Rose observed him for a few long seconds. ‘I see. Thank you for your time, Vann.’ she said and walked away.
Vann sighed heavily once she was gone. And then suddenly he walked off quickly to find Riley. She was not hard to find, and once he was near her the tension seemed to slip away.
She looked up, ‘hey, Vann. What’s up?’
‘Nothing, just came to see how you were.’
They talked for a few moments before Riley asked, ‘How’s Rose?’
Momentarily caught off guard, Vann replied, ‘huh? Oh, fine, she’s fine.’
‘I’m sorry, my behaviour may have made her angry at you too.’
‘No, no, she’s fine. She’s not angry.’
‘That’s good. She and Ladana visit often, but we don’t usually talk.’
There was a pause.
‘We’re not getting back together.’ Vann said.
‘You said she wasn’t angry. It’s not anything I did, is it?’ Riley asked, looking upset.
‘No, why, do you want us to get back together?’
‘Well, you do, don’t you?’
‘No, I’m… I’m too busy.’
‘Do you want me to give you more free time?’
‘No, of course, not. I’m just not really interested right now.’
She looked surprised, but she said ‘As long as you’re happy with it, Vann.’ and she shrugged.
Feeling rather confused, Vann made his excuses and left.
Riley wasn’t necessarily curious about why Ladana was here, but she felt it was something she should know. Rose and Adila had reason to be here. As far as she knew, Ladana didn’t.
When she had a spare moment, she headed over to Aerlid and Adila.
‘How’s the book coming?’ Riley asked rather coolly.
‘Slowly.’
‘Once you’ve taught a few gemengs they can teach the others. Have you noticed any Predators around?’ Riley asked, referring to the human aircraft.
Aerlid shook his head. ‘The tribe may be hard to see through the canopy, if they’re even looking.’
‘Fine.’ Riley looked over at Adila, ‘Adila, I have a question for you and Aerlid.’
‘Certainly.’ she said and came closer. ‘What is it?’
‘Why is Ladana here?’
‘She wants to be Queen.’ Aerlid answered promptly.
‘Doesn’t she have to wait for her mother to die?’ Riley asked.
‘It doesn’t work that way with the valkar.’ Aerlid replied.
‘The valkar can have many Queens at once.’ Adila interrupted. ‘Ladana will know when she’s a Queen, it’s partly a measure of maturity. Ladana is like her Grandmother, she intends to be a more active Queen. So she’s been here talking to Rose and myself, and seeing what you’re doing, to try and learn.’
‘It’s unusual, but the valkar sometimes have more than one Queen who wants to rule, so Rilodana and Ralana aren’t an issue where this is concerned, even if both of them decide to be more involved than they currently are.’ Aerlid said.
‘What happens if the two Queens disagree?’
‘It would be very cruel of the Queens to do that to the valkar.’ Aerlid paused for a moment. Then he added, ‘you know, we don’t generally call the daughters of the Queen princesses. That’s just something Andalla does.’
‘Alright. What about the sons?’
‘Sons?’ Adila asked.
‘The Queen never has sons. She always has daughters.’ Aerlid answered.
Surprise flashed across Riley’s face.
‘The Queen is unique among the valkar in many ways,’ Aerlid went on. ‘She always has daughters who are like herself… let me explain, even if two Sunsingers were to have a child, there is no guarantee the child would be a Sunsinger, or even one who looks to the sky. Of course, there are always exceptions. Adila’s family is very rare… she comes from a long line of Sunsingers and Judgement Masters. Though such issues of lineage are not very important to the valkar, except where the Queen is concerned. Her line is very important.’
‘Alright.’ Riley said, tucking that away. ‘How is Ralana?’ she turned to Adila.
‘I think she is relieved. It’s hard to know if she genuinely cared for him, or if seeing someone decapitated was just upsetting for her.’
‘Sorry.’ Riley replied.
‘She’ll be fine, you needn’t worry.’
Riley turned to go and Aerlid called her back. ‘Since she’s here anyway, you could get to know your sister.’
Riley looked startled. Then she said, ‘well, if she’s going to be Queen of the valkar. How long til she’s Queen, do you think?’
‘I can’t say, but that’s not what I meant.’ Aerlid said irritably.
‘Thank you for your help.’ Riley said to Adila. Then she left, ignoring Aerlid.
Chapter 51
Karesh entered Riley’s tent and sat down awkwardly. It was a little bit crowded with three people in the tent. Behind him the tent flap was open, allowing a cool breeze to circulate through the confines of the tent.
The Master and Vann greeted him before turning to business.
‘Karesh,’ Riley began, ‘I’d like it if you would stay here for now and have someone else command the search party. The tribe has gotten a lot bigger, and I think you’ll be more useful here.’ The tribe was bigger, though still much smaller than her original tribe from the Plains.
Karesh hesitated. He was pleased she was no longer fighting her role as Master. But he wondered if this was some sort of punishment?
He had only gone out once since breaking his legs. Adila’s knife had been effective, and there had been no other issues on that assignment. ‘I can send someone else. I think Kalgen could lead, or Shiressa, they know what to do now. Not Telag though.’ He replied, deciding she’d been honest in her reasons.
Riley nodded. ‘Good. We wanted to get your insight. You know something of our plans.’
Karesh nodded, his eyes drifting between the two. They sat very close, not quite touching. As usual, Vann’s eyes were glued to the Master.
‘After you have the gemengs, you will capture the humans and defeat the King of the Ehlkrid.’
‘Something like that. Karesh, I would like what I’m making here to last after my death. But after I’m gone I don’t want one person to rule, I would like the council to take that job.’
‘So there would be no more Master?’ Karesh asked hesitantly, as the idea of her dying filled him with fear.
Riley nodded.
‘Mostly we just want to include you in our planning.’ Vann said. ‘Whatever we set up, it has to be able to rule the tribe, it has to be fair, and we want room for movement in and out of the council. We don’t want to set up a ruling class. We’re not entirely sure how the Andallites or ehlkrid will fit in yet, but it has to include humans and gemengs.’
Karesh nodded, ‘I think I understand. But I don’t know anything about that.’
‘You don’t know any less than we do.’ Riley said. ‘I’ve been talking to Aerlid about ways it’s been done in the past. It’s going to take time, Karesh, we just think your insights could be helpful.’
‘Yes, Master, I’ll do what you ask.’
Riley smiled wryly. ‘Thank you.’
About an hour later, Karesh stumbled out of the tent. He stretched his wings and considered what he had to do next. The Master was making plans again. Before the collapse of the mountain, he had never seen her doubt. He had seen the same mask she presented to the rest of the tribe, had not even known it was a mask. After, it was jarring to realise she didn’t just know everything, that she doubted and had moments of vulnerability. It was scary, what if she didn’t know what she was doing? What if she failed?
Karesh clearly remembered his life before her, and he wasn’t going back to that. He needed her to change the gemengs, needed her to be the Master, not Riley the woman with fears and worries.
He sighed and started walking, mentally ticking off the things he n
eeded to do today. There was so much to do. Riley was a hard task-master, when she wanted to be.
He spotted Aerlid’s glimmering tent. He didn’t head towards it.
After he finished most of his work for the day he arrived at it, having approached from a round-about route.
Aerlid looked up and smiled. ‘Karesh, and how are you today?’
‘Well.’ Karesh replied in his quiet voice. ‘The Master gives me a lot to do. How are you?’
‘Yes,’ Aerlid smiled wryly. ‘She does like making other people do the work.’
Karesh’s wings opened slightly, uncomfortable. Even after so long, he wasn’t comfortable hearing anything uncomplimentary about Riley.
Aerlid laughed. ‘I assure you, Riley won’t have me executed for saying that!’
Karesh smiled weakly. He was confused, and his uncertainty hadn’t faded over the months. This man had fixed his wings, and allowed him to fly. But he had hurt the Master, in a way he still didn’t really understand. He had been so close to her, yet the Master hated him now. Oddly though, Aerlid acted as if everything was normal. It was quite disconcerting.
‘Mmm.’ He mumbled. ‘Do you need anything?’
‘Nothing except time to finish all the tasks Riley has assigned me.’
Karesh nodded and smiled. He spotted Vann approaching and quietly slipped away, leaving Aerlid alone.
In a spare moment, Vann headed over to Aerlid’s tent. He was sitting outside writing his book.
‘Hello.’ Vann greeted him.
Aerlid said nothing. Vann saw he was sketching an extremely detailed picture of a hand. Vann waited. Even though his prison must have been a constant reminder things were not normal, Aerlid consistently acted as though nothing had happened, as though he hadn’t utterly betrayed Riley. He ignored Riley’s coldness to him and he appeared unaware of the way even Adila treated him with at best, pity. Vann wondered what would happen if someone ever mentioned Seta’s name to him. He wasn’t about to find out.
When Aerlid was finally done he looked up and put the book to the side.
‘Vann. To what do I owe the pleasure?’
‘Is it true Riley won’t live long?’
‘If by long you mean she probably has ten to twenty years left, yes, I’m afraid it is.’
‘Can’t you do anything?’ he insisted.
‘No, otherwise I would have done it already. Even if a way could be discovered… Vann, twenty years is not long to the valkar, and even if it was, I can assure you the valkar healers have not been trying to discover how to lengthen a mixed’s life. Our knowledge of the problem is likely no more advanced than when Riley was born.’ He sighed. ‘There is nothing I can do, even if she would let me. I suggest you ask Rose to ask the valkar healers to look her over. But don’t get your hopes up… or hers.’
‘Fine.’ Vann spun and headed off to find Rose, who was often with Adila.
He didn’t find her that day, but when she did turn up Vann made the request and extracted a promise that she would talk to the valkar healers. It was the best he could do, for now.
Chapter 52
It was with great trepidation that Zap Zap finally peered through the crack in the rocks. All he saw was water, fish and floating scraps of algae. His tail was scraped and bleeding from squeezing through the too-narrow gap, but he was alive.
For once, his small tail was a blessing.
Cautiously, Zap Zap squeezed out through the rocks. He lingered by the rock face before venturing out into the deep. Seeing nothing, feeling nothing on the currents of water, Zap Zap immediately set off back to the wave of his clan.
When he arrived thirty tense minutes later, he did not feel much better. The reef his clan called home had once been protection enough from the dangers of the sea; not anymore.
A member of his clan swam out, his tail held in an annoyed pose.
‘Where have you been?’ His gills flapped and bubbles burst from his mouth, ‘the clan has been worried!’
‘A monster attacked me,’ Zap Zap replied, holding his tail in a submissive gesture, ‘I could not come back, I had to wait.’
‘You are injured, go to Soothing Tail, I will get the elders.’
‘The elders?’
‘Yes, they wish to speak to you, Strange Sounds. Go, I will fetch them.’
Zap Zap swam off to meet Soothing Tail, who fussed over his scratched and bloody tail and wrapped it in green weeds.
The elders of his clan, led by the clan leader, did not arrive until after Soothing Tail had finished treating him.
‘Strange Sounds, you have returned. You were attacked?’ asked Leader of Broken Wave.
‘Yes,’ Zap Zap replied, holding his tail deferentially, ‘but I escaped through a thin crack, the beast could not get me.’
‘We have lost contact with the Sparkling Wave.’
Zap Zap did not respond for long moments. Sparkling Wave was the closest wave to Broken Wave.
‘The new monsters are too strong.’
Zap Zap flapped in amazement at hearing his leader admit this.
‘We fight together, but they are too powerful, they pick us off, as if we are but young spawn. You know this.’
Zap Zap bowed his head in agreement. He did know. It was sickening and appalling, but true. Horribly, painfully true.
‘You made friends with the No-Tails who ride the Metal Beasts, and that was good. I was hesitant, but it was good. Then you asked us to avoid their wave, and we did. But now we must go back. They defeated Molk for us. We must ask their assistance, or we will die.’
‘I… yes, Leader. I… we must have caution though. My friend, he does not think the No-Tails can be trusted.’
‘We have no other choice.’
‘I… I know. I will go Leader, and I will try to speak to them. My friend is no longer there, but I will try.’
‘You will go on ahead with Strong Swimmer, Fierce Fighter and Great Hunter, I will lead the rest of the clan into the wave of the No-Tails.’
Chapter 53
Light flashed, easily visible even in the daylight. Riley instantly looked up. It was the warning system, the bright light indicating the location of the ehlkrid intruder.
Riley picked up her sword and quickly ran towards it.
When she arrived she saw a group of gemeng guards. One was lying on the ground, rather obviously dead. But the guards weren’t attacking, they were just standing there.
‘What’s going on?’ Riley demanded.
The guards suddenly turned to her and then stepped away. A tall and handsome man walked past them. His hair was black and ragged, his teeth were too sharp and his eyes too big. His smile was threatening, his clothes a patchwork of skin and fur. His cape was even worse.
‘You are the one who killed Andalla?’ he asked, his voice sharp and almost painful to her ears.
‘I am.’ Riley said, her eyes narrowing. ‘And who are you?’
He smiled widely. ‘I am the son of the King of the Ehlkrid.’ he gazed around slowly at the tribe. ‘And I think I want your tribe. Your skin will make a lovely addition to my cape.’
The resemblance was there, but could it be true? If it was, this man could be much, much more dangerous than the average ehlkrid. Had he come of his own accord, or had the King sent him to test her? ‘So you want to fight me.’ Riley stated. ‘Very well. How do-’
Riley was cut off as the man launched himself at her. Startled, she recovered quickly and dodged out of the way.
Vann heard about the fight mere moments later. And then he was running towards the growing crowd. When he arrived he had to push his way to the front.
Suddenly Riley and a dark haired man were fighting in front of him. The man was unarmed, but when his short claws clashed with her sword it sounded like metal scraping against metal.
‘Karesh,’ Vann demanded, ‘what’s going on?’
‘The Master is fighting. I have sent the guards back to their posts. He killed one of them.’
The two co
mbatants whirled round and round. It was so fast and deadly Vann couldn’t catch half the moves. But he heard the sounds, saw blood splatter across the grass as the man scraped Riley’s arm.
He was fast, and strong. Faster and stronger than her. But she didn’t let that break her focus. She had to be smarter.
Riley saw the openings, caught the mistakes. But he moved so fast she couldn’t take advantage of the openings. So were they really openings?
Slowly it came to her that she was losing. She tried to attack, but he moved too fast and stopped her. When she managed to hurt him, the sword did not cut deep enough. And when she tried to dodge, she was never quite fast enough. There was nothing wrong with her strategy, with her moves. They just weren’t fast enough.
It was a horrifying realization. Everything seemed to slow down. Her movements became distant. Was this how other people felt? Was this how the gemengs had felt when she fought them?
Vann’s face flashed past, Karesh next to him. Did they realize she was losing? What would happen to them when she did? Would this man just walk away, or would he kill everyone here? Or take them over? Would Vann be safe? Vann…
The ferocity with which Riley fought suddenly increased. And for a moment she seemed to be beating her opponent back. But she could not keep it up. Slowly it shifted back. And it suddenly occurred to Vann she might lose.
Vann excused himself and pushed back, out of the crowd. He ran back to his tent. It did not take long, and soon he was back at the fight. In the short time he’d be gone the situation had changed drastically. Riley was being beaten around by the other man. She couldn’t dodge fast enough. When she tried to block he just batted her sword away.
‘What’s that?’ Karesh asked, once Vann was back beside him.
‘A SIGPEW. I’m not going to let her die.’
‘She’s the Master, she’s not going to die.’
The Broken Kingdom Page 24