Spring Changes, page 19
“No, he cannot. You’re still under the protection of Yun and Clan Takar at the moment. Till they decide on how to proceed, you are as safe as you can be.”
I settled only a little then; I didn’t think either Tyto or I would feel that safe surrounded by those who could drain our life force in seconds.
“I heard the rumours, that you were the one to end the queen’s life.” Lenko stared right at me and I felt his eyes seeking nothing but the truth here.
“Rumours . . . no one’s confirmed the truth for you?”
His eyes shook from side to side. Just enough for me to understand the meaning. “If I expect you to be honest with me now, I will tell you the truth.”
Tyto’s knock on my comms almost had me jump.
Tyto - You’re sure? You know that any one of them can and will end our lives for the slightest thing, right?
Me - Those around us will feel the truth—do not forget what and who they are.
My reminder to their nature kept his next comment from coming though I knew what it would be. I waited for him to settle somewhat and I spoke, holding the Sitha’s eyes firm. “Yes, I was. She had no more evil to cleanse from the world. She knew I was the only one she could trust from observing me, and us on the whole. She wanted her son to live. I didn’t know what I was doing.”
“Was she in pain?”
I swallowed, remembering back to those moments.
“Yes,” I said. “She was. She thought I was a master with kenosi. I wasn’t. I didn’t know what I was doing. I almost couldn’t take it, all of it from her.”
The Sitha before us visibly vanished. No longer were his swirls around us in the shuttle.
Tyto - What just happened?
Me - I do not know.
We both sat in silence and waited for something to happen. When Lenko returned to the physical world, he began to form himself into something even more solid. “I thank you, Kyle. For what you did for Yun. I cannot forgive what you did to her, though.”
“You were involved with her?” I asked.
He looked away. “Not in the way you might think. When the king died, she sought comfort from another, that was me. That is why I would never leave Yun’s side.”
“You knew his father too?”
“Yes, we were in the field together before . . .” He stopped talking. “I held Yun as a baby as well. For Yun, I cared for him with her until his life was in danger from the council. Then I made sure his mother could flee till he was of age.”
“I am sorry,” I said, trying my best to, I don’t know, atone for what I did to her.
“There will be Sitha here who will understand. You might even have their full support. You and Yun will always have mine; it just is personal.”
I nodded at him. I wished there was something else I could do, say. No other words would come for me.
Lenko reached out to me. His hand had almost no wisps around it. The slight fur to his fingers was clear to see, dark black, total contrast to the striking red of his eyes, the pink of his skin.
“I pledge my honour to yours,” he said. “If you will trust me, as you trust Yun and Tyto.”
I stared at his hand for a moment. Wondering if I should take it, like in a handshake. I wasn’t aware he knew any human customs, but maybe he did.
I reached forwards and placed my palm to his, the soft fur tickling it. He held my hand there then, and I felt something from him.
YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY LENKO TALA WITH FULL TRUST
WILL YOU TRUST HIM? THAT ONE’S ON YOU, KIDDO.
Oh my God, what? Kiddo? The system had been regressing me in my years here. I sighed, pushed the thought of it away, and shook his hand gently. He gripped mine firmly.
“I will trust you, as I did with the passing of your queen. Please, if you can enlighten us on the politics around here, I would be very grateful.”
19
I think I glazed over some of the politics Lenko explained to us. There was only so much my brain would absorb. Hiroto listened with rapt attention. Their history is very complicated, especially around the denti, the thought they were bad, that what they did was wrong. It scared so many. I mean, we know it mostly kept them safe as a species, but . . .
The shuttle stopped and we had hopefully arrived at our destination. The door opened, and Lenko was first out, I could hear him talking to someone else, and then he appeared beside us once more. “Come, we have a clear path to the king.”
The thought of seeing Yun right now filled me with nerves, anticipation, and hope. I feel the same, Hiroto said. I missed seeing him around.
It was only a short walk to get inside what looked like a very dark building. “Is there something about all the species here and their architecture?” I asked Tyto.
“They don’t believe in anything small, right?”
I laughed. “They really don’t.”
The structure was old, that much was easy to see, but despite it being inside their version of a world ship, this blew my mind. Strong angles and long, wooden-looking beams.
Lenko led us through a long open pathway and into the large doors. Once inside, the corridors were smaller, thin. Still long, though. He moved quickly. I loved the way they seemed to just glide. I wished I could do that. Not having to walk.
Lazy! Hiroto chuffed.
Gotta keep these muscles primed. I am not doing all the work for you! Xe said. It was the first time she’d spoken in a while.
You two can’t take a joke at all. I laughed at them.
’Cause we know you aren’t joking! Xe said.
There was one other door at the end of the corridor we approached this time, its intricate design reminding me of something I couldn’t put my finger on.
It’s the ancient language of his ancestors. We’ve seen him reading and writing things before. That’s the king’s chambers, Hiroto said.
“You may go in. I will wait here for if you need me. Just come for me.” Lenko stopped by the door and knocked. “I’m warning you, though. He’s depressed, hasn’t moved in days. The council has been demanding he meet with them, but he’s not made any moves. Maybe . . .” He paused. “Maybe you can get him to come around?”
“I will do my best,” I said.
“You have any weapons?” Lenko asked.
“It’s not like we’re kitted out,” I said. “But yes, we do have weapons.”
“What?” he asked. “I will have to make a note of what you carry.”
“Twin daggers,” I said.
Tyto pushed the door open, the sheer size of it taking most of his strength.
The room was just as decorated, regal paintings, something I’d never thought I would see. Actual depictions of the Sitha.
Wow. This is amazing, Hiroto said.
I could only nod. There, at the other end of the room was an ornate-looking desk, 3D computerised system and station, and sat at it was Yun. He looked tired. I could see that from here, his energy levels just weren’t right.
I instantly harnessed my kenosi and walked towards him. He didn’t move, just looked up at me. His eyes told me everything.
I glanced at Tyto once, and he stayed back as I expertly worked a healing energy ball into my hand which I then held out to Yun.
“You didn’t need to,” he said.
“You will take it,” I ordered. “Now.”
He reached out and accepted what I offered. My energy hadn’t even dipped with forming enough to supply what he really needed.
“You have become something else,” Yun said. “I . . .”
I reached forwards and offered him my hand. “Come, show me around. Talk to us. You’re not sitting in here any longer. We’re going to show our faces everywhere you shouldn’t, and then we’ll tackle your council.”
“I do not—” He reached for my hand though.
My energy still reached for him, to aid him.
“You shouldn’t have let yourself get this low,” I said to him. Now feeling the tug on my strength, I actually wobbled. Tyto was soon to my side, but I warned him off with just a hand.
“Steady,” I said to Yun. “Your draw is quite painful at the moment.”
“I’m sorry.” He tried to back it away. He couldn’t.
“I guess when we’re apart it affects us both on a fundamental level.” I turned to look at my second. “Grab me a chair. I’m not going anywhere yet.”
Tyto moved off, and I leaned on Yun’s desk.
Yun sat back down. “I had no idea I would affect you like this, considering your strength now too.”
“Chalk it up to a lesson learned. The more time we spend apart, the harder it is to sync back up. Especially when you’ve not taken care of yourself.”
“I will not forget,” he said.
Tyto pushed a chair my way. “Dang, these things are heavy. I’ll get another.” And off he went.
I too sat down then, hands still resting on the desk. I felt the detail to its etching and smiled. “So tell me more about who is really opposing you. What’s going on from your point of view?”
He tapped on his desk a few times, and a 3D image came up. “This is he, Uren.”
Pull up Yun’s, I asked Hiroto, and within my vision I could see the two of them side by side.
“He’s pretty strong,” I said. “Comparing him against you.”
“Yes, he really is. He has skills I haven’t gotten with being in space.”
“He’s contesting your leadership for what reason? I know you said it was because of our bond. There’s got to be something else here.”
“There is. We have seen the war coming, the things we will all have to do. He doesn’t think the Sitha should have any part in what goes on in your area of space anymore. Especially with the complications around Drudel.”
Tyto sat with us. “Drudel?”
“If Uren wins any of the council’s faith and they split, they’re only going to go for one planet.”
“What?”
“You know what I showed you about Drudel, right?”
“The core?”
“Yes, there are three planets I’ve learned with the same core as what you’ve seen. They’re spread the universe wide. Drudel is one. Our home planet is the other, Mais Daw.”
“And the third?” Tyto asked.
“Earth,” I said without thinking.
How did you know that? Hiroto and Yun asked at the same time.
“It’s the only logical conclusion. Why else would we all be so connected, so compatible? The three worlds are connected.”
“Correct.” Yun brought up another image then, and I could only presume the three planets were those that we saw connected.
I tapped the screen right slap-bang in the middle. “The rift is here, isn’t it?”
“Correct again, you’re getting good at deductions.”
“When you start to see everything coming together as I have the last few months, there’s things that didn’t make sense and now just seem to click.”
“What’s the connection? Why is the rift here either way?” Tyto asked.
“I’ve spent countless hours researching my mother’s and father’s records. All the history from the beginning of our time. The Sitha were the oldest species, as far as I was aware. It seems when Drudel appeared and grew, we were attracted towards it and expanded from our own world outwards. We have a connection with Drudel as a species. Here.” He tapped the screen again, and there was a visual connection.
Tyto leaned forward and traced the line from Mais Daw to Drudel. “That’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Isn’t it?” Yun asked. “It was buried in my mother’s notes, but something they did all those years ago opened that rift. It involved my father, but I can’t find any other references to what happened.”
Tyto was the one who looked to the door this time.
“Now who is deducting things?” I asked.
Yun’s eyes flickered to and from us both. “I don’t understand.”
Tyto stood. “I’ll go fetch him, maybe he will help us all understand.”
He walked the distance to the door, opened it, and spoke with Lenko. The shift in the Sitha’s aura told me lots. Yun noticed it too. My familiar actually reached for me. His hand was soft against my skin.
“What is going on?” he asked.
Lenko walked in beside Tyto, his aura still pretty weak to visually see. His head lowered. “My king.”
Yun’s features formed fully once more. “Lenko, what is it?”
“I was with your father when he died.”
Yun’s face paled, his eyes closed, and he squeezed my arm. I reached for him and gently put my other hand on his. I didn’t feel weird. Just knew it was needed.
“You’re just telling this now?”
“I didn’t know how to approach you. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry!” Yun threw my hand off and stood. “You listened to my retelling of how my mother died, and how Kyle saved my life—”
He moved around the desk and me, and I thought he was going to lunge for Lenko. Tyto stood in Lenko’s defence, something I wasn’t sure about. I mean, what could either of us do if they were to go hell for leather? Tyto stepped back when I motioned him to.
Yun stood before Lenko now, his hands outstretched. “I had everything on show for you then, and you couldn’t tell me you were with my father when he died. Why?”
“I didn’t want to add to your burden.”
Yun stepped back. “Burden?”
Lenko stepped towards Yun’s desk, his fingers running over the keypad quickly. He brought up something that made Yun cringe.
That’s a hidden filing system within their computers. It looks like it’s never been accessed, Hiroto said.
Never?
No, the time codes there say it hasn’t been touched for many years.
Yun stared at it.
We all stared at it.
I motioned for Tyto, flicked my head back to the door.
“No,” Yun said. “You are both staying here. Whatever this is, we’ll deal with it together.”
“They are sacred files, Yun,” Lenko said.
Yun had harnessed his kenosi in the blink of an eye and lashed out at Lenko. The strike was hard across Lenko’s chest. But Lenko didn’t flinch even if I did. His health dropped fifty percent, too.
Yun has every right to be angry, Hiroto said.
I know, I just don’t want one of the most loyal to the crown taking the fall for trying to protect those around him that he loves the most.
Then do something before he strikes again. Which it really looked like he was going to do.
“Enough!” I said. “Leave us. Tyto, you will stay with Lenko. I will recall you when we are finished here.”
Yun never moved another inch, his energy so hot, I could feel it burning me as I stepped closer.
Lenko lowered his eyes more, his shoulders slumping. He turned and with Tyto they both left.
“You could have killed him,” I said.
Yun turned to me then, and for perhaps the first time since I met him, I actually saw the frightened young man he was. His eyes were wild. I reached for his hand with the harnessed kenosi, fully expecting it to strike at me just like he was going to hit out at Lenko again. Instead, I took the hit and fed it back to him. It wasn’t energy he could afford to lose at the moment.
“I shouldn’t have done that. It wasn’t proper behaviour,” he said.
“It was a reaction most of us would have. He kept something important from you.”
“If I’d have hurt him”—his eyes closed—“The council would have me thrown out as unfit, anyway.”
“Do you want to look over the files?”
He turned to the station, the lists of files sitting there. “I don’t know if I can.”
Xe? I asked. Would you and Hiroto be able to go through them?
Of course, she said. It wouldn’t take us long to sort them into some kind of order for him, then anything that’s relating to his father’s death, and then we can just show the both of you together.
That’s perfect. I leaned down onto the desk.
Xe left me. I will report as soon as possible.
“I’m feeling strong enough to walk around. Shall we go show some of your delegates we’re not afraid?”
“You are wise, thank you.”
“I’m just wanting your power.” I winked at him. “You get to be king, and I get to tag along.”
He laughed. “If you wanted my power, there’s nothing any of us could ever do to stop you where you’re going.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “What do you mean?”
“You fought off one of the darkness’s generals. If that’s not an indication to the levels and potential you’ve got within you, then I don’t know what is.”
I swallowed, thinking back to that fight, to overcoming one thing which was trying to take me down for good. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I want you to tell me everything,” he said and moved to walk towards the door.
“We do have a lot to catch up on.” I smiled. “Let’s walk, talk.”
“I would like to eat too. I haven’t had anything yet today.”
I frowned at him. “Why?”
“I chased them away this morning.” Yun sighed.
“We’re going to get you back up to strength. Some more weight on you.” I gently reached to poke him, and he avoided me. “And ready so taking anyone on here is never going to worry you.”
“I do not know where it is safe for us to walk around. I’ve had Lenko as an escort ever since I arrived here.”
“You’re worried walking alone?”
That is really not good, Hiroto said.
“I feel safe with you, that is enough for me, but just be aware there are people here who do not like me.”
“We’ll handle anything if it comes up. Do not worry.”
His eyes blinked in and out, and we moved out of his office and into the hallway. This time we took a different path, and heading into the building, I got to see more Sitha moving around and yes, the vibe was weird. Super weird. They stopped and stared at Yun as he walked with me.
