CHAPTER 34

Mia awoke alone. She stretched cramped limbs, reveling in the space she had to move. She nestled deeper into blankets that smelled like soap and Draven. Mmmm.

Something brushed her cheek, something cool and definitely not a blanket. Her eyes popped open. Bright orange petals filled her vision.

She lifted her head and stared at the pillow beside her. A lily...a tiger lily to be exact. She snorted. The man was a comedian. And he had listened to her conversation with Brine. Where had he gotten such a thing?

Her heart gave a little squeeze. It was a stupid emotion to have over a little flower, but there it was.

There was a soft knock at the door and the medic entered. Suddenly feeling a little silly and a lot self-conscious, Mia grabbed the blankets to herself. She was covered more than if she had been wearing clothes but somehow felt completely naked.

Fortunately, the medic carried a familiar looking bundle in his hands. He cast her a knowing look as he set them down on the chair next to the bed.

“The Prime says that you will likely wish to return to your friends this morning. There is a guard waiting to escort you.”

“Ah...thanks,” Mia managed, as the man turned and left.

She pulled on gray pants that fit tight against her thighs before loosening into a flowing material. The shirt was a deep chocolate brown and tight, as well. It strapped over one shoulder, hugging her breasts and rib cage.

Suddenly, everything seemed to hit her at once. The door to the hell world, the illness, being drug through the city, Jhudur's jumbled words and warnings. Her mind had cleared with a good night's rest in a safe place. Was there something else out there in the city? Something stalking and destroying Livarians and Kirich alike? The more she thought of it, the less possible it seemed that Jhudur had murdered the men. She had seen the Livarians fight. Someone in Jhudur's state of mind would be unlikely to take them by surprise, or survive an encounter with them.

Was Draven, even now, out there searching for some other creature that might have murdered his men? She shuddered, a new wave of worry taking hold. Worry for him she realized.

She wanted to sit with that, to process it for a moment, but some of his own words floated back through her memory. Somewhere in the debate with Jhudur, in his attempts to get her released...hadn't he mentioned a children's tale?

The words played over in her mind. So many pieces missing that she wasn't sure they even belonged to the same puzzle. Still, she felt like she was missing something important.

She poked her head from the room. No less than three Livarian guards stood in the hallway.

“Mia,” one of the men nodded. “Would you like to return to the dorm now?”

“Three of you seems like a little overkill,” she announced and studied the hall. Brine's door was several paces down.

The man who had spoken frowned. “It is the Prime's command.”

“Of course, it is. I'm not complaining,” she tried a smile. He seemed to relax a little. “I'd like to visit my friend before I leave.”

The frown returned. “We are to guide you to the dorms.”

“And you will,” she turned, not waiting for his permission, “after I check on Brine. He saved my life you know. The least I can do is make sure he's feeling well today.”

He grunted, but since he didn't stop her she figured she had won.

Brine's door was slightly open. She paused before knocking, hoping he wanted a visitor.

“Come in,” the call was immediate.

Surprise lit Brine's face when he saw her. His head lifted a little from the cot and he shifted so that he lay on his side.

“Wow, that's amazing.”

“I rolled over. A feat worthy of history,” Brine's voice was dry.

“Ha ha,” she scuttled over to the chair where she had spent the last visit. “On Earth, we do not have the technology to repair damaged spinal cords. Not to this extent anyway. Forgive me for being excited.”

Brine grinned, “I would never wish to dampen a woman's excitement.”

Mia rolled her eyes.

Brine propped up his head and caught a glimpse of the guard waiting in the hallway. His eyes went wide. “You try to escape or something?”

Mia rolled her shoulders. “Or something. Hey, remember that folk tale you told me last time?”

Brine's eyebrows rose a little. “Yeah, do you want to hear it again? I didn't think it was that good, it's just the only one I could remember. As much as I like your company, you should really ask Karoj, he's teaching the language lessons. He's a little more versed in the old children's tales. He did some sort of study on it, I think, before the virus.”

“Actually, I just had some questions about a popular myth.”

Brine pursed his lips. “I still think Karoj would be your best bet, but I can try to answer your questions.”

“Could you tell me what story revolves around the Y'kil?”

A pucker formed on Brine's forehead. “This is an odd line of questioning.”

“Please, it would make me happy.”

Brine hesitated a moment before relenting. “If it pleases you,” he agreed.

“Long ago their lived a hunter. He was brave and fierce and strong, but he was also greedy. The hunter was a leader of his people's warriors, but he wanted more. Another tribe lived to the south and the hunter coveted their land, as well as the daughter of the Prime. He prayed to the gods and the next day in the grassland he found a Minitu.

“I have been sent by Locia, the God of strength. If you answer my riddle, I will bless you.”

The hunter was ecstatic and agreed to the bargain. He answered the creature's riddle correctly and was rewarded with a firm bite on his right arm. The next morning, he woke with increased strength, more than any hunter had before. Word spread of his ability, but it still did not win him the Prime's daughter.

So he prayed to the gods once more. The next day, while hunting in the high mountains, the hunter came across a Tritus.

“I have been sent by Haricon, the God of speed and cunning. If you answer my riddle, I will bless you.”

Again the hunter agreed to the bargain and answered the riddle. Surely this would make the Prime's daughter take notice. The creature pecked his cheek and scored the skin of his neck with its talons. The next morning, the hunter awoke with more energy than he had ever had. He found he was swift as the bird that flies through the sky, his thoughts as clear as the crystal mountain pools. He went to a tournament of his people, where he brought every competitor to shame. Still, the daughter of the Prime showed no interest.

At last, the hunter prayed, one final time.

The next morning, while hunting in the deep glen, he found his best friend. The hunter had neglected his friendship in his quest for strength and honor, but he was happy to see the man.

“I have been sent by Jopic, the God of justice. If you answer my riddle, I will bless you.”

The hunter was surprised, for he had known this friend for a very long time. Still, it was so much like his last blessings that he agreed to the bargain, for if the world was just, he would win the Prime's daughter.

However, when the hunter answered his friends riddle, he found the man looking up at him, an evil grin on his face.

“You were not happy with great strength, nor were you happy with speed and cunning. Your greed is comparable to that of the Y'kil and it will doom your people.” And with that, the hunter's friend twisted and transformed into an ugly demon and the hunter realized he had been fooled. He had not been blessed at all but lured again and again to be prey to the terrible Y'kil.. The hunter and the Y'kil had a great and terrible battle, and when the hunter finally emerged, victorious he vowed to forsake his greed and fade into the forest to live alone.”

“So, there was no mention of what the Y'kil actually looked like?” she asked, a little disappointed. The myth was interesting, but there was nothing of substance in it. A warning against greed and accepting gifts from gods, maybe, but nothing that would explain Jhudur's fanaticism.

Brine blinked at her. “It is a children's myth, I'm sure the description changed any time the teller wanted to add a bit of flair to his story.”

She sighed and forced a smile. “You're right, but thanks for putting up with my curiosity.” She rose, “I am supposed to be back at the dorm, I'd better go before I make my entourage too uncomfortable.” One of the men in the hallway shifted, but whether he was offended at her joke, she didn't know. “Is there anything you would like for your stay here that I can help with?”

Brine's eyebrows rose again. “Like what?”

“I don't know,” Mia shrugged. “On Earth, when someone is in the hospital we normally bring flowers, and sometimes food, maybe books or things to read.”

Brine snorted. “Please do not decapitate any plants on my account. My unit has seen to my other comforts.”

“Okay.” Feeling a little useless, she turned to leave.

“Mia?”

“Yeah?”

“Maybe you could come visit again?”

Mia smiled. “Of course.”

And maybe she would be able to do even better than that; she would get the other women to visit, too.