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Being summoned to the government is never a good thing and it has put Umbri in a foul mood. Now waiting to hear how Akiyra will respond, what she will do... I want to stand up and yell that she owes me nothing, that she is free to leave. But I can’t do that, besides the offense that would be given, it isn’t only my life that is in the balance.
“I will pay their debts...” My head jerks to look at her for the first time since she entered. She will pay my debts? Just like that? And Tobias? Does she even know how much that is?
“Akiyra, you-” She looks at me and glares.
“No! I understand now and I can’t let it go. If I could I would cancel all the debts, have everyone free to be who they were meant to be. But I can’t.” Her voice is filled with passion as if this is something she has thought about for a while. “I knew something was off, but I didn’t push. Now knowing you, knowing what you have been forced to live with. This is the only choice.”
She turns back to the investigator, “Where do I pay?”
The investigator's eyes light up and I can see him thinking how to pad his own accounts.
“Akiyra, at least let us look over the numbers first. I wouldn’t want you to lose more than necessary on us.”
She nods her head, then turns back to the investigator, one eyebrow raised.
“Well, err... I was not prepared for this. I will have to speak with Umbri and get his numbers. Not many choose to or can afford to pay the debt.”
Akiyra stands and looks down her nose at the Investigator. “I can afford to and do choose to pay their debts. We will be at my ship, you can send the documents there and I will authorize the transaction.”
She turns to look at Tobis and me, “Coming?”
I look at Tobis, then at Akiyra, “Yes.” We follow her through the hall and out the door. There she stops and takes a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing.
“Can you two come back to the ship with me while we wait or do you need to go back to your rooms?”
Tobis speaks up, “We can come back with you. I for one need some time to process this change. Free! I never thought that would be possible since we were thirteen. Fifteen years doing what we were told or being punished.” He shakes his head, wonder on his face.
Akiyra’s face pales, “Fifteen years! How is that not slavery?”
“Our debt goes down some each year but not enough. Umbri owns us, he sets our wages, determines what we must pay for rent, for food, for clothes. . . He even owns the restaurant that we dance in.” I tell her quietly.
The look she gives me is full of anger, pity, commiseration. “Let’s get to the ship. Tiri will be able to help us figure the details out.” She marches through the street as we trail after her, people moving to get out of her way.
Chuckling Tobis whispers, “I knew that she would be something, but had no idea this is where she would be taking us.”
I have to agree with him. As fascinated as I am with her, how it almost killed me to see her walking away, I never would have guessed that she would lead us to freedom. Speaking of her, she turns to look at us, one eyebrow raised.
“Can you two ride a hoverboard or do we need to get a coach?”
“It can’t be any harder than riding a Zanthian spider,” I respond, stepping up to the hoverboard.
“Okay, hotshot! Let’s see how you do!” She smiles at me, her finger hitting the keyboard, releasing it to fall into me. I fumble catching it but keep it from hitting the ground. She turns to Tobis, “and you?”
“Thanks, Akiyra. Ignore Fynn. We can both ride.”