Himika

See you tomorrow, I signed to Peri—at least, I tried.

She paused herself. Thanks for your help. Your embroidery is so good.

“You look surprised.” I smiled wryly, abandoning the sign language. There was no way I could say what I wanted to say. “There wasn’t much I could do for the first twenty years of my life, so my embroidery is splendid, if I do say so…”

Phoebe laughed. “Better than mine.”

Peri smiled. I could tell she was enjoying the quiet evenings with all of us practicing signs.

Ijaru watched us and then said shyly, “I might be remembering wrong. The tutor said ‘thanks’ is actually like this, didn’t he?” She flicked her hand against her chest.

You’re right, Peri said. You’re very good, Ijaru.

“Ohh…well. We used to live near a source of sessi mist,” Ijaru said. “It’s what you use for learning languages. It’s actually useful for learning any kind of common knowledge. My father says I absorbed it so much as a kid that I have a quick tongue. Hand, in this case. It’s harder because it’s not ‘common knowledge’. But the more we practice, the more I remember it.”

“Maybe you’re just smart,” I suggested.

“Do you really think so, my lady?”

“Well, sure.” I laughed a little. Oszin thought Ijaru was lacking in some common sense because she’d helped him escape. But being a clever scholar and having common sense were two very different things. Mist dragons, I knew, were mostly illiterate but Ijaru had been picking up reading very fast.

It’s helpful, Peri signed. It’s hard to change my signs for the tutor.

Well, at least I guess that was what she said because Ijaru said,

“I’m sure. You’re used to doing things one way and now you have to learn a new language!” Ijaru tried to sign as she spoke, when she had a word for it, for practice. “I don’t mind! It’s fun!”

Okay, good night, kids, Peri said. I’m a tired old lady.

Phoebe scoffed. “We’re as tired as anyone. But Raia should be back soon. I’m going to put Rina to bed myself.”

Abel, Forrest and Niko were out at the base while the rest of the men were playing some card game in the cellar, where the wine kegs were kept, probably indulging more than they should, but I was glad they were enjoying themselves now and then, and the house was well guarded.

Ijaru fed Kajira and helped me get ready for bed.

“Is that Raia in the courtyard?” I asked, hearing voices.

She peeked out a corner of the window. “Yesss….”

“Are they kissing?”

“Not yet…he has his hands on her arms.”

I ambled over behind her and we both looked out the crack in the curtains.

“I can almost hear what they’re saying,” Ijaru said.

“We shouldn’t spy,” I said. But of course, I was straining to hear. I didn’t understand why Raia and Merrick hadn’t gotten closer when they seemed to be together so often. “I bet Abel usually leaves his windows open…”

We hurried over to Abel’s room. Yes, the windows were open and the dark, moonlit space was freezing, but we could hear Raia and Merrick’s voices trapped within the garden walls and carried straight up to us like a secret.

As soon we looked out the windows here, we were met with the sight of Merrick kissing her. It was a good kiss, too. Deep and long. His arms went around her and she stood on her tip toes.

“Ahh…” I was hugging myself with excitement. “Finally!”

“This is the best spying ever,” Ijaru whispered.

“Raia…” Merrick drew back.

“I thought you’d never…do that,” Raia said. “It was worth the wait.”

“I’m sorry.” His voice sounded heavy. “I’ve wanted to. I—I never meant to get involved here.”

“It’s okay,” Raia said. “I understand the military life! I’ll go where you go. I like traveling. I can take care of myself. I’m not a human girl.”

“No, you definitely aren’t that. Of course, not all human girls are ladylike. But I haven’t encountered very many who will listen to me ramble about mathematics and cartography.”

“Anytime,” Raia said. “I’ve learned a lot. But when are you gonna let me teach you a few things, huh?”

“You and Abel really are polar opposites,” he said, with a faint laugh. But then he got serious—again. Ugh. “I…I’m definitely—interested. I mean—the dreams I’ve had about you.” He paused. “Damnit…”

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

I frowned a little. Is he married already? I hadn’t thought of that, but maybe…he had a wife somewhere. Maybe it was that sort of thing.

“Can I…come up for a bit?”

“Of course! Anything! I’ll make you a cup of tea and you can tell me anything that’s on your mind. Really. I’ve heard it all.” She squeezed his hand and then ran ahead eagerly. He paused and rubbed his palm, flexing his fingers like it hurt, and then he went after her.

I felt a small prickle of anxiety. “Ijaru,” I said. “Go downstairs and tell the guys to put their game aside for a bit and come up here.”

She obviously had no concerns. Her eyes went wide and clueless. “Oh…okay.”

She hurried out the door, always quick to follow an order, and I went to my room and got my knife. I was already out of breath. The babies felt like they were about to pop out of me and it seemed like they hadn’t left any space for my organs or lungs. I already looked like I was nine and a half months pregnant and it had barely been seven months. One of them started kicking and then I felt like I had to pee again.

“Oh, just wait—” I waddled over to Phoebe’s room and knocked. “Phoebe?”

No answer. Downstairs, the door opened and now I heard Raia and Merrick talking to her. Maybe she had decided to rock Rina by the hearth for a little while before coming up. I don’t know why I had such a tingly feeling. They all had friendly voices.

I made my way down the stairs. Aurek and Oszin would be mad at me for doing this by myself at this point, but—story of my life. My whole childhood was spent getting yelled at for being more active than I was supposed to be.

“She’s so cute,” Raia was saying. “Can I hold her?”

“Of course! She won’t go to sleep, the little night owl.”

“Phoebe—we were going to have tea. Do you want some? I could make it,” Merrick said.

“Oh, sure,” Raia said. “There’s a blend in that tin on the shelf. Hey, little fishie fishie fishie… You want my earring? Ow!”

“Yeah, she does that.”

I reached the bottom of the stairs and saw that Merrick was going to the cabinet to get cups. He saw me there and looked startled.

“Oh—Your Majesty. I didn’t expect to see you there.”

“I told Ijaru to bring all the men up and we could all have a little tea,” I said.

“How did you know we were having tea?” His eyes darted. “You have a knife.”

“Oh, I carry it under my coat often, just in case. Since I’m alone this evening…you know.” I heard laughter under my feet. Hmm. It seemed as if Ijaru might have gotten sucked in to the game instead of bringing the men upstairs.

He rubbed his hand again. “Do you have any healing balm handy?” he asked. “I was transcribing all day.”

Raia has been seeing Merrick for months. This is all just paranoia. You’re pregnant and you’re getting some weird ideas…

“Yes. Of course.” I was reluctant to take my eyes off him, but I went to the medicine cabinet, which was in the hall.

I paused and rubbed my hand the same way he had rubbed his own. Thumb across the center of the palm. This is where my brother’s sigil appeared.

Suddenly I was very worried and I knew I couldn’t handle it myself, but I just wasn’t sure. I rushed down the stairs. Aurek, Oszin, Gilbert and Rin were playing cards, with Ijaru’s father trying to help Aurek, by the looks of it, although Aurek looked way too sloshed to be playing a good game.

“Guys! Hey!”

“Moth!” Oszin waved me toward him. “You shouldn’t be running down the stairs.”

“I—I know… But please come upstairs. Right now. Please. Act normal, but—”

Gilbert stood up, but I wasn’t very comforted by the way he wobbled.

“I told you guys not to get too drunk!” I said.

“So many damn guards outside…what could go wrong?” Aurek asked.

“C’mon…c’mon…when someone says go, I come,” Gilbert said.

“Yeah you do.” Rin guffawed.

I grabbed Rin and shook him, then poked him with the tip of my knife’s scabbard. He kept laughing. “I’m serious!” I hissed. “I think Merrick might have a sigil on his hand!” I didn’t really want to say it in front of Ijaru and Morhu; I didn’t know if I could trust them with that sort of thing, but I didn’t have time for anymore joking around.

They all sobered up—as best they could—very quickly. Oszin ran for the stairs, and I followed him. Oszin usually didn’t drink as much as other men, thankfully. He always had an edge of mistrust that kept him sober.

“Himika…be careful…,” he said behind me. “You stay down here.”

“Remember, act normal, I’m not sure!” I said.

With all that time wasted, we came upstairs just as Merrick was handing Phoebe and Raia cups of tea.

“Phoebe, wait—wait. Can I talk to you for a second?” I gasped out the words. At this point, acting normal wasn’t working very well. I was clutching my belly and breathing like I’d run ten miles.

“Himika, what’s wrong?” Phoebe quickly put down the tea.

I saw Merrick looking completely panicked. “No!” he snapped. “No!”

I was already drawing my knife, and Oszin his sword. Merrick pulled his sword and I threw my blade. I hoped I was right about all this. But if I was and I hesitated, Phoebe might die, and then all her guardians would die too.