Coil of Worlds

“Juno.” Although he was respectful when answering her, he kept his eyes on Chion. Fascinated, she asked him without thinking, her lips stretching in a wide grin, “Juno. You mean like the company?” She couldn’t remember what the company actually did, but she vaguely remembered the commercials. Phones? Computers? No, that wasn’t quite right. It had to do with technology, that much she knew for certain. Computers… She’d be able to look it up and know the answer in a couple seconds flat, instead this world, well, magic and Pakas and tunnels that never seemed to end. The thought of technology made her feel a little homesick. She’d have been able to pull a map off the internet of these tunnels so she wouldn’t get lost. Here, she had to rely on Chion, which wasn’t a bad thing since she really like Chion, but Lara didn’t feel comfortable with the idea that she had supposed magic at her fingertips.

The man’s confusion pushed at her, the emotion similar to the muddying of clean water Nothing she could actually put her hands on, but murky all the same. Chion sent a sharp warning through their link. Both were enough to bring her back to the conversation. Realizing her mistake, she rushed to distract him. “I’m sorry. You asked for my name, and I’ve been rude. You have met Chion, and I’m Lara.” She felt the scout’s suspicion.

Continuing to smile at the man, she nervously asked Chion, Can he hear me when I speak to you?

No, My Lady. Ais speak with their bondmate on different levels than to non-bonded pairs.

Good. Because why can I sense what this guy is feeling? Is this normal for people here?

You sense his emotions? Interesting. His voice held a note of contemplation.

Yes, it is what saved my life. I started dreaming about something hunting me in the dark around a blind corner. I woke up with him practically hovering over me with that freaking knife. So, pardon me if I don’t find this as intellectually stimulating as you. I just want to know what’s going on. With every word, her thoughts became more frantic and hysterical.

Chion emitted a soft growl through their link. The boy is indeed young and inexperienced. Scouts are taught to listen, watch, and learn before committing an act that is irrevocable. He spat out the word boy like it was distasteful.

Yes, I completely agree with you. Especially considering that just a few moments ago it was my life on the line, but he doesn’t seem to be a threat now. So, can you please answer my questions? For good measure, she sent him an image of smacking him across the head in her frustration.

He scoffed at the image, but he did take her fears seriously. Do you recall what I told you about the Ai bond and what resulted of the melding?

She had to think back through their conversations. When she remembered, she denied the answer, incredulous. You have got to be kidding me. I can’t do magic. Lara glared at Chion, who watched the man, a predator watching its next dinner.

No humor showed in his posture or his voice when he answered. Yes, magic. Every Tal’Ai bond shows itself in a different form of magic. The magic is an enhancement of your natural abilities. I am your conduit for your brand of magic. As we become more secure in our bond and you have learned to control the effects, then we will become even more powerful. I believe you have a natural ability to read people’s emotions, although, in the past, you were unable to feel them. Now, you are able to feel these emotions as they cross the other person’s thoughts and body.

Great, I’m an empath. You do know that in all the stories, every single one of the empaths go crazy, she said dryly.

The stranger started to speak again, not realizing another conversation took place beneath his nose. “The Goddess bless you, Lara,” he said. When he finally looked at her, he began glancing back and forth between them, comparing their marks.

Before he could question them about it, Chion stated with certainty, You are a new scout.

Nodding gravely, Juno said, “Yes, I was recruited two months ago when Kana was hurt by one of the prisoners brought in from the battle. I was given her routes and have been traveling for the past three weeks. You are only the second Kurite scout I have come across.”

At first glance, Lara had thought him in his late twenties. Upon closer examination, she realized she’d been wrong. Under all the filth from his travels, this scout was no more than a boy. She guessed his age to be about sixteen or seventeen.

“How do you handle being alone for such long periods of time?”

She got a sense of embarrassment from her inadvertent compliment. He asked instead, “You have an accent that I cannot place. Are you from another village on the outregions?” Before she could summon up a response, he answered his own question. “You must be. I’ve never met another Kurite with your eye color.”

“I’m from a long way away, yes.”

My Lady, look at me, Chion demanded.

Blinking, she glanced at Chion before turning her attention back to Juno. Worried by his tone, she asked, What?

In a whisper of wonder, he answered, Your eyes have not changed color.

Why would my eyes change colors? Even as she asked, she remembered stray words from the fantastic tale he’d told her before they bonded. You mean my eyes are supposed to change colors?

Before this moment, I would have answered yes to your question. You are the first outsider I can remember in my lifetime as having bonded with a paka. It is possible an outsider’s eyes do not change. In obvious frustration at his lack of knowledge, he murmured, We must speak to the elders.

She was not comforted by the fact Chion knew little more than her. She was more than an outsider; she was an alien from another world. She could very well prove to be the wildcard for this magic that was now a part of her. She shivered at the thought.

While they spoke around him, Juno shrugged at her vague statement and leaned over to snag a couple pieces of rok meat from where she’d discarded them. Oblivious to their conversation, he tore off some smaller strips and ate them with gusto. “I am surprised you are traveling with someone. It is well known in the cities the white paka goes his own way.”

Lara almost laughed at the boy’s shameless attempt to gather information. He was practically squirming with curiosity.

I don’t know how much you want him to know about me or our bond. She didn’t want to get enmeshed in a conversation with a boy who knew more about what was going on than she did. She could just imagine the blunders she’d make if she said any more.

A cracking yawn hit her, popping her mouth open in an undignified manner. She’d slept all of fifteen minutes before Juno barged into her dreams. Chion said, You need sleep if we are to travel to Malkese. I will continue speaking to Juno. For her ears only, he continued, He has much to learn if he plans to live for longer than another month.

Be nice to him. He is little more than a boy.

To Juno, she said, “I am sorry. We’ve been walking all day, and I am dead on my feet.”

He grinned at her. “Do not worry. I take no offense. The first week I traveled I was unused to the energy it took to scout.” She felt his laughter, a feeling like the sun beating gently down inside her body. She couldn’t help but return his smile.

You would stand up for a boy who almost killed you. Do not tell me you feel the same for the rakir.

She knew Chion was teasing, but she couldn’t help snapping back, shuddering from the memory, “Of course not. Those things are evil, and God only knows why they were created.” She felt Juno’s confusion. Neither provided him an explanation for her words.

One day I will explain to you how they were created. For now, believe me when I tell you they once were not as they are now.

As she got comfortable on her makeshift bed, facing the wall, her hands fisted the blanket, pulling it to just below her chin. Thank you so very much. Now I’m going to have nightmares. Wake me up if something happens.

Chion began purring through their bond. She fell asleep with a slight smile on her face.

<< >>

Unbeknownst to her, Chion and Juno continued talking for several hours. In the end, Chion told the other scout how he met Lara. Juno was ready to kill her again before Chion had growled menacingly until the man relented.

He spat, You must learn to listen, watch, and learn before you act. Lowering his head at the reprimand, Juno apologized with a shrug. She has much honor and courage. She will not be harmed. I am taking her to Malkese to the Elders. We must learn why she was sent to us.

Curious, Juno asked him, “Why are you willing to risk your life for this woman? She is obviously not from underground, although she is able to see without the light the Pyrannis require.”

We are Tal’Ai.

Shocked, Juno sputtered, “That is impossible; she does not have the golden eyes of the Ais.”

Nevertheless, we are bound together.

He asked the same question both Lara and Chion had asked. “How is it possible for foreigners to bond with pakas? It has never occurred before.”

I do not have the answer. We must reach Malkese for that very reason. I have a need for someone to cover my route.

“I would be so honored. When are you due to return to headquarters?”

In one month’s time.

“So be it. What place does she call home? I have never met a woman who has curls in her hair. Her eyes are the color of the earth. This is unnatural for our people or the Pyrannis.”

Chion chuckled. I believe she thinks your eyes are the unnatural color. Many things we take for granted are new to her. Willing to take the paka’s unquestionable wisdom although he could not fathom it, Juno nodded. It is late, and I must sleep. May the Goddess keep you.

The paka got up and stretched, leaving rakes in the dirt with his claws. He walked the short distance to where Lara slept curled in a ball. He trusted the new scout, but he could no longer stay away, needing to touch His Lady. Touching her relieved a tension that went deep to his core.

Lying down, he stretched along her back, offering her his warmth. He dropped his head between his front feet and curled his tail around his body. Ignoring the quiet movements of the young scout on the other side of the hot spring, he fell asleep listening to her slow, even breaths.