by Nathan Long
Kai-La and her pirates got some of booty too—a new ship, a cargo hold full of gold, jewels, and Oran trade goods, a free pass to the Oran border and a quarter-cycle head start. The Aldhanan wanted them gone as quickly as possible. It “wouldn’t be prudent” to let the man on the street know that the government had its collective ass saved by a gang of hooligans.
Before they left, Kai-La once again offered me a spot on her ship, and once again, I gave it a miss. If I’d been stuck on Waar I would have taken her up on it in a hot second, but I was going home, so I just wished her well and watched her sail into the sunset. Wish I could have brought her home with me. She’d have made one hell of a biker chick.
The conspirators were all rounded up and beheaded, Mai-Mar included. Justice didn’t drag its feet in Ormolu. Their properties were confiscated and Sai and Lhan both got a share. I passed on mine, for the same reason I skipped being a pirate.
Sai’s sister Shayah was arrested along with the rest, but at Sai’s request she was turned over to his custody. From the look on his face when he talked about her, I got the feeling she’d have been better off on the chopping block.
I wish I could have been a fly on the wall when Sai and Wen-Jhai kissed and made-up. She was apparently at his bedside 24/7 while he was recovering from his leg wound. I bet they had plenty to talk about. Although, on second thought, it probably wasn’t all that interesting. They were both such little tight-asses that they probably used words like “past indiscretions” and “intimate relations” when they meant to be saying “screwing around behind your back” and “fucking like a crazed beast.”
Anyhow, the wedding went off without a hitch, and Lhan and I both breathed big sighs of relief. About damn time as far as I was concerned. Of course, we didn’t totally relax until the next morning at the palace when the newlyweds came down to breakfast two hours late with a glow on you could have seen in the dark. Whew!
***
After that, though, shit started getting a little weird. I reminded Sai that he was going to ask the Aldhanan about finding me a way home and he said he’d bring it up, but it might take a few days. I didn’t mind. Lounging around the palace was no hardship. I spent the time boiling myself in their hot spring spa and getting my hips back chowing down at the palace buffet, but then I started seeing priests hanging around. There were priests in the palace all the time anyway. These guys had all-access passes as far as Oran high society went, so it was no big deal to see ’em hanging out. But I was seeing a lot of them, and they all seemed to be following me. They were like my little orange and white shadows.
Then one day Sai and Lhan hunted me up as I was stepping out of the palace’s steam room after my morning work-out and sauna—I tell ya, it’s a hard life being the Aldhanan’s favorite. The boys had big fake smiles on their faces, like kids with water balloons behind their backs.
I scowled at them. “All right, guys, what’s the gag?”
Lhan laughed in a strangled sort of way. “Gag? We plan no joke, mistress.”
Sai showed me all his teeth. “We merely invite you for a day of foolery and frolic.”
“You gotta be kidding me.”
Lhan bowed. “’Tis truth. The Aldhanshai Wen-Jhai bids you join her for picnicking and merrymaking. Her carriage awaits without.”
I gave them a look. Even for them this was a little fruity. “What’s with you guys? You look like a couple of moonies on a recruiting drive.”
Sai giggled, nervous. Lhan elbowed him. “Nothing is amiss, Mistress. Truly. Come, we will breakfast on the way.”
I sighed. “All right, I’ll play along. Just let me go to my room and...”
Lhan practically jumped. “No need for that. All is provided for.”
“But...”
“You mustn’t keep an Aldhanshai waiting, mistress.”
“Okay okay. Whatever. I bet I’m gonna regret this, but let’s go.”
They led me out to the front gate. I was sure the whole way that I was going to get a pie in the face or a dunk in the fountain at the end of it, but when we got to the drive, there was Wen-Jhai, waiting in a gold and green carriage, complete with a coachman and big wicker hampers strapped to the back. She had a couple guardsmen for escort, and Shae-Vai by her side, looking like she’d been a respectable lady’s maid all her life. What an actress.
The carriage wasn’t big enough for all of us, but there were two thoroughbred krae all saddled up and ready to go.
Wen-Jhai waved a queenly hand. “Greetings, Mistress Jae-En. You honor us with your presence.”
That was the politest thing she’d ever said to me. Something was definitely up.
Nobody was telling, though, so I just mounted up and joined the small talk as we rode out of Ormolu up into the low orange hills to the north. If they wanted to keep a secret, let ’em. I wasn’t going to beg.
***
We finally stopped in a high meadow carpeted in thick blue grass and splotches of day-glo flowers. The view was incredible. The meadow looked down over Ormolu and the whole crazy-quilt river valley. The sun turned even the shittiest parts of the city into gold, and made the blue-tiled towers blaze like sapphires. It looked like a music box miniature of itself.
The guardsmen rolled out a big rug—the same kind the Aarurrh big shots held their pow-wows on—and Shae-Vai laid out a spread that would have fed the starting line up for the Green Bay Packers. There were cold meats, hard boiled eggs, fruits, hot drinks, chilled wines, salads, breads, pastries, jellies and jams, cold soups, candied insects—not bad if you closed your eyes—patés, and something that looked exactly like a four winged fried chicken.
I nudged Lhan. “What’s this?”
“Jekjek. A game bird, known for its robust taste. Try it.”
I tried it. It tasted just like pork.
So, after a whole afternoon of eating and drinking, and—if you want to get technical about it—frolicking and merrymaking, I’d almost forgot about the way Sai and Lhan had acted that morning. But then, as Shae-Vai packed the dirty plates and glasses, Lhan and Sai gave each other a look.
Lhan stood and turned to me. “Mistress Jae-En. Will you walk with us?”
I looked up from polishing off the last jekjek leg. The frolicking was over. Sai and Lhan were as grim as hangmen.
I got up. “So, you’re finally gonna tell me what this is all about?”
Lhan shot a glance over at Wen-Jhai and Shae-Vai, who were telling the guardsmen how to lift the hampers into the carriage. “We merely wish to walk.”
“Oh. Right. Gotcha.” I gave him a wink. “A walk. Sure, let’s walk.”
We wandered to the middle of the meadow, out of earshot. I took another bite off my jekjek leg. “So what’s with all the cloak and dagger stuff?”
Sai leaned in, shifty eyed. “It was necessary to get you out of the palace on some innocent pretext. The walls of Ormolu have ears.”
I groaned. “I thought we were done with all that shit. Kedac’s dead. You and Wen-Jhai are married. Everybody’s happy.”
Lhan nodded. “All is well with Sai and the Aldhanshai. ’Tis you we are concerned about.”
I frowned. “What happened? Did I step on somebody’s toes or something?”
Lhan exchanged a look with Sai. Lhan looked grim. “In a way. You have aroused the interest of the temple.”
“I thought I’d been seeing a lot of those little creamsicles. Whadda they want with me?”
“That is also a mystery, though I would wager it has to do with your strength, your leaping, the color of your skin, which though not the gold spoken of in the sacred texts, is nonetheless decidedly not within the mundane spectrum. Perhaps you begin, at least in their minds, to tread on the War God’s sacred territory; to impinge upon his divinity.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but it didn’t sound good.
Lhan lowered his voice, even though nobody by the carriage could possibly hear us. “Sai has learned that the priests mean to invite you into the temple tomor
row.”
“Is that bad?”
“None but priests have ever reemerged from the temple.”
I glanced out at Ormolu, glowing red in the sunset. The light was turning the big white skyscraper temple a fleshy pink. Made it look even more like a dick. I shivered. “I knew I didn’t like that place.”
I looked back again. “So you’re saying I should split town?
Sai nodded. “It might be the wisest course.”
I sighed. “Well, you know I was planning on leaving anyway. Uh, have you seen the Aldhanan about getting me back to...”
He looked guilty. “I’m sorry, mistress. With the priests asking questions I deemed it unwise to bring your problem before the Aldhanan. It might be unsafe for him to help you.”
“Ain’t that gratitude. How safe was it for us when we were helpin’ him out?”
“Fortunately, I recalled another source. An old tutor of mine with a fascination for forbidden knowledge. He collects legends and stories of the days before the Seven ascended. I went to him and asked him for help locating a... a living stone.” Sai looked around like he was afraid priests were going to jump out from behind the bushes, then continued. “He was reluctant to confide in me, for to speak of these things is heresy, but I paid him well and gave him my word that I would not betray him. He said he might have record of such a stone among his volumes and papers. Some rumor from grave robbers who raid the abandoned cities to the east.”
Well it was something to go on. “Uh, has he got a map? Or is this going to be a snipe hunt?”
“He searchs for a map as we speak. I will have it sent to you as soon as he brings it to me.”
I didn’t get it. “Sent to me? Just drop it by my room. We’ve still gotta go back and pack, and...”
Lhan coughed. “You are already packed.”
“Huh?”
“That is the second reason for this picnic. Sai and I fear priestly intervention if you return to the palace. If you are willing, you may accompany me to one of my old... haunts. We shall stay there until your map is found.”
I frowned. “After the big thank you and all the swag we got from the Aldhanan, you really think we got something to worry about here?”
Lhan nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. The Aldhanan is the ultimate worldly power in Ora, but the Church of the Seven bows to no law but that of Heaven. Though the Aldhanan might protest if you were to disappear, he would be powerless to question the Temple as to your fate.”
“Man, there’s nothing like a church to fuck up a good religion. I feel like swatting somebody!” I threw the bones of my jekjek leg in the general direction of Ormolu. Some picnic this turned out to be.
Lhan put a hand on my shoulder. “I am truly sorry, Mistress. You should be riding out the triumph gate to the cheers of the multitudes, not sneaking off like a thief in the night.”
I shrugged, trying not to show how bummed I was. “You guys did all you could. As long as you get me that map and show me which dot is Ormolu I’ll figure it out from there. It’s just kind of a drag starting again all the way back at square one, that’s all.”
Lhan smirked. “You need only be alone if you wish it so.”
I looked up. “What?”
He bowed. “I would hate to intrude where I am not wanted, Mistress, but city life already begins to bore me. I long once more for the open road. If you can again bear my company, I would travel with you.”
I nearly jumped for joy. “If I wish? Hell yeah, I wish! I wish like dammit.”
“Once again your syntax astounds me, Mistress, but I take it to mean that you agree.”
“You betcha.”
“Quite.”
We laughed. Then we stopped. It was quiet for a second.
My heart gave a little lurch. I turned to Sai. “So, uh, I guess this is goodbye, huh?”
He nodded. “Your packs and weapons are hidden under the seats of the carriage.”
We crossed back to were we’d parked. Lhan and I strapped on our swords and tied our packs to our krae. Wen-Jhai joined us, Shae-Vai following a respectful distance behind her.
Sai gave me a manly handshake. “My thanks to you for all you’ve done for us, Mistress Jae-En. Wen-Jhai and I would not be here and alive were it not for your courage and valor.”
“Come off it, Sai. We got enough of that mush at the banquet.”
Wen-Jhai gave me a hug and a smile that was halfway between shy and sly. “Thank you, Mistress Jae-En, for returning my beloved to me, and for... everything.”
I flushed. They were making me feel like the hero at the end of a western. I kicked the dirt. “Aw shucks, ma’am. It weren’t nothin’.”
Behind her I noticed Shae-Vai smirking at me, eyes twinkling. I smiled back. If Sai somehow grew an open mind, He and Wen-Jhai were going to have a very interesting marriage.
Lhan and I mounted up. I looked down at Sai and Wen-Jhai. “You kids be good to each other.”
Sai nodded gravely. “On my honor you have that promise, Mistress Jae-En, if in return you promise me that you and Lhan will take care of one another on your journey.”
Lhan and I looked at each other, embarrassed.
“Sure.”
“But of course.”
We waved good-bye, then rode down the hill to the main road and away from the city. It was a beautiful day for a ride.
“So where’s this hide-out of yours, Lhan?”
“Not far. A friend from my wild days has a country house nearby. ’Tis much accustomed to clandestine meetings.”
“Well, let’s not take any shortcuts, all right?”
***
Late that night Lhan and I lay around on a couple of chaise lounges in a private suite of rooms in Lhan’s friend’s plush pad. There was the remains of a meal and a couple of bottles of high-octane Oran wine on the table next to us, but we weren’t exactly relaxed. Sai’s messenger was supposed to have been there hours before, and we hadn’t heard back from the servant our host had sent out to find him.
A couple of cell phones would have taken care of everything in about two seconds, but we would have had to wait two thousand years or so before these numbskulls got around to inventing weekend minutes. So we just lay there, watching the candle flames dance in the warm breeze from the open windows, a little too anxious to kick back entirely, but not quite ready yet to be really worried. After a while I remembered that I had a question I’d been meaning to ask Lhan since the wedding.
“You all right about Sai getting hitched?”
Lhan sighed. “He is in love, and content at last. That is all I’ve ever wanted for him.”
“Man, you put the noble in nobleman, don’tcha? I’d be jealous as hell.”
He chuckled. “I am a little. But mostly of his happiness.”
I snorted. “Tell me about it.”
“Pardon?”
“Huh? Oh, nothing. Never mind.”
We lay silent again for a while. I don’t know what he was thinking about, but I was thinking about Big Don. Not the big stuff. Not the sex, or the road trips, or the diamond ring. The little stuff—sitting around the kitchen table in the morning, going grocery shopping, taking the dogs to the vet.
Lhan spoke up. “You and I are two of a kind, are we not, mistress?”
“Uh... Whaddaya mean?”
“You come from another place. This is not your home. And though I was born here, I sometimes feel that there is no place for me on this world.”
“I know just how you feel. I’ve felt like that on two worlds now.”
“Then... you must be truly lonely.”
I clenched my fists. “Brother, if you don’t shut up I’m gonna start bawlin’, and that ain’t pretty.”
He shut up, but after a minute I felt his fingers slip around mine.
“Mistress Jae-En, there is a balm for loneliness. ’Tis imperfect and temporary, but while it lasts ’tis soothing.”
I raised my head. He was up on one elbow looking at me with those dark purple ey
es as serious as a judge. My heart started thumping like a kick drum. I closed my big fingers around his long, slim ones. That must have been what he was waiting for, ’cause he leaned in and kissed me.
Wow.
I didn’t know how bad I’d missed that until I got it. It felt like Lhan was filling me with cool, clear water from the toes up. I pulled him over to my couch and held him tight and kissed him like I was dying of thirst. It felt so good it hurt.
But after a minute a rotten little thought came up and tapped me on the shoulder. I pushed Lhan back and looked into his eyes, searching.
“If this is some kind of pity fuck, I... I’m gonna throw you out that window.”
He shook his head, solemn. “If it is, mistress, then ’tis you who take pity on me.”
Well, if you think I could resist a line like that you’re out of your ever-lovin’ mind. I took pity on him all right. I took pity on him until the candles burned out.
At some point we moved from the chaises to the bed in the next room. At some point after that I finally wore poor Lhan out and he drifted off.
I wasn’t quite sleepy yet. I stared up at the ceiling, a big stupid smile on my face, trying to remember what the hell I wanted to go home for, anyway.
There was a prison cell waiting for me back in California. If I somehow ducked that, I had a couple years of construction jobs ahead of me before I’d have the dough for another hog. And god knows how long I’d have to hang around in bars before I found another Mr. Goodbike, if I ever did. And where did we go once I got him? I’d been to all the continental forty eight and Alaska too. Sure there was plenty left to explore, but nowhere some Good Sam in his RV hadn’t been before—no place that didn’t have a write-up in some Triple A guidebook.
I was on the lam here in Ora too, but I was guessing the Orans were about as close to inventing extradition as they were cell-phones. Once I got clear of Ora’s borders there was a whole new world to explore. And with Lhan riding beside me, I’d have somebody to share it with, which is all I’ve ever asked for.
Lhan was one hell of a somebody too. I wasn’t sure I was in love. He was no Big Don. Who could be? I wasn’t even sure love was what I wanted right then anyway. It was just nice having somebody to hold now and then.