Book 5

Siha: Rise of Rakhana

Part III

"Silver and Fire"


Bright spotlights deck the dance hall, stairs leading down to a full dance floor. Bodies winding and writhing on the platforms adorning the club's interior of partying. Loud music.

"This is where we're supposed to meet her?" Casnar says aloud as is necessary for Feron, Braith, Tetonbaum and Zaeed to hear him, coming through the entrance behind, "…Some nightclub on Omega?"

"I dunno. I jus' bring yous here," Zaeed says and looks over at the dancer on the nearest platform, "…I think I'm gonna wait over there a while," dropping his hands from his belt, he strides over to take a seat at a nearby table and watch the performance.

Braith looks away from Zaeed at the club, her skin lit yellow from underneath by the glow-floor they're standing upon, "…Everyone stay focused. Ylyssus holed up with the twins back on the Sigourney makes me nervous," she looks at the others, "…You didn't all have to come."

Casnar, Feron, and Tetonbaum all rub their necks, jaws, or crests uneasily.


Back on the Sigourney, Ylyssus sits across from Davied, both playing with the wakened children.

( "The one with green eyes should be Casnar's," ) Davied says in Rakhïken, pleased to use the old language and speak in private. He holds Jaspin at arms' length, ( "…Who has green eyes in your family?" ) He glances at Ylyssus, trying to feed Jenner a spoonful of something edible they found in the crew's food storage.

( "My relatives…Apparently the eyes skip a generation, but Braith says Jaspin is mine and I believe her." )

( "Would she lie to you?" )

( "…No," ) Ylyssus hesitates, ( "…I don't think so…Why would you ask? You know her as well as I do." )

Davied rolls his eyes and lowers Jaspin to let the twin go over to take the spoon from his father in front of Jenner and apply a lick with his adventurous tongue, ( "…Yummy, Daddy." )

The pair stare at Jaspin in unison, ( "…Do you teach them to speak the old world languages?" ) Davied asks.

( "Not really," ) Ylyssus replies, awed once again by his and Braith's child, ( "…Could be a morthwyl phenomenon…They inherit the past so to speak…We'll have to talk to Braith." )


Tetonbaum's jaw is lit aglow underneath, his golden tebris catching the flashing neon lights as he checks their flanks, then looks across the bar. Braith is seated with Casnar and Feron, the former enjoying himself while Feron has his back to them and seems to be searching for something.

Casnar happens to pour his cup of whatever he's ordered into Braith's glass.

Tetonbaum heads over.

Casnar confronts the th'ane suddenly next to him, "…What are you doing here," he glares at Tetonbaum, staring back at him and the cup.

"Are you serving her alcohol while she is pregnant," Tetonbaum asks, Braith now conversing with Feron.

Casnar scowls, "…It's water, relax. I've tasted it to be sure it's clean," he looks to Braith and ignores Tetonbaum who turns and scans about again, tense and unhappy.

His conversation earlier with Braith has him confused, something very non-th'anelike. If this all were a pathway in the shard that had not yet happened…

A hand leaves his shoulder and Tetonbaum turns to find a blue face gazing back at him, the eyes purple, the crests tapered in the manner of an asari frill, "…Want to dance?"

Not bothering a glance at the provocative nightwear she is in, "…No. I am—" Another hand on his arm.

It is Braith's.

"He's with us," she says, "…And if you want to push it, I know his wife…I'm not supposed to let him dance with anyone besides me."

The asari straightens a little when she sees Braith, turns away and walks the stairs down to the dance floor.

Tetonbaum looks from her departure to Braith...She, Casnar, and Feron are watching. "Careful with the asari around here," Braith warns him, "…They can be more than what they seem, Tetonbaum…You alright?"

"She asked if I wanted to dance. A common question I have encountered since leaving Rakhana…with Kasumi."

Braith glances at Casnar and smiles, "…Are you as good as he is?" she asks Tetonbaum.

The th'ane allows a demure smile, "…Better."

Braith chuckles as Casnar hoffs and Feron grins across the bar, "…Show me," she stands and sidles away from the seat, checking with Casnar to see he is comfortable.

"No sex on the dance floor," he kisses her cheek and Braith turns to Tetonbaum.

"You look like you need to relax…Come relax with me." She takes his hand.