The Entean Saga - The Complete Saga

by C B Williams

“I see, you actually carry on a discussion with Her.”

  Kalea’s brows drew together. “How else can we know Her instructions?”

  “Where I come from, my Goddess speaks to me in Her own voice from within my thoughts. We are in constant communication. I am called Her Champion, and I travel my world and go where She tells me to go, and bring balance where She wants it restored.”

  “That is not how it works with Longwei. She speaks to me when She wishes. It is not a constant thing.”

  “I see. Thank you, Kalea.”

  “Is that why you’re here? To bring balance?” She cocked her head. “I don’t think Longwei will appreciate any interference.”

  Eloch chuckled. “I’m not Longwei’s Champion, so no, I’m not here to interfere. I do have a message to convey to Her, however. Do you suppose your Goddess would be willing to talk with me?”

  “I don’t know. Since you don’t know our customs, I think it’s best if I discuss it with Her first. Tell her a little about you and how you have helped me. I will ask Her when I next meet with Her.”

  “I appreciate your help, Kalea.

  “You have all been so kind to me. I want to do something kind in return. This is something I can do for you.”

  “I want to get down on that planet,” Eloch told Wren. “I can’t get any more information without living on Longwei, feeling Her in the air and under my feet.”

  “Whenever you say, Eloch. I want to get down there, too. And so does Little Sister. Poor beastie wants to run on some actual dirt.”

  “You’re regretting we brought her?”

  Wren shrugged. “It’s not fair to tear her away from her pack―us. Now I can communicate with her, I understand better. But I still feel bad that’s she’s been stuck in a bucket of bolts all these months traveling through space.”

  Eloch grinned, “Don’t let Aiko hear you calling her ship a bucket of bolts. Frankly, I’m feeling bad for us all. It’ll be nice to be on the ground breathing real air. What do you think about tomorrow? Early, so we have the full day to settle in?”

  “Sounds good to me, if you think we’re ready to proceed. I’m sure ready. My first experience on a non-Spur planet.”

  “You don’t think your visit to Talamh counts as a non-Spur planet?”

  Wren shook her head. “The people were so much like those on Spur, I could have been on Spur. Look at Kalea, how different she is from me, and even from you.” She twirled in a circle, arms out. “A whole new adventure on a whole new planet.”

  “Genji recommended a place near the beach, and I agree it’s a good position. Plus, I miss the open water.”

  Chapter 8

  The Dragons of Longwei

  The early birdsong woke her. She yawned and glanced over at Eloch, who was still asleep. She decided to let him rest and slipped out of bed. He’d worked hard the day before establishing their encampment. She had as well, and in theory she should still be sound asleep. But for some reason she wanted to welcome the dawn of this brand new day on this brand new planet. The skies were turning pink as she tiptoed out of their raised platform tent, Little Sister her silent partner.

  Last night’s sunset took Wren’s breath away. She swore she’d never seen anything as lovely as the orange sun slipping into the green ocean. And the water! It was warm and salty. The water had even taken Eloch by surprise. No such thing as salt water on Entean. She chuckled at the memory of Little Sister’s first drink. The sniffer’s expression was nearly human in its disgust.

  They had sat cuddling, watching the stars come out. Then the moons. One was slightly smaller than the other, and because of their positions, they were in different stages of waning.

  Kalea had told them both moons were simultaneously full only a few times a year. “It is named the Calling Moon,” she explained after Wren returned with food and Genji. “From the time both moons are full to the time the smaller is again full, Priestesses go to the Goddess to find their Calling. My mother was told she would become queen during a Calling Moon.”

  “What about you?” Eloch had asked her. “Weren’t the moons full a few days ago?”

  She looked down and shook her head. “I will need to wait,” she said quietly.

  Eloch had glanced at Wren over the girl’s bowed head. “We interrupted you, didn’t we?” he asked. “You were on your Calling Moon when you were hurt.”

  She had looked at Genji and giggled at his expression. “There will be another Moon this year. I can wait.”

  Reaching the beach, Wren turned and looked at their tent in its peaceful setting of palms. Such an abundant habitat! All one had to do on this planet was wait for the fruit to ripen and the fish to swim into the nets. It was so easy to live. So unlike SubCity, where food had to be stolen from the UpperUppers. But that wasn’t the case anymore, Wren reminded herself. Eloch had awakened Spur, and Spur was caring for those who loved and respected Her. When Wren last vided with Flick and Mouse, both had lost that awful SubCity pallor. They looked well-nourished and fit. Healthy and thriving.

  She sighed and ambled along the beach while the sniffer chased shorebirds. Seeing movement, she stopped and peered into a tide pool. Countless creatures darted about. Creatures she had no names for. Her fingers itched to touch them, pick them up and marvel. But Eloch had warned her not to touch anything until they could be scanned. Some could be harmful. He was right, of course.

  But it didn’t placate her itchy fingers. The water, too. She couldn’t wait to immerse herself in it. But again, so many unknowns. They’d grilled Kalea about how she lived until the poor girl was exhausted. She said she swam daily, though. Wren wanted to swim daily too, but Eloch reminded her of her own Caution First rule. They were different species. Kalea’s skin was much tougher than her own.

  Haku nudged Pika and nodded toward the slight woman walking on the beach with the beast. They’d spied on them all day yesterday, too, while they set up their camp, remaining still and downwind so even their creature hadn’t noticed them.

  Haku had been surprised when Pika brought these new strangers to his attention, and showed him where they were setting up camp. “I thought you didn’t want to get involved,” he said.

  “I don’t,” Pika replied. “But I also don’t want trouble. Look at where their camp is. It’s right beside the trail the miners have been using. If they weren’t so busy setting up camp, they would have spotted it by now.”

  Haku had nodded and left the miners for Makini to worry about. “I wonder where these ones came from. I wonder if they’re the same people who took Kalea.”

  “Off-worlders. Not miners, but off-worlders nonetheless. I don’t know what they’re doing here. Why, all of a sudden, are there now off-worlders?”

  “Off-worlders? How do you know that? Just because their skin is lighter doesn’t mean they’re off-worlders.” Haku looked around. “I see no starbirds lying around. No. Wait. The dances again,” he scoffed, “The dances told you all light-skinned people are off-worlders.”

  Pika’s eyes were narrow when he met his brother’s look. “Has it ever occurred to you if The Ancestors came from off-world, then there could be others? What if they’re The Ancestors, returning like the dances said they had once before. Do you think there will be more?”

  Haku shook his head. “I don’t care where they came from. I don’t care how many. I don’t want them messing with my plans.” And they would be. Soon, if he couldn’t get these new ones to leave, or move farther down the coast at least.

  In just a few days the miners would relocate half their equipment during the night. Grale said it had to be nighttime to limit the risk of exposure. It was going to be the most dangerous time for the miners, their most vulnerable time, and there would be repercussions if they were discovered. Part of the contract, Grale had said.

  “You’d be found out sooner at the second site,” Haku had pointed out. But Grale showed him how he could manipulate what he called ley lines to create the same invisibility shield that surrounded the fi
rst mine. It was more than Haku could understand, and made him miss Pika, who would have loved to learn all about it.

  Now the shield was ready, and some of the cube-like homes installed at the second site, it was time to move the giant diggers.

  “At night,” Grale had told him when he argued. “Don’t want the old woman to find out.” Haku thought it pretty funny that someone was afraid of an old woman, but he held his tongue. Once the diggers were moved, Grale would give him the fire sticks.

  “Time to burn down their camp,” Haku said and began to shift.

  “Wait! The man is still in there.”

  “Not for long,” Haku hissed, already in his Nuri form. “He’ll get out pretty quick. Watch.”

  The sound of leathery wings told Wren they had company even before Little Sister growled a warning. She whirled around to see two of the huge flying lizards perched in the palms glaring at her. And me without my knives.

  One began to weave its neck like a snake. It hissed, whipped its head and sent a ball of flame at their tent. The roof burst into flames.

  “Eloch!” She and Little Sister ran toward the burning structure, nearly colliding with him as he came running out, gripping his staff and her kit of knives.

  He handed her the knives.

  She eyed the creatures warily. “Are those Aiko’s flying lizards?”

  “They’re dragons! I’ve dealt with them on Entean” Eloch swept up his staff. “To the ocean, Wren. Take Little Sister. No fighting. Run!”

  “Little Sister,” she shouted and darted onto the lava rocks where they pooled into the sea. Tense, she unzipped the leather sleeve and withdrew one of her knives.

  “Don’t hurt them, Wren.”

  “As long as they don’t hurt you!”

  Spur’s gift to Eloch was a portion of Her power. It had remained within him when She transferred Herself into Flick. It was not as much as it would have been if he was drawing power directly from the planet Herself, but it was enough. Plenty, in fact. Eloch directed his staff toward the blazing roof. He created rain, and the fire fizzled out of existence.

  The dragon that had ignited the roof hissed and snaked his neck. The other opened its mouth and aimed at Eloch.

  “Duck!” Wren shouted. She threw her knife. The blade sank deep into the hind leg of the second dragon before it could launch its attack.

  The thing cried out, fell, and shimmered into a young man.

  Eloch turned and froze. A man! Entean dragons didn’t shift into humans.

  “Behind you! Eloch!”

  Eloch whirled around just in time to see the first dragon soaring toward him. He dove out of its way.

  Only it wasn’t attacking Eloch. It flew past and landed over its fallen comrade, shielding it. It hissed and glared at Wren.

  She readied knife, her hand on the top of Little Sister’s snarling head. Bristles of hair stood straight up along her spine. “Easy, girl,” she said.

  Eloch aimed his staff and created a dome of water around Wren and the sniffer, just in case the creatures aimed at them.

  The dragon whipped his head at Eloch, who tracked it with his staff. It hissed again, then gently gathered the young man in its rear talons and lifted into the air, its wings stirring up a cloud of dust.

  They watched it struggle to fly, its burden likely making it hard for the dragon to gain momentum and height.

  After a tremendous jolt, the ground trembled and groaned, nearly toppling Wren.

  “Hoi!” she cried and clutched at Little Sister.

  Eloch’s stomach clenched when the waters began to recede. “Wren, Little Sister, run to me! Hurry!!! And don’t look back!”

  It was the fear in his voice that galvanized them. They reached Eloch in time to turn and see a huge wall of water roaring directly at them. Even though she knew she was safe within Eloch’s force field, Wren ducked and clung to him. The water crashed over their protective dome. When the wave receded from the beach, it took their smoldering encampment with it.

  Wren stood gaping, heart pounding, as the sea swallowed their little home and everything that had been in it. She looked at Eloch, eyes wide, then looked back to where it had been. Not a trace.

  “What just happened?”

  “It appears we’ve gotten Longwei’s attention.” Eloch said as he lowered the protective barrier. “I don’t think She’s too pleased with us.”

  Wren twisted her coils away from her face and cocked an eyebrow at him. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

  “This isn’t how I wanted to introduce myself,” he said, turning serious for a moment.

  “No. But how is Longwei to know we’ve come in peace unless She talks to us? It’s not like you haven’t tried to reach her.”

  With hands on her hips, she scanned the empty sand and sighed, watching Little Sister nose around the wet sand. “All our hard work. Gone in an instant.” She brightened. “You saved my knives! At least I won’t be defenseless.” She strapped them on and then eyed Eloch, “Guess we should begin again.”

  “Time to take a shortcut. My power can create a new encampment.” He pointed his staff, but paused when Wren put her hand on his arm.

  “I’m thinking that’s what’s making Longwei angry. Your use of power. It’d make me pretty mad if it were my creation. We can call Aiko for more supplies.”

  Eloch nodded thoughtfully as he gazed at the volcano belching its plume. “Best not chance it. If we’re dealing with angry planet, I’d feel better if Aiko remained above it.”

  Wren glanced at the smoke plume in the distance. Did it look thicker? “I wouldn’t want to get caught in a lava flow because of something we did unwittingly.”

  Eloch looked around. “I’m going to have to create something to cut down thatch. I’ll risk a small amount of power for that.”

  “It’s necessary,” she agreed. “While you do that, I’ll find something I can use as twine to attach one of my knives to a stick and make a spear. We’re going to be hungry soon. Sure glad Little Sister is here to help us hunt.”

  “Make a second spear for me. When I’m done with our new shelter, we will hunt.” He pulled her to him. “Just glad we’re okay.” He kissed the top of her head and released her.

  Queen Ululani knelt beside Pika and bound his thigh after using the healing crystal to close the wound. The knife, a truly wondrous weapon to be pondered another time, had not hit anything vital. “You will heal, my son, and have a beautiful scar as a reminder to listen to your mother.”

  Pika hung his head and said nothing.

  “You knew of the strangers?” Haku asked. He looked at Pika. “You didn’t tell Mother you knew about them?”

  Queen Ululani lifted her gaze to Haku. “Oh, I see. This was your doing. Yes, I knew of them. A fisherman saw them appear out of the forest and begin to set a camp. He came and told me. I told Pika to spread the word, emphasizing that we’d merely observe them for now.” She scowled at them both. “I said nothing about attacking them.”

  “I only meant to frighten them,” Haku said.

  She chuckled. “These strangers are no mere wild goats to be run off. It is time we were more civilized with our introductions. Since you burned their home, you will build them another.” She hesitated. “Better still, I shall visit them and invite them to live with us in our village, where we can both entertain them and keep watch over them” She glared at her two sons. “And you both will be seeing to their needs even before you see to your own.”

  The two glowered back but said nothing.

  The queen had spoken.

  Chapter 9

  A Feast

  This time Kalea took much longer to heal. Since she’d never been burned by Nuri fire, she assumed that was the cause. Even though her human form was healing nicely, her Nuri form still burned―a deep, throbbing pain that was now her constant companion.

  It had become a nighttime habit, after the ship was quiet, to shift and inspect the healing process. Her wing still had holes, the webbing still mel
ted. She couldn’t look at it without having to swallow back bile. She doubted even a healing crystal could fix what she saw. And flying would be impossible. How she yearned for some of Genji’s ointment!

  She knew he’d give her some in an instant, but she was afraid to ask. She couldn’t reach the wounded areas. That meant she’d be forced to ask Genji to apply the ointment. Which meant she would need to shift. He said he wasn’t afraid of her, but she wasn’t convinced. She’d seen his expression.

  Who could find a Nuri lovely unless it was another Nuri?

  With a hiss, she folded her damaged wing, shifted back into her human form, and climbed into her little bed, only to lie awake wondering how long it would take to fall asleep this time.

  They had given her a private room. It was nice to have a private space where people knocked before entering. It made her feel safe in this strange place, all metal and filtered air. She missed home, her people, her mother, and her siblings. She hoped her brothers wouldn’t worry, grow impatient, and cause trouble.

  She hoped Wren and Eloch had camped far from her village. She told them to. She liked them. Liked that they respected Longwei. She thought she would be able to convince the Goddess to speak with them, or at least induce the Goddess to look favorably upon their request. Nobody could tell a Goddess what to do or how to behave.

  Longwei. She needed Her guidance urgently.

  Desperately.

  Kalea rolled onto her side, adjusted herself so she would be comfortable, and closed her eyes.

  Tomorrow would be a lesson in humility.

  “Your healing abilities amaze me, Kalea,” Genji said. “I’d guess you’ll be home with your family in a day or two.” Why didn’t she look happy? “Kalea? I thought this news would make you happy.”

  She wouldn’t look at him. Instead, she sat very still, her hands folded in her lap, and her heavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, reminding him of black lava flows.