Pearl in the Void by M.C.A. Hogarth

Author:M.C.A. Hogarth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: M.C.A. Hogarth
Published: 2015-09-18T00:00:00+00:00

The changes in het Narel were immediately apparent, even before I reached the center of town; everywhere I looked, someone in the Stone Moon's uniform was striding past. Most of them traveled in pairs, though occasionally I saw one alone, or with a brace of ñedsu. They walked unconcerned among the rest of the Jokka of the het, most of whom were emodo... but there were eperu abroad also, all of them associated with some work party, or hurrying somewhere as if between duties. And work there was in plenty: carts rumbling this way and that, people at work on the paving projects or cleaning the streets, new buildings going up... quite industrious, the Stone Moon. They had well and truly taken het Narel.

No one stopped me. I expected no less. Not just because I no longer looked like Keshul Akkadin-emodo, bleached white as I had been, but also because no one wanted to look at me; when they glanced my way their eyes darted from me as if stung. More than once I caught someone chafing an arm or shivering as I walked past, many of them on the other side of the street.

No, I was emodo, and acted as if I belonged, and so no one questioned my presence. In that way I went all the way to the Green, opening the little bronze gate that led to the center garden and choosing a bench there facing the breezeway where Jokka of means used to stroll for pleasure.

And there... I waited.

The day was beautiful, hot with a high blue sky emptied of clouds. I would have found it too hot before, but now it soothed the numb tips of my fingers and toes. I lifted my face to the sun and thought of the Brightness, the mate of the god who'd claimed me, and wondered if I now longed for the sun because He longed for Her.

I thought that far more palatable than longing for any mortal Jokkad. I didn't want to think about love or mating or touching anyone with this body ever again.

Time passed. Not much; my shadow had barely moved when the first emodo glanced at me, halted, and then left with steps too hurried for dignity. He brought companions, and that knot of Jokka was noticed by someone else, who repeated the process. I recognized them, of course, the Jokka of the Green... particularly when their Heads of Household began arriving. I did not see Eduñil or Abadil and wondered what had become of them.

I rested my hands in my lap. No one spoke. Now we were all waiting.

Nelet came, as I knew he must, flanked by four Claws of the empire... and Rashal. The Stone Moon emodo no longer wore the uniform I remembered, but something like it: longer robes, fitted to his body, tied with a yellow sash and marked with an emblem, a bright silver circle. He wore no weapons. He didn't need them with his guards at his back.

I didn't rise.

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.