Page 32 of Captured on Film
A faint whine startled him.
Had the piteous sound come from Andor?
“He did not mean to deprive you.”
Caleb wasn’t sure what to say. Or what to do. He, who’dprotested hand-holding minutes earlier now clung to Andor’s fingers, keepingcontact with his ring. To let go was to lose touch with something he wanted badlyenough, it might be a need. But clinging to his captor smacked of some kind ofsyndrome.
With great reluctance, Caleb took back his hand.
Eri claimed it instead.“We must stay close, or my wordswill not reach you.”
Averting his gaze, he asked, “Are you a prisoner, too?”
“Too?”
“You said he caught you.”
They lifted a palm and mimed pulling something to theirchest.“He rescued me when I tumbled down. Was it not the same for you?”
Fresh fear pierced Caleb as memories resurfaced—the ragingbear, the reckless path, the crumbling riverbank. Did Andor’s rescue count ifhe was the reason they’d needed one? Maybe Eri was happy here. Even Josheb treatedhis captivity as a stroke of good luck. But Caleb whispered, “It’snotthe same.”
Star Wine
Caleb could tell Eri was speaking with Andor because ofthe range of fidgets and grimaces that were the latter’s response. Mister Bigwas clearly frustrated, but Caleb didn’t have the context to understand why.
He needed facts. He wanted answers.
Touching Eri’s arm—in part to see if they were real—Caleb asked,“Why didn’t Hesper know about you?”
“I am a very great secret. And a good one.”Eri’shand settled over Caleb’s.“Few know that there is truth in the old storiesof the clans of sky and stone and wood.”
“You’re a myth?”
“I am the truth behind the ancient tales.”Pressingthe flask into Caleb’s palm, they added,“I am a foretaste of an unfolding future.Share it with me.”
Caleb took one mouthful and then another. The liquor was mellowinghis mood and sharpening his senses. The stars were braver and brighter, and theirsongs rang clearer than ever. “I told Josheb. Maybe I shouldn’t have. Maybe itwon’t matter.”
Nobody took Josheb’s wild speculations seriously.
More to the point, nobody would hear them.
“Do you want to know why star wine is superlative to allothers?”
Caleb smiled bitterly. He already knew too much. What wasone more secret? “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. Not that I’m any kindof aficionado.”
“In long ago days, when the stars were young and themountains were unclimbed and whole forests stood empty, a curious star found acleft in a rock and dipped in a finger.”
Eri waited expectantly, so Caleb asked, “Was anythingthere?”
“The contented purring of celestia bumbers, fat upon the rarestof pollens, and the sweetest of delicacies, for the star’s curiosity was rewardedby a taste of their nectar.”
Caleb stole a glance at Andor. “Is that important?”
“For one curious star, adefiningmoment.”Eritouched their chest.“Have you reasoned out the purpose I found?”
“You said you’re a vintner. And Hesper mentioned honeymead.” Caleb drew the obvious conclusion. “Was the honey you found aningredient?”
“Merryvale’s mead takes its sweetness from the sun—goldenbees and golden honey. Star wine is another matter, and Andor knows thesecret.”
