Not wanting to start his day this way, he focused on his breathing, watching a slow-moving chameleon on the reed wall catching insects with a whip-like tongue. It was both calming and amusing.
Then he remembered Erin.
His heart burst into a gallop. At length he calmed down enough to look for her. And there she was, lying next to him, sleeping. Her face, usually so animated, was peaceful. He picked up a lock of her coppery hair spread out in a tangle on the pillow, and twirled it in his fingers, cursing himself for enjoying its silky softness.
“She sure is beautiful. Way more so than Sophia,” his spirit observed.
Seth sighed, knowing the pointlessness of denying it. Why does it have to be either Erin or Kyle? Why can’t I have both of them?
Unable to read his mind, but guessing his thoughts, the Gefallen hovering above him asked. “Where was Erin when Kyle was hiding your take-out cartons in the neighbour’s trash, so that the evil bitch could never accuse him of neglecting you?”
The memory was enough to break Seth into a cold sweat. The day he had turned eighteen, he and Kyle had eaten pizzas until they had almost hurled, celebrating that Seth was free, never to be bothered by social services again. Then the visions of Shenaya had started and everything changed.
Although Seth couldn’t see the Gefallen, his spirit sensed its presence. “Seth, we have to pick one or the other. Kyle will never agree that the diamond should be preserved as a sacred object. Unlike us, he’s totally sold on the bucks. And Erin will never agree to give the Stone to Kyle.”
Seth’s already taut face tightened further. His spirit was right, and he knew it. But seeing the rise and fall of Erin’s chest, hearing her soft breathing, thinking about how much he wanted her, he pleaded with himself: I can reason with Kyle. If he just knew how amazing the Stone is, he would want to preserve it. He would do that for me. If he knew about Erin.
Guilt that he was making yet more demands on Kyle stabbed him, almost making him writhe. He had to escape it. Careful not to disturb Erin, he stood up, and padded out from behind the screen into the deserted boma, and then down to the end of the jetty. A pale mist lay upon the face of the lake and loitered in the reeds along its shoreline. It was calming. He sat down, dangling his feet in the cool water, listening to the dawn chorus of birds, so foreign to his New York ears.
It was a short-lived peace.
With no Guardians to defend him, the Gefallen seeped into Seth’s skin, through his pores, chilling him to the marrow. The light in Seth’s eyes died. He leapt to his feet, every muscle tensing against the bitter cold. “What the hell am I thinking? It’s Kyle first, and damn everything else. I promised him the Stone and I intend to give it to him.”
The Gefallen threw her head back, laughing. She watched Seth stride back to the boma before vanishing into the Fourth Dimension.
Erin was just waking when he rounded the screen. Her face broke into a delighted smile as he swam into focus above her. “You’re here. We’re here. I thought I dreamt it all.”
“No such luck.”
She stretched like a cat, and lay back with a blissful sigh. “C’mon, you have got to admit this is amazing.”
He scratched the stubble on his chin. “I wonder where to today?”
“Breakfast first, I hope.” She sat up, hiding her disappointment at his cold greeting behind a curtain of wild curls.
On cue, a stern-faced Guardian appeared, carrying a basket of bread, hard-boiled guinea fowl eggs, a jar of melon preserve and a water bag. These she placed on the bed between them. Seth nodded his thanks.
“Um . . . where’s Kate?” Erin asked.
The Guardian gave Erin a piercing look, leaving her in no doubt that the decision to banish Kate had been a bad one. “Kate has been sent back to the Fourth Dimension – until she learns some discipline.”
Erin bit her lip. “Is she in trouble?”
“Let’s say she has some explaining to do about why she left her post last night.” Erin looked down at her hands, wondering what could have happened. “In future,” the Guardian said, “when you get hungry or tired just say so. None of us Guardians have the time to listen out for tummy growls. That’s Nathan’s job while you’re here in this age. But he’s too busy ensuring that your ancient adventure is fully recorded in Erin’s journal.”
“My journal?”
“Yes, dear,” she replied. “Did you think you would just remember all this?”
Erin flipped open her diary and stared in surprise as page after page of calligraphy riffled through her fingers. “So Nathan has been writing–”
“Everything in your journal,” the angel finished for her. “Well, in his corresponding journal in the Fourth Dimension to be precise, but the result is the same.” She gave them a pointed look. “I would strongly suggest that you both find time to read it. You may be surprised at what you learn.” She disappeared, leaving them to a quiet breakfast.
They were packing up to leave when Kate appeared. “I can’t stay long,” she breathed, looking over her shoulder. “But I wanted to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye? Is wasn’t me, was it?”
Kate smiled at Erin. “I would’ve left you this morning anyway. You’re going back to Shenaya.”
“We’ll miss you,” Erin said, meaning it.
Kate’s eyes became misty as though she was going to cry. “Going to Shenaya is very hard for me. I did it for Talitha, but I don’t want to go back there. Ever.”
Struck by the intensity in her voice, Erin and Seth exchanged troubled looks, waiting for her continue. “My soul mate’s name is Zach. Our parents were planning our marriage when Reuel came to power.” Her eyes became distant, unfocused. “Zach was among the spectators in the arena on the night I was murdered. And then he fought in Reuel’s army against the Free Men. Against my father. He was one of the first to die.”
Erin and Seth waited for Kate to finish her story, but she was silent.
“And then?” Erin finally pressed.
Kate looked at her directly. “Now he’s a Gefallen. What choice did he have?” She picked her fingernails. “He works at the Fortress. I . . . I saw him when I was there. I know he recognised me, but . . .” Kate suddenly flew at Seth, shoving her face right into his. “I know I was wrong to leave my post last night, but if you think any Guardian is ever going to help you leave here so you can give the Seer-Stone to Kyle when it’s the key to lifting the curse, then you’re crazy. It’s never going to happen.” Kate vanished back into the Fourth Dimension.
Chapter 10
PLEDGED
It was early evening when the Stone dropped them into Caleb’s bedroom. He was dressed in an elaborate leather outfit, and was tugging on his boots.
“Boy, he looks glum,” Erin said.
The door opened, and Daniel, looking just as miserable as his brother, poked his head into the room. “Caleb, we’re late. The old man is probably frothing at the mouth.”
“That should be an exciting, new sensation for our patient, even-tempered father.” Caleb gave a final tug on his boot and stood to face Daniel. “You look as if you are headed for an execution, not the first meeting with your future wife.”
“I might as well be.”
“I exactly know how you feel.” Caleb and Daniel exchanged sympathetic looks before Caleb pushed Daniel out the door. Together they set off down the passage with Erin and Seth following behind.
“I hope Kezeah from Norin looks nicer than some of the girls we saw yesterday at the Emblem Picking. I know it sounds crazy, but instead of my tongue hanging out, watching them, I . . .” Daniel heard his whisper bounce down the corridor towards two patrolling soldiers. They turned to stare and he fell silent.
Once past the sentries, Caleb looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue. Still Daniel said nothing. “I think you definitely dodged an arrow yesterday,” Caleb finally whispered.
“If the girls they paraded before us were the best in this year’s marriage batch, I shud
der to think what the ones who didn’t make it onto the list look like,” Daniel said, speaking so softly that Seth and Erin had to lean in closer to hear. “There wasn’t one of them that I’d even want to spend an afternoon with. Let alone a life-time.”
Caleb looked around to make sure none of the soldiers patrolling the corridor were listening. “I know. It’s madness. It was like that last year too. The boys were full of talk about how they were going to grab some arse, but when they actually saw girls for the first time, they all just clammed up. Terrified. Making excuses. Just like you are now.” He slapped Daniel good-naturedly on the back.
Daniel gave a wan smile, which did nothing to lift the fear-induced tinge of green marring his otherwise handsome face.
“At least Kezeah will be different to an ordinary Shenayan girl,” Caleb comforted.
Daniel glanced at Caleb, guessing that he was thinking about Talitha. He nodded, then whispered, “That’s the one ray of sunshine in all this. Kezeah hasn’t spent half her life living in Queen Camp learning how to become a spoilt brat.”
Caleb smiled at him. “You can always find the positives. I wish I was like you in that way.”
“The same positives apply to you too, you know. Sophia has also been spared Queen Camp.”
“True.”
Eager to know what ‘Queen Camp’ was, Erin quickly scanned through Daniel’s thoughts: While Shenayan boys spent their childhoods from six to thirteen at Pledging Camp, the girls, also removed from their parents, were sent to Queen Camp to learn womanly arts in preparation for marriage.
They had reached a flight of stairs. Daniel looked over his shoulder to ensure that no one was listening, then asked, “So why are you so miserable about having to marry Sophia? It’s not like it’s news to you.”
The clatter of their boots on the wooden treads almost drowned out Caleb’s words. “Because our idiot father is forcing me into it. And you know how much I love being forced to do things. Especially by him.”
“Imagine having to whisper like this just to have a private conversation,” Erin said to Seth. “In your own home too.”
“I was listening into some of the soldiers’ thoughts,” Seth replied. “They cruise the corridors, monitoring all conversations, looking for dissention. Murmuring against the Overlord and the Shenayan way of life is punishable by death. Usually a slow, painful one.”
“And we know how much Marlthas loves Daniel and Caleb. What a way to live!”
Caleb and Daniel speeded up as they reached a lobby where Marlthas paced. “You’re late,” Marlthas snapped. Terah growled at them – a low, menacing rumble. Seth felt Caleb’s brittle restraint almost crumble as he fought the urge to kick her. Without waiting for a reply, Marlthas straightened his lion pelt cape and signalled for a soldier to throw open the doors at the end of the room.
Erin and Seth followed the Shenayans into a gloomy wood-panelled chamber. Sophia and Kezeah, and a man they didn’t know were standing together, waiting expectantly. Kezeah kept her eyes down, hiding her excitement at meeting Daniel. Sophia stood straight-backed to face the Shenayans. True to her word, Sophia was dressed in a scarlet silk dress, and her dark hair tumbled unrestrained down her back – unlike Kezeah’s, which was piled on her head in the style favoured by the Shenayan woman.
Marlthas nodded at the strange man. “Previs. Introductions.”
The Norin Ambassador Previs cleared his throat. “The Overlord Marlthas, and his sons, Shadow Lord Caleb and Lord Daniel.”
Sophia and Kezeah curtseyed.
“My lords,” Previs continued, “Patriarch Jethro’s oldest daughter, Lady Sophia. And her sister, Lady Kezeah.”
Marlthas looked at Sophia for the first time. Seeing her silk dress, his face changed shade from earthy-grey to blotchy-red. But before he could speak, a sharp intake of breath sliced through the tense atmosphere.
It was Caleb. Mouth sagging, he was also staring at Sophia in her silk dress. It clung tantalising to her every curve. Catching himself, Caleb snapped his jaw shut, swallowing with an audible click.
At that moment, Seth knew that his closest friend, who had grown up in a world without girls, was a man adrift, drowning in a heaving sea of pheromones.
Marlthas gave a wolfish grin and Seth heard his triumphant thoughts: I’ve got you now, you little bastard! And if it takes this Norin to get you to obey me, then so be it. Welcome to Shenaya, Sophia, in your harlot’s dress!
Erin, who had focused on the two girls’ reactions, nudged Seth and pointed at Sophia. Her eyes had widened with delight. Caleb was more handsome than she could ever have dreamt. That at least was a start, they heard her think. She was about to smile at him when her Gefallen swooped in, whispering into her mind: “Caleb might be the handsomest boy you’ve ever seen, Sophia, but he’s still a Shenayan savage. It’s boys like him who murdered Talitha’s mother. Whatever you do, don’t let him see how much you admire him or you’ll give him power to abuse you. And abuse you he will.”
Her words killed Sophia’s nascent infatuation. Swallowing hard, she clenched her hands at the side of her now rigid body. The sudden freezing of her expression was lost on Caleb. His whole being was focused on her breasts.
“There’s no recognition,” Erin murmured.
“What do mean?” Seth asked. “They’ve never met before.”
“I’m thinking about the Mists of Time, where it was so obvious that Sophia and Caleb were best friends. I guess I was hoping that on some level they’d sense that truth.”
“Too much testosterone and meddling from the dead for that to happen,” Seth said, hating watching his friends go through this humiliation.
To give Caleb and Sophia some privacy, they focused on Daniel and Kezeah.
At least she’s not blowing me kisses, like those girls at the Emblem Picking. A tiny sigh of relief escaped Daniel’s lips as he cocked his head to one side, studying Kezeah. She’s not nearly as beautiful as Sophia, but she’s pretty. I like her eyes. She looks . . . intelligent? Is that what I’m seeing? Then he frowned, and Erin and Seth felt a jolt of recognition shoot through him. Why do I think I know her from somewhere? Strange. He suddenly found himself smiling at her.
Kezeah was about to smile back when Caleb caught her eye. Her hand flew to her mouth and she stifled a gasped. He’s magnificent! How is this fair? She blushed; she trembled; she cast her eyes to the floor to hide her confusion and envy.
The smile drained from Daniel’s face.
It was into this highly charged atmosphere that Marlthas’s voice intruded. “Welcome to Shenaya. I look forward to a fine batch of grandsons.” He and his cheetah strode from the room. With a resigned shake of his head, Ambassador Previs indicated to Sophia and Kezeah to follow.
Seth and Erin also started walking to the door, but the Steer-Stone had a different destination in mind.
* * *
They landed in a part of the Fortress they hadn’t seen before. Four guardsmen stood at attention outside a closed door, obviously waiting for something. Seth pointed to their commanding officer. He was about eighteen. “Recognise him?”
Erin glanced at the boy’s battle-hardened face, but caught nothing of his spirit. “No. Should I?”
“You should. It’s Jared.”
With deeper interest, Erin studied Jared. His strong, angular face was strangely familiar, but she couldn’t place where she’d seen him before.
Seth grinned, barely containing his excitement. “It’s all coming back to me now. Our friendship. We were so close. Jared was always a strategist. He’d run rings around me and Caleb. I reckon he’s done brilliantly in the military. It’s his natural environment.”
“And Caleb?” Erin asked, noting the far-away look in Seth’s eyes. She guessed he was seeing back to before their births.
“Caleb’s refusal to join the military wasn’t exactly a great loss to the Shenayan war machine.”
“Meaning?”
“He’s not a natural soldier. He’s too stubborn to t
ake orders.” Seth chuckled at a memory of them as spirits, dredged up from before they were born. “Although he was pretty quick in fights with Jared. He’s more . . .” He closed his eyes, concentrating hard to grasp the illusive thoughts. “Caleb has . . . vision. How cool is that? He’s a visionary! He knew he was going to be Shadow Lord, and he had such a clear picture of how he would govern.” Seth smiled affectionately. “And trust me, there’d be no Defenders, Outcasts, and Emblem Picking in Caleb’s Shenaya.” Seth opened his eyes and frowned. “But he doesn’t have the skills to do it alone. He needs help from all of Reuel’s Sons.”
“That ties in with what Jethro read to us about Gideon’s Prophecy. Reuel’s Sons have to work together to govern Shenaya.” Erin grinned. “And you? What did you remember about yourself?”
“Didn’t you see any of that?” Seth answered evasively.
“No. I guess because I don’t need it. Although I’ll admit, I’m a tad jealous.”
“Chill. Seeing into the past is not that great.”
The door opened. Relieved with the distraction it offered, Seth spun round to see who was coming. An attractive dark-skinned woman stepped out. Until now, all the ancients they had seen had been very obviously of Semitic extraction. “I was wondering when I’d see some black people in this very un-African world.”
Erin gave him the smug look she reserved for those moments when she was about to impart information he didn’t know. “It’s hardly surprising, Seth. We’re in 998AD, and black people only starting arriving in this part of southern Africa about now.”
“I can always rely on you to plug the holes in my obviously very shaky grasp of all things African,” Seth said sarcastically.
Erin blushed, embarrassed and turned to face Sophia and Kezeah who were following the woman.
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