by PJ McDermott
Hickory bit her lip. She’d need to be more careful in future. Her guise as an Avanauri citizen would only go so far in protecting her identity. “Just a figure of speech, Albetius. I have never seen any with such an unusual appearance.”
She was saved from further explanation by a commotion. The crowd parted to let a small party of Lonilki through. They stopped a few yards from the visitors and inclined their heads sharply. One of the group stepped forward and began to speak in halting Avanauri. “Welcome strangers to this land. Balor welcomes you, and I welcome you. My name is Lon, and I am the overseer of my people.”
Another in the welcome party chattered at his leader’s side in an unknown language. Lon inclined his head towards the speaker then spoke again. “I am reminded of my duty. Perhaps you would honor us by sharing a meal, and then you can tell us of your journey and where you are bound.”
Lon’s complexion fluctuated between light green and bright yellow as he waited for their response. Hickory stared at this display, stunned.
Albetius touched her arm. “I am king but no longer ruler. You are the leader of this expedition. You must accept this offer of hospitality, Hickory. To say nothing would be an affront.”
Hickory swallowed and raised herself to her full height. “It is a privilege to be here. My name is Hickory-sèra-Lace. I am the leader of these travelers, and I accept your invitation. If possible, we’d like to rest and freshen up before we eat. It has been a long journey.”
“Of course,” said Lon. His skin glowed with orange and pink hues. “We rarely have visitors to Lonilki these days, but by chance, others have arrived here recently from the other side of the world. You may share with them.” He motioned for them to follow him.
The hut felt pleasantly cool after the warmth of the day, with large shutters at opposite ends propped open for ventilation. Most of the space was taken up by wooden cots with rough woolen blankets strewn on top. Some had clothes and personal items stacked on top. Hickory presumed those at the far end of the hut were unused and threw her pack down on an empty bed.
“They are curious people,” she said later, standing by the door with a mug of hot java in her hand. “That skin and the colors! The different combinations must signal different emotions and feelings. Orange and pink might show embarrassment.”
Saurab joined her and they watched a group of children playing in the dust. “And green and yellow could be nervousness, or it might be excitement. Difficult to tell just from looking at those blank faces.”
“Yes, to us. But if you know the code, I’ll bet it’s easier to read than body language. When you think about it, it’s a relatively advanced method of communicating. Not much chance of misinterpreting how someone feels.” It was in some ways as effective as her empathic skills, which these people didn’t appear responsive to. The structure of their nervous system must be entirely different, with emotions keyed to external displays.
“I wonder who’s staying here with us?” said Albetius as they wandered back inside. “They may have news of Feruwe.”
“You miss your home, Albetius?” said Saurab. “I often think of mine. It’s a long way away, and my people have probably forgotten me by now.”
Hickory smiled. The diminutive Dark Sun had fled his home planet after breaking his partner, Jakah, out of jail. She doubted the peacekeepers of Epsilon would have forgotten him.
The front door opened, and a group of people was silhouetted against the light. Hickory screwed up her eyes, trying to make them out.
The Teacher
A familiar voice said, “Hickory, we meet again. It is good to see you once more.” The figure materialized into that of the Teacher.
Hickory’s heart rate zoomed. “Kar!”
The naur whom she’d at one time thought could be the Son of God held his arms out.
Hickory rose to embrace him. “What are you doing here? I was told you were in the capital.” Her body tingled and she felt the blood rise up her neck.
“I thought it best to leave after Sequana arrived. He and I have a disagreeable history.” Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth had been captured several times by Sequana during the Pharlaxian revolution and had been earmarked to be burned at the stake as an example to other ‘heretics’.
He held her at arm’s length, studying her face. “Let me look at you.” He smiled, and it was like a light in her heart. “You look well. But what are you doing here in Lonilk?” he asked.
Hickory told him about the sword of Connat and her quest to recover it, and how she had become separated from Jess, Gareth, and Jakah. “Did you hear anything in Kandromena about what the Pharlaxian is up to?”
The Teacher shook his head. “Only that he has taken control of the government and that the king has since fled.” He looked at Albetius and Saurab. “Introduce me to your companions, Hickory.”
Hickory raised an eyebrow. I have a feeling I don’t have to. This naur already knows who they are. “This is Saurab, an associate of mine; and this is King Albetius, the rightful ruler of Erlach. Friends, this is Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth, also known as the Teacher to his followers.”
Saurab nodded slightly. “Honored,” he mumbled.
Albetius flashed the Teacher a keen glance. “The king has returned, seer, or at least he will have when we find a passage to my kingdom. What can you tell me of my people? What do they say of me?”
“They mourn your passing. They suffer under the rule of Sequana and his nauri warriors. The young naurs must be given up to his army or their families go hungry. Many have chosen to starve.”
The king’s chin rose with pride. “They will not choose serfdom, of that I have no doubt.”
“Then they will die unless you can free them.”
Albetius flushed darkly. “I would not wish that for them, and I will do what I can to rescue them from the tyrant.”
Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth stared at him a moment then nodded. “I believe you will.”
The evening meal was held in the open at a long table, there being no place in the village large enough to accommodate all the guests and dignitaries. Hickory sat with the Teacher on one side and the overseer, Lon, on the other. Saurab and Albetius were seated together on the opposite side of the table. The Teacher’s followers and the village officials completed the party of eighteen. The food was brought to the table by multi-hued citizens—Hickory couldn’t tell whether these were male or female—and the tabletop was soon covered with plates of various local delicacies. A large dish of barbecued fish was delivered to one end where the Loniki were congregated. Hickory inhaled the aroma longingly but knew that her altered digestive system would not be able to handle the rich food and it would make her very sick to eat it. Just as well Gareth isn’t here. I’d have trouble restraining him. She felt a pang in her heart. She missed her two companions keenly and could only hope they had survived.
The Teacher, who was in discussion with Lon, now turned to Hickory. “There is no need for worry. You will see your companions soon. Jess and Gareth are safe.”
Hickory’s face flushed. She stared at him. “Are you reading my mind? And how could you know whether they are safe or not?”
Laughter lines appeared at the corners of his eyes. “You of all people should know something of my powers by now. You, yourself, are an empath of some ability.”
She realized her mouth was hanging open and she closed it with a snap. “You have empathic ability?” Of course. Why hasn’t it occurred to me before now?
“Yes, it is similar to your own sixth sense, but while yours is limited—”
“I can project to more than a mile by using my SIM as an amplifier.” She blushed again. “Sorry…”
“Yes, I know you can do this. But you haven’t learned how to use it correctly even so. Anger and desolation fuel the neural pathways in your brain and makes them more receptive to your emotions. When you learn how to harness the healing power of love, you will magnify your ability a hundred fold. You will be able to influence the actions of all creatures, not
just the lower life forms.”
That’s impossible! She covered her mouth with her hand as the Teacher laughed again.
“With such power comes great responsibility. I promise not to pry. Sometimes, when the emotion is so intense, it is hard for me to block it out,” he said.
Her heart pounded in her ears. There were some thoughts, including those she’d had of him, she did not wish to share. If he sensed this, he gave no sign.
He pinched the bridge of his nose with thumb and fingers. “I can feel Jess and Gareth’s presence, enough to be sure they are alive.”
“Are they well? Were they injured in the avalanche?” She held her breath.
He placed a hand on her arm and smiled, sending her pulse racing again. “They are concerned about you, as you are for them. You must trust that you will see them again. But your new friends.” He nodded across the table. “Both are troubled. The little one does his best to send his thoughts elsewhere. There is a dark secret there though I know not what.” He pursed his lips and frowned. “No doubt it will reveal itself in time. The other one—the king who is not king—he is easier to read. He is afraid, but not for his life as he should be. No, he is afraid of failure. It eats at him.”
Hickory glanced across the table. She had come to enjoy the company of both her companions but did not fully trust either. She couldn’t say why that was so, but the Teacher’s words strengthened her doubts.
Saurab glanced across and saw her watching him. He raised his eyebrows in inquiry, but she shook her head and mouthed, “Nothing,” to him.
Albetius leaned over the table and said to the Teacher, “Pardon my bluntness, seer, but do you intend to stay here or will you be returning to Kandromena? My friends and I are eager to get to Feruwe as soon as we may, but we do not know the path.”
The Teacher placed his spoon on his empty plate and said, ‘I fear we have stayed overlong and have taxed the hospitality of our hosts, although they would never admit that.” He smiled at Lon, who protested, shaking his head and radiating purple. “I am of a mind to return to Feruwe in the next day or so. If you can wait that long, I will guide you there.”
Hickory, watching Saurab, saw a brief gleam of triumph in his eyes before he lowered them to his soup.
The next day, Hickory was keen to find out more about the Lonilki people before resuming her journey.
She was fascinated by how different the children were from the others she had come across on the planet, so Lon took her to visit a family who had just given birth. The patriarch welcomed them to his household. Inside, Hickory was surprised at how cozy the bedroom looked. In addition to an assortment of luxurious carpets and polished wood furniture, a small altar stood against the wall on which stood an icon, fresh flowers, and a burning candle. The air was filled with a sweet-smelling fragrance that Lon explained had a calming effect on the newly arrived baby and its mother, and in turn allowed them to bond more fully.
The female Lonilki lay with her newly born beside her on a bed covered in scattered throws and furs. The patriarch leaned over his spouse and caressed her face fondly, then lifted the baby from her side and carried it over to Hickory.
Hickory was flustered, but one look at the sleeping infant calmed her. “Is it male or female?” she asked as she accepted it into her arms.
“It is a terlo—a young male,” said Lon.
“Does he have a name?”
Lon spoke with the patriarch then said, “He is to be called Carlet, which is the father’s birth name. So he will be known as Carlet-terlo until he becomes head of his family.”
“Hello, little Carlet-terlo,” whispered Hickory, stroking the child’s face. The infant responded to her touch. Bright blue eyes stared at her, and its skin radiated a soft pink. She unfolded the blanket and saw the scar on its abdomen. Covering the child again, she handed it back to the father, who placed it in the arms of the mother.
She asked Lon the questions that burned at her most. “How do the Lonilki give birth, and how do they feed young Carlet-terlo?”
Lon’s face shone with orange and pink fluctuating signals, and his hands moved in an agitated manner. “This is an intimate subject and is discussed only between the females of our species.” He drew in a deep breath of perfumed air. “But, because you are not of our kind and you are our guest and a friend of the Teacher, I will explain what I can.” The colors on his face and hands deepened as he began. “We do not give birth like the Avanauri, or the Erlachi. Our young are born live from the mother’s body—in a similar way to the auroch and the violator—”
Hickory quickly intervened to reassure him. “I have heard of other people from the land beyond the Scarf who are born into this world in similar fashion. It is not as strange as you might think. There is no shame in this.”
Lon’s coloring transformed to a soft pink, tinged with green. “Others think differently, but I am pleased that you do not believe us inferior because of it.” His head nodded up and down for several seconds, then he continued. “If you know of others like us, you may also know that the mother gives of her own food to sustain the child.”
Hickory stared at him without comprehending, and then it dawned on her. The mother feeds her child by regurgitation.
She bowed low and said to Lon, “Please express my thanks to the family for allowing me entry into their home and to share their joy at this special time.”
Decisions
“Ha!” Gareth stamped his foot and grunted as he thrust his sword towards the beast’s massive head. “Didn’t Albetius say it was too cold up here for violators?”
“Must be a mild winter because these fellas don’t seem to mind,” said Jess, swinging her sword in front of a second black beast.
The violator bared its long, sharp canine teeth and roared at her. Jess had already dispatched one of the three with a lightning stab through its yellow rotating eye. It lay on the snow below them surrounded by a pool of dark red blood, which made the remaining animals more cautious.
Jakah, Gareth, and Jess stood side by side on an eight-foot-high ledge facing the attackers. Most of the time, the animals seemed content to pad back and forth below them. Occasionally, one or other would reach up and swing an extended claw at them.
“How long do you think they’ll keep this up?” said Jess.
Jakah stepped back to avoid another attack. “I wish I knew. I don’t know enough about these creatures’ habits. It could be days if they’re hungry and stubborn enough.” He hacked at a paw as it flashed past at knee height, missing it by inches.
“They’re quick,” said Gareth admiringly. “And patient. Eventually, we’re going to grow weary and one of us will get caught.”
Jess gritted her teeth and nodded. “We don’t have the time to wait, anyway. I say we take the fight to them while we’re still fresh.”
“Now?” said Gareth.
One beast loped away, leaving deep tracks in the snow. It turned and sprinted towards them. As it ate up the ground, the muscles on its chest and neck rippled under the sooty black coat. The violator’s hind legs contracted like a coiled spring and then it hurled its bulky frame into the air.
“Now!” said Jakah and leaped off the rock. He swung his sword around and slashed at the back of the violator as it twisted past him in the air.
Jess and Gareth followed instinctively, landing on either side of the second creature. It spun around to face Jess. She swayed backward to avoid the attack and tripped over a hidden rock. The beast snarled and pounced.
Gareth leaped forward, his sword held high. He plunged it point first into the neck of the violator. The beast screamed and twisted in the air, skewered by Gareth’s sword.
Jess rolled frantically away from the creature as it fell dead beside her.
The last violator stalked Jakah, darting one way then the other, cautious of the Dark Sun’s blade, which had opened a wound in its back.
Jess scrambled to her feet and charged at the creature. Her sword pierced its flank and it
reared into the air.
Jakah strode forward and swung his sword, severing its head and showering him and Jess in the blood of the creature.
“Not bad,” said Gareth, “Not bad at all.” He was impressed by the skill of both.
“Not bad?” said Jess. “Look at me.” She stood with her hands dangling out from her sides, dripping blood.
Gareth stifled a laugh. “Better it’s the animal’s blood than yours, Mother. But it will smell after a while. Time for a cold bath, eh?”
The river was only a few hundred yards from the ledge. They chipped the ice away from the bank, stripped off their outer garments and washed them, then waded in until the freezing water came up to their waist.
“Last one under makes the dinner,” said Gareth as he submerged.
Sitting by a fire, later, they talked about their plight. They’d searched for the cave the whole day until they’d been disturbed by the violators, but they hadn’t found any sign of it. Now Gareth was all for returning to Crodal to organize a proper search party.
Jess disagreed. “We might never find them—this is a huge area to search—and by the time we get back…” She shook her head.
“Well, what do we do then?” Gareth threw his hands in the air. “We can’t just sit around here, hoping they’ll be okay.”
“We continue with the mission,” said Jakah, reaching for his mug that rested on a hot stone near the fire. He took a sip, not looking at them. “That’s what the admiral would expect, and that’s what Hickory would want us to do.”
Gareth snorted. “How would you know what Hickory would want?” A tear squeezed out of his eye and he brushed it roughly away.
