by Dale Furse
‘Cay-tatel,’ Mekie said.
Nell was about to follow Cay-Reace through a doorway on the right, but swung around to Mekie. ‘You’re kidding.’
‘Why would I joke about that?’
‘I mean, I never figured Cay-tatel had a heart for decorating. Actually, I didn’t think she had a heart at all.’
‘You don’t even know her or any of Father’s family. If you did, you would know they are all artistic and full of passion.’
Nell grunted. Cay-tatel was passionate about killing her. Before her cousin could say anything more, Nell went after Cay-Reace. He sat at a round, glass table with his head in his hands.
‘What’s wrong?’ Nell asked, sitting at the table.
He removed his hands and frowned. ‘You are right. Shahs isn’t insane and she never was.’
Nell leaned forward. ‘I told you. What else did you find out?’
‘She isn’t like you, Nell,’ he said, as Mekie sat in the chair opposite. ‘She has taken on the traits of her mother only. She is .’
‘Wow,’ Mekie said. ‘Why haven’t the physicians realised that?’
His eyes filled with sadness. ‘I believe they did.’
Shahs was not like Nell? Heat filled her cheeks and she wanted to release the fire at Deesc – the so-called physicians – everybody and everything. Her fist hit the table. ‘Why are they doing such a terrible thing to her then?’
‘She still killed Kandar’s mother,’ Mekie said. ‘Although, she should have gone to trial instead of committing her to the restoration.’
‘Exactly,’ Nell said. ‘Something funny is going on there and I for one want to find out what it is and why they keep saying she’s a child of Wexkia.’
‘She didn’t kill Kandar’s mother,’ Cay-Reace said with a sigh.
Nell gasped but Mekie stared at him. She didn’t believe him.
‘I know for a fact that she didn’t kill Frilldar. She allowed me to connect deeply to her mind. I saw everything.’
Thoughts vied for attention in Nell’s mind, each one shouting above the rest. Why would the Corls do that to Shahs, an innocent sixteen-year-old girl? What did they have to gain? How could she help Shahs? This last one was the loudest of all. But how could she help the poor woman? Her mind raced, comparing different alternatives.
‘The restoration will be short staffed tonight,’ Nell said, making up her mind. ‘We have to get her out of there.’ Although she was disappointed that Shahs wasn’t Wexkian, a surge of adrenalin passed through her body at the thought of freeing Shahs.
Cay-Reace didn’t respond.
Nell took that as a yes. ‘What else did you find out? Does Shahs know who killed Frilldar?’
He stood up and after pacing the floor for a moment, he stopped. ‘Another Corl was with her that night.’
‘A Corl?’ Nell asked. ‘Who?’
‘Varlor.’
Mekie took a sharp intake of breath.
‘What?’ Nell gasped.
‘Just listen, Nell. You already know she isn’t insane ... and Shahs wanted me to tell you everything. I’m sorry, Cay-Meka, but nurse Gorver is an accomplice and that makes everyone connected with my examining Shahs in danger. I’m afraid, however, that also puts everyone we speak to in the same danger and especially, Sam, Kale and Mer-petrale.’
Nell nodded and Mekie clasped a hand over her mouth.
He took a deep breath, and said, ‘Varlor had interviewed Shahs for a position as trainee physician and had given her a drink before taking her to Frilldar’s house. He told that her educators would be there to sign off on her position. She had never had the strange drink before and it was bitter to the taste.’ He placed both his hands face down on the table. ‘The pictures after that drink are hazy and minimal: Varlor placing a blowpipe in her hand, Shahs putting the blowpipe to her mouth but not blowing it. Frilldar wasn’t even in the room.’ Cay-Reace straightened and rubbed his chin.
‘Nadar stormed into the room. He was screaming accusations. He said she had killed his mother and threatened to kill her in return. She was confused and scared. She had the blowpipe, but before she could use a dart, Varlor intervened. Although her eyes were focusing less and she was getting more light-headed by the minute, Shahs heard much more. Varlor told Nadar he had found the door open and Shahs standing over the already deceased Frilldar. He said Shahs would be punished and delivered a testament of Shahs’ insanity.’
Cay-Reace stopped talking and became thoughtful.
While he spoke, Mekie hadn’t moved a muscle, now she sat back with tears in her eyes. The room was silent. The cooling fire in Nell willed Cay-Reace to go on. She had to know everything.
He continued. ‘Although Nadar never actually saw Shahs kill his mother, Varlor convinced him to say he did at the trial. It would then be a closed case, he had said. He also promised Nadar a seat on the council if he agreed.’
‘Everyone believed Nadar?’ Nell asked.
‘Nadar was a ruthless trader, but an honest one. He was also Kandar’s brother. No one had any reason to disbelieve him.’
‘Is Nadar able to have visitors?’ Nell asked. Perhaps if he had the answers to her questions, she could make him tell her everything whether he wanted to or not.
‘I don’t think so,’ Cay-Reace said. ‘There is more.’
‘But I think Nadar can help,’ Nell insisted.
‘Nell, will you be quiet. He said there was more,’ Mekie said.
‘Sorry,’ Nell said.
‘Shahs was kept medicated, but they were also taking blood samples.’
‘Blood?’ Nell and Mekie asked in unison. Nell frowned. The physicians knew Shahs was . There seemed no logic in what they were doing to her and they wanted to do the same thing to Nell.
He nodded once. ‘Mmm, apparently the phlebotomist drew it daily until Shahs turned seventeen.’
‘Phlebotomist?’ Nell said.
A frown flashed for a second between Cay-Reace’s eyes. ‘The one who draws blood.’
Nell said, ‘I bet they were trying to find out if she would gain Wexkian traits. Can you find out what they were testing it for?’ As she asked the question, she thought about the s on Gramlax. Whoever sent the s after her would do anything to get Wexkian blood.
‘I can try,’ Cay-Reace said.
‘Where are they keeping Nadar?’
‘He is still incoherent.’
‘Oh,’ Nell said, once again feeling guilty for Nadar’s state.
Cay-Reace continued. ‘He’s still housed on the eleventh floor of the Kafir restoration.’
Nell stood up, nodded for Mekie to follow her, and said to Cay-Reace, ‘Thank you, Cay-Reace. Please try to find out what they want the blood for and if you can get Shahs into a normal restoration.’
‘I will,’ Cay-Reace agreed, rubbing his chin again. ‘As soon as I know more I will contact you so don’t say anything to your families. We don’t want to endanger them any more than we already have. The Elders can do whatever they want without fear of retribution.’
At least he had agreed to try but Nell didn’t like the way he rubbed his chin. She wondered if he didn’t believe it would be possible.
‘We’d better see Kale,’ Nell whispered to Mekie.
‘And Sam,’ said Mekie.
They found them in Tish’s sitting room. The boys jumped to their feet as the girls entered. Kale’s mother either didn’t notice Nell and Mekie arrive or she was ignoring them. She was in her studio mumbling and throwing brushfulls of paint onto a canvas.
‘Well?’ Sam asked.
Nell and Mekie looked at each other and sighed. They sat down and, in hushed voices, told the boys everything that had happened since they last saw each other.
‘You trust Cay-Reace?’ Sam asked.
‘Of course she trusts Cay-Reace,’ Mekie said. ‘Why wouldn’t she?’
‘I can think of a few reasons,’ Sam smirked. ‘Cay-tatel for one.’
Mekie pursed her lips and gave him a warning loo
k. Sam ignored her and again questioned Nell with a hard look.
‘At the moment I have no reason not to,’ Nell said. She too ignored Mekie’s ominous looks. ‘He said he’d try to move Shahs to a medical restoration and see if he can find the results of all those blood tests they’ve apparently been taking.’
‘So we wait then?’ Sam asked.
Nell nodded uncertain that she had the patience to wait.
The four friends spent the rest of the afternoon trying to keep busy. Kale showed Sam what he was studying at the educational unit using a flat twai about the size of a computer tablet. He showed true time planet explorations via the image terminal.
Although Nell tried to match Sam’s interest and apparent understanding of science, she grew bored with their conversations and decided to talk to Tish. Mekie followed her and Tish seemed to brighten at their interest. Her face was amass with colour. Splotches of green, orange and blue paint hid part of her yellow skin.
She let them try their hands at painting and set up two canvases for each of them. Nell fought to keep her mind off Cay-Reace and Shahs. The fact that somebody wanted Shahs’ blood as well as hers was uppermost in her mind. She stood before her canvas, paintbrush in hand, and tried more than once to visualise why the blood was of so much interest. Huh. Maybe she would paint the answer. She tried painting with long sweeping strokes, short fast strokes, and with her eyes shut. Nothing happened. She stood back and studied her masterpiece. The landscape was a muddled picture of the mountains of Gramlax, islands of Linque and the beginning of a Corl forest.
The music of the door chime sang and she jerked her brush, dropping red paint on the floor.
‘I’m sorry.’ She grabbed a paint-splattered cloth, bent down and wiped the paint off the stone floor.
Tish pulled the cloth out of Nell’s hand. ‘I’ll do that. See who is at the door,’ she said, shaking her head at the red blob on the floor.
Nell threw Tish another apologetic look and ran to the entrance but Kale had already opened the door.
‘Cay-Reace,’ Nell said. She didn’t like the look on Cay-Reace’s face.
‘Can we talk?’ Cay-Reace asked.
‘In here,’ Kale said, and led the way into the sitting room. Tish was no longer in sight.
Sam bounded to his feet to allow Cay-Reace to sit in the armchair. He sat on the arm of the closest sofa. He had clear view of the doctor.
Tish came in from the kitchen wiping a brush with a cloth. ‘Good afternoon, Cay-Reace. I’m afraid Kandar won’t be back for a few days yet.’
Cay-Reace stood and bowed. Sam and Kale stood also.
‘Good afternoon, Tishamenta,’ Cay-Reace said. ‘I came to speak with Nell, ah, if that is all right with you, of course.’
‘Nell?’ Tish looked at Nell first, then at her cohorts in turn. Her eyes rested on her son as if she might find the answer there.
‘Ye ... yes, Mother,’ Kale said. ‘Nell wanted some medical advice and Cay-Reace was kind enough to offer his ... his services.’
Kale obviously wasn’t used to keeping things from his mother and looked like he wanted to run away. Nell wanted to help him, but she didn’t know what to say.
Cay-Reace said. ‘I have been helping Nell to understand the biology of and Phib,’ he said with a smile. ‘They are different from Humans as you know.’
‘I know,’ Tish said, as if she didn’t believe a word. She covered everyone in her gaze once more and shrugged. ‘I’ll leave you then. Will you stay for dinner?’ she asked Cay-Reace.
‘Normally, yes, but I have already made reservations for dinner with my niece and her friends if that is all right with you, Tishamenta. I thought they should see more of Corl before they return to Earth.’
‘Of course,’ Tish said. She turned to go, but stopped at Kale and gave him a look that Nell supposed meant she would definitely talk to him later.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CAY-REACE WAITED FOR TISH TO LEAVE THE room before he spoke again. ‘I went to the Paler restoration to see Shahs again.’
‘Did she tell you any more?’ Nell asked, afraid of becoming too excited because his concerned expression hadn’t changed.
‘A lot more.’ He flopped into the chair.
Sam deposited himself on the arm of the sofa again with Nell. Mekie and Kale stood behind the other armchair, still looking uncomfortable. Nell gave Kale a smile. He probably wasn’t looking forward to talking with his mother again.
Cay-Reace sighed. ‘Shahs doesn’t remember much of the last seventeen years,’ he said. ‘However, since she stopped taking the medication her mind has cleared. She showed me the blowpipe she was supposed to have used to kill Frilldar. It was still in the drawer of her table where she had put it when she was first imprisoned and it had never been blown. Why they left it with her, she doesn’t know, but it still had a dart in the chamber. Shahs thinks the Elders hoped she would use it to take her own life. After we left earlier today, Varlor went back to her room. While she pretended to lie still on her bed staring at the wall, he stood over her, gloating that she would still be of service to him.’
‘How?’ Nell gasped.
He held his hand up at her. ‘Varlor didn’t say what he intended. Could I have a glass of water, please?’
‘I’ll get it,’ Kale said.
Sam often said he could tell a mile away when anyone was lying and he appeared to be trying to read Cay-Reace’s words as if he were a lie detector.
When he returned with the water, Kale finally sat in the other chair and leant forward.
Cay-Reace drank down the water in one go, threw Sam an impatient frown and said to Nell, ‘Whatever Varlor is up to, I’m certain the other Elders are not aware. Although I am uncomfortable with your involvement, I have committed myself to redeeming Shahs. Varlor is a law unto himself and we cannot underestimate him. The four of you know as much as I do and while I cannot forgive myself for being so free in telling you everything, we must not be open about this until we have Shahs and the blowpipe. I have decided to help you free Shahs and I agree it has to be tonight. I will have an unbiased physician test her blood to prove that she was never of Wexkian descent, or insane.’
He regarded Kale. ‘Do you think your friend, Mer-petrale, will help us?’
‘Why do we need her help?’ Mekie said, before Kale could answer. Cay-Reace gave her a small but clearly impatient shake of his head and she slumped back into the sofa.
‘Yes,’ Kale said, squaring his shoulders as if he was ready to fight. ‘Where should I ask her to meet us?’
‘The forest clearing closest to the main entrance,’ Cay-Reace said.
Sam jumped off his perch. ‘About time something was done.’
When Kale finished his twai call, Cay-Reace said, ‘Let your mother know we are going,’
Kale headed for the entrance doors. ‘She’ll know we’ve gone,’ he said, pushing through the doors and rushing into the hallway.
Cay-Reace began to follow him, but turned back to the remaining three. ‘Sam and Mekie, you stay here.’
‘No way,’ Sam said, as he ducked around Cay-Reace and out the open door.
‘I’m not staying here by myself,’ Mekie said. ‘And if you try to make me, I’ll tell Mother.’ The doctor gaped at his niece.
‘She would,’ Nell said.
He groaned and strode through the open doorway.
***
Mer-petrale was waiting for them in the clearing as arranged. Sam was the first off his Kroll and to her side. He grinned at her.
‘Are you sure this is warranted?’ Mer-petrale asked Cay-Reace when he’d dismounted.
‘It is warranted,’ Cay-Reace said. ‘Are you with us?’
Mer-petrale said, ‘I am also a physician and if a patient of mine can be saved, I cannot refuse.’
‘Good for you, Mer-petrale,’ Sam said in admiration.
Mekie made a small hissing noise and stomped between Mer-petrale and Sam. They had no choice but to step aside to allow
her past. Keeping her back to the group, Mekie stopped. She craned her neck forward and to the side a little as if trying to hear something.
‘What is it, Mekie?’ Nell called.
She spun back, but before she could answer, a whoosh of green wings shook the air between her and the group.
‘Tanat,’ Nell gasped.
‘Uh oh. Now we’re done,’ said Sam.
‘Well said,’ Tanat drawled, striding toward Cay-Reace.
Nell pushed between Sam and Kale. She’d let Cay-Reace explain.
Mekie pressed her way into the middle, separating Mer-petrale from Sam.
Tanat glowered past Cay-Reace. ‘What are two physicians and four children doing in a forest close to a closed restoration?’
Nell straightened. Children? She clenched her fists. I’ll show him who’s ... Wait. Now wasn’t the time.
Mer-petrale lowered her eyes to the ground as if waiting for someone else to answer.
Nell held her breath. Tightening his lips, Sam didn’t look happy at being called a child either, but she was grateful he didn’t say anything. The last thing she wanted was Tanat ordering her home. She loved and respected him but she would have to put him in his place soon.
Giggling into her hand at Sam’s reaction, Mekie bumped Nell with her shoulder hard enough to push her into Kale. He let out a short gasp but resumed scraping the ground with his foot.
Nell breathed a sigh of relief when Cay-Reace took Tanat’s arm and pulled him out of earshot. Every now and then, the handsome turned his head and locked eyes with Nell. She tried to use her smile to convince him Cay-Reace was telling the truth. After long minutes, he patted Cay-Reace on the back a little too hard and returned to the line.
‘I suppose you have a plan?’ Tanat’s question wasn’t aimed at anyone in particular.
‘Of course,’ Cay-Reace said, as he rejoined the group. ‘The restoration is understaffed this evening. No one will be at reception and the front doors will be locked to all but those with scanner cards. As soon as the floor nurse leaves on her rounds, Mer-petrale will let us in. I’ll collect Shahs while the,’ he glanced at Nell, ‘young people watch out for any other staff who might be around.’