***
Every day before the sun rose, I visited my brother’s coffin. I lit a candle for him, and prayed to Teeqoh to grant Izkeh a place in Paradise.
I had not changed the leaf covering my wound, but it throbbed less and less. As did my grief. The pain lingered, but it was tolerable. I had not missed a work quota again, so I supposed I must be doing better.
Or maybe I was just beginning to stop caring.
I was numb.
Before long, only three days were left of Izkeh’s seven weeks. And that was when Mama Oojeen and I received an unexpected visitor right after dinner.
He looked sixteen like me, and the red glow of his veins told me he was a Watcher. His long hair, as straight and black as any Man Ang’Gal’s, framed a strong jaw and a square face. Males usually wore no top, but as a Watcher, the boy had on a warrior’s vest.
I tucked a wayward strand of hair behind my ear, and straightened my retracted wings. If I had not been missing my brother dearly, I would have appreciated his handsome features better.
“Good evening, Diviner Oojeen and Crafter Doolei,” the boy greeted. “I am Yovehn, Watcher Izkeh’s lieutenant. I bring news about the late captain’s case.”
Mama Oojeen ushered him in, and I stopped rubbing the dishes with the cleaning scrub. “Doolei, please join us. You need to hear this.”
I sat beside her at the dining table without protest.
“We have caught the Vagrant who killed the captain,” he announced. “He is now awaiting his sentence!”
“That’s great news,” Mama Oojeen beamed. “Hail Teeqoh!”
“How can you be sure? The murderer could be anyone who didn’t like my brother. Izkeh wasn’t exactly a friendly Watcher.” I narrowed my eyes. “Besides, how could you even know for sure it’s a Vagrant you have in custody and not a Colony member?”
“Doolei —” Mama Oojeen started in a warning tone, but the young Watcher waved his hand as though my rudeness didn’t matter.
There were only two main differences between us and the Vagrants. They looked like any Man Ang’Gal, from the bat-like wings to the flat nose and forked tongue. However, since the Vagrants had no Obligation to the Colony, they had no distinguishable vein glow. But worse still, was their choice of food.
The Vagrants were cannibals. Horrible, murderous cannibals.
“It is difficult to discern Vagrants,” Yovehn admitted. “But the captain had made a mark on this one. Watcher Izkeh gouged its eye when it tried to kidnap one of the Foragers we were protecting.”
His explanation made sense, but a question still bothered me. Perhaps the most important one.
“Why did he kill Izkeh?”
Yovehn met my gaze, held it, then answered. “We believe it was out of revenge,” he said. “Your brother was a hero, Crafter Doolei. You should be proud of him.”
“Indeed we are,” Mama Oojeen agreed. “Thank you for taking the time to tell us, Yovehn. But I am afraid I must take my leave. We still have a lot to prepare for the burning of Izkeh’s body tomorrow.”
“You are most welcome, Diviner,” Yovehn said, cocking his head to one side. “Do you mind if I stay with Crafter Doolei? I will not trespass on your hospitality too long, I just have something for her from the captain.”
“Take your time,” my aunt nodded, taking a bundle of ceremonial silk as she made her way out of the cave.
I stared at Yovehn as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Doolei,” he croaked. “May I call you Doolei?”
Without a word, I nodded. I continued to watch him.
“You are as beautiful as the captain described,” he said. I could feel my veins glowing orange, but I still didn’t speak. Yovehn cleared his throat. “He talked about you all the time.”
I nodded again.
“The captain also told me how happy he was when he completed his Watcher training,” he continued. “Because then, he would be able to protect you.”
I bit my lip, feeling a lump in my throat.
Yovehn reached inside his pocket. “After he failed to kill the Vagrant during the attack, the captain knew his days were numbered,” he said, reaching over with a closed fist. “So he told me to keep this, and give it to you in case he couldn’t. He said you would need it to remind you of what is important.”
In the middle of the Watcher’s palm was a small statue. I studied it, and realized it was a detailed sculpture of me and Izkeh. We were both smiling, our arms around each other. Unlike the one I broke in two, this one had been meticulously painted. A feat only a few could do, and one of them I knew to be my brother.
Aside from my radiant smile, the statuette depicted my glowing orange veins. Izkeh painted his markings red. But when I tilted the carving and allowed light to dance on its surface, I could have sworn the vein glow was as orange as mine.
Izkeh was a Crafter at heart, but he chose the path of a Watcher for me. To make sure I was safe.
Yes, Izkeh, I remember.
My brother never made jokes because he preferred listening to mine. I thought I never saw him smile, because he was always tired. He studied hard to become a Watcher, so he could watch over me even when he lived in a different Isle.
I was correct to think my brother did not lie. Because to me, he spoke only the truth, an unwavering honesty he gave to no one but his sister.
Izkeh never said it, but he loved me. And though I pushed him away, he knew I loved him too.
As I blinked back tears, Yovehn put his hand over mine. I jumped, but I didn’t pull away. If my brother trusted him, I knew I should to.
Besides, Yovehn made me feel safe. Just like Izkeh did.
“Thank you,” I said.
Yovehn smiled. His small eyes turned to narrow slits arching upward, and a dimple appeared on his right cheek.
For the first time since Izkeh’s death, I smiled in return.
Diversity Is Coming Page 8