For any unaware tourists, it would be a jarring sight considering the travel literature, but it was an important aspect of their lives. As their bodies were cleansed and essence spilled, so too was the planet nourished and Pahali’s fires cooled in her womb.
There were consequences for failing to preserve her rites. That’s what was said. Davinth had yet to see these consequences manifest, but the disappointed tuts of those he loved were poor omens enough.
“Pahali’s festival begins soon, and yet…” His grandmother’s gnarled hand motioned toward the empty space next to him before returning to his own to gently pat it. “We will need to make other arrangements.”
Ice shot through his veins, and his mouth ran dry. Other arrangements could mean a host of things. A minor offense could see someone barred from all rituals and festivals for a span of time. As much as this would hurt him, he could almost consider this punishment a blessing. There was always more research to be done, but the worst offenses against the clan could be met with complete excommunication.
He squeezed her hand before allowing his own to fall to his sides. It would be better to discuss this with her in the morning, away from the prying eyes of overly invested extended family. He wove through a sea of bodies, all happily joined and excited for the coming festivities, and sought out his mother and father.
He found them in the kitchen, speaking in low murmurs with an Elysian he didn’t recognize. He leaned against the doorway, partially to allow them time to finish their conversation but also to gather his thoughts. Despite his best intentions, however, he couldn’t focus. Voices commingled with the clink of glasses and carried him back to the intimate dining table he’d shared with an unexpected traveling companion.
He was miles away when a hand softly pressed into his shoulder and his attention refocused on a kind face, tipped up and smiling into his. “You don’t have to stay up, you know?” his mother’s soft voice said, and she ruffled his hair the same way she always did. Of anyone who understood him, it was Sanya Xan-Curson, although that didn’t stop her from being worried about his lack of a mate.
“We’re glad you’ve finally made it, Son,” his father said.
Davinth pressed his fist to his chest and bowed his head.
“We were beginning to think you had abandoned us for fairer pastures,” Sanya replied, and Davinth was happy to bear the brunt of her teasing again. “But at least we know you’ve eaten.”
“I’d like to thank you for offering to assist in our retreat over the festival week,” the strange Elysian said. “We’re always happy when the community gets involved in sharing wisdom with others.”
There had to be a mistake. He hadn’t volunteered for anything before arriving. In fact, he had been fully prepared to spend most of the festival sequestered in his room. At his age, he should have been participating in the preliminary rites, but without a mate…
“I think I’m misunderstanding...” Davinth began, and his eyes darted to his parents who, by now, were standing together and looking at everything but the two males in front of them. “I don’t recall taking on this obligation.”
He heard a sharp intake of breath and scowled in its direction. He had a sneaking suspicion this was his parents’ doing, and while it was considered bad form to turn down a request for aid, that his suspicions were confirmed true and plans had been made without his input rankled him. This was his worst fear made manifest and, in the thick of it, it felt like a stunning betrayal.
His growing annoyance must have been palpable since the male raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “Your involvement in the rites can be as minimal as you would like.”
Davinth grit his teeth to stifle a growl. The involvement he preferred was none at all.
His mother reached out to enclose one of his hands in her own, and her love flowed between them when he opened himself to her presence. “I know you are unhappy, but I did not wish for you to be isolated.”
He supposed it was a kind gesture, but that didn’t stop him from feeling put upon. Aside from Stephanie, he was never enthusiastic about mingling with the planet’s off-world visitors.
Mingling among curious other-worlders was a common enough pastime among the young, but there were only so many patronizing assumptions he could take from people who were led to believe he spent his days eating soup made of sea vegetables and staring at candles.
But, he wasn’t getting out of this. Not when Pahali’s festival was involved. Davinth sighed and his shoulders sagged in acceptance.
“Brother Namais Ahmur-Yilzar hosts a small retreat just up the road,” his father said, placing his hands behind his back. Davinth resisted the urge to groan. He could see the pride in his father’s eyes at being of use to one of the religious communes, even if it wasn’t he being sent to facilitate the frolicking of spiritual tourists.
“The group for this one in particular is quite small,” Namais said in a coaxing tone.
Davinth’s eyes narrowed. It didn’t sound like they needed the extra hands, but his mother’s pleading gaze had always been an effective antidote for his resistance. He sighed and returned the gesture when Sanya squeezed his fingers.
“When and where am I needed?”
His mother was happy. Sanya glowed for the rest of the evening as she swept through the lower rooms to tend to their guests. Her son may not have brought a mate with him, but he would be assisting in the rites. At worst, it would be an acknowledgment of his hopelessness, at best it would stop them from prying into his meal with Stephanie.
Based on the details provided to him by Namais, there was an almost ninety-nine percent chance he would see her again. He’d had to stop himself from laughing when the Elysian revealed the location of his modest order. Davinth didn’t believe in the divine, but if the universe was attempting to display its sense of humor, it had pulled a fantastic punch.
He sipped from his cup and nodded in greeting to another set of cousins as they passed. He’d found a suitable window for brooding and trained his eyes to the horizon in the direction of Stephanie’s lodgings.
Lorion’s voice came from behind him, “Emon is pleased with himself.”
Davinth huffed. “My father has many virtues. Humility isn’t one of them.” His eyes slid to the other male. He had left his mate with the family, meaning whatever he was about to say was something he didn’t deem appropriate for her ears. “Out with it, Lorion.”
“How long must we maintain this charade?” Lorion said, dropping his voice to a harsh whisper. “For ten years, you’ve been of age to acquire a mate. Your doing so is quintessential to this family’s prosperity, and yet you’ve continued to fail.”
Davinth’s hand tightened around his cup. Lorion may have been younger than him, but by all rights, he was held in higher esteem by some. His service in the guard and early procurement of a mate made him welcome in most of their families' foyers.
“Your father and mother are competent leaders but are reaching their twilight years.”
“My parents are perfectly healthy,” Davinth interrupted, although guilt twisted in his gut. As the family heads, they were responsible for tending to births, ritual festivities, homecomings, and a whole host of community functions on top of their professional work. As the eldest, he and his mate should have taken over those duties by now.
“That isn’t the point, and you know it.” Lorion pinched the bridge of his nose between two fingers and squeezed his eyes shut. “It’s time for the headship of the family to be passed on, yet you are ill-equipped to do so.”
And there it was, the truth behind this conversation. Lorion felt himself ready to take on the mantle of leading the family. Davinth hadn’t had many interactions with Lorion’s mate, but he was fairly certain she was a female who was eager to step into his mother’s role. The younger male was in his prime—they both were—but Davinth had failed in the one place Lorion managed to succeed, and the way that mattered to many around them.
When alone at night, sur
rounded by specimens and plates lined with algae, he often wondered if their concerned whispers were right, but that wasn’t something Lorion needed to know. In fact, that the younger male had cornered him in his own home to propose he formally step aside was the epitome of disrespect.
Emon and Sanya had yet to voice any desire to step down from their positions. Lorion was mated and accomplished, but this had brought with it a ruthless ambition that made him presumptuous.
“When Emon and Sanya are ready to cede their responsibilities, I—not you—will be among the first to know. You should be at ease.”
Lorion stiffened, and Davinth was happy his statement hit the mark. He was a distant cousin, not even in the direct line. Davinth’s sister, by all rights, had more of a claim.
The other male’s fists clenched at his side, and his eyes narrowed. Davinth’s heart raced. There were probably more vicious barbs at the tip of the male’s tongue, but the sound of voices entering the room stopped him. Lorion regarded him for a few moments, and Davinth wondered when their relationship had changed. They weren’t especially close due to their disparity in age, but there had been a few shared summers of youthful adventures in the cistern between them.
Now the male looked at him as though they were strangers. His upper lip curled before he spun on his heel and stalked out of the room, shoving past a few Elysians lingering in the hallway.
Davinth released a deep breath and leaned an arm against the window, returning his gaze to the dull lights in the distance.
* * *
Stephanie
If she saw Davinth again, she would have to tell him he was exaggerating. Her room wasn’t luxurious, but the bed was large and covered in a fluffy, cream blanket and a mountain of pillows.
The Elysian female who led her into it cracked the window, allowing the scent of early spring to rush in. Rich soil, rain, and the blossoms ubiquitous to the area. A rug made of woven reeds covered aged wood floors, and a chest of drawers on the wall to her left would be more than enough to hold her belongings during her stay.
She had to laugh when she entered the bathing room to find a large sunken stone tub and the softest towels imaginable on a small bench beside it. A tiny nod to luxury on a planet renowned for its simplicity.
“Is everything to your liking?” The female said from beside the door, and Stephanie joined her back in the bedroom.
“It’s lovely. Thank you.” She covered her mouth. “I have to admit, I was expecting something a bit more spartan.”
The female smiled, and while it was pleasant, Stephanie could not help but notice the tiny twitch at the corner of her lips. “We’ve found our patrons tend to appreciate a bit of comfort after their experiences.”
Stephanie frowned but didn’t get a chance to question her further before she continued. “First meal is served at dawn. Someone will be along to wake you.”
The change in subject was so abrupt, she hardly had a chance to catch up. Before she knew it, she was standing alone, the Elysian’s parting words hanging in the air where her body once stood. The door quietly clicked behind her, and Stephanie was alone. Right. This is exactly what she wanted.
Her luggage had been brought into the room during check in and was waiting for her on the opposite side of the dresser. She huffed and threw herself on the bed, studying both pieces with annoyance. She was in a spiritual place. She should be on her best behavior and put her things away immediately.
But the bed was comfortable, and the linens smelled like fresh flowers. If she turned her mind off, she could tune into the sounds of the planet’s nocturnal life forms filtering in through the window. She was in a spiritual place, but she was also on vacation.
“Lights off,” she said with a yawn, and she welcomed the darkness that followed. She could unpack tomorrow.
4
Stephanie
She heard them knock the first time but thought maybe, just maybe, if she ignored it they would give her fifteen more minutes. When the knocks became insistent pounds, she remembered she had paid for this experience and would not be allowed to slack off. She blearily opened the door, thanked the attendant for the wakeup call, and shuffled into the bathing room to perform her morning ritual.
A full night’s rest had served her well. The bags under her eyes managed to shrink from totes to evening clutches, and her skin had regained a bit of its glow. She groaned upon realizing she would need to unpack if she wanted to get anything done and set about completing what she had put off the night before, dragging the suitcases onto the bed to unpack their contents.
Hopefully, they wouldn’t hold tardiness against her.
Her thoughts turned back to Davinth while she scrubbed travel grime from her body and toweled off. He knew where she was staying, but that was no guarantee she would see him again. They parted on good terms, but without a solid agreement to reconnect and, considering their circumstances, that was probably for the best. That didn’t soothe her disappointment at the thought of never seeing him again, however. Some encounters just seemed fated.
She pulled on a pair of fitted leisure pants and a soft, long-sleeve pull over. The sound of a ringing bell came from somewhere in the house, and her stomach grumbled.
“I hear you,” she said to her reflection as she pulled a brush through her hair. If her brain couldn’t keep her on schedule, her stomach would, and one pair of flat, leather boots later, she was out of the door and following the smell of freshly baked bread down the hall.
The monastery was slightly gloomy after dark but truly revealed itself in early-morning light. After getting directions from a shy Elysian who blushed and stammered her way through her response, Stephanie found the dining room with its large stained-glass windows portraying various scenes she didn’t recognize.
From what she could tell, the planet’s volcanoes were a constant, and the meticulously cut-glass references to magma, fire, and the resulting lush forests cast the room in dizzying shades of orange, red, and green. Other patrons were interspersed among Elysian novitiates in simple brown tunics and trousers, although their faces were few and far between.
The first empty table was as good as any and, soon enough, a plate filled with fruit and cheese was deposited in front of her by a hurried member of the monastery staff. She could barely say a word to them before they were scuttling off to tend to other diners, but a familiar curved horn caught her eye.
She leaned to the side and couldn’t contain her smile when she caught sight of Davinth standing by a table, a small tray in hand. Engaged in conversation with another Elysian, he must have sensed her gaze as his eyes drifted from his conversational partner to lock onto hers.
A flutter began in her stomach, and she waved, fully aware she was probably blushing. His eyes widened slightly before he returned her smile and motioned toward one of the cups on the table in front of him. It was as good an excuse as any. That he came when she called, weaving through other diners and panicked waitstaff, was a bright spot in her morning.
“Fruit and cheese,” he said with a wry grin, depositing the wooden tray on the table and placing a wooden cup in front of her. “As I suspected.”
Stephanie laughed and popped one of the berries into her mouth. It burst into a juicy combination of tart and sweet on her tongue, and she followed it with another. “I have to tell you,” she said, remembering her promise to herself, ”my room is really nice. You had me thinking I’d be staying in a hovel.”
He laughed and placed a piece of bread on her plate. “They’ve given you two mats, then?”
“Three. I’ve got an extra one to use for a pillow,” Stephanie replied, and she couldn’t stop the next words that flew out of her mouth. “And a chamber pot to piss in.”
Davinth froze and, for a moment, she wondered if she had offended him. Jonathan would have considered the comment crude and told her as much. Her mother always warned her that her “gutter humor” would turn off quality men.
But, if his dipped head and shaking shoulder
s were any indication, he wasn’t offended in the slightest. When he looked up at her again, he wore a crooked smile.
“That wouldn’t surprise me you know,” he said. “I seem to remember a scandal a few years ago because a commune was too ascetic.”
“You don’t think very highly of the people who run these things,” Stephanie said softly, and she could understand. She had learned more about Elysians from a few hours in his company than she had from the slick website promising soothing relaxation and self-renewal. Their peace came at a strict personal cost, and that wasn’t something that could be packaged and sold.
“They sell other-worlders a vision,” Davinth replied as he roughly tore a chunk of bread. “I’m sure some of it is real, but most of it isn’t. If there is some divinity as powerful as they claim, why must we twist ourselves in knots to get a glimpse of them? Why can’t they just reveal themselves?”
Stephanie puffed her cheeks and whistled. These were some pretty heady questions for first thing in the morning. She of all people didn’t have the answers he was seeking. Not when she was hoping something here would shake her out of her rut.
Then he reached across the table, and his far larger, blue hand closed over her own. “I don’t mean to discourage you from enjoying your retreat.”
His skin was warm, and his voice earnest enough that she could tell he shared a similar concern for maintaining the good will between them.
She turned her palm upward and allowed her fingers to lace with his. “If you think I’m going to miss out on therapeutic mud rolling, you’ve got another thing coming.” It felt right and comfortable touching like this.
“You may be disappointed in the lack of mud rolling,” Davinth said after swallowing a bite of cheese.
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