Shining World, page 5
We gloved up, which was another thing Wozim didn’t understand. Fortunately, he humored me and respected all of the safety rules I put on the use of this area. That was how I stayed alive. Of course, when there were just Tytons in the room, that was a different story. I was afraid to allow Ryn to watch how Wozim and Chool fought. Blood and sweat flew everywhere when they got busy.
The first few rounds were quick and painless. We settled into a rhythm, and contrary to what my big, honored friend claimed, we both learned a lot. Refining our skills was worth the time, and I was glad I hadn’t made an excuse to avoid the Woz-man’s offer.
Suck-fu could be a real martial art. I was sure we could refine it and take it to the MMA championships.
I knew he had something he wanted to talk about. His concerns came out when we were nearly done.
“I am glad to be on this mission, so don’t take this the wrong way,” he said.
This was my chance to score a good hit, so I lashed out with a front kick he couldn’t expect.
And he blocked it. As a reward for my efforts, he punched me square in the face.
“My advisors convinced me that the political situation needs a cooling off period after we resolved the issues with Larzul, Cytos Den, and the Taliz leaders. They are in deep negotiations, and it seems to be going well.” He kicked my legs out from under me, then helped me up. “People I trust suggested that the king and the emperor are already jealous of me, and it would be a good time to make myself scarce.”
“They’re probably not wrong.” I attacked with a flurry of punches and kicks.
He retreated slightly, blocked or deflected everything, then threw me over his shoulder. Since he was a lot taller than me, that meant quite a trip to the mat. Air rushed out of my lungs when I landed flat.
“Thanks for listening.” He dragged me to my feet, then punched me in the chest so hard that I flew backward. “You’re a good friend.”
“It doesn’t feel like it!”
His low laugh rumbled through the room. “I am glad the political situation put me aboard Kayan. Commanding a ca-sil, or even the small part of one I brought with me this time, is exhausting. How is Ryn doing?”
“She’s smart, brave, and too clever for her own good. I saw her work Posaris over and can’t decide which of them came out ahead.”
“Explain.”
“She acted like more of a kid than she is, and he saw through it. There was some back and forth, but at the end of the exchange, I still think Ryn is more than she seems.”
Wozim thought about it as he removed his gloves and wiped the sweat from his face. That was unusual. I normally didn’t give him enough of a fight for him to perspire.
“She will be a great warrior someday if she survives and chooses her own path. There is a reason I didn’t place her with Savina or Baz or Ghanto.”
“What’s wrong with her learning from women.”
“I also avoided placing her with Chool or Ohpe or any number of other male Tyton warriors,” he said. “She started late and must do things differently. You were the best choice. Solen might have been okay, but there doesn’t seem to be the same type of connection between them. I’m counting on you to teach her the best you can. I will help with Tyton rituals, or a member of my ca-sil will step in.”
“You seem a lot more concerned about the kid than I thought.”
“My own children have thrived. But that does not mean I have been the best parent. More than anything, I believe it is my appreciation for her circumstances. She was critical to keeping us alive during the early days on Zal-tytos. We both owe her for that. The child has proven herself to be worthy of great honors.”
I looked around to make sure the kid hadn’t slipped in unannounced to hear the battle lord’s flattery. Wozim and I were alone in the training room.
“I agree with all of that, Woz. I’ll do my best.”
“What are you two talking about?” Ryn asked seconds later as she strode into the training space.
How the hell did she do that?
“We were discussing how hopeless you are and the best way to send you home,” Wozim said.
The hurt look that crossed her face proved she hadn’t been listening, but I thought she might have watched our training through trickery. A quick check with Kayan would expose the kid’s deception if there was any, though I might pretend not to have discovered her methods of spying.
My theory was quickly confirmed.
“You could do that, but then you would never know what I saw wrong with your fighting style,” she said.
“You have my complete attention.” Wozim squatted to get on her level. “Explain what I am doing wrong, apprentice.”
Ryn swallowed. Wide-eyed, clearly intimidated, she refused to back away. “You pause before you strike.”
“I do not.” Wozim’s surprise and indignation charged the air in the room.
Ryn imitated my friend’s growl, then slashed a make-believe weapon through the air. The two actions overlapped, but the kid was right. There was a microsecond of delay as the teeth-baring and guttural sounds began.
Wozim drew back, surprised. “That isn’t what I look like.”
Ryn repeated several variations of the impersonation. She danced sideways, dodging an invisible attack, growled as she turned, then retaliated. Next, she leaped into the air, screaming a war cry as she came down. Again and again, she made me laugh and Wozim scowl. He finally stood and watched her in silence. His horns were tipped downward as he furrowed his brow. The height difference really showed.
“Salute,” she said when the demonstration was over and she was covering one fist with one hand and bowing slightly.
“You can stay,” Wozim said, then didn’t move.
“Yay!” Ryn danced in a circle.
“I need to take a shower.” Kayan’s ventilation system was chilling the sweat that soaked every part of my clothing.
“No, that’s not fair,” Ryn said. “I want to beat up on you too.”
“Whatever, kid.” I left her with the Wozinator and was soon luxuriating in a constant flow of hot water and the steam that came with it. When I was cleaner than ever before, I stayed longer to be sure I had the place to myself when I left. The last thing I wanted was yet another person catching me in the gym and insisting on a workout.
Too much of a good thing could ruin my love of fitness.
Only after I had shaved, groomed, and dressed did I look toward the exit. Even then, I piddled around, checking my locker and cleaning up the sink.
And I heard laughing in the sparring room.
“Great.” I headed out to see what Wozim was telling my apprentice.
“And then he announced he was Steve and said he liked pizza.” Wozim, who was sitting on a bench, leaned forward to speak conspiratorially. “He used this silly voice, which confused everyone. Eventually, he explained it was a movie quote from a legendary drama called Multiplicity.”
“I don’t get it,” Ryn said, but she was laughing hard enough to squeeze tears from her eyes. This wasn’t the first joke Woz had made at my expense.
“Me neither, but someday, we will watch his TV shows and movies—whatever that means. Promise to pretend to laugh. We don’t want to hurt his feelings. Oh, there you are, Noah. I thought you might have fallen down in that shower.”
“Ha, ha, ha. You’re a hoot.”
“I want to hoot,” Ryn said, jumping to her feet. “Wozim says I can be your apprentice forever.”
“Ryn,” Wozim said, his stern tone full of warning.
“Okay, not forever. Just until both of us are adequate fighters.”
“You are complimentary today for someone who growls when he fights,” I said.
We bantered back and forth until Wozim headed for other duties. Ryn walked with me and studied lessons on a tablet. I wasn’t sure where I was heading but didn’t want to ditch the kid right away.
“Have you seen Scratch?”
“He’s been sleeping a lot lately,” Ryn said. “I think he ate something big and needs to digest it.”
“I’m afraid to ask how you know about his eating habits.”
“He tells me stuff.”
“Okay, Ryn. You’re fluent in Qurk now. I’ll remember that.”
She shrugged.
“Are you busy, Noah?” Kayan asked politely.
“No. What’s up?”
“I am worried about Posaris. He has been staring at the stars from an observation pod. Just when I think he is done, he merely transfers to a new pod and starts over.”
I changed course.
“Where are we going?” Ryn asked. “Is the ship talking to you? I couldn’t hear all of that.”
“Observation pods,” I said. “Our guest has been in one for a long time, and Kayan is worried about him.”
“Oh. That’s nice, I guess. She really does watch over everyone.”
We walked in silence. I understood why Kayan had only informed me of her concern. She didn’t want to worry the kid, and to a lesser degree, she was worried about the young Gavant man’s privacy.
Ryn was lost in thought, and I couldn’t decide if she was bothered or just waiting to see how I handled the situation. It occurred to me that the even younger Tyton could miss her family and her home more intensely despite her tough kid act. I made a note to pay attention and not take her happiness for granted.
“I like the pods,” Ryn said when we started exploring them.
“He left before you arrived, Noah.”
“Which way did he go?”
“To his quarters,” the ship said. “I believe he is finally sleeping. There have not been many Gavant aboard—none since the Kilis family. I understand their moods least of all.”
“Keep me updated,” I said. “If something is bothering the guy, I want to deal with it before things get out of hand.” My other worry was that the man was trying to spy on crew members or plot sabotage. The pods could be configured to see one another. Might he have tried to watch someone else from the observation window?
I was as suspicious as Solen.
“Let’s get something to eat, kid.”
“Okay. Are you going to feed everyone?”
“Probably.”
“You look tired.”
“I am. Leana and Wozim kicked my ass.”
“That isn’t what I meant, but whatever. Tell me what to do when we get to the kitchen, and I’ll be your best helper.”
4
Our arrival in the Glemdanogis system stunned everyone on the bridge. There was only one planet with a significant population, but space stations, mining depots, and transportation hubs were everywhere. All of it shone with the brilliance of the people who thrived in many environments. Their style was elegant and complex, and their technology was dazzling.
“I never believed the tales of this place,” Wozim said.
I gazed around the bridge and saw that everyone was impressed. Ryn had forgotten how to blink. She leaned toward the main holo display like it might be a portal to take her to the surface of Leana’s homeworld. Entranced wasn’t a strong enough word to describe the kid. Her life had just been changed by the sight of Leana’s star system.
“Are all new star systems like this?” she asked.
“Pretty much, kid.” I could have clarified that the shining worlds of the Glemdanogis star had been made into something extraordinary, but the truth was, entering a new system always took my breath away. I hoped she would keep her youthful appreciation of new and wondrous places.
Montow was nearly in tears at the structural organization of each location Kayan showed us. He marveled at the spaceports, mining operations, and shipyards. As a race of engineers and builders, his people were made to appreciate the rational elegance found here.
“We will need an extra day at the Oort fields before moving sunward,” Kayan said. “I will need more time to analyze the flow of traffic here, and replenishing my fuel storage seems like a good idea.”
“Excellent, Kayan. Thanks for bringing us here,” I said, then stood near Leana and did not interrupt her moment. Her expression was full of gratitude and wonder. It was a uniquely Gleam posture, and I thought she sparkled a tiny bit brighter.
When Montow and the others eventually went back to work, she looked at me and smiled.
“This will not be easy, Noah.”
“Homecomings never are.”
Nineteen days later, Kayan orbited Glemdanogis in a space the local government had cleared for her. Leana explained it was a sign of respect. Not much was known about the leviathans in this sector, and they weren’t part of their ancient lore or stories. Even so, there wasn’t a Gleam in the system who didn’t respect leviathans like Kayan.
I added a thirty-minute sauna to my post-exercise routine, then showered, dressed, and headed to the main deck to receive visitors. Today was the big day. Leana wouldn’t explain what had rendered her silent and moody at the last minute. I suspected she was about to reunite with someone from her past, and that was never easy.
The landing zone was busier than expected. Chool had assembled a complete file of Tyton VIII warriors to greet a large contingent of locals. There were men, women, and children. The strangest part was that the kids seemed to be the most serious participants in this ritual.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” I asked.
Kayan responded as I strode toward the event. “It was very last-minute. We are about to learn a great deal about Leana’s people.”
“You don’t know them?”
“I have not been to a Gleam world, though I have transported several of them, each for a unique and fascinating reason. Please stand by while I gather information from the boarding manifest they submitted.” Kayan highlighted three individuals in my vision.
She had continued to improve our interface since saving me from the void. It was great to be home. What a thought. The living starship was my friend, my sanctuary, and part of me. Home.
“That is Mikol, Wilonia, and Harriez,” Kayan said. “I will provide their full names and numerical signifiers for you to access, much as I did Leana when she first became part of our lives.”
I glanced at the names. “Wow. That’s a lot of letters and numbers.” My eyes went back to the individuals in question. “Please tell me this trio of wonderful people is not going to be a huge pain in the ass.”
Silence.
“Kayan?”
“You made no inquiry but merely placed an unrealistic burden on me with that request. Should I start lying to you?”
“No way,” I said. “We’re sharing the same brain space, some of the time at least. I don’t think that would be a good idea. Drive us both crazy.” My eyes tracked the differences in the three Gleams. They stood ahead of two score of others and seemed to be the purpose of all of the pomp and ceremony.
“No one loves a mentally broken leviathan,” Kayan said and sounded sad.
I didn’t like that and wanted to scrap the day’s events to attend to my friend and symbiont. The biomatter we shared thrummed. Energy, not all of it good, surged through my nervous system. At that moment, my blood was Kayans, and hers was mine.
“I am well. Do not trouble yourself.” She paused. “Our time together has been a blessing. I wish that it could last forever. When I think of this, my human emotions rise to the surface.”
The ship was more worried about my mortality than I was. She would outlive me by centuries, maybe eons. “Thanks, Kayan.”
What else could I say? I made a note to check on the ship more often and spend some time just hanging out with her and being present.
Leana joined me, and it looked like the last thing she wanted to do was talk to the delegation. She eyed the man and two women who were front and center and who radiated confidence.
“Mikol, Wilonia, and Harriez—three regulators.”
“I’m betting that means something unpleasant,” I said.
She struggled with my language and glanced toward the ceiling several times as she worked through better translations in her language, mine, Tyton, Altion, and even a bit of Taliz. I watched her lips move to form the words but not really say them. She knew these were my strongest tongues, with or without Kayan’s help.
“Wozim would call them honor guards. Solen would refer to them as shepherds. Taliz would name them wardens. I think, but I am not sure, you would describe them as tour guides and parole officers, but with rock star status.”
“Wow, that’s quite a combination.”
Wozim joined us. “What is wrong? Should I order Chool to drive them from Kayan’s landing bay?”
I looked toward Leana, passing the decision to her.
She clenched her jaw as she studied the regulators, then gave a minuscule shake of her head. “No. That will make it worse. Maybe I can charm them.” Her bright and happy self appeared as though by magic. “Let’s treat them as our honor guard.”
“Aren’t they just visiting?” I asked.
“The regulators will remain at our sides every moment we spend on the planet,” Leana said.
Solen, Grum, and Hash were gathered around now. I searched for Ryn and Scratch but couldn’t find them.
“Kayan, where is the kid?”
“Sleeping. Scratch is curled up around the foot of her pod chair.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I believe she is having a growth spurt. Wozim assures me it is normal and will be a huge drain on her. She will be very hungry.”
“When she wakes up?” I asked.
“All the time,” Kayan said. “I have compiled a list of foods that best serve Tyton’s needs and included them in your cookbook with full recipes. Be prepared to share your snacks.”
“Thanks.”
The Gleam delegation shifted as the three regulators strode toward Leana. I stayed at the side of my Gleam friend. Hash, who had spent the most time with Leana while I was running around on Zal-tytos, remained on the other side of her. He was well-groomed and regal today. His cat’s eyes shone bright, and his thick, heavy mane hung down around his shoulders and onto his back.
