Starbright: The Complete Series

by Hilary Thompson

  The story of the spring star and autumn star has recently opened its symbolism to me, by way of a recurring dream.

  The spring star is a savior figure. It asked to help the people. But the autumn star is a protector figure. It asked only to help the spring star. When the prophecy is fulfilled, and the Maiden of Justice arrives, she will be the savior.

  The Scale of Balance will be her protector, and he must never leave her side, until the prophecy has closed.

  I watch the sun break over the tips of the mountains, fiery and fierce. I imagine calling such power as those rays of fire, and burning the evil from this earth, like what Lakessa had once imagined in her journal.

  Would there be anything left to save when the moon rose afterwards?

  The last line gives me pause, too, but for a different reason. It implies that Lexan must be with me throughout the prophecy, but not after. So perhaps our partnership isn’t meant to be true love? If we become one, then he leaves, what would be left?

  Fatigue rolls over me, and I’m not sure how I can possibly complete this coming day, or the next one, or any of the days to come.

  We delay until the sun clears the mountain range, wasting time with washing and eating slowly. Eventually both of us stretch into our packs: neither of us says a word, but we know it is time to go. Stian and Zarea aren’t coming for us. Something has stopped them, or they have decided to begin their lives again in Hebron.

  Facing the middle mountain again, I feel like sobbing as I place one foot in front of the other. When we escaped the first night, I didn’t have time to worry about how we would survive. I never let myself dwell on how much I would miss Stian.

  But the possibility of having them return to help us, of having Stian return to enclose me in his strong arms - that was enough to get me through the second night. With that possibility fading as the sun grows stronger, hopelessness begins to weigh down my legs and arms. I just want to lie down in the grass and sleep.

  I want to be a star in the sky again, too high to notice such tiny struggles and too removed to be burdened with love and loss and anger and humanity. But even as I allow these thoughts to pass through my brain, they sound false and hollow.

  “Lexan, I can’t do this,” I whisper. “Zarea was right. I’m not this kind of strong.”

  He stops and turns to me, looking into my eyes for the longest moment.

  “Yes. You are. Remember your mother’s story? From Choosing Day? You’re the spring star. She asked to leave the sky to help the people. You want to help, Trea. You want to fix the wrongs and right the injustices in the world. It’s always been there.”

  I sniffle, desperately swallowing back my full emotion. “How can you handle always doing what everyone wants from you?”

  He sighs. “I don’t always do that. Sometimes I’m pretty selfish.”

  “Not compared to me.”

  “My mission is a little smaller than yours, Trea. It leaves more room for doing what I want, even if my desires conflict sometimes.”

  “What are you talking about?” But I think I know.

  “I’m the autumn star. You’re supposed to help the people, and I’m supposed to help you. So I get to follow, while you lead.”

  “How am I supposed to lead when I don’t know where I’m going?”

  I’m not talking about the map, and Lexan knows it.

  He steps closer and his fingers brush a tear from my cheek. I lean into his hand, sinking into the comfort he offers. I look up into his waiting eyes and imagine falling into their dreaming, black-blue depths. As he watches me silently, a thought forms in my mind. The communication I’ve wanted for so long. My breathing stutters as a bridge forms over the chasm between us.

  I can still be here for you. You still don’t have to do everything on your own.

  I nod. He’s right. I don’t need to do it all on my own. I don’t want to.

  Lexan pulls me close and wraps his arms around my shaking shoulders. I clutch at his chest, blinking back the hot tears.

  “I think this is the Pisces in you,” he murmurs against my hair. I startle; it’s been so long since we talked about our signs. Our religion.

  “You were born on the cusp, like Keirna and Aitan. So along with your Aries independence, you have this strong, emotional side. But you think you have to carry everything on your own because of that independent side. You feel so much, don’t you.”

  I nod against his chest, swiping at the tears that have slowed a little.

  “So do I, Trea. Libras carry as much emotion as Pisces, and it’s not always positive. Negative energy can pull us under. Make us do things to others. To ourselves.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask. But again, I think I know.

  “The pills. The Counseling Center. I almost drowned in my sadness once, Trea. I won’t let you do the same. I won’t let you!” He hugs me tighter and I think again how our hugs have always seemed much more intimate than any kiss I’ve shared with Stian.

  Like two souls trying to touch.

  My eyes finally dry and we start walking again, more slowly. I loop my arm through his and he supports me in more ways than one.

  “Did you finally translate that page?” he asks.

  I look up at him curiously. “Yes. But why didn’t you just translate it for me?”

  He smiles halfway. “It was a way to let me know when you were ready to hear more - you have to decide how much you want to know about your fate, Trea.”

  I’m not sure what to say to this. He knows me too well. In bald, unadorned truth, I avoided solving the code not because it was hard, but because I was afraid of what a single page might tell me about myself and what is expected of me.

  Now that I’ve read it, I’m more unsure than ever about how to proceed with Lexan. Even so, I feel a surge of excitement when he unzips a pocket in his pack and pulls out the small journal.

  “Take it. Read it, but don’t write any translations in. You just never know…”

  I nod in understanding.

  After a few hours or so of steady walking, we pause to take a break. As we gnaw on our dried meat and drink the warm water from our packs, Lexan palms a different small book, the black cover engraved with silver astrology charts: his Minister’s manual.

  “Let me read your chart for you,” he says, watching me closely. His fingers have begun flipping through the pages as though they already know where to look.

  “I know my horoscope, Lexan.”

  “Not all of it. Remember the Partnering ceremony?”

  I roll my eyes. “I never really paid attention.”

  “Preparations for the ceremony include more complex star and planet charting. I can read your Moon chart to you.”

  “My Sun chart is more than enough religion for me.”

  “Here, look.” His voice is growing impatient, so I relent and lean closer to look at the page. “Your Moon is in Leo. This means that you need to feel the world in order to understand it - your need for emotion is stronger than your need to know.”

  “So if you want me to change my mind, you need to use feelings instead of logic?”

  “Exactly.”

  “What does it say about love?” I ask, then feel a blush sweep my face. I didn’t really mean to ask that of Lexan.

  He smiles a little, his finger following the edge of the page. “When you give your love to someone, you often put that person on a pedestal, giving them qualities they may not possess or increasing their good features.”

  “Do I really do that?” I ask, my voice small. I know Lexan has never thought highly of Stian, but I assumed it was due to competition, rather than something he sees differently than I do.

  “Um…I guess it’s a little subjective. But yeah, I think you do that with people sometimes. Like Pallis.”

  I swallow hard. Lexan had the grace not to name Stian, but I’d really forgotten all about Pallis. Thinking back to our drunken kiss by the hot pool, I feel a little nauseous - that had been a very bad idea.

/>   “Here, this is good. Since you’re a fire sign, the Leo Moon gives you more creativity and increased leadership abilities. So when the time comes, you’ll be a natural savior for the people.”

  I try to smile like this is indeed good news, but I can barely imagine myself defeating Keirna, much less saving all of humanity. “Anything else important?”

  “Did you know that Sagittarius is your Rising sign?”

  “Lex, I don’t even remember what that is. I barely passed religion classes.”

  He sighs, and I sort of wish I had paid more attention in classes, but it’s a little late for all that now. “Your Rising sign comes from the sign that was rising in the east when you were born. It’s how the outside world sees you. The Moon sign is more inside - so the Leo side of you is often hidden away. But what others see is a mix of your Sun sign - Aries - and your Rising sign - Sagittarius.”

  “That’s probably why Stian and I always argue,” I grumble to myself. Too much alike.

  “Sagittarius Rising means you care about the injustices of the world. Sound familiar?” he grins. I roll my eyes. Lots of people care about injustice. “You’re often too reckless, wanting to take action without taking account of the reactions that might occur.”

  I give up trying to be annoyed and just answer his grin - even though I hate to admit it, Lexan nails me with every sentence.

  “So you wanted to know about love…well, people with Sagittarius Rising often find themselves in the wrong relationship first, before finding a lasting love.” His voice trails away, and I think he’s pretending to read. But I see the flush in his cheeks over the top of the small book.

  “I guess you think that’s Stian,” I say. He shakes his head but doesn’t meet my eyes. I sigh and move to get up.

  “There’s one more thing I want to show you. Look at this.” He hands me the book, pointing out a passage.

  Moon in 8th House

  Your emotional sensitivity gives you a strange ability to heal others. You may also possess a psychic ability that can be used in a real, practical manner to guide other people spiritually.

  Negative: may suffer the early death of a mother or a wife.

  I gasp as the book slips through my fingers, swishing into the grass. “That’s enough for today.” I shove my water bottle back into my pack and stand, walking quickly away from Lexan.

  He catches up quickly, putting his food and book away as he walks. Then he stops abruptly, cocking his head to the rising breeze. Soon I hear what he is listening to, and I forget all about what the stars have to say. A voice carries to us over the field of grass, and we whip around, searching for the source.

  Seconds later, I spot a familiar pair jogging along the perimeter of the field, staying close to the clumpy line of trees.

  Stian and Zarea.

  I raise my hand and shout to them, relief overwhelming me. They are in front of us within minutes, out of breath but smiling. Stian wraps me in a hug and spins us around, my feet flying out behind me.

  “What took you so long?” Lexan asks, hugging Zarea.

  “I’ve been exiled,” Stian says, shrugging his shoulders like he doesn’t care. But I can’t miss the bitter note in his voice or the way his fingers linger over the still-bright tattoos on his wrists.

  “Why?” I ask, my stomach twisting. Since before we met, all he’s wanted was to go home, and now I’ve taken that from him. Again. Forever.

  “For aiding in your escape. They found the key to your chains, and the guards knew I had been inside for a long time. It was a natural assumption.”

  “Except it isn’t true!” I insist, heat rising in my cheeks, thinking of the young girl who had actually set us free. The only concession is that at least she won’t be punished.

  “It doesn’t matter. He was lucky it wasn’t execution,” Zarea answers, her voice laced with a hard sort of victory. “But Abraham found a different way to get rid of Stian for good. There’s no going home after this. No forgiveness for me, either.” Her voice also carries bitterness, but it is more resigned - even proud - as though she’s glad to have a decision made.

  I reach for Stian’s hand and squeeze tightly. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper.

  He smiles, but I see the tight sadness before he bends to kiss my hair. “It’s okay. As long as I have you, I’m home.”

  Now I really feel guilty. Conflicting promises and unspoken suspicions dance together in the blue spring sky as we settle into a rhythm of walking - traveling again to Tartarus, which burns somewhere in the middle of the desert.

  When we stop for lunch, Zarea opens her pack and spreads the contents on the grass. “We need to reorganize and make a plan before we come across anybody else - whether it’s scouts for Kedesh or Hadeon’s border patrol. I didn’t have much time, but I gathered a few things. We’ll have some money if we can manage to find a buyer for this,” she holds up the long gold body chain she wore to the council meeting.

  “Rea, no!” Stian pushes her hands down firmly, his fingers closing hers back over the jewelry. “We’ll find some other way to make money.”

  “It’s okay, Sti,” she answers softly. “Once Abraham finds out that I left with you, I certainly won’t need it anymore. It’s only sentimental value. Anyways, it still might not be enough. We’ll have to watch for another opportunity.”

  I look at Lexan and he nods slightly.

  “I-we have some money,” I say. I reach deep into my pack and carefully palm a few of the heavy gold coins, leaving the gemstones inside. I toss them on the ground and they clink together. Stian and Zarea share an unreadable look.

  “Hey, you two aren’t the only ones allowed to have secrets,” Lexan smiles, forcing a break in the tension. “We brought the money from Asphodel. It was my grandmother’s.”

  “How much do you have?” Stian asks, fingering one of the old coins.

  “Enough,” I say. He grins at me.

  “Even so,” Zarea adds, peering at the eagles stamped on a coin, “these are obviously from before the Cleansing - and that means they’re rare and therefore suspicious. We’ll need to exchange them with someone else before we get to Tartarus, or our cover will be blown immediately. I wish I’d known about these before I left.”

  “Why didn’t Abraham go through our packs? Take the coins?” Lexan asks. Zarea shrugs and rolls her eyes.

  “His levels of respect are strange - and traditional. When the Tribes first formed, people only owned what they could carry on their backs. It became a matter of decency: the things we carry are left alone unless we become convicted of a crime. So basically, he has no problem locking you up for investigation, but he would never let anything happen to you or your possessions, until he determined whether you’re an actual threat. Since we left before that decision was made, probably nobody touched the packs.”

  “Except for our rescuer, who stole them from the guards and brought them to the tent,” I point out. I also remember her saying some of the stones may be missing. Evidently some members of the Tribe aren’t worried about decency.

  Stian narrows his eyes at me. “True. Is anything missing?”

  “Not that I can tell,” Lexan answers for me, though I don’t know if either of us has even checked.

  “Well,” Stian continues, “This settles our path at least - we’ll have to travel by way of Kedesh. They will exchange the coins for us. But not Rea’s lineage chain. And if we add enough extra, they’ll keep the secret, too,” Stian says, his surety removing my guilt.

  “I thought we needed to stay clear of all the Tribes,” Lexan says.

  Stian nods. “That would have been the ideal, but we’ll have to barter with someone before reaching Tartarus if we plan to use disguises. Better Kedesh than anyone else - they’re the Tribe of refuge, and I think they’ll help us.”

  The three of them move to stand, ready to continue our journey. But I stay seated.

  “Before we go any farther, I need some questions answered,” I say.

  Stian makes
an impatient noise, but he sits.

  I turn and look him directly in the eye, ignoring the look which passes between Zarea and Lexan. I know I have to lay everything out before us or I’ll never be able to trust him wholly again. “I understand your first mission was to find me and coerce me to follow you back to Hebron. I believe that you had more honorable intentions by the time we left Asphodel.”

  “I did. I do-“

  “Just listen. What I want to know is how exactly you were found by Caine, and the bargain that you made. And I want to know who Thadd was,” I add.

  Stian startles at the mention of that name, and I notice how his fingers move to trace the tattoos on his wrist.

  “Thadd grew up with us in Hebron - the older brother of a friend. You met him once, before we reached Madna’s. Which is why I guess you know his name.”

  “He’s the one I stabbed,” I clarify for Lexan, who just nods. Perhaps he also read the entry in Madna’s book.

  “He was never a nice person, and we didn’t do anything together except train. But he was sent on a similar mission as mine. He never returned. I heard stories that he had run away to Tartarus and gotten involved in the slave trades.”

  “And the two others with him?” Lexan asks.

  “I’d never seen them before,” Stian says with a shrug. “They could have been from another Tribe or even from Tartarus.”

  Zarea adds, “When I came through after you guys, I didn’t recognize them either. I admit I wasn’t upset to see Thadd dead.” Her eyes narrow as she stares at her lap.

  Relief begins to filter through me with the knowledge that Stian hasn’t killed a friend for me. A ruthless man who was possibly tied to the slave trade? I served him Justice without even knowing it. My guilt over his death begins to harden into a sort of crystalline pride.

  “So what about Caine?” Lexan asks after a moment of silence.

  Stian pushes a frustrated breath from his lungs. “I got too close to him. I could tell we were being followed, so I investigated. Caine somehow saw me and they chased me down. He knew I wouldn’t be so close to Hebron without having found something on the star children. And he guessed Zarea would be with me, or nearby.”