by Brenda Hiatt
“So…what? You think we’d be better off without a Sovereign at all?”
“Are you sure we wouldn’t?” she retorts. “You said last night you decided to ignore the old Consort tradition. Maybe it’s time to reconsider a few others—like the one that decrees some teenaged girl should automatically be Sovereign, no matter how inexperienced she is, just because she happened to pass a blood test.”
The last thing I want to do is argue with Kira right when she was starting to soften toward me, but I can’t let that go.
“If you’ve read your Nuathan history, you know the Sovereigns have always done well by our people. Why should that change just because this one is younger than most? Is that all you have against her—her age?”
“Not the only thing, no, but I think it’s pretty important. As for the Sovereigns being so good for Nuath, that’s always depended on who you happen to be, hasn’t it? We’ve been entrenched in our archaic fine-based class system for so long, most people can’t see past it. Maybe it’s time to try something new, give everyone an equal voice in how things are done.”
I suck in a breath. “That…sounds an awful lot like the propaganda the Anti-Royalists were putting out when M was trying to get Acclaimed.”
“The Populists, you mean? I happen to think they have some good ideas. I hoped you’d be a little more open to other points of view than the average Royal, Sean, considering you grew up in Glenamuir, living like an Ag.”
Her obvious disappointment bothers me a lot more than it should, considering I’m the one in the right here.
“So you’re back to lumping all Royals together? That’s not what you said last night.”
Again, she averts her eyes. “Look, I do believe you—and your parents—want what’s best for our people. But maybe you’re too blinded by tradition to see what that is. Personally, I don’t see how going back to the past can be the best way for our people to move forward.”
“All right. I guess there can be more than one valid opinion on that. But almost everything M has wanted to do, or wanted the Council to do, has been for the good of our people—even if the Council doesn’t always agree with her.”
Her gaze snaps back to mine. “You mean…she and the Echtran Council don’t always see eye to eye?”
I can’t suppress a snort. “That’s putting it mildly, from what I’ve overheard Mum telling Dad. Even though she’s one herself, I’m not sure M trusts Royals any more than you do.”
“So the Council has done things she didn’t want them to do?” She’s definitely giving me her full attention now. “Or is it more the other way around?”
“Both,” I unwillingly admit. “I, uh, think the Council got used to calling the shots when they were the only leadership we Martians had on Earth. Early on, she still let them do that, but not anymore. Not since—”
I break off, realizing I almost said too much. That conspiracy to erase Rigel’s memory isn’t exactly common knowledge. And shouldn’t be, if the Council wants all these new Echtrans to accept their leadership.
“So!” Forcing a heartiness I don’t feel, I jump to my feet. “Ready to play some more basketball?”
22
Head in the game
“Sure, I’m ready for more if you are.”
I’m dying to know more about whatever rift has developed between the Sovereign and the Council, but Sean clearly thinks he already said more than he should. Pushing might make him suspicious, so I drop the subject—for now.
Handing back his towel, I’m careful not to touch him. Like most girls my age, I’ve experienced the taghal ardus—that little “first touch” tingle from a guy. But the zap Sean gave me earlier was different. Stronger. Because he’s Royal?
I shouldn’t have to worry about a repeat, since the taghal ardus is only supposed to happen once. Still, it was unsettling enough I’m not willing to risk it.
Our next one-on-one game lasts longer than the first and by the end neither of us are holding back—though we both still avoid touching each other. Unfortunately, my caidpel skills don’t translate perfectly to basketball and he’s played this game a lot more than I have. Once he figures out he can block my three-pointers by jumping way higher than any Duchas possibly could, he beats me by a larger margin than the first time.
“I can’t believe how much you’ve improved in just two quick games,” he tells me after his winning basket. “No wonder you’re such a phenom at caidpel.” The respect in his eyes is gratifying—especially considering the hard time I gave him about his politics.
“You want to play another?” I ask as we go for more water. Working up a sweat like this feels great, even if it’s not caidpel.
Looking genuinely regretful, he shakes his head. “Wish I could, but I should bring the van back. I said I’d only be gone a couple hours and one of my parents might need it.”
“Your family only has one car?” I’m surprised. “I’d have thought such high-ranking Royals would have at least two.”
“We had to leave Nuath in such a hurry, we couldn’t bring much with us—not that we had a lot anyway, since we were pretending to be Ags. Whatever sochar my folks had before, they lost when we changed identities. My uncle helped us out some when we first got to Earth, and now Mum and Dad are making a bit from investments, but we still, um, don’t have a lot of money to throw around.”
Though he seems slightly embarrassed, his admission increases my respect for him. Maybe we have more in common than I thought.
“Trust me, I get it. We were only allowed one duffel apiece when we emigrated and the few Nuathan sochar we had weren’t worth much even in Dun Cloch—and nothing at all, here.”
During the drive back we chat comfortably about the things we miss most about Mars. Sean sounds nearly as homesick as I am.
“Do you think you’ll ever go back?” I ask as he pulls up in front of my apartment complex.
He shrugs. “I sure hope so but…who knows? It all depends on what happens there—and here—between now and the next launch window. Mostly, I want to be wherever I can do the most good.”
Again, I’m impressed in spite of myself. “Um, yeah, me too,” I say, guiltily realizing I should have the same noble goal. “Anyway, thanks for the lesson and the games. It was a great workout.”
“If you want, we can make it a regular thing, at least until basketball practice starts,” he suggests as I get out of the minivan. “Maybe one night this week?”
“Maybe.”
Though I enjoyed the afternoon a lot more than I expected to, I don’t commit. I need to sort out my feelings, especially about that weird touch thing, before spending more time with Sean.
With that in mind, I pull out my phone before I go inside, to see if I’ve received any further instructions from Dun Cloch since the preliminary report I sent last night. I haven’t. Maybe just as well.
“Look, Kira!” Adina exclaims the second I enter the apartment. “Isn’t she adorable?”
I freeze, staring with mingled distaste and disbelief at the fluffy, wriggling white thing she’s holding. “What is that?”
“A puppy, of course! What else? You knew I wanted to talk Mum and Dad into letting me have one. Carrie from school told me Friday she and her family were trying to find homes for the litter her dog had, now that they’re old enough to leave their mother. I convinced Mum and Dad to come with me to see them while you were gone and when I begged to bring one home, they said yes!”
“Where are Mum and Dad now?”
I’m still eyeing the tiny animal suspiciously, remembering the incident with the coyote. Not that this little white fuzzball looks nearly that dangerous.
“At the store, getting food and a bed and stuff for her.” Adina gazes fondly down at the thing.
Suddenly, I realize what it reminds me of. “With that curly coat, it almost looks like a miniature lamb. No wonder you wanted it.”
“You’re right, she does, a little.” She grins up at me. “What should we name her?”
<
br /> I shrug. “Your puppy. You decide.”
“Aw, c’mon, Kira, don’t be like that. Come pet her. She’s really soft.”
Reluctantly, I come forward and lean down to touch the creature. Adina’s right, it’s even softer than the lambs back home were. Before I can pull my hand away, the puppy turns its head and licks my hand, its tongue leaving a wet mark.
“Ew. Why did it do that?”
“She likes you. Don’t act like she stinks—especially since you do right now. What have you been doing?”
“Playing basketball, like I told Mum and Dad before I left. But yeah, I’d better get a shower. Especially now.” I shake the hand the dog just licked.
Adina just laughs at me as I head to the bathroom.
By the time I’ve showered and dressed—water showers take a lot longer than ionic ones—Mum and Dad are back.
“How was your outing with Sean O’Gara?” Mum asks eagerly. “You and he must be becoming good friends?”
I shrug. “We both like sports, so he offered to show me how they play chas pell—basketball—here, since there’s no caidpel. It was…fun.” Before she can ask more questions, I change the subject. “I can’t believe you actually agreed to let Adina keep an animal in our apartment. Aren’t there rules against that sort of thing?”
“We checked on that before going to see the puppies,” Dad assures me. “Small dogs are allowed, and this one shouldn’t grow to more than twenty pounds, given the size of its mother.”
“What about its father?”
“Carrie thinks it was the toy poodle from next door,” Adina pipes up, “but she wasn’t positive.”
So the unsanitary little thing is the result of some genetic accident? Great.
“What’s for dinner?” I ask, turning away from it. “I’m starved.”
The next morning Adina and I take the bus to school for the first time. I’m not in the best of moods since I barely slept. My sister insisted on keeping her stupid puppy in our room, and it whimpered half the night until Adina moved its crate right next to her bed and slept with one hand dangling into it. That helped, though it weirded me out.
Even after the puppy calmed down, I kept replaying that unusually strong zing I got from Sean’s touch yesterday. No matter how hard I tried to convince myself I’d imagined it, I knew I hadn’t.
I’m still yawning as I climb into the big yellow contraption already half-filled with Duchas students. Adina and Jana immediately go to sit with some other ninth-grade girls near the back while I move down the center aisle more slowly, trying not to make eye contact with anyone.
“Hey, Kira! You want to sit with us?” It’s Molly O’Gara…sitting next to the Sovereign.
“Oh, um, sure. Hi.” I take the empty seat across from them.
Molly hops across the aisle to sit next to me as the bus starts moving. “M and I were talking just now and thought it might be cool to have a get-together with all the, um, new kids this coming Saturday so we can get to know each other better. Something informal, not like that official thing at NuAgra.”
She’s speaking softly enough that the Duchas boys closest to us can’t hear her. I almost ask if Sean will be there, but I don’t.
“It, uh, sounds fun. I’ll let my parents know.”
“Awesome. Feel free to tell your sister and any of the others you see. We’ll spread the word, too. Quietly, so other people don’t feel left out.” With another bright smile, she bounces back to her original seat as the bus pulls up to the next stop.
More kids get on, but no one sits next to me. I’m both relieved and slightly offended. Two stops later, in a pretty suburban neighborhood with nice-looking houses and big yards, two girls I recognize as the Sovereign’s closest Duchas friends board the bus. Deb, the shorter one, immediately sits by me while the taller one, Bri, takes the half-seat in front of us. Ignoring the boy next to her, she turns to face me.
“Hey! Kira, right? M said you might be on our bus today. That was some football game Friday, wasn’t it? I saw you up in the stands with all the basketball players but didn’t get a chance to say hi.” Then, turning to M, “I still can’t believe you missed it. It was far and away Rigel’s best game yet.”
“That’s what you said Saturday. I really wasn’t feeling well that night, but I kind of wish I’d gone anyway.” Clearly she’s had plenty of practice by now lying to her Duchas friends.
Bri turns back to me. “Wasn’t Rigel amazing?”
My nod is all the encouragement she needs to launch into a detailed analysis of the game, along with her speculation that Rigel must be getting a ton of college scholarship offers by now. I’m glad I don’t have to respond much.
I assume I won’t hear anything from Dun Cloch until I send them something more substantial. All I have so far is that bit about the Sovereign and the Council not seeing eye to eye, but I still don’t know why. If I get a chance, I’ll try to pry that out of Sean at school today, though I wish the thought of seeing him again didn’t make me feel so…jumpy.
I’ll just have to get past that, I tell myself as we all start filing off the but on reaching the school. I have a mission to do here, and I plan to do it, weird touch-thing or not. I’m still deep in unsettled thought when I reach Physics. Sean and Alan are already in the classroom talking together but break off to greet me when I walk in.
“Hey.” Alan comes forward to put an unnecessarily proprietary hand on my arm. No tingle, of course—he’s touched me plenty of times before now. “You have a good weekend? I wish you’d told me you were going to the game. I didn’t see you until you were leaving afterward.”
I sneak a quick peek at Sean and catch him frowning slightly, though he immediately smooths it away into a smile. “Sorry, man,” he tells Alan. “If we’d seen you, we’d have invited you to sit with us. Maybe next time.”
Alan shoots a suspicious glance from me to Sean and back. “You guys sat together? That’s…nice.” But his tone implies the opposite.
“I came with my sister and Jana,” I tell him, not sure I like the direction the conversation is taking. “They wanted to sit with a bunch of other freshman girls and Sean was kind enough to spare me from two hours of non-stop giggling.”
“Yeah, I figured she’d rather meet some other seniors, so I introduced her to my teammates from last year.” Sean says it off-handedly, but there’s something wary about the look he gives Alan. He must be wondering, like Trina did, whether there’s anything between us.
I want to make it clear there’s not, but before I can think of a way that won’t upset Alan too much, the bell rings.
“Guess we should get to our desks.” Alan reaches for me again, this time to guide me by the elbow to the table we share near the back of the classroom.
Irritated now, I jerk my arm away. “I can get there on my own, thanks.”
“Sorry,” he whispers. “I wasn’t—”
“Yes. You were. Even though I’ve told you not to.”
He doesn’t pretend he doesn’t know what I mean, just sits down with a sulky look on his face. Refusing to feel guilty for hurting Alan’s feelings when he totally should know better by now, I turn away and glance at Sean. He’s not looking at me, but I get the impression he might have been a second ago. Did he see—or hear—what just passed between Alan and me? Not that it matters…
I try to focus on the Physics lesson but it’s pretty elementary stuff…and I find myself uncomfortably distracted every time Sean says anything to his lab partner, or even turns his head. Which is ridiculous.
Irritated at my lack of mental control, I don’t linger when class ends like I’d originally planned. I just shoot a quick smile Sean’s way before hurrying off to second period.
* * *
In French class Molly greets me with a smile and motions me to sit near her and the Sovereign, like she did on the bus. Reminding myself that I should be exploiting every possible source of information, I comply. There’s not enough noise to provide cover for anything we
don’t want Duchas to overhear, so they both chat to me about school things.
“M and I can help you get caught up in here, if you want, and in Government,” Molly offers. “I’m sure Sean and Rigel will help, too.”
The idea of private tutoring sessions with Sean, especially, is so tempting I almost say no—then realize those would be perfect opportunities for private conversations. Exactly what I should be angling for if I’m going to get the kind of information Allister and Lennox want.
“Thanks. That would be great.”
“We can talk some more at lunch,” Molly whispers as the teacher calls the class to order.
23
Charging
Sean
The smile Kira gave me as she left the Physics classroom almost made up for her not hanging around to talk afterward. She didn’t smile at Alan like that, I noticed. I also heard what she said to him when he got all possessive at the start of class.
“Given any more thought to going out for basketball?” I ask him as we leave Calculus together at the end of next period, hoping to smooth over any jealousy he might be feeling.
Pleased as I was to discover Alan’s interest in Kira isn’t mutual, I’d rather not alienate him if I can help it. I had way more than enough of that whole triangle thing with Rigel and M before it all got resolved.
Alan shrugs, not quite looking at me. “I’ll see. Though I hope I’d do a better job of…you know…than Rigel did Friday.”