Lariah shuddered. “Just don’t describe that dead Xanti to me after you see it,” she said. “Summer told us enough. Did you know that Saige thought of spiders the first time she saw a Xanti, on the Cosmic Glory?”
“No, I did not know that,” Garen replied, tucking her in close to his side as Trey and Val got into bed too. “Now, go to sleep sharali,” he urged.
“All right, but I have to say one other thing first,” Lariah replied.
“What is that?” Garen asked.
“I think that I need to talk to Mara Winicke,” she said.
“And why would you think you should do such an outrageous thing?” Garen asked.
“Because I am a Nahoa-Arima,” Lariah replied. “I think that woman knows things that we must know, but she will not talk to anyone else.”
“And you think she will talk to you?” Trey asked.
“Yes,” Lariah replied. “Grandfather said that a Nahoa-Arima can heal wounds of the heart and soul, and bring peace to those around her.”
“True, but Saige has said that Mara’s heart is black,” Val reminded her. “I do not think that is a thing which can be healed.”
“Neither do I,” Lariah said. “But I have a feeling that if Saige, Summer and I sit down with her, alone, she will tell us her story. Maybe my presence will calm her enough to make her want to speak. Maybe it will soothe old wounds enough to make her want to speak. Or maybe she will want to tell us her story because we are the women she hates the most.”
“Why would she hate you?” Val asked, shocked. “She’s never even met you. Or Saige for that matter.”
“Because we are Arimas,” Lariah replied. “Mara has been the highest ranking female of Clan Katre for five hundred years, and the most powerful female of Jasan since your parents retired a couple of hundred years ago.”
“How so?” Trey asked. “Her rank was no higher than the wives of any of the other Clan Consuls.”
“True, but from what I’ve learned since her attack on Rayne, she bullied the other women so much that they let her have her way in everything. She had the most power because she took it, and they allowed it. Until I came along. Then Saige. Then we both had daughters and were invited into the Hidden City.” Lariah shook her head.
“Oh yes, she hates us. Thoroughly. And everything we represent. That will never change. Nor do I care to try to change it. But I do want to know her story. I feel that it’s important to us all.”
“You think that the three of you, by your presence, can induce Mara to speak?” Trey asked doubtfully.
“Yes, I do.”
“I don’t understand the connection among the three of you,” Garen said. “Between you and Saige, yes, you have known each other and been close friends for years. But neither of you ever knew Summer before.”
“I know, but I feel as though I have known Summer as long as I’ve known Saige,” Lariah said. “It’s because of the magic. It connects us.”
“Do you mean like linking? The way we are connected to one another?” Garen asked with a frown.
“No, nothing like that,” Lariah assured him. “I’m not sure how to explain it.” She fell silent for a long moment and Garen, Trey and Val waited patiently. They hoped she would find a way to tell them as they were all very curious about this.
“Do you remember when I asked you why it was that women did not wield magic?” Lariah asked. “Long ago, after we first met.”
“Yes, of course,” Garen replied. “But as I told you then, we have only theories. No one really knows the answer to that.”
“Well, I know the answer to that,” Lariah said, surprising them greatly.
“You do?” Trey asked. “How do you know?”
“Well, let me tell you the answer first, then I can explain it. I think.” Lariah bit her lip as she tried to think of the best way to word this. Garen reached down and rescued her lip from her teeth with a gentle finger.
Lariah leaned forward and kissed his finger, then let her head fall back onto the pillow. “Okay, the best way I can think of to say this is that you guys wield the magic, but I am the conduit for the magic.”
“I don’t understand,” Garen said. “Isn’t the magic itself everywhere, all the time?”
“In a sense, and to a certain degree, yes. The world around us is filled with magic. The majority of it is within the Earth, Air, Fire and Water itself, but some of it sort of seeps out on its own. Think of it as extra magic that just floats around waiting to be used. That’s the magic that you, and other male-sets, use when you do not have an Arima.
“When you become Soul-Linked, you are able to tap into the magic directly through your Arima because an Arima is a conduit for the true magic directly from its sources. It flows through me all of the time. Because we are all linked, you guys are able to access it whenever you want it.”
“So that is what the Nine meant when they said that, through the three of you, we are now truly joined with the Earth, Air, Fire and Water of this new world,” Trey said.
“Yes,” Lariah replied. “As conduits, our magic flowed through each other when we were connected to the Nine.”
“Are you saying that connecting with these other women in this way means you know what they know?” Val asked.
“No,” Lariah replied. “It’s more like we are more aware of each other, and we seem to understand each other on a really basic level. Although, I do think that, somehow, the Nine used the connection to impart some knowledge to us.”
“You have given us much to think on,” Garen said as he pulled Lariah a little closer against him. “For now though, it is time for you to try to get some more sleep.”
“Okay,” Lariah agreed. “But remember, while you’re thinking, think about the three of us talking to Mara.”
“Very well, sharali, but only if you rest,” Garen said, pushing gently with a fine thread of water magic to nudge her toward sleep. Within moments Lariah was sound asleep. Garen waited a few minutes to be sure she was going to stay asleep before allowing himself to doze off as well.
Chapter 3
Jasan, Badia, Bride House
Hope Strigida took one last look around her room in Bride House to be sure she hadn’t forgotten anything, then pulled the door closed behind her and headed for the stairs. It felt strange to be going home. She had been so certain that this was where she was supposed to be, so positive that this was the right path for her. She felt a little lost and at odds with herself, a feeling that was completely new to her.
She also felt torn. On the one hand, she missed Earth. Earth was home, and she loved its blue skies, green grass and large, bustling, brightly lit cities. On the other hand, Jasan was beautiful too. There were fewer people, no large cities, and the overall pace of life was calmer and more peaceful. But she had not come to Jasan for a change of pace or new scenery.
Hope crossed the foyer and entered the dining room with its long formal dining table and big picture windows overlooking what was by far the most extensive garden Hope had ever seen in her life. It had been a bit of a shock to her at first, being surrounded by so much nature.
She went to the sideboard and filled a plate with fruit, toast, eggs and what she thought might be ham. It smelled like ham, and it looked like ham. Sort of. She shrugged, deciding to be adventurous for once. When it came to food, she liked what she liked and usually had no interest in experimenting. But this was her last day, so what the heck. She picked up a mug, filled it with hot coffee, and headed through the open doors onto the patio. She was late for breakfast this morning because she’d been packing, so she now had the patio to herself. She selected a table in the corner beneath the shade of several flowering trees and sat down.
She sipped her coffee, grimacing a little at the taste, but feeling that she needed the caffeine this morning. Of the eight to ten women who stayed at Bride House at any one time, Hope was the only one who didn’t get excited about the coffee. Evidently it was far less expensive on Jasan than on Earth, and according
to her fellow boarders, it tasted better too. She preferred tea herself, but as she was the only one with that preference, it was never on the menu. She usually brought her own down from her room, but she had already packed it, so coffee was just going to have to suffice.
“Here,” Talinka said, sliding a steaming mug onto the table in front of Hope with a smile.
Hope breathed in the rich, herbal scented steam and smiled gratefully at the small woman with the short, bright green feathers on her head and the large, matching green eyes.
“Efharistos, Talinka,” Hope said as she pushed the coffee away and picked up the tea. “That was very thoughtful of you.”
“You are most welcome,” Talinka replied. “I know you prefer tea and, as this is your last morning, I wished to offer you a going away gift. May I join you? I would speak with you for a few moments before you leave us.”
“Of course,” Hope said before taking a sip of her tea. It was perfect.
Talinka’s large green eyes grew serious. “I have been the overseer for Bride House for many years now,” she began. “The main reason I am overseer is because I am an Alverian Empath. As such, I am able to detect those women who are not truly wanting to marry a Clan Jasani male-set to have a family, but who have...,” Talinka paused for a moment, searching for the right word. “Those who have a different agenda,” she finished delicately.
Hope set her cup down and picked up a slice of toast. “Yes, I know,” she said. “But Talinka, I assure you, I did not come here for a quick way to get rich and leave.”
Talinka’s eyes widened in surprise, then her white skin blushed a faint peach color. “Forgive me, Hope Strigida,” she said quickly. “I did not mean to imply such of you. I am well aware of your sincerity.”
“I’m glad,” Hope said. “The truth is, I never really thought much about getting married. I’ve always been content with my life. Then one day I just got it into my head that it was really important that I come here. That I was supposed to come here. I thought I was meant to find a male-set. But it didn’t happen.”
“Yes, I have sensed your feelings most clearly, Hope. Your strong excitement and anticipation when you first arrived, and your earnest belief that the right men would come at any moment. Right up until last night, when you realized your time was up and the doors were closing to visitors for the day. Even now, you are not only disappointed, you are also confused.”
“You’re right, Talinka,” Hope admitted. “I am confused. I was so certain this was the right thing for me to do, even though a part of me has been against it from the start.
“Against it?” Talinka asked curiously.
“I was raised by my mother, and then my Aunt,” Hope explained. “They both had some fairly strict rules when it came to the subjects of sex, love and marriage. Let’s just say that living with three men at once is not something they would approve of.”
“Yes, many women who come here struggle with that issue,” Talinka said. “I admit that for myself, personally, I would have difficulty with it as well. But it helps to know that, for the Jasani, this is not a sexual preference. It is a physiological difference in the way they are made. They look very human, so it is quite easy to forget that.”
“I understand that, which is why I followed my feelings and came here,” Hope said. “I was so certain it was the right thing to do. Perhaps it is just as well that I was wrong.”
“Hope, please tell me, were you certain that coming to Bride House was the right thing to do?” Talinka asked. “Or, were you certain that coming to Jasan was the right thing to do?”
Hope took a bite of her toast as she considered that question carefully. “I don’t think it was either,” she said slowly. “I was sitting on the bus one day and there were two women in the seat behind me talking about an ad in the newsreader for contract brides on Jasan. I don’t think I’d ever even heard of Jasan before that moment, or if I had I don’t remember it. But that day, when one of those ladies said Jasan, the thought that popped into my head was that my future lay on Jasan.
“The moment I got home I went straight to my vid terminal to look for the newsreader ad for contract brides. When I looked into the options, I knew that I couldn’t go the contract bride route, agreeing to marry men I’d never met. Bride House was the only other option, so I made a reservation that very same day. Which, to be honest, is not like me at all. I am usually very logical and deliberate about things. I rarely do anything on the spur of the moment, but I just had to do it.”
Talinka frowned as she listened to Hope’s story. It was too much like other stories she had been hearing of late.
“What’s up, Talinka?” Hope asked curiously.
“I am not sure,” Talinka replied. “Over the past eighteen months I have seen a few other women come through Bride House with much the same feelings, expectations and disappointments as you. Those women also told me of a sudden need to come to Jasan, or a sudden belief that Jasan was where they belonged. And, like you, those women left here disappointed and confused when they did not find what they were looking for.”
“Interesting,” Hope said slowly. “What are you thinking?”
“I do not know,” Talinka replied. “I wish to discuss this matter with some other people. If you would not mind giving me your vid code, I will contact you on Earth, should I learn anything.”
“All right,” Hope agreed. She gave Talinka her vid code, though she wasn’t really sure whether she wanted to hear anything from the Alverian or not. Maybe it would be best to leave all of this behind her and just get on with her life.
“I would ask you a question,” Talinka said, her face blushing a faint peach color again. “However, before I do, I must tell you that I ask out of curiosity only. Please do not feel as though you must answer.”
“I will answer your question if you will answer one for me,” Hope said with a smile.
“That is fair,” Talinka replied, relieved that Hope was not offended. “You may go first.”
“My question is, why do you seem embarrassed about asking a question?” Hope wondered.
“As an Empath, I sense people’s emotional state, and their emotional responses to questions or situations. It is not something I can prevent, or turn off. Because of that, in my culture it is deemed rude to ask personal questions of people when I already know so much without asking.”
“That makes sense,” Hope replied. “But I don’t think it’s rude, so ask what you please. If I don’t want to answer you, then I’ll say so.”
“Again, that is fair,” Talinka replied. “As might seem obvious, we Alverians have an affinity to feathered creatures, and I could not help noticing those on your wrist. They are quite beautiful, but I have never seen such, and admit to curiosity about them.”
Hope lifted her right hand and gazed at the tattoo of four stylized owls connected with Greek script that encircled her wrist. The owls themselves were patterned after the ones used on ancient Athenian coins. A side view of an owl’s body with the head facing forward, and overly large round eyes. Each owl was done in metallic silver with fine gold lines outlining each feather. The script was also in gold, making the tattoo appear more like a bracelet than a tattoo until you looked closely at it.
“The birds are called owls,” Hope said. “On my world there is an ancient culture called Greek. In that culture, there is a legend of a woman named Athena who transformed into this bird at will. I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s an ancient Greek symbol that was important to both my mother and my Aunt Olivia.
“This tattoo is representative of my family. One owl each for myself, my mother, my aunt and my cousin, with our names in Greek lettering connecting them together. It is a reminder to myself that even though my mother and aunt are no longer physically with us, we are still connected in spirit and heart.”
“I see that each owl has a different eye color,” Talinka said. “As one has the unique turquoise of your own eyes, I assume that the others are the same as your fami
ly members, is that correct?”.
“Yes, that’s right,” Hope replied.
“It is very beautiful,” Talinka said as she bowed her head solemnly. “I thank you for sharing such a personal story with me.”
“You’re welcome,” Hope said.
“Are shape-shifters common on your world?” Talinka asked.
“Only in legends and stories,” Hope replied.
“What is the difference between a legend and a story?” Talinka asked. “I thought they were the same thing.”
“A legend is something that is perceived to be true by the teller and, usually, by the listener,” Hope replied. “Even if it contains elements that seem extraordinary, such as shape-shifters, it is told as though it were truth. A story may be either truth or fiction.”
“I see,” Talinka said thoughtfully. “May I ask, do you believe the legend of Athena transforming into a bird?”
“I don’t know,” Hope replied slowly. “I suppose the truest answer is that it has a ring of truth for me.”
Chapter 4
Earth, Texas, Redoubt of the Brethren
Stalnek Winicke was worried, and he did not like to be worried. He paced his office, glaring at the vid terminal every time he passed the desk. He had sent two messages to his son, William, on Li-Hach-Cor over the past week and so far William had not responded to either of them. At first he had just thought that William was off tormenting the Aki as he sometimes did. Stalnek had no problem with that, so long as William was careful not to draw the attention of the Li-Hach. After all, it was a boring planet. The boy had to have something to do for fun now and then.
But William had never gone a week without checking in with his father, no matter what he was doing or how busy he might be. He had never failed to respond to messages from his father either.
Stalnek had ordered a new message sent to the compound with a bounce tracer, and had been waiting impatiently for days to get a response on it. Finally the time had come when they could reasonably expect that response. He was ready to chew nails, he was so impatient for it.
The Bearens' Hope: Book Four of the Soul-Linked Saga Page 2