“It’s great to work, Aiden!” Jessop said, excitedly, “They teach me so many things, and it is important. Master Trehan, he’s nice to me and says I am strong! He says he couldn’t bring in half as many fish without me.” Jessop grinned, giving Aiden another hug.
Aiden was happy for his friend. When he’d first met him years ago in the Orphan Hall of Breen, Jessop was having difficulty getting along with others because he had difficulty wrapping his head around things that other boys took for granted. Aiden had been assigned to help him, since he had proven to be level-headed and kind, and their friendship had become stronger through the years. Aiden didn’t care that Jessop was a little slower than others; he made up for it in so many other ways.
“I’m proud of you, Jessop,” Aiden said, returning the hug. “Just don’t try to net a Tarfin. They might be a little too big for a fishing ship.”
Jessop laughed, “Ha! They are way too big, Aiden! I’ve been out to see them, you know! Some are larger much larger than the ship I am on. The only one I could catch would be a baby, and I wouldn’t want to take a baby from its mother.”
“I know you wouldn’t, Jessop. I was just kidding. Do you think you’ll ever get a chance to milk one of the Tarfins?”
“Maybe? Master Trehan says that is very hard work since you have to walk on their backs. Even in a birth..uh,” he paused, obviously searching for the word.
“Birthing sling, dear,” Dame Tenadine said casually.
“Yes! Birthing sling,” Jessop crowed, hopping up and down while Crean patted his arm. “Even in a birthing sling, it would be hard because sometimes they wiggle. I may not be able to do it because sometimes I am clumsy.”
Aiden shrugged and put his arm around his friend's shoulder. “Don’t worry, Jessop. Even if that’s true, and it may not be, there will always be plenty of important things you can do to help out Crean. He’ll need us both to help him when he becomes Baron.”
Crean grinned, nodding happily as he held Jessop’s hand though he never spoke. He’d been mute since his parents had died when he was three and Dame Tenadine had been raising and training him for the past four years. Aiden knew that she kept him by her side always, even during meetings and business negotiations. Despite his affliction, Aiden knew the young boy was growing up with the best education.
They ate with Carol Reid in a comfortable, spacious building that she was staying at while in town. Aiden watched in amusement as Glowby buzzed in and out of the building. Because of the nice weather, many of the detachable walls had been taken down inviting the cool breeze to blow in off of the ocean. Romald was in attendance along with Oya Dihya, Serilda, and Aiden was surprised and delighted to see his mother pitch in on the preparation of dinner as was the Naiaden way. Clearly, she did keep well informed.
“So,” Oya Dihya said, smiling at Serilda after they had all sat down to eat. Aiden had never seen Oya Dihya with anything but a stoic face, so the mischievous glint in her eye was a surprise. “You have not been in a warbody in quite a few centuries. Are you certain you remember how to use it?”
Her friend eyed her back, smiling while she chewed and then shaking her head. “Please, Dihya, No matter how long, do you think I’ve been able to forget how often I beat you in the games?”
Oya Dihya laughed, smacking the table. “I seem to remember it was only the line wrestle that you had the advantage? The other games we tended to trade, but honestly, I assure you I simply didn’t want to see you continue crying each evening in the barracks.”
“Oh? Is it crying now?” The dark woman said, stretching before looking over her shoulder into the night outside. “What say we have a run after dinner, Dihya? I might as well get used to beating you again.”
Oya Dihya chuckled, smacking the table lightly “Done, after dinner we’ll go see how fast I can leave you in my dust. If by beating me you mean in how much one of us cries afterward, I’ll help you with that.”
The two friends went back to eating, making idle conversation. Aiden quirked his head and looked at Gavin. “I thought Oya was her first name?”
“What? Oh, no,” He said as he considered Aiden’s question. “Oya is a title. You remember when she said it meant teacher or something? I think that’s what she said.”
Romald, who was sitting nearby leaned over. “Actually, that is only one of its meanings though I am sure when you first met her, that was more appropriate. It is a rank within their loose military, though I’m not sure rank is the right word. Station maybe? It equates to general, I believe.”
“Are there other titles?” Aiden asked, curious.
“There are others, though Romald is correct. The word station is a better description than rank by far,” Carol said. “The Exemplars grant the title as an honor to those they respect and choose to follow. They can also remove it in the same way. The order is; Oya as the highest, than Ontaya, and Ontelil.”
“So, a group of the Exemplar’s gather and then choose their leader?” Gavin asked.
Carol nodded though Aiden noticed Romald laughing to himself and shaking his head. “Only the Naiadens,” He said but took the bite out of his words with a smile. “Truthfully, now that we know a bit more about your people and their age, it does make more sense. Forgive my laughter; I was only thinking about how our Generals in Riften would react if we told them they could only keep their positions if their troops approved. I am certain their heads would explode.”
Carol nodded softly. “It is true. In many ways what we did worked very well, but it took a clean break and re-engineering ourselves extensively before it could be possible. Even then, we went through many centuries of…discussion.”
Will this town be a great departure for your people then? Won’t it cause conflict?” Tenadine asked, casting her critical eye on the Naiaden leader.
“It has, of course, at least to the point where we experience conflict,” Carol said with aplomb. “We’ve had five-hundred years to get used to the idea. Still, we’ve created this town so that it might mitigate some of the difficulty. It will be a place for each of our peoples to get used to the other while also letting my people remain apart if they wish.”
“Surely there are rebellious elements even in your society?” Tenadine asked. As his mother said the word rebel, it reminded Aiden about her of the story about her son’s attack.
Carol eyed her for a minute but shook her head. “No. Not in the sense that you are speaking of though there will always be those that disagree. However, we’ve…engineered the more unstable elements from our minds just as we engineered Dihya and Serilda’s warbodies.”
“So you’ve tampered with people’s minds? Changed them?” Aiden asked incredulously. Glowby came over at his concern, suddenly curious at the conversation.
Carol nodded but didn’t seem surprised at her guest’s discomfort. “Yes, that is exactly what we chose to do but only after considerable discussion. People can suffer from mental issues just as they can physical ones. If someone was born without a leg, would you fault them if they could fix it? Would you say it might be different if they suffered from mind rot in their old age or a tendency toward uncontrollable anger?”
Aiden didn’t answer, but suddenly he could only think about his brother, Jessop. He was happy that Carol hadn’t brought any attention to his brother but what if they could restore his mind? Or more appropriately altered, since he wasn’t sure fixed was the right word to use for someone born a certain way. Would he be the same, happy-go-lucky friend who was loyal to the end? Even if he did change, did Aiden have the right to stand in Jessop’s way so that he could hold onto something familiar? The conversation moved onwards, but Aiden felt his eyes glance towards his brother several times throughout the meal, wondering. As if in concert with his thoughts, Glowby stayed close to Jessop.
Finally, the meal came to a close and people began to retire to their sleeping rooms. Aiden and Carol escorted his mother and brothers back to the gate, bidding the three of them goodnight before they passed throu
gh on their way back to Terek. Jessop cried at the parting though Aiden assured him they would see each other again soon. He hadn’t visited the Barony of Wilthorn yet, and it was high time he saw his home.
“It is always difficult to say goodbye, especially in dangerous times,” Carol said softly as they watched them pass beyond view. She turned to look up at the stars with a faraway look. “I still remember saying goodbye to those I loved, but who didn’t understand our plight as women back in my old home. They had no idea it was forever.”
“I don’t understand,” Aiden said. “Why couldn’t you tell them you were going away?”
Carol sighed sadly. “Because some of them might have told people who would have stopped us. They are long dead now, my parents and brothers, but that is the only thing I regret about leaving. I couldn’t even hug my father.”
“What was it like, where you came from?” Aiden asked, “It sounds like it was terrible. I thought the Ancients were all goodness and light?”
Carol laughed, suddenly amused and took Aiden’s arm in hers as they walked. “The Ancients were people too, Aiden. Yes, they had fantastic technologies, and none of them deserved to die as they did after the Cataclysm, but people by nature are flawed. Sometimes they travel a path so far they can’t find their way back, even during that time. My home planet was one such place. It is so far away you can’t even see its light from here.” She paused, looking at Aiden sternly. “You see, they thought that women were not capable of doing anything without a man’s approval. Religious reasons, and so flawed that if I told them to you, you would think I was mad.”
“That sounds like Ambassador Carsh,” Aiden said, remembering how the loud man had belittled women in the throne room of Terek. “I overheard him talking to Ahnarad, once. It was terrible. I wanted to go punch him in the face.”
Carol patted his hand. “Take what he said and put that in almost every mouth on my planet. Even many of the woman spoke like that. It is why we left, but we did not leave unscarred. When Serilda spoke to Jiada about her fear, it was not without reason. Men like Carsh use this as a club and divide people with fear. Punching him in the face may not be a wise choice, but the feeling is correct.” Carol winked at him, smiling at him as they neared her home. “Now, did your mother forbid you from helping Caitrel?”
“No. My Mother said she supports what I am doing. She told me a story of her son and how he died, though, and how she was happy she supported him instead of smothering him.” Aiden sighed softly. “Now all I can think of is how not to get myself killed.”
Carol blinked and then started to giggle.
Aiden just looked at her, bafflement clear on his face which just made Carol giggle more. She didn’t seem at all like the ancient leader of an entire people at that moment but more like the young girl he’d first met.
“Oh, Aiden,” She said, finally getting her laughter under control. “Your mother is a very dangerous and clever person.”
“What? I don’t understand.”
She giggled some more than cleared her throat. “Aiden, what would you have done if she had forbidden you from helping? Would you have stopped with all those lives at stake?”
Aiden thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. “No. No, I think I have to do this.”
“Exactly right. And your mother knows that. If she had tried to forbid you, you would have rebelled against her, and as a result, you would respect her less. Instead, she told you about her son dying when she let him go off and do what he needed to do. Now, all you can do is think about how not to do the same thing. It will make you more cautious because you will be thinking of others instead of yourself.”
Aiden nodded though he was still confused. “So, was it a good thing she did?”
“Yes, it was,” Carol said, smiling at him. “Now, are you going to scout out where you want the gate tonight?”
Aiden nodded. “Yes, in the Anderealm so I don’t have to deal with those creatures. When I come back, I’ll let Oya Dihya know what I found.”
“Good, but otherwise get a good night’s rest. I know the creation of a gate takes a lot out of you, Aiden.”
“Goodnight,” Aiden said, then retired to his room with Glowby close behind. He hoped it wouldn’t be a difficult task, but he was glad his friend was there with him. At least he wouldn’t be completely alone.
Chapter 19
Aiden retreated to his bedroom with a smile on his face. He was happy after having seen his family. It had only been a few months since the trial where Dame Tenadine had first taken him for adoption but to have someone in his life to fill that void had filled him with joy from the beginning. Still, he missed them. Aiden had only a few weeks to be with them before life had taken him on a journey. To be honest, he felt that wouldn’t be the first time they might be separated but he reassured himself that tonight's adventure would only be about creating a gate. Then he’d be free to visit them in peace. Perhaps even spend a few weeks at Wilthorn Bay.
His eyes moved to Glowby who had followed him to his room. Aiden was cross-legged on the comfortable mattress and Glowby floated down, flickering softly, almost sadly. Aiden couldn’t help but feel his friend knew something about their journey that Aiden wouldn’t like.
“How do you know when something bad is going to happen, Glowby?” Aiden said softly. “I wish you could speak or let me know what is to come.”
Glowby paused in his flickering, almost as if evaluating him before he floated closer and pulsed a dark blue before settling down towards the bed covers.
“Well, no matter what happens, I need to go. So, I need to find a good place for the gate. Great, I have no idea what I am doing. What if I put it in the wrong place? I wish I could take someone with me that knows more about military matters.”
Aiden watched as Glowby flashed a few times before he spun around the room and headed for the door. Aiden was confused. He couldn’t take anyone there through the Anderealm. The flash fried images of the Scratchers appeared in his mind, and he could still smell the burnt flesh. Still, his friend was hovering close to the door as if they should get someone.
“Glowby,” Aiden began, “I can’t take someone with me through the Anderealm. I’d have to make a gate, and that would defeat the purpose of scouting the place out to find a good place for a gate.” Glowby continued to hover next to the door but had darkened his color, shaking back and forth as if to tell him he wasn’t thinking correctly about this.
“I can't…” Aiden began but then it dawned on him what Glowby intended. Months ago when Glowby had taken him to spy on Duke Feldar and the Mourning Lord, it hadn't just been him. It had been Ashrak too!
It had only been their minds, not their bodies that had made the trip, but would it matter? Aiden watched Glowby brighten and knew that was what his friend meant. Could he take people through that other realm?
“Okay,” Aiden said as his mind raced. “So if I can take people there without them dying, that is interesting, but what about those creatures? If we appear in camp, they will swarm us won’t they?”
Glowby floated over to his walking stick, hovering over it for a moment before going back to the door. He’d altered it a few days ago so it would fire a bolt of force at a distance rather than just when he touched something with it. If it worked in this other place, then it should make handy work of the slow-moving floaters. At least he hoped so. He hadn’t tested it except against some rocks, but it seemed to work pretty well.
Aiming had been difficult past a certain distance, but the bolt was somewhere around ten centimeters around, so it made up for it when he was knocking small rocks off of larger ones. He felt much better if he ever had to come up against those locust crabs again.
“Okay, Glowby, I’m coming,” Aiden said, eliciting a happy spin by his friend and then an impatient bobbing up and down.
After he’d opened the door to his room, Glowby took off down the hallway but didn’t go far, settling in front of Gavin’s door. Aiden stopped, looking susp
iciously at Glowby for a few moments. Taking one of the Duke’s sons along with him into the middle of a war zone didn’t sound like something his parents would approve of, but they had sent him along with Aiden when they went to help Trelakor and his people. That had been a war zone.
Making up his mind, Aiden knocked and opened the door once Gavin bid him enter. The tall, blond boy was sitting at a small desk reading a book, looking up at him curiously as he entered.
“I thought you were going to scout out where the gate needs to be?” Gavin asked.
Aiden nodded, quirking his eyebrow at the reading glasses the tall boy had on. He hadn’t known Gavin needed them, but they made his friend seem far more studious than he normally did.
“I was. I mean I am.” Aiden answered slowly trying to figure out how to tell his friend what he had planned. No one knew about Glowby. “I came to get you to help me. I haven’t a clue how to scout out anything related to the military.”
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