I decide to try my luck with the only thing that I know can be an interpreter of sorts. The talking ball of light had retreated into the hollow of the spaceship when the commotion of the search party was happening. Somehow, I will need to coax it out again. Offering my hand up to the black screen like I'd seen Rynn do, I watch as my palm gets scanned. And then, nothing. Pulling back, I blink at where the hollow used to be. Glancing over my shoulder I can tell Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum will be no help so I try once more. "Come on, I need your help," I say out loud as my hand gets scanned once more. "Please."
There's silence and then a soft whirring before the hollow appears again and with it, the talking-ball-God-thing. "Please," I say to it, "is there any way that I can communicate with the..." what had it called them? "... the Trix-... the Trixa-"
"The Trixikka," the little floaty God supplies in that same woman's voice as before.
"Yes, thank you. I'm stuck here with them and we need to be able to talk."
The ball bobs and whizzes for what feels like an eternity. "We can gift you with the technology to be able to communicate with the Trixikka," it says, "but it will come at a cost."
Well, it's not really a 'gift' then, is it?
I swallow the remark and instead ask, "what is the price?"
"Offerings."
"I... I don't have anything to offer."
Beside me, one of my guards seems to be brave enough to approach. He offers a fist to his chest in greeting, I think, and then turns to the spinning ball of light to say something in his native tongue, the tail behind him flicking.
"... That will be acceptable," the ball answers him.
"What? What will be acceptable?"
The sparks flying around the ball crackle. "The Trixikka warrior has proposed that he provide an offering in your stead. The technology you seek will be delivered once he has completed his promise."
I reach out and touch the bird-man's arm, watching his lights zing up his arm. "Thank you!" I tell him earnestly before turning back to ask, "can you ask him his name, please?"
***
The one named Aloryk - the bird-man who had offered to help me - had hurried away to get his 'offering'. I really, really hope it's not a dead animal. Or worse, a live one that will need to be slaughtered to appease the spinny-ball-of-light-God. Thankfully, he is not long. The other guard who was left with me had looked so incredibly antsy at being left as my sole carer, it was almost comical.
Aloryk returns, carrying with him a clay pot with a lid. Honestly, it looks similar in shape to an urn you might keep someone's ashes inside and I hope to all the little spinny-ball-Gods out there that that's not the case. On the outside, the pot is decorated with symbols that I can't figure out. Aloryk hands his pot over to me, the lights on his cheeks glowing brighter and it makes me wonder if it's related to blushing. The melon-sized pot fills my hands and as I hold it, Aloryk reaches across and lifts the lid for me to inspect its contents. Inside, the pot is filled with a milky substance that reminds me of something unmentionable, except this stuff has flecks of iridescence that reminds me of those stones Rynn keeps in his trunk - the ones that had looked like opals on steroids. Maybe this stuff came from wherever those fancy rocks came from. Either way, I make sure to smile widely at Aloryk in thanks. "It's pretty," I say though I know he doesn't understand what I'm saying. Despite the language barrier, the sentiment seems to translate as Aloryk's chest puffs up with what looks like pride when he replaces the lid on the pot. "Thank you," I tell him before turning back to the big spaceship to summon the spinny-ball-God again.
A few moments after placing Aloryk's offering into the hollow and watching it disappear, the hollow appears again and at first glance, I think it is empty, but there, on a small, white shiny square are two, small dots. "The larger of the two translators is to be placed directly behind the earlobe," spinny-ball-God tells me as she bobs up and down. "The smaller fixes to the underside of your tongue. Please install this one first."
"Alright," I answer, scooping both translators up into my palm. How can something so tiny do such an amazing thing? "And this will work? I'll be able to understand Rynnandspeak his language."
"You will not be speaking Trixikka, however, the device beneath your tongue will alter your language to those listening."
"Amazing," I mutter, marveling at the dots in my hand. Balancing the smallest one on my finger, I lift it to my mouth guiding it under my tongue. Instantly, the thing attaches. The sensation is a weird one. I can't tell if it's penetrated my tongue somehow, though it seems thoroughly embedded and there is no pain. Taking the other, larger translator, I offer it similarly; balanced on my pointer finger and guiding it to the instructed location behind my earlobe. This one attaches instantly too, except this time there is the distinct sensation of something penetrating my skin, making me gasp. Then, it quickly feels like cold liquid is leaking into the site of the attachment and rapidly coating the inside of my skull.
I look at Aloryk, suddenly worried that I've made a mistake. His eyes are wide and I see him reach for me even as the corners of the world darken and I start to collapse.
Chapter 9
RYNN
I cannot believe it! There aremorefemales! My Protectors are in such high spirits now, it seems they might soar straight into the twin suns. Currently, I am high above the eastern edge of our territory, any further, and I will encroach on High Spear Zarriko's skies. Though the females do not know that, and they may have already stumbled that way.
Or been carried off by a band of mimyckah.
No, I must not think that way. Nor must I start listing the dangers of my land that the females might encounter. My Protectors and I will find them. This I know.
I am anxious to return to my Zahreenah but it must wait. This must have been what she has been trying to tell me all along; that other females require our help. And there I was, busy being awed by her and wondering what it was she had done when she had put her mouth to my mouth. I can almost still feel her on my lips. It was a brief experience, but an exhilarating one. I hope to make many mouth-on-mouths with Zahreenah once we have returned her companions to her.
It takes almost half a day when I see Mavyx dive into the forest not too far in the distance. I beat my wings, speeding over to where I believe I saw him disappear into the canopies below. He returns to the sky, and when he does, he is not alone.
In his arms is another, flightless, tailless creature - a female. This one has darker skin than that of my Zahreenah and her hair is as black as Trixikka feathers. She wears cloth the same color as a nectar berry flower but is limp in Mavyx's arms. "Is she..." I do not wish to utter the word. My Second Spear gently shifts her in his arms, prompting a groan to escape her lips. "Quick brother, we must get her back and take her to the healers!"
