Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
Bri
Apath threads through a narrow gap between the sheer faces of the neighboring mountains. Reds and browns swirl together, resembling wood grain texture in the stone. The dry wind whistles through the passageway like an eerie song welcoming us to Veilfall.
“If you would just tell me what’s wrong, we can fix it and you might be able to enjoy this amazing place.” I drop my backpack on the ground and spin around, taking it all in.
“This is me, enjoying it,” he says with zero expression in his voice.
“You forget, sir, I have seen what you look like when you are enjoying something.”
We’ve been through too much to go back to this nonsense. We have survived Sabaak and the psychotic brethren. He even opened up about his past.
The truth hits me all at once.
That’s it.
He’s worried about what it will mean to face the Sabaaki after all these years.
Eio'sh meets a group of identical Sabaaki where the path begins.
They stand completely still, communicating in absolute silence.
The only indication they are communicating is the change in expression and shape of their eyes.
Eio'sh gestures to us and they all turn to look.
Tai and I shift uneasily on our feet from the scrutiny.
I grab his hand and hold it tightly, a show of support. A reminder that he isn’t facing this alone.
At last, Eio'sh rejoins us near the pen. “Let us begin the final part of our journey.”
The other Sabaaki spread out and position themselves around the h’axom.
“Lead the way!” I say with renewed enthusiasm, hoping it will be contagious and cheer up Tai.
“I got this.” Tai swings his backpack over his shoulders and grabs mine before I can.
We follow Eio'sh through the twisting path, excited to see what is around each turn. Sure, I feel lighter without my pack, but the real buzz comes from my mind teeming with the possibilities of what could be at the end of this road.
As we walk, I drag my fingertips along the stone to feel the texture of the walls. Sand drops away from the gentle touch. The stone is a paradox, soft and hard at the same time. Strong enough to withstand centuries of wind and water, yet it gives way to the softest touch.
Tai puts his hand on my lower back, guiding me around a boulder blocking half the trail. His touch triggers the memory of his hand in other places.
Bri, don’t get too close.
I spent all night thinking of ways to keep a healthy distance from the massively appealing blue alien who is systematically breaking down all the walls I’ve worked so hard to put up over the years.
Distance. Boundaries. Going our separate ways after this. I repeat the words a few times in my head.
I can’t help but laugh a little at myself. One look from Tai and all my resolve crumbles like sandstone.
“What’s that smile for?” he asks.
“I’m always smiling.”
“Sunshine, you could burn someone with the looks you give me.”
“Okay, fine. It was an inside joke with myself. You wouldn’t get it.” I skip past him and take the lead the rest of the way through the narrow winding path.
When the tunnel finally widens, a city carved into the face of the cliff looms overhead. Rows and rows of homes and shops stack neatly on top of each other. Doors and windows are framed with either braided molding or columns. Others are ornate with sunbeams and flowers.
I’m fascinated by the way everything is cut straight from the mountain. Sunlight peeks over the mountain, giving the city a golden glow and landing at our backs.
The Sabaaki all freeze and crouch down in the same stance Eio'sh had when he saw us as we step into the empty space between the mountain and the city. The males are dressed similarly to Eio'sh, and the females wear beautiful flowing kaftans, each of a different color.
Eio'sh faces the crowd silent and still, wordlessly communicating something to his fellow Sabaaki. Every few seconds, their eyes flutter toward us in staggered succession.
“Tai, are we good here?” I ask quietly, disguising my question with a nervous smile. I made the mistake of underestimating the brethren. I’m not doing that again.
“I think so. They seem more scared of us than we are of them,” he whispers.
If Mr. Head-on-a-Swivel thinks we are safe, then I do too. His radar for danger is better tuned than mine. He knew from day one that the brethren were not to be messed with, and I didn’t believe him. I push down the guilt rising up from putting us in danger.
Eio'sh motions for us to follow and guides us along the city. Sabaaki wander in and out of the bottom-level shops and stop to stare when we pass by. The bright reds and greens of the fabric overhangs draw a sharp contrast to the dull brown of the desert.
We follow Eio'sh through an open-air market where stalls and kiosks are packed tightly together under canopies. I’m mesmerized by the patchwork of the shade overhead.
Eio'sh steps through an unmarked door, simply a notch in the mountain. A group of chubby Sabaaki children bracket the door on both sides and giggle as we follow Eio'sh in. We must look so strange to them.
The cool darkness of the room is a welcome relief. In the far corner, I hear a vowel-heavy language being exchanged. It’s quiet. My translator can’t pick up the words.
“Alright. Let’s see how this goes,” Tai whispers as he sets our bags down near the entrance.
“Come in, come in. You must be weary from the great desert.” My translator comes to life now that the Sabaaki in the room are speaking to us.
Tai and I tentatively step closer, my eyes still not fully adjusted to the darkness.
An older Sabaaki sits comfortably on a rug, legs crossed in front of her.
She is lit by a single lamp with an open flame in the corner.
Eio'sh motions for us to sit on the rug. “This is Maia’el. She can answer your questions.”
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Tai says nervously.
“Were you separated from the Boraei?” she asks. My translator doesn’t have a comparable word.
“We crashed here alone. We aren’t familiar with the…Boraei,” I answer, struggling with the pronunciation.
“You don’t look like them, and we are all still living, so that tells us that you are different. These days we are uneasy with visitors.”
“Where did they come from?” Tai asks.
“We don’t know. Boraei is an ancient word we use, which means ‘Dangerous One.’ Anyone who gets close enough to ask gets shot down and buried in the sand.”
Dread pools in my belly. When will this planet stop trying to kill us? I’m over it. I just want to go home.
“Do you have transportation off the planet?” Tai asks, his thoughts in sync with mine.
“No. We have no need to leave Sabaak. We cannot survive anywhere else. The only way off the planet is the ship the Boraei arrived on.” Maia’el watches us with interest. Her expressions are impossible to read, but her calm demeanor has an effect on Tai and I both.
His shoulders relax down from his ears, and his breath deepens and evens out.
Great. Fucking great.
Not ready to fully give up hope, I ask, “Maybe a comms system? Could we get a message out to our people?”
“They destroyed our interplanetary communications when they arrived,” Maia’el says.
Eio'sh returns with a tray of food and a clay jug of water with two matching cups.
“The Boraei showed up one day, without warning. They attacked everything around them. Entire villages were destroyed in a single day. For a while we watched them, hoping to learn of their purpose. They would set up a camp, search the area for a few days and move on. Over and over again. We began to worry for our scouts' safety and called them home before they could be caught,” Eio’sh says.
This news delivers the defeating blow to my last shred of hope. I thought we were finally going to leave Sabaak when we escaped the brethren. Now we have to confront an even more dangerous group. Fuck this.
I look over at Tai, expecting to see the same resignation. Instead, he looks more resolute than ever. His shoulders are back up and he’s clear-eyed.
“I’m getting you home. Nothing is going to change that,” Tai says, looking into my eyes.
Dammit if those words didn’t do something to my insides. A tiny bit of my feminist credibility leaves my body when I realize how good it feels knowing he’s looking out for us.
“Your bravery is admirable. Please stay and rest. You will need your strength for what is ahead of you,” Maia’el kindly offers.
Eio'sh leads us up a spiral staircase lined with tapestries.
The stone staircase is worn down in the center from years of use.
He welcomes us into a bedroom with a single bed in the center and a wide cabinet tucked into the corner.
On top is a basin and a stack of towels.
Eio'sh pulls away a privacy screen from the window, letting in the light.
“Take as long as you need. The room is yours.”
We circle the room, checking out all its charming features. Soft linen blankets make up the bed. A mural of a sun on the wall. The view from the window is my favorite part. We are just above the multicolored canopies shading the market.
“When you are ready, come find me at the Oahe.” His offer hangs in the air until my translator clarifies with “communal kitchen.”
“Thanks!” I answer for both of us. Eio'sh gives me a kind nod and leaves, giving me the opportunity I’ve been waiting for.
“It’s got to feel weird being here with the Sabaaki after everything that happened last time.”
His guilt and agony are written all over his face. “I think I need to tell them. If they know up front, then they won’t take it out on you.”
“Tai, we’re in this together. Whatever you decide to do about the Sabaaki, I’ll face it with you. But maybe we could get cleaned up a little before you go clear your conscience.”
“You go first.” He waves to the basin and towels. “I have something I need to take care of.”
“Wait!” He’s out the door before I have a chance to argue.
My clothes are tattered from escaping the brethren. The tears in my skirt show even more of my ass and thighs than before. The straps around my neck hang on for dear life. I remove them carefully. I need these clothes to hold on a little while longer. At least until I can wash the robe.
The soap and shampoo I appropriated from the brethren are waiting for me at the bottom of my pack.
I pour a generous amount of soap into the water and wet the small towel and scrub my entire body.
Between the rough material of the towel and the sand, my skin is glowing and soft by the time I’m finished.
Tai loudly clears his throat from outside the door. I scoop up a thin blanket from the bed and wrap it around my chest, suddenly feeling self-conscious. I don’t exactly know where we stand.
My resolution to stay away is getting harder to stick to. We are somewhere between casual hookup and the person who scares the living shit out of me because they are getting too close.
“I, uh…” Tai steps into the room, eyes fixed on the ground. “I found you some clothes,” he says nervously as he places a flowing dress at the foot of the bed.
“Thank you!”
“I’ll give you some privacy,” he says and turns toward the door.
“Tai, wait. It’s okay. I’m all done.” I snatch the clothes off the bed and hold up a floor-length orange kaftan with golden stitching down the front. I drop it over my head and it flows gracefully to the floor, only a few inches too long.
A heavy sigh escapes my lips. Finally, something clean and comfortable.
“Where did you find this?” I ask and twirl a little, letting the soft fabric spin around me.
“One of the shops below. I did a little bartering.”
“What did you trade?” I ask, genuinely curious. I silently hope it wasn’t the BioDent. It’s not technically a necessity, but needed nonetheless.
“Don’t worry about it,” he says while pulling his dirty white shirt over his head. I didn’t notice anything new for him to wear. It means a lot that he got clothes for me first, and I’d like to return the favor.
“I can go grab something for you too,” I offer and look around for my pack. There has got to be something in there I can trade to get him some clean clothes.
“Nah, I’m good. I don’t think they’d have anything that would fit me anyway,” he says as he smiles and gives me an infuriatingly handsome wink.
He’s right. The Sabaaki are all very thin, the opposite of Tai.
It would be hilarious to see him squeeze into those tiny shorts they are all wearing though.
He moves for his belt buckle and my knees go weak.
“Don’t tell me you’re going soft on me now,” he says with laughter in his voice.
There he goes, using my own words against me—again.
I am an absolute disaster of conflicting emotions. One minute I’m promising him I’ll face his greatest shame with him, the next I’m thinking of every reason why we can’t be together.
Words start pouring out of my mouth and I’m helpless to stop them.
“Here’s the thing. We have a good time, you know, in bed.
And that’s great, and I’m open to continuing.
But I just. I don’t really know what I want as far as a relationship goes.
Or even if I’m capable of one. Or even if that is something you are thinking about.
You don’t want to get all tangled up in my mess. ”
Tai stands there with an amused look on his face until I run out of air.
“Feel better now that you got that out?” he asks with a glint in his eye.
“As a matter of fact, I do,” I say and throw a pillow at him.
“Good. Let’s take this one step at a time. We can figure all that out later.” His pants hit the floor, and I can make out his hard cock against his thigh under his tight shorts.