Trade Deal by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
Goodreads: 39705398
Publisher: Serial Box
Published: 2018-05-16T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Michiko

Hands trembling, Michiko lit her candle on her third try. She had waited until she was sure the embassy was quiet. It was taboo to disturb anyone while they were communing with their ancestors, but Michiko didn’t feel as if she could count on anything anymore. Lavinia or Bellona certainly wouldn’t hesitate to break into what they saw as a primitive ritual, and Michiko didn’t even trust Kensuke at this point.

But it had been days since she had spoken with her ancestors, the longest she had ever gone. She missed her great-aunt and uncle, who had been caring presences in her life since she was a child, maybe even more so since they had passed. And Michiko knew they missed her too. She was the most consistent of their descendants, and she felt guilty for leaving them alone for so long. If only there was a way to see them without opening her mind to the Golden Lord!

But then, Aiko and Hiroaki had lied to her too, hadn’t they? Nobody had ever told her about her heritage. And they had always urged her to do whatever was necessary to make Mertika proud of her, although that felt very different on Kakute than it did here, in the face of Lavinia’s scorn.

With a sigh, Michiko lit a stick of nakul wood from the candle and inhaled its smoke. She needed to see them. However uncomfortable it was going to be, she couldn’t put it off any longer.

Her uncle Hiroaki was the first voice to join her as the incantation faded, and Michiko was aware of a disloyal pang of annoyance. Perhaps because he was closer to the mortal world, Hiroaki had always been more interested in Michiko’s career and achievements, more conditional in his love. On the other hand, at least it wasn’t the Golden Lord yet. “How are you, Niece?” he asked. And, true to form, he immediately added, “How was the Gauntlet? Did you prove yourself worthy of the honor?”

Michiko swallowed hard. “I … I tried very hard, Uncle.”

There was an ominous pause. “Does that mean you failed? You know how important that was!” There was a silence, the absence of sound that expresses a sigh among the unbreathing. “You know that unless you demonstrate your excellence, they will not respect any of us. You must show them that Kakutans are as good as any Mertikan!”

Michiko did know. After her interview with Lavinia and Bellona this morning, it was even clearer. What she didn’t know was why she had failed.

“Oh, leave her alone, Hiroaki!” Aiko’s voice was so welcome that Michiko felt tears start in her eyes. “How are you, my dear? Were you injured?” Michiko shook her head, unable to vocalize an answer. “You must miss home very much.”

“I do,” Michiko said with a sudden onrush of feeling. For a moment she wanted more than anything to be back on Kakute, but then she couldn’t help but wonder whether Kakute would still feel like home if she were there.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.