Page 10 of The Weaver

Back to Ahmya.

“You honor me with such a request,” Rekosh said softly, touching a knuckle to his headcrest, “but you are correct, Ahnset. I must refuse. My place is no longer in Takarahl.”

“I know, Rekosh. These tunnels will be too quiet without you.”

“While Kaldarak will be far too noisy,” said Telok.

“I will miss the noise.” Ahnset spread her arms, beckoning Rekosh, Urkot, and Telok closer with her hands. When they drew together, she wrapped all four of her big arms around the males in what the humans called a hug. “You are as much my brothers as Ketahn, though we do not share blood.”

She tipped her forehead forward, and all three males touched their headcrests to hers.

“And you, our sister,” Telok rasped.

“Keep yourselves safe,” Ahnset said, her voice rumbling into Rekosh. “Keep our tribe safe. I command it as your queen.”

“And we will obey as your brothers,” replied Rekosh. “I weave my words into a bond, Ahnset.”

“As do I,” echoed Urkot and Telok.

“Good.” Ahnset relaxed her embrace and straightened, releasing a soft trill as she looked down at the males. “Now go, before I decide to command you to remain.”

“May their eightfold eyes watch over you, Ahnset,” Urkot said, making his incomplete sign of the Eight.

Ahnset crossed her arms in the same gesture. “And you, my friends. My brothers.”

As Urkot and Telok withdrew, the former collecting his bag and the spears from the dais, Rekosh leaned closer to Ahnset, lowering his voice. “A final whisper before we depart.”

At Ahnset’s gesture, Korahla also moved close, eyes intent upon Rekosh.

“There are fresh rumors of Zurvashi’s followers hiding in the burial chambers,” he said.

“We have searched the burial chambers thoroughly, and Archspeaker Valkai and her spiritspeakers remain vigilant,” said Korahla, “but we will look again.”

“There are also whispers of her followers in the Tangle,” he continued, “as we have long suspected. These are said to come from Urshar, the broodsister of a former Fang called Ulkari. She claims Ulkari is in the Tangle with other followers of Zurvashi.”

Korahla hummed, the sound low and troubled. “I know of her. We will determine if Urshar speaks from knowledge or speculation.”

“Thank you, Rekosh,” said Ahnset. After a final brush of forelegs and a lingering meeting of their eyes, she pulled away.

Rekosh accepted his spear from Urkot, and the three males set out.

The first time Rekosh had left Takarahl for more than a few days had been to fight in Zurvashi’s war against Kaldarak. He’d been young, eager to experience adventure and glory with his friends. Eager to see the depths of the Tangle with his own eyes after hearing stories of its beauty and perils for years.

The second time had been when he’d joined Ketahn at the pit. When he’d given up his ties to this city to help his oldest, closest friend. He’d been more cautious then, but he’d not been able to deny his excitement despite the vast unknown stretching out before him—and the fury of the former queen blazing at his back.

This time was different. He was leaving not with a vague sense of his destination, but full knowledge of it. He knew exactly where he was going and exactly what he would do when he arrived there. This was no adventure into the unknown…at least not in the way his prior journeys had been.

He glanced around the Den of Spirits again, absorbing the serenity it had gained by being purged of Zurvashi’s taint, admiring the brilliance of the crystals. Perhaps his ancestors did dwell here in spirit, but Rekosh’s future was beyond Takarahl.

It awaited him in Kaldarak.

“Tell Ketahn I will visit soon,” Ahnset called, her powerful voice echoing through the cavern.

“We shall,” Rekosh replied over his shoulder.

“Ahnset,” Korahla intoned.

“Soon, Korahla. Takarahl endured without a queen before. Surely it can survive an eightday or two without its queen again, especially if you are here to oversee it.”

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