Fall

Piper

When it appeared no fera would be spying on them, the windows were opened once more, and Piper was allowed outside.

She sat on a fallen log next to the cabin, head resting on her hands. This wasn’t how I expected it to go at all.

Reine was chewing on a hunk of meat the Glassings had given her. But you’re reunited.

Piper watched Grace and Cedric tend the forest of faux-vitrum around them. They danced around each other and the plants with practiced ease. Grace’s dove rested on Silas the fox’s back, cooing every now and then to her human.

The tiger-boy followed their path until he got bored, then joined Piper on the log. He sighed something in Seinish, then repeated himself when Piper gave him a raised eyebrow.

“I thought I was an only child until recently,” he murmured in Elben.

They sat in awkward silence, letting it stew and thicken until Piper stirred it.

“How do you know Elben, but not Kinnish?” she said.

“It’s what I was taught.” The tiger-boy shrugged. “But I think I could learn Kinnish.” He ruffled the ears of his fera.

Piper scratched her head in embarrassment. “You know, I never even got your name.”

The tiger-boy grimaced. “Introverts aren’t good at introductions. Mom and Dad are no exception.” He offered his hand. “Remi Glassing. And this is Otis.”

The tiger perked his ears at his name, then blinked at Piper.

“Nice to meet you,” she laughed.

Otis gave a yawn. Remi translated, “He says you’ll do.”

“For what?” Piper said.

“A sister,” Remi mumbled.

“Oh.” Piper nodded to the tiger. “Well thanks.”

What would he do if you weren’t approved? Reine mused.

There seemed a strong connection between Remi and Otis. Something as subtle and flowing as water currents. It was if they were tied by not a string of thoughts, but a coiled, knotted rope. Piper had only been bonded to Reine a year, and yet she felt as if they knew everything about each other and more. But for those who were bonded at a younger age, they had that much of a head start on them. More time to grow, to learn about fera.

It made Piper feel childish next to her younger brother. She coughed. “So, when did you bond?”

Remi’s eyes were on the vitrum vine near them. “I was six or seven. Mom said every year on my birthday they would take me out to see if I liked any animals. Snake coves, bird nests, and marsh rabbit warrens were common spots we looked.”

Sounds safe enough, Reine thought. She sent an image of a toddler reaching for a small adder.

“And my Dad one year found a tiger den, and there were cubs in it.” Remi gave a little smile. “They had Tennyson and Taft smuggle me up there because it was so dangerous. The mother could have come back at any moment. But she didn’t when we were there, and this one decided he was ready to bond.” He pat Otis’s head, and the tiger flicked an ear back at him.

“Wow, that’s pretty great.” Piper imagined the joy of that moment.

Remi turned back to them. “What about you?”

“Oh. Well, Reine came from a fera dealer in the West.” Piper chose her words carefully. “I… kind of stole her from the place, and we were caught.” She continued hesitantly when Remi’s face rounded in surprise. “And we were able to get through that thanks to my caretaker, Lucy.”

“The Guardian?” said Remi.

Piper winced. “Yeah.”

Remi let his fingers mesh, then untangle. “Was she nice?”

She thought for a moment. “Yes.” Lucy had been more family than the Glassings.

Until she tried to sell us, Reine thought.

Finch came out of the vitrum tunnel leading to the outside world. He rubbed his eyes. “It’s so bright all the time. I’m surprised you guys aren’t blind.”

“What did he say?” Remi asked. Finch had spoken in Kinnish.

“Finch, everyone here can understand Elben,” Piper said. “It would be best to use that.”

“What if one of those… spy fera hear it?” Finch said. He had reluctantly switched to Elben.

Remi looked to Finch. “They know we know Elben. In the West, my parents had to deal with it frequently. Then they just passed it to me. There’s no harm in it.”

“I’m doubtful they let that slide,” Finch muttered.

“The East is a snail. Hard on the outside, but softer inside.” Remi picked up a rock and started chipping at it with another. “If they had as many regulations in the jungle, you would not be here.”

Piper swallowed.

Finch shifted his feet. “Okay then.” He motioned to Piper. “Do you have a minute?”

When she glanced at Remi, he nodded. “Yeah.”

She rose with Reine, and followed Finch to the mouth of the clear tunnel. He immediately spoke in a hushed Kinnish to cut off Remi. “You know, I think Tennyson was right on his hunch. Besides that one encounter we had with the patrol, the Seinish have been hiding.”

“Or moved…” Piper started to form a fuzzy map of the situation. “Do you think—“

“That they’re getting ready for something. A fight, or maybe they’re going to attack Elbe again. I don’t know. But we need to find out.” Finch craned his head up, and sighed. “And you have your little family reunion here. I don’t imagine you’d be willing to leave them so soon.”

Piper bit her lip. The Glassings were a bit detached, but they were still her kin. She needed to give them a chance before running away. “Yes, I have to stay.”

“Okay. Then I’m going to take the rest of our supplies, and see if I can catch up to Tennyson and Taft.” Piper saw he had already made up his mind about this; the pack on his back was lumped with provisions.

“Do you need any food?” she said. “We had nothing when we got here.”

Finch grinned. “I borrowed some stuff from your parents’ cupboards. Tell them I said thanks.”

Birdbrain had foresight, Reine growled. Something I agree with.

Piper shook her head. “When will you be back?”

“Two, three days? Hard to say.” Finch fidgeted nervously. Piper could tell he wanted to be off.

“Stay safe,” she said.

He gave her an odd look. “I’m not sure that’s an option right now.”

The red blur of Chip through glass leaves was the last glimpse she saw of them.

Atlas

The stiffness of formality was thrown off once everyone was introduced.

Sixteen Southern mayors and a dozen Northern officials surrounded a vitrum table. A map was centered on the glass, depicting their current standings all too clearly. There were no certain advantages for them with the flatness of the West for their battleground, while the East-West could retreat into the jungle.

The East-West had cover. They had resources at their back. They had time, like a cat playing with a mouse. And the North had light feet to act when they did. The unspoken question was, How did we get here? What had lured the turtle from its shell?

The group looked to Kane and Donovan, but Atlas could tell they were struggling to keep a strong façade as the hours ground out. They reinforced the trench running along their boundary line, and finished it in half the time with the South’s help. Spikes pointed up like jagged teeth against the East-West, and a plated wall of shields strengthened it.

But they all knew it wasn’t enough.

“What are they waiting for?” Thorn said at the table. “It’s been two days. They know we are on your side.”

Atlas translated Thorn’s Chestic for the Northern ears. He added, “It does seem strange that they’re just sitting there. There hasn’t even been a messenger from them.”

“I assume it’s because both our names and intentions are known,” Donovan said dryly.

The other mayors piped up after Thorn, agreeing to that the stagnant armies were unsettling. If they fled, it could trigger the East-West. If they stayed, it would happen anyway.

Kane pulled at the collar of his coat. “It gives us time to wait as well. King Asher wrote back to our request, and Cooper is on his way to our position.”

“What if they attack us before Cooper comes? What if they attack Cooper?” a ranked soldier asked. Milla murmured his question in Chestic for the mayors.

At this, Kane allowed his features to relax. “Let them attack Cooper. He’s a force to be reckoned with, and that’s why he’s coming to help us.”

After the impromptu war meeting, Atlas walked with his son along the perimeter of the Northern and Southern camps. Hudson and Flint walked behind them, and Kane’s triple guard acted as a coattail.

“You’re getting better at this,” Atlas said.

“Lying?” Kane said. “Or faking a smile in front of angry people?”

“Asher had to go through this same process, but faster. He had to be king, not just prince. There were must larger stresses he had to endure. He was going to be overthrown.”

Kane laughed. “That might not be such a bad thing.”

Better Charlotte than you? Hudson thought. Atlas relayed his words.

Kane darkened. “Of course not.” His breath turned to clouds around them. It was warmer than the North here, but Atlas couldn’t forget the Western winter. “It’s just… if I fall, so does Elbe.”

“Each of us has a part to play.” Atlas rested a hand on his shoulder. “It’s not all on you.”

Kane narrowed his eyes against the thinly veiled sun. “I hope King Asher has another heir lined up.”

“You’re not going to die,” Atlas said firmly. “Get that out of your mind.”

“Who do they look for in battle, Dad? The footmen? No.” Kane gave a hoarse bark, sounding far older than he was. “They want to take the head. I’m in charge here, other than Donovan. I’m the head.”

“You’re going to be well protected,” Atlas said. “Is Flint feeding you this?”

“He agrees with you, don’t worry.” Kane frowned. “But I don’t know where you’re finding your enthusiasm.”

“It’s a thing called amur—hope,” Atlas said. “Everyone has it. Even you. Even the North.”

Even the fish before I snatch them from the river, Hudson said.

I’m not telling him that one, Atlas thought.

Kane slowed, and Atlas with him. “Have you heard anything from our Heroes of Elbe?”

Letters were not easy for a traveling ambassador. There was no solid address to reach them between one place and the next, and usually it was a one-sided conversation from Atlas, shooting off hurried notes to home, saying he missed them.

“I haven’t seen them since we parted at Trene.” Atlas felt as if he had swallowed a boiled stone. With their time in Chesa, they had never once tried to follow up with Piper and Finch. Now, Life willing, they were in an unreachable place. Deep past the armies that lined the jungle.

Kane folded his hands behind his back in a regal manner. He stared at their death without expression. It was deep winter now. Had Kane’s birthday already passed? Atlas wracked his mind. He was now what, fifteen?

Fifteen, Hudson confirmed.

Too young to be like this, Atlas thought with a pang. They had been running around Elbe solving mysteries at his age, not fighting against two nations in place of a king.

War ages everyone quickly, for those whom it spares, Hudson rumbled.

When Kane turned back to them, his jaw was set in a hard line.

“I’m going to meet with Queen Celia,” he said. “We can’t win this.”