Page 33 of Earthbound

‘And instead of combat, there is dancing,’ Malak said. His eyes were glazed with a film of wonderment as he watched the fae writhe and twirl in their near-to-nothing clothing.

Just wait until the fire is doused… Yeeran’s gaze flickered straight to Furi. The queen wore a dress made of glowing fraedia crystal, each gem strung together with lace. A cloak spun in gold thread was tied at her neck, the train billowing behind her when she walked. The outfit was ostentatious, gaudy, and a flagrant display of their resources. But most of all, it was beautiful.

‘The tailor called this weave “a kiss to crush”,’ Furi had whispered as she walked past Yeeran earlier. It was almost as though the queen was toying with Yeeran. Though Furi had made her feelings clear–their relationship had inflicted more pain than pleasure.

But Yeeran couldn’t help gazing along the seams of Furi’s dress. The lace revealed an overwhelming amount of her copper skin, and Yeeran’s eyes followed the curve of her breast to the cluster of fraedia that covered her nipple. Yeeran’s fingers twitched as she recalled circling them, tasting them—

‘All this time we thought they were imprisoned–threatened–by our siege. But it is a paradise down here,’ Motogo said.

Yeeran sighed from the rude interruption of her musings. ‘Everyone says that. But Mosima is still a prison, no matter how beautiful the bars of the cell. Remember this entire festival is to celebrate the sun touching the Tree of Souls.’

Malak tilted his head to the side. ‘Explain the Tree of Souls again?’

‘It ties the king and queen to Mosima.’

‘Like a binding? Similar to the obeah?’

‘I suppose,’ Yeeran said, considering. ‘Yes, you could say that.’

‘This binding–it unlocks access to their magic, and the fae language? Right?’

‘Yes.’

‘And if an obeah dies, so too does the fae?’

‘Indeed.’ There was something about Malak’s line of questioning that made Yeeran feel uncomfortable.

He is asking questions very thoughtfully so that you answer a question he is yet to speak, Pila said, pinpointing Yeeran’s exact feelings.

‘But not all fae are bound to an obeah?’ he pressed on.

‘No. A few hundred years ago some of the fae stopped binding to obeah. The theory is that the elves…we…killed their potential soul partners in our quest to make weapons. The fae call those unbound the Lightless,’ Yeeran said.

‘What do they call you?’ he said softly as he looked at Pila. ‘An elf who defied their natural laws and bound to one of theirs?’

Yeeran folded her arms. ‘They call me Ambassador Yeeran.’

Malak noticed Yeeran’s change in tone. He bobbed his head in apology and gave her a wide smile.

‘Sorry, my curiosity has always been unmatched. And I must admit, I am a little jealous of your bond with the creature.’

‘Pila,’ Yeeran said. ‘Not creature.’

‘A second apology then.’ This time he looked directly at Pila as he said it, ‘I’m sorry, Pila.’

The obeah considered him for a moment before yawning and looking away. Malak laughed, taking no offence.

‘She knows her mind,’ he said.

‘That she does,’ Yeeran confirmed.

How would I not know my mind? This man is very odd, Pila said.

He is.

‘The fray is larger than I imagined,’ Motogo said. They had been silently listening to Malak’s questioning, letting him take the lead. It was another indication to Yeeran that Motogo deferred to Malak much more than they realised.

‘Yes, it is large, but do you see now why you cannot mine it? Mosima would perish.’