Tales of the Dissolutionverse Box Set

by William C. Tracy

  “That Kirian might even help, while snatching as much support as he can,” Mom said. “I haven’t had time to talk to the group following him around, but it would help him and us to have Grumv willing to join the Assembly. His goals can’t be too different from ours.”

  I wasn’t as sure. “He’s up to something. I know it.”

  “We only have one more day until the platform is completed and Majus E’Flyr can open the portal back.” Mom picked up a sung crystal. “He can’t possibly do much more in that time, can he?”

  It turned out, he could.

  * * *

  Finally, it was the day the platform would be ready, and I felt like little jolts of lightning were running up and down my arms. Mom was rushing to do some last research, but I couldn’t pay attention. This whole journey had been amazing, but now thoughts of my house near the beach on Etan kept running through my head. Mom finally kicked us out, grumbling about us messing up her results, so Avi and I went to check with the Grumv constructing the platform.

  There were crowds of the winged people out on the trellises connecting their cylindrical buildings. Everyone in the town knew what time it was, and even the ones who didn’t want to join the Assembly would be watching. They made space for me to pass, like a sort of minor celebrity, and the ones riding Arach Hanar moved the hairy beasts out of my way.

  I can’t believe I didn’t want to come along when we started. Who wouldn’t want to climb the walls of the Nether? Who could have imagined we’d find a species up here who wants to join the Great Assembly?

  “What are you thinking about?” Avi asked. Their head was cocked and they looked at me over their long beak. It was around tenth lightening—midday, and it was almost time.

  “Just about what will happen when the portal opens,” I told them, chewing a nail. “Everything will change—even more for your people than for mine. I’ll miss you Avi, when we have to go back to our own homes.”

  Avi opened their wings, like I’d seen the males doing. It was a strange gesture for them. “What if I come with you, and live down there?” They cocked a finger at the ground.

  I stopped in the middle of a trellis stretching between two houses. A group of Grumv went around us, jabbering about the platform in deep voices.

  “You mean for good? What about your parent’s farm? Don’t they need you to help with the harvest?”

  Avi rolled one shoulder, making their wing half-open again. “A lot has changed since you came here,” they said. “Someone will need to go with you, and find out what the people down there do and how they live,” they spread their hands. “I’m close to my molting. I can feel it like an itch in my wings.”

  Now it was my turn to cock my head. I’d picked up the gesture from Avi over the last ten-day. “What does molting have to do with it?”

  Avi clacked their beak, the equivalent of a grin. “See? We need people to figure out the differences between us. When the Grumv Vugm Mugv molt and choose whether they want to be male, or female, or something else, they also choose what vacancy they like best in the city, and tell everyone how they can fill it.”

  “That seems…limiting,” I said. What if I’d chosen to always stay home and help Alondri and Kayla research at the house, right before Mom asked me to come along?

  Avi shook their head. “It’s what we do, and there’s a big vacancy appearing. I want to fill it. I want to meet all the different people living on the floor of the Nether, and on the homeworlds, and tell them about the Grumv Vugm Mugv.”

  “You know, that’s a good idea,” I said.

  * * *

  “We’re putting in the last planks,” the lead Grumv working on the new trellis told us. “We want to make sure this area lasts for a good, long while, so we can have visitors from down below. The mayor wants trade with you people.” The Grumv pointed one colorfully tattooed wing toward me. “Give us another lightening or so and it will be ready.”

  “More waiting,” I told Avi, and they nodded. “Where’s the majus, anyway? I thought she was supposed to be supervising the construction?”

  The new platform wasn’t big. There was a set of stairs leading down from the main trellis street running through the city. The stairs connected to another trellis, supported by strands of Arach Hanar silk attached to the one above, and ending in a bowl-like mat. The majus had given specifications how to make it big enough so any good majus could open a portal without it appearing over open air.

  But Majus E’Flyr was not here, and Avi and I went back up to the city. We found Mom, both hands full with sacks of clothes and equipment. She set them down with a sigh.

  “Have you seen Majus E’Flyr?” I asked.

  Mom frowned at us. “I haven’t. I thought she would be out here. Maybe she’s getting the beetle?”

  I smacked my forehead with one hand and Avi jumped in surprise. “I almost forgot about her!” I said. “How could I do that? Of course the beetle has to come back with us. She’d think we’d forgotten about her!”

  “It might be more that the Council wants it,” Mom muttered, but I waved a goodbye to her and took Avi’s hand. I still had way too much energy, and needed to work it off.

  “Come on,” I said. “Let’s go see if the majus is there. We can ride the beetle to the new platform!”

  But when we got to the other edge of the city, puffing and gasping, the beetle was still silent, sitting beside the bridge that connected the city to the Nether’s wall.

  “Where is she?” I asked.

  “Mater! Pater!” Avi called, and I looked down the wall. There were Mira and Hria, hopping from tree to tree. Behind them trundled the big silver and black Arach Hanar that had hissed at us as we left the farm. Mater Rutha Ahtur towed a huge net of white silk, filled to bursting with ripe purple toka fruit.

  We met Avi’s parents at the edge of the bridge, and both of them embraced their child, wrapping wings all the way around Avi.

  “We wouldn’t miss this for every crystal tear in the city,” Mira said.

  Her husband puffed up his crest and stretched out his wings. “Yes, the mayor’s been sending messages down the silk lines to let us know what you were doing, Avi. We’re very proud of how you’re helping these people.”

  I looked at Avi, who was tilting their head nervously and clicking their beak together. I nudged their shoulder. “Well, go on,” I said. I knew they wanted to ask about going to the floor, and a warmth rose in my chest at the thought of Avi and I exploring the Nether one day.

  Avi curled their wings in close. “Mater, Pater, I have something to ask. It’s about my path in life.”

  Mira and Hria traded glances, and I thought I could see sadness, but I looked away. It seemed like prying to watch them.

  “Go on,” Mira said.

  “I…I’ll molt soon. And…and I want to be the city announcer, except from our people to Natina’s people.” All the words came out in a rush and then there was silence, except for Mater Rutha Ahtur shifting position between two trees.

  “Your Mater and I have actually been talking a lot with the mayor,” Hria told his child. Avi sunk down, their wings folding even closer. They looked small.

  “Mayor Kita is impressed with you bringing them up to the city, and showing them around,” Mira said, with a tilt of her head to me. Avi began to unfold. “I think—” Mira clacked her beak. “I think if we were to speak with the mayor, we would all agree you’re a great choice to go down to the floor of the Nether.”

  Mira lunged forward and wrapped her wings around Avi, and Avi clasped their Mater back, hard.

  “Thank you,” they said, then looked to their Pater. “What about the farm? The toka harvest?”

  Hria waggled his head, making his crest wobble. “We’ve finished this harvest, and it will be a while before the next. I can talk to the mayor and see if we can get help. Otherwise the city will be in want of toka fruit.” He opened a wing toward the Arach Hanar, which scuttled a couple steps
away. I glimpsed his geometrical tattoos again. “Mater Rutha Ahtur has enough lazy children. Maybe I can train them to help me pick the fruit.”

  We all laughed, but I had to swallow a lump in my throat. How long until I have to find my own place, away from my parents?

  * * *

  Back at the platform, Mom was ready with our luggage, and a pang of guilt flowed through me because I hadn’t helped her. I rushed over to take the last bags and walk the short distance to the pile, feeling stupid the whole way. Mom watched me with her hands on her hips and a half-smile.

  I set down the luggage. Mom must have finished cleaning up the equipment in the medical bowl, too.

  “Did you find the majus?” I asked.

  Now Mom frowned. “No—I thought she was with you.” She twisted, taking in the city in all directions. “And where’s Wailimani? I know he’s been skulking all around the city, but I’m certain he also knows when we’re leaving.”

  “I don’t know,” I said, “but I think we’ll have one more person traveling with us.”

  That got Mom’s attention, and she looked to me, to Avi, and to Avi’s parents, standing nearby, their wings intertwined.

  “Your parents are all right with you coming with us?” she asked Avi, and all three of the Grumv nodded.

  “Not only that,” I said, “Avi will be the new—”

  “Ah, then we are all to be gathered in the correct place after all,” a shrill voice broke in over mine. I felt cold, invisible fingers climbing up my spine.

  “I was to be worrying I would need to collect all the pieces in once place, but instead they are coming to me,” Wailimani continued.

  I clenched my fists, and turned with the others to see Majus E’Flyr walking toward us, her face like a thundercloud about to erupt with lightning. Behind her walked Wailimani, flanked by five male Grumv, tilting their heads and flashing their wings.

  “What’s going on, Wailimani?” Mom said. She sounded as angry as the majus looked.

  “What is happening is that I am brokering a much better deal than any of us would be getting once the Effature and the Imperium get their hands on the resources laying out here to be used—traded for, that is,” Wailimani said. His crest was raised in triumph.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked. I barely restrained myself from leaping forward and punching his smug face. My fingers creaked together in my balled fists. Everything had been going so well, and now he had to mess it up. Again.

  “My friends here are speaking for those Grumv who do not want to join the Great Assembly.” The Kirian waved a robed arm over the group behind him. “They would much rather be working through one contact, than deal with all the politics of ten new species. We are only needing the wing-print of the mayor and the city announcer. We’ve provided a little encouragement, just in case.” His crest spread out as he smiled his pointy smile.

  “What is this encouragement?” came a booming voice, louder than the waterfall below. I ducked down in reflex. So did Mom and Wailimani. The Grumv only looked to where the mayor and the announcer stumped up on short legs.

  I understand why he’s called the announcer now. That voice was loud enough to reach halfway across the Nether. My heart was pounding.

  Wailimani turned, sounding calm, though his crest was spiky in surprise. “My associates have told me you will be joining the Assembly—a mistake, for the different factions there will be clamoring for your resources, and give you little in return. We are having a much better option, as long as you are agreeable,” Wailimani answered.

  “Plagi, Rhala, Usara,” the mayor snapped at three of the Grumv following Wailimani. “Is this true? Have you gone against the majority of Grumv here again? We are joining the Great Assembly. I thought you learned your lesson the last time, when you lost your standing in our city meetings.”

  One of the Grumv flapped his brightly colored wings. “The method this Kirian suggests is much better, much safer. Many of our citizens don’t agree with your views, Kita. Enough to ensure you lose your post in the next vote.”

  Avi gasped, and I looked between the Grumv. Mom and I had learned some about their culture, but not enough.

  “What does he mean?” I asked my friend.

  “Plagi has been trying to take the mayor’s post for a long time,” they said. “He’s never had a good way to do it.”

  Can I do anything? I didn’t see how. This was a Grumv matter, except Wailimani had put himself in the middle. Maybe those groups of angry Grumv hadn’t gotten smaller after all. But why wasn’t the majus doing something? She was hunched, not standing tall like usual.

  “Your opponents are finding a new voice,” Wailimani said. “You can either desist from the notion of joining the Great Assembly, and be letting all your trade with them go through my associates here, to me, and then to the Imperium, or the rather disagreeable majus will quickly cease to remember how to be making a portal back to the ground. We will be stuck here.”

  Wailimani raised his hand from where it had been hidden behind Majus E’Flyr and I saw the gleam of a metallic shaft.

  He has a gun? How?

  “Stop him, Majus E’Flyr!” I called. “Change the Symphony!”

  But the majus only shook her head, her head-tentacles twitching furiously. I saw then she was holding her left hand in her right, as if it was hurt. Blood dripped from her fingers.

  “The majus has found what several other maji have, recently,” Wailimani said. “Even skin made tough by the House of Strength can’t stop a bullet.” He waggled the gun slightly, keeping the end pointing toward the majus. “I may not have prepared for every eventuality, but I knew you would be bringing a majus.”

  “You had that the whole climb?” Mom said, and I could feel the anger in her voice like little waves of heat. “You always planned to take the credit for yourself, didn’t you? You did make your assistant cut Partino’s harness!”

  “Of course he did,” I spat. I took a step forward, but Majus E’Flyr shook her head again. I growled, but I couldn’t do anything, like a sea slug in a strikerfish’s jaws. “You’re a disgrace to the ten species,” I yelled.

  “It is to be of no importance now.” Wailimani said. He addressed Mom. “But if you are asking nicely, I may be cutting you in on a fraction of my profits. You were setting up the expedition, after all.” Mom’s hands were clenched as tightly as mine, but she didn’t move.

  Then the Kirian nodded to one of the Grumv following him. “Just the signature, Mayor Kita. We will all be going home, and you will all be rich, minus the portion me and my friends here are keeping. No dealing with the troublesome Great Assembly.”

  “Do it,” Majus E’Flyr growled, and I could hear a quaver in her voice for the first time since I’d met her. It made my stomach tighten. “If he shoots me again, no one is getting down. It will be cycles before another group gets up here, and both beetles are stuck on the wall.”

  I had to do something. There’s more than one majus here!

  “What about the holy one?” I asked.

  “Knocked unconscious, back there,” Majus E’Flyr said. “He doesn’t know how to make a portal anyway. I’m the only one who can get us down to the Imperium.”

  “Very reasonable,” Wailimani said. “Mayor and Announcer, your prints please on this declaration not to join the Assembly, and the promise to be dealing only through me and my associates. You will be proud protectorates of the Kirian Union, once I alert my homeworld.”

  Slowly, as if they were dragged forward, the mayor took the sheet of paper Wailimani offered. I was screaming inside, but I could do nothing, as the mayor dipped the tip of one wing in a pot of ink Plagi held, and marked the paper. Then the city announcer did the same, clacking his beak.

  “Perfect,” Wailimani said. He took the paper, blew on it, and tucked it inside his robe, the whole while holding the gun on the majus. “Now, I believe you are having a portal to create?”

  “I ne
ed the holy one,” the majus said.

  “And we need the beetle,” I said through clenched teeth. Maybe we could think of something in the delay.

  Wailimani opened his mouth, his crest spiking and falling, and then he shrugged. “I can wait a few more minutes.”

  Several more Grumv came forward, loyal to Plagi and his group. They soon found the holy one and brought him, and Majus E’Flyr told me which levers to pull on the beetle to make her walk through the city. More Grumv escorted me, and even more stood around Mom so she wouldn’t do anything.

  I wish I could say my first time controlling the crystal beetle drill was fun, but all I could think about was the party waiting at the new platform. The Grumv would never be a species in the Assembly, so Avi could not be their announcer. Mom and I had proved my other parents were right, but no one would pay attention to that with what else happened today.

  I followed the beetle down to the new construction. It creaked under her weight, but held.

  “Now, Majus,” Wailimani said. I dared to hope someone had taken the gun away, but no one had. The Grumv still stood guard over Mom. My eyes roved over the platform, but I couldn’t find any way out, and I felt a burning lump in my throat.

  The majus sighed, and stepped to the center of the new bowl. Her silvery eyes looked far away for several seconds, her head-tentacles twitching to a rhythm I couldn’t hear. The holy one stood next to her, his head tilted.

  Then in front of her, a disk of pitch black whirled in the air, growing big enough to fit even the beetle. The majus gestured to it with one hand.

  “I must go last to close the portal.”

  “And I will go second to last, with my friends,” Wailimani said.

  I drove the beetle, and one by one, all of us walked through that black disk, back to the Imperium.

  TEN-DAY FIVE

  The Return

  - The ten species have not always numbered so. There were six, or maybe seven, who first settled the Nether and built the foundations of the Imperium, but that was long ago. Despite the loss of one species, others have joined the Great Assembly as the cycles passed, bringing the total up to ten. It is interesting to note that the time between a new species finding the Nether has grown less each time. It has only been fifty cycles since the last species found us, and now we have the Grumv Vugm Mugv. How long until the next species arrives?