by C B Williams
The flutter died.
Genji scrambled to his feet. “Eloch? That you?”
“It’s me. You okay?”
He nodded, looking up. “I’m stuck down here, though. Fell in a hole.”
“Let’s get you out. Your equipment bag. Don’t you carry a rope?”
He did, something he always had in his pack. “Hold on!” He quickly rummaged around until he felt the rope’s silky fibers. He stood and unwound it, gathering it in order to toss up to Eloch’s outstretched hands. “Stand back, Eloch,” he warned. “Throwing’s not one of the things I’m good at.”
It took several tries. The opening was nearly beyond his throwing reach. Finally, Eloch managed to snag the tail. Genji sent his equipment bag and backpack up first.
Then it was his turn. Eloch did more pulling than Genji did climbing. If he hadn’t been using all his effort to climb, he would have laughed. Seems I couldn’t escape being embarrassed. With a final push, he heaved himself up and out of the hole, rolled onto his back and panted until he regained his breath.
Eloch sat down beside him and waited.
Genji sat and blew out a breath. “Whoa. I need to hit the ship’s gym more often.” He used his sleeve to mop at his face. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Good to see you.”
“Good to see you too. Very good. How’d you find me?”
Eloch smiled slowly. “Longwei told me where She’d put you.”
“Longwei? The planet’s spirit? So that’s who that was.”
“Who what was?”
“When I first fell, a woman looked over the hole’s edge, then disappeared. I kept thinking someone would come get me. Thought she went for help.”
“How long have you been in there?
“Three days.”
Eloch scratched his chin, feeling the stubble. “Three days. I’m assuming you’re here because you were bringing Kalea back. Wasn’t she with you?”
Genji nodded. “She told me she was going to Longwei before she went home. I was to wait for her.” He paused and looked down at his hands. “I thought maybe she’d come looking for me.”
Eloch nudged him gently. “Maybe she did. Shall we go back to the village to find out?”
Eloch rose and helped Genji to his feet.
“The village? That’s where you moved? When we lost contact, we found your life energy readouts and assumed all was well.” He glanced nervously at Eloch. “All is well, isn’t it?”
Eloch handed Genji his pack to carry and hoisted the equipment bag. “Let’s go,” he said pointing at the path with his staff.
“Eloch? All is well isn’t it?” Genji repeated as they began the walk down to the village.
“There’s tension down there. One of Kalea’s brothers is extremely unhappy, not only with Wren and me, but with his mother, the queen.”
“Bet I can guess which one,” he muttered. “Perhaps you should fill me in.” When Eloch didn’t, Genji continued. “Well, for starters, why did you move to the village?”
Eloch flashed a brief smile. “Kalea warned us to stay far away from her village. Apparently we didn’t camp far enough away.”
As they walked, Eloch told Genji about the destruction of their encampment, their invitation from the queen, and how Wren was teaching the younger brother to throw a knife. He was about to describe his meeting with Longwei when Genji interrupted.
“So you’ve seen her? Kalea? Didn’t she say anything about me?”
Eloch glanced at him and shook his head. “She hadn’t returned when I was taken by Longwei.” He proceeded to tell Genji what happened.
Genji shook his head. “This Longwei has quite a temper. I thought Spur had one on Her, but…” He shook his head again. ”And that was three days ago?”
“No, just this morning,” Eloch said.
Genji stopped and cocked his head. “But where’s Kalea?”
They looked at each other.
Eloch frowned. “Either she’s not back or,” he rubbed his cheek stubble, “I’ve somehow lost three days.”
“Can Longwei do that? Manipulate time?”
Eloch shrugged. “Perhaps, but we’re not going to know for sure until we get down this trail to the village.”
Genji shifted his pack so it rode higher on his back. “Tell me about village life. I’ve never had the opportunity to get this involved with other cultures.”
“They live simply. Very different from what you’re used to on Spur, but not so very different from Entean. They seem to be a warm and friendly people, yet I hear talk of war. Territorial disputes. The young men have tempers and are very competitive. It comes out in the men’s dance, in who can catch the most fish in their nets, or how large their harvest.”
“Do you feel this world is…what is the word you use? Imbalanced?”
“That’s the word, and at first glance I would say yes, it is imbalanced. But after talking with Longwei, I now see it as the way She wants it to be. I believe She would step in before things got too carried away. What happened to Spur would never happen here. If Her people were to turn on Her, Longwei would simply destroy them.”
Genji shuddered. “How cruel.”
“Perhaps. Mind you, it’s Her planet and She has the right. But I don’t believe it’d ever get to that point. She cares about them. Wants them to learn about people on other planets.”
“Interesting.”
“Here’s something else interesting,” Eloch glanced at Genji. “I assume you know about the Nuri, given you’ve been treating one.”
Genji nodded, “But the others don’t. Kalea wanted to keep it a secret. She was afraid people would be frightened of her. Although,” he continued, “I think Aiko will be connecting the dots soon. She already knows Kalea can spit fire. Frankly, I think Aiko’d prefer knowing her flying lizards were actually intelligent beings and not bloodthirsty reptilians.”
“I suspect you’re right,” Eloch chuckled. “But here’s the interesting thing: not all Nuri can shift.”
Genji stumbled and would have fallen had Eloch not steadied him. “Thanks. That is interesting. Not what I would have thought. I wonder how they know if they can shift or not? I wonder if those who can’t shift feel inferior? That competitive nature of theirs could make for an inferiority complex. Aiko wishes me to stay on Longwei for a couple of weeks. I bet I’ll need more time.”
“You certainly won’t be bored. In fact, knowing you, I doubt you’ve ever been bored, even when you were in that hole for three days.”
Genji shot him a grin. “I don’t bore easily. Anyway, Kalea was telling me about The Ancestors. I suspect I am one of The Ancestors, that all people from Spur are.”
“I agree. From what Longwei has said, She took those colonists from Spur and genetically altered them so they could thrive in this environment.”
“I can see that. Tougher skin, for sure. With the lava all over, they would need to have tougher skin.” He held out his arm. “Look at my flight suit, these tears from my fall. And the Nuri surely must need to walk around naked most of the time so they can shift. I wonder what else has been altered in those not Nuri? Skin that’s easy to tan? What else?”
Eloch chuckled. “No doubt you’ll find a way to learn exactly what has been altered.”
Genji wasn’t listening. “And this plant life. So much lushness now we’re down lower. Have you sampled any of the native foods? What are they like?”
Eloch laughed. “You’ll find out soon enough. I recognize this terrain.” He pointed. “See how the grade is leveling out ahead? Can’t you hear the waves in the distance? We should arrive soon.”
They paused at a break in the foliage, which allowed Genji to catch his first glimpse of the ocean from the ground.
“It’s so beautiful here! Look! A Nuri! Look at it soar! I bet they use the wind currents to conserve their energy. Kalea told me they flew, but I’m sure they’d soar when they could.”
The Nuri in question noticed the two and changed di
rection. As it landed, it shifted. Haku. He stood in front of them, arms crossed across his wide chest. “I see Longwei has made Her choice,” he said to Eloch, and glanced at Genji. His nostrils flared. “Thief!”
Genji took a step back, watching the Nuri’s eyes in case they began to slit.
Haku sneered.
“We want no trouble,” Eloch said quietly.
“It’s unfortunate the Goddess has let you live. Since I won’t risk Her anger, I won’t challenge you. I’ll just accompany you to our village.” Without seeing if they would follow, he stalked off.
Eloch glanced at Genji.
“You go ahead,” Genji said, “I prefer to keep my distance from him…even if he can’t spit fire at me unless he changes,” he muttered as he followed the tall Champion.
Eloch looked around at Genji, eyebrow cocked. “Interesting.”
Chapter 13
Reunion
As soon as Wren got closer to the village, she heard exuberant chatter and laughter. This is going to be harder than I thought. Her steps slowed. Little Sister, who glided ahead of her, paused and looked around with a whine. Not until the readouts on the Stardust say otherwise, Wren reminded herself. She was a KinLord, after all. She knew how to pretend.
In the clearing she saw Kalea embrace her mother and her sister. When the twins were next to each other, it was nearly impossible to tell them apart. Not by their faces, anyway. The only way Wren could tell which twin was which was because one had tattoos and the other didn’t. Wren cocked her head. Obviously that twin without tattoos was Kalea, who happened to glance her way and wave happily. Definitely Kalea.
“You look much better than the last time I saw you,” Wren said when she was close enough to be heard. “How are you feeling?”
Kalea literally sparkled. “I am home and I’m well, and so happy to be here. It’s good to see you.”
Kalea glanced around. With a sinking heart, Wren suspected Kalea was looking for Eloch. When she opened her mouth to speak, Wren steeled herself for the inevitable question.
“Genji!” Kalea cried and her face lit up.
Genji? Wren whirled around.
But she didn’t see Genji. In fact, her vision was suddenly too blurred to see anything at all. She reached out blindly and waited for Eloch to wrap his arms around her. She buried her face into his chest and breathed, filling her nostrils with his musky, loamy scent. He rocked her gently while she listened to his steady heartbeat.
After a moment she lifted her head and looked up into his eyes, eyes as bright with tears as she supposed her own to be. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again.” She punched his chest. “Ever.”
Eloch smoothed a hand over her coils. “I told you to trust me.”
“And I did. I do. But three days, Eloch. Three miserable days. That was a little much even for me to endure.”
“Three days? I held that lava up for three days? No wonder I felt so weak.” He laughed, lifted her up, and swung her around as Little Sister cavorted around them, rumbling her pleasure.
It only took an instant for Genji to recognize Kalea. She was the twin with the welcoming smile, and it was irresistible. But he had to wait to go to her, unless he wanted to chance getting kicked by a whirling artificial leg or buffeted by a capering sniffer. Impatiently he waited until Eloch set Wren back on her feet.
“Genji!” Kalea said again and reached for his hand. “She let you go! The Goddess said She was keeping you. I’m so happy to see you passed Her tests.”
Genji felt a rush of excitement. “I passed tests? I don’t know anything about that. I thought I’d fallen into a hole and had been left there to die.”
A laugh burbled out of Kalea. “Left there to die? Longwei put you in that hole. Otherwise, I would have come for you. I was close by, standing guard, but staying hidden.” She squeezed his hand. “You were quite safe.”
Ululani felt her eyebrow lift. She had never seen Kalea behave in such a manner. Who was this mysterious stranger?
As she waited to be introduced, she glanced around and noticed Makini thoughtfully studying the pair, a predatory gleam in her eye.
Makini looked up and gestured with her head at the two, but not to her mother. Ululani followed her gaze. Haku. His answering nod was barely perceptible.
What were those two planning now? Making a mental note to find out, she returned her attention to her other daughter, who was bringing the stranger to her.
“Genji,” Kalea said, “I’d like to present you to my mother, Queen Ululani. Mother, this is Genji. He is a great healer. He has a wonderful ointment that soothes as well as heals burns.”
Genji felt like squirming when Kalea continued to praise him while her mother studied him. Was that a twinkle in her eye? He felt himself beaming despite the heat crawling up his neck and settling in his face.
“I brought some ointment with me,” he said, rummaging hastily and ineffectually in his pack. “I want to see if I can make something similar using what grows on your planet. That way you can reproduce it. It was very effective for healing Nuri burns. Wait. Ah! Here it is.” He offered the sample to the queen with a flourish.
Ululani, however, was no longer paying attention. Instead she looked concerned, and returned her gaze to her daughter. “Nuri burns?” She looked quickly over at Haku and Pika, who were standing side by side, heads together in conversation. “How did my daughter receive Nuri burns?”
Her tone made Genji wince along with the others, but Kalea laughed and waved her hand dismissively. “It was a little accident. A mere misunderstanding, Mother. I can tell you later. But for now, I’ve got some very important news.”
She glanced around to see if her family and anyone else close by was listening, and gestured for Wren and Eloch to come closer to her, unaware of Makini’s scowl when she was forced to step back and let them pass.
“I’ve come from the Goddess, and as your priestess, I wish to tell you these three,” she gestured to Genji, Eloch, and Wren, “are from a starbird, not from any place on Longwei.”
She nodded at the gasps. “It’s true. I have been on the starbird. I have seen Longwei from above. Genji,” she touched his arm, “healed me while I was there. And there’s more.” She paused. “He and all the others on that starbird are The Ancestors. I tell you now, The Ancestors have returned! Tonight after we eat, I will perform the new dance I have created to add to our histories.”
A clamor of voices followed Kalea’s announcement, and Queen Ululani raised her arms. “Go prepare for tonight’s feasting. I wish to talk with Kalea alone.” She looked for Pika, called him over. “Will you take Wren and Eloch to their new hut and find one for Genji? Eloch,” she continued, “my heart is huge to see you standing beside Wren where you belong.”
Eloch bowed slightly. “I feel very honored that Longwei allowed me to live.
“As do we.” Ululani smiled at him and turned to Kalea. “Come, Daughter.”
Within the privacy of her hut, Ululani gathered her daughter close. “It is good to see you, my heart.”
“And you, Mother.” Kalea pulled back, her eyes wide with delight. “Can you believe it? The Ancestors! Here! In our lifetime! Longwei is deciding if She will keep them. I hope so.”
“And is that because of this Genji person?”
Kalea lowered her eyes. “It may be,” she said shyly.
“He has not touched you, has he?”
Kalea’s eyes widened. “Genji is not like that. Of course he had to touch me to apply ointments and fix my shoulder, but never anything inappropriate. Genji is an honorable man.”
“And I have yet to form an opinion.” She smiled soothingly at her daughter’s alarm. “I’m sure I will share your opinion when I know him better. But for now, we must set that aside. I have something more sobering to tell you, my daughter. I must warn you.”
With an aching heart, she told Kalea what had happened at the feast for Wren and Eloch, as well as what she overheard by the king’s pond later that ni
ght.
Kalea stepped back, her eyes wide. “I can’t believe this,” she said, shaking her head. “Haku and Makini? How can this be?”
“I take full blame. I should never have overlooked Makini’s jealousy and disappointment when the Goddess chose you as priestess. She had worked so hard to please the Goddess. It was a far greater disappointment than I realized when Longwei chose you.
“And as for Haku? I have been too soft, allowing him his grief, never putting him in his place when he overstepped his bounds. And now he is even more outspoken.” She told Kalea about his behavior toward Wren and Eloch.
“This is wrong, Mother. To have attacked them when they are such good people! I should have never sent him away when I was wounded the second time. Only, I feared he would kill Genji.”
The queen narrowed her eyes. “What’s this about being wounded a second time?”
Kalea sighed. “I didn’t want to tell you, but I see I must.” She told her mother how she had saved Genji’s life and been burned. “Mother, what are we to do?” she asked when she had finished.
“This problem is too big. Tonight, we keep our eyes open and observe. Tomorrow, I shall visit Longwei.”
Genji couldn’t sleep. To think Kalea had been there all along, watching over him! And when she danced after the feast, dressed in a white skirt with the white flower garlands draped over her neck and encircling her head…it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
As Aiko’s warning came filtering through his mind, he swore. Damn the rules and regulations! He wanted Kalea. Wanted her more than life itself. How could he manage a meaningful life without her? He didn’t want to be the man he’d been before Kalea came into his life. That man was lonely and sad, always observing life from the sidelines, but never participating.
A whisper of fabric pulled him from his depressing thoughts. He felt a bit of breeze and saw a glimpse of starlight when the curtain of his hut was brushed aside.
And then she was there! Kalea! Warm and willing, her soft body pressing against his. Kisses. Eager hands.
