Page 5 of Family Found

Nokim shifted his weight back and forth. “We’re not. I’m telling everyone about the Lagasar, which is what we’re calling the tear in the veils between worlds, which happened yesterday and is what all the koa felt.”

Fellisse froze on his way to the small kitchen counter. “Magic tore through the veils? Vergis, are you sure the Koa Esher couldn’t have done that?”

Vergis opened his mouth, then closed it. “Yeah. I mean…” He reached for the Earth device he had, the phone. It was very small, but much like a thing of magic itself. He could write on it, he could take near perfect photographs with it, and so much more. “I’d have to call my dad and ask what he thinks, but it can’t have been the Koa Esher. The veils are… They want to close themselves, you know? You have to push through, and you’re always working against their inertia.”

Nokim nodded. “All the makers who know koa say the koa don’t understand it, and no one thinks the Koa Esher did it. Oh! There’s something else.”

Lissir plopped down next to me and gestured to Fellisse. “Bring me a cup too, please? I want some vinné before I hear about this something else.”

I moved the plate Vergis had set out on the table closer to Lissir. “Tell us.”

Nokim grinned at me. “You already know what I think. It’s the mate calls. It’s not just you. There have been more of them reported, and many say their mate call comes from Earth. They’re going there now, and they can do so without a koa close, even.”

Fellisse sat as well and handed a cup to Lissir, then filled both with water. “Inki, have you decided?”

Nokim was still shifting his weight. He looked like a banner in the wind. “He’s going, of course. Anyone would go. For your real mate…what wouldn’t you do?”

Vergis said nothing, but I caught his glance. It was hard to read him sometimes, no matter how well I thought I knew him, no matter what new thing I learned about him.

I sat up straighter and put the water cup I’d been holding in a too-hard grip down on the table. “I will go. None of you have to come, although, Vergis, if you would lead me to Earth, you’d have my gratitude.”

He made the odd, human shoulder jerk motion again. “Sounds like you don’t really need me.”

Lissir clicked. “But he’s asking for your help regardless. I too would feel better if you led us.”

He gave Nokim and Fellisse a pointed look, and they both nodded in agreement.

I exhaled. “You’re all coming, then?”

Lissir clicked once more. “Of course we’re all coming. That’s a given truth you didn’t need to read in the shape of the clouds. Vergis?”

That human shoulder jerk again. “Sure, I can lead you.”

He sounded unconcerned, but there was a stiffness to his posture that told me he didn’t mean it. he wouldn’t look at me for long, and that told me why. He was young, younger than I was, though that didn’t matter when you were in love. I only had the mate call, for now, and my mate would have all my affection even if he was ancient.

Nokim grinned and pulled something from his pocket. “We’ll have to file the forms, then. I happened to pick some up earlier.”

I inclined my head. “Thank you, Noki. And thank you to all of you. Vergis, it means a lot that you’ll be leading us.”

Everyone hummed while Nokim handed out the forms and went to find pens. Vergis nodded, then turned his cup in his hands, his mind elsewhere.

“I can give them to Hove later,” Fellisse said when Nokim had sat down as well.

I shook my head. “I’ll go and tell him and the dena in person. But maybe you want to visit him after? Share some time before we leave for Earth?”

Fellisse nodded. He and Hove were well matched, both competent and kind and good friends to have. I could see them wanting to spend a night together before we left. With luck, I’d find my mate quickly, and then…

Guilt stabbed the center of me. I didn’t know what would happen once I found my mate, whether he’d agree to return to Aër with me or if he had other needs. All of it was an unknown, uncertain, and therefore frightening. I was glad my sentenmen would be there with me, but I wouldn’t make them stay forever. That was something we’d have to talk about once I knew my mate and he was able to give his opinion as well.

I sighed. Meeting him was a wish that grew in me like a plant with deep roots. It made me both anxious and excited to see that wish come to fruition.

I walked toward Hove’s office around midmorning, everyone’s paperwork in hand. The Raiken’s stone hallways were filled with the sounds of activity, with young Raikengana heading to their classes and older ones going about their chores.

But it wasn’t anything like other mornings. People were talking in small groups, exchanging whispered theories about the Lagasar. They spoke about the mate calls and about the veils thinning, clearly not sure whether they needed to be scared or excited. Mate calls had always been a good thing, something to wish for and dream about, but to push the veils apart demanded powerful magic. It was confounding.

The door to Hove’s office was open, and I walked right in. There were other protectors there, makers too, all holding papers. Behind Hove and somewhat apart from the busyness, the dena stood, his cane in front of him, his cloudy eyes turned toward the large window next to him. He had a sense of light and dark, but nothing more than that.

Hove spotted me when he looked up from what I assumed were all the Lagasar reports. “Inkiri. You are well rested?”