Jeanne G'Fellers - Sisters Flight (26 page)

"Damn,
you mean it, don't you?" I belted my blade and pulled up Easton's tunic.
Longpass had managed nine stabs to her abdomen, and he still hadn't stopped
her. Easton had stopped now, though, and her breathing had become raspy.

"Take
the lens off me." Easton pulled at her amber glass binder. "Dee has
the key."

I
hurried back to Dee's body, filled the others in on what was happening, and
returned to Easton's side, where I undid the binder then removed the lens from
her face. Easton rubbed her eyes and looked up at me as I supported her.
"So you really aren't that yellow after all," she said. "Been
one fucked up life, kid. Fun, up to a point, but this last bit's been boring. I
suppose it's good I go on now, before I get too bored, you know?"

"You're
not going anywhere." I grasped her hand. The sense of betrayal between us
had vanished and only the two of us, friends bound by similar memories,
remained.

"I'm
crazy, not blind." Easton held up her bloody hand. "This isn't
something that encourages living." She turned her hand to examine the
creases brought out by the blood. "This one didn't die as easily as he
did."

"As
who did?" I rested Easton's forehead on my cheek.

"You
know damn well who," Easton whispered. "The same name you can't
say."

"Oh,
him."

"You
don't sound surprised." Easton coughed hard, cringing against the pain it
created. "Fuck, that hurt."

"Let
me help." I risked sliding into Easton's mind to deliver a phase then
retreated as fast as I could. Still, something stayed with me, something that
surprised and puzzled me. Inside, Easton was still a child, a small, scared and
tattered child sitting ankle deep in her own waste within a dank, tiny, barren
cell that was guarded by something just as black and ugly as what I had held
inside. The one difference, the only difference I saw between us was that while
my own child had been freed and become a part of the adult me, Easton's child
had never been freed, much less the recipient of nurture.

After
a few minutes, Easton breathed a bit easier. "Ziko is the only one who
ever tried that," she mumbled.

"Then
why didn't she during your surgery?" I drew Easton's head to my shoulder
and used my tunic to wipe away the blood trickling from the corner of her
mouth.

"
'Cause I burned her good when she did." Easton shuddered with an agony I
knew I couldn't phase away. "That's when they put me in the binder."
Then, to my surprise, Easton kissed my cheek and returned my phase with one of
gratitude that was as inexperienced in its presentation as Laszlo's. "Do
me one favor, sister Rankil?"

"Anything,
sister Easton."

"After
they burn me proper, take what's left and sprinkle it in some Aut's drink. I
wanna give someone indigestion just one more time."

I
laughed bitterly. "Just like you to joke at a time like this."

Easton
didn't reply.

I
sat with her for hours, caressing her matted hair, tracing the indentation the
binder had left on her face. I told her about what had happened since we'd last
spoken, of the raids, of Captain Tara's ship, of Tessa. I was still talking to
Easton when Garrziko arrived. The mental healer said nothing but gathered her
robes and sat beside us.

"I've
been waiting for you." I laid Easton's hand in the mental healer's.
"I was afraid no one else would do right by her."

"I'll
see she has a place of honor among the pyres." Garrziko placed Easton's
hand across her chest then pulled the other into the same position, setting her
into pose for the death rites. "Your family is looking for you," she
said without looking up. "They're afraid you've become lost down here.
Serpent leader Recca has been trying to calm their fears, but I don't believe
anything short of your appearance will appease them."

"My
family?" I blinked the tears from my eyes. "I should wash my
face."

"Why?"
Garrziko looked up with a half-amused expression on her face. "I've seen
you at your worst, and this certainly isn't that."

"Was
that supposed to be a compliment?"

"An
observation." Garrziko rose from the floor and extended her hand.
"You and Easton had formed quite a unique bond. You have every right to
mourn her."

I
took Garrziko's hand and pulled to a standing position beside her. "Thanks
for understanding."

"Thank
you for seeing she didn't die alone." Garrziko's face saddened and tears
brimmed in her eyes. "Did she ever tell you that I was her raiser when she
first came to the Tekkroon?"

"No,
she didn't." I placed a hand on the healer's shoulder.

"Few
knew." Garrziko patted my hand, wiped the tears then looked toward the
open door. "It's morning, Trooper Rankil. What do you say we go embrace
it?"

"Sounds
like a plan."

"Yes,
it does."

I
held open the door to Easton's room and we walked toward morning, passing from
the Pit, through the passageways, and out into the next phase of Tekkroon
existence.

Chapter
Seventeen

Master
to Apprentice:
Sometimes healing from the battle takes longer than the
battle proper.

Myrla

What
followed was a half-pass of mourning and clean up where Harlis, the leaders of
the Tekkroon colonies and all the adopted clan leaders remained locked in
secret meetings. When they emerged, a celebration was announced, a celebration
which Harlis promised to be unlike any before.

The
day began with trumpets to herald the rising sun, which brought me from the
bed. I dressed then made my way to the living area and the window, which I
threw wide to the dawn.

"Get
up!" I ran back to the bedroom and jumped onto the middle of the bed—and
Rankil.

"Oomph."
Rankil pulled the blanket to shield her eyes from the sunlight that streamed
into the room. "Geez, My. I'm off duty. Can't I sleep?"

"Not
this morning, lover!" I pulled back the blanket to smother Rankil's face
with quick kisses. "Come on. Kaelan's already awake and feeding
Laura." Kaelan was staying with us until housing was available, as was
Laura and Olitti, both of whom Kaelan had adopted. Archell, who was waiting for
the repairs to the Bowriver colony to be complete, was staying with us as well.
His snores echoed through our grotto, mixing discordantly with Laura's whimper.

Rankil
groaned.

"You
asked for a family and now you have one." I pulled the blanket back to
kiss her forehead.

"One
that won't be quiet." Rankil snatched the blankets from my hand and pulled
them back over her head.

"Good
morning." Kaelan stepped into the open bedroom curtain. "I'm not
intruding, am I?"

"Of
course not." I patted the corner of the bed and pulled the blankets back
down.

Kaelan
laughed as Rankil sat up and placed her head in her hands. "I see you
still wake up sour."

"Every
morning," I piped as I moved to sit beside Kaelan. "Something on your
mind?"

"I
wanted to talk to you both before the day got too busy." Kaelan brought
Laura to her shoulder for a burp. "I got in so late last night that you
all were asleep. Thanks for watching Laura."

"She's
a good baby." I reached out to pat my smallest sibling's back.

"Just
like you were at that age." Kaelan winked at me. "Day after tomorrow
she goes to one of the creches and I go to work." She made a small bow in
response to the applause I gave. "The pottery works lost so much of its
stock in the fighting that it's backlogged for the foreseeable future. The
manager is being flexible about my work hours and even agreed to give me the
time off when it's my turn in the creche."

"Oh,
that's wonderful news!" I bounced on the bed hard enough for Rankil to
moan again.

"A
healer who specializes in eyes saw Olitti yesterday as well."

"Did
she get spectacles?" Rankil yawned as she threw back the blankets.

"The
healer was going to work on them last night so we can pick them up this
morning. She said 'Litti shouldn't go without them." Kaelan spoke into
Laura's ear to calm her fussing then looked at Rankil. "I talked to Recca
last night too. She told me what happened when she tried to force you to become
Leonor's mate."

I
said nothing, but Rankil rose from the bed, pulled off her night tunic and
replaced it with a crisp white one she covered with a black leather jerkin.
"I suppose she told you what an abomination I still am?"

"Actually
she did nothing but sing your praises. And Myrla's." Kaelan gave us a
moment to let what she'd said sink in. "She said you were both a credit to
my family line."

"Wonders
never cease." Rankil struggled into her leathers. "If you'll excuse
me." She scurried from the room, over Archell, then through the kitchen to
the water closet.

"I
thought you might want to know that I embraced a Tekkroon custom. I wrote down
my mourning thoughts for Jewel." Kaelan gripped my hand when I gasped.
"That's where I was last night. I burned my pain in an elder sister's
funeral pyre."

"Why
didn't you tell us?" I said after a brief, tearful silence. "We would
have been there for support."

"It
has been so very long, daughter, since you last saw your mama that I thought
it'd best stay that way. I want you to keep the memories you have, not remember
my mourning." Kaelan sniffed and kissed my forehead. "She would have
been proud of this life you have made with Rankil."

"And
she would like the way you're carrying on." I wiped a bit of spittle from
Laura's mouth.

"She'd
be proud of us all." Kaelan glanced over her shoulder as Rankil reentered
the room. "Now tell me your plans for the day."

"We're
going to the celebration like everyone else." Rankil sat back on the bed
to pull on her footlings and boots. "Unless you have other plans,
My."

"Not
me." I grinned. "But Genevic did ask if we'd meet her and Bella for
lunch in the main dining cavern."

"Sounds
good." Rankil tossed her braids behind her shoulder and lay back,
stretching. "How about you, Kaelan? What're your plans?"

"I
thought I might watch the races with Olitti and Laura."

"You're
coming to the dance tonight, aren't you?" I took Kaelan by the elbow.
"I haven't danced with you in such a long time."

"Since
you were ten or so, I suppose." Kaelan nodded. "How could I resist
the opportunity to do so again?"

"It's
settled then." I pulled Rankil up and toward the door. "Come along,
dear. I refuse to spend another moment inside this blasted cave."

"Can't
we eat something first?" Rankil glanced helplessly at Kaelan, who burst
out laughing.

"There'll
be plenty to eat at the gathering," I said. "We'll see you tonight,
Kaelan."

"Don't
wear Rankil out before evening."

"I'll
try not to."

"Some
tea before we go?" Rankil's mouth curled with frustration.

"That'll
be there as well," I said.

"Well,
can we go there first then?" Rankil barely had time to grab our cloaks
before I pulled her out the door.

Chapter
Eighteen

Beginning

Master
to new apprentice:
Tell me about your past.

Apprentice:
From the beginning?

Master
(with a grin):
No, child, Kimshees never start there.

Apprentice:
We don't?

Master:
Start at the most important part, the reason you believe I chose you and you
me. That is the simplest point, a common point between us from which we will
grow.

Rankil

Myrla
and I were on our third tour of the dance floor when Kaelan tapped my shoulder.
"Do you mind?"

"Of
course not." I handed Myrla off to her, and she expertly swung her
daughter out into the dancing couples. I watched them for a moment, admiring
Myrla's grace and Kaelan's poise.

As I
turned back to our table and the mug of sweet ale waiting there, a small voice
caught my attention.

"Dance
with me?" Olitti held out her arms. I laughed, swept her up, and we
rounded the dance floor, Olitti's feet never once touching the floor.

"I
like your new spectacles." I dipped my giggling sister.

"You
do?" Olitti pushed the glasses up her nose. "Kaelan says they make me
look smart."

"They
do." I twirled her around the floor one more time then deposited her back
into her seat. "Your dress is pretty too."

"That
seamstress lady Abbyegale gave it to me." Olitti flounced the
multi-layered skirts. "The hair ribbons are My's." Myrla had fixed
Olitti's hair into two neat ponytails she'd topped with purple and white
striped ribbons. Olitti looked like the child she was, not the child bride we'd
rescued. I approved of the change.