by Dale Furse
Glaring at him, Kale said, ‘Keep away from me. I am tired of always being in trouble because of you two.’
‘Don’t be like that,’ Mekie said. ‘We’re your friends.’
‘Friends like you, I don’t need. Now I am going home and I won’t let you stop me.’
Mekie slammed her hands on her hips and looked about to blast the poor bloke.
Sam said quickly, ‘It’s okay, mate. We’ll see you later?’
‘I don’t know,’ Kale said, and left at a half-run.
‘Why did you do that?’ Mekie said, eyes blazing.
‘He’ll be okay. Just give him a bit of time to calm down. Anyway, Tish isn’t as hard as she makes out to be. I bet she’ll be in a better mood by the time she gets home. ‘Come on, we can talk on the way back.’
‘Hmm, maybe you’re right. So what do we do now?’
‘Well, Lesel is going to find out if Varlor is still in prison on Gramlax. If he is then I’m barking up the wrong tree, but—’
‘If he isn’t?’
‘I’m not sure. I’ll figure it out though.’
‘I think we should tell Nell what has happened and what they’re all doing.’
‘Not yet. She has been gone ages, so she should be ready to come back soon anyway. I’d rather not tell her anything until then.’
‘You can’t tell me what I can or can’t do, Sam Frederick.’
She pulled her communicator out and gave Sam a look that told him he had better back off.
‘Nell. Listen to me and don’t interrupt.’ Mekie spoke in detail, relaying all that had happened since the last time they had spoken. Sam had stepped into the elevator of their building by the time she finished her tale.
***
Nell waved at Deesc to sit down. He had paced over every loop of carpet in the entire room since she picked up her communicator.
‘Are you sure? I can believe Tanat and Lesel joined, but your mother and Tish? And Annet and Carl too? Okay, okay. I believe you.’
Deesc whispered something in Nell’s ear, but all she heard was the air hissing from his mouth.
‘Hang on, Mek.’ Putting her hand over the speaker, she pushed Deesc’s face away. ‘What?’ She snapped at him. Her tone was sharper than she meant it to be. It wasn’t him she was mad at, it was Sam and Mekie. They should have let her know what was going on before now. She would give them what for when she saw them.
‘What is wrong?’ asked Deesc.
Darn. She had thought she’d kept her emotions from showing on her face.
‘I’ll tell you in a minute.’ She spoke again into the communicator. ‘Are you still there? We’re coming home. Is Sam there? Well, why didn’t he call me before now? Never mind. We’ll be there in a tick…Yeah, bye.’
As soon as she ended the call, Deesc lifted her off the sofa and held her. ‘Whatever is wrong, we can fix it,’ he said softly into her neck.
Not wanting to break contact, she snuggled in closer. Being there, in his arms, felt right. No other experience could make her feel as safe and loved. Loved. Did he love her? The emotion emanated from his body. ‘Yes,’ it yelled as no words could. She bit her lip, broke the embrace so she could speak, and told him all that Mekie had said.
His eyes looked as though he was seeing something in the distance. ‘A box. What was your grandfather’s name?’
‘Um…Soros, I think. Why?’
‘A Wintar.’
It wasn’t a question. He must have known by the palindrome name. ‘Is that important?’
‘It could be,’ he said, smiling down at her as if he was smiling into her soul. ‘I’ll know when I see the box.’
‘I thought you were done with talking in riddles.’ Nell couldn’t help the annoyed look creasing her face.
‘I’m sorry, beautiful. I don’t want us getting our hopes up before we know the full truth. I can tell you this; it has nothing to do with the dilemma of your family joining the resistance.’ He changed into Eldorap form and held out his arms to her. ‘Where would you like to go?’
The thought of her cousin’s name hadn’t fully formed but the micro-second she touched him, he whisked her into Mekie’s bedroom.
‘Nell,’ Sam said, grabbing her in a rough hug. Deesc returned to his normal state. ‘And, Deesc,’ he said over her shoulder. ‘Nell. I’ve missed you.’
Squirming out of his grasp, Nell tightened her lips. ‘Then you should have called me before now. Oh, hang on. You didn’t call, Mekie did.’
‘What’s the matter?’ Sam asked.
‘You even have to ask that? Why didn’t you call me? And don’t you tell me you were told not to. Remember? You carry on like a crazy bat whenever I’ve used that excuse with you.’
‘Only if it had something to do with me personally.’
‘And all this isn’t personal to me? These people we’re talking about are my family, not some acquaintances we met on a holiday. My family.’
‘Will you two stop it?’ Mekie said, stepping between them. ‘Honestly. You fight like an old partnered couple.’ She pulled Nell away and spoke quietly. ‘I know you, so I don’t get jealous.’ She giggled. ‘But Deesc isn’t used to you two.’
Nell glanced at Deesc. Something had crept into his eyes. Jealousy? A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Wasn’t he too advanced to feel emotions like that? She looked closer at him. All sign of whatever it was had gone and he smiled at her. Maybe it was just wishful thinking on her part.
‘Can I hear more about the box?’ Deesc asked Sam.
Looking from him to Nell, Sam said, ‘Don’t you think it’s more important to figure out a way to stop the resistance somehow?’
‘I thought you’d jump at the chance to join,’ Nell said.
‘I would,’ Sam said. ‘If it was only me, but I don’t want to see any of my family or friends hurt.’
‘Is anyone else in the house?’ Nell said.
‘No,’ Mekie said.
‘Let’s go into the sitting room and wait for them.’
‘Friends?’ Sam asked Nell on the way through the plant hall.
‘I guess, but don’t you ever keep anything from me again. Have you heard from Orenda?’
‘Not for ages.’
Mekie pulled Sam up and Deesc took a long stride to fill the empty space beside Nell.
Not even his warm hand clasping hers or his clovey-cinnamon smell hushed the voice in the back of her mind warning her that with the good, so too comes the bad. Nell frowned. Orenda had said she would keep in constant touch. Nell had been on Eldorapal far too long. Not only were her father and Kandar still missing, but the rest of her family were putting themselves in danger, and now, her long time teacher and confidant was missing. What a mess.
Deesc squeezed her hand. ‘I will do everything in my power to save those whom you love,’ he said silently.
‘Thanks. Me too.’ She knew the good her conscious spoke of meant Deesc, but the sooner she found out what the bad was the sooner she could find a way to stop it.
Lots of perfume scents filled her nose before she crossed the threshold to the sitting room and once inside the room she gaped. Flowers of every colour and perfume filled the sideboard and a new long table to her right. The coffee table had two vases and a large vase stood the low stand in the far corner where the pottery urn usually did. She gazed over the sofas. Flowers filled a row of smaller vases down the centre of the dining table now stretched out to its full length.
There was no mistaking the beauty, but the array invaded Nell’s senses. The flowers really had taken her breath away The walls seemed to close in on her. She breathed deeper. She glanced at Deesc. He too took in deep silent breaths.
‘Where did all the flowers come from and why are they here?’
Screwing up his nose, Sam said, ‘They’re hard to miss, huh?’
Mekie giggled. ‘They are from all over the known universe and they’re here because Tanat keeps sending them to Mother.’
‘I tried to
tell him they were too much, but Dar-Seldra won’t say anything. He thinks she likes them.’
‘And she doesn’t?’ Nell said.
‘Not that many,’ Mekie said. ‘As soon as she takes some to the restoration, he sends more.’
Nell didn’t want to hurt Tanat’s feelings but her eyes were already stinging and her nose was itchy. Neither she nor Deesc could stand too much time there and she wasn’t about to leave. ‘I’m sorry, but we can’t take too much more of the perfumes. One or two would be lovely, though.’
‘Where are we supposed to put them?’ Mekie said.
Nell thought for a few seconds, and said, ‘We could put a couple in every other room of the house and some in the garden.’
‘Mother won’t like it,’ Mekie said with a frown. ‘Oh, I suppose you’re right. They make Tish and Kale sneeze all the time. Which ones should we keep?’’
‘I think…’ Nell gazed around the room. ‘Maybe a small selection of the brightest ones. I know Dar-Seldra likes those.’
‘Yes, she does,’ Mekie said. ‘Perhaps the more muted colours would suit the bedrooms.’
Sam was already holding two vases. ‘Mum likes these yellow and white ones. Want to grab a couple more, Deesc?’
He did and Sam said, ‘So what’s wrong with all the flowers?’
‘Wexkian senses are heightened above what is normal to others. Not only are the perfumes suffocating to our noses, but the bombardment of so many colours in such a confined space hurts our eyes.’
‘Is that true?’ Mekie asked Nell.
‘It appears so, yes,’ Nell said, wiping moisture from her eyes. ‘Although I thought it was the scents that hurt my eyes.’
‘You two can hang out in the kitchen if you like,’ Sam said. ‘We’ll call you when we’re finished.’
‘Yes. Why don’t you do that?’ Mekie said.
Nell shook her head. ‘Thanks, but it’ll be quicker if we help.’
It took some time to rid the room of the flowers, but when they were finished, the scents that remained blended well with each other and the few colours either fitted with or gave bursts of contrast to the furnishings. Nell made sure none were positioned too closely to the brightly coloured swinging chair that still filled the small window alcove. It didn’t need any help to stand out. The fading sunlight through the window surprised Nell.
‘It’s nearly dark. Where are they?’
‘I thought they would be back by now,’ Mekie said, following Nell’s gaze.
‘Yeah,’ Sam said. ‘Me too. Who’s gonna cook dinner?’
Nell snorted at him and Mekie hit his arm.
They had sat down to drink gropil tea when Dar-Seldra and Tanat returned home.
Nell bit her cheek at the sight of Dar-Seldra’s tired face. Tanat didn’t look any better.
Dar-Seldra’s face brightened as soon as she saw Nell. ‘When did you arrive? Hello, Deesc.’
‘A little while ago,’ Nell said, accepting her aunty’s hug, before Tanat’s arms whisked her away and lifted her off the ground in a bear hug.
‘You have grown, little one,’ he said, putting her down. Giving a nod of his head, he said, ‘Deesc.’ Glancing at Sam and Mekie, a small smile played at the corners of his mouth. ‘Is it coincidence you have returned at this time?’
Sam took hold of Mekie’s hand.
‘Um…It was time for us to come back,’ Nell said. ‘I have learnt everything I can for now. Haven’t I, Deesc?’
‘Yes,’ he answered abruptly.
‘What’s your problem?’ Nell asked him silently.
‘I prefer to stay out of family discussions and I am uncomfortable with lying. I don’t think you have learned everything about being a woman.’
Heat filled her cheeks. Did that emotion she caught in his last sentence meant he wanted to go further than kissing? She trembled at the thought of what might have happened if they had spent any more time alone. She pushed it aside. Better to be mad at him. ‘Have you forgotten about Dad?’
He didn’t answer. Instead, he moved to her side and put his arm around her shoulders.
‘Are you two having a private conversation?’ Tanat asked Deesc, irritation flitting over his face.
‘Where is everyone else?’ Nell said brightly, hoping to change the conversation.
‘It is all right, Nell,’ Deesc said. ‘I apologise to all here for my ill manners.’
‘No need for apologies,’ said Dar-Seldra. She shot Tanat a look that clearly said he was the one with bad manners. Her eyes wandered around the room. ‘However, I would like to know what happened to my flowers.’
‘That was us too,’ Nell said. ‘Sorry we didn’t ask first, but Deesc and I couldn’t stay with all the different perfumes.’ She tilted her head and gave her aunty a forlorn look. ‘And I wanted to see you.’
Dar-Seldra laughed a light melody. ‘Well then, I’m glad you could stay.’ A noise sounded at the front door. ‘That will be Carl and Annet.’
‘’Bout time,’ Sam grumbled. ‘It’s way past dinner time.’
‘You had better start moving then,’ Tanat said, guiding Dar-Seldra to the sofa. ‘Because you and Cay-Meka are cooking tonight.’ His expression said there was no point arguing.
‘Okey dokey, but we’d better not hear any complaints,’ Sam said, indicating with his crooked finger for Mekie to follow him.
Carl and Annet entered. After more hugs and explanations about Nell’s arrival and the flowers, they all sat down. Nell took the armchair while Deesc sat at the games table opposite.
Her family’s faces told her they expected her to speak first. She sighed and relayed all that had happened on Eldorapal. She chanced a look at Deesc. He smiled; his expression told her he was thinking about the things she hadn’t brought up. Again, her cheeks burned.
‘Are you certain that is all that happened,’ Dar-Seldra said, glancing at Deesc.
‘Yeah,’ Nell said, shooting Deesc a pointed look. ‘Nothing else important anyway. Now I want to hear about you joining the resistance.’
‘I knew Sam wouldn’t be able to keep his mouth shut,’ Carl said without a note of anger in his voice. He leant forward and patted Nell on the knee. ‘Don’t look like that. I don’t think we need a lecture from a child. We are fully aware of the dangers, but with the United Council on our side those dangers are lessened.’
‘I am not a child,’ Nell said, swiping at his leg but he moved it away before she could connect.
He gave her an ‘is that so?’ look.
‘I’m really not.’ Once she would have argued forever about it, but she realised none there would ever see her as an adult, so she changed subjects. ‘To tell you the truth, I was really angry at you all when I first heard, but I know there’s not anything else you can do and I’m glad none of you have actually joined the military. What I don’t understand is if the United Council is calling for peace, why are they still recruiting fighters?’
‘They hope a show of force will make the Grarl rebels re-think their stand and enter into talks with the royal family,’ Tanat said.
That made sense to Nell and she hoped the UC was right. ‘Do you or the UC know what’s happening on Grarlon?’
‘We haven’t heard from Orenda,’ said Dar-Seldra. ‘I’m worried about her.’
‘And we haven’t heard anything from anyone else either,’ Tanat said. ‘Including the king, or anyone at the palace. All communications have stalled.’
Nell frowned. Stalled? He made it sound like he expected contact at any moment. Maybe a better way of saying it would be ‘cut completely’.
As if reading Nell’s mind, Annet said, ‘The UC is concerned too and they are doing all they can to regain contact.’
Since Kandar wasn’t there and Tanat gave up his position with the Gramlax council, Nell didn’t know any of the UC members. She had met Worow, of course, and he was quite nice. ‘Who are you talking to at the UC?’
‘Rasar,’ Annet said.
Where had Nell hear
d that name? Ah, he was the canvas trader. ‘Can he be trusted?’ asked Nell.
‘Oh, yes,’ said Annet. ‘He and his wife have become close to us.’
‘She’s the one who told you that my great uncle had left something for you?’ Nell asked just to make sure she was right.
‘Yes,’ Carl said. ‘The box.’
Deesc shifted in his chair. ‘Can we see it?’ he asked.
“Of course,’ Annet said, standing up, ‘It’s in one of the trunks so it might take me awhile to find it.’
Dar-Seldra left to change while Tanat and Carl went to check on Sam and Mekie. None of them appeared to be worried about anyone finding out about the resistance. Nell frowned. Or they were hiding their true feelings from her. She moved to the games table and eyed Deesc. ‘Why do you want to see the box so much?’
‘I once gave a box to someone and although I never knew his name, something tells me this might be it.’
‘And?’
‘You told me they found a letter in it. I left such a letter in mine and if it is the same one, you will understand then.’
Dar-Seldra, looking more refreshed but just as tired, returned as Tanat and Carl brought in some tea.
A moment later, Annet walked to Nell holding the box out in front of her, and said, ‘This is it.’ It already had a key in the keyhole.
Deesc crossed the distance between his chair and Nell so quickly, she jumped at the movement. The communicator buzzed and Tanat moved to the dining room to answer it.
‘This is it,’ Deesc said, taking the box. He opened it and handed the letter to Nell.
She jumped up beside him. ‘It’s Eldorap.’
‘Read it.’
She frowned at the writing. ‘I can’t read it.’
‘You can. Concentrate.’
The room was silent except for Tanat’s hushed tones as he spoke on the communicator.
Nell studied the symbols and within seconds, her eyes shifted and the words began to make sense.
This is for the one who can read the words and you are a Wexkian.
I too am Wexkian and as soon as I touched the Wintar who I have now entrusted the box to, I knew he would know you. With this letter, are three jewels, two pendants, one for his bride and the other is for the Human female who will be a much needed mother figure for you, but the gem is for you, Wexkian. The gem will help you realise your full potential if you have not by the time you read this. Find a safe, quiet space and lay on your back. Put the gem on your heart and find your centre. Once you have used it, please keep it safe for others who will follow and may have need of its power.
