“So nowyoudon’t like waterfalls?”
Smiling, Aradella looked back at Zeon. “I apologize. Our current situation is more than we can comprehend, but we’re doing our best to deal with it. Have you foreseen a solution?”
“Yes.”
Aradella put down her fork but Mekos kept eating. She waited for Zeon to tell what he knew.
“Have you heard of the island of Abicis?”
The two young people shook their heads no and waited for him to continue.
“I think you need to go there. The Empyreans are...”
When he couldn’t find the words he needed, Mekos said, “You mean the rulers? The people who have declared they will Right the Ancient Wrongs—as they call it? All done while they continue to honor traditions? But if we don’t agree with them, they will bomb our homes and kill the people who stand against them?” His voice was rising, getting deeper. “They call themselves the Peacekeepers.” He nearly spit the last.
Zeon was wide-eyed. “You sound like Haver,” he said softly. “Youlooklike him.”
Mekos was trying to regain his composure. He pushed his hair back. “I’m flattered, but with these ears, I don’t think so.”
Zeon began to blink rapidly as a sight came to him. “You want to see Haver’s cave.”
“I do,” Mekos said.
“His body is no longer there, but the room has been left untouched. I can send a guide with you today.”
“And afterward, we’re to go to the island you mentioned?”Aradella didn’t wait for him to answer. “What’s it like? Why do you seem to be afraid of it?”
Zeon gave his attention to her, looking pleasantly surprised. “You’re right, I am afraid of it. In my visions, I saw that your senses had been keenly developed from living under Olina’s rule.” He seemed proud of her.
“I have managed to stay alive,” she said modestly.
“In your circumstances, that is a monumental feat.” His eyes narrowed. “This mission carries the possibility of a death.”
“Death is always around me.” Aradella sounded uninterested in his revelation.
“She’s lived most of her life under threat,” Mekos said solemnly.
“Tell us about the island,” she said. “Do we need weapons? Kaley has an Earth gun. We could—”
“No, no,” Zeon said. “Abicis isn’t like that. It’s full of people who don’t fit in.”
“Fit in what?” Mekos asked.
“They don’t belong with the Empyreans, so they’re sent to Abicis. They’re misfits.”
“You mean criminals?” Aradella asked.
“No, not at all. Or at least not too many of them are. But they are different. Unusual. They’re not like the other Empyreans.”
“Have you been to this island?” Mekos asked.
“No.” He grimaced. “My foresight isn’t as clear as your grandmother’s. I believe she has the ability to propose different possibilities of action. I cannot. I can foresee what will probably happen, but that future can be changed.”
Aradella and Mekos glanced at each other. “We know that too well,” Aradella said. “Are you being blocked from that power or was it not born in you?”
Zeon smiled. “That’s the question I’d like answered. I think I’m being held back. Or maybe it’s my vanity that hopes so. Whatever the cause, I’d like a stronger power of foresight.” Hepointedly looked at Mekos, as though saying,Tell your grandmother.
The door opened, a guard entered, gave a curt nod to Zeon, then left. He turned back to them. “The horses are ready to take you to the cave if you’d like to go now.” They nodded yes. “But first, I have a gift for you. A bit of magic.”
