Page 74 of Needed in the Night
“I am leaving Fortusia as well,” Pioni said. She smiled at my obvious confusion. “I sent my luggage ahead to the port earlier today. So you’ve no need to fear for me.”
The transport glided smoothly into motion and accelerated. Nubo must have moved out of the way. Pity.
“But why are you leaving?” I asked. “Because of Nubo?”
“No, not because of him.” Pioni crossed her ankles. “My kind are wanderers. I have been restless for some time, but stayed because Fortusia is so lovely and Ycari has been a wonderful friend and confidant. The instinct to roam has become too strong for me to ignore now.” Her hands and arms flushed. “I feel someone is calling to me. Perhaps my mate has reached maturity.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” I said as Mikas clasped my hand in both of his. “Where do you plan to go?”
“I do not know,” she confessed. “I will go to the port and wander until I am drawn to a particular voyage. I will know which ship to board by listening to my heart. And wherever I go, I will continue to help those who need it.”
“I hope to do that too again someday.” I bit my lip. “When you say you’ll bedrawnto a destination, what does that feel like?”
“It is difficult to describe.” Pioni hummed as she thought. “I have heard it described as the feeling of solving the last piece of a puzzle, or finding the right key after trying many that did not fit. I do not have the words to describe it more clearly than that, especially as I have not experienced it myself.”
I rested my head on Mikas’s bicep.
Two years ago, despite being arguably a terrible candidate toadopt an animal companion, I’d been walking down a street on Pallasia and felt drawn to go into a shelter and inquire about an orphaned shadowbat who’d then instinctively imprinted on me. Brae and I often teased each other about how we’d met, but we both felt certain in some way it had been meant to happen.
The night I’d shared a bunk and a bottle of moonshine with Novee, I’d chosen Fortusia as my destination. All I’d known of the planet was images I’d seen of its beauty and some general knowledge about Fortusians’ use of genetic engineering.
Brae and I had discussed several potential destinations, but from the moment I found out the Web had put me on indefinite leave, this beautiful world had been top-most in my mind. Had I feltdrawnto Fortusia? It would be easy enough to say so now, knowing Mikas and I would meet here, but thinking back to that night aboard the cargo carrier, I didn’t remember the kind of feeling Pioni described. But even so, I had come to Fortusia, to Onat’ras, to Zaa’ga, and found Mikas waiting for me.
I hoped with all my heart Pioni would find her way to her mate and they’d be happy together for the rest of their lives.
The Alpha Megaport was a little over a kilometer from the market. The trip took only a few minutes once the transport reached the transit path that ran alongside the main boulevard. As much as I wanted to get aboard a ship, I wished this leg of the journey could have been longer. Jakora would be beautiful too, but I would miss this city.
At the port, the embassy guards escorted Mikas, Pioni, and me not to one of the many kiosks or a gate but the office of a private booking agent. I had never arranged travel with an agent before.
Atlath had already purchased our berth on a cruiser bound for the enormous Section VII transit hub on the ice planet Aloris. Once there, we would book our own travel under our new identities, changing ships in several places until we reachedJakora. All we needed to do in the office was have our travel documentation loaded onto our wristcomms.
Pioni and the guards accompanied us to the entrance to the docking ring for passenger ferries. Smaller ships could dock at the port, but the larger cruisers stayed in orbit, accessible only via these ferries. I saw no sign of anyone I recognized as one of Nubo’s agents, and neither did Brae, but the back of my neck wouldn’t stop itching.
My farewell with Madame Ycari had been tearful enough, but saying goodbye to Pioni made my heart ache. She was a kindred spirit. We were both singers who’d once been prized and possessed for our talent and decided to take that power back and sing for ourselves.
“Come visit us someday if you can,” I told her, fighting back tears. “You and your mate.”
“We will,” she promised. “I know in my heart I will see you again, my friends. This is not goodbye—it isula’nagora.”
“Fortusian, foruntil we meet again,” Mikas translated for me, his thumb stroking my fingers. “Be safe in your travels, Pioni.”
With a smile, she left with one of the guards, while the other accompanied us to the ferry. Our cases had gone ahead in a cargo transport and would be waiting for us on the ship.
“Please keep Ambassador Atlath apprised of your well-being until you reach your destination,” the guard croaked at the gate. “Safe travels to you both.”
We thanked our guard and boarded the ferry. Our seats were near the front, allowing us a good view of the rest of the passengers. Neither of us saw anyone we recognized or anyone watching us with more than a passing interest. In shadow form, Brae nestled himself into a corner above my head.
When the hatch closed, Mikas tucked me under his arm and kissed my temple.
“We are only minutes away from our cabin,” he murmuredinto my ear. “You will need to ask Brae to explore the ship for a few hours once we are settled in.”
Brae’s shadow discreetly slipped away toward the back of the passenger compartment. I bit the inside of my cheek to stifle a chuckle.
“Oh, I know. I’m sleepy too,” I said, with an exaggerated yawn. “I love to sleep on a starship. The engines are so soothing.”
“You will get no sleep for a while,” he warned, his eyes gleaming. “I want to make love to my mate as we look down on Fortusia from orbit.”
My sweet, insatiable Mikas. “Your mate might agree to that,” I said. “Under certain conditions.”
