Chime nodded slowly. “It’s strange if one Fell flight does it, it’s more strange if two... They could have got the idea from each other, the way they pass knowledge between flights, but that still doesn’t explain where the idea came from in the first place.”
“Maybe they got it from groundlings,” Song said.
As if he couldn’t contain himself a moment longer, Root burst out, “They steal everything else from groundlings, maybe they stole that too!”
“But what groundlings? And why would Fell listen to groundlings?” Floret protested. “That’s crazy. Fell eat each other. They don’t think other species are even people.” She made a helpless gesture. “I would have said they don’t think we’re people, except for how they keep trying to breed with us now.”
Song said, darkly, “Just because they want to breed with us doesn’t mean they think we’re people.”
Everyone stared at her, but Moon felt she had a point. Delin absently tugged at his beard, winding the glossy hair around his fingers. He said, “Chime, you know much of your people’s history. There is nothing in your lore about another species attempting to communicate with the mentors?”
“Not that I know of. And I think I’d remember it if I’d ever run across it in the libraries.” Chime eyed him. “You’re thinking that if some other species is giving the Fell ideas, it tried to do it to us at some point, too?”
“It seems a logical thought.” Delin shrugged, realized he had more than half his beard wrapped around his fingers, and shook his hand free. “Our records show that after a time when they seemed to be dying out, the Fell have now been growing more and more virulent through the eastern lands and seacoasts, and this matches Stone’s recollections. I wonder if they have somehow changed, and these attempts to crossbreed are part of it.”
“They’ve been getting worse, and now they’ll come here, to the Reaches,” Chime said glumly. “I mean, what else is all this for? They want to make the flights more powerful with crossbreeds and build up their numbers and then start attacking the courts here.”
The others twitched uneasily at the thought. “Pearl thinks—” Floret started to say, then shot a glance at Moon that was half guilt and half defiance. Everybody knew Floret was still technically in Pearl’s camp, though since Jade and Pearl’s arguments had been mostly focused on crops and clutching and drains and the other mundane issues concerning the court, it hadn’t mattered as much. Moon made a tired gesture for her to continue. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Delin hastily scribble a note. This trip must have been a jewel mine of Raksuran behavior for Delin’s studies.
Floret gave a little shrug, instinctively settling the spines she didn’t have in groundling form. She continued, “Pearl thinks the Fell haven’t attacked the Reaches in such a long time because they know the only thing all the courts would ever agree on is banding together to kill them. It was different in the east, with the few courts that are there being so spread out, with such separate territories. But the courts here feel all the Reaches belong to Raksura, even if we only hunt our own territories. An attack on one court would seem like an attack on them all.”
“She’s probably right,” Moon said. He couldn’t see anything else bringing the Raksuran courts together.
Before Delin could comment, they heard footsteps in the corridor. A young woman ducked her head in and said, “Grandfather? I’m sorry to interrupt, but there are strange Raksura up on the deck who say they want Moon to come back into the colony.”
“Why?” Chime demanded before anyone else could. “What do they think we’re doing to him?”
Moon set his jaw and didn’t growl. He didn’t have time for Opal Night’s machinations right now. “I’ll talk to them.”
He left the cabin, the others trailing along behind. The warriors couldn’t be here to tell him that Opal Night had agreed to let him return to Indigo Cloud; he would be surprised if Jade had even managed to meet Malachite yet. As he climbed the stairs to the deck, he was half-expecting to see Rise. But it wasn’t her. Five warriors waited there, and he was fairly certain he had seen them with Onyx at the ill-fated dinner.
They were still in their winged forms, four perched on the railing and one female standing on the deck. Something about their attitude made Moon’s hackles rise, as if they took a contemptuous but proprietary interest in the flying boat. Like it was a possession they claimed but didn’t particularly want. They ignored the Islander crew, who stood at a little distance and watched curiously. Five warriors seemed like overkill for an escort back to a colony which was barely forty paces away.
Moon walked up to the female leader. She was big, with dark copper scales. He was still in groundling form and she and the other warriors didn’t shift. That was bad manners at best, a threat at worst. Moon said, “What do you want?”
The warrior said, “You’re to come with us.” She threw a dismissive glance around the deck, ignoring the hostile Indigo Cloud warriors gathered by the hatch. “Enough playing with the groundlings.”
Moon felt a flush of heat, a rage all out of proportion to the stupid remark. He wrestled with the urge to shift and throw all five warriors off the flying boat. He held in a hiss though he thought his jaw might pop from the effort, and managed to say, calmly, “No.”
Her spines shivered in surprise. Moon turned away. He got two steps before he sensed her behind him, nearly breathing down his neck. That did it.
Moon whipped around, shifted as he turned, and flared his spines and snapped his wings out. The warrior flinched, so startled she shifted to groundling. She was younger than he expected. He said, with grating emphasis, “I’ll go when I’m ready. Now get off the boat.”
Two of the male warriors had already fallen off the railing, either in precipitous retreat or pure surprise. The last male and the other female held on, but ducked down to show they were no threat. Behind Moon, he heard Delin ask, “Is it rare for a young consort to threaten warriors?”
“Usually, but it’s not rare for him,” Song admitted.
The leader took two careful steps back, watching Moon warily, then turned, shifted to her winged form, and jumped over the railing. The other two warriors followed immediately.
Moon forced himself to shift back to groundling, though it took self-control. Delin had already whipped out his sketch book and plopped down on the deck, drawing furiously.
Chime stepped forward, concerned. “Moon, this isn’t doing any good. Jade can get them to give you back, just be patient.”
“I know, I know.” Moon rubbed his temple. He didn’t regret the outburst; it had felt too good. But it probably hadn’t helped the situation any.
“No, Moon did right,” Floret said unexpectedly. “They should have asked politely, and they knew it. He can’t let warriors order him around like that, especially in a new court.” She tugged on Chime’s arm. “Come on, let him calm down.”
Chime went, reluctantly, and everyone on the deck tried to look as if they had something to do. Moon sat on his heels next to Delin to watch him sketch, and tried to settle his simmering anger. Floret was right. Opal Night—at least the part under Onyx’s influence—wanted him to act like a consort but didn’t want to treat him like one.
After a time, Delin’s frantic scribbles slowed, as he captured enough of the scene to preserve the memory. He turned the book sideways and started to make notes along the margins. He asked, “They treat you badly here?”
“No.” So far, Moon figured he had done a good job of giving back whatever he had gotten.
“But it is not your home.”
“No.”
Delin looked up. “I do not understand how they can take a man away from his wife when he does not wish to be parted from her. Especially when his wife has such big teeth and claws.”
Moon sighed and got to his feet. He had stalled long enough to make his point; it was time to face the consequences. “My birthqueen has bigger teeth and claws.”
“More intimidating than Indigo Clo
ud’s Pearl?” At Moon’s nod, Delin lifted his brows, impressed.
The others had taken seats on the deck a short distance away. They stood as Moon walked over to say goodbye. “Will you be all right?” Chime asked, still worried. “Maybe they’ll ask us in to eat with the court and we can see you later.”
Eating with this court was more of a punishment than a treat. “Maybe,” Moon said, trying not to sound as grim as he felt. He had to answer several more inquiries about his health and wellbeing before he could shift and jump over the railing.
There were still Arbora and warriors in the greeting hall who politely scrambled to get out of his way, then watched him pass. He heard them murmuring to each other as soon as he turned into the passage. Anyone who had climbed or flown up the outside of the tree for a better look at the flying ship would have had a clear view of the scene with the warriors. Moon hoped they had enjoyed it.
“Moon!”
He turned to see Rise hurrying to catch up with him. She said, “I saw what happened. I’m sorry.”
She was in her groundling form, so Moon shifted too, using the moment to compose himself. “It wasn’t your fault. Is Jade still talking to Onyx?”
“Yes. That’s why Onyx sent warriors after you.” Rise’s expression was caught between annoyance and amusement. “She implied Jade meant to use that flying craft to steal you away.”
Moon managed a noncommittal shrug. He hoped no one said anything about the discarded plan. “Flying boats aren’t very fast.”
Rise hesitated, then said, “Malachite wants to talk to you.”
That was a good sign. Either it was about Jade or what they had discovered at Aventera, or both. Moon hoped for both. Then he heard a commotion from outside the greeting hall. Rise frowned and called out, “What is it?”
One of the Arbora answered, “The Indigo Cloud line-grandfather is back!”
Moon started for the doorway. “That’s not good.”
Rise followed. “I thought he came back with you and Celadon.”
“No, he stayed to scout the country around Aventera, to look for the Fell.” If Stone had returned this soon, he must have found something.
Moon went out onto the landing platform to see Stone banking in. The warriors and Arbora scattered as Stone cupped his wings and dropped down. Rise moved back a few paces, but Moon stayed where he was, swaying a little from the rush of air from Stone’s wings.
Stone shifted down to his groundling form, head turned toward the flying ship. Chime, Floret, and Song stood at the railing. Root perched on top of the steering cabin, waving. Irritated, Stone said, “Whose idea was that?”
“Jade’s,” Moon told him. “Did you find something?”
“She’s here? Good.” Stone looked grim. “I found the Fell.”
Chapter Twelve
Rise rushed to tell Malachite, then returned with word that the queen would speak to them in the queens’ greeting chamber. Jade, Balm, and Celadon were already there, with Onyx and her daughter queens. Lithe, a scatter of older warriors, and more Arbora arrived to represent Opal Night’s other mentors and the teacher, hunter, and soldier castes. They all stayed in their groundling forms, though the queens kept their wings instead of shifting to Arbora.
Stone settled himself on a cushion near the hearth at the center of the room and ignored all attempts to imply he should move to a less prominent spot. Moon sat near Stone, and Jade and Balm diplomatically took a position between Onyx’s supporters and the Arbora.
Then one of Onyx’s daughter queens said, “Should the visitors be here?” She regarded Jade and Balm, her expression critical and faintly suspicious. She inclined her head toward Moon. “And surely this is no place for a young, unattached consort.”
There was a murmur of agreement from Onyx’s warriors. Onyx herself just lazily coiled her tail and didn’t deign to comment.
Moon hissed under his breath. He wasn’t leaving.
Jade smiled and showed the tips of her fangs. “He isn’t unattached. As you can scent for yourself.”
With an edge to her voice, the daughter queen said, “Your claim is still in dispute.”
Jade tilted her head. “Not to me.”
There was a rush of wings from the passage and Malachite suddenly stood in the doorway. Everyone went quiet as she stepped into the room. She sat down, and said, “Line-grandfather. Tell us what you saw.”
Celadon sat forward and said quickly, “Malachite. Before we talk, Lithe should
go.”
Lithe stared at her, startled. “Me? Why?”
She must be the only crossbreed in the room. Moon looked around at the other Arbora and saw they were all well past maturity. If any were survivors of the eastern colony, they were old enough to have been born before the Fell attack.
Malachite didn’t hesitate. “We will speak of it later.” Her voice softened a trace. “For now, Lithe, go.”
Confused, Lithe glanced at the other Arbora. They looked worried but didn’t object. She got to her feet and walked out of the chamber.
Malachite flicked her claws for Stone to continue. He said, “I was scouting the plains past the far edge of the groundling city’s plateau late this morning, and caught a strong scent of Fell, coming from the southeast. I went downwind, using the clouds as cover, and followed it. After a time, I saw...” Stone hesitated, as if he was having trouble finding the words. Moon felt his skin start to creep. “Several major kethel, carrying something.”
“Sacs?” Malachite asked.
The sacs were structures made of secretions from the major kethel, who used them to transport large numbers of dakti. The dakti were the smallest of the Fell and the slowest flyers, and carrying them in sacs made the flights able to travel much faster. It was disgusting, but it was nothing unusual for Fell. But there was something in Stone’s expression that told Moon there was more to this than that.
Stone said, “No, one sac. A huge one. Bigger than all the kethel together. Big enough to hold hundreds—more than hundreds—of dakti.” He shook his head slightly. “That flying island we stayed on last night? You could fit a few of those inside it with room to spare.”
Moon just stared, incredulous. How... What... He forced himself not to interrupt. The room had gone still, and no one so much as twitched a spine as they listened intently.
Stone continued, “They were carrying it with a web, like the boats with the air bladders in the city. Something like that.” He growled in sharp annoyance and all the warriors in the room flinched. “It’s hard to describe.”
One of the female Arbora stood and moved to sit next to Stone. The Arbora flipped through a roll of paper to a blank page, and began to sketch rapidly with a charcoal stick. “Like this?”
“No, on top. It was bigger.” After a few moments, Stone tapped the paper. “That’s—Yes, like that.”
The Arbora turned the paper around and held it up so they could all see. Everyone leaned forward, and some of those in the back moved so they could get a better view. It was a rough drawing of a sac, the size of it apparent when you knew the flying creatures arrayed above it were meant to be major kethel. The bulky sac was suspended below them, slung in a web-like netting.
After a moment, everyone sat back, and the Arbora lowered the drawing. Moon caught Jade’s eye; her expression was bleak.
“But...” Celadon looked to Malachite, uncertain. “What could be inside it? Dakti and rulers?”
Stone gave her a grim nod. “Lots of dakti and rulers. That’s my guess.”
Malachite asked Stone, “The Fell didn’t scent you?”
“I didn’t wait around,” Stone told her. “I don’t know if they mean to come here, or if they’re heading toward the groundlings.” He added, “Probably both.”
It was Onyx who said, “We are well-prepared for an attack.” She glanced at Malachite, irony coloring her voice. “We have thought of little else for the last forty turns.”
Preoccupied, Malachite said, “We will destroy the Fell.
” She spoke as if it was an afterthought, as if her attention was on something else, but there was nothing but complete conviction in her voice. A ripple of suppressed tension moved through the warriors, and there were growls of agreement from the Arbora. Apparently the only thing this court agreed on was killing the Fell. Moon felt himself caught in the rush of emotion, a growl building in his own chest.
Onyx said to Malachite, “I hate to admit that you’ve been right all this time, but Lithe’s auguries do seem to be falling into place.”
One of the oldest Arbora, a male with graying hair and skin, said, “This must be an attack on all the Reaches. The Fell have never come to this territory before, not in all the hundreds of turns this mountain-tree has been here.”
“I have a suggestion,” Jade said. She tapped her claws thoughtfully against the polished floor.
Malachite said nothing, just watched her. With annoyance, Onyx made the formal introduction. “Malachite of Opal Night, Jade of Indigo Cloud, who has come here to beg a consort from us.”
Jade flicked a spine at that description. Malachite said, “Well?”
“Your colony is in danger from the Fell. You should allow my consort to return to Indigo Cloud with me, out of danger. You owe this to him.”
Moon stared. “That was your idea?”
Jade didn’t look at him. Moon hissed. He didn’t want to run from the Fell, not now. He knew he shouldn’t argue this here, but he couldn’t help himself. “This isn’t what we talked about.”
Jade’s jaw set, but she ignored him. She said to Malachite, “You would also gain an alliance with Indigo Cloud.”
Onyx’s tail lashed. “From what Emerald Twilight reported, an alliance with your court is nothing to covet,” she said. “And consorts are not trade goods.”
It’s nice that somebody thinks so. Moon growled under his breath, exasperated.
Jade’s spines trembled as she tried to suppress strong emotion. “If they aren’t trade goods,” she said, her voice harsh, “then they shouldn’t be taken from their queens and dragged off to a strange court on a whim.”