by Brenda Poppy
“Fine, I’ll help you,” he said grudgingly. “But that doesn’t mean I’m coming with you.”
Happiness and disappointment warred in Burn’s mind. She was one step closer to finding a way back, but from here on out she would need to walk alone. She nodded slowly, accepting his answer.
“We start now,” she said, letting go of her sadness and allowing the excitement to take over. This was going to be fun.
Except it wasn’t. As it turned out, reading someone’s thoughts was hard. It was nothing like listening to the world around her, which happened so effortlessly that she sometimes forgot she was doing it. No, mind reading was more like learning how to fight: long, arduous, and requiring lots of practice.
“What color am I thinking of?” Hale asked tiredly. It had been several hours since they’d started this game, and Hale’s patience was growing thin.
Burn stared into his eyes, willing the thoughts to come to her. She visualized a beam of light connecting his mind to hers, transporting the knowledge across the ether. A minute ticked by, then two, and still nothing happened.
“I don’t know!” she finally shouted, throwing her hands in the air. “Blue?”
“No,” Hale said brusquely. That had been his go-to answer throughout their session. No, that’s not the person. Or the number. Or the animal. Or the godforsaken month of the year.
If it was at all possible, Burn was getting worse. Maybe the thoughts she’d heard had been a fluke. Maybe she had imagined it. Maybe they really had spoken out loud and they were just playing with her, tricking her into believing she could do something that was obviously impossible.
“I don’t care what color you’re thinking about. How is a color going to help me get out of here?” she groaned, rubbing her temples. Her head hurt, and she wanted nothing more than to lie down and go to sleep. This was obviously a bust, and she needed to come up with a new plan, but she was too tired to think.
“Maybe we’re going about this the wrong way,” Hale tried, shaking his head. “Think back to the times you heard me and Nara. What was different? What were the circumstances?”
Burn sighed, closing her eyes and picturing each instance in her mind. “You were hungry and wanted breakfast. Nara was homesick. You were jealous of Kaz.”
“I wasn’t…that’s not the point,” Hale said haltingly. “What did all of those situations have in common? Why could you hear me then and not now?”
“I don’t know. You were feeling something, I guess. You weren’t thinking of a random number or color. There was an emotion attached to it, a desire.” She turned away from Hale to stare at the wall, trying to organize her thoughts. “It was like you wanted something, and that need was enough to amplify your thoughts so I could hear them.”
Silence descended on the room as they both thought about what that meant. Then, without warning, Hale’s quiet voice broke through.
“I want you. Is that enough desire for you?”
Burn spun around, shock plastered on her face. “What?! How...why…what?!”
Hale smiled, a look of triumph in his eyes. “Well, I think we’ve figured out how your gift works.”
Burn couldn’t think. Her mouth remained open as she stared at him, and her body felt frozen in place. Hale laughed lightly at her, his expression playful.
“Now that we’ve figured that out, I’m going to bed. Are you coming?”
✽✽✽
Burn had to make Imber angry. That was the emotion she’d decided would work best for her purposes. If she could make him angry, maybe he would drop his guard enough for her to see what he truly wanted – and what he was hiding in order to get it. And with any luck she could use that information to find a way home.
She didn’t relish the thought of making him angry. With a flick of his wrist he could knock her to the ground with a jet of water. Or he could just as easily have her chucked out of the city. The stakes were high.
Imber wasn’t a cruel man. He wasn’t anything like General Cross, who had led with fear and violence, leaving a trail of people cowering in his wake. Imber was a quiet leader, a man who preferred to stay in the shadows rather than take the spotlight.
In the weeks since she’d arrived, Burn had studied him, making note of his interactions and decisions. He loved the city, that much was clear, and he wanted it to thrive, along with its citizens.
That wasn’t to say that he didn’t strive for power. Yet it was power as a collective he was after, power that would boost the fortunes of the city as a whole rather than him as an individual. Anything that threatened that power – like the possibility of his citizens leaving to return to Kasis – he took as a direct threat against himself. That was her way in.
“So, what’s the story with Imber?” Burn asked Nara one day while they sat atop the wall, their legs dangling over the edge. “How did he get here? And how long has he been here?” She figured it was worth the effort to learn more about his background before accosting the man. A little insight into your target was never a bad thing.
“He’s been here a while. Decades,” Nara replied. “I think he got chucked out of Kasis when he was a teenager. Don’t know why. He doesn’t like to talk about it. Even Mags doesn’t know the whole story, and they’ve been together for years.”
He was secretive about his past, then. That sounded like someone Burn knew. And she’d managed to get through his defenses, so that boded well for her dealings with Imber.
“How did he become the ‘unofficial representative,’ then? Is that a recent thing, or has he always been in charge?”
Nara mulled over the question, thinking back. “From what I’ve heard, Videre used to be a very different place. Well, it wasn’t actually a place at all. It was more like a group of nomads who traveled around in search of water. Once the stream or the well dried up, they’d move on. In fact, most of the other exile groups we know of still live like that.
“But when Imber came, his gift with water changed things. They didn’t have to rely solely on their wells or streams anymore. They didn’t deplete the area’s natural resources, which meant they could stay in one place. Back then there weren’t as many of us, but people began coming, and Imber was put in charge of deciding who could stay. People trusted him, and eventually he became the man you would go to if you had a problem. He’s been in the role so long now that people don’t even question it.”
Burn considered Nara’s story, slotting it in with her own experiences with Imber. It fit with her perceptions of him – a man who wanted to protect the city he helped build. It made sense. Although she didn’t quite know how she could use it to her advantage.
“Has he ever…acted rashly? Hurt someone? Or made a controversial decision?” If he had a temper, she might be able to exploit it.
“Not really,” said Nara, shaking her head. “He’s thrown a few people out of the city over the years, but that was always warranted. Like if they stole something or endangered someone’s life. If it’s something small, he’ll usually let us decide for ourselves.”
For all intents and purposes, he sounded like a fair and levelheaded ruler. Maybe that meant he would tell Burn the truth, and she wouldn’t need to go poking around in his head. But, based on her experiences, when people wanted to maintain the status quo, they’d tell all the lies they needed to.
“What happens when someone wants to leave?” Burn queried, trying another line of thought.
“Not many people want to. Or at least not many people admit it.” Nara gave Burn a wry smile. “But he’ll try to talk them out of it. Tells them horror stories of the people who go back and are never seen again, likely eaten by bears or wolves. If they’re determined to go, though, he’ll give them a pack and tell them to leave. It’s like he doesn’t want the disease to spread. If you cut off the arm, send out the people that want to go, then the desire to return to Kasis won’t linger.”
It was just as Burn thought, then. Keeping Videre strong was Imber’s priority, and he took any threat a
gainst the city seriously. She could work with that.
Looking down at the desert below her, Burn braced herself. She had one last question.
“Did you ever come across my father? His name was Arvense. He was a Peace Officer and was sentenced to the Pit about five years ago. I need to find him.”
Burn looked up into Nara’s eyes, but they only held sadness and pity.
“It would have been before my time,” she said apologetically. “But I haven’t heard of him. It’s possible he’s in another camp. Or that he didn’t survive. People don’t take kindly to Peace Officers out here. He may have even changed his name so no old enemies would come looking for him.”
Great. Now she didn’t even know the name he was going under. That could make finding him nearly impossible.
Groaning, Burn leveraged herself up onto the walkway, heading in the direction of the sparring equipment. Grabbing the wooden sticks, she tossed one to Nara, who caught it with ease. If she couldn’t get anywhere in her search, she figured, the least she could do was work on her fighting skills.
With her newfound talent for getting into people’s heads, Burn found that her ability to predict Nara’s attacks and parries was vastly improving. Now when Nara feigned left or tried to sweep her legs, Burn could sense it, as if she were seeing each move a second before Nara made it. So every time Nara struck, Burn blocked, and every time she ducked or rolled in evasion, Burn caught her.
For the first time, as people gathered to watch them, Burn disarmed Nara, striking the baton out of her hand and sending it flying. It was a small victory, but it emboldened her. For the first time since she arrived, she felt like she could do anything.
That evening, still high on her success, she walked across the city toward the offices, where she and Hale had been taken on their first day. Weaving between buildings and greeting familiar faces, she considered how much had changed in only a few weeks.
She was no longer a stranger in this place; she was a part of it. And, despite her short residence here, it was already a part of her.
She felt a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving. It was, after all, a comfortable enough life. They had a roof over their heads, food on the table, friends and neighbors who liked them. And, unlike in Kasis, they had the freedom to be who they truly were without hiding. Burn could see why Hale wanted to stay. In fact, if the Lunaria had meant less to her – and if Scar weren’t in the equation – she could even see herself staying, building a life within Videre’s walls.
Maybe in the future, when they’d tried and failed to bring about a revolution, she and Scar could come back here together. Or maybe they could break down the dome and spread out into the desert, merging Videre and Kasis into an unbreakable whole. It was a nice thought, although Burn doubted very much that either would truly come to pass.
All she knew was that she couldn’t stay, no matter how much she might want to. So she savored the moment, drinking in the dry air and the friendly greetings, trying to memorize this place and these feelings so she could hold onto them in the darkness.
As she approached the long, low building, she spotted Jez coming out. Like always, he had a smile on his face and was whistling a pleasant tune into the evening air.
“Hiya, Burn!” he greeted her, waving cheerfully in her direction. “Whatcha doing in this neck of the woods? It’s almost time for supper. I heard a rumor that Dagon plans on serving up some of his homemade beer,” he said excitedly, referring to the town’s blacksmith, who had a side business of brewing experimental creations in the back of his shop.
“I’ll be over in a bit,” Burn replied. “I need to have a quick word with Imber. But why are you here? Bringing another load of newcomers from the Pit?”
“Nah, nothing like that,” Jez said, waving a hand to dismiss the idea. “No, I’m going out on a trade mission tomorrow. Gonna swing by one or two of the nearby camps and do some bartering. I like to bring ‘em some fresh water as a goodwill gesture. Keeps things flowing smoothly, if you know what I mean.” Jez chuckled lightly at his own joke before continuing. “I was just organizing things with Imber to make sure everything’s set before I leave.”
“Hmm,” Burn mused, taking in this new information. She’d assumed that the city traded with the other camps, but she’d never known the specifics. She wondered briefly what kind of goods were on the trade lists – and how friendly the negotiations were – before coming back to the present and reminding herself of her task.
“What kind of mood is he in?” she asked, trying to sound nonchalant despite her nerves.
Jez shrugged noncommittally. “You’ll be fine,” was all he said before walking past her with a wink. “See you at dinner! If you don’t show, I’m drinking your portion of beer.” Burn had no doubt that he would.
She took a deep breath to calm herself before stepping into the building’s cool halls. Looking around at the offices, images of her first day in Videre came flooding back, and she shuddered. There had been so much fear and uncertainty and doubt. She could almost sense it now, like a ghost of her former self.
But today she held her head high as she walked to the end of the hall, finally certain of her purpose – although slightly doubtful of her ability to achieve it. Raising her hand, she knocked lightly on Imber’s door and waited as he got up and opened it for her, ever the gentleman.
“Auburn. How nice to see you. Have a seat, won’t you? What can I do for you today?” He was jovial and kind, and Burn felt a pang of guilt about what she was about to do.
For a moment, she wavered in her resolve, hating herself for rewarding his kindness with her lies. Yet if she wanted to get out of there, if she ever wanted to find her father, then she had to act.
“I want to return to Kasis, and I’m not alone. There are a number of people in Videre who feel the same, who have family and friends and unfinished business there. And we think you know a way back in.”
The smile remained on Imber’s face, but Burn could have sworn that something cold flickered across his eyes. He stared at her for a few long seconds, as if testing her veracity. She stared back, unblinking, opening herself up to his thoughts.
Yet she heard nothing. No matter how hard she concentrated, she couldn’t break through his guards, couldn’t tell what was running through his mind. She silently cursed herself, regretting the whole plan. If she played this wrong, she could end up in the desert, powerless and alone with nowhere to go and no one to help her. She swallowed, trying to suppress the sudden anxiety that thrummed through her.
“If you want to leave, I will not stop you,” Imber said flatly, as if lifelessly following a script. “But I ask that you not take the others down your futile path. Because it is futile. You won’t find what you’re looking for. This is the best place for you now, but if you can’t see that then maybe you don’t belong here after all.”
“I don’t believe you,” Burn shot back, trying to get a rise out of him. “You know something that could help us get back, but you can’t stand the thought of giving in and relinquishing your power. Because if we leave, there’ll be nothing left for you to rule over. You’ll be alone and weak, overseeing a city of ghosts.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched, and Burn prayed that it would be enough, that she would be able to get past his defenses and discover what she needed.
Yet when he spoke, his voice was calm and level. “There is no way to get back into Kasis. I am not keeping anything from you or the people of Videre. Anyone who wants to leave is free to do so. Yet they don’t because they know that if they walk out of here, they’ll never again have the peace and freedom that they’ve had here. Kasis isn’t a dream; it’s a nightmare, one that we were lucky to be stripped of. If you wish to play make-believe then go right ahead, but I cannot help you make it into a reality.”
Nothing. There was nothing under the surface of his words that Burn could grab onto. He was either telling the truth or he was so poised that she’d never be able to break through the walls of h
is mind. Either way, she was losing this battle. She only had one more trick up her sleeve, the wild card that could be the difference between sinking and swimming.
“I believe you. You can’t help me. But there is someone who can.” Burn paused, watching as Imber’s eyebrows rose in curiosity. “His name was Arvense Alendra. I believe he came through here five years ago. He was also looking for a way back – a way back to his daughters. I think you knew him.”
It was a longshot. It was entirely possible that Imber had never met Arvense, that her father had never even set foot in Videre, but she needed to know for sure. She needed to find out what had happened to him, if he was still alive, if he’d found a way home…and, if so, why he’d never come back.
At her question, something shifted in Imber’s expression. He pressed his lips together, smothering all traces of his earlier smile. His light blue eyes squinted slightly, as if he were truly seeing her for the first time.
“You’re mistaken. I have never heard of an Arvense Alendra,” he said tightly.
Something tingled in Burn’s mind, a hint of something beyond his words, something he wasn’t saying. She concentrated harder, willing the information into her mind.
“It’s possible he was going by a different name,” she pressed on, ignoring his dismissal. “He was a Peace Officer, after all. Still, he would have been hard to miss. Tall, red hair, a penchant for discovering people’s secrets.”
That got a reaction from him. It wasn’t a physical reaction. Outwardly, nothing changed, but mentally, something was ticking.
“Like I said, I am not aware of any such man having been to Videre,” Imber said out loud. But it was what he wasn’t saying that Burn was truly interested in.
“Arvense,” came the quiet murmur of his thoughts, which Burn could just make out beneath the surface. “I thought I’d heard the last of him.”
Burn beamed, elated. “You see, I think you’re lying,” she goaded him, trying to elicit more. “I think he came here and you two didn’t see eye to eye. I think you know what happened to him.”