A World of Worlds

Whether it had been hours or days, Fiana didn’t know, but her head had finally cleared. She sat up and reached for the glass of water on the bedside table, but it slipped through her feeble grasp and crashed on the floor.

  Two sets of footsteps neared the open door. Maya appeared first and Brynt right behind her.

  “Navi, you’re awake! We thought we’d lost you—”

  “Go fetch the medic, Maya. You can chat with the Navi later.”

  The girl nodded and ran out. Once the door slammed behind her, Brynt folded his arms and his expression grew serious.

  “You might have everyone else fooled, but I know there was an extra person on the shuttle. The weight in the crash reports just doesn’t add up.”

  She looked into his eyes and the familiar pulsing in the back of her skull returned.

  “What? How dare you insult your Navi?”

  He burst out laughing. “My Navi? Are you even Fiana, let alone a Navi? I can’t prove my theory yet, but I searched your crash site. I found the body.”

  “What body?”

  “Don’t pretend to be surprised. A Navi would have read my thoughts already.” A Navi would know… verge of starvation… and… drinking water… we need the supplies from the ship. Azalia would have fixed—

  “Who’s Azalia?” Fiana blurted out. His jaw dropped and he stared wide-eyed. She imagined her face expressed a similar level of shock. Did she just…

  “Um, Aza… Azalia.” His face turned bright red and he fell down to his knees. “Forgive me Navi. Please forgive me for doubting you. It must have been the stowaway’s body I found. Please, Navi Fiana, I beg your forgiveness.”

  His hands were shaking and his thoughts were full of terror. From them she read the punishment for gravely offending a Navi, and she shivered too.