by Sarah Zettel
“Good.” Aria shifted her pace to a slower one, the ground-covering pace she could maintain for almost as long as she could keep breathing, even carrying a heavy load in a high wind. She’d walked like this for most of her life. Let the Vitae with their machines and their shuttles tag along behind.
“They’re still back there.”
“Of course they are,” said Aria. “And as long as they stay back there, we’re fine. It means they haven’t been told what else to do.” I hope.
“Can you tell me what happened to you?” she said, partly to keep Ere from dwelling too long on the Vitae behind them, and partly to keep herself from doing the same.
She listened, all the while trying to bury her horror in anger. What right? What right do these people have? If they were the Nameless Powers with the Servant at their side, they would still have no right!
“…but the air was gone and he fell and Sha and Dene were already down and Ri was screaming and the Vitae were gone and…and…”
“Shhh, all right. It’s all right,” Aria wished she could touch her. She didn’t even know if the Shessel could tolerate the touch of human beings, but she still wished it. “Are they still back there?”
“Yes.”
“All right. Try to rest. We’re on our way to safety.”
As fast as I can get us there, she lengthened her stride.
The walkway crossed into one of the wild areas. The trees, too tall and too straight, swallowed the light and the weeds ate up the city sounds. Aria strained her ears. Traffic noise faded farther away with each step, except for the slow, steady hum from the Vitae’s transport. Aria risked a glance at the little patch of wilderness, wondering how much shelter it would afford if she had to run.
Maybe it won’t come to that. Maybe word will reach the Shessel and they’ll come looking for the children. Maybe…
Bracken rustled. The children whimpered, and Aria’s arm tightened around the capsule. She threw her gaze in every direction, trying to find the source of the new noise. The rustling increased. Aria forced herself to keep moving. About a half mile ahead, another inhabited stretch glowed like a beacon.
Behind and to the left, weeds and scrub parted and a sedan chair, one of the few private vehicles authorized for off-road travel, climbed gingerly out of the underbrush and with high-legged steps started angling toward Aria and her charges.
Aria watched the insectlike vehicle out of the comer of her eye, but kept on walking. It had its windscreen up and its weather hood down, so there was no telling who was in there. She tried to think what to do. The drone of the Vitae car wasn’t getting nearer, but the chair was. Fatigue clouded the edges of her mind and fear did nothing to clear it.
Abruptly, the chair halted and folded its legs. A human head and torso stuck out the side door.
“Aria!” shouted Perivar.
Relief sent Aria sprinting across the field before she remembered she was risking a huge fine for disturbance of a wilderness zone.
She skidded to a stop beside the chair, gouging the soil with her heels and doubling her fine. Iyal leaned out the driver’s side window and stared along with Perivar.
“What are you doing…” she began, but Perivar had seen the capsule and the Shessel children huddled inside.
“Murderer!” squeaked Ri.
What color he had drained out of Perivar’s face. “Where’s Kiv? The other kids?”
Aria glanced toward the road. The Vitae had stopped their vehicle, too, and one of them had poked a bald head out the window to get a clearer view of the field.
“No…” breathed Perivar.
“They’re dead,” said Aria. “The children say the Vitae are responsible. I see no reason to say otherwise.”
Perivar hit the door key, scrambling to get out before the door was even halfway open. Iyal touched the override control on her panel and it slid shut again.
“Perivar,” Iyal laid a big hand on his arm. “Don’t even think about it.”
Perivar pressed the key again, and again. “They killed…they took…they…”
“We’re in public, Perivar,” said Iyal.
“And we need to get these children to their people,” said Aria.
“Yeah, yeah.” He shook himself. “You’re right,” he looked at the children. “Gods, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know this would happen.”
“I know,” said Ere. “I don’t know about Ri, though.”
Perivar insisted on putting himself and the capsule on the luggage rack on the back of the chair. Aria, her arms aching, did not object, and neither did the children.
As soon as Aria strapped herself into the passenger’s seat, Iyal touched a series of controls. The chair stood up again. She steered it into the street. The speed of its stride rocked them back and forth. Aria looked behind them. The Vitae transport was still standing in the middle of the street.
“I guess they did not feel ready to explain themselves to the Shessel after all,” she murmured to Iyal.
“Well, they’d better be ready to explain themselves to the Diet. A lot of people are not happy.” Iyal spoke with a kind of quiet satisfaction and Aria wondered what had been happening to her since she had left the lab, what, four hours ago? Five?
Iyal must have seen the puzzled expression on her face. “Electronic communications, Aria, are wonderful things.”
In response to Iyal’s prodding, Aria related what had happened since she’d left the labs. In return, Iyal told her how she had woken up the Diet members who knew her family and had gotten enough votes together to call a counterdebate on the Vitae resolution. Then, when Perivar had called her from the docks where the U-Kenai was coming in with still more news, she had gone to meet him.
“Then Eric Born is here,” said Aria.
“No, he isn’t.” Iyal stared out the windscreen. “The Vitae got him.”
Aria felt like the ground had dropped away from her. All she could do was hang on to the door handle and listen to her own harsh breathing.
At last, Iyal walked them through the arched gates of the Shessel Embassy. She explained their reason for petitioning entry to the automated security system in a few shockingly blunt words. The gates opened to let them into the inner courtyard and white lines lit up along the pavement to guide them to the squared-off doors reserved for human entrance.
Perivar, his arms wrapped possessively around the capsule led them into the reception chamber and showed Aria and Iyal how how to put on the oxygen tanks. Then he led them through the shimmering membrane that was the real entrance to the Embassy.
As soon as they crossed the threshold, Ere opened the capsule and lifted herself halfway out, sucking great long breaths of air. An inner door folded back and three Shessel flowed into the room, ringing the humans. Perivar set the capsule on the floor. Ri shoved past her sister and swarmed up into the arms of the smooth-skinned, earth-toned Shessel and clung there, shivering and keening.
“Can you help her?” pleaded Ere, climbing all the way out of the capsule.
“We’ll sedate her,” said the Shessel. “That’s all we can do for now.”
Ere shivered along the entire length of her body. “I need to talk to somebody. The Emissary Voice. I need…”
“We’re here.” Three more Shessel entered from one of the corridors and Ere made a beeline for the earth-toned one. He embraced her with all his arms.
“Kiv is with the Sky Fathers now and your sisters are waiting to be reborn,” he said. “I feel them. They wait and say how brave their sister is to go on. She will live for us until we can live again.”
“I know, I know.” Ere burrowed under the crook of his neck.
“Emissary,” said Perivar. “Ere says that it was murder, done by the Rhudolant Vitae.”
“There are two of their Ambassadors here,” said the squat, greenish Shessel. “They will answer.” He looked toward the Shessel who held Ri.
“Are you ready to speak with the voice of your family, Ere?” he asked. “The Vitae ar
e already here.”
Ere nodded and let herself be put on the floor. She extended her neck to stretch herself as tall as possible.
The greenish one extended his neck toward the cluster of humans. “The Vitae claim property rights over Aria Stone. She will come with us so we can determine the legalities involved here.”
Aria swallowed and glanced around her. Nowhere to run. She would simply have to brave this out for now.
“I can add my witness to Ere’s,” said Perivar.
The greenish one retracted himself until his eyes were level with Perivar’s. “That is not permitted. You will be shown where you can wait with Sar fa Maliad.”
Aria kept her eyes straight ahead as she followed the Shessel through the domed rooms. The oxygen pack dragged at her sore shoulders and the breathing mask itched where it pressed against her temples, and she wanted to tear the gel off her skin. Ere kept swiveling her eyes back toward Aria in a manner Aria could have sworn was furtive, but she couldn’t tell who the child was afraid for, Aria or herself.
They reached the chamber where the Vitae waited. It was Basq again, and Round One from the bus. The webwork of steel and gel that housed the two Vitae made them look for all the world like they were in a cage. The sight gave Aria some slim measure of satisfaction.
Basq stood near the membrane and his eyes glittered as he saw Aria move to stand beside the Shessel.
“Thank you for bringing our artifact, Sar Gov,” said Basq. “The Vitae will remember that the Shessel honored and respected the process of reclamation.”
“That has not yet been determined,” said Gov. “There are conflicting legalities and there is a charge to be leveled.” He dropped one of his lower hands and stroked Ere’s neck. “There have been numerous developments since your delegation spoke to us this morning.”
“This morning?” Basq repeated. “No delegation was sent this morning.”
“But we received one,” said Gov. “Two Vitae and their children, asking for custody of the parent Aria Stone. Since then, Kivshakadene has died. Ereri claims it was murder and lays responsibility at the door of the Rhudolant Vitae. Our laws are clear. No business can be done with any corporation or individual who endangers or injures the child of a Shessel parent.” He paused. “This includes the exchange of property.”
Basq stiffened minutely. “No Vitae delegation was sent. I am set to oversee this matter. If members of the Rhudolant Vitae have violated Shessel life or tew, they will be brought to trial and conviction. We will investigate this matter as far as we can. I am sure we both need to contact our voices within the Kethran Diet. What we ask in return is good faith from you, that you return our property.”
Ere whistled sharply and grabbed Gov’s secondary arm with three of hers. “But how have they laid claim?” she demanded, pointing toward the Vitae with her free hand. “All they say is that their ancestors came from this place. Well, my ancestors came from the Si-Tuk province, yet for three-quarters of a century, they vigorously contested our enclave’s right to return there.” She extended herself to her fullest height and turned all her eyes towards the Vitae. “I have named Aria Stone my protector, in front of witnesses, and unless you can lay claim to me, too, you cannot have her.”
Basq looked down at the child and then up at the full-grown Shessel. “This is a matter beyond personal…”
“It was,” said Gov. “Kivshakadene’s death drops it to exactly a personal grievance and Ere is her family’s voice. When we have established communications with the Emissary’s Council, we may all be ordered to do differently, but that is hours away yet. Your good faith would be best indicated if you began these investigations you insist will occur.”
“Our Ambassadors are already conferring with your enclave,” said Basq, staring straight at Aria. “The countermand may come at any time.”
“Then you will find we are obedient to the judgment of the Enclave of the World,” said Gov. “Until then, to the Shessel Aria Stone is a free parent of free children.
“We ask you to leave our Embassy.”
Basq did not incline his head or make any other gesture of respect, he just turned and left. Aria heard her own breathing through the mask, harsh and heavy.
The Shessel was studying her.
She shifted her weight and tried not to scratch at the gel pressing into her pores.
Nameless Powers preserve me, I should be used to this. Enough people have stared at me since I left home.
“What will you do if I leave?” Aria asked.
Gov’s whole body rippled. “We are not the ones who have claim upon you. We could make you stay, I suppose, but not legally, according to the legalities of the moment, unless Ereri keeps you protectorate-bound for that.” His back two eyes retracted. “I personally would be glad to see you gone, just because those murderers want you here.”
Ere tilted her head and eyes to look directly at Aria. “Where would you go if I broke bond?”
“Home, to my family and my own children. We have the Unifiers and the Vitae going to war over us. We need to make a stand against them.”
Ere extended herself, arms, legs, eyes, and neck. “Then I release you. You are no more protector.”
Aria smiled and knelt in front of Ere. “I hope that is not true, Little One.” She stroked the child’s neck briefly and felt the living flesh ripple under her hand. Her mind didn’t see Ere’s alien shape. She saw Little Eye and Storm Water and Roof Beam and Hill Shadow. It hurt to make herself stand up and shake clear that vision.
“I need to speak with Perivar and Iyal,” she said to Gov.
“Of course.”
The humans had been put in a little room separated from the Embassy proper by one of the membrane thresholds. Aria all but leapt through it and reveled in the sensation of the gel peeling away to let plain, dry air touch her skin. She lifted away the faceplate and rumbled with her tank’s straps. Iyal got up and helped her get the weighty thing off. Perivar remained sitting in an overstuffed chair, staring at the wall.
“It went all right, I take it?” said Iyal as she hung Aria’s gear on a rack beside the door.
Aria shrugged. “In its way, but I need to leave here, and I need to find Eric Born.”
“Good luck,” muttered Perivar. “Adu doesn’t even know where the Vitae took him.” He combed both hands through his hair.
“I need him,” said Aria. “I need to get back to the Realm. I need a ship to take me there and once I am there I need someone who can make the Teachers and the Nobles listen.”
“I told you,” snapped Perivar. “We don’t know where he is!”
“And even if we did,” said Iyal, “you wouldn’t be able to get anywhere near a Vitae encampment.”
“You don’t think so?” Aria folded her arms. “They want me in there badly. You think they wouldn’t take me in if someone offered to hand me over?”
Perivar raised his head slowly. “You haven’t got any idea what you’re up against.”
Aria felt her temper snap. “You have no idea what I know, Skyman! I know your partner is dead and your friend is imprisoned and I know who has done these things. I also know you are sitting there, just sitting there, willing to let these…things…rule the places you and your children and your children’s children will have to live in!” She threw up both hands. “What is the matter with you people? You’re worse than most of the Notouch! They at least follow the words of the Nameless. You, you just follow the words of a bunch of bloody-handed strangers!”
For a moment, Aria thought Perivar was going to hit her. His fist curled and cocked itself. Iyal didn’t even move.
“Let me tell you something, Notouch,” he sneered. “I was fighting my battles while you were pissing your diapers!”
Perivar let his hand drop. He looked at the floor, at the ceiling and the walls. Aria said nothing. If he needed to collect himself, let him. Iyal put her hand on his shoulder.
“Assuming we can get them to take the bait,” said Iyal, “are
you willing to help haul him out of there?”
“Where my cousin’s blood has been spilled,” Perivar said, “there will always be revolution.” He looked up at Iyal. “What about Killian?”
She smiled softly. “He’s still at the docks, booking us passage to New Dawn. I’m inclined to go out with a bang.”
Perivar squeezed Iyal’s hand tightly and nodded to Aria. “Come on. I’m inclined to show the Vitae who they’re really up against.”
10—The Hundredth Core, Kethran Encampment, 09:46; 12, Core Time
“It is the vigilant of our grandchildren who will find the world we lost. The rest are as doomed as we are.”
—Fragment from “The Beginning of the Flight,” from the Rhudolant Vitae private history Archives
The right half of Winema’s world gleamed. Her witness’s camera was calibrated to respond to radiation both above and below the spectrum that her natural eye could detect. Through her right eye, she saw the trace glow from the optic matter, the lusterless patches of traditional solids, the distinctive auras around each of the core inhabitants as they passed her respectfully by.
Through her left eye, she saw the faces and the artworks and the walls that made up the core to the rest of the Vitae that she walked among.
There are two worlds, she was told when the tests determined her memory good enough to allow her to train as a Witness, the constructed world and the chaotic world. It is the eyes of a Witness that bring them together.
The Memory Holding was at the center of the cores, just outside the axis. The Holding’s door registered Winema’s active camera the way other security systems registered non-Witness retina or fingerprint patterns. The camera’s security wires were clones of her nervous system. It was powered by her heart and mind, just like the rest of her body. If she was not the one wearing it, it would not be functioning.
There were technologies that would have allowed a camera to be implanted inside her eye. Her mind could have been altered to act as a recorder. But then she would have no longer been Vitae. She would have been Aunorante Sangh.