Jade said, “What about you?”
Moon stared at her, not understanding. “What about me?”
“What happened last time happened to you, too. And the time before that, and the time before that.” She pretended to count on her fingers. “I think that’s it. Unless there are some times you haven’t told me about, which I sometimes suspect there are.”
Moon considered a few different responses, and then said, “I’m fine. If I wasn’t, I’d say so.”
Claws carefully sheathed, Jade touched his cheek. “That would be a first.”
Moon didn’t pull back, but decided on a different defensive maneuver. “You don’t want me with you?”
“I didn’t say that.” Jade sighed a little. “Before the augury, the dream was bad enough. If Fell are coming to the Reaches . . .”
Moon thought of the nurseries, an involuntary image he couldn’t push away. “I’d rather stop them before they get here.”
They sat there in silence for a moment, then Moon picked up his pack to look through it again, trying to distract himself. “Who’s the fifth warrior?”
Jade settled her spines and smiled. “River volunteered.”
It was Moon’s turn to sigh. His relationship with River had been long and fraught, starting almost the instant he had first entered the Indigo Cloud court. River had been sleeping with Pearl, and the long absence of any young consort in the court had almost let him take that place with the warriors, causing a lot of conflict between Pearl’s and Jade’s factions. Moon’s appearance had disrupted that, and later when Pearl had taken Ember, River had lost his status in the court completely. It had taken him some time to get the respect or at least tolerance of the other warriors back since then. “I thought he got over having something to prove.”
“He pointed out that he has almost as much experience outside the court as Root and Song, which is true.” Jade eyed Moon, obviously trying to tell if he had any real objection. “I’m inclined to agree.”
It was true, and Moon couldn’t argue with it. He said, “But no Drift.” Drift was River’s more obnoxious companion. He had experience outside the court too, but Moon had to draw the line somewhere, even though the two were sincerely attached to each other.
“No Drift,” Jade agreed. She moved closer and tugged on his wrist. “Since we have time—”
“Is Jade in here?” someone called out.
“I’m here.” Jade let go of Moon, annoyed. Moon had the bad feeling they had just lost their last chance for private sex for quite a while.
Sage ducked into the doorway. “The Arbora are up here to talk to Pearl. They wanted you to come hear them too.”
The four leaders of the Arbora castes, Bone for the hunters, Heart for the mentors, Knell for the soldiers, and Bell for the teachers, were in the queens’ hall, sitting near the hearth. Pearl was already there, waiting impatiently. When Jade and Moon had taken seats, Bone said, “We’ve been speaking among ourselves—”
Pearl, without twitching a spine, said dryly, “You know I hate that.”
Moon couldn’t do anything but stare. Pearl had just made a joke. Bone, the only one who wasn’t fazed, said, wryly, “Yes, I know. But we think at least one other Arbora should go in the group, along with the mentor.”
Jade didn’t react, but Pearl lifted a brow and said, “This is what comes of thinking.”
Bell pointed out, “Arbora were helpful when Jade and the others went missing on the way to Ocean Winter. Moon knows that.”
Pearl turned her ironic gaze on Moon. He said, “They were.” She tilted her head, and Moon shrugged. This one was not his fault.
Bone said, “Bramble is the best tracker we have, and good at figuring things out.”
Bell added, “We discussed it with her. She’s already agreed to go, if you agree.”
“A hunter.” Pearl flexed her claws, a gesture of distraction. “You don’t trust your sister queen?”
Bone didn’t fall for that one. He said, “I think she should have the help of Arbora if she needs it.”
Moon thought Bramble was a good choice. She was intelligent, clever, and level-headed. He just didn’t want to see her hurt or killed.
Pearl was thinking it over, her tail tip moving slowly. Finally, she said, “If Jade agrees, I’ll make no objection.”
Jade sighed, flicking her claws to show she was giving in reluctantly. “I agree. I’m not happy, but I’ll agree.”
Bone was too experienced at dealing with queens to show any satisfaction. “All we ask is that you consider our advice.”
Pearl wasn’t fooled. “You’re lucky you’re old and can get away with this.” She turned to Jade. “You’ll need at least one more warrior, if you have to leave the groundlings’ boat and travel on your own.”
Jade flicked a spine in agreement. “Briar. If she agrees.” Briar was one of the younger female warriors who had managed to stay out of the faction infighting.
Pearl stood, settling her spines. “Then go and tell everyone to make ready.”
The night was spent in preparations and saying goodbye. Moon spent it in the nurseries, with his own clutch and the Sky Copper fledglings, and all the others. Like Thorn had said, his own fledglings were a little too young to understand the idea that he would be gone for a long period. He hoped they didn’t notice for a while.
The next morning, Moon said goodbye to Blossom, Rill, Bark, and Bell and the other teachers, and forced himself to leave the nurseries and gather with the others in the greeting hall.
Moon took the back way, because this was hard enough and seemed to get harder every time he had to stop and say goodbye to someone. Everyone was all too aware of the danger. As he passed through the series of smaller chambers behind the far end of the greeting hall, he heard voices.
It was River and Drift, a couple of chambers ahead. Moon stopped, and they were too intent on each other to notice him. It had been a long time since anyone in the court had plotted against him, but suspicious habit was hard to break. There was a sob in Drift’s voice as he said, “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I will,” River said. “I’ve always come back before.”
“This is different. Just . . . You don’t have to prove yourself. You have friends who love you. The past doesn’t matter to the others the way you think it does.”
River was silent a long moment, then said, “It matters.”
Moon turned and silently slipped away.
He took the other way around to the greeting hall and found the other warriors and the Arbora gathered there, ready to leave. Much of the court was on the hall floor and the balconies of the well to watch them go. The others were saying quiet or noisy goodbyes to their friends and clutchmates. Briar was clearly trying not to twitch with nerves. Balm had told Moon earlier that Briar was pleased to be asked to go but also terribly nervous, and saw herself as inexperienced compared to the others. Moon would rather have a warrior nervous and inclined to be extra careful because of it than an overconfident one.
Moon went to stand next to Jade, Stone, and Pearl. After a moment, River came in and joined the rest of the group.
Bramble bounced around saying her goodbyes, and seemed more excited than nervous, a personality trait that was probably one of the main reasons she had been chosen. Moon still wasn’t sure about bringing her, but maybe Bone was right: she would help in ways no one could anticipate yet.
Everyone carried a pack, with the supplies needed to survive on their own if necessary, and Merit had an extra satchel slung over his shoulder, holding the materials he needed for making simples. The warriors who were to take the message and the third copy of the map to Malachite had already left, a group of five led by Aura.
As the group gathered around, Jade said, “Remember, they don’t know that most of us speak Kedaic. Speak to them in Altanic only.”
Everyone flicked spines in assent. Pearl told Jade, “I hope this trip is for nothing.”
She hadn’t phrased it pa
rticularly well, but Moon had the feeling that everyone knew what she meant. With wry acknowledgment, Jade said, “So do I.”
Chime picked up Merit and Song lifted Bramble, and they took flight through the forest to where the groundling flying boat was waiting.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Moon already knew this was going to be an awkward trip.
They flew through damp morning air of the suspended forest and found the flying boat still waiting near the meeting spot. As they drew near, Jade called back, “Land on the tree and wait there. I want to make certain it’s safe first.”
Moon tilted his wings to change direction and dropped down to land on the platform near the pond. Chime, carrying Merit, landed beside him. The others took positions on the branches above. Moon glanced around, making sure everyone was with them. For a moment he couldn’t spot Balm and Stone, but then saw them together on a branch further back in the tree. Stone had shifted to his groundling form, probably so they could talk.
“How different do you think this is going to be from traveling with the Golden Islanders?” Chime asked, his attention on the flying boat.
Jade circled above it once and landed on the deck. Several groundlings were visible, and she was speaking to Callumkal. With relief, Moon saw Delin step out of a doorway in the ridge that ran up the center of the deck. It wasn’t that he thought this was all an elaborate trap, it was just that even after all this time, suspicion was still a way of life for him. It wasn’t something that went away fast, or as far as he could tell, ever. He said, “Very different.”
Bramble, hanging onto Song, reached over to thump Chime in the shoulder. “It’s exciting.” Neither of the Arbora had been on a flying boat since they had come to the Reaches.
“That’s one word for it,” Chime muttered.
Jade lifted a hand, signaling them to come ahead.
Moon launched himself off the platform. He flapped to get above the boat, then dropped down to the deck. As the warriors landed behind him, he saw Stone was still in his groundling form, being carried by Balm. What’s that about? he wondered. But maybe Stone didn’t trust the boat’s deck to support his winged form. The warriors cast a few puzzled stares in Stone’s direction as Balm set him on his feet, but no one commented.
There were more crew members on the deck, and from their resemblance to Callumkal and Kalam, they were probably all Janderan. Though their skin varied a little in coloring, from a dark almost pure black to a deep warm brown, it had the same hard texture, and they all had the same rangy build. They also all radiated the same air of wary displeasure.
Jade caught Moon’s attention with a spine flick, and everyone shifted to groundling. Moon managed to do it in time with the others. It was a trick queens used when greeting other courts. Moon’s ability to participate was an achievement he was sure was wasted on the groundlings.
Callumkal nodded to them all. “We welcome you aboard.” He made a gesture. “Kalam will show you to your quarters.”
Despite the welcome, the crew still seemed uneasy, and watched them with an intensity that seemed both worried and unfriendly. Never a good combination, in Moon’s experience. Considering how the meeting had gone yesterday, it wasn’t a surprise. He didn’t expect the Raksura would have come off very well when the story of it was repeated to the rest of the Kishan.
Jade tilted her head to Callumkal in acknowledgment, and told Moon in Raksuran, “You take the others. Balm and Briar, stay with me.”
“Right,” Moon said, trying not to sound relieved. Standing out here under the weight of all this scrutiny made his nerves twitch and brought up uncomfortable memories. It had been a long time since he had been around any groundlings except the Kek and the other species who inhabited the floor of the Reaches. He was out of practice at being stared at.
As Kalam led the way through a door in the ridge along the deck, Delin fell in beside Moon and Chime. He said, “They asked if you and Jade should be put in a separate chamber, and I said that you would all prefer to be together. Was that right?”
Moon glanced back to make sure everyone who was supposed to be with him was actually following. Stone was tagging along at the back. “That’s right.” For safety while traveling, they always slept in groups.
The hatch had thick doors made out of layers of the moss material, with bars meant to fasten them against heavy weather. Inside the ridge was a broad hallway lit by large globes, glowing with light. They were mounted in the ceiling ridges, but were clearly made of something gelatinous. Delin saw Moon look up at them and he explained, “They are a luminescent fluid, harvested from a type of squid.”
The scents of strange groundlings and strange cooking smells almost overwhelmed the heady green odor of the ship. Kalam led them down a spiral stair to two levels below, to a larger room that seemed to be a gathering area. There were padded benches along the walls and stools scattered around. Several groundlings sat there, all Janderan. One said, in Kedaic, “So that’s them. I wonder why they brought the old man along.”
They were talking about Stone. Moon bit his lip to control his expression. Chime, walking between Moon and Delin, made an involuntary noise in his throat. As they reached the doorway to another passage, Moon glanced casually back and saw everyone had very blank expressions, except for River, who looked sardonic. He could read faint amusement from Stone’s normally opaque expression. This is going to be interesting, Moon thought.
The passage curved and twisted down, then opened into a winding corridor lined with doors. Kalam slid open the first. In carefully pronounced Altanic, he said, “These two are your rooms, next to Delin’s quarters. There is a bathing and elimination room at the end of the corridor. Uh . . .” He hesitated. Feeling unhelpful, Moon just stared at him.
Delin told Kalam, “I will explain how to use the equipment.”
Moon stepped in, and found a room much like the one Delin had, with beds built into the walls. There was an opening in the wall to the next room which doubled the available space. It looked as if it had been recently made; the edges were raw and the scent of the moss was more intense. More importantly, there were windows along the outer wall, set with crystal, but able to swing open and easily large enough to climb out of. Moon turned back to Merit and Bramble, who were peering through the doorway. He nodded, and they pushed in, followed by the warriors. Stone strolled in last.
Kalam stood uncertainly in the doorway. “If there is anything else you require . . .”
Moon told him, “We’ll ask.”
Kalam hesitated again, then retreated away down the corridor. Moon waited until the sound of his footsteps had faded, then checked the door. It was a light sliding panel with no lock, with no way anyone could seal them in.
Bramble looked at Stone and said, “Old man?”
Stone gave her a push to the head. “I am old.”
Except by “old” the Janderan had meant “useless.” Raksura just got stronger and usually larger as they grew older; most groundling species didn’t.
Delin said charitably, “Kalam is a good young person. They are an interesting species, and do not choose their gender until they near maturity. Kalam has only recently chosen his, and is perhaps too sheltered by his father.”
It made sense. Though Delin’s opinion was possibly colored by the fact that all his children and grandchildren were crewing or captaining wind-ships.
Merit put his pack against the wall. He looked like he was finding the situation daunting. “Is that how groundlings act toward everyone? Besides Delin and the other Golden Islanders.”
“They know what we are,” Moon said. He was used to this, but the others weren’t. “They’re afraid.”
Annoyed, Song tossed a pack onto one of the beds. “They always think we’re Fell.”
“It’s because we’re shapeshifters,” Chime added, poking at the padding on the lowest bed. “Groundlings are just afraid of shapeshifters.”
“Aren’t there any good shapeshifters?” Bramble wondered. “Besi
des us?”
“Not really.” Moon felt the deck move gently underfoot and went to a window. The ship was turning and lifting, starting the tricky job of navigating up past the mountain-tree branches and platforms. They must mean to travel above the tree canopy, which was somewhat safer. Hopefully Callumkal didn’t mean to go high enough to get into cloudwalker territory. “Not that I’ve ever heard of.”
“It is worth a monograph, perhaps.” Delin came to the window too. “This fear and distrust, which persists in so many cultures that we know of. Even those like Kish, where the Fell are not as great a threat now as they were in the past.”
Chime came to stand next to Moon, craning his neck to see out the window. “You think there’s a reason for it? Not just groundlings hearing stories of the Fell, and passing them on?”
“It’s intriguing to speculate,” Delin said. “We will have plenty of time for it on the journey.” He combed fingers through his beard thoughtfully. “You were able to duplicate the map from memory?”
Moon thought it was a good thing that it wasn’t Delin they were trying to fool. Chime told him, “We thought it was best.”
Delin nodded agreement. “It is a possibility that my grandchildren Niran and Diar have taken our wind-ship and crew to follow me here from Kish-Jandera. It would have taken them a little time to ascertain who I left with, and where we were bound. Once they do, they will follow me to Indigo Cloud to discover what happened. They will not wish to return to my daughter Elen-danar and inform her that they have lost me.”
Moon turned to stare at him. “You just left them in Kish with no idea where you went?”
Delin shrugged. “The situation was serious, and I did not want to delay the journey here with family arguments.” He admitted, “I hope that they will follow us to the sel-Selatra. It would be well to have the extra support.”
Stone gave Delin a sideways glance. “You don’t trust these people very much, do you?”
Delin watched the mountain-tree platforms drop past. “I don’t think they mean to betray us. But as you said, the Fell may have ways of finding out what the Kishan plan. I am not willing to leave our fate to chance.”