Major Pieces by M.C.A. Hogarth

Author:M.C.A. Hogarth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Studio MCAH
Published: 2019-11-06T00:00:00+00:00

6

Vasiht’h woke the following morning feeling alert and calm. For several moments he didn’t move, relishing the sense of purpose and faith that made confronting the next step feel so natural. Things would work out for the best, no matter what—that, he was sure of. Knowing that, everything else felt within his measure. He could even take the inevitable twitch of Joreht’s leg against his spine with equanimity and a stifled laugh, because wasn’t it like the Divine to remind you that as high-minded as you were feeling, reality was still your nephew’s good-morning kick in the back?

His mother was in the kitchen when he padded around the corner. For once, no one was cooking or baking… it was just her, a pot of coffee, and a look on her face that made Vasiht’h go to her immediately and hug her. “It’s going to be fine, Dami.”

Marevhe leaned against him. “It won’t be the same without her. And they need her skills so badly.”

“I know,” Vasiht’h said. “But… it’s still going to be fine.”

His mother rested her head against his, and her wing slid over his back, just as it used to when he was smaller. “I know. I’m sure she’ll visit. I would just feel better if…”

“I know.” Vasiht’h pulled the mug from her fingers, gentle, and went to refill it. While he was there he poured a cup for himself: the aroma was powerful and hadn’t yet lost its complexity, so perhaps Dondi had been up before all of them, roasting and grinding beans outside. “I’m going to take a short trip to the Core.”

“You… you’re what?”

“I won’t be gone long,” Vasiht’h promised. “I need to talk to Sediryl about transportation issues.”

“Transportation—” His mother stopped abruptly, eyes losing focus. “Oh,” she said. “Oh goodness. Yes, that is going to be a kink in the wings, isn’t it.”

“A mess, yes. Unless you’re hiding enough money somewhere to rent a transport ship?”

Marevhe’s chuckle was tired. “We’re well off, love, but not that well off. I assume your partner has some ideas on how to handle it? That involve his fiancée?”

“He thinks she can get us over, though on what I’m not sure yet. There’s… more than one option, I’m sure.” Wasn’t there, though, given the new Eldritch navy. “That’s what I want to talk to her about.”

“And you’d like to go personally because it will keep you from yelling at your brother-in-law?”

“I don’t want to yell at Kovihs,” Vasiht’h said. He sipped the coffee, and in those first few mouthfuls he felt an echo of Jahir’s presence… enjoyed the bitter, earthy power of it, unadulterated by sweeteners or fats, the way Jahir so often did. They’d been yoked so long that sometimes Vasiht’h wasn’t sure whether he enjoyed things because he liked them or because the Eldritch did… and did it matter? He had one more sip, then went for the sugar and cream. The old battered pot that had been used for the former since his childhood was still on the counter, though it had obviously been mended at least once from the crack on its side.

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