Voice of the Gods

I should have stolen more and flown it back to some of our camps in Sennon. She frowned. Maybe I should do that now, as well as catch up with him and...

:Auraya?

She looked down. A mind was calling her name. Concentrating, she identified the Servant woman given the task of watching for her. The woman was uncertain that her call would be heard, but Nekaun had asked her to try.

Auraya searched for the woman. She found three figures standing on the roof of the topmost Sanctuary building. The woman, Nekaun and another, who was full of suppressed excitement and self-importance.

:Juran? Auraya called.

:Auraya. What is happening?

She told him that Nekaun had freed a Siyee in order to give her a message, and of his request.

:Should I meet with him? she asked.

:This could be a trap, Juran warned.

:I’m willing to take that risk. If I don’t meet with Nekaun, he might retaliate by killing Siyee.

:Go then. See what he wants.

She looked up at the tiny speck that was the escaping Siyee.

:If Nekaun wants to ransom the Siyee, will you agree to it?

:That depends on the price.

Taking a deep breath she drew magic, created a barrier around herself and began to descend. She felt a movement in her pack and cursed under her breath. If only she’d thought to ask the Siyee to take Mischief with him. But the veez would have been an extra weight the Siyee didn’t need.

Three upturned faces watched her. The woman looked at Nekaun abruptly, made a gesture with her hands, then walked away. She lifted a hatch in the roof of the building and descended into darkness.

Auraya landed several strides away from the two men.

Nekaun smiled. “Welcome to Glymma, Auraya,” he said in heavily accented Hanian.

Looking at the man standing beside the Voice, Auraya read from his mind that he was Turaan, Nekaun’s Companion, and was here to help translate. His master did not yet know any of the northern languages well and doubted Auraya had learned any of the southern ones.

I must be careful to avoid showing an understanding of anything said in the southern languages, she thought. Nekaun might reason that I have learned them somehow, but the gods will know that isn’t true and guess that I’m reading minds.

“Welcome?” she replied in Hanian. “I doubt I am.”

Nekaun’s smile widened. He spoke in his own language and Turaan repeated his words in Hanian. “Not to some, but they do not understand your reasons for being here.”

“And you do?”

“Perhaps. I must admit, I am guessing at a few matters. From the Siyee’s minds I learned you are forbidden to fight. I guess from this that you are here only to protect them. I think maybe you mean my people no harm.”

“Only if you do no harm to mine.”

His eyebrows rose. “Yet they came here to harm my people.”

She smiled thinly. “That is not true.”

He frowned, then chuckled. “Ah, that is right. They came here to harm the birds. So if a few people got in the way, the Siyee would not have hurt them?”

Auraya crossed her arms. “I did not give them their orders.”

“It must be difficult to love a people yet watch others rule them badly.”

“It is not a unique position to be in.”

His gaze wavered, as if what she had said had caused him to think of something, then steadied again. “I make you an offer. If you will stay here and let me show you my people and my city, I will free the Siyee. For every day you are here one will be freed.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “All I have to do is stay here?”

“And let me show you my people.”

“Why?”

His expression became serious. “Your people do not understand mine. You think us cruel and depraved. I wish to show that this isn’t so.” He grimaced. “I do not want to harm the Siyee nor do I want to enslave them, as is allowable by our laws. I could ask for money in exchange for their freedom but I do not need it. What I want more is peace. You are not a White, but I doubt a White would ever come here no matter how humble our request. However, you are their ally. You can tell them what you see here.” He looked at her earnestly. “Will you stay?”

Auraya regarded him suspiciously. It might still be a trap. There was no knowledge of one in Turaan’s mind, but he might not have been told.

So? Some risks are worth taking, for the sake of the Siyee.

“One Siyee every day,” she repeated.

“Yes.”

“I must witness them leave.”

“Of course.”

“You will give them food and water for the journey home?”

“It will be arranged.”

“And sanitation for those that remain?”

“I have people already seeking a solution to that problem.”

“Will you swear it on your gods?”

He smiled. “I swear, on Sheyr, Hrun, Alor, Ranah and Sraal, I will release one Siyee prisoner per day and night you remain here, and that you will not be harmed during that time.”

She looked away, as if considering.

:Juran?

:Yes?

She described the terms of the bargain.

:He will try to recruit or convert you.

:I expect so. He will fail.

:Yes. I believe he will. This is a dangerous game, Auraya, but if you’re willing to play it, you have our approval. Good luck.

Meeting Nekaun’s eyes, Auraya nodded once.

“I will stay.”

After reporting to Emerahl and The Twins, telling them of Genza’s request that he travel with her to Glymma, Mirar had let himself drift into sleep. He dreamed Auraya was trying to tell him something, but a knock interrupted her. Then he realized his eyes were open and he was staring, awake, at the ceiling.

Something just woke me up. Sitting up, he frowned and listened. He looked toward the door...

... and sensed both hope and uncertainty. A familiar presence stood beyond the door, determination rapidly waning.

Dardel. She’s finally got up the courage to approach me again.

For a moment he was caught between conflicting feelings. The memory of Auraya’s presence in his dream lingered in his mind. Yet he knew this opportunity to reassure Dardel might not come again.

Auraya isn’t here, he told himself. She’s not in love with you.

Standing up, he walked to the door and opened it. Dardel stared up at him, eyes wide.

“What can I do for you?” he asked.

“I heard you were leaving. I came to... to say goodbye.”