Beloved Night by Rachel Devenish Ford

Author:Rachel Devenish Ford [Ford, Rachel Devenish]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Small Seed Press

Chapter 19

When Aria fell, it hit Gavi like lightning. He could feel something big happening as she dug deep into the gift of the Shaper for the oppressed. She fell, and the falling reverberated through him. He scooped her close to protect her, even as she left, as her awareness spun far away, into the night. The other elders came close to watch over Aria, and Gavi could feel the peace coming from them. He knew he didn’t need to fear their intentions toward Aria.

"What is happening?" Gavi asked Rema, his voice cracking.

"She is finding her way," Rema replied, the creases around his eyes deepening. "But it means that we need to be ready to flee. The king will not like this."

As he spoke, the boat began to move. The children yelped, looking around to see what was happening. One curious boy jumped up and pressed his face to the hole in the side of the ship.

"We're going to the shore," he proclaimed. “Really, really fast!”

Gavi felt a stirring of unease. He couldn’t tell if the feeling was from the boat moving so quickly or from what Aria was doing.

"She is very powerful," Rema murmured. "I sense movement from all the ships.” He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, they were full of intent. “Lize," he called to the boy. “Go tell the others to be ready to fight and run. We must get off this ship if she runs it aground."

"If she runs it aground, won't we break apart on the rocks?” Gavi asked.

"That depends on you," Rema replied.

Gavi stared at him. “How does it depend on me?"

"You must help me cushion her magic so it doesn't harm us."

Gavi blinked. In the other room, he heard a commotion—shouts and loud noises. The rowers must be fighting against the supervisors. Near to Gavi, a woman cradled two infants, one in each arm, while another bundled blankets and pieces of clothing together, finding two long strips of fabric and tying one baby to the other woman's back, then turning so the same could be done for her. Both women were Maweel, with the dark brown skin and long limbs of Gavi's adoptive people. One woman turned and looked at him as though she noticed his attention. Gavi could sense the cords of magic that bound her, kept her enslaved. She bowed her head slightly. The Unlike Twins, Rema had called Gavi and Jabari. What rumors had traveled about them, what had been said about them? Whatever it was, Gavi knew they were just brothers, only people who wanted to help. His gifts weren’t up to this challenge.

Gavi was alone here. Aria was still far away, leaning against him with her eyes closed, her magic wreaking destruction on the boats. Gavi’s “twin” was somewhere on another boat, and maybe still angry with Gavi. Their parents were far. There was no way that Gavi was prepared for the task at hand, but the enslaved woman's eyes still held

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