Deviants of Giftborn (The Etherya Series Book 1)

by Amarcya, Zuri

  “We would prefer not to fight,” he said, sounding braver than before. Essen moved to the center of the clearing, hovering above their heads. From there he could see the clearing and the surrounding trees in all directions.

  “So would we,” Endra said. “And yet it’s inevitable.”

  “It’s not. I wish to speak to Nemma.”

  As they spoke on, Essen saw a rustle of movement in the trees behind Endra and the other Phalorian. He drew energy from his body, and expanded his reach but he could not feel the presence of anyone. He watched the movement in the trees, preparing to alert the Thaide on the edge of the woods if necessary. The movement came closer, and a face appeared in a shard of moonlight. Bronze skin with intense brown eyes. She disappeared into darkness again. It was her. Nemma. He resisted the urge to dart forward and kill her.

  “…speak for herself,” the Thaide was saying, annoyed. “This is a pointless discussion.”

  “Terris?” The question came from Nemma as she stepped from the woods.

  Endra scowled at her. “Why are you here? Go back to the camp.”

  “Terris, are you a Thaide now?” the girl asked, astonished.

  The young man stared at her, his expression hard. “You sound surprised. As though you never expected it to happen.”

  “I expected it,” she said, walking closer. “But so soon?”

  “Stay where you are, Nemma,” Endra ordered. “He’s not here as your friend, he’s here for the Arc.”

  Nemma slowed to a stop and took in the sight of the boy. “It’s good to see you Terris,” she said, almost as a whisper.

  Terris’ expression did not change. “I’m ashamed that I allowed to you to fool me,“ he said in a low voice. “I offered you friendship and training, help, support, advice…” he shook his head. “You didn’t deserve any of it.”

  Nemma sighed. “I’m sorry to point it out, but I didn’t ask you for any of that. I tried to keep you at a distance and you persisted.”

  Terris nodded. “Yes, I did. And now I know that offering kindness to someone in pain isn’t worth it. You nearly cost me my Thaidehood.”

  The young girl’s face softened. “I’m sorry that you are upset Terris but I couldn’t risk telling anyone what I had suffered.”

  “What you had suffered? You killed two people, Isa. You murdered Thaide. How can you live with that?”

  Nemma held his gaze. “I couldn’t, for a long time. I struggled with the idea that I ended a life, let alone possibly two. But those two Thaide didn’t give me a choice. They killed my parents and tried to kill me—”

  “Save your lies!” Terris bellowed. “The Thaide are the most honorable of all magiens. They wouldn’t have killed your parents for no reason.”

  Nemma flinched but responded without missing a beat. “And how would you know? You know nothing of the suffering caused by the Arc. You only know what you’re told. You don’t think for yourself or stand up for anyone, you just follow the rules. And that’s exactly what a Thaide does.” Her face contorted in disgust. “Of course I knew you would become one, you’ve displayed that behavior since I met you. At least Abranya stood up for someone she loved, at least she put herself on the line to address an injustice. When have you done anything like that? When have you ever worked anything out for yourself?”

  Essen marveled at her passion. No wonder Adran liked her.

  “Abranya was mad,” Terris shouted back. “And clearly you are as well. You have thrown away any chance of a good life.”

  “A good life?” Nemma spat. “You call what you’re striving for a good life? Being a puppet for the Sovereign is the same as being a slave, Terris. You don’t ask questions, you just blindly follow orders. And that is all you live to do, for the Sovereign and for your father!”

  Nothing moved in the silence that followed and Essen stayed alert. Terris looked as though he had been slapped, his face flushed and mouth ajar. He suddenly seemed small in his Thaide robes.

  Nemma pressed her hands on her flushed cheeks. “Terris—”

  Endra stepped forward. “Say what you have come to say,” she said to the boy.

  Terris’ expression smoothed and he lifted his chest and dropped his shoulders. He half turned to the woods and flicked his head. Two Thaide walked into the clearing holding the arms of someone between them, a shrunken figure dressed in a black cloak, a hood covering the head.

  “Innogen!” Nemma said.

  Both Phalorians steadied their stance. Essen extended his awareness, taking in as much of the scene as possible.

  “I’m here to offer you a trade,” Terris said. “You come with us back to the Arc and we will let Innogen go.”

  Nemma’s jaw contracted. “Why can’t you just let her go now, Terris? She knew just as much as you. Do you think she deserves to be in this position?”

  “Your friend here has no power over Innogen’s situation, Nemma,” Endra said, as Terris lowered his chin. “He’s just following orders, as you rightly stated. He’s a mouthpiece for the Sovereign. Tell me,” she said, stepping closer. “What is to stop us taking her right now?”

  The boy nodded to the Thaide and they lifted the hood from the prisoner’s head, revealing the hunched woman.

  The girl gasped. “Aunt Gabby!” She moved towards her but the Thaide beside the prisoner stepped in front of her and Nemma halted.

  “Innogen is in Torak Tower,” Terris said to Endra. “She won’t be released unless Nemma returns with us.”

  Nemma exhaled, shaking her head.

  “We bring you your Aunt as a gesture of good faith. As a sign that we will indeed let Innogen go once you return.”

  “Terris, how can you do this?”

  Terris’ face contorted. “You did this.”

  He turned to the Thaide and nodded. They each grasped the old woman by the arm and led her towards Nemma.

  “Move back, Nemma,” Endra warned.

  Nemma retreated until she stood behind Endra and the fair-haired Phalorian, as the Thaide drew forward to the center of the clearing with the prisoner. They released her and walked back to the boy. The girl ran towards the old woman and whispered to her, taking her arm and leading her towards the woods on the other side.

  “Remember the offer, Nemma,” the boy called. “You have until moon-arc to decide.” He backed into the woods with the other two Thaide until they could no longer be seen.

  Nemma continued to lead the woman into the woods. Endra followed her while the blonde Phalorian backed into the woods behind them keeping her eyes on the other side of the clearing where the Thaide had retreated.

  Essen swooped down and followed Nemma and Endra. Just beyond clearing, a few feet into the woods, he felt a number of people spread out around the perimeter of the clearing, moving back through the woods. So they had had hidden support. He expected nothing less.

  “Nemma,” Endra called at her. “I told you to stay at the camp. Why did you come? It could have been an attack.”

  Nemma glanced at Endra, her arm around the old woman. “The signal was for me, Endra. I didn’t ask for your protection.”

  A number of Phalorians congregated towards Nemma and helped to support the old woman as they walked. Essen propelled forward so he maintained paced above Endra’s shoulder.

  “You can’t agree to that trade,” Endra said. “Whether you like it or not, you must protect your Gift.”

  “Why?” Nemma said, half-turning to her. “So you can use me to your own ends?”

  “Do you really think, after all that we have done to help you today, that that’s all we want?”

  Nemma allowed the other Phalorians to take over guiding the old woman and turned to face Endra. “I’m grateful for your help, Endra, but you want me to become in involved in something that I have never said I had any intention to do. I only want to help my friend.”

  “You will put yourself in an incredible amount of danger if you go back with them, Nemma,” Endra warned. ”And do you think they will just leav
e us be? Why do you think they have brought so many Thaide here? Help us, instead of condemning us to death.”

  Nemma pressed her lips together, about to respond, when her gaze shifted towards Essen. “What’s that?”

  Shock caused Essen to freeze. Gathering his wit, he dashed away from them into the woods, but Nemma’s gaze followed him.

  “What is it?” Endra asked, turning to look.

  Essen rose up through the trees and weaved back through the woods towards the camp.

  He released his consciousness back to his body and crawled out of the low cave.

  “How did it go?” Tahmores stood guard outside the cave.

  Essen brushed his hands on his robes. “As expected. Clear the troop that is nearest to the woods edge and set up camp for myself, the boy and two other Thaide. She will come before moon-arc and I don’t want her frightened.”

  Tahmores dipped his head and stalked away, back to the camp.

  Essen watched him go, reveling in the thrilling nervousness rising in him. The girl was indeed powerful but she was also independent and passionate, with a good dose of rebelliousness. A lethal combination. He could understand why the Sovereign had been clear that no one should engage her in battle. She had detected him without even searching for him. And although the feeling of a person’s energy was muted in consciousness form, he had not felt her energy at all. It had been like looking at someone who did not exist. He shook his head. The girl had only had five months of training. Based on what he knew about her, she could kill everything in the woods if she tried to fight and didn’t know what she was doing.

  He took a deep breath, pushing his nerves away, and headed back to the camp. At least she was preparing to return with them. The Sovereign would want to deal with her from that point on.

  Twenty-Eight

  The healer held his blackened palms above Aunt Gabby’s head. He was an older man, with clear spot of scalp among the brown hair on his head, but his arms held the same muscled bulges of a Phalorian warrior. Nemma held her breath as he moved his hands over Aunt Gabby’s head, neck and shoulders.

  After a time he opened his eyes. “She is healthy.”

  Nemma exhaled with relief. She couldn’t recall ever seeing Aunt Gabby so quiet and subdued. Her tufty hair still had shine to it but her face seemed gaunt and she barely spoke, even though she smiled when she looked at Nemma.

  “She’s suffered severe damage to parts of her brain, but they are old wounds from decades ago, nothing recent.”

  “Aunt Gabby,” Nemma breathed. “Do you remember me?”

  Aunt Gabby’s glinting green eyes stared at her, but she didn’t speak. Nemma extended her reach towards her, but could only feel her soft vibration, no inner voice.

  “She just needs time,” the healer said. “Let me get her something to eat and try and settle her, and you can try again.”

  Nemma nodded, tears threatening. A gleam of happiness lifted her spirits and she felt like shouting aloud with excitement that Aunt Gabby was alive, but it was accompanied with a pang of loss. Aunt Gabby was the only familiar element from home and she was not herself. Nemma watched the healer lead her towards the hut Nemma and Chesna had been based in.

  “Nemma.” Endra’s voice cut through her memories. “We need to talk.”

  The camp had been emptied. All non-warriors had been put on traveling carriages heading towards Yatrnaer, while the warriors had spread themselves out in the woods preparing for the attack. When Nemma had heard that a message had arrived from the Arc, she slipped away from Ghalen in the confusion and followed Endra.

  She turned to face Endra, Ghalen and Riyen, her feet in a wide stance, arms by her side. Riyen had changed from his green Elementyth robes into black Phalorian wear.

  “Listen, Nemma, the Sovereign has sent over two hundred and fifty Thaide to destroy this camp,” Riyen began. “They will do this whether you agree to the trade or not. I’ve been alerted by the Arc to prepare to join the fight, which means other top-rank magiens stationed nearby have been alerted also. They clearly want to obliterate every Phalorian they find.”

  Bubbles of nausea gurgled in Nemma’s stomach.

  “We need to run. Now.”

  “I understand,” Nemma said. “I wish you well.”

  “Nemma,” Endra warned. “You have to come with us.”

  “I won’t.”

  Endra sighed. “Nemma, I didn’t truly answer your question earlier when you asked me earlier how I knew your energy was not deformed. I know because I recognize the signs of the Etherya.”

  “The what?”

  “The Etherya,” Endra repeated. “They are the energy beings I talked about earlier.”

  “You said you didn’t know how I managed to have this kind of energy. So how do you suddenly know it’s the energy of these beings?”

  “I don’t know how you managed to have such energy but I recognize the abilities.”

  Nemma frowned. “From where?”

  “The Sovereign. He has the same: cleanliness, undetectability, strong release, the ability to detect hidden code, extensive reach, rarely tires when using his ability for a long time, unaffected by Gift code, can create complex multi-codes—”

  “The Sovereign has those abilities because the Gift comes from him.”

  “No,” Endra insisted. “He isn’t a god. He’s just a man that holds the power of the Etherya. All who hold their power have the same abilities.”

  Nemma did not know what to say. How could she tell whether Endra was telling the truth? And even if she was, it didn’t help Innogen.

  “That consciousness you felt earlier had to have been the High Priest spying on the exchange,” Endra continued after a moment, “which is why your friend was allowed to conduct it almost on his own. The High Priest does that all the time but no one has ever been able to detect him. He’s very skilled in creating solid, unique code, and despite that you were able to feel him. The Gift you have is powerful, more powerful than you know. You cannot give yourself up.”

  “Ghalen here has been suspicious of you because the Sovereign is capable of changing his appearance,” Riyen said. “You could be him in disguise.”

  Nemma wrinkled her face in disbelief as Ghalen shrugged. “What better way to attack us than to infiltrate our camp pretending to be a little lost beggar girl?” he said.

  “So what convinced you that I am true?” Nemma asked.

  Ghalen’s brown eyes held her own. “I’m not convinced.”

  Endra shot him a look. “It’s in Ghalen’s nature be suspicious, Nemma, pay his rudeness no attention. His vigilance has protected us for years.”

  Ghalen said, “You’re powerful. He needs to destroy you. And you will offer him this if you trade yourself.”

  Same abilities as the Sovereign? Nemma rubbed her forehead as she thought of the Sovereignity training lessons she had back in the Arc. All the amazing things they said the Sovereign could do… “How could I have the same energy as the Sovereign? You’re not giving me any answers I can believe.”

  Endra placed her leathery hand on Nemma’s arm. “I don’t know how this happened. There were limits to what Carrick could tell me, but the Chief could explain more.”

  “The Chief?”

  “The leader of the Phalorians.”

  “I thought that was you.”

  Endra shook her head. “No. I’m the commander of this camp, but the Chief is based at our command camp in the Dyera Dessert. If you go there, you will learn everything. We can take you.”

  Nemma looked around the empty camp. The huts had been emptied, the camp fire remains removed, all signs of life had gone. She had caused the uprooting of the lives of these people and the discovery of their camp. But each time she thought of leaving with them, Innogen’s face filled her mind.

  “What is it?” Endra asked, alarmed.

  The healer had returned.

  “She is Gableen,” he said, disbelief on his face. “That old woman is Gableen!”

&nbs
p; Endra, Ghalen and Riyen exchanged looks.

  Endra turned to Nemma. “Did you know that your Aunt Gabby is a seer?”

  Nemma lifted her shoulders. “Father joked about it but never confirmed that it was true. The people in the Ryim always left her alone and I could never understand why. I thought may be that she scared them.”

  “Well, she probably did. How did she become brain damaged?”

  “She has always been…” Nemma paused, not knowing how to describe Aunt Gabby’s mental capacities. She explained how she had warned Nemma of the Thaide approaching.

  “Is she capable of helping us?” Ghalen asked the healer. “Giving us a reading or vision?”

  “No,” the healer said. “Although she is well nourished and physically well, she is mentally tired. I think they may have been searching her memories.”

  “They wouldn’t have given her to us if she was capable of helping us,” Riyen added.

  “Was Aunt Gabby a Phalorian?” Nemma asked.

  “Not exactly,” the healer said. “She was born in Naju and her abilities became famous by the time she reached twenty. Her and Jonam knew each other when they were young and she used to provide readings for him whenever he visited this camp.”

  “No,” Nemma said. “Father was born in…” She stopped, realizing what Father had told her.

  “Phalor?” Endra asked, a hint of a smile on her face. “He said he was born in Phalor but grew up in Merronign?”

  Phalor. Phalorian. He had definitely been connected to these people.

  “Is there such a place?” Nemma asked. “Phalor?”

  “Yes,” Riyen assured. “He didn’t invent it. All Phalorians will say they were born in Phalor. But the likelihood is that Jonam was born in Merronign in the district nearest to Naju.”

  “Gableen’s readings are one of the things that made your father so successful as Chief,” the healer said.

  “He was an excellent strategist,” Endra added. “And he used Gableen’s readings to maximize the impact of whatever he was doing at the time.”

  “So what happened?” Nemma asked.

  “When she became famous, Gableen was summoned by the Arc,” the healer continued. “She didn’t give the Sovereign any information about this camp because we were never located, but no one heard from her again. It was assumed she was dead.” He shook his head. “It seems she was tortured and left to fend for herself.”