The Forbidden Library (12 page)

Lu Bei popped free from the pack, raced over, and hugged him. “Master, master it’s okay. Nothing can harm you here.”

“I saw … I saw …”

“What was it, master?”

“Wings. Shadow. Flaming eyes.”

“Probably another memory from the kavaru, master. Like the dream with Vôl Ultharma.” Lu Bei shivered. “When the kavaru gave you enough energy to survive, I think echoes of Chonda Lu’s past leaked through. Master fought many demons over the millennia.”

Turesobei shook his head. “But this … this was real … somehow. I know it was.”

“But we were here,” Kurine said. “I was awake. Nothing happened. One minute you were sleeping peacefully, the next you cried out.”

“Then she was in my mind. Maybe she infiltrated my dreams. She — she said I would come to her soon, that I had to because it was the only way. She said she would have her revenge, she would devour me, torture me.”

“If you are right, master, then this being is confusing you with Master. But I don’t know of any old enemy that would be here in the Ancient Cold and Deep, especially not one made of shadows with flaming eyes.”

Kurine smoothed the hair back from his face. “I’m sure it was nothing, my love. A vivid nightmare. You have gone through a lot. But you are safe now. Nothing will harm you here in Aikora.”

He smiled at her and nodded. If the encounter had occurred in his mind, then there was no way he could convince them it really happened. And maybe they were right. Maybe.

“Can I get you anything?” she asked.

“I am hungry,” Turesobei said. He wanted fruit, but the goronku didn’t have anything like fruit. “Something light. And I need to speak to Lu Bei for a minute. Alone.”

“Of course. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Everyone left and Lu Bei frowned at him in concern.

“Lu Bei, what do you know about Vôl Ultharma? The very name makes you cringe.”

Lu Bei’s wings flared out and tucked back in. A tremor ran through him and he sat down suddenly, as if all the energy were drained out of him. He took a few deep breaths and regained his composure. 

“If I knew anything of consequence … anything at all … I wouldn’t dare speak it. Vôl Ultharma is lost to history for good reason. Only a Kaiaru or someone of their descent could even keep his name in mind for more than a few minutes. Kurine, Narbenu, Zaiporo. They won’t remember the name tomorrow. Without your kavaru it would fade from you as well.”

“So you do know something?”

“I know that he once ruled the entire subcontinent of Pawan Kor, across the sea. He killed many Kaiaru, and he tried to conquer Tengba Ren —”

“But Chonda Lu stopped that. I was … there … in the dream. Chonda Lu said he knew what Ultharma truly was.”

“Master kept it to himself then. He never told me. He spoke only of the aftermath, of his long recovery from the blast Ultharma hit him with. Ultharma is lost to history and Master said he would never return. It was just a memory. Don’t trouble yourself about it.” 

“You’re bothered that I had dreams from Chonda Lu.”

Lu Bei scratched his chin thoughtfully. “It does concern me, master. But I think you’re right. Just echoes from the kavaru, picked up when it kept you alive. You were so weak. Speaking of which, your pain must have gotten much better. You’re up and talking.”

“No, I just …” But Lu Bei was right. The pain had lessened to half what it had been. “It is a bit better. I feel like I’ve only got one foot in Torment now instead of two.”

*****

With a start Turesobei woke from a dream of flaming eyes within shadow. Zaiporo was doing pushups on the other side of the room. He stopped and tapped the star-stone to full brightness. 

“Can I get you anything?”

“Food. Water.” Wincing, Turesobei rotated his shoulders. “I feel like I’ve slept forever.”

Zaiporo handed him a bowl of water. “Two weeks.”

“Two weeks? Has it been that long? I don’t remember much of anything.”

“You only woke to use the bathroom and eat. Half the time I think you were still asleep when you did. Like you were sleepwalking. The medicine woman said that was a good thing, that you needed deep sleep. Shoma and Kurine would try to talk to you, but you barely responded.”

“I kind of remember them coming by. And Narbenu.”

“Kurine is here every night. All night.”

“I don’t remember Iniru visiting.”

Zaiporo looked away. “She … She’s been resting a lot. Ever since it looked like you’d survive. She was in pretty rough shape, you know?”

“She’s mad at me, isn’t she?”

“That too.”

“Well, she’s almost always mad at me.”

“I doubt she’s usually this mad at you. You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t beat the crap out of you.”

“Bet it’s about that kiss.”

“Yeah.” Zaiporo spilled some of the cold broth he was pouring into a bowl. “Definitely about the kiss.”

Turesobei drank down the broth and wiped his lips. “I’m hungry enough that tasted good.”

“Then you must be starving.”

Turesobei went to the bathroom and then walked three circuits around the room with Zaiporo holding onto him. 

“I’m never going to be able to thank you enough,” Turesobei said.

“We’ve fought the worst together. We’d both die for Shoma. We’re friends. You don’t ever need to thank me for anything.”

Turesobei sat down, panting. “I feel a lot better. Like I’ve tumbled down a mountain.”

“That’s better? What did it feel like before?”

“Like the mountain had tumbled down on me.”

“I’ll tell the others you’re awake and get you some more food.”

“Tell them I’m awake but that I don’t want any visitors for a few days.”

“You want me to leave?”

“No,” Turesobei replied. “I’m going to need you here. I just don’t want to be bothered. And Kurine needs to rest anyway. I’m going to start meditating and walking circuits. Build my strength up and set my mind straight. I need peace for that.” Turesobei looked at the diary. “That goes for you too, fetch. Rest until I call you.”

*****

After a week of walking circuits and meditating longer each day, Turesobei dressed and walked to the commons area on his own. Enashoma, Zaiporo, and Iniru were eating lunch at one of the tables. They all looked much healthier than before, but they were clearly downcast. Not that he could blame them.

Enashoma jumped up and hugged him. “Sobei! You’re all better.”

“I wouldn’t say that. Not yet. But I’m getting there.”

“You should’ve told me you wanted to get out,” Zaiporo said. “I could’ve helped you here.”

“I needed to do it myself.” He broke away from Enashoma and approached Iniru. She had her back to him, and other than an ear-flick when he approached, she hadn’t acknowledged him in any way. “Hi, Niru.”

“Un-huh,” she replied.

He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek but she recoiled. “I don’t think so.”

“You’re mad at me.”

“And why wouldn’t I be?”

“You’re not going to let me give you an
I’m so incredibly sorry for being stupid
kiss?”

“You’ve given out enough kisses, don’t you think? You can’t kiss me, period. Kissing is a big deal here.”

“Niru, I didn’t mean anything by it. Kurine had been kind to me. I thought it was just going to be a
I’m glad you’re alive
kiss. I didn’t know she was going to be that passionate. And I didn’t want to refuse her in front of everyone. I couldn’t embarrass her like that.”

“He still doesn’t know, does he?” Iniru said.

Zaiporo shook his head. “I didn’t think he was ready to hear it yet. Thought it best to wait until he was up and around.”

“What don’t I know?” Turesobei asked, nervously.

Enashoma took his hand and guided him to the table. “You’ll want to sit down for this.”

“That bad?”

Enashoma patted his hand. “When Kurine asked you if you’d accept her kiss, you really should’ve said no.”

“That was a major question,” Zaiporo said, “and you gave the wrong answer.”

A sinking feeling struck Turesobei in the pit of his stomach. “Oh no. What have I done?”

Chapter 16

Iniru struck him across the back. It was a lot harder than a friendly pat.

“Ow!”

“Congratulations,” she snarled. “You’re engaged. Again.”

“What?!” he shouted.

Goronku at other tables in the room spun around. 

“Sorry,” he mouthed, ducking his head.

“Kurine is your new betrothed,” Iniru said, acidly. “You lost one and gained another in less than a week.”

“Which, to be honest,” Zaiporo said, “is an impressive feat.”

“It’s true, Sobei,” Enashoma said. “I couldn’t believe it when I found out. Thought it had to be a joke. When you accepted her kiss that was saying yes to her marriage proposal.”

Turesobei groaned and plopped his forehead down on the table. “No. No. Nooooo. This can’t — Niru, I love you. You know that. I didn’t mean to — I didn’t intend — I don’t want to …”

Iniru patted him on the cheek. “I know you didn’t mean to. And while you’ve been recovering, I’ve come to realize something about you.”

“What’s that?” he asked with trepidation.

“That you really are an idiot. Truly and deeply.”

“But only when it comes to girls,” Enashoma added. “He’s pretty smart otherwise.”

“And so brave,” Iniru said. “
I
had planned to give you a nice big kiss to reward you for saving us. Taking on the reitsu champion and all that.”

“Maybe later,” he suggested.

“Oh, I don’t think so, lover boy. You’re engaged. It wouldn’t be right. Got to keep the peace around here. Besides, you got
that
kiss from
her
.”

“They take being engaged really serious,” Enashoma said.

Zaiporo picked the last bit of flesh from a roasted fish and said, “As much as your people back home. Maybe more. But you can’t blame Kurine. Apparently you’re considered quite the catch around here.”

“Why me?” Turesobei whined.

“You’re decent to look at,” Iniru said. “Don’t get too full of yourself. I only said decent. You’re unique and exotic. They don’t have baojendari or wizards. You can do things no one else here can. And you’re brave. And some girls might find that whole dragon thing sexy.”

“Do you?” he asked, hopefully.

“The Storm Dragon’s Heart almost got me killed, what do you think?”

“The power saved you, too.”

Iniru shrugged. “Guess it’s a wash then.”

“What am I going to do?” he asked, keeping his voice low so only they could hear him. “Kurine is a sweet girl, a bit demanding and overeager, but also very sweet.”

“And pretty,” Zaiporo added.

Enashoma scowled at him. “Don’t you go getting in trouble, too.”

“She’s not as pretty as you, of course,” Zaiporo replied quickly.

“You’re going to have to go along with it,” Iniru said. “We’ve got nowhere else to go and they’re helping us. Just go along with it and try to put her off. I doubt you can, but you do surprise me from time to time.”

“Maybe you and me, if we’re discreet, we can —”

“Not a chance,” she replied. “There will be no alone time for us. Not here. These people are prudes and we can’t afford to offend them.”

“Sobei, you’re not an adult yet,” Enashoma said. “Tell Kurine that to put her off. That will buy you a few years at least.”

“Sixteen is the age of an adult here,” he said, “like with Iniru’s people.”

“So just tell her you’re fifteen and won’t turn sixteen for months,” Zaiporo said.

Turesobei put his head down on the table and groaned again. “She knows how old I am already. I explained about not being an adult when she brought the clothes she made for me. I told her I turned sixteen in several weeks … three days now. And she said that she would see that I had a birthday celebration to honor my adulthood amongst her people.”

“Yeah, that’s the thing,” Iniru said, “that I’d forgotten to ask. I’ve been too nice about this on account of you being nearly dead and all, but not anymore. How did she get so close to you that fast? You were only here for less than a day.”

“She brought me the clothes and she kept flirting with me while I tried them on, and I didn’t know how to deal with her, and —”

Iniru scowled. “While you tried them on?”

Zaiporo shook his head. Enashoma sank back with a sigh.

“Well, I had to try them on, right? I made her turn around.”

“But they don’t let single men and women be alone in a room together.”

“I didn’t know that at first. She snuck in and didn’t tell me. She was friendly, but I didn’t really flirt back. We just talked. I was hurt, exhausted. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”