by Dale Furse
‘So he’s supposed to have left them something in his will, or whatever, to say thank you for doing what he was supposed to do?’
‘I think Dar-tern might have had a say in what happened to you, don’t you?’ Mekie said. ‘Anyway you can’t blame him just like you don’t blame Lesel.’
She shook her head once – hard. Mekie was right. Even if her mother’s father was a loving man, her father would never have let Nell live on Gramlax or anywhere else at that time. ‘Have you checked these people out?’ Nell wanted to know. ‘What if they’re up to no good?’
‘They’re not,’ Sam said. ‘In fact you’ve already met the bloke, Rasar.’
‘When?’
‘He was the canvas trader you and Mum stopped at when you were looking for a present for Tish. His partner is Lee-dania.’
Nell smiled. Another mixed partnering. ‘Ah, yes.’ Although he had seemed rude to her at first, Nell’s belly would have sizzled if something was wrong with him, and she remembered that he had a kind face. ‘So what’s your plan, Mek?’
‘I’m just going to refuse to go back to Linque with her. She can’t physically make me, and like you, Nell, I’m old enough to make up my own mind what I want to do and I don’t want to choose a career yet. I haven’t made up my mind about what I want to do. Mother wants me to be a physician like her, but I’m not sure I want to.’
Nell giggled. ‘I see you’ve worked it all out, but how are you going to deal with your angry mother?’
Mekie shrugged. ‘She’ll get over it. Anyway, if you find a way to stop all that rubbish on Grarlon, she’ll be so busy with her partnership to Tanat that I should miss out on too many lectures.’
‘So, not only do I have to avert a universal war, I have to make sure you get off lightly.’
Sam laughed. ‘That about sums it up.’ He hugged Nell. ‘We know you can do it and you know if you need us at any time, we’ll drop what we’re doing and help you.’
‘Thanks, big bro,’ she said, putting as much sarcasm in her tone as she could. ‘But please be careful with anyone you don’t know, even my grandfather’s friends.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Mekie said. ‘We will.’
‘Okay.’ Nell felt a bit better with Mekie going with Sam. He trusted people too easily, but Mekie’s suspicious nature would keep them safe.
They chatted and played cards to wile away the time. Tanat arrived, and once he learned that Dar-Seldra was in her room, he went straight there. Sometime later, Carl and Annet arrived and Nell questioned them about their new friends.
‘Rasar and Lee-dania had met your grandfather’s cousins on Gramlax not long after you first visited Corl. The Wintars told them about the gift your grandfather left in their safe keeping until he returned from the war.’
Nell frowned. It didn’t make sense.
‘Ah,’ Annet said. ‘You’re wondering why he would agree to fight against Phibs.’
Nell nodded. ‘That, and why they would tell Rasar and his partner such a thing. They didn’t know me or my family then.’
‘Rasar thinks it was because of his mixed partnering. They seemed to warm to Lee-dania from their first meeting. I suppose they thought a mixed partnership would have more chance of coming into contact with your family than they had.’
‘Why didn’t they just find Lesel and tell her? She is my grandmother, after all.’
‘Your grandfather had made them give their word that they wouldn’t. He didn’t want her to know that he was joining the great war. He believed she would not understand his reasons and he couldn’t tell her.’
‘Did he hate Phibs that much?’
‘He didn’t join the war effort exactly. Not to fight anyway. He joined a group who planned to campaign for peace throughout the planets.’ Annet’s eyes moved to the window. ‘They were found out by the Corl Elders and they labelled him and others like him traitors. That’s why the most vocal of the group were killed.’ She glanced around the room before sitting in the armchair. ‘Kale isn’t here, is he?’
‘No. He went to get Tish and Lesel,’ Nell said.
‘There is also a rumour that Kandar’s father was the instigator of that crusade and he came to the same end at the hands of the Corl Elders. The remaining crusaders feared for their lives so kept silent about their suspicions. But after you exposed the Elders for their cruelty, the rumours about their involvement in the deaths of the crusaders surfaced anew.’
Nell smiled. She could easily believe that. She knew the Lead Elder, Varlor, was responsible for the death of Kandar’s mother, but Kandar had never mentioned his father’s demise or how he died. Her smile faded. Was he ashamed that his father had joined the crusaders? No. He would have done the same thing if he were older and knew about the Elders’ involvement at the time. There had to be some other explanation why he never spoke of his father.
‘And, Mekie,’ Carl said. ‘Phibs also came to an end in the same way.’
‘My family never heard of anything like that,’ Mekie said, in her usual sceptical way.
Nell shot her a shut up look. Mekie always reverted to her former personality every time someone mentioned her family. They thought they knew everything and they believed they were never wrong. To their way of thinking, if they hadn’t heard anything about the Phibs’ part in the crusade, it couldn’t possibly be true.
‘We can only tell you what we were told,’ said Carl. ‘No one knows who the Phibs involved were. You’re tired,’ he said to Annet. ‘I’ll make us a cuppa.’
Sam followed his father into the kitchen.
Nell could tell something was on Sam’s mind and it wasn’t the great Phib-Wintar war. He’d been silent throughout Annet’s revelations and he was usually full of questions. She glanced at Mekie. Huh. As her eyes followed Sam into the kitchen, she looked like a dingo, unsure whether to risk coming out of the rainforest to the open beach. She knew what Sam was up to: More secrets.
Nell went to the window. Her cousin’s love for Sam was obvious. Mekie was less than a year older than Nell, but she seemed a lot older at that moment. Oh, Nell enjoyed the attention of boys, even liked a little making out with some of them, but to go any further…no. She wasn’t ready for that.
However, she liked it when some boys befriended Mekie just to get closer to her. Heh. Mekie wasn’t impressed when that happened, though. It didn’t matter anyway. Nell had something more important to think about, and rescuing her father and Kandar was the most important of all.
Nell just wished everyone would get there so she could return to Gramlax. She just hoped Kale would take her again. If Deesc could help her save her father and Kandar, she’d swallow her pride and beg him if she had to. Something wasn’t right with the Grarl revolution. From what she’d heard about the leader, Compore, he sounded like a nice guy and a loyal servant to the king. What could have changed that?
Just as Carl had finished putting the giant tea jug and cups on the dining room table, Lesel, Tish and Kale arrived.
Readying herself for her great-grandmother’s admonishments, Nell breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of her face. Although she looked concerned, she was smiling as she headed for Nell. Accepting Lesel’s embrace and hugging her in return, a strange, but almost magical silent communication passed between them. Nell knew Kale had told her everything. She also knew Lesel supported her in her endeavours to learn all she could about Wexkia and the Wexkians. As they parted, Nell glanced at Tish. She didn’t appear angry or upset either.
‘You look surprised, Nell,’ Lesel said.
Tish chuckled.
‘They made me tell them everything,’ Kale said with an apologetic look.
‘I sort of figured that,’ Nell said.
‘We do understand you are old enough to make your own decisions, Nell,’ Lesel said. ‘All we ask is that you let us know where you’re going next time.’
‘I can do that,’ she said, and grinned. ‘Would you like some tea?’
‘Thank you.’
‘Tish?’ Nell asked.
As Tish nodded, Dar-Seldra and Tanat entered the living room.
‘We’ll pour the tea,’ Dar-Seldra said. ‘Clear off the coffee table, Mekie.’
Nell sidled up to Lesel, and whispered, ‘When were you going to tell me about my grandfather?’
‘Not now, Nell. We’ll discuss my life partner another time.’ And with that, she walked away from Nell to talk to Tish, who was standing on the other side of the sofa.
Fine. Don’t talk to me then. Nell wandered about the room as everyone else tried to fill in the time, chatting about nonsensical things, until the real conversation began.
There was a slight prickle in the atmosphere, though Nell was sure it emanated from each person for different reasons. Mekie and Sam didn’t even try to hide the way they felt about each other. Carl and Annet watched them, exchanging concerned looks. Lesel and Tish stood a little away from the others, talking quietly together.
As Nell’s eyes found Kale, he tilted his mosaic-lined head to the side and nodded as if he wanted to get her attention; at least, she thought that was what he was doing by his strange head positions. He gave a shake of his head and trotted over to her.
‘Are you blind?’ he said. ‘Deesc has been here for ages.’
Nell spun her head around the room and found him, in the corner to her right. Although he was in Eldorap form and smiling a vacant black smile, she knew his real grin underneath mocked her.
He pushed his body off the wall and moved close to Nell. Too close. She stepped to the side, but the window stopped her going any further. ‘Kale can see you,’ she whispered without looking at him, in case someone was watching.
‘Yes. I let him,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘It’s not as though he’s never seen me before, is it?’
She straightened at the smell of cinnamon and cloves filling her senses. Why did he have to stand so close? She didn’t like the way her brain clouded over when he did that.
Kale had a grin from ear to ear. ‘I’m glad to see you again.’
‘And I you, young Corl.’ Deesc took Nell’s hand in his and squeezed. ‘I’m pleased you decided to go back to Gramlax, Nell. Although now that I’m here there is no need. Pren and Melt understand and know what they have to do.’
‘What do you mean?’ Nell said.
‘We need to go somewhere we can talk.’
His tone was serious, not a hint of amusement. Nell shot Kale a worried look. Maybe he was mad that so many people knew about him.
‘I’m not mad. However, I am disappointed.’
Nell spun to face him. ‘Stop doing that.’
He shrugged. ‘Learn to block me.’
She had no comeback for that. Jerk.
Lesel had appeared next to Kale and was studying Nell. ‘Who are you talking to?’ she demanded. ‘And don’t say, Kale.’
‘Don’t say anything,’ Deesc said. ‘We have to talk first.’
‘I can’t,’ Nell said out of the corner of her mouth.
‘You can,’ Kale said. ‘I’ll let them know Deesc is here to talk with you.’
‘Deesc?’ Lesel said. ‘The Wexkian is here?’
Nell grabbed Deesc’s hand to pull him down the hall. Glancing at Lesel, Nell let go of Deesc. She would look silly hanging onto someone her grandmother couldn’t see. ‘I’ll be in my bedroom,’ she said, and walked out of the room.
Once inside her room, Deesc changed into his real form, closed the door and pushed her back to sit on the bed. ‘Do you think you can listen to me without interrupting?’
‘Very funny. Of course I can.’
‘We’ll see.’ He mumbled the words, but Nell heard them loud and clear.
She bit back a retort. Why give him the pleasure? She gazed at him. His eyes weren’t amused.
CHAPTER NINE
DEESC’S UMBER EYES GAZED AT NELL. UGH. SHE hated that. Even if he didn’t physically read her mind it was as if he knew her as well as her father did. ‘Well?’ she asked. ‘What are you staring at?’
He cleared his throat. ‘I had nearly decided you weren’t ready yet,’ he said. ‘However, Melt kindly reminded me of all you have done for others and for the Wexkian name. He and Pren believe you are ready and I trust Pren with my life. Melt is your special connection and knows you better than any other. That is why I’m here. I want to take you to Eldorapal and guide you into becoming complete. Are you ready for that?’
The last sounded more like a challenge than a question to Nell. ‘I’ve been ready since I first found out what I was,’ she said.
‘Good. We can now inform your family.’ He moved to the door.
‘Wait. Aren’t you worried that so many people will know about you?’
‘I was. However, I know how much they care about your safety. They understand you could be in danger if they exposed my existence. I also realise they are worried about the burgeoning war and the safety of your father and Kandar. Whether they admit it or not, they look to you for answers. Perhaps, once you are fully educated, we can find those answers together.’
Nell liked the sound of that. He was talking as if once she attained her true self he and she would be equals. Yes. She liked that very much. The one thing she wanted was to bring her father and Kandar back, but to do that, she had to be a true Wexkian.
‘Okey dokey,’ she said. ‘Let’s go.’
He laughed. ‘I didn’t think it would be that easy.’
Nell shrugged, and hmphed. ‘It doesn’t matter what I think of you, we are the same, and all I want is to help Dad, Kandar, and hopefully, the Grarls. I also want to know what it’s like to be the real me.’
‘Makes sense. However, are you going to tell me how you really feel about me?’
‘I’m going to reserve my judgement until I know you better, but you haven’t made much of an impression on me so far.’
Hurt filled his face. Nell knew he was faking it, but he looked so cute at that moment, she could have hugged him. Not yet. Instead, she said, ‘Grow up, baby.’ And swept through the door without a backward glance. Not yet? What am I thinking? She was halfway down the hallway before he caught up to her. Huh. That stopped him for a second. She smiled. She’d have to remember to call him a baby more often.
Nearing the end of the hall, Tanat’s voice growled in the air. ‘Cay-Meka, do not speak to your mother that way.’
Nell stopped, and said, ‘It doesn’t sound like it’s going so hot for Mekie.’
‘She is strong willed; however, so is her mother.’
‘That’s very true.’
When they entered the living room, all eyes stared at them except Mekie and Dar-Seldra who stood facing each other, not a forearm’s length between them. Mekie, red faced, had her hands on her hips. Whatever was going on she wasn’t going to budge.
Tanat stood up and put his hand on Dar-Seldra’s shoulder. ‘We have company.’ He nodded his head at Nell and Deesc.
Dar-Seldra glanced at them and did a double take. Without taking her eyes off them, she said, ‘We will talk about this later, child.’
Mekie flopped down beside Sam on the opposite sofa, gaping at Deesc.
‘Everyone? This is Deesc.’ Nell wished Mekie would stop gawking at him as if he was a famous movie star. He already had a big enough head.
‘Please, please sit down,’ Dar-Seldra said, waving her hand towards two empty chairs.
Deesc ambled to the one closest to Tanat as if he had all the time in the universe.
Nell rolled her eyes to the ceiling. He acted like he owned the universe. She headed for the last chair.
Annet gave him a nervous smile, and Carl nodded his greeting.
‘So you’re Deesc, huh?’ Sam said.
‘Yes.’
‘Can we see you change into an Eldorap?’
‘Don’t be silly, Sam,’ Nell said. ‘We’re not here to play games.’
‘Nell’s right,’ Lesel said, patting down her black hair.
Deesc said. ‘I am not a true Eldorap,
I have permission to use my friend’s form to travel the vast expanses of the universe as my,’ he glanced at Nell, ‘our, ancestors did. This is the real me.’ He smiled.
‘Our ancestors could travel anywhere like Corls do?’ Nell asked. ‘Then why can’t you without being and Eldorap?’
‘They could, but they didn’t need bracelets like the Corls have to do so. I can’t because I was also infected by the virus. With the Eldoraps’ help, I healed, but a few Wexkian traits disappeared from my being.’
‘Oh.’ Nell couldn’t think of anything else to say. Her mind whirled with the possibility that she might also have her own private wormhole to travel the universe.
‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ Dar-Seldra said.
Nell choked down a laugh at Deesc’s face. He looked stumped by Dar-Seldra’s comment. Heh. For someone so clever, her aunty could be an airhead sometimes.
‘Yes, well, thank you,’ Deesc said. ‘However, I was very young at the time and don’t miss the things I can’t remember.’ He regarded everyone in the room. ‘I am pleased to meet you all in person at last.’
‘You know us?’ Tanat asked.
‘Yes. I have watched Nell for some time now and I know you will understand my need to be certain she was safe with the people closest to her.’
‘You’ve been spying on me, you mean,’ Nell said.
‘I can see how it might look that way,’ he said, giving her a wink.
Nell bit her cheek to hold back another retort. It was all she could do not to slap that silly grin off his face.
Deesc continued, ‘I have decided Nell is ready for a true Wexkia education. She will come with me to Eldorapal and learn what it is to be a Wexkian.’
It wasn’t a request. It was a direction.
Tanat cleared his throat. ‘How do we know you are to be trusted?’
Deesc laughed. ‘You don’t know. At least, you won’t until I return her to you.’
Nell had had enough. ‘Stop talking about me as if I wasn’t here,’ she growled at Deesc. She looked at her family. ‘I am the one who decides to go with him and I am the one who decides when I’ll come back.’ Her eyes stayed with Dar-Seldra, who looked as if she didn’t know what to say. ‘Don’t worry, Aunty. I will be back for your partnering ceremony and I’ll have Dad and Kandar with me.’
