Slip Song (Devany Miller Series) (41 page)

Hadn’t that been what I was doing this time through? Changing things in my favor? It’d worked in the swamp, though not so much in Banishwinds. Still.

“Yes. I want to know.”

“
I knew I liked you. There are very few people around here brave enough to hear about the what-may-be.”

Nerves swept through me again. God, she was building up to tell me something bad, wasn’t she?

“I see a dark man—who is not a man—betraying you. He kills someone you’re close to.”

“
No.” My kids? My family? Arsinua? Jasper? Kroshtuka? “Who? Not … my kids.”

“
I don’t know, my dear. It is an imperfect gift. Not one of your children, though. Of that I can be certain.”

I swallowed. “Go on.”

“The betrayal is guided by something powerful. I cannot see who it is because they are always in mist. The dark one betrays you, his brother, and his other self.” Her brow wrinkled. “I hate Dreams. Even when they feel straight forward they are often obtuse.”

I sat, cold and sick at heart. “This is what for sure will happen or only what might happen?”

She patted my knee again. “It is a possibility, the strongest one based on current events. This was, of course, before you traveled back. So perhaps already it has changed. Beware the dark man, is the message of the Dream. Beware the one hidden in the mist.”

Well hell. I always knew I couldn’t trust Tytan. Though it didn’t have to mean Tytan, did it? And the one in the mist. Amara? Vasili? Ugh. “That’s not much to go by,” I said, wishing I didn’t hear a slight whine in my voice.

“I know. I’ve been visiting the Dreaming Place every night hoping that I would get more Dreams to help you but all I’ve gotten are flashes of insight that dissipate when I wake. It’s not much but I hope it will help.”

“
Me too.” On impulse I hugged her and she hugged me back. It felt good and though she was older than my mom by a long shot she reminded me of her anyway. “Thanks.”

“
Of course. Go on, now, and have some fun with Kroshtuka.”

I sighed. “Does everyone know?”

“‘Small village big ears,’ my momma always used to say.” She grinned.

“
Great.” I waved bye and left the caverns, slipping past a young woman draped in flowers, singing at the entrance. Once down from the network of stairs I wended my way through the huts to find Kroshtuka’s abode. He wasn’t inside so I followed the sounds of laughter and singing. The arena was full of people and a hearty bonfire burned bright in the dimming light. Jasper stood off to one side, his head bowed as he listened to a young man telling a grand story. I could tell it was grand by his gestures and facial expressions.

I wondered if Jasper would like to be rescued. I walked closer and met his eye. He didn’t smile at me. I waited until the young man concluded and wandered away before approaching him. “Everything all right?”

“I heard two of the Meat Clan were killed yesterday.”

I nodded. “We were taken by the Carnicus of Nightflowers.”

“I hate all the death and killing.” He rubbed his eyes. “I’ve seen too much evil in this world and haven’t done nearly enough to stop it.”

I put my hand on his shoulder. “You’ve been in captivity. It’s hard to change the world when you don’t have your freedom.”

He didn’t say more but his shoulders shook. I took him into my arms and held him, murmuring to him. His tears dampened my shoulder but he didn’t make a sound as he cried. I realized with a heartsick sadness that he’d probably learned early not to make noise that would attract the attention of his captors. Ravana would have adored his tears.

“
I’m so sorry Jasper.”

Other hands came around us, other arms, other bodies pressed close. It was the strangest thing, this spontaneous hug. Weird in that I’d never really group hugged anyone outside of family before and weird that it was comforting in a visceral way.

The group hummed a song, low and slow. As they hummed they started swaying in a slow, broad circle. Jasper’s tears slowed then stopped and then he, too was humming. I’m not sure how long we stood there intertwined but when we finally broke free my body sang. Jasper looked better too, though his skin was pale and his eyes bloodshot.

“
Thank you.”

“
Brother, we do it for the good of the Meat Clan,” an older guy in jeans and a baggy football jersey said. “And we do it for our own good. Now come with me, I know where to find the best beer.” He led Jasper away but before they were completely out of ear shot I heard him say, “Bought it off a trader. Something called Sam Adams? Not bad beer at all.”

I would have to remember the Wilds next time I had a garage sale. Sounded like they liked themselves some human stuff. I was an expert in stuff, as were my kids. Neither Liam nor Bethy would want to part with anything of theirs, though each could easily pick out things in the other person’s stash to get rid off. Travis and I had been the same so I supposed I couldn’t complain that my kids were just like me. Damn it.

Kroshtuka sat with Mina and a few other women on the other side of the bonfire. I waited for the jealousy but it didn’t come. I’d worked myself up over Tom early on, freaking myself out when I saw him talking to other women at school. He would swear he wasn’t doing anything and I’d end up apologizing. Now I wondered, had he been cheating the whole time and I had a right to be jealous? Or had my jealousy finally given him permission to do something I’d already accused him of doing?

“
What do you think, Tom?”

There wasn’t any answer from the soul inside me. I crossed over to the group and sat down with them, taking the mug of cider from one of the women with a thank you. Mina smiled at me and her smile wasn’t quite so frosty as her tone had been earlier. “You have a very powerful dual-nature.”

I am powerful. She is smart.

What should I say? Yeah? That would sound egotistical. Thank you? It wasn’t necessarily a compliment, was it? “My spider side is strong,” I said, agreeing without an answer.

“The wild magic picks what animal we become by searching for that which is deep within us.”

“
Mina is the bear,” Kroshtuka said. “And she’s every bit a bear in real life.”

“
Strong, caring, nurturing, fierce,” said another woman. To me, she said, “I’m an owl.”

“
Intelligent and majestic?” I guessed.

She laughed. “Flighty, my mate calls me. But also a good hunter.”

Since we were on the subject anyway, I decided to ask, “What does the hyena mean?”

Kroshtuka started to answer but Mina cut him off. “He will try to brush it away as a joke, so I will tell you.” She laid a finger on his lips and when she was sure he wouldn’t speak, she said, “Instinct, intelligence, communication, and strategy.”

“All good traits for a leader.” I wrapped my arms around my knees, knowing I would regret asking. “What’s spider?”

“
I don’t know,” said the owl woman. “Do you?”

Mina shook her head. So did the others. Then Kroshtuka’s eyes met mine. “Spiders are balance and creativity. They are strength and gentleness. Past and future as well as fate.”

There was that word again. I didn’t want to blink but I did and the mood was broken. No, that wasn’t right. It hadn’t been broken, just altered. Kroshtuka rose and held out his hand for me and though I should’ve been embarrassed, I took it and let him lead me away from everyone, back to his hut and the comfort of solitude.

He stripped the clothes from me with deliberate slowness, allowing me to bask in each sensation as he created it. When I couldn’t stand it anymore, we lay together and explored each other’s bodies, discovering what a touch here or a kiss there would do to the other person.

Later, we devolved into our senses and experienced each other through touch, taste, smell, and sound but that was more than enough to take joy in. Later still, when we could catch our breaths again, Kroshtuka wrapped me up in his arms and we talked about small things, avoiding the day’s trials and tribulations, learning about each other the details we’d soon forget unless our lives continued to intersect. I didn’t want to risk fate and imagine that it could happen―there was so much in opposition to our possible union―but the hope sprouted anyway. Life finds a way.

Sated, we drifted in and out of dreams and in and out of each other.

-THIRTY-

A message came in the middle of the night through the Dreaming Place. One of the elders rapped on Kroshtuka’s door and had a whispered conversation with him. When he returned to me, his face was grave.

“The Wolf Clan was attacked by a group of hunters. One of their people is dead and one of ours. Tam is gone. They think she led the hunters to their campsite.”

Oh god. I wondered what Leon had promised her to get her to betray them. Probably a cure. “I’m sorry.” I thought of the pretty fox and wondered if she’d been one of the dead.

“I warned them. Didn’t think she would turn traitor so soon. Perhaps she worried they would take her too far into the Wilds for anyone to find her.” He had his arm around me when it felt like I should have my arm around him.

“
I don’t think I’m good for your people’s health,” I said, sick to my stomach.

“
It isn’t you, it’s the world we live in. And people aren’t going to change their ways unless we do something to challenge their views. I’m sorry we’ve lost people but I’m not sorry that you came to our village. We can’t sit here in solitude and hope that the world forgets about us. It’s time we fought for our freedom and peace.”

I slid my fingers through his chest hair, liking the silky feel of it, almost fur-like. “Galleia doesn’t have to be your fight. Last time through you lost more people. I have the advantage this time.” Sort of. Amara knew I was up to something but I hoped she didn’t know much. Or where. I sighed. Too much to hope for.

He squeezed me gently. “Think of it as the start of our revolution. I will make sure the Meat Clan is known in Galleia and that we will no longer tolerate the Theleoni or the slave trade.” Hyena or not, his smile was wolfish.

I wanted to convince him that he should start small, that there might be other things he wasn’t up to fighting (Skriven, for instance), that his people could resent him for getting them involved. I didn’t want the guilt that I knew I’d feel if more of his people died. Caught between guilt and selfishness.

“You will see. Talk to my people and you will see. We are not ignorant of the world, we’ve just turned a blind eye. I think we have all been waiting for our call to action.”

Later that morning, when the sun was finally up, he took me down to the arena where most everyone met for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He stood up on a table to address them all.

“We have seen what happens to our people when the witch-folk take us. They don’t understand the wild magic and their willful ignorance puts us all in danger. Today, we have the opportunity to send them a message that we are not to be ignored or bought and sold like objects. They do not get to decide what happens to us as if we are little children. Today there will be danger and fighting. Today we can rescue a poor soul like our Jasper who has been enslaved by a group called the Theleoni for many years. The witch-folk don’t understand that it’s their unwillingness to bend that has led to the Theleoni, who steal humans to give themselves power when denied by their own folk. This has to stop. And we are responsible for stopping them. Do any of you oppose action that may start a war but may also create a better life for our people?”

Well, when phrased that way, Krosh. I watched as they stood up, one by one to voice their concerns. He answered their questions without any prevarication. Yes, it would be dangerous. Yes, some of them may die. Yes, it could bring the witch-folk down on them or more witch-folk could encroach on their territory. He didn’t sugar coat anything. And damned if a great majority of them declared that today would be a fine day to stand up for the Meat Clan.

I’d fomented a revolution. I wondered what Arsinua would think about it all, considering she was one of the witch-folk who had a stake in keeping things in line with the status quo. Well, she’d had a stake, anyway. Now that she was a criminal and jail escapee she might not be welcome in her own society. Like Tam. Hell, like the Theleoni. Shit.

Jasper joined me as we listened to Kroshtuka, now off the table and walking amongst his people, answer questions and make shorter, still impassioned speeches about the cause.

“You do enjoy spurring change, don’t you?”

“
I don’t mean to. I swear it. Most of this is just me getting by and trying to survive.”

He nodded. “I’m sure you believe that now. There will be a time when you will have to be honest with yourself, though.”

I frowned but didn’t get to argue with him because a villager took him aside to ask him about his time with the Theleoni. I wasn’t sure what to make of his comment. I really didn’t set out to change things, I just took the opportunity to try and make things better when I had the chance. Okay, my version of better but still.