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Nevari

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Chapter Thirty-Five: Duty Above All - Part Two

Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant

Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation

Solar System: D-447

Planet: Ora

Location: Beneath the planet's surface, Naro City, Yul Clan Assembally Hall

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She is still on his bunk. My mouth moves, ready to speak insult against this strange woman. I hold back the words though, my father expects more of me. I will not dishonor him and the Clan by lowering myself to her taunts.

“Do not play into her hand.” Arrum says weakly, rolling to his side, looking at her cautiously.

The green haired woman laughs, pulling Kalon’s blankets into her grasp, smelling it deeply as well. The vein in my forehead throbs. Who is this woman? Why is she acting so familiar with his things? How does Arrum know her? Why have I not seen her before?

Before I can think further on it, I hear more footsteps behind me. It is Yuri and one of my father’s loyal guards. They carry Kalon toward his bunk. Arrum tries to leave his own bunk to help them, but I press him back. He is so weakened it only takes one hand. Hopefully the brothers will return soon, if not, I worry if father will treat him. We only have the Clan shard left. It is close to transitioning to Netherium after helping those Ulima brothers. If he were to let it change, it would be a bad omen for the Clan. In the four hundred years that our Clan has stood, it has always glowed blue.

“Ah, there he is.” The woman says, a deeper smile springing on her face as she moves from the bed, pulling back the blanket so they can rest him under it.

The green haired woman pulls the blanket over Kalon snugly, brushing the hair from his eyes. Kalon says something quietly that I cannot quite hear.

“Arrum is there, do not fret.” She says softly, tilting his head to the side.

“Kada, I am here.” Arrum says, trying to sit up again, but I press him back down.

“You need to rest.” I say sternly to Arrum.

A look of relief at seeing Arrum sends Kalon’s eyes closed once again.

Yuri gives the woman a nod, then looks over at Arrum.

“How are you feeling Arrum?” Yuri asks.

“I will mend, chief.” Arrum says, wincing as he tries to sit up to look at Kalon “How is he?”

Yuri turns, looking at Kalon too “He is a fighter like you, he will be fine.”

Again Arrum tries to sit up, it is Yuri this time that presses him back gently, pulling the blanket up to his neck. Giving him a look that says, rest and recover. It has always surprised me how kind he is to Arrum and Kalon. One of the few who are. Most treated them as what they are, Ulima, at least until their recent matches. Now others seem to have respect for them too. Yuri though, he never treated them differently. Perhaps because he was once Ulima too.

After Yuri departs and I put a fresh rag on Arrum’s forehead, checking that the Netheric lines have not worsened, I turn back to Kalon. My jaw tenses as I do, my chest stirring with an unfamiliar emotion.

The green haired woman pets Kalon’s hair playfully, swiping his bangs back and forth, blowing in his ear. Her eyes move towards mine as she whispers to him some kind of treacherous melody. She twirls his hair in her finger now, tilting her head to the side even more at me as she does. There is something stirring in me as I see her acting so familiar with my… with Kalon. It is inappropriate, he should be resting, not dealing with her… her torments.

My heart is beating faster as she kisses his forehead, her eyes locked onto me, a smile forming on her lips. She is toying with me, isn’t she?

“My, you seem flustered.” She says, an infuriating shallow laugh follows as she leans against Kalon. Whispering in his ear again. His head turns to her weakly.

“Korra…” Kalon says, his eyes barely flitting open, he is still feverish.

“I am here…” she says, turning an eye at me as she finishes with “my darling.”

Darling? Preposterous, he would never. I am the only one he sees like that. The vein does not fall back this time as my fist clenches, there is only one thought on my mind now. How much I want to punch that grin off her face. This woman named Korra, she is…

“Nevari.” I hear my father say sternly from my side.

When did he get here? Blinking quickly, as though leaving a daze, I turn and see he is standing next to me. A look on his face that is usually reserved for my brother’s failings.

“Your eyes,” he says.

My hands move to my face, only now realizing I shamed myself by letting them glow. How did I not feel them? I was so mad that I… this woman. My jaw tenses as I look at her.

“Nevari.” Father says sterner now.

My eyes close, deep breaths push away her torments on my calm.

“Mind yourself.” Father says, glancing over at Korra and Kalon before moving to Arrum.

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He does not stay long, it would be improper of the Clan Chief to linger over the welfare of Ulima. He motions for me to follow. My eyes glance back at Korra.

“Don’t worry, I will take care of him.” Korra says, her eyes beg me to fight her.

My duty is to my father now, I should not let her distractions bother me. Following behind him, I see he scans the area looking for someone, probably Neeba. I wonder where he has run off to. It is unlike him to make father look for him.

“My chief.” Tribe Chief Dekarn says, giving a less than acceptable bow to my father.

His eyes look me up and down after my father passes, moving to where my spot was behind him. I do not show it bothers me, I will not give him the satisfaction. Besides, he brought five tribes to the Clan. He is in father’s circle of trust. He does well for us. I should not be so impetuous. It is improper.

“Speak quickly.” Father says.

“Is there any news on when the next ship will be announced, my chief?” Dekarn says.

“No.”

Dekarn’s face frowns from this, but he seems like there is something else he wants to speak of, something he doesn’t wish to say in front of me. Father gives me a look, telling me to break away from them. Nodding to him obediently I move back six paces so they can converse in secret. It is irritating that father does this. How does he expect me to learn, and become an effective Clan Chief if he does not include me in important discussions? It is inefficient to not train your successor.

Letting out a sigh, my eyes defy me as I turn to steal a glance back at Korra and Kalon. My stomach lurches into a knot as I see her hand brushes through his hair. Anger is bubbling up inside me as she brings her face close to his. He is too weak to defend himself from her. Looking back at father, I see he has pulled more chiefs into conversation. It will be awhile until I can rejoin him. Perhaps I should practice self control and speak with this woman. Regain some of my lost pride.

I am about to move toward her, when I see my brother, pacing behind someone else’s bunk, his fingernails in his mouth. Something is wrong with him. My feet draw to him, but when I approach, he does not greet me. He mutters to himself, pacing more fervently.

“He knows…” Neeba begins, pacing again “He knows…”

“Neeba, what are you…” I begin, but coming closer, I look at his hands. They bleed from the fingernail beds, he has chewed them down.

“Leave me alone.” Neeba says, trying to leave.

“Neeba.” My father’s voice booms from across the room.

Neeba’s hands drop to his side, his body becoming rigid as his eyes widen.

“Fa…father.” He says, I can see his chest rising and falling rapidly. His breathing erratic.

“Why did you not come when I summoned you?” father asks him, peering at his mannerisms, giving me a glance. Then strangely giving a glance toward Arrum and Kalon before coming to rest on Neeba again.

“I… I am sorry father,” Neeba says, bowing deeply, more so than he normally would.

“Come.” Father says to him, beckoning him to follow.

I move to walk with them now, heading back to the Clan Chief’s private quarters, but father turns and gives me a look. One that means, do not follow. There is irritation in me as they leave. Yet again father does not include me. How will I learn from him if he never lets me look deeper? Does he not realize this? Perhaps I should speak to him about it. No, he does not respect those who complain. I must show him somehow that I can be of more use, though perhaps he is testing me in some way.

After the door to father’s private quarters close, my feet whisk me towards the foul woman Korra. I would know her intentions. She seems untrustworthy. I need to know more about her. Taking position next to Arrum, I check the rag on his forehead. The Netheric lines have deepened since he first came back. He has two days until he will begin the change, if he is lucky. Half of his left eye is crimson. There is worry in me for my cousin. I had hoped someday he would be one of my trusted chiefs. Perhaps I should ask father… no, we cannot be seen to make exceptions for an Ulima. Even if they are blood. Arrum is the constant reminder for everyone. If he would keep his own blood Ulima, what will he do to those who are not when they fail. He cannot show favoritism. He is better than the old chief Barnak.

“You still haven’t opened the gift from my Goddess yet, have you.” Korra says, blotting the sweat from Kalon’s brow.

Goddess? Gift? What gift does she mean? In her hand she holds a small black box. Intricate patterns are weaved on all sides of it. I recognize it. Kalon looks at it every night when he thinks no one is watching. It seemed important to him. Did she give it to him? Why is a gift from her so special to him? He never showed any interest in the things I gave him. In less than a week he lost the knife I made him, after spending countless hours on it. Yet this gift that she gave him, he holds it as though precious each night. Is it to be reminded of her? The vein in my forehead throbs.

“Not to worry, I am here, I will show you how to open it,” she begins, looking up at me now, she leans in close to his ear and says “Darling.”

She pulls his head softly into her chest, giving me a wicked smile. Placing the box back under his pillow.

“Vekka…” I seethe.

She laughs, flipping her hair to the side. Running her hand through his hair now, so affectionately it makes me ill. My legs move without thinking, so does my hand as I pluck hers from him, holding it firmly.

“Can I help you?” she asks, tilting her head to the side.

“Nevari…” Arrum says weakly, trying to sit up yet again “She enjoys toying with people.”

My hand is balled in a fist, my eyes tell her to give me a reason. Her eyes tell me the same.

Korra’s grin stings at my nerves, but I release her hand. My own hand falls slowly to my side, I am better than this. I should not lower myself. She is trying to get a rise out of me. Perhaps she knows Kalon’s feelings for me and is jealous. Turning from her, and Kalon, I walk to Arrum. His eyes flit back and forth between us.

“Do not worry, it would take more than the taunts of a Vekka to get a rise from me,” I say, giving him a nod.

He looks at me strangely, lowering his head back onto his pillow. Watching Korra intently, his blade resting in his grasp. Taking a deep breath, I calm myself, moving towards my father’s quarters.

“Don’t worry darling, I’m still here.” She says.

My ears prickle from the word. Darling. I do not turn to look, her tricks will not work on me again. I am the Clan Chief’s daughter, I need to act like it. Holding my head high, my pride intact, mostly, I leave them.

When I reach my father’s door, I see Neeba is there, waiting outside. Still biting at what’s left of his nails. Father has not finished his meeting with the chiefs.

“Stop that.” I say, grabbing his hand from his mouth “What is wrong with you?”

He does not look at me as he pulls his hand away. Something is bothering him, but he does not say what.

“Let me go.” He growls, pacing back and forth.

The last time I saw him like this was when he was a boy. After he destroyed our father’s favorite bow. My jaw tenses. What has he done this time? Why is he always failing father’s expectations? When we fought for spots, he did not even get selected for the second day. The shame it must have brought father, that his own son was not worthy to fight. Again in the mines, he fell asleep on duty, the chief’s son failing, at such an important task no less. If he were not my brother, not my blood, I would have told father to throw him to the Shulka.

Thinking on it now, he has been this way since the brothers brought back Arrum and Kalon. Does it have something to do with them? His eyes keep looking toward them. Looking over, I see the woman Korra has left. So it is not her he looks at. Then it must be about Arrum and Kalon. What could it be?

Before I can figure it out, the door opens, and the chiefs file out soon after. Each wearing a somber expression. Talking low amongst themselves.

“This is a bad omen.” One grumbles under her breath, giving me a look as she passes.

“Enter,” Father says loudly.

Neeba flinches, slowly moving towards the door. I follow behind him.

“Not you.” He says as I enter.

“Father, I can be of use,” I say, regret fills my throat as I see his look change.

“Leave us.” He says, there is something behind the calm that is angry.

Neeba looks at me, there is fear in his eyes. My teeth grind as I close the door. What has he done? Why doesn’t father let me in? What does he want to speak with Neeba about? Frustration. Annoyance. Baser emotions, I need to press them from me. My eyes close as I breathe deeply, the calm fills me. Finding the rhythm now just like grandmother taught me, the Maka in my body vibrating with it.