Spring Changes, page 22
I bumped his shoulder with mine. “We are equals, yes?”
“Yes.” He laughed at me, recovering his posture. “We are very much equals.”
22
“You both fought extremely well.” Tiftia moved in beside us. “But now, you need to recharge. Thank you, Barsis, for your training.”
“It was my pleasure.” Barsis bowed to me. “If you ever want someone who won’t back down, come to me.”
Yun shot him a glare.
“Thank you.” I held out my hand again and he took it in a firm shake. “Between you and my partner, Shion, you make me a better warrior.”
“You should train more with him,” Barsis said to Yun.
“I was worried I’d hurt him,” Yun said honestly. Regret oozed off him.
“Don’t worry, you probably would have back then. Now I can handle a lot more.”
“For that, I am thankful. Tomorrow we will see the outcome of this.” He moved away. “I will make sure you’re secured in your rooms, and we will meet again in the morning. It is getting late.”
My mind was not ready for sleeping. Don’t you even think about it! I shot inside.
I would not. Actually, I think there’re some things we can do before morning.
Oh. As we walked back up to Yun’s office, Lenko, Barsis, and Tiftia bid us goodnight, and Yun took us through the back of the office and then out some other corridors. There were two rooms to the far right and one to the left.
“I guess this is me. If you need anything, knock,” Tyto said. He vanished a moment later into the first room.
I was left looking at the next door, just not feeling it. I turned to Yun. “You know I’m not gonna sleep there.”
Yun opened his door. “Come, we can talk, then sleep.”
Hiroto coughed. Seems serious?
I agreed and stepped into Yun’s royal bedroom.
I don’t know why I hadn’t expected them to have the things we did. There was much of Yun I never asked or understood. But mostly because he seemed to drift in and out of our world. At the time, I had more things to focus on, and not really our relationship.
“Do not be so worried,” he said. “My comfort in the first year was what I made it. It was my choice to stay in the background. I was, after all, grieving.”
“If I’d talked more, helped you more . . .”
Yun crossed his arms, his eyes dipped. “I wouldn’t have listened or let you.”
I needed to get him to open up, properly. I stepped towards the master bed. The rich colours, deep reds and blues, echoed royalty. I ran a hand over it, feeling the embroidered edge to the silk. I very much wanted to just plonk down on it, my body very sore from the beating from Barsis.
Yun, however, moved out a door on the other side, and I heard running water. “Bathe. It will help your muscles,” he said.
“For the king of your species, you’re very attentive to my needs.” I smiled at him.
“What you are, I am,” he replied. “And I feel the aches. The less energy we use to heal your body, the brighter we will be tomorrow.”
I couldn’t argue with that. I moved into the bathroom, noting the white tiles and blue edging. I smiled at the tub, almost half full already. Yun stepped in beside me. “There are two oils at the end. Pick the one on the left—it will help the most. I will . . .”
I didn’t hesitate and stripped off my shirt. “Nothing you haven’t seen before,” I said.
I kicked my boots off, and he poured the oils in the bath for me, bringing the scent of something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but it reminded me of the plant back on Armastai.
“Thanks,” I said, dropping my trousers, and then dipping my toes into the water. I slid down and into the bath. The water instantly warmed those aches inside.
Xe piped up. This will help a lot. There’re minerals in the oils.
I smiled and leaned back with a sigh, then dunked my head under the water.
When I popped back up, Yun sat staring into space.
“What is it you want to happen tomorrow, really?” he asked.
“I want you to claim the right you were born for,” I answered. “You have values and goals which align with mine. Not only just for the war, but for your people. You want better for them.”
“I do. I don’t want fear anymore. I want people to understand us.”
I picked up what looked like a bar of soap, rubbing it between my hands. “That might take a bit longer than you think. Your species by nature feeds off people. You are the only ones who can choose if they’re good or bad. So far, your species has chosen the bad, but if Sakrost—”
“That is my fear.” He crossed his arms again. “We can’t go down that route.”
“Good, because I don’t want to fight the Sitha as well as those things coming through the rift.”
“No.” He shook his head. “That would not be good.”
I watched him carefully after I rinsed off. His silent contemplation had never given me pause for thought, but here in his bathroom with the weight of tomorrow settling over us, I saw him still as a frightened young man.
“Hey,” I said and scooted down the tub. I reached my hand over and prodded him, his soft fur sticking to my finger.
“I’m sorry,” he said. His eyes looked toward me, swirling with his emotion.
“Don’t be sorry,” I said. “We can do this, right?”
“We have every chance, win or fail. Either way, I am not sure what will happen.”
I grinned. “I know I’m gonna show them something they never expected nor will they fully understand tomorrow. Now to make this work more, I want you to tell me everything you know about Ethran and his family.”
I pulled the plug on the bath, feeling scrubbed and relaxed enough.
Yun stood and held out a towel for me.
“Seems a bit lavish for you, all this,” I said.
“We still need to take care of our hair,” he said and brushed down his sides. “The oils really help with the knots, but kenosi keeps it free-flowing and supple.”
“It is a large part of who you are, the way you appear in our world, mostly because of that.”
“Yes, though here now without the dimensional shift, it just looks what?”
“Overly long and complicated,” I said and dried myself off.
“There’re some clothes you can borrow. Yours will be clean in the next few hours for tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” I moved to grab some underwear and dressed at least in something I could sleep in. Then I ran for his bed with a laugh. “Man, this is a comfort beyond anything I have ever slept in.”
“Even the queen’s guest bed?”
I pushed myself up from being contained by the softness, and he climbed onto the other side. “Yeah, Cassie’s quarters were plush, but nothing like these.”
“I’d like to meet her,” he said. “One day when all of these things are done, when the world is safer. You think that’s possible?”
I leaned on one elbow, floofing a pillow beneath me. “I think she’d like that, she’s actually a wonderful person. Full of hope even amidst all this . . .”
“Universal turmoil?”
“Yeah, plus,” I said with a raised eyebrow, “Xirob and she got together.”
Yun’s nose twitched, his teeth poking out his smile. “A queen with a soldier, now that’s going to be something in terms of denti history.”
“We’re in, and I hate to say it, extraordinary times. There’s nothing anyone could tell me now that would shock me.”
“You and me both,” he said and leaned back into his pillow.
I yawned and did the same. Silence drifted over us. That comfortable silence when I not only felt safe, but despite all the things we faced, I had people around me who meant the most.
I watched him for a while, his breathing settled and he was asleep. I turned over, slid off the bed, and went to knock on Tyto’s door. He answered it in a towel, fresh out of the bath himself.
Damn, Hiroto said. Tell him to put some clothes on.
I laughed, glanced down at his attire.
“Sorry, I was just out the bath,” he said. “I forget how excitable Hiroto is.” He moved into his room and I glanced around while he dressed quick. “Yun asleep?”
I nodded. “It took him a while, but I think that’s the deepest sleep he’s had for a while.”
“You went in there to make sure?” he asked, moving to a side table to pour us both a drink.
“Damn right I did,” I said, and taking the drink off him, I sat. “I’ve never seen him not take care of himself before. These are such strange times.”
“You’re not kidding. I expected none of it here. But for you to face something like you are tomorrow, I’m not sure it’s the right call either.”
“I’m the reason his right to the throne is in question,” I said and sipped the drink. It was a strong alcohol with a slight fruity hint, sweet.
“I think Sakrost would have challenged him anyway,” he said, and touching the side of the table he brought up a 3D view of the family’s history. “Hiroto’s been running through a lot of stuff with me while you two talked.”
I grinned and started to read. “I knew he would, thanks.”
Hiroto’s voice came out low then between us. “I’m a little more into their systems than they’d like. But there are several things I want you to see.”
The view before us changed and became a set of stats. Very powerful stats. “This is Ethran, in the equivalent terms I know you understand. This is you with the boost from the crest.”
I read over his stats. “We’re almost evenly matched.” I sighed.
“Yeah,” Hiroto said. “There’s going to be no easy fight either way.”
“I never expected it to be easy,” I said. “What else did you find out?”
“Here,” Hiroto said. “We’ve been discussing ways we can try to get out of their testing the challenge, but so far there’re only terms and clauses that confuse the best of us. The Sitha language is shrouded in their history and in their staying pure. The biggest issue is they believe because Yun bonded with you, he is now no longer pure.”
“But that isn’t what the bond does, right?”
“No, they don’t see it on that molecular level. They don’t see you both actually complement each other not just in beliefs, but in skills, strength, trust.”
“I don’t know how we can prove any of that.”
“I do, but I don’t think Tyto would like it.”
Tyto raised an eyebrow at me. “I don’t think I’ve really liked any idea Kyle’s had, because they’re last minute and crazy. . . . You, on the other hand, are super smart and wouldn’t.”
Hiroto cringed on the inside. “Let me tell you this, and we’ll see then if you believe me to have the same care . . .”
I think I listened to Hiroto’s idea—and then Tyto’s arguing for an hour—while I poured some more drinks and eventually moved to his bed. I fell asleep sometime later.
Someone poked me in the forehead, and I let out a groan. I opened my eyes to see Tyto’s gazing at me from the other side of the bed.
“Ugh, did you have to?” I said and stretched out.
“Sorry, we should head down to the others before the council meeting.” He smiled. “As dang cute as you snore, I think we should go.”
“I don’t snore,” I said and shoved the blankets off. “I never even remember falling asleep.”
“Hiroto and I debated for quite a while. It’s pretty safe to say the alcohol and that put you to sleep.”
The muscles in my back tightened some, but with a few more stretches they eased off. “I guess I needed it,” I said.
“You did,” Hiroto answered for me.
I looked around for the rest of my clothes and remembered they were in Yun’s room.
“Thanks for letting me sleep,” I said to him. “I’ll grab my uniform and meet you outside in two.”
I saw Tyto nod and move to get dressed himself. “Sounds good.”
The yawns wouldn’t stop as I left his room and grabbed the rest of my clothes. Did you come to any other conclusions I need to know? I asked Hiroto as I slipped my boots on, and then secured my sword at my hilt.
No, not really. We spoke a lot more about other species in the universe than those that don’t fear the Sitha, those whose legends of them are different to ours.
I’m glad they’re not viewed with fear everywhere.
I closed the door behind me and met Tyto again in the hall. “Ready?” he asked.
“Ready as I’m going to ever be,” I said. When he started walking, I fell in line with him. “At least now I am better prepared for anything they’re going to say, do.”
“We can only hope.”
We entered Yun’s office to see mostly familiar faces, but there were a few others as well this time. “Morning,” I said.
Yun stepped towards me. “Thank you for helping me to sleep.” He dipped his head to me.
“No need to thank me, Tyto did exactly the same for me.”
“It seems we are surrounded by those who put us before themselves.”
I nodded and glanced behind him. “Who is everyone else here?”
He turned around and announced to the room. “Clan of Takar, it is with honour I present to you Kyle Ranz, my Kritisee.”
All faces looked at us. The sheer power in this room is phenomenal, I said to Hiroto.
You’re not kidding. The two eldest at the back are stronger than Tiftia and Barsis.
I looked at the older figures. Their posture alone told me I wasn’t welcome. They’d be my first targets to try to turn.
I let Yun walk me through the crowd of people. He told me names I’d never remember, but Hiroto logged them all. As usual, a little tag appeared so I could then ID people as they milled around.
When we got to the back of the room, even Yun seemed to soften in his steps. The two men had moved further away and were conversing together in Sitha, though I was understanding more of it without translation help as their words were terse.
“He has no chance against a full challenge,” one said.
“We’re doomed,” the other replied, and my heart sank.
Do not listen to their words, Hiroto said. They don’t know us.
I know. It just feels bad. I have so much to prove here.
Yes, you do. But we will. Speak to them.
Yun stepped before them and once more introduced me to them and reciprocated with their names. “This is Nalax Harth, and Nalax Rayth.”
I lowered my head out of respect. “Good to meet you,” I said.
“Good,” Harth said. “You think being here is good!”
“Child, you know nothing of what you face and what you’re putting our species through,” Rayth added, his voice loud enough to bring over others.
I stood straight. They were going for the kill already to see if I’d have enough balls to stand up to them or for Yun. I met Rayth’s burning fire eyes with my own. My kenosi sparked just enough to show I was not taking shit. Yun held onto my arm as though he was going to drag me away, but I was not being his to move or theirs to bully either.
“You can call me all the names you wish for now,” I said. “After today, you will respect the name I was given.”
Rayth stepped in closer to me, his eyes burned all the more, and he reached for me not only with his hand, but with his wisps. Yun didn’t leave my side.
Xe piped up. They’re intentionally going to sting.
I can see that, I replied to her.
I focussed quickly on the shield I learned yesterday and when Rayth’s wisps wrapped around my neck, pulling him to me, I never flinched. What I did do in front of everyone, however, was spark enough kenosi to push them away.
“Do not threaten me,” I said. “You know nothing I am capable of, nor do you want to spark that before the council meeting.”
Rayth immediately pulled back and looked to Harth. “He is stronger than we thought.” He lowered his head to me. “Forgive the intrusion on your psyche,” he said. “I had to feel your intentions for myself.”
“Oh.” I let my kenosi fade away. “Your findings?”
Rayth looked out to the room. “His heart is as pure as Yun has been telling us. But there is something else I think you should all know.”
I cringed at this, not really knowing what he was going to announce next.
“Somehow, it appears our young warrior has fought and defeated the dark curse that was attached to him.”
The room erupted in more chatter, and Harth stepped towards me. “Is this true?”
I nodded. “A while ago, yes.”
“What made you choose to fight him?”
“I knew his debt would continue to grow. I wasn’t prepared for that to happen, knowing the positions and the people around me.”
Harth motioned to me. “Please, let me talk with you alone.”
He glanced to Yun, who stepped away from my side, much to my surprise.
23
“Of course,” I said, nodding.
Harth moved with me to the other side of the office. “I’m sure you’re nervous. Apologies for making you even more uncomfortable, Rayth had to see . . .”
“Because you don’t trust your king?” I said matter-of-factly.
“You’re correct, sadly.” The truth was, they didn’t.
His shoulders fell, and he looked back to the crowd of now rather excited people, rubbing the back of his neck.
“What I will do today is for you all,” I said, bringing his attention back to me. “Not only can you trust me, but you can trust him as well.”
“You really will stand by his side?” Harth turned back to me, holding my eyes with his.
“If he needs me, every single time.”
Harth motioned to the room. “These Sitha here are the most prestigious in the room, yet you were drawn to us. Why?”
“I sensed your influence and your kenosi,” I replied. “They might be the most prestigious people in the room, but you both influence them.”
