Gama and Hest: An Ahsenthe Cycle companion novella (The Ahsenthe Cycle) Read Online Free Page A

posture. He didn’t speak. Gama wanted to flee the dais and sit with her corenta-kin, but courtesy was that a speaker stay put until all questions had been asked and answered. She looked across the room again, waiting.
    Reln cleared his throat. “The shimmering sky is worrisome, but skittish brez are hardly reason to leave the area while we still have orchards to harvest, herbs to gather, and beasts to groom for this Barren Season’s cloaks. Staying is even more important now. We must make up for the loss of the grain field that was destroyed.”
    Gama saw the colors playing across the throats of her kin as they listened — shades showing anxiety or resignation. She felt conflicted herself. Reln was right — they couldn’t go flying off just because of one odd happening. But it wasn’t only one event — it was one more.
    “Our plan,” Reln said, “is to remain here the next ten-day. I see no reason to change that. All of you will watch the sky and report anything unusual you see.” He stepped down from the dais — a clear sign that no questions were to be asked, no other opinions were to be voiced.
    A few of her sisters and brothers murmured to themselves or their neighbors, but most got up and walked toward the doors. The structures had all listened, and none spoke up — not even Hall, who usually felt the need to say something about any meeting held within its embrace. Gama clasped her hands together in front of her. There should have been discussion. She wasn’t the only nervous soumyo in the room. But maybe Reln was right. Talk would only get the kin worked up. Better to keep busy. Better not to think too much about it.
    The brownish-pink of uncertainty glowed softly on Hest’s throat. She knew the same color showed on hers.
     
    -=o=-
     
    Kroot , kroot , Home sent, to get their attention. Prill is coming .
    Gama looked up from where she sat on the floor weaving new fibers into her tools belt, strengthening it. Welcome her , please . Home opened its door wide.
    Prill settled on the floor pillow next to Hest but turned her face to Gama. “Reln sent me. He saw you were worried at the end of the meeting. He wanted to know what bothered you.”
    Only one spot barely lit brownish-pink showed Prill’s uncertainty and discomfort at having been sent to ask questions. But the heaviness Gama always felt from Prill was there — as though Prill lived her life carrying a large bag of sand in her arms.
    Maybe that brownish-pink spot meant something else though. Maybe Prill thought the same as Gama did — that if Reln wanted answers, he could come ask for himself. Gama hoped so. She and Prill shared harmony of thought and feeling so rarely, it would be nice if they were together on this.
    “The brez,” Gama said. “They’ve never acted like that. And the shimmer we saw. What is that? Did the shimmer scare the beasts?”
    Prill nodded, though Gama knew it wasn’t in response to her questions. Two more spots lit on Prill’s throat, light-gray joining brownish-pink. What worried her? Prill always seemed to be holding back her thoughts, her desires. It drove Gamma mad that Prill didn’t just say what was on her mind — spit it out and be done with it.
    “Are you frightened, too, Prill?”
    Prill huffed out a breath. More spots lit with discomfort colors. It took her a long moment to speak.
    “Reln wants to gather herbs again tomorrow. He says it’s up to us to show our sisters and brothers there’s nothing to be worried about. That everything goes on as always.”
    Gama nodded. “What worries you about that?”
    Prill scratched nervously at her leg but kept silent.
    Gama already knew the answer. “You don’t like being the healer’s student, do you?”
    Prill looked down at the floor. Her throat flared orange from embarrassment. “I don’t like going outside Reev to gather herbs. I feel better inside. Safer. I don’t like worrying all the time that I’ll make a mistake, choose something that looks