28. Sullha
SULLHA
When Bowen told Sullha Monday evening that Kian wanted her to serve as the translator for Burda's calls, she'd been grateful for the opportunity to talk to her old friend and eager to help.
She hadn't expected her services to be needed so soon.
Now she was running to the office building, clutching her phone, and ignoring the perplexed looks people were giving her.
She didn't have time to stop and explain that Burda was waiting for a callback and that the clock was ticking.
By the time she pushed through the office building's doors, her lungs were burning.
"Over here!" A slim blond man waved at her from the stairs.
Great. Now she also needed to climb a flight of stairs when she could barely catch her breath.
"They're waiting." He led her down the corridor to the one door that stood open.
Inside, Kian stood next to an oblong table, and another man was sitting down.
Sullha bowed because she didn't know what else to do, and Kian was one of the most intimidating people she had ever met.
"Don't do that," Kian said. "Come, take a seat. This is Onegus, the Chief of Guardians. Onegus, this is Sullha."
The chief nodded. "Nice to meet you in person, Sullha. Heard many good things about you."
"Thank you." She was still struggling to catch her breath, and her throat was dry.
Kian walked over to a sideboard and pulled a can of sparkling water from a hidden refrigerator.
"Here." He set it in front of her. "Drink. We can wait another minute before we call Burda back."
"Thank you." She popped the lid and took a grateful sip. "The message said urgent, so I ran the whole way. What's going on?"
"We don't know," Kian said. "We'll find out together. Are you ready?"
She nodded.
Onegus activated the large phone on the conference table. "Sullha is here. Patch us through."
Sullha sat in front of the phone and swallowed hard.
"You're on," a male voice said.
Onegus waved a hand at Sullha. "Say hello to your friend."
"Burda?"
"Sullha? Are you okay?" Burda's dry, familiar rasp filled the room.
Tears came so fast she couldn't stop them. "I can't believe I'm actually talking to you."
"Are you crying, girl?"
"I am. I'm just so relieved to hear your voice." Sullha wiped away the tears with the heels of her hands. "You sound good."
"Yeah, yeah. I sound like the old woman I am. Now listen, because I can't stay on long. Things are turning bad here, Sullha. The Sacred Mothers are out of control, and we need help."
That wasn't what Sullha had expected. "What do you mean? What are they doing?"
Burda told her what she suspected about the sacrifices the Sacred Mothers were planning for the full moon and that they had the ear of Lord Shavek, the new lord in charge of the enclosure.
"They can't be serious. The lord will never allow children to be sacrificed. The boys are needed for the army, and the girls are needed for the breeding program. He can't do that."
"These people are crazy, Sullha. They'll choose a motherless child, one who has no one to fight for them. Now tell your friends what I told you."
Sullha translated the story about the ten of them and how it had evolved. Last month's version was executed for apostasy. Now the Sacred Mothers were telling anyone willing to listen that the god had taken the children as payment for their mothers' sins.
When she was done, Burda continued. "They told the children that Tomek and Bianca are dead and that it's better to be dead in the god's hands than to be alive."
Sullha's stomach twisted, but she kept translating.
She told Kian and Onegus that the order now had four hundred members, up from two hundred and fifty just weeks earlier.
The First Mother preached that the god's favor had to be bought back.
A consecration was announced for the full moon, and Burda suspected the worst.
"Vinnah is now the First Mother's right hand," Burda said. "In the sermon I attended, she was holding their sacred book and leading the hymns."
Sullha translated that too, dreading when she would need to tell Bardov about his mother's promotion and the evil she was involved in.
"How long until the full moon?" Sullha asked.
"Nine days," Burda said.
"Has Shavek approved the offering?" Onegus asked.
She translated the question for Burda.
"The First Mother says he heard the petition, but I don't know if that means yes or no."
Kian fell silent for a moment. "Tell Burda to get confirmation of their plan to harm children.
At this point, she is just speculating. But tell her to be careful and do nothing that would draw the Order's attention.
Tell her to call us as soon as she has the information and can safely make contact. "
Sullha translated.
"The sky is turning," Burda said. "I have to go. Tell me quickly. How is your boy?"
"He's happy. He has his own room, and it is filled with toys. My mother is also doing well. She looks alive again, and she's bonding with Tomek."
The pause was long enough that Sullha heard wind moving through the mango leaves five thousand miles away.
"Good," Burda said. "Kiss him for me. And tell your new friends that if they plan to come, they should do so before the full moon."
The call ended, and for a while, nobody said a thing. Sullha sat with her hands wrapped around the can of sparkling water, feeling like a garden after a storm, still standing but twisted all around.
Onegus leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "Burda could use Thursday's attack as a sign from Mortdh.
When it happens, she and her helper start the rumor that the god has answered.
Mortdh struck the island's masters, including Shavek, because the plan for the offering displeased him.
Even the First Mother can't argue with a sign that monumental. "
"What's happening on Thursday?" Sullha asked.
Kian glared at Onegus. "Burda can't know about the attack. We talked about it."
"There are children involved," Onegus countered.
Kian let out a long breath and turned to Sullha. "Most of the island's top command will be eliminated Thursday morning, including Shavek, who is in charge of the enclosure. That's all you need to know, and it doesn't leave this room."
"Good." Sullha nodded. "I'm glad."
If that sounded harsh, she didn't care. Kian looked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time.
"So, that's what Burda does," Onegus said. "After Thursday, she starts spreading the rumor that it was a sign from Mortdh. The god rejects the sacrifice."
"It might work," Sullha said. "Or it might backfire."
Both males looked at her.
"The Mothers might look at the fire and see whatever the First Mother tells them to see, and she'll tell them whatever makes her stronger.
" She kept her fingers wrapped around the can of soda water.
"If the god burns the island's masters a week before the offering, the First Mother might not interpret it as the god being angry about the sacrifice.
She might interpret it as him being hungry.
That he took the commanders because the offering did not come fast enough, and that one child was not enough.
They might decide they need to bring him more. "
"Fuck," Kian said.