12. Skylar

12

Skylar

I'm jittery with excitement as we step back into the corridor. Without the greenery, the air seems cooler and smells less sweet. Still, now that I'm paying attention, the bulkheads are more textured than any human ship I've flown on, and the deck plates have a higher relief, giving it a more organic feel.

"You made an excellent impression," Tylan says. "It is uncommon for the Ehan to give so much attention to a single member of the crew, let alone a guest." Their tone is something between awe and bewilderment.

I don't like the awe part. I mean, it's better than suspicion or disdain, but I'd rather have the sistan as a friend than whatever awe means. "Tan said she'd be interested in the differences in how humans handle navigation," I explain. "I don't think it's any more than that."

"She said the ship likes you."

"Doesn't it like everyone on the crew?"

"I do not know." Tylan hisses out a sigh. "I have never spent much time with the Janu, in truth. They are not secretive, but they are very protective of their knowledge."

"Like Tan's responsibilities with the Raiva?"

"Yes. And you impressed her with your knowledge of navigation systems."

I sure studied hard enough. It's nice to see the hard work paying off.

"You saw nothing else… odd with the Janu, did you?"

I laugh. The entire thing had been odd, but I figure they're talking about the white scale thing. "No. Everyone was shades of purple. I mean, there were the robes. I've seen none of the rest of you in robes." The Asheraah tended toward minimalism in uniforms, letting their scale colors mark their status, which with Tan I appreciated.

"Ah, the Janu keep to the temple ways," Tylan offers as explanation. "Still, perhaps it would be best to visit the healers. We have a few hourmarks yet before Tan's due to return to your quarters."

The last thing I want is to be poked and prodded by doctors. "I want to see the gym," I say. "Tan says you have a big arena where you practice flying? I want to see it."

"Better the Raiva take you."

"He's so busy right now. Come on. It's way more interesting than watching me take medical tests, isn't it?"

"If there is an issue—"

"I'm not seeing dead Asheraah. I promise. Listen, I'll talk to Tan about it, and if he thinks I should see a healer, I'll go. But I feel fine. And you can't say you don't want to stretch your wings out a little, can you?"

Tylan's ear frills spread and contract. "A brief tour, then you must speak with the Raiva."

"Agreed. Short tour. Promise."

"Very well."

She takes me to a large compartment that's mostly open. The deck plating is covered in the Asheraahn equivalent of mats. At first glance, the whole thing reminds me of a cross between the mat rooms back on the stardocks and a giant outdoor patio. There's a smaller area set aside near the back that has a couple of small chairs and a large screen that looks a lot like the one in Tan's room, except it's not lit up.

Passing through the archway, I realize the compartment is much, much larger than I'd thought in the corridor. The ceiling is at least five stories high and the room itself is probably a good thousand square feet. The bulkhead has several more of the small alcoves like the one the Janu had offered us tea and perches as well. There are also what appear to be nets hanging from the ceiling.

Some Asheraah are scattered across the mats, with others in flight, some gliding, and a couple of them using their tails to lift themselves.

There's also a lot more Asheraah here than I expected, which is maybe a stupid thing to be surprised about, given the size of the compartment and the number of wings. A small flock near the ceiling seems to play a game like tag. Their chirping laughter echoes around me. All are the regular array of colors I know are acceptable for live Asheraah. All except one, doing what looks like is a series of complicated calisthenics on a floor mat. He is bone white. My gaze keeps going back to him, though I know I shouldn't stare.

He spreads his wings, though from this distance, they possess a strange translucent quality. All of this is strange.

I lean to Tylan and whisper. "What exercise is that?" I gesture toward the bone-white Asheraah.

"Ah, Ehan Subcommander Quayl'Gar'dee'al," Tylan says, hiccup-coughing at the appropriate points. "It is odd to see him doing floor exercises. He prefers flight."

His wings flap listlessly. They seem sickly, but I'm keeping that to myself. If I say anything about what I see, Tylan will be dragging me off to a healer, for sure. And maybe I need one. But something inside me says this ghost Asheraah thing isn't a trick of my mind.

"Can you fly?" I ask Tylan, gesturing toward a nearby perch maybe two stories up on the bulkhead.

"Of course!" Tylan bares their teeth in an Asheraah grin and, with a shoulder shrug, unfurls their wings. They crouch and leap into the air. It's magical to see. They tap down on the perch with their lower claws, turn, and drop back to my side.

I'm clapping as Tylan lands. "That was wonderful!" I exclaim. Why hasn't Tan taken me here? Shown me this? As wonderful as it was to see my friend flying, watching Tan would be even better. "Does Tan come here a lot?" I ask, trying to sound casual."

Tylan laughs. "So you wish to see the Raiva fly?" Their tail twitches, betraying amusement.

"Yes." My face flushes. I hope the temperature isn't making the pink tint worse. It's stupid to be embarrassed. I've seen him naked. I've had him inside me. Wanting to watch my lover fly isn't a strange thing. Right ?

"I will send him a com message," Tylan says. "I believe he would like to see this expression on your face."

"No! He's busy. Doing Raiva stuff." And by the way he's been acting, it's stressful Raiva stuff. Bureaucracy has to be fifteen times harder when your subordinates have claws, tails, and wings. "I don't want to bother him."

"Too late. I sent the message."

"Tylan!"

"I think, in this, the Raiva would like to be bothered," Tylan insists.

I'm too involved with our conversation to notice the bone white Asheraah, Subcommander something, until I hear his voice. "Excuse me, Starshadow Bounty Designate Skylar Zavien." His voice is cold, his tone formal.

Tylan, her wings partially open, startles, pulling them tight to her body as they turn. I turn too. I blink and blink again, hoping to bring some color to him. But it's no trick of the light. He's colorless and his wings are almost transparent, like a ghost's wings.

Fex.

Maybe I should go see the healers. His eyes are flat, black circles without rim or center, and his gaze is fixed. It reminds me of an insect's stare, and I shiver, drawing my arms around myself.

"Ehan Subcommander," Tylan says, bowing. I do the same, forcing myself to lower my arms.

"Sistan," he says with brief, dismissive nod, his gaze stuck on me. "Skylar Zavien."

"Yes?"

"I see the Raiva is quite comfortable allowing you to roam the ship at will." His tone is flat, his words on the proper side of politeness, but I feel his disapproval. Anger. Hate?

My stomach twists. "Tylan's with me," I say. "Is that a problem?"

"It is the Raiva's decision," he says, not answering the question.

"Do you fly too?" I ask, in part to change the subject, and in part because I can't imagine how wings that thin would hold him up. Unless I really am seeing things.

The subcommander's insect eyes narrow, and he says, "I had a sprain," he says, rolling his left shoulder. The wing shakes a couple of seconds later, and the movement feels wrong. "I am forbidden from flight for the next 10 cycles." He bares his teeth. It should be a smile, but it feels like a threat.

Get a hold of yourself, Sky.

Maybe I do need to see those healers.

"Are you well?" the Subcommander asks, and I realize something must have shown on my face, or maybe I've been staring too long.

I force a smile. "Just a little tired. The Janu Yar grilled me."

"The Ehan Janu granted you an audience?"

It wasn't quite an audience. Or, thinking back on the tea and questioning, maybe it was an audience. "Tan… uhh, the Raiva said she was interested in learning more about how humans do na vigation."

"I see."

Tylan pipes in. "The Ehan Janu was very impressed. She's invited Skylar back. Said she was a true navigator."

The Subcommander tenses, and his gaze swings between me and Tylan. He's frowning. "How… fortunate." He flexes his hands, the claw tips glinting in the overhead light. "To win the regard of the Janu is quite a feat."

His wings rise as he speaks, and beneath them, I see something shadow. My skin goes cold as thin tendrils of shadow, like antennae, unfurl from his shoulders.

"Ahh, thank you." I take a step back. My mouth is dry. Am I the only one seeing this? I glance at Tylan.

The shadow antennae freeze, and his expression goes blank for a second, like his face is made not of flesh and scales but clay.

"Sky!"

Relief flows through me as I hear Tan's voice and know, deep in my bones, that I'm safe.

Tan strides toward us from the entranceway, his tail swiping left and right, his gold eyes locking on the Subcommander. "Quayl," he says without even a nod to politeness. "What business do you have with my bounty?" His words are a hiss, and the threat is clear.

"None," the subcommander hisses, his wings opening. The shadow antennae are gone, and I'm wondering now if I imagined them in the same way I might be imagining his bone white scales. "We were simply discussing her visit with the Janu. It seems she impressed them."

"Which is no surprise to me."

"I do not doubt your judgment, Raiva, but is it safe to have this human wandering the ship on her own?" He tilts his head, a very snake-like movement that raises the hairs along my arms. "As an issue of safety, I mean."

"Why would she be unsafe with us?" Tan asks.

The subcommander presses his lips together, his nostrils flaring. "Merely an observation," he says. "She is without a mate. Discipline amongst the ranks can slip, given enough provocation."

"Skylar Zavien is mine, and if anyone dares touch her, they will answer to my claws," Tan snarls, his wing feathers raising.

The subcommander raises both hands, palm up. "I meant no offense, Raiva," he says. "Merely noting.

"She is under my protection," Tan snaps. "Now, Skylar, I think it best we take our leave."

Around us, other Asheraah have stopped and are watching the exchange. Some are smiling. Others look concerned.

"Yes," I say, nodding toward the group. "I'd like to go home now." As soon as the words fall out of my mouth, I realize the word ‘home' in that moment meant Tan's quarters. And the world seems to tilt again.

Is my home with him? Is that how my heart sees it?

"Ehan Subcommander," Tan says, nodding, his wings lowering as takes my hand.

When we are in the corridor, I turn to Tan. "We need to talk," I say.

"Did he hurt you?"

"No." I mean, he did nothing besides scare me to death with ghost antennae that may have been a figment of my imagination, anyway.

"If he, or anyone, threatens you, I will deal with them," Tan says. "You must not fear my crew."

I nod.

"Say it," Tan says.

"I will not fear your crew." And I shouldn't. Even though Quayl scared the stuffing out of me. What I really need to fear, it seems, is my brain. And how can I explain that to Tan? How can I explain it to myself?