storm (34 page)

            “Well maybe I understand a little, Terez,” Tyson said meaningfully.  “Welcome to the world.  Is it your heart or gun-wielding sex organs?”

            Terez at least had the grace not to argue with that.

            Once they got back to the inn, Terez somehow found the equilibrium to contact Pellaz and to tell him they would set off for Galhea tomorrow.

            “He should send
sedim,
” Tyson said.  “Snake can't make a journey by normal horse.  We'll have to find a cart or something.  That will really slow us down.  Tell Pellaz to send us
sedim
.”  He was sitting on the bed pulling off his clothes, while Terez slumped, looking drained, on the dusty wooden floor.

            “Pell won't do that,” Terez said.  “He'd never let somehar like Agroth – sorry,
Raven
– loose on a
sedu.
  They aren't for everyhar, Ty.”

            “It'll take us twice as long to get home.”

            “I know.  I have mentioned this.”

            “What did he say?”

            “Nothing.”

            “Has he been to Roselane?”

            “Yes, not I don't yet know the outcome.”

            Terez clambered onto the bed and lay face down, groaning.  “I feel like I've just run a hundred miles.”

            Tyson lay down beside him and stroked his back.  “How will you handle this Raven business?”

            Terez turned onto his side.  “I have no idea.  He's as much of a mess as Snake is, only in a different way.  He's not the same har as the one I knew.  Longevity has its downsides.  Horrors from the past can keep turning up looking the same as they did decades ago.”

            “Then forget Agroth and get to know Raven.  Maybe it'll be worth it, maybe not.  Another downside of longevity: too many memories, perhaps?  Let go of the past.”

            Terez laughed.  “I don't believe it: wise words from the son of Cal.”

            “I'm Tyson.  It would please me greatly if you'd allow me my own personality.”

            Terez stared at Tyson for some moments.  “I can remember the day so clearly when Cal came to our home.  When I look at you, I taste that day.  It was the end of our lives as we knew them.  It didn't take long for the Uigenna to find us.  It wasn't good, Ty.  A lot of it I wrapped up in memories about Agroth, and the way he made me feel, but before that I had to watch what happened to my parents, my sisters...  It's a wonder any first generation hara are sane.  What happened to us was insanity.”

            “Hush,” Tyson said.  “You are completely sane.  I couldn't have done what you did today.  It was outstanding.”

            “Quick thinking,” Terez said.  “My life often depended on it, although I've trained myself to be diplomatic.  Mima – my sister – spent years telling me how often I said the wrong thing at the wrong time.”  He paused.  “I was harsh with you last night, but I meant what I said.  Please leave Moon alone, at least for now.”

            “That's OK.  I'd already come to that decision.”

            “Good.  It might be irrational, but I feel uneasy with the idea of you being with him.  Not for just the reasons I gave you, either.  Perhaps it's because the pair of you look like Cal and Pell so much.  I get a hideous feeling that history might repeat itself.”

            “We're not them,” Tyson said, “but just forget about it.  Think about yourself for now.  You don't have to worry about anything I'd do.”

            “I'm glad we're friends.  I enjoy discovering things about you.”

            “Let's see what we can discover today, then.”

            “We need these times,” Terez said.  “It will all change soon.  I'm sure of it.”

Chapter Seventeen

Desire, when it is not satisfied, becomes a physical pain.  There is no position you can find in which it is comfortable to sleep.  Every waking moment, the mind is consumed with thoughts of the beloved.  Whole days can be wasted staring into space, dreaming up improbable fantasies.  Every possible scenario is played out in the imagination, leaving almost no room at all for something to happen in reality, because real events very rarely emulate a fantasy.  A glance, a tone of voice, a chance comment becomes imbued with meaning and portent.  The beloved becomes an oracle with the key to your destiny.

            Three days of travel, with Tyson barely acknowledging his existence, sent Moon into a spin of confusion, lust and unbearable longing.  He could barely pay attention to the fact that Snake was stoically enduring what must be excruciating conditions in the back of a rough cart that Terez had secured for him.  The atmosphere between Raven and Terez swung between incandescent and glacial.  It was as if violence could break out at any moment.  They were all on their way to Galhea.  Life had just become a thousand times bigger than it had been before.

            Moon didn't care about any of these things.  He'd done or said something to offend. Tyson.  How could somehar change so quickly?  That night at the lake Moon had been sure Tyson desired him.  Now this.  It was agonizing.

            He tried various ploys.  First, he attempted to act normally and addressed Tyson in general conversation as he would anyhar else.  That didn't work.  Second, he opted for withering disdain and ignorance, which made no difference either.  Outright sarcasm was met with bland unresponsiveness.  It was as if he'd ceased to exist.  Moon had nohar to talk to about it.  Even though Tyson had already told him he'd been warned off, the heat of Moon's passion, which was unswervingly selfish in its desire to survive, excised the memory from his mind.  The reason for Tyson's indifference couldn't possibly be so mundane.  It had to be something to do with Moon himself.

            Moon had rarely ventured beyond the city limits, and even when he had it had not been far, but it was impossible to take any interest in his surroundings.  He sat with Snake in the cart and played cards with him to pass the time, but Snake won every round.  He eventually became bored and berated Moon for his lack of concentration.  “Don't worry about Ember,” Snake said.  “He'll not forget you.”

            Moon merely gibbered in response.  He doubted Ember would forget him, but neither would he forgive him, since Moon had left home without telling Ember he was going.  He wished that Snake would use his clear sight to work out what was wrong.  It seemed inconceivable to Moon that it wasn't obvious.  Although he couldn't bring himself to confide in his father, he had already decided he would be open to questioning should the occasion arise, but unfortunately it didn't.

They'd been travelling for four days before the Tigron contacted them.  No doubt Pellaz had been sitting at home, brooding about the state of his brother, consumed with curiosity, but also concerned that Snake would be difficult and prickly.  Eventually, it seemed, his curiosity overcame any misgivings and he manifested before them, in a manner that could not fail to impress, on a glorious white
sedu.

            Terez realised that a portal into the otherlanes was about to open, because he was familiar with the signs.  The air became oppressive, like before a storm, and the clouds in the sky ahead of them appeared sluggish and sickly.

            “A portal,” Terez said, “perhaps Pell has sent us
sedim
after all.”  He did not look entirely convinced with this explanation, however.  “Ty, have the weapons ready.”

            “Why?” Moon asked, scrambling forward to where Raven  was driving the cart.

            “It might not be Pell,” Tyson said, staring ahead.  “It could be anyhar.”

            “Snake is Pell's brother,” Terez said.  “Our purpose on this journey is to keep him safe.”

            Moon stared at the horizon without blinking until his eyes ran.  It felt as if tiny shivers of electricity were running over his skin.  His hair had lifted on his head.  He could feel the power.  Presently, the thick clouds became shot with threads of blue lightning.  Terez indicated to Raven that he should steer the horses to the side of the road and the cover of some trees.

            Thunder rumbled in the heavens, slow and rolling, then all was silent.  The crack, when it came, was like an explosion.  There was a flash, both blinding and weirdly invisible to the naked eye, and something flew out of the clouds.  It was impossible at first to discern what it was, but after a few moments, Moon could see two white horses galloping toward them upon the road.  They appeared real and solid but at the same time weirdly spectral.  They were surrounded by a streaking vapour, and even from this distance, Moon could smell ozone.  Only one of the horses bore a rider.

            “He's come alone,” Terez said in surprise.  “I really wish he wouldn't do that.  He has no sense of security.”

            “Is it Pellaz?” Snake asked.

            “Yes,” Terez answered.  “Look at that.  He is Tigron, yet he travels alone.”  He shook his head.

            “He has another
sedu,
” Tyson said, “but only one.  I wonder who that's for?”

            Moon climbed back to sit beside his father and took hold of one of his hands.  Snake's expression was unreadable, but Moon could feel that he was full of tension.

            The Tigron brought the
sedim
to a halt and dismounted.  He was dressed in a plain riding costume of brushed leather, his hair bound back.  At a distance, he would pass for any travelling har.  It was only when he drew closer that you realised there was nothing ordinary or plain about him at all.  Laying eyes on the Tigron for the first time, Moon realised that sometimes great beauty can be terrifying, if not horrific.  It is almost alien, and difficult to look upon.  When Pellaz paused to inspect Moon, it felt as if a great searchlight passed over and through Moon's flesh.  He was in no doubt that the Tigron could see to the core of him and beyond.  And yet this was his hura.  The idea seemed impossible.  This was not the har of the stories Tyson had told him.

            Terez had also dismounted and now made his introductions.  “Our brother and his son, Moon,” he said.

            Pell's gaze rested for just a while too long upon Moon before turning to Snake.  Moon guessed at once this was because Terez had already told Pellaz about Snake's disabilities.  The Tigron was hoping he wouldn't wince, wouldn't betray any reaction likely to give offence.

            Pellaz inclined his head respectfully.  “Snake Jaguar.  Thank you for agreeing to this meeting.”

            A perfect opening.

            “It was supposed to be in Galhea,” Snake answered, his tone giving nothing away.

            “I know and it will be...”  Pellaz placed a long-fingered hand on the rough wood of the card.  “You shouldn't have to travel this way.  I have come to offer you an alternative.  The
sedim
can take us both to Galhea.”

            “What about the rest of us?” Tyson asked.