“Scratches don’t soak your tunic,” Jayden said. “Keep still. Let me see.” He lifted the material.
Cool air caressed her skin, sending a shiver up her spine.
“It’s deep. We need to get you to Zhek.”
“We need to get back before the Arch Deacons wake up or the next shift arrives,” she said, yanking down her shirt.
“Don’t be stupid. You could get sick if it gets infected. Zhek’s at Orla’s commune on level thirty-nine. It’s not far.”
“How do you know where he is?” she asked a bit petulantly.
“I’m the Vagrant Prince. I know where all my people are.”
Mojag chuckled.
When she didn’t follow Jayden right away, he grabbed her wrist and tugged her along. “They’re your people, too, Shyla. The Invisible Sword was formed to protect the people of Zirdai from tyrants.Allthe people.”
“I’m well aware, Jayden. Except that’s a tall order at this time. We only have thirty of us. We need to secure the means to our survival first and then we can right the very long list of wrongs.”
For once Jayden didn’t argue. Shyla almost fainted from the shock. Instead she followed him as he navigated the twists, turns, ups, and downs that she had come to realize was required to travel through Zirdai without encountering anyone.
The druk light turned red when they entered level twenty-five and stayed red until they reached level thirty-six where it changed to green. A fluttering in her stomach started about then. The last time she went to Orla’s commune, she had to cross a thin plank over a deep vertical air shaft. It hadn’t been the best time to learn that she was uncomfortable with heights. However, on the way back, Adair had pushed her off and she fell twelve levels until she hit a net, which saved her life. The man hadn’t warned her, nor did he tell her about the life-saving device. Jayden had theorized Adair was probably angry because she’d found their well-hidden commune.
Despite the fact she survived, Shyla wasn’t in any hurry to cross that plank ever again. She’d happily avoid it for the rest of her life.
And perhaps Jayden sensed her unease. They entered the edges of the commune from a different direction. The guards hidden in the shadows nodded at Jayden as they passed.
Orla was in charge of the largest vagrant community in Zirdai. She had plenty of room since technically the levels they occupied were outside of the city’s limits, which were loosely defined by the major vertical air shafts. Zirdai was roughly bowl shaped with the deeper levels narrower than the upper levels.
“Do all the communes have multiple entrances?” she asked him.
“Yes. There’s always the danger of a raid. Even though this one is well hidden, they still have at least five different exits.”
That was three more than their hideout. Shyla considered how to add at least another. Then she remembered the old headquarters had been under Tamburah’s temple, which was three kilometers away from the city, but Jayden hadn’t taken them to the surface to reach it. Had the Invisible Sword built tunnels to connect the two or were they already there? She’d have to ask Jayden later.
A dozen druk lights shone from the heart of the multi-level commune. Shyla blinked in the brightness. Shouldn’t everyone be asleep? She checked the sand clock. It was angle three-forty. “Why all the light?” she asked Jayden.
“Vagrants don’t follow the standard sleep schedule of the rest of Zirdai,” he explained. “Most raids come during darkness and moving around the city is easier in the late angles of a sun jump.”
They entered the main area. Ladders stretched between levels, curtains covered doorways, and colorful cushions and furniture decorated common areas. The pleasant aroma of incense and cleanser floated on the air. A few kids spotted Jayden and Mojag and dashed over to ask them questions in a breathless rush. Adults worked at various tasks, crafting goods to sell at the market. Others bustled about. It was a bubble of peace. They didn’t need the Water Prince’s guards or the Heliacal Priestess’s deacons here. Yes, they had to find their own food and water, but they policed themselves and prayed to the Sun Goddess on their own terms.
Of course this wouldn’t work on a larger scale. There was a reason for guards and organized religion helped a number of people. Unfortunately for Zirdai’s citizens, those in charge had been corrupted by the power. She hoped that wouldn’t happen to her.
Orla spotted them and hurried over. Gray streaked her black hair, and although older, she moved with the same energy as a child only a few circuits old. Her gray-eyed gaze met Shyla’s. The woman’s curiosity blasted Shyla and was followed by wonder and awe. Surprised by Orla’s intensity, Shyla strengthened her mental shield. It’d been easy to block Mojag’s rambling thoughts and, since she hadn’t read Jayden’s soul, she didn’t pick up his thoughts and emotions.
“Your eyes,” Orla said, stepping closer. “They’ve changed color.”
Oops. Shyla glanced at Jayden.
“Orla helps the Invisible Sword from time to time,” Jayden said. “Who do you think has been supplying us with water these last six sun jumps?”
“Thank you,” Shyla said.
Instead of answering, Orla cupped Shyla’s cheeks. Her bony fingers were cold. “I knew you had greatness in you. Even shunned as a sun-kissed, you persisted, and look at how the Sun Goddess has rewarded you.”
More like ordered her, but Shyla wasn’t going to correct the woman. She’d only told Hanif about her…encounter with the Sun Goddess that may or may not have been a heat-induced delusion.I do not enjoy seeing my people suffer, the goddess/delusion had said to her.Make it stop.
Orla released her. “I’m sorry I don’t have any extra jugs of water for you.” She gestured to the others nearby. “The last batch we received was all poisoned. We are rationing what we have until another source can be found.”
