Chapter 9

More Than Responsibility

Maia couldn't forget the way the crowd had reacted, the fear that had swept through them like wildfire. They were terrified. Hells, even Maia had been and she was a scrav herself.

Although she couldn’t do what they did.

Matthias hadn’t said much about the scravs, but she could feel the tension radiating off him since their appearance earlier in the market. She glanced over to where her father was making some tweaks to their skimmer. He’d been working more furiously than ever, like he was desperate to leave. Like there was something chasing him.

Maia herself was just finishing up one last wiring on the Dame’s engine, then pulled herself into the drivers cab, turning the key on the ignition. The Dame’s engine rattled in protest, gave a spluttered, smoking cough, the old machine desperate to stay dead. But Maia was like a necromancer. Except for machines instead of fleshy things.

With a final splutter, the engine roared to life, ticking over smoothly in a way she’d not done in months.

Maia squealed, her joy spilling out in a burst of energy. She’d done it. She’d done it! She’d fixed the Dame all by herself.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Matthias glance over, his face breaking into a rare smile.

"You did it!" he cheered, making his way over, his usual gruffness softening.

She leapt down from the cab, throwing her arms around his shoulders, feeling the warmth of his approval wrap around her. “You clever girl,” he said, squeezing her tight, and for that moment, all was right. The Dame was back, and with it, the freedom to roam again.

They could go anywhere they wanted—maybe to the golden lake like last summer, or somewhere entirely new. They could drive down to Nephi or Sanjura, or could even head to…

Matthias put her down, making his way over to look over the engine as it purred. As the excitement settled, a thought came. One she had been nursing for a while.

“Ba, I think… I think we should go to Lindrao,” Maia began cautiously, testing the waters. “There’s skilled ciphers there, right? We could get those Verdant data archives unlocked—figure out what’s inside. It could help us… you know, with figuring out our Fatebonds?”

She wasn’t entirely sure why Lindrao called to her so strongly—part of it was Kyra, of course. Maia missed her. Lani was as close to a mother as Maia had ever had, but there was a detachment from Lani. Something that held the woman back, she felt more like an aunt than anything else.

While she’d not spent much of her childhood in Lindrao with Kyra, she had a connection with her. Something that she couldn’t explain. And she’d made other friends in the years they’d spent in Lindrao too. Then there was all the other promises that a major city like Lindrao held too. She couldn’t ignore the pull she had for all that teeming life. Something bigger—metaphorically—than the wasteland they were stuck in.

Matthias looked at her, his face shadowed by the encroaching twilight. She knew he hated the idea of returning there. She didn’t know what had happened between her father and Kyra. Something had driven a wedge between them because they’d seemed so happy together.

“Tonight,” he said after a long pause. “We’ll leave tonight.”

Maia blinked, surprised by his quick decision. She’d expected more resistance, more grumbling.

“Wait, really?” she asked, unable to hide her shock.

He nodded wiping his hands on an old rag. “The sooner we’re out of here, the better. We don’t need scravs sniffing around Red Market looking for trouble.” His words were clipped, dismissive, but Maia caught the undertone. This wasn’t just about the scravs. This was about something deeper—something that made him uneasy.

“We’ll take the skimmer with us,” he added, “it’s light enough to fit on the Dame’s roof if we latch it down. Pack up everything you want to hang on to, Lani will probably let us store some bits at hers, but everything else we’ll let Darn pick through.”

Maia stared at him, her heart racing in a swirl of excitement, nerves, and something she couldn’t quite name.

He’d agreed with me.

A part of her was scared to ask why, that by questioning it, would make him think and maybe change his mind. So instead, Maia quickly and quietly set to packing up the Dame for her first trip in nearly a year.

***

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

[Now Playing: Losu Track 53: Shop]

It never truly ‘got late’ in Red Market. Stalls didn’t close, not really, and people were always moving about, haggling, trading, and scurrying from one corner of the market to another. And most of the bars stayed open all night. But it was still ‘late’ by traditional standards, so Lani’s rootshop was quiet at this hour, past the evening rush. The smell of charred roots and spices, the warm glow from algae-neon lights lighting up the tables.

Maia sat across from Nix, chewing slowly on her meal, knowing it would be the last time they saw each other for a while. She loved Nix—loved her like a sister, loved all of her little quirks and idiosyncrasies. The way Nix always named her plants, the way she fussed over the smallest details. But a part of Maia wished that Nix had some spark of desire to explore more, to see beyond Red Market.

If she did, Nix could’ve been coming with them to Lindrao. The thought lingered, bittersweet. Maia didn’t want to leave her behind, but she knew that Nix’s world was here.

“You know, you could come with us,” Maia said softly, breaking the comfortable silence, “I I could ask Ba if you could come?”

“Lindrao? You know that’s not my thing, Maia,” Nix didn’t even look up from her plate as she spoke.

“I know, but...” Maia trailed off, her gaze drifting to where her father and Lani were standing and talking under the Lani’s Roots sign. Their conversation looked serious, then, after a few words, they moved inside the house.

“I just feel like there’s so much out there you’re missing. You’d love it, Nix. There’s loads of plants, there’s libraries, coffeeshops. It’s not all crowds and noise.”

Nix sighed. She met Maia’s eyes. “I love Red Market. I’m not like you, Maia. I don’t need to see what’s out there to feel like I’m living.”

“Yeah, but…” Maia rubbed the back of her neck, frustration mingling with affection. “You don’t want to see more? To see what it’s like outside of here?”

“You’re always looking for more,” Nix gave a small smile, shaking her head. “That’s what makes you, well... you. I’m just... content. Red Market already is more for me.”

Maia studied her, a pang of disappointment in her chest. She wished Nix could understand that it wasn’t about restlessness; it was about not settling for ‘just enough’. But Nix had always been grounded, like the plants she cared for.

“I guess I just wanted you to come,” Maia admitted quietly, staring down at her hands. “It would’ve been fun to have you with us. And… I’ll miss you.”

Nix reached over, lightly tapping Maia’s hand. “You’ll be back before you know it. And don’t worry, I’ll keep working on turning the whole of Red Market green while you’re gone.”

Maia chuckled, but there was an edge of sadness to it. “Yeah, I know you will.”

“You’ve always had this pull to see more, to do more,” Nix softened. “I love that about you. But don’t feel bad about me staying. I’m where I need to be.”

“I know,” Maia sighed, offering a small smile. “But I’m still going to try and convince you next time.”

Nix laughed lightly, rolling her eyes. “I’d expect nothing less from you.”

“Do you mind if I grab a few things I left in your room?” Maia asked, remembering the few bits she’d left there that she should really bring with her for the trip. Nix nodded, and indicated she’d follow up after she finished her fried roots.

Maia made her way inside the house, the stairs creaking beneath her weight as the music of the nearby bars faded away. She was about to turn into Nix’s room when she caught the low murmur of voices from another room. She could hear Lani’s voice, edged with concern.

“They were looking for you. Both of you,” she hissed.

“I know,” Maia heard her father’s reply, “I asked around. That’s why we’re leaving tonight.”

“What shit are you pulling that girl into, Matthias?” Lani was furious, angrier than Maia had ever heard her. The edge in her voice sent a chill down Maia’s spine. She hesitated, guilt pricking at her for eavesdropping, but they were talking about her. She had a right to know, didn’t she?

“This is my problem, Lani,” Matthias shot back, his tone harsh.

“I know it is,” Lani snapped. “That’s the issue! You’re endangering the poor girl, Matthias.”

“Endangering her? Nothing is more important to me than protecting her. Nothing.” His words came out fierce, laced with frustration. Maia froze, her breath caught in her throat.

“Oh really?” Lani challenged, refusing to back down. “Because this sure as hells doesn’t look like it. Those scravs murder people, Matthias. Whatever you’ve done has drawn them here.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Matthias' voice rose, and Maia could almost picture him standing there, jaw clenched, eyes hard. “That’s why we’re leaving!”

“You’re going Lindrao to open up those data archives, don’t lie to me. This is about your Fatebond, I know it is. You’re going to risk Maia because of it.”

“Maia is my Fatebond, Lani,” Matthias hissed, exasperated. “I’m supposed to protect her. And that’s what I’m doing.”

Maia felt the world tilt beneath her feet. She stumbled back, her heart racing as if she’d been punched in the gut. Her father knew? He’d known all along what his Fatebond was? And he’d lied to her? He’d always claimed that—like her—he wasn’t clear on what his demanded of him. That he was just in the dark about it as she was.

But why? Why lie to her? And—perhaps more importantly—why was his Fatebond to protect her?

He’d always done that anyway, but he was her father, he was supposed to protect her, wasn’t he? All of the implications of that revelation rushed at her. The fact that it was more than just love, more than just responsibility—it was his Fatebond, something he couldn’t escape from. And he’d hidden it from her.

All of it was too much to think about right now

She quietly stepped away from the doorway, her feet barely making a sound as she made her way down the stairs. It wasn’t the time for confrontations. Not yet. They were leaving tonight for Lindrao. She didn’t want to risk her father changing his mind about that with her confronting him. Everything else could wait until after.

“You get what you need?” Nix asked as she stepped outside. Nix was idly fidgeting with a plant pot, oblivious to the conflict inside Maia.

“Oh what? Uhm, oh, I think I made a mistake, I’ve got everything.”

From above, the sound of footsteps echoed down the stairs. Lani and Matthias were coming, Lani looking as jovial as ever though Maia knew better now.

Lani pulled Maia into a warm hug. "You look after your father, yes? The man never eats enough."

“Thanks, Lani. I will,” Maia returned the hug, holding on just a moment longer than usual.

“Got everything?” Matthias asked, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Maia tried to match it, to plaster on some semblance of excitement.

“Yeah. Got it all.”

Lani glanced between them, eyes sharp, catching the tension in the air. “Maybe you should wait until morning?” she suggested gently.

“No,” Matthias said firmly. “We’re going tonight.”