The Coalition Episodes 1-4 (7 page)

CHAPTER 18

Shai

Her back and neck muscles burned and a dull ache squeezed the top of her head. She removed her damp cloak and left it to dry on the bench. Her feet squished inside her black leather boots. She could let them dry later; she needed to get to the bath house now.

Images of Sileas's blue-grey face swam in and out of her mind. It was her fault her friend was dead. She couldn't let anyone know that she didn't try to stop Sileas from committing that infraction. That she knew Sileas was desperate enough to do something crazy, but Shai didn't try hard enough to talk her out of it.
But am I really to blame? I didn't really know that Sileas would go through with it.
She needed to put it out of her mind. Feeling anything this deep was frightening. Maybe the Laelite Laws were right about passion. Sileas's passion eventually killed her. She was better off going with their Gracious Leader, Elchai, to his home. At least with him she'd be safe until her child was born. After that, well, she'd think of that later.

A shudder rippled through her. She glanced out the front window to make sure Aliah wasn't in the vicinity. She had no desire to talk to him.

She grabbed a towel, soap, and some dry clothes and left the house. The short walk to the bath house on the other side of the hill was a cold one since the sun lacked strength to warm the earth.  Lael hadn't seen a hot, sunny day in years. A fine day was a dry one.

Anxious to get into the hot bath water, she picked up her pace. A narrow footbridge over a small creek stood between her and the bath house. The hollow clomping of her boots on the wooden bridge was suddenly joined by a low growl. She stopped then turned in a slow circle.

"Hello?" Her voice sounded strained and thin in her ears. Sudden heat spread across the mark over her heart. She clasped her bathing things closer and held her breath for a moment.

She jumped at a sudden movement to her right. A large black wolf sat on its haunches near the bath house. It lowered its head and followed her every move with its eyes. 

She released her breath in a loud hiss. "Shoo! Get away!" She stomped her feet on the footbridge. "I said Go! Shoo!" The wolf bared its teeth but didn't move. The white-washed door of the bath house swung open and a large woman with blotchy red skin emerged balancing a stack of towels on her ample arm.

"Whacha doin, girl! Sounded like Samael hisself was gonna come right through the walls! We're tryin' to git the children cleaned up and calm after our terrible night, so quit yer noise and either come in or don't!"

"Sorry Maire. Did you see... never mind." The wolf had disappeared; her path was clear. She ducked her head and apologized again as she crossed the bridge. The Mother sniffed like she was disgusted then moved aside as Shai entered.

The warmth and humidity inside was a welcome change. Shai paused and blinked a few times until her eyes adjusted to the dim light and she could see, just inside the door, a large entry-way with two long wooden benches. She took a seat on one of them and started unlacing her knee-high boots. She wrinkled her nose. Somehow she'd managed to sleep in her damp clothing. She had removed one soggy, wool sock when she heard two female voices arguing.

The bath house had only two rooms; one for boys the other for girls. Voices from both sides blended together until the arguing crescendoed and Shai recognized one of the voices as Eliana's.

"I don't know where you get off accusing them of such a thing! I don't care what you say, Maire!"

Shai shoved her wet socks down into the toes of her boots then gathered her bathing supplies. Just as she stood to enter the girl's room the blotchy-skinned Community Mother careened around the corner pulling two young girls behind her by their wrists. She pushed the outside door open with her hip and with a
hmmmf
she exited the Bath House. Before the solid wood door closed after her, Shai caught a glimpse of the dark form of the wolf lurking nearby. She shuddered and entered the steamy girl's room.

She found Eliana bent over the furthest tub, at the back of the room, swirling her hand around in the water as it poured from a gooseneck faucet. Green flecks floated on the water and the scent of mint filled Shai's nose.

Eliana straightened up and smiled. "Maire told me you'd just come in. Here, let me take your things and you can use that closet there to undress." Eliana busied herself with laying out Shai's clean clothes on a nearby chair and draping her towel over the side of the tub while Shai stepped over puddles on her way to the changing closet. She pulled the thin curtain closed and struggled out of her tunic and dirty leggings.

"So what was that all about?" She pulled her long hair up and twisted it around her hand so she could secure it with a pin.

"Eliana?" She moved the curtain back and peered out. Eliana turned the water faucet off then wiped her hands on the front of her tunic and glanced up.

"Oh that was just Maire being...Maire. She figures both you and Aliah are responsible for those missing children.  But she's bitter about everything regarding Aliah.. I think she's just never gotten over the fact that Aliah's blood-mother had asked me and not her to look after him. Come on, get in before it cools. You're the last one."

Shai eased into the tub and let the hot, minty water ease the tension in her body. She breathed deeply, grateful they seemed to be alone.

The only sounds were the muffled voices from the boy's side and the occasional drip from a faucet somewhere. She longed to keep the conversation light, steer clear of any mention of Sileas.

"Why did Aliah's mother leave? I know it was a long time ago but I've often wondered."

Eliana smiled and nodded. "She didn't leave. She was exiled. You would've been too young to remember." She shrugged her slender shoulders. "She was too passionate. Disturbed the peace by asking too many questions."

Shai swished the water around with her hands, letting little sprays of water shoot over the sides of the tub. She leaned back and closed her eyes.

"Then I must be dangerous too, Eliana. Because I don't agree with the Leader's methods. I hate his Laws, I hate the pendants. But I never would have taken those children." A few moments passed before Shai opened her eyes. Eliana was seated on a chair a few feet away looking at her.

"Normally I wouldn't allow you to talk that way about our leader. But under these circumstances I understand. I even shouldn't tell you I agree. But you do cause trouble in your own way, Shai. Your hatred for the Watchers is well-known. And even though you've never been caught in an infraction it was only a matter of time. Be careful when you go with Elchai, okay? Every infraction starts here." She tapped her head. "Once you start thinking a certain way it eventually comes out in your behavior." Eliana leaned forward in her chair. "You need to be able to show that you have a healthy amount of respect for our Leader from now on. And stay away from Aliah. Everyone knows he hasn't been staying at the Boy's House for quite a while and that he takes off into the woods to who-knows-where. I know how inseparable you two are, but it won't help you to be seen with him. Not now."

Shai sighed. "I know. I just can't bring myself to say good-bye to him." She sank deeper into the water.

Eliana stared into the swirling fog with a vacant expression and twisted a slender, silver tube-shaped pendant that hung from a chain around her neck. After a while she turned back to Shai.

"Strong feelings often lead people to make unwise choices. It's better not to encourage that kind of passion." Her voice was soft. She stood up to grab the bar of soap. "Elchai is a wise Leader." She patted Shai's head like she was a small child. "Wash up. I'll leave you to it."

She passed the soap to Shai and with a small smile she turned and retreated into the mist. The sound of the door closing echoed through the large room.

Shai furrowed her brow. Even Eliana accepted the way things were. But it was out of fear. Sileas dared to desire something more than what was deemed an acceptable life in Lael and she had paid the price for it.

Fear was a terrible master, but it was all anyone had ever known. And in spite of the warning in her gut, the more Shai tried not to feel anything deep for Aliah the more she felt it.

She held her breath and slid beneath the water. Her hair escaped its pin and floated around her face as she stared up from the water into the mist and rafters above. Her fingers found their way to the skin above her breast. She traced the bumpy contour of her birthmark then closed her eyes as its familiar heat spread through her body.

She thought about last night. Remiel. She finally knew his name. When he had spoken to her in the rain it frightened her. And after a deep sleep void of dreams she had opened her eyes and there was he was again, standing in a pale beam of sunlight in the living room like he'd been there all along. The strength and power that emanated from him pulsed into her and every fear had vanished.

He had held out his hand to her and spoken gently. "I'm here. I will always be here." She had longed to take his hand but her limbs felt heavy. Instead she asked him what she'd always wanted to know.

"Tell me your name." She could feel his smile caress her and he simply said, "Remiel," then he was gone again. When she had repeated his name she found herself awake and looking up at Aliah.

She shuddered. Aliah had looked horrible.

She surfaced and scrubbed vigorously at every inch of skin with the soap until her skin wrinkled, then she drained the tub and dried off. She dressed in another clean, grey, tunic and leggings, then twisted her damp hair into a low bun secured with a leather string.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been in the Bath House but the thin sun that had peeked out earlier had gone by the time she laced up her boots and stepped outside.

"Don't be afraid." The deep voice still echoed inside her.

"I trust you, Remiel," she whispered as she crossed the footbridge.

Some strength had returned with her warm soak. She hurried up the hill to the house, tossed her dirty clothes inside the door and paused with her hand on the door knob.

Sileas.

Was it only the previous evening she had argued with her friend? Tears stung her eyes and threatened to spill over. She pinched the bridge of her nose and controlled her breathing. If she surrendered to the intensity of the emotions inside her, she was afraid it would swallow her whole. The weight of it would crush her chest and make it impossible to breathe.

She closed her door. An overwhelming compulsion to stay away from the Chapel nearly made her stay in the House. But her absence at breakfast would look suspicious, so she began to walk down the hill to Lael. When she passed the spot Remiel had appeared to her, she stopped. She'd dropped Sileas's pendant somewhere around here the night before.

Numerous stones and sticks littered the area but nothing more. She sighed. It could be anywhere. Aliah must have picked her up here... then carried her. She re-traced the steps she thought he had taken back to her front door.

A shiny object glinted near a few loose stones. She stooped down and parted the grass, moving the stones out of the way. It wasn't the pendant.

Lying partially concealed under a stone lay a thin silver key. She picked it up and held it. It was small enough to fit in her palm. She turned it over and a small, bright red gem glittered in the center of three interlocking rings. Identical to her birthmark. Written in delicate script were the words
: "Out of the fire."

She closed her fingers around it then dropped it into her tunic pocket. It was the key Remiel had given to her. She stood up then continued walking down the hill.

What is the key for?
She thrust her hand into her pocket, squeezed the key and sighed. He said she'd need it someday, but how would she know when that day would come?

CHAPTER 19

Aliah

He felt her before he saw her. He strode toward the Chapel steering clear of the people making their way in and went inside. His eyes scanned the rows of tables and benches.
Where is she?

He spotted Ellersly sitting at their usual spot.

"Where is she?" Aliah whispered behind his hand to Ellersly as he sat down.

Ellersly turned to look at him through wide eyes then tipped his head to the left towards the front.

"Good. I'm going to go through with it but I need your help. Stop looking so nervous, just go with it." Aliah stood, then made his way to the back of the Chapel, bumping into a group of young children that just entered with their Community Mother. He kept his head down.

After some muffled chatter the room grew quiet. Maire walked to the front and addressed the group with a loud voice.

"Let us observe the Law of Gratitude for our meal today." She bowed her head and remained silent for two minutes, everyone did the same.

Aliah's stomach turned and he lost his appetite. If they only knew who they were really showing their gratitude to.

Maire raised her head. "Remember, your allegiance to our Gracious Leader. We've had an upsetting night but we must not forget that our Leader sees everything. His Watchers are his eyes and ears and every infraction will be reported and swiftly punished." Several children shifted in their seats, dutifully clasping their hands in their laps.

Maire's eyes found his and she scowled. Aliah shook his head. She always looked suspicious of him.

On the front row on the left side of the room Shai sat between two Mothers: a woman with white hair and dark skin the other a younger woman with short dark hair and olive skin.

The chapel door burst open and a small boy hustled to the front of the room. Pale-faced and wide-eyed he approached Maire.

"Edward! You've broken the Law of Punctuality. Expect punishment!" Her loud reprimand startled a few children seated near the front and they hunkered down on their benches.

Edward bowed his head and extended his hand toward Maire. He held a piece of paper which the Mother snatched and unfolded.

Sweat dripped down Aliah's back as he moved closer to the exit. If his plan succeeded he'd have only seconds to act quickly.

Maire's eyes scanned the paper then her dimpled hand flew to her throat. "Who gave this to you!" Spittle flew out of her mouth and Edward cringed. His answer muffled by whispers that began to echo around the room.

"Shai! Step forward!" Maire's face grew red, the veins in her neck bulging.

"What's going on?" Shai's voice sounded tense as she rose from her table to stand in front of the Mother.

Maire stood with her hands on her hips. "This!" Her jowls wobbled as she thrust the paper toward Shai. Shai took the paper and bent her head to read it.

The volume of Maire's voice rose. "You've committed an infraction. Your Reward has been removed. The Watchers have reported that they saw you take those children the other night. I knew it!" The room rumbled with chatter and the sound of shuffling feet. A few children started crying.

Maire held up a hand. "Quiet! Remain seated!" She snatched the paper back from Shai. "It says your punishment will not be served at the next Reading but will commence immediately. You've been exiled."

Murmurs rose from the crowd and several more children burst into tears. Shai stepped back. She looked terrified and confused.

Guilt gripped Aliah. He couldn't fail her now. He had to follow through with the plan. He swayed and pressed a palm to the wall to steady himself.

Someone spoke near him. "You okay? You don't look so good."

He looked down at his friend and nodded. "Ellersly, it's time. Cover me." Aliah ducked behind a group of children that were trying to get out the door. Murmurs and whispers roared through the Chapel. Normal breakfast proceedings had been forgotten.

Shai stood there with her arms hanging at her sides. The hairs on Aliah's arms stood on end as he moved through the crowd towards her. Her fear and confusion pulsed into his own body the closer he got to her. Heat flared through his birthmark. Things were about to get even more out of control.

Aliah pulled on his hood and kept his head down as he approached the front.

Maire gasped and stepped aside, her stubby finger pointing. "Here's a Watcher now!"

Aliah pulled Shai into his arms, pressing her to him roughly. She pushed and clawed at him until he had no choice but to press his mouth to her ear and hiss, "Shai! It's me!" She grew quiet, but held herself rigid against his side as he led her out of the Chapel.

Aliah ran down the street, across the bridge and behind the Girls' Houses into the woods with one arm around Shai who struggled to keep up with him.