by C B Williams
“Good. We’ll spare our livers together.” Wren blew out a breath. “This leave-taking is the hardest. I almost want to be gone already.”
Aiko nodded. “I hear you,” she sighed.
“Thanks, Aiko,” Wren said after a few moments.
“For what?”
“For making this trip with us. It’s a big sacrifice. I’m sure you’re giving up some dreams.”
Aiko nodded. “No need for thanks. It’s my choice, and I chose. And we all are giving up something, aren’t we?” she added.
“True, that.” Wren paused, thinking. “What are you giving up, Aiko? Unless you don’t want to talk about it?”
“It’s fine. It’s something I gave up a long time ago. I’m over it.”
“Over what?” Wren asked gently, not convinced Aiko was.
Aiko sighed and looked at her hands. “I always wanted a family. Worked my ass off to get out of SubCity, to better myself so I could have something. Finally had my own ship, and family was the next part of the plan.” She looked over at Wren. “But when I was ready for all that, I learned that love isn’t that easy to come by. The men I met weren’t the...” she hesitated. “Let’s just say they weren’t father material. So I put that dream to bed.”
Wren touched Aiko’s arm. “I’m sorry.”
“No pity, Wren.”
“No pity given. Just sad is all.”
“How about you? You want any children? Baby Elochs?”
Wren smiled. “I don’t know. Maybe? Want to stop this something that’s coming before I even consider that possibility.”
“But haven’t you and Eloch ever talked about it?”
“There really hasn’t been the time. Eloch has been on one mission after another since we became partnered. ’Sides, I’m not even sure if I’d be a good mother. Didn’t have the best role model.”
Aiko snorted. “You’re a KinLord. You have an amazing understanding of people. KinLording and child-rearing? Same thing in my book.”
Wren wrinkled her nose, “Hopefully not. KinLording wasn’t something I did for fun. I did it because I wanted to make SubCity a little easier for people, and because I was good at it.”
“You’d be good at mothering, too, Wren.”
Wren smiled. “Well, I’m not going to be dreaming about it. Just glad that Mouse and Max will have their chance. They’re so happy.”
“I didn’t know they were having a baby. How wonderful.”
“Yup! I was sworn to secrecy until Mouse found an opportunity to tell Max, and since she has, so can I.”
“That’s great,” Aiko said. “I’m happy for them.”
“What about Grale?” Wren asked out of the blue.
“What about him?”
“Ever considered him as partnering material?”
Aiko burst out laughing. “You’re kidding me! Grale?” she hooted. “You’re crazy, Wren. I take back all I said just now about you understanding people. He’s one the most un-father-like people I’ve ever known.”
Wren shrugged. “People change. You never know. We’re embarking on a very long journey.”
Aiko kept on laughing.
And for weeks—maybe even months—afterwards, whenever she caught a glimpse of Grale, she’d chuckle all over again.
Two days later, Perin arrived.
Chapter 4
Heading into Cryo
Rayne went with Perin up to the ship, and she was very grateful. The sensations were new and disconcerting. As they shot above the planet’s atmosphere, she clutched at Rayne’s hand, wondering if she was making a terrible mistake. To calm herself, she repeated to herself, The Lady asks this of me, again and again. It helped some.
Accompanying her and Rayne were Max and Mouse. It was the first time she had met either of them, which increased her discomfort. Yet when she heard the sorrow in Mouse’s voice as she explained her relationship with the various crewmembers Perin was about to meet, Perin saw how correct Eloch was when he mentioned others who had to make sacrifices as well.
“You will miss them,” Perin said, softening toward the couple.
“Very much so,” Mouse agreed, her voice quavering with emotion. “Wren is like a sister to me. She will always be my KinLord.”
“And a daughter to me,” Max said.
Perin nodded. “I believe the love you share with each other will always keep you close, despite the distance.”
“And technology will help substantially,” Max added. “We’ll have a few years when communication will be fairly easy.”
“I don’t know if that’s a blessing or a curse,” Mouse muttered.
“I think you will find it a blessing, My Mouse,” Max said.
Perin liked the way they glowed at that moment.
Wren was throwing knives at a battered target when Eloch alerted her through their connection of Perin’s arrival. Be there in a few, she replied silently. Snatching up the towel she had slung over a barre in the exercise room, Wren wiped the sweat off her neck as she strode to the target. Retrieving her knives at the various kill spots, she slid them back into their sheaths and concealed them within her clothing, smiling as she remembered her reply to Aiko when the pilot wondered why Wren still wore concealed weapons. “I feel naked without them,” she told her.
And she did. Her knives and her skills were a part of her, just like the scars crisscrossing her back and the black animated replacing one leg.
Deciding she hadn’t worked up enough of a sweat to smell, Wren finished toweling off and hurried to the gangway where she would have opportunity to say one final goodbye to Mouse and Max, and greet Perin.
She was curious to meet Perin, and was surprised by how young the woman was. And lovely. Tall and willowy, with long golden hair, a heart-shaped face, a small straight nose, and a full mouth. The eyes below the dark gold brows, which winged at the tips, were such a cloudy blue they were almost white. She was dressed simply in a loose white tunic and trousers tucked into cloth booties. A red sash belted her middle.
Wren heard Eloch introduce Perin to the rest of the crew, giving Wren a chance to hug Mouse and Max one final time.
It hurt to watch them go.
To keep her mind off the pain, she offered to take Perin to her new quarters, deciding it was a good way to get to know The Lady’s Seer, Her gift to them.
“I hope you like your new space,” Wren said as she led the woman down the corridor to the sleeping wing of the ship. “It’s going to be your home for a long time.”
“I’m sure I will,” Perin said politely, her hand resting lightly on Wren’s forearm. “Everyone seems very nice,” she added in a pleasant tone, but Wren noticed her tighten her grip on the duffel bag she insisted on carrying herself.
“We are a nice group of folks,” Wren assured her. “We’ve all got our quirks, but underneath it we’re kind. And,” she added, “we know we’re going to be together for a good many years, so we allow each other plenty of privacy.”
“That will be a new experience for me,” the Seer said.
Wren frowned. “You didn’t have much privacy back on Talamh?”
Perin shook her head, “Not since I began having True Dreams and became blind. For nearly twenty years privacy has been hard to come by.”
Wren’s step faltered. “I don’t mean to pry, but did you say twenty years? Exactly how old were you when you became a Seer?”
“I was eleven when I experienced my first True Dream.”
“That must have been frightening when you were so young.”
“The Dream didn’t frighten me. But waking up without sight terrified me.”
“I can imagine,” Wren said as she slowed their pace. “I’m sorry, Perin.”
“I’ve had a few years to adjust,” Perin said wryly.
Wren chuckled and decided she liked the girl. As they walked, Wren explained the setup of the Valiant and how its modules surrounded the large Solar Farm area in the middle.
“I don’t think you can get lost
if you stick to the outside corridors,” Wren said, “but until you get used to the ship, I wouldn’t advise trying to take a shortcut through the Solar Farm without someone to lead you.”
She paused, “The Valiant is enormous, so walking the perimeter can take a long time. We have little automated carts we can drive, but most of us just go through the Solar Farm. Based on the way you insisted on carrying your own baggage, I assume you want to be as independent as possible, but give it a few weeks, won’t you? Let us help you learn your new home. Along the walls are com links, and there’s one in your room, too. You can ping any of us at any time, and we’ll lead you wherever you want to go.”
Perin nodded. “I would like to tour the ship. Walking, not riding. Walking is how I will find my way around.”
“Okay, then I have an idea. I run around the perimeter nearly every day for exercise,” Wren told her. “I can take you with me during my cooldown.”
Perin brightened. “I run, too,” she said. “I love to run. I just need an arm and someone to match pace with.” She hesitated. “Unless you prefer your privacy.”
“No worries, Perin. I do like to run to clear my head or solve problems, but I like company now and again as well. Let’s begin tomorrow morning, shall we? But for now? Now, we’re here,” Wren said, halting in front of Perin’s room.
“There’s a door panel right in front of you. On the right of the door panel is an activation panel. It’s the same with every single door on the ship, which should make it pretty easy for you. The activation panel is heat sensitive, so you need to be close enough. Either waving your hand or touching the panel activates it, and your door will slide open. Want to try?”
She glanced over at Perin and noticed her frown. “What’s wrong? Did I confuse you?”
Perin shook her head. “No, not at all. I simply forgot to count the steps while we were walking. It’s how I know where I am.”
“You’ll have plenty of time to count,” Wren told her. “Don’t worry about that. And take it easy. This ship is enormous, and if you take your time you won’t get so overwhelmed by all the things you’re going to have to get used to. A little bit at a time is the best, you know. Here, try the panel. Let me help.” She guided Perin’s hand to the panel. “Slap your palm on it, and the door opens like magic.”
Perin touched the activation panel and grinned as she heard the door whisk open. Delighted, she touched it again and it closed. She looked where Wren’s colors were and grinned. “Easy,” she said and opened the door for them.
“The activation panel is always on the right-hand side,” Wren said. “Come, let’s explore the room together. It’s very spacious. And we’ll remember to count. I’ll count the paces with you.”
Together they wandered about the suite, counting the paces to the bed, where Perin deposited her duffel. Then they counted over to the built-in closets and dressers, where Perin played with opening and closing the receptacles.
Next they wandered into the bathroom, where Wren showed her how to use the various appliances. Still counting, they strolled over to the long couch, which stood across from two easy chairs. “Careful with the side tables by the chairs and the coffee table in front of the couch,” Wren warned.
“Not sure I’ll be using this much,” Perin said dryly when Wren led her to the desk with its info console.
Wren snorted. “But you will want to know where all the com links are. Besides the ones by the door and near your bed and in your bathroom, there’s one here by the desk.”
“I would love for you to describe the colors for me,” Perin said when Wren brought her back to where her duffel lay on the bed.
“Well, all the furnishings are a light golden-colored material that looks like wood but isn’t. The walls are deep green. Very restful. The carpeting is an orangey-gold, and it matches the bathroom walls, only the bathroom walls are lighter than the carpet.
“The couch is a floral pattern that has the same dark green as the walls, and the two chairs are pale orangey-gold like the bathroom walls and blend with the carpet. It’s pretty nice. Comfortable, too.”
Wren looked around and then thought of one more thing. “This ship was built to be a colonizing vessel and was created to transport the upper classes from Spur, my home planet, to wherever they were going to colonize. The UpperUppers loved luxury and fine things, and I’m not going to complain about it. I think we’ll want...and probably need...as much comfort as we can get during this voyage.”
“Is this the ship the people used to travel to Talamh?”
“No, this one came from Longwei, but the people living in the walled city would have used a similar ship.”
“Many years ago.”
“Yes. Many years ago, and now we’re finally making friends with your people. I’m glad. It was wrong for my people to colonize, but it’s been so long that Talamh is their home, too.”
“Just so they don’t try to overpower us,” Perin said. “It would be a bad thing for them if they did. The Lady Talamh will never allow that to happen.”
“The people of Spur don’t want it to happen either, Perin. Max is a good leader. He wants a peaceful union of our two people.”
“We do, too, but it may take us time to trust you.” Perin smiled. “Do you have time to sit and describe the people I just met?”
“Of course, although I don’t want to wear out your poor brain.”
Perin chuckled. “I think there’s still a little bit more room in there. Let me see if I can lead the way to the couch.”
Wren watched Perin move forward hesitantly, arms outstretched. She took slow, careful steps, found one of the chairs, and maneuvered her way around it to the couch, where she settled herself with a sigh. “You’re right. It is quite luxurious,” she said, smoothing her hand over the rich fabric.
“And comfortable,” Wren agreed, sinking into the chair closest to her. “So,” she began, “I’m going to assume that Eloch has already been described to you since you met him before.”
She waited for Perin’s nod.
“Good, now I’ll tell you about the crew you just met.” Wren gathered her thoughts. “Aiko and Grale are our pilots. Aiko comes from Spur, from SubCity, so she is small like me. Her skin is the color of honey, dark longish hair and dark eyes. Her hair used to be short when she worked for the colonizers. She also used to have her own ship—a scouting vessel. She and Genji were the first ones to meet Eloch. Brought him back with them from Entean, his home planet.” Wren paused and sighed. “She and Genj have seen Entean, and I really envy them that. Have Eloch describe it to you one of these days.”
Perin nodded. “It must be very hard for him to be away from his planet.”
“It is, but Eloch has adjusted. Moving on, now. Grale was what we call a rock pounder. He used to mine ore from various asteroid belts. I have no idea where he originated, but I suspect from the City of Talamh. He knows a lot of people here, which helped us get some good deals selling the modules we didn’t need so we could buy the supplies we do need.
“Like Aiko, he had his own ship, a modular mining ship, put together very much like this one, so he’s had more experience flying this kind of ship. I like Grale, but he can be pretty sarcastic, and he take a lot of pleasure in antagonizing Aiko.”
Perin nodded. “I noticed all sorts of colors swirling around them when we were introduced earlier. Is it possible they share feelings?”
Wren hesitated, “I’m not sure. If they do, they’re unaware of it. I mentioned something similar to Aiko and she burst out laughing.”
“In time we will know,” Perin said, nodding.
Wren chuckled. “True, that. Now, where was I?”
“You were describing Grale.”
“Right. He’s a big man, but graceful for all that. Dark hair and eyes, always looks a little scruffy. Seems rough, but I suspect he’s hiding a sensitive soul. His people were extremely loyal to him, and that says a lot. Longwei, the spirit of the planet, insisted he come with us. I know there
’s a story there, but Grale won’t talk about it. However, Longwei put her handprint on his forearm like a tattoo, and I know it has something to do with why he’s here. How am I doing?”
Perin blinked, then laughed. “That was a question, wasn’t it? I was so absorbed, I didn’t realize you asked me something. You are doing very well, thank you.”
“Going too fast?”
“No, no, it’s perfect, and just enough background so I can connect who they are with the colors I saw when I met them.”
Wren settled more deeply into her chair. “Good. I figure you’ll be forming your own opinions and developing your own relationships with them, so I’m spending more time on what they look like.”
Perin nodded. “Please continue. It is helping.”
“Okay,” Wren said, tucking her legs underneath her. “Who haven’t I talked about?” Wren snapped her fingers. “Spider. Of the crew, I have known Spider the longest. He was one of my most trusted advisors when I was KinLord in SubCity on Spur.” She paused. “A KinLord is the a leader of a group of people for whom he or she provides guidance and protection,” Wren explained. “SubCity was a rough place. The weaker ones needed looking after.”
“I see,” Perin said, sounding like she understood more than Wren had let on. “So is Spider from SubCity like Aiko?”
“No. He was an UpperUpper. Got himself in trouble and came to my KinLands for help. We worked out an agreement. I’d protect him, and he’d tell me as much as he knew about living in the UpperUpper.” Wren paused. “Although he could pass for someone from Sub on account of he’s so wiry and he’s not too tall. He’s got wild bushy hair he wears kind of long, thick slanty brows, and eyelashes that don’t belong on a man they’re so thick and lush. His eyes are dark, too. Spider is smart. Wicked smart, but he’s quiet, so you may not notice at first just how much he knows. He and Genji are in charge of sciencing out anything we may come across.
“Now Genji. Gengi used to work under Aiko. She calls Genji a walking question mark.” Wren snickered. “He is that. Genji is the most curious person I’ve ever met. He looked after Eloch when he was new to Spur, and I would say Genji was Eloch’s first true friend. Genji and Aiko. They really looked after him.”
