The port authorities and the captain had wanted Gumus Ay dead. Nwa Chapo Yon Sel fired magic at Gumus to keep him contained in a circle so Mavi Ay could summon Kirmizi Gunes.
Kirmizi Gunes organized ten Kertenkele to restrain Gumus. "Why was he allowed to reach this stage?" he shouted to Mavi Ay.
Mavi shouted back, "He is one of Onyx Ay's disciples."
"Lanet! Even Onyx knows the results if it's allowed to progress this far."
"Onyx killed them."
Kirmizi cursed again, "Lanet tanri! Onyx you mad fool!"
Teke and her crew milled around. Some crying hysterically over the Mikachiari who'd been brought into Kirmizi's office with the ill Kertenkele.
"Get them out of here!" Kirmizi yelled.
A struggle broke out between the Mikachiari with long strings of unbroken language the Kertenkele didn't understand.
"She won't leave him," Teke said.
"You're going to want to get out of here," Kirmizi warned.
Mina clawed her way to Gumus's side.
"Mina!" Teke and several others took hold of her limbs to pull her back.
Kirmizi gave up. "I can't wait." He brandished an impossibly long needle and inserted it through a spot in Gumus's abdomen. The commotion in the room continued in the background while Kirmizi worked. "There! Stand ba—" He was interrupted by an explosion of green slime in the room that brought everyone to a standstill.
"It's all over me!" screamed Teke.
"It's all over everyone," Mavi said.
"Is it poisonous?"
"No," Kirmizi answered.
Mina drew closer.
"He'll be fine now after a few days rest. Do you want to help?" Kirmizi asked Mina.
"Why would she help a Kertenkele?" Teke asked.
Kirmizi tossed some rags to Mavis and began wiping down the walls. "Mavi Ay seems to think they're bound."
"Not possible." Teke said shaking her arms to fling off some of the green goop.
Kirmizi tossed a rag at Teke with a frown.
"Mina stayed with Gumus when the Cinsel Iliski overtook him on the ship," Mavi explained. "Clung to his chest as long as she could. It was the only reason Gumus didn't tear apart the ship before we reached Dong Tochi. The only thing that prevented the captain from throwing Gumus overboard until we docked."
Mina shrugged off Teke and the others. "I stay."
***
Three days later, Gumus sat in a corner of Kirmizi's now clean office with Mina curled up in his lap. Kirmizi, Mavi, and several others stood while half a dozen Mikachiari, including Teke, discussed their predicament.
"Whether you like it or not Gumus has bound himself to her," Kirmizi said.
"For what purpose?" Teke said. "Never matter. That means nothing to Mina."
When Mina protested Teke shouted at her, "You can't! Look at us. We're deformed by our own kind. It is a miracle you've come to us whole. We must protect you."
Teke turned to Kirmizi. "It's possible a female Kertenkele exists somewhere in Varlid for him. Let him search!"
Nwa Chapo Yon Sel hung in the air in the corner of the office on a black cloud and said, "Like it's possible there's a male Mikachiari somewhere in Varlid?"
Teke hissed at him. "Silence demon."
Kirmizi crossed his arms. "Enough, I'm telling you what is, nothing more. Cinsel Iliski in it's true form is a bonding ritual between male and female Kertenkele. The Ofkelenmek is only one of the changes that have occurred since the destruction of our race. This seems to be another. Gumus had no control over what happened. If he had gotten to us sooner maybe, but not now." Kirmizi held up a hand to silence Teke. "We cannot hold Mina or insist she honor the ritual since she is not Kertenekele."
Teke turned and prostrated herself before Gumus. "Mina is the first whole Mikachiari we've seen in many generations since the war. With Goddess Jimotekuari's blessing Gumus you will be worshiped as a savior for bringing her here."
Gumus finally spoke. "It's not my decision. I can't make Mina honor the bond."
Kirmizi stooped close to Teke. "Be careful what you do. If the bond is true and Mina does not honor it, Gumus he will sit there until he dies. Kertenkele bond for life."
Teke jumped at the opening. "But we won't take her away. She's free to come and go as she pleases, who do you think we are? We won't imprison her, only protect her."
"Does Mina understand what is happening?" Mavi asked.
"Mina was held by our priestess Tado in Rasima who has exceeded her authority. I hear you have the same problem with one of your own?"
"Onyx Ay? I wouldn't argue with that."
"It's been difficult to explain to Mina. We need time. Do you know anything about our language?"
"Other than when you explain something that takes us a paragraph it sounds like you're saying one word."
"You're not wrong. We can speak the entire history of parts of our culture with one word. The details are contained in the small chunks of the word, that's why when we talk about the war everything is contained in these two words - Chikitofu Meikizikashiteari. If something significant happens we add or detract from that word. Talking with you is like running halfway across Varlid. It's exhausting. With Mina we're getting there but our language has changed being separated from our priestesses and scholars, our shared experience."
Teke spoke to Gumus, "She has to come with us for a couple of days at least. We will bring her back. We will honor her decision."
Mina looked up at Gumus and patted his cheek.
After they left Kirmizi laid his hand on Gumus's shoulder. "Rest, Gumus. I've known Teke for a while and trust her judgement."
Nwa Chapo Yon Sel snorted from where he'd been watching the whole exchange. "I wouldn't."
***
Mina waited until she was out of eyesight before letting herself relax into the embrace of her kin. Her memory flashed on the traitor, Cita and then on Tado in Rasima. It made her hesitate even though Teke and the others stroked and reassured her.
"We never thought this day would come. Our priestesses turned on us so absolutely. Goddess Jimotekuari must have wept for us." Teke shook herself out of the painful reverie. "And here you are. Now, we are going to clean you up. Goddess knows you have wandered in the wilderness to reach us. This is Dong Tochi. It is not a safe place, so don't wander by yourself. We'll post guards to protect you at all times."
Mina heard Teke but there were gaps in her understanding. New words she had never heard before to describe events she had no knowledge of. Dong Tochi was made of wide stone avenues with winding alleyways branching off again and again. She immediately lost all sense of direction. Only the vague salty smell of Bred Hav let her know which direction the harbor might lay. A dense, rotting smell of vegetation was carried on the wind to her from the opposite direction.
She was hurried along until they came to a door that gave way after Teke spoke through a slot to someone. The rooms Mina entered were as luxurious as the Sayid's house in Rasima. Colorful carpets and cushions covered the floor. Water trickled nearby. Fresh water that made Mina realize she was so thirsty.
They pulled and pushed her down corridors to a wide open bath. Against the walls were faucets with stools and cups for scooping up water. In the middle of the room was a large tub with steam drifting up from the surface. The smell of a flower from their homeland, Nokashikatekiariku, brought tears to her eyes.
The entire group stayed with Mina and ran their hands over her, grooming, picking sand and dirt from her ears, mites from her tail. They cleaned and filed her nails. Hot, scented water flowed down her body until she was more at ease than she'd been since leaving Rasima. She wasn't allowed to assist. It was as if she were a priestess. When she was sparkling they led her to the bath and everyone eased in to relax.
Mina dozed off as Teke petted her, spoke to her about the changes to their common words to fit a life in Dong Tochi. It made Mina a bit uncomfortable being asked to change her understanding of their history without a priestess or scholar's blessing.
"We have decided we would like to grant you a Priestess name to commemorate our rebirth, Mina." When Mina shifted uneasily Teke added, "It is only to honor you and your sacrifice."
"Sacrifice?"
After a brief pause, Teke said, "Your journey to us must have been filled with sacrifices."
"It was eventful. Except for Gumus's condition we might have stayed in Sanddyner."
"We will honor Gumus Ay at all our celebrations. You were very lucky to find him."
When Mina didn't answer, Teke added, "We are considering the name Mina Rinkishikamitaku."
Mina blushed at the honor. "I have had no formal training. Surely Rikijiri Noshikikuarichiari would not approve."
"We don't see ourselves beholden to her or their ways any more. Goddess Jimotekuari has delivered us from the curse of the Nodoshiku by bringing you to us." At Mina's look of concern Teke added. "Gumus Ay Rinkishikamitaku will also be remembered."
Mina smiled. "He will be a good ally for us. Gumus is different now, I could feel it." As Mina's vision grew blurry she realized too late that she had been drugged. Mina thought she heard a whisper before she slept, "Forgive us... Forgive me."
***
Mavi Ay cradled Nwa Chapo Yon Sel in his arm as he entered Kirmizi's office.
"What happened?" Kirmizi said.
"I found him. I'm not sure he still lives." He laid Nwa Chapo Yon Sel on a cot.
"His pulse is very weak." Kirmizi sniffed the air just above him. "White hat magic. Who attacked him?"
"I saw no one. We need to send a warning to Teke. Nwa Chapo Yon Sel knew why they were hiding Mina."
"There's no need."
"Why?"
"They're gone."
Mavi glanced at Gumus still sitting in the corner like a rock placed there as decoration. "What do you mean gone?"
"A ship left in the early morning hours for Seo Jog Mo Seo Li and the Mikachiari were aboard."
"What in Varlid could Teke be thinking? We offered her our protection. They have no better ally than Gumus. Bonded to Mina, there's no limit to what he would do to protect her."
Another Black hat, Nwa Chapo Fo Dife, hurried in. "Where is he?" Her voice chirped.
Mavi Ay motioned to the cot.
After a minute of inspection she confirmed Kirmizi's earlier analysis, "It's white magic."
"How can white magic hurt? I thought it could only heal and protect," Mavi said.
"Healing and protecting magic when cast at Black hats hurts us." Nwa Chapo Fo Dife rested her hand on Nwa Chapo Yon Sel's forehead. "He is the strongest Black hat. If he was hurt it must have been Blan Chapo Yon Sel."
"Why?"
"There are only three Yon Sel's at any one time. Next to the Prezidan they are the strongest. If anything happens to the Prezidan, Nwa Chapo Yon Sel would replace him. I think Blan Chapo Yon Sel tried to kill him to take his place."
"What about the Grey hats?"
"They're too weak. Only if the Black and White hat Yon Sel's perish can a Grey hat take over. It has never happened but in all likelihood a Grey had would inherit the Black hat magic." Nwa Chapo Fo Dife straightened. "Only time will tell if he survives. If Blan Chapo is caught she will be punished."
"So far from Patri Peyi?" Mavi Ay asked.
"The Prezidan can reach an Asistan Ti anywhere in Varlid. Asistan Ti may not harm each other, even if they turn Aventyrare and no matter how far they stray from the Prets nan Magic, it is our law."
Kirmizi and Mavi exchanged a doubtful expression.
"Nwa Chapo Fo Defe, why are the Asistan Ti so keen to capture a child-bearing Mikachiari?" Kirmizi asked.
She plopped down on the side of the cot, her tiny feet dangling in the air. "Look at us. Our devotion to Deyes nan Magic mutated our bodies, corrupted our souls and drove us from our land. Yet our Prets nan Magic insist on continuing their experiments. The Mikachiari priestesses found out. It's why they started mutilating their own, rendering them barren. Prets nan Magic are looking for a way to restore our bodies to how they once were. They may restore our bodies but I'm afraid our souls are already lost. The Prezidan has made bargains with the Manskliga and Elyun. Traded foul magic for Mikachiari. Teke has played right into their hands."
"How? Tell us what you know."
"The Manskliga have already turned over all whole Mikachiari to the Asistan Ti for a weapon and some of the skill at manipulating bodies. The Manskliga are not the same as during the Varlid War."
"Changed how? They look the same."
"I don't know. The Elyun hold the rest of the Mikachiari but the negotiations with them are more complex."
"Why doesn't the Prezidan imprison the Black hats for leaving the Prets nan Magic? You could start another Varlid War with what you know."
"No one is stronger than the Prezidan. He will call us all back when he's ready. We will not be able to resist. Our freedom is an illusion. The Black hat revolt is an illusion."
"Why can't you resist? This makes no sense, you travel about Varlid now, what could he do to call you back?"
"It's part of the Deyes non Magic, it's why no one but Asistan Ti can use Magic."
Mavi motioned toward Gumus Ay. "What will happen to him?"
Kirmizi said, "If Gumus considered the Cinsel Iliski a true bonding with Mina, he will never rise again."