Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
I’m actually looking forward to settling into life with Rem’eb down in the warm caverns, even if we don’t know exactly how we’ll be received just yet. I’m going to look at it positively, I decide, and ignore the whole “kidnapping” thing for now.
We sit around the fire in my hut and share bowls of mussels, passing them around so everyone can have as many as they like.
“You do not have to go back with us,” Rem’eb tells them once he announces that we are returning to the people below. “But I feel obligated to my father and those that remain below. And Tia will return with me. We will take down the wall that separates the women from the men. After seeing how they are here in this village, our way of life seems more wrong than ever before.”
“I will go with you,” Noj’me the Attendant says, a bowl of shellfish in her lap. “The people will need the Oracle more now than ever before, especially now that I have all of the Oracle’s words in my head. But do you plan on sneaking away from the camp?”
“Not at all,” I say. “I’m going to talk to Liz and Raahosh and the rest of the group in the morning. They deserve to know that the ancestors are going to be aware of where they’re at. It’s my hope that we’re going to establish peace between our peoples and a way to share information and food. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing for any of us.”
“I agree,” Noj’me says brightly, eating another mussel. “I think we should invite more of the above peoples to go with us, so they will be seen as friends and not strangers. It can be a short visit, but I think it would be beneficial to all of our people.”
“I’m not sure anyone is going to want to go with us,” I admit, looking over at Rem’eb. “So many have small children here and won’t want to leave them behind. I’m guessing they won’t want to take them with us, either.”
“It hurts nothing to ask,” continues Noj’me, her expression cheerful but stubborn, her mind made up. “What of you, Set’nef the Wanderer? And Tal’nef the Swiftest. Will you return?”
The brothers exchange a long glance.
“I am not ready to return,” admits Set’nef. “I have only seen a fraction of the above. I would yet see more before I am satisfied.”
Tal’nef gazes thoughtfully at his brother. “And I will remain at his side, as family should.”
I don’t point out that he looks less thrilled at the prospect. That’s between Tal’nef and his brother. I offer my mate one of my mussels and he gives me an adoring look, leaning down to brush his lips over the top of my head. “I am worried we will have a fight trying to change the minds of those that like how things are, but we must try.”
“I think you will have less of a fight than you realize,” Tal’nef says. “Just because something is a rule does not mean it is popular. Your father will be the one with the most objections.”
Rem’eb’s expression is determined. “I can handle my father.”
The next morning, I speak to Liz and Raahosh over breakfast and tell them my plan. They think I need to address everyone, and so we spread the word around camp. By the time dinner rolls around, everyone is back at the camp for an announcement, and I tell the gathered people of our plan to return to his people and establish trade between our two groups.
“We would love if more people would come with us so we can show them that we’re friendly and normal and mean no harm,” I say, even as I watch R’jaal protectively put an arm around Rosalind’s shoulders. I can check them off the “maybe” list for sure, not that I blame him.
Lauren looks at her mate, who has their son in his lap. He nods at her and she raises her hand. “We’ll go. K’then’s old enough to travel a bit and I wouldn’t mind warmth for a while.” She gestures at the thick, furry collar around her throat, which moves. “Kki is getting older and he could probably use the break from the chill.”
Right. Because K’thar has a bat-winged pet that has no fur and spends most of his time cuddled up with someone else for warmth. It makes sense that they’d want to check out the warmth of the city below.
“We will go, too,” says one of the new clone women. Her name is Vivi and she’s resonated to the part-lizard gladiator.
“You will?” I say, surprised.
“It is warm below, right?” She glances at her mate and then back at me. “I want to stay there during the upcoming brutal season, then. I don’t like the cold.”