The heat and humidity hit me like a Cistus tidal wave despite my cloak’s cooling abilities. It’s stifling and oppressive. I imagine Freyda here, but she hasn’t been back to her home planet for five cycles, and I think I can see the changes in her. Away from the sun and constant moisture, her skin has grown pale, and her insistence she’s always cold makes sense. I can’t imagine ever being cold here.
On the boat from the shuttle dock, a bevy of colors surround us, though the majority of it all is awash in tones of sea green and light tan stone. We’re headed to the main dock of Murel, the capital city, and along the waterway are small islands of vegetation interspersed with pops of color from vibrant flowers so stunning they appear fake.
The boat slows near the dock, and I look up at the buildings all around me. They aren’t built high, but when I peer over the boat’s railing, it seems as if they sink into the ocean itself. We disembark with a crowd of travelers onto a square platform and are faced with multiple paths all heading in different directions like the cords of silk entwined during Lena and Leith’s act.
“Stars.”
“Exotic, isn’t it?” Leef smiles widely. He’s enjoying himself, and I can’t help but wonder why he’s here. What errand could he possibly have? He could have easily dropped us off and left, but he seems content to navigate the planet with us.
“So many things to take in, m’lady. Colors, scents, food, people. This is adventure.” His chin tilts up toward the bright sun.
“I suppose it is.” I know I should find this a little exciting, but I have trouble getting past the glaring problem of finding Freyda’s father and convincing him to tell us the next location of the High Council meeting. Not to mention what comes after for me.
The memory of Jas talking about the new galaxy worries me the closer we get to finding the High Council. I trust Freyda’s father, but what about the rest of the council? Is it possible they were aware of the corruption of the High Queen?
“This way.” Leef selects the path furthest to the right, and Dot rolls behind him.
“How does he know where to go?” I ask Renner.
“He doesn’t.” Renner flexes his jaw. “He just thinks he does.”
I think he’s right, but we still follow the confident pilot onto the narrow walkway. I want to pull Renner aside and make a plan, but Leef knows we want to find the High Council’s meeting place. Is it possible he has a contact on Meloran and is willing to introduce us? If so, perhaps they’ll know where to find the Monarch.
There’s open water to our right and the stone wall of a building to the left. The pathway itself is made of light-colored stone and sits less than a half meter above the sea. Every once in a while, a forceful slap of the water sends warm droplets against my cloak.
There are so many people behind and before us, it’s a wonder no one falls into the canals. I want to look around, take in this amazing planet, but I also don’t want to end up fighting for my life in the depths of the Meloran sea. Renner is a comforting presence behind me, and I press forward, trying only to focus on the next step and not what lies past it.
Up ahead, the walkway widens out to an open area paved in the same light stone. A large fountain takes over the center with shooting geysers of water creating a melodic sound as they fall to the pool below. A statue of a Meloran sea woman playing what looks like a Gavron Harp, or the Meloran equivalent, sits in the midst of spraying water. She has long flowing hair and what appear to be wings. Or are they fins?
Stores of all kinds surround the open courtyard. Clothing shops, cafés, a fish market—the scent of which is overwhelming—as well as an array of other shops. People are buying and selling with gusto, but their chains draw my attention.
The majority of people here wear either the Platino or Rustorite chain, low-middle or low class, but there are a few with Shiorite, middle class, and very few with Tolnco, or middle-premier, chains. No Melorite, the premier, in sight.
The concept is foreign to me, but I know the castes because Freyda has taken time to explain them along with the history of Meloran. I have often wondered if it’s hard for someone of her Melorite status to work for a circus as an entertainer, but she has never complained to me, nor acted as if she’s above it.
I think it’s a testament of her character more than that of the Melorans as I observe a man with a Tolnco chain push his way past several with Rustorite chains to get to the front of the line. They don’t even grumble, which, to me, is worse.
“Talie, this way.” Renner tugs on my arm.
I turn away from the injustice and follow him down another pathway. I can just make out Leef ahead, walking as if he belongs on these pathways. For all we know of him, he could, but something tells me Leef is a man with no home.
After a few turns, the vegetation grows thicker around us and acts as a shade from the sun. We turn down a path arched in hanging vines, which forces Leef to duck ahead of me. Stunning pink and yellow flowers interrupt the greenery and give off a heady, sweet scent. As I inhale, tears rush to my eyes. It’s the scent from the Meloran perfume Freyda gave me. These must be a colorful version of callias.
I push through the thready tendrils that cover an arched doorway into a hidden courtyard.
“Oh.” I stop, unable to move on because it is so beautiful. Vines heavy with waxy flowers and lush leaves cover the stone walls like a living waterfall. Lights are strung through the branches, and I can only imagine what this place looks like at night.
“Welcome to the Meloran court,” Leef says.
I turn to him. “You’ve been here before?”
“I’ve spent time on Meloran.” He shrugs.
I share a look with Renner, but movement draws our attention to the far left corner of the courtyard.
“Greetings. May I assist you?” A tall man walks toward us. His voice is deep and rich, but he looks displeased to see us here. His hands fold into a resting position at his abdomen. He wears long robes of a deep burgundy, and his eyelids and lips are black like Freyda’s.
I take in the chain at his waist and see he wears two. The one wrapping around his waist is tolnco, but dangling down the front, the chain turns to links of Melorite. I’ve never seen two chains together like this.
“We’re looking for,” I hesitate. Do we simply blurt out Freyda’s father’s name? Or will that arouse suspicion? With a subtle nod from Renner, I decide we don’t have time to waste. “For Monarch Frond N’Saala.”
The man’s eyebrows rise, and he takes us in again with what I hope is renewed interest. “Monarch N’Saala, you say?”
“Yes.” My fingers twist my cloak’s fabric at the sleeves.
“Follow me.” He turns, the hem of his robes flaring out over the stones, and walks back to the doorway he came through.
We follow, Leef and Dot first, with Renner behind me. The passageway opens to another courtyard, and we walk under a covered archway. It’s then that I see the middle of the courtyard is covered by a meter of water. Colorful fish swim back and forth with underwater plants thriving in the sunny spot. It’s magical, and I wish I could stay and enjoy it, but Renner draws close, forcing me to hurry past.
The man steps into yet another hallway, this one much darker and illuminated with bioluminescent plants dangling from the ceiling. It makes me smile thinking of Freyda’s room aboard the Midway. I once asked her why she never used the overhead lighting. She said it was much too bright, and that the plants did a better job anyway. I didn’t understand until now.
The ache forms sharp and deep. I miss her so much. She would love to be back on Meloran, and I can’t help but feel I’m betraying her. Whatever happens in the course of the next few weeks, I make a vow for the future. I will ensure the safety of all my Phenomena friends and help them become established wherever they want.
“Please wait here.” The man offers a half-bow.
Before he can go, I say, “Excuse me, sir?”
He pauses, looking down the bridge of his nose at me. “Yes?”
“Your chains. I—” I hesitate, “I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve never seen two types.”
His smile comes quick and easy, born of pride. “I was born Tolnco, but I have served the Meloran court all of my life, and each sequent—that is one cycle for us—I receive a new Meliorite link.”
I had no idea this was possible, but he disappears before I can ask more questions. It’s probably for the best, but I was taught to seek understanding of other cultures. To see them, complex or simple, as crucial facets of the galaxy, none better or less than, but each adding its own special aspect. I know we’re here for a purpose, but I can’t shut off the part of me that wants to learn.
Leef motions for us to follow him as he trails our guide.
“He told us to wait.” I fall in line behind him and leave Renner to follow.
“I don’t always do what I’m told, love.”
I think I can hear Renner’s teeth grind behind me.
Ooomph. I meet a wall of muscle when I slam into Leef. Renner stops short of running into us both, his hands going to my arms to steady me.
“Sorry.” He lets go like I’ve burned him.
I instantly miss his touch but refocus on trying to see around Leef.
“You were told to wait.”
I catch a glimpse of a guard in front of us. He holds a silver trident with a green orb suspended between the two outer tines. The orb looks like a replica of Meloran.
“We’re not good at following rules, mate.” Leef laughs congenially.
I sense Renner stiffen, ready for the fallout we both think Leef’s words will bring, but the guard only laughs.
“Come, Bold One, you’ve been granted an audience with the monarch.”
We’re taken down several long, dark corridors, all gradually sloping downward, and pass through a cooling mist I assume is a transitionary door to the interior of the building. The guard stops at another door, intricate details carved into the wooden surface, and knocks once before opening it wide and allowing us to enter.
Renner slips in beside me, his hand gripping my upper arm with firm pressure. When I meet his gaze, I see a warning. By then it’s too late. The door closes behind us with a final sounding thunk.