CHAPTER NINETEEN

 

Ti’ann felt an overwhelming desire to run as they stepped into an ornately decorated cavern later that evening. It was bad enough being surrounded by all the important representatives of this new city. But she had to face them looking like she’d spent the day digging in the dirt—which she had.

They’d been given water to bathe in but had been warned not to drink it as the underground river beneath the city was full of bacteria that could potentially be harmful to humans if ingested. Ti’ann had been so worried about accidentally swallowing some, she’d stuck to a simple sponge bath. The fragrant oil they’d been given was lovely, though, and she’d spent several minutes just sniffing the small, glass bottle before applying it. So she was sort of clean and she did smelled good. Unfortunately, she couldn’t claim the same for her clothes.

The Shifters didn’t wear much in the way of clothing, so maybe her dirty t-shirt and trousers wouldn’t matter. They did wear layers of braided ropes and stones but used them more like accessories. A lot of those accessories were on display when they entered the meeting hall.

Yeah, I’m definitely underdressed.

She studied their new surroundings, hoping to calm her nerves. Galleries of seats with colorfully decorated balconies lined the walls. There seemed to be areas designated for members of the different lines, but it was a flexible separation with many Shifters moving between sections.

The atmosphere appeared relaxed and excited, though she couldn’t say why since she couldn’t read Shifter gestures or hear them speak. In fact, the hall was eerily quiet, just like the rest of the city. A single musician played from a gallery near the top of the hall, several levels above the topmost sitting gallery. The musician’s wind song music was the only noise outside the shuffling of bodies. She turned in time to see a Shifter change into the shape of a blackbird before launching itself up to one of the upper galleries.

Blackbird? There’d been a lot of blackbirds around the site over the last week.

She sucked in a breath as she realized just how easy it had been for the Shifters to watch her group.

“You okay?” Krin whispered.

“No. You?”

“Terrified.” He took her hand and squeezed. She squeezed back, embarrassed to realize how comforting it was to have Krin here with her.

“Don’t let me say anything stupid,” she murmured.

“Only if you keep me from opening my big mouth, too.”

She grinned and nodded, then gave his hand a final squeeze and let go. Straightening her shoulders, she tried to follow Zim and Val with as much dignity as she could muster. Somewhere behind her, she knew Nathan followed, watching, on guard. Knowing he had their backs was as reassuring as Krin’s hand had been.

The Supreme Councilors sat at the far end of the hall on seven raised cushions. Each Councilor was adorned in braided lengths of rope and stones, the colors particular to the individual Councilor. She wondered if that was to do with their lines or with their individual positions in the community. They were all in their natural forms. Three of the seven had silver eyes.

Val and Zim went directly to the Councilors and exchanged what was probably a formal greeting. Ti’ann suspected a lot was said from the silence filling the hall. Val and Zim performed a series of hand gestures which Ti’ann couldn’t follow but was sure were part of the greeting. Then Val stepped to one side and motioned them forward at the same time as a mouth formed in its golden face.

Ti’ann sucked in a deep breath and took her place before their hosts. She and Krin went first, followed by James and Glen with Nathan taking the rear guard as usual. Val made the introductions aloud, naming their group first before turning to introduce the Councilors.

James leaned forward and whispered, “Val is translating to them as she speaks to us.”

“Can you understand them?” she asked, leaning back.

“Not really. I can kind of tell what’s happening, but I don’t have any idea what they’re saying. No words.”

They straightened again as Val said, with a touch of humor, “We have agreed on word names for the Councilors. They are pleased with the sounds.” Val indicated the Councilor farthest to the left and moved right as each was introduced. “May I introduce Hyg, Bur, Deq, Maj, Ple, Sav and Xal.”

Ti’ann nodded to each and received a polite nod in return. Okay, that at least was an acceptable gesture. She was hit once again with how little she knew about Shifters. What if she made some common human gesture that turned out to be rude and offensive? She kept her arms to her sides, her hands opened, and prayed Val would let them know if they did anything really stupid.

As she studied the city leaders, she noted four of them appeared to be female, the other three male. Two of the four females, Deq and Sav, and one male, Hyg, had silver eyes. Other than that, Ti’ann couldn’t tell much else about them. In particular, she realized she had no idea how old any of them were. Val had told her and Krin at one stage that Shifter children were smaller and looked young. She’d seen a lot of what looked to be children since coming into the city. But once they reached the adult stage, they didn’t seem to change much. Did they see a difference in each other?

“The Councilors give you greetings,” Val said. “They wish me to convey their sincere thanks for keeping the location and nature of our city a secret. They know the inspectors were not friends to our kind but also that they don’t represent all humanity.”

Sav made a hand gesture and Val fell silent for a moment.

“Sav wishes me to tell you this city arose because of their distrust of humanity and its intentions here. They felt their concerns were justified after the destruction of our cities above ground. Now, after meeting you and James and talking with me, they see not all of humanity is to be shunned.” Val was silent again, then said, “Bur says they’re not prepared to reveal themselves to the majority of the population yet, but they are prepared to begin negotiations for forming an agreement with humans. They wish to await the final decision of the Senate before they commit themselves to exposure.”

“Understandable,” Krin said.

“But how will they keep this place a secret now?” Ti’ann asked. “I mean they’ve exposed themselves to our team. You and James and the others might be dedicated to keeping Shifter secrets, but my team isn’t.”

Val nodded and was silent.

“They’re discussing your point,” James said. “Don’t understand it, but I get the impression they were aware they wouldn’t be able to keep their secret long after introducing our people to the city.”

“James is right. They realize they have a matter of weeks at most to prepare for this confrontation. They hope to persuade all of you to keep knowledge of the city quiet for as long as possible. With luck, the Senate will reach a decision soon. If not, then the nearer we are to the conclusion of the debates, the better their negotiating position will be. Without knowing what the majority of humans want in regards Shifters, it’s difficult to plan a meeting.”

“They’re risking a lot here, Val,” Krin murmured. “I’d like to say we could keep this quiet for a long time, but…” He spread his hands.

“There are too many of us and the inspectors will be back,” Ti’ann listed off the problems Krin wouldn’t utter. “Someone is going to want an accounting of what we’re doing out here. I thought they’d decided to start talking with humans and that’s why they approached us.”

“They approached us because we would have uncovered their city anyway. You are too tenacious.” Val grinned. “But they have not fully committed to an exchange with humans.”

“They could have stopped us digging,” Glen pointed out. “They could have killed us all.”

“Shifters aren’t violent,” James told him. “They’re incapable of killing.”

Val didn’t immediately support James’ statement out loud. Instead, the Shifter turned away to glance at the Councilors again. Ti’ann frowned. Maybe Nathan was right. Maybe more had changed in these lines than just the evolution of sexual reproduction. They never did answer her questions about behavioral changes. Maybe these Shifters were capable of violence where Val’s kind weren’t.

“They didn’t wish to bring harm to the group,” Val said finally, confirming her fears. “They still want to conduct their re-introduction to the outer planet in peace. If the debates go against Shifters, they’ll likely resume their isolationist policy, even cutting themselves off from other Shifters again.”

“How?” Ti’ann’s voice felt like it stuck in her throat. She swallowed and said more firmly, “How will they isolate themselves this time? Will they abandon this city?”

“No.” Val didn’t even look back at the others when answering. Its green/yellow eyes locked with hers.

“They’ll form up a defense? They’ll fight to stay isolated.” She pressed her hands flat against her thighs to keep them from fisting or shaking at this realization. They were talking about war.

“They can. They will.” Val sounded resigned and sad. “They are more advanced in this area than the Shifters above ground. It happened with the re-introduction of different sexes into the lines.”

Reverting to sexual reproduction was one thing, becoming capable of violence, another.

James leaned forward again and put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s not the first time this has happened to a line,” he murmured. “We’ve been trying to keep it quiet, but some of the Shifters above ground have evolved the ability to inflict injury since the exterminations began. They aren’t happy to have that particular trait in their lines, though. That’s why Val is sad about it evolving here as well.”

Ti’ann nodded. The idea that humans were driving the Shifters above ground to become violent when it wasn’t in their natures made her stomach hurt. The lines here in the city, that was a different story. They’d evolved aggressive behavior along with the natural evolution of the sexes. In a way, it might make them easier to understand, their behaviors more what humans would expect. But she wasn’t sure that was a good thing.

“Are they threatening us, Val?” Nathan asked. The question should have been blunt and offensive, but Nathan somehow managed to sound concerned and polite. She looked at him over her shoulder. As usual, she couldn’t read much in his expression. But he didn’t seem any tenser than at any other time since they’d entered the city.

“No. They won’t hurt anyone here now. Even if the secret of the city gets out before they want it to. They’ll only fight if they’re attacked or one of their lines is hurt. And they’ll defend themselves if the Senate launches an out and out assault.”

“What if groups not sanctioned by the government threaten this city?” Glen asked. “There are a lot of anti-Shifter feelings among the populous. As many people still hate them as support them. And most people don’t know Shifters are sentient, at least not for certain. It’s still considered a rumor. This city is going to be a huge blow not just to the Senate, but to the entire human population. They’ll have to face something a lot of them have been happy to remain ignorant of.”

Val looked down at the platform before answering. After a long silence, “They won’t declare war based on the actions of non-government based groups. They’ll still defend themselves though. They won’t allow any human group to destroy this place the way our cities above ground were destroyed.”

“This could be a haven, Val,” James said, stepping forward. “For the Shifters above ground.” He turned to the Councilors. “Would that be possible? Is there room enough here to harbor other lines?”

“They would be welcome. But there would be a price,” Zim said. The first thing he’d said aloud since they’d reached the meeting hall. “Any who live here for more than a few weeks would be exposed to the parasites that forced us to evolve.”

“They might die,” Val said. “They might get very sick. Or they might change, the way the Shifters here have changed.”

“Some would take the risk for a safe haven,” James said quietly, his gaze steady on Val’s. “You know there’s only so much we can do.”

When Ti’ann looked at James, she saw the frustration and helplessness in his expression.

Val smiled and silence fell in the hall. After a moment, James nodded, a rueful smile lifting his lips. “You’re right,” he said aloud. “They’ll choose as they always have. But at least it’s an option.”

“It is,” Val said. “And they will be welcome in Lost City if they choose to come. At this point in the debates, I think most will prefer to continue the fight.”

Silence fell again, and Val turned to Nathan. “They wanted me to convey their respects to your family, Nathan Longfeather.”

“Is that why they’re interested in me? Because of my family? Tell them I didn’t have anything to do with that. My mother, her cousin, that was their fight. Not mine. Never was.”

The venom in his voice surprised Ti’ann. There was something there, something in his past he didn’t want to talk about. Her curiosity jumped forward, pushing her to ask questions. But now wasn’t the time or place. And a part of her was afraid he wouldn’t answer personal questions even if she asked. Why would he confide in her? They’d shared a couple of nights together, nights separated by more than three years. That didn’t exactly scream intimacy. Her heart twisted just enough to hurt. She stomped down on the feeling.

Val smiled after a quiet moment. “They don’t seem to mind. They like you. They see potential.”

“Tell them whatever they’re thinking, they can forget it. I’m a mercenary. I get paid to do what I do. I don’t do freedom fighting. I made that clear sixteen years ago.”

Val nodded, but the mouth in its face twisted into a knowing grin. From behind her, Ti’ann heard Nathan mumble something that didn’t sound polite. It took a lot of effort not to laugh. It took even more effort not to turn and look at him.

The conversation moved on to more pleasant, less potentially volatile topics. The Councilors had a lot of questions about the world now and the way humans lived. They wanted to understand human art and music. Krin ended up in a long discussion with Maj, translated with some difficulty by Val, about the nature of Devin’s art and did he find it difficult working in external mediums. There were so many questions from both groups that more cushions had to be brought forward for the humans.

In the galleries above, the Shifters began moving again and the musicians started playing. Sometime during the evening, the sealed food they’d carried into the city was brought out and served on flat squares of glass that worked elegantly as plates.

By the time they’d finished eating and the conversation started to slow down, Ti’ann felt her head drooping with fatigue. She was suddenly grateful for rooms and the softly padded bed cushions they’d been given for their overnight stay. She couldn’t have faced trying to walk out again and back to camp.

They bid their hosts goodnight and Zim and Val led them back to their lodgings. None of the other Shifters left the meeting hall.

“Will they stay up much longer?” she asked Val, glancing over her shoulder as they left through the huge, ornate doors.

“For a little while. They still have a lot to discuss. Our sleep schedules are different from humans, at any rate, so it’s not as late to them as it is to you.” Val grinned.

“I’m exhausted,” Ti’ann confided. “You know, I didn’t see Sar all night. I might have missed—her?—her in the galleries though.”

“Sar was unable to attend. She’s to give birth in another three days and has begun her period of transition.”

“Sar’s pregnant? How can you tell?”

“She told me.” Val chuckled. “They’ve explained how it works, but it’s a different form of reproduction so I’ll be fascinated to see the birth. Apparently, a bubble is formed around the embryo and it is from this bubble that the infant is hatched. Not too dissimilar from our budding process, except that it takes a male and female to begin the process.” Another grin.

“Are their young vulnerable in the beginning?”

“More vulnerable to disease and birth defects than our young. But if they survive the first couple of years, they can be stronger than our children.”

“Will we be able to visit Sar and Zim’s child when it’s born?” Krin asked from behind them.

“It’ll depend on its health.”

When they reached the family home—which reminded Ti’ann a lot of a beehive turned inside out—they said their goodnights and retreated to the ground floor rooms they’d been given. They had to stay at the bottom level because there were no stairs to the upper tiers. Shifters merely changed into some form that could fly or scale walls. As tired as she was, Ti’ann was grateful she didn’t have to trudge up stairs anyway.

A door of battered metal with a decoratively cut vent at the top separated her room from the central core. The room was a large, rounded cave of a space, with small cubbyholes carved into the wall and a stuffed mattress inside one large alcove. The walls and ceiling of the alcove were decorated with stones and dried plants.

The space was illuminated by a few of the “light bulbs” set into clear glass shapes resembling lamps. The lighting was lower now than it had been when she’d first been given the room to wash up in, low enough as to be almost dark. She had no idea how the lights turned on and off so she was glad someone had thought to dim them for her.

The cubbyholes in the walls were filled with pieces of sculpture and what looked like books. She’d pulled down one of the books earlier. The pages were filled with a flowing substance that looked like jelly or smoke caught inside the translucent pages. It swirled and shimmered, forming strange images and half scenes in three dimensions. She suspected there was some trick to reading one but was too tired to try.

As she stared at the bed alcove, she was suddenly grateful for her exhaustion. Otherwise the idea of sleeping cocooned by Shifter bodies might have kept her up all night. She shed her clothes, dropped them to the ground, and crawled into bed under the heavy velvet blanket the Shifters had provided. The city wasn’t cold, as she might have suspected this far underground. In fact, it was comfortably warm. But sleeping naked without a cover made her feel vulnerable.

She snuggled into the soft material, sighing at the sensory pleasure of velvet against her bare skin. Vaguely, she wondered where Shifters came up with velvet but couldn’t manage enough energy to think about it for long, not when she felt so warm and cozy. So much for worrying about sleeping surrounded by corpses, she thought as she dozed off.