Ryley!
Romana’s voice slashed through his mind. His sister had confronted him with her suspicions about his disappearances a couple of years ago, and because she couldn’t convince him to quit visiting Earth she’d decided to help him keep his secret. Though he still couldn’t figure out how she’d found out about his off-world jaunts in the first place. Then again, he’d never been able to get anything past Romana. At times she seemed to See more than any Sehan.
Unlike his sister, Ryley was a fully-fledged Sehan with supernatural powers and the ability to See the future in his mind’s-eye. And along with those gifts came responsibilities. Ever-conscious of those responsibilities, he’d constructed a permanent mind-to-mind communication thread that allowed his sister to contact him in an emergency. She’d never had cause to use it before. Must be serious.
What’s up?
Get your arse back here. Wisa’s looking for you.
Shit. That couldn’t be good. Can you cover for a bit longer?
Sorry. Tried. She’s not buying it. And I think Mom’s beginning to suspect something’s up, too.
Double shit. Thanks for trying, sis. I owe you one.
You owe me big-time. See you soon… if you know what’s good for you.
He wished he could ignore the summons but not even a Sehan could ignore a goddess with impunity. And ignoring his mother was a whole ’nother net of fish he didn’t want to deal with. Easing himself from Rowan’s embrace, he conjured paper and pen and wrote a detailed note to explain his absence.
Appalling timing, his brother murmured. She’s going to be pissed at you.
Ryley sighed. I know, but—
Your note reads more like instructions for a housekeeper than a lover. At least let me soften it so she doesn’t think you’re a total arsehole.
He let Aryn in, felt his will being shunted to one side as Aryn’s spirit filled his body. Words were added to the bottom of the letter, and then a cluster of Xs before it was initialed with an R. Aryn accessed his Sehani powers to conjure a white rose and tinker with the bloom’s natural color until a blush of palest pink tinged its petals. He laid the rose on the spare pillow, so it would be the first thing Rowan saw when she awoke.
How’s that?
In control again, Ryley scanned the additions to the letter and nodded slowly. Thanks, Aryn.
I’ve always been better at this emotional stuff. Let’s head home before Wisa comes looking for you personally.
Agreed. His eyes glowed, filling the darkened room with light. He used his powers to activate the façade he put in place whenever he had to leave Earth. He was thorough—in order to secretly live two separate lives on two entirely different worlds, he had to be.
He ensured Rowan had enough work to occupy her while he was gone. Then he grabbed the cell phone he’d promised her and left it on her nightstand, along with keys and a slip of paper noting the address and the security code for the alarm in his office. A thought and a small wielding of the power at his command was all it took to change his clothing to traditional Dayamari garb. He was ready.
Casting a final glance at the woman he shouldn’t have let himself love, he vanished from her bedroom.
~~~
He grit his teeth as he forced the gate he’d spun between worlds to close. The drain on his powers had been enormous. That combined with the constant drain of healing the damage to his lungs from breathing Earth’s air and it’d take at least a couple of days before he was back to full strength. For now he flopped atop a grassy hump, inhaling Dayamaria’s clean air. He closed his eyes, listening to birdsong, the rustle of long grass in the slight breeze, and the buzzing chorus of cigalas—small green insects with transparent wings that chirped incessantly over the summer months. Gone was the ever-present raucous din of Earth’s modern technology. Peace reigned.
Aside from the wrench of leaving Rowan he was glad to be home. Earth was a fascinating place but it both attracted and repelled him at times. Its inhabitants had invented machines and gadgets to accomplish things he could never have dreamed of, but showed an appalling disregard for the environment. He wondered how the people of the Third Settlement would react if he tossed all his waste into the stream because it was easier than recycling it. Sehan or not, they’d probably banish him.
He stretched out his cramped muscles and then crawled to his feet to begin the twenty minute hike to the Third Settlement.
“Wondered when you’d finally decide to quit lazing ’round and get moving,” a curiously hollow voice said.
Ryley stumbled, head whipping round as he sought the owner of the voice. He’d not sensed anyone nearby. He scanned the vicinity with his seer-senses but couldn’t find a trace of a human aureya—
Ah. Fine-tuning his scan he rechecked the surrounding area. There. An anomaly in the aureya—the life-energy—given off by the soil in one particular spot. Although very closely matched to the surrounding dirt and grass it was not exact. “Clever disguise,” he told the grassy hump he’d so recently rested atop.
The hump muttered something derogatory. It gave a great shudder and exploded, raining tufts of grass in all directions to reveal the youngest of the Dayamari gods.
Ryley brushed grass and dirt from his tunic. “I have not ‘packed on the weight’. And a real grass-covered hump wouldn’t have an issue with someone sitting on it. You might want to choose some other disguise if you’re going to be such a wimp.”
“Quite finished, are we?”
“Yep. Just making sure you aren’t getting too full of yourself.”
Marc’s grin drooped. “No chance of that with Wisa around. She doesn’t pull her punches when it comes to my shortcomings—which according to her ‘are simply too multitudinous to count’.”
Ryley chuckled at the all too accurate imitation of Wisa, the goddess who’d adopted Hope, his mother, and was therefore technically his grandmother. “Still giving you a hard time, eh?”
“Yep. Mind you—” Marc’s trademark grin was back “—I get a huge kick out of deliberately misinterpreting some fundamental godly tenet and watching her lose her cool.”
Ryley winced. “You like living on the edge, don’t you?”
“What can she do to me? I’m a god. You know, immortal and all that.”
“You’d be surprised. She can be ruthless when the situation requires it.”
Marc chewed over the advice and then changed the subject. “And how is good ole Earth these days?”
He struggled to hide his dismay but figured he’d pulled it off. “No idea what you’re talking about.”
“I may be new to this god lark but I’m not stupid. Who d’you think nudged Romana in the right direction until she figured out what you were up to? Plus I have a vested interest in Marc Gibbs wayward son of John and Jean Gibbs—” he jabbed a finger at his chest “—making regular appearances so his parents have no cause to worry too much about him. Two guesses the first thing I looked into after I was made a god.”
Ryley rolled his eyes. “Traveling between worlds to visit Earth.”
“Gold star for you. I miss my home-world like you wouldn’t believe at times. Lovely place, isn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
Marc made a rude noise. “Bullshit,” he said in English, and then reverted to Dayamaru. “I know all about what you’ve been up to. You’ve been visiting Earth on and off for the past five years. And you’ve got this gate-between-worlds thing sussed—” another English word “—which is pretty impressive considering how freakin’ difficult it is.”
“I’d say ‘thank you’ if I had a clue what you were talking about.”
“Very cool, Slick. I’m impressed. Look, I know all about this babe you’re obsessing over and I gotta say you have impeccable taste in women.” Marc cocked his chin. “What’s her name again?”
Ryley gave him a blank face.
Marc grinned and snapped his fingers. “Got it. Rowan. Pretty name.”
No point in beating the bush for birds any longer. “If you know everything then you know why I need to get back to Earth as soon as I can. She needs my help.”
“That she does, my friend,” Marc said. “But there’s something big going down here. So you need to stick around.”
Unease clawed his spine. “Any idea what?”
Marc’s somewhat smug expression soured. “None. That’s one of the things I haven’t got a handle on yet—interpreting the signs, I mean. All I can tell is it involves you in some way.”
Ryley considered his options. “I wouldn’t normally ask this but—”
“Would I ask Shikari or Kunnandi what’s up and then report back to you? Wish I could, Ryley. And don’t think I haven’t tried. Unfortunately, they’ve both been briefed by Wisa not to tell me anything. Evidently I have to learn to read the signs correctly myself. It’s supposed to be a spur to encourage me.”
“Can’t you learn a little bit faster? This is important.”
“I’m trying.” The young god scratched his head. “Complicated equations and calculations aren’t exactly my forte. Back home the most difficult thing I used to do was check my bank balance and wonder where the crap all the money had gone. I wasn’t born a god so it’s not something that comes naturally, you know?”
He sounded so depressed Ryley felt sorry for him. “You’ve only been a god for what? Two decades?”
“Yeah. The same amount of time you’ve been Sehani, yet you’re a freakin’ marvel.”
“You got the freak part right, anyway.” Ryley shook his head ruefully. “The youngest Sehan in Dayamari history, that was me.”
“A precocious five-year-old who drove your parents crazy.”
“That, too.”
“Not to mention your spirit-bro.”
Ryley puffed out a rueful laugh. “Aryn only wanted to see what all the fuss over my precocious Sehani powers was about. We’re twins. Of course I let him take control and have a bit of fun. It was kind of like sharing my toys.”
Marc’s gaze brightened and his lips tilted into a smirk. “That was something else the way he had you blow the top off that mountain. I’d never have come up with something that creative. Wisa almost decided to become a hermit like Chryss. Even Kunnandi and Shikari were impressed… at least until Wisa made them put the mountain back together and clean up the mess.”
Ryley winced at the memory. “Mom had kits over that one. She wouldn’t let me out of her sight for a month.”
“And speaking of your mother, Romana asked me to tell you she’s looking for you, too.” He cocked his head as though listening. “Sorry, gotta go. Elder God requesting my presence and all that.” He shimmered.
“Marc!”
The young god re-formed. “Yep?”
“Hadn’t you better change? You know how stuffy Wisa is about appearances. I’m sure the only reason you get away with that—” he jerked his thumb at Marc’s chest “—is because she hasn’t thought to translate it into Dayamaru. Yet.”
Marc was clad in his usual Earth-style costume of an old black t-shirt, faded and torn blue jeans and equally disreputable-looking sneakers. His t-shirt was emblazoned with a stylized screen-printed eagle and the English words: It’s hard to soar like an eagle when you work with turkeys. He grimaced. “Guess you’re right.” His clothing blurred and reformed into trousers and matching tunic of silvery cloth that radiated all colors of the spectrum whenever he moved. The grimace morphed into borderline disgust as glanced down and wriggled his bare toes.
Ryley stifled a laugh.
“It’s the hair, isn’t it?” Marc sounded resigned.
“It” was a combination of things—all of them an integral part of Mark, and Ryley wouldn’t have it any other way. “How come your hair didn’t turn silver when you were made a god?” he asked.
“Wisa says silver hair is a sign of wisdom and knowledge, and eventually mine’ll turn silver, too. In a few millennia or so.”
“I never knew that. Fascinating.”
“If you say so. Why do you think they favor bare feet?” He wiggled his toes again. “Why not boots? Or even sandals? I could totally rock sandals.”
“I expect it has a lot to do with them feeling more grounded—more in touch with creation—if they can feel the earth beneath their feet.”
“Ah. Logical, I guess.” Marc scrunched his eyelids half-shut and winced, hunching his shoulders. “Ouch. Someone’s not happy I’m taking so long. Better fly!” Putting actions to words, he leaped into the air and shimmered into a huge golden eagle.
The bird beat its powerful wings and swiftly gained height. Ryley shaded his eyes and watched until the eagle abruptly winked from view. Worry gnawed him. He was concerned about leaving Rowan on her own. And then there was this big “something” Marc had foreseen. Not to mention both his mother and Wisa wanted words with him, and both women were formidable. A warning to be very careful about what he revealed thrummed through his veins, and if there was one thing he’d learned since becoming Sehani it was to always heed his intuition.
He needed time to collect himself before facing anyone let alone his mother or his grandmother-slash-goddess, so as he approached the well-worn paths of the Third Settlement he wrapped himself in a “don’t take any notice of me” suggestion. It was nearing midday and most people were either heading for their homes or the communal kitchen area to prepare a midday meal. A large group of women hurried his way, chattering and gossiping. As they reached him, the group split in two and the women flowed around him without breaking stride. He grinned, smugly pleased by the subtleness of his magic.
A boy of about six approached at a run. “Hello, Sehan Ryley,” the child called out as he sped past. “Sehan Hope’s looking for you!”
“Thanks.” Ryley tugged his ear. He couldn’t figure out why young children weren’t affected by his subliminal suggestion. Perhaps it was because children resented being told what to do by adults—even subliminally. He knew from experience it didn’t work for other Sehani, either. Or his father and his sister. Although his father, Blayne, wasn’t Sehani, likely he was immune because of his deep spiritual link to his Sehani life-partner. And as for Romana….. Even if she didn’t have unusual powers of her own, and wasn’t Joined to a Sehan, Ryley suspected his sister would still be immune. Sisters never took much notice of their younger brothers’ commands.
As he neared his house he half-expected to be accosted by either his mother or Wisa the instant he set foot through the door. He was pleasantly surprised to find his dwelling empty, and that his stores of dried staples had been re-stocked in his absence.
There was nothing pressing he needed to do and waiting around for the inevitable summons would only make him more antsy. Physical activity was what he needed. Back in Seaview he’d take his Ducati for a spin and work off some energy. Unfortunately, that brought to mind vivid images of Rowan plastered against his back, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist….
He groaned. In the absence of a cold shower a dip in a pool would have to suffice.
The Third Settlement had been built to take advantage of numerous natural mineral springs throughout the area. The springs were perfectly safe to drink, however, conscious of the need to ensure their water supply was not contaminated, the settlement’s founders had allocated specific purposes to the largest springs: three for drinking-water, one for washing clothes and one for bathing, which left the other smaller springs and pools dotted throughout the area for recreational bathing. The three springs used solely as the settlement’s water supply were carefully monitored, with only one at a time designated for public use, and use being rotated at certain intervals to allow for natural cleansing and replenishment. The system worked well and thus far the springs had remained clean and pure.
Ryley didn’t wish to be disturbed so he chose a distant and unpopular bathing pool. He clambered up the steep path, fighting a way through the luxuriant growth. A supple branch he’d pushed out of his way snapped back and he rubbed the resulting scratch on his cheek. He left it to heal naturally rather than expend energy on such an insignificant wound. His body healed faster than a normal human and it’d be undetectable soon enough. He squeezed through the narrow gap between two trees and stood perfectly still for a moment, admiring Mother Nature at her most creative. Then he shucked his clothes and eased into the deep water.
The minerals in the cool depths refreshed and revitalized him. The musical trickle of water over rocks soothed his worries and soon he’d relaxed enough to close his eyes and float lazily on his back. Bliss.
“Welcome back.”
He went under and surfaced to peals of laughter. Wiping water from his eyes, he spotted the slight figure perched on a rock to one side of the pool. With her delicate beauty and smooth, pale skin, she could have been a water spirit conjured from myth and legend.
“I didn’t hear you arrive,” he said.
“I willed myself here. I could hardly manage such a steep track on my own and I didn’t fancy going to all the trouble of finding a guide.”
He snorted, not believing that claim for a second. “The truth is you enjoyed sneaking up on me and scaring me witless.”
Her sightless golden eyes gazed directly at him and a slight smile quirked her lips. They both knew that despite her blindness, she was more than capable of navigating the path to the pool without help. She had no need of mere human sight. Her world was alive with the rich colors and textures of aureyas—the psychic energy that surrounded all matter. And her other supernaturally enhanced senses more than compensated for her blindness.
She’d been a human woman from Earth, summoned to this world to save the Dayamari people from a living death. She’d been the hope and savior of an entire race and had more than lived up to her mentor’s expectations. Transformed by the living spore present in the air of this world, and gifted with a plethora of supernatural abilities, she had been the most powerful Sehan in Dayamari history until Ryley had claimed that title. Even if he did surpass her in raw power, she was far more skilled than he.
At first glance she appeared to be in her mid-twenties—of a similar age to him. But if one looked more closely one could see her golden eyes shimmered with a latent power and wisdom that suggested she’d lived far longer. She was Hope Leah Delamore, First Sehan of the Dayamari, adopted daughter of the goddess Wisa, and Ryley’s mother.
She pierced him with a glance that would have shriveled the soul of a lesser man, and Ryley knew he was in trouble. “So,” she said. “Where have you been? And don’t bother feeding me a bunch of cervida-crap. You’ve either developed a shield that resists my abilities to detect you—in which case I would like to know more. Or you were completely out of my range—in which case I would like to know exactly where you were, because you and I both know my range is considerable.”
“Can I at least get out of this pool and put on some clothes before I have to answer? It’s tiring having to tread water while you sit there and question me.”
She opened her mouth and then shut it again with an audible snap. And then she flicked an imperious hand at him.
Ryley swam to the edge of the pool and heaved himself from the water. He was about to sluice the dampness from his body with his tunic, when a tingling sensation buzzed over his bare skin and he was abruptly dry.
“Thanks.” He bent to put on his trousers. The fine hairs on the back of his neck prickled, and he knew she had extended her senses to check him over. Thoroughly. He damped his urge to slam up his shields and relaxed, allowing her power to play over him. She was his mother. Worrying about him was part of her job description.
“You’ve put on a couple of pounds and you’re edgy,” she said.
The couple of pounds was due to an Earth diet of highly refined foods but he could hardly admit that. And he was edgy because he was worried about leaving Rowan alone. “I’ve been indulging in a few too many hotcakes and syrup, and I’ve been too busy to get in any regular exercise. And I’m stressed because I know you’re worried about something. What is it?”
Her expression tightened. “Lukas reported a marked depletion in the numbers of buffalas and cervidas in and around the hunting grounds of the First Settlement. He’s worried. Something’s not right.”
Lukas was a Master Tracker, and if the various trades had followed the same convention as the healers, elders and Sehani, he would have been elected First by his peers in a heartbeat. The man had attained almost legendary status for his skills and knowledge of Dayamaria’s fauna. So if Lukas believed there was just cause to worry….
Hope slid gracefully from her perch and smoothed her dress. “Come,” she said. “Let’s head there and go find your father. He’ll be pleased to see you.”
She carefully negotiated the small rocks at the water’s edge, stepped lightly onto the water and walked across its surface until she reached the other side. She waited while he yanked on his boots before offering her arm to him. “Wherever you’ve been hiding, I’m glad you’re here, Ryley. I’ve missed you.”
He bent to kiss her cheek. “Me, too.”
Reprieved… for now. But it only delayed the inevitable. She would eventually find out where he’d been or find away to track him. He was on borrowed time.
~~~