Chapter 5

2175, Moorem Bay, Kahje

"So Uncle Cartira did not like Uncle Tetonbaum?"

"Not….initially," Irikah tapped her index finger on her gold chin….She adjusted her seat on the bed.

"He was upset about his birth?"

"Uncle Cartira has always been able to put aside small trivialities to see that the family name prospers."

"He didn't like Tetonbaum though."

"It was hard on Cartira to accept what he learned that night….even though Casnar had warned us," her eyes fell in thought, "….My mother had the 'sickness' you know of—and fret me with, Kolyat," her eyes lifted to his as he lay on his pillow, listening, "….At times, my mother's sickness left my father feeling very alone….and a drell has needs," she rotated her wrist in a clockwise, delicate, whimsical dismiss, twiddling her fingers as though waving away something on her golden tips, "….My father took many Drellahnas to his loins, but only this one—Nonchalana ( "No One" )—did he favor enough to let Tetonbaum live when she bore him."

"What was her name again—'Nonchalana'?"

"Yes," Irikah winced her eyes happily, "….My brothers spoke of Nonchalana for days afterwards," she nodded and hummed, "….I think Cartira and Casnar had crushes on her, though Cartira disliked her openly….but Nonchalana was very beautiful, and Tetonbaum had her eyes, her mouth, her crests—which were wavy, and she was tall….but Tetonbaum looked so much like Papua, too….only Tetonbaum was kind outright, and always so happy," her voice softened to a wistful whisper, "….even when sad times came, and Tetonbaum had to suffer much, he would always have a smile to share….It was good that Nonchalana brought him into the world—against my father's wishes, yes—but she suffered a great cost for doing so."

"What happened to her?"

"Th'anes on Rakhana," she hesitated, "….When a th'ane becomes a master of his teachings, he must choose either the Terje Tierrea, to always uphold, or his Rakhïk 'roots'—family in other words, if any still existed….A th'ane who chose his roots would be released from Merce'des, but then he would be hunted and slain by his fellow Th'anes….and if he chose the Terje Tierrea, he would have to 'rip up' the roots to vow his uncompromising fealty to the system."

"Oh….and Uncle Tetonbaum became a th'ane….That's….Mamua, if I had to choose, I would choose you…." She gave him a soft smile….In it, sadness.

"That heartens me."

"Can I hear another story, or what happened after you met Tetonbaum and Nonchalana?"

"No more tonight, Kolyat, but tomorrow night….Sleep now."

"Aah…." Kolyat rolled onto his side, and Irikah tucked his covers around him.

"Goodnight, 'Young Th'ane of Merce'des'," she kissed his brow scales, smiling as he chuckled, "….I love you…." Kolyat smiled sleepily at her before he closed his eyes.

The light off by her hand, she left to the hall and living room….Irikah passed through the hallway and returned to the couch, picking up her book to sit down with.

Knock….Her face turned to the main door….She stood still.

Knock….The sound was gentle, but made her blood cold. Could it be Thane?….Would he return like this, maybe because of Kolyat—Has he had a reminder he forgot to leave Kolyat the note he was expecting?

She doubted it….Knock.

She walked over to the door—Beside the frame was a flip-up panel, and inside this cover, once she had moved it up with her hand, was a screen that connected to a camera over the door, outside….A control pad for accessing the camera, as well as to communicate with visitors by mic, was available for her to use and it glowed under the display screen above it….Irikah turned on the display screen, and accessed the camera.

She expected to see someone standing outside the door, and she saw what she expected….but had no idea who it was….He did not appear to be in any hurry….There he was, clothed darkly and waiting outside her door, under the eaves, just out of reach of the rain….He was expecting someone to answer his knocks….He did not make any indication that he was about to leave….Through the black and white, she could see his clothes looked fine, the colors were dark on his crests, and the eyes tinted—an indication to her that he was at least Kahjic.

She waited to see what he would do….Go….away.

She turned when she saw him still standing there, and Irikah saw the lights on in her home….It's late, she went to turn off some of the lights, ….He knows somebody's home anyways….She started to grow angered….How dare he come to our home this late at night!….And then she considered something that made her stomach twist tight—What with Thane's recent mission as a "freelancer", what if something should have happened to him?….Could this Drell outside know something about her husband?

Erring back and forth over what to do with this thought in mind, the comm-line of the cotti blipped for attention….Irikah went to pick up the speaker piece, but stopped with her hand just over the round contours of the handheld, the device blipping again, and she withdrew her hand, backing towards the door….The comm-line continued to blip….Between another knock on the cotti door and her son's opening up his room to ask her what was happening, the blips ceased. She went to the hall to check on her son.

"Mamua, is someone at the door?…." His eyes were wide and alert.

"Stay in here, Kolyat, and don't go to the window."

"Mamua, who is it?"

"I don't know."

"Could it be those Drells from the restaurant?"

"I don't think so."

But apparently someone was outside, waiting.…The comm-line blipped once more, and Irikah turned to the sound.

Urging Kolyat back into his bed and making sure he would not leave it, she left his boudicea, went down the hall and into the living room towards the communication set-top on the table….She did not answer it, however, and her hesitation allowed her to go to the screen once more to check on their doorway's threshold.

Despite the rain coming down heavier with another "exhalation" forced from the clouds, the drell was standing outside.

Irikah backed away from the screen and went to the communication set to stare at it, blipping ever on….Her fingers curved around the handle's contours.

She touched it.

More hesitation.

Knock.

"Why are they so persistent?…." She paced back to the screen.

Bliiip.

As she suspected, she did not see the drell outside using anything to be calling her home line….There had to be another with him, out of sight, and they were working together….Irikah could feel her temper heating….She paced back to the communication set, sitting at the end of the living room table.

She waited for it to end.

The blips sounded no more.

Knock….Bliiip, the comm-line started up again.

"Oh, you're doing it on purpose…." Irikah's anger spiked at the deliberate abuse of their sense of peace. She heard Kolyat slip out of his bed and move across his boudicea to open his door again….She went to the hall to see him peering out from his doorway, "….Kolyat," summoning her voice of strength, she went to the communication set, furious with who was taunting her and her son, grasped the handheld, and answered the call, "….Stop—whatever—whoever you are, I am not taking calls at this hour."

"Siha, there is an associate of the employer I am running an errand for outside the cotti," it was Thane's voice on the line, and he sounded urgent.

"Thane….Thank Mithra, it's you….I thought you said you would not call—Is everything—"

"Siha."

She was suspicious, however, and tested him, "….Thane, when we eloped….what did I give you as a gift?"

"In '66, you gave me your mitan'roun from your dowry."

She sighed with relief, closing her eyes as she pressed the handheld to her teness, "….Thane, why—Thank Mithra you are the one calling—why is there someone outside our cotti, frightening Kolyat, and incensing me!" Clearly, her tone was a little harsh and angry.

"I cannot speak long, Siha….They need to speak to you….Answer the associate honestly….I have to go, but it will be safe to open the door, and no harm will come to either you or Kolyat, or me for this matter….Goodbye, Siha," and with some hesitation, "….Ar'avaya ( Farewell )." Thane rarely spoke in Rakhïk to her, and Irikah heard the line cut off, leaving her to decide whether or not to have faith in his instructions, and follow these.

Casnar would be irate if he knew what was about to happen….She replaced the handheld on its holder and went to the door, but Kolyat had come from his room at hearing her repeat his father's name, "….Kolyat, go to your room and stay in there, don't come out and keep the door closed….I'm letting someone in—That was your father on the call, commea ( understand )?" Obediently, Kolyat did as she instructed and closed the door, "….Keep that door closed," she heard another infuriating knock.

When she was sure the door was closed to his boudicea, and listened to hear whether Kolyat would try to sneak it open—he did not—Irikah went to the entry's display screen and checked it again….The drell still outside….Irikah unlocked the door's mechanisms, "….What do you want," as she looked out at him from opening the door, a flash of lightning cut through the sky in the distance, over the trees—silent because that section of the storm was so far off, and no thunder was audible….The lightning was interrupted by his stark figure standing in the doorway of the entrance….His eyes had already settled on hers.

"Hello, Nefen Krios," Irikah realized, that on her doorstep was an Old World drell, "….sorry to disturb you late this evening….No doubt your son has been wakened by—"

"Don't speak to me about my son," her tebris lifted in warning, "….unless he is among these questions I anticipate you asking….Tell me first if my husband is safe….Not that I place any trust in a stranger's words, especially one who comes knocking at my door in the middle of a storm at night, and speaks Rakhïk salutories….After that, you may ask me your questions…." His coat was dripping with rain, what blew in sideways under the awning and spattered his shoes, and his gray and green face looked into the cotti rooms beyond her shoulder, then back to Irikah….She took the hint, "….Take off your shoes, and leave them beside the door….As for your coat, hang it on the rack here…." She stepped backwards, out of the doorway to let him come inside, and the drell followed her, stepping over the threshold….The door closed behind him, and they were alone together….He remained at the entrance, however, and moved no farther inward.

He removed his jacket, keeping his eyes on her, and Irikah could see his hands—very large hands—These remained covered in dark-brown gloves….He kept the gloves on, and once the jacket was removed, he offered the wet article to her, "….If you would hang this for me while I remove my shoes."

Irikah gave him an offended look, but relented and took the coat from him—she felt it heavy—and she could not help giving it a scrutiny with her eyes, "….This is Antiguenai leather," she proceeded to hang over not one but two hooks the coat on the rack close to the door, while he stooped and raised one foot, balancing on the other leg to remove his wet shoe.

"Yes, that is very aware of you," he removed the shoe and set it down on the floor by the doorframe, then balanced on his leg with the un-shoed foot to remove his opposite, "….You know your fabrics."

"My family knows textiles, for we live and trade among the upper Birutise'aha, Rakhana," she glanced at him to see whether this sparked some recognition, "….and Karmuta is Nualavera's neighbor….Thank you," she stubbornly showed some gratitude for his compliance with her demand of the shoes and coat off his person….His compliance merited perhaps some good "hostessing" of this stranger to her home, "….Would you like something to drink."

"No, thank you, and I am aware of Nualavera and Karmuta, as well as each's significance to the Birutise'aha," he straightened to his tall height and smiled at her placatingly, "….Nefen Krios," his shoes were side by side on the floor, "….you likely have been contacted by your husband," Irikah glanced at the dark liners on his feet and ankles as he stood on the polished floorspace before the entrance, "….To answer your first question," his gaze was dark and somber, "….your husband is in good health….As he left you this early afternoon, he is now….As for the reason of my visit, what I have come here to express of my colleagues' desires is for you to answer a few questions….Your husband might have expressed this?"

"He mentioned such," she nodded.

He smiled all the more, "….Then we should start and not keep you longer….Do you know the name of your husband's current employer."

She stared unblinkingly at him, "….No."

"Has your husband spoken of where he has had to go this day."

"No."

The drell nodded, seemingly pleased, "….Has your husband been in contact with any guests to your cotti since three days ago."

"I've been here the whole time—I have not seen anyone come to visit him."

"Are you intimate with your husband."

"That's not your—" He raised his hand from the other held over the front of his waist.

"I advise you, Nefen, only answer the question….You are testing for his sake….The question will go no further, and you may say Yes or No, with whatever brief example you feel safe to share….Be honest."

Her tebris rustled with indignity, "….We have a son, and yes, we are 'intimate'….Today we kissed before he left for you and your employer….Enough?"

His grin wasn't entirely mocking, but she wasn't sure….yet. Irikah looked away, embarrassed and offended by the question, and perhaps this was why he was grinning.

"Do you want to know who we are, Nefen."

"I want you to leave soon, so do I attain that end faster if I ask you who you and your cohorts are?"

"No," his grin lingered, "….and I will take that as your decline."

"Good, because I don't."

"I realize this must be alarming, Nefen—"

"I am from Nualavera, and my family utilizes Th'anes….I am not unfamiliar with strangers coming and going at odd hours of the night, Sered….so you will please spare me the patronization, and get through your questions….My son," she tossed her crests behind her, "….is concerned, and he needs sleep for his classes tomorrow…." The drell gazed at her in silence.

"We have recently hired your husband for work with our contacts, Nefen….This is standard procedure, to learn if Thane Krios, son of Reule Krios, is a dishonest or 'honest' drell, Nefen Soterios-Sousan….You and your son will be covered by our 'insurance' should anything happen to your husband while an employee of Lan'Apostylia ( The Apostles ), Nefen.…If you should have any problems while he is unable to provide for you, and Sered Krios, Aubienna ( Younger )," the faint pupils behind his tints lifted behind her to the hallway, wherein lay Kolyat's boudicea, the door still closed, "….you need only put out a cloth over your doorway's eaves, and you will be assisted."

"What," her eyelids fluttered with a daintiness, her lips slightly parted as she gazed at him with mock incredulity—a complete mischief, "….The Apostles have no use for technology?….These days we use handhelds and omnicuffs to call for help."

"I can tap your lines, or put cameras in your windows if you prefer to be observed….Nefen."

He gave her a grin.…Irikah caught the suggestion in that grin, and he being an attractive drell was enough to make her tebris lift—She flattened it immediately, and fumed at what he had done, "….That will do—The 'cloth over the doorway eaves', I meant," she looked away in fury….The drell's smile was all laughter.

"My name is Roun Kryous….but I am not related to your husband, Nefen."

"Roun?…." She spared a look at him from the turn of her face.

"It is my name," he lifted his chin, and exposed to her a vivid green tebris, "….Others know me by different names, but you will know me by my name, Nefen….As said, your cotti will be watched, but not your privacy….That is all I have come to say this evening….I will leave now….if you have no more demands?"

A brittle reply waited for him, "….There's the door."

He put his shoes back on his feet….When he was done, he made a gesture towards his coat….Irikah was only too happy to get it for him….She nearly tossed it into his hands.

"Have a restful night, Nefen."

"Goodnight to you," he put his arms through the sleeves of his coat as she watched, then he turned to the door, "….Tell your colleagues not to mess with my husband."

He glanced at her over the reinforced padding of his coat's shoulder, "….Nefen, all will be fair….Take care…." The door opened, and he went out into the rain.

Irikah watched his form darken into a shadow among the night outside, and then nothing was seen of him….A few seconds later, as the door was closing she saw lights flicker on in the distance, brighten before fading away into night, leaving nothing, it seemed, behind.