Fall

Piper

The sun was still high in the sky as Piper led Finch through the backstreets of Biscay.

“Should we be concerned if he’s a friend of Lucy?” Finch said.

“You forget that he was a friend of mine as well.” A flicker of doubt lingered behind Piper’s confidence. She had been asked to meet Lucy at Woodlock’s for her purchase from strangers. Had he been a part of the plan, or the dozens of child transactions also conducted by her Guardian?

Was she doing the right thing?

Of course. Reine snaked along the cobblestone with the ease of a predator. And if not, I can slice his lizard into a slimy entrée.

You don’t think he knows we’re here, do you? Piper tugged at her hood.

Reine shot her a glare. No. It’s only been a few hours since our arrival.

He’s probably sleeping right now. Maybe we should wait till sunset.

Ah! Reine rounded on her. You humans never say what you mean.

An angry spark surged through Piper’s conscious, triggering an immediate headache. Pain throbbed through her. She stopped and clutched her head, barely managing to stand.

“Are you okay?” Finch asked, but he sounded far away.

As soon as it started, the spark dissolved its rampage and returned to its subtle glow in Piper’s mind.

Reine was beside Piper, her pale eyes wide. Piper, Piper!

Piper grimaced. Reine… You did that? Her fera had attacked her through their link.

I didn’t know I could do that. Reine pressed her nose to Piper’s hand.

Why? How? Piper turned to Finch. “I’m okay. Thank you.”

I was frustrated, and wanted to know what you were truly thinking, not just the thoughts you told me. I could picture opening up your mind like the skin of a mole, and digging through the lies until I found truth. Reine shuddered. I didn’t know I could—that it would…

The lies? I can’t tell you lies; we are soul-bound! Piper stared at the leopard.

“I don’t think you’re okay.” Finch frowned.

It’s not the lies you tell me, but the lies you tell yourself, Reine said.

What? Piper guffawed. What lies? she repeated.

“I think you need to sit down.” Finch looked around the alleyway.

“I’m fine,” Piper stressed.

“Then tell me what you and Reine are discussing.” Finch crossed his arms. Chip cocked his head on his shoulder.

Tell me, Piper pleaded. What lies?

Reine had withdrawn inside herself, not wanting to speak.

Oh no you don’t. Piper knelt down to Reine’s eyelevel. I know you can hear me.

You think your true parents won’t love you. That when Lucy stole you, or they gave you up, that it was the end of their care for their child. Reine met her with a solemn face. You’re afraid to find them.

Piper was speechless. Afraid? No, she was not afraid of finding her parents. She was apprehensive of questioning Woodlock, and potentially Lucy, but had dreamed of meeting her parents for years. Wished and prayed she were as close to them as she was now.

I’m not afraid, she told her fera.

Reine sniffed. Denial.

You want proof? Piper straightened. I’ll meet with Woodlock and go to Lucy. We will find my parents.

Finch coughed. “Are you done? Or should I wait a few more minutes?”

A chill wind whipped into the alleyway from the main road, bringing leaves in its arms. They swirled playfully around Piper’s feet before drifting onto the cobblestone.

Piper peered down the next corner, where Woodlock’s door was near. “Yeah. We’re good.”

Finch sent Chip hovering over them. “Lead the way, Miss Amur.”

Atlas

After miles of sand, a beacon of hope appeared in the darkness.

It was faint at first, and could be mistaken as starlight clustered over the next dune. But it became clearer with each step that this light was manmade.

Atlas’s heart quickened. Could their dry tomb have an end? “Life, is that… a town?”

“Steady, Atlas,” Milla warned. “Remember that all voices here are not friendly. Bandits have eluded us, but this doesn’t mean the natives will be welcoming. We don’t know whose side they’re on.”

As they crested the sand dune, Skye gave a surprised murmur. “Where are the houses?”

Hundreds of perfect cones dotted the relatively flat stretch between shifting hills. Each was the size of a small room, and as they drew closer, found that the tents were made of thick skins ranging from midnight to creamy white. The skins of sand cows.

Hudson’s ears confirmed this as the wind brought the sound of lowing to them. Sand cows.

“The Chestic are nomadic, mostly.” Milla shifted a blanket on June to show their Northern colors. “They herd sand cows from oasis to oasis, looking for the best pasture. Chesa is one of the only brick-and-mortar establishments here.”

“That’s why their towns are never marked on maps. They’re always moving,” Atlas chuckled.

“Why are they called towns?” Skye said.

“They have a name, defined boundaries with each stop, and a local government.” Atlas shrugged. “It meets the definition of a town, and they insisted.”

Skye squinted at the light. Atlas was glad she kept Madoc on her shoulder, for fear of the bird being attacked. “What’s this one called?”

“We won’t know until we’re closer,” Milla said. Her silhouette grew sharper, then faded altogether in the town’s torches.

Dog fera began to bark. Shapes rushed out of the tents, a mix of animal and human.

Atlas was ready this time for the spears shoved in his face.

If fear was a fera, then spears would be its bristles, Hudson remarked.

Let’s save the analogies for later, shall we? Atlas cleared his throat. Help me not write our death sentence with choppy Chestic.

Before he took another breath, Milla intervened. “Ladies and gentlemen, would you be so kind as to lead us to your mayor?” Her Chestic was calming and warm, a sudden turn from the rough tongue of the North. Skye was visibly shocked.

The welcoming committee mirrored Skye. From their loud Northern colors to their ragged walk across the uneven ground, the warriors had clearly expected a trio of lost Elbens.

Which was partly true, Atlas thought.

A woman with a desert fox spoke up first. “Yes… I think so. Who are you?”

Atlas allowed Milla to be their voice. “We are ambassadors of the North, sent by King Asher.”

This evoked raised eyebrows around the Southern group.

“Truly, you must be from the North,” a man with a ground owl said.

Milla exchanged a confused look with Atlas. “Is that a problem, friends?”

The man with the ground owl started to walk away. “Come. Perhaps our mayor can explain more.”

Kane

“Ah, Prince Kane!” Cooper exclaimed as he opened the throne room doors. “Is our appointment still on? You’ll be glad to know I found the vitrum papers,” he added with a mirthful twitch of his mustache.

Kane hesitated. Was it wise to continue business when Kit was gone? Shouldn’t all of his efforts be focused on finding his sister?

Hmm… Flint was thoughtful. With the help of vitrum fingerprints from Nora’s earlier attack, we may be able to produce a lead Poppy doesn’t have yet.

A string to the ball of twine. Kane waved a hand at the dozen guards around him. “Are you okay with more company, inventor?”

Cooper seemed to notice this for the first time. “Life, they’re multiplying by the day. What are you feeding them?”

Kane laughed. “I’ll see you this afternoon.”

Cooper bowed. “Until then, Prince.”

Homer and the rest of his guard stopped at the great vitrum-webbed doors. “Would you like one of us to come with you this time?”

“No.” Kane kept himself from saying this too quickly. “I will be fine.”

“Very well.” Homer stepped back as the doors swung inwards, and Kane left them behind.

From the static air, Kane could immediately tell the king was in a bear of a mood.

A tiger of a mood may be better. Flint tried to ease the tension that seeped into them.

King Asher was pacing his dais, with Levi mirroring him on the steps below. His arms were in a tight fold at his back, and his features were pinched with passion. He slowed when he saw Kane, but didn’t cease his walk.

“Did you know, Prince Kane, that I was mentor-less when I came to the crown?”

Kane did in fact know this, but let the king continue.

“All I had were history books and legends of the mighty rulers who had come before me. Words, Prince Kane. All I had were words.” The king slammed his fist into his open palm. “But what I truly needed were actions. I needed a king who would shelter and teach me his wisdom. A king who led by example, not in memory.” He sighed. “This is what I had planned for my successor. The future king or queen of the North would be safe from harm, and gradually learn their role.”

The king sighed once more, and eased himself onto the throne. “Look where my plans ended.” Levi stalked up to the dais, and laid his striped head on King Asher’s arm.

Kane didn’t know what to say. How would he comfort his king?

Change the subject, Flint suggested. Get back on track.

Kit. Kit was the reason they were here. Bringing his hands together with a clap, Kane grabbed the attention of King Asher. “We must think of the present, my king. Of the great things that can still be done.”

King Asher shifted in his seat. “Yes, you’re exactly right.”

Flint helped him think of a suitable question. “Now I’m assuming you requested me here because of my sister?”

“Yes. Kit.” King Asher drummed his fingers on the armrest of his throne. “This kidnapping from Nora has already sent shockwaves through Elbe. Many are calling for a return of our heroes, Piper and Reine.” He leaned forward. “I sent a messenger to inform them of our situation, but they could be anywhere in the West. It’s a sizable territory. We will have to make do without the Amurs for now.”

Kane bobbed his head. “What is our plan?”

The word plan sent creases into King Asher’s forehead, but he responded with an even tone. “Before the battle, we only scraped the surface of the ice, but a far deeper pool lies below us. We will send waves of soldiers, Kane. So many waves underground that Nora won’t have the time to slip out of their secrets coves. So many waves that we will catch the faintest scent left by them.” The king looked smug as his back hit the base of his throne. “We will win this time, Prince.”