The following morning at breakfast, Flick and Ulaume were all over each other and seemed drunk. Their constant mutual pawing got on Lileem’s nerves. When Ulaume got up to leave the table, Flick grabbed hold of him and started kissing his stomach, over and over.
Mima, sitting between Pellaz and Kate, who’d stayed the night, let out a whoop of delight. ‘You’ve made another pearl, haven’t you?’ she cried.
Aleeme yelled, ‘Yay, a brother!’
Flick and Ulaume started laughing. Then Mima was out of her seat, hugging them both. Lileem felt sick. She went outside.
Pellaz followed her out. It was strange how quickly she’d become used to his presence, he who had once seemed like a god to her. They’d talked about the connection she’d felt with him. He’d been amused to hear her story of him as a gigantic statue. The reality to him was far more commonplace. He’d heard her call and had perceived her personal power, in the form of the dehara. He’d simply pointed out the obvious, he thought: use what you already have.
Lileem sat down on an ornamental wall and he sat beside her. He didn’t say anything for a while, and she was grateful. Her nose was running. She wiped it with her hands.
‘It’s hard for me, seeing things like that,’ Pellaz said, referring to Flick and Ulaume. ‘It makes me think about my own blood-bond, and how Rue and I will never have what Flick and Ulaume have. Making harlings isn’t as easy as they make it seem, you know. It shows how deep their love runs. Their relationship is perfect. To be frank, it turns my stomach to witness it.’
Lileem thought he didn’t really mean that. He was trying to make her feel better, because he sensed she couldn’t join in with the household happiness and that she felt bad about that. ‘Pell, can you take me away?’
He sighed. ‘No. You know that I can’t.’
‘Why?’
‘Opalexian would not want me to.’
‘You are Tigron. How can her feelings matter that much? You could take me anywhere. You must know other hara somewhere I could live with. Somewhere far far away.’
‘I can’t upset her,’ Pellaz said. ‘She has me in a fierce hold.’
‘How?’ Lileem turned her head to look at him. ‘You made a deal with her, I know. What was it? You can tell me. I won’t breathe a word, I promise. I’m just a ghost.’
‘Opalexian believes she can exorcise ghosts,’ Pellaz said. He picked up a stone from the gravel path and threw it onto the lawn. ‘She will do something for me that Thiede will not.’
‘What?’
Pellaz lowered his eyes, stared at the ground. ‘She will heal Cal.’
‘I thought he was healed,’ Lileem said. ‘Flick told me the whole story, and that Thiede had let him go. Flick said it was all over.’
Pellaz glanced at her. ‘He has been released, but he is still very sick.’
‘How do you know?’
‘I asked Opalexian to find out, when I first met her. He still suffers, as Thiede wants him to. He needs to be healed of all that’s been done to him, by Thiede and even by those who came before. By Uigenna, by human parents, everyone.’
‘So you can be together again?’
‘I don’t know,’ Pellaz said. ‘Opalexian says she will try. I don’t know her plans exactly. All I know is that I have to keep silent and hope and dream. I have to trust that, one day, Cal and I will both know the truth about one another, because there are so many lies, so many barriers. I have to hope we can meet in a place out of time and remember all that we were. I will never forget him, and I know he’ll not forget me either. If anyone can draw the poison, I believe Opalexian can. I have to trust her. I have to give her what she wants, because this is the only thing that matters to me.’
‘I hope it works,’ Lileem said. ‘I really do.’
Pellaz smiled tightly. ‘We’ll see. You’re just as much of a worry. You’re so unhappy. I wish I could take you away, give you a new life, but…’
‘I know. I have to be punished for being bad. I’m stuck here in this great big prison.’
‘Perhaps you should speak to Opalexian, tell her how miserable you are. She isn’t the evil witch queen she makes herself out to be, you know.’
‘I’ll try. I wonder if she’d let me be like Tel-an-Kaa and roam the world looking for parazha. But then, I suppose I’m not to be trusted.’
Pellaz squeezed her leg. ‘Then show Opalexian that you are. She can’t keep you confined here forever. If you think I can help in any way, just ask.’
‘Well, you could speak to her first…’
‘All right. I will. When we next meet.’
‘Thanks, Pell.’ She leaned over kissed his cheek. Beautiful Pellaz. Kind Tigron. How tragic he should be so sad inside.
A few weeks after Flick and Ulaume’s blood-bonding, Aleeme began to display signs of approaching feybraiha. Flick told Ulaume of his desire to ask Pellaz to be their son’s first aruna partner, and Ulaume agreed this might be a good idea. They said nothing to Aleeme, because they sensed he would be delighted with their choice and would be extremely disappointed if Pellaz refused.
Gelaming engineers had perfected a piece of technology that aided the amplification of mind-touch messages, so that mind ‘mail’ could be sent easily over greater distance. Pellaz had brought one of these units to Shilalama and Flick’s household was the first in Roselane to own such a device. Very shortly afterwards, Opalexian received a similar gift from the Tigron. Now, Flick could contact Pellaz whenever he needed to, and after his discussion with Ulaume about Aleeme, he sent a message to Immanion, asking Pellaz if he could spare them an hour or so very soon.
Pellaz arrived at their home the following day. He said he’d been to visit Opalexian first, and wanted to speak to Lileem about something he’d discussed with the Kamagrian leader, but first he sat down with Flick and Ulaume at the bottom of the garden to hear what they had to say. Flick voiced their request carefully. Now that he had to speak to Pellaz personally, he realised he was asking quite a lot. It was a privilege indeed for any har to have the Tigron as their first aruna partner, and if Pellaz indulged all of his friends in this manner, he’d spend a lot of time, that he could ill afford, educating young harlings in arunic skills. Pellaz paused before answering, and when he did, it was to decline, but not because of the reasons Flick had anticipated.
‘This is a great honour you’re offering,’ Pellaz said, ‘but I can’t help you. Thiede has changed me, Flick. If I took aruna with such an inexperienced har as Aleeme, it could damage him severely. I’m more like Thiede now and my essence is strong. I’m sorry.’
Flick was not particularly surprised. ‘We’re stuck,’ he said. ‘We know no hara here we consider worthy of the task. Most of our close friends in Shilalama are Kamagrian.’
‘What you need,’ Pellaz said, ‘is another harish family with second-generation sons.’
‘This might sound incredible, but we’re the only hara in this city who’ve had sons,’ Ulaume said. ‘Remember, this is the territory of pious Roselane. The hara who end up here are mostly like monks.’
Pellaz laughed. ‘That has not escaped me!’ He cupped his chin with one hand, pondered for a few moments. ‘Let me think.’
‘Are there any families of your acquaintance who might help?’ Ulaume asked.
Pellaz drew in his breath slowly. ‘Yes,’ he said at last.
Flick could tell the family Pellaz had in mind was controversial. He knew before the Tigron spoke what he would say.
‘I could speak to Seel and Swift in Galhea,’ Pellaz said. ‘Or, more importantly, I could speak to Azriel. He’s not a child any longer, of course, but he is second generation. He’s Swift’s son, and a fine har. He will be experienced now, and he is pure-born. He would be my recommendation.’
‘They’d never allow it,’ Ulaume said.
Flick said nothing. He wondered how Pellaz could be so insensitive.
‘Things are different now,’ Pellaz said. ‘Seel does not harbour the same feelings for you as
he used to do, Lor. I – and Cobweb too – have made sure of that.’
‘And we should care?’ Flick said coldly. ‘There’s no way I’ll allow a son of mine to go anywhere near a har of Seel Griselming’s blood.’
‘Flick, that is irrational,’ Pellaz said patiently. ‘What do you think, Lor?’
Ulaume glanced at Flick. ‘I don’t know,’ he said uncertainly. ‘If Flick feels strongly about this, I have to support him.’
‘Never mind Flick’s feelings,’ Pellaz said. ‘What are yours?’
‘What?’ Flick cried. ‘Pell, what’s the matter with you?’
‘Hush,’ Pellaz said. ‘Hear me out. Well, Lor? You know that the House of Parasiel is very prominent. It would be good for Aleeme to undergo feybraiha there. It would be good for the rest of your family too.’
Ulaume was virtually squirming in his seat. ‘Well, I have no objections personally…’
‘Thanks,’ Flick said. ‘How short is your memory? Remember how Seel behaved with you.’
‘I also remember how Cobweb and Swift behaved,’ Ulaume said, carefully. ‘It would be a great honour for Aleeme, Flick. You know that.’
‘Seel would never comply,’ Flick said. ‘I don’t care how old Azriel is now. Seel is his hostling and no doubt still rules him with an iron fist.’
‘That’s not true,’ Pellaz said. ‘I’ve told you a hundred times he wants only to make peace with you. He knows I see you all the time, as you know I see him. This is ridiculous. How long ago was it that you left him?’
‘I thought we were supposed to be hiding here in secret,’ Flick said. ‘Parading into Galhea with you is hardly a surreptitious act.’
Pellaz laughed. ‘You don’t have to hide any more, Flick. You are under Opalexian’s protection. I don’t know how much Thiede knows about her, but he’s aware that the Roselane tribe has a very strong leader. He wouldn’t risk upsetting her, I’m sure. You are quite safe now. Hara in Immanion know you don’t live in Garridan. I’ve been building roads for you. I want to see a day when you and Ulaume can visit me in Immanion openly.’
‘These are all interesting ideas,’ Flick said, ‘and it’s even more interesting that you haven’t mentioned them to us before. But can we get back to the main subject? Aleeme’s feybraiha.’
‘Flick, think about it,’ Pellaz said. ‘I know what you wanted: a safe, unadventurous life, and in many ways you have it. But Fate has conspired to make you a har of status, not just in my eyes, but in Opalexian’s too. Your name is known in Immanion. And that brings me to another matter you should consider. You and Ulaume should think about taking a second name.’
‘Why?’ Flick said. ‘We don’t need one.’
‘You have started a family,’ Pellaz said, ‘and your sons will go on to have sons. You should have a family name. I believe it is important.’
‘You’re right,’ Ulaume said. ‘I hadn’t considered that.’
‘Your sons can’t remain here in Shilalama all the time,’ Pellaz said. ‘As you’ve already found out, it presents difficulties. You and Ulaume have each other, Flick, but think about Aleeme’s future, and that of your unborn son. Would it be fair to deny them a full life? At the very least, you should allow them to be educated somewhere in Almagabra.’
Flick was angry at everything the Tigron had said, because he knew Pellaz was right. It would benefit Aleeme to get to know other hara abroad, especially ones like the Parsics. He was almost an adult, and what did Shilalama really offer a full-blooded young har? Aleeme was not a greatly spiritual har. He would want more from life than meditation in the mountains and he had no companions his own age here. Their friendship with the Tigron would afford Aleeme advantages of which most hara could only dream. It would be selfish to deny him these privileges. ‘I’ll have to think about this,’ Flick said. ‘You’ve given us a lot to consider.’
‘Don’t think too long,’ Pellaz said. ‘Remember that Aleeme should spend some time with the one who is chosen for him before the feybraiha takes place.’ He paused. ‘Will you give me permission to speak to Seel and Swift? The rift between you and Seel should be healed. It is pointless. If you want an apology, I’m sure Seel will be prepared to give it.’
That meant that Pellaz would command him to apologise, Flick thought. He looked at Ulaume. ‘What do you think, Lor? You’re more impartial than I am.’
‘I think it’s…’ Ulaume shrugged. ‘I think it would be good for Aleeme.’
Flick sighed. ‘All right, then. But I don’t want apologies or scenes. I don’t want to be close to Seel again, nor to discuss the past in any way, but I can be cordial, if that’s what it takes.’
‘I’m delighted to hear it,’ Pellaz said. He braced his hands on his knees. ‘Now, I’d like to speak to Lileem. I have good news for her.’
‘What’s that?’ Flick asked. ‘What did you discuss with Opalexian? Will she allow Terez back here?’
‘No,’ Pellaz said, ‘but she has agreed to allow Lileem to work overseas with Tel-an-Kaa, as a kind of apprentice. She’s confident Kaa can keep an eye on Lee. Lileem asked me to help her in this matter, and I have. After her experiences in the otherworld, she needs to travel, to spread her wings.’
Flick had no idea Lileem felt that way. She clearly talked more with Pellaz than she did with her own family. That hurt. ‘So, it seems you’re arranging for most of our household to flee the nest,’ he said, sharply.
‘Oh, come on,’ Pellaz said. ‘It’s obvious you and Lor will eventually have this big old house overrun with harlings! You won’t lose anyhar, Flick. The world is a different place now. It’s easy to keep in touch.’
Flick harboured a faint hope that Seel would object to Azriel taking part in Aleeme’s feybraiha. This was not just because of the aversion he still had to Seel, but also because once events were set in motion, it would be the beginning of Aleeme leaving home. It would be a great wrench for Flick to lose his firstborn son, not to be able to see him every day, even if Aleeme did deserve everything that Pellaz could give him.
Once Flick had given his consent, Pellaz wasted no time, perhaps concerned that Flick would change his mind. He returned to Shilalama only two days later to say that the House of Parasiel would be honoured to help with Aleeme’s feybraiha. The Tigron came with a written invitation from Cobweb in his hand: Flick, Ulaume and Aleeme would be welcome in Galhea as soon as was convenient. Azriel was pleased he had been chosen, and Cobweb wanted to supervise contact between his grand-harling and Aleeme for two weeks before the feybraiha ceremony took place.
After the invitation had arrived, Flick then hoped that Opalexian would intervene, because she disapproved of her citizens interacting with the world of Wraeththu. Annoyingly, she gave her blessing. She trusted Flick and Ulaume, and she trusted the Tigron. This alliance might help Kamagrian’s position when the time came for them to reveal themselves to the world. The only stipulation she made was that Mima should not go to Galhea, not just because she was Kamagrian, but because it was obvious she was related to the Tigron. For the time being, it was preferable for Mima to keep a low profile. This disappointed Mima, not least because she was very fond of Aleeme and wished to be part of his coming of age rite, but she accepted Opalexian’s decision. She already knew that she was lucky Opalexian allowed her to visit Pellaz occasionally. Lileem, however, would be permitted to attend to feast day of the rite. Tel-an-Kaa, as a good friend of the Parsic family, would be invited, and Lileem could be present as the Zigane’s new assistant. Tel-an-Kaa would teach her how to disguise herself, because she’d need this skill in order to carry out Kamagrian work in Megalithica. A gathering at Galhea, amongst friends, would be a good opportunity for her to practice appearing like a human female.
Finally, Flick turned to his son, harbouring the faintest hope of all that Aleeme would be upset or frightened and would refuse to go to Galhea. No such luck. Aleeme was nervous about aruna with a stranger, but excited about the prospect of going abroad, of travelling the otherlanes with P
ellaz.
It’s going to happen, Flick thought glumly. I should know by now that life never stays the same.
While Flick was brooding over his forthcoming meeting with Seel, Ulaume invented a second name for their family: Sarestes, taken from the names of both Saltrock and Colurastes. He didn’t think Kakkahaar should be included.
The date was named, the arrangements finalised. The Sarestes family would travel with Pellaz to Megalithica as soon as Ulaume’s harling was born and had hatched from its pearl. The household staff would look after the harling while its parents were away. Flick hoped he had not invoked dark gods in trying to prevent the visit to Galhea. What if the universe intervened by harming Ulaume or the harling, so that they couldn’t go anywhere? While Ulaume groaned in pearlbirth, Flick paced around praying to all the dehara. ‘I want to go,’ he said to them. ‘I really want to go.’
The pearl was delivered without hitch and a short time later, the pearl hatched. A new Sarestes was born. They named him Orien.
A couple of days before the journey to Galhea, Pellaz arrived at the Sarestes house with a companion – Cobweb Parasiel. Cobweb, aware of the past friction between Flick and Seel, felt it would be a good idea for Flick to meet somehar from Galhea prior to arriving there. Flick appreciated this gesture. Cobweb made a great fuss of the new harling and treated Aleeme like an adult. In a very short time, the household took him to its heart.
Lileem, as usual, felt uncomfortable around the cosy domestic scenes and asked Pellaz if they might speak in private. An idea had been brewing in her head for some days. She’d debated whether to act on it or not, but now, on impulse, she decided she had to. She took Pellaz out into the garden, into the last of the evening.