Page 88 of Sway's Peace
That was what finally convinced him to open the door. Vweet smiled brightly as soon as he saw him, crest starting to rise.
“Hello, Eefwan,” he greeted quite warmly. “I’m glad I was able to catch you before you got started with your day. Veesway is down in the central square. He likes to meet with the people of the Song there from time to time. He wanted to know if you would join him. Just the two of you. I’m merely here to deliver the message this time.”
He was whistling again. Speaking in their native tongue. Sway couldn’t persuade himself to respond in turn, so he answered in Standard.
“I wanted to spend the day with Grace, actually.”
“Oh, she’s already gone.”
“Gone?” Sway frowned, his crest tightening against his head as his anger rose. “What do you mean she is gone?”
Vweet blinked at him, confused, before saying quickly. “Nothing bad! Of course! Veesway asked some friends of his, females, to escort her today. To teach her about our people. She should be in the square as well. That’s all I meant.”
He seemed genuine. Loyalty being missing meant Sway was probably being overly sensitive. They weren’t going to hurt Grace, of course not. They were farasie. They couldn’t.
He grunted, nodding. “Very well. I’ll speak with Veesway.AfterI see Grace.”
Vweet, to his surprise, looked suddenly heartbroken. “Brother. I understand you’ve been through a lot… But what horrors could have possibly befallen you that you cannot trust your own kind? You know we would ever do anything to bring her harm.”
They couldn’t hurt her physically. That didn’t mean they couldn’t do her harm.
But Sway didn’t say that. Instead, he leaned into what Vweet clearly believed was another mark of his traumatic experience. And maybe it was, but he wouldn’t do anything until it was proven that Grace was still around and unharmed.
“I will feel better once I see her,” he said, deliberately making his expression and tone fearful and longing. Playing to Vweet’s pity for him to get what he wanted.
Sure enough, Vweet, crest laid low, gave him an understanding smile. “Of course. Are you dressed? We can go now.”
He was. Out of the farasie style costume and back into his comfortable jumpsuit with the high neck and the heavy boots. He felt more like himself as he stepped back into the hallway. Though Vweet watched him, confused and hurt, Sway still took the time to first cross the hall to Grace’s room. To make sure she wasn’t still there, that everything was still in its place. Once he confirmed that she was indeed gone and there was no sign of a struggle, he finally left and followed Vweet out of the inn and back onto the street.
It wasn’t the first time he walked through the city without one of the others. Their first day here, Vweet had given him new clothes and walked him through. But he hadn’t been payingmuch attention then, too focused on his own internal disquiet. He was now. It was different.
The music of the Song flowed around him without interruption. His people smiled and greeted him as he passed. There was no bubble of aversion from Loyalty. There was no sense of polite distance from the presence of Grace.
It was the first time he understood really what it was like to walk among his people. And it was stunning. There was a sense of peace and calm that he didn’t recognize. But it wasn’t bad. As they continued moving through, he felt that calm sinking into his body. Easing his discomfort.
They hadn’t hurt Grace. Of course, they hadn’t. She was safe. This place was safe. These people were safe. His crest wasn’t fully up, but nor was it lying flat against his head. It remained somewhere in the middle, partially up, reflecting his general comfort. Lulled into peace from the beauty of the song that hummed throughout the city.
The central square was busy, as it always seemed to be. The beautiful melodies of the people going about their life was soothing. So much so, Sway didn’t even feel that pressure, that unease, from last night when he caught sight of Veesway.
The older male was talking with a group of others, but when he spotted Sway, he quickly ended the conversation and came towards them instead. He gave Vweet a grateful smile before focusing on Sway, touching his shoulder.
“There you are, my son. Thank you for coming out.”
“Where’s Grace?” Sway asked, cutting him off before he could get into anything else. He might be feeling the peace of hispeople, but he wouldn’t lose sight of that most important thing first.
Veesway blinked, confused, before chuckling. He pointed. “Over there. I had some friends of mine come meet her. There’s a lot for her to learn about farasie culture. She seems eager to do so. Don’t worry. I’ve been keeping an eye on her.”
Sway didn’t have to search long to find Grace. Not just because she was a drastically different color from the females around her, but it was like his eyes were immediately drawn to her, regardless of the size of the crowd.
Grace, surrounded by five farasie females, was sitting out in front of a beauty parlor. She was wearing another farasie style dress, this one dyed bright, vibrant orange and purple. Two females were moving around her, brushing and braiding feathers into her hair. Another one was chatting with her with a serious look that Grace was meeting with a bright smile.
Seeing her, safe and happy, Sway was able finally to relax properly.
“You really care for her, don’t you?”
Sway turned, looking back at Veesway. The older male had a tender smile on his face. Vweet had stepped away, leaving them alone in the street.
“She’s important to me,” Sway agreed neutrally, hackles immediately raising. He liked the peace of this place. He even enjoyed being around his own kind. For as temporary as he knew it must be, he felt like he could still keep in touch with Veesway once he was gone. Still learn about his own kind. It was like reclaiming his pacifism. It was a chance to restore part of his past that he had killed.
