernFensia.” He held her close. “Your grandparents are full blooded Eleo Preda, so is your mother. Our daughters are half.”

  She squirmed in his arms and cupped his stubbled chin in her hands. “Is that why The MasTer wants Ari and Brie?”

  He gripped her shoulders and pulled her to him. His kiss left her breathless but did not erase the question.

  “Well?”

  “Sparrow, I don’t know why she wants the girls. My best guess is that their heritage has something to do with it.”

  “And your heritage? What do you know about your ancestry? Have you ever met your grandparents?”

  “Timon Clarot Nadrugia was my grandfather’s name. It’s KcernFensian. Our family goes back to the original colonists.”

  Sparrow frowned. “If your father was Timon Clarot, where did your middle name come from?”

  It was Allynae’s turn to frown. “I’m sure Walerain is a family name.”

  She walked to a case of birth ledgers and pulled two. “I’ll look through one and you look through the other.” Lowering them to the table she resumed her seat.

  Allynae shrugged. “I don’t mind looking, but it will be a waste of time. We have other things to research.”

  Sparrow flipped through the pages in her ledger. “I don’t expect any surprises, but I need to be sure for the girls.” She began the laborious work of reading every name and date.

  The soft patter of bare feet penetrated her concentration. With only seconds to spare, she assumed the Guardian’s shape. Elae rounded the corner.

  “Wilith would appreciate it if you joined him in Veersuni, Almiralyn. He’s seen something that concerns him.”

  Slipping her notes between the pages of the ledger, she pushed back her chair and stretched. “Alli, want to stay here or take a break?”

  “I could use a different focus.” He marked his place and followed her along the corridor of glass cases. “What do you suppose Wilith has seen?”

  Almiralyn climbed the stairs to the Reading Room. “We’re about to find out.”

  As they traversed the room, Wilith pulled open the door. “The fountain has grown quiet, but maybe it will show more to you, Mira.” He stepped aside.

  A chorus of howls echoed through Veersuni. A sonorous stream of notes erased them. Wilith hurried to the fountain. A Water ConDria hovered in front of a skyscape of middle-night stars.

  Brielle’s shift to the ConDria sent a chill of dread through Esán. He turned to Relevart. “She can’t fight them all. We have to help her.”

  Bushy brows slammed together. “What do you suggest, boy?”

  Ari joined them. “We need another ConDria.”

  Elf pointed. Seven Astican flew in an ever-decreasing circle around Brie. Relevart raised his staff and whistled a series of notes.

  Dropping below the Astican, the ConDria swooped and glided over the group gathered around the VarTerel. Drops of water rained from her outstretched wings. Where they touched, changes began. Esán caught his breath as fluid coolness coursed over his body. Ari’s yelp of delight preceded her shift. Elf pressed aqueous wings against the air and followed in the ConDria’s wake. More water droplets fell.

  Almiralyn began to shift. Teva ran forward, her face lifted. A drop ran down her cheek. The heavens echoed with the ConDrias’ cries.

  Seven Astican hovered, faces filled with hate. Brie streaked for the leader. It flew to meet her, inhaled, puckered its rosebud lips, and blew. Folding her wings, she plummeted through the glittering darkness of Mittkeer. A blast of scorching flames blazed past her into limitless time.

  Esán raced straight for the Astican’s back. Brie soared up its line of trajectory aiming for its belly. Water enveloped it. A shriek of shock and pain shook Mittkeer. The screams grew louder, diminished to gurgling, and ceased. A final gurgle sent
the creature plunging into forever with no remembrance that it had ever been.

  Henri observed the battle, entranced by the beauty of six magnificent ConDria. On either side of her, Wolloh and Relevart focused their combined power to keep them in flight. A fluid beak clamped around the throat of an Astican. Water poured down its scaled chest. A cry of pain ended in a smothered silence. Another Astican fled in the direction of the tear, the form of a small bird replacing the huge body. Nomed shifted. The great horned owl swooped into action, caught the bird in its talons, and crushed its tiny bones. Somay’s blue heron joined the fray. Bodies of brown and shimmering blue wove in and out, dodging, dipping, and banking to avoid collisions or to close in tighter. Karrew ascended into their midst, his sharp beak finding its mark.

  Three Astican attempted to escape certain death. Owl and heron blocked their retreat. Two ConDria closed in from behind. A panicked backward glance sent one Astican into the shape of a black bird. Fear hurtled it toward the tear. The long beak of the heron snapped shut around it. The tiny body fell into the abyss of sky and stars.

  Wings of water wrapped the others in an embrace of death. A chorus of shrieks sliced the air. Two Astican shriveled and vanished. Only two remained to continue the fight.

  A ConDria faltered, swooped lower, and landed. Esán collapsed at Wolloh’s feet. Somay flew to his side, returned to Human form, and knelt beside him.

  Above, two ConDria cut between the remaining Astican, trapping one within their fluid wings. Twisting and thrashing, it struggled against wave upon wave of water until its shrieks ceased, and it dissolved into nothing. The last of the seven streaked toward the tear. Raven and great horned owl gave chase.

  Relevart raised his staff. “Let it go.”

  Nomed and Corvus materialized beside him. Froetise glowed at the tip of his staff. A shaft of light shot after the escaping Astican, sliced its wingtip as it exited Mittkeer, and, like a welder’s torch, mended the rent in the fabric of time.