Light Speed
(Book Six,Parched NovelSeries)
By
Z.L Arkadie
Smashwords Edition
Copyright © 2011 Z.L Arkadie
Published on Smashwords
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Chapter 1
The Call
I am with my mother Ce’lah’ime, gatheringfruit for The Tilt. I love watching her skin glow. She’s the shadeof the puek leaf, shimmering like gold and diamonds under theeternal sun. We’ve come to the Forest of Naught to pick the ci’ke,ton’rek and ci’cha fruit. Duk, three. That is how manyfruits are needed for celebrating the eastward leaning of theperpetual sun.
My mother insisted on the ci’ke, ton’rek,and ci’cha. I wanted the lu’kek, pin’kek, and ze’ru but she said itis necessary for me to acquire a taste for the fruit that grows inthe Forest of Naught. When I asked her why, she offered noreason.
“Ve’ku, nek, Tet’ram’kek, Ce’lah’ime,” I sayto her, pleading one last time.
“Speak English, Adore,” she gentlyscolds.
“Please, can we go to the Forest ofWhispers?” I say this time in English as we stop at the sprawling,purple-leaved vekt bush where the ci’ke grows. “It’s betterthere.”
Ce’lah’ime stretches her mouth into a smileand touches my cheek. She is a gentle mank’et, the creature who isable to give suck when her belly is full with child, like the humanwoman. She is the only mank’et to ever distend at the belly andbreasts, giving birth to the seven daughters of Felix Benel.
“My Ad’ru…” There is sadness in her brightscarlet eyes. “We’ll take these. You will like them. You’llsee.”
“Yes,” I humbly acquiesce while reaching outto pull a ci’ke off its spiky branch. I choose to complain no more.Instead I relish in the eastward sun. It’s delicate rays glideacross my skin and I feel I’m being kissed on the lips a milliontimes by Tryst. He’s in the Forest of Whispers, gathering withLinks and Valor. I always miss him when we are apart. But never theway Cl’auta longs for the Selell, Ze Feldis or Na’ta for theSelell, Telman. Yet, the nearness of Tryst does make my insidestickle. The feeling is like sliding down Jaf’ra Falls when thewaters transform from gray to green. That’s when the current is thefastest. But that’s all the effect he has on me. He doesn’t make mythighs burn or head grow light and giddy. I have felt thosesensations in my sisters when it comes to their Selell bonds. It isterrifying to think that such a thing can happen to me. I hope itnever does.
The thought of bonding with a Selelltroubles me as, one by one, I fill my basket with the dark purpleci’ke. Each fruit is ripe for the picking. Ce’lah’ime, who usuallyhums a hymn of gratitude to the trees whenever she picks from them,is silent. I detect a kernel of sadness in her eyes and I noticethat she scarcely looks at me.
“Mother,” I begin excitedly, attempting tobrighten her mood.
Now she smiles and I already feelrelieved.
“After the feast, Tryst, Bohem, and I aregoing to the Vast Sea to chase the sickels,” I announce withunconstrained jubilance.
And we, I, can hardly wait. The sickels ofthe Vast Sea are quicker than the average ones. They are elusiveand enjoy being pursued in the watery depths. If you can keep up,then you’ll be rewarded. They will lead you to uncharted territory.Once they brought us to a huge dome, with walls made of solidemerald; that’s what we call it, te’ko’lok ‘be’kt, theemerald dome. It’s where the green waters stream in all directionsalong the slippery walls and, if you catch the right current, theywill slide you across the wall, or up it, or in loops, or send youcrisscrossing in so many directions; it’s always surprising when itcarries us in ways we never expected.
I am sure I look happy about my future plansand usually my expression is reflected in Ce’lah’ime’s face; butnot this time. Her dim smile curls downwards at the corners of hermouth.
“Mother, what is it?” I ask. I’m concerned;however, not for her. Strangely I’m only worried for myself.
She stares at my wide and curiousexpression. Her lips part slightly. She wants to speak but then shedoesn’t.
“Please,” I beg to know.
After a moment the smile I’m used toreturns. “This is enough ci’ke, Ad’ru. Let’s gather the ton’rek,”is all she says.
I walk behind her, following her to thetrees which yield the fuzzy, orange ton’rek. Our feet crunch in thegrass and the tender warm wind presses against our skin.
“Tapeetha has left Enu?” she asks.
Her question takes me by surprise. “Yes,” Isay in a rush because I don’t want to speak of it. The truth is, Iam the only daughter of Felix Benel left in Enu. For that reason, Idid not want to lead Cl’auta and the Selell Ze Feldis to Pan’a’tuaso that they could collect her. My entire heart had hoped thatPan’a’tua would resist and stay in Enu, but she did not stay. Andnow…
“And Clarity and Ze Feldis have taken her tothe Earth?” My mother asks.
“Yes,” I croak. I don’t like the questionsshe’s asking me. I don’t want to talk about it. Instead, I want totell her more about the emerald dome and Tryst.
“Who told you this?” I ask her, my tone issharp but only because I sense the implications in her questions.My sisters are gone. I’m here. She must know, as long as I have achoice, I will never leave. I cannot live without her or Tryst ormy home, my majestic Enu.
“Your father,” she answers, just as Ithought.
“But not for long, I’m sure,” I sing withforced enthusiasm. “Maybe Na’ta will return for The Tilt. She lovesthe celebration. And not even I can do the Dance of Flows like shecan.” For some
