Renzhies by Mara Duryea

Author:Mara Duryea [Duryea, Mara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-08T22:00:00+00:00

3

A Birthday Lunch

With the towel still circling his hips, Rezh sped towards Sizhirin’s room. The statues had already been removed from the hallways, but eyes still bore into his back. He found his father’s chamber and tried to enter, but the door wouldn’t budge.

He pounded on the smooth surface. “Dad, where are you?” He looked both ways down the corridor. The shadow was crouched atop a flat roof. Sweat broke out on Rezh’s forehead. “Dad!” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the shadow move towards him. He couldn’t be sure if it was on all fours or not. “Please, please, please.” Rezh extended his claws. If it attacked him, at least he would go down fighting.

The door unlocked and Sizhirin opened the door. “My son, what is the matter?”

“There’s something here.” He pointed down the corridor, but the shadow had gone.

Sizhirin walked past him and examined the hall. “It is your nerves, child.” He smiled. “Now, you cannot run around in a towel. You will shock your mother. Her nerves have not been the same.”

Rezh’s mouth fell open. “Of course, look at this place! Have you seen her yarn room?”

Sizhirin chuckled. “We must allow her her whims. Now come, I have prepared your room. You will rest peacefully tonight.” He led Rezh to his room. The Berivor kept close to Sizhirin, trying to glean the waning warmth from the aura that had always secured his peace of mind.

Sizhirin opened the bedroom door and stepped inside. “Your clothes are laid out on your bed. The statues are gone. When you are dressed, your mother will have prepared you something. I will return for you in a few minutes. Happy birthday, my son.” Sizhirin departed and shut the door. The lock clicked. Rezh started and yanked in vain at the great latch jutting down the center of the door. He tried the other three doors, but each was locked.

“Oh, Cubons,” Rezh hissed. There was a reason Sizhirin had locked the door. He sank onto the bed and gathered his wits, lest he repeatedly dart from door to door like a panicking awik. He needed to get dressed.

Taking several deep breaths, Rezh began to dress. He donned the pale pants and sleeveless shirt. The dark green vest was closed in the front and back, but open on the sides. Slipping it over his head, Rezh knotted a glossy green sash over it and around his hips. He couldn’t enjoy not grunging it in rags as he should have. Tossing the towel on the back of a chair, he checked the corners of the room for anything creepier than the décor. He even inspected the black hangings.

Something shone on the wall behind them. Pushing the curtains aside, he stared at a small child’s picture pinned to a blood-colored wall. There were more around it. Rezh widened the curtains. The children were Kabrilors and Metirins, all along the age spectrum from zero to twenty-two. More pictures extended up the wall. Rezh glanced at the scarlet tassel in a corner of the room.

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