The Morph (Gate Shifter Book One) by JC Andrijeski

Author:JC Andrijeski
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: White Sun Press
Published: 2013-11-20T05:00:00+00:00

19

A CARNIVAL AND AN ATTEMPT TO COMMUNICATE

I FOUND MYSELF standing on the dais within minutes of my agreeing to see Nihkil.

Not alone, of course. I’d walked there surrounded by robed supernaturals and two more militant-looking morph, or so I surmised from their clothing. One of those guards was Hunsef, I noticed, and he stood closer to me than the rest.

Once I climbed the steep staircase up to the dais itself, a handful of human guards met me, and when I finally straightened, I had probably nine people clustered around me of various races.

From the other end of the table, I felt Nihkil's stare.

I saw his eyes shift to Hunsef then, and something in them changed.

Not a lot, but enough that I flinched.

I kept my attention focused on the unlined faces of the supernaturals after that, along with their dark eyes, expressionless mouths and bodies mostly hidden behind the dark blue robes bearing the gold insignia of Palarine.

Distracting myself with them couldn’t last long, of course.

That motley group led me to the other side of the table, where Nik sat.

Then, as if by silent signal, my escorts turned to leave.

Only Hunsef lingered a beat longer, as if trying to decide if he should leave me alone with Nik or if he should stay. Then Hunsef’s head and neck jerked sharply, turning so that he peered over his own shoulder, looking after the others.

It was as if someone had just smacked him on the back of the head.

Hunsef turned to leave after that. I saw his faint scowl, however, as well as the warning glare he gave to Nik before he left.

“Call us if you need us,” he said to me, gruff.

I nodded, but had to fight not to laugh.

I watched them descend the stairs. The supernaturals themselves walked as if their movements had been choreographed, hands folded, robes trailing, feet silent. I watched them reach the main floor. Then I watched them ascend back up that ramp, until they finally once more circled Mai-rhani on the slanted floor.

I noticed only then that the humans attending the court session in virtual were vanishing from around the table. The morph delegates left seconds after that.

The old one, Inid, winked at me as his outline melted.

Nihkil and I were alone.

I actually felt alone with him, too, which I hadn’t expected.

I also knew it couldn't possibly be real, given where we were.

Even forgetting about the standard surveillance, the morph guard with Mai-rhani, Mai-rhani herself, the supernaturals and a heck of a lot of observant humans likely watched us from different areas of the stadium-like floor, as well.

Pushing all of that from my mind, I sank to the bench, conscious suddenly of how much skin the dress exposed. I felt Nihkil notice, too, but instead of meeting his eyes, I searched the table until I noticed a tray sitting there, not far from his hands.

When the silence stretched, I gestured towards it, still without looking at him.

“You should eat,” I said in English.

There was a silence.

Lifting my eyes when it stretched, I managed to avoid his by looking out over the crowd.

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