Blood Storm: The Books of Blood and Iron
Page 33
The plants on the balcony were spilling into the room. Before their eyes, they expanded and grew, crawling over walls, across the floor, and even into the tiny fireplace. Flowers bloomed, and a riot of color spilled over the vines and branches. In seconds, the room became a humid green jungle.
“What—?” Danr gasped. “How is this—?”
But Aisa put a calming hand on his arm. “It is fine, my Hamzu. We are having visitors.”
Even as she spoke, a great bud grew at the end of one vine. It expanded to the size of a horse. A bloodred iris split open, and from the blossom stepped two women, one in a pale green cloak with a bag of seeds, and one in a green-brown cloak with a hoe. They looked sad.
“Nu and Tan,” Danr breathed.
“But not Pendra,” Aisa finished. Her heart beat quickly. What did this mean? Were they already here to bring her away?
“You wielded the sickle without flinching,” said Nu.
“You made the sacrifice,” said Tan.
There was a pause, and then both Gardeners seemed to realize there would be no third response. Tan pressed her lips together and Nu wiped at her eye with the corner of her cloak.
“What is this about?” Danr asked, then added hastily, “Great Ones.”
“I never had a chance to tell you,” Aisa said.
“He should have known from the beginning,” said Nu.
“From the start,” agreed Tan, and there was another pause.
“Should have known what?” Danr was clutching the blankets around his naked waist. “I don’t understand, Great Ones.”
“You did not bring Aisa to your last meeting with Death, so we had to make accommodations,” said Nu.
“Changes,” said Tan.
“To what?” asked Danr before they could pause.
“It would be easier to share with you directly,” said Nu. She reached into her bag and blew a handful of pollen into Danr’s face. He coughed, and then Aisa saw the knowledge come across his face.
“So you chose Aisa to replace one of you,” he said slowly. “Has it … is it time for her to go? Is that why Pendra isn’t here?”
Aisa realized she was clutching the blankets so hard her knuckles hurt. She had just found her happiness with Danr. How could she leave him now? Maybe they could continue their love anyway. But wouldn’t she become … immortal? Could an immortal Gardener love a mortal? There was so much she didn’t know.
“It has become complicated,” said Nu.
“Difficult,” said Tan.
“In what way?” Aisa asked tensely.
“You wielded the sickle without flinching,” Nu repeated. “You showed that you could do what needed to be done.”
“You have walked among the Stane, the Fae, and the Kin,” said Tan. “You have been powerful and powerless. You know slavery and freedom. You have seen strength and weakness. We settled on you as our new sister and set the others aside.”
Aisa put a hand to her mouth. “I’m not ready! I’m not—”
“It cannot happen now,” said Nu.
“Not yet,” said Tan.
Danr looked at the Gardeners, then at Aisa. “What do you mean? Why not?”
“Pendra,” said Nu and Tan together, “has disappeared.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steven Harper Piziks was born with a name no one can reliably pronounce, so he usually writes under the pen name Steven Harper. He sold a short story on his first try way back in 1990. Since then, he’s written twenty-odd novels, including the Clockwork Empire steampunk series.
When not writing, Steven teaches English in southeast Michigan. He also plays the folk harp, wrestles with his kids, and embarrasses his youngest son in public.
CONNECT ONLINE
stevenpiziks.com
twitter.com/stevenpiziks
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