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“When the jatu took over Otera and made everyone worship Oyomo, they declared all the semi-human races bestial—nearer to animals than humans—and said that they should no longer mix, to prevent contamination,” Masaima explains. “Evening greetings, Angoro, by the by.”
He and his brother trot closer to me, and both lean in, as if about to take an exploratory nibble at my hair, as is their habit. But then both their noses wrinkle, disgust evident in their expressions.
Braima, with the black-striped mane, is the first to speak, and he sounds disgusted. “Angoro, you smell like—”
“Death?”
“Unpleasantness,” he corrects. “Unpleasantness such as I have never before had the displeasure of smelling.”
“Indeed,” his brother agrees, backing away. “It is most foul.”
I blink. It seems the equus aren’t affected by the vale wraith’s pheromones the way my friends were. I store the information away in case it should come in handy.
I maintain my amused expression as both say, “We recommend you take a bath. Immediately.”
I nod. “I’ll take that under advisement.”
“See that you do,” they reply sternly, and just like that, they’re on their way.
Once they’re gone, Keita separates from the other boys and walks closer, only to lean in as if to take a whiff.
“Try it and die,” I say through clenched teeth, but Keita just shrugs.
“I hear there are hot springs on this mountain.”
“Truly?”
There’s an almost shy look on his face as he nods.
I look away, a blush heating my cheeks, when he quickly adds, “We could try one together if you wish.”
I think about the prospect, Keita and I relaxing in a hot spring together. Except there’s no time for that; there’s so much we need to do to find my kelai. But no, White Hands has her spies searching the Bloom, on the lookout for the Idugu’s minions.
There’s nothing I can contribute to that search in this moment, so I glance up at Keita, not directly meeting his eyes as I ask, “Is that permissible here? Me and you in the same hot spring? Together?”
“This isn’t the empire, Deka,” Keita says, nodding up to the sky. “This is Ilarong.”
I follow his gaze to the pairs of aviax flying past, tails intertwined.
Most are female-male pairs. I can tell because the males are much larger with much more brilliant plumage than the females, who, for the most part, come in shades of plain, grayish green. There are, however, some male-male and female-female pairs. Then there are the few aviax who are somewhat in the middle—grayish-green coloring with brightly feathered tails or the reverse. Those aviax, I suspect, are the ones who occupy the varied third genders.
As before, they all stare curiously at us when they pass, paying special attention to me with their birdlike yellow eyes. I can’t help but wonder whether White Hands has disseminated a scroll or some such with my likeness on it.
Keita gestures at a pair flying past, a trio of downy chicks beside them. “Here, we can be whatever we wish. Do whatever we wish”—I bristle at what he’s implying, and he quickly corrects—“within reason, that is.”
Keita knows that I don’t want to be rushed by what’s happening around us. Since we met, there have been a thousand crises, a thousand battles, which is why I’ve always ensured that we’ve kept our courtship slow. We can live in fear and in the moment in all the ways that warriors do, but as lovers, I want more for myself. I want the perfect time—even though that might be an unwise sentiment, given that the world is fated for extinction.
But, as White Hands says, the world is always fated for extinction.
Keeping that in mind, I nod, shyly reaching out my hand to enfold Keita’s. “Very well, let’s go to the hot spring together.”
“After ye eat.” This demand comes from Britta, who’s standing behind us, arms folded, Li beside her. “An’ really, Deka,” she sniffs, disapproval apparent, “ye’d think ye’d do more practical things with yer time than flittin’ about to hot springs an’ such, given the crisis we’re in.”
“But that’s precisely why we should go to the hot springs,” Li says, pulling her closer to him. He rubs a hand up and down her back. “If the world ends tomorrow, wouldn’t you like to die knowing you’d had a few hours of bliss with me?”
“I’d rather I live, thank ye very much, an’ that means plannin’ for wha comes next, not flitterin’ about to romantic places.”
I nod. “True. But in this case, I think Li is right.” When Britta turns to me, startled, I sigh. “We never have time. Ever since our blood ran gold, we’ve run from one place to another, always trying to stay one step ahead of death. And honestly, I’m tired, Britta.” I look plaintively up at her. “Aren’t you tired too?”
