Beyond Blue Frontiers

by Cecilia Randell

  “Now we cuddle and talk about earlier. Or, if that horse is dead, we just cuddle.”

  “I know English, but sometimes the things you say make no sense to me.” His thumb caressed her hipbone through her pajama pants.

  “Yeah, English is weird, even for us native speakers. Ummm… beating a dead horse is when you keep doing something or working on something even though it’s a waste of time.”

  His silence stretched out.

  “So, if you want to talk, we can do that. But if there isn’t anything to say, we skip that part and go straight for the cuddling. Actually, the cuddling can happen even when we talk; they aren’t mutually exclusive.” She wiggled her toes, which were getting nice and toasty.

  “The horse is not dead, but it is very much asleep.” His chest rose and fell beneath her cheek. “Maybe we can follow its example and then try beating it later? I am not sure it would feel the blows at this moment.”

  Her shoulders shaking with silent giggles, Blue nodded. Who knew the serious clansman had such a sense of humor? She caught her breath and answered. “Okay, we’ll flog the horse later, when it can feel it.” She dissolved into laughter, her whole body shaking.

  Oh, she’d needed this.

  FELIX

  Felix stepped out of the tree line, drawn to the laughter coming from Mo’ata’s tent.

  Blue.

  Damn, there was something about that girl. Woman, now. Not many had the guts to tease him like she had. And most of those who did would have opted for hitting him instead of playing. Their first encounter was practically burned into his memory. How could something as simple as a snap of teeth have such an impact?

  She’d changed. The girl he’d met had been playful, caring and concerned for her friends, and sensible. She was all of those things still, but now she was coming into her own, pushing for what she wanted. She’d come back to this place after everything that had happened.

  He wished…

  He shied from the thought. He didn’t wish anything. He was here on assignment. One The Order had extended when they’d learned of the crystals and their ramifications. He was just glad he wasn’t the one who would have to deal with the Prizzoli after this. According to Levi, they had not been pleased by their agent’s failure to secure the last crystal.

  And when this assignment was done, there would be another. In another place, and most likely another world. No, he did not wish.

  Part of him wanted to, he admitted. He had asked Mo’ata to teach him English on a whim. Something in the man’s eye when he spoke of her woke an old ambition. It was one he had fought for many years, and he had yet to defeat. A desire for someone he could care for that would care for him in return, for himself and no other reason.

  He’d thought he had that once.

  Another giggle came from the tent, followed by a low rumble. The rest of the clearing was silent, and the sound carried. He wondered if Forrest lay awake listening. If he was truly satisfied with her split affections.

  He scooped up a chunk of wood and pulled out a small knife. It wasn’t a proper whittling knife, but it would have to do. He needed something to calm his mind. Keeping his senses open, he stationed himself as far from the tents as he could get while still keeping them in sight and let his hands do what they would.

  He would simply enjoy her while he could, even if all he ever got was teasing banter and light smacks. Culan’s bones, it wasn’t as if he disliked it. He’d put on his smile, the one that came so easily around her, and they’d pretend. But he wouldn’t let it go further than that, and he wouldn’t let himself forget it was an act. Even when he’d somehow offered to take her exploring on a spaceship. Maybe it’s the eyes…

  A nightbird called out, warning other predators off of its prey. His hand jerked, nicking a finger. He looked down.

  The carving was rough, but he could already see what it would become. He brushed a thumb over it, trying to remove a drop of blood from where it had fallen on a delicate cheek, but he only smeared it in.

  No matter. He could always to do another. Not that he would get rid of this one. He smoothed his thumbed over her cheek again. Maybe he would let himself hope. Maybe he could take the pretend and make it real.

  Chapter 6

  BLUE

  Blue pulled Beast to a halt and studied the city laid out before her. Partly cradled in a small crescent of mountains, it sprawled out from there over a flat plain broken only by short, scrubby trees.

  Mo’ata hadn’t been kidding when he’d called this area bleak. Everything about it was stark, from the abrupt transition of mountain to plain, to the city itself. Large areas spread out like dark stains. There were massive warehouses and manufacturing plants, some with smokestacks that spit out dirty residue.

  Forrest pulled up beside her. “You’d think they would have better technology than this. Seems backward, spitting out crap like that into the air while others have spaceships.”

  She shrugged, but agreed. The only thing beautiful about this place was the curve of bright blue sky.

  Mo’ata, Garfield perched on his shoulder, urged his mount down the trail leading to the city. There was no wall, unlike Tremmir, nor entrance gate and guards. Blue and the others followed after him, silent. Something about this city did not encourage levity or chatter.

  As they drew closer, a new area came into view. Nestled under the shelter of a mountain were buildings that shone in the sun like a beacon. Bright, almost white, they were as intimidating as the warehouse area as they climbed partly up the mountain face. She craned her neck and could just make out areas of green. Someone had put some work and money into this area.

  Other differences became apparent. Some of the dark areas were apartment blocks; some were shops. Everything closer to the mountains had a lighter, cleaner air, while farther out on the plane everything took on a rundown cast, people included. Most hurried, hunched, from one building to the next or into transports large enough to accommodate dozens at a time.

  Not so different from Earth.

  They hit a dip in the path, and her view was blocked. Half an hour later they hit the first rows of buildings, these some of the nicer apartments. Silently, Mo’ata passed Garfield to her, and she tucked him into his spot, a little pouch they’d set up in one of the saddlebags, where he could be out of sight and warm. She sent a little admonishing thought in his direction and hoped he listened. No need to attract trouble right away.

  She gave it two hours before the cubs were causing a ruckus.

  They entered the city, and she couldn’t help but note the differences between it and Tremmir. The capital had been busy and chaotic, colorful and boisterous. This place was busy, yes, but there were no shouted calls from hawking vendors, no different and colorful clothes or animals. In fact, she didn’t see one other person on a mount.

  Felix took the lead as they wound their way along the streets. According to Mo’ata, the inn they headed for was fairly tolerant of clansmen and had a small stable that could accommodate the quorin. The deeper into the city they got, the heavier the air became, and the more the blue sky was obscured in a gray haze. They also attracted quite a few side-eyed looks, but most people continued on their own way in deliberate inattention.

  The inn itself was fairly deep into the city, at the edge of the warehouse district. Felix dismounted and entered, returning soon with a large man with graying hair and a solid build. He headed for a small alley to the side of the building, gesturing for them to follow. It led to a good-sized yard and shed that obviously used to be a smaller storehouse but had been converted to stalls.

  Blue dismounted along with the others, leading Beast to his home for what would hopefully be only a week or so. He balked a bit at the door to his stall, and she turned to him. “What?” He craned his head over her, eying his new quarters, and let out a huffing breath. “Did you just sigh at me?”

  Beast nudged her out of the way and entered, circled a few times, and then gave her a look that clearly said, Well, g
rab a brush would you?

  Garfield, still in his little nest, let out a short chirp, agreeing with Beast. The two of them had taken to teaming up together to give her trouble. Blue could feel the teasing impatience coming from the little cub. It seemed every day he matured—not just physically, but the emotions she got from him had become more and more complicated and intricate. She couldn’t keep up. Not even two weeks ago he’d first opened his eyes, and now he acted like an impish five-year-old.

  “They giving you trouble?” Forrest moved to her side, Vivi cradled in his arms.

  “Yes.” Blue pouted but couldn’t keep up the expression. She thought her two animal babies were adorable. Well, Beast was more of a grumpy old man. She grinned at the old quorin. “Yes, I’ll give you a good brushing,” she told him. The demon mount flicked an ear at her.

  Blue laughed at him. Damn, she’d missed her Beast.

  Setting her pack down, she went in search of the grooming tools. The others had beat her to them, and Felix handed her a brush. They set to, giving their mounts a well-needed grooming and rub down. Just as they finished, a young man entered the makeshift stables with buckets of grain. Beast shuffled and sniffed the air, shouldering her aside to go stick his nose in his feed bucket, chuffing when he found it empty. As the young man reached him, he chuffed again, violently, causing the boy to jump and edge away. Blue sighed and walked around the stall door, taking the bucket from the boy and feeding Beast.

  “Behave,” she said. He ignored her.

  “Come on, let’s get inside and get some food in us. And thaw. I swear, living in Texas does not prepare you for enduring cold weather.” Forrest threw his arm over her shoulders and grabbed her pack, leading her to where the others were waiting at the entrance of the stable. They moved as a group to the rear door of the inn. Warmth and the low sound of voices rushed over Blue as they crossed the threshold. She breathed in the rich smell of bread, meat, and some sort of roasting vegetable.

  “Stew?” She bounced a little on her feet.

  Felix laughed. They’d had stew for almost every meal while on the road, and Blue had loved it each time. She didn’t know what it was about the dish and how it was made here on Karran, but it was fast becoming her favorite.

  Felix and Mo'ata headed to an unoccupied table in the corner, and Blue followed, Forrest and Levi bringing up the rear. They settled, Forrest to her left and the others arranged across from her. She loosened the straps on Garfield’s pouch and set him under the table next to Vivi. There was a light tug on her boot, and she peeked down. The little devil was chewing on her bootlaces.

  A server headed over, asking something in Common. Blue had continued practicing with Felix, and she got enough to know the woman was asking what they wanted to eat.

  “Stew,” she said in Common, hoping she used the correct word. The woman nodded, and Blue smiled.

  Mo'ata caught her eye and shook his head. “I don't know if you'll like the stew here. It's a little different from the clans'.”

  “What about at the inn in the capital? That was stew, and it was just the same.”

  “That innkeeper used a recipe I’d traded him a few years back, one that the clans use. So of course it was similar.”

  “Darn.”

  Mo'ata smiled, and Felix laughed again. Forrest gave her a little side hug. Levi didn't react, but he was only just beginning to learn English. She caught his eye, saw that rare softness on his features, and smiled at him.

  “So, do we go see the guards next? Felix’s contacts? Or do we try to see if there is anything new about Phi…” At Mo'ata's quick headshake, she let her words trail off. Message received—don't talk about Phillip or the crystal in the open. She really needed to move spy school higher on the List, though that rule should’ve been pretty damn obvious.

  “I know guard in—” Felix broke off and turned to Mo'ata, speaking quickly in Common.

  Mo'ata took over. “His friend is with the Mountainside Guards. She’s who we’ll check with first. Hopefully she agrees to help us access records about your father.”

  Blue's eyes widened. “Is it not allowed? Why would she not agree?”

  “No, is allowed. Easy this way, less waste time. She help us get name, find city in,” Felix said.

  “So, they may not be here.”

  “If there is any of your father's family left, they are probably here. It is the major city in the region. Many of its… upper families have those who choose to work in the Ministry in one fashion or another,” Mo’ata said.

  They were interrupted as the server returned, setting bowls of steaming… something in front of the group, along with a plate of bread and a handful of cutlery. Blue cautiously sniffed what was in the bowl and let out a sigh of relief. It didn’t smell bad; it just looked like something her mother would have cobbled together and then called stew. She grabbed a spoon and dipped it into the bowl, taking a cautious bite.

  Oooh, it was good. Heavier and earthier than the clan’s, it was satisfying. She dug in. The men chuckled, and she realized they had watched, waiting for her reaction.

  “It is different, but it’s still good. It does look a little like something my mom would make, though,” she said between bites.

  Forrest laughed. “Yeah. Anything Brenda makes looks like this, even if it’s scrambled eggs.”

  Blue just shrugged. It was true. She continued eating, using the bread to scrape up the last bit of gravy from the sides of the bowl. Done, she leaned back. Once again, all eyes were fixed on her. “I was hungry.”

  This earned another chuckled from Felix and a smile from Mo’ata before they turned back to their food. Blue took the time to study them again. These men were, each in their own ways, incredible.

  Forrest—who had stood by her for the last year, helping her overcome her guilt and just generally being there. He’d never grown impatient with her, never pushed her; he understood that she needed to explore the possibilities awaiting on Karran and had never once made her feel bad for it. He took her for who she was. She was still apprehensive about how it would work trying to have a relationship with more than one person, but she wasn’t going to let it get in her way.

  She turned her attention to Mo’ata. He had made a promise to help with the crystals, and he was going to follow through with it. He’d made that promise because of her. It overwhelmed her, the fact that he’d made that promise so soon after meeting her. She didn’t want to disappoint him and was a little afraid he may still change his mind after he got to know her better. He said he wouldn’t, but could you really decide about a person after knowing them for a week? And isn’t that just what you did? Yes, she saw the irony.

  Then there were Felix and Levi. She still didn’t know much about them, but she was beginning to learn. Felix was part of the Order, undercover as a mercenary. Though she didn’t know much of the Order, she knew it was about helping people. She was also really coming to appreciate his ability and willingness to laugh and see the humor in things. She suspected he would be one of those people who laughed in the movie theater when no one else was.

  Levi was even more of a mystery, but his determination to see his duty through for his people told her that when he made a commitment, he stuck to it. He was also the gentlest of the four, despite the harsh cast of his features and the deadly grace he exhibited when he fought.

  It was only a few more moments until the guys were all pushing their bowls back or finishing off the last of the bread. Felix signaled the server, who came back over. They spoke for just a moment, and then the woman was off, back a few seconds later with five mugs.

  “What is this?” Blue picked hers up and cautiously sniffed it. It was sour, but there was also a rich, almost buttery, scent. She took another sniff. Almost like... “Beer?”

  “I do not know what beer is,” Mo’ata said.

  Blue shot him a look. Really? “It’s an alcoholic drink made from grains. I don’t remember the process—something about fermentation, I think. I’m too young t
o drink it, though.”

  Forrest snorted. “You just don’t like it. The one time I got her to try a sip she nearly spit it out,” he continued, directing the last to Mo’ata. “The face she made was priceless.” He nudged her arm. “Come on, give it a try. You might like this one.”

  “You just want to see me drunk.” Blue took another sniff. It didn’t smell that bad, certainly better than the swill Forrest had convinced her to try once.

  “Well, yes.”

  MO’ATA

  Mo’ata watched the interaction between Blue and Forrest. There was a level of intimacy, not physical, but they knew each other so well. Something stirred in him. Jealousy? Maybe, but it wasn’t of Forrest; it was more of the time Forrest had been able to spend with her. He was still struggling with the idea that it had been a year for them, while so little time had passed on Karran. Not the time jump, that was common enough. No, it was the fact he’d missed so much of her life. In a way it was reassuring. It had been a year, and she still came back. She said it wasn’t just for him, but it was at least partly for him.

  As he watched, Forrest teased her into taking a sip of the foka. Yes, there was some alcohol, but only enough to relax. It was not strong at all.

  Blue, wearing an expression of mixed laughter and suspicion, sniffed the mug one more time before taking a cautious sip. She didn’t spit it out, but as Forrest had said, her expression was something to remember. A grimace crossed her lips, and she gagged, just a little, her eyes watering.

  They all laughed, even Levi. Felix, he knew, had been following the conversation. Levi had picked up some English and usually understood enough to at least grasp the situation. Sometimes he seemed to grasp more than the words. Mo’ata wondered if there was more to the Prizzoli as a people than the Order or Alliance had been told.

  “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up.” She grabbed a small piece of bread from the plate the server had left and quickly chewed. “Well, it was better than the other stuff I tried. I’m beginning to think I just don’t like alcohol.”