Expiation (Shadeward Book 4) Read online

  ‘We did get hold of him,’ Coran said. ‘Your contact with Kiri made him call home. We can speak to him again.’

  Zoella nodded, a sob escaping from her, before she got herself under control again.

  ‘I don’t want it to happen again,’ Zoella finished.

  ‘Neither do we,’ Fitch said. ‘And it’s lovely you’re all apologetic like. Question is, what about next time? Reckon we’re best leaving you with the council. Let them lock you up and throw away the key.’

  Mel glared at Fitch again, but Zoella leant forward and stared at him.

  ‘If you decide to leave me with the council,’ she said. ‘I’ll go willingly. If you decide I have to be put to death, then just do it …’

  ‘Zoella!’ Mel said, grabbing her arm. ‘There’ll be no talk of death …’

  ‘These powers are truly dangerous,’ Zoella cried, looking at her. ‘I don’t want to hurt you … any of you, ever again! I will die first. If I can’t control them …’

  Her voice faded out. Silence fell for a long moment.

  ‘Well, that’s the big question,’ Fitch said, glaring at her. ‘Can you?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Zoella said, fresh tears coming to her eyes. ‘All I can say is I will try.’

  Fitch sat back with a dissatisfied sigh, looking around at the others and shrugging his shoulders.

  ‘What about Kiri?’ Mel asked, her voice soft. ‘She’s helping Meru in your stead. They’re heading to the Obelisk to fix it. If you do come with us, seems likely you’ll cross paths with her again. What then?’

  Zoella trembled.

  ‘For all the things she has done,’ Zoella said. ‘All the hurt she has caused … taking justice into my own hands was wrong. I see that now. She should stand trial for her crimes, under your laws here or back in Scallia, but I will let others work out her fate. It shouldn’t be me. Just keep me away from her, that’s all.’

  Zoella fell silent. Coran looked around at his crew.

  ‘You’ve heard all there is to hear,’ Coran said. ‘It’s a vote. Will we accept Zoella back aboard or won’t we? I vote yes – I think we need her, going into unexplored territory, the obelisk and all. Mel?’

  Mel placed her head in her hands and rubbed her cheeks before looking at Zoella.

  ‘I’m sorry about Ren,’ Mel said.

  ‘I know you are …’ Zoella said, fresh tears coming to her eyes, her voice cracking. ‘I didn’t mean to accuse you or hurt you …’

  Mel pulled Zoella into a hug across the table. Zoella’s sobs echoed around the closed space as she hung on to Mel, shuddering in her grasp.

  After a moment she pulled back from Zoella and looked up at Coran. ‘I think we should give her a second chance.’

  Coran nodded.

  ‘But there must be precautions,’ Mel said, looking back at Zoella. ‘For you … and for us.’

  Zoella nodded, meekly. ‘I’ll do whatever you say.’

  ‘Fitch?’ Coran asked

  ‘Don’t like it,’ Fitch grumbled. ‘Don’t like it at all. But you say there’s no other way to fix the Obelisk …’

  ‘That’s right,’ Coran said.

  ‘And I can’t see a way around that conundrum,’ Fitch said, folding his arms again. He looked at Zoella. ‘I say you should be secured away whenever you’re not being useful. Locked in your cabin, and someone should be on duty keeping an eye on you whenever you’re out and about.’

  Coran looked at Zoella. She nodded.

  ‘Agreed,’ Coran said and looked to Daf and Creg. ‘Gents?’

  Both of the big men moved forward to stand either side of Mel. Daf and Creg nodded at Coran.

  ‘That’s settled then,’ Coran said. ‘Zoella, grab your stuff and tell Ira what’s happening. I want to be ready to leave harbour in the next stretch. Jump to it everyone.’

  The chairs squeaked on the floor as everyone departed. Zoella smiled a thank you at Coran and allowed Mel to lead her out. Fitch hung back at the entrance.

  ‘You know what I’m about to say,’ Fitch said.

  ‘I do,’ Coran said.

  Fitch nodded.

  ‘So… what we going to do if she does go berserk?’

  ‘Have a rifle loaded,’ Coran said. ‘Keep it on the bridge, safety on. If needs be …’

  ‘Aye Captain,’ Fitch said. ‘I was worried you were going soft.’

  ‘I have no desire to shoot a young woman.’

  Fitch grinned. ‘Then just as well you have somebody without an excess of sentiment aboard. Soft touches, the lot of you. Leave it to me.’

  Coran grabbed his arm.

  ‘Only if she really loses it, Fitch.’

  ‘I’ll deal with it, Captain,’ Fitch answered, before stepping out of the mess room.

  Coran sighed as he watched him leave.

  CHAPTER SIX

  At the edge of the Vortex

  Round 2307, Eighth pass

  Kiri woke early, pulling on her clothes and walking forwards into the cockpit. Meru was still asleep. Nothing had changed outside, the vegetation still held close around the windows. She pushed open the passenger side door, feeling the heat hit her as she did so.

  She listened for long moments. No sounds came to her ears, but there was a faint smell on the air. She sniffed.

  ‘What is that?’

  It seemed to be coming from the boundary of shades not far from her. She wanted to have a look at the magnificent plants close up, so much bigger than the ones she had known in Drayden.

  Carefully, making sure she could retrace her steps, she moved through the greenery towards the edge of the copse. The smell was faint, but still there, a perfumed aroma that she could almost taste; sweet and tangy.

  She reached the edge of the shades, stepping out of the greenery and underneath their enormous cups. It was dark here, the shades blotted out all the direct light from Lacaille. She couldn’t see far, it was dark and gloomy, the heat still oppressive. She could already feel herself sweating.

  She frowned.

  ‘What is …?’

  A crunch of vegetation from behind startled her. It was Meru.

  ‘What are you doing?’ he complained. ‘You shouldn’t go wandering off on your own. We don’t know what’s out here, it might be …’

  ‘Shhhh!’ Kiri admonished. ‘Look.’

  Meru blinked in the gloom. Then he began to see. The shades were glowing. He gasped in surprise.

  ‘Wow …’

  ‘It’s like the jars of moss-glow,’ Kiri said, looking around her in awe. ‘But so much more …’

  Above them, the delicate traceries of plant life cascaded upward, flickering and twinkling about them. Plants were growing on the ground below the shades, glowing in the gloom.

  ‘Generating their own light,’ Meru whispered. ‘It must be because Lacaille’s light is blocked out by the shades, it’s always dim down here.’

  Kiri touched some of the plants, as she did so they changed colour from green to red. A trail of lights flashed across the forest floor for a moment before fading out again. A wave of warmth rose around them as the lights faded.

  ‘Did you feel that?’ Kiri asked.

  Meru nodded. He knelt down and poked one of the glowing green plants. Its illumination went red at his touch and he felt a blast of heat from it. The trail of lights flickered in the gloom. Other plants around them flickered red too. They waited for a few moments and the heat and redness faded, and the green glow returned.

  ‘It’s like they’re talking to each other,’ Meru said.

  ‘And that scent,’ Kiri said, sniffing the air and stepping further into the shade wood. ‘Can you smell it? It’s lovely.’

  Meru turned to follow her, likewise sniffing.

  ‘It smells like …’ He wafted his hand in front of his face. ‘Coran’s Ochren.’

  ‘Ochren?’

  ‘It’s a drink, a strong drink,’ Meru said. ‘Burn’s your throat if you’re not used it.’

  ‘It’s coming fro
m over here.’

  Before he could stop her Kiri had walked further into the forest of shades.

  ‘Wait … we don’t know what’s in here … and we mustn’t go too far from the ship.’

  ‘I know what I’m doing,’ Kiri replied. ‘Don’t worry! Look …’ She gestured behind her. ‘We can still see the light … we can follow that back. I just want to see …’

  ‘Kiri … no.’

  ‘Come on, don’t be scared.’

  ‘I’m not …’

  She grabbed his hand and pulled him along behind her through the undergrowth. They came into a clearing thick with greenery underfoot. Lights flickered red, rippling this way and that, waves of hot air rising about them. They stared upwards at the lights, lost in wonder.

  ‘See, wasn’t that worth it?’

  ‘It’s incredible,’ Meru admitted.

  ‘This is where the smell is coming from.’

  Kiri ran forward. In the centre of the clearing was a large flower, its bud facing upwards, its petals huge, a large pair of stamens thrusting up from the middle, glowing green in the gloom. Kiri pushed past the petals and peered over the rim. The inside was full of liquid.

  ‘Careful,’ Meru said. ‘Plants are strange. I almost got eaten by one once.’

  ‘Long sticky tendrils?’ Kiri asked. ‘Aniseed smell?’

  Meru looked at her. ‘Yes, it was hanging down …’

  ‘A snare,’ Kiri said. ‘They live in dark places, and catch things that walk underneath. They’re full of liquid that dissolves flesh, really nasty. You’ve just got to keep a sharp eye out for the tendrils, easy when you know how.’

  ‘Well, this plant might be dangerous too.’

  Kiri gestured around her.

  ‘Look, no tendrils, no roots, just this flower.’

  ‘Still …’

  Kiri sniffed the plant. ‘This is definitely where the smell is coming from.’

  She dipped her finger in the liquid. It was syrupy, but not sticky.

  ‘What are you doing?’ Meru demanded, trying to stop her. ‘You don’t know what that stuff is! It might be poison!’

  ‘I know what I’m doing,’ Kiri snapped, pulling herself out of reach. ‘I lived in the forests for rounds, remember? It’s not dangerous. Relax.’

  She sniffed the liquid and then licked it. Her expression lit up in surprise.

  ‘Oh shades!’ she said. ‘That’s amazing. You’ve got to try it.’

  She dipped her whole hand in and then began licking it off hungrily. Meru dipped his own finger in and then placed it his mouth. Kiri watched as his expression changed too.

  ‘Isn’t it great?’ she asked.

  He nodded. ‘That’s incredible, it’s like the Ochren, but without the bitter aftertaste, so sweet!’

  They both scooped the liquid out of the flower, drinking it in cupped hands, spooning it out.

  In her haste Kiri managed to dribble some of the liquid on Meru’s arm.

  ‘Hey,’ he said. ‘Do you mind?’

  She laughed and flicked some more of it at him. He grabbed a fistful and threw it at her, making her scream with delight. Then they were running around the flower, shrieking and yelling like children, chasing and trying to splash each other. They skidded to a halt on the slippery green foliage beneath them.

  ‘I feel funny,’ Kiri said, blinking and shaking her head, her vision out of focus.

  ‘You look funny too,’ Meru replied, laughing.

  Kiri took a swing at him, but missed. They wrestled, falling down, rolling over each other until laughter robbed them of their strength.

  The syrupy liquid was in their hair and across their faces, hands and arms, its slick sweet intoxicating fragrance all about them.

  Kiri sighed.

  ‘Can’t we just stay here forever?’ she asked, rolling on to her back and gazing upwards at the mesmerising lights above, they were flickering from green to red in hypnotic patterns. ‘Forget it all? Live here forever? Who cares about the Izy … Obys … Ozylisk …’

  Meru rolled over and propped himself up on one arm. He looked at her and giggled. ‘You mean the Obelisk. You said Ozylisk.’

  Kiri shook her head, her voice petulant. ‘No I didn’t. Never said that. Is lies …’

  ‘You’re stung drunk.’ He laughed, pointing at her.

  ‘Am not!’ she said, pushing him away and staggering to her feet. ‘See, proved it. I want some more.’ She pointed her finger at him and waggled it sternly.

  ‘I don’t think you should.’

  ‘Who’s gonna stop me?’ she asked. ‘You?’

  Kiri tottered over to the flower and spooned another handful of the liquid into her mouth. It was dribbling down her chin, soaking her clothes.

  She gasped, moaning with delight. ‘Oh … This stuff is so amazing …’

  Meru had got to his feet and was standing behind her, his hand on her shoulder. She turned around and pulled him into a close embrace, lust flaring within her.

  ‘Yes, stay here forever,’ she said, her arms wrapping around his neck. ‘Just you and me …’

  ‘We really should go back,’ he said.

  ‘Not yet,’ she said, pulling him closer, wriggling against him, her voice dropping to a whisper. ‘Don’t you like being alone with me? No stupid radio, no one spying on us …’ She licked her lips. ‘Just you and me.’

  ‘Kiri …’

  She kissed him, the scent of the intoxicating liquid all about them. Meru resisted for a moment, but then she felt him soften in her grip. She began pulling at his clothing and he at hers.

  She felt his hands try to grab her wrists, but she was having none of it. With a deft grip she pulled him off balance, causing him to fall. She straddled him keeping him pinned to the ground.

  Her vision was all blurred, she didn’t care. Her body was craving something and she knew what it was. She managed to pull his tunic off; hers was already gone, lost to the undergrowth. His skin was glistening in the liquid she had splashed across him. A frantic struggle saw the last of their clothing thrown aside. She moaned as his fingers caressed her back, sliding around to her chest, the sticky liquid everywhere. Her kisses were demanding, insistent, almost frantic.

  They were oblivious to anything else around them, their skin slick with the glistening liquid, bodies locked together, the greenery soft and comfortable, shaping itself around their bodies.

  ‘See?’ she said, raising herself up on her elbow for a moment.

  ‘I do,’ he said.

  * * *

  A dach circled down from the azure skies. Lacaille glowed above, a huge orb of yellow and orange, with the disk of Mayura a darkened circle superimposed upon it. Amidst the shades on the borders of Drayden and Taloon, a rocky outcrop could be seen, rising above the line of the forest.

  It was a well-known way-marker to the priestesses; a place to stop and rest, though there was nothing else of any note nearby.

  The dach descended, landing upon the flat surface of the rock, its rider vaulting down and walking forward.

  Nerina, high priestess of Drayden, surveyed the scene.

  From this vantage point she could see many marks into Drayden, Taloon and even Scallia to the shadeward. She walked forward to the edge, looking down from atop the steep cliffs that marked the edge of the outcrop. There was no way up, only those who rode dachs had ever stood here.

  Away from the influence of others, away from the commoners and the inconsequential. Now I can concentrate …

  She closed her eyes, focused her energies and thoughts together.

  Now little maid … where are you?

  * * *

  Zoella had been taken below decks and locked in her cabin by Coran. Mel, Daf and Creg had been working non-stop throughout the stretch. Coran and Fitch had called time on their efforts to ensure they got some food and rest. A series of odd crates with metal fasteners had been secured in rows deep in the forward and rear holds of the Mobilis. They were heavy, the ship sitting lower in the water as
a result.

  ‘I hope this is worth it,’ Fitch grumbled, watching as Mel yelled instructions to Daf and Creg as they hauled on a series of thick looking cables.

  Coran nodded. ‘Mel seems to think we’ll be able to operate for up to three stretches without ’tricity from the sails. That gives us enough time to make land if there’s a problem. I’ll take it.’

  Fitch laughed.

  ‘So magic powers from the air, stored in boxes in the hold,’ he said. ‘Girls aboard with magic powers that can crunch your head in. Visions, legends, talking tables and a crazy story about us all coming from some point of light far off in the sky. If this was written down, no one would believe it.’

  Coran laughed. ‘Can hardly believe it myself and I’ve seen all of it. Zoella is locked down below. We’re safe for now.’

  Fitch nodded. ‘I’ve set the timers best I can, and done Meru’s snuttin’ calculations. Got you a course to the Scattered Isles.’

  ‘Excellent.’

  Ira helped load traditional crates aboard the ship, all manner of food and provisions.

  Fitch had brought the last few boxes of provisions aboard, something was jutting out of one of them. Coran spotted the metal staff they had found in Kiri’s cell.

  ‘Is that Kiri’s staff?’ he asked. ‘What was it called?’

  ‘A kai apparently,’ Fitch answered with a nod. ‘Thought it best not to leave it lying around. Might be worth bartering, it’s worth a bit, all that metal.’

  ‘Just keep it away from Zoella,’ Coran muttered, under his breath.

  ‘Right you are, Captain.’ Fitch retreated aboard the ship.

  The timers aboard the ship swung around to indicate the passing of another chime. Coran could see Mel locking down the hatches on the rear deck. She waved and gestured with a thumbs up sign.

  ‘Ready then,’ Coran said to Fitch. ‘Round up the crew, let’s get underway.’

  Coran stepped down the gangplank, seeing Janaid, Henoch and his wife Hannah approaching along the quayside. Behind them trailed the children that Ira had brought with her. They were now dressed in the manner of Amar, following along behind Henoch and Hannah. A crowd of people from Amar had turned out to see the ship off.