Taelid frowned as he gazed at her intently. Then, without asking, he grabbed her arm, lifted it up and down. Surprised, Riley withstood it. He poked and prodded her, circling her as he did.
Then suddenly he said in exasperation, ‘you’ve done it all wrong.’ he shook his head.
Aerlid muttered, ‘that’s very subjective.’
Taelid ignored him, instead looking around, he picked up a stick from the ground. ‘Here, this is the humans.’ He drew a line on the ground that went up a little and then down, it was mostly flat. ‘They live about eighty years, if they’re healthy. This is Ellis, and the half breeds we made.’ The line started at the same place, but it went up much higher, the human curve was tiny underneath it. The line kept going, over twice as long as the human line, then it came down again. ‘They are much stronger than the humans, but nowhere near the valkar. They live longer, and there is not much change in their power over their lifetime. This is what you’ve done.’ And he made another line. It started at the same place, then it shot up, far higher than the other two. Then it crashed back down at around the halfway point of the human line. ‘A fast improvement, followed by a sudden decline.’
‘And now you want me to fix her.’ Taelid frowned. ‘She is about here.’ And he circled the top of the peak, with space on either side. ‘I’d have to examine her more closely, and I think I’d need help. But at best, this is what I could do.’ And he rubbed out part of Riley’s line, starting just below the peak. He redrew it as a vertical line down. It flattened out somewhere between the human and Ellis curve, then it continued at that level before ending. ‘I can’t say how long she’d last or how weak she’d become, though certainly improvements could be made. The sooner it’s done the better.’
Vann looked at Riley. He didn’t say anything, he didn’t have to.
‘I can’t right now.’ was all Riley said, ‘Vann, we’ll talk about this later. But you know I can’t right now, not yet.’
‘We’ll talk about it.’ he agreed.
‘I’ll have to examine you, I sense you have been terribly injured in the past which may complicate things.’ Taelid repeated. ‘And I’d require an assistant, who I can explain the procedure to.’
‘Aela perhaps could help.’ Rose said.
‘You must explain all this to me anyway.’ Aerlid said, ‘I couldn’t help, but I know how she was… put together. I may be able to offer some insights.’
Vann took Riley’s hand and led her away. Ellis ran after them.
He smiled, ‘Taelid knows this stuff better than anyone. You can trust him.’
‘Thank you,’ Riley replied. ‘Why does he call you a different name?’
Ellis shrugged self-consciously, ‘I’ve always preferred Ellis, that’s all.’
Riley nodded her understanding. And then Vann was quickly tugging her away to have a rather serious conversation.
Riley sighed heavily, the discussion finally ended for the time being.
She started walking away from the tent, needing some space. She had not gotten very far when Ellis ran up to her.
‘You look like you need someone to talk to.’
Riley hesitated. The talk with Vann had been rather personal. Though Ellis was slowly becoming a friend, she wasn’t sure she wanted to share this with him. So she shook her head. ‘No thanks, I don’t really want to talk about it.’
‘Alright. Let me take your mind off it then.’
‘Hmm?’
‘I’ve heard you’re an excellent hunter, among other things. Honestly, everyone here thinks you’re the best at everything.’
‘Only important things.’ Riley replied confidently.
Ellis laughed at that. When he saw she wasn’t laughing he suddenly stopped. ‘That wasn’t a joke?’
Riley shook her head, though she was holding back a smile. ‘You want me to teach you how to hunt?’ Riley asked.
‘I know how to hunt. I was thinking more of a competition. Or…’ his smile faded. ‘I know the valkar don’t like that sort of thing. Maybe something else, a race? I doubt anyone here could challenge you, except the valkar.’
‘And you think you could?’
‘I’m much faster without my armour, are you ever going to give that back by the way?’
‘I’ll think about it.’
‘Let’s have a little competition.’ he smiled deviously. ‘If I win, I get back one piece of my armour.’
‘And when I win?’ Riley wondered then if this was his plan, make friends to get his armour back.
‘Hah! Like that’ll happen. What do you want from me?’
Riley shrugged. ‘It wouldn’t be fair, I am the Master after all. Alright. Let’s see how you go without all that armour on.’
Riley won.
She’d had fun though, the other gemengs did not challenge her nearly as much as he did.
She gave back the armour anyway. She already knew she could beat him easily when he wore it, and at least she’d know he wasn’t being friends simply to get it back.
He was surprised and pleased. And nothing between them changed.
And so Riley was happy too.
Chapter 62
When Commander Reista heard the news over the radio he did not say anything for a long while. He sat back in his chair, looking out his window to the ocean beyond, and thought.
After thinking long and hard, he got up and began the walk down to the docks.
Zap Zap’s pleasure at his arrival was gratifying. His reaction was better than that of any of his subordinates, who seemed to think he lived in his office and never left.
‘Vann’s leader, Vann’s leader!’ the slimy, seaweedy creature greeted him excitedly.
‘Hello, Zap Zap.’ Reista said, sitting down on the docks with a sigh. ‘Try not to splash me this time.’
Zap Zap nodded, and settled down into the water, til only his eyes were visible.
‘And how are your people today?’ Reista asked. His eyes flicked over the waves, looking for any of the other fish people. Usually, the others stayed away. He’d met their leader, when he first arrived. Zap Zap had happily, and with a lot of energy, translated for them. Reista couldn’t help feeling a little sympathy for the leader, his reserved, and calm, yet long-suffering, attitude in the face of impossible, brave young men reminded Reista of himself.
‘Safe here, in Vann’s home. Outside, hunting, dangerous.’ Zap Zap answered, his tone unusually serious. It was strange, how easily he’d learnt to read the fish peoples’ inhuman faces.
Reista nodded, Zap Zap’s tone reflecting his own feelings. The bay was still mostly safe, as there were few ocean ehlkrid. The problem was outside the bay, where the fish people, and the people of Coastside fished, and where the submariners protected the supply ships. Zap Zap had suggested they help each other fish, because they all needed to eat. The fish people located the fish in areas that were safe, and directed the fishermen, who would then share their catch with the fish people. There had been a few fishermen unwilling to work with the gemengs, but despite that, it was working surprisingly well. The fishermen had always been more vulnerable to regular gemengs than the submarines, and so the fish people’s assistance greatly reduced that danger.
It’s the supply ships that are the real problems. They, and the submarines, went far further from the bay than the fishermen. While there were few ehlkrid around, it took only one to mess up the supply lines for weeks, destroying submarines and ships and sending his submariners to their deaths.
Something had to change. Reista had spoken frequently with the council in Astar, but they were unwilling to lead an attack against the ehlkrid, or consider changing the supply routes. I should at least be pleased they’re sending Predators out to map the extent of the ehlkrid invasion! They never would have found him otherwise… We need to rethink how to deal with the ehlkrid, what worked with the gemengs doesn’t work with them. We need to consider whether it is worth keeping all the supply lines open, whether we should conserve the men and su
bmarines we have and actually respond intelligently to the crisis at hand. But Astar wasn’t even willing to discuss the issue, and he couldn’t interfere with the supply routes without their say so. Doing so would mean breaking with Astar. It was a thought that had occurred to him, but only briefly. Such an act, and when they were in such danger… the people of Coastside would not support such a move, not yet. Now, more than any other time, they needed to work together. One day though, that may change.
‘Is Lart ok?’
Reista snapped out his thoughts, realizing he’d been clenching his teeth. ‘Lart now is it? That’s very familiar?’
Zap Zap splashed his tail, sending spray in Reista’s direction.
‘Had frowny face.’
‘You can call me Commander Reista, if you like.’
‘Lart, or Vann’s boss.’ Zap Zap said, and Reista got the distinct feeling he was smiling.
Reista harrumphed. ‘Good thing none of my submariners are here.’
Zap Zap looked like he was laughing.
‘I heard some interesting news today.’ Reista said, coming to his real reason for coming down here.
Zap Zap watched him curiously.
‘Apparently, Vann is very much alive.’
Zap Zap’s face exploded into a grin. ‘Vann safe, Vann safe!’
‘Mmm, and he’s with the gemeng girl, Riley Meilis. Now, for some reason, I have the distinct feeling you already knew this.’
Zap Zap subsided into the water.
‘Did Vann tell you not to tell me?’
Zap Zap hesitated, and then he nodded. ‘Yes. Vann asked. Zap Zap wasn’t sure, because you missed him-‘
‘I did no such thing.’
‘But Vann said not to tell, not to trust humans anymore.’
Reista sighed. ‘Yes, well I can see why he might have said that. I’m wondering though, Zap Zap, what he’s up to with the gemeng. Do you know their plans?’
Zap Zap shook his head. ‘Took Vann to Riley, left him there.’
‘Hrm… that’s disappointing. I’d hoped they were planning on killing the ehlkrid for us, since we’re doing such a poor job.’
Zap Zap nodded, his face disappearing under the waves and reappearing. ‘They are killing us, whenever we go to hunt, and our friends of the other waves.’ His voice was hard to hear, as he kept putting his head under the water. Perhaps he meant it that way.
‘There is room still in the bay, if you want to invite more to come.’ Reista said carefully.
Zap Zap shook his head. His tone pained, he said, ‘no, already lost contact with all close and now… it is too dangerous to travel to the waves further, I would not make it, and they would not make it all the way here… if they still live…’
Reista was surprised at how much the fish person’s grief affected him. ‘Perhaps they found somewhere safe.’
Zap Zap did not reply.
‘And if they did not, you and your people are here. We must take heart from that.’
Zap Zap nodded, still mostly hidden by the water. ‘Yes, nothing Zap Zap can do…’
‘Well, unless things change here…’ and he thought of Astar, ‘there is nothing we will do either. I can only hope Vann has not completely abandoned Coastside. If he does have a plan, we will know soon enough.’
Zap Zap looked up, his gaze intent.
‘Astar found Vann and Riley Meilis. They’re sending a delegation to… speak to him. Unfortunately, he’s not near the ocean so I can’t send you.’
Zap Zap made a sound like a sigh. ‘Yes, Zap Zap guess.’
‘I’ll be sending a few people from Coastside, perhaps they’ll bring him back.’
Zap Zap shook his head. ‘No, he like Riley, he gave her leaper tooth. Zap Zap found.’
Reista frowned. ‘I see… well, I just wanted to let you know. And to see if you were going to reveal any of your secrets.’
Zap Zap suddenly smiled. ‘Vann’s boss sneaky.’
‘You have to be to get to my position.’ He said and he heaved himself to his feet. ‘Personally, I’m not in any position to bear any ill will towards the gemeng. Right now, we have bigger problems.’ I will plan and prepare as best I can, and hope Astar changes its mind soon… and if not…
Zap Zap nodded. ‘Better than before, still bad.’
‘And unless something changes, nothing will get any better.’ If it has to, Coastside will stand on its own… we will endure.
Chapter 63
‘I promise I will, Vann, but not right now, you know I can’t do it now. I love you, but I won’t be able to keep control of the tribe if I’m weak.’
The inside of their tent felt more cramped than usual. It still felt strange to tell him she loved him, she’d kept it inside for so long. Strange, but right too.
‘I know. I know.’ Vann replied, his grey eyes intent. He held her hands tightly. ‘Please, just give me a time. I know I said I couldn’t be completely sure before, but I am now. I want to spend my life with you, not just the next ten years.’
Riley couldn’t help smiling at that, her heart flooding with warmth. Vann returned the look and for a moment they were silent and the tension was gone.
Riley went on more carefully. ‘Me too. You know I’m going to step back one day anyway. I promise, after we take Astar and defeat the King I’ll do it.’
‘And if the plan doesn’t work?’
‘Then… then it doesn’t matter anymore, and I can do it right away.’
‘And if it does work?’
Riley hesitated. ‘A year, I promise I’ll do it within a year afterwards.’ Part of her looked forward to that, once she was no longer managing the tribe she and Vann would be able to spend more time just… being together. At the same time, she wondered whether she’d be able to keep him interested, once it was just them and they didn’t have so many other tasks to occupy them. Not that she would mention that to him; she had a pretty good idea what his reaction would be.
‘Ok. I can live with that.’ Vann replied.
Riley sighed. Vann still looked worried, but he smiled at her. ‘Come here.’ He said and pulled her into a hug.
This conversation had been a long time ending. Riley had tried to put it off, avoid it. Vann had allowed her to get away with that for only a little while, and had eventually insisted on discussing it. And now, it was done.
Finally Vann pulled away with a sigh. ‘I’ve gotta get going.’ he apologized.
‘Me too.’ Riley admitted. They left the tent together.
‘How’s it going with Ellis?’ Vann asked.
Riley smiled. ‘It’s kind of nice. I’m still… I don’t know if I can trust him completely. I don’t know if I ever will…’
Vann gave her arm a squeeze. ‘You don’t need to trust him completely, as long as you’re happy.’
Riley smiled.
‘I’m glad you have a friend.’
Vann was momentarily surprised to see Ellis at the council meeting. Well, there was no reason for him not to be there. Riley wasn’t here today, but then she didn’t come to all the meetings. It had quickly become clear, however, that the council was highly ineffective when she wasn’t present, so Vann attended the meetings she missed. The Mixed were far more comfortable around Vann than Riley, and Riley liked giving them the opportunity to admire and respect a human.
‘What’s wrong with the rotation?’ Vann asked.
‘Some of the warriors would like to opt out.’ A council member said. ‘They would like to stay outside the shield with the Master.’
‘Permanently, you mean?’
He nodded.
Vann had to think about that. With the Mixed, that could easily turn into a reputational war, with everyone deciding to move outside to prove how strong they were. It could also make it easier for some to decide to stay entirely inside the shield, creating something of a special class, separate from the others. On top of that, it could create something of an aversion to any extra means of protection, much like they had towards the u
se of weapons. At least fighting the ehlkrid had weakened much of their traditional prejudices.
Vann shook his head. ‘The rotation system is working fine right now. The warriors already spend less time inside than most anyway, and when they are inside they’re on guard duty. I think enough has been asked of them.’
The man, who was a warrior, almost preened at that. Inwardly, Vann smiled.
Then Ellis piped up. ‘Why? If the warriors stay outside the weaker members of the tribe could always stay inside.’
‘To be quite honest, it hardly makes any difference.’ Vann replied easily. ‘With Riley here, the ehlkrid rarely attack anyway.’
‘And her sword.’ another member of the council piped up. ‘Even her sword terrifies them.’
‘Perhaps we could hang some of her clothes around the perimeter then.’ Ellis joked. ‘I think the Master would approve such an opt out system.’
The feeling of the council suddenly changed. Vann kept his expression neutral with great effort. Suddenly, the council wondered if this man knew the Master’s wishes better than he did. And for the council, that was still all that really mattered.
‘I’m not sure you’re familiar with how the council works.’ Vann replied calmly. ‘Riley isn’t here, the council is authorized to make decisions in her absence. That is what she wants.’
‘Yes, but only while you’re here.’ Ellis said, ‘and I think she expects you to know her wishes.’
The council quietly began discussing Ellis’ words in hushed tones. Vann heard someone whisper, ‘… they have been fighting recently….’
Fighting was not the right word to describe what they’d been doing.
Instead of telling everyone to mind their own damn business, Vann coolly asked ‘Do you want to go get her then?’
The way in which he said it was enough. The council faltered, fell quiet.
Ellis carefully looked around at the council members, then at Vann. ‘No, that’s ok.’ he smiled. ‘I’m sure you know what she wants.’ but he said that last part in such a way that the talk resumed. He stood and left, leaving Vann fuming.
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