13
Adan
—
Kneeling before one of the members of the Holy Order, I accept the oath and become the official Konai of Seca.
When I stand, it’s to cheers of joy. It is an overwhelming experience. The furs that sit on my shoulders were those my father and his father wore on their Oath Day ceremony. Nevertheless, I feel like an impostor.
This is not my place, says a voice. Yet I survey the many faces of my people and there are only smiles of pride. They press their hands to their chests in a low and respectful bow, accepting me as their leader. They are all aware of how I came to be the Konai, but none look at me with judgement or hatred.
Amid the sea of faces, Xia’s shine the brightest. My first inclination is to step toward her, but I am swarmed by many of my people who thank me for finally accepting my role as Konai. Their gratitude is so immense that I am ashamed it has taken me this long to overcome my doubts of taking the oath.
The deaths of our drakila has cast a pall over our community. So I pushed those doubts aside and took the oath to restore my people’s faith. To make them feel grounded and secure.
“Thank you, niha. Your toha would have been proud if he were still among us,” says my mother as she embraces me and gives me a kiss on the cheek.
For the first time since my father passed away, she is not dressed in black, but her favourite ruby-coloured robe. She has always loved that robe since toha—in a rare moment of husbandly love—purchased them for her as an anniversary gift during a trip in Naveth.
“I am glad you have finally accepted your place.” Then she smiles. “Now your next journey is to find a Konai sa.”
“And as a proper Konai, I don’t think that will be too much of a hardship, ah?” Figor says with a laugh as he joins us.
I shake my head in exasperation even if a small smile tugs at my lips.
“Let me overcome one momentous occasion before harassing me into another one.”
“I will return soon. I’m going to check on Zavi. He will be upset that he has missed the ceremony.”
Kaha leaves me with Figor. In the silence between the two of us, I focus on Xia as she converses with Tess and a Secan female. In her short stay, she has made friends, many who speak highly of her too. Dressed beautifully in a teal-coloured robe, she stands out with her dark hair among the white-haired Secan people surrounding her.
“You know, you can always tell when Lim is hungry,” says Figor. “She gets this evil glint in her eyes and her body becomes tense. Sometimes, she’ll stalk someone with just her gaze. Fixes her beady little blue eyes on them and follows their every move as if she’s fantasizing on pouncing on them.”
I frown. “Lim has never hurt anyone. She has been trained only to hunt hares and dunnya.”
“I know that but it isn’t why I am telling my story.” He grins. “What I am trying to say is you resemble Lim right now, the way you are looking at the human female.”
I return Figor’s grin sheepishly.
“She is my asafura.” I have not admitted this to anyone until now.
Figor’s eyebrows climb. “A human?” He shakes his head. “Kahafura has a love for the unexpected. I wouldn’t mind a human as my mate, but I hope the dragon mother does not decide to test my faith by pairing me with a fish. I have stuck my cock in many unsavoury places but some lines must be drawn.”
We laugh together and I’m reminded of our several aimless, uncouth conversations when we worked together.
“She will make a good Konai sa.”
“If she stays. I do not think she will.”
“Look at those lights.”
He indicates the lights appended to the walls that Xia has constructed with the help of the people in Vyaka. She has worked tirelessly these past few days since Zavi’s attack, using Vyaka’s heated pool as an energy source to power the lights. There has been no attacks since the lights went up and there’s a tentative hope among the people that peace and safety has been restored. Yet I am not convinced. I need to see the monster dead before my own eyes. So I continue my searches, hoping to find its hiding place.
“Why would she go through so much trouble for no benefit?”
“Because she has a good heart.”
“There’s that naivete coming out again, ta Konai.”
“Her father was murdered by a rur draki. She has not said it, but I sense she harbours some resentment to our kind because of it. When her friend is well enough to walk, she will leave.”
“Have faith, my friend.” He slaps my back. “No female can walk away from a handsome bastard like you, ah.”
Figor says nothing more on the matter and this pleases me. I don’t want to think about whatever the future holds regarding Xia and I. For now, she is here and I will enjoy her presence. While it pulls at me to reveal the truth, I know she is not ready to hear it. I don’t want to admit it, but I am fearful of Xia’s rejection.
The evening celebration is filled with a joy the Secan people have not felt in some time. Many instances I attempt to approach Xia, but I’m accosted by someone wanting to congratulate me or strike up conversation.
By the time I’m free, Xia is nowhere to be seen. Retrieving a few sweet buns Zavi likes, I decide to visit him too. I’m surprised to find Xia and my mother seated together in the Sohin family den my mother shares with Zavi.
Zavi is half-asleep on his bed. He is getting stronger each day. The monster’s attack took a significant toll on his young body, stealing much of his blood. He has not acquired the Shift yet, so his healing is not as quick as a Shifted draki.
“Rah,” he says, perking up. Xia and my mother turn at his call. Xia gives me a quick smile, her beauty inspiring a quick tightening sensation in my chest as hunger for her comes alive in an instant spark. The memories of her scent and her taste as I pressed my face between her legs have not dimmed in their clarity. I’ve replayed them several times in my head.
“Look at what I brought for you, Zavi,” I say, handing him the buns.
His small face lights up as bright as the lights outside the den. Kaha frowns, and I know her well enough to hear her questioning the wisdom of Zavi consuming sweets in bed, but she relents without saying a word.
“Now that you’re really the Konai,” he says, one cheek stuffed full of the bun, “you’re going to ban tutors, right, rah?”
“Of course,” I nod emphatically. “I’m going to put an immediate end to that nonsense called learning. Nobody needs it.”
Laughing, Xia stands.
“I should head back and check on Tess. She’s probably asleep after all that wine she had at the party.”
As she leaves, I hasten my goodbye to Zavi and my mother. There’s a curve to my mother’s lips because she knows I want to be in Xia’s company. Truth be told, I’m certain that while they don’t know the whole truth, most of Vyaka is aware that Xia means more to me than just a human stranger I decided to give refuge.
“I know my way around now,” Xia says, smiling. “Sort of. I don’t need a guide anymore.”
“I don’t intend to be your guide.” Taking her hand I turn her away from the path that leads to the den she shares with her friend onto the path that leads to mine. “I made a promise to you a few nights ago. Tonight I plan to fulfil it.”