by Dale Furse
Nell’s glared at him and went back to the lectern.
‘Come on, Sam,’ Mekie said, pulling at his arm. ‘Leave Nell be.’
‘Okay,’ Sam replied, although he said it grudgingly. ‘We’ll wait outside.’
Nell waited for them to leave then opened the book up at the first page. She hoped that she had missed something all the times she had read her Book of Wexkia over the last years.
The words told of the Corls visiting Wexkia and the sickness that spread soon after. The account was nothing like in her book. This author painted the Corls as a cruel species. Once the sickness had drained the Wexkians of their powers, they were tortured relentlessly.
The Elder described the mayhem in detail. So much so, it churned Nell’s stomach and tears trailed down her nose to her mouth. She licked the salty wet and scanned ahead. The author went on to write about the history books in the library. There were books on people, books on places, the geography of Wexkia, and more about what they knew of the entire universe.
Then he or she wrote about the separated Wexkians, Phibs and Wintars, what abilities they would retain and the types of planets they were sent to.
The Elder knew the Wexkian people would unite once again. He or she wanted them to follow the child who would once again unite them. She would be the first of many. Nell sniffed. They knew I was going to be a girl.
She slammed her fist down onto the book. If this was the book Haast and Deesc had told her about, Deesc knew everything then. Why hadn’t he told her? Why hadn’t he warned her about what would happen if a Corl entered the city? She searched the book again cover to cover. There was nothing about saving the Corls from the dark spell. She wiped her eyes and, leaving the book there, went outside to the others. Her steps mirrored her reluctance to face Kale.
‘It’s all right, Nell,’ Kale said as soon as she joined them. ‘We’ll figure it out.’
Nell smiled and this time her lips moved the way they were supposed to. ‘Have you tried your bracelet?’
Kale nodded. ‘It doesn’t work.’
‘I didn’t think it would,’ Nell said.
Sam said, ‘Did the book say why it was on Corl?’
‘I’ll tell you more later, but Corl was Wexkia, the Wexkians home world.’ She eyed them one by one. Good. At least that should keep them quiet for a while. ‘Let’s go back to the entrance and see if we can find anything.’
They hurried to the cavern.
‘Kale, stay back from the entrance,’ Nell said, as she walked toward the opening. She, Sam and Mekie fanned out and searched the wall.
‘What are we looking for,’ Mekie asked.
‘Whatever seems out of place,’ Sam replied.
Some time passed and they had found nothing. Fear raged through Nell once again, but anger overrode it; anger at the Wexkian Elders for descending to the level of the cruel Corls and even more anger at Deesc for not telling her the truth. Fury broiled up through her. She couldn’t stop its momentum. ‘Get out of here,’ she shouted at her friends. ‘Go back to the library.’
They stared at her, but didn’t move.
‘NOW!’
Sam grabbed Kale and Mekie’s arms and hauled them into the street.
Nell expanded her now black wings and mind-thought a blast of angry energy at the hole in the wall. It shattered. All she did was make the tunnel bigger, the spell still permeated the area. A voice sounded in her head. ‘You can’t overcome by force.’ ‘Who the hell says I can’t,’ she growled at the voice. Again she let her anger swell through her and threw another blast at the wall. More metal and the rock behind exploded and blew out into the canyon. The tunnel was now big enough for a truck to drive through without scraping the sides.
Words again sounded in her mind. ‘Force is not the answer.’
Although Nell thought force was easier to conjure, she had to agree with the voice that she needed to use her brain to find another way. Leaving her wings out, she wandered around the cavern. She thought about the spell, tried to come at the problem from different angles. If only she had a more analytical mind. Then the thought hit her. What if the answer was right in front of her? What if the last Elders had envisaged a moment like this?
She turned back to the entrance. There had to be something there. She strode up to it, shifted her eyes and saw nothing. Think, Nell. Think.
There had to be a way. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her core. Relax. Feel it. Her legs weakened so much she sat down in the dust before she fell down. Heat, not anger, but illuminating warmth, burbled through her and centred deep within her chest.
A vision of the Elders, one male and one female, invoking the spell entered her mind. The dark spell was solid in her mind. It hung in the air above the Elders like a golf ball-sized blob of ink. She reached out and grasped the blackness. It struggled in her closed hand as if trying to get free. Nell brought the spell to her chest and pushed in through her flesh into her centre. Her core heated once again. In her mind, she watched as her centre, her soul, turned from warming yellow to hot orange to raging red to torrid white, disintegrating the dark spell until there was nothing left.
Nell swayed, and in slow motion, fell to the paved floor. Then there was nothing.
‘Nell.’ Mekie’s voice? She sounded so far away. ‘Nell,’ Mekie said again from above Nell’s face. One smooth hand rubbed one of her arms and one large rough hand rubbed the other. Nell opened her eyes. Kale knelt at her feet.
Mekie said. ‘You’re all right, Nell?’
Nell looked at the owner of the rough hand. Sam. She sat up.
‘You okay?’ asked Sam.
‘Yeah. I must have fainted again. Help me up, will you?’ He did and as she got to her feet, Mekie and Kale stood up too. Nell gave them all her widest smile. ‘I did it,’ she said. ‘You’re safe to go out now, Kale.’ He glanced in fear at the gigantic opening. ‘You are. Really. I mean it.’
Kale’s lips drew up over his many pointy teeth in a smile. ‘I trust you,’ he said. He took in a breath and walked with slow, uncertain steps, out through the tunnel.
Nell laughed. She had never felt so light on her feet as she caught up to her Corl friend. ‘See? Come on, you two,’ she called over her shoulder. She elbowed Kale. ‘Race you to the end.’ Nell took off. Kale blinked and ran after her, but never had a hope of catching her.
Once in the canyon, Nell threw her arms up. ‘I won.’
Kale smiled. ‘Only because you surprised me.’
Sam and Mekie strolled out of the tunnel, and Nell said to them all, ‘I want you to promise you won’t say anything about this to anybody until I do. That means you too, Kale. I don’t want anything to spoil my wedding.’
‘You have my word,’ said Kale.
Sam said, ‘And mine.’
‘Why?’ asked Mekie.
‘Because, knowing the Corls, their just as likely to go into another year’s mourning.’
‘Come on, Mek,’ Sam said. Dropping his bottom lip, he added, ‘You want to marry me next year, don’t you?’
She slapped his arm. ‘Of course I do, silly. All right. I won’t say anything.’
‘Thanks, Mek,’ Nell said. She knew how hard that promise was for her cousin. But Nell also knew she’d better keep an eye on her just the same.
***
Nell was glad to be back at Dar-Seldra’s house, but she was still angry with Deesc. That evening, she retired to her bedroom early. Why hadn’t she heard a word from Deesc? ‘He’d better have a good reason,’ she hissed, as she opened her bedroom door.
Deesc and Haast were waiting for her inside her room.
‘You found Wexkia,’ Deesc said, his voice not happy or sad, but indifferent.
‘You knew it was here all along,’ Nell said.
‘No, I didn’t. Haast only told me when he realised you had found the Wexkian city. The Eldoraps had decided that it would be better if it remained a secret.’
‘Oh, the Eldoraps did, did they? And of course, you w
ere only too eager to agree with them. Oh, yes. Whatever an Eldorap says goes.’ Haast chuckled. ‘Why are you here?’ she asked, but didn’t give him a chance to answer. ‘I thought you weren’t supposed to interfere with other species. Or does that only apply if it suits you?’
‘Nell,’ Deesc said, a slight edge to his voice. ‘I agreed that there was no reason for anyone, including myself, to know where the true Wexkia was. The past cannot be changed and unless you’re thinking of retaking Corl, why say anything at all?’
‘Of course, I’m not going to take Corl back. But you knew I wanted to find Wexkia. You knew how much it meant to me and I don’t intend to let past wrongs slide. The Corls need to know the truth. Everyone needs to know if we’re going to rid the universe of ridiculous prejudices.’
‘That will never happen, my love. Prejudices have to change from within an individual’s heart, no matter what species that individual is.’
Nell walked to the window and gazed out into the garden’s shadows. She sighed. He was right. ‘I know.’ She turned around. ‘But we can change some and they in turn can raise open-minded children.’
‘Her argument is sound,’ Haast said.
‘Really?’ she asked, hoping neither of them missed the sarcasm in her tone. ‘How very nice of you to say that.’
‘Don’t be nasty,’ said Deesc. ‘Haast helped you destroy the dark spell.’
Nell glared at Haast. ‘If you were that stupid voice in my head telling me that force wasn’t the answer then thank you so much. Wow, telling me something I already knew was so much help. I don’t see how you helped to destroy the spell. That little baby, I got rid of all on my own.’
Haast just stared at her. Huh, an Eldorap lost for words. Nell laughed.
Deesc spoke in Nell’s mind, his anger matching hers. ‘You didn’t know that force wasn’t the answer, Nell. You would still be down there trying to smash the thing if Haast hadn’t made you realise there was another way. Now apologise.’
‘I will not.’
‘You needed a few good spankings as you grew up and you’re not too old for me to do it now.’
‘You dare,’ she blurted aloud.
‘Oh, I dare all right.’ He pulled Nell over to the bed. As he sat down he twisted her around and pulled her over his knees.
Nell laughed. This was absurd.
Haast cleared his throat. ‘Should I go?’
Nell stopped struggling. ‘No. Okay, okay, I’m sorry.’
Deesc let her stand up. ‘Properly.’
‘I am sorry, Haast. I know I wouldn’t have thought to use my mind then. I was just so angry.’
Haast smiled, and said, ‘Perhaps you will believe me when I say; you are much wiser than you act at times.’
She couldn’t help but laugh again. ‘Well, I suppose that’s something I can live with. What are you doing here anyway? I do hope I haven’t done anything else to offend the great Eldoraps.’
He gave her a low mock bow. ‘I wanted to thank you in person for Keela and my invitations to your partnering.’
Nell gazed at Deesc.
‘I thought you would be pleased,’ he said.
‘Of course I am.’
Deesc zipped to her side and pulled her close. She wanted to get lost in his aroma of clove and cinnamon, melt into his skin. She gave a shake of her head and managed to push him away. ‘Thank you.’ There was a big part of her that was glad Deesc had made amends with the Eldoraps. She had grown to love them like family and hated the thought of not seeing Keela ever again.
Facing Haast, Nell said, ‘Where is Keela anyway?’
‘She is engaged in the task of preparing a special gift for you.’
Nell giggled. Whatever it was, it would be interesting that was for sure. ‘So does Deesc get the use of his Eldorap form again?’
‘Regretfully, no.’
Deesc squeezed her shoulders. ‘Before you abuse my friend again, that was neither his, nor Keela’s decision, but the decision of all Eldoraps.’
She looked from one to the other. She couldn’t fault them for that. ‘Oh,’ was all she said.
***
Kandar had acquired the largest auditorium in Kafir for Nell’s speech two days after finding the Wexkian city. She was ready.
Her words were relayed across the planet. Nell explained that she had found a Wexkian city under the forests surrounding Kafir the crowd.
‘Corl was once Wexkia,’ she said at the last.
Kandar stepped forward. ‘We must begin to make amends.’
The auditorium burst with shouts of agreement and wailing. Mekie glared at Nell and Dar-Seldra buried her face in Tanat’s chest.
Nell screamed into the transmitter over the noise, ‘Stop.’ The multitude quietened. ‘There will be no mourning this time. It was done. Nothing you or I can do will change the past. But listen to me. We can change the future. Let’s all try to live in peace. It’s wrong to have prejudices against any species. Let us now make a pact to welcome strangers not condemn them for the race or species they are. I am to be partnered, so too are two of my family members, and I want…need everyone to forgive our ancestors, Wexkians and Corls for their past actions.’
As she turned to Kandar, the hall rumbled with the audience’s low buzz of voices.
He gave a toothy smile and taking the transmitter, said, ‘Silence.’ Once the assembly hushed, he continued. ‘I for one will bow to Nell’s request.’ He gazed at Nell. ‘However, I cannot control other Corl’s feelings.’ He turned and addressed the entire auditorium. ‘I hereby declare there will be no official period of mourning. I also encourage all Corls to celebrate this day as a new beginning. Let us remember the past as we look to the future. I, Kandar, Corls’ ruler and Leader of the United Council, declare this thirty-sixth day of the second quarter a leisure day every year. Go. Enjoy this time with your family and friends.’
***
The next few weeks passed in a blur of preparations, fittings and all the other things associated in organising a wedding. Nell wanted a traditional Earth affair and Deesc found a ston Captain willing to learn and perform the ceremony. Nell chose the canyon where, Poinap, the city of Wexkia, was buried as the venue. She wanted to be close to Wexkia and hoped that somehow, the ancient Wexkians might be there with them. She also knew it would be big enough to hold all the guests, including the giant Bants. Teams of beings from everywhere including Grarls were busy preparing the site. Orenda refused to let Nell see what they had done before the wedding.
The morning of the wedding, Nell was surrounded by her closest female family and friends, Lesel, Mekie, Dar-Seldra, Annet, Orenda, Tish, Fellder and Parrella, the little Grarl girl Nell and Deesc had saved. She was to be Nell’s flower girl and took her role very seriously. She tended the basket of flowers with water spray a little too often. Nell sat and gazed at everyone through the mirror while Fellder styled her hair. Parrella sprayed her flowers again and water dripped through the basket, matting the long, white fur at her ankles. Nell smiled.
‘Parrella,’ Orenda said, gently taking the spray bottle from the girl. ‘I think they are wet enough, darling.’ Parrella’s long fur waved as the girl nodded her head. Orenda put the basket on the dining room table, and said, ‘Would you like to get dressed now?’
The little girl smiled, making her long whiskers quiver. Her large, brown eyes stood out even more than usual from her furry rat face. Orenda held her hand and they disappeared into the wormhole.
Mekie twirled in front of the long mirror Tish had brought into the living room. Her pale lavender gown swirled around her ankles. ‘I love it, Mother. Thank you.’ She twirled again. ‘What do you think, Nell?’ The low empire neckline showed so much of her breasts that Nell hoped they wouldn’t fall out as she spun around.
Nell twisted around in her chair. ‘It’s beautiful and so are you. A perfect choice.’
Mekie twirled around again. ‘I love being a bridesmaid.’
Dar-Seldra and Mekie loved the idea of
the Earthly tradition of a white wedding gown and bridesmaids.
Annet fussed over Mekie as Lesel and Tish helped Dar-Seldra into her gown, a pale lime in the same style as the dress she had bought for Mekie. When Dar-Seldra turned in her direction, Nell couldn’t help but stare at Dar-Seldra’s chest.
‘Wow, who else has an aunty who looks like that?’ Nell said. ‘You are gorgeous.’
‘You are, Mother,’ Mekie said, as she hugged Dar-Seldra.
Nell giggled. ‘Tanat won’t be able to take his eyes off you.’ She knew how well endowed her aunty was, but Dar-Seldra’s neckline hardly left anything to the imagination. Mekie was definitely taking after her mother in that department.
Nell looked into the mirror at her chest. She was positively flat-chested compared to her Phib relatives.
‘There,’ Fellder said to Nell. ‘What do you think?’
Nell hadn’t paid attention to what Fellder had been doing and gazed into the mirror. Her ebony curls were now dark, shiny ringlets.
‘Ooh,’ Mekie said. ‘I love your hair, Nell.’
‘It’s wonderful. You’re a genius, Fellder,’ Dar-Seldra said.
Annet, Lesel and Tish all smiled in agreement.
‘Nell?’ Fellder said with a note of concern in her voice.
‘Oh, Fellder, I love it. I really, really, love it.’ Nell stood up and gave her a hug. ‘Thank you so much.’
Keela appeared behind them all. ‘Keela,’ Nell said. ‘Where have you been?’ The Eldorap’s hairless, white skin stood out because she wore a green jumpsuit. ‘You’re not dressed.’
‘I had to pick this up,’ she said, holding up some thin, white material.
‘What is it?’ Nell asked.
The Eldorap laughed. ‘It’s your wedding dress, silly.’
‘But—.’
‘But nothing,’ she said, and faced Dar-Seldra. ‘Is there somewhere Nell can change?’
‘Use my room,’ Annet said.
Nell couldn’t help thinking there wasn’t nearly enough material for a wedding gown over Keela’s arm.
