Read Souls of Aredyrah 1 - The Fire and the Light Online
Authors: Tracy A. Akers
Tags: #teen, #sword sorcery, #young adult, #epic, #cousins, #slavery, #labeling, #superstition, #coming of age, #fantasy, #royalty, #romance, #quest, #adventure, #social conflict, #mysticism, #prejudice, #prophecy, #mythology, #twins
A shell-pink awning caught Brina’s eye and
she worked her way to it. Shouldering her way between a wall of
haggling customers who crowded the booth, she moved to the back
where a dark-haired young man was speaking with a patron. Brina
strolled along the tables, fingering shells here and there, all the
while eyeing the young man. His business finally completed, she
motioned him over in her most authoritative manner.
“Young man,” she said, “I am looking for a
special vessel, a gift for my sister.”
“Of course,” the young man said. “As you can
see, we have many. What did you have in mind?” He ushered her to
the display of intricately designed bottles, vases, and urns that
lined a shelf along the back of the booth.
“A perfume bottle,” she said.
“Here is a nice one,” he said, picking up a
beautiful pink bottle inlaid with a swirl of bird-shaped
shells.
Brina took the bottle and examined it,
commenting on its beauty as she rotated it in the light. “It is
lovely, but not quite what I had in mind.” She sighed and handed
the bottle back to him, then bent down to inspect the row of
bottles more carefully. “I see nothing here that is to my liking.
Have you anything else you could show me?”
“Well,” the young man replied, “there is one
you might be interested in, but it is in the back still being
crafted. I could not risk handling it to bring it to you here.”
“Take me to see it then,” Brina said.
“Very well,” he said, motioning toward a flap
dividing the stall from the tent at its back. “Please, allow me...”
He bowed and held the flap back as Brina brushed past him. Glancing
over his shoulder, he stooped and made his way through the low
portal and disappeared with her to the other side.
Brina grabbed the young man’s arm. “Torin,”
she whispered. “Where is your sister?”
“Here is the bottle you wanted to see,” Torin
said somewhat loudly. Then he lowered his voice. “She’s here,
somewhere. What’s wrong?”
Brina hesitated. She knew she could confide
in him. She had known him since he was a child and knew him to be
trustworthy. But she wanted his sister Jensa to be there before she
divulged her plan. She studied his worried face for a moment. Torin
was a handsome young man, tall, with a striking mane of jet-black
hair braided and pulled away from his face. He was dressed in a
loincloth, and his chest was covered with strands of colorful
shells. Tattoos encircled his muscular arms, and black kohl lined
his dark brown eyes. Nothing about him could be mistaken for
Tearian, except perhaps his pride.
“Tell me, Brina,” he said. “What is it?”
“I will tell you, but I want Jensa to be here
when I do. This will concern you both.”
Torin placed a hand on Brina’s shoulder and
nodded. “Wait here and I’ll fetch her.” With that, he slipped
through the flap and went back to the stall.
Brina fingered a half-finished bottle that
lay amongst the shells and tools littering the work table. The flap
opened behind her, and she wheeled around, smiling with relief.
Jensa strode into the room, her presence
enveloping it. Tall and lithe, she stood nearly the same height as
her slightly older brother, Torin. Her hair was dark, though not as
dark as his, and was piled up in braids and ringlets. The shells
decorating her ears cascaded down her long neck and across her
barely covered breasts. The green tattoos around her arms gave the
impression of ocean waves dancing across her golden skin. Her
kohl-lined, pale blue eyes darted in Brina’s direction. “Torin says
you need some assistance with a bottle,” Jensa said.
“Yes, this one here,” Brina said.
“What is it, Brina?” Jensa asked in a hushed
voice. She ushered her to the back of the tent.
“Who is watching the booth?”
“Mya is watching it for us,” Jensa replied.
“What—”
“I need your help,” Brina said. “There are
two Jecta I need smuggled out of the city.”
“Smuggled out? Who are they?” Jensa
asked.
“Strangers. Reiv brought them to his place
last night.”
“Reiv—humph!” Torin said. “Since when does he
take in Jecta?”
Brina’s mouth compressed, then she said,
“Torin, please, can we keep our personal feelings out of this?”
“But Brina, you know how Reiv is. Why would
he have Jecta at his place?”
“He thought they were thieves. He intended to
take them to Headquarters, but was delayed due to the wedding.” She
shot Torin a look to remind him that the previous day’s festivities
would have been particularly difficult for her nephew.
“Are they thieves?” Jensa asked.
“No. Reiv made a mistake.”
“Reiv is a mistake,” Torin muttered under his
breath.
“Torin,” Brina said, struggling to keep her
voice low. “Reiv made a mistake and is doing everything in his
power to rectify it. May I remind you that he is at risk also? He
was seen by the guards last night. They know he had the Jecta with
him and that he was planning to take them to Headquarters. What do
you think will happen to Reiv when they discover he never turned
them over?”
Torin moved to speak, but Jensa put a
commanding hand on his arm. “Torin, put your hostilities aside and
listen to what Brina has to say.”
He nodded, but folded his arms. “What is it
you need, Brina?”
“They must be smuggled out. I am planning to
go to Pobu to see Nannaven. I need to find them a place to
stay.”
“That still doesn’t explain what you want us
to do,” Jensa said.
“If Reiv could get them this far without
being detected by the guards,” Brina said.
“Then they could leave with us,” Torin added,
piecing her plan together.
“Yes, and you could escort them to Pobu. Of
course there could be some risk to you. The guards might recognize
them, but they are dressed as Jecta now so perhaps—”
“Dressed as Jecta? But you said they were
Jecta. Brina, who are these people?” Jensa asked.
“A boy and a girl. They are special. That is
all I can tell you now.”
Jensa and Torin looked at each other in
bewilderment.
Brina continued. “I told Reiv that if I was
not back by high sun he was to take them to Pobu himself and wait
for me at Gair’s shop.”
“Reiv? To Pobu?” Torin arched his brow.
“Gods, they must be special. He would never go there if they
weren’t.”
“Exactly. That is why I must return from Pobu
quickly to tell him to come here instead. I did not want to send
him here unless I had spoken to you first. Reiv’s presence in Pobu
would raise too much suspicion, by both Tearian guards and Jecta.”
Brina narrowed her eyes at Torin. “All the more reason to give Reiv
some credit. He knows that if I do not return he is to take them to
Pobu himself and he is willing to do it.”
Torin nodded. “I’m sorry, Brina. You’re
right.”
Brina glanced toward the flap. “We do not
have much time to talk. Jensa, do you have a wrap I might borrow? I
was watched with much more scrutiny than usual this morning.
Although I managed to borrow this frock, the color of it might
still draw unwanted attention.”
“Of course. Whatever you need.” Jensa walked
over to a large trunk and pulled out a lightweight cloak.
“Oh, and a trinket for the owner of these
clothes,” Brina said. Jensa lifted a strand of shell beads from
around her neck and handed it to her. Brina pulled the beads over
her head and draped the cloak around her shoulders. “I noticed more
guards than usual milling about today. Something is afoot, and I
pray it does not involve Reiv or the Jecta he is harboring. Is
there perhaps a way one of you could watch his place, to make
certain they are safe until I return?”
Torin frowned and shook his head. “Jensa and
I would be noticed in that area of the quadrant. Shell Seekers
don’t go there.”
“I know,” Brina said, “but—”
An energetic boy suddenly bounded into the
tent and rushed toward her. In an instant his arms were wrapped
around her hips.
“Brina!” he exclaimed. His eyes twinkled as
his grinning, freckled face turned up to hers.
Brina reached down and tousled his
sandy-colored hair. “And how is my little warrior today?”
“Good, Brina! But why are you here? Are you
going to stay? Are you? Please say you will!” The boy looked
pleadingly into her face and grabbed her hand, jumping up and
down.
“Kerrik, settle yourself down this instant,”
Jensa ordered. She took him by the shoulders and pulled him
away.
“But Jensa,” he protested. “I only want—”
“I don’t care what you want,” Jensa said
sternly. “Brina did not come to see you.”
“Oh, Jensa,” Brina said, “I always have time
for my favorite person.” She smiled sweetly at the boy who was
struggling to remove himself from his sister’s firm grip.
“Jensa,” Torin said, his voice strangely
level, “couldn’t Kerrik spy for us?”
“Are you mad?” she cried.
“He’s seven years old now. I was younger than
that when I started taking up the cause, and you were even younger.
Remember?”
“What are you saying?” Brina said.
“What I’m saying is that Jensa and I can’t go
undetected to the place you want us to go. But Kerrik—”
“No, absolutely not!” Jensa stomped her foot.
“I will not have it!” She looked at Brina for support, but Brina
revealed no sign of it.
“Torin, do you think the boy could manage
it?” Brina asked, glancing down at Kerrik’s twisted right foot.
Kerrik’s eyes, wide with anticipation, darted
between Brina and Torin. He wrenched free of Jensa’s grasp and
bounded over to his older brother. Lifting his head, he puffed out
his chest in an attempt to look bigger.
Torin laughed. “Have you ever known anything
to slow this boy down? Besides, I’ve been working with him and, as
you know, our little warrior has been anxious to be just that.
Maybe this would be a good first job for him.”
Brina looked at Jensa whose hand had risen to
her mouth. “Jensa, you know I love Kerrik. I would never risk him.
But, this is so important.”
Brina knelt down in front of Kerrik and
placed her hands on his shoulders. Staring him in the eye, she took
a very serious tone. “Kerrik, I need your help. Do you know where
Reiv lives?”
“Yes, Brina.”
Jensa gasped. “How could you possibly
know?”
“I’ve been there,” Kerrik replied
matter-of-factly.
“Been there?” Jensa exclaimed.
“Of course,” he replied. “What do you think I
do all day at Market while you and Torin are flattering
Tearians?”
“But to Reiv’s?” Jensa said.
“He never knew I was spying. Nobody saw me. I
only wanted to see the prince.”
Brina stifled a smile. Why wouldn’t the boy
want to see him? Reiv was famous, after all, especially amongst the
Jecta boys who thought being a prince must be the greatest thing in
the world. “Kerrik,” she said, “all I need you to do is watch
Reiv’s place. Nothing more. Can you do that?”
“Of course.”
“If anyone goes there, anyone other than me,
you must come and tell Jensa and Torin immediately, do you
understand?”
“I understand.”
“And Kerrik, if anything happens there, under
no circumstances are you to interfere.”
“I will be the best spy the Jecta have ever
known,” Kerrik said bravely.
“I know you will,” Brina replied. Then she
pulled him into her arms and hugged him tight.
“Brina, please,” Kerrik whined. He squirmed
from her grasp. “I’m not a baby.”
Brina took a deep breath and rose, then
turned her attention to Jensa and Torin. “Here is what we must do,”
she said. “I will go to Pobu. Kerrik will keep an eye on Reiv’s
apartment. After I have secured a place for them with Nannaven, I
will return here to let you know all is well then go to Reiv and
instruct him to bring the boy and girl here. You can then take them
with you when you leave Market.”
Torin and Jensa nodded.
“And if you don’t come back?” Jensa
asked.
“If Kerrik sees Reiv leave with them, he is
to follow and give him the message to come here.” She looked at
Kerrik. “Can you do that Kerrik?”
“Yes, Brina. I know what to do,” he said.
Brina smiled. “I knew I could count on
you.”
Brina tightened the cloak around her neck and
pulled the hood up over her head. She walked toward the rear exit
of the tent, then paused. “There are no words to express how
grateful I am,” she said over her shoulder. Then she slipped
through the portal and left them standing in silence.
Jensa pulled Kerrik over and spun him around
to face her. “First, we must get this kohl off of you,” she said,
scowling with disapproval. She reached for a rag that was draped
across the workbench and scrubbed it across his face.
“Ow, Jensa, that hurts!” Kerrik cried, trying
to jerk his face from the harsh wipes that were only replacing the
black marks with red ones.
“Be still!” Jensa barked.
Torin stepped toward them. “Are you trying to
wipe off his entire face?”
Jensa shot Torin an icy glare. “And you! I
cannot believe you suggested this.” She turned her attention back
to the wriggling boy and continued to rake the rag across his
skin.
“He’ll be fine, Jensa. It’s time.”
“Time? Time for what? Time to risk his
neck?”
“No, time for him to grow up.”
Torin yanked Kerrik from Jensa’s reach. “Let
him be,” he said as he ushered the boy away from her.
Jensa stood staring at Torin, her blue eyes
now black with rage. She threw the kohl-smeared rag to the ground.
“Fine, but this will be on your conscience, Torin, not mine!”
Torin frowned at his sister, then placed his
hands on the boy’s shoulders. “Kerrik, you are a man now. Be brave.
Be smart.”
“Yes, Torin,” Kerrik said, looking up at his
big brother proudly.
Torin stared into the boy’s sparkling eyes,
the blueness of them now surrounded by streaks of pink and gray.
For a moment Torin hesitated, then he took the small chin into his
hand and shook it firmly. “Be careful,” he stressed. The boy nodded
enthusiastically and Torin straightened his shoulders. “Off with
you then.” He escorted Kerrik across the room and out of the
tent.