Chapter 17 Farewell #2
Tāwera ate strips of meat Hone tossed him and drank a bowl of water. The rest and the food helped. Although, he still had to grit his teeth to contain his pained bellows while he shifted. He emerged from his dragon form in a shaky heap, his legs refusing to hold his weight.
Manu helped him to stand and handed him a pile of clothes. “You have a full facial moko. You were a warrior?”
“Yes,” Tāwera said. “I understand this will make integrating difficult for me, but I still wish to try.”
The three men glanced at each other before turning back to him.
“You will fit in fine,” Manu assured him. “We will find a position that suits your interests and skills. We’ll speak with Nyree before we leave, but I think she’ll agree with our plan.”
Tāwera enjoyed the men’s company. Manu and Hone had mates, while Kahurangi had a casual girlfriend. He learned of their jobs, their lives, and told them more of what had happened to him.
There were other men on the boat, but none of them approached them. It raised Tāwera’s curiosity, but he wasn’t standing close enough to do a sniff test to ascertain their race.
“These other sailors. Do they know you’re taniwha?” he asked.
“They’re taniwha too—a fishing crew from near Wellington.”
Tāwera frowned. “I do not know this place.”
“It is our capital city and lies at the bottom of the North Island. The crew are water dragons and have an affinity for the sea.”
“Ah! I have heard of water dragons but never met one. There were none where I lived in Northland.”
“We were lucky they intended to come down south for a jaunt. From there, it was easy to arrange with our contacts at the MC club to use us to pick up Ari and Nyree.”
Tāwera nodded. “Ari thought he’d arranged the boat when it was you. What will we do next? What if Ari is not dead, or if he has told someone we cannot control?”
“Nyree will let us know Ari’s fate,” Manu said. “There’s no point worrying until we learn what has happened to him. Once we have her report, we can plan from there.”
Tāwera had read several of Manu’s emails. He’d known Nyree respected her tribal leader, but the more he spoke with him, the more Tāwera understood what a great man he was and how lucky he was to have Manu’s help.
Nyree arrived during their dinner. She landed with a bag clutched in her talons, and Tāwera shot to his feet. Despite the pain still pounding his muscles, he reached her in three long strides. He waited impatiently for her to shift and pull on her clothes before he yanked her into his arms.
He held her and breathed in her floral scent. “Are you injured?”
She hugged him back. “I’m fine. A few bruises and sore parts, but I heal fast.”
“Ari?”
“He’s dead. He was alive when they hauled him up the cliff, but he died while receiving medical attention from the ship’s doctor.”
Relief swept Tāwera. “Did anyone see us in our dragon form?”
“No. We’re safe.” She pushed away from Tāwera and threaded her fingers with his before she turned to Manu and the others. “Excellent timing. I didn’t realize you were heading this way.”
“The plan came together fast. Once we realized Ari’s scheme, we kept him under surveillance and acted accordingly.”
Nyree sniffed. “You didn’t think to clue me in on your plan? You kept me waiting for ages for replies to my emails. I didn’t hear a word about you heading my way.”
“We didn’t want Ari to become suspicious, nor did we wish to panic you.
We’ve been here a couple of days waiting for his arrival.
Once we knew the timing, we planned to stake out the settlement.
The trouble was getting close enough to spy on Ari without being seen.
He’s met each of us through you, which meant we had to keep out of sight. ”
“At least you arrived in time to help.”
“I didn’t realize he’d come out with you at gunpoint. Made things a mite tricky. We’ll take Tāwera home to New Zealand with us,” Manu stated in a change of subject.
Nyree blinked, an immediate protest springing to her lips. She swallowed hard, her glance darting to Tāwera. She found his gaze trained on her, his expression serious.
“I guess that’s the best idea,” she said, trying not to sound reluctant.
“Nyree, Tāwera has no papers. No passport. If he goes back with us, we can come in close to shore and fly home. It’s safer for Tāwera.”
Nyree nodded, but she hated him leaving. They’d known each other for a short time, yet she’d fallen for him. He was her friend, her… “That’s a great idea,” she forced herself to say.
“There’s food left if you’re hungry,” Manu said.
“I could eat.” Nyree stood to grab a plate from the makeshift rock table.
Manu reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.
She jerked upright at the wash of power that radiated from him and filtered into her arm.
“It’s obvious you care for one another. Tāwera knows nothing of our world.
He needs to see New Zealand as it is now and visit his home.
He needs time to find his place and decide what he wants to do.
If he comes with us now, we won’t have to worry about identification papers straightaway. ”
“I wouldn’t get in the way or stop him from doing anything,” Nyree whispered.
Manu’s mouth twisted. “That’s not what I’m saying. You’re good together—from what I’ve seen. Tāwera was a warrior. He’s used to making decisions and acting decisively. Consider his pride, his position. His mana. The months apart will also tell you if your friendship could be more.”
“You’ve made your decision. Nothing I say will make you change your mind.” Her words sounded reluctant. Selfish.
“I’m an outsider looking in,” Manu said, squeezing her shoulder in commiseration. “It’s easier for me to see what will work best because I’m not emotionally involved.”
“We’re friends. That’s all.” A pang pierced her chest once her words settled. She closed her eyes briefly before risking a glance at Manu. He wore his regular patient expression as he waited for her to say more.
She sighed. “No, that’s not true. I feel more than friendship for Tāwera, but it’s not fair to him. He should experience this world and meet other people. Other women.”
Manu leaned closer and hugged her. “And that’s why I think everything will work out all right.”
Nyree sighed again, this time internalizing the confusion and unwillingness to let Tāwera go with Manu.
She didn’t have a choice, and it was heartless of her even to want to keep him with her.
He’d spent hundreds of years cursed and contained within the stone she’d discovered.
It was time for him to embrace his freedom, and he couldn’t do that here in South Georgia.
She released Manu and rose. “I’ll say goodbye.”
She formed her lips into a smile and kept her false bravado pasted in place as she approached Tāwera and the others, the gray pebbles shifting beneath her bare feet. “How are you? You managed the flight across the island all right?”
“Some pain and I’m exhausted. I doubt I could get off the ground now, but it wasn’t as difficult as last time.”
Nyree nodded. “Manu and the others will help you figure out why flying is so painful for you. They’ll organize identification papers and everything else you need.”
“Ari is dead.”
“Yes.”
“He was a relation,” Tāwera said.
“We don’t know that for sure.” Nyree lifted her chin, renewed anger at Ari flooding her. “And we aren’t to blame for his death.”
“That’s one thing we’ll do when we get back home,” Hone said, obviously overhearing. “My father is the expert in genealogy. Does Ari have a family?”
“A younger sister. His parents are still alive, but they live in Australia on the Gold Coast,” Nyree said. “What were you thinking?”
“A DNA test,” Hone said. “Compare Tāwera’s DNA with Ari’s sister’s. The man who resembled Ari was half-brother to Tāwera. At least that way, you might trace family members.”
“Family is important,” Tāwera said, wincing as he shrugged his shoulders. He prodded his biceps and pulled a face, stretching gingerly.
Nyree picked up a plate and grabbed fresh salad, ham, and bread to make a sandwich. She focused on the food, not letting her mind dart into the pain she was experiencing at the thought of Tāwera’s departure.
All too soon, it was time to go.
“We’ll let you say your goodbyes in private,” Manu said.
He, Hone, and Kahurangi packed up their food and trash and carried their inflatable boat down the beach, past a hovering group of curious king penguins, to the water.
“My cousins will look after you,” Nyree said.
“Ask questions if anything confuses you or if you require advice. All of them are decent men. Hone’s father, George, is also an excellent person to approach.
Manu will introduce you to our families and friends.
You will fit in with the others. You learn fast.” To her horror, tears dampened her eyes.
She blinked hard to barricade them in position.
Tāwera pursed his lips. “You are sad.”
“I’ll miss you,” Nyree blinked several times.
“We will email,” Tāwera promised. “I will tell you all that I am doing.”
Nyree stepped forward to embrace him, but Tāwera had other ideas.
Yes, he drew her close, but he kissed her on the lips, taking his time and making it a kiss to remember.
When Tāwera stepped back, her tears were under control, and her pulse was racing.
She sensed her cousins’ interest, but she ignored them and smiled.
“Behave,” she said lightly. “Have fun.”
“I will see you soon, Nyree.” Tāwera beamed at her, then stalked away to join the other men. They pulled the inflatable into deeper water and clambered inside. The last thing she saw of Tāwera was his hand raised in farewell as they scrambled up an iron ladder to board the fishing boat.
Nyree stayed until the ship motored out of the bay, and it rounded the corner and disappeared. The thickness in her throat stirred again, and tears blurred her vision. Longing flooded her, yet she remained still and silent.
Her heart went with Tāwera.