by Martha Wells
“No. Not yet.” Delin threaded his fingers through his beard, something he did when he was thinking. “I wish I knew why they took me, then, if they didn’t mean to make me help them. Perhaps Vendoin changed her mind, at some point? Or could there be another reason.”
“Delin . . .” Bramble’s eyes narrowed. “Do you know what they want?”
Delin hesitated for a long moment, and Bramble could read guilt in his expression, even without spines. He said finally, “I fear so.”
Bramble sat down on a stool so he didn’t have to look up at her. “You know so.”
Delin’s mouth twisted as he hesitated. He said reluctantly, “On the sunsailer, when all were resting and Vendoin was in the steering cabin, I looked through the translations that she had done from the inscriptions in the city. I did not trust her and I felt she might be lying. I found one translation among her papers which was older, on a much worn paper, that she had clearly brought with her. It spoke of a hidden weapon, and a warning, an exhortation not to take it to the place where it can be used for it was ill-made and would destroy their children and allies as well as enemies.”
“A weapon. What weapon?” He met her gaze, and then Bramble knew. She shook her head. “Not the artifact. That can’t be it.”
It had lain in a chamber in the ruined foundation builder city, protected by spells designed to let only the forerunners, or their descendants, find it. It had drawn the Raksura to it, tricked them into bringing it to the sunsailer. From the spells on it they had known it was dangerous, that it was something that should have been buried in the city forever. They had planned to drop it into the ocean deeps. But then the Hians had come. Surely that’s not the weapon, Bramble thought, dismayed, we can’t be that unlucky.
Delin made a weary gesture. “There was no description, no way to make certain. But the artifact was so carefully guarded, to make sure no one but a foundation builder or forerunner’s descendent could reach it. I feared it was the case. And Bramble, forgive me, I feared to tell you and the other Raksura of it because I thought you might wish to use it against the Fell, and I thought it was best to heed the warning.”
His expression was so bleak, it frightened Bramble. “I don’t think we would have used it.”
“Perhaps.” Delin made a weary gesture. “Vendoin has not said why she betrayed us, but I think the artifact must be the reason. That she knew of it all along, and made use of Callumkal’s expedition to reach it. I believe she is taking it and us to this place where it can be used.”
It was bound to be another foundation builder city, and the thought made Bramble’s skin twitch. And she still didn’t understand Vendoin’s motives. “But they already have Kishan fire weapons. What makes this weapon so special?”
Delin shook his head helplessly. “A good question. The writing about the weapon said ‘destroy children and allies as well as enemies.’ Perhaps it creates a poison, or some other effect against those two species but no others?”
“So who are the ‘enemies and allies and children?’” This kind of story logic game was Bramble’s favorite when played around the hearth with other Arbora. Playing it in earnest wasn’t nearly so fun. “The allies could be the forerunners.” She hissed in dismay. “And we’re their children, Raksura and Fell.”
“It’s a strong possibility. Callumkal and many other Kishan scholars believe the Jandera and others native to the Kish lowlands are descended in some way from the foundation builders. This weapon might be used to kill half the inhabitants of Imperial Kish. If the goal is to use it against the Fell, then it would have to be used carefully.” Delin made a baffled gesture. “But again, the same could be said for Kishan fire weapons, which will kill just about anything they are pointed at.”
Bramble’s throat was dry. “Maybe they took me and Merit to test it on us. If it kills us, it’ll kill Fell.”
They stared at each other for a long moment. Delin took her hand, and said, “I fear this, Bramble.”
South of Port Gwalish Mar
Chime sat atop the wind-ship’s cabin, taking his turn at watch. It was late afternoon, and they were flying over heavy jungle and rolling hills, the air humid and heavy. Finding the message cache from Moon and Stone had been a sharp moment of relief in the long days of tension and waiting, and he was still reveling in it. The certainty that they were going in the right direction, and the new moss sample to follow, had lightened the burden of everyone on the wind-ship.
Briar jumped up on the cabin roof to take his place, and Chime hopped to the deck to head down the stairs and into the main cabin.
River and Rorra were there, and she was saying, “We’re going faster than it seems. I’ve been calculating it and the flying island stones that this wind-ship uses to travel give it considerably more speed than a Kishan moss craft.”
Chime eyed River, reluctantly curious. It sounded as if River had actually expressed impatience over their progress. Chime still disliked River and always would, but River had tried to save Moon from the Fellborn queen and got his scales ripped open in the process. River saw Chime staring at him, sneered, and looked away. Chime snorted in derisive amusement, more as a reflex than anything else. It was the only way he and River ever interacted.
“Especially over land,” Rorra finished. She noticed Chime’s expression, looked from him to River and back, then shook her head. “And the Kishan say I’m hard to get along with.”
“That’s probably why you like us,” Chime told her. “Niran’s like that, too. Did Dranam say if they’re still going in the same direction?” He had missed the last check of the moss samples during his turn on watch.
“The moss is showing that both samples, the Hians, and Moon and Stone’s, are still heading toward the south.” Rorra frowned in frustration. “I just wish it showed what they were doing.”
Chime just hoped Moon and Stone hadn’t been led astray and that it was the right flying boat. Jade hadn’t exactly been pleased that the two consorts were continuing on alone instead of waiting for the wind-ship to catch up to them. Not pleased, but not exactly surprised, either. Chime felt the same way. There was no telling how Malachite felt.
Rorra said, “I’m going to see if Diar needs a break,” and went out, her boots clumping on the light wood of the stairs.
River turned to follow her, then hesitated. He looked at Chime and said, “Have you talked to Root lately?”
Chime had been so certain that River was about to insult him that it took him a long moment to understand what River had actually said. Wary of a trick, Chime said, “Uh, no. Why?”
River looked away, the still-raw scar from his injuries puckering the bronze groundling skin of his neck and collarbone. “He’s acting strange.”
Chime had a moment to realize it was odd that he hadn’t talked to Root. Root never seemed to be in the sleeping cabin when anyone else was, or when they gathered to eat or go over the maps with Rorra and Kalam and the Islanders. Whenever Chime came to eat, it seemed Root was always just leaving. He might be spending time with the Opal Night warriors, but . . . maybe not. “Did you tell Jade?”
River hissed impatiently. “She’s got enough to worry about.”
That was true. Chime said, “I’ll talk to him.”
River stamped out without an acknowledgement.
Chime rubbed his face and sighed. Root was still on watch now, and it would be better to catch him when he came in to rest.
It was depressing how days of anxious waiting and worry could make you just as exhausted as days of long-distance flying. He thought about making tea, or getting his writing materials out of his pack and taking some notes. But it was probably better to try to sleep while he could.
Some of the others were sleeping out on top of one of the sun-warmed cabin rooftops. But it reminded Chime too much of other trips with Moon, and just made his absence hurt more. He turned to go to the sleeping cabin instead.
Then from the deck above someone yelled, “Fell! Fell are coming!”
> Already shifting, every nerve on edge, Chime bolted upstairs to the deck. He paused in the shelter at the top, but the sky was not full of kethel and dakti. Stepping out cautiously onto the deck, he found River and Rorra there with Jade, Balm, and Niran. More Golden Islanders stood near the rail, already armed with the small Kishan fire weapons. Rorra carried her weapon cradled in her arms. Kalam hurried out on deck, his own fire weapon slung across his back.
Chime couldn’t spot Fell anywhere. The sky was deep blue and laced with light clouds. In the green forest below, tall trees were wreathed with purple and blue flowering vines, with rocky outcrops emerging occasionally to tower over the foliage.
Sweep, perched on the rail, amended his warning to, “Some Fell are coming! Two Fell!”
Chime squinted and finally saw the two dark shapes approaching. River hissed and muttered, “Idiot.”
Chime agreed, but he wasn’t going to say so out loud, mostly because it would mean publicly agreeing with River.
The other Opal Night warriors gathered on the deck and atop the cabins. Shade came up from the stern and stood beside Chime. He was still in his groundling form but Chime was relieved to have him so solidly nearby.
Which was odd. If two turns ago someone had told Chime that a half-Fell Raksura would be a reassuring presence to him, he would have thought they were making an unfunny joke.
Then Jade said, “It’s the Fellborn queen, and a dakti.” She told Niran, “Don’t use the weapons.”
Niran turned to the young Islanders and snapped, “Put those things down. You hardly know how to use them.”
The Golden Islanders hadn’t used the Kishan fire weapons before, since it took a Jandera horticultural to keep them supplied with the moss they needed to work, and Kalam had said that horticulturals didn’t venture outside Kishan territory without permission from Kishan elders. Apparently Kalam had broken some rule by talking Dranam into coming with them. Niran and Diar had both been uneasy about it, but had finally agreed.
The young Golden Islanders stepped back and lowered the weapons, still uneasy.
“Why are they here?” Chime said, and tried to stop his spines from twitching nervously. “Just the two of them? Is it a trap?” He wanted to make absolutely certain everyone knew it could be a trap.
“They want help from us,” Jade said. She bared her teeth in distracted irritation. “Maybe they’re going to ask again.”
A thump on the deck so faint as to be nearly soundless made Chime flinch. It was Malachite, who must have been coiled up somewhere out of sight. She said, “Shade, go inside with Lithe. I don’t want them to see you yet.”
Shade stirred a little, but didn’t protest. He turned to go down below deck again. As Flicker started to follow him, Shade told him softly, “No, it’s all right, stay up here.”
Flicker came back to stand beside Chime, bouncing a little nervously.
The Fellborn queen circled down to land on an outcrop some distance from the boat, and the single dakti swept over her twice before it dropped down beside her.
Malachite stepped up onto the rail, her foot claws wrapping around the wood, her intention clear. Jade told her, “I’m coming with you.”
Balm said, “Not alone. Chime’s right, it could be a trap.”
Chime said hurriedly, “They know you and Malachite came out alone to talk to them before—”
Malachite said, “Bring some of your warriors, then,” and dropped off the railing.
Rise bounded up the stairs from the hold just in time to see her go. She hissed in exasperation. Jade leapt to the rail and told Rise, “Stay here, guard the boat. Balm, River, Chime, come with me.” Then she hesitated. “River, you can stay. Briar—”
As Chime followed Balm to the railing he remembered the last time River had seen the Fell queen she had been trying to gut him. Balancing on the rail, Chime made sure his spines weren’t flaring in nervous fear.
“No, I can do it,” River said quickly.
Jade flicked a spine in agreement and River leapt to the railing beside Balm and Chime.
Niran said, “We’ll stop and wait for you.”
Jade said, “Are you sure?” and Chime knew she was weighing the possibility of this being an attempt to attack the wind-ship versus an attempt to separate the queens and attack both them and the wind-ship at the same time.
Niran, obviously following this trail of thought, said, “We can’t out-fly them. It’s better to be stationary if we have to use these unnatural weapons.”
Chime saw Kalam grimace in irritation, but he didn’t argue. Kalam and Niran apparently disagreed on a lot of things you would think groundlings would agree on. Considering how long it had taken Niran to become reconciled to the existence of Raksura, Chime wasn’t surprised he had problems with Kishan too.
Jade acknowledged Niran’s statement with a spine lift. She told the warriors, “Don’t leave this boat, no matter what happens.”
There were spine twitches of assent all around, and Jade flung herself off the rail. Balm and River dove after her, and Chime braced himself and followed.
It was a short flight and within moments they were dropping down to land on the outcrop. Malachite and Jade faced the Fell queen and the dakti. River half-turned away where he could watch their backs and keep an eye on the wind-ship. Chime wished he had thought of that first. Then Balm gestured for him to move to Jade’s flank and he carefully eased into that position.
The Fell queen had shifted to a groundling form and looked less frightening than Chime was expecting, but maybe that was a product of all the time spent with Shade and Lithe. Jade had said her name was Consolation, an uneasy reminder of the poor consort who had given it to her. Thinking of Moon or any other consort Chime had ever known in that position made him shake with fury. She stared at them all curiously, and he found himself evading direct eye contact. He didn’t want his anger to antagonize her. Not until they found out what she wanted, anyway.
Malachite, staring at the Fell queen, said nothing. The dakti twitched uneasily and settled closer to Consolation’s feet. Jade was the one who spoke first. “What do you want here?”
“To warn you,” Consolation said. “The Fell are going to the Reaches. To kill Raksura.”
Chime froze, dread and rage gathering in his chest. Jade’s spines snapped to neutral. Balm hissed and River flinched. With her usual opaque calm, Malachite said, “Where in the Reaches?”
“I don’t know.” Consolation tried to step away from the dakti and it wrapped a clawed hand around her ankle. She told Malachite, “I know they know where a court is. They found it out from the same groundlings that knew about the old groundling city in the sea. They want to take it, and make the Raksura there tell them where the other courts are.”
Jade hissed out a breath and her spines started to lift. Horrified, Chime thought, It’s Indigo Cloud. It has to be. They knew the Fell had managed to influence a Kishan who had known about Callumkal’s trip to the foundation builder city. If that groundling had learned the direction that Callumkal’s flying boat had taken into the Reaches, the Fell could use that to find the Indigo Cloud colony tree.
Jade forced her spines down. “When are they—How many—”
Consolation’s brow furrowed, clearly aware how the news affected them. “Three flights, moving west now. But slowly, waiting for a fourth. Maybe more. Maybe two more.”
“How does she know?” Chime leaned toward Jade and whispered, “If she’s had contact with other Fell, do they know about us?”
Jade asked, “How do you know this?”
Consolation frowned at her, and frowned at Chime behind her, as if not pleased that he had thought to ask. Chime hissed and fought the urge to move behind Balm. Consolation said, “The two younger rulers can still hear them. The other Fell. They heard the call.” She added, looking at Chime, “The Fell don’t know you’re following the Hians. I think. I don’t know if they know.”
Malachite tilted her head. If she had looked at Chime lik
e that, he would have flung himself down on the ground. Malachite said, “And why tell us?”
Consolation waved her arms. “Because we aren’t Fell. I don’t know what we are. But it’s not Fell.” She tossed her head, an odd gesture, not Raksuran or Fell, as if deliberately emphasizing her differences. “I want help. You can help us. I need to know things—”
Jade must have reached her limit. Her spines flared and she spat, “Help? Like you tried to get from my consort?”
Consolation flinched. Chime knew this was bad, that Jade should try to emulate the icy iron of Malachite’s calm. That this was Jade’s panic and fear coming out as anger and they didn’t have time for it. But he couldn’t help feeling a jolt of satisfaction at seeing the Fell queen flinch.
The dakti’s head turned to look up at Consolation, and it said, “I told you so.” Chime stared at it in astonishment. He had never heard a dakti speak in its own voice before and he had had no idea they could sound that . . . sensible.
“It was a mistake,” Consolation snapped.
Jade bared her fangs. “You make a lot of mistakes.”
Consolation hissed, “I know that!”
Then Malachite said, “Enough.”
Her tone made Chime recoil as if something had punched him in the chest. Jade twitched and Consolation froze, then stared warily at Malachite.
Malachite stepped forward and Consolation edged back, the dakti with her. Malachite said, “You came here with an offer. If you want our help in exchange for this information, I tell you it is not enough.” She bared her teeth and Chime felt all his spines involuntarily drop. “Your people have killed too many of us for that to be enough.”
“I know.” Consolation seemed to gather herself, and with obvious effort she lifted her head to meet Malachite’s hard gaze. “I offer swift travel. I have two kethel who can take you to the Reaches to warn the courts twice as fast as you can fly.”
Chime’s stomach wanted to turn at the thought. He had spent time in a sac while a Fell flight traveled and the stench still haunted his dreams. But if Consolation really meant it . . .