The Soothing Scent Of Earth (Elemental Awakening, Book 2) (35 page)

Hip bowed low when we came to rest in front of them, Theo followed suit immediately. I let a small sigh out and attempted a curtsey, my inexperience on display for all to see. Way to start the night off. The
Aether
they seemed to know so much, yet so little about, showing her true colours. I couldn't stop this particular blush of inexperience to save myself. I'd never liked being on show and falling short of others' expectations.

"Prince of
Pyrkagia
," the
Rigas
said, breaking the silence that still hung in the room like a threatening cloud. "You honour the
Aeras
with your presence."

I don't know what it was, but I knew his words were a lie. He showed no indication of treachery on his face, his tone was pleasant and welcoming. His eyes didn't flash white, just watched us both intently. But I could have sworn this man was on edge; having a
Pyrkagia
prince in his home. The
Aeras
confused me. They'd allowed us into their kingdom, given me access to their ancient shaman, yet they were all on guard.

My eyes darted around the banquet hall, taking in the finery again, in decoration and attendees. Seeing the same pleasant, welcoming look on the faces, laced with something almost undetectable. Fear. I think it was fear, but it could have just as easily been mistrust.

"The honour is mine," Theo replied, formally. "Not many have visited your fair city, I thank you for the invitation."

A small shimmer of white speared the
Rigas'
eyes. I was guessing it was over Theo's choice of words, in particular 'invitation'. I wondered if Theo had chosen it on purpose; to test the waters? In any case, he'd gotten a reaction, confirming my assessment. The
Aeras
were on guard, and so should we be.

"I hope you have found the answer you sought," the
Rigas
replied, but didn't wait for Theo to respond, his attention turned to me.

In a move that could have been called leering in other circumstances, the
Aeras
King swept his gaze over my frame; from top to bottom, and then back up. His eyes lingered on Theo's mark, but I couldn't tell what he was thinking. He'd adopted that
Athanatos
blank mask.

"And you are the
Aether
," he announced, no emotion on his face, to speak of.

"I guess so," I replied, offering a small smile and shrug of my shoulders. He frowned.

"What branch were you originally?"

Now, how to answer that? Originally I was human. Should I tell him that?

I wanted to look at Theo, to gain an insight into how to play this, but other than discussing we should stand apart - not hold hands or look too dependent on each other - we hadn't covered any other plan. If Theo had thought hiding this was necessary, he would have mentioned it, I was sure.

"I became
Gi
three months ago," I said, hearing the rustle of surprise throughout the crowd behind us. The King and Queen didn't show a reaction, at all.

"And you wield
Pyrkagia
," the
Rigas
added.

"Yes, sir," I replied, wanting desperately to shuffle my feet and stare at the ground. The
Rigas
wasn't demanding answers, wasn't glaring at me with evil intent. But I felt like I was on trial, or under a scientist's microscope. Being dissected without even realising it.

"This is an unusual occurrence," the King admitted. "If not for our shaman confirming you are who you say you are, we would believe you an imposter, perhaps an Alchemist trying to undermine the
Athanatos
."

He wasn't saying anything I hadn't heard before. From the day I climbed out of that pit of dirt, I had been considered a
Gi
imposter. Theo had even asked me outright if I was an Alchemist. The truth of the matter was, we didn't know
what
I was, but we did know I'd been created. Or at least, that's what Noah had inferred. Even my grandfather had supported that notion through my dreams.

Athanatos
were even more distrustful of Alchemists than other
Ekmetalleftis
branches. Admitting my connection through Gramps to the human group, hell bent on furthering their kind via the theft of various
Stoicheio,
was not a good idea. And I didn't need Theo to tell me that. Therefore, mentioning I was perhaps created by them, would be very bad indeed.

Besides, I wasn't entirely convinced of that particular line of thought.
Wishful thinking.

So, I didn't say a word when the
Rigas
spoke, just stood waiting for his verdict.

"As it stands," the King went on, "I believe we can aid you no further. You are welcome to enjoy the banquet, but tomorrow you will be escorted from our lands."

Theo was the one to speak, I was all out of ideas. "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty."

The King nodded, as though the pleasantry was entirely expected, and maybe it was. Then before he turned away, effectively dismissing us, he added, "I would be keen to hear when your
Aeras
Stoicheio
arrives
."
The first indication he was interested in what I was so far, and I think it had slipped out, unguarded. "Perhaps you would be so kind as to contact Hippolytos when this occurs. Having an
Athanatos
running around with our
Stoicheio,
that we are unaware of, would make us... uneasy."

It was a threat, no doubt about it. These über paranoid people did not like that I would wield Air. And should I not inform them of when I Awakened to that particular Element, then their response would be... harsh. He hadn't said it in as many words, but by God he'd meant it.

The King turned towards his Queen and pretended we were no longer there. Theo bowed again, although neither monarch was looking, so I did my half-hearted disastrous curtsey and followed Hip's direction to proceed to another part of the room. No one else approached us. This was not a friendly meeting, this was an opportunity for the
Aeras
to get a good look at me. Whether that was so they knew who to avoid in the future, or so they could successfully hunt me down should I act out of line using their
Stoicheio,
I don't know. But I did not feel welcome, even though their mannerisms seemed to indicate we were.

We sat at a table by ourselves. Hip joined us, as his two - I was guessing personal Guards - stood at our backs, within easy reaching distance. One spare seat remained at the table, but I wasn't sure if that was just for aesthetics - matching the other four chair tables throughout the room - or because someone else was still to join us.

Without considering my manners, I picked the glass of wine, in front of my seat, up and took a healthy swig. My nerves were strung tight. My fingers even shook with an overdose of adrenaline, the trembling making the red liquid ripple across the surface inside the glass. It took two hands to set the wine back on the table's surface, for fear I'd stain the white tablecloth.

Theo didn't say a word, nor reach out to calm me down. He'd warned that every action he made would be keenly observed, and to constantly touch me - even in support and comfort - would be considered a weakness. He was inches away, but I was completely alone.

"That went well," Hip said, and I had to work hard not to snort in disbelief. "Do you have any idea where you'll be heading next? Back to
Pyrkagia
?"

How much did he really know? I had a suspicion that he was fishing for information, and was already well aware that we were not welcome in Auckland and
Pyrkagia
land. As for the
Gi
, he surely knew of our near capture. Paranoid people such as the
Aeras
would have spies everywhere.

"We haven't decided," Theo answered, taking a slow, measured, and completely relaxed looking sip of his wine. "Perhaps we will seek out the
Nero
. We haven't visited there yet." It sounded flippant, but nothing Theo did, when in political mode such as now, was done off the cuff.

"Perhaps they can tell you something my grandfather has not," Hip agreed. "Speaking of," he suddenly added, rising from his seat when the old shaman appeared out of nowhere. Not quite as abrupt as Hip and the Guards had back at the airport in Lima, but pretty close.

Theo rose when the old man made it to the table, I offered a smile, which the toothless ancient returned. Perhaps my audience with him was not yet over.

"This is Theodoros Petropoulos, grandfather," Hip said, in introduction to the shaman. "Prince of
Pyrkagia
and the
Aether's Thisavros
."

What an interesting introduction. Clearly
Athanatos
- or just the
Aeras
- took one's relationship status into consideration, just as much as one's title.

"Never two, always one. Alone
Aether
must face the sum." Oh, just great. We weren't done with the riddles.

And clearly the shaman wasn't as enamoured of my
Thisavros
as everyone else seemed to be. I decided that this, being our last chance to get answers, was not a time for me to shut-up.

"I couldn't do this without him," I pointed out, receiving a blank white stare from the old man.

Silence, and then Hip, in his - what I presume - normal upbeat style, said, "This has been a most exciting time, hasn't it, grandfather?" He turned his attention to us, not waiting for a reply. Maybe he was used to not always getting one. "My grandfather hasn't been this keen to vacate his room in decades. Your presence has inspired him to attend one of our banquets. A cause for celebration."

He lifted his wine glass in a toast, Theo replicated the motion immediately. I flicked my gaze to the shaman, who was - perhaps ignoring his grandson - just watching me.

"Is this a celebration?" I asked, my determination to get answers making me bold.

"
Aether
comes.
Aether
goes," the shaman answered, voice slow and whisper quiet. "
Aether
puts on quite the show."

"Is that what I am?" I asked, feeling both Theo's and Hip's eyes on me, but I was all for the shaman now. Nothing else in the room existed but him and me. "Something to entertain?"

He didn't reply. Just sat there, holding his cane between his parted knees, staring back at me. Waiting.

Waiting for what?

I was getting more and more frustrated with this old man and his quirky, inexplicable sayings. If he'd seen me coming in a vision, then surely he knew more of why I was here than he was letting on. It was time he confessed all.

"Why am I
Aether
?" I demanded.

Silence.

"How did I become
Aether
?"

Silence.

"Where do I go now?"

"Where
Aether
goes, no man knows." OK, we were back to asking the right question, to get any answer at all. Sane or otherwise.

It was at least something to go on, and by the encouraging looks Theo was giving me, he'd cottoned on to the situation, too.

"What am I meant to do next?"

Silence. I was going around in circles here, thinking maybe if I just asked a question in a different way, he'd answer.

"It's been, what? Centuries since the last
Aether
, why am I here now?"

I didn't expect an answer, I'd been clasping at straws with the change-it-up idea, but he stunned me silent when he said, voice suddenly strong and level, relaying his intent, "The scales tip. Balance is lost. Our world needs
Aether
, at all cost."

Theo shifted forward in his seat, knowing we'd made a progress of sorts. It was still mired in riddle, but it was the most forthcoming the shaman had been so far.

"Balance. What has
Aether
got to do with balance?" I queried, trying to puzzle it through, while I asked the question aloud.

"
Aether
is for balance, as Air is to breathe." This time Hip was the one to sit forward, clearly not having heard this particular 'vision' before.

"What balance? What's not balanced?" I pressed.

"
Aether
is for harmony, as Water is to live."

I sat back in my chair abruptly, aware we'd lost any forward momentum for now.

"
Aether
is for peace, as Earth is to ground us."

"Fire," I announced with a roll of my eyes, knowing the fourth
Stoicheio
would follow.

The shaman didn't disappoint. "
Aether
is for survival, as Fire is to fight."