19
Aura
Aura stood on the deck of the ship and looked out towards the horizon. Uni had set, making the stars visible in the dark sky. They twinkled in the form of tiny white lights. She took a deep breath, enjoying a sense of peace for the first time since she’d seen the Sight.
The sound of nearing footsteps made her turn.
Felipe came up the bow. “I think the thing I’ve missed the most is the smell of the ocean,” he said.
She smiled at him. “I’ve always enjoyed being on the sea, though I don’t get to do it as often as I’d like to. We used to go with our father more often when we were younger. Adie always got seasick, but I felt right at home. I always relished when we felt opposite about something. Made me feel more like an individual than just the future Ruler’s sister.”
Her eyes scanned the horizon and the stars again. The reflection of the sky in the water made the path before them look never-ending.
“Since it seems to be confession time, I have one of my own,” Felipe said.
Stay calm, Aura begged herself, trying to ignore the skipping of her heart. She kept her face forward and listened.
“I applied for the position on the Council, thinking I would never get it. The Etoyoc had never had representation before, and I wanted to make a difference. But I also did it for another reason. When I came for my initial Tribe training, that was the first time I saw you.”
Aura turned and looked at him.
He stepped closer to her. “They were introducing us to you and your sister. You were off to the side, behind her. You were wearing this navy dress and you kept pulling at the sleeves.”
Aura watched him move his black hair away from his face and stared into his dark eyes. “I wasn’t a fan of that dress, but Thora recommended I wear it.” She met his gaze before looking away.
“You worked with the Tribes the next day to train, and I knew right then and there I had to do everything I could to get back to Giriveen if I ever wanted to see you again.”
Aura held her breath but couldn’t think of what to say. Words. Use them. She looked way, and when she turned back, Felipe stood closer than she remembered.
Their eyes met briefly, and for a short moment, her knees weakened. But she couldn’t let herself show it.
A wide smile appeared on Aura’s face as she stepped back. “Good night,” she said as walked toward her chambers on the ship.
She passed Gossamer when she reached the stairs leading below. She hurried down the first few and leaned against the stairwell. Why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you tell him you feel . . . what do you feel?
She steadied her heart and listened as Gossamer began talking with Felipe.
“Such a beautiful night. Wouldn’t think we were heading toward something so dangerous,” Gossamer said.
Aura went up a few steps and sat quietly, hoping they wouldn’t see her.
Felipe nodded and sat on a nearby barrel. He looked at the stars.
“She likes you, don’t worry.” Gossamer chuckled. “Ambrielle has noticed as well.”
Mother noticed? Aura’s cheeks flushed with the knowledge.
Felipe started to apologize. “I’m sorry, sir! This will not interfere with my duties—”
Gossamer raised his hand and waved it. “No,” he said, chuckling again. “We’re not angered by the prospect. I just wanted to let you know. She’s a strong-willed one. You’ll likely have to break those walls down over time.”
“Walls?”
Aura sat back against the wall when Gossamer glanced back toward the stairwell.
“When you live in someone’s shadow for so long, you feel as though all you are is a shadow. And when someone comes along that makes you realize you’re more than that . . . well, while it’s refreshing, it’s a startling reality. Give her time.”
Aura had never heard Gossamer talk so openly before. He knows exactly how I feel.
“You speak from experience, sir?” Felipe asked.
A sad smile formed on Gossamer’s face. “Perhaps,” he said, turning to head back toward the stairs leading to the deck below.
Aura stood and began to head downstairs toward her chambers, when Felipe’s question stopped her in her tracks.
“Why do your eyes do that?”
“Change colors?” Gossamer asked.
Felipe nodded. “A curse, my friend. An old curse.”
Aura ran as quietly as she could to her chamber and shut the door behind her. A smile covered her face. He likes me. He actually likes me.
Her brow furrowed briefly as her uncle’s words rummaged around her mind. An old curse. What curse?
“Land! We’ve reached Nitari!”
Aura awoke to shouts coming from the deck. She stepped out of bed, still in yesterday’s clothes, and opened her bedroom door, running into Felipe. She moved back, nearly tripping.
He reached out, one hand on her waist, helping her steady herself. “I was just about to knock. We made quick time. Uni is just rising,” Felipe said, smiling.
He removed his hands, and they faced each other. A silence fell over them. Felipe opened his mouth as if to speak but stopped. He grabbed her hands gently.
His pupils blended with the dark shade of his irises, making his eyes appear black. She searched them. They said more than his words could at that moment.
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek quickly, and she felt his breath on her skin. He released her hands and dashed out the door and up the stairs toward the main deck.
She stood for a moment, trying to slow her heartbeat and hide the faint shade of pink on her cheeks before taking a deep breath and following him.
Aura squinted, lifting her forearm to shield the light. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the scene of Nitari. She’d heard stories of the grungy lifestyle of the Nitari creatures they called Etoyoc. Tall creatures that walked on two strong legs and were covered from head to toe in fur. The Etoyoc had large snouts displaying rows of sharp teeth. Though they looked fierce, they had a reputation for being dull, foolish, and unintelligent creatures. They made up a majority of the inhabitants of Nitari, but other inhabitants of Thindoral had moved to the region a few centuries back, cohabitating with them, living their more simplistic lifestyle.
She exited the ship, trying to hide her shock. Numerous Etoyoc were moving barrels and crates along either side of the dock, and most ceased working for a brief moment as they watched her walk past. One stood to her left, towering over her. Minimal tattered clothing covered its matted and dirty fur. Its ears fell to the side, and it broke eye contact with her.
She stared at the ground in front of her as she moved along. Another came toward them. He held a rope with four red, spotted fish dangling from it, and Aura tried to hold her breath as the stench of ripe fish dominated the air.
She mistakenly looked up at the Etoyoc. Its yellow beady eyes glanced her over. It smiled, revealing large sets of sharp teeth, and he stopped a few feet in front of her. When she was sure he would refuse to move out of her way, Aura felt Felipe brush past her and embrace the Etoyoc tightly.
“Hontak!” Felipe shouted.
“Felipe! My friend! I didn’t think I’d see you again until next Season! When they said a ship was coming from Giriveen, I was sure it was you!”
Felipe’s smile left for a moment. “I wish we were coming for better reasons. We’re returning with a few survivors from the Nitari Tribe.”
Hontak’s ears flattened, and a small whimper escaped him. He looked over at Aura. His gaze returned to Felipe as he held out a furry hand, pointing at her.
“This is Aura. You’re looking at the future Minister of Affairs,” Felipe said to Hontak.
Aura brought her eyes over to Felipe, shocked by his introduction. “She’s also a dear friend of mine,” he said, keeping eye contact with her.
Hontak’s ears perked up. “A dear friend of Felipe’s is a dear friend of mine,” he said, coming over and embracing Aura.
/> The embrace, while shocking, was nice, and Aura returned the gesture.
“She’s pretty, too,” Hontak said, looking at Felipe. He turned his attention to the remaining Etoyoc Tribesmen exiting the ship. His ears went back down. “Let me take you to Father.”
They headed toward the beach. Felipe took Aura’s hand, pulling her behind him. She looked back to see Gossamer motioning for her to follow Felipe.
As they got closer to the beach she watched, mesmerized by the ease of the life around them. Simple, yet everyone seems to work together without conflict or complaint.
They were coming up on tall, oblong huts that made a half-circle around the bay opening.
“This is the trading port at the Bay of Tythir. The families that live here at the port trade a lot with other regions from the water creatures they catch,” he said as they passed by a trading post. “Avoid direct eye contact,” he said, winking at her.
His words caught her off-guard. She wasn’t sure if he was joking or if his words truly came as a warning. But luckily, her attention was pulled in the direction of the numerous fish lying in piles in front of her. Their colors bled together in a sea of deep greens and bright blue. Their scales reflected off the light from Uni rising in the distance.
Felipe pulled her forward as they passed the first trading post. The Etoyoc behind the counter glared at her with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth, drool falling to the ground. Its orange eyes followed her, and she quickly averted them. Felipe definitely meant it as a warning.
They made their way toward the biggest hut in the center of the half-circle. Hontak opened the curtain for them to enter and closed it quickly behind them as soon as Gossamer arrived.
Sitting before them was an Etoyoc that had black hair and piercing green eyes with gray hair sprouting around them. In his long snout was a large, intricately carved pipe. Smoke slowly rose from it, filling the hut with an earthy fragrance.
He stood as they entered. “Felipe. So good to see you!” His deep voice reverberated in Aura’s chest. “I sent Hontak to greet the ship as soon as we were told it hailed from Giriveen. I assumed you would be on board!”
“Tonikeri, it’s good to see you,” Felipe said, embracing him in the same manner that he did Hontak. But the smile soon faded from Felipe’s face. “I wish we were coming under better circumstances, my old friend. This is Aura and Gossamer.”
“Hey! Where’s the opening to this thing?!” A voice came from the front of the hut. Hontak quickly opened it, and Bokah came barreling in.
“And this here is Bokah,” Felipe said.
Bokah stopped and looked at the giant Etoyoc in front of him. His mouth opened wide, clearly stunned by the stature of the creature.
While Aura wanted to laugh at his shock, she still felt it herself. She eyed Tonikeri. He’s larger than most Ogres I’ve seen!
Tonikeri turned to them. “Please call me Toni. It is nice to meet friends of Felipe’s. He’s a good kid,” Toni said, patting Felipe on the back roughly.
“Toni, we’re returning with your Tribesmen.” Felipe looked him directly in the eye. “There are only four left of the Tribe you sent.”
“Four?” Toni asked, falling back to his sitting position in the middle of the hut. He took a few puffs from his pipe and let the smoke rise above them. “Sit.”
Hontak sat beside his father, and Bokah waddled down and sat next to him. Their size difference was more apparent now that Aura saw them side by side. She took a seat next to Felipe on the other side of Toni.
Gossamer spoke. “The Tribes were attacked by Sights.”
“Sights.” Toni said in his husky voice.
His voice didn’t seem surprised, nor did his expression. Aura shifted on the ground, his response making her feel uneasy.
He turned to look at Felipe. “How is it they were killed by Sights?”
“Each region suffered great loss. The Sights have proven to be more powerful than we ever anticipated. They seem to be able to take the life from someone with a single touch.” Felipe paused, and Gossamer gave him a reassuring nod. “That’s why we’re here. Have you seen any Sights in the region? We plan on taking a closer look at the border of Nitari and Vadim to ensure the Etoyoc’s safety.”
Toni turned and looked directly at Felipe. “You must be foolish! The border? You know we stay away from that area. There are very few who live near it, and they are mad for doing so!”
Why are they mad for doing so? Aura bit her tongue, unsure if she was allowed to speak.
“I know, but it’s a risk we must take. There’s more at stake here than ever before, and we need to protect Nitari.” Felipe looked over at Aura.
She cleared her throat. “Toni, do you know of any record of Sights having powers or attacking anyone on Nitari soil?”
Toni turned his green eyes toward her. “Aura, right?” he asked, looking intently at her.
She nodded.
He took a few puffs of his pipe and gazed off as if reliving something in his mind. “Decades ago, there was one of us who lived close to the border. He was on his own most of the time. A strong Etoyoc, though. He came to my great-grandfather to join the Tribe saying he had valuable information to share with us about the border. My father told me stories of him as a mad Etoyoc, and part of the reason our kind bore so much shame. He relayed stories to the Ruler and was imprisoned for his madness. My father recounted the story to me once, and I was only to repeat it to my son when he became Watcher of Nitari.” Toni turned to Hontak. “This Etoyoc spoke of Sights that could speak and drain the life from you.”
Aura gasped and looked to Felipe.
“Did he say what they spoke of?”
She was surprised by the calmness in Felipe’s voice.
“He was thought to be insane and brought such shame to our kind. The story was only passed down as record keeping,” Toni replied. “Though it seems now, he may have been our only source.” He shook his head and took another drag from his pipe. “That is all I know.”
“Toni, you have been a great help, and your Tribesmen were of great service to Thindoral. Nitari will receive proper care from Giriveen,” Gossamer said.
“I must greet those remaining and visit the families that have lost.” Toni rose with Gossamer. His tall frame towered over them all.
“As soon as possible, we’ll head east. All we require is supplies to form two large huts and enough rations for two days travel,” Felipe said.
“Hontak will make sure you receive that, and he can travel with you. If you have time, go north and visit your mother. I know she worries about you.” Toni embraced Felipe again.
Bokah turned to Toni, standing as tall as he could but still having to tilt his head back to meet eyes with the Watcher. “I will join you in consoling those who have lost loved ones. I, too, have lost.”
“You’re a kind, small man,” Toni said, nodding at Bokah.
Aura watched as they exited the hut. Toni made his way toward the ships, greeting and hugging some as he passed them. Though his stature was shocking, Toni had only shown her kindness. Why are the Etoyoc so badly spoken of? There is more to these people than meets the eye.
Felipe came by her side, smiling. “See? The Etoyoc are kind.”
She nodded, hoping he couldn’t read her mind all the other times they’d spoken.
He took her hand, leading her forward as they followed Hontak. She had so many questions she wanted to ask him, such as where was his mother, where had he grown up, why he had kissed her cheek . . .
Aura looked at the line of lush greenery and trees up ahead which lined the entrance to the forest. Right now, she couldn’t think about the way his lips felt against her cheek. Focus, Aura.
They were about enter the forbidden forest.
20
Adie
Adie closed the door to her chambers, happy to be returning safely to her room. I can’t wait to tell Aura we found the hidden library!
Samuel dropped the books they�
�d checked out onto her bed.
“Which ones did we get?”
“The History of Vadim, The Desert of Time, that carved one with the flower, and the one that almost killed us,” Samuel said, pointing at the large black book.
Adie flipped through The History of Vadim, narrowing her eyes at the pages.
“What is it?” Samuel asked.
“Not sure. Looks like a series of drawings. Maybe a map,” Adie said questioningly as she flipped through the handwritten pages filled with drawings. She flipped past a page where she saw a tree and made her way back to it.
There on the page was a beautifully drawn willow tree with a cloud of smoke coming from around it.
“See this?” she said, smiling at Samuel. “I’ve seen this. The Rokis took me there. Someone knows what this is.” She turned the page and read. “This part is referring to the Designers and the Wicked Willow.” A hollow pit grew in her stomach. She looked at the drawing of the tree and the cloud as the memories of running from it returned. The hairs on her arms raised and chills rolled across her skin. Aura’s black eyes . . .
She blinked, hoping to erase the image and flipped a few pages until she found a drawing of the Rokis. She read the script scribbled on the next page. “They immediately came together and harnessed the power of a nearby star and placed it in a pendant they called the Rokis. The Rokis was given to the Ruler of the world to help protect them from the darkness that resided nearby. The land that the tree grew on began to decay, and the sky turned as blood. All who flourished on the land removed themselves from the region they called Vadim, for nothing but death could reside therein.”
“I’ll admit, I thought a secret library was impossible. But now, I think you might be on to something about these books providing answers,” Samuel said, running over to the bed and flipping the black book open.
Dust filled the air, making him cough. He waved his hands through the air moving the thick dust around.
Adie put the book down and traced her fingers over the drawing on the front. “What does it say?” she asked, peering over his shoulder at the black book.
The Halves of Us Page 15