7
(Silnaday)
Soundside
.
The boat neared the docks in Soundside. Oleana was feeling impatient after her mother’s scolding about not finding another way across the Irolean Sound the previous night.
“Mother, are you okay?” Thorsa asked, standing at her side.
“Your grandmother is angry that we haven’t acted faster.”
“There were no more boats last night!”
“We should have thought beyond that. Surely, we could have found someone in the docklands who would have taken us across for the right fee.”
Thorsa nodded. Oleana felt proud of her youngest daughter and apprentice, despite her failing the previous day.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t find out where the surveillance was,” Thorsa said, apparently picking up on her unguarded thoughts.
“It’s okay. You will remember next time – and we are already on their trail. It’s funny that they’re traveling together already.”
“Kjane sure moves on quickly.”
“Come off it, Thorsa. I know he didn’t choose to take you to bed! Does he know you’re pregnant?”
“Not much point in telling him if he doesn’t even remember our lovely evening together,” Thorsa said, sounding depressed.
“And yet, you wanted to charge him for rape,” Oleana reminded. “You realize that makes all of us women look bad?”
Thorsa nodded, blush coloring her face for a moment, then fading as she remembered her training. “I’m sorry, Mother, I didn’t think...”
Oleana’s heart melted for her youngest daughter, reminding her of her elder children and even the grand childen who were older than Thorsa. She had much to learn, but her heart was in the right place. “Wrap,” she reminded Thorsa and led the way off the boat.
They skirted the crowds and walked through customs without so much as a “welcome.”
“Now what?” Thorsa asked.
“You know Kjane better than I,” Oleana said hintingly. She chuckled at Thorsa’s quick blush. “Stretch out your feelings and find his leya imprint.”
“They were wrapped,” Thorsa said almost immediately.
“I would have expected as much. They’re hiding from us.”
“So...”
“You’re going to have to be smarter than them. Where would you have gone if you had landed here knowing that someone would be looking for you?”
“I would have been looking for a place to hide where I could get a bit of sleep, maybe even some food.”
Oleana nodded. She had already noticed that the hoverbus station was empty of vehicles. If the fugitives had taken a bus, they couldn’t catch up until the next bus. If they had walked, Oleana and Thorsa would come upon them quickly. If they had taken another vehicle, all bets were off. In any case, there was plenty of time to let her daughter learn. She watched as Thorsa exercised her leya muscles.
She suddenly pointed to an empty storehouse not too far from the pier. “They went there. Kjane plus a woman.”
Oleana nodded. “I don’t know her, but her imprint is similar to that of her parents. They are together.”
Thorsa led the way to the storehouse. She pushed past the door which hung slightly crookedly.
The storehouse was dark and musty. Yet, Oleana could smell the presence of the couple… yes, they were a couple now, she knew instantly.
“They shared this couch,” Thorsa said.
Oleana could feel jealousy in her daughter. “But only slept.”
“He is attracted to her… and her to him. So, why didn’t they?”
“There are many factors in love,” Oleana explained. “Maybe she was worried, or maybe he felt it was the wrong place and time.”
“And the crew who reported them? He thought they were making love.”
“He must have been wrong – or Issyk thought things to make the conductor think they were. Surely, had they made love on the boat, they wouldn’t have held back here. Therefore, they are not lovers yet.”
“Yet?” Thorsa asked, her jealousy showing again.
“They’re clearly well on the way. Her hormones are rising as well. She won’t resist him very long.”
“So, what next? We’ve missed them.”
“We track their leya imprints until we know where they went. Did they walk? Did they catch a bus? Did they hire a hoverbil?” Oleana asked.
“I should have thought of that,” Thorsa said.
“It’s okay, daughter. Pregnancy will do that to you.”
Thorsa glowered. “Are you mad at me, Mother?”
“I can’t imagine why I would be. Just because the world dislikes babies?”
“Because I’m young and unmarried. Because I did it on purpose.”
“At last you are honest, darling,” Oleana said with a chuckle. “No, you should know by now that we do not adhere to the standards of the world – nor of the lofty and nearly-extinct A’mara. We are Balan and we always plan for the next generation!” She smiled.
Thorsa smiled back. “I’m glad, Mother.”
“Do you have any regrets?”
“No. I am scared of giving birth… and scared of raising a child on my own.”
“Normal worries. I will be there to help you, Thorsa. Now, let’s find Issyk and the daughter of Fain Kulun!”
Thorsa led the way, concentrating on the trail they’d managed to pick up. She felt her way towards the hoverbus station. She looked at her mother again.
“Looks like they caught a bus,” Oleana said.
“Then we’ll never catch them!”
“Don’t despair, daughter. There’s another bus in half an hour. All change in Chalða. They will have a delay that may aid us in catching up with them.”
Oleana sat on a bench with Thorsa beside her as rain began to fall around them, plinking on the shelter roof above. She thought about how nice it would be to live in a place as rich with life as Çtaráña was. Maybe they could fix up the Complex in Omrill and use it. A good place to retire, maybe take up herbalism and magick… become a stella.
If you have enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you could put your thoughts as a review on [Goodreads](coming soon) for me.
Buy at: Books2Read
Other chapters of stories about Decima...
Decima: Ground Zero - chapter 1
Decima: One Mission - chapter 1
Maps and Guides
Apothecary Kit, Dec 2019 - part of the kit of a good healer
Map of Kranisis
This book takes place on Irola.
Çtarest is also mentioned. That is the giant mountain that forms the border between Çtaráña, Shayanda and Ubre'in.
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2105 – all rights reserved.
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on Facebook or Discord, viking-ventures#2883.
Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
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