by Dale Furse
The colours disappeared and they came to a stop in an examination room at the Kafir restoration. Dar-Seldra was hunched over the high examination table. Orenda’s attention was so focused in that direction. She didn’t hear them appear.
‘Orenda,’ Nell said.
The little Grarl started and transformed into attack mode. She hovered above the bed and her outstretched arms looked ready to begin the assault in less than a blink of an eye.
Taking Nell and Deesc’s forms in, she said, ‘Oh, it’s you.’ She floated back to Ephry. ‘You need to be more careful. I could have harmed you before I even realised who you were.’
‘I’m sorry, O.’ Nell gazed down at the prince, who smiled at Orenda’s attentions. An orange Corl moved a flat instrument about the size of a teaspoon over Ephry’s small body.
He turned, and his amber eyes regarded Nell. She leaned toward Deesc and wished she hadn’t. A strong whiff of clover hit her and she quietly gasped for breath. ‘They can’t see you?’ she whispered.
He smiled. ‘No.’
Nell seethed. Arrogant so-and-so.
‘Are you all right?’ the physician asked Nell.
‘Yes, yes. I was just thinking about something unpleasant, that’s all.’
The physician’s gaze took in Orenda. ‘The prince will be all right if he behaves himself.’ Addressing Ephry, he added, ‘The bones have connected, but you are not healed. You must be careful or they will break again.’
He sat up. ‘Thank you, Physician Pater. Orenda, my love. Compore had declared war against the king’s reign and taken the palace soon after I went to Earth to find you.’
Nell gasped. She let out a small moan at what that meant for her father and Kandar.
Ephry shot Nell a glance, but continued to Orenda, ‘We must gather all allies who are willing to join us in our battle for Grarlon.’
Turning to Deesc, Nell was just in time to see him disappear.
‘Compore has also informed the United Council of the conflict,’ Prince Ephry said, and he and Orenda left without another word.
CHAPTER SIX
NELL THANKED THE PHYSICIAN AND HURRIED TO THE exit of the restoration. Once in the wide corridor, her exhausted body ached as she took wing and darted over what was left of the traders’ stores to the council building a few corridors away. Somebody had to be there with everything that was happening on Grarlon.
Taking the elevator to the chambers floor, it crossed Nell’s mind that if any more planets joined the United Council they would have to either build more floors or find a taller building. Each member planet had full use of one entire floor. As the council’s numbers grew, the chambers moved up a floor. It was now on the top floor, utilising the atrium.
The doors slid open and Nell’s eyes widened. A special meeting must have been called. People from every member planet of the United Council packed the chambers. Some Nell had never seen before. She scanned the atrium pews. The aliens she hadn’t seen before were probably from planets hoping to join. Huh. Depending on the outcome of the meeting, some may change their minds.
The now eleven-planet United Council was talking amongst themselves when Nell entered. With so many members, each planet’s ambassadors had to be reduced. Each planet had three ambassadors but only two were from Gramlax. Where was Tanat? He would never miss such an important meeting.
Nell regarded the old man sitting in Kandar’s seat listening to a Corl next to him. He must be Worow, the Wintar Kandar had chosen to replace him while he was away. Nell hoped Worow knew what he was doing.
As soon as Worow spied her, he stood, bringing the chatter to a stop. ‘Please come forward, Dar-Nellen,’ he said. ‘We were expecting you.’
Nell widened her eyes but said nothing. They would have known, she’d want answers. She made her way to the front. Once there, she was glad they saw fit to reduce the height of the platform on which they sat. It saved straining her neck to look up at them. She eyed Worow.
‘You have heard the news?’ he said.
She nodded.
‘Prince Ephry has just left. Both he and the revolution leader, Compore, have sworn to keep Dar-tern and Kandar safe.’ He frowned and added, ‘With conditions.’
Nell bit her cheek. ‘What conditions?’
‘The prince needs allies and has asked we join him in his quest to reclaim Grarlon. Compore wants Grarlon accepted into the United Council. But they also pronounced Grarlon closed to all worlds, including ambassadors from those worlds. The United Councils find that unacceptable. We have voted to join the royal family and their supporters in war. With our numbers, we will keep the turmoil contained to Grarlon’ He bowed his head to Nell. ‘We will also keep our ambassadors’ families informed as we have more information.’
He said the last as if dismissing Nell from the chambers. She looked at the Wintar ambassadors. ‘Where’s Tanat?’
A woman spoke, ‘He has returned to Gramlax to start recruiting procedures.’
Worow moved behind his chair and addressed the whole chamber. ‘You all know what to do. This meeting is terminated. A private meeting will commence at dawn.’ And with that, he stood up and walked out a side door to the left.
Nell said, ‘Oh. Ah, well, thank you all for your time.’ She gave the benches a light bow, turned, and headed for the elevator. Hushed whispers floated to her ears from the pews, and from what she could see out of the corner of her eyes, those whispers were about her. Ugh. She wished people would just get over seeing her as a novelty.
Stepping into the corridor, she hesitated. She needed to think, so she strolled in the direction of Dar-Seldra’s house instead of flying. Only a tiny part of her brain concentrated on weaving in, out, and around the busy traders dismantling their stores as she wrestled with what a war meant.
If they kept the fighting on Grarlon, they might have a chance of regaining the palace and the planet, but when she tried to imagine that happening, she was left with a blank canvas. Too many planets were involved and within those planets, too many opinions. Nell had no idea what the numbers fighting for each side would be. They could be about even, but if one side were outnumbered, which one would that be? She sucked in both cheeks. She might not be able to interfere in politics, but she would watch the situation. Any hint that her father or Kandar’s lives were in danger, she would find a way to act. She swallowed. She would find a way.
Nell hadn’t even opened Dar-Seldra’s front door all the way before Sam started on her. ‘Where have you been?’ he demanded. ‘We’ve all been sick with worry.’
With his face so close to hers, his breath blew her fringe. His blue-black tongue and the smell of aniseed told her he had just eaten liquorice.
‘I needed time to think, that’s all.’
‘That’s all? You’ve been gone for hours.’
Dar-Seldra and a sulking Mekie entered the living room from the kitchen.
‘Leave the poor girl alone, Sam,’ Dar-Seldra said. ‘At least let her get through the door.’
‘Fine,’ Sam said, moving to the side. ‘Why don’t we sit down and Nell can tell us all what she’s been up to all night?’
‘Ugh.’ Nell pushed his chest as she passed. ‘Where is everyone?’ she asked her aunty.
Dar-Seldra stopped smiling. ‘Tish broke down as soon as Orenda told her about the war. I gave her a light sedative and Lesel took her home. She will be all right when she realises Kandar’s life is in no danger.’
‘Oh.’ Nell said with a lump in her throat. Like her, Tish would know Kandar’s safety couldn’t be guaranteed any more. She gazed at Mekie. ‘Are you angry with me too?’
‘No.’
‘What’s wrong with you then?’
‘Mother’s making me go with her to Linque.’
Dar-Seldra said, ‘This unrest won’t last long, and remember, we were already about to leave for Linque. You still have to make a decision on your occupation.’
Nell couldn’t believe how optimistic Dar-Seldra was about Grarlon. Huh.
Was she really that optimistic, or was she hiding her head in the sand. Nell frowned. Maybe she wanted to get Mekie off Corl? It would be safer on Linque if the revolution spread to neighbouring worlds. Corl was the second closest planet to Grarlon.
‘But I want to spend more time with Sam,’ she said. ‘…and Nell,’ she quickly added.
Nell smiled. ‘And I want to spend more time with you too, cuz. So. Why doesn’t Sam go with you?’
‘No,’ Dar-Seldra said. ‘His parents want him to stay here.’
Well that was that. ‘Okay. I guess we’ll hear from you soon?’
‘Of course. Come along, Cay-Meka, or we’ll be late for your first appointment.’
Nell hugged her aunt goodbye before holding Mekie back by her dress. ‘Can you do something for me?’ she whispered.
‘What?’
‘Find out as much as you can about what Linque intend to do. Like how many troops they’re sending to Grarlon. Stuff like that.’
‘How am I supposed to—?’
‘Come on, Mek, you know you can do anything you set your mind to.’
Mekie’s face slowly took on an of-course-I-can look. Nell smiled inwardly. Her cousin was such a push-over.
‘What are you two whispering about?’ Sam wanted to know.
Dar-Seldra’s voice floated in from the hallway. ‘Come along, Cay-Meka.’
‘I’ll tell you later,’ Nell said to Sam. ‘See you, Mekie. And don’t go anywhere without your communicator.’
As soon as the door closed, Sam grilled Nell about the whispering and where she had been. Nell told him everything and he seemed happy with her explanations. Annet and Carl appeared in their bedroom doorway.
‘Do you two want to come to the corridor with us?’ Carl asked. ‘Take your minds off this Grarlon thing for awhile.’
‘And there might be some bargains,’ Annet said.
Nell was about to say no, but remembered Tish. ‘Yes, I do. I want to get something for Tish.’
They walked the near empty corridors for over an hour before Nell found what she was looking for. Canvases. ‘What size do you think Tish would like?’ she called to Annet, who had almost disappeared amongst bolts of cloth.
‘Let me see,’ Annet said, as she leant forward and picked up a canvas. ‘This size, they’d be perfect for the series Tish was talking about painting of the many different faces of Corl.’
Tish never painted realistic paintings and Nell doubted anyone would recognise any part of Corl. But if it helped Tish deal with Kandar’s predicament that was all that counted. Nell took the canvas and showed it to the Wintar trader. ‘Do you have more?’
‘You are Dar-Nellen, child of Wexkia.’ It wasn’t a question.
‘Yes,’ she said with a sigh. She put the canvas back and turned to go.
‘You misunderstand,’ the trader said, holding her arm. ‘I meant no disrespect. I am Rasar. I am honoured to meet you.’
‘Oh? Nice to meet you too.’ His eyes darted from Annet to Nell. She wondered if he wanted to say something else. She gave herself an imaginary slap. She had to stop being so suspicious of everyone she meets. ‘So do you have three more canvases?’ she asked.
‘I have four and will sell five to you at half price.’
‘But I only need four,’ Nell said.
‘And I need to sell all of them. One round coin for each.’
Annet laughed. ‘I didn’t realise Wintars could be so persistent.’
‘Have you met Tanat?’ Nell giggled, as she dipped into her purse and handed over five of the Corl round coins. ‘Okay, I’ll buy them all.’
***
Nell walked into an empty kitchen. Breakfast wasn’t the same without company. Huh. Three weeks had passed since they learnt of the Grarlon war. The UC had told Nell her father was safe and that he and Kandar could leave, but they were staying in the hope of diffusing Grarlon’s troubles from within. The UC leader, Worow, said that he was in contact with the ambassadors, but unless she heard her father’s voice, Nell couldn’t be sure he was safe. What if the UC had been duped? What if Kandar was made to tell the council that? Nell was powerless to prove anything one way or another. To make Nell’s loneliness worse, Carl had finally given in to Sam’s pleas and let him go to Linque to stay with Dar-Seldra and Mekie.’
Even though she wasn’t happy with Carl’s decision, she could understand him wanting to keep Sam safe. But with Sam and Mekie light years away, Kale busy with his studies, Dar-Seldra always at the restoration, and everyone else doing their own things, Nell’s loneliness increased by the minute.
She bit her cheek and made her way to the simulator. She wished she had her friends to talk the situation through with her. The revolutionaries had increased their demands, and by Orenda’s last report, Compore had now widened his demands to include Wexkians. Well, that made it personal, Nell thought. She was a Wexkian and she was being drawn into the conflict whether she wanted to be or not. Of course, Nell added with a smile, I want to be.
Unrest had spread throughout the planets. Compore had made it clear his side didn’t want and wouldn’t tolerate the return of Wexkia, and he had his rebels inciting fear throughout many worlds.
Orenda had explained the real reason for his stance. He never wanted any beings existing that were stronger than Grarls. He was scared of a rebirth of the people of Wexkia and what that meant to Grarlon. ‘It didn’t mean anything, you ignoramus,’ Nell said to an empty kitchen. He wanted Grarls to be the most powerful species in the known universe. Nell shook her head at the glass door of the simulator. He must have a major inferiority complex. She wanted to laugh but couldn’t. People with psychological problems can be dangerous. She wanted to meet Compore.
‘Two slices of toast,’ she said.
She sighed. Mekie’s communications hadn’t helped her feel any better either. The Linque Council had done well with their recruitment numbers. Nell grimaced. Too well. Almost all the healthy adults had joined the defence force. The only good thing about that was the small minority of Phibs who had still feared and shunned the children of Wintar and Phib partnerships must have changed their minds about their opposition to the return of Wexkians. They had agreed that the Grarl revolutionaries should not gain hold on Grarlon. Dar-Seldra has also elected to join the effort. She had accepted a position on a medical ship. Nell took out her breakfast. Two squares of charred bread. With tears welling in her eyes, she went into the living room.
Orenda appeared. ‘What is wrong, Nell?’
‘The simulator burnt my toast.’
‘That is not the only reason you are upset.’
‘I don’t think war is the way to go,’ Nell replied. ‘I’m scared for all the planets, all the peoples involved, and every part of me is already screaming in grief over all the deaths the war will be responsible for.’ More tears clouded her vision as she looked directly into Orenda’s eyes. ‘I don’t know how it’s possible, teacher, but if there has to be a war it must be fought on Grarlon by Grarls, not with the aid of the United Council’s army.’
She was glad Orenda took time to think about what she had said because Nell needed to get it all straight in her own mind. Until she had actually said the words, she hadn’t been sure what she was thinking. She only knew something didn’t feel right about the war. What she did know, though, was the hollowness in the bottom of her stomach that had been growing throughout the previous weeks meant many deaths were imminent. And her father and/or Kandar might be among those killed.
‘What do you think, Orenda? I mean, really think.’
Orenda sighed. ‘If I, too, am honest, I have to agree with you. The revolution has to be stopped by Grarls. The Royals can’t be seen as unable to defend the Monarch. The Grarl subjects would believe they are weak. Even if the Royals won, they would lose their standing with not only with the entire Grarl population, but, to the Grarl’s minds, with the entire known universe.’
‘That’s right. It wouldn’t be long before another rebellion broke out,
but the next time there might not be any loyal royalists.’ Nell grinned. ‘So, what do we do?’
‘You, my girl, will do nothing. Leave it to me.’
‘But I didn’t mean the Grarl royalists shouldn’t have any help. Just that the United Council shouldn’t be involved. If someone just as powerful as a Grarl aided your cause, the king wouldn’t lose face.’
‘You?’ squeaked Orenda.
‘Why not? Together, we stopped the attack in Cape Hollow and you wanted me to help then.’
‘I was carried away with the excitement of battle. However … you may be right. Let me discuss your involvement with the king after we change the United Council’s mind about going to war.’ She paused, and with a twitch of her rat-like nose, added, ‘However, they should prepare to defend themselves.’
Nell nodded. And she would defend her father and Kandar whether they liked it or not. Her whole body tingled.
‘Are you all right?’ Orenda said, touching Nell’s arm.
Nell nodded, but something other than the revolution was imminent. And whatever it was, it concerned only her.
‘Good,’ Orenda said. ‘I have to find Ephry and then we’ll go the palace and the king.’
In a wink, she was gone.
The enchanter’s words hardly registered in Nell’s mind. She had to do something, but she had no idea what that something was. Kale popped into her head. With his bracelet upgrade, he could take her anywhere she wanted to go. But where did she want to go? There was only one being who could help her and she had to see him as soon as possible. Pren. The leader of all Krolls. She loved all the sea horses, flying creatures with their long necks and legless bodies. However, Pren and his friend, Melt, meant as much to her as her own family.
So much had changed since Nell first learned of her heritage and visited Corl, she thought as she made her way to Kale’s house. Once outcasts, mixed Wintar-Phib children were now accepted into their communities. Their parents, family and friends even looked forward to their teens, curious as to the form of their genetic heritage. Some Wintar and Phibs even seemed disappointed no other child of Wexkia had appeared.