by Cheree Alsop
“These creatures are smart and now they’ll be growing in number. The dynamics of life on Cree just shifted. If the Creetians don’t find a way to live in harmony with them, there will be war.” She paused, then said in a quiet voice, “And I’m tired of war.”
They reached the pit to find Devren standing on the platform where the gem had been. The fact that he had swam so deep into the darkness to find her touched Liora. The fear on his face at the snake’s appearance turned to relief when the snake’s mouth opened and Liora stepped out. He checked her over quickly as though sure she was about to die from some injury she hid.
Liora decided that he knew her way too well.
“I’m fine,” she reassured him. “But we’ve got things to do. Let’s go.”
Devren hesitated when she motioned for him to step into the snake’s mouth, but he saw Rucko staring out at him and his eyes narrowed. He wasn’t about to leave Liora with Rucko even if it meant entering the mouth of a snake to do so.
Rucko unlocked the gate and pushed it wide open for the snake to pass. The spikey creatures that lined the throne room sucked in their spikes at the appearance of the giant from the deep. The snake passed without the worry of being impaled. Liora saw the amazement and fear on the faces of the Rielocks when they first spotted the snake and then their leader in its mouth riding unharmed but cowering at Liora’s feet. She met the stares of Vist and the others, only to see them turn pale with fear.
Liora pushed the image in her mind to the snake. It surged through the depths of the Grunge and into the lighter waters of Ries. Thousands of Creetians turned to stare as the snake’s black body wound around the coral reef higher and higher. She passed her room and continued up to the broad quarters of Malie’s family.
Liora glanced at Rucko. The empty eyeholes of the robe around his shoulders showed eerily against the snake’s mouth.
“Ditch the robe, Rucko,” she told him. “I don’t think it’ll go over well in the higher reaches of Ries.”
“What? Oh. Forgot about that,” he said with an embarrassed look. “It was just to keep up appearances, you know?”
He shrugged out of it and wadded it up. To her surprise, he tossed it outside without a second’s hesitation.
At her look, he shrugged. “Not like I knew them. I didn’t even make the thing. Found it behind the bone throne and thought it would help add to my stature.”
Liora and Devren exchanged a glance. Liora shook her head and looked back outside just as they reached the highest section of the coral building.
Somehow, the Creetians had already been warned about the snake. How word had traveled so quickly baffled Liora, but she was glad when they reached the open room of light that took up the uppermost level of the underwater coral and found all of the ruling class present. It felt far more dramatic than she had planned to step from the snake’s huge mouth to the floor of the crystal room.
“Liora!” Malie said in a gasp.
Brandis rushed over to her, breathing quickly through his breather. He looked from her gills to her hands, his eyes wide.
“I’m alright,” she reassured him. “I’ll explain later.”
The fact that he couldn’t speak beneath the water didn’t keep him from hugging her, then checking her over for injuries, and hugging her again. All the while, he kept one eye on the snake that towered above them, its slit eyes unblinking and tongue flickering out to take in the scents of the water-filled room.
Devren stood quietly at Liora’s side and Rucko stumbled out to kneel wide-eyed in the splendor of the room.
“What happened, Liora?” Malie’s mother was the first to speak.
On Cree, the dynamics of leadership fell to the women, and Liora had seen Madam Fike handle politics and trade with apparent ease. She had great respect for the woman that far surpassed the shrieking that same woman was prone to when she was excited about something.
Liora looked from the snake to the Creetians that made up Malie’s family and the ruling class of Ries. “It’s going to be easier if I show you,” she decided. “May I?”
“May you what?” Madam Fike asked.
“There is a lot to explain,” Liora told her. “I’d rather show you than tell you because first-hand is a lot more meaningful than a recounting of events.”
“How would you show us?” Madam Fike queried. She looked from Liora to the snake in uncertainty, but the creature hadn’t moved since it released them into the open room.
Liora touched the woman’s hand and pushed an image of Rucko kneeling in front of the baby snakes into her mind.
“Do you see that?” Liora asked, careful to keep the push gentle so she didn’t overwhelm Malie’s mother.
Madam Fike nodded with amazement on her face. “Can you show all of us?”
Liora motioned for them to link their hands. “Close your eyes,” she instructed. “It’s easier if you don’t have anything distracting you.”
“A bit difficult with that beast watching us,” one of Malie’s sisters said.
“Hush, Brinelee, have faith,” Madam Fike directed.
“Yes, mother,” the young woman replied.
Liora pushed. She felt the surprise of the others as her memories filled their minds. Devren waited near Rucko in case the Rielock changed his mind about their agreement. Liora pushed the same image at him and felt his acceptance of it.
She showed them Rucko leading her to the pit, her confrontation with the snakes, and the snake’s memories of loss after the gem disappeared. She showed replacing the gem and filling them with light once more along with the birth of the baby snakes. She showed what she had told Rucko about his new position in Cree, and of her decision to include the Creetians.
“These creatures are smart and now they’ll be growing in number. The dynamics of life on Cree just shifted. If the Creetians don’t find a way to live in harmony with them, there will be war.”
Liora pulled away from Madam Fike and the others. Several of them grabbed their heads or stumbled despite how gently she broke the connection.
“I’m sorry,” she told them. “The effects should wear off soon. It’s a bit harder if you’ve never had someone push to you before.”
Madam Fike appeared the least bothered by the push. She swam past Liora to reach the great snake. The creature’s yellow eyes followed her.
“We will do everything we can to help protect your young,” she said.
Liora was about to push the images that matched the woman’s promise to the snake when the creature pushed a strong image of its own. Several in the room staggered and leaned against each other for support, but Madam Fike stood straight and received the push without flinching.
The snake showed others coming from the pit, growing, moving among the coral city with the Creetians.
“Exactly,” Madam Fike said aloud. “We can learn to live in harmony. I’d much prefer that over watching my people be eaten.”
“You just mentioned being eaten,” Rucko said with fear in his voice.
“Will peace be possible?” Malie asked.
Her mother turned to her. “Anything is possible,” she answered. “It’s a matter of motivation. I am motivated to keep our people alive. This creature is motivated to keep its young alive. As long as we can stay on the same page, we can live in peace.” She looked at Rucko. “And you will guard the gems.”
Rucko straightened beneath the weight of her scrutiny. “Yes, Madam Fike. My people and I will guard the gems.”
The Creetian woman’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Do I know you?”
Rucko looked as though he was about to brush aside her inquiry, but he glanced at the snake. Liora remembered telling him that the snakes could tell if he lied.
“You knew my father, Dran Ruck.”
Madam Fike’s eyes widened in surprise. “Yes, your father was a great man. I wondered what became of his son after he passed.” She tipped her head to one side. “You always did have a penchant for leadership. I just didn’t realiz
e you had taken it below.”
Rucko lowered his gaze. “I have things to make up for. I beg the opportunity to do so.”
Madam Fike nodded. “Everyone deserves a chance. Make your father proud.”
“I will,” Rucko promised.
Madam Fike looked at Liora. “Your journey here has had quite the impact on our ocean planet.”
“I hope I haven’t upset the way of things too greatly.”
“I imagine you have,” the woman replied. At Liora’s look, she smiled. “Our role in life isn’t to stand still and let the current flow around us, it is to shape ourselves to best fit the current so that we can reach the furthest and have the greatest impact on those around us.” She indicated the snake with a bow of her head. “Our path may have changed, but the current presses on. It is up to us not to stand in its way but to join its course. We will survive.”
The respect Liora felt for the woman grew. She saw the determined nods from Malie’s siblings.
“And now, you have a starship to catch,” Madam Fike said. “Your father is in contact and he is anxious to have you home.”
Liora took the fuzzy worm from the spot it had settled in on her shoulder. Madam Fike accepted the creature with a smile.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen any of your sort here,” she said.
A purr emanated from the creature.
Madam Fike held out a hand to Liora.
“Thank you again, Liora Day. I hope we will see each other again soon.”
“Thank you,” Liora replied. “I appreciate the hospitality you have shown. Cree will always be a place I think of fondly.”
Chapter 5
Liora sat inside the small lounge room of the Ten Devren had flown from the Tucana Dwarf Galaxy. When she leaned against the seat, her back gave an angry throb, reminding her with sharp pain that she had missed spreading Susa’s salve across her burns for far too long. She sat forward again and rested her head in her hands.
“Are you alright?”
Liora sat up at Devren’s approach. It said a great deal about how tired she was that she hadn’t heard his footsteps.
“I’m fine,” she replied.
Devren stood in the doorway for a moment. He finally let out a breath and stepped inside.
“Tariq would say he doesn’t believe you and get you to talk, but I’m not so good at that.”
Liora watched him take the seat across from her. He leaned his elbows on his knees and studied his shoes with a lost expression on his face. Liora’s heart went out to him.
“Tariq didn’t die for some little cause.”
Devren looked up at her. “What?”
She sat up, winced at the pain, and leaned forward again. “You said Tariq gave up his life for some little cause. He didn’t.”
Devren dropped his gaze to his shoes again.
Liora held out her hand. “I need to show you.”
Devren looked at her, his expression showing his exhaustion. “Is this necessary?”
“I could just push, but it’s easier if I can touch you,” Liora replied. “After everything we’ve been through today, I don’t know if I have the strength—”
“I wasn’t questioning holding your hand,” Devren said, cutting her off. “I meant about Tariq.” His voice softened and he looked away from her. “I don’t know if I can handle it right now.”
Liora closed her eyes at the pain in his voice. She sucked in a breath at the echo that tore through her heart. “It’s necessary,” she said in a whisper.
Her eyes opened when his hand took hers. His eyes were already closed. She did the same, searching her memory for the one that played over and over again in her dreams, ending in a nightmare that she could never escape.
Again she pounded on the glass, telling Tariq not to sacrifice himself to kill the moss entity that threatened to destroy the Macrocosm. But Tariq was Tariq. He wouldn’t let others suffer if there was anything he could do to stop it. And so he threw the bomb over his shoulder and said his goodbye with a look of love and a hand on the glass, a hand that would be imprinted on Liora’s soul forever.
A sound made Liora open her eyes. She gently broke the connection at what she saw.
Devren held his eyes with his free hand. Tears dripped from between his fingers and fell to the floor with nearly silent splashes. As if he felt her watching him, he shook his head.
“I couldn’t do it.” His voice was strangled. “I just couldn’t.”
“Couldn’t do what?” Liora asked. At the sound of his voice, the tears she had fought so hard to keep at bay trickled down her cheeks.
It was a moment before Devren could respond. He put his hand over his mouth and his words came out muffled, his eyes closed tight. “I couldn’t face you. I hurt too much. I couldn’t carry someone else’s pain with him being gone.” He tipped his head to look at her, his cheeks wet. “I was a coward.”
Liora shook her head.
His face twisted and he turned away from her. “I blamed you.”
“I deserve it.”
Devren looked at her, his eyes searching her face. “Don’t you do that. Don’t you carry the guilt of his death on your shoulders. I spent years telling Tariq the same thing, trying to get him to understand that it wasn’t his fault Dannan and Lissy had been murdered. He kept asking me why he hadn’t been there, why he had lingered five more minutes than usual in the bay, why he hadn’t been the one to face the Damaclan.”
Devren sucked in a shuddering breath. “He wouldn’t want the same for you, Liora. He wouldn’t want you to carry guilt that doesn’t belong to you. I was wrong to blame you. You showed me what he did. He chose to throw the bomb. He made the choice to save all of us.” His voice gentled. “You know Tariq. It was the only decision he would have made.”
Liora’s throat hurt. She couldn’t say the words that burned in her mind. Live together or die together. He had left her behind, alone, lost, hurting even more inside than she did outside. He made her promise to live, then he left her with her hand on the glass and nothing to hold.
“You don’t have to keep it inside.”
She could feel Devren watching her. She could open up to him, tell him how she felt, let go of the pain that made her chest ache so badly she could barely breathe.
Liora kept silent. She sucked in a breath through her nose and let it out through her mouth. It didn’t lessen the agony of the hole in her heart where Tariq used to be, but it cleared her mind and resolve. She was a Damaclan. She would survive.
“I’m fine,” she replied quietly.
She saw Devren shake his head from the corner of her eye.
“Okay. If that’s the way you want it,” he gave in and wiped his cheeks with his sleeve. “You’re fine. I’m fine. I don’t blame you for Tariq’s death. He was his own person and he would have done that a thousand times over if it meant protecting others.”
Liora nodded without speaking.
Devren rose to his feet. He crossed to the door again. He was about to leave, then paused.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice just above a whisper.
Liora made herself look at him. “For what?”
“For trusting me enough to show me what happened. I know that can’t be easy for you.”
Liora attempted a small smile. She knew it came off poorly. “You deserve to know what happened.”
She picked up the tin of salve on the table in front of her and turned it over in her hands.
She asked the question that had been bothering her. “Did I do the right thing on Cree?”
A small huff of amusement came from Devren. “Which time?”
Liora looked at him. “All of it, I guess.”
Devren watched her for a moment. He crossed back to the chair and took the seat he had just vacated.
“That was an unusual experience.”
“Tell me about it,” Liora replied.
“You had gills.”
Liora rubbed the side of her neck. “That was d
ifferent, for sure.”
“Do I dare ask how you found that out?” Devren’s gaze said he guessed more than she had told him.
Liora linked her fingers together. “I have a knack for finding near-death experiences.”
“That’s for sure,” Devren replied. He tipped his head, giving her a closer look. “You’re exhausted.”
Liora gave him the same look. “And you appear ready to fight a dozen Gauls.”
Devren slouched in his seat and let his head loll back. “I should just fall asleep right here.”
“Do I dare ask who’s flying this ship?”
He rolled his head to one side and glanced at her. “Your father may feel that I’m one of the best pilots he’s ever seen, but even he chose a real pilot to travel half the Macrocosm. I think he lost more Nines than he was comfortable with.”
“Can’t say I blame him,” Liora replied. “I may be responsible for a few of those.”
Devren nodded. “There’s a chance he’ll ask you to retire when you reach Corian. Of course, he doesn’t have much experience with the stubbornness of Damaclans.”
“That’s true,” Liora replied. “I’ll break him in.”
Devren smiled and closed his eyes.
Liora toyed with the tin in her hands. She needed to use it. The way her back was starting to burn let her know things were going to get a whole lot worse if she didn’t spread the cooling salve soon. The waters of Cree had caused the skin to tighten. She remembered belatedly that Susa had warned her about being in liquid too long. The skin was still healing, and her body’s reaction to the burn hadn’t been pleasant.
“What is that?”
Liora glanced at Devren. He was looking at the tin she held.
“It’s nothing,” she replied.
Devren sat up. “You brought it with you from Cree. It must have some importance.”
Liora opened the tin. The sharp scent of sartan leaves and pine gum filled the air.
“Just a salve,” she replied.
Devren’s gaze sharpened. “I know that smell. My mother used sartan for burns.”
Liora put the lid back on. “Forget about it.”
“You’re moving stiff,” Devren said, watching her. “I should have noticed before now. You did do something to yourself.”